Visting Dunham Massey

So while in Manchester I had rather a lot of fun. On the second day there Jenny took me to Dunham Massey. Which is a beautiful place, and I was very excited to go and visit. But before we ventured out we went to Moose to get their amazing pancakes for breakfast. While we sat there waiting, both our mouths were salivating at the view of the most yummy looking breakfasts passing us by.

Fuelled up for the day it was time to catch the tram to Dunham Massey. The National Trust's Dunham Massey is a Georgian House, which has beautiful gardens and an amazing deer park. The day before in Manchester had been so rainy, but the day we choose to visit Dunham Massey, the sun came out. It was the perfect Autumn day!

We wandered the grounds and enjoyed the wonderful sunshine. While there we thought it would be the perfect place to take some autumnal photos. We wandered through the trees and did so much walking. I loved seeing all the leaves on the ground. Autumn really was here.

We wandered through the house, and I felt like we had gone back in time. It was so magical. The decor was so beautiful and grand. The tiny details always stand out to me. I love that feeling you get when you wander around a grand house like that, it really does take your breathe away.

I had a pretty amazing time while visiting this beautiful place. The Autumn weather and fresh air made for such a great day. Long walks, soup for lunch, photoshoots among the trees, crunchy leaves, and then a long train journey home. 

Wandering around Canterbury

So while Dillon was visiting I had to take him to Canterbury. The wonderful thing about Canterbury is it's so beautiful and very close to where I live. My super gal pal Charlotte picked us up in her little car and drove us. As we were driving through the countryside I realised how good it felt to be back in the countryside. I will always be a city lover, but there is something so special about the open green space, just like the sea, that I love. It's just so fresh, and you feel so free.

When we got to Canterbury we made a quick stop to Burgate Coffee. I have wanted to visit this coffee house for quite some time. I always seem to be in such a rush when I walk past, and never get the chance to pop in and check it out. But today this was finally going to change. 

We walked through the door and it was busy, lots of people chatting and drinking hot drinks. We were greeted by friendly baristas, and saw there were table up the back. We ordered our drinks (from a huge selection, and the list was on the ceiling, which I thought was a great idea) and then went to sit down. I loved the way the place was styled. Lots of vintage furniture and gorgeous mix match chairs. Most of them we really wanted to take home.

Our coffee came, and it was too good. I am a really big fan of coffee made right. Of course no one wants a bad cup. While we drank our drinks and chatted we looked around. One of my favourite features of the shop was the cute business card board/holder for people to promote themselves. The whole coffee house had an arty feel about it, with lots of local art on the walls for sale.

 After our coffee we went and meet David, and he walked us around. He seemed to turn into this very good tour guide, and even I learnt a few new things. We walked around parks, through cobbled streets and more. The sun seemed to come out and make things look even more beautiful. 

After we wandered towards the Canterbury Cathedral. It's normally very busy during the day, but later on in the early evening you can just walk straight onto the grounds. I seem to take everyone who visits me to see this beautiful building. I mean, it is just gorgeous. After a while we walked round to the side of it, where you can walk through the side and then out of the building around near the gardens. This is one of my favourite spots because it is just so quiet. Plus it also kinda looks like Harry Potter would wander along the halls.

Canterbury is so beautiful. It's full of history, character, charm, arts, good food & drink, style, its simply the perfect place. I'm so grateful to live so close to such a charming place. 

Fancy a drink?

While Dillon was here we got to visit Margate. It's one of my favourite place to visit, as I get to spend a lot of my time with David here. The sun came out, and the sky was blue. It was really warm, so the best time to be beside the sea. We did quite a lot in Margate on this day, more of which I will talk about soon, but this post is all about the cute coffee shops/ restaurants/ bars we visited.

First up was Proper Coffee. This super cute place is always top of my list of place to visit while I am in Margate. The coffee is always so good, and sandwiches are always the first thing I order. The style and decor of the place is super relaxed and quirky. I love the different rooms, and the giant chalkboard with lots of fun things to do in Margate.

Proper coffee is defiantly my favourite place to stop when in Margate. The chilled out vibes make the whole coffee shop perfect. The best place to relax with friends or sit and type away on your laptop. I first stumbled across this gorgeous place when it was raining with friends. It turned out to be the best thing we did all day.

The next place we visited was a brand new place called Word Up. I was drawn to the beautiful giant coffee sign above the bar. It was still very new, and lots still needed to be finished, but we enjoyed the drinks anyway. The fact we didn't have wifi was annoying, but it will be sorted soon as they are still working on the space. They had amazing lights on the walls, which I think they make and sell. The lights really make the space. So bright and fun.

Then later in the afternoon we nipped into the Cupcake Cafe. It has been given a brand new makeover and inside is now a dark blue. We had to visit because when I'm in Margate I have to have a cupcake. The cupcakes are still the best, and always make me smile!

Just before we went home we tried this new bar on the seafront and it was called The Bottle Shop. This again was very nice, and had just opened! I loved the fresh and clean style of the place. The guys behind the bar were friendly and happy to help with advice on what to drink. We ordered drinks and sat with the warm sunshine on our faces.

After our drinks and fish and chips, we caught the train back. More on our adventure in Margate soon!

stupid computer

Ok, so 6 days ago my computer stopped working when i wanted to post that i was going to Glastonbury...so i couldn't do it. which, made me sad. although i had a super-duper awesome time. the weather went from rain and mud--getting stuck in the mud, feeling so very cold from the rain to the sun and the heat---burning my nose/face and feeling the sun shinning down on me. i will post of my adventures very soon when i have a little time.

i miss the field....and i miss my friends.

adventure

so this weekend, was pretty awesome. on friday night i was waiting at the train station with a sign saying Stevens and Wyatt...my friend Laura has always joked that she would love to have someone waiting to pick her up with a sign with her name on...so therefore i made one for her and Lucy. after the laughs, and me jumping up and down and making my friends embarrassed, we went home. many chats were had. then sleep was needed. then next morning we met up with our other friends Claire and Charlotte and went to Canterbury for shopping and lunch at wagamamma's. the weather was so lovely.we had chats about adventures we had been on, old times, new times, new people in our lives, jobs, Glastonbury--it was just really nice to hang out with them again.then saturday evening we had a little joint birthday party at Charlotte's house. me and charlotte opened presents from our friends, i got some crazy funny present...like, i got a peanut shaped rubber. love it. we had nibbles, drinks and we gave our party bags out----which contained sweets, seeds for the garden, plastic rings, stickers and other super awesome random stuff. we had a really good night out, crazy dancing times were had. on sunday it was sad to say goodbye, next time i see most of them will be at Glastonbury. however, as i have this week off from work for my birthday, i decided to go back with Claire to Brighton. we had a couple of really chilled out days, playing crazy golf, having lunch on the beach, visiting art galleries, going to the cinema to see your highness, going out for drinks and a dance with our friend Mandy. oh also we went for a lovely walk around where she lives. the woods were beautiful. Claire was taking photos of flowers, whereas i thought it was more fun to take photos of her. after lunch i thought it was time to go catch my train....which when i got on the train i sat on the floor for most of the time...then got a seat, then to give it up for someone...to then sit on the floor again. it didn't matter because the sun was shinning, and all i could think about was the awesome adventures i have had the past 5 days. life feels good.

want to be a rock star

so went on a mini adventure at the weekend. went to Devon for my lovely friend Laura's birthday. my other lovely friend Claire went as well, which was really nice. the train journeys were not very nice though...everyone seemed to be rushing around at the weekend, trying to get home or to different places. on the Saturday we went laser questing in the woods, it was freezing cold, so cold i thought it would be breathing ice and my hands would crack in to a million pieces. but after a few games we all warmed up. after a lovely chinese takeaway and a little bit of strictly come dancing, like the good old days, we then went out dancing and visiting cute little pubs and cocktail bars.ah the journey home wasn't the best either. had to stand up all the way home...well, i say stand up. after an hour into the journey once this guy got off, i took his space, and sat on the floor playing the gameboy...Lego batman...and kinda zoned out. it was so nice to get home, because it had been such a cold day. then of course, the next day it snows!! and hasn't really stopped since. works been kinda odd with people that can't get in, and why are people still coming shopping in the giant snow!! i guess its because its Christmas soon. one of my friends has just lost their father. its such a sad time. but sometimes i feel like a rubbish friend because i never know what to say in these situations. all i could say was that i was there if they needed me. it was my day off today, which was a rather good thing because the snow is super thick today and still falling! i wrapped Christmas presents, listened to Christmas songs, laughed at Michael buble as Justin bieber, wished friends good luck, heard about a few friends being snowed in, wrote letters, and have enjoyed being inside on such a horrible cold day.