Updates on Blogging, Fresh Starts + Issues with Fake Followings

2017 came at me like whoa. Buying a house a few weeks before Christmas sounds crazy but it wasn't actually a bad idea – it gave us the drive to get the place is a decent shape before the holidays arrived. We managed it, and enjoyed a decent amount of downtime over New Year too. Phew!

This year is set to be an interesting one for me on a personal level. I'm planning to revise my current goals and weave in some new ones. I know I'm on the right track so I'll keep plugging away with creating content (which I'm extremely proud of), freelance roles and connecting with people in the real world. For me the latter is the big pay-off - social media can be an amazing tool, opening us up to a new world of people, but you can't replace that real life interaction.

 Wearing | Jacket c/o Barbour International | Sunspel Sweatshirt | Whistles Chinos | Red Wing Boots | CHUP socks | Penfield Beanie | Banana Republic Gloves

We decided to buy a house in the same small town that both myself + Hollie grew up in. But for me, even though it's a 15 minute walk away from where I previously lived it feels like a completely new beginning. 

We finally have the space we've always wanted, and I now have the time to really knuckle down with the much-needed redesign of Buckets & Spades. There has been a transition with how a lot of us consume content online, and many bloggers – including myself – have seen blog readership dip, which is why made a conscious decision to put more effort into my Instagram account. 

Sadly, the rise of IG's popularity has also seen many users faking their way to a big following - using underhanded tactics. This has somewhat tarnished a lot of the genuine effort that many of us have put in for years. If anyone is interested in the subject of "Instagram-fraud" then take a look at this experiment I did.

Honesty always prevails, and I have faith in the people and industry to do the right thing. I "follow" people for many different reasons; for inspiration and creativity, or the personality + likeability – I like to think that the people behind these accounts do it for the love, no matter how big or small their numbers are.

So with all that said it felt appropriate for the first piece of editorial-style content of 2017 (with Jake Millers on the camera) to be shot in the town where it all began – Blackpool. The original idea behind Buckets & Spades was simple – to document "the life of a boy who lives by the seaside". A lot has changed since those days, and I'm certainly not "that" boy anymore...

I graduated in Fashion Promotion from UCLan, worked in marketing, did some travelling, got engaged (getting married in June!), turned a hobby into a job, became a full-time freelancer,  bought a house...but we're still in that very same small town in Lancashire where it all began. The blog has progressed into something I'm extremely proud of, and I'm still buzzed that you guys come to us for our own unique style of blogging.

I have a few realistic goals for this year, both personal and professional, but I think I'm going to keep those close to my chest until I feel it's the right time to share them. One that I'm happy to share is the long-overdue redesign of the blog. And boy does it need it, you don't have to tell me twice!

Any big plans for 2017? Got some travel dates planned in?

Photography by Jake Millers.

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Outfit | Red Wing Boots + Becoming More Open as a Blogger

Blacksmith Boots c/o Red Wing | Albam x MR PORTER Jeans | Sunspel Sweatshirt | Barbour Jacket | Messenger Bag c/o Trakke | Ace&Tate Sunglasses | Timex Watch | CHUP Socks

Since the middle of Summer I've had a slight shift in my thinking as a blogger. I've become more open to discussing the finer details of how it all works; you know, the details that not everyone is so forthcoming with. I've talked taxes with Kristabel, the struggles of starting out as a freelancer with Jordan, negotiating for projects with John, building communities with Lucie, and the hot subject of people buying followers on Instagram with Nik.

Being more open has had a positive affect (I'm planning to write a post on this soon) on the way I work and my day-to-day life. It's given me an extra drive to collaborate with like-minded people and create solid content for brands that I am truly passionate about. Red Wing Heritage being one of those brands that I am extremely excited to be working with.

One of the recent meet-ups was in Liverpool, to celebrate the launch of Harry Stedman's new exhibition. The launch night was a success; they brought a mixed bag of people together, and it was great to finally meet the guys at Jocks&Nerds. The next day myself + Jordan had a free day to explore to city. This seemed like the perfect opportunity to give my new Red Wing Blacksmith boots their first full outing.

 Jordan has just turned freelance, read his post here

Red Wing at Weavers Door, Liverpool

The Red Wing Blacksmith boot is a little bit different to my usual style, with an overall smarter appearance than my much-loved Moc Toe boots. The durable Vibram mini-lug sole makes them a solid choice for our wet British winter, and with a 6 inches of height it makes them an ideal boot for when I travel anywhere colder.

The original idea behind the Blacksmith boot was to create a style that was rugged and hardwearing enough to withstand a day of labour, but be elegant enough to be cleaned up after work for an evening down the town. Now that's some versatility I can get on board with!

Red Wing's Rough + Tough leather breezed through a day of coffee, food and some of my favourite locations in Liverpool with no effort at all. But then again, they were built for traditional Blacksmiths, so I reckon the boots will be able to take a few spills of 92 Degrees coffee with no issues at all...! A few months of hard wear, along with the staple Albam denim, should give the Blacksmith boots the perfect patina.

It was a day well spent. Liverpool is an incredibly friendly city, and showing Jordan around some of my favourite places really did make me want to stay for longer. We're already planning to meet up in another city soon, that may not happen until little down the road, but it will give me a chance to properly wear these boots in good 'n' proper.

Thanks for reading, let me know your thoughts!

Photography by Jordan Bunker.

This post is in collaboration with Red Wing Heritage. Thank you for taking the time to support the brands + businesses that make this blog happen.

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Going Off Road with Barbour International

Wearing - Barbour International Jacket (Borrowed) | nestRobe Denim Shirt | Albam Jeans | Converse 70s | Ray-Ban Sunglasses

Just a quick one from us today. A little while ago I was asked by Barbour International to photograph the preview launch event for the brand's AW16 collection. I spend the whole day – somewhere in the in middle of the Kentish countryside – hot on the heals of a bunch of motorcycle enthusiasts, capturing images for my takeover of Barbour's Instagram account.

On the evening before the event we were treated to an exclusive preview of the new season collection: featuring the on-going partnership between Barbour International + the Steve McQueen foundation, as well as the return of their collaboration with motorcycle manufacturer Triumph. The following morning the team took a few of the new AW16 pieces out for a spin around the mud-ridden dirt tracks of Sandhurt, with Tricks In The Sticks stunt team.

Sadly I didn't get a chance to let rip on the bikes myself, as I was on camera duty, but I'm hoping we can work on something else with brand over the next few months.

If you liked this you may also enjoy reading about our visit to the Barbour factory in Should Shields.

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A Visit to the Barbour Factory, South Shields

One chilly morning in March I made the trip up to Newcastle (big thanks to Hannah for the coffee shop recommendation) for the first time in my life. It's one of the few big Northern cities that I've somehow managed to avoid – eight trips to Scotland last year and I never stopped off...The North East of England is known for its rich industrial and trade background, and Barbour's HQ in South Shields is no exepection to the rule.

J. Barbour & Sons Ltd., est 1894, is one of the most celebrated brand names you will find in the UK, if not the world. Their steadfast outerwear was originally intended for manual labour + outdoor work, but has since been adopted by many cultures; from the upper classes and farmers, to musicians and those with an interest in timeless style. With a keen interest for manufactoring and craft, I couldn't wait to see things up close.

 Press studs being positioned

Jocks&Nerds x Barbour International

Yet more action from Jocks&Nerds; this time the publication has created a brand new video campaign for Barbour International. To celebrate the brand's rich motorcycle heritage, Jocks & Nerds invited bike enthusiast + architect, Max Broby and his wife, Meriem, a fashion designer, to feature in this campaign which embraces Barbour's passion for adventure.

Jocks&Nerds is a London-based men's style publication, which puts both print + online to great use. From their quarterly print magazine, and ongoing collaboration with Shinola, to celebrating British cult figures, it has fast turned into one of our favourite daily reads.

The Barbour "International" collection began in 1936, when their founder's Grandson, Duncan Barbour, first came up with the designs for their first motorcycle-ready suit, made from their trademark dark green waxed cotton. After a successful trip around Europe for the Six Day Trial competition, the jacket was handed the name, International, and has been used within their staple collection ever since.

Steve McQueen is probably the most iconic figure to have championed Barbour's tough, durable clothing from the International collection - who along side the American ISDT team, famously wore the motorcycle suit throughout competition in the 1960s.

The International Collection continues to be a standout line for Barbour, and design-wise has seen little change ever since McQueen was ragging it around the dirt tracks of Belgium, Germany, Poland + Sweden. Next season sees a new collaboration with Triumph Motorcycles, which will no doubt feature a bunch of indestructible leather jackets, with countless pockets, for both men and women.

The short film follows the couple exploring our country's capital, with the same freedom and carefree attitude of what the collection is all about - be it with a little less mud + oil! Max is wearing the Barbour International Oscar Wax jacket, and Meriem's can be seen in the Shadow leather jacket.

See the full Jocks&Nerds x Barbour International feature, plus an interview with Max + Meriem here.

This post is in partnership with Jocks&amp Nerds. Thank you for taking the time to support the businesses that make this blog happen.

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