The Sunday Post!

I cannot believe that it is already the second of August! This year is flying past and I know that it is going to be 2016 before we know it! (Scary thought!)

I am going to spend a few days from tomorrow with my boyfriends family in Southampton and I cannot wait to relax and to spend some quality time with them. Also I am excited to be looking after their two beautiful Labradors Fudge and Wispa and taking a few days off from work and everything. Then we fly to Cyprus on Saturday for a week which I am really excited for. We will be doing lots of exploring because that is our first time in Cyprus so if you have any recommendations send them my way please! I cannot wait to relax and to have a beach at the end of my road and to hopefully top up on my tan.

I have picked up a few books to take onto my travels and to read when I have a spare half an hour which I am excited for because I love to read but I dont make enough time for myself to read anymore so I want to get back into it. So I will let you all know what the books are like when I get around to reading them.

I will also be writing about my holiday to Cyprus which will hopefully be going up the week after we get back and then I am also going to try and start regularly blogging as of this month which will probably start from the 16 or the 17th which is when I get back from my holiday because I love blogging and I want to start posting more regularly for you all. 

Have a lovely week and are any of you going away?

Learning to drive?

I am currently learning to drive with the driving school BSM and I wanted to share my experience and my advice and tips for anyone that is thinking about learning to drive too. In the UK you have to be 17 before you can start learning to drive in a car and you can apply for your provisional 3 months before your 17th birthday.

Choosing the right instructor and driving school for you?
I am currently on my 4th driving instructor and my third driving school. When you are looking for who you want to learn to drive with try and know more about the school or a particular driving instructor before you book with them.

My first driving instructor was a man called Burt and he had taught my friend and her mum and loads of people in my area and I had heard good reviews about him. He was a good teacher but when I went on holiday he decided that he didn't want to teach me any longer and he sort of disappeared. I then had a two hour driving lesson with Edgar from the AA driving school. He was an okay driving instructor but he just didn't suit me and to book more lessons with them you could only do it by calling them and you couldnt book more on the day.

I then moved onto BSM with the driving instructor Abbey. He was literally the worst driving instructor ever! He was always late (once even half an hour late), he took me on really busy and scary roads on our second lesson together, he took over the driving if I made a mistake and he was just very moody and he had anger management issues. So I changed my instructor to Michael and he is such a better instructor and he makes driving alot easier for me and he suits my driving needs alot more than the others did.

So please do read into what driving schools are around your area and if you have any doubts in your mind about a particular instructor change them or dont book with them.

Prices?
At the moment I am paying for 6 lessons at once which costs around £160 but if you wanted to pay for 2 hour lessons at a time it costs £55 pounds with my instructor. Some driving school have deals on where you can get your first lesson for free and you can pay for 6 hours or 10 hours at a time. However different driving schools have different deals on and they have different prices so research the different schools and look into the different pricing options before you book your first lesson.


Booking your theory?
When booking your theory you need to make sure that you are revised and that you do mock tests so that you are 100% ready for it. Also make sure that you book your theory test as soon as possible for you because without doing it you will not be able to take your practical test and when you do your theory test you can focus on your practical. When you do your theory test there are two different categories: the multiple questions and the hazard perception test. So make sure that you are ready for this by doing mock tests or reading books to revise.

Books?
I would recommend that you buy the highway code book because it is so helpful and you can find out what the different signs on the road mean and you can read about motorways and about car distances. This costs £2.50 from Waterstones. You can also use this book to revise and get ready for your theory test because you might not know what certain road markings or signs mean so it is a must read.

Another good book is the theory test for car drivers which cost £7.99 from Waterstones. There are 14 different sections within this book and in each section are a number of questions that they ask you that could come up in your theory test. You can tick the boxes that you think is the correct answer and then you can find the answers at the book of the book so you can see what ones you got right and the ones that you got wrong you can revise that question and then you can go back and do the test again and see if you got the ones that you got wrong last time right.

Apps?
I have got two apps on my phone from BSM which are the theory test and the hazard perception test. On the theory test app you can do the theory test which tells you at the end if you would of passed or failed and then you can review your questions and see what ones you answered correctly and what ones you didn't. However if you dont feel ready to do your theory test you can review the questions which gives you the answers or take the practice test and you can look through this until you feel ready to take the mock test.

The hazard perception test there are 15 clips and they have all different environments and hazards that come up. You have to click on each hazard as soon as it comes up but if you click too many times, not too many times or too quickly it could give you a zero score even if you have clicked on the correct hazard. At the end of the clip it will give you the chance to view how many points you would of gotten on that clip and you can also view the solution to see what hazards come up.

Good luck to everyone that is currently learning to drive and well done to everyone that have recently passed!

I'm thinking about getting a tattoo?

I love tattoos so much and I am thinking about getting one myself. I hate needles and pain so if I do go through with getting one done I want to make sure that I wont regret the tattoo that I get done and that I get something that is very meaningful to me. (I know that not every tattoo has to mean something but if I do get inked it will have to mean something to me).

My inspiration?
I love Sammi's tattoos (beautycrush) and I love looking at pictures of her tattoos and I loved watching her tattoo and piercing videos on youtube because I find them so interesting and I loved listening about the meaning of them and her own experience with the pain and getting them done. My favourite tattoos of her is her quote on her shoulder blade that says this too shall pass, her elephant on her arm, her genie lamp and I love her sleeve so so much. I personally love tattoos on girls and I honestly love sleeves too but I dont think that a sleeve would suit me personally.

I also love Johnny Depp's tattoos and I love his quote that says my body is my journal and my tattoos are my story because that is so true to me. Everyone's tattoos are personal and is their own personal story which is true because everyone's tattoos are different relating to their own personal story.

Looking around for the best tattoo shop/artist?

I have emailed quite a lot of tattoo shops with queries on the tattoo that I want to get to see what the different prices would be because they differ slightly depending on who you get it done from and where you get it done. I would also recommend that you look at the artists portfolios to see what their previous artwork is and what they have done for other clients. Also one of the best ways to get the best tattoo artist and go to the best tattoo shop would be for word of mouth. If you know someone that has had a tattoo ask them about their tattoo artist and also you can watch youtube videos and see other peoples experiences of their tattoos and they might recommend different people that would be best suited to you.

If I do go through with getting a tattoo I will do another post like a tattoo tag or something where I talk about my experience and the pain rating of my own tattoos. Do you have any tattoos or would you like to get any done?

 

How to get the most out of a University open day!

I have recently been looking around at university open days and deciding where I want to call my home for the next 3-4 years and I took my mum along with me. These are my tips for you if your in the same position as me or if you will be looking around at the open days next year.

Look at the prospectus
Before you choose your university to look around at on their open days make sure that they offer your chosen course because some university's might not do that course or it could have changed within the last year. It is also a good thing to have the prospectus because you can look at what your course offers and compare it to another university.

Look at the accommodation
I would suggest you look around at all of the accommodation that is on offer because even though most accommodation is the same at all of the university's they can also differ. It is a really good thing to do on any open day because you can see where you will be living for the next 3-4 years and you can hopefully be able to get a feel for where you will be staying for at least your first year. Whilst you are on the accommodation tour make sure that you ask students that are there any questions that you might have to know where they stayed and what it is like when you are living there. There are also staff at some of the university's who you can talk to if there are no students around.

Explore where you will be living away from campus
Check out the surrounding areas away from the university's campus so you can get a feel of where you are going to be living away from the main campus of the university. Go out for a meal, go shopping or even just go for a walk around the area. I have found this to be really good because I can see if I will like to live in that area and if I can get a connection to that area because you could love your university but hate the area that you live in so this will be able to contribute to your decision.

Go to your courses stand/talk

Go to your chosen courses stand if they have one because you can pick up booklets and information on your chosen course and you can also talk to any of the staff that are available who can answer any questions that you or your parents might have. Also go to your chosen course/s talk because you can find out about the course in more detail and know more about the modules that you will be studying. You will also be able to have a feel for the lecture theatre where you could have your lessons and you will hopefully be able to get a feel for the course and for the university at that point.

Ask students and lectures questions

Make sure that you ask students that you see around the university what their experience of their time at university has been like and even if they are not doing your chosen course they can have a chat with you and they can answer any questions that you might have about the university and student life. Also ask the lectures any questions that you have about the course  and about studying at the university. Take their contact details as well for example their email address because if you get home and remember a question that you forgot to ask you can email them. 

Good luck to everyone who is looking around at university's on their open days and who are deciding where they want to go to University!

My Travel Personality

This months theme on the Travel Link Up is to do with your own personal travel personality. The rules are that the first week of that month (1st-7th) you have to write a blog keeping to that specific theme.

What is my travel personality?
I am both an organised and a spontaneous person when I am travelling. I dont always plan a full itinerary for my trip and I like to see how each day plans out and make plans as I go along throughout my holiday. However before I travel anywhere I research the best hotels and I love to find holidays, to see pictures of where I will be travelling too and to go through the booking process because I find it really calming and quite fun. Whilst I am on holiday I enjoy to look in maps and leaflets and see where the best places to go are and I make a schedule for the trip when I have arrived at my destination but if things dont go to plan then I dont really mind.

Packing?
I always pack far too much stuff that is quite unnecessary at times and I also have to take an extremely large suitcase even though I mostly go for a week at a time but I always take far too many clothes for the week. I always pack swimming things for every day, outfits for the day and night, far too many shoes, two bags full of makeup and skincare essentials, hair care stuff etc.. I then repack about 3 times before I am satisfied with what I am taking with.

Seeing the sights
When I have arrived at my destination I love to see the different sights and to learn a bit about the history of that particular country. When I went to Budapest earlier on this year myself and my boyfriend went to the Synagogue and we learnt so much about what the Jewish population of that part of Budapest had to live with. We also found it really interesting seeing all of the pictures and reading the facts that went with the pictures. And in France we went to see the roman ruins and all of the sights to do with that part of Frances history. I love to see all of the architecture and to see the sights as well as having fun and seeing the touristy landmarks as well.




















The Relaxing Traveler 
When on holiday I also really love to relax whilst getting a tan and reading a book or listening to music. I love to lounge around and to sleep in and just to relax and forget about reality. I always manage to fall asleep in the sun especially after I have had a nice relaxing swim or I feel a bit worse for wear after the previous night.

The food that I eat whilst on holiday
When I am on holiday I love to try food that I might not have had before or the locals favourites. I also eat alot of fish and seafood whilst on holiday but I do sometimes pig out even when I try to eat healthily and more fresh food than what I would eat back at home. I dont really like to eat in any fast food places that you can eat from back at home because I like to eat things that you wouldn't normally find if you wasn't on holiday.

Are you an introvert or an extrovert?

I am definitely an extrovert! I love to meet new people and to find out about their own travel experiences and their stories and even though I can sit by the pool happily reading my books on my kindle for hours I have to be able to go and do something fun whether that be go out to explore or to go out for the night with a few people. I have also added a few people that I have met on holiday (Tenerife) on Facebook and Instagram and I have got their numbers. We are also planning on meeting up with them in Doncaster and going back on holiday with them.

What are you? An Introvert or an Extrovert?

Make sure to check out Kelly, Emma, Rebecca and their guest host Catherine's blogs which are all part of the travel link up.

What is your travel personality?

Cocktails at Dub Jam and Charlie & The Chocolate Factory!

On Tuesday the 30th June it was my boyfriends 22nd birthday and we had a lovely evening out in Covent Garden. First myself, my boyfriend and his parents went to dub jam for a few cocktails before the show at the Royal Drury London theatre. When you go downstairs it is a really relaxed atmosphere and it is underground which adds to the atmosphere. On Tuesdays there is also the bar takeover where you get to choose your own music and you can also make your own drinks with the help of the bar staff. I had a Jack Daniels and coke, Travellyn had a beer, his mum had a white wine and his dad had this frozen drink with passion-fruit and rum (but I could hardly taste the rum).

We then walked over to the Royal Drury Lane to collect our tickets for the production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory which I was so excited about as I have only seen the films which I love!

The production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was so amazing and all of the actors did a really good job of bringing the play to life. I was sitting up on the balcony in the front row in seats A9 and A10 which was really close but we could still see everything fine and we could still enjoy it. The singing was brilliant but they only had one original song from the movie right at the end. There was sad moments and really happy ones that made everyone laugh! The set was also really fantastic and they did a really good job of turning Violet blue. We also got ice cream in the interval and then we got stuck right back into the second half of the production but unfortunately I couldnt take any pictures when the show was on. 

If you can I would really recommend you go and watch this at the theatre! The singing was brilliant, the set was really good and believable and everyone was in character throughout the whole production! A must see for everyone of all ages!

The Harry Potter Tag:

I am one of the biggest Potter fans that there is and I have watched all of the films so many times that I know all of the quotes and I know some of the script to the films off by heart! I have also read all of the books and I would be happy to reread them again and again! So when I came across this tag I just knew that I had to do it!

1: Favourite Book? My favourite book would have to be the Goblet of Fire because I love the Triwizard tournament with all of the different tasks and I couldn't put the book down when I read it for the first time.
2: Favourite Movie? I cant pick one favourite movie so I will list my all time favourites which I can watch over and over again without getting bored. The chamber of secrets, The prisoner of Askaban, The goblet of fire, The half blood prince and both parts of the deathly hallows. So literally all of them!
3: Least favourite book? My least favourite book would have to be the Philosophers Stone because it didn't excite me like the other books did because there wasn't alot of action within the book.
4: Parts of the books/movies that made you cry? WHEN DOBBY DIES. WHEN DUMBLEDORE DIES AND EVERYONE LIGHTS UP THEIR WANDS, WHEN SNAPE DIES, WHEN SERIUS DIES AND WHEN HEDWIG DIES.

5: If you could hook up with any HP character who would it be? I would love to meet up with Professor Snape because I love his character both within the films and in the books.
6: Favourite character? Excluding Harry, Ron, Hermione and Dumbledore my favourite character would have to be Professor Snape because I feel a connection with him and I feel so sorry for him with his storyline for his love with Lily Potter and when he died I felt so sad and I was so upset. I also really like Professor McGonagall and Dobby.
7: Least favourite character? My least favourite character would have to be Professor Umbridge because she is so evil and I find it so funny when she gets taken by the centaur.
8: What is your favourite quote? My favourite quote would have to be when Snape is talking to Dumbledore and the line is Lily... after all this time? Always!.

9: What would your patronus be? My patronus would be a elephant because I think that they are beautiful creatures and they are so cute when they are babies or I would choose something like a white tiger or a snow leopard.
10: What would your boggart be? My boggart would be losing everyone that I love.
11: If you could have the resurrection stone, invisibility cloak or the elder wand which one would you choose? I would choose the invisibility cloak because I can go wherever I wanted without being seen which could be fun and also very useful. It is also the best hallow because the brother that had the wand had too much power which ended up killing him and the brother with the stone brought back his loved ones who didn't belong back in this world and that ended up with him killing himself. So definitely the cloak.
12: What house would you be in? I would be in Gryffindor because most of the best wizards are from this house and I like to see myself as being loyal and courageous.
13: If you could meet any member of the cast who would it be? I have already met Rupert Grint who plays Ron Weasley so I would choose Alan Rickman (Snape), Maggie Smith (Professor McGonagall), Gary Oldman (Sirius) or Matthew Lewis (Neville).

14: If you were on the quidditch team which position would you play? I would love to be a seeker because all you have to do is catch the snitch and be fast but you can also do your own thing and not have to worry about keeping others other than yourself safe.
15: Which class would be your favourite? My favourite class would be potions because Professor Snape teaches that class and I think that it would be fun to make potions and you can be quite imaginative. I also wouldn't mind Professor Slughorn as my teacher.

16: If you could bring one character back to life, who would it be? I would have to choose between Dobby and Professor Snape because Dobby's death was one of the saddest deaths in the film and I always cry when I see that scene. I also cried when Snape died because Harry found out why he had done what he had and about his love for Lily. I would of loved to have brought back Dumbledore but I understand why he had to die even though it was really sad.

17: What would your job be in the magical world? I would love to teach at Hogwarts alongside the great teachers that are still there after the big battle with Voldermort and the death eaters. If I couldnt do that then I would want to work for the ministry of magic.
18: Were you happy with the ending? I loved the ending and I think that it was really powerful and amazing in the way that it was filmed. I liked the epilogue that happened at the end and I know that people said that they could live without that bit but without it people would have wanted another book and would of wanted answers and they would have been annoyed with the ending.

19: How much does Harry Potter mean to you? Harry Potter meant everything to me when I was growing up and I loved having that excitement feeling after watching every film and I still have the same feelings when I watch the films now as if I was watching them for the first time!