Book Club: Jojo Moyes’ “Me Before You” Trilogy

Hello and Happy Tuesday!

If there is such a thing as a happy Tuesday, that is. I like to think there could be, and I’m trying my best to do my bit in making this particular Tuesday as happy as possible with the launch of my new segment: Book Club!

I know that online Book Clubs are becoming increasingly popular, but I remain the most avid reader I know, so no blog of mine would be complete without taking the time every now and then to pay homage to works of literary genius (and the odd chic-lit!). I’m going to try my best to publish a Book Club post once every month and, I promise, I’ll try and keep them as spoiler-free as possible!

It simply wouldn’t be right to launch my Book Club with anything other than the trilogy that has filled almost all of my free moments this summer: the ever-popular “Me Before You” trilogy by Jojo Moyes. Each time I’ve hopped on a train, taken a lunch break or even just sat down for a five-minute cuppa, these are the books that have been keeping me company.

Or, perhaps, it would be more accurate to say that the book’s heroine – Louisa Clark – has been the one keeping me company. I see a lot of myself and my friends in Louisa: her naïve optimism, ambition and occasional klutziness, which is perhaps why I found her to be so easily relatable. She is not – like in many books of similar genres – a city-dwelling marketing professional with a hot-but-cheating boyfriend who dreams of nothing more than breaking into the fashion industry, aided by a mysterious stranger who she, inevitably, later falls in love with. No, Lou is a much more accessible, realistic character who has big dreams and an even bigger heart, but no real clue what to do with them, and as a recent graduate, this struck an all-too-familiar chord!

As many of you probably know, the first book of the trilogy, Me Before You, was made into a major motion picture starring none other than Game of Throne’s Emilia Clarke, and – for this reason – more people than have read the book are familiar with its storyline, so I won’t go into too much detail here. While the film manages to capture the book’s small-town charm and quirky main character, there are certain elements of the plot that were left out for ease of creation, but these add a whole new dimension to the book’s characters which I believe should not be missed. Therefore, I would highly recommend taking the time to read the first instalment, rather than skipping straight to book two based on your knowledge of the film. You’d be missing out if you did!

In an effort to avoid spoilers, I’ll simply go on by saying that book two, the aptly titled After You, takes place after a pretty monumental event in Louisa’s life, which can be felt and empathised with all the more having read its predecessor. As readers, we see where the events of the previous book led Lou, and catch up with the changes in her life that have come about since we last saw her. We witness her trying hard to move away from the events of her past, but – despite her intentions – she has wound up in another dead-end job with no clue what to do next. This monotonous routine of hers makes it all the more flabbergasting when a huge reminder of her past manifests itself, in a way that not even the reader would have thought possible. This presents its own challenges, and quite dramatically imposes on Lou’s life, which does not pass without consequence. Alongside this, after an accident of her own, Lou becomes acquainted with “Ambulance Sam”, a paramedic who bears demons of his own, but whose mutual dysfunction provides Lou with a sense of much needed comfort.

These two new chapters of Lou’s life occur not only simultaneously but at a time when she least expects them (but, perhaps, most needs them), and the repercussions of each new responsibility are both trying and rewarding. Much like the first book, After You concludes with an ending that is every bit as triumphant as it is compelling, leaving us wanting more.

Thankfully, since the third and final instalment is already published, we don’t have to wait for long to satisfy our need to know how Lou is doing. Book three takes off almost exactly where book two finished, making for a smooth reading experience. In my humble opinion, book three – formally known as Still Me – is the most captivating of the lot. Perhaps this was because I knew that it would be my last hurrah with Lou, at least for now (hopefully not forever? Jojo?!), but I simply couldn’t put it down.

Without giving too much away, Louisa – once a waitress at a tiny café in her even tinier town – finds herself living and working halfway around the world as an assistant to the wife of a rich businessman. The new acquaintances from book two, including Ambulance Sam, are still very much parts of her life, and the final story sees her grappling with responsibilities old and new, as each vie to take centre stage in her ever-chaotic life. As always for Lou, nothing is ever easy, and we cringe/laugh/cry along with her as she makes sacrifices big and small to make things work. Come the final few chapters, I couldn’t put the book down, and devoured the remaining pages in a single sitting.

If you couldn’t tell by now, I highly recommend this trilogy, especially as summer reads. They are very easy-reading, and the plot manages to intertwine story-lines both relatable and unimaginable, which is no mean feat. Jojo has long been a favourite of mine, so I could be slightly biased, but I feel that this is justified. She has a way of writing that makes you feel so “at one” with the character, as if they were truly your friend. Even now, I find myself wondering how Lou is, what she might be getting up to, and whether she is still where we left her at the end of Still Me. While the books may not be intellectually stimulating or lexically challenging, they provide you with great company and heart-warming conclusions, which can be every bit as rewarding.

I do hope you take up my recommendation and give these books a go. Even if you don’t read the trilogy successively, like me, each revisit to Lou’s world is as enjoyable as the last, providing the reader with a comforting companion wherever the delve back in.

If you do decide to give Lou a go, or if you already have, please share your opinions in the comments below! I’d love to know what you think of her stories. Until next time!

Happy Reading! 

E x

Taking a Knock to Your Confidence

Whether we like to admit it or not, most of us have suffered a knock to our confidence at least once throughout our professional lives. If you’re a student partway through your academic career, this may have taken the shape of receiving a lower mark than average on an assignment you spent weeks perfecting. If you’re an entry-level worker, perhaps you weren’t put forward for that promotion you applied for. Whatever stage of your professional life you’re at, we all have one thing in common: our confidence has taken knocking once or twice.

For me, this happened most severely just a few months ago. As a student who (mostly) sailed through university, I was fairly used to being congratulated on my successes. I don’t mean that to sound big headed, but it’s very easy to get used to people pointing out your strong points. This set me up with a positive outlook on the graduate job hunt, and I embarked upon that challenge with an optimistic attitude, excited for the possibilities of what might be to come. Therefore, I was obviously elated when I was invited to an interview for one of the very first jobs I applied for: a job that I really, really wanted.

Having had a successful telephone interview with an employee at “the company that shall not be named”, I was soon on my way to their London offices, prepped and primed with a presentation to deliver on a topic of their choice, a presentation that I had spent the entire weekend working on.

It was one of the best interviews I’d ever had. My presentation went swimmingly, and I could answer all of their questions substantiated with examples from my previous experiences. They were clearly impressed with the preparation I had done, and my enthusiasm for the role was infectious.

As a result of all this, I was delighted (and admittedly slightly unsurprised) when one of my interviewers rang me just a few days later and offered me the job. Everything had worked out as planned: I was mid-way through an internship that I wasn’t exactly loving, and could hand in my notice safe in the knowledge that in just a few short weeks I would be employed in the job of my dreams at a company I was honoured to be representing. Pay was discussed, benefits were detailed, and I could not wait to embark upon my professional career: just a few short weeks after finishing university.

Looking back, perhaps I was a bit naïve, but I was so excited to start my new job that I suppose my vision was slightly clouded by enthusiasm. Perhaps I should have seen the signs: they didn’t immediately send me through a contract, no fixed start date was proffered, and communication ground to an almost-halt. Still, I was so enthused that I put it down to busy staff and waited patiently for further instruction.

Which of course never came. And that’s not even the worst of it…

I was eating lunch on the final day of my dreaded internship, so happy to finally be waving goodbye to the role that had taken up all of my time since leaving university. My phone buzzed and – hoorah! – it was my future colleague calling from my new workplace, finally ready to pass on details of when I could start. Or so I thought…

In actually, she was calling to ever-so-apologetically inform that the company I been offered the job by had undergone major restructuring and so – completely out of her control – my job role had been terminated. It essentially no longer existed. So, not only would I not be starting immediately, I - in fact - would not be working there at all.

Just like that. They offered me a job and took it away. They devised a role, went through the time-consuming and costly recruitment process, invited me in not once but twice and pretty formally offered me the job. And in about 2.5 minutes, they took it away, without so much as a backward glance.

I had never felt shock like it, which sounds dramatic as I had only really been living under the impression that I would be working there for a mere few weeks but, when you set your hopes on something, it can be hard to accept when it is taken away so abruptly. In floods of tears (which is a big deal for me because I rarely cry) I immediately rang my parents and took comfort in the fact that they were just as shocked as me, outraged at how poorly their daughter had been treated, having essentially quit an internship to pursue a job that had been terminated, leaving me with nothing.

I tried to focus on the positive: did I really want to work for a company that would so quickly drop a member of staff? Probably not. Did I want to work for an organisation that so clearly lacked basic communication skills, to the point that one department was recruiting a new candidate while another was cutting jobs like items off a grocery list? No, no I didn’t. But that didn’t make it any harder to accept.

The real consequence of the company’s careless action was that it tainted my outlook on getting a job. Where I was so eager to start, so enthusiastic about embarking on my career, I found myself anxious and restrained. Every new job I came across, I would compare responsibilities, location and pay: idolising my former job role, raising it to lofty heights that simply couldn’t be reached by any other. The whole experience left me with a bitter taste in my mouth, reluctant to risk further knock backs by applying for more jobs and picking out the negatives in any potential jobs that I considered applying for.

But, me being me, I craved routine and soon dusted myself off and restarted the job hunt, putting it down to experience. I’d be lying if I said I was completely over it, it still has the power to put me in a bad mood if I dwell on it for too long, but one thing I can say for sure is that its strengthened my resilience and thickened my skin, which in a weird way I’m grateful for.

I’ll finish, as always, with the lessons that can be taken from my unfortunate experience. First and foremost, while we all have our “dream” jobs, I would say that it’s important not to allow one position to become the be-all and end-all, because if it does fall through, the aftermath can be wholly demoralising. Secondly, I’ve learnt about the importance of being resilient and being able to pick yourself up and dust yourself off in the face of adversity. And finally, I’ve learnt that determination is key. I’m now in the stage of life where I’m attending job interviews on an almost weekly basis, and my excitement and anticipation for what might be out there – for what I might achieve – has been well and truly restored.

So, if you’ve just finished uni or are perhaps thinking of taking a career swerve, then I'd advise you to embark upon that adventure with an open mind and a positive outlook. Things may not always go your way, in fact, you might end up going in a direction you never thought possible; but what if that destination is where you were meant to be all along?

Happy Hunting!

E x

Getting Your Dream Internship

Hi, friends!

Today’s post is going to be the first of many offerings on career advice, or “pre-career” advice, if there is such a thing (hey, maybe I just invented it?). As a soon-to-be graduate, I – like many of you - have spent the previous three years of my life not only spending sleepless nights worrying about assignment grades and word counts, but filling the blissful gaps between these periods of stress with… internships. That’s right, not holidays, internships. Long hours of unpaid (and, occasionally, unappreciated) work in the name of personal development and application enhancement. That’s a rather pessimistic way of looking at things, I know, and it’s not all doom and gloom. Many internships that I have completed have given me some really great experience and allowed me to develop tonnes of skills that I can now validate with supporting evidence on my CV.

So, as someone who has well and truly conquered the internship field (been there, done that, got the t-shirt, several times over) I thought it may be useful to offer up some advice on finding that dream placement, that one opportunity that could shape the entirety of your future career. I’ve lost count of the amount of times I’ve hastily yet meticulously drafted a new cover letter, tailored my CV and applied to a role that I consider to be my “dream internship”: taking deep breaths to steady my nerves as I pressed that fateful “Apply” button. It sounds dramatic, I know, but if you’re career-minded, like me, you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about: the feeling of having to coerce your heart into beating again – just in case you really do get this job!

As a communications student interested in pursuing a career in Marketing/PR, I opted for internships that I hoped would give my application the edge when applying for roles in this field. To date, I have completed a PR & VIP Internship for a world-famous fashion house, a PR Internship for a small communications agency, an Online Content Internship for a social nightlife platform and an Events Marketing Internship for the UK’s biggest cancer charity, to name a few. I completed all of these in the hopes that, eventually, my idea of what I wanted to do after graduating would finally start to narrow down: whittling away silly whims and unlikely dreams in the process. And, to some extent, that’s exactly what happened. I left university with a firmer idea of what sector I was interested in (PR) and even turned away a few further education scholarships in favour of finally embarking on my career.

So... Why am I telling you this? Because, as with many things in life, there’s a catch. You can probably guess from the above list which internship I was most excited for: which one I was most ecstatic to get, which one I truly thought would shape my future (I'll give you a hint, it wasn't my brief stint in a coffee shop). Of course, it was the PR & VIP Internship with the internationally-renowned fashion designer. And… which one did I end up disliking the most, feeling utterly defeated at the end of each day, dreading the next morning in the office? You guessed it, the very same one that I’d been so blissfully excited about just a few short weeks before.  

And so, fellow interns, the catch is this: you really can’t know which placement is your dream placement until you’re there. I know, it sucks, but that’s the truth of the matter. The expression “you can’t polish a turd, but you can roll it in glitter” springs to mind here, because – unfortunately – that’s exactly what happens with many internships these days. Sometimes, companies are simply after some free labour, loading their hopeful intern’s plates with all of the donkey work they don’t want to complete themselves, despite cramming the role description full of false promises of real responsibility and great rewards. Sometimes, as an intern, you’re only there to get your hands dirty doing the boring, monotonous tasks that those superior to you deem themselves to be above doing. It’s a situation that many students find themselves in, but we stick at it in the hopes of it bettering our chances of employment afterwards.

So, what am I trying to say with all this? What does my lengthy rant about professional inequality really teach us? I would say the main lesson to take away from my experiences is thus: there’s no such thing as a dream internship. At least not initially, anyway. The role I thought would complete my dreams actually ended up breaking my spirit, and others that I had to convince myself to apply for out of sheer disinterest actually ended up giving me some fantastic experiences and invaluable connections. So, what I’m trying to say is this: don’t shy away from those job ads that don’t immediately grab you because its not in beauty or fashion or whatever industry you ultimately see yourself ending up in. Don’t disregard roles within smaller, lesser-known companies in favour of household names. Try anything and everything, because you really never know what each experience will teach you. For me, it worked out that a placement I had to apply for as part of my degree ended up paving the way for my career. You simply never know. So, keep applying! I know the job-hunt is a long and lengthy process, full of self-doubt and the occasional panic tears, but something will come along eventually and, even if it’s the thing you’re least excited about, it could just be the making of you.

Good Luck, fellow interns!

E x

The Jump: A Levels to University

As I sat this afternoon pondering about the next stage of my life, having just finished university and diving head first into the graduate job hunt, I couldn’t help but reminisce about another time in my life when it all just seemed a bit too much. I am, of course, referring to the monumental jump from college to university.

If, like me, you attended a sixth form college, while the transition from GCSEs to A Level was still an almighty one (no more uniform?!), the blow was slightly cushioned by the fact that you were still within a relatively similar educational environment: there were still classrooms, still a canteen, still a break time and lunch hour... These all helped to make the otherwise overwhelming period of transition slightly less painful, especially if friends from your secondary school were attending the same college.

The same cannot be said, however, for university. Where there may have been a thousand or so students at your sixth form or college, at university, there are likely to be in the tens of thousands, even on a relatively small campus. Along with this comes the sudden realisation that you are now a self-sufficient, fully responsible adult in charge of your own well-being. For many of us, the move to university is our first taste of independent living: even if you’re in halls, you’re still solely responsibly for setting your own alarm, doing your own washing and cooking your own dinner. For some, it can be quite the reality check, especially if, like me, you’re used to your wonderful mum waking you up with a lovely, warm cuppa each morning.

Even more than this, as a uni student, you are one-hundred percent, totally and completely free to make your own decisions. Want to get pizza delivered for breakfast? You can. Decide last-minute that you actually do want to go out, at 2am? Go for it! You no longer answer to anyone, and sometimes – just sometimes – that can be every bit as thrilling as it sounds.

So, my top tips to help cope with the seemingly humongous jump from A Levels to university…

Firstly, I would say that there’s no better place to start than by properly decorating your new room. Whether you’re in halls or a privately rented property, there are usually rules about what you can and can’t do regarding redecoration, but you’d be surprised what you can achieve with some faux-succulents and a few strings of fairy lights. I kitted out the entirety of my first-year bedroom with homeware from Primark, and it looked fab, like something straight out of Pinterest! What’s more, it probably cost me in the region of about £30. Doing up your new room immediately makes it a tad homelier, rounding those otherwise clinically-straight edges. So, treat yourself, have a little re-organise and settle in to your new home.

If you’re a soon-to-be uni student, I know that – by now – you’ve probably been told time and time again by your family to “Get Involved!” and “Join a Club!”. Believe me, I know how annoying that can be, especially when football or cheer leading is not your thing. But, as they usually do, the parents have a point. Joining a club or society really is a fantastic way of meeting new people, especially those who share similar interests. And it’s not all hockey sticks and rugby boots. These days, there are university societies for almost everything, whether your passion is politics or performing arts. So, why not swallow your pride and give it a try? You never know who you could meet!

The final thing I’d suggest keeping in mind when starting university is that it’s important to remain true to yourself. While college was full of little cliques that it was all-to easy to fall into, university is the home of individuality, and no matter how odd you believe yourself to be, how outlandish your hair cut, how non-fashionable your fashion sense, you shan’t so much as bat an eyelid. So, if you don’t like clubbing – don’t go clubbing. If you enjoy visiting the library – visit the library. Want to join the comic book society? Go ahead and join! University is a judgement-free zone (partly because there are so many students about, it would be psychically impossible to judge them all!) so go ahead and be yourself: what’s the worst that could happen?

If, indeed, you are a soon-to-be uni student, I hope these few little tips help you out in one way or another, even if it does just give you that little push you need to admit that, really, you’d quite like to join the Ju-Jujitsu society. I hope you settle in well because, take it from me, those three years really do fly by, so make the most of them!

Bon Chance!

E x

Quick Tips for Working Girls

Aloha, and welcome to Adventure Capital Day 2!

I’m probably setting myself up for failure here, publishing two posts so close together. I shan’t promise to stick to it, but I’m already enjoying blogging so much that I’m sure my posts won’t be few and far between.

I thought I’d kick things off (sorry to those of you still torn up about the World Cup loss – so close, and yet, so far…) with a truly accessible and unashamedly girly post about the ever-popular morning routine! What a revelation, fashion and beauty simply aren’t visited topics throughout the blogosphere these days! But, in all seriousness, I feel I have formed some genuinely decent tips to share with my fellow working girls, just to help make life a little easier. So, here goes…

We all leave uni with this naïve and wistful idea that, once we have a “proper” job, we will spring out of bed every morning at six o’ clock sharp, artfully paint on a full face of makeup and tease our tresses into perfectly pert curls. We’ll add a spring to our step with the most professional of heels (pointed-toe court shoes, obvs) and hop aboard our train looking fresh off the runway. I don’t do pessimism, and I don’t want to shatter any dreams, but let me be the first to tell you, it ain’t gonna happen!

Even on a good day, there are tube disruptions, packed stations and busy pavements to contend with, so giving yourself a bouncy blow-dry every morning simply isn’t an achievable goal. I should know. This summer, I embarked upon my first city-centre internship at a world-famous fashion house (don’t want to name names, but rhymes with Primarni…). On my first day, I woke at 6am sharp, fixed a full face of makeup, coiffed my hair into the perfect slicked back high pony and donned my brand-new pink power suit. How long did I keep up this charade of constant immaculateness and professionalism? 3 days.

Let me tell you, early mornings and late nights do not make for a happy camper, so sacrificing an extra hour of sleep in favour of some lippy and false eyelashes is just not a good life choice (that’s what I tell myself anyway). That being said, I totally understand and resonate with the female need to look and feel good. It boosts our confidence which, as a newly-former-student first entering into the working world, is truly needed!

So, this desire to look good combined with my need for sleep led me to discover a few simple tips and tricks that kept me looking and feeling fresh. So, without further ado, I will share these secrets with you in the hopes that you too can arrive to work looking as good as you feel (unless it’s a Monday, ofc)…

Faux-Buns

Doughnut buns have been around for just about ever, and are still a staple favourite of the time-savvy working girl. But I think it’s about time that the doughnut buns’ lesser-known cousin, the faux-bun, got its moment in the spotlight! Brands such as LullaBellz and Hair Rehab London offer these revolutionary clip-on buns that simply sit on top of your basic twist-up job and voila, you have the perfectly proportioned, tousled bun you’ve always dreamed of. Who said clip-ons were a thing of the past?

Shoe Swap

This is an age-old trick that you’ve probably seen in action a million times but remains a life-saver for city girls the world over. Simply stow away your Louboutins, Valentinos or, er, Primarks in your bag in favour of wearing your trusty trainers on your commute. You can change them the minute you get into the office, and the benefits are endless, from no (okay, less) tripping up on those jam-packed pavements to saving you buying a new pack of plasters every Monday morning. Try now, and thank me later!

Beauty Treatments

This one requires some investment, but hey, you’re a working girl, right? And time is money! To save hours each week applying makeup, perhaps consider getting an eyebrow tint or eyelash extensions. This will shave hours off your weekly prep-time and have you looking fabulous 24/7. Who needs foundation when you’ve got cracking lashes?

Hair of Dreams (literally!)

Once upon a time, hair rollers were the thing of grandmothers and Cruella de Ville, reserved only for the most experienced of users. Now, they come in every size and quantity you could imagine, with some even specialising in specific hair types. So, forget the morning blow-dry. Pop these in the night before and wake up with salon-fresh looking lengths, minus the heat damage. You’re welcome!

T'was the night before Work

This trick may bring back memories of your mum harking on about organising your school bag the night before to save time the following morning. I know, completely annoying, but I hate to admit it… she had a point. The adult equivalent is deciding what you’re going to wear the night before, to avoid that heart-stopping scramble the next morning when you realise you haven’t got a fresh pair of tights. Say goodbye to those panic sweats and hello to a longer lie in! 

I hope these little tips have helped you in one way or another, even if they only buy you an extra five minutes in bed, every little helps, eh? I’m always looking for ways to save time, so if you have any helpful hints of your own then help a girl out and share in the comments below! Let’s prove once and for all that, as girls, we absolutely can have it all.

Bye for now,

E x

Hello, world!

Hello, world!

Don’t worry – I’m not so disillusioned that I truly believe the entire world is reading this little blog. I’d be lucky for even a handful of people to stumble across it. But however you wound up here, I’m glad you did.

I imagine that the initial readers of this blog will be made up solely of my friends and family (hi, guys!), but for any of you who have not have been directly coerced by yours truly to come and cast your eyes over this tiny corner of the internet, I should probably introduce myself…

I suppose the natural thing to reveal about myself first is that I have very recently finished university, after spending three years studying towards a degree in English Language and Communication (first-class honours, tyvm). Believe it or not, it’s not all as yawn-worthy as it sounds. Yes, university (at least for me) involved long hours pouring over textbooks and research papers. In fact, many a day went by when using my new pastel coloured highlighters was as exciting as it got. I did, however, make the most of my time at university (at least I like to think so) and gained many new experiences along the way, be it personal or professional. And this, I suppose, was my motivation for starting this blog.

Don’t get me wrong, in no way am I trying to suggest that I am the fountain of all graduate knowledge. I have, however, completed many an internship throughout my time as a student and, from these, I feel I have gained enough experience to warrant sharing some advice with people in a similar stage of life. And, thus, Adventure Capital was born!

I first came across the term “Adventure Capital” on Bplans.com, an advisory website for business start-ups, which defined the term as “Capital needed in the earliest stages of the venture’s creation before the product or service is available to be provided”, with financiers investing in start-ups that they believe to have high-growth potential. And that got me thinking about all the things we – as graduates – are expected to have accomplished before even finishing our undergraduate degrees, about all the things that we are expected to have before we are able to provide our “service”. The simple and unfortunate fact is that degrees alone just don’t cut it anymore. Proving your commitment and eagerness to learn by dedicating three years to extensive study is no longer enough. As well as your academic credentials, you are also expected to have a wealth of knowledge and experience at your disposal, all before you’ve even been awarded your diploma.

Such is the way, I suppose, what with the commercialisation of higher education, blah blah blah… Despite UK unemployment rates falling to an all-time low this year, the graduate job hunt is undeniably competitive, with more former-students than ever before entering into the dog-eat-dog world of resumes, interviews and assessment centres. The sad fact is that, for “investors” (in this case, potential employers), graduates can be far too much of a risk. We are, indeed, “start-ups” at the earliest stages of our “venture”, as it were, and employers simply have no clue whether we have high-growth potential or not, and whether, therefore, we are worth investing their time and money in (I love a metaphor, can you tell?).

But all is not lost. Even coming from an average uni, I have witnessed first-hand what students and graduates are capable of: many of my friends and course mates have already achieved remarkable things, exceeding all expectations of what this supposed “snowflake generation” is capable of. Therefore, I’m taking matters into my own hands. With this blog, I hope to shed a little light on the possibilities of what you could achieve as a graduate, student or entry-level worker. Our generation is branded as lazy, entitled and over-sensitive, but I hope that by offering some advice and insight, and therefore inspiring you to reach for your own dream, we can disprove that stigma one by one.

Thanks for listening to me waffle on (something I am bound to do on a frequent basis by the way – you have been warned). I hope you’ll stick around to see what’s in store.

Bye for now!

E x