Well, that’s it then. 2017 is done and dusted, as of today. In fact, in Australia (and, okay, New Zealand first) it’s already well into the new year. Here in Berlin, the fresh new start we’ve all been waiting for is a matter of hours away. And I think it’s important to take stock of the good memories of your year, to remember how far you’ve come. So here’s what I’ve achieved in 2017, and some New Year resolutions.
Author Archives: ellekirks
A frosty sunset walk in the British countryside.
I was back in England for Christmas, and after all the festivities I insisted on some countryside romping to walk off at least a little of the Christmas choccy I’d gorged on. Here are a few snaps I took walking around the reservoir.
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My favourite books of 2017.
Here’s a glimpse into my favourite books that I read in 2017, in no particular order. I tend to read contemporary literature and literary fiction, with the occasional divergence into young adult fiction or romantic fiction. Wander on…
Berlin in Autumn: a photo diary.
It’s been a super long time since I wrote a blog post because I’ve been bogged down attempting (and subsequently failing) NaNoWriMo. So no more excuses, I thought I’d throw together my favourite autumny snaps to look back on from this autumn in Berlin. This post is just a big old photo diary. If you want more snaps, make sure to follow me on Instagram.
How to create a NaNoWriMo plot.
How is it November, already? I know it really doesn’t need to be said, but where is this year going? Wasn’t it just Spring five seconds ago? But the temperature is dropping, the trees are brilliant shades of gold and bronze, and Stranger Things is back on Netflix. And with November comes NaNoWriMo, the event writers are looking forward to and dreading in equal measure all year. But it doesn’t have to be so scary. I’ve put together a novel outline template for you to help plan your novel.
Can you read faster on your phone?
When I see snaps from the enormous number of bookstagrammers, book bloggers and booklovers I follow on Instagram I have a big craving for physical books. Nothing quite beats the feel and smell of fresh paper from crisp new novels, or the dusty sweetness of old novels dug up from a secondhand bookstore. But as a frequent traveller and country hopper, I just don’t have the capacity to buy, carry around and store all the paperbacks I want to read.
A weirdly awkward dating story.
If you like following my somewhat ridiculous dating antics around London, you’ll enjoy my latest piece for No Filter Zine, about a weirdly awkward date. Check it out at No Filter Zine.
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6 best free apps you need in London.
I lived in London for two years, and went from someone who didn’t know the difference between the tube and the overground, to someone who could navigate brunch, a gig, and three birthday dinners in one day. Still kinda not sure about the difference between the tube and the overground, though. Don’t even get me started on National Rail. Anyway, here are a few good apps you highkey need on your phone if you’re living in London.
10 surprising differences between Australia and London.
Any Aussie moving to London would expect to find a few differences between the golden sandy beaches of Aus and the rainy grey city of London, but it’s not just the weather that’s the difference between living in Australia and living in England. We speak the same language, but there are heaps of cultural differences between the Brits and the Aussies, which you’ll discover living in the UK. I’m a Brisbane girl, and I moved to London when I was 21 to personify that Aussie-in-London stereotype, and I discovered some big differences in culture. And before anyone jokes about Aussies having no culture, you’ll start to recognise the Aussie culture as soon as you move to England and see what Aussies look like to a Londoner. You might be a bit embarrassed (and secretly a bit proud) of your own Australian culture.
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How solo travel helped me overcome social anxiety.
I’ve travelled by myself around Europe, moved from Australia to London to Berlin, met amazing people travelling, and gained loads of confidence in the last few years that I’ve been living in Europe. But I haven’t always been the kind of person that can walk into a bar, introduce myself, and start chatting straight away. Solo travel has given me loads of confidence, so for those just starting out, here’s how I gained confidence and started my solo travel adventure.
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Tips for finding a flat in London.
The London rental game is a competitive minefield, but if you dedicate some time, you’ll be able to find a flat (especially as an Aussie or a Kiwi). If you’re just moving to London as a single person, your best option is finding a room in an existing flatshare. London flatshares typically come furnished, and if you move into a room of a flat with people who’ve been living there for a while, you won’t have to worry about anything except making your own bed.
5 ideas for a weekend trip away from London.
Recently I was chatting to a friend about how I completely love Berlin, except for one thing that I completely took for granted in London. London has five airports, and there are hundreds of flights into and out of London, constantly. It means if you live in the capital and want to skip off for a quick weekend trip, literally anywhere is possible. Living in Berlin (where the airports suck), there are so few possibilities for weekend trips. Any time my friends from London suggest we meet up in a European city for a weekend stay, I search flights and find there are zero direct flights from Berlin on a Friday night. Frustrating!
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