Hello again, my lovelies, how are you doing this week? I just have the very simple and completely unoriginal TMI tag for you this week because I do realise that many of you know absolutely nothing about me. I understand that this is a very lazy blog post but exams and assignments lately have been absolutely crazy and I couldn't leave you guys with nothing!

So without further ado, this is my *adapted for bloggers TMI tag, enjoy!

1. What are you wearing?
I am currently wearing the comfiest pajamas I own, because hello, who wears actually clothing around the house?!
2. Ever been in love?
Yes, and I am extremely lucky to still be in love with the most incredible man ever
3. Ever had a terrible breakup?
No thankfully, my current relationship is probably my first real relationship so I consider myself lucky to not have been in that situation yet
4. How tall are you?
I’m 160cm on my license and I think that translates to about 5’1½ ” (so short)!
5. How much do you weigh?
I’ve never been a real advocate for telling the world how much someone weighs as I believe that if a body is healthy, and happy, who cares what that body weighs?
6. Any tattoos?
No, although I’d love to receive one someday
7. Any piercings?
I’ve currently only got one piercing in my lower ear lobes
8. OTP?
Haha oh my goodness! Now before the internet goes haywire because of my nerdiness, it would have to Merthur (Or Merlin and Arthur from the BBC TV series Merlin)
9. Favourite show?
Currently my favourite show is Brooklyn nine nine, it’s hilarious! 10/10 would recommend!
10. Favourite bands?
My favourite band is Train, closely followed by the Script, Maroon 5, and MKTO
11. Something you miss?
One of my friends shut me out of her life about a year ago, it was difficult for me to recover from something like that; when my best friend suddenly wasn’t my best friend anymore..
12. Favourite song?
Hey there Delilah, Plain White T’s
13. How old are you?
For confidentiality reason, I may not answer this question…
14. Zodiac sign?
Scorpio!
15. Quality you look for in a partner?
They have to be able to make me laugh, and have a great sense of humour, very light-hearted but can also be serious when needed
16. Favourite Quote?
“Either write something worth reading, or do something worth writing.” –Benjamin Franklin
17. Favourite actor?
Favourite female actor- Anne Hathaway : Favourite male actor- Hugh Grant
18. Favourite colour?
Lilac purple (the colour of Jacaranda trees if we’re being specific)
19. Loud music or soft?
Hmm probabaly medium volume, depends on my mood
20. Where do you go when you’re sad?
I enjoy going down the my study and just typing, typing, typing ;)
21. How long does it take you to shower?
Roughly 4-8 minutes depending on whether I’m washing my hair or not
22. How long does it take you to get ready in the morning?
About a half hour
23. Ever been in a physical fight?
Nope
24. Turn on?
Sharp jawline, sense of humour, kind, gentle
25. Turn off?
Smoking, chewing gum loudly, rough
26. The reason I joined Blogger?
I felt it was time to share my writing with the world and I hope that the world is enjoying it
27. Fears?
I’m scared of the dark, and of sleeping and snakes
28. Last thing that made you cry?
The movie Fast and Furious 7, I was completely gone- RIP Paul Walker
29. Last time you said you loved someone?
Last night
30. Meaning behind your URL?
I wanted people to understand my love for writing- also I may be a sucker for puns…
31. Last book you read?
Jodi Picoult- Change of Heart (let me know if you’d like me to do a review)
32. The book you’re currently reading?
Nickolas Sparks- The Guardian
33. Last show you watched?
Veronica Mars- who misses it?!
34. Last person you talked to?
My handsome boyfriend
35. The relationship between you and the person you last texted?
He is my lover
36. Favourite food?
Indian
37. Place you want to visit?
I’d love to visit Rome at some point in my life as doing Ancient History in school taught me so much about Roman Civilisation
38. Last place you were?
The Dance Studio
39. Do you have a crush?
Since I have a boyfriend, I’m going to reword this into “Celebrity Crush” and I have to admit Logan Lerman is big for me right now
40. Last time you kissed someone?
Last night
41. Last time you were insulted?
A couple of days ago, my “friend” told me I was gaining too much weight
42. Favourite flavour of lolly?
Orange! Funny story about this- it’s because when I was little all my friends absolutely hated the orange lollies and I just liked any flavour but because I always got given the orange ones they’re now my favourite (haha)
43. What instruments do you play??
I once learnt piano for a brief stint- worst decision ever
44. Favourite pieces of jewellery?
Statement necklaces
45. Last sport you played?
I danced a couple of days ago!
46. Last song you sang?

47. Favourite chat up line?
Person A: How much does a polar bear weight?
Person B: How much?
Person A: Enough to break the ice…
48. Have you ever used it?
No but I’ve had it used on me…no it didn’t work!
49. Last time you hung out with anyone?
Last night
50. Who should answer these questions next?
I tag any of you reading this right now! Whether you film a video or just do a lazy blog post like I am right now, make sure you tweet me and let me know!

Hopefully you learnt enough about me haha, which I know isn’t necessarily a good thing but I can trust you guys right?

Until next time,
Gina xx

By Gina Hartley

"As I wait for my mum to pick me up, I catch a glimpse of my distorted reflection in the cars that drive past. My medium length hair covers most of my face and the part of my face you can see, looks sad. I give the reflection of me a half-hearted smile, but even distorted, it looks empty; fake. I spot mum’s car pulling up beside me, and I try to force my smile wider and more genuinely happy to see her, as I give a small wave. She smiles and waves back, seemingly unaware of how I feel like I could fall apart at any given moment. I make my way to the car.

“How was work?” She asks me in the same happy tone she always does,
“It was good,” I say neutrally. Translation: It’s never good.
“What did you have to do this time?”
“Just deal with customer service, you know, in case they don’t like a product and want to return it,” Translation: The people I have to deal with are so rude; they tease me and treat me like I’m a child.
“This sounds good,”
“It was,” Translation: It wasn’t.
“I’m really glad you’ve gotten that job, I’m so proud of you!”
“Thanks mum,” Translation: I hate it and I want to quit.
“How was school today?”
“It was alright,” Translation: Alright is an understatement.
“Do you have any assignments due soon?”
“Yes, I’ll need to do that when I get home,” Translation: I don’t even know when to start. 
Mum pulls into the driveway and I make my way up to the house. Before I enter the front door, I turn around and catch her talking to our elderly neighbour. She’s smiling and gesturing in my direction and I know she’s talking about how I’m supposedly doing well in school and how I’m the perfect daughter. The thought makes me sadder than I realise as I blink back tears. I’m living in a world where my mother doesn’t even know who I am, or what I’ve done, or how much I hate myself for it. I walk into the house trying to banish that looming thought from my head as I close the door behind me.

That night, as I lie in bed and stare at the ceiling, I feel my eyes watering up. I begin to question my existence, as I do almost every night. I make up scenarios in my head that both frighten and intrigue me. What would it be like if I was gone? No one would really remember me would they? The demons inside me already know the answer, and they chant it softly, dangling my life like a thread they believe I’m willing to chop. Taunting me with my life and the worst part is sometimes, I think I believe them. By now I’m really crying as giant sobs wrack my body. To think my parents are sound asleep under the same roof. Never knowing, and never going to find out.

The next day at school, I’m sitting down with my group, eating lunch. They all seem happy, smiling and blissfully unaware. I stare into space feeling more disconnected from life since, well ever.
“Hey Livy,” my friend Tess says to me, “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine seriously,” I say, trying to smile. Translation: Why do you care?
“Are you sure?” She presses on, “You just look kind of sad.”
“Nah, I’m all good, just super tired.” I say faking a laugh. Translation: You wouldn’t understand.
“Livy, I know you well enough to know a fake laugh when I see one, what’s gotten into you lately?”
“Tess, I’m fine can you please just drop the subject?!” I say harshly to my surprise. Translation: Please drop the subject before I start crying, I don’t want to be selfish and make this about me. 
My whole group exchange looks and I sigh. Sometimes I feel like there’s nowhere I really belong, and nowhere that’ll be willing to take me.
“Well just remember Liv, we’re always here for you in thick and thin okay?” My whole group’s nodding in agreement as a wave of confusion goes over me. Why do they care? And that’s when I know the tears started rolling. Tess puts her arm around me and puts my head on her shoulder. As I stain her shirt with my tears, she whispers softly in my ear,
“This too shall pass.”"




I wrote this story as part of an assessment for an Literature unit we were doing. The main themes that we had to incorporate into the story were fighting, family, and friends. I decided to take a different angle on the topic and while I made reference to the family and friends, I tried to make the main focus about the character fighting with herself. I hope to put emphasis on the fact that often there are times in our lives where we may say something and mean the complete opposite. The true meaning that we're trying to express may be, for lack of a more-perfect phrase "lost in translation." And I want anyone reading this who may be going through their own hardships to understand that you. are. not. alone. It's perfectly okay to be feeling that way. There's nothing wrong with you and while I know it may seem like the world is just one big scary place and you're just one tiny person, you are capable of things beyond even your wildest imagination.

Stay strong, and send me an email when things seem almost unbearable, my inbox is always open,
Until next time,
Gina xx
thehartofwriting@gmail.com 

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