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Books I Hated in High School but Love Now
Ok, strictly speaking, I didn’t “hate” any of these books – but my classmates certainly did! It will come as a surprise to no one that I was a huge bookworm all through school. Even after I finished high school and studied journalism, I always packed a book with me on the train. Whether you…
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These Plants Can Kill: Deadly Flora
“Every rose has its thorns”. We all love the sight of a beautiful garden, but sometimes the loveliest appearances hide a deadly nature. Jane Percy, the Duchess of Northumberland, decided in 1995 that she wanted to grow a garden exclusively containing harmful plants. She originally thought of a medicinal garden, but she changed her mind…
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What I Learnt From Knitting My First Jumper
When I decided to write about knitting a jumper last year, my wrists immediately started screaming “never again”. I’ve written previously about how great knitting is for chronic pain, but I didn’t mention how damaging it can be. When I’m knitting or crocheting, I tend to get lost in the pattern and flow. I’ll usually…
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Creature Feature: Cuckoo Birds and Brood Parasites
When we think of parasites, we typically think of unpleasant creepy-crawlies like leeches or ticks. Today I’d like to introduce you to the brood parasite, the most famous of those being the cuckoo bird. You might recognise the cuckoo as the little bird that pops out of old clocks, but it’s really their parenting habits…
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The Legend of Medusa: Myths and Misconceptions
If you didn’t know, I’m very interested in Greek mythology – so much that I wrote a thesis on feminist interpretations. One of the biggest figures in Greek mythology that isn’t a god or a hero is possibly Medusa, the snake-haired gorgon who can turn people to stone with a glance. Medusa has become somewhat…
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My Tarot Reading Process: An Example
I’ve decided to start offering tarot readings here on my blog! I have 2 tarot decks and a set of oracle cards, and I think it’s about time I did some readings for other people. Many people have misconceptions about tarot or are concerned that it and other divinatory practices are scams; I want to…
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How D&D Made Me a Better Writer
For the longest time, I saw writing as a solitary pursuit. I pictured myself as an author working entirely alone, only interacting with people for book signings. I was always scared of criticism, even the constructive kind. I’m still in the habit now of submitting work without feedback because deep down, I’m afraid people will…
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Vampires from Around the World
The common perception of vampires comes from the European archetype of the pale, fanged, aristocratic monster. Count Dracula is usually the first vampire that people think of, but he’s not the original. Bram Stoker was influenced by John Polidori’s The Vampyre, a story developed at the same party of Lord Byron’s where Mary Shelley wrote…
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Creature Feature: Flamingos
Flamingos conjure images of tropical locations, beachside holidays, and quirky lawn decorations. But there’s more to these pretty pink birds than it seems. Tickled Pink You may have heard that flamingos get their colour from eating salmon. It’s true that they turn pink because of their diet, but they don’t eat fish at all! Flamingos…
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2 of the Best Queer Shows Out Now!
As I’m posting this, it’s IDAHOBIT Day (International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersexism and Transphobia), and Pride Month is just around the corner! So I wanted to talk about two LGBT+ shows that I’ve really enjoyed recently. I’m grateful to live in a time where people of all genders and sexualities are shown on screen…