This one was so interesting to me because it is a defiant display of how Ireland's number of refugees is a lot lower than that of our other European counterparts. I personally have no problem with refugees as long as they are not a threat to our country, so I liked this one in particular. The colour black really made the piece stand out and it was big in size on the wall. Art is about defiance, about spreading a message and especially about making you think, making you feel something. This piece, bleak though it looked, really made me think.

Self-portraits. This was striking because I love seeing how people perceive themselves. The paintings were done in a variety of ways, which gave me, even more insight into the mind of the artist. The artwork was done by people from all years, from first year right up until final year. This was interesting because you could see the ranges in technique, how the artwork fluctuated in method, structure and colour. All of the paintings were beautiful in their own way, I wouldn't say any of them were "bad". There's something special in seeing a self-portrait because it's so personal, kind of like when I spill my guts in a personal blog post.

The message in this piece is what caught my attention. The setting is of course in Auschwitz, the infamous Nazi Concentration camp. "We learn our history again to prevent it from happening again". This had me thinking about the genocides occurring in our present time, like that of the Syrians being murdered and how I feel it is history repeating itself in some way. The Holocaust is interesting in the sense that historians and literary experts are reluctant to allow present genocides be compared to it. Was the artist alluding to this? Or were they simply making a point of why students are subjected to the same stories, year after year. It's quite open.

Hello, hope you're all doing well. It's been a while since I posted about my blog's new direction. In the past few weeks, I've been scouring the internet and the world around me for inspiration. I've been really liking lots of colour everywhere and I've incorporated this ideology into the clothes I buy. It's this mindset of colour that brought me to the idea of tie-dye. I've been wanting to try this for so long and while I had some spare time I decided to give it a go while Ciaran was down visiting.

First, we prepped our surface with a huge sheet of plastic to stop the dye from going everywhere. We collected four plastic bottles and proceeded to make the dye. The dye was shaken into the bottles one by one, and we filled these with warm water and about one-quarter of it with salt. (The salt is what makes the colour set). Then we shook until all the dye had dissolved.

The colours we used: 

You'll need:

- A plain white t-shirt

- Dyes (as many colours as you wish)

- Four elastic bands

- 750g of salt

Next, I used four elastic bands separate the fabric into four sections. Then I repeated this action but in the opposite direction until the fabric was separated into eight sections. I found this a bit tricky, to get the sections as even as possible. As you can, I didn't succeed in getting it perfect, but close to that is good enough.

I poured the dye into one of the eight section, making sure to cover all the white fabric, repeating the same colour in the section opposite. I repeated this with the other colours until the fabric was completely covered. I then flipped the fabric over and repeated the dyeing process, making sure I aligned the colours on this side with the sections of the other side.

THANK YOU FOR READING!

SO, what do I have planned for this summer? What do I have planned for my blog? Some of those answers you'll have to wait for. You'll have more variety in blog posts, that's for sure, ranging from recipes, art, fashion and more. I have a few ideas up my sleeve and I am hoping that once I get going that more ideas will come. I really want to make an effort with my blog this summer and hopefully you'll notice the difference. No Cat Got My Tongue is due a design change so expect to see the blog appearance changing and fingers crossed, changed for the better. Summer-wise, I am hoping that I get lucky and manage to get a job! I would like to learn more coding, improve my graphic design and visual communications skills and just to travel a little bit. 

Thank you for sticking with me and this blog, I hope you'll continue to check back to see what's on my mind!

 

Dusk is such a pretty time of day, isn't it? This photo was taken in the garden of my family home. Which is a house in the middle of Co Kilkenny, an area in the South East of Ireland. I had about five tries before I captured the photo I was aiming for because I kept taking blurry photos. Yes, I used a filter, because for some reason the photos I take are never enough on their own and I zoomed in on the image so anything ugly (i.e. the wire around the ponies' field), wasn't visible. A note also, this isn't, in fact, a photo of daffodils, they are Narcissus. Bet you didn't think of that did you?

There is something about dusk that adds some magic to the world, the sun takes on a beautiful orange tone and the land around is bathed in its light. It really does look lovely and I remember I found these flowers so otherworldly, in the shadows of the sunset. I do think I forget how beautiful Ireland is until I stop for a moment and appreciate what's around me. The slightly off focus in the image actually appeals to me this time, I think it adds a grungy feel to the photo and I really do try to make my photos look interesting on Instagram.

I know that when this photo was taken, I was trying not to fall over due to how windy it was. My legs were sandy from the beach and my camera was shaking due to the sea breeze. This image was definitely been cropped, it looks too good to have been taken impromptu. At most, I brightened the image a little but the natural beauty of the sea didn't need much filtering. In saying that, I was pretty annoyed having to press the camera up against a railing, trying to stop the bars from obscuring the lens.

The South West of Ireland i.e Co Kerry definitely has its own rugged beauty. This photo was taken three weeks ago when I went on a road trip with my friend Patrick and boyfriend Ciaran. Ballybunion Beach is a go-to spot for both locals and tourists alike, it's just heavenly. As you can see I have a thing for sunsets. I particularly like how the water is shining due to the sunlight reflecting off of it. I do think young people in Ireland need to appreciate Ireland more for just how beautiful it is. After being away from home for almost 8 months, I realized how much I had taken Ireland for granted and I like to think I look at it through a different perspective now.

I'm cringing looking at this image because I know how annoying it was trying to get the exact aesthetic I was looking for. The photo I took doesn't even give the view justice. The sunlight was more golden shining through the trees, it doesn't have too much of an impact here. Truth be told, the photo was taken with my phone as  I had forgotten to bring my camera so the image is not as high quality. The sunlight kept causing overexposure, making the image looked washed out so it took a while of standing still and adjusting the camera to take the photo I wanted. Oh well. 

The photo is taken in the Clare Glens, Co Tipperary. I went for a hike there not too long ago and I really did use my leg muscles. The route takes you through a wooded area, down below you is a river flowing along. I absolutely adore the sound of running water. Being in nature suits me so much, I can really get caught up in just how picturesque it is. I was so tired from hiking up-hill in the mud but the photos and views made up for it.

Skye was a character I found hard to read at first, I did not know what her intentions towards Clay were for some time within the show. She seemed agressive, and I couldn't understand why. Once I figured out what she was all about I really started thinking about her. She is obviously someone in a lot of pain and is not sure how to cope with it. In the closing minutes of the final episode Clay decides to reach out to her and it's almost his way of doing what he was not able to do for Hannah, to help her. Skye for me was someone I could relate to, someone all of us have either been or someone we have known, a person going through a great struggle. But it's important to know that you're not alone and though you may feel that you are, there ARE in fact, people, resources and other ways to get help for yourself.

2. Jeff

Jeff, despite not being a major character was actually someone I found myself liking quite a lot. Not even because he's gorgeous, but because of the way he treated Clay during his time in the show. It really made me think of society. Very often we see people who are privileged look down on those who may be in a worse off position. In this case, Jeff seems to be quite popular and in a position of influence, yet he decides to help Clay out with a variety of predicaments, namely his failure to reveal to Hannah how he feels. Even if it was a word of encouragement, it helped Clay out. I found it interesting because it just shows, if you have power, you should use it for good. That's what Jeff seemed to do and I was very sorry when he died in the show.

3. Sheri

Zach was a character that I understood to an extent. I do believe he had good intentions from the beginning, by asking Hannah out. I think Hannah was almost conditioned to believe everyone was against her by this point. People do have a tendency to act out when they get hurt, sometimes even just as a way of self defense without even thinking about it. Zach should not have done what he did, taking the notes out of Hannah's lunch bag was a bad idea, but if your pride is hurt sometimes you end up doing petty things. Humans are funny beings, and I myself am no exception.

7. Alex

Poor Alex had the opportunity to be a friend to Hannah too, but I feel, like most people on the outskirts of society, you just want to fit in. Alex did what he did to Hannah and also Jessica, because he was angry but also he wanted the popular guys i.e. those at the top in the high school such as Justin and Bryce, to accept him. This comes back to haunt him again and again throughout the show and it really shows that hurting your friends in ordering to climb up the social ladder is not the way to go. You can really see Alex's guilt throughout the show, he really regrets what he did to Hannah and it comes back to bite him in the end. I do feel that Alex made one mistake and had to pay dearly for it.

8. Bryce

Dear God where do I begin with Bryce? Bryce represents the type of men that do exist in our society that I find absolutely repulsive. The type of guys that feel that the world owes them something and that they can do whatever they like with the people around them. Bryce, for some twisted reason feels no guilt for raping Jessica AND Hannah. It reminds me of the Brock Turner case that hit world headlines, which detailed a young man who felt he did no wrong and blamed anything but himself for what had happened. Justin Prentice played the character convincingly, but makes a strong case against the character in many of the behind the scenes footage. I do think it is important to highlight that these type of people exist, both men and women.

9. Justin

Justin was a character that without meaning to, got sucked up into the whirlwind of Hannah's death. Like a lot of men in our society, he wanted intimate photos of Hannah and unfortunately due to his actions the photo he took was released to the public. I can't pretend I understand why Justin allowed Bryce to rape his unconscious girlfriend, but the guilt is clearly tormenting him throughout the show and he is a shell of his former self by the final episodes. It was interesting watching the alpha male being reduced to a nervous, tortured person. 

10. Jessica

Jessica's character represents a lot of girls today. People tend to get upset when their ex breaks up with them or moves on. Girls also have a tendency to make impulsive decisions. It was sad to watch how Alex's act of placing both Jessica and Hannah's names into "The List" destroyed their friendship. I do think insecurity had a part to play in why Jessica reacted the way she did. It was hard during the show when it is revealed that Bryce raped her and her boyfriend, the man supposed to protect her, allowed it to happen. What happened is clearly in her subconscious as we see her resort to drinking, being drunk all the time to act normal. It was interesting to see how our subconscious remembers things that we ourselves may not.  

11. Tony

I have a lot of respect for the character of Tony. He had a huge burden to bear throughout the show and I feel he bore it pretty well, or as best he could. His concern for Clay throughout the show was heartwarming to me and I've come to the conclusion that he wanted to prevent Clay, his friend from repeating the same actions as Hannah Baker. When you're that young, it's hard to know what to do, so Tony keeps the tapes from Hannah's parents. I can't imagine how much those tapes would have weighed on Tony's mind. But I know I respected him even more when he stayed with Clay when he heard his own tape and when he finally gave Hannah's parents the tapes and confessed to everything. It really showed a strength of character and I hope that I could do the right thing if I ended up in a situation similar to that.

12. Clay

Clay as a character broke my heart because he reacted quite similarly to me in a lot of ways. I can imagine to some extent what it must be like to love someone who is no longer around. At least I used to. The situation overwhelms him from time to time throughout the show. How could it not? The girl he had strong feelings for is dead and only now is he realizing that she also had feelings for him too. That missed opportunity, one he can never get back is torturing him. I understand for the most part why he acted the way he did throughout the show. I especially respected him for reaching out to Skye in the closing of the final episode, to me it was almost a way for him to benefit from what he learned in Hannah's tapes, that you never know what someone is going through. That by reaching out to someone you may save their lives. He does represent someone who didn't really find their way for quite some time, his inability to convey his feelings to Hannah while she was alive was endearing, frustrating and heartwrenching all at once. Humans are being of many feeling and Clay did the best he could at the time, but his inability to act will always haunt him and it's an important lesson to learn, I feel.

13. Hannah 

Hannah, Hannah, Hannah. What an interesting character. She was the character that reminded me of myself the most. The way she acted in certain cases, especially her way of dealing with pain, to shut herself off and not tell anyone. It was painful to watch her story play out, because at times, the way she reacted was not the right way to react, but humans are fickle beings. Sometimes it's hard to know how to react and we are emotional beings. I certainly don't think suicide is an option myself but one of the show's lines impacted me "The little things matter. It is interesting how the things that happened to Hannah all piled up on top of her until she could take it no more. The scene in the final episodes with Mr Porter the counsellor were frustrating and emotional. She was so close and yet so far and I don't particularly understand why she could not make that leap and speak. I do know that sometimes speaking the truth is harder than not saying anything, so again it just highlighted the impact of depression and the bewildering nature of mental illness. 

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I needed to mention Ryan Shaver separately because the whole topic of writing is extremely important to me. I do think what Ryan did was wrong, though he thought he was doing Hannah a favour. The thing about writing is, is that people can interpret wrongly what you meant by certain things in your words. This upset me a lot when I watched it on the show because it has happened more than once where my words were taken out of context and caused trouble for me. That is the interesting thing though, everyone is different and words mean different things to people. What Hannah wrote was beautiful but people did not understand. That is part and parcel of writing, and I just thought that particular episode was really interesting.

13 Reasons Why was not a perfect show, but it has gotten people talking about mental health and suicide, which I think is so so important. Mental Health is still a taboo topic in 2017 Ireland sadly, though there has been improvements, there still is not enough awareness of it. To those suffering, you really ARE NOT alone. Please please speak up, suicide does not solve anything. I know this is easier said than done. If you've been affected by any of these issues mentioned in my blog, here are some places you can go to:

www.jigsaw.ie/help

www.mentalhealthireland.ie

www.aware.ie/Mental+health

http://www.suicide.org/international-suicide-hotlines.html

I hope that I haven't upset anyone and thank you for reading my opinion on the show and the characters. Please do avail of the services available if you are struggling. You do not have to suffer in silence.

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