cravings

Dessert Parlour and Treat Spectacular at Creams Cafe

March 16, 2017

Dessert. My main weakness when it comes to food is sugar, particularly dessert. I crave sugar more than any other food and on the occasion that I give in to my cravings, there's not a better place to treat myself with a tonne of sugar than Creams, an American styled parlour specialising in all things dessert and treat-based. With cafes across the UK, I'm sure you're not too far away from one.

Oreo Waffle, oreo, waffle, ice cream, treat, sugar, Creams, Creams Caf
Oreo Waffle

blog

Why Coriander Leaf is my Favourite Herb

March 15, 2017

Tearing coriander leaves from a growing plant releases a wonderful aroma which instantly boosts my mood. It is, without a doubt, my favourite herb to use in cooking as it compliments so many different foods. 

Coriander leaf, coriander leaves, coriander, herb, herbs, fresh, green, health, unique, taste, aroma

It tastes wonderful in a potato salad, it instantly increases the flavour of a leafy salad, is a wonderful accompaniment to Mexican food as well as it perfectly complementing a homemade curry not to mention carrot and coriander soup. Simply divine! The list is endless. It is amazing how such a small leaf has such a huge flavour impact. The fresher the leaf, the better! Dried coriander is just not the same! 

Coriander leaf, coriander leaves, coriander, herb, herbs, fresh, green, health, unique, taste, aroma

Not only does it smell and taste wonderful but it also has many positive impacts on the health of our bodies. It contains lutein and zeaxanthin which help protect our eyes, it can increase the levels of good cholesterol in our bodies, it is anti-inflammatory and antibacterial and can also regulate the body's blood sugar levels. It can aid with people trying to lower their blood pressure and helps in the smooth transition of the digestive system. So add some torn coriander leaves into your salads right now and enjoy!

barbecue

Red's True Barbecue: A Meat Lover's Paradise

January 30, 2017

Yesterday, me and my boyfriend agreed that we were worthy of a treat, in the means of food, after eating so well for the majority of January. We ventured into Eldon Square’s latest addition of Grey’s Quarter, a vibrant and very popular new food court bursting at the seams with its variety of restaurants and food. We now had an enormously tough and significant decision to make. Where to eat. We had previously tried out Giraffe and Chiquito’s which were both outstanding but we wanted to try somewhere we hadn’t yet been.


I pass Red’s True Barbecue almost daily and always pondered what the food would actually be like after reading and hearing wonderful things from this meat lover’s paradise.  

The restaurant seemed pretty quiet because after all, it was a Sunday evening. The smell was incredibly appealing resembling a true barbecue smell which set my taste buds on high alert. We were ushered to a table almost immediately after stepping in and was welcomed with a large spread of a menu.

Red’s offer the type of food I absolutely love – meat and barbecue. We first ordered a large jug of water before devouring in the words on the menu as we would rather have something that just cleanses our palette and doesn’t fill us up too much, leaving more room for food! We always share our food with each other so we can try two different meals. We decided that one of us would order a barbecue tray and the other would order a burger. Upon this conclusion, we had the tantalising choice on what to order. We opted for the Beef Long Rib and Sticky Chicken Barbecue tray with a side of BBQ pit beans and a double patty Classic Bacon Cheeseburger with skin on fries.

Red’s pride themselves on how long their meat is smoked for. Because the meat is smoked for so long, it only took a maximum of 10 minutes for the food to be brought out. Luckily we were starving! The beef long rib fell off the bone and melted in your mouth due to it being smoked for 8 hours. The sticky chicken was also so soft and succulent with it being smoked for 3 hours. The BBQ pit beans were the finest pit beans I have ever eaten, full of pulled pork and smoked for 12 hours. The bacon cheeseburger was also so lip-smacking.

We decided against dessert as we were a satisfied full and didn’t want to overdo it but the desserts sounded out of this world. Perhaps next time if we opt for the sandwiches instead, there will be room for dessert! If you are a huge carnivore like me, this is the perfect place for you to sink your teeth into.

Have you been to Red’s True Barbecue? If so, what did you order? Let me know in the comments below.

food

Cinnamon: Surprising Health Benefits

January 26, 2017

Cinnamon. That sweet and fragrant spice you dust over porridge and use in desserts not only adds a delicious zing to our foods but also a zing to our health. Recently, George Lockhart, a performance nutrition specialist and dietitian to UFC fighter Conor McGregor, says the best way to curb those sugar cravings is with cinnamon and this got me wondering. Could cinnamon be beneficial to our health? 

Homemade cinnamon oat muffins.

Cinnamon contains cinnamaldehyde, cinnamyl alcohol and cinnamyl acetate. Cinnamaldehyde has an anticoagulant property which can prevent strokes and an anti-inflammatory property which has been shown to relieve the symptoms of asthma, arthritis, muscle soreness and the severity of some allergic reactions. 

It has been shown to relieve bloating and flatulence.

Cinnamon produces an antibacterial action that can prevent yeast and candida from growing.

It is loaded with polyphenols, a type of powerful antioxidant, meaning the body can be protected from oxidative damage caused by free radicals which is a cause of cancer and heart disease.

It can reduce the level of total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides and blood pressure which are all contributing factors to heart disease.

It can improve the sensitivity to insulin which regulates blood sugar levels and also lowers blood sugar levels if they are high.

So the answer is yes. Cinnamon can be of benefit to our health so grab yourself some cinnamon from your local supermarket and add it to your morning breakfast and reap in the benefits. Do you eat cinnamon on a regular basis? If so, how do you incorporate it into your diet? Let me know in the comments below.


Best of wishes.

food

Change of Direction

January 17, 2017

Lately, I have realised how central food is to me and my boyfriend, Matt, on an everyday basis. Specifically healthy food that tastes as good or even better than it's healthy counterpart and how altering just a limited number of ingredients can make a meal so much more healthier and tastier. Because of this, I am thinking of perhaps changing the direction of my blog towards food. Mainly healthy food with the odd treat. I cook and experiment with food everyday so it makes total sense. I absolutely love eating out and I also get compliments on Instagram on the photographs of food and the places I eat at. I don't know why I haven't thought of this previously!

I will still document the odd lifestyle post particularly when it comes to travel but I think food is the way forward for me. By no means am I a nutritionist, dietitian or chef but I love the power, goodness and taste of healthy ingredients. I hope you enjoy the new direction that I take my blog in. I can't wait to share all my food experimenting with you all!

2017

My Bucketlist 2017

January 14, 2017

2017 is the year I want to try oodles of new things with my key goals listed below!


1. Visit a country I have never been to before. The Maldives would be my perfect place.
2. Visit a city in England that I have never travelled to before. Definitely somewhere in Southern England as I have explored most of the major cities in Northern England. 
3. Travel to a new continent. I have never been out of Europe!
4. Learn to drive. I am 22 years old and have never had a driving lesson!
5. Delve into a new subject matter that I don't know much about. Maybe some sort of historic event?
6. Do something for charity. I am currently considering doing the Great North Run this year to raise and donate lots of money.
7. Get a dog. I have wanted a dog for such a long time and this year will be the perfect time to welcome a doggy companion into our home. 

What's on your bucketlist for this year? Let me know in the comments below!

Best of wishes.

December

What's in my Handbag?

December 13, 2016

I cannot leave the house without my trusty handbag - it's a place where I can store everything I need for the day ahead. Apart from the obvious items of my phone, keys and purse, what else do I have in my handbag? 


Hand cream
I find there is nothing worse than dry, cracked and rough hands throughout these hard winter months. I slather it on every morning and every night and top it up throughout the day if and when I need it.

Vaseline
Vaseline is essential to me. I again hate cracked, dry and chapped lips which I tend to get in winter. I have also found that my workplace tends to dry my lips out because it can sometimes be so humid. I use it as a base for my lipstick to keep my lips moisturised and nourished - I also think that my lipstick looks a lot better when I use Vaseline as a base. I do top up my Vaseline quite often throughout the day but at least dry lips are a thing of the past for me.

Compact powder and brush
A definite need when I have a long day ahead as it helps to get rid of any shine on my face that the day may bring.

Tissues
You never know when your nose is going to need a blow or you go to a public toilet to find that there is no toilet roll.

Sunglasses
To help protect my eyes especially when the sun is low in the sky in winter. It prevents wrinkles as it stops me from constantly frowning and squinting when the sun is shining.

Kindle and a Sudoku book
For when my bus journey to work is dragging or I have some waiting around to do whilst I'm in town.

Reusable bag
I refuse to pay 5p for a carrier bag when a reusable bag is an option. It not only saves money but also the environment.

Body Spray
Just in case I need a quick top up of scent. I never take my actual perfume in my bag just because it is in a glass bottle and if it smashes I would be devastated so a body spray in a plastic bottle is the perfect option.

Pair of Gloves
One minute you can feel toastie warm in winter; the next you might not be able to feel your fingers.

Umbrella
Again, British weather is unpredictable so if it does rain, I am covered (quite literally).

What do you keep in your handbag? Let me know in the comments below!

Best of wishes.

Big Ben

London Trip

December 09, 2016

Last Sunday I turned the ripe old age of 22. Old I know. I can't stop singing Taylor Swift's '22' in my head. For my birthday, my boyfriend took me on a two day trip to London. I was so excited as I had only been to London once to look around art galleries whilst I was studying my A levels. I've never had the chance to be one of those annoying tourists who wants to do anything and everything whilst in London. 

We got the train from Newcastle at midday. Our train was of course cancelled (no surprise there), so we had to hop on another one but luckily trains to King's Cross are pretty often although it did mean standing up for an hour on the train due to the lack of seats. What a great start to the journey but things could only go up from here!

We got into London just before 4pm and somehow managed to figure out the tube to get to our hotel which was in Kensington (posh I know, perhaps too posh for me). Our hotel was just a standard hotel, all we wanted was a shower to wash in and a bed to sleep in and this hotel was in the perfect location at just a 5 minute walk to Earl's Court tube station. I wish the tube existed up here in Newcastle, I could not believe how fast you could travel from one location to another. 

After settling in, we got the tube to Oxford Circus which literally took 10 minutes. It was around 6pm at this time which of course is rush hour and wow both the tube and Oxford Street were packed! After figuring out our way onto Oxford Street, we met my boyfriend's brother who took us for food and mojitos at a burrito bar situated on a side street just off Oxford Street. Damn they were some good mojitos!

After catching up on a long 9 months of not seeing his brother, we decided to head off to Hyde Park where Winter Wonderland was. I had heard about it but I didn't know too much about it and I am so glad we went. It was spectacular. It was full of people of all ages and had something for everyone to do. We grabbed ourselves a hot chocolate which was one of the best hot chocolates I have ever had.

There was too much to take in and it was closing in an hour so we just had a slow wander around to take in the whole atmosphere including the smells and sights. It really was the scent of Christmas. We immediately made the decision to come back tomorrow at an earlier time so we had more time to browse. We then stumbled across a bratwurst stall where my boyfriend and his brother grabbed themselves one. How they were hungry after those burritos I do not know! But they did look and smell amazing!

10pm came and we decided to head back to the hotel and depart ways with his brother as we were so tired from travelling. In addition, we had a busy day planned for the next day so an early night was definitely on the cards. 

The next day we were up, checked out of the hotel and at Waterloo tube station for quarter past 10. That is early for us. My boyfriend had organised tickets for us to go on the London Eye, visit Sea Life and take a trip to Madame Tussaud's. Whilst collecting the tickets, we had a glimpse of Big Ben, Westminster and the London Eye in daylight knowing that we were going to come back later once it was dark to go on the London Eye.



We first visited Sea Life where we saw an array of fish, sharks and jellyfish. I always get amazed at what can actually be found in the ocean and how magical and totally different ocean life is compared to life on land. 

We then got the tube to Madame Tussaud's which was fantastic. Some of the models were unbelievably lifelike, some not so much. I'll let you decide on that! Johnny Depp was the most realistic look-a-like in my eyes.






We then headed to the London Eye which we had timed perfectly to get on just as it started to go dark. The views of surrounding London were unbelievable and I would go on it again in a heartbeat. Big Ben, The Shard and Westminster were all lit up and it was so mesmerising. I would definitely recommend it to anyone.





We then had a walk past Big Ben and Westminster to Hyde Park where we again visited Winter Wonderland. We had a couple of hours here before having to get the train back to Newcastle. This time me and my boyfriend both had a bratwurst from the Bavarian village which was unreal. Yummy food along with the whole atmosphere and live entertainment was such a fun experience. I then had a mulled wine and my boyfriend had a hot apple cider. Both were scrummy. And to finish it off, we had some churros which were dripping in melted chocolate. They were divine and I wished there were more! After looking around, we noticed an ice skating rink which we were far too full to do so ended up looking at all the theme park attractions and the Christmas stalls. 





Unfortunately, 8pm came and it was time to get the tube back to King's Cross. Winter Wonderland truly is wonderful and I would urge anyone to go if you get the chance, I will certainly be going back next year!

9pm and the train arrived to take us home which took 3 and a half hours. This time the train wasn't cancelled which meant we sat down for the whole journey which was a good job! we had been on our feet for 11 hours with heavy rucksacks and boy we were tired. We slept the whole train ride home!

London at Christmas time was unreal and I would recommend you visit there. I think it might turn into a yearly thing with me and my boyfriend because we both loved it so much. It was the perfect birthday treat.

Have you been to London at Christmas time? If so, what would you recommend to do in London at Christmas if I visit again next year? Let me know in the comments below.

Best of wishes.

adult

What I Miss About Being a Student

November 24, 2016

After graduating in July, I officially am no longer a student. And haven't been for the past 4 months. It sucks. I miss the learning, the writing and of course the partying; I even miss the stress not to mention the array of student discounts you can get and getting away with the excuse of being lazy because you are a student. 


I have been in education since I began nursery which was a lifetime ago. I didn't take any gap years or breaks throughout my education and since 2010 when I first started my GCSEs, I have been an extremely academic girl always putting my work before anything. All my hard work and sacrifice for my GCSEs and A Levels paid off and I made it onto the course and the University that I really wanted to attend.

University life was amazing. Endless partying, meeting new people and learning new things; it was a real learning curve and helped to bring out a new confidence within myself which I lacked throughout school. Although there was a number of tired and endless nights and the fact that I probably cried myself a mini river throughout my time at University, I wouldn't change it for the world. Except for Harvard referencing. I despised that.             

After graduating and entering the big scary adult world that we live in, you begin to realise how much you took student life for granted. Having to get up to go to work instead of learning about a passion of yours is quite tiring which is why I am currently looking to further my academic career as I am currently applying for Masters courses. I have basically learnt that since graduation, a profession in my degree area is much easier to get with a Masters. Also since graduating, I feel like my intelligence is slowly but surely depleting. I hope I'm not the only one who feels like this! I am used to being force fed tonnes of information everyday but now the only information I get is from the news. I think I need to get back to reading books and articles on my subject area again. 


I can't wait to finish my Masters application, hopefully be accepted and start learning again! A year out of studying is too long for me and I can't wait to call myself a student once again. If you're currently a student, make the most of it!

Are you a graduate who misses being a student? Let me know in the comments below!

Best of wishes. 

breakfast

Porridge and Why You Should Eat It Daily

November 14, 2016

Happy Monday morning! It's the start of a new week and there's not a better way to start the week than with a healthy breakfast. And a coffee of course. Porridge. The first thing I used to think when I saw or heard the word 'porridge' was a bland, cement-like and just very boring food. But porridge isn't boring and is the perfect breakfast or snack for these cold winter months.


 Porridge on it's own is I openly admit very boring and is more like a chore to eat rather than an enjoyment. Food is there to enjoy and porridge can be yummy believe it or not!
An excellent quality about porridge is that it compliments a variety of foods ranging from fruit to nuts, seeds to nut butters, sauces to syrups and even chocolate!

My favourite toppings include:
 - Peanut butter
 - Chia seeds
 - Goji berries
 - Cacao powder
 - Golden syrup
 - Linseed
 - Nicecream
 - Frozen mixed berries
 - Sunflower seeds
 - Pumpkin seeds
 - Banana
 - Chocolate
 - Jam
 - Desiccated coconut

I love a different combination of these toppings so my breakfast always tastes different but my key ingredient is cacao powder. It makes eating porridge so much more easier and it tastes amazing along with any of the other toppings listed above.

Porridge

 So why is porridge so good you may ask? The fact that you can make porridge in just two minutes in a microwave means there is no excuse for not having the time to make it. And the health benefits of porridge make it one of the top food staples to eat.

Oats are the predominant ingredient in porridge and have many health benefits. Oats are packed full of minerals, vitamins and fibre along with evidence of lowering cholesterol and high blood pressure. They also release energy slowly giving you the feeling of being fuller for longer. Oats contain vitamin A which reduce the risk of chronic disease as free-radicals are destroyed by this vitamin. Iron is also found in porridge which helps transport oxygen to red blood cells around the body. Making porridge with milk, which is what I prefer to water, also means calcium will be found in this breakfast which is involved in hormone secretion, muscle function as well as the strengthening of bones.

So involve porridge in your daily diet as either your breakfast or for a snack and reap the benefits! Experiment with toppings until you find your perfect combination and enjoy!

What are your favourite toppings? Let me know in the comments below!

Best of wishes.

adult

Stuck in a Rut

November 02, 2016

Up until recently, I have began to feel extremely lethargic. Colder and darker mornings make it even harder for my snuggled self to get out of my toasty warm bed everyday and it means lots and lots of coffee but over the last few days I have had an epiphany; I need to cease the day! And sooner, rather than later.

Coffee

The constant cycle of me going to work (a lot recently although I am only part-time) then coming home to apply to new jobs which will utilise my degree has made me feel stuck in the same routine. But after chatting to my boyfriend about our future prospects, this should hopefully all change next summer. 

After extensive searching, we have both found masters courses in the same city that we are really passionate about studying meaning the possibility of moving to Leeds to study which is scary and a little bit sad, is also exciting and life-changing. 

Because of me feeling so lazy, I have also taken a step back from blogging but I am now refreshed and ready to post more content than ever! I have such an exciting couple of months ahead - the perfect way to end this amazing yet somehow rocky year. 

I have also been more demotivated than ever to work out even though we have bought gym equipment for the house. This needs to change as I know once I get back into it, I will love it just like I used to, especially with Christmas just around the corner where my calorie intake is going to be significantly larger than normal!

Hopefully things are now beginning to look up for me but I am still really disheartened about not being able to find a job related to my degree since graduating 4 months ago. I think I have to accept that these things take time and I am determined more than ever to find one to pass over the next few months allowing me chance to experience a professional workplace in my field before moving onto hopefully studying my masters degree. Yay.

P.S, the holidays are coming and I am so excited for Christmas this year!

Have you been feeling sluggish lately? How do you overcome feeling lazy? Let me know in the comments below!

Best of wishes.

foodreview

Zapatista Burrito Bar: Review

October 12, 2016

I am such a foodie. Like a HUGE foodie and Mexican food is one of my absolute favourites. Zapatista, Newcastle's first burrito bar is one of my favourite places to eat. With one restaurant situated just off Northumberland street, the main shopping street in the city centre, and the other near Central Station, you are never too far away from a Zapatista when you are in the centre of Newcastle.


There aren't many Mexican inspired restaurants in Newcastle. There is Chiquitos in the Metrocentre in Gateshead but I don't always want to travel all the way there and Las Iguanas which I openly admit that I have never eaten at so Zapatista is the Mexican for me. A quirky and colourful environment with Mexican-inspired music playing in the background, Zapatista is such a warm, comforting and welcoming place.

From fajitas to tacos, burritos to nachos, quesadillas to chilli and a salad bowl, it has every Mexican staple you could ask for. In a Subway-esque way of serving, you first choose what type of food you would like from the above list before choosing either white or red rice. I am sure the red rice is a new addition as I have visited many times before and for the first time got asked if I would like red or white rice yesterday evening, an investigation into this red rice is needed!

You then either choose mild or spicy beans. My boyfriend says the spicy beans are ridiculously hot so I have never tried them and always opt for the mild beans. Next is the choice of filling. If you're a meat lover, there is a choice of chicken, beef, shredded pork and chilli con carne. For you vegans and vegetarians, there is a sweet potato chilli option and a few of these options are gluten free. They also sometimes offer a special filling which includes chorizo for example.

You then have a choice of 5 salsas ranging from mild to hot to very hot and a choice of either cheese or sour cream. Next is where you can totally personalise it. If you're really hungry, you can have extra filling for a small fee. Ranging from 30p to 70p you can choose from a range of extras to truly personalise your food to your taste including guacamole, jalapenos, onions and peppers,

To truly complete this Mexican dinner, there are a choice of Mexican-inspired drinks including Corona, Desperados, margaritas, tequila, Mexican sangria and jarritos or there is a choice of soft drinks, fruit juice, hot drinks and water.


I have been many times over the last couple of years trying a range of combinations but my absolute favouirte is a burrito with white rice, mild beans, beef filling, pico de gallo salsa, sour cream and lettuce. It is an absolute dream and with it being a moderately healthy fast food option, you can't go wrong!

What will be your combination? Let me know in the comments below!

Best of wishes.

goals

October Goals

October 09, 2016



One of the best ways to complete tasks is to visually set goals by writing them down. Setting monthly goals is completely achievable. Even with any potential obstacles which may get in the way, a month is plenty enough time to find a solution. So here are my goals for October.

Drink more water. I definitely do not drink enough and with winter on the way, hydration is essential to prevent dry skin and lips in the upcoming winter months.

Start going to bed at a reasonable time. More sleep means a happier me.

Watch or read about the news everyday. There are some days where I completely forget to watch or read any sort of news. How shocking.

Go for a run. This is going to be the hardest goal for me to achieve. I'm more of a weights girl than a cardio girl but I think I need some cardiovascular exercise in my life but with the days being colder and shorter, the struggle is real.

Read a book. I am currently reading Robert Louis Stevenson's The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr Hyde which I probably read twice a week which is not enough in my opinion. This is only a short book so there is no reason why I cannot finish this book before the month is out.

Find some new blogs to follow. With me being new to the blogging world, I want to follow as many blogs as I can as I love reading blogs and it is such an amazing way to gain some inspiration for my own posts.

Start Christmas shopping. Yes I know I said the C word but I am so unorganised when it comes to Christmas and end up buying everyone's Christmas presents in one shopping trip at the last minute. This year I want to start shopping this month and be completely finished by the end of November. Ultimate goals.

This is a rather short but achievable list and I am so determined to tick them off this month. What goals do you have for this month? Let me know in the comments below!

Best of wishes.

Autumn

Autumn

October 05, 2016

Autumn. Love it or hate it, summer is over and autumn is officially here. I love autumn. No longer do I have the fear of sweating as soon as I step out of the door but I am instead welcomed with a lovely fresh and crisp chill in the air. How refreshing. I love everything about autumn: the colours, the fashion, the glorious food and even the annual events of autumn. And not to forget the introduction of Starbucks' pumpkin spice latte. Yum.


Full of oranges, yellows and golds with fallen and trodden on leaves and the smells of home-cooked comfort food in the air, how can you not like autumn? Along with wonderful sunrises and beautiful sunsets and it being the season of Bonfire night and Halloween, autumn is certainly a unique season.

Soups, stews, casseroles and pies, autumn is the season of food in my opinion! Home-cooked, wholesome food which provides a feeling of warmth, comfort, fullness and happiness, what more could you ask for?


And to hide my often rather full and round belly are the clothes. It is the season for layers: think woolly jumpers, scarves and those thick winter coats, you can eat as much as you want and no one will ever know!

So get on a onesie, grab yourself a hot drink, make up a hot water bottle and cosy up with a blanket in front of the TV ready for these dark and cold winter nights, I couldn't think of anything better!

Feel free to comment below!

Best of wishes.

adult

Attempting to Adult

September 20, 2016

Adulting is hard. Trust me. After being a student for as long as I can remember, it is now time for me to enter that daunting place; the world of work. With the world being so gigantic, it can be overwhelming and just a little bit scary. I am petrified.

Work
I graduated just two months ago which is not a long time in reality but it seems like forever since that rememorable day. I have had no luck on the job front when it comes to finding one related to my degree which I expected but after applying to around 50 jobs and not securing a single interview, it gets pretty demoralising. Luckily I have my part-time bartending job to fall back on at the moment. Phew. 

Money
Bills, bills and more bills. There are so many monthly things me and my boyfriend, Matt, have to pay for: rent, gas, electricity, water, two phone bills, the internet, council tax, TV license and not to mention food! The list is endless! I often wonder whether it's all worth it. Spending all this money on a house that isn't even officially ours. But then I think about it and there probably isn't many couples our age who cohabit on their own. So I think we're doing pretty damn well.

Time
Twenty four hours in the day is just not enough to fit everything in. Fitting in work, cooking, cleaning, searching for jobs, working out and doing hobbies is so hard! I honestly don't know how people do it but I guess it can only get better with experience. Hopefully anyway. Plus I still feel as though I'm a student so I can be a little lazy at times: I love nothing more than sitting on the sofa with a cup of tea with the TV on. 

Life is pretty good but it will be even better once I get a job linked to my degree that I am passionate about. This new and current situation is just temporary. Adulting is hard. But I don't think I'll see myself as an adult until I get a full time job relating to my degree.

Feel free to comment below!

Best of wishes.

Durham

A Trip to Durham

September 11, 2016

I have lived in Newcastle for three amazing years and with Durham just on it's doorstep, I cannot believe that I had never actually visited this visually beautiful place until a few days ago.

After hearing about Durham from numerous acquaintances and seeing stunning photographs of the architecture and city, I finally persuaded my boyfriend, Matt, to take the speedy train ride with me. With just a fifteen minute train ride from Newcastle Central Station to Durham city centre, it is a quicker journey than my usual half an hour bus journey into work and I was not disappointed at what I saw.

Full of cobbled streets, boutiques, galleries, country pubs, cafes and restaurants, we were soaked to the core from the heavy downpour of rain we had just been caught in but that did not matter anymore! I could not believe how different Durham is to Newcastle although a mere 20 miles separates these two north-eastern cities.

A visit to Durham Cathedral made me feel like an extra in Harry Potter as a few scenes were filmed in this very cathedral; all I needed was a robe and a wand. Unfortunately, photography was not allowed in the cathedral but this allowed me to fully take in the mesmerising detail and intricacy of the architecture. I did however take advantage of being able to take photographs of the external architecture of the cathedral. Built between 1093 and 1133, this religious and holy place has the shrine of St Cuthbert, a saint of the early Northumbrian church. An ornate and beautifully decorated shrine, visitors are welcome to congregate and pray here with the cathedral remaining a place of worship and pilgrimage. 


The clouds slowly started to break up and the glorious sun and blue sky became visible for the remainder of the day casting down interestingly shaped shadows from the tall buildings. A large number of modern and mainstream shops situated in old buildings make up the main streets of the city. Small doorways and creaky, winding staircases of the shops make them quirky and give a sense of being in the past. I would highly recommend visiting the upstairs area of the Jack Wills shop where you will no longer feel like you are in a shop but more like a royal person's house. 






The River Wear flows though Durham where we had a little walk down by the riverbank where we were again met with picturesque views. Durham really is beautiful.





After exploring the streets of this city, we had time for a quick bite to eat in an Italian restaurant where we had a view of the river. The sun was beating down, the smell of Italian food was lingering and Italian music was playing softly in the background; I felt like I could have been in Italy! We really wanted to hire a rowing boat out to have a row down the river, have a visit to the castle and the University but unfortunately we did not have the time so this is a must for the next time we visit!



I would recommend Durham to anyone seeking adventure as there is a tonne of things to do in this historic, medieval city.

Feel free to comment below!

 Best of wishes.