So Brighton Happened!!

I bring to you, the story of Brighton :)

Three days of sun, sea, pebble beaches and fun!  I think it is safe to say that I enjoyed every minute of it - including the freak storm on the middle.  Only us!  Vicky, me, Vernon and Felix enjoyed the sights, the sounds and the attractions of Brighton's sea front and Pier, and of course caused a little havoc while we were there :)

The drive down there was pretty uneventful and reasonably good for time.  It took us just over five hours, which to say how many roadworks there were, and the fact that we spent a decent amount of time on the M25, I don't think we did too bad - we even managed to stop for donuts :)  

As we got closer, I started to get fidgety, and sat in as many different positions in the seat as physically possible... This being just on one of them -I had the sun roof open and was sunbathing in the extremely warm sun of the south!!  By this point we'd given up with the air con and had all the windows open so that we could fully appreciate the weather!

By the time we got there and parked, I was raring to go :)  We went for a walk down the sea front, had a look where things were, took some photo's, found a drink and then went for a wander through town back to the hotel to check in!  After that there was only one place to go - the beach of course - we ditched everything in the room and headed out to play in the sea!  And play in the sea we did - I swam!  Now to most people that seems the obvious thing to do in the sea - but anyone who knows me well enough knows about my irrational fear of the sea, and I don't normally go in more than knee deep... I'm not going to lie, it took me a while - I got waist deep and stayed there a while, but eventually ended up all the way in playing catch with Vicky - I swear she kept throwing the ball deeper on purpose!!

But Hey - When in Brighton and all that!!

That was where the havoc started :p  The plan - go and find one of the bars on the sea front, get something to eat, have a drink and then go for a walk to the pier and have a look around... Funnily enough it didn't quite happen like that!

It started out okay - we found a bar with live music, which was pretty good to be honest, provided some interesting entertainment for a while - the food was amazing - we cracked out the cocktails and enjoyed being able to sit out in the sunshine and relax.  I  believe it was about here that things deviated from the plan...

Because this happened...

And you know as well as I do that it wasn't just coke in those bottles lol!  Yes, we got drunk on the beach...  

Vernon played on the beach, and I ended up back in the water - in my dress!  Yes I got wet - there were some seriously unflattering photos of me in the water thanks to Vicky's impeccable timing when the waves came for me... My dress got hitched higher out of the water... but I quite like this one :)  Proof that I have been in the water in Brighton!!

From here, things got even worse - after too much Vodka, and a lot of excitement, we headed for the Pier!  Well it's a girl's wildest dream!  Lights, music, colours, those silly boards with holes to put your face in :) beautiful views and a spectacular sunset!

 Brighton Pier - 
One place that has been on my Bucket List for a very long time!!  

Even Vernon had fun, he found a tub that he could sit in!




We played on the Pier for a while, before coming across a bar that it would have been rude not to have had a drink in...  Vicky found Victoria's Bar - had to be done...


From there we decided to head back to the hotel - along the sea front - and along the way we caused the havoc that we are best known for - I bet we provided a fair few people with a good laugh along the way!!  We found cows, rides, boats, statues, random stone sculptures, sheds, club signs - you name it we found it to have a picture taken with - had to draw the line when Vicky tried to get into a boat far too big for her though!!


Back on the main road to the hotel we decided that we were having far too much fun to go to bed - so we found a pub across the road - Molly Malone's!  And the fun continued - too much Vodka - and to add to the fun, the barman's best Tequila!!

We even got the bar man to have his picture taken with Vernon!

 

And the last one - totally my fault!  I wasn't ready to go back, so we ended up in the bar across the road from the hotel and we hit the cocktails and did some dancing - there would have been a few people proud of the dance moves we pulled - especially with how much alcohol was in our systems!!

The next day brought one serious hang over for Vicky - she can't hack the alcohol these days (gettin' old :p)

We took a hike down to the Marina to see the Sea Life Centre - only to find out that I am the blondest person in the world - and the Sea Life Centre wasn't at the Marina, but on Marine Parade - the Main road by the Pier - so we had taken the two mile walk in the sun for nothing!  (We totally got a taxi back!) Then we went to the Sea Life Centre :)  Vicky liked the Rays - or maybe she just liked standing still - I'm no sure :p

 Vernon and I found Davy Jones' Locker and I totally saw sharks!  And just to back up my so called ridiculous fear - the sign said that they appear in every ocean in the world!!
My favourite part - there was a very playful Octopus :)  She was playing with a watering can and didn't have a care in the world - strange I know - but I think they're really beautiful creatures!  Always the best part of an aquarium! 

 The afternoon saw another play on the beach - and an attempt at the sea - but the weather had other ideas!  It clouded over fast and got a little too cool to be playing in the sea... so after some sun bathing we headed back to the hotel so that Vicky could have a nap - and totally slept through the freak storm!  Torrential rain, thunder and lightening!  By the time we were up ad about it had calmed down and we went out in search of food and something to do.  This time we ended up on the Pier and had some sober fun - including a 'MUST' when at the seaside!  We went on the carousel :)  Vicky even found a horse called Victoria!  Vernon and Felix got out to play and we enjoyed the view and sea breeze whilst listening to the old carousel music as we went round and round :)


 Then we went to find somewhere to sit, found two deck chairs waiting for us, and sat and watched the sunset with out feet up :)  Bliss!!

 And ended the night on the beach in the lights of the sea front carousel with slush puppies!  What a way to spend an evening :)

 The last day saw more fun and good times before we came home...
We went for a determined walk around town to find this little box of fun - One very nice chocolate shop - and would you believe we both left with nothing?!   Was a little bit warm for chocolate I think!!

After lunch with God Ann on the sea front we met up with Eady to go and play on the Pier!  We bought our bands and away we went - Roller coasters, dodgems, twister, waltzer and a log flume that left us drenched!!  No Joke - I'd have been dryer having a shower!! 

 When enough was enough, we headed for the beach before we had to head home.  After some sunbathing, 

 Some paddling, 

 And a wave that left Vicky a little on the soggy side...

 Vicky and I did the only thing left to do - we went swimming - fully clothed... Why not!?  
We really shouldn't be trusted together!!

Time to dry off in the sun!!

Wet denim shorts - BAD PLAN!!!

 Then to set off on the way home - we came across Devil's Dyke - an opportunity far too good to be missed!!  So a quick round of photos were necessary before we headed on home!  

Over all it was three amazing days in the sun - I wouldn't have changed it for anything :)  I will be going back - Brighton is not to be a one time thing!  Thank you again Vicky for taking me!  I hope you enjoyed it just as much as I did!

Now to my readers - if you have made it this far I feel like you deserve a medal, or a certificate or something for sticking with the post all the way through - I realise that it is long and tedious!

Time to go now I think :)

Louby xx

The Summer Holidays begin here...

So, it is officially the first day of the Summer Holidays and everyone is in positive and optimistic moods.  I made a few decisions this morning, mainly that I wanted this summer to be awesome!!  It sticks with my New Year's Resolution to live my life for me and do the things that make me happy, and it will include Vernon and some epic adventures.  The one thing that I don't want is for this good summery mood to start and slip away as the weeks fly by and roll into September.

Where to begin... well where do most things exist these days - on social media sites of course - so I started with what I could do on Instagram to document my summer, apart from the obvious Vernon updates and general pictureyness... (Yes that is now a word)  I have already hit it off with a decent amount of reading; I'm now flying through books so #mycrazyreadinghabits is always being updated.  #vernonsadventure is as busy as ever :) I never pass on an opportunity to take him out to play and get up to a little mischief - he even came on the bus with me last week!!
Anyway - back to the point - my Summer plans - firstly I have already started with to do lists... I figured that, where as I want to relax and enjoy my summer, I don't just want it to slip past without anything to show for it.  So I have made sure that I have planned all the necessary tasks for the week, and then I have started adding in others.  Each day I am going to make sure that I have a purposeful task to complete, something that I wanted/needed to do that I can say, 'Yeah I did that on that day'.  For example, though I didn't actually help today because he could do most of it without help, today my task was to help Daddy fix my car.  
I also wanted to have something each day (not necessarily planned) that is for me.  Something that doesn't really benefit anyone else, just a few minutes in each day to have something to make me smile, or have a few minutes in Wonderland.  For example, today I had breakfast in the garden with Mum and Sammy.  We had a very healthy fruit salad and yogurt out in the sunshine.  It was a great way to start a beautiful day!  These things are what I am going to Instagram - I put this morning that I wouldn't post everyday, but in all reality - I probably will lol.

My other plans for the Summer include the sun, my friends, Vernon, and a lot of spontaneity and fun!!  Starting with Brighton!!  I cannot wait until Thursday :)  Me, Vicksy, Vernon and Felix are off to explore one of the places on my Bucket List!!  I've always wanted to go to Brighton, and now I am going! 

This is my motto for the Summer - and I plan to collect many, many memories :)

And as for September - well, let's just say I won't be sad to see the first of September!  I can't wait to jump into my new job and see what the new challenge brings to my life!

Till next time,

Louby x

Happy Birthday to Me!

Well... Where do I start?

I'll start with the good!!  This month brought with it my birthday :) Twenty five years old; a quarter of a century... That's 300 months or 1304 weeks or 9131 days or 219145 hours!!  That's a long time!!  And in that time I have a loving family, some amazing friends, a beautiful Godson, two loving puppies, a horse that I call mine (Even Vicky admits she's mine these days) and the best memories ever.  Everyone else sees age as this ticking time bomb, well don't get me wrong, I see time slipping by every now and again and think of the things that I haven't achieved yet, and all the things I want in life... But I also see all the thing that I have achieved and all the things that I have worked hard for.  That is what life is about, those moments that you look back on and think 'Yeah, I did that!' 

Anyways, enough of my rambling... My birthday started with a trip to my favourite place ever with Vicksy!  We played on the beach at Hunmanby, our sand sculpting taking on the challenge of a penguin... We had some technical difficulties with the size of his wings and feet, but he looked alright by the time we were done!  I even made it into the sea!!  We finally had lunch at the pub near the caravan and then after a quick nap at the van, we headed to Thornwick Bay :)  

My little piece of Heaven! 

 Our aim for the day was to make it into the secret cave that Sammy and I found last summer; however, we had some tidal issues - it was in!!  We spent a couple of hours sat in the sunshine, playing with rocks and watching the tide go out, then we got bored and decided to go in anyway... We headed out to the rocks and got wet!  Vernon had to hitch a ride in the straps of my top so he didn't get his feet wet.  We got soaked of course, and still didn't make it round there - it got too deep and we had phones and car keys to think about!  So next time for sure!!

Now I'd love to put some more pictures up of that adventure - I had loads... however - due to what I can only put down to a blonde using a laptop - all my photo's from my birthday disappeared in the transfer from my phone to my laptop.  You have no idea how much this hurt!  I live by photo's - everyone says I take too many, and I have never argued that - and everything I took that day, and on the day of my birthday - have disappeared into cyberspace.  No attempt from my sister could save them :(  No matter how hard she tired bless her!

On my birthday, I spent the day in a not so make shift fort - but a tent in Tara's living room :)  We had a picnic (Tara made pizzas!) and DVD in a tent because the weather forecast was nasty and she had balloons and everything :)  

I was extremely spoiled with presents throughout the day... Mommy, Daddy and Sammy got me Vincent - a batling charm from  http://www.myfrightlings.com/  

Sammy got me lots of stuff, including a loom band unicorn which I got mega excited about!!  She's so pretty ad I totally wasn't expecting it because she kept telling me it was too hard and used too many bands!  She's so awesome!!  Love her to bits.

The money that I got from family has been invested in my DVD collection... Vicky bought the new book to one of my favourite series' and Tara got me the most awesome shirt ever and a pony hehe!  Vernon likes Rainbow Dash, she now sits at the side of where Vernon sleeps!

Mommy, Daddy, Sammy and Me went out for some tea and ate our body weight at Taybarns - has to be the best idea for a restaurant ever - genius!!  And then that night Sammy and I ended up in town with Tara and Maxie... A very spontaneous decision and a rather daft one when they all had to get up for work the next morning!  But we had a great night, played some games and saw Maxie and Tara's epic Dirty Dancing routine - lift included... I had a video, but unfortunately it disappeared in the great loss of photographs...

My next adventure was my present to myself - a trip to the Great Yorkshire Show!  I took myself, and Vernon of course, all the way to Harrogate to spend the day at the Yorkshire Show :)  It was very scary but I loved every minute of it, and actually enjoyed the time with Vernon to explore and to get up to no good!  We spent a lovely day wandering around in the sunshine, sitting an watching the horses and hounds, meeting some new people, getting lots of photographs and buying prezzies!!  I think one of my favourite parts, apart from Lorenzo, the performer with his white horses, had to be Henry the Owl, he was beautiful, and didn't mind getting his photo taken with Vernon at all!!  We even bought a rosette :)

 Unfortunately, my birthday week didn't end as well as it started... On Saturday, Sammy and I took Fiona all the way to Manchester.  We had a lovely day in the sun and explored a little Roman Fort, however, on the way home I landed my car in a tree!  Yep, beached it on the rocks, narrowly missing said tree and balancing on the roots!!  When I do something, I do it in style!!
Everyone is okay!  I cannot say the same for my poor little car though!  Bless it's little tyres - after some lovely man stopped and towed us from my chosen spot to beach it, it got us home in one piece.  After Daddy had looked at it though, we found out the damage was pretty impressive... My car is currently in bits!  Bits that were all covered in oil!  Oil that managed to get everywhere it shouldn't, and was no where that it should be!!  I spent some of today cleaning it up - do not even ask how  managed to get it on my face!!  Felt a little proud of myself for getting stuck in though - not that getting mucky has ever bothered me!  More to come tomorrow as I get to help Daddy clean out the rest of the engine :)

So, now not only do I have no job, I now have no car either... When it rains, it pours!  Hopefully my baby will be back on the road by the end of the week though!  Just the job to sort out now!

All in all, I think it has been a pretty awesome twenty fifth birthday - I can't wait till next week - Bring on my trip to Brighton!

Louby xx

Welcome to July!!

Another month gone... this month is my favourite :) I wonder why?! July has some good times planned already, never mind anything else that happens along the way!  

As for June, it has seen a lot of happy days and lots of fun times with friends!  
My cinema card has definitely had its use this month - six trips, with various different people.  I think the most epic trip had to be The Fault in our Stars!  I have never seen so may tears in one group of people - didn't realise some of us had it in us! An amazing film - one I would most definitely recommend!  Since seeing it for the second time, I went out and bought the book, and am now half way through that too, which has been making me cry nearly as much as the film did - I'm such a puff sometimes!!

June has seen some 'first times' too!  At the beginning of the month we introduced Sammy to Dempseys!  Now granted, I'm really not sure the actual experience lived up to the reputation we had made it out to have - but it was still an awesome night!  It saw some dancing, plenty of shots and some worrying dance moves from strangers... And despite it being quiet - it's the company that counts! :)

Mid month, Mommy, Sammy, Vicky, her mum and I took a long planned trip to Nottingham to the theatre to see the amazing stage show of Rock of Ages!  It was a brilliant day, the show was stunning and we had a great time!  Sammy even stole a flyer for me hehe!  Of course, a trip like this wouldn't have been complete without another little person; Vernon came with us too!  Him and Felix enjoyed the show, and had some fun while they were out!
One of the funniest moments of the day - coming across the best named cafe in the world!!  Spanky Van Dykes!  Me and Vernon couldn't resist a photo!

June also saw the beginning of my Volunteering with Safe@Last!  The first event I went to was Anston's 'Picnic on the Rec' where I helped out on the stall raising awareness of the charity and their work and selling merchandise and the noisiest balloons ever!!  Then this weekend just gone I attended Sheffield Pride and worked on Safe@Last's stall for the first few hours.  Both events have been good fun, and I work alongside a great team of people.  Whilst at Pride I also got to meet the charity mascot; Sam! 

 Safe@Last are a charity that work across South Yorkshire with children and young people who are at risk from running away.  Find out more at their website   http://www.safeatlast.org.uk/ 

After finishing with Safe@Last I stayed to enjoy Pride with Tara, Emily and Jamie (and of course Vernon, who wore his ribbon to show his support!)  We had a laugh in the little sunshine that stayed around, and didn't let the rain put us off... Bouncy castles, rodeo bulls and some very strange live act kept us entertained for hours!!

We ended the day with Climax (Pride's after party) where there was much dancing, and plenty more alcohol... and I made the discovery that Tara is not the only person who likes to throw drinks all over me!  

As for keeping to my New Year's Resolution - I am happy!  

I don't care what people think of me, there are plenty out there who have had plenty of things to say recently, but you know what, it doesn't change anything!  I like my life, and I like who I am - if you don't, then that's your loss not mine!

I stuck to no sweets all month - and will now take on a month of no crisps!  Vernon and I have lots of plans for the summer, and I am back on track reading plenty!  I will average it out at a book a week by the end of the year!! :)  

On a slightly less positive point; I didn't see the Ab Challenge through till the end - I made it to Day 27, and I know, I was so close, why give up... but I was seeing no improvements from it, and the weekend was pretty busy and I struggled to fit it in for a couple of days, so I left it.  Now we have some better weather I plan to get out a bit more on my bike and on foot with the doggies!  See if I can get a little fitter that way!

Anyway, I have plenty of plans to keep me occupied in July - I'll I'll keep you up to date :)

Till then, Louby x

OCD has taken over!!

Ok, so... last week I read a blog post from Facebook about ways to beat that 'can't be bothered' attitude!  Now I had a serious case of that taking over - I was getting to the point where I was struggling for reasons to get out of bed in the morning.  My solutions; I just didn't!  It was seriously starting to drive me nuts!  So, after some helpful tips and tricks from this blog, I started trying some, and you know what - they really do work!  

It started with deciding on a time to get up, and sticking to it!  Now where as I haven't exactly been setting alarms and jumping out of bed, I have promised myself to be up by certain times, and have stuck to them!  

Then came my favourite part - making to-do lists!!  Wait, I hear you cry, I already make lists, too many lists than are necessary... But these lists had a difference.
My lists in the past have been a generalised list of things I needed to remember to do, for example; ring the doctors, fill in an application, hoover up... You get the drift, all reasonably specific tasks that stretched over a weekly period.
These to-do lists were better!  First of all there was one for each day :)  So, I cracked out my weekly planner that I had lying around for just this kind of occasion...
It suggested that rather than just picking the important tasks, you put down everything!  That way you felt a sense of accomplishment each time you got to scratch something off the list!  So, I got to work... I started with the big stuff, like which days I cleaned, hoovered, visited family etc... Then I added plans with friends and the sister... Then I added the places I needed to go (Meadowhall, Rotherham etc)... Next came the phone calls I had to make (Job stuff etc), and so on and so forth... I even put my showers on it just so that I could cross it off when I had done that!  It's like OCD Heaven!!  No Jokes!!  I considered different colours for different priorities, but I figured I was asking for trouble, and a possible melt down when I did it wrong...  So, instead I stuck with one colour, and added the lesser important stuff in the 'Don;t Forget' box at the bottom - the stuff that I wanted to get done, but it didn't matter which day.  

And so I started!  The blog had suggested that after you got up in a morning and had breakfast etc, the first thing you should do is something for yourself, whether it be read, sit in the garden, fix your top, call a friend, etc, just make sure it was beneficial to you on a personal level rather than just to tick a box, this gave you a mental boost for the day.
To my surprise... it totally works!  I felt much better just at the end of the first day - being able to look at that list at the end of the day and see all those things scribbled out.  It really did give me a decent feeling of actually having done something with my day!  
So...of course I continued... and I swear the lists have got more detailed as I have gone on... but I have managed to get done what I planned for each day!  It feels great - and so far no melt down :)

Well worth a try, even if you're not OCDish like I am.  It has definitely made me feel better this last couple of weeks!! 

Talk soon, Louby x