After a week away from the magazine world, I am ready to re-immerse myself into the creative universe - this time at History Revealed magazine. I really have missed Bristol, and I feel comfortable and confident working in the city again. I check into a new hotel room with three beds and a smart TV - perfect for outfitting planning and watching coverage of the Queen's 90th birthday on every major TV channel.
Caffe Nero coffee in hand, I head for the office, ready to meet my new team and start my second week as an editorial intern. I feel as though I've found my tribe. The week is filled with laughter, exchanging random facts and eating doughnuts at 10am. I'm given plenty to do from the get-go and plan infographics, find weird and wonderful museums to visit and write longer features as well as bitesize content. By the end of the week, my pub quiz skill level has skyrocketed from novice to expert. I also meet back up with Cath Dean, editor of Mollie Makes, who is kind enough to provide plenty of helpful tips for getting my foot in the door of the madness known as the magazine business.
After work, I can't resist a little splurge in H&M. If my summer is to be spent writing a dissertation, at least I can try to look fashion-forward whilst doing it. Right? I meet up with Megan, a childhood friend and we catch up on the infamously independent, Gloucester Road. This works for me as the bar we choose for food and cocktails is brimming with free magazines which I collect surreptitiously throughout the evening. My drink of choice has always been Amaretto Sour, and tonight is no different. But it isn't until the waitress asks me if I'm a vegan that I realise that my favourite beverage is a mix of Disaronno, lemonade and a slight twist of egg yolk. That practically makes it a protein shake, so I order another.
After work, I can't resist a little splurge in H&M. If my summer is to be spent writing a dissertation, at least I can try to look fashion-forward whilst doing it. Right? I meet up with Megan, a childhood friend and we catch up on the infamously independent, Gloucester Road. This works for me as the bar we choose for food and cocktails is brimming with free magazines which I collect surreptitiously throughout the evening. My drink of choice has always been Amaretto Sour, and tonight is no different. But it isn't until the waitress asks me if I'm a vegan that I realise that my favourite beverage is a mix of Disaronno, lemonade and a slight twist of egg yolk. That practically makes it a protein shake, so I order another.
Making the most of the sunshine during my visit, I also head for College Green, where I meet my school friend, Will, who takes me on a walking tour of Bristol. The area in front of Bristol Cathedral is beautiful and encourages students, families and hipsters to collide. Some people sunbathe and enjoy picnics whilst skateboarders fly over reclaimed trollies under trees with more trainers dangling from their branches than leaves. We begin our hike up Park Street and I take in all of the wonderful independent shops and cafés and high-end designer outlets. Will goes into chief tour guide mode, pointing out historical landmarks, university buildings and all the best places to eat. If the whole engineering thing doesn't work out, there's a baseball cap and microphone waiting with his name on it. We pass Banksy's most famous piece, the Well-Hung Lover and I'm intrigued by how the artwork's non-conformist voice blends so effortlessly with the area's historic character.
A few blisters later, we're in Clifton. The Victorian houses are mesmerising, vintage cars decorate the streets and magnolia tress dangle over the pavements, making me feel as if I'm walking through a nostalgic postcard. I dream of the day when I can live in a place like this. Taking a few lefts and rights down cobbled streets filled with multi-coloured houses, fancy cocktail bars and an extortionately priced fish and chip shop, we arrive at an unassuming English pub. Not so unassuming are the prices of the alcoholic beverages. We step outside to find a place to sit, and I instantly understand why our drinks cost as much as my week's stay at my hotel. We paid for the view. This is not an unassuming English pub, it is the White Lion pub, offering the best seats in Bristol overlooking the Clifton Suspension Bridge.
Savouring every last sip of my pear cider, I'm enchanted by the other world I've just entered. Money walks and talks here. The boating and shooting clubs are out in force and I'm almost certain that we are the only two on the terrace who haven't been featured in Made in Chelsea, aren't distant relations of the Queen, don't have a holiday home in St Barts and know more about public transport than public school. We drink, laugh, hide from the seagulls and awkwardly pose in the prime tourist spot under the bridge. Positively merry, we hunt for carbohydrates and find Wildwood, a lovely Italian restaurant, with an even lovelier 50% off student deal. The risotto goes down a treat and my heart melts on seeing the most adorable dinner date taking place in the corner between a grandfather and grandson. The evening ends with my head full of fun facts and fabulous views and a belly full of fantastic alcohol and food.
Savouring every last sip of my pear cider, I'm enchanted by the other world I've just entered. Money walks and talks here. The boating and shooting clubs are out in force and I'm almost certain that we are the only two on the terrace who haven't been featured in Made in Chelsea, aren't distant relations of the Queen, don't have a holiday home in St Barts and know more about public transport than public school. We drink, laugh, hide from the seagulls and awkwardly pose in the prime tourist spot under the bridge. Positively merry, we hunt for carbohydrates and find Wildwood, a lovely Italian restaurant, with an even lovelier 50% off student deal. The risotto goes down a treat and my heart melts on seeing the most adorable dinner date taking place in the corner between a grandfather and grandson. The evening ends with my head full of fun facts and fabulous views and a belly full of fantastic alcohol and food.
My last day arrives far too quickly for my liking, and before I know it, it's time to leave. I really am sad to say goodbye to the History Revealed team. I was made to feel welcome, helped write plenty of fascinating features and got to indulge in being a history nerd and an aspiring journalist all at the same time. For now, it's back to the Maglab I go, but my time at Immediate has only inspired me to work twice as hard, and maybe one day I'll be able to live in Clifton, in a Victorian house, driving a vintage car on a street covered with magnolia trees. Just, maybe.
