Adventures in London: Part 1

Where has this weekend gone? Since having a job, I've felt like I really understand those who say they're 'living for the weekend'. Luckily for me, this weekend was a long weekend as I had my first day off work in a long time on Friday and we were going to London, not to buy a heat magazine though, but to celebrate our three year anniversary. Our main activity of the day was visiting ZSL London Zoo's Sunset Safari, but that is all to come in part two later on this week as for now you can delve into our pre-zoo adventures. I started off spending the morning lazing around in my pjs, doing a spot of last-minute online holiday shopping for next week (I'm off to the land of moules et frites, BNs and Disneyland). As the clock struck twelve it meant Jay finished work and our day of activities could begin; after I'd finished getting ready as I did the typical 'oh-no-I've-laid-in-bed-for-too-long-and-don't-have-enough-time-to-get-ready'.

Our train journey was a short and sweet taking us into Kings Cross, where we decided our first stop would be Green Park, as you can't go to London on a beautiful sunny day and not visit one of their parks! We took a nice stroll down the middle of the park past those picnicking, sunbathing and chilling on deck chairs, taking us back to our younger years of eighteen-year-old selves where we spent an afternoon people-watching on those contraptions. Our nice walk then turned into a treasure hunt to find the nearest cash point (who doesn't take cash out when they're going into London, duhhhhh) and our adventure continued onto our second destination.

This time we hopped on the Bakerloo line and took ourselves up to Warwick Avenue, yes I had to stop myself from belting out Duffy, where we stumbled (a planned stumble) onto Little Venice. A quaint little part of London that houses canal boats like the ones on Rosie and Jim. It was so peaceful you didn't feel like you were in the heart of the country, surrounded by ducks, geese and moorhens.

We stopped for a tea break on The Waterside Cafe, a canal boat tea room, that offered anything from coffee and cake, to fruit, to omelettes and jacket potatoes. We went for three slices of watermelon each, lovely and refreshing after long walks in the sun. Once we had devoured our food we decided to catch a ride on the water bus, taking us on a fifty minute guided tour up the river to Camden Lock for only £8.30pp, bargin! Obviously, arriving into Camden at six o'clock on a Friday night meant the atmosphere was in full swing, with a whole array of sights, sounds (and smells) to take in. Unfortunately, it was a whistle stop your through Camden as we had a zoo to get to, but it's definitely on the to-do-list for a Friday night with friends! That's all for now about my London adventures, I'll be back with part 2 later in the week!

The sun has got his hat on

What glorious weather we have been having recently, the sun has been shining, birds have been singing and I have been stuck at work. Yes, whilst half of Britain basked in our mini-heatwave that made us warmer than the exotic lands of Spain and Greece, I was part of that other half who was stuck inside, following the fan around the room and spraying myself with water at every opportunity. It wasn't all doom and gloom though. I have managed to enjoy and appreciate this weather on a few occasions!

The first was a short bike ride with my sister to deliver some party invitations to a friend (yes, I felt like I was 7 again posting their envelopes through the door with their names written in gold, sparkly pen). I'm lucky enough to live right next door to fields and woods, making it a picturesque place for pedaling up and down hills. Granted, I did get eaten alive by bugs and it wasn't the most padded of seats, but I did have a nice bonding session with the littler version of me, even if I did give her no choice as to whether she was coming or not, and I got to enjoy the evening summer sun we all wish for when it's pouring with rain.

My second encounter with the big, yellow ball of fire happened over the weekend when I finally got to see my 'little sisters', not technically my little sisters but they might as well be. Mum gets to go every Friday afternoon to spend time with them, but due to my work schedule I cannot accompany her. So instead me and Jay spent our Saturday morning taking them to the park, splashing in a stream, hopping on stepping stones, singing copious amounts of nursery rhymes on the trampoline (ring-a-ring-a-roses and sleeping bunnies were popular choices) and enjoying a lunchtime BBQ. No better way to spend a Saturday, apart from the dodgy sunburn mark on my shoulder that better disappear before I go on holiday otherwise I will be spending my days trying to cover up the fact that I'm a typical British sun disaster, that I try to convince myself otherwise.

As of this week, the sun seems to be fed up and has gone back into hiding, although the Telegraph tells me that we are expected another heatwave, and it will be even hotter (a 'I'll believe it when I see it ideal)! The weather lady also promises me that it's going to be nice by the end of the week, and I hope she doesn't break her promises as I've got Friday off work (yay) and I'm off to London Zoo for their Sunset Safari. Keep your eyes peeled, as I will give you an update on how my adventures in London unfold later this week!

Ola!

Wait, what is this?  The tumbleweed has finally disappeared from The World of Beth! It's been a little while, yes maybe more than a little while *hangs head in shame* but I have returned! A lot has happened in the teeny-tiny time space I have been away, 3 months isn't that long reaaaaally, including the details of:

1. I have finished university, forever
2. I have to be a grown up
3. I have the keys to my (our) very own apartment in York
4. And none of the above statements have actually sunk in yet.

That sums up my life pretty well I think, or at least the waves of thoughts circling around my brain. Technically, no longer am I stuck spending hours staring at a computer screen, longing to be a part of the real world again instead of drowning in assignments. I do still spend hours watching Netflix, currently working my way through Once Upon a Time, which I'd recommend to any fairy tale lover out there. But that doesn't count really. It's more a distraction that I will no longer be returning to Southampton to live with my BFF's, sniff, as in the words of Monica: "Now I have to live with a boyyyyyyy". 

But if Monica can do it, I can do it. There is already a cupboard full of cleaning products under the sink. However I always imagined myself to be more of a Rachel person. I knew there was a reason I didn't want to be a grown up. Not only can I no longer take advantage of student discount, lounge around in my pj's all day or eat pizza for breakfast, but accept that I am Monica rather than Rachel.

I think it's time for me to go and think this new realization over, and do boring things like add to my financial excel spreadsheet, adulthood is really living up to it's name right now. I promise not to be a stranger no more as this ship has now anchored and I hope you're all still happy to board the decks.