Make friends, make friends - Never, ever, break friends!

Last weekend, 2 of my old uni friends and housemates came up to, what they consider 'The North', to come visit me.

And it made me wish I was living in the ridiculous house with the carpet peeling away, birds trapped in the roof and kitchen cupboards always open, all over again.

I was a top tour guide and showed them around the sites, although, they've been here so many times, there's not much else thrilling left to show them...

We went for afternoon tea, made friends with a delightful doggy called Mary, pottered about some shops, reminisced about uni days (which resulted in us crying of laughter), watched posh prats being privileged in 'Riot Club' (which is a fantastic and engaging film - you should definitely check it out) on Saturday, before chatting in our PJs just like old times.

The next morning, I whipped us up some pancakes to make sure we were topped up with energy before we set out for the day. 

One of the things I want to do more, is visit more places in the UK. I've lived here all my life, but have visited so little of it - and there's so much to see! So we went to see some beautiful gardens at a National Trust, and it's amazing how many little gems there are hidden even so close by. 

We went to Biddulph Grange Garden, and the sun even came along for the journey!

We leisurely strolled along, getting lost along the way....that's what happens when you've grown up with sat-nav! - I should have my Map Reader badge stripped off my Cub Scouts jumper!

      

We came across Egypt, and after a lot of hunting, we found China too - it was hiding away, the cheeky lil scamp!

It's amazing to think that all of this amazing greenery and beautiful sites, were once someone's garden. (I don't think I'd be green-fingered enough to take care of all this...)

Fitting in with the outdoors, I wore a floral crop top, my trusty high-waisted Levis, and slipped on my new favourite kimono over it, which has animals and plants scattered all over it - my fave is the lil Bambi hiding.

top:Topshop, shorts:Levis, kimono:Topshop, hat:Topshop, shoes:Topshop, bag:Mulberry

Before we knew it, it was time to say goodbye again, and we're already planning the next time we meet. 

Friendship is such a weird thing if you think about it. You go along in life, and basically pick up people along the way that you decide, "Yeah, I like you, I want you to be part of my life!" Whether you see them everyday, or speak 3 times a year, you share you life with these people. Whether it's because you share the same interests, same views, same opinions, same sense of humour or same hobbies.

And I think a friendship is one of the hardest things to keep. They're not like relationships, as in you don't have to be loyal and exclusive, and it's not like family where you're bonded by genes. There's nothing that ties you together really, but you decide to make a conscious effort to keep these people in your life, and I think they're one of the strongest bonds you can have with someone.

I've said this before, and I'll say it again (WARNING: extreme, cringey cheese coming your way.)

But, I don't know how I managed to have so many amazing, beautiful, hilarious, caring and talented people to share friendships with, at every single stage at my life. I'm a very lucky girl!

(10 points if you get the reference to this classic tune!)

I'm already excited for future plans with these 2 (the words 'Harry Potter tour' have been uttered!), I've been sharing lots of lovely times with my friends from school recently as I've been back home (who I realised, I've been friends with for nearly a decade now!), and next week, I'll be reunited with my partner-in-crime, ready to cause havoc in the Big Smoke! 

I hope you all had a brilliant weekend with your friends - make sure you tell them how much you love them!

Stay sassy & stay happy!

Until next time...

A.x

End of an Era

Last week, I packed up my everything at my Uni house, and moved out.

Now, it was never the most beautiful or coolest house, but it was my home for the past 3 years (which is a large chunk of your life when you're 21!), and a damn good home it was to me too. I have so many memories of that house, friendships blossomed from chats in bed until 3am, dance battles in the kitchen which ensued into fits of hilarity, nights spent rolling into one another's room, sharing each other's wardrobe and trying on outfits before a night out, which always resulted in a floordrobe, and of course, countless cups of teas shared in that living room.

 I loved that uni home and all the experiences held within it, and I just loved my whole uni experience.

Over the past 3 years, I've learnt how to cook, how to be independent, how much I love, appreciate and miss my parents, family and friends, and also how to dance while containing all your limbs within one kitchen tile...

In that house, I've loved and lost, drink tea and cocktails, laughed and cried, hid under covers over Darren Brown, dressed up as cats, skeletons, and everything else in between, decorated everything in Christmas festivities, and sang and danced along with Disney movies.

 I've experienced journeys emotionally, and physically to see new sights with them. Some of these people have literally felt like part of my family, and even with all the downs, the ups still overshadowed them, and I wouldn't have changed anything about my time at uni.

I've made friends who share my love of music, who make me laugh until I can't speak, one who make the perfect cup of tea every time without fail, ones, and friends who i know will be for life and have memories with that last me a lifetime.

I just can't believe how much time does fly, especially when you're having the most fun!

Even with all this though, and as sad as it is to leave all that, I'm ready for a new city, new people and new adventures, and as much as I am scared and nervous, the excitement I have makes me forget about all that :)

This post is a little bit delayed as I've just been un-packing, catching up with loved ones and settling back into home life, and I know this post is a bit personal and self-indulgent, but I guess I'm just feeling a bit sad and reflective at the fact that it's an end of an era.

 ("An era is defined as a significant amount of time, now it was significant for me, maybe it wasn't significant enough for you!"....name that sitcom!)

Are any of you off to any new adventures and experiences?  Are you of you leaving/going to uni?

Hope you're all well,
Speak soon,
A.x