Lancashire, 2013
I am writing this incredibly hungover, as I have been all day, and suspect I will be tomorrow as well! Last night was so much fun though, feeling this awful is well worth it.
I went to a party in Lancashire hosted by my friend Luke, who I met whilst skiing with Lydia last year (he was one of our reps). He lives in a gorgeous stone farmhouse in the middle of nowhere, which was perfect as a venue, and it was a black tie affair, so everyone looked their best.
As well as Lydia, Abi, Tasha and Srishti came as well, and it was really nice to spend it with the girls. We arrived at about 8pm, just as a beautiful pork roast was served with stuffing and apple sauce to make hog roast sandwiches - perfect to line the stomach!
There was a huge Christmas tree in the entrance hallway, which created a great backdrop for some festive group photos. I wore an olive green dress that is pretty revealing, it had plenty of tape to secure me in!
The prosecco flowed (a bit too freely!) all night, and I commandeered the stereo with my iPod, which seemed to get a good reception. I remember midnight which is a good sign, but it went downhill from there! We danced and chatted to all the other guests - it was great to get to know some new faces - until I had to be put to bed at 4am after a struggle to remove my laced up shoes!
Cousins, Chester & Catchups!
Continuing on from my last post, on Saturday my Aunty Sarah came to visit with my cousins. We didn't do anything as they only popped 'round for a couple of hours, but it was lovely to chat and hear what they had been up to. In the evening I went with Mo and Natasha to visit Hannah Gordon and her boyfriend Matt in their new flat in Chester. We got there at about half seven and had some pizzas for tea before starting the drinking!
We got ready and left the flat at just gone half nine to go to a place called Bar Rum Bar which surprisingly sold rum. I had a Margarita cocktail, then a Long Island Ice Tea and then a double gin. Needless to say coupled with the half bottle of gin I had already consumed prior to leaving the flat, I was rather drunk, and can't actually remember a great deal of the next two bars that we went to! One was called Red Door, and the final was Cruise, a club with different levels with different music.
The following morning I felt very sorry for myself, which worsened as the day continued. We drove back at half twelve, and I had a mad rush once I got home to get ready to set off driving to Lancaster, where I was meeting my university friend Claire. I picked her up from campus where she was staying, and we went for afternoon tea at The Borough. It is the third time I have indulged in one from there, and they never fail to win me over. For only £6 you get three finger sandwiches, (ham, salmon and cucumber) a scone with jam and cream, a piece of chocolate cake, a fruit skewer, a jam finger doughnut, a pot of jelly with fruit and cream and a cup of tea. It was just what the doctor ordered for a bad mood and the hangover munchies!
On the way home I called in to see my friend Luke who I met whilst skiing over Christmas. He has moved back in with his parents in the middle of nowhere near Garstang. We drove to a cool place called Guys Thatched Hamlet, which was like a self built village and had a restaurant, pub, bar and hotel all in one! Because he was suffering too we were both hardcore and had a cup of tea and a hot chocolate, but it was nice to have a chatter and catch up. I drove home at half six, and then Mo came round for the night; it was good to have some company to chill out with whilst I was moping around!
Ikea
Since my first time when I was about eight years old, I have always loved trips to Ikea. Never mind the zoo or the cinema, a forty minute drive to bounce on beds and play house (usually followed by an ice cream) was my idea of a perfect day. Over ten years later, and I still look forward to my mum suggesting we head there if we are decorating a new room in the house, or just if we fancy a wander around somewhere that is bound to inspire.
As I am lucky enough to have a whole house to put my personal stamp on for my final year at 
university, I knew the day would soon arrive when the subject of returning to the Swedish empire would be broached. Armed with a tape measure, a list of essentials and a very clear idea of the look I wanted for each room, we set off for the Ashton-under-Lyne branch in Manchester.
After negotiating the confusing carpark and lift, we entered the showroom, and spent two hours measuring, choosing and marvelling at some of the furniture. My personal favourite game is looking inside the kitchen cupboards, to see what gadget is to be found inside. From roll out shoe racks to magnetic strips for knives, hidden dishwashers to fold out ironing boards, you never quite know what will appear behind the doors.
For adults who want to feel like 
children again, the kids section always does the trick. Walking past mini wardrobes, bunkbeds with slides off the end and giant leaf shaped bed canopies, it always makes me feel like I'm in a scene from Alice in Wonderland. If only it were more acceptable for an adult to have a bedroom that is painted in primary colours and has a crocodile for a draught excluder, I'd kit mine out just like it. As well as this, a lot of the soft toys on sale have some of their price donated to Save The Children and UNICEF, so you can feel like you have done a good deed when parting with your cash.
We managed to find the majority of what we wanted, along with a few extras that couldn't be resisted, (I bought the most amazing frog shaped storage for the back of my bedroom door) and the prices are so reasonable that it was a pleasant surprise when upon reaching the till we were presented with such a meagre total.
I'm definately not one for decking the whole house out in Ikea furniture, as it can create a bleak, cold effect that looks like an image lifted from the catalog, but the odd piece here and there can save you a lot of money and it is good quality, unlike a lot of cheap furniture on the market. And anywhere that can offer you a hotdog, chips and a drink for just £1.80 to chomp on the journey home must be a winner, right?
