Letter to my fourteen year old self.

Yes, you have spots. That’s a fact of life. You’ll have bad skin for years to come, but trust me, it does get better. Don’t spend a small fortune on orange foundation and clumpy Miss Sporty powder in an attempt to cover them up. You’ll still be able to see them and your skin won’t get any air.

Stop fretting about your braces! You might hate them now, but you’ll be glad one day that you’ve got them in your early teens and not your twenties. Don’t worry – all the people who take the piss out of you for your braces now are the ones who have to pay hundreds of pounds for them when your teeth are perfect.

You’re not fat. Not even a little bit. If anything, you’re too thin. Eat a pie every now and then, kid.

You’ll always have hand me downs from your sisters, particularly in school wear. Try not to mind too much. Your mum wouldn’t do it if she had any other choice. Which reminds me, say thank you to your mum more often. She works her fingers to the bone to make sure you and your sisters are happy. Sometimes it would be nice if you showed her a little appreciation when she comes home from work, instead of moaning at her because your tea isn’t ready.

Log off MSN every now and then and go outside into the fresh air. You might not believe it now, but your skin will tan so easily when you’re older. Take advantage of this. On that note, stop spending a small fortune on Johnsons Holiday Skin. It’s cheap, nasty and frankly, it stinks. Save your money and buy proper fake tan.

Don’t worry that you’re still a virgin. You’ll be the last one out of your friends to discover sex, but you make up for it at university. (Study harder at uni and spend less time with the opposite sex! You could get a first if you aren’t being such a rascal.) You’ve got a great set of friends and you’ll stay friends with most of them for years to come.

Remember it’s okay to be clever – never, ever dumb yourself down to fit in with anyone. The sort of people you have to dumb yourself down to be around are not the sort of people you want as friends. You’ll always be a book worm. You’ll always be clever. Read more. Ask questions. Keep writing. You’re good at that.

Try new foods – you’re not allergic to baked beans, you’re just a fuss pot, and the same goes for nuts. Concentrate more in maths. You’ll find it a struggle, but that’s okay. You can’t be good at everything.

Don’t be ashamed to cry – it takes a strong person to admit that they’re hurting. There are tricky times ahead, but also some wonderful times. Capture more things on camera. Smile more. Stop worrying about your bloody teeth.

Don’t be nervous about college or university. You will meet some of your best friends there. Work hard at uni, but enjoy every moment. It will fly by and you will miss it when it’s over. You’ll have a friend called Kyle Gardner. Give him an extra tight squeeze. Soak up your graduation day – it’s normal for your mum to well up with tears. Don’t brush it off because you’re embarrassed. She’s proud of you, and you should be too.

Get used to public transport. You’ll spend a long time using it.

You will spend your entire life surrounded by people who love you. Tell them that you love them too. You will have an army of children around you who love you more every day. They are your greatest achievements and you will always love them the most.

Spend more time with your dad. It’s hard for him in a house full of girls, but he thinks the world of you. You are far more alike than you realise.

Don’t rush into that belly button piercing just to be one of the cool kids. You’ll hate it when it gets caught in your clothes years later, and believe me, changing the bar to have pretty colours that match your bikini gets very boring after the first few summers.

Try to remember that McFly are just a boy band – and not a very good one at that! Enjoy their music, but stop spending what very little money you have on buying so much of their crap. By the time you turn sixteen, you’ll wonder what on earth you were so bothered about.

Visit your grandma even more than you do now. Yes, it's tropically hot in there, but you are her pride and joy and she's a fabulous little lady. 

Give Sooty and Jazz a big squeeze. You will miss them, but they’ll always bring messages.

Celebrate with wine. Dance often. Laugh out loud. Sing in the shower. Trust your instincts. Take chances. Be spontaneous. Have faith in your abilities. Fall in love. Fall in love again. Never stop smiling.

Stop worrying about the future so much. It really does turn out to be quite peachy for you.

P.S. You’ll always lounge around the house in your pyjamas watching Harry Potter for eight hours at a time. Some things never change.