'Oh Comely' Magazine

During my three week stint in England, my travel partner, Natalie, and I were staying in a University town known as Kingston, just outside of London. My lovely, loopy friend from high school, Megan, who now studies fine art in Kingston, was gracious enough to let us make her little living room our hobbit hole. Her fold-out sleeper couch doubled as a dumping ground for our many items bought on shopping sprees in Oxford Street, as well as, a place to rest our heads after hours of tourism and braving the bustling Underground.

One weekend, Megan invited us along to Bath with her to visit her Mom. A few days prior to the journey, the three of us debated possible modes of transport for what was probably longer than necessary. Train or Bus? A train would take half the time but be double the price. A bus...cheaper...but what you save in cash you pay for in extra hours and extra smells traveling from the in-carriage toilet. In the end the backpackers triumphed (if you can call it that) on the basis that our money situation would be pretty tight over the next few months.

So there we were, standing in WHSmith with plastic packets filled with all the best travel snacks, staring at the magazine stand deciding which magazine would keep us entertained when we had had enough of our ipods and attempts at sleep. I flicked quickly through a few glossies and beautiful fashion mags, but realised I never really read those. I just stare at the pages covered in all the clothes I want for a few moments and when I'm done I am left dreaming of the clothes, quite unfulfilled - because in what life would I own an exquisite Rodarte dress or Stella McCartney blouse? When my attempts at making a healthy decision failed, I traipsed over to the counter to pay for a Mars bar and a few extra packets of Haribo and happened to glance down at the news stand and see this beauty:

I didn't even have to look past the cover because I knew at first glance that I wanted it! It didn't just keep me occupied for the six hour bus trip, it left me feeling completely inspired. I feel like if you had to look at me, I would have had a hazy, happy glow around me. I'm so excited to say that I just bought a year subscription to it last week, and I can't wait to get the next installment in the mail. Each page is beautiful and thoughtful. "Keep your curiosity sacred" - that's the slogan - and curious is exactly how I felt within the first few moments of reading. My favourite articles inside issue ten were about the beauty of solitude and the art of perfumery. I also loved some of the answers readers had sent in to the question: "What's the best cure for a broken heart?" My favourite response was this: "Best cure for a broken heart is to learn a new constellation every time you get sad, make a cup of tea and drink it under your duvet every time you get angry, and when you feel alone, surround yourself with travel guides and plan your round-the-world trip. This way a broken heart will ultimately lead to understanding the whole universe."

If you get a chance, please take a look at 'Oh Comely' . Definitely the most worthwhile read.