Update: Laura's Life Lately

Goodness me, it has been a long time since I have posted on here! With seven months in Europe (read about it here) and my third year university studies weighing me down, I have definitely neglected this little corner of the Internet. I thought I would write a quick update post, letting you know what I've been up to and what's coming up on Laura Robin.

Reading: The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce, among several of my university textbooks. Now that I'm an English major, the reading seems endless and although I definitely haven't approached my novels with a positive mindset, I am yet to read one that I have completely hated.

Writing: A 1500 word essay due next Thursday, a few blog posts for Laurables, a sum up of exchange for Suitcases to Sussex, and a series of snapshot posts of the last few places I visited in Europe after exchange ended.

Doing: I've started ballroom dancing (love it) and I'm also thinking about exercising a lot. So, I guess that's not a 'doing' at the moment... but soon (hopefully). Breakfasting out at cafes with friends has also been up there on my priorities list lately.

Wanting: A holiday booked. Somewhere. Anywhere. The travel bug has bitten me and I have the desperation to adventure so badly!

Drinking: The odd Strongbow cider and copious amounts of English Breakfast tea (Note: buying a 50 pack of Twinings tea was the best $7.50 I have spent in my life).

Loving: Reuniting with my Perth friends who I missed while I was away, spending time with Elsie the dog, and also loving the fact that university is finally starting to be something that I enjoy.

Missing: My wonderful, wonderful exchange friends. It has been 3 months, but my longing to be with my exchange buddies still hits me every time I look at a photo, hear a familiar song or even put on my Sussex jumper.

I'll post more soon!

Laura xx

Mental Health Week Opening Night

Last night I was lucky enough to attend the opening night of Mental Health Week at the Rendezvous Hotel in Scarborough. While the organisers were hoping to hold the event across the road on the beach, weather stopped this in its tracks. However, the Rendezvous Ballroom was a fantastic substitute, with a big stage, lights, and - most importantly, given the torrential rain - a roof.

Mental health is imperative to ensuring the health of the heart and soul, and I believe that its importance is becoming increasingly realised in today's media. The speeches between the acts were touching, and definitely highlighted the importance of the event, as well as bringing back the music lovers to why this event happened in the first place - to raise awareness for mental health problems, and assure people that mental health issues can and will get better. Unfortunately I don't have many (good quality) photos from the evening, so I've added a few that aren't too embarrassing. Unfortunately iPhone + sitting fairly close to the stage does not equal great pictures.

Acid T was the opening act and featured ukulele players galore. Not much to say here other than these people seemed so damn happy and they definitely put everyone else in a great mood - fitting, considering the event. There was also some epic recorder playing popped in there - I swear I never sounded like that in primary school.

Fox Cat Rabbit was the following act, and while I had never heard of them before (apparently I've been living under a rock?) I was very impressed. With cute songs and charming vocals, Fox Cat Rabbit is exactly my kind of music and I'll definitely having a pursue through iTunes. The duo is made up of Bernadine Grigson and Keira Jane Ephraims and they were adorable and charming (can I have their beautiful full skirts please?!). I love acoustic folk music, so this band was right up my alley. Personal favourites from their set include "Are You Happy Now?", "Pyramids" and their cover of "Brand New Key". One thing about these girls that sets them apart would have to be their actual musical talent - while most people in bands can sing, their harmonising and use of rounds really made their performance into such an art form. Definitely more to come from these two.

Next up, The Seals. Those who regularly read Laura Robin (anyone?) will know that I've seen The Seals twice before and loved their performance both times. For a more detailed write up on this Perth based band, I reviewed their Ellington performance here. While they were missing fiddler Charlie McCarthy, this band once again put me in a great mood with their hand clapping tunes and onstage banter. Something that I really enjoy about this band is the array of instruments that keep popping out - violin, double bass, guitar, banjo, bones, mandolin... I'm waiting for the bagpipes, personally. I loved their renditions of "I'll Fly Away", "Big Scoity" and "Little Sadie".

And then, the main act: British India. Not going to lie, I had never listened to anything by this band before but I was lured to the event by a promise of folky, bluegrass opening acts, a picnic (food? Okay!) and the evening off study. However, while I had no expectations for British India, I really enjoyed this band. While indie rock is not usually my cup of tea, I loved bobbing along to their songs - two rows from the front, none the less.



If you're looking for a British India review from someone who knows what they're talking about when it comes to this kind of music, I'd have a flick through here, however if you're after a few words from a girl who loves her pop, singer/songwriter and folk, you've come to the right place. While their edgy and moody vocals are not necessarily something I could listen to day in, day out, I definitely enjoyed this performance. The songs that stuck out the most for me were "Summer Forgive Me", "Vanilla" and "Run the Red Lights". Not surprisingly, these are probably their most "pop" songs, or at least those that are most up my alley. While I'm told British India usually plays at 18+ club events, they put on a good show for their only performance in Perth.

So, that's my review done. To celebrate Mental Health Week, I'm going to try and spend more time in the sun (before it gets too hot for me to go outside without burning to a crisp...far out) as well as taking time out to read and relax before the nice little cave of uni assignments I have built falls in on me. That time of the year, eh?

Sunday Seven #14: Father's Day Edition

Looking uber glam skiing

With it being Father's Day in Australia today, I thought I would celebrate my main man, my Papa Bear: my dad. Here are seven ways he has made my life special.

1. Coaching my netball team last year: while we weren't the most amazing team by a long stretch, we had a fantastic time. Highlights include dad telling everyone he used to play a lot of netball in the "full forward" position (perhaps he meant Goal Attack?) and telling me to "MOVE" when I was actually out of play for obstructing my player. Oops.

2. My one claim to fame in life was being on the front page of a weekly newspaper in my state (I was about 18 months old, I've clearly moved on). Well, during last week, a very similar photograph appeared in a different newspaper in Western Australia, and dad found my (pretend) outrage so hilarious he photocopied the image and stuck it everywhere around the house. Notable locations include over the copy of my photograph we have framed, on my mirror, behind my bathroom door, and in my bed. Nicely done.

3. Last night I got home from a party, with that sinking feeling in your stomach you have when you realised you've taken your sheets off the bed to wash them and haven't put them back on. Dad to the rescue: he'd remade my bed for me. Bless.

4. Waking me up at 5am 3 mornings a week for rowing training for a whole year. So much dedication. He would also drive me to rowing (the dog would get the front seat of the car).

5. Dad taught me how to ride a bike and also taught me how to drive, necessary skills that I will always have. I was so nervous about learning to drive because I thought dad would be a bit of an anxious passenger seat driver, but he kept to his word and only yelled once - and that was a bit of a life/ death style situation.

6. Always mimicking me - dad is very good at taking the micky out of EVERYTHING and sometimes I'll say something and straight away be thinking "ohh boy. Oh boy. Nope, that was a very very very bad idea". Dad, ever the comedian, will always make sure to capitalise on it.

7. "Sophisticated" text message exchanges - dad and I are usually texting each other memes or really lame jokes that no one else in the family seems to find even slightly amusing. The whole time I was in Cambodia, dad was keeping up to date with photographs and what I was up to (I think he was mainly interested in the photographs, because whenever he called, he would make sure I was alive and then ask me to send through all my pictures). Now, we swap funny photographs and angst at our shared love for correct grammar.

In truth, there are so many other ways that dad has made my life special. Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there, and to mine? I love you so much, and you are one in a billion.

Accidental Zara Purchases: An Outfit Post

I was planning on withholding from entering the first Zara in Western Australia for at least a few weeks after it opened. 48 hours after the first customers crossed the threshold, I was in there with a friend. Willpower, what even? I picked up a t shirt that is at the dressy end of the t shirt spectrum (is there even a t shirt spectrum?) - it's embellished with large white beads in an almost Peter Pan collar shape. Also accidentally arriving in my shopping bag were a pair of leggings/ jeggings/ pants in a thick, stretchy navy blue material (in hindsight, they look suspiciously like the jodhpurs I wear for horse riding, but moving on...). They have zips at the bottom and are slightly cropped...and very, very comfortable.

Have you bought anything new lately?

Sunday Seven #13

Today was such a wonderful day - I spent the morning at a shopping centre, watching Australia's Next Top Model auditions (they just happened to be on while I was doing a spot of shopping, I promise) while eating a chocolate chip muffin. I told Mum that I was going to be "plucked from obscurity" (heavy sarcasm) by a talent scout - the closest that happened was someone in the muffin line asking if I was auditioning but I will claim that! I had a pub meal for lunch to celebrate a friend's birthday - fish and chips followed by ice cream, yes please. Then I spent the afternoon at going away drinks for a uni friend, with some other new friends, and I am now curled up in front of the TV watching Divergent with my family. Not much study was done, sadly, but it was a great day - the memories of which will get me through the study I will have to eventually do! Anyway, I digress - here are seven of the other things that made my week special.

1. Heading out with some friends on Thursday night - one of whom is just home from university for a few weeks. It was so lovely to see everyone, especially the lovely Lily, and we had such a nice evening.

2. Watching Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets with my brother and sister. We're only halfway through, but it's so nice to spend time with them while we appreciate one of my favourite series in the world.

3. Avocado and vegemite on toast, with a cup of tea, for breakfast. Great starts lead to great days.

4. My beautiful little dog, Elsie, just being so cute. She is always up for a cuddle and a pat, and I'm such a sook because Else is just so gorgeous. Right now, she's curled up between my Mum and Dad on the couch, getting a back rub from one parent and an ear scratch from the other. Dog has her life sorted out.

5. Michael, my brother, had his Year 12 ball and he looked so grown up. His date was gorgeous, and he looked very smart in a suit. Him and my sister, Rachel, are only a bit over 2 years younger than me, but I still think of them as "little", and in my mind they're about 7. Bless.

6. Freezing cold nights, when I could turn on my electric blanket and snuggle up in bed with winter pyjamas and a doona. Ah, the small pleasures.

7. The most beautiful weather in the world this week - stormy in the early days, sprinkles of rain later in the week and finally, wonderfully sunny - but most importantly, not too hot! - weather today. Perfect.

What made your week special? :)

The British Tag

I've seen a few YouTube videos of this tag, and considering my obsession with all things British, I thought it was time I did a blog post dedicated to my favourite things from the motherland. Cup of tea ready? Let's go.

1. How many cups of tea do you have a day? + How many sugars?
Probably about three cups of tea a day (I'd say this goes to at least 6 during exams...waiting for the kettle to boil is a good procrastinator). I have English Breakfast tea with a tiny bit of milk and no sugars. When I first started drinking tea, it was pretty much half milk with about 5 sugars. Not even joking. One of my friends feels quite uncomfortable with the amount of milk I add to my tea - "If you're going to put some in, commit to putting a little bit more in, would you?"

2. Favourite part of your roast
Roast potatoes, hands down. So crunchy (when done properly), and just so filling and absolutely wonderful.

3. Favourite dunking biscuit
Kingstons! Are they even considered a dunking biscuit? I also love popping in an ANZAC biscuit. I also love Milk Arrowroots - I don't usually actually dunk the biscuit, I just have it with me while I drink the tea. I cannot handle crumbs in my tea - no thanks. 

4. Favourite quintessentially British pastime?
Drinking tea, strolls in the park, horse riding, plotting which member of the royal family to marry.

5. Favourite word?
Scrumptious/ wonderful/ beautiful. I also love the word spiffing - "what a SPIFFING chap". Ah, such a good one to whip out when one is dressed nicely.

6. Cockney rhyme slang?
Not going to lie, had to use Google to find some good 'uns, but my favourties were apple-and-pears (stairs) and oats-and-chaff (footpath). 

7. Favourite sweet
Anything, not overly picky. I love Natural Confectionary and Starburst lollies, however Sour Straps are also a personal favourite. But honesty, if it's sugary, I'll probably be all for it. Does chocolate count? Cadbury's hands down then!

8. What would your pub be called?
The Tea Gardens. And (if you're interested), it would do cakes (is that a pub thing?), roasts and Pimms.

9. No.1 British person
Kate Middleton! Or Emma Watson. Tough decision, I'm pretty obsessed with them. They are just such classy, fashionable ladies, who seem to have a good social conscience too (always a plus). 

10. Favourite shop / restaurant
Zara would have to be my favourite European shop, however I have recently become obsessed with looking through the Topshop website (made a bit of a cheeky purchase the other day, and I am eagerly awaiting its arrival!) As for Australian stores, I love Sportsgirl a little too much.

11. What british song pops into your head?
Anything by the Spice Girls. "Stop" was a notable favourite in my household when I was younger, I had a full song and dance routine to it and everything.

12. Marmite.
I have never tried Marmite to be honest, but Vegemite? Love it. 

Sunday Seven #12

I had a few unexpected things happen this week (good unexpected!), so it was a week that was full of surprises. I got to catch up with my old netball team, see lots of my friends, and I also accidentally did a spot of shopping (oops, but not that oops). Here are the seven highlights from my last seven days.

1. Two of my friends popping around with flowers and chocolate after I had a (very, very minor) back operation (hardly a surgery, really). I felt spoilt rotten and very loved! The flowers are so beautiful, and have really lit up my desk - which I'm spending a lot of time at currently, with a politics speech due tomorrow. I spent a lot of time having tea and catch ups with friends this week, it was lovely.

2. Making it to my brother's final football game of the season (and of his school career) yesterday - it was a fantastic match, the weather was beautiful, the result was very close... and to top it off, my brother scored a great goal, which just happened to win the match. Such a proud sister! I actually spent a fair bit of time with him this week - we finished watching Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone together, and I also appeared in his media video for school (I'm a star in the making).

3. One of my friends has a farm, and they are currently babysitting two abandoned lambs in their (suburban) home. I popped around to see them yesterday and ah, they are so cute! Lots of bleating and them toddling around on unsteady legs. Bless.

4. I wasn't able to work this weekend and that meant I could grab a few sleep ins - wonderful. My sister and I had a lovely lounge in front of the heater this morning as well, which was lovely.

5. A few online shopping items I ordered arrived - a present to me, from me. Even if one package happened to be university books (there goes my excuse for not doing the readings...).

6. Last week, I was able to go back to dancing for one class each week, and, like the sleep ins, I have appreciated it so much more since I haven't been able to do it for 8 months. My fitness levels leave a lot to be desired (a lot, a lot, a lot), however I've had the best time seeing all the girls again.

7. And last, but definitely not least, one of my best friends arriving home, safe and sound, from university on the other side of Australia. Lily, we have missed you lots and I can't wait to spend time with you over the next few weeks!

I hope you have all had a lovely week, and have a fantastic week ahead! If you like the above photograph, and want to see more like it, follow my Instagram - @laurarobinblog.