Oh My I'm Inspired
Tell us a bit about yourself: While I’ve been very firmly rooted in myself from a young age, recent years have seen an incredible amount of self-growth. I’ve rediscovered my love of learning, and I’m more passionate than I’ve ever been before. I’m exploring how to be vocal about the things I believe in, and how I can add to the change I wish to see. I’m trying to tread carefully, but I’m flexing my muscles and I’m really excited about what’s to come.
I’m somewhere in between academic and creative, and I find both things within me in equal measure. My love of a spreadsheet has not gone unnoticed, and my love of knitting hasn’t either. I feel most at peace when I’m surrounded by order, but I feel stir crazy if I don’t get my hands a little dirty.
I hope people see me as a safe space, a confidant. Someone who is kind and thoughtful, and who you can trust with your honesty because your truth is valid.
And I really like cake!
Where do you live? I live in a neat little one bedroom house, right on the edge of town in Hawkenbury. Turn one way and you’ll find the sprawling residential streets that pave the routes into town, turn the other and you’ll find nothing but green space and woody trees. Not only do I reside directly between the urban and the rural, but I’m also at the mid-point of this town of ours. I can be on Camden Road or at the Pantiles in equal time, and you can’t say fairer than that. I’ve lived here for three years, but I’ve frequented here all my life, collecting 20 pence pieces to afford the train fair over from Tonbridge after school. £1.70 went an awful lot further 15 years ago.
What’s the best thing about TW? Our people, and the great things those people create. When I take a moment to think about how many independently owned businesses there are in this town, I feel a little emotional. We’ve got so many people doing great things, and I love that our town is a place where people can thrive.
...and the worst? Honestly? The lack of diversity. Did you know 43 out of 48 of our councillors are Conservative, and two thirds of them are men? And only a few come from minority ethnic communities. Diversity is something I’m really passionate about, so I’d love to see Tunbridge Wells do more to be a leader when it comes to diversity in all respects.
What does your perfect weekend in TW look like? A perfect weekend always starts with breakfast at The Black Dog. There’s nothing like a plate of eggs, however you like them, to kick off a Saturday and, although my flavour of choice is a hot chocolate, I’ve heard the coffee there is incredible.
For me, good weekends are taken slowly, so a stroll through the High Street and down to the Pantiles is the perfect way to spend the morning. There are so many cute shops to browse in, and the Pantiles market and Support Local Pop-Up are extra wins if they’re running. Of course, there are plenty of places to stop for a warming drink and to spend a few minutes watching the world go by.
Lunch is best taken at Basil, because if I’m eating out I might as well do it properly, and a slab of cake is the only way I know how to punctuate a great meal. Always favourably accompanied by the conversation of a friend where minutes turn to hours, with time well-spent putting the world to rights.
Afternoons are for long walks and fresh air breathed deeply, and Dunorlan Park is top of the list for its location between town and home. Looking out over the lake, it’s worthwhile to pause and take it all in. Feeling grateful for the beauty of what we have right here in our town.
The quiet life suits me well, so evenings are spent at home, enjoying a good book or a good knit, grateful for the peace and quiet that comes with living life right between the town and the country.
What are you reading at the moment? Currently I’m reading The Help by Kathryn Stockett. It took a while to get into, but now I find myself caught up in the lives of the characters, wondering what’s going to happen next. I really look forward to watching the film adaptation once I’ve finished, to see how it compares.
You write a blog, what’s it all about? I do! Oh My, I’m Inspired is really just a space for me to get out what I’m thinking. I find things better to process and keep track of when they’re down on paper, and this blog is just one of the ways I do that. From my thoughts on life, to projects I’m crafting, to ways I’ve been inspired to be more ethical, sharing what I’m experiencing or interested in is a great way for me to work through it myself, and if other people are interested in it, too, that’s just a bonus.
Nowadays you’re likely to find a lot of self-care, some good food, and a fair bit of minimalism thrown in, with the odd project to keep that creativity flowing.
You can find Jessica's blog here ohmyiminspired.wordpress.com or check out her feed over on the gram @ohmyiminspired
