My visit to London!

This week my boyfriend went down to London for a design award event (D&AD), and seeing as I had no university and the majority of my friends were all busy I thought I would join him. In fact, I booked my megabits tickets down the night before, definitely an impromptu decision to go! 


Whilst I was in London I did spend some time at the design show with my boyfriend and some of his course mates, but I also had to go off and kill some time myself. On the Wednesday I got on the subway and went to the Natural History museum. The Natural History museum is definitely one of my favourite places in London and generally one of my all time favourite Museums! I've been to the New York one too, and I've got to say the London one is just as amazing! 

My favourite exhibition is definitely the dinosaurs, I just love anything related to dinosaurs and I could literally spend hours just walking round taking it all in. This time as well I also really enjoyed the Ecology exhibition! Being a Science teacher I just loved all the science and how much all the exhibits related to topics I have recently taught to my pupils. The water cycle display was amazing and explained the whole process extremely well, likewise so did the display for the carbon cycle, food webs etc. I would love to take my pupils on a day out to the Natural History museum one day! I may have to suggest it at my new job! 

Whilst in London I also met up with one of my university friends, who I hadn't seen since New Year. She is currently doing a PGCE herself in London so she came to meet me after teaching at her Primary School. We walked around some shops and then spotted a Nandos so we went for some food there (we used to go Nandos a lot in Leeds!). It was really great seeing her and catching up with her, as we're both so busy lately with our university courses and teaching, so it was great to spend some time together.

On the Thursday I managed to persuade Mark to come to a museum with me for a bit before I had to catch my bus home, and so again we went to the Natural History Museum haha, just because Mark wanted to go and he loves it just as much as I do. Last time we went together we didnt get chance to look round the Earth and Space section so we had a walk round those exhibitions. Afterwards we managed to find a lovely little Italian round the corner from the Natural History Museum and we stuffed our faces with gorgeous pizzas! Being in the restaurant was like actually being in Italy too, as all the staff were Italian, and the majority of the people sat around us were also Italian! Stepping out of the restaurant reminded us that we were in London not Italy. The restaurant was called Pierino and I would definitely recommend that people go! The food was amazing! 

After the food I had to then say goodbye and run to catch my super long bus journey D: 

The megabus journey down wasn't so bad, I mean it was a 6 hour journey but it didnt feel too long because I kept having little cat naps. However the journey back was atrocious! It felt so long and plus the bus/ the people sat near me were all weirdos! haha. I actually checked I still had my belongings after I got off the bus haha. Plus every time the bus stopped the smokers on the bus thought it was there time for a fag break so would get off an waste another ten minutes, the bus in the end was over 1 hour late. Definitely put me off megabits for a long time! 

I do love going to London, and I do wish it was cheaper to go visit our Capital. But I've got to say it isn't my favourite city in England... Manchester, Leeds and Liverpool are all fantastic cities and if you are ever visiting the UK make sure you check out those amazing cities too! 

Our amazing pizzas! 

Exhibition for the Water Cycle! It was like a giant disco room with videos displayed in each square. 

This part was all about how each species is adapted to their own habitat and environment, the images shown on the large flat stones changed every couple of seconds to show different habitats. 

Sadly I didn't get as many photos as I would have liked, one because I forgot my camera so these were all taken on my phone, and then also because my phones battery dies so quickly! 

Reunion time!

Last weekend I went to Birmingham to see my university friends. It was such a lovely catch up and was a perfect little break. We only arrived late friday night so only got just over a day or so together to catch up. 

What I loved about the little reunion was the fact that it felt like we hadn't really been apart, it was just like what it was like when we lived together. Sadly I hadn't seen my two friends since we left University in June, as we have all been so busy and also we graduated on different days so we couldn't meet up then either. It did remind me how much I miss living in Leeds with them both though! 

On Saturday we went into Birmingham to go round the German Christmas markets and round the different shops. Unfortunately I didn't buy much whilst I was there, which was definitely not the plan, as I can't seem to really shop when its busy or when I'm with other people. The only things I did buy were my Christmas cards for everyone, a new phone case and then a gingerbread heart for my boyfriend. My lovely friend also treated us to the yummy chocolate covered strawberries, which is definitely a must at the German Markets! Think a trip to the Manchester German markets will be needed to buy more presents and treats! The Birmingham markets were fairly similar to the Manchester ones, with the similar kind of stalls as well as similar food and drink. I really wanted to have a good look through Forever 21 whilst I was in Birmingham as I can spend a fortune whilst in there, but as soon as I walked in the shop I noticed that the queue was basically out the door, definitely a no go... ha. We basically shopped all day, only stopping for a Nandos and lovely Costa hot chocolate so by 7 o'clock we were ready to go home. 

On Saturday night we got some bottles of wine and watched The Fault in our Stars, I've read the book so I told them both to prepare for the tears, and of course we did all end up crying at the film. Sunday morning my other friend and I had both booked early trains/coaches home so we would be back in time to spend the rest of our Sunday doing work ha. When I got back to Preston I managed to do a bit of Christmas shopping, I got my boyfriends mum her presents and also my brothers girlfriends presents. Actually fairly prepared this year for once! 

It was a great trip and was fantastic to see a couple of my favourite people again, definitely think a day trip to Birmingham is needed again soon! 

This is the larger version of the cookie I bought my boyfriend. Next time i may have to get him one this big considering how fast he ate the other smaller one! 

Yummy yummy chocolate strawberries! 

The famous jelly bean Birmingham Bull! 

My week on Instagram.

As you can see the majority of my Instagram photos (_katyjayne) end up being photos of my dog Pennie, or the beautiful places I go to walk her. The first photo is at a place in Blackburn called Pleasington that Pennie just loves because it is full of rabbits to chase! The fourth photo is at a park near me called Worden Park which is also a great place to go walk your dog. 

I was also in Ireland last week, in Galway to be specific, so a lot of the photos from my Instagram last week were taken there. Such as the photo I took whilst watching Milton Jones in a cosy little pub called Roisin Dubh,  which is definitely a must if you're ever in Galway! Salthill beach was fantastic too and is also definitely worth a visit if you're ever in Galway, its a cute little beach, but it was actually heaving with people all day due to the great weather, I also managed to get really sunburnt that day too, which is shocking as I was in Ireland. Also the views from the beach were so beautiful. As you can see I also enjoyed taking lots of photos of Twizel, who was the Springer Spaniel that we looked after whilst we stayed in Galway, she was such a sweetheart and I am definitely missing her now! Wanted to kidnap her and bring her home with me, but sadly she had to stay in Ireland. 

I took a couple of photos whilst on the airplanes going to and from Ireland, I just love the photo of Ireland from in the plane because it just shows how beautiful and green Ireland really is, as you can see from the vast amount of fields and woods. The other photo I took whilst flying over to Ireland and you can see Wales down below. 

Hope you've all had a lovely week!