Lifestyle | The Perfect Weekend Away!

As you know, last weekend was Valentines weekend, the perfect weekend for couples to get extra smushy, and lovey dovey. Now there's a lot of people who get on their high horse, saying that they don't need a specific day to show their love for their significant other etc, etc. But why not? Take the opportunity to go that extra mile, not because you have to, but because you want to.

This year, was actually in a proper, 'adult-grown-up' relationship (scary right?!), so we decided to get away from the work and life stresses and spend the weekend in the middle of a forrest. Trust me, it's more exciting than it sounds....

We went to Center Parcs!

As a youngster I used to go here all the time with my family, so it was full of nostalgia, and happy memories, and this year I got to share it with someone really special to me.

From scenic walks around the forrest (it snowed for half the weekend, so the forrest turned into Narnia and it was the best feeling ever!), to painting mugs, spa experiences, and pancake stacks for breakfast, it truly was a magical weekend!

Throughout the village there was a running valentines theme. After every meal you had a valentines chocolate attached to your receipt.

With every coffee/hot chocolate order there was a 'chocolate treat' for you and your beloved.

There's so many activities you can do as a couple, (you don't even need to be a couple, because everything here can be orientated around families, groups of friends, couples etc). Unfortunately just before the weekend, Pete hurt his back, so the amount of activities we could take part in were limited in an attempt to not injure him further, however there was still so much to do!

My favourite part of the weekend was our spa treatment. The minute you walk through the door, you were created by people who seemed so relaxed and at peace, and everyone was so peaceful!

We had a 'dual treatment', which is specifically tailored for couples. This consisted of a back and neck massage, and a facial. It was so relaxing. You changed into fluffy dressing gowns (one size does not fit all, as a 5 foot 1 lady, the sleeves got rolled and the hem was hiked up!), and the floor was warm! I hate walking around in bare feet because the floor is always so cold, but this place must have had some underfloor heating, because my feet were in heaven! The ladies were so good with Pete with his injury, and he said he felt so much better after!

You absolutely can't go to Center Parcs without feeding the ducks. We picked a villa which was lake facing, so when you step out onto the balcony you are treated by a whole gaggle of them who just know you'll be providing them with bread! Side note, don't do what Pete did and try to lure them into the villa, the ducks know their boundaries, and will just look at you like you're an idiot...

It was the most perfect weekend away, and we've already made plans to go back next year!

Lifestyle | Adventures Down South!

So this week I finally got to get away from it all and go on a little holiday down south to Guildford! (That's in Surrey for those of you that don't know, (don't worry, i didn't either at first)).

My sister was at university down there, so we decided that before she came back home, i'd pop down for a few days to do some exploring!

First, lets talk about the commute... People in London Victoria bus station are mean!

I don't know if it's because I'm used to friendly Northerners who say hello to everyone they meet, irrelevant of whether they know them or not, but I was definitely not feeling that vibe there! Not to mention the lady in her mobility scooter who decided to stop, complain about something, then proceeded to reverse into the reams of people behind her trying to get to their connecting coaches... According to my sister, I managed to witness every type of person you could meet in London in the space of 10 minutes.

But once i'd met my sister at the other end, everything seemed much brighter!

Every one seems to walk everywhere in Guildford, which for those of you that know me, understand that this is foreign to me! So what they do, so that you can cut through the train station instead of having to lug yourself all the way around town, is they give you this thing called a bridge pass. What is basically is, is a little slip of cardboardy-plastic that means you can walk through the station (or over the bridge), and get out the other side, without buying a ticket! Nifty eh?

So the first night was pretty relaxed. Hannah and I went out for dinner at TGI Friday's and had a catch up on each other's lives, then we came back to her room and watched some movies. Now as she was a student, (I say was because technically when I went down she was, but now she's home she's actually finished her degree), I got to stay in student halls and see a little bit what life would be like if i'd have gone to university. To summarise, the take-aways get dropped off at the other end of campus, the kitchen is literally so far away, and I can't seem to understand why anyone would want to transport their food 5 miles between cooking and eating (clearly i'm exaggerating), and if you have a ground floor room, it is absolutely essential that you make sure the curtains are drawn when you are coming out of the shower!

On day 2, Hannah decided to take me around the shops in Guildford, which are pretty similar to the ones in Leeds, but it was in Guildford where I was on holiday, so it was better. I bought a couple of make-up bits i'd been dying to try, and we treated ourselves to some new clothes from Urban Outfitters! I classed mine as a necessity as that morning I realised the only 'outerwear' type thing i'd brought down with me, excluding my coat, was a Harry Potter Gryffindor hoody which i'd travelled down in! Therefore, I definitely had to buy a new cardigan!

Later that day, once we'd got back to her room, caught up on Coronation Street, and rebooted ourselves, we went out for dinner with one of Hannah's uni friends, and my best friend Emily, who also went to university in Surrey! The Nando's down there had just had a re-vamp, and the open day was that day, so we went there to have yet another catch up, and some food! 

Next up, it was time for pudding. We were all really full after the Nando's, but before I went down, Hannah had told me about a place called Creams, which was literally a dessert restaurant. Everything on the menu was some form of pudding. Literally  everything! 

One portion of one of their puddings was the equivalent to a main course, but as I was on holiday, and at times I can turn my stomach into a bottomless pit, I just about managed to force down a slice (slab) of cheesecake and a scoop of ice cream. (The waffle was my sisters, but I could have definitely eaten that too).

Day 3! My absolute favourite day of the whole time I spent there! Hannah and I went to the Harry Potter Studio tour!

It was truly one of the best days ever! A little bit of me thought that it may ruin the magic, knowing everything behind the scenes, but it didn't, if anything it made it more magical!

I won't bombard you with pictures, because I don't want to spoil it if any of you are going, but it's brilliant! 

Conveniently, at the end of the tour, you're led right into the gift shop, so it'd be rude not to spend any money, right?

After getting home from what can only be described as the day where it was officially confirmed that I am not a muggle, it was quite late, so we ordered a chinese. For those of you keeping count, that's 3 meals out and a take away in as many days... Do not tell my bootcamp instructor!

The next day was all about the travel back up north. So armed with snacks, my headphones, and a phone charger, we got on a coach at 10.50 to start our 7 hour journey back home! After about 30minutes into the journey, I fell asleep anyway...

So if any of you want a more detailed blog about the tour, do let me know, I just didn't want to let out too many spoilers!