Hello! It’s been a while since I wrote anything on here but I’m back with a travelling/holiday post! Its the summer holidays here and every year my mum, brother and I go away for a few days in July (my dad has to work so doesn’t come). Last year we went camping in Cheddar Gorge and this year we went to Malvern, which is near Worchester. I realised recently that considering I live in England, I have probably only seen 10% of it, which is why I really enjoy these little trips that we do each year.
We arrived at our hotel on Sunday evening and went more or less straight to bed. The next day we walked up into the Malvern Hills. Walking is not really something I actively choose to do but this was awesome and the views were beautiful! We walked about 7 miles which took around 3 and a half hours.
We spent the rest of the time exploring the tiny town and enjoying the luxury of having a pool and gym at the hotel. The ground of the hotel itself were beautiful and perfect for an afternoon of sunbathing. We went into the priory gardens in the town and the Priory itself. It felt very typically British to be standing next to a band stand eating an ice cream!
On the way home we went to Worchester and popped into a medical museum that was in the university. It was actually a lot more interesting than we thought it was going to be! We then went into the town center and went to the cathedral. My brother and I were somewhat dragged to the evensong by my mum, who wanted to go as it was being broadcast on BBC radio. The singing was actually fairly good! We also happened to bump into a friend and briefly chatted to him.
It was a good few days away – although tiring! Definitely reccommend it, especially if you love walking holidays!
I think I’ve found my new favourite city! I recently went to Milan, Italy and it was awesome. I went with my dad from Wednesday to Sunday, so only for a few days but had a great time. I’d never really heard of anyone I know going to Milan and if they had it was just to pass through so I didn’t know what to expect. However, I absolutely loved the city with its chilled (and some very handsome!) locals, delicious food and breath taking sights.
The first thing I noticed was how chilled all the ‘locals’ were. No one was rushing anywhere and they all seemed so content! Loads of people were wearing suits as well, I don’t know how they didn’t burn up considering it was about 30 degrees! It had a very business-work vibe which I love!
We visited the Duomo, i.e. the gothic cathedral, on day one. We did the museum tour including going underneath the cathedral to see the archeological ruins from when it was first built. The inside of the cathedral was beautiful and absolutely huge! One thing which stood out to me was the tapestrys displayed from the ceiling – I’ve never seen this before so thought it was quite cool and unique. However, my favourite part was the outside. I’ve heard that the Duomo has been compared to a cake and a hedgehog. It certainly looked like a cake! Every single spire had a little statue on it and each was carved so intricately. We went to the ‘terraces’ which was basically the roof. This provided great views of the city sky line. The best way to describe the awesomeness of this is to just show you photos!
On day two we went to Castello Sforzesco. We didn’t do any of the tours or museums there but we walked around it and through the gardens. This was pretty impressive; both the castle and the grounds were beautiful. There was a live band playing in the grounds which (I’m assuming) was there because the Friday was Republican Day. This is an Italian holiday celebrating something to do with the monarchy they used to have. It was good to experience some local culture whilst we were there! On the same day we did an open top bus tour around the city. We hopped on and off at various locations and it also took us to the football stadium, which my dad was very impressed with!
On day three (our final day) we strolled around the city and went to the Teatro Alla Scala. This was so impressive! The theatre was enormous and it was fun to imagine what I’d be like to sing and act in front of a crowd that big. We also went through the museum there as well which taught us all about the life and works of various famous composers. We also walked through the shopping centre several times throughout our trip. This is one of the oldest shopping centres in the world and looks more like a palace than a shopping centre! Milan is the home and fashion and it’s clear to see why!
We also strolled along the Navigli canals on our final day and had lunch beside them. There were various market stalls up and down the streets so we walked around those as well.
Navigli canals
The food was delicious! I ate mostly pasta in the evening and we had salads for lunch. On our first day there we found an awesome salad bar which was like a fast food salad resturant. They had the biggest selection of salads and puddings I’ve ever seen! Another place we went to had the best seafood spagetti I’ve ever had! There are so many good places to eat around the city and most are reasonably priced. I thought it was cheaper than London. We also went to an ice cream cafe where we got served the biggest, yummiest ice creams I’ve ever seen!
The buildings were so grand and reminded me a bit of some streets in Oxford city centre. The central station was more like a museum than a train station! It was huge and the building was amazing.
It feels like way to long since I’ve done a fashion post! They’re a little tricker to plan because you have to take photos so I like to do it when I have enough time to do it properly! I thought I would show you some of the things I’ve bought over the last couple of weeks – links to each item will be at the bottom – enjoy!
Bardot top
This is my first Bardot top! I expected it to be really uncomfortable but it’s actually not too bad. I love styling this with black jeans, a denim jacket and some little black boots. It’s great for a casual evening or daytime look.
Checkered skater dress
I absolutely love skater dresses – they look great and can be dress up or down – so when I say this one I was hooked. It kind of reminds me of an outfit out of a fairy tale. I can’t wait to wear this when it gets a bit warmer with some white converses. H&M also have loads of other dresses in the same style so I’m definitely going to go grab some more!
Black denim dress
This was a bit of a push from my usual style but I tried it on and was pleasantly surprised by how it looked! It is bodycon so it very flattering around the waist. I have to say, the picture does not do it justice! I wore this with a checked shirt for a friends birthday dinner a few weeks ago and felt comfortable in it all evening.
Bag
This was a little treat to myself after the first week back at college after the holidays. I’ve been needing a small evening bag for ages and was so pleased when I came across this one in Accessorize. It’s the perfect size for evenings (or even day trips!) and just fits my phone and purse in.
Shoes
These are a little daring and I have no idea when I’m going to end up wearing them! But I thought they were so pretty and I love the embroidery on the heels. The price for these was also amazing at (I think!) £16. They were from Primark so I cant give a link for them!
Top – https://m.topshop.com/en/tsuk/product/spot-drawstring-sleeve-bardot-top-6433160?geoip=noredirect&cmpid=ppc_pla_UK_ip&utm_medium=cpc&tsrc=vdna&istCompanyId=38aa0d7f-6514-4cb3-bbdc-df0d32d48b7f&istItemId=xpmtplapat&istBid=tztx&gclid=CKjw3sTG49MCFU-6Gwod0j4B_g&gclsrc=aw.ds
Black denim dress – http://m2.hm.com/m/en_gb/productpage.0457336004.html#Black
Bag (I can’t find the exact bag for some reason but this ones very similar!) – http://uk.accessorize.com/view/product/uk_catalog/acc_1,acc_1.7/2896914100
Clarissa Belhaven and her sister are struck by tragedy and are forced to move from the luscious hills of Assam to Newcastle, England, where they have to endure poverty. The first book follows Clarissa as she desperately tries to make a home for herself in Newcastle.
The second book follows Sophie as she lives a full and happy life living in Newcastle with her aunt. But the distant memory of her parents still haunts her as she tries to find out what really happened to them. She is taken to India by her new husband, where she delves deeper into the mystery of her parents and tries to make the most of her new life.
The third book follows lively, dramatic Adela as she struggles through school with the ambition of becoming a glamourous film star. She captures the attention of Sam Jackman, a young film maker. By the outbreak of the second world war, she is living in Newcastle where her life is turned upside down by an unpleasant discovery. Adela deals with shameful secrets and guilt as she falls in love with Sam.
I recently finished reading this series and I decided it was worthy of a book review – because I loved it! This series is quite different from things I usually read; it still had a healthy amount of romance, but also had a lot of cultural aspects involved.
My favourite thing about these books was reading about different places and cultures. The books are set in India and Newcastle from 1904 to the late 1900’s. I also love that each character is linked to the characters in the next book, therefore we still indirectly learn about the lives of previous characters as they progress. This is great because I hate finishing a book and not knowing what happened to the characters!
Each book is filled with joy, comfort and sadness. I have cried and laughed multiple times throughout reading the series – I simply love when books are able to touch you in such a way.
Here is the link to the books on amazon:
I hope you enjoyed this book review and it’s inspired you to read them! 🙂
Ronda is the beautiful mountaintop city in Andalusia, Spain. Situated on top of a deep gorge, it boasts some of the most amazing views. I have visited Ronda a few times over the years and it is one of my favourite Spanish cities. It is great for those who love exploring modern Spanish culture, as well as history.
I hope this guide is helpful if you are ever visiting Ronda or are looking for a new city to explore. 🙂
Plaza de Toros – Ronda bullring is very impressive as the largest stone bullring throughout Spain. When first visiting, it is amazing how huge it appears to be. There is also chance to walk around a small museum at the bullring to learn the history of bullfighting. Prices are very reasonable from €6.50 to €8. There are still bullfights being held here, although I have no appetite for such things, it may interest you!
Ronda Gorge – probably one of the most breath-taking views in Spain, looking over the Ronda Gorge into the depths below is both frightening and fascinating. A walk along the Puente Nuevo bridge is well worth a visit so you can oh and ah as you look down into the Guadalevin river.
Guadalevin river – this is linked to the Ronda Gorge. This river can be surveyed from 3 bridges; Puente Nuevo, Puente Viejo and Puente Romano.
The Puente Nuevo – the most impressive of the bridges in Ronda, the Puente Nuevo is the newest, with construction completed in 1793. This is one of three bridges from which you are able to admire the Gorge. It is situated near to one of Spain’s famous Parador hotels, which is worth a visit!
Plaza Duquesa de Parcent – this is the beautiful square in the city. Perfect for a stroll and picturesque Instagram pictures, or to have lunch in one of the many restaurants nearby.
Plaza Duquesa de Parcent
Puente Nuevo
Guadalevin River
Ronda Gorge
Views
Plaza de Toros
*I DO NOT OWN ANY PHOTOS (they are found on Google.)
I was lucky enough to experience this amazing city when my parents took me to Paris for 3 days to celebrate my birthday. We saw many of the attractions, including the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe and the Louvre. We also walked along the Champs Elysees and had delicious lunches at the cute Parisian cafe’s, where they gave us the tastiest baguettes! We were staying a few streets away from the red light district and tried to get tickets to the Moulin Rouge, but they were sold out. However, you did not need to see the show to experience the mood of the red light district; simply driving through it at night and seeing everything lit up was quite awesome.
I think it’s easier if I show you photo’s rather than try to explain how awesome it was!
I thought to end a chapter (and year) I would look back at the best moments of 2016.
January
In all honesty, January didn’t start out great with both my mum and I being ill. However, it was the start to a brilliant year. New Years Eve was spent at a friends house, which was a lot of fun!
On the 31st January we celebrated Burns Night – a Scottish tradition celebrating a poet. We’re not Scottish but my mum went to a university in Scotland so we always celebrate it. As always, my best friend (Char) came and we laughed our way through dinner with my family, which is a common occurrence on this night!
February
February (as always) was very cold. In the half term a group of friends and I went to stay in a house near Hereford for the weekend. Although wet and muddy, we had a lot of fun and laughs. We went on walks, made a mud slide (never again!) and drank hot chocolate whilst playing board games. We also went into the city and did a bit of shopping (and eating)!
March
March arrived and with it brought a lot of rain and cold weather. My brother celebrated his birthday in early March, which was fun! Apart from that, not a lot happened in March other than revision for exams!
One great thing about March this year (well, last year now!) was that I wasn’t ill for 3 weeks! Considering it was winter, that was pretty good.
April
In April I went to Devon for the weekend with my dad. This was great and I got loads of revision done, as well as being able to stroll along the beach and enjoy the delicious pastries from the bakery. The weekend was really relaxed and well needed to de-stress just before exams started! To hear more about my Devon trip and see more pics check out my Weekend Away – Devon blog post. https://megssaskia.wordpress.com/2016/04/27/weekend-away-devon/
Walks
Devon
May
May went past very quickly in a blur of revision and exams. My GCSE exams started half way through May so I wasn’t able to do much other than revise. However, it started to get warmer so I still managed to find time to get out and enjoy the good weather with friends. May was also the start of BBQ season, which made up for all the revision! Check out this post for more: https://megssaskia.wordpress.com/2016/05/09/summer-evening-with-friends/
Posing amidst the daisies!
June
June was a very exciting month. It was the month of my dad’s birthday and the end of my GCSE’s!! We celebrated my dads birthday half way through the month and a few days later I was done with exams. This was the best feeling in the world! I then had around 2 and a half months of holidays to do whatever I liked, without having to worry about exams.
I also got my first job as a waitress in a local cafe! This was awesome because I needed something to do and also money!
July
In July I went to Spain with my family for two weeks. We spent most of the time by the pool and went out in the evenings to restaurants and simply to stroll through the late night stalls in nearby towns. It was a very relaxed/refreshing holiday. To see more photo’s from this trip, here is the separate blog post: https://megssaskia.wordpress.com/2016/08/29/spain-2016/
Throughout the summer I also played quite a lot of cricket as I got into the county development squad! One of the best matches I played was when I got 4 wickets in one game – 3 of which were taken in one over! Definitely something I’m going to remember!
Spain
Spain
Spain
August
August started off with a choir tour to Hereford. We got to sing in the cathedral each day for a week. In the evenings we went out for meals or just hung out together. The week went very quickly and I’m so excited for the next one!
GCSE results were on the 25th August. This was so nerve wracking and I remember it seemed to take forever for them to find the envelope with my name on it. I passed everything and I was so pleased! I managed to get a few A’s, B’s and only 1 C! Actually, I think I was more pleased with my C in maths than my full marks in English as I had been so convinced that I hadn’t passed, but I did! August ended with a good feeling and happiness.
Hereford
Canoeing in Wales whilst on the choir trip
The shock of my results on results day!
September
In September I started at a new college for sixth form. I also chose my A levels; English Language, Law and Psychology. The start of college was more exciting than daunting as a few of my friends were also starting so we all got the bus together. It was easy to make friends in some classes and I also knew a few people from previous schools.
I attended a KLS (Kleine-Levin Syndrome) meeting in London. This was very eye-opening and helpful as I was able to meet other people who understood what it felt like to be ‘in episode.’
I also started visiting universities, starting with Bath. This was really cool and made me feel very grown up. I’m so excited to go to Uni!
Afternoon drinks in the sun
At a rugby match
October
October was also a fun and exciting month. We went back to the house in Hereford for the weekend – I seem to have spent a large amount of time in Hereford this year haha! This time more people went so it was a lot more fun! We did the same as before, except no mud slide this time!
At the end of the month we went to Paris for a few days for my 16th Birthday. This was an amazing experience as I’ve never stayed in Paris before. We saw most of the main attractions, including the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe and the Louvre. We stayed a few streets away from the red light district and drove through it a few times at night – this was an experience in itself. When we came back it was my 16th birthday and we celebrated by having an excellent meal (creds to my grandma!) and I went out with some friends a few days later.
Herefore
Cardiff
Paris
Paris
November
In early November both my mum and my grandma celebrated their birthdays also. 3 generations of my mums side of the family have birthdays within a week of each other, which means the excitement lasts longer than a day! 🙂
On the 5th November, it was fireworks night, which meant going into town with friends and watching the firework display. This year fireworks night was one of my favourite nights of the year! I was with Char and another friend and we just had the best night. It was good to see girl-friends as I spend most of my time around my guy friends!
Fireworks
Fireworks
December
Of course, the highlight for many people in December is Christmas! Our Christmas was fairly relaxed and quiet with just my parents, brother and grandma, but it was good none-the-less. Most of the day was spent lounging around, opening presents and (of course) eating!
December ended on a high as I saw friends most nights leading up to New Years Eve. The highlight was definitely seeing friends I haven’t seen in ages! We had a ‘raclette party’ which consisted of having raclette (obviously!) and playing games. Oh don’t forget Just Dance! Here’s to a great 2017!
