Tag: earlewrites

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The British Diaries

Happy 2019 Papageno Clan!

It’s an hour before midnight. An hour before the new year rings in and gives us all a fresh slate to begin with. I know we all get a new chance to start again with each day, each hour, each minute. But there feels like something prevalent and powerful with the new year in bringing changes around us.

We want to change, make a difference, start a new path.

Maybe we want to put past experiences behind us, move forward, try different directions and keep our heads up.

The New Year is a chance for everyone at a shot of redemption.

For me, the New Year is a chance to try even harder. For the first time in my life, I feel as though I’ve found my direction.

Two years ago I was completely lost. I had been in and out of love, had gained and lost jobs and had forgotten what it was to have hope in a path for myself. I trusted to continue slogging on, to ever hope and to ever dream that changes would come.

I thank my world for Delos, for dragging me out of a world where I put importance on the trivial things. It taught me so much about life, about taking risks and living amongst others. I thank the world for Edouard, for teaching me what it was about to truly fall in love with someone and to embark on an incredible journey that would take us across the world together. I thank the world for Papageno, for teaching me how to grow, become stronger and resilient, and for teaching me that I cannot live my life by what others think of me or their expectations. I must carry on pursuing my own happiness.

I thank the world also for being born into circumstances where I am privileged to grow up in a safe country, to have a supportive family, to be educated, to be heard, to be valued.

So many other people don’t have these things in their lives and I must acknowledge how important they are.

A lot of people step into the new year saying “good riddance” to 2018. But for me, it has been one of the greatest years of my life. I have gained and lost so much, but I still look at this year with so much fondness and love.

I am honoured to know people like yourselves, to have your never-ending support and encouragement. You are the people that make me think, “Yeah! I can do this!”

I have so many plans for the new year, and I want to focus time into my health to make me the best person I have be for Papageno.

I will be doing Dry January (no alcohol for a month), I’ll be running several times a week and walking Leela 3 times a day, I’ll be cutting down meat consumption and being more creative with food, I’ll also be quitting smoking. I want to be strong for Papageno and strong for myself. 

I’ve learned a lot by those who wanted to keep myself and Papageno back. Learning from those who told me I couldn’t do it, sending hate and unkind words. Because- we’re here. I’m proud of who I am (and believe me, it took a long time for me to accept myself.) I have to be kinder to myself.

And so I encourage you guys to do the same. Be kind to yourself.

If you get something wrong or fail- don’t beat yourself up about it. Acknowledge it, learn from it and move on. And my other advice is if you have a dream, no matter how big and small, ignore the naysayers. For the love of Neptune and all things great, go for it. Write that amazing story for your life and live your truth. Go for that dream you’ve always wanted to pursue and chase it to the ends of this earth- even if it doesn’t work out. Try, try and try again.

Because we can all say that we’ve fought for something we’ve believe in.

And we have to believe in ourselves.

Whether it’s small challenges or dreams you want to set yourself- doing that 5km run or seeing those friends you haven’t seen in so long, to opening your own biscuit or soap making business or even getting your own boat or van project. Do it. Go for it.

Because there is value to the dreams we chase. To what we believed in when we were children.

My dad turned around to me and pointed out that my friends and I still did the same things we were doing ten years ago.

“And isn’t that great?” I said with a smile. “Isn’t that wonderful?”

Today we spent the day in an English village, swinging across a freezing river on a rope swing, cackling and laughing, children and elderly couples watching us with smiles and bemusement on their faces as they waited for someone to fall in (and yes someone did- luckily not me).

The point I’m trying to make- is live your life. Laugh as much as you want. Dance as much as your feet will carry you and sing until all the birds fly away.

Live. Life.

Thank you for your hearts. Know that I treasure each and every one of you.

All of my love and gratitude, Lizbef. x

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The British Diaries Videos

The British Diaries: Episode 3 “A Big British Christmas!”

Preparations go underway to handmake a majority of Christmas gifts, I reveal one of my latest watercolour timelapses and celebrate the holiday with the family! Not long now till Papageno!

If you would like a watercolour commision- contact me at svpapageno@gmail.com
Join Us! https://www.patreon.com/earlewrites
Shop https://www.earlewrites.com/shop

Papageno Bracelet!

Join the Papageno Clan with one of our handmade bracelets! Inspired Papageno’s story in Mozart’s famous Opera, as well as the wanderlust spirit it is to fly away and be free, we wanted to create something simple, bright and connected to our story. Each bracelet sold goes towards fixing our wounded Papageno ready to be out on the water! Free shipping with all orders!

$18.00

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The British Diaries Videos

The British Diaries: Episode 2 “Papageno’s Plans for New Crew!”

Settling in after a month in England, excitement has already started to return to Papageno! Not only that- but plans have started to formulate for new crew! Exciting!
Join in and head to https://www.earlewrites.com
Or sign up as a Patron https://www.patreon.com/earlewrites

 

 

Papageno Bracelet!

Join the Papageno Clan with one of our handmade bracelets! Inspired Papageno’s story in Mozart’s famous Opera, as well as the wanderlust spirit it is to fly away and be free, we wanted to create something simple, bright and connected to our story. Each bracelet sold goes towards fixing our wounded Papageno ready to be out on the water! Free shipping with all orders!

$18.00

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The British Diaries

The British Diaries: Part 2 “Grey Skies and Pork Pies.”

Life has been progressing well in Blighty. It was strange at first, but now Leela and I have settled into our new home, we have a routine- something that I didn’t know I needed.

We rise in the mornings, I make a flask of tea and we walk across the countryside. I like to play an audiobook in the background, some epic fantasy I’m listening to at the moment, and I allow myself to slip away into another world for an hour and a half.

The wet grass slides beneath my feet, exposing more mud as I try and choose my foothold carefully. My fitness had taken a dive since being on the boat and I’m trying my best to look after my health before I go back. I want to be healthy in my heart and body. That hour and a half is the chance I have in the morning to simply enjoy myself, feel my body moving and to breathe in the fresh air. I’ve even been resisting the delicious pork pies in my mother’s fridge from the Butchers.

I gaze around in the fog, finding more greenery becoming exposed from the dewy clouds as I move closer. The occasion dogwalker pass us on the path, their cheeks red and scarfs wrapped around their necks like cobras. I pause my audiobook here and there to say good morning and to compliment their dogs on their fluffy ears or coat. Leela always gets a lot of attention and it’s wonderful seeing her so happy in the open fields.

The gravel crunches beneath my trainers and I tell myself for the forth time that I need to get some wellies.

And a better coat, I think, pulling it closer around myself. It belongs to my sister and the puffer gillet I wear beneath is my mother’s. Beneath that I am huddled into my dad’s jumper and the last layer is a t-shirt that used to belong to my friend Chloe. I’m in dire need of new clothes but I can’t bring myself to buy any. I’m holding out for Christmas and hoping that my mother has bought me the annual gift of underwear and socks so I don’t have to go and spend money on small pieces of fabric.

We can always rely on mothers to buy us underwear.

The cold air whooshes in and out of my lungs, clouds escaping my tea-stained lips as they curl up into oblivion.

My flask of tea is huddled in my right pocket as always and my keys in my left. I take out my tea and take another swig, feeling the warmth bursts in my throat and mouth.

Soon we skirt around the path and start to walk over the rugby field, meaning that we have started our way back. Part of me wishes that this could be my life. To simply disappear into the green fields, have a tiny cottage somewhere, make tea and sell scones to the locals. Another part of me craves to pack everything up and throw myself onto Papageno, to take her around the edges of America, or maybe the Pacific. Maybe I should go back to Tortola and see my friends or maybe Grenada is the best choice.

I’ll work out, become healthy, buy all of the outrageous bikinis I’ve dreamed of, make the EarleWrites shop a success so we can afford whatever we need to make Papageno a wonderful place to live. I’ll stop smoking, I’ll meditate in the mornings, I’ll say yes to more things- yes to diving, yes to hiking, yes to the beach, yes to life-

I feel like a lot more drive has entered my spirit, because I’ll be honest with you, I was scared that returning to England was going to make me want to stay here. Remain in the safety, the known.

But if anything, being back in Nuneaton has shown me that she will always be here, waiting for me with open arms. She is my heart, and she is always here to revive my spirit whenever I need. So, there is no fear to go, there is no danger. I can go, live life, build memories, experiences, make friendships and start LIVING again.

I’m so excited to get back to Papageno, to take advantage of it all, to be that focused driving force that she needs to carry this journey on.

I look down as Leela as she pants happily by my side. We’ve become so close and it tears my heart a little at the thought of leaving her behind. But it would be more selfish to take her with me. She has a routine here, she has a home and she is loved by many. She will remain here, looked after by friends in my apartment. If the case ever happened that I decided to live on Papageno full time in the future, of course she would come with me.

But for now, I feel as though spending half my time on the boat and half time on land is good enough for me.

So, I will return in February and will spend 2 months over there. I’ll figure it out. I’m not tying myself down my numbers, expectations or predictions. I will do what feels right.

Many things have happened since I have been here. I have been reunited with family I haven’t seen for fifteen years (more on that next time) and created an environment that I feel safe and happy in. I’ve just finished my very last Christmas commission and all that remains to do is to create new items for the shop. (btw the shop is https://www.earlewrites.com/shop )

I turn off my audiobook as we near traffic, the drone from the cars drowning out the narrator’s voice too much to enjoy it anymore. We cross over the traffic lights, my glasses speckled with rain as we make our way to the door of our home.

“Good girl, Leela,” I say as I pull out my keys, shivering in the freezing wind. “Not long now,” I say to myself, glancing up at the dark clouds gathering in the distance.

And whereas the sunshine and the blue oceans of the Caribbean are indeed calling, right now, nothing can beat the drizzle and grey skies of Britain.

 

Papageno Bracelet!

Join the Papageno Clan with one of our handmade bracelets! Inspired Papageno’s story in Mozart’s famous Opera, as well as the wanderlust spirit it is to fly away and be free, we wanted to create something simple, bright and connected to our story. Each bracelet sold goes towards fixing our wounded Papageno ready to be out on the water! Free shipping with all orders!

$18.00

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The British Diaries The Papageno Diaries!

The British Diaries: Episode 1 “The BEGINNING.”

In this episode, my friends come to pick me up from France, we travel to England and I finally get my first ever apartment solo!
Find us! https://www.earlewrites.com
Become a Patron: https://www.patreon.com/earlewrites

Music
Olde English: Maddy
Just do: Martin Carlberg
Mountain downhill: Niclas Gustavsson
Good to you: Led Monster
Someday i’ll wait: Origo

 

Papageno Bracelet!

Join the Papageno Clan with one of our handmade bracelets! Inspired Papageno’s story in Mozart’s famous Opera, as well as the wanderlust spirit it is to fly away and be free, we wanted to create something simple, bright and connected to our story. Each bracelet sold goes towards fixing our wounded Papageno ready to be out on the water! Free shipping with all orders!

$18.00

 

“Let’s talk about Kevin.” Limited Edition Print

Limited edition high quality art print of watercolour painting done by salty sailor of SV Delos Elizabeth! Well you guys voted on his name! Here’s Kevin, the octopus- one of my favourite ink drawings with watercolours. I love watching David Attenborough’s Blue Planet and whenever he speaks about these creatures, my eyes are glued to the screen! I’m not saying I’d like to swim with one- but wow! They are amazing creatures! Printed on high quality Marseille 300gsm aquarelle paper. Dimensions: 21cm x 29.7cm

$70.00

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The British Diaries

Earle and Leela’s Move in Day!

Well tomorrow is the big day.

I become a proper adult and start living in my own home. I’m renting, but you know what I mean. The apartment is set inside this big building above! It used to be a house but got separated into apartments. Mine is at the very top! I’m going to get fit walking up 4 flights of stairs I think!

I’ve been working hard on my paintings and it’s been a relief to be in an environment where I can find a bit of peace. Tomorrow comes with a lot of changes and I’ve never been very good with that.

I just want to get settled.

As you know I’ve been living with my mate Steve and I’m scared to leave. There’s a comfort in these four walls. My friends come and go all of the time. I have my bedroom here, the comfiest bed, I have my space on the sofa, my blanket and the side switch that makes the seat pop out.

But there’s always a time to step out of your comfort zone.

And that’s tomorrow.

I’ve realised a few things whilst I’ve been here. I need to make even more changes. I’m going to be kind to myself and accept the fact that I’ve been adjusting to life back in England.

I know it’s been a while, but sometimes I still think of Edouard. Of course I do. It’s natural. Sometimes I wish I could go back and just relive that first day in Paris together over and over. But that’s a dream and I need to wake up from it. I need to preoccupy my mind. I’ve been looking for distractions a lot recently, and I’ve been waking up with a sore head on more than one occasion. But it’s time to start pouring my energy into constructive ways.

Painting.

Running.

Going to the gym.

Meeting family.

In October I wrote nearly every day. It was a great comfort- a cheap form of therapy as I poured my heart out to the world. Now it’s pretty much December, I’m ready to start writing again properly. I’ve been dying the past year to throw myself back into my Maddox Black series. It’s been a year since I wrote anything on it, and the last time I wrote a piece of fiction was in June this year about a girl who went back in time to 1922 (time travel is a fantasy of mine.) It’s time to get a schedule. Become organised. Motivated.

I really want to develop something where Papageno can give back. I think we’re ready to start building something. But I don’t know in which direction. So, if you have any organisations that are close to your heart, please let me know. I want to be a part of animal conservation efforts, humanitarian efforts and ocean preservation efforts. All of these ideas, intentions and I’m planning on 2019 to be a big year for us.

All I know is that I want Papageno to be independent and to do all she can to make a difference.

One of the reasons why Edouard was upset on the boat was because he felt that we weren’t involved in helping the community. He was a part of such amazing solidarity projects back in France that it went against his principles to simply do nothing.

“We have to get established first,” I would tell him. “We’re trying to build a base so we can make a bigger difference.”

But now he is making his own difference.

And it’s time I did too.

I’ve been thinking about this for a long time. Coming up with ideas and talking with likeminded people. About possibly taking groups of people out to places to build up schools or assist with medical supplies. Or it could be arranging teams of people to do beach clear ups or fundraising for children afflicted by life altering illnesses. And then there’s homelessness.

So many different things I feel for and it’s time now to create the start of something. I knew Papageno would always do something to help. That was my promise.

I was hoping to develop a range of products to specifically raise funds for these intentions or arrange fundraisers. But I know things take time, planning and good people.

So I’ll be setting up my shop in my new flat with my mum and sister and we’re going to be sitting down and figuring out how we can make EarleWrites a success so we can make an actual difference in the world. The Papageno Project has to be about something. It has to MEAN something.

I went to bed last night, wondering what I wanted from life.

What I wanted to achieve.

And that was all I could think about as my head touched the pillow. About how I could try and make a difference.

About how excited I was to wake up and continue making new items by hand, painting, working with ceramics, answering emails about your family portrait commissions.

Sometimes I get a longing for the place I’m supposed to be. I have no idea where that is yet. All I know is that I have to carry on doing my best, carry on doing what is best for me and Leela and keep Papageno alive.

I still have a while to go in some self healing, but I hope my new home will become a haven for me. A place to be safe, secure and to encourage more self love for myself.

I can’t wait to show you the first episode of The British Diaries, so I thank you for being patient with me as I create it and have another move in my life.

As a BIG thank you, I would love to give you all a 25% off all Limited Edition Prints in the shop! Just type in 25OFFXMAS and head over to get some of that Christmas shopping done!

As always thank you.

Leela and I send you our love and cuddles!

See you in the Earle Apartment!

X

“Ride the Storm!” Limited Edition Print

Limited edition high quality art print of watercolour painting done by salty sailor of SV Delos Elizabeth! We are faced with storms every day. I wanted to create something that immortalised the fighting spirit we all have inside, thinking of the sailors of old as they rode the storm years ago. If they can do it, so can we! Printed on high quality Marseille 300gsm aquarelle paper. Dimensions: 21cm x 29.7cm

$70.00

“Let’s talk about Kevin.” Limited Edition Print

Limited edition high quality art print of watercolour painting done by salty sailor of SV Delos Elizabeth! Well you guys voted on his name! Here’s Kevin, the octopus- one of my favourite ink drawings with watercolours. I love watching David Attenborough’s Blue Planet and whenever he speaks about these creatures, my eyes are glued to the screen! I’m not saying I’d like to swim with one- but wow! They are amazing creatures! Printed on high quality Marseille 300gsm aquarelle paper. Dimensions: 21cm x 29.7cm

$70.00

Categories
The British Diaries

The British Diaries: Part 1 “Great Britain, Family and a NEW chapter!!”

I’m home.

It’s been over a week now since we returned, and I’ve been able to breathe. There’s been a lot of things to update you all on. And I hope you all forgive me for being slightly late with my posts, but now things are stabilising.

First news is that I’ve been able to be reunited with my family. It’s been a long time since I’ve been able to sit down with my parents and have a traditional Sunday dinner.

I’m not one for communal prayer, but as we sat down around the table and my dad said “grace”, I bowed my head lower down than usual.

I was grateful. I was honoured for this moment to be with the ones I love.

xmas

I’ve been living with my old housemate, Steve, for the past 10 days with Leela. Leela has been adapting extremely well. It was an incredible experience to be able to take her out into the countryside of Europe- her first outing into the cold being in France when I returned to Bouffemont. I don’t think she knew how to handle it! Everything was new, the smells, the cold and the scenery. But she took to it perfectly and loves to be outside.

When I landed in Paris, I stayed with Edouard’s best friend Bruno and his girlfriend Anne Charlotte. You may remember them from my Delos Diaries or French Diaries. I stayed in Bouffemont for a night as I waited for Tommy and Steve to drive down from Nuneaton to France. It was a strange experience, driving through the village that Edouard used to live in. He wasn’t there of course, he was in Marseille. It was a bittersweet experience, walking down the same paths, seeing the same spots where we had deep conversations, the lake where we fell even more deeply in love, and the twist in the woodland path where we ended our journey together.

It was a moment of acceptance as I walked through the woods with Edouard’s friend Bruno. The trees loomed over my head, their leaves cascading down around us in shimmers of red and orange.

It was the end of something and the beginning of another.

I was ready to walk away.

When Tommy and Steve arrived, it was like a hug from Britain. Getting in the car and waving goodbye to France was a sad and relieving moment.

It was time to go home.

After a night out in Lille in the north of France, we checked into the euro tunnel and found ourselves within Ol’ Blighty.

The relief that hit my lungs almost choked me. The British countryside sped past my eyes, a blur of green, black and grey as the fog pressed against the windows.

boyos

I held Leela closer to me in the back of the car, emotions running through me as I took in the moment.

“We’re home, Leela!”

“Better start learning English, Frenchie,” Tommy told her.

The days have passed of celebrating, seeing friends and much-loved family. Christmas is coming and there’s a happiness in the town that wasn’t there before. The bordered-up shops now host independent businesses, strangers are friendly, prices are low, and the hot chocolates are delicious.

Everyone seems to be in a good place right now, and I take a lot of joy from that.

It only made sense then to make another step in my journey.

I have found my own apartment.

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It’s to be my base in England for the next year whilst I figure out my life and get my sh#t sorted. I’ve always had an anxiety of not having my own home. To have that fear that it will be taken away. And yes, I’m renting but going from friend’s house to friend’s house is not the sort of unstability I want for Leela and I.

So, I found a flat with a space for me to write and paint. I discovered what I wanted to do this year to make myself happy. And that was to pursue creative outputs that I could invest in my business with my shop. And that is exactly what I am doing.

I’m now open to Christmas Family commissions, my mother and sister are helping me with posting items out, keeping me organised and helping me to create new handmade products.

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It’s what I’ve always wanted to do, and it’s exactly how I want to keep Papageno going. I’ve already recruited a couple of friends to return with me in February who are going to be doing the wiring refit. It’s going to be a full house on Papageno with my intentions of taking on another two members of crew to help me sail her to Grenada.

Leela will be staying in Nuneaton for the time I am sailing. I don’t want to put her through the stress of flying and being driven from France again. So, I have a friend, Alex (he came to visit Laura and I for five days on Papageno- he’s Laura’s brother’s best friend) who will be moving into my apartment whilst I am gone who will look after her for the two months I am away.

I have a small fear about moving into this apartment. Maybe because it feels very “grown up”. And I’m doing it alone. There’s no one to be doing this with, and I have to figure it all out. I will be responsible for the roof above mine and Leela’s head. There’s also a small sadness of living alone, but I’m sure that will turn into something positive- something exciting. Because I need to be able to rely on myself and not others. I need to grow my business, have a roof over my head, be able to fix my own boat and look after my dog.

So, I’m doing my best to make the choices that will give me security, stability and a chance of personal growth.

I’m very much optimistic about my future. I’m excited for the future journeys, for the stories that will be made and the experiences to be had.

I’m working hard in creating The British Diaries for you all to watch whilst Leela and I adapt to our new lives. I want to show you my home town, the village I grew up in and my favourite spots in Warwickshire. I want to take you to London for a night out (thank God for Go-Pros) and Stratford Upon Avon for cream teas. I want to take you to Sherwood Forest with Laura and Leela in search of Robin Hood and to the cosy pubs in the Lake District. I want to take you to the castles, lakes and grand houses of the National Trust. I want to take you to the south of England where I can share my New Year’s celebrations with my closest friends. I want to show you what I am doing with my shop, my new paintings and releasing my latest book. I want to show you my new apartment and take you there for my house warming party.

I want to share with you this new chapter of my life.

I just want to take this moment to give you a sincere thank you for being with me on this journey.

Change is beautiful.

YOU are beautiful.

Thank you.

 

“Let’s talk about Kevin.” Limited Edition Print

Limited edition high quality art print of watercolour painting done by salty sailor of SV Delos Elizabeth! Well you guys voted on his name! Here’s Kevin, the octopus- one of my favourite ink drawings with watercolours. I love watching David Attenborough’s Blue Planet and whenever he speaks about these creatures, my eyes are glued to the screen! I’m not saying I’d like to swim with one- but wow! They are amazing creatures! Printed on high quality Marseille 300gsm aquarelle paper. Dimensions: 21cm x 29.7cm

$70.00

“Ride the Storm!” Limited Edition Print

Limited edition high quality art print of watercolour painting done by salty sailor of SV Delos Elizabeth! We are faced with storms every day. I wanted to create something that immortalised the fighting spirit we all have inside, thinking of the sailors of old as they rode the storm years ago. If they can do it, so can we! Printed on high quality Marseille 300gsm aquarelle paper. Dimensions: 21cm x 29.7cm

$70.00

Papageno Bracelet!

Join the Papageno Clan with one of our handmade bracelets! Inspired Papageno’s story in Mozart’s famous Opera, as well as the wanderlust spirit it is to fly away and be free, we wanted to create something simple, bright and connected to our story. Each bracelet sold goes towards fixing our wounded Papageno ready to be out on the water! Free shipping with all orders!

$18.00

Categories
The Papageno Diaries! Videos

The Papageno Diaries: Episode 21 “Saying Goodbye to Papageno- FOR NOW!”

In this week’s episode, we pack up our beloved Papageno and move her to the Boat Yard to start her repairs! We fit in a float switch with Captain Holly from SV Another Adventure! As Laura and I prepare for our EPIC adventures in England with Leela, we look forward to the future of Papageno with MASTS in the New Year!

A big thanks to everyone who has followed our journey so far- we hope you will follow us to England!

Find us! https://www.earlewrites.com
Support us! https://www.patreon.com/earlewrites
Shop! https://www.earlewrites.com/shop

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The Papageno Diaries! Videos

The Papageno Diaries: Episode 20 “Getting work DONE!”

In this episode, we crack on with some major changes in the interior of Papageno, Laura introduces Lizbef to the Godfather, and we prepare for our final move to the boat yard for Papageno’s mast installation. Things are happening!
Find us: https://www.earlewrites.com
Save Papageno https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/savepapageno-1
Support us! https://www.patreon.com/earlewrites

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The Papageno Diaries!

The Papageno Diaries: Episode 19 “Getting our MASTS fixed!”

In this episode, Laura and I find a workshop to have our masts repaired and transport them across the marina. Meanwhile, I come to terms with a crew of four becoming three and try to find the joy in each day despite the new path taken.

Find us! https://www.earlewrites.com

Save Papageno! https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/savepapageno-1

Become a Patron https://www.patreon.com/earlewrites