2023. I haven't written in a while!

Well, hello.
I haven't written on here in ages! I guess with Instagram and YouTube being such a thing, words kind of get a bit lost and I forget to update things here. But I do enjoy writing - hence why some of my IG captions are so long.
I'm going to try and backdate some events and stuff, putting it all down into words here!

Quick catch up - what's been happening?
Well, I've now been at PaddlUp for 2 years!! It's so much fun and legit a dream job. Around amazing cars all the time, shooting them and discussing cars with people all the time. Especially now we're open on Saturday mornings. It's fab.

But then I'm missing proper events so badly! I hate winter...

I got to visit Dubai in Jan for my 30th birthday, with my boyfriend Max for the first time in years. I'll share some more of that trip.
I went and did some amazing workshops with Erin Baker in 2022 - definitely going to expand on that further in words! So keep an eye out!
I'll share some behind the scenes life of work.
I shall make sure to update more blog pieces, more frequently this year so keep an eye out.

#Skullsandsnacks - KOREAN FRIED CHICKEN! - CHICK AND BEERS!

It's only right to kick off my first foodie blog with this INCREDIBLE establishment!

I was watching David Chang's 'Ugly Delicious' with my boyfriend on Netflix one evening (his shows are amazing by the way!) when his episode of Fried Chicken came on. This triggered the foodies within us to CRAVE it! Now... we could of opted for that fast food chain of fried chicken. But I wanted more - I wanted to experience Korean Fried Chicken. 

A quick search of Google and Instagram lead us to Chick and Beers. We saw some pics on Instagram and that was it! Coats on, keys grabbed, out the door and en route!

They have two stores, but we opted for the Coombe Road branch, located at the far end of the main high street of New Malden.

We arrived to this lovely minimalistic restaurant on the corner. Some restaurants can seem so cramped, or overly garish in decor, but this place was just lovely - so chilled, despite being rather full. As soon as we opened the door, this lovely woman came and greeted us and showed us to our table, handed us menus and was so sweet! (Despite having returned I still haven't learn her name but she's awesome!!)

We ordered a tray of Half/Half - Half soy and half glazed with a side of fries. OH MY GOD. Both styles were DELICIOUS. Succulent, moist, tasty chicken that falls off the bone - with an incredible coating! The soy was sticky, crunchy and sweet. (My mouth is watering as I type this, craving some more of it!) The fried style was seasoned beautifully, crispy and just amazing!) 

Special shout out to the fries though! OH WOW. Never have I had such incredibly seasoned fries, that were so moreish! They do lovely Cajun fries, but these regular fries with seasoning is perfection! They also serve phenomenal pickled radish!! It just accompanies the chicken so perfectly. Not too sweet, not too sour - just PERFECT!

My boyfriend decided to also sample the Sticky Nuggets, a crunchy, sweet coating that was incredibly sticky! But very very yummy!

We did also go collect a takeaway during this isolation period, once lockdown rules had been eased! I took some chicken to some key workers, where my boyfriend works and brought the rest home. As soon as I delivered the chicken to my boyfriends friends' it was demolished! Basically we've received messages asking when we're next going to bring some back, and it's been discussed as soon as life resumes we're going to eat them out of house and home! 

Our takeaway consisted of Half/Half - Half Soy and Half Spicy (as my boyfriend and his parents love spicy food! Me... not so much!) But we also got a box of Spring Onion Chicken. OH. MY. GOD. Soy coated chicken breast strips, topped with spring onion and fresh lemon juice. ABSOLUTELY MINDBLOWING! The taste, the textures, the smell... I can't explain it! You just simply need to try it yourself!

For more information on Chick and Beers -

https://www.facebook.com/chickandbeers/
https://www.instagram.com/chickandbeers/

Some new ideas...

Afternoon all! I'm currently sat with this as my view...

Where I've decided to start writing this - I have had the idea to expand on 'skullsandsnaps' - predominantly here on my blog but may extend to Instagram/Facebook.
When I say expand, I mean it will obviously remain predominantly automotive BUT... I will include some other topics. 

#Skullsandsnacks - the foodie that I am

#Skullsandtrips - the travel junkie I am
#Skullsandsnaps - will be the car/photography stuff

#Skullsandself - the more personal in depth side

Travelling and food are two of my favourite things! So I thought why not divulge into this a bit more?! Each blog will begin with the relevant hashtag so you know what it's about.

If there is anything in particular you think I should write about or want to know, just let me know!

Take care
Skully x

ISOLATION... so I'm being creative and actually writing.

I'm not really sure where this is going to go... but we're going! 

It's been a while since I've done anything creative for this whole 'skullsandsnaps' stuff, especially any form of writing. But I figured whilst in isolation I may as well do something - considering I can't go out and take photos of cars, I can't film cars (and didn't really fancy just filming random stuff for the sake of it... although I might - just to use my creativity visually but we'll see) and can't say I don't have time. Sooooo... here we are!

This is quite a strange time right now, not sure how long we're going to be told to stay in, not sure when life will resume or if it will just resume! Will it change? Will life be completely different? Or will it just weirdly go back to normal? We don't know, and I think that's what is scaring people. The fear of the unknown.

It's all very sad and stressful what is happening - especially for our amazing key workers on the frontline!
The nurses, doctors, porters, admin staff, call handlers, paramedics, midwifes, specialists, police officers, firefighters, military, teachers, nursery staff, childminders, teaching assistants, social workers, food chain workers, delivery drivers, warehouse staff, postal staff, utility staff, engineers, bus drivers, lorry drivers, shop workers, shelf stackers, train drivers, pilots, roadside assistance, mechanics, technicians... you're all amazing!

One thing I have enjoyed during all this - social media. Apps like TikTok showing NHS and frontline staff on their breaks trying to have some fun amongst this madness by dancing and having a laugh. The appreciation to the people risking their lives daily for all of us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook has been lovely.

I think I'll wrap this up here and have a think about what to write about next... 

Take it easy
Skully x

WHERE IS THE HYPE FOR THIS ONLINE?! TESSA WHITTOCK FIRST FEMALE DRIFTER SPONSORED BY MONSTER ENERGY!!

Okay... So I'm shocked!

Tessa Whittock announced 2 days ago, that she is the FIRST female Drift Motorsport athlete in the world, to be sponsored by Monster Energy!

But where is the hype for this?!

This is AWESOME!

Tessa has been a part of Driftworks since May 2018, when DW unveiled her as the newest member of their team with a YouTube video of her lighting up the rear wheels of her 1JZ Nissan Skyline R33 GTST. (BTW... lighting up her GORGEOUS Work Meister S1's! 😍)

She has competed in British Drift Championship, King of Europe & Queen of Europe. Earning high respecting second and third places frequently!

I feel this needs to be promoted and celebrated more - as we know the Automotive world in general is very male dominated. So when a very deserving, dedicated, hard working female such as Tess gets this opportunity it should be really promoted and encouraged!

Being signed to Monster Energy Tess is now signed up alongside some very prestigious names, these are her fellow drifters - Buttsy Butler, Baggsy Biagioni, Ken Block, Vaughn Gittin Jr, Daigo Saito, Luke Woodham etc

If you aren't following Tess see her Instagram or her Facebook here.

This woman is AMAZING! So hard working, so passionate and so kind. She deserves all of this!

Congratulations Tess!

Skully x

One tough Fathers Day...

I was trying to think about how to write this...
Do I do this as an open letter to my Dad? Do I do this like a diary?
How do I do it?

Anyway, I'm not alone in finding Father's Day tough - many do! Whether their Dad's are no longer here with them, or whether their Dad's have never been around - it's tough!

I also wanna say Happy Fathers Day to the single mums. They should be acknowledged too.

This is my first Fathers Day without my Dad, I want to get this out the way now so on Fathers Day I can celebrate and remember my Dad - but also enjoy my day with my Boyfriend and his family.

My Dad was (and still is) my hero. He taught me right from wrong, he taught me to be myself, he taught me to act, he told me it was okay to be me and not always be girly, he was always so proud of me and I guess it's part of the reason I've allowed Skullsandsnaps to suffer a bit - he's not here to enjoy and celebrate this stuff with me anymore. I guess I also worry I won't do as much amazing stuff without him here, and I'll let him down. Hence why posts are less are less, and why I've kind of neglected it.
He was always the one to tell me to follow my dream with Car Photography or something related to it - like the videos etc - but he backed me on following that, and now with working it's not so easy. It's definitely not easy to find a sustainable photography job in the Automotive sector.

I've just started watching the singing videos I used to do with Dad in the car, and would share to Instagram and I am so glad that I shared those with the online world, because it allowed people to see how great he was. He couldn't often attend events towards the last year or 2 of his life but it meant a lot to have people constantly ask about him. I'm still overwhelmed at how much love and support we received after he passed away. People were so lovely!

There's people I wish my Dad could of met & there's people I'm SO glad my Dad did meet - especially having got to meet, and "approve" of my Boyfriend. (He was one tough guy to please!) Now a topic I've never really touched upon was the Mum thing, for many many years it was just my Dad raising me and my Sister. My Dad ALWAYS wanted me to reconcile with my Mum and me being as stubborn as I am, just kept saying no. With a messy history - I always refused. Until it was too late... February this year, everything got too much for me, I didn't like living alone at the house without Dad, I needed help. I swallowed my pride and asked Mum for help. We wrote off 10 years of no contact, apologised and resolved things in hours. She took me in. I hate that I was so stubborn to of not sorted this years ago - whilst Dad was still here.
[This is why I include my line at the top about single Mum's being celebrated on Fathers Day, we used to celebrate my Dad on Mothers Day in the years he raised us alone, and now we remember Dad and celebrate Mum for doing both]

I have soooo many stories and examples of how awesome my Dad was - but I'm not going to sit here and write them all out. I'm just simply going to say - if you're lucky enough to have your Dad still, call him, sit and talk to him, ask his opinion on stuff, take him out, go for a coffee, go for a drive... just enjoy that time together!

To those in the same position as me, with not having your Dad here with you physically to celebrate with - celebrate his memory! Remember the good times.

I think thats enough therapy writing for today - have a good weekend all.

Skully x

Real life, online life... coping with LIFE.

Hey hey!

So I thought I'd follow on from my Instagram story the other day, after it seemed to be so well received!
I had such beautiful messages of support - people saying thank you, people getting things off their chest, not feeling alone, just being reminded that life is more important than social media! It was incredibly overwhelming to receive so many lovely messages.
But it wasn't a sense of self satisfaction from having nice messages sent, it was just nice to know that people didn't feel alone, and that what I had said had helped some people to feel better and less stressed. That if there was stuff people had bottled up lately - they then felt from my post they could message me and discuss it.

For those that missed it, here is a brief summary of what was said -

+ DON'T TAKE SOCIAL MEDIA SO SERIOUSLY!

+ Appreciate the real people around you & spend time with them. 

+ Don't compare yourself to people on social media. It's not real! It's fake!
+ People live 2 lives, I know, I've essentially done it - the social media life and the real life.

+ Don't focus on the number of followers, the number of likes... it's irrelevant!

+ Don't worry about what someone else/other people are doing - JUST. DO. YOU.
+ Everyone is fighting a battle, sometimes just getting out of bed is enough! 

+ Check on the people around you! Ask how they are randomly, let the people around you know you are there for them, anytime, for anything! (We'll discuss this more later...)

Don't worry about the number of followers you have, don't worry about the number of likes you get, don't worry about who is posting what, where etc... we're all guilty of comparing ourselves to others! When we shouldn't!
We all panic that we don't appear to be achieving the same epic stuff we see others doing on Instagram.
I'm guilty in the past of feeling incredibly, low and depressed from seeing some amazing things people have been doing with cars, and feeling like I'm a real under achiever, like I'm not enough, like a failure!
But we all have different opportunities, some earn them, some use who they know rather than what they know, some get lucky, some work incredibly bloody hard! We just can't judge ourselves on other people, because we just don't know.
It's times like that I find I have to step away from social media, before it sucks me in and I feel this horrendous anxiety and panic come over me. Which is silly! It's an app, it's a made up world online essentially. But in times like that, where you feel that low and that consumed in this dark pit of feeling inadequate online - you don't think HOLD UP!!! WHY YOU BEING SILLY?! LOOK AT WHAT YOU'VE ACHIEVED *insert personal list here* but for me, I've been to Sweden and was the first to shoot the Koenigsegg Regera, I've had a 3 page feature of my Oakley Veyron images in Fast Car magazine, I've driven a Porsche 918, I've shot events in Dubai, I've been to SEMA - but away from cars, I've tackled being bedbound with M.E when I was 16, I battle daily with Fibromyalgia and M.E, I've been a carer for my Dad etc. My point is, there is a lot we can all sit and list personally that we've achieved.

I really do worry about social media and peoples mental welfare. The amount of pressure out there is INSANE!
The pressure to look a certain way, to act a certain way, to achieve everything by what seems like tomorrow, or else you're a failure... It's awful. Things don't just happen overnight! We are all different. We all have our own paths to take. We all have our own journeys. We all have our own battles to tackle.
This is why I said on IG the other day that sometimes, just getting out of bed for some is a win! Because sometimes it is, for some people - if you're battling a mental health condition, just getting out of bed can be a massive achievement. Just as if you have a physical condition and are fortunate enough to be able to get out of bed! It's something you achieved, and it's brilliant.

People are SO judgemental and critical these days, which adds to the pressure of life. I will never understand the people who go out of their way to antagonise someone, or insult, critique, or slate someone purely because they have a personal vendetta against them and usually with no cause, no rhyme or reason!

Just remember to step away from social media now and again, appreciate the people around you. Especially parents and grandparents - because TRUST ME, when they're no longer around, you wish you'd spent every moment possible with them!
But don't forget your friends too, don't just use social media to stay in touch - go and meet up, have a coffee, a meal etc. No phones, sit and communicate. Check on them! Ask if they're okay, ask if they need help or support with anything, LISTEN...
All too often these days we hear about suicide and people not coping, which is truly tragic! It's usually the ones who appear to be larger than life, the ones who seem to check on everyone else - but does anyone ever check on them?!
I've been plunged into those depths, considering the "easy way out" - admittedly, not purely due to social media, but it can definitely add to the negativity in your mind and just make you feel like you're drowning.
If it wasn't for my incredible support network around me, I wouldn't of survived last year. So a massive thank you to my boyfriend, my sister, my best friends, my Mum, and the family at CGO who kept me going. With these guys amazing support, I managed to move house, get a job, resolve old family issues and actually grieve the loss of my Dad (rather than bottle it up!!!) essentially flipping my life round in two weeks!

But just remember to check in on those around you, sometimes it's hard for people to admit they aren't coping but let them know you are there for them, always!

On that note, if anyone ever needs a chat - just drop me a DM. No judgement. No criticism. Just a place to speak if you need it.

Take care

Skully x