SO... I'VE MOVED AGAIN!

Afternoon lovelies!

It's been a while since I updated the old blog. My last life update rambled on about how I was planning on saving for a trip to Japan. Well, that hasn't happened! Things have changed quite a lot over the past few months, mainly because I decided to move flats.

When I first moved to Manchester, I had to find somewhere to live fairly quickly. I didn't know the area at all so decided to settle on Didsbury - a suburb 4 miles south of the city centre. It's very popular with young professionals and has great transport links into the city. Luckily, my flat was right next to the tram stop, meaning it would take me around 35 minutes door to door to get to work. The flat felt quite studenty and definitely wasn't to my taste, but at the time it was the least of my worries. I was lucky to be living with 3 other people I really got along with, and my focus was settling into my new job and living in a new city.

My contract was for 6 months with 2 months rolling after that. When I wrote my last life update, I had no intention of moving when my 6 month contract was up. My priority was getting back into travel and making the most of saving whilst I had cheap rent - which is where my Japan plans came from. It was only around a month or two later that I completely changed my mind and decided I wanted to move.

The main reason was because I couldn't deal with how messy and dirty the place would get. Since living with other people, the one thing I've learnt about myself is that I AM MONICA FROM FRIENDS. My flatmates and I used to joke about it, but in all seriousness, it's really hard living with people who aren't as OCD about cleanliness as you are. Everyone has different habits, and that's fine, but I guess I've been brought up in quite a strict, overly spotless household - to the point where I expect everyone else to be like that too. It doesn't quite work like that in flatshares. There were certain things I could overlook, but things like sticky glasses in the cupboard and plugholes getting blocked with clumps of hair - I just couldn't deal with it anymore. I've always been really into my interior design too, and would happily spend £££ every month on new cushions and trinkets. Not only were my flatmates not bothered about that, the flat was so studenty that it never would have looked nice anyway. None of the furniture matched, things were falling apart and the pots and pans were god knows how old. As much as I wanted to, I didn't see the point in investing my money in new things when I knew they wouldn't get taken care of.

My other reason for wanting to move was so I was closer to the city centre. When I first moved to Manc, I was scared of spending a lot on rent as it was my first 'proper' time paying my own bills (apart from uni and travelling). I didn't want to underestimate how much it would cost me to live, so I opted for cheaper rent instead of living in the expensive city centre. Even if I'd have wanted to, city centre apartments get snapped up so quickly and it's really competitive. I didn't have the time to wait, and I certainly didn't have the money saved for an expensive deposit. So I chose Didsbury - a nice area with great transport links and no deposit required. Houseshares in Didsbury tend to be a lot larger too, meaning I could meet more people rather than living with just one person. It made sense at the time, but after a few months I knew it was time for me to move more central. I worked in the city centre, a lot of my work friends lived there, and it was where I socialised the most. After work drinks meant I would always miss my last tram home at 11.30pm, so I would end up spending £20 on an Uber instead. Not ideal. My flatmates didn't work in the city either, so would spend the majority of their time socialising in Didsbury. I moved to Manchester to experience the cool stuff MANCHESTER has to offer, not a small suburb 4 miles away. I sometimes felt like I was missing out on the buzz of the city, so wanted to be in the thick of it whilst I was still young enough to enjoy it.

I knew moving would increase my rent by about £150, but to me it was worth it. The way I see it, I have my whole life to live in a suburb or town when I get a mortgage and have kids. If I'm gonna spend a lot on rent and council tax, I might as well do it whilst I'm young with no responsibilities. I'm paying for convenience, which I'm more than happy with right now. In a few years I'll look to cut my costs when I'm thinking about buying, but at the moment I'm pretty chuffed I live a 30 second walk from work. I'm pretty chuffed that I can walk home after a night out, or go home and cook during my lunch break. I even have my own car parking space - which I didn't have in my old flat - that I'm thinking of renting out when I sell my car. (UPDATE: I sold my car and now rent the space to a guy at work. My flatmate and I both pocket £45 a month from it, which massively helps towards bills!)

The best part? I finally live in a NICE flat. A modern, spotless apartment with a balcony and my own private bathroom. My flatmate Cat and I are on a mission to make it as Pinterest as possible. Well... within reason! We're only renting after all, so we can't replace the furniture as much as we'd like to! First world problems ay...

Let me know what you think!

xxx

PROS & CONS OF 2017

HAPPY VERY VERY LATE NEW YEAR.

I started writing this post ages ago, but as per forgot all about it. Better late than never eh? Here's a little recap of my 2017, starting with the low points and ending on the highs. Last year was one of the best I've ever had, but no one's life is perfect and there will always be negatives - even if we choose not to show them. Luckily the good outweighed the bad in 2017, so let's begin! 

THE BAD

LIVING BACK HOME AFTER TRAVEL

I flew back to the UK on January 13th 2017, having been away travelling for 9 months. Although I had a reception job lined up, I was very lucky when my old boss got in touch asking if I wanted a  temp job. It was a position as a writer and was better money, so obviously I jumped at the chance. Although I'm so, so grateful for the opportunity (and wouldn't be where I am today if it wasn't for that job), I basically spent those 3 months miserable as hell. I loved the people - don't get me wrong - but the job just wasn't for me. I've always enjoyed writing, but I didn't enjoy the process of finding the stories or the topics I was writing about. I was bored, unmotivated and couldn't wait for the working day to end. Aside from work, I was miserable at home too. It's hard for me to remember what the issues were, but my mum and I basically spent a good few months not getting along. We had to adapt to me living at home again,
which I think we both found hard. My mum was used to her routine, and I was used to my freedom. We clashed a lot, but also knew it was only circumstantial. As soon as I moved out of the parental home, we knew things would go back to normal (spoiler: they did). It was just one of those really crappy transitional periods, which I'm glad to see the back of.

MY SMEAR TEST RESULT

I'm gonna keep this one short, simply because it was quite traumatic and I don't really want to relive it. But long story short - I went for my first ever smear test, got the results which showed I had abnormal cells, and was invited to have a Colposcopy at the hospital. The last thing you expect is any kind of abnormal result, but it's even worse when they send the letter with a ton of cervical cancer leaflets. Straight away you think ''I'm gonna be the unlucky one that gets cervical cancer", so I broke down in hysterical tears and drove home to my parents house right away (the longest 2 hour drive of my life). Luckily we were able to bring my hospital appointment forward, but that week of waiting was just awful. After the procedure, they sent a letter around 5 days later saying everything was fine and that I can continue with my regular smear tests every 3 years. Relieved is an under statement. You don't realise how important your sexual health is until something like this happens, and I sure as hell won't be taking it for granted again.

FEELING INSECURE AT WORK

I'm a pretty confident person but, like everyone, have a tendency to feel insecure when I'm out of my comfort zone. Put me on a plane to the other side of the world and I'm fine, but put me in a competitive work environment and I'll crumble. I've never been a 'career focused' kinda gal, so can sometimes feel uncomfortable in corporate office environments. Because of this, I've always doubted my ability and end up convincing myself that I'm not good enough (something my mum always tells me off for!) It's even harder when you start your new job with another person, so feel like you're constantly being compared to someone else. Instead of believing my boss when she insisted I was a good writer (and reminded me that I beat 150 odd people to the job), I couldn't help but beat myself up for not being as good as my colleague. I spent a good couple of months feeling worried, anxious and that I wasn't going to pass my probation. I've always been a slow burner in the workplace, and it can take a while for me to build up my confidence. But when it clicks, I feel like I really come into my own. I've been in my job for 6 months now, and finally believe I'm good at what I do. I'm a bloody good writer if I say so myself, so here's to having more faith in myself in 2018!

THE GOOD

AUSTRALIA

I kicked off 2017 at Sydney Harbour Bridge - finally ticking off the number 1 thing on my bucket list. I then flew back to Melbourne, surprised all of my friends at the hostel, spent a week living in my friend's luxury apartment, and spent my birthday in her rooftop pool overlooking the CBD (followed by a beach day, surprise party and meal with my friends).

SURPRISING MY MUM AFTER 9 MONTHS AWAY

Even thinking about her reaction makes me slightly emosh. There's no better feeling than seeing your parents after 9 months away, especially when you turn up at the front door and surprise your mum. I've never seen her so shocked!!

GETTING MY FIRST JOB AS A WRITER

Although I didn't enjoy the job (see above), I was SO lucky to get the position handed to me as soon as I arrived back in the UK. Not only did it allow me to save money for my America trip, it meant I had 'content writer' on my CV. It was my first foot in the door in helping me to achieve my dream of becoming a writer. If it wasn't for that position, I very much doubt I'd have secured an interview for my current job, let alone been chosen above 160 other applicants.

COPENHAGEN, U.S.A & CANADA

My America Contiki tour was one of the best - if not my favourite - trip ever. I never ended up writing about it on my blog, mainly because too much happened in the 5 weeks I was there. I'd love to go through everything day by day, but it would just take too long. All I can say is... IT WAS AMAZING. Click here to watch the vlog. Canada was a short but sweet stopover before I flew home. I stayed with my friend Emilie that I met in LA, and it was so much fun partying with her and her friends. Oh, and Niagara Falls was pretty spectacular too! And although I didn't massively rate Copenhagen as a city, I had a great time meeting up with my friends Jody and Beth for the first time since Vietnam. Three 24 year old girls singing their hearts out to High School Musical is my idea of a great mini break.

GETTING MY SECOND JOB AS A WRITER

My big break! I was finally offered a content writer position with a well-known travel company - this time on merit. I think I've written a post about this before, but I really really love my job. The perks, the people, the city centre location, the snazzy building, the content I'm writing about - it's everything I've ever wanted and more.

MOVING TO MANCHESTER

Without mentioning all the cool stuff I did that made the second half of 2017 so great (I'm looking at you Bongo's Bingo), it's fair to say Manchester has changed my life. Since moving here in July, my social life has never been better. I've made new friends, wandered the streets like a tourist, and took advantage of everything the city has to offer. I'm surrounded by people my age - young professionals who dance on tables and do midweek tequila shots (seriously, is Albert Schloss ever NOT busy?) Living in a city that never seems to sleep is exciting, and I honestly can't imagine living anywhere else.

So there you have it, my pros and cons of 2017. Life will always throw curve balls your way, but it's how you deal with them and the choices you make that really determine how your life will pan out.
Here's to 2018!
xxx

WHY I'M FINALLY BORED OF TRAVELLING

Queenstown, New Zealand

I never thought the day would come where I'd find myself - dare I say - bored of travelling. It's been my biggest passion in life for 3 years now, and I don't think I'll ever want to stop visiting new places. But something's changed in me this year, something I briefly touched on a few months back. My desire to travel used to be so strong, it felt like a burning flame would ignite inside of me. I was a woman possessed, someone so consumed with itineraries and booking flights, that nothing else in life gave me the same buzz. Travel became 'my thing', and even to this day I have people messaging me asking for advice on their upcoming trips. I feel like it's the one thing I'm really knowledgeable about, and I love helping people who are nervous and need their questions answering. But after years of thinking travel was the only thing that could make me happy, I've done a complete 360. My life has changed, and I've realised I don't need it as a clutch anymore.

Tongariro Alpine Crossing, New Zealand

You see, life is uncertain when you graduate uni. It's that horrible stage where you don't know what path your career will take, you have no money, and you basically feel like a lost child in an adult's body. It's like you're in limbo - neither a careless teenager nor a fully fledged responsible adult. Looking back, I wouldn't say that stage of my life was a particularly happy one. You're kind of just plodding along, wondering if things will fall into place or not. I guess it was that feeling of not being in control that urged me to travel in the first place. It was something I could take by the balls - I could make it happen and finally leave that feeling of uncertainty behind. I think that's why a lot of people decide to travel. They don't really know what direction their life is taking, so the easiest thing is to run away - to find joy elsewhere. 'Running away' comes with a lot of negative connotations, but in this instance I don't think it's a bad thing. If you're confused and need time to reflect on your future, you might as well do it from a hammock right? There's no point wallowing in your own self pity whilst working a dead end job. Take a year out, have fun and give yourself time to reflect on what you really want.

Waitomo, New Zealand

It was only a few months ago that I realised I'd been using travel to 'run away' too. My mum noticed way before I did, but she was right. Years later my path was still uncertain, which is why I was always so desperate to book a new trip. It provided the perfect distraction, and was the one thing in life that brought me happiness. But as I sit here on this grey Sunday afternoon - having moved to Manchester, made a great group of friends and found a job that I love - I don't feel the need to run away anymore. That burning desire to constantly leave the country has gone. Don't get me wrong, my bucket list is still as long as my arm, but that sense of urgency has disappeared. I've finally found joy in the 9-5, in going out for food with friends, and getting a bargain in Primark. I enjoy my routine of going to the gym after work, doing a healthy food shop, and crashing in front of the TV watching a new series on Netflix. I feel settled knowing I'm on the path I was always meant to be on, and that years of uncertainty have been replaced with a sense of stability. 

Franz Josef Glacier, New Zealand

Despite being 'bored' of travelling, it was - and will always be - the best thing I've ever done. I have a quote on my phone screensaver that says "Do not regret or deny your journey. It all had to be what it was in order for you to find your path" - a quote that I would probably get tattooed on me if I liked tattoos. But while people my age are still heading off on their Working Holiday Visa's to Australia (I've had 3 friends go in the last month), I don't envy them anymore. It's their time for uncertainty, for excitement and to figure out what they want from life. But it's not mine. For once, I welcome stability and my own country with open arms - a life that I don't want to run from anymore.

x

LIFE UPDATE / PART 2

Afternoon lovelies!

It's a miserable, rainy Sunday so I thought I'd carry on with my life update post - this time focusing on the gym, fashion and travel. Hopefully this post won't be as wordy as the last one!

GYM

So I'm not sure if I've mentioned this before, but when I went travelling I put on about a stone in weight. No biggie, it's pretty much a given when you go on a 9 month holiday. In fact, I'm surprised I didn't put on more with the amount of alcohol and $5 Dominoes I consumed. I was having so much fun, I didn't really care at the time. I literally lived in hostels non stop for just under a year, so even if I wanted to get in shape, I wasn't living in the right environment to do so. Cooking in hostels is awkward, there's a massive drinking culture and gyms in Australia are EXPENSIVE. I knew that when the time was right, I would make it my priority again and get the weight off.

I tried when I was back in England for 3 months. I went back to my old gym, but my motivation just wasn't there. I was unhappy in my job, so I couldn't force myself to go to the gym every night and eat healthy when all I wanted was comfort. Like most people, I'm an emotional eater. Not to the extent some people are, but I can't focus my mind on weight loss if I'm unhappy and distracted by other things. I ended up going to America for 6 weeks the same weight, but weirdly came back a few pounds lighter. Don't ask me how that works (have you SEEN portion sizes in the US?). Then there was the whole moving to Manchester thing. I told myself I wasn't going to worry about losing weight until I settled in properly. My priority was making friends and having a social life, so if that meant eating out a lot then so be it. Like I said, when the time was right, I knew I would put my mind to it. I did it before I went travelling and flew to Thailand the lightest I've ever been. It can be done, I knew that.

So here we are 3 months later, settled and ready to focus on shifting that weight. I have Christmas parties and my birthday to spur me on which always helps. I'm definitely not big (I'm still a size 10 like I've always been), but I know I'd feel more confident if I trimmed down to the weight I used to be. Luckily portion control or appetite isn't a problem for me. It's more cutting out the alcohol and the 100's of snacks we have hanging around the office. You know what it's like, temptation everywhere. Me and my manager have signed up to Nuffield Health together. We get discount from work but it's still pretty pricey at £40 a month. I used to pay £18 at Pure Gym, but I'll admit it's quite nice going to a swanky gym for a change. Way less intimidating than the cheaper, overcrowded ones. It even has a pool, jacuzzi, sauna and steam room! I signed up to Nuffield because it's 5 mins from work, so I thought it would encourage me to go more. Especially now I don't drive to the gym, it takes a lot more effort to convince myself to walk there. But I've been doing okay. I'm definitely not a '6 times a week' gal like I used to be, but I'll get there. It's baby steps, but at least it's a step in the right direction.

FASHION

I lost my way with fashion and trends when I went travelling. Hardly surprising when you're living out of a backpack and would rather spend money on experiences than clothes. It's actually quite refreshing because no one judges you or cares what you wear. I always find it funny when bloggers go 'travelling' and spend their entire time taking ootd's looking uber glamorous. That's honestly not what it's like. In Asia, you're lucky if you wash your clothes once a fortnight, and you bet I'm wearing my one 'nice' dress 3 times that week. Ahh those were the days.



Now I'm back in England, it's been exciting rediscovering my style and what I like and dislike. It helps that Manchester's a pretty cool city, so I've been taking a lot of inspo from people I see wandering the streets. I like to think of my style as casual and boyish, with some quirky pieces thrown in for good measure. I'm definitely more of a Kendal than a Kylie, and I don't like to look like I've tried too hard. That whole groomed and done up to the nines thing just isn't me. Now I've rediscovered my style and got to grips with what trends I like, I find shopping enjoyable again. I have my confidence back and have fallen back in love with fashion.

TRAVEL

You might have read in one of my previous posts that I decided to take a break from travel when I came back from my America trip. I was pretty worn out and knew I wanted to leave it a while before jetting off again, mainly so I could give my body a rest and erase the pressure of having to constantly save. Fast forward 4 months and I'm ready to get planning again! The constant search for tours and flights never stopped if I'm honest, but I feel like now is the right time to start laying down some firm foundations. Monthly savings have been calculated, weather reports googled and if all goes to plan... I should be heading off to Japan in May! So nothing's booked yet, but as always I'm determined to make my dream trips a reality. I've wanted to go to Japan for SO LONG, and although I wanted to make it happen next year, I wasn't sure if it would be possible. Japan is one of the most expensive countries you can visit, and the tour I wanna do + flights + spending money would cost around £3,000 for 2 weeks. I'm still not 100% sure I can do it (especially now I live away from home and have bills to pay), but there's no harm in trying right? I'll keep you updated, but as well as losing weight, this is my main goal and priority at the moment. If I can stay focused, I'm hoping I'll have the funds to book something soon. Wish me luck!

xxx

LIFE UPDATE / PART 1

Hey guys!

So I've been wanting to write this post for SO LONG, but the past 2/3 months have been majorly hectic. Not that I'm complaining, but I feel like my social life has gone from 0 to 100 and I don't really know where to start.

When you move to a new city, you expect things to start off slow. It takes a while to find your feet, make friends and get settled in your job. I didn't really have any expectations. I knew I wanted to throw myself into my job, and that down the line I would probably use meet up websites to make new friends. But I wasn't at all prepared for how easily everything would fall into place, without me even having to try.

WORK

I'll be honest, I spent the first month at my new job stressed as hell. This wasn't stress they were putting on me, but pressure I was putting on myself. The issue was that I was comparing myself to the other new guy on my team. We both started at the exact same time and had the same workload. It wasn't long before I noticed how much faster he was than me. In my eyes, he was also a much better writer. Feeling like the weaker link is always going to knock your confidence, so much so that I kept taking work home so I could catch up with him. It wasn't expected of me (my managers didn't even know I was doing it), but it was something I wanted to do to put my mind at ease. Long story short, I eventually spoke with my manager about it who told me not to worry. I wasn't being slow, he was just very very fast. She reassured me that I was a good writer and that I shouldn't compare myself to others, as we both have different strengths and weaknesses. When I began focusing on what I was good at, like building rapport with a lot of people on the team, I started to relax. Those stresses I had have now completely gone. Looking back, I think I reacted like that for a reason. It showed me that I can be passionate about a job. For once in my life, I'm more than willing to work extra hours because my job is important to me. I've never really felt like that before. At almost 25, I guess I'm finally in the stage of my life where I'm ready to focus on my career.




As for the social side of work, I've really hit the jackpot. I've never known a workplace like it (apart from Google, I'm pretty sure they win hands down). But seriously, we've all bonded so quickly. There's barely any girls on our floor (we're based in the male dominated IT team), so me and my manager Elle have become really good friends. She's only 4 years older than me, but we're so similar it's ridiculous. We're gym buddies, drinking buddies and are the first to message each other about guys and office gossip (c'mon who doesn't love a gossip?). The other 2 guys in the content team complete the group, and the dynamics between us work really well. It doesn't matter if you're a newbie or a manager, you're gonna get the piss taken out of you. There's days when the banter doesn't stop and we're literally in tears crying with laughter. The Head of Content, who I sit next to, is always on top form and is one of the most sarcastically funny people I've ever met. Never a dull moment. There's been work nights out, free pizza and beer nights, free bowling and open bar nights, meals out at lunchtime, themed lunches where we all bring food from home to share... it really is endless. Work alone has provided me with the best social life ever.

MY HOUSE SHARE


Me, Mary and Katie (the girl I replaced in the houseshare, who also happens to be from my hometown!)

Then there's my housemates. Again, I've been so lucky. I'd say we're all quite different, but we're probably one of the most harmonious house shares ever. They're honestly 3 of the nicest people I've ever met, so there's never any arguing or bickering. No one ever gets aggy if the kitchen's a mess or if no one's bought toilet roll. We just sort of plod along and accept that things will get done eventually. We all work different hours so do things when we can, but I'd say we all pull our weight equally. Tess, who's from Scotland, works unsociable hours in a bar so I see her the least. Nick, who's from Stoke, works a full time job and a bar job at the weekend. I'll see him most weekday evenings for a few hours. I see Mary, my only Mancunian housemate, the most. We both work 9-5 so spend our evenings together chatting and watching TV. The only time all 4 of us are together is on a night out. I wanted sociable housemates, but boyyyy do they have stamina. Going out every weekend isn't something I'm used to, so it's been hard for me trying to keep up. It's different when you're travelling because you don't work. But when you're working 9-5 Mon-Fri, all I wanna do at the weekend is rest. I spent my first couple of months going out when they did, because I wanted to appear sociable. But one thing I've learnt is that that lifestyle just isn't for me (more on that later). Regardless, I'm so so lucky to live with 'yes' people. Whether it's the cinema or going out for a meal, they're always up for socialising. And for me, that's by far the most important thing.

GOING OUT



Like I said, I spent my first couple of months in Manchester partying. I'm talking every weekend. During the week too. If I wasn't out with work or my housemates, I was meeting up with travel or uni friends from all over the country. It always used to be me who initiate plans with friends. When I stopped to focus on the move, I was inundated with messages from friends wanting to meet up. Before I knew it, I had friends booking 5 hour trains to come and visit me. Friends asking me to go and visit them in France and Edinburgh. Travel reunions in London. At first it was great. I loved having a full calendar. But then alcohol started making me really, really ill.



I know everyone gets hungover, but let me tell you, these weren't normal hangovers. For someone who'd drank a lot whilst travelling, I should have built up a tolerance right? I mean I was used to drinking pretty much every day, getting up at 6.30am and being absolutely fine. So why was I suddenly experiencing the worst hangovers of my life? I'm talking a full 10 hours of throwing up the next day. Not being able to have a sip of water without throwing it straight back up. Staying in bed til 8pm just to sleep it off. At first I thought it was just a one off - maybe I'd been mixing so it was my own fault. But it started happening every. single. weekend. My friends were drinking more than me and were absolutely fine. It just didn't make sense. It got to the point where I didn't want to drink anymore. It was ruining my weekend. I was going back to work on Monday feeling completely exhausted.



All I wanted was to stop drinking, but I still had a long list of nights out in my calendar that couldn't be cancelled. I cancelled what I could (like visiting my friend in France as I hadn't booked my flights yet) and only went along to the nights I'd committed too. I'm at the point now where my calendar is more or less empty (apart from Halloween and things I have planned with my mum), and I couldn't be happier. I've realised I'm not one of those people who NEED to be busy to feel important. I actually prefer having time to myself to unwind. I feel better when I haven't been drinking. I know I'm only 25, but I've partied A LOT since I turned 18. From uni to travelling, I've had enough wild memories to last me a lifetime. That's not to say I'm never going to drink again. I still enjoy casual drinks, and the odd heavy night out. But it's not something I want to do every weekend. I won't be going out just because my housemates are. I'm more productive, feel healthier and have more money when I don't drink. Those things are way more important to me than a night of clubbing. I'm settled now and know what type of life I want to lead.

There's so much to update on I'm going to leave PART 2 for another time.
Speak soon
xxx

MY EXPERIENCE OF MOVING TO MANCHESTER

Hey guys!

So my third and final post on my new job/move to Manchester - although I'm sure they'll be plenty of updates a few months down the line. Where to begin...

As soon as I accepted the job and sobered up from my weekend in London, I knew I had to find somewhere to live. And fast. With just a week before I was due to start, I hadn't left myself time to find somewhere proper to live, so the obvious choice was to get an Airbnb. Considering I didn't have any money either, I couldn't afford rent so was hoping to find somewhere fairly cheap to crash for a couple of weeks until payday. Hostels were working out cheaper than Airbnb's, but there was no way I was spending my first 2 weeks in a new job completely sleep deprived from sharing with noisy strangers. It was a real predicament, especially as my mum and dad were lending me the money so I wanted to spend as little as possible. Luckily, I hit the jackpot and came across an Airbnb a 10 minute drive from my office for, wait for it... £13 a night!!! I read a ton of reviews to make sure it was legit and eventually decided to book it (despite my mum worrying that I was staying in some random guys spare room). But for £175 for 12 nights, how could I refuse?

Maybe it's my experiences from travelling that have made me way more open, but I know a lot of people wouldn't have stayed in the Airbnb I was in. On paper (#loveisland), I can definitely understand why people would find it uncomfortable. The guy also rented out a mattress on his living room floor, which meant there would often be between 1-4 backpackers crashing in the kitchen area when I was getting ready for work in the morning. The flat was also in quite a rough area of Manchester, but luckily I never noticed as the estate I was on was lovely and I never ventured out unless I was driving to work. Of course not being able to cook breakfast or dinner for 12 nights was a tad inconvenient, and yes the kids playing outside woke me up a few times which I wasn't happy about, but on the whole it was completely fine. The host and his girlfriend were lovely, but we kept ourselves to ourselves and literally never saw each other. I had a room to sleep in and that's all that mattered. I always trust reviews and, honestly, I'm not afraid of a little upheaval now and again. Trust me, I've slept in a lot worse (hello Asiaaa).

Anyway, another reason I wanted to wait a few weeks before I committed to a flat share was because I wasn't 100% sure which area of Manchester I wanted to live in. I'd done some research and had asked a few friends where they'd recommend, but wanted to wait and hear what people at work said. The one area that kept popping up was Didsbury. Didsbury is really popular with young professionals and just so happens to be one of the most desirable areas to live in the whole of the UK. Buying a house there costs an absolute bomb, but luckily renting is a lot cheaper than the city centre. The only downfall is that it's 30 minutes south of the city, so I wasn't sure if I wanted to tackle the long commute every morning. I always said that when I moved I wanted to live no further than a 10 minute walk from work, so I was completely torn. I suddenly regretted all the viewings I had lined up for Didsbury and was tearing my hair out trying to make a decision. Looking back, I was so desperate to make everything perfect first time round that I got myself into such a state. I was fully breaking down over it. You always think that flat hunting is going to be fun, but when you're against the clock like I was, the whole experience is pretty soul destroying.

After a few days (baring in mind it was my first week at a new job and every evening I was driving round Manc viewing places), I learned a vital lesson. TAKE A CHILL PILL. There's no way I was gonna find the perfect flat with a good sized room, nice housemates and a short commute from work all within my preferred move in date of 1st August - it just didn't exist. If I wanted to move in somewhere pronto (which I did so I could finally feel settled), I'd have to take what was available. If things don't work out, I can always move again when my contract is up in 6 months. So far, all the houses I'd viewed in Didsbury were gross (like worse than my student house). Probably because they had so many young professionals living in them. Some were 10 beds for crying out loud. I found a place I really liked in the city, but competition was fierce and I kinda got the impression that the girls living there weren't my type of people. I had a feeling they were gonna choose one of the other girls over me. I was torn. Do I hold out and hope they choose me? What if they pick someone else and I'm left with nothing? That was the dilemma I faced when viewing my final flat in Didsbury. Finally, a place that was clean, tidy, a decent enough sized room and the icing on the cake - a perfect location. It was the first place in Didsbury I liked and I knew I'd kick myself if I lost it. After much deliberation, I decided the city flat wasn't worth the risk. I rang up the next day and paid my fees for the Didsbury flat.

Finally the weekend came for me to move out of my Airbnb. I drove home and basically had a day and a half to pack my entire room into my tiny little car. Luckily my housemates said I could move in a few days earlier without the Estate Agents knowing. Moving in on a Sunday made more sense than a Tuesday. Driving away from my parents house was definitely emosh. Obviously it was nothing compared to the hysterical tears I was in at the airport before I went travelling. But still, it hits you more than you think it will. Moving out of your parents house for good is a big deal. For me, it felt like I was finally growing up and starting my adult life. You know, at the not-so-young age of 24. I wasn't just moving up the road either. Okay, it's not like I'm in Mars but still - 2 hours by car or 3.5 hours by public transport isn't the sort of journey you wanna be making all the time. Me and my mum are mega close, so it was sad knowing I wasn't gonna see her every day anymore. But alas, change is inevitable.

And that brings us to now. 6 weeks later and I'm finally settled. Not only in my flat but in my life in Manchester. More updates to follow!

Thanks for reading huns
xxx

PURSUING MY CAREER IN WRITING & MOVING TO MANCHESTER

Hey guys!

(Sorry in advance, this is gonna be a long one!)

So carrying on from my last post about getting a new job when I came back from America, I'm just going to start from the beginning so I don't miss anything.

Like I was saying, I started applying for jobs the day after I landed back in England. For me, the focus was 100% on finding a job I loved, which hadn't always been the case in the past (my past jobs were fine, but I wouldn't say I was happy as I knew they weren't for me). I wanted something that I wouldn't dread going to, a job where I wouldn't be clock watching and one that suited my personality and the way I like to work. I was going to be picky and only apply for jobs in industries that actually interested me. In my eyes, the company was really important. But so was the job role. Having worked in PR, social media and writing in the past, I knew exactly what I did and didn't like. I didn't like PR or social media/marketing - I did like writing. Despite being an outgoing and sociable person,  I eventually learned that I most definitely work better on my own. Just me, myself and a laptop. Sounds boring, but I like being left alone with my thoughts. I mean it's hardly surprising, it's the reason I set up this blog in the first place. I'm sure you've noticed but my posts are VERY long, basically because I really like to write. I'd also noticed that compared to other people on previous teams, I had quite a keen eye for detail and noticing mistakes (be it grammar or punctuation). I just thought, "you know what, maybe this is my calling". So off I went searching for jobs in content writing/communications.

So how did I end up in Manchester you ask?

Well like I said, the role and company I wanted to work for were priority, so I wasn't in a position to be picky about area. I had no ties to Nottingham (that's where I'm from) so could essentially move anywhere for the perfect job. To begin with, my search had no limits - but as time went on, my focus shifted to either London or Manchester. I basically decided that I wanted to live in one of the bigger, more youthful cities so I'd find it easier to meet people. Pros of London: I had friends there. Pros of Manchester: I wouldn't be skint. I was contacted by jobs in both cities, and although I would have gone with whoever offered me a job first, secretly my heart was with Manchester. Realistically, I just didn't want to go back to student living (i.e. living in a dump), being pressured to stay at work til 8pm and having no money to enjoy myself (or travel) with. Sadly, that's the harsh reality of living in the capital. So for obvious reasons, Manchester sounded way more appealing... and thank god, because that's exactly where I ended up.

Despite being on the ball and applying for A LOT of jobs, I was actually really surprised at how quickly I was offered something. Although the process is kinda long-winded with application forms, sending examples of my work, completing writing tasks and eventually attending an interview, it only took 3 weeks after I got back from America to secure my dream job...
Content Writer for LateRooms.com. Which, ironically, was one of the first jobs I applied for and the one that got back to me almost instantly. I later found out that the job had only been advertised for 3 days because they'd received 160 applications in a single weekend. Talk about great timing eh? I'm still in complete shock that I (and the other newbie Alex) managed to get the job over that many people! I was eager to start so I could 1) move out and 2) get paid, so it was decided that I would start a week later. I was actually offered the job over the phone when I was in London visiting my friend, so as you can imagine I got very drunk that night!

For those of you that don't know (although it was a brand I instantly recognised when I applied), LateRooms.com is a hotel booking website. Basically my job is to write the hotel/city/attraction descriptions - so I essentially spend my days writing about travel. Obviously there's a specific tone of voice I have to adhere to and things I have to talk about, but I pretty much have the freedom to write whatever I want. It's a lot of research and A LOT of writing (I write non-stop from 9-5), but I really enjoy it! Without sounding cheesy, I kinda feel like I've struck gold because it's everything I'd ever want in a job.

• I work on the 11th floor of an amazing, modern building right in the city centre opposite Manchester Arena. The view looks out over the whole of Manchester.
• We're spread out over 2 floors so the team is massive, meaning there's lots of new people to meet (a lot of people my age too).
• The team isn't at all corporate. Everyone is reallyyy friendly (plenty of banter) and have made the effort to involve me in everything. As long as we aren't revealing, we can pretty much wear whatever we want too (I hate jobs that force you to dress smart!).
• Everyone moves away from their desks at lunch and either eat in the chill area (with TV's and a football table) or go into town to get food together. It's not unusual for 15-20 of us to go to a restaurant at lunch.
• Speaking of lunch - we get an hour. I've only ever had 30 mins for lunch so my mind was officially blown.
• There's a massive co-op in the building where I can grab food from if I've forgotten my lunch.
• Or I can stock up on food from Carol the trolley lady who comes round the building twice a day. On Friday's she brings hot food - I've already become accustomed to my usual sausage and bacon barm.
• Everyone's really social and meets up after work for food and drinks. There's also a ton of events throughout the year like massive summer and Christmas parties.
• I don't feel intimidated by my bosses cause they're both so lovely, so I don't dread 1-2-1s like I have done in the past.
• I'm hooked up to 2 screens (a laptop and a PC) which makes working SO much easier.
• The office space is open plan, so we aren't all tucked away in our own little offices. LOVE THAT.
• There's doughnuts/percy pigs/chocolate on our desk every. single. day.
• My desk doesn't have a phone, so I don't have people ringing me every 2 minutes.
• We have flexible working hours so can start anywhere between 8-10am. When your 8 hours are done, everyone goes home. I don't think I've seen anyone work later than they've had to.

I know it's massively lame to list everything I like about my new job, but these tiny little things really matter to me. I think it's because my past jobs have been the complete opposite... not at all social after work, no big parties at Christmas, no one leaves their desks at lunch, old fashioned buildings in the middle of nowhere, having to get in my car to drive to the nearest shop if I've forgotten my lunch... the list goes on. So things that people normally take for granted are such a novelty to me.

This post is way too long already, so I'll go into detail about my move to Manchester in my next post.

Thanks for reading!

xxx

NEW JOB & MOVING OUT / WHY I'VE DECIDED TO SETTLE DOWN

Boyyyy this post's been a long time coming. I don't really know where to start to be honest because SO much has happened since I returned home from my 6 week trip to the USA and Canada in mid June. For someone who's been travelling for the best part of a year, it might come as a surprise to see me finally settling down and randomly moving to another part of the UK (more about that in my next post). But I guess I'll start from the beginning.

As much as I love travelling, I knew before my trip to America that I didn't want to do it full time anymore. I knew I didn't want to go back to Australia, but there was nothing stopping me from saving for a flight to New Zealand and going there on a Working Holiday Visa if I wanted to. If I was that desperate to continue travelling, that's 100% what I would have done. But being back home for 3 months changed my mindset completely. It wasn't that I wanted to quit travelling altogether - that's not even an option for me - but I knew something wasn't making me happy and I finally figured out what it was (with the help of mother dearest). Whilst being away was amazing and the best experience ever, coming home was the issue. The sadness and almost depression that followed. I was never settled at home, and that's not something I could deal with forever.

When your life isn't based in the UK, it makes coming home really hard. You have no job, nothing to keep you occupied, no income, you still live with your parents and your friends live hours away because you haven't built up a network of people around you. Whilst some of those issues were eradicated when I got my old job back at the hospice, the others were still making me unhappy. It wasn't that these things couldn't be fixed (of course it's easy to move out and make friends if you really want to), but if I continued to travel full time, I would continue to have these problems every single time I came home. It was a question of: I'll have to restart my life in the UK eventually, so do I really want to keep delaying it? I knew I'd still be able to visit the places I wanted during 5 weeks annual leave, so I could essentially have the best of both worlds if I decided to settle down. I could finally have the lifestyle I wanted in the UK without sabotaging myself by going away all the time. So that's what I decided to do.

Aside from feeling unsettled at home, another reason for wanting to give up full time travel was because I just didn't have the energy for it anymore. I'm not sure if I've mentioned this on a post before (it's been that long since I've blogged so who knows!), but the excitement I used to have for trips had pretty much disappeared and everything started to feel like a chore and a hassle. I've watched a few videos on people who felt the same after being on the road for a long time (albeit a lot longer than I was), but essentially the novelty wears off and you don't find it as fun anymore.

I used to LOVE getting up early for flights, travelling to the airport and spending hours walking around before boarding. I used to enjoy being on the move every few days, lugging my backpack from one place to another and relying on an array of ubers, buses and taxis to get me to my hostel. I used to love meeting people in hostels and making conversation as soon as they walked through the door. But like everything in life... when things become 'the norm', they become boring. Even the night before my trip to Copenhagen in April, I was seriously pissed off that I had to drive down South for the airport, even though I chose to fly from London cause it was cheaper. Before my flight to America, I can remember sitting in the airport hating every single minute of it, wishing I was anywhere but the airport. The thought of having to 'travel' anywhere put me in a ridiculously bad mood. I guess it's something you won't understand if you go on holiday twice a year and the whole process is mega exciting, but for me, I was 100% over it. I couldn't wait to just NOT travel.

Despite not being overly excited for America (of course I wanted to go, it was just the build up beforehand that put a dampener on it for me), I still went and had THE most amazing time. Like ever. That trip is going to be seriously hard to top and I don't regret it for a second. But by the end of it, I was definitely ready to come home and start putting things in place to start my 'new' life, so to speak, in the UK. Plus I never wanted to see, or pack, a suitcase ever again (okay maybe not ever, but it's definitely on pause for a while!).

So... DAY 1 back in England and I was already on the job hunt. I've decided to save the details for another post cause I've already been rambling for ages, but as the title suggests, I did get a job and I am moving out. It's all happened very fast and there's lots to tell, so I'll get to it ASAP and it should be on the blog soon. But yeah, very exciting times ahead!

Speak soon

xxx

HOLIDAY ROMANCES: ARE THEY WORTH IT?

I've had my fair share of holiday romances over the years. In fact, I don't think I've ever been on holiday and NOT had a holiday romance. It's bizarre that I find it impossible to find anyone I like in my own country, but I always find a ton of guys I like when I'm abroad. Seriously, even when I was on a cruise with my parents at the ripe age of 16 I had a romance with a guy from Montreal, Canada. When I was in Magaluf at 18 I had a romance with a guy from London who I went to stay with when we got home. Since then, I've had "things" with all types of guys... a 20 year old from Winchester, a 30 year old from The Netherlands and a 32 year old American coach driver from Philadelphia. Talk about a mixed bunch...

They've all been so different (complete opposites in fact) but I've found myself drawn to each and every one of them for different reasons. I guess that's the thing about travelling... what's considered 'the norm' goes out of the window and age/nationality/job prospects don't seem to matter. You take the person at face value regardless of whether they'd be right for you in the 'real world'. It's not just me though... I've had a ton of friends who have met people on their travels. It's kind of the done thing. Maybe it's the #yolo attitude of backpackers or the sun or the alcohol, but everyone seems way more open to meeting people. Relationships are pretty much guaranteed.

But what happens when you have to part ways? Yeah, that's the bit that sucks. All of these amazing memories you've shared together and just like that you never speak again. It hurts... anyone who's been there will tell you that. It's one of the major downfalls of travelling. You can't help but look back on a trip and associate it with a guy you no longer speak to. But if it's happened a fair few times like it has done to me, you kinda get used to it. You learn not to dwell on things, moving on a little bit sooner each time. I personally see it as one of those "It's better to have loved and lost, than to not have loved at all" situations - although granted "love" is definitely way too strong of a word.

So yeah... I think holiday romances are worth it, if you know what you're getting yourself in to. Travelling is an amazing opportunity to meet guys you would NEVER, EVER meet otherwise. That in itself is pretty cool. There are so many incredible people in the world, but you have to be willing to broaden your horizons further than your area code to meet them. And you never know... maybe one day you'll meet someone and it will all work out exactly how it's supposed to!

Let me know what your thoughts are!

xxx

MY TRAVEL BUCKET LIST FOR 2017/18

Like a shopaholic who spends every waking minute shopping, I’m probably what you’d call a travelholic (or a holidayholic, neither of which have a particularly nice ring to them). If I’m not glued to my laptop screen watching travel videos, I’m googling travel guides or searching for flights and hostels. I guess you could say it’s more than a hobby – travel is a huge, huge passion of mine.

The downside of this is that I’m constantly excited about new countries that my ‘travel bucket list’, so to speak, changes almost weekly. What was at the top of my list will be replaced almost instantly after a few hours of research into a new destination. I thought it was about time I jotted down a few places that seem to continuously float in and out of the top spot as these are the trips I’d like to take sooner rather than later!

JAPAN

Japan has always been on my list – purely because it’s such a fascinating country and I love going to places that are polar opposite to what I’m used to – but it’s only been the past 6 months or so that I’ve been really desperate to visit. I know I would absolutely love it and every time I think about the culture and the amazing experiences it has to offer, I get so so excited.

INDIA

India hasn’t always been on my bucket list. In fact, I only really started looking into it a couple of months ago but ever since I’ve had this urge to go. I know India isn’t everyone’s cup of tea and it definitely isn’t for the faint hearted, but as I mentioned above – I love a good culture shock! I love being completely blown away and thrown out of my comfort zone – personally I think those are the experiences and countries you remember the most. I would never be brave enough to go on my own (and even if I was it obviously isn’t recommended) but I would love to go on a budget tour so I can experience REAL India but with the added benefit of safety. Again, I feel like I would really love it (even though I’m aware that most people hate India to begin with, but always end up loving it when they get used to it)!

AUSTRIA

The sole reason I want to go to Austria, if I’m honest, is because I really want to go on Contiki’s skiing trip based in Hopfgarten. Part of me is a little bit scared because skiing is so not fun when you don’t know what you’re doing (especially for someone like me who struggles with carrying heavy boots and skis because I’m legit the weakest person ever). It’s never fun being out of your comfort zone and struggling with something that everyone else around you is good at, but with that also comes the sense of achievement when you see yourself improving. I learnt how to Ski in just one day in New Zealand (granted I wasn’t very confident or fast), but it’s made me want to continue learning so I can acquire a new skill and be proud of myself. Oh and I also really want to experience Après Ski and cosy chalets and hot choc in front of the fire and roast dinners and paragliding over the slopes and Bobbahn and a day trip to Salzburg (because who doesn’t love The Sound of Music?)

MEXICO

As much as I love experiencing everything when I go away and making the most of my trip, I have the tendency to overexert myself to the point where I don’t feel like I’m on ‘holiday’. When this happens, you end up going back to work even more exhausted than you were before you left because you haven’t had the chance to relax and recuperate. Although I’ve always been against resort holidays, part of me thinks it would be a nice novelty to just sit and sunbathe in luxury all day whilst sipping all inclusive cocktails and eating my own body weight at all-you-can-eat restaurants. I love Mexican food and Latin culture, so have always liked the idea of going to Mexico. But seeing how popular Mexico is as a luxury resort destination has given me the idea to kill two birds with one stone and possibly spend a week at a resort followed by a week backpacking and experiencing the culture. Best of both worlds ay! After all, as much as I like the thought of relaxing and sunbathing, I know I’d be bored to death if I did it for 2 weeks!



CROATIA

I’ve seen a lot of marketing on Facebook and Twitter recently for ‘The Yacht Week’, which if you don’t know is basically a week long sailing party holiday around various exotic coastlines. Now I’m a bit of a sucker for a party holiday, which is probably why I love Thailand so much, so the promo video definitely does a good job of making someone like me want to book! There are tons of destinations to choose from but Croatia is the original and most famous coastline to sail around, so personally it’s the one I’m most interested in! Plus I’ve heard Croatia is meant to be beautiful and I’m really keen to explore more of Central and Eastern Europe. The Yacht Week is slightly more expensive because of its reputation, but the rise in popularity of sailing holidays has encouraged other companies to offer pretty much identical trips for cheaper. As long as the reviews are good, I’d happily go with one of the smaller companies to make it slightly cheaper. It’s all about doing research really and seeing how each company differs and what will suit you the most. But definitely check out The Yacht Week – it looks SO fun!

HUNGARY

It's no secret that Budapest is famous for its stag dos and is ridiculously popular with groups of lads wanting a cheap weekend away drinking and partying. I'm definitely a fan of drinking and partying, so it sounds like somewhere I'd like to go right? But who knew it was equally as famous for its thermal baths? Shamefully, not me! I'm a sucker for beautiful architecture and natural hot springs so BUDA - YOU CAN COUNT ME IN.

So that’s my travel bucket list for 2017/18! No doubt I’ll visit some other places instead of the ones on this list as a lot of holidays depend on where my friends want to go, especially mini getaways to Europe, so I’m more than happy to compromise!

What’s on your travel bucket list?

xxx

A DAY AT SOUTHWELL RACES

DRESS - ZARA

SANDALS - PRIMARK

BAG - MATTHEW WILLIAMSON

Hi everyone!

Happy Easter! It was my dad's birthday yesterday and seeing as he loves going to the races, my mum decided to book tickets for the 3 of us! I used to go to Southwell and Nottingham races a lot when I was younger but I was always too young to enjoy the gambling side of it. We knew it was going to rain and although at first I couldn't be bothered cause I HATE being wet and cold, it actually ended up being a really fun day! We had premiere tickets which meant we could sit upstairs in the enclosure away from the cold and pop out to the balcony just as the race was about to begin. As always, I was the designated driver but I was still able to enjoy a half pint of cider and a coffee whilst betting a few quid here and there on the different races. Although I was only betting around £4 per race, you still get the exact same buzz hoping that you'll win and that's what makes it so enjoyable! I only won £8 in the end but that was good enough for me - my dad won twice but my mum didn't win at all!

Now I'm older, I definitely appreciate the races a lot more and can see why it's such a popular choice for a day out. When the weather warms up a bit, I'd love to get a group of friend together for Ladies Day at Royal Ascot just to experience racing properly when the sun's out and the prosecco's flowing. After all, who doesn't want to wear a fascinator and a fancy dress?

xxx

CATCHING UP WITH TRAVEL FRIENDS IN LONDON

Morning everyone! I hope you all enjoyed the gorgeous weather this weekend like I did! Is anyone else ridiculously tired?
I swear busy weekends completely ruin me!

Despite feeling pretty exhausted, I had a really lovely weekend catching up with friends from my hostel in Australia. My German friend Sophie got in contact saying she was going to be in London for a few days before her flight to Bangkok, so obviously I jumped at the chance to go and see her (although it’s only been 3 months since I last saw her in Oz!) I suggested we go to Camden as I hadn’t been there for a few years and I knew she’d enjoy it – being the quirky hipster she is!

Our first stop was Cereal Killer Cafe and it seriously did not disappoint! I’d wanted to go there for years so seeing as it was a nice day, we sat outside on plastic crates (oh so hipster) and ate our sugary, e-number induced cereal. I went full on American and ordered half Lucky Charms, half Fruit Loops with normal milk and Rolo’s on top. There are so many insane combinations that you physically couldn’t try all of them even if you wanted to!

After brunch we went for a stroll around the markets and came across a beautiful street full of colourful terrace houses (which was a lovely surprise as I’d only ever seen them on Insta). It was so nice just wandering around at our own pace and stopping for chats by the lock in the gorgeous sunshine. When I usually visit London, I spend most of my time rushing around trying to squeeze as much in as possible and I find the whole experience quite stressful. So it was nice to not put pressure on myself for once and just have a day without any plans so we could soak up the atmosphere and relax. I think that was probably the main reason I chose Camden, because there’s so much to see and enjoy without running around searching for particular tourist attractions.

DENIM SHIRT - RIVER ISLAND

LEGGINGS - FILA @ TOPSHOP

TRAINERS - PRIMARK

I completely forgot that our friend Cas was also home from Australia and lived nearby, so I messaged him asking if he was free to meet up with us. Luckily he was so an hour later we met him outside Camden Station and it was honestly so good to see him! He’s a pretty unique guy and I’ve never met anyone who doesn’t love him (we used to throw Beer over each other and have chicken nugget fights when we were drunk – that’s the kind of guy he is lols!), so Facebook deffo went a tad mental when we uploaded a photo of us all together! He took us to his old local ‘The Hawley Arms’, where Amy Winehouse used to play, and smashed a few beers whilst reminiscing about the good old times. Sophie was fascinated at how ‘nice’ and ‘friendly’ English people are compared to German’s – it was honestly so hilarious watching how happy she was when someone spoke to her or said sorry! She had her first pint of English ale on her first visit to a traditional English pub whilst watching her first ever Grand National (we didn’t win *crys*) – trust me to make it as touristy as possible for her haha!

Despite my coach being delayed and not getting home until midnight, I’m so glad I made the effort to go down even though London normally stresses me! The sun definitely made the world of difference and luckily the underground was pretty empty too.

(I promise I'm not small, they're just really tall ha!)

On Sunday I drove back in to Nottingham to meet my friend Laura for some retail therapy and a picnic by the canal. It was lovely to catch up as she’s currently training to be a teacher so it’s very rare that she has the time to meet up. I love finding out how my friends are getting on with their lives as we've all taken different paths so I find it really fascinating!

DRESS - TOPSHOP
KIMONO - H&M
SANDALS - PRIMARK

Did you do anything nice this weekend?

xxx

VLOG / 5 WEEKS IN THAILAND

Hi guys!

I'm pretty sure you all know someone who has either been or is going to Thailand because lets be honest - Thailand is bloody popular! You might be thinking "Is it really worth the hype? Is it really that great?" and I'm here to tell you that YES, YES IT IS.

Not only is Thailand cheap and VERY VERY hot, the country possesses some of the most beautiful beaches I've ever seen, stunning sunsets, crystal clear water, culture, a huge range of adrenaline activities and most importantly - amazing nightlife!

I tried to capture as much of Thailand on camera as possible so hopefully you enjoy the video I've put together - it took AGES but I'm really happy with it! My video making skills are definitely improving, although I'm still holding out for the day I can afford a Mac so I can use a better programme than Movie Maker *keeps dreaming*

xxx