'You may have tangible wealth untold; Caskets of jewels and coffers of gold. Richer than I you can never be - I had a Mother who read to me'

I've not written anything in an ages! I've been mulling over several different things to talk about... I have a whopper of a post brewing about feminism which I'll make a separate post for, and there are several things I'd just like to share that I love at the moment! It's probably incredibly sycophantic of me to make a post about 'things I love' but I just feel the need to spread some things and maybe introduce them to someone else (not that anyone who doesn't know me already will be reading this but never mind!)

First up I have been listening to a lady called Agnes Obel, she's Scandinavian so an instant winner, and her music is amazing, she plays the piano so bloody well and I literally can't stop listening to her. Another artist I've been listening to is Joe Banfi who is now called Banfi Music I think...

I found a poem called The Reading Mother by Strickland Gillilan, which is just so brilliant and I really love the idea of it, I shared it with my mum and it is so true, a mother who reads to you as a child is unlike anything else. I'm so lucky to have had such an incredible mama and I don't say enough how much I appreciate that she still looks after me even at the ripe ol age of almost 22.

In the poetry vein... I discovered a love letter which John Keats wrote to a woman called Fanny Brawne, he said:

My dearest Girl,

This moment I have set myself to copy some verses out fair. I cannot proceed with any degree of content. I must write you a line or two and see if that will assist in dismissing you from my Mind for ever so short a time. Upon my Soul I can think of nothing else — The time is passed when I had power to advise and warn you against the unpromising morning of my Life — My love has made me selfish. I cannot exist without you — I am forgetful of every thing but seeing you again — my Life seems to stop there — I see no further. You have absorb’d me. I have a sensation at the present moment as though I was dissolving—I should be exquisitely miserable without the hope of soon seeing you. I should be afraid to separate myself far from you. My sweet Fanny, will your heart never change? My love, will it? I have no limit now to my love — Your note came in just here — I cannot be happier away from you — ’T is richer than an Argosy of Pearles. Do not threat me even in jest. I have been astonished that Men could die Martyrs for religion — I have shudder’d at it — I shudder no more. I could be martyr’d for my Religion — Love is my religion — I could die for that — I could die for you. My Creed is Love and you are its only tenet — You have ravish’d me away by a Power I cannot resist; and yet I could resist till I saw you; and even since I have seen you I have endeavoured often “to reason against the reasons of my Love.” I can do that no more — the pain would be too great — My Love is selfish. I cannot breathe without you.

Yours for ever

John Keats

I can't over express how much I love these two lines, they are so beautiful:

- 'Love is my religion — I could die for that — I could die for you. My Creed is Love and you are its only tenet...'

- 'My Love is selfish. I cannot breathe without you.' I think the fact that he died before they could be married makes it all the more heartbreaking...

An article from a little while ago was retweeted onto my feed and I loved it, I thought by the title that it was going to be similar to many other rather stereotypical articles that I've read with similar names. There are so many pieces written explaining things that women wish men knew... And they more often than not, tend to be sickable, this however is funny, charming, incredibly true, and not at all done in a way to seem attractive and mysterious. It is literally twelve things that women do but won't ever tell you. It is written by Caitlin Moran and it's very witty and entertaining so enjoy! '12 Things About Being A Woman That Women Won't Tell You.'

Tomorrow it will be five months to the day that I stopped eating meat so that's a happy celebration, and today I had a buttload of blood taken from my arm after the lady couldn't take any from my hand (to check my vitamins) so I'm feeling rather sorry for myself! It's pitteling down outside so I fully intend on not moving from my bed, eating pesto pasta and watching some crappy film or another!

I can only apologise for this self absorbed style post. I felt that I needed to post something and sharing a few of these things was what sprang to mind! If nothing else I hope you enjoy the things I have shared, and have the best month ever!

"Every rock and tree and creature, has a life, has a spirit, has a name."

Liz Weir and Mark Constantine – the co-founders of LUSH. They began their journey with several small cosmetic companies, which saw every extreme, from becoming involved with the Body Shop; to underestimating the amount of orders they were to have – resulting in failure to meet the public’s demands.

The co-founders are life-long friends and have always strived to use fresh and innovative ingredients in order to bring chemical free cosmetics to the market and push against many mainstream and cheaper options. Their business has been their life’s work and they have poured their whole souls into creating a fair-trade, cruelty free and ethically sourced cosmetic company. LUSH appeals to everyone, not just people who choose to use animal-free ingredients. They are incredibly aesthetically pleasing and they create wonderful products that meet the needs of their market. I feel that in many places especially the UK and America there are growing concerns about how we treat our bodies and an awareness of the chemicals we consume and use in things like shampoos and body wash. LUSH has seen a great success for years, however over the last couple of years interest in the concept of the company has grown as more members of the public are drawn in by the promise not only of chemical free and ethical cosmetics, but also product quality.

Above all however, I find the relationship they built with the public fascinating, from their very first venture people have adored and supported them along their journey. In the early days many of their returning customers would say; ‘Here is £10, what do you want me to buy?’ They set the bar incredibly high by refusing to adhere to the norm - they seek options that other companies miss. To me they are an incredibly charming example that stands to prove that if you have enough inspiration, passion, kindness and determination you can achieve your ambitions while making friends along the way.