Things I learnt about myself at Reading Festival...

They always say that life begins outside of your comfort zone, and last weekend I saw exactly why. Maybe I'm a bit of a princess, but before last week, I had never been camping. Sleeping in a tent is something I've never done before, because I fail to see why it would be fun for anyone. I don't mind the cold and the rain, but when it comes to sleeping, comfort is key. So deciding to go to Reading Festival was a big deal to me, with the prospect of four nights of sleeping in a field and no showering. Having been born and bred in Reading, I vaguely knew what to expect, but that didn't stop me feeling any less like a fish out of water. It was an all-round challenging experience, but in hindsight it was totally worth it, because I learnt a few things about myself there.

Gal pals: Emily, Me, Emilie, Aimee and Rianne

1. I am not a camper. Pretty obvious to be honest with you. The nights I spent in a tent were pretty horrible, and I'm not sure if it was because psychologically I was aware I was sleeping in a field surrounded by strangers, or that my tent was pretty rubbish. I felt claustrophobic and trapped in my little plastic prison on the ground, and my only reprieve was that it didn't actually rain that much whilst we were there.
2. I am an over-packer. Even when I think I've only packed the absolute basics, I've still overpacked by a tonne. And that gets pretty heavy after you've lugged it around on trains, boats and through fields.
3. Heatstroke is very real, and if you don't look after yourself you will end up in a medical tent. I spent a good chunk of my Friday being beyond dehydrated and exhausted, after suffering from heatstroke. It wasn't exactly the highlight of my weekend, but it taught me that you need to always look after yourself.
4. Family are a godsend. After the Friday fiasco, I called time on sleeping in a field, so I could look after myself. Thankfully my grandparents only live down the road from the festival, and they let me stay there each night after the bands had stopped, and then dropped me back each day. Without them, I think I would've quit altogether. Sometimes you need to ask for help.
5. I am pretty comfortable being alone. A few times I found myself going to watch bands on my own, and that was okay. I didn't feel lonely, or that I needed anyone else to be with me, I just got on with it. As I did when I trekked in and out of the site everyday to meet my grandparents. Basically, #MissIndependant
6. I am a lot stronger than I think I am. Even though to begin with things all seemed to be against me and I was so ill, I didn't want to give up. I'm proud that I still managed to spend two nights sleeping in a field. Although it might seem pathetic to people as an achievement, we all have different strengths and weaknesses, and I'm happy I actually gave it a go. I believe if it wasn't for getting so ill I would've done the whole thing and been so much prouder of myself, but I really did do my best. And that's all that counts.

Left: Biffy Clyro (ft. giant inflatable giraffe)   Right: Raleigh Ritchie

 

Regardless, I had the most amazing time. The music and the crowd atmosphere was incredible. It was liberating and freeing, and just so much fun. I saw so many of my favourite bands, (Disclosure, Raleigh Ritchie and Chvrches) and a few I wouldn't have normally gone to see (Blossoms and The Hunna). Plus there's the added benefit that I saw a few cast members of Game of Thrones whilst I was watching the Red Hot Chili Peppers (hello Bran Stark and Khal Drogo!) And maybe I really am crazy, but I would definitely consider going to Reading again next year.

Camping; the aftermath

 

Em and Aimee trying to fold up a pop-up tent in the rain

 

So to clarify, I didn't die in a field, I genuinely enjoyed myself, and I feel like I came out it a lot stronger. It definitely pays to step out of your comfort zone and do something new.

 

Much love ♥

Vacanze Romane...

I have recently got back from the most incredible week away in Rome.

Rome has always been on my bucket-list for two reasons; history and food. Both of these passions were thoroughly explored during my week long Italian adventure, through eating as much as I could physically consume, to spending my days diving into the historical depths of the city. Rome exceeded my expectations, and I completely recommend a visit during any European travels.

 I thought I'd share with you a selection of pictures from my week in Rome, as well as a few little anecdotes, basically just to brag about how great of a time I had (sorry not sorry), and a few tips for you to plan your own Roman Holiday...

Inside the Basilica of St. Peter, in the Vatican (My mum thinks she was touched by God in the first picture because of the lights on her head...)

Vatican posing and one of the incredible ceilings in the Vatican Museum.

Even more Vatican selfies. I recommend doing a tour around the Vatican, it may be pricey, but it's a great way to avoid the long queues, as well as getting a guide who will show you around. The highlight of the tour was going into the Sistine Chapel. It's so still and the artwork is iconic.

Trevi Fountain! Guess which idiot managed to sit on the edge with her skirt hanging into the fountain? Oh yeah, that was me.

Seriously, could this place be anymore postcard perfect?

Mother and I outside the Colosseum (Photo cred: A very lovely American couple)

Inside the Colosseum, it was so much bigger than I thought it would be. Make sure to get here early if you don't want to queue. Mother and I took part in a three hour tour around the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill. Although it was very informative, and interesting (particularly in the Colosseum), our tour guide was an incredibly slow walker, which made the tour in 38 degree heat tedious and at times unbearable. I think it is totally manageable doing these things on your own with a guidebook, in your own leisure. It will save money, and be much more enjoyable.

Outside the Pantheon and by the Fountain of the Four Rivers in Piazza Navona. These are all free to see, and are great things to plan a walk in the city around seeing.

Two very different dining experiences: On the left, a relaxed lunch in a backstreet cafe. On the right, drinking Limoncello, a palate cleanser they offer after meals, and I absolutely hated it! It was like doing a shot of cough mixture.

The Spanish Steps! I wanted to have a Lizzie McGuire Movie moment, but they were closed for refurbishment.

The view from our hotel rooftop was beautiful, and watching a storm roll in was pretty incredible.

So we decided to climb Mount Vesuvius... It's not as bad as it sounds, you get a coach most of the way to the top, then there is like a half an hour steep climb up to the crater. But the view across the bay of Naples is genuinely breath-taking (and literally breath-taking after you've climbed the volcano...)

We took a trip to Pompeii, (which was why we ended up climbing Vesuvius, it's all making sense now!), and it was one of the highlights of the trip. Our guides were so much fun, we saw so much of the preserved ruins, including a theatre (above), a preserved man (below), went into an old brothel with some *interesting* preserved artwork, and a few preserved fresco's such as the one showing Icarus below.

Any trip towards the Vatican is not complete without a stop at Castel Sant'Angelo. First commissioned by emperor Hadrian as a mausoleum for his family, it became a fortress, and now a museum. If you climb all the way up to the top, the views of the River Tiber, The Vatican City and across Rome are incredible.

Little selfie at the top of Castel Sant'Angelo with the Vatican behind me

Left - My attempt of an arty shot showing one of the many backstreets in Rome

Right - Circo Massimo at sunset, an ancient chariot racing stadium, which could hold up to 300,000 spectators.

What trip to Rome is complete without a stop to see the Trevi Fountain at night? I completely recommend scheduling a trip to see the fountain both at day and at night, because both views are completely stunning.

 

 

A few more tips:

 

If your trip is long enough, I recommend planning a day trip away from Rome, just to see more of Italy. We chose to see Pompeii and Naples, but it is just as easy to venture to Florence and such alike. The tour we went on is here.

 

Food-wise, trying the gelato is a must! The best food you'll find will be down the backstreets away from the tourist attractions. Here, prices will be cheaper, and the food will taste so much better. Restaurants around the tourist attractions tend to have a 'hit it and quit it' ethos, as they try to make money off of tourists, so stay wise!

 

Never buy anything from the illegal street vendors. These guys are everywhere. They will try and force you into buying selfie sticks, umbrellas, and ice cold bottled water. It might seem like a bargain at 1 Euro, but many of these guys refill bottles they dig out of bins from local fountains, so don't even consider buying one!

 

Be wary of local transport. It's a good idea to figure out how you'll be getting around the city, whether it's walking, or if you book a hotel out of the main centre it might be worth getting the metro. The metro is super easy and super cheap (1 euro 50 for a one way journey), but be careful as they often strike without warning. Another way is to buy a ticket for the tourist hop-on-hop-off bus. This will enable you to see all the sights of Rome, and can be great if you plan to do it all in a day, but it is considerably more expensive than public transport.

 

Go out there, eat as much as you can, see everything, shop until you drop, but don't feel awful if the heat beats you and you have to go back to the hotel for a siesta and freshen-up. We totally did, it becomes too much, and it's the nicest way to feel fresh and alive to enjoy the evenings.

 

Until next time!

Much love ♥

 

 

The almighty return of the blogger...

Honey, I'm home!

 

 

 

Oh dear, it seems I've been seriously neglecting this blog - big time. I could feed you all the usual rubbish about how I've been too busy working and studying and what-not, or I could just acknowledge that I am a terrible person who cannot seem to be consistent or manage to persevere at anything. Whatever excuse you believe, I am sorry I haven't found the motivation to blog since the 1st of January, and rather unsurprisingly, an awful lot has happened. To name but a few, I wrote an entire dissertation, finished university, moved back to Weymouth.... oh the list goes on. I've also just got back from a really incredible week away in Rome, which you can expect to hear all about soon.

I've decided it's time to throw myself back into blogging. I feel like I have a lot I want to say about a million different subjects, and I have chosen you poor people as my audience. So expect to hear more things from me very soon, and I promise I'll try not to leave you all in a state of abandonment again!

Also, here's my face in case you've forgotten...

Much love ♥

 

2015 review - The good, the brilliant, and the very fabulous...

Well 2015 was quite something! I can honestly say without a shadow of a doubt that it has been the busiest year of my life so far. Everything I set out to do, I did, and boy did I set out to do a lot. I don't like to mess around, I'm very much the type who makes the most of the time I have, and I grab life with both hands. All of this makes my 2015 year review pretty exciting to write, and remind myself of just how much I've managed to squeeze into one year...

 

 

Travel - Last year I was extremely fortunate to have been able to travel a fair bit, and experience travelling as a group, with a friend, and on my own. In April I embarked on a crazy two-week trip stateside around Utah, Nevada and Arizona with my uni, which was so much fun and I made so many memories. It was a life changing experience and I wish I could do it all over again. At the start of June, Emily and I ventured to Edinburgh for a couple of days of castles and crazy pubs, before we headed to Brighton for a festival. The end of September to the start of October was spent in New York City with my Mum as I celebrated my 21st birthday. It was easily the highlight of my year, I had so much fun being there with Mum, and I'm longing to go back. Finally, I travelled to Parma, Italy, a couple of weeks ago on my own, to visit my good friend Steph for a few days. It was such a busy year. I've been on 10 flights, crossed the Atlantic four times, and been on an inconceivable number of trains. I wonder what my personal mileage for the year would be...

(Me at Zion National Park in April)

 

Music - 2015 has been a very good year for music. Picking a musical highlight for me would be impossible, I've seen so many incredible artists live this year. From being front row for my absolute favourite band in the whole world, Florence + The Machine; to seeing Disclosure close their debut festival Wildlife in Brighton, there's been so many memories. To name but a few more of the bands I'd seen in 2015, among the best there's The Script, Twin Atlantic, Eliza And The Bear (who I've seen three times already this year!), and the wonderful Megan Washington. I'm already lining up gigs for 2016, and hopefully a festival or two!

 (Being at Wildlife summed up just how incredible a year for music 2015 was)

 

 

Landmark Moments - Firstly, I hit the grand age of 21! The last 'celebrated' age before 30, which from where I am now, looks a long way off! I also started my last year of uni, of which I am currently halfway through completing. My university adventures seem to have flown by already, and I can't believe that in less than a year it'll all be over. I got another tattoo, the insignia for Florence + The Machines latest album, on my wrist. I often forget it's there, but I absolutely love it and all the personal meanings I have behind it.

(Turning 21 in New York City with my mum was one of best moments of my life, yet alone my year..)

 

 

The not so brilliant - The painfully obvious submission for this, was putting my faithful companion of 11 years, Lucy, to sleep in September. It was a heart-breaking decision, but that's life for you. What also may not shock you, considering all the adventures I'm constantly embarking on, I've been pretty broke all year. All of my money seems to be split between what I want to do (travel, travel, travel!!), and all the adult responsibilities I have to do (rent, rent, rent, and food.) Hopefully in 2016 I'll be able to strike a good balance between funding the two.

 

(My little Lucy was my world, I miss her so much)

 

I have had a very memorable year, which really wouldn't have been anywhere near as fabulous without my friends. They've been brilliant, and we've got upto many things, mostly stayed out of trouble, and had multiple drunken antics! My family are the absolute best, I've been spoilt this year, especially with my birthday, and I'm ever-so grateful for everything they've done for me last year, and throughout my life. Ah, the New Year makes me a reflective, emotional mess...I just love everyone in my life right now, and I wouldn't change it, or who I am, for the world!

 

Thank you all for sticking with me and reading my blog this year. I hope you have had a magnificent year, and that 2016 is bloody wonderful for all of you.

 

Much love ♥

 

Under pressure and looking forwards...

2016 is going to be one hell of a year.

 

I've been saying it for ages, that eventually I was going to have to get my act together and fully become an adult, but officially that time has come. To be honest, I am freaking out a little bit. It feels like yesterday I started my degree and moved to Winchester, but now in 6 months time I will have completed my degree, and will no longer be living there. Just where has the time gone? So I need to make a plan of action, and get myself organised because this time next year, my life is going to be very different. There's so much I want to do, and do well with justice, that I'm putting the pressure on myself big time.

 

 

• I want to finish my dissertation and university, and come out the other side knowing I did the absolute best that I could.
• I want to travel and have adventures in places I've never been to before.
• I want to find an incredible job and career that will make me incredibly happy and fulfilled with life.
• I want to finally be able to drive so I can stop relying on other people to taxi me around.
• I want to be financially stable by this time next year.
• I want to make my family, and myself incredibly proud of everything I've achieved in the last few years, and prove that it's all been worth it.

 

So now it's crunch time. I've got to sort myself out, and enjoy every step of it. I've never been more sure or determined about anything.

 

Much love ♥ 

 

Ciao Italia...

Last week, I travelled to another country by myself for the first time.

 

I got on a plane to travel to a country where I definitely did not speak the language, and boy, was it an adventure. I went to Parma, Italy, to stay with my friend Steph for a few days, and then fly back with her.

 

I left Winchester at 10am to get two coaches to Stanstead Airport, where I was 4 hours early for my flight. This gave me the chance to sit and write some of my dissertation, as well as make friends with some lovely people whilst consuming many lattes in Starbucks. The flight itself was definitely something. We were due to land in Parma, but after taking off an hour late, we were met with very thick fog. Therefore, the pilot decided to divert the plane! To begin with, we were told Pisa, the Ryanair website said we were in Milan, but we actually wound up in Bologna about an hour away. This meant we had to get a coach in the early hours in order to find our way back to Parma!

(The Cathedral and the Christmas tree in Parma)

 

After a well needed sleep, Steph took me out for lunch in Parma, where we had tortelli, which were really tasty. We took a long walk around Parma, where Steph pointed out all the main sights for me. There was the Cathedral, the Piazza Pilotta, and the Parco Ducale. Italy is such a beautiful place, everywhere is so old and rustic, but in a beautiful and traditional way. The park was a juxtaposition from the busy heart of the city, a quiet place to relax and for contemplation. It felt similar, if very different from Winchester; grand, but less gothic.

(The statue on the island in the pond in Parco Ducale)

(The architecture in Parma is so beautiful)

 

I was introduced to a few of Steph's Erasmus friends, who took me on a night out in Parma. Many One Euro shots were consumed, and I ended up pretty drunk and hungover the next day, but it was such a good night! Admittedly, I wasted the next day of my Italian adventure because I was pretty hungover. But it was actually quite nice just to chill with Steph in her super awesome flat, and meet the Erasmus guys later for crepes.
 

(Steph, a few of her lovely Erasmus friends, and I)

 

On my last day, we took a train to Milan for a few hours, to sightsee and grab lunch. Milan is just over an hour away from Parma via the train. We took the metro to the Doumo di Milano in the centre and walked around the Christmas market, before meeting a girl Steph knew for lunch nearby. The Doumo, or Cathedral, in Milan is absolutely stunning. The architecture is outstanding, a complete work of art, and being in the presence of it truly takes your breath away. I'm really glad I got the chance to visit there, and should I ever return, I will definitely opt for a tour inside.

(Doumo di Milano, such a beautiful place!)

 

After my adventure, I'm beginning to think that travelling is about the journey more than the destination. Just getting there and meeting so many new people made the experience much more memorable for me. If anything, my time in Italy has made it very apparent to me that my life is not meant to be lived in one place, and that I'm definitely a traveller at heart. I hope I get the opportunity to return to Italy so I can continue to explore the magnificent country.
 

(Me outside the Doumo, by the Christmas tree)

 

Much love ♥