THCF Masquerade Ball

Recently, I popped down to Southampton for a night out with one of my favourite girls!
Georgy and I lived together for all three years of uni, and for the three years since, have tried to visit each other as often as possible.

Georgy is a co-founder of The Hannah Chamberlain Foundation, an incredible charity which raises money for grants to give to young people fighting cancer, all in the name of their good friend Hannah.

You can read a bit more about what they do here.

Each year, they throw a big fundraising event, and having attended all of them, I can safely say that this one was my favourite.

The girls managed to raise an incredible £4,500!

So to celebrate, here's a few photos from an incredible event!

So proud of them, and all the work they put in to achieve it all.

Edinburgh Festival 2013

I've never been to Edinburgh, not even for a weekend, but I've always wanted to. I'd heard it was a beautiful city, and had always wanted to check out the sites for myself.

Little did I know that this summer I would get the opportunity to not only visit Edinburgh, but work there during the festival.

Although I can't divulge exactly what I was working on up there, I can tell you that Edinburgh is indeed a beautiful city, and I cannot recommend it enough. Where else can you take one wrong turn on your walk to work, and end up next to a castle?!

Moreover, Edinburgh during festival season it is just incredible.

The festival is split into venues across the city, ranging from big lecture halls, tents to the basements of restaurants and occasionally, in the middle of the street.

You can't walk three steps up the Royal Mile without being given a leaflet, or striking up a conversation with a stranger. And despite the late nights, and inevitably large amount of alcohol (not for me - our early starts were enough to put us off!), we didn't see one cross word, let alone any fighting. Who wouldn't want to visit a place like that?!

We made the most of our evenings by inhaling our dinners and cocktails, and rushing off to various venues to see shows.

My personal favourite was 'The Boy With Tape On His Face' (@tapefaceboy) - an incredible show which involved no speech whatsoever. Just a lot of miming, props and ridiculous audience participation.

Definitely hoping to go again next year while not working, just to absorb some more of the atmosphere. I think it might be love!

Ooh Ooh - we got a TATTOO

Getting a tattoo is a big decision, and something that my best friend Chloe and I have been thinking about for a long time.
If you've ever read our blog (and if you haven't, you can do by clicking here), you'll know that a little while ago we decided 2013 was going to be our year, and we devised a bucket list.
Mostly, it consists of small things, but there are a couple of large ones. The first of which, is 'Get a tattoo'.
So we did.

As much as we were joking about being nervous and pulling silly faces, it's fair to say that I've never been more terrified of anything. Ever. As Chloe can vouch for, I'm not a quiet person, but for the hour leading up to it I did not stop talking. Utterly ridiculous.

I babbled while Tony was putting out designs together

And I giggled incessently while we signed our lives away.

Chloe was kind enough to let me go first. Largely because I think if I had seen her in pain, I just wouldn't have gone through with it.

Clearly, I'm really coping with the pain well.

Halfway through Chloe's boyfriend James, and my brother, Jack, came to check in on us.

They were too sweet. They bought us sugary drinks, and chatted away to take my mind off the pain.

Just under an hour later, it was done. I fell in love.

Next up, it was Chloe. The bravest girl I know.

The amount I was wincing, moaning and swearing would have been enough to put most people off. But not Chloe Satch.

Still smiling, she takes to the chair!

And here's a little picture just to proove that I wasn't THAT much of a wuss. It hurt her too!

But, strangely, the pain was entirely worth it. Tony from South Coast Tattoo did a fantastic job, and was so kind to us throughout.

Happy faces with our post-pain euphoria!





I think I speak for both of us, when I say this is something we'll never regret.

Each of us picked something very meaningful to ourselves. I won't divulge Chloe's, or go into too much soppy detail, but each flower on my foot represents someone, or a situation thats important to me, or shaped who I am as a person.

Chlo and I also got matching leaves, to symbolise our friendship. N'aww. So cute!

And with that, we were cling-filmed up and sent on our way!

So obviously, we went to our favourite pub. Jack bought us celebratory Pimms and Chloe took a cheeky tatoo selfie in public. Shameless!



Back to Cardiff

I've only been out of Cardiff for a month, and I miss it already - the people, the places, everything!
So when Katy invited me back down for her birthday celebrations and a bank holiday weekend in the sun, I could hardly refuse!

I caught my train early Sunday morning from a chilly Manchester, and arrived in Cardiff four hours later in sunshine. Bliss! After a lunch date in town, I wandered over to Katy's flat down in the bay, where I was greeted with a big hug, and an even bigger glass of Cheeky V!

We watched Katy open her presents, drank prosecco, and waited for the rest of the party to arrive, before leisurely wandering down to the Las Iguanas in the sunshine for our dinner reservation.

Katy and I have been to Las Iguanas for drinks together a few times before, and new instantly what we wanted to order for our happy hour drinks - the Brazillian Bellini - there really is no other option! Prosecco and Mango heaven!

Apparently, not so pleasant if you're forced to down it!

I would have taken photos of the food, (which was lovely - and a bargain) but somebody drew a moustache on my finger, and that was a lot more fun to take pictures of!

After we'd eaten, we walked back up to Katy's flat to meet the taxis, but en route, were ridiculously  excited to see a carosel, and couldn't resist a ride!

We waitied for our taxis in the Welsh sunshine, and took more photos

Before ending at our final destination: Revolution De Cuba!

We were greeted with cocktails that we'd pre-ordered, and they flowed freely after that!

At half ten, the staff came round handing out maracas, hats and leis, before forming a conga chain that went around the entire bar, taking most of the patrons with it!

I even got bought a drink with a sparkler in it. What more could you possibly ask for?

First Few Weeks 'Up T'North'

I've been a resident of the North for less than two weeks, and already I'm loving life up here.

After fighting my fear of being out of my comfort zone in Cardiff, I've gone into Manchester with a 'Just Say Yes' attitude and accepted any invitation going!

Here's a little entry of my adventures so far!

When Karmen and I first moved here, the sun was shining and everyone was out in a beer garden! We slipped into shorts, maxi dresses and sunglasses, and headed to a beautiful pub garden on Beech Road, The Horse and Jockey, along with her husband Tomoi.

We drank wine, ate chips that were as big as Karmen's face (Where do they get these potatoes from?!) and made friends with a fluffy doggle!

Later that week, I had a surprise visit from one of my favourite people in the whole wide world - Anna Jacklin! Sadly, we were too busy gossiping, catching up and putting the world to right to take any photos! But, when I popped for a quick loo break, I saw this scribbled on the back of the cubicle door. It seems pretty appropriate. If I'm going to be a northerner, I definitely want to be part of the Manchester Massive! (Largely, for fear of getting on the wrong side of them!)

Having stayed in Karmen and Tomoi's spare room for a few nights, by Thursday I was looking forward to getting settled into my flat, and making the move feel more permanent. Alas, I had no furniture. So instead of sleeping on a hardwood floor, I stayed another night with my favourite hosts, but not before checking out a few more of the local Chorlton pubs, and the chinese take away, which DIDN'T SELL CHICKEN BALLS. So unbelieably upsetting.

That weekend, I finally moved into my flat (with furniture and all!) and my first night was spent with the removal service (my very obliging parents) sleeping on an air mattress on the floor. But not without making sure the fridge was well stocked up first!

As much as I love walking around naked, and watching Twilight without being judged, by Monday I was craving some human company, which was fortunate, seeing as I work in an office full of humans!

Amazingly, one lunchtime, we had an email explaining that outside our office, a company called Love Lunch were going to try and break the world record for the most people to simulatenously make a sandwich. Needless to say, we all jumped at the oportunity and smashed the previous 308, with 677 hairnetted people in one big gazebo.

We got a t-shirt as a prize, so we were pretty happy about that one!

I met up with my old university friend Georgina this week too. She took me to an incredible Gin Parlour in central Manchester called Gorilla, and I'd recommend it to anyone. The food was incredible - steak burgers on wooden boards, and with cocktails at £5 a pop, you really can't go wrong!

So that brings us up to today - hungover Friday. It's not often I turn up to work hungover, but last night our team was invited to some corporate drinks at a local edit house. On arrival, I was handed a glass of prosecco, and thanks to some super stealth waiters, I did not see the bottom of that glass for the next three hours.

It's not everyday that you end up having drunken munchies on a school night, with your work colleagues, but at half ten, we found ourselves over-sharing, struggling to stand, and giggling like loons, so headed to Prezzo for a pizza. The total night came to £11.50 - if this is how Manchester is beginning, then long let it continue!

Hwyl fawr y pub lwc! Bye Bye Cardiff!

So the reason there's been a bit of a delay in popping up the latest blog entry, is because once again, I've moved house!

I'm on a certain contract at the moment that means that every 6 months, I get to try a slightly different job, and I get to try living in a different city.

So right now, I am writing you this from my new flat in Manchester. There's been a few complications, in that I am currently sitting on a hardwood floor to write this as the landlord has decided he's reluctant to give me any furnishings. But despite my temporary state of homelessness (ish - potentially a rather large exaggeration), I'm very excited to be here!

When I first moved from London to Cardiff, I was very upset. I was settled, I had friends, I had a nice flat. I've never been great at being out of my comfort zone, and I've always been a home-bird. Moving across the border seemed terrifying. But I pushed myself, and despite the first few weeks being insanely challenging, I now have no regrets whatsoever!

Six months has flown by, and I really miss the city, the job, and the people already. It's shocking to think that I've only known some of them for a handful of months.

So in the spirit of how fantastic it was, here's a few lot of photos of the people, parties and events that made it so utterly brilliant:

My stunning walk to work!

Admittedly, it was never normally this sunny. But when it was - oh my. Fantastic.

Cardiff Winter Wonderland! 

 

One of many nights at the local with the girls from the newsroom.

Space Helmet night was one of the best!

 

Six Nations - Wales v Ireland

Cardiff's known for being a good night out, but add Wales winning their first match of the Six Nations, and lots of rugby fans that have been drinking all day, and you have an adventure and a half, and a lot of new friends on your hands!

  

Barry Island

Been here once before, several years ago, before everything was 'Gavin & Stacey' themed. This time, we went for my birthday, in the cold, in March. We ate chips and ice-cream, and played Pirate Crazy Golf.

I don't think I've laughed so hard in such a long time.

 

The start of the goodbyes!

The first goodbye was with the first friends I made in Cardiff - sadly no Space Helmet this time, but a speech over a Karaoke machine in the BBC Club instead. Classic!

Katy-Jane lost a bet!

The One Show love a good sweepstake, and the latest one was dependant on where I would get moved to next. Katy-Jane, picked Manchester, and so came into the office on my last day dressed like this. Whatta babe.

Goodbye The One Show!

It's rare you get on so well with your colleagues, but this team are just fantastic!

Matt and Katy organised a bowling trip for my leaving do, and honestly, it was one of the best nights out I've had in a long time. Bittersweet ending - so much fun with such amazing people, but so sad to be saying goodbye!

  

 

There are so many more photos and people that I could have included, but these are the highlights!

Hwyl Fawr Caerdydd - I'm so sure I'll be back soon!