I haven’t done a written Life Update for a few months now, I did do a video at the beginning of April if you didn’t see; but I feel like now is a pretty good time to do a blog post. Enjoy 😉
This may well be a lengthy blog post, so grab a cup of tea or make yourself a coffee get yourself a snack, sit back and read away 😉
MENTAL HEALTH
By now you have probably figured that I am pretty open when it comes to mental health, and I do want to talk about it because other people might be feeling the same and at least they’ll know they are not completely alone.
Some of it is genuinely private, but I’ll share what I feel comfortable with talking about.
I have been really struggling with self hate. I have improved recently, and I think that has to do with actually talking openly to my friends and also with what I eat. I also decided to make some new friends, and get out and see those people and that’s been a really positive experience for me too, so I can’t say I hate myself right now… I do need to ‘own’ my weirdness a bit more, but I now have people in my life who love my weirdness for me. I do genuinely have the best people helping me with my mental health, and I am lucky and I probably should appreciate that more.
I have also realised that I don’t need someone in order to make me happy, I am happy as I am, I just happen to have depression – but that doesn’t define me as someone who is lonely and sad. You can still be happy and have depression, and I think that’s me. It’s just taken some life experience to discover that. 🙂
ROCK NIGHTS
My first WELSH Rock Night didn’t go too badly! For my first time putting on a show outside of Southampton, and only had 4 previous Rock Nights under my belt… it went pretty well you know. Obviously can’t thank the people enough who came along, you guys are awesome – perhaps I’ll get some more Welsh dates 😉
My next Rock Night is the 21st June at the Joiners in Southampton with Our Propaganda, Crooked Shapes and Spyder Byte; and the rest are as follows :
13th July @ Stage Door : Yur Mum, Wicked Jackals, Capulas
11th October @ Stage Door : The Outlaw Orchestra, These Wicked Rivers, Trouble County
22nd November @ Stage Door : Western Sand, Crooked Shapes, Rite Off
14th December @ The Joiners!!! TBA.
As for 2020 – yes, I have already booked in shows for next year! I am going to be working with the venues that support me the most. So all my Southampton shows will be taking place at The Stage Door, and I have booked in more Welsh dates as well and they are all at the Hangar 18 in Swansea. I’m sure there will be opportunities with the 1865 as well. Bands who want to book in some shows for next year, hit me up! All slots are open at the moment and I have 6 dates so far. GO GO GO!
RATTIES
We all know how much I love my boys, and I love sharing them with you when I do these sort of blogs. They really are my world.
Teddy is so much better since I last updated you all – he still does bite, but we’ve got used to each other now and there is definitely no bad beef.
My BillBobs is still my soulmate for sure – we are so close I wish I could explain it without sounding insane. He’s just always there!
I’m pretty sure these two boys are the only rats I’ll own. I do really want more ratties, but I’m so close to Billy I just can’t imagine having another rat in my life like that? Does that make sense? There are other pets I want, so I’ll venture down those avenues before owning rats again but they have changed my life so much, added so much love to my life – if you need some love or want to channel your energy into something out, if you have time and money etc then rats really do make amazing pets ❤
BULLIES
I have been getting bullied. I didn’t really realise that it was bullying until my Dad mentioned it to my Mum. Thankfully it has hopefully all stopped now, but I thought I’d drop it in because bullying isn’t always just kids in playgrounds – can happen through all aspects of life. That is literally all I am going to say.
GIGS
One of my New Years Resolutions is to go and see more live music, and so far this year I am doing pretty good at sticking to that. I am enjoying checking out new bands, and new music and I’m actually learning to enjoy gigs in a different way as well. I’m not so fussed if I’m not right at the front anymore – sometimes it’s nice to just chill at the back and have a little boogie to yourself without having to bounce off the person stood within your proximities. I of course vlog gigs now which you can watch on my YouTube channel linked below.
I have tickets to HRH Sleaze and HRH13, so I am looking forward to going to them of course – so many bands are touring this year, and coming to Southampton! I swear I’m buying more gig tickets every other week. Looking forward to seeing Kris Barras, Buckcherry with support from the Treatment, Black Star Riders, The Struts… gosh… so much goodness!! ❤
REAL LIFE
In my REAL life, not the life that all you guys get to see and know about, there has been some stuff happening.
My Nan sadly passed away in March after battling Cancer for 8 months. I do want to say I am super proud of her for lasting as long as she did as she was only given 3 days to live and she made it 8 whole months. It was also my first funeral, and it wasn’t nice. It hasn’t really sunk in that she isn’t here anymore as I didn’t really get to know her until a few months before she passed away, but I definitely wish that I got to have more time with her because she was a very beautiful lady and I could tell she loved me for me and all my weirdness which is a rarity in family for me.
On that note, I am also so proud to be a Harris – when I hang out with my Dad and his cousins (who I now call my cousins) I feel like I fit in and that I have family. I also got to see my Auntie Wendy again, I love her, she is so awesome! Dad often says that I remind him of her… we definitely have similar traits – I just love us Harris’.
I myself have just been super quiet and not seeing many of my friends etc – but I’m starting to change that, like I said I’ve started to make new friends and that is helping my happiness. I’ve also started playing around with make-up and it is seriously one of my favourite things to do! I have so many Jeffree Star products that I might as well get some good and proper decent use out of them, and I am really enjoying experimenting with different looks, and getting inspired by musicians and fictional characters, it’s just so much fun! I think I’m just having fun discovering what I feel most comfortable and confident in, style wise, at long last.
Vegetarian Breakfast @ The Cliffhanger Café in Highcliffe
VEGANISM
I have also been setting myself monthly goals – which I am still keeping on top of which is awesome! Part of that was to slowly cut out meat; before I get loads of comments, I’m absolutely in no way a strict-vegan, but I want to try and be healthier and I really want to just make my own food etc. I cleared out one of the cupboards at home, and I basically do my own food shopping and cook my own meals and I am so much more happier doing that now, and I definitely prefer trying vegan options just because I’m eating things I wouldn’t have tried otherwise. I did start off just eating fish, then I went vegetarian, and now I’m trying to go vegan. I mean, if you offered me to try some of your food OR there was no vegan/vegetarian option that I like then I’m not going to turn down a regular option BUT I’ve never really been a massive fan of the taste or texture of meat so I can’t say I miss it or actively crave it. Don’t worry, I’m not going to force veganism down your throats, however I totally recommend trying a vegan option when you eat out… or at least giving jackfruit a try because it is freakin’ amazing! I had a jackfruit burrito at Revolucion de Cuba and it was amazinggg!
Basically just want to be healthier and happier, and buying the food I want was one of the biggest steps I could make in that direction and I LOVE IT ❤
To add to that, I definitely recommend setting yourself monthly goals – they really do help, and I’m glad they were something I decided to do this year. They work if you stick to them 😉 They are there for a reason…. for happiness 😀
It’s kind of amazing how much food really can impact your mental health as well as your physical health.
HOLIDAY
My getaway to Brighton was well needed. I learnt a lot whilst I was away and my eyes were well and truly opened. I think it’s the start of me finally healing and moving forward and becoming a better person. I want to briefly touch on the fact that me and my best friend had a tiny falling out, if you can even call it that, but I’m really happy we managed to sort it out pretty quickly and easily without any dramas or nastiness… I haven’t had that with many friends in the past and I really appreciated that. Anyway, the actual holiday was pretty fun – it was my bestest friends birthday and we stayed at my friends place in Southwick. I designed a leopard print cake for his 20th, we went to GAK, Caroline of Brunswick, The Neptune, ate way too much pizza and watched far too much Psycho, but it was nice to not be at home and actually SEE my friend.
All in all, I am just so thankful and delighted to have my best friend back.
NOZFEST
Nozfest is all going well, bands are doing ticket competitions as are local radios and other companies. There is a lot of interest coming from bands who want to take part, so if Nozfest takes off I’m sure the line-ups are just going to get more and more fun and adventurous each time. I also still have some offers and merch giveaways to come to do keep your eyes out for them. The line-up has also changed ever-so slightly – The Wicked Jackals are now playing, and I am so damn thrilled and excited about that fact and I’m very happy to have them be a part of my first ever festival – check them out, show them some love ❤
I know this has been a lengthy post, but I hope you’ve somewhat enjoyed this update!!
Please do stalk me on my social media, I don’t mind at all – message me on whatever platform – I love hearing from you :
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WEBSITE – www.nozfest.org
YOUTUBE – JodieBowie
See you soon you amazing people ❤
Jodie x ❤ x
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