Pasta & Autumn

Autumn definitely feels like it's here.

My Pumpkin Souffle candle is out again, as are my chunky knits & scarves.
(I found these particularly cute Pumpkins at Sainsbury's)

Over the summer I worked at Valvona & Crolla (and now I just work for them on a more casual freelance basis in photography / social media), and I learned alot about Italian wine, cheese, pasta and food culture in general.

Things have been a little strange.

I left my 'regular' and reliable day-to-day job at Valvona & Crolla, and now am looking for something new.
I've just started a Masters degree in Communication for Development with Malmö University which I am really excited about but also really nervous about too. I'm a bit unsure of my academic ability and if I still know how to write essays.

My sister has just left home again (and I am so happy for her exciting new chapter), but it means that I feel a little more alone as I am still at home in Edinburgh.
I'm trying to plan some travels (and working out what I can afford) as well as looking at jobs.
I'm half thinking I will go somewhere to teach, as it's slowly starting to become clearer that teaching/education is something that is in my blood, and something that I enjoy and care about.
But I also still love all the media/images stuff.

Although it sounds like an exciting time where I have a great deal of possibility, I just feel sad.
I've been feeling lonely, confused about what I want in life, very anxious, frustrated with my lack of independence, and guilt about leaving Edinburgh/Scotland (even though I know it's what would make me happiest).
The colder/grey weather makes a huge (negative) difference too. I've had too much time to think about some really sad things which have happened in the past few years, and also more recently, and really what I need is to focus on the good.
I saw a Tweet (I think it was a Tweet anyway) the other day which mentioned 'Radical Self Care'. Right now this is exactly the kind of concept I need to embrace, as my confidence is completely rock bottom.

As a sort-of therapy for myself, I've decided to make pasta from scratch today & tomorrow.
I'm going to a writing workshop in a 'secret garden' tomorrow morning, organised by the Glasgow Women's Library and I'm going to start reading again. (I got a really nice looking book from Mainstreet Trading Company called Bogota 39 New Voices from Latin America - it's a Hay Festival Project.)

The pasta I am making today & tomorrow:

Farfalle
Pumpkin Ravioli (using the pumpkins pictured above)
Spinach & Ricotta Ravioli
Crab Ravioli (possibly)
Linguine

I will post recipes separately.


I'm planning to update the design of this blog, and my online portfolio too - so if you have any tips or designs which you think would be cool, then please do let me know! (Best way to get in touch with me is Instagram, because, let's be honest - I'm on there ALL THE TIME.)

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