inspired again

Really? Two years since my last blog post? That's ludicrous. To think, I could be Deliciously Ella by now if I'd had just stuck at it - three magazine covers down, residing in a mansion.

Yet, here I am: a resident of London for half a decade; two years into my first job (I've just finished working - it's 10PM); about as far away from writing essays on Mughal paintings as humanly possible - though I do have a hilarious Indian client who adores my "cultural prowess". Currently basking in pseudo-single bliss, spending weekends wandering aimlessly around the city and when lucky, further afield.

So what did I do after attaining a degree in History of Art? What every Art Historian does, of course. I entered into the debauched realm of digital marketing and PR, where I spend my days fantasising about ridiculous campaigns to convince people (like me) that they can solve all their problems if they just spend all their wages on ridiculous things they don't need.

Recently though, I've met some incredible people through my job - bloggers, Instagramers, entrepreneurs - which has inspired me to revive Indelible City and restore it to the glorious string of consciousness I had always intended it to be.

I want to share my adventures with you in the hope that 1. you'll actually read it and 2. I'll inspire you in the way that they have inspired me.

In 2015, Indelible City becomes a blog about travel, culture, luxury, lifestyle and tech (because I am a bit of a geek, really). Prepare for pictures, comments, opinions and general ramblings.

But for now, enjoy the highlights from the past two years in the Indelible City I call home, London.

With love x

I graduated! July, 2013. 

Bahia Palace, Marrakech. May 2014.

Kaunos, Turkey. May 2014

Glastonbury. June, 2014 

INALA - my first client - a Zulu ballet featuring Ladysmith Black Mambazo and dancers from Rambert and the Royal Ballet. It went on to perform at the Royal Variety Performance 3 months after launch. August, 2014. 

Edinburgh, Scotland. August 2014. 

Isle Mujeras, Mexico. October, 2014 

New York City from the Empire State Building. April, 2015. 

My walk home. Everyday.

third year

IT has been a really long time.

Third year at the Courtauld Institute of Art is taking its toll: I'm revising for my final's at the moment. I've just emptied half a jar of Horlicks into an abnormally large mug, hoping that it might live up to its word and I may finally have a good nights sleep after the trauma of my dissertation.

Maybe I should start where I left off.

A recruiting consultant told me that, as a History of Art graduate, "you'll be an unpaid intern for two years after your degree, followed by an entry level salary of twelve thousand pounds" Safe to say a part of me died inside.

So I went in search of greener pastures. After Jamie's I went on to intern as a marketing analyst at Stylus.com, an innovation and trend forecasting website. It was awesome.

I moved into my beautiful new flat a few weeks after my last post. I am completely, head over heels, in love with it. Check out the view...

A room with a view: London from my window 

This was before third year started. I'm not sure where the time has gone since then.

I spent 10 weeks studying Medieval French art - a surprisingly interesting subject. I lied, but I have another 2 weeks of revision so I need to convince myself that it is. My resentment was tempered somewhat by the free trip to Paris, and, honestly, it was incredibly refreshing to see beyond the 18th century additions to the city.

Paris from the Pompidou

From France I went east to India (not literally) to the Mughal dynasty. Mughal art is complex: it is not aesthetically naive or conceptually redundant, like many people believe to be true. The subject has come to the foreground of historiographical enquiry with the various exhibitions on its art and culture in the past couple of years. The Mughal India exhibition at the British Library provided the most comprehensive collection of art and artefacts from the period. In amongst the odd wooden edifices that littered the exhibition was some of the most fascinating manuscript miniatures I have seen. So fascinating in fact, I wrote my dissertation on it.

Shah Jahan on a Terrace Holding His Portrait, 1627 

This is where I have been the last three months. Writing my dissertation.

When people ask what it's on, "turbans" is my reply. Don't laugh, I did not envisage myself writing 5000 words on the subject either. Technically it is on the portrait miniatures distributed by the Mughal emperor's as a sign of merit, that were worn on the turban, known as shast. Hopefully I have made some new discoveries on the subject with the help of the British diplomat Sir Thomas Roe - we will see when I get my mark!

14 June is the close of East Wing X, the end of an era really. East Wing XI is already taking form and the new team is looking absolutely incredible.

East Wing X poster 

For now, I have exams in 2 weeks, graduation in a month, and a mammoth job hunt after that. So much is going to change in the next few months, it's a bit overwhelming. So watch this SPACE...