Zakynthos

This years summer holiday took me to Greece, to the beautiful island of Zakynthos.  For me, a big part of a holiday is being able to explore somewhere new and different.  The world is a huge place, and I'd love to be able to visit everywhere.  Although there are definitely places I would happily visit again and again, I do prefer to travel somewhere new, just to be able to cross another destination off the list.

 I would usually spend the entire holiday travelling around all the different places and really exploring the island or country I'm visiting to the fullest.  This holiday was a little different though and was mainly spent relaxing by the pool, which is so not like me at all but was very much needed.  

One day was spent in Zakynthos Town, although I'll have to admit to being somewhat disappointed by this.  I was expecting something like Corfu Town which really is beautiful but sadly it wasn't comparable.  There didn't seem to be all that much there and it looked very run down and not as pretty as I had hoped.

 

I'll admit to feeling a little guilty about spending the majority of the holiday within the confines of the hotel but like I said it was very much needed.  There were plenty of evening strolls along the beach though to catch those dreamy skies at sunset, one of my favourite things to do on holiday, so not all was lost.

And all of those pool days meant that I was able to read 5 whole books.  In less than 2 weeks, that is unheard of for me, I was super chuffed.

So not quite the usual holiday for me this year but a good one none the less.

~ Gem x

Returning to East Sussex

I've now lost count how many times myself and James visited East Sussex and in particular Freshwinds Camp Site near Hastings, however I'd not been back since our break up, well until April this year.  I was looking forward to returning and seeing Tim, Anne & Holly again.  It had been quite some time since I'd seen them last.  And I was missing East Sussex, it's a really pretty part of the country.

On the way to Pett I stopped at Rye to wander the streets of the little fishing village.  For such a small village there is so much beauty to been seen, I'd say you'd only need a couple of hours to see it all if that.

After settling in to the Shepherds Hut, home for the next few nights, it was off to Hastings for a walk along the beach to see the sunset.  I'd forgotten just how much I had missed this place.

The next morning I drove back into Hastings for a wander in daylight before driving on to Battle, a favourite place of mine in East Sussex, it feels like you are stepping back in time and is so pretty.

The best thing of all though was time on the farm.  The views are just breath-taking, it is so peaceful and calming and those little lambs are just adorable.

And as the sun set on the last night it was the perfect time to light the fire and rip open the chocolate biscuits and marshmallows to make some smores, I mean is it really a camping trip without smores?

It felt so great to be back.

~ Gem x

New York City

Back in February I was lucky enough to jet of to the big apple for 3 nights, yep New York City, so great they named it twice.  The catch, I had to escort 34 teenagers, now I know you're jealous.  All joking aside though, apart from it being a really full on, hectic and tiring  trip, it all went without a hitch and I had a great time.

 

Once we had arrived and checked into our fantastically located hotel (which lets just say was very basic and not quite the standard I'm used) it was straight back out again to visit The Empire State Building.  Now I've been to New York before but I don't think you could ever tire or not be amazed by the sites of this city.  It really is something quite special, and for the second time I was not disappointed.  What was even nicer this time around was seeing the faces of those around me who were seeing this for the first time.  It was a great way to end the first day.

The next morning we headed out on a superheroes tour.  Probably not the best thing to have done on our first morning as we were all still tired from the previous day and not feeling quite as energetic as our tour guide, but she did well to keep going in an attempt to entertain 34 unresponsive teens.  For me having not long before found a love of Marvel films this was a great opportunity to see filming locations for some of their films as well as many other superhero films such as Hulk and the highlight for me Superman.  Being able to step inside that famous News Building and seeing it for real was pretty cool.

After the tour we had a quick stop for a coffee and in my case a cake to go with my coffee, before we hopped onto the Staten Ferry, which I will be completely honest about, I was dreading.  I don't do very well with boats at all so I was panicking big time about this. As soon as we got on board I made a beeline for the stairs to get myself outside in preparation for the onslaught of vomit I was bound to be producing.  I spent so long worrying about this expected course of events but in reality I was absolutely fine.  I don't know whether it was the fear of it happening that stopped it or whether it was just genuinely an OK journey, needless to say I managed to snap some great photos of the New York skyline as we sailed away.

The fear I'd been feeling for the journey was all worth it.  During my last visit to New York I hadn't done this, it was nice to see the city from a different perspective but also being able to get up close to the Statue of Liberty and wander around Liberty Island.

Back from the island we walked to the ground zero memorial.  It actually felt quite chilling walking towards the site where the twin towers once stood.  Walking those same streets that all those years ago I had witnessed people running from, covered in the dust and debris of the huge buildings that were burning and crashing to the floor on my TV screen.  The fear, panic and pain etched on their faces.  I visited this site when I last visited in 2006, but back then it was still a building site.  It is lovely to see what they have done in honour of all those who sadly lost their lives on that day, a really beautiful memorial.

Dinner that night was in Times Square.  Possibly one of my favourite spots in New York.  I'm a sucker for lights and every time I see Times Square it always makes me think of the Usher music video for My Boo with Alicia Keys (I love that song).

Second morning and it was another day of new experiences in New York as we took an extremely cold (so cold even the water fountains had frozen over) walk to the NBC Studios for a tour.  Definitely one of he advantages of going on an educational visit, I ended up doing things I would never have done on a trip by myself and I enjoyed all of it.  The tour was fantastic and so interesting.  There is no way I would have done this on my own accord.  The highlight was being able to go back to see the monologue rehearsal for the Seth Myers Late Nigh Show which was really funny.

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Waking up for the third and final day I honestly felt sad.  Even with 34 students I didn't want to come home.  I had laughed so much during the trip, it was just what I needed.  A small group of us decided to head to Central Park to spend a couple of hours exploring.  I mean the place is huge, you could spend a couple of days alone to see it all, so a couple of hours was really only just a whistle stop tour, but we spotted some great things during that time and worked off a fair few doughnuts and other naughty treats we had devoured during the trip.

It was then one final walk back to the hotel via Times Square before our transfer picked us up to drive us back to the airport for our flight home and the end to an unforgettable trip.

For the second time New York was incredible.  I will definitely be returning one day for sure.  There still a ot ore to be seen and a lot more to do so I know I will be heading back.  And if you got this far, well done, this was a long one.

~ Gem x

2018 A Year in Review

These round-up posts are definitely my most favourite blog posts of the year to write (even though I haven't posted here for a while).  It always amazes me looking back and seeing how much I have achieved in the year so it was a no brainer for me to complete another this year.

January

I started the year off in January feeling positive about 2017 and all I had achieved.  I was adamant I wanted 2018 to be much the same, however I started the year off in bed with a horrendous cold and feeling very sorry for myself.  In fact much of January was spent feeling a bit under the weather and generally out of sorts.  I did still manage to get out and about and achieve a few things though.  An evening at the theatre to see my first pantomime, which was a great disappointment that saw us leaving very early on.  A couple of cinema trips one to see the new Jumanji film the other to see Darkest Hour both of which I loved.  A day by the sea visiting Walton-on-the-Naze walking along the pier, playing in the arcades and admiring the many pretty coloured beach huts along the sea front.  Dinner out with a friend at Bills.  Lots of cosy nights in drinking tea and reading.  Plus making plans for the year ahead with a day out to France with friends, my soon to be sister in law's hen weekend and a trip to Disneyland Paris to complete their 10k run all booked, the diary was fast filling up.

February

This was the month that saw me focussing on my fitness.  I went to my first boot camp session and started running regularly on the treadmill at home, all in preparation for my 10K run in Disneyland Paris in September (little did I know at this point that it would not continue through the year).  A weekend was spent exploring Oxford including an amazing dinner at the Malmaison Hotel.  I had a delicious vegetarian afternoon tea at Le Bouchen in Heybridge to celebrate a colleagues 60th birthday.  Lots of Valentines themed doughnuts were devoured at work.  Brunch was enjoyed with a good friend and her gorgeous little boy as we caught up on all that is going on in one another's lives.  A cinema trip to watch the new Jumani film again but this time in 4D, it was fantastic, and far better then seeing a film in 2D.

March

Lots of snowfall in March.  Crisp walks listening to the crunching snow underfoot.  Lots of cosy nights in reading with the candles lit.  A night out with friends celebrating a birthday.  I had my hair cut short, donating my hair to the Little Princess Trust charity.  And a day trip to France with some friends.

April

The month of April started in the beautiful island of Malta.  We were treated to a few days of sunshine although it could have been a little warmer but anything was a bonus following the snow we had been experiencing a few weeks previously back in the UK.  A little drive out in Essex to discover the picturesque village of Finchingfield.  Another highlight of the month was meeting Jenny Colgan at the Women's Prize for Fiction Baileys Book Bar event in London, I seriously love her books. 
  I embraced Spring in April, there were tulips and peony's galore, my favourite.

May

May saw me leaping above the treetops at Go Ape then spending the afternoon exploring Bury St Edmunds.  A day out in London walking through Kensington and Chelsea seeing the gorgeous wisteria adorning the grand houses.  After 3 years I finally got to fly in a hot air balloon.  One of the most peaceful and calming experiences of my life and something I've had on my bucket list for years.  I spent another day heading back into London to see Aladdin at the theatre with my parents, a really good show and a great way to celebrate my Dad's birthday.  An annual trip to the Essex Young Farmers Show and of course you have to check out the steam carousel.  And lastly the second Bank holiday Monday was spent in Halstead stopping for a bite to eat and checking out the antique centre.

June

An evening was spent under the stars watching Back to the Future at the outdoor cinema.  Riverside walks were enjoyed in the sunshine.  I was able to cross something else of my bucket list and ride in a helicopter, only I go to try my hand at flying it myself too.  This was followed by brunch with Mum and my Nan at one of my favourite little tea rooms The Doll's House Café in Harrow on The Hill.  It was during June that I picked up my new wheels after not having a car for a year and a half.  I celebrated this new piece of independence by driving to Wolverhampton with my Nan to visit the David Austin Rose Garden which literally blew me away with it's beauty, and of course we had afternoon tea to top of the day trip. I spent a weekend in Center Parcs celebrating my sister in law's hen weekend, it was here I got to try my hand at archery.  A day trip to Margate, walking along the beach and enjoying the rides in Dreamland.  Plus meeting the Gruffalo at Chessington World of Adventures with my friend and her little girl

July

The highlight of July for me was my brother and his now wife's wedding, it was such a beautiful day and I felt privileged to be a part of their special day.  I crossed the final thing from my 30 Before 30 list (only a year too late) and climbed the roof of the O2.  I celebrated my birthday with lots of cake and was treated to dinner at the Giggling Squid Thai restaurant in Brentwood, somewhere I have wanted to try for a while.  I spent a morning checking out the food festival at Cressing Temple Barns with a friend where lots of Disney chat took place.  I also got to visit the Lavender farm again this year, I last visited in 2016 and promised myself I would return.  This time I went along with my Mum, she loved it just as much as I did.

August

During August an evening after work was spent in London catching up with a friend visiting from America in Greenwich, the company was amazing and the sunset was beautiful.  A lazy morning was spent in a coffee shop, sipping on my Starbucks coffee and enjoyed my book with no interruptions.  Country walks were had.  After years of enjoying V-Festival on my doorstep in Chelmsford this year saw the arrival of RiZe Festival and it didn't disappoint with the highlight being Sean Paul who was just as good as I imagined him to be.  I took part in a 5K Bubble Rush run for a local hospice as part of my training for the Disney 10K Run of which little training has taken place and time was running out.

September

By far the best month of 2018 for me.  Finally after months of planning the month arrived that I would be going to Disneyland Paris and what an incredible trip it was.  I ran my first ever 10K, and it was such a great achievement.  I am so glad this trip happened.  September was also the start of the signs of autumn, my favourite season of the year and the return of Pumpkin Spiced Lattes to Starbucks and X=Factor to our TV screens of a Saturday night.

October

The month of all things pumpkin spice, a time when autumn becomes it's own. A visit to the Pumpkin patch, pretty much customary for October.  My Mum & Dad surprised me with a Mickey shaped pumpkin macaroon all the way from Walt Disney World that the managed to get back in their hand luggage.  A day tip into London to visit the Instagram famous Peggy Porschen Cakes to check out their Halloween décor and gorgeous cakes.  Pumpkins.  Country walks and discovering my first ever red toadstool. Pumpkins.  Lots of candlelit evenings with pumpkin scented candles of course.  Halloween night complete with carved pumpkins, I loved my Dracula Mickey pumpkin this year.  Did I mention pumpkins?

November

I managed to squeeze in two firework displays this month, the first the local display in Chelmsford and the second one being Disney themed which was pretty amazing.  A day trip to London to check out the 90th Mickey Mouse anniversary art exhibition in Shoreditch.  We spent the rest of the day checking out some of the museums around the city and spotting the first of the Christmas decorations and ice rinks.  A new destination was explored, a day trip to Ipswich, another place I have never visited before, the building were quite something.

December

Lots of festive days our were enjoyed during December including 2 visits to the Backyard Cinema on Clapham Common within Winterville.  The first to see Home Alone, the second to see Love Actually.  The lights around London were enjoyed including some festive cocktails in Covent Garden plus the beautiful festive displays in Liberty's, Covent Garden and Regent Street.  I picked up the keys to my new home this month too, a beautiful little cottage that I can't wait to share more on very soon.  A day by the coast to see the seals and their pups in Horsey was just what was ordered to blow away those cobwebs and to work off the Christmas dinner and all those hot chocolates I have been sipping on by the Christmas tree.  The month was ended nicely with a day out in Durham, such a sweet little city with beautiful architecture to admire.

And so another year draws to a close.  2018 you were certainly eventful.  I can't wait to see what 2019 has in store for us all.

Wishing you all a very Happy New Year.

~ Gem x

Disneyland Paris 2018

Where do I even begin?!  If you read my last blog post you will know that I recently visited Disneyland Paris  The reason for my visit was to complete the 10K Disney run, but everyone knows, you're not just going to go for the run.  You may as well experience the magic of Disney on offer while you're there and that is exactly what we did.

We stayed in total for 3 nights, but having booked an early Eurostar on the Thursday morning and a late one coming back on Sunday late afternoon, it meant we had pretty much 4 days to explore and make the most the parks.  

I hadn't visited Disneyland Paris since 2004 and I knew that a lot would have changed in the 14 years since I'd last been.  And although I was excited to visit Disneyland I don't think anything could really have prepared me for the excitement that overcame me when we arrived.    

We booked to stay in the hotel Santa Fe, only a 2 star hotel (much lower than my usual standard by a long shot) but we knew we wouldn't be spending much time at the hotel and it hasn't long ago been refurbished to the Pixar Cars theme so we didn't think we would have much to loose.  The only thing we were slightly concerned about when booking was the distance to the parks, but we really needn't have worried.  There is a free shuttle bus service, which we didn't use even once, we walked to and from the parks each day, it literally took us about 10 to 15 minutes each way and it was a lovely walk along the river into Disney Village.  I would definitely recommend staying and would stay there again myself.

Disney Village had grown quite a bit since I last stayed and there is a large selection of eateries and shops for all your Disney souvenirs, although these can all be bought inside the parks too.  The good thing with staying in a Disney hotel too is that you can get all of you shopping shipped back to your hotel (providing you purchase before 2pm), this was a great service which we used a couple of times during our stay.  

I didn't think I would be at all fussed by the character meet and greets.  Now I wished we had of researched them better to have known who would be where and when, I lived for them while we were there.  We ended up missing out on so many opportunities, coming across the characters when their lines were at a close, it was pretty gutting to say the least especially as some of them were some good ones but it wasn't meant to be and I have learnt my lesson for the next time.  Plus we did still get some good ones so it isn't all bad. 

The rides were really good and thankfully the queue times during our first two days were amazing.  Not so much the case on Saturday or Sunday though and by that time we were knackered after having done a long morning of travelling, followed by pretty much 2 full days in the parks and then a 10k run thrown into the mix so we weren't really up for queues.  Instead we wandered around the parks, took some photos, went in search of character meet and greets and did some shopping.

  

In comparison to Walt Disney World I would still say there is no comparison but for a more local Disney experience it is still very good and well worth a visit, I'm pretty sure it wasn't my last.  

~ Gem x