Struggle Street

It is eleven months until my proposed leaving date for my year of exploration around the world, and, after having worked seven days a week all through the Summer and now six nights a week through winter, I am still somehow in the depths of a rather bulky overdraft. I understand that having a free overdraft is the best loan I'll ever get and that I shouldn't be stressing about it but I just want to be in the black and to be saving towards something. Negative money doesn't spur me on so much, as I am only working to get back to zero at the moment.

People all around me are off doing exciting things, whilst I'm here making very little progress, feeling a little left behind with it all. Tess is in Tanzania, Vicky has moved to Cardiff starting a new chapter of her life, Snakey is living in France,  the man I like is off doing things in Europe.
I am in New Hedges, with a tip stealing boss and a wetsuit with a hole in the ass. There's something enormously saddening about that.

This week I've been thinking about couples. Couples who are ready to commit. Most of my friends (and ex-boyfriends) will know that commitment isn't exactly my forte. Don't get me wrong, I am very loyal, but I get claustrophobic. I get this itchy feeling that I'm in too deep when I'm only just paddling. I crave freedom, I need air.

It's starting to worry me recently, am I destined to be alone? There have been many wonderful men in my life whom I haven't been ready to commit to, despite being attracted to them and trusting them. Is it something learned?

It seems some people jump from relationship to relationship without a second thought. I have no qualms with that, as they all seem very happy, I just have to really take my time before I can even consider belonging to someone. Maybe that's the problem- that I think of it as possession rather than just being happy with someone. Or, more likely, it's a product of a 'broken home' with divorced parents and a mother who is just a little more than wary when it comes to men. It probably doesn't help that both my dad and brother have pretty dodgy fidelity records too.

Either way, I would like to be able to imagine being with anyone for a long period of time. Because, ultimately, I want that for myself. I want to start a family one day with a man I love, in a house with a mortgage and bills and council tax. It's the in between bit that's the problem.

Maybe it's a matter of it becoming part of me without my noticing. Maybe it is a maturity thing. Maybe I need to grow up a little before commitment becomes a breeze.

I suppose all this has come to mind because there's always been one person I've assigned that role of big commitment to. Now it seems less likely that this will happen- life has gotten in the way and time changes things quicker than the wind in winter.

Things don't seem the same as they were even two months ago, and it scares me to think I've been flippant with something of such magnitude. I have always lived thinking what will be will be. It all happens for a reason. Everything that everyone does will all make sense in the end. But now I'm feeling there are such things as grave mistakes and I have started to understand that regret can haunt people for a lifetime. This will make little sense to lots of you, but anonymity often creates a roundabout way of explaining things.

On a lighter note. I have met someone that I enjoy spending time with, who I can have a real giggle with and who makes me feel beautiful first thing in the morning. That's not a bad find I reckon. Although it would be nice if I could pick someone who stays in the country for longer than a month at a time.

That's the irony of things like that I suppose. Something out there is laughing at me for protecting my heart for so long only to open it up for guaranteed instability. I was sadder than expected saying goodbye today. Took myself by surprise.

In other news I got some freelance work recently, I wrote words for this and really enjoyed it:

In the Moment by Garmin from Garmin EMEA on Vimeo.

I now have some press releases locally to write and work in China- doing website content and blogs etc for a company out there. Which is all very lovely, as exciting media-related jobs in Wales seem few and far between and I need to stay here for cheap rent so I can save for my trip.

So if you know of anyone who wants press releases, ad's, PR, portfolio writing, copy writing or any of that lot doing, give me a thought, eh? Struggling writer and all that. Sounds romantic but is really just a bit skanky. Could do with having at least one pair of jeans/trousers this winter. My pins are getting chilly in shorts.

That's all for now,
Jojo xxx

Crocodile Tears

So I'm home now. Back in Wales. Back in Pembrokeshire to be precise. It's strange, I can't really write about what it feels like yet because I've only been here a day. I unpacked the van  and put everything into my white, empty room. All my things in drawers and boxes, my mirror leant against the wall and a carpet left bare. In my Uni house I had laminate flooring so there was an array of mis-matched rugs and bath mats scattered across the floor for heat. I think I will have them in here too. It's all a bit normal looking, I like mis-matched things.

I went into the little town where I live today and met Biki. I bought some little 'me' touches to adorn my room with; incense, candles, a little Buddha. It feels important for me to nest here, even though I'm moving to Cardiff in September to live with my Dad and get a proper job.

These past few days have been both incredible and heartbreaking. I had my final University Summer Ball. It's fancy dress and my pal Zoe and I dressed as crocodiles. Our little group all collected together for possibly the last time for pre-drinks in the sunshine (despite all the forecasts predicting rain. Someone's smiling down on us) at Esme's house and then we got on the buses to what can only be described as a mini festival. Music, fairground rides, bars and a variety of food stalls were dotted around the fields filled with thousands of students in fancy dress. It's always such a great day and night. I had the best time running around, dancing, drinking, eating and just being with the best people in the world. No drama's, no worries.

And the following day Esme left for Newquay. It was so hard. Everyone was very emotional. It was like the beginning of the end. Esme was leaving, someone else would leave tomorrow and the next day and the next day, until we were all gone. I wept, no, sobbed- big fat breathless sobs when Esme left. We hugged in the rain, both crying, remembering all the memories we have made together over the last three years. Knowing that no matter how good we are at keeping in touch, things will never truly be the same again.

I drove home, crying all the way. And the next day Grace left. My Twosy. And it all happened again. Grace was the person in uni I could most identify with. Growing up we had the same taste in music, the same family set-up and we both had a slightly bumpy ride at school. We also both had dick-head boyfriends when we were young who, as much as we hate to admit it, left a mark that's faded, but will never quite disappear completely. So Gracey went back to London.

Gracey in London, Esme in Newquay, JoJo in Wales.

It's fucking horrific. I can't help but feel a little empty. Like a plant ripped from its soil. Gasping for breath, some water, some safety. I'm getting upset again thinking about it. And you might laugh, but it hurts my heart. It physically hurts my heart. It gives me a headache. It makes me frustrated. How will I ever be the same without them?

But that's the point I suppose - that I wont be the same. They've left their own little marks, their sayings and mannerisms, their secrets, their humour and their love. Doesn't that make it worthwhile? I reckon so.

This week I am going summer job hunting; early morning chamber-maiding and late night bar work hopefully, so I can get my board back in it's home water in the days.

And I'm not going to plan much further ahead really. For the first time in a long time I don't have to do anything. That's pretty lovely.

I'm excited to see my home friends : Jess, Biki, Bex, Lu, Chazza, Jammy, Jack. It's going to be a great Summer. If the Sun would just bloody come out. Fucking Wales, such a cliché.

Oh! And I won an award for this blog! Only from my course, but I was very happy. And I'm very happy you are reading this. It's just lovely. Thanks.

That's all for now
Jojo xxx

I was singing this song all week for some reason, so it seems apt to put it here. Enjoy!