The Palace of Versailles

Back in the Summer of 2018 when we had the massive heatwave I had a weeks holiday to Paris, while there we had a day trip to the Palace of Versailles to see the stunning architecture and the sprawling grounds.

Being June time there were massive queues to get in meaning we had to stand in the scorching sun waiting to get in, so if you are planning on going I would recommend booking tickets in advance.

The palace is now classed as a UNESCO World Heritage site having being the royal residence for Louis XIV until the start of the French Revolution.

Riding Bikes in Amsterdam

My last blog post spoke about my fear of heights and overcoming it to try the Over the Edge Swing which happens to be the highest swing in Europe. Amsterdam was certainly a holiday for me not letting my fears hold me back and another one of those was riding bikes on the streets of Amsterdam. While Amsterdam is probably the most cyclist friendly city in Europe I was nervous about taking up the task having not rode a bike for the best part of ten years.

Thankfully I was more than relieved when I realised you could rent bikes with the brakes on the handles like in England. We only had a short amount of time on our last day to complete this activity so we booked the bikes out for an hour and went all around the boat docking areas and up a few of the nearby streets surrounding the station area.

Amsterdam: Over The Edge

I have a massive fear of heights and obtain vertigo when looking down over the edge of any high building or sheer drop. This is a fear I have been working on overcoming as I don't want to let it hold me back from trying new experiences. 

Throwback to October 2018 where me and my boyfriend had a long weekend away to Amsterdam. While we visited many sights in this truly stunning city there was one thing we had decided we were going to do before arriving. This was the Over the Edge Swing located at the top of A'DAM Lookout Tower, at a height of 100 meters it is Europe's highest swing and a must for any thrill seekers taking a trip to Amsterdam.

Snowdon Walk for Myeloma UK

Back on the 22nd of June I arranged a walk up Snowdon in order to raise money for Myeloma UK, a charity and cause that has become extremely close to my heart.

The walk was part of a guided tour to watch the sunset, so we ended up in a large group of other hikers also raising money for various different charities.

Prior to this I had never been up Snowdon before and had never even walked the distance of the mountain all in one go. 

Fundraising For Myeloma UK

On the 22nd of June I will be doing a walk up Snowdon with my boyfriend and a close friend. I thought this would be a good opportunity to fundraise in aid of Myeloma UK. I've chosen this charity as it has become a cause close to my heart. My Aunt Sarah-Jane has been having treatment for Multiple Myeloma since December 2017. Thankfully she is currently in remission after treatment however this disease currently has no cure.

Myeloma UK receives no government funding and all money for research comes from donations. Every donation big or small will help me reach my goal. Your donation will help Myeloma UK to provide information and support to people affected by Myeloma and to improve standards of treatment and care through research, education, campaigning and raising awareness. Thank you for reading!

Paris: Disneyland

Back in June last year (can't believe it's been that long since I've posted) I visited Paris. It was during that wonderful heatwave we had and it couldn't have been more perfect weather to visit Disneyland.

I had never actually visited Disneyland in Paris before so I was excited to see how it matched up to the original in Anaheim. We got there bright and early for a full day to try and pack as much in as possible and that we certainly did.

We jumped straight into the rides and went on the Tower of Terror which I had never been on before but really enjoyed, it's a shame that they are getting rid of the ride.

Ghetto Golf Birmingham

The other weekend me and my boyfriend headed to Birmingham for a day out, while there we went to Ghetto Golf.

Mini Golf, cocktails and graffiti art? Yes please!

Located at the Custard Factory entry is £10 per person and there are 18 different mini golf holes.

We did not book in advance so had to wait for the next available session. In the meantime we admired the graffiti and had a cocktail each. The drinks were reasonably priced and tasted great. You also had the option to order drinks as you made your way around the course.

To Be Read List May 2018

Spellbound of the Lost and found- Moira Fowley-Doyle
'One stormy summer night, Olive and her best friend, Rose, begin to lose things. It starts with simple items like hair clips and jewellery, but soon it’s clear that Rose has lost something bigger; something she won’t talk about.

Then Olive meets three wild, mysterious strangers: Ivy, Hazel and Rowan. Like Rose, they’re mourning losses - and holding tight to secrets.

When they discover the ancient spellbook, full of hand-inked charms to conjure back lost things, they realise it might be their chance to set everything right. Unless it’s leading them towards secrets that were never meant to be found . . .'

Sintra: Castle of the Moors

After Pena Palace we then visited the Castle of the Moors. This was included in our ticket with the palace and the two were a short walk from each other. It was a beautiful sunny day in Sintra making for some beautiful views from the castle.

The castle itself was very grand and steeped in history. There were loads of high turrets and steep steps, the walk around it was a really good workout. 

Sintra: Pena Palace

While in Lisbon we took a quick trip over to Sintra for the day. The train is quick, cheap and easy to figure out and there are many wonderful sights to see.

One of the places we visited on the day was Pena Palace. We chose to walk to the palace not quite realising how much of a hike it was, while it was beautiful scenery it sure was hard work! Make sure to get a bus or taxi up- unless you're a fan of a good hike.

Lisbon: Belem: Jeronimos Monastery

Next up on the Lisbon tour we had a trip to Belem to visit Jeronimos Monastery. Construction of the building began in 1501 and was completed 100 years later, it is the former monastery of the Order of Saint Jerome. The monastery is a beautiful example of late Gothic architecture and the building has since been classified as a UNESCO World Heritage site. 

Biddulph Grange Gardens

I have recently invested in a National Trust Card, if you are under 25 the price for the year is a bargain! It's half the price of the adult membership and you get free access to hundreds of magical places! The first place that I visited using my membership was Biddulph Grange Gardens located in Stoke.

The picture of this place in the booklet instantly caught my attention showing a Chinese inspired temple. The site is a Victorian garden with plants from all around the world, a visit takes you on a journey from Italy to Egypt to the Himalayas and finally to China.

Restaurant Review: Tattu Manchester

The Restaurant

The restaurant itself has fantastic decor with a flower wall in the downstairs eating area and of course the infamous cherry blossom tree upstairs. As well as this there are many tattoo themed designs dotted around. The lighting was dim giving a relaxed feel and giving the cherry blossom tree a more central and prominent feel.

The staff were all very helpful and service was very quick. Booking in advance was important as the restaurant books up fast and we just about got a spot on a Saturday night in the early afternoon.

Lisbon: Santa Justa Lift

 Next stop on the Lisbon tour was the Santa Justa Lift located in the centre of Lisbon. It is a vertical structure consisting of a metal tower an observation platform and a walkway across to the shopping complex and the church ruins.

Lisbon: Rua Augusta Arch

Back in September I visited Lisbon and I have finally decided to blog the experience. It's very belated I know!

One of the first sights we visited was the Rua Augusta Arch, it was located a short walk from our hotel and we just happened to stumble upon it on the first day.

Me and my friend had ordered Lisboa Card's and this attraction was included with this. Meaning you could go up the arch as many times as you wanted in the time that your card was valid for.

Paramore Live Genting Arena

On the 14th of January I was fortunate enough to see Paramore live for the third time at the Genting Arena. They have always and will always be my favourite band and while I have loved all of their albums After Laughter has definitely settled itself firmly as my favourite.

New Year, New Perspective, Better Me.

Do not get me wrong on the one hand I have had some truly fantastic moments throughout this year which I am amazingly grateful for. 

However on the other hand it has unequivocally been the worst year of my life thus far. 

A tad dramatic? I wish.

It has been a whirlwind of emotions this year and my feelings have been knocked, broken and bruised. I have lost some of the most important people in my life this year and have had to spend the first Christmas of my 24 years without my Nan and Grandad. To say it was difficult would be an understatement.  

Koffee Pot Cafe Manchester

I am all about the food posts at the moment and while in Manchester the other week I ate so much good food that I felt I should share the places we visited.

My first post was on Brasserie ABode and this current post will be on the Koffee Pot Cafe.

The Koffee Pot was suggested by my friend as a breakfast stop as he had heard many good reviews. So on the Saturday morning we took a wander over in the rain to find this place.

Walking in a Winter Wonderland

This week has been an odd one the snow around the Shropshire area caused everything to come to a standstill. 

This meant plans needing to be rearranged and a fair few snow days from work. While this prevented me from visiting the Shrewsbury Christmas Market and actually leaving the house it gave some much needed relaxation.

Lifestyle: Dairy Free Ready Meals From Tesco

I'm attempting to have more of a dairy free lifestyle again after months of indulging in chocolate and cheese.

My main boost to do this was when I noticed that Tesco had started doing dairy free ready meals. Yes they are now a thing and I could not be happier. Mainly because if your lactose intolerant it is very hard to get ready made food that doesn't contain milk.