Cala D'Or, I Adore

Last weekend, well technically last Thursday to Monday, I went on the long-awaited holiday to Majorca with some great friends from cheer. After all the stress of planning, a wonderfully relaxing time was had!

It was a holiday of firsts and greats. It was the first holiday I've been on where I haven't gone sight-seeing per se. Usually, I'm up and about most days investigating the new place, looking up an historical sight, and checking out a museum or two. This time however, we spent everyday round the pool, or on the beach, and every night wandering the busy centre looking for new restaurants and bars (Buddha bar, and the tiki bars are must visits) - we succeeded! We ate somewhere new every meal, and 95% of it was delicious. At no point was I bored, or irritated by 'merely' staying on the beach, it probably helped that we spent one day on a glass bottomed boat.

That was a really fantastic trip. Our brilliant hotel, Prinsotel Alba, advised that we take this particular trip, and it was completely worth the €25 it cost! We were driven around the Majorca island, stopped off for a 45 minute swim in ocean, and got to pick up some fairly impressive tan lines. Unfortunately, I didn't manage to see any fish through the glass bottom, but I did see some during my swim. Also, the constant sun didn't help my sea sickness, but sitting in the shade, and swimming in the ocean really helped that.

Another first on this holiday, was a very personal one.

This photo became the first full bikini one I have ever taken and posted publicly! It took me a little while to convince myself to do it, but I'm really glad I did, and a bit proud of myself. Yes I tried to breathe my stomach in and what not, but I think it really speaks to the relaxed atmosphere created on this holiday, and the change in my own feelings. I couldn't be more grateful to my friends, both on the holiday with me and back home beforehand, for their part in it all.

I'll be honest, I probably wouldn't go back to Cala D'Or for longer then 4 days, but that certainly doesn't mean I wouldn't go back at all, I most definitely would. My advice for those going, is expect to chill and not be constantly 'busy' so you can embrace it once you there; stay in Prinsotel Alba; go on a glass-bottomed boat; drink in Upstairs bar and dance in Buddha, and eat in Rustic. 

 

VOTE. Please.

VOTE. Please.

If you live in the UK, are a British citizen, are over 18, your country has acknowledged your right to vote and has made you eligible to do so. If you don't vote every single person who has campaigned for the right to vote, died or been abused through that campaigning, has done so in vain.

But! I hear people cry. But, what? I ask. But you don't trust politicians? You don't trust the 'system'? You don't understand what's going on? Guess what the answer to the first two questions is: VOTING. Vote politicians you don't trust out, and ones you trust in, or even run for a position yourself. Vote in  and campaign for referendums that will change the system. The third question also has a fairly simple solution: investigate. Watch/read the news, hold conversations with people that have a better understanding than yourself, read the leaflets that inevitably get shoved through your letter box, and then there's always the internet.

VOTE. Please.

For the sake of interest, I voted in the EU Referendum and I voted remain. Simply, as a Liverpudlian, I have first hand experience of how beneficial European money can be. Also, none of the arguments from the Leave campaign are fully accurate, and certainly do not convince me against Europe, we're no longer the largest empire in the world, we need to understand that and realise we're stronger IN. That's just my opinion, and I showed it through my vote, I encourage everyone who can to do the same, whichever way they feel about the referendum.

VOTE. Please.

Great Music, Great People, Great Weekend

While I look forward to spending next weekend in Majorca with the cheer girls, I thought I'd have a write about the fantastic time I had last weekend.

It began on Friday at one of my good friend's engagement parties. It was a lovely, relaxed night filled with love, laughter and friendship, just like any good engagement party should be! I'm so happy for and proud of both her and her fiance for being in such a place in their lives that they can commit to each other in such a way. I'm sure there's something in the water though, seems like everyone's getting engaged! There've been 6 on my newsfeed in the past month alone! Maybe one day I'll be grown up and stable enough for it, but until then I'm going to scatter about in my life, and watch everyone else enjoy their turns first. With all the negativity in the world, it's fantastically heart warming to see so much love about the place.

Sunday was then my birthday present from Alex's parents: BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN at Wembley. I've grown up around the music from the likes of Springsteen so seeing him was a bit of a dream come true.

Getting to our hotel, a Crowne Plaza, from Euston and then onto Wembley wasn't the most simple of journeys, but it was completely and utterly worth it! The Boss put on an absolutely fantastic show, and the open top of Wembley gave the stadium a festival feel, my most favourite of atmospheres when it comes to listening to music. Unfortunately, there were some technical difficulties, and the stadium doesn't have the best acoustics, but it really didn't hinder the performance that much. One of the best moments of the concert was definitely when Springsteen pulled a young girl out of the audience after noticing her sign that mentioned she had school the next day. She looked about 8 or 9, but bravely took the opportunity to sing on stage with entirety of the crowd joining in. It was an incredible moment.

On the Tuesday, Alex and I climbed the Wrekin, a hill in Shropshire. It was really lovely to spend a couple of hours in the middle of nothing but nature, getting away like that can be incredibly calming and healing.

Then Wednesday, to round off our time together, Alex and I spent the day at the Black Country Living Museum. It's basically an open air museum that has been created out of buildings right from the Victorian era to give a sense of what towns were like back then. I loved it there. It was really easy to spend a good couple of hours wandering through it, appreciating how times have changed, and in ways how they haven't. One thing I picked up on was how little Victorians had within their houses because they lived outside so much, I think that's a nice sentiment for us to try and bring back.

Peaky Blinders film a fair bit at the museum so of course we had to get 'the shot'. I advise everyone to take a wander out whether you're a fan of history, or Peaky Blinders, or not. Same goes for Wigan Pier, and Beamish in the North East of England.

Hopefully, next weekend on holiday with the girls is as fun and lovely, though in probably very different ways! I shall report back in good time.