EmilyZarza

I do as well. I spent an HOUR waiting for a 263, which is supposed to come every 9-12 minutes. Lies. I also had to catch it in the rain, looking like something dead that had washed up in the gutter. 

Apart from that, no big news. My mum has asked me several times when am I going to start wearing make-up again? Didn't realise I was such an embarrassment with it off! I think I'm getting used to the look though, it's really boring wearing and looking the same every day, but it's quite nice to rock out of bed in the morning and not have to even look in the mirror. 

I am looking forward to sunday though, it must be said. 

In the meantime, I may just find that photo of me in my new railcard and photograph it. Just to highlight my dedication to the cause. 

Traa for now

So I had a very stressful day yesterday trying to get back to London from Manchester. Made ever the more so by my slowly worsening appearance. I got to the train station with plenty of time. Feeling pleased with myself, I sat down only to jump back up again, I'd forgotten my Young Person's Rail card. If only I had make up on, then I could have used my feminine wiles, (but right then, I think much of my feminine wileness had remained at home. With my foundation.) Luckily, the KINDEST MAN IN THE WORLD happened to be at the station, posing as a ticket man. I went and explained my situation, he told me the only thing to do was to buy another train ticket, or buy another railcard, which weigh up at a hefty £26.

However, I then realised that my railcard was about to run out anyway, I may as well simply get a new one. I dashed to the photo booth and after staring in disbelief that it is now FIVE WHOLE POUNDS to get a set of photos, and having to get a multitude of coins out of the coin machine, I plopped myself down on the seat. But here the problem presented itself to me in a glaring (and unflattering) way. I had no make up on, and I was about to spend five pounds on a set of photos in which I look like a drowned rat. 

But I had no time to debate whether this was such a good idea after all. It was a train or no train situation. I took one photo. You know when the woman's voice asks you if you were happy with your photo? I wasn't. But there was no time to think about what pose would look better, my train was leaving in ten minutes and I still had to fill out a form and pay for my stupid railcard. On my way back to the ticket office, my bag strap broke in a rather impressive manner and I had to catch my bag in mid-air, it had my laptop in it, in the midst of a crowd of onlookers. Is it attention seeking to say I liked that bit? No. 

So I got back to the ticket office, but by the time I'd paid for the railcard, my train had left by ONE MINUTE. But as I said before, I needn't have worried, as the KINDEST MAN IN THE WORLD was there, sent by God. He saw me floundering in distress, and with a smile that made me quite want to marry him, he stamped my ticket and told me just to get onto the next train. He'd seen me in my hour of need, and even though I looked like a flustered birds nest by this point, he helped me anyway. 

I think this story just sums up a) the kindness of strangers and b) the whole point of my challenge. 

I've always thought people were shallow as part of their nature, that first impressions and how one cares for oneself are the groundings for relationships. But if someone went out of their way to help me when I looked like that, well then we're clearly all not as obsessed with looks as I had previously believed!

The kindest man in the world made my week. 

So once again, I prepare to hurl myself into the fray of beautiful students with an outfit I am beginning to despise and a face only a mother could love. Just waiting for someone to see me and ask me if I am ill. (That's happened before, you know. It's not an isolated incident.) 

Also, I don't want to sound paranoid, but I think my makeup is looking at me. I look myself away from its plaintive stare by heading out to the library, but once again I am forced into the public eye. I feel like a soggy brown bathmat.

I just completed the pilates/pizza express combo. No make up whatsoever. Not even lipbalm. The leftover mascara that was clinging to my eyes yesterday has vanished. My eyes look old and small. My boyfriend looked more dressed up than me, and he prides himself on casual wear, and my friends have raided my wardrobe to go out in, and I can't wear any of it!

Hopefully I won't have gone mad by tomorrow. 

One good thing about this is that all I have to do is dress in the clothes that are on the floor, brush my teeth and head on out. I'm in my library much earlier than usual! However, I feel gross, everyone has made more of an effort than me in the library. I feel like a boring outcast. My face looks about 30 years older! I have bags under my eyes. I'm only 21! What happened to the days of being a fresh faced english rose. I look more like a withered old leaf. Silly, I know, but this no make up thing takes some getting used to! Is it sad that I care more about the no make up than the fact that I've been wearing this exact outfit for more than 2 days?

I already can appreciate the choices that I usually have when I wake up, if I have a bad hair day, or if I have a spot, I can cover it up, but those who live in poverty don't have that choice. They can wear only what they have on their backs. It's only day 2 and I'm already taking my lifestyle less for granted! This challenge seems to be working on me at least!

I didn't go to pizza express last night, I just hung out with my friends. Today though I'm spending my entire day in the public eye. Tomorrow is pilates followed by pizza express (rescheduled). A strange combination to wear the same outfit to I think. Oh well, this is why they call it a challenge!

I need to come up with an outfit that I can BOTH go to pilates to AND a nice 21st birthday meal out with my parents. It's proving very hard. I don't want to get chucked out of the restaurant, and I don't really feel like doing pilates in a dress.

I think I've come up with one.