My blog just turned six years old. For six years this blog has seen me write my heart out; write about anything I could think of just for practise; move homes; learn new skills; alter my view of the world; celebrate my love for books and of course, writing. Naturally there’s been a lot of change in this time. Whether I have been posting through changes or not, this blog has been a crutch. Writing is my lifeline that I always fall back upon to remind me of who I am. Most recently, this blog has survived an intense phase of self-consciousness that caused me to question what its purpose was any more. Through shifting this blogs focus back to its original goal, I resigned almost 400 blog posts to my private archive, and will start with a clean slate to slowly build up the content again. This blog may seem empty now, but it’s been six years in the making.
As I look forward to posting on my blog regularly again, I wanted to revive a blogging classic, the simple ‘7 Facts About Me’ post, and reintroduce myself as the writer of this blog.
Books are the love of my life
If there’s one thing that settles me with the fact that life is only here to be enjoyed, it’s books. Reading is my favourite pastime, instantly lifting my mood and inspiration and peacefulness. I have also, in the last couple of years, developed the skills to design and print books. I’m incredibly proud to have helped produce a series of classic books that aid young students in engaging with classic texts. I can’t imagine not having books in my life and my favourite problem is looking for places to store them all!
My favourite genre is horror
In books and films, and sometimes in my writing too! Often the first question you’re asked when you admit this is why!? but I can’t admit to having pinpointed just one. Part of it is the fascination with the unknown; otherworldly and internally. Spaces we can only fill with imagination. Part of it may also be my parents influence. They have often lent me their copies of James Herbert and Stephen King, and recommended similarly themed films, always keen to know what I thought. My parents are undeniably cool; they have never given me or my siblings any indication that we can’t be exactly who we want to be. It’s with their encouragement I have been blessed with a life of following my passions.
I drink a lot of coffee
If books are one half of my personality, then drinking coffee is the other half. I was once asked why coffee lovers make loving coffee their whole personality, but I think it’s nice to enjoy the simple things with so much passion. My love has also proved to be infectious. My secret power is that anyone who spends a few days with me develops a minor addiction to black coffee!
I am fascinated by Paris
Though I’ve only been once (and very recently), Paris has called my name for years. I am drawn to the city, the culture, the style, the art, French language… Within half an hour of being there I felt comfortably at home. I don’t know how or when my love for Paris started but I want to revisit many times and come to know the city well.
My dream is to be an author
Which I’m sure is not a surprise considering my great love of reading. I remember when I decided it. I was drawn to the typewriter on the desk in my Granddad’s office and was 7 years old when I was permitted to have a go. At first I typed nonsense, learning how to use the keyboard, but then an idea came. In less than a page I wrote my first short story. When I finished and unrolled the paper from the platen I thought this is what I want to do for the rest of my life. Those words are still clear in my mind. From that point my childhood was writing ideas and short stories in notebooks and the habit has followed me all the way here.
I am decisive, emotionally strong and self-confident
Amongst many things that I love about myself, I’ve highlighted these three because I think they are less obvious on first impressions. I’m often mistaken as being a shy person because I can be quiet, and of course, a lot of my hobbies are also solitary activities. In reality I am self-assured, confident in my own skin and enjoy facing new situations. Being decisive didn’t come naturally to me, but when anyone asks me how I learned to be more decisive, I can only think to say I decided to be. That really is what happened. I’d grown fed up of wasting time trying to make menial decisions, so I started to practise making quicker decisions and seeing through the consequences. Each bad decision was a learning curve. For every good decision I became more self-assured and the process gradually became easy. I’ve come to understand myself very well.
If I could only eat one food for the rest of my life, it would be pizza
Pizza combines all dietary excellences into one convenient meal. Cheese, vegetables, crust – perfection. And there are so many different styles and toppings that if you are committed to only eating pizza for the remainder of your life then there are at least a variety of ways to make it, and keep it satisfying.
Hannah M. Clipston 
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