Hi all, and welcome back to rumblewrites. This week has been a busy one for me, so today’s post is a little less research focused and more of a personal reflection on the year so far.
It’s just for you, my subscribers, to learn a bit more about me. Unfortunately, that does mean comments are off, so you’ll just have to shout your thoughts into the void, or DM them to me. Regardless, I hope you enjoy.
*content warning: photo of human skeleton*
January
PhD
Last year, I completed my master’s degree in Digital Humanities. My primary research focus was the application of digital tools to textual research and this culminated in my dissertation, which used natural language processing tools to investigate the textual and semantic content of Maximilien Robespierre’s speeches. Niche, I know. But I loved it, and really wanted to continue researching other documents from the French Revolution in a wider PhD topic. I applied to 2 universities and received 2 offers. However, I was unable to secure funding and, as I’m not made of money, I had to decline both (for now). Nevertheless, I’m very proud of myself for receiving offers from 2 top UK universities.
Hunterian Museum
The Hunterian Museum in central London hosts an impressive collection of anatomical, pathological, and osteological specimens. I’ve had my eye on it for a while now and was finally able to visit as it reopened (following a 5-year closure). It’s a truly unique collection, but one which raises some important moral questions. Still, if anyone is in the area (and not too squeamish!), I’d definitely recommend visiting.
Someone with scoliosis, which I have too!
February
Feeding the squirrels
This picture is from my visit to Portsmouth, where the squirrels are apparently very friendly! It did take them a while to warm up to me, but soon enough they were taking peanuts from my hand and scratching at my legs for more.
Feeling more like myself
Without jumping too far down the rabbit hole of my relationship with my personal appearance, I am starting to feel more like me. In February, I lopped a big chunk of my hair off and went back to my natural brown, and started wearing slightly heavier makeup, and dressing how I like. I’m still a little way off feeling like my “true” self (that elusive thing), but it’s a start.
Apologies for the awful lighting, but this is one of the only pictures I have from February, and I wanted to remain true to the concept!
March
Freud Museum
Who knew Sigmund Freud was such an avid collector of antiquities?! I certainly didn’t… while I’d learnt about his famous theory of the id/ego/superego, and read a few of his essays on sex, it turns out I knew very little about Freud. The dedicated museum, set up in his final home, has perfectly preserved his office space, and it was fascinating to learn about the connections between his practice and the ancient Egyptian gods. A superb experience.
The Hill Garden & Pergola
Just a walking distance from the Freud Museum is Hampstead Heath’s Hill Garden and Pergola. It’s known as one of London’s “hidden treasures” although, thanks to TikTok, I’m pretty sure everyone knows about it now. I’d recommend going in the winter months to avoid the crowds and, as you can see, you can still get some lovely pictures!
Feeding capybaras
For Valentine’s Day, I took my boyfriend to feed some capybaras at Hobbledown Heath! A bit of a quirky present, I know, but he loved it, and that’s all that matters.
April
Writing
I’d been receiving a steady stream of acceptances from literary magazines and anthologies all year, but April happened to be the month that I received a few printed copies of my work. The one pictured below is particularly special to me: it’s Issue 9 of a magazine called Friends on the Shelf, which publishes true, real-life stories from a range of people. My piece was about growing up with a disabled mum, and the collection included pieces by some wonderful authors like Charlie Higson and Carl Heap.
It was also in April that I decided to start my Substack blog (yay!), as well as the novel I am currently drafting. Maybe there was something in the air, but my creative juices were certainly flowing this month.
Accidentally Wes Anderson: The Exhibition
I went to this pop-up exhibition in South Kensington with my friend, and we were pretty impressed. It features over 200 photographs from all corners of the earth, pulled together for one reason: they all look as though they were featured in a Wes Anderson film! It’s a fun idea, and one which the exhibition pulls off well. Each room has a different theme, and you can even submit your own photos for a chance to be featured.
May
Master’s graduation
Despite finishing my master’s course in September last year, I only graduated in May. I received a Pass with Distinction from UCL in Digital Humanities and placed top of my class. It was lovely to celebrate these achievements with old classmates and lecturers, as well as to grab a few professional photos for the mantlepiece:
Black Thoughts Editorial
Also in May, I was offered an evening job at Black Thoughts, a professional editorial service for speculative stories, in particular those with dark fantasy or horror elements. I am one of the Assistant Editors, and primarily work on developmental edits and research for thrillers, dystopias and historical novels. If you have a manuscript you’d like us to take a look at, give us a shout on Twitter/X, or via the contact form on our website.
In 2025, we will also be launching Second Realm Publishing House, a boutique publishing arm of our company… so, keep your eyes peeled.
June
Friendships
While I generally prefer my own company to that of others, in recent years I have found myself to be quite isolated. I had friends, but I often felt misunderstood, not heard, or not cared about. I hung onto people who weren’t good for me, or who I’d outgrown, just to have someone there. But this year, I made it my mission to fix that.
I’ve started putting a real effort into making and maintaining quality friendships, while dumping those that weren’t good for me. I’ve found some lovely people, and I finally feel like myself around them. That’s something I’d only ever experienced when I was alone, so as common as this may be for other people, it feels like an achievement for me.
Permanent job
This is a pretty quick one, but after a year at my first job, they offered me a permanent contract! Yay me for job security!
Super proud of everything you do. Many congratulations on your graduation!! Loved seeing these glimpses from the museums and gardens