Wandering Curiosities • Page 4 of 4 • A Yorkshire Based Lifestyle Blog

January 27, 2017

USA Road Trip Tips – Volume Two

When I wrote the volume one road trip tips post I promised a volume two and well here it is.

So volume one mainly looked at Car hire and a few basics for your road trip. Now I’m ready to impart some more wisdom of sorts.

1. Food
Your eating habits will more than likely take a hit on your trip. Hello glorious gas station stops and your all so amazing selection of goodies. Most of the time it’ll be either pre packaged food that is full of salt and crap you wouldn’t normally eat. Them weird hotdogs that roll around on a metal spinning thing, the kinda that was in the cinema mid 90s. For gods sake please don’t eat one of them! But maybe if you’re lucky it’ll have a fast food joint attached, Subway I’m looking at you. Hello fresh-ish bread and wilted salad. And and and a chicken salad sub is not the same as the English one, it’s a strange concoction in what I can only describe as chunks of chicken in potato salad dressing. Ewwww.

I would also recommend buying bottled water rather than drinking litres of pop and ice tea. But do treat your self to a Slurpee at least once it’s a day. Blue raspberry <3 you are my bea!

2. Health
You will be sat on your arse for a considerable amount of time, especially if you are travelling more than a couple of miles. Pull in at rest stops as often as you need to, not only for a toilet break but also to stretch your legs and move more then 10 inch in front of you.

Your mental health may take a hit too, you really get to know someone when you’re sat in a car with them for 5-9 hours 7+ days. When you’re out of the car, take time to be alone if you need to. Even if it’s taking an extra 5 minuets in the shower or having a bath. You’ll be greatful for the breathing space. Road tripping is exhausting, so don’t feel like you have to be excited to get in the car every day, there is a good chance that a couple of days you won’t want to get back into the box on wheels. Don’t stress it.

Travel at your own pace, maybe one day you’ll only drive for 2 hours and cover 75 miles that’s ok, or maybe you’ll drive 9 hours and cover 600 long miles. Either way try and enjoy the drive, if it all gets too much find a motel and stop for the night. Econolodges are normally our emergency night on the road stop, they’re cheap, clean and normally there is one close.

3. Playlist
Start thinking of your playlist, make it a good one. Plenty of choice, lots of songs and maybe an audiobook? There is 0 point relying on the radio, in some places it may drift in and out and it’s not fun listening to static for hours on end. If you can pick up a station it may not be what you usually listen too; heavy rock, country, religious, pop – nothing is guaranteed. And the adverts, chuff me! They are endless, but you’ll get 1 or maybe 2 stuck in your head forever, be warned. “We’ll see ya in a Kia” will never ever leave my brain.

This is volume 2 over and out!

If you have any tips that I missed let me know in the comments. I’ll try and add them to volume 3 as well as looking at driving essentials, toll booths and that time we got pulled over by the police!

January 23, 2017

Studying for a Post Graduate Certificate and Working Full Time

What is it like to study for a Post Graduate Certificate while working full time? I’m not going to tell you it’s easy but it is achievable.

So lets start at the beginning. I finished my degree gosh erm 5 years ago which is pretty terrifying come to think of it and 3 years of degree had me all studied out.

Now, rewind to this time last year so January 2016, I had just turned 26 and was enrolled and just starting my journey on a Post Graduate Certificate. I was worried; I had not typed an essay or completed an assignment in over 4 years. Never mind the dreaded referencing and bibliography that filled my soul with fear.

This post is basically going to be how I survived working 37.5hrs a week, having a little bit of a social life and successfully completing a PGC.

Rightio here goes –

1. If your course offers induction days, make sure you attended them. They are easy to push to the side but you will learn lots about the course, what is expected of you, how to get help and if you’re lucky tea and biscuits; maybe even lunch.

2. Plan your time, this sounds cheesy but time management really plays a large part in not getting stressed and submitting on time. If you’re lucky and doing your PGC through work, depending on your bosses you may be allocated time during the week to get some study done. If not an hour after your tea and maybe a couple on a Saturday/Sunday morning will stop work backing up.

3. Microsoft Office References tab, this honestly saved me from going insane and why didn’t I know about it years ago? You basically click insert citation, fill in the fields, click ok and boom it inserts it into your writing. When you’ve finished, you choose works citied, it builds a whole magical references list for you. Easy easy and a million hours saved.

4. When it comes to research, you kind of have to step this up a level. It is unlikely that just copy and pasting bits of the internet is going to work here. Go old school and look at books, speak to people and my favourite is look for articles in journals as they come across much more professional than good old Wikipedia.

5. Proof read. This was/is a massive downfall of mine. 3000 words down and the last thing you want to do it re read your whole assignment that you’ve been working on for the last month. You’re already sick of seeing it but please look at it again, daft mistakes can cost you marks.

6. Keep in contact with your tutors, normally they are easy to get hold of via email and they may be able to give you a call if needed to help or discuss anything. Especially if you are struggling and it doesn’t look that promising you will hand in on time. Many will understand and help you submit mitigating circumstances. BUT communication is key, just let them know.

7. The holy grail of being a student again … student discount! I signed up for a NUS card and there are no regrets for this one. It’s easy, simple and quick to do!

I’m sure there is plenty to add this post and if you think of anything else let me know and I’ll add it

January 11, 2017

Lunch at The Cat’s Pyjamas – Leeds

I think most people in Leeds know about the Indian Street food place in Headingley with the quirky name ‘The Cat’s Pyjamas‘. If you don’t you should check them out asap. And to make it even easier they’ve just opened a restaurant on East Gate near the new fancy Victoria Gate.

I’ve been a couple of times before in Headingley but never to the new restaurant, they quietly opened a week before Christmas I think and Kevin had never been before. So this was a perfect birthday lunch spot. Hello 27 years old and filling my face with as much Indian food as I dared on a Sunday afternoon.

We chose a window seat *hi Kevin, spread out over 2 tables and ordered. We started with poppadoms and a pickle tray with a never ending supply of mango chutney yum, onion bhajis and seekh kebab. Then for our mains we had potato curry, lamb rogan josh, garlic naan and pulao rice. Yes we over ordered. But what is a birthday lunch without lots of delicious food?

It was refreshingly laid back inside, with background music on at a level that you can talk at but still hear it (oh god I’m almost 30 and now I don’t want the music on too loud what is happening?) Actually I hate loud music I even watch the telly quietly, it drives Kevin mad.

The Cat’s Pyjamas also do a large selection of craft beers if you’re into that kind of thing. I’m not a massive beer fan but had a good (read large) glass of rose and Kevin sampled their none alcoholic beer selection as he was driving. He recommends the Jever, it was 0.5% and £3 a bottle and apparently much nicer than becks blue.

Yup, Im a sucker for the vintage look and fairy lights, I really liked how they’ve done out the inside. In fact I took a fair few photos just because but I can’t for the life of me remember what used to be in this space. Half of me wants to say the old British Gas showroom, but I’m sure thats a few doors up. Any Leeds locals remember?

Now I’ve written this post, I really want to take a trip back one day after work. The best bit is I could take everyone, they cater really well for vegetarians, vegans and the gluten free among us, I think they even have some gluten free beer. A coeliacs dream. I actually had a vegan meal (except a bit of naan) without even realising it and it was indeed all bloody lovely.

I will most definitely be returning to The Cat’s Pyjamas in the near future but maybe not ordering a starter as well as 2 sides to go with my main I was somewhat rather full.

It’s quickly becoming one of my firm favourites have you tired it yet?

January 9, 2017

A Photo an Hour Birthday Addition

Happy 27th Birthday too me! I thought it would be an excellent idea to do my first photo an hour on my birthday. HA great idea Michelle! Will you ever learn?

This was the first time in 5 years that I wasn’t working on my birthday so had an epic lie in then popped out into Leeds for food and a drink. Since I’ve been declaring it my birthday weekend for 2 days already, I was lucky enough to be chauffeured by Kevin meaning I could enjoy a glass of wine.

10am

11am

12pm

1pm/2pm

3pm/4pm

5pm

So I’m now sat here waiting for a takeaway to come and realising that I’m not going to take any more photos today because 1. I want to enjoy the rest of my Birthday Evening before I go back to work tomorrow. 2. I’m sat in my jamas on the sofa wrapped in a blanket. 3. My camera battery is dead.

Cheers!

Here’s to 27! Lets see what this year brings!

January 6, 2017

The Life-Changing Magic of Not Giving a F**k 2017 (Not Sorry About This Review)

The internet seems to have been awash with people reading “The Life-Changing Magic of Not Giving a F**k” and well absolutely loving it. So lets start with the fact that I’m a sucker for buying a pretty hardback book and especially one that seems to be getting such fabulous reviews, oo and is sweary but … Oh God you can tell where I’m going with this already right?

I … erm … kinda … er … didn’t … like … it!

Ahh please don’t disown me internet but I just thought it was a bit naff. I fibbed here I actually thought it was really naff.

From the first page I wasn’t feeling it, I’m not sure why? Maybe its the large font, the strangely laid out paragraphs, pages to write on, to me it also felt like it was poorly written, in the way that 50 Shades of Grey is. Sometimes you have to read a sentence twice for it to make sense.

Its hard writing an unpopular opinion but I guess in the mantra of the book ‘not sorry’ right?

See, it seems like basically just don’t give a fuck about the stuff you kind of already know you shouldn’t care about and be a nice person, there is no need to be a dick even if you have to tell people you do not want to do something! That is all. Really. It’s not hard. And if you’re a human being with any form of common sense then you should already live by these rules right?

I wanted to like this book I really did and I want to blog about the perfect fuck budget and what I should and should not give a fuck about. But well I’ve known for a long time what I care about and well whats not worth my time and effort, so didn’t need a book to tell me this.

However if you want to read it go ahead, if you’re a little unsure or need a prompt this book may be good for you. If you realise that you give too many fucks about; things, work, friends or family and want to start giving less fucks, potentially buy this book I guess. I mean it seems to helped 99% of the people that have reviewed it.

But maybe I’m just not the self help book kinda girl?

*It is going to make a pretty prop for photos though*

I kind of hope I’m not the only one that didn’t love the book?

January 4, 2017

USA Road Trip Tips – Volume One

You’re back at work and have some serious itchy feet going on, them cheeky January blues are starting to hit and you’re ready to go explore. Maybe you are dreaming of an all American Road Trip? Good Choice. Over the last 2 years we have driven over 7000 miles across the USA including the famous Route 66.

Now I am not saying we know everything but we’ve certainly picked up some knowledge over them 1000’s of miles and I’m here to share.

1. International Driving Permits
These are £5.50 and we found the best and cheapest way was to pick one up at the Post Office. We’ve never been asked for it when renting a car in the USA but for a couple of quid we’ve always picked one up just incase. And on the rental website they are normally one of the documents stated that you’ll need.

2. Car Hire
Now this could get wordy so here goes:
– Always book rental before you get to the airport for the best rates. You can sometimes find deals like a full tank of free fuel or additional drivers fee wavered.
– I wouldn’t recommend anything smaller than a ‘full size’ car especially if you are doing more than pootling around a city, a ‘mid size SUV’ has been a safe bet for us but we also upgraded to ‘premium’ on a trip.
– Factor in one way drop off fees, this normally applies when you pick up your car in one state but then drop it off in another and can be up to $500. Ouch!
– Young drivers fee, this seems to depend on the company. Some charge you extra if you are under 25 and some 30. Again shop around as this can be $50 a day if not more.
– Checkout what mileage you get, the last thing you want is to drop your rental car back off and have a huge bill.
– Insurance, always go for fully comprehensive just incase. BUT they will try to sell you breakdown cover when you pick up the car. So far we have always refused this and never come a cropper, we did debate it on our last trip just because it was 3000+ miles but risked it for a biscuit. Well not an American biscuit but risk it for a cookie doesn’t sound as good.

3. General Driving
Driving isn’t as scary as some people make out. Ok 6 lane motorways are a little terrifying at first but when you get off and hit the smaller roads it’s a little easier.
– You can turn right on a red light, this is something that feels totally weird at first but after a couple of days it feels natural and you’ll wonder why we don’t do it at home.
– Stop signs actually mean stop. Come to a complete stop then you can go again.
– Cross-roads, now these hurt my head a little but basically if they don’t have lights you go in the order that you arrived.

4. Petrol Stations (sorry Gas stations)
These are the wonderful magical places where you can buy all sorts of one of a kind weird foods to take on your journey, go for a free toilet break and buy slushy drinks. Petrol is also practically free compared to the prices us lucky Brits pay. So don’t panic if you think you’ve hired a guzzler.
– Petrol is called ‘Gas’ and the nozzles colours are the opposite to home. You’ll normally want the black one for gas.
– Paying at petrol stations, some you can pay by credit card but it can occasionally fail when it asks you for a ‘zip code’ in this situation try hitting enter and it may let you carry on. If not don’t panic, pop inside and randomly guess how much petrol you will need say $40 pay and fill up your car. If your tank if full before this amount go back into the store and they’ll give you the cash difference or refund your card.
– The toilets are normally safe, clean and free but be aware that if they’re unisex they can be a bit grim. I guess the same applies at home.

So as this post has hit over 600 words already I’ve made the choice to break it down into a few different posts.

Do you have any questions or have I missed anything? Leave a comment and I’ll try to answer them in Volume 2.

January 1, 2017

2017 Happy New Year

Happy New Year!!!

I’m writing this with a little bit of a hangover and have just demolished a bacon, egg and mushroom sandwich on tiger bread. Which by the way – is the best bread ever!

Are we all ready for 2017?

2017 is the year that I turn 27, in fact it is a week today AND … I’m not freaking out about it, even though 27 is hurtling towards 30 at lightening speed. I am actually feeling pretty positive about what this year will bring!

1. Grow this new little blog space, so far I am not sure which direction it will go in yet but I am excited to see. I love Instagram but going to up my game and Twitter I’m trying to get involved with a little more. Eeee!

2. Graduate my Post Graduate Certificate and see what lies ahead for me next maybe see if I can ‘top up’ to a full masters?

3. Try and explore places more locally in the UK, least year we were lucky enough to travel to USA a few times and of course I loved it! But I have to renew my passport in the next few months and I’m a little obsessed with the idea of trying to fill it in the next 10 years.

4. Stop spending or try to stop spending money on impulse buys. Do I really really need that £8 Primark top or them shoes in the sale reduced to £30? Maybe try to save a little bit for a just incase moment or something bigger.

5. Eat a little better and drink a little less. Simple really, it always seems too easy to get a takeaway or have a glass of wine or 2 after work. Even taking lunch to work a few days a week would be a bloody good idea.

So these are my goals for 2017. Over the next few weeks, I am pretty certain that new goals will be added. Maybe I’ll do a catch up post mid year.

What are your goals for 2017?

December 31, 2016

A Year in Review 2016

This year has been interesting, we’ve had Brexit urgh, Donald Trump urgh, so much terrorism and fear, war, the loss of not only David Bowie but now George Micheal among other famous faces. So yeah, 2016 was a bit of a bitch.

I wanted to see what positive and exciting things happened in 2016 for me. If we didn’t focus on the good stuff, I’m pretty sure I’d be in a ball crying about the state of the world and that aint gonna get anyone nowhere fast. I was lucky enough to spend a fair amount of this year traveling, enjoying time with my friends and family and being pretty content in my safe bubble.

Here goes ….

January – Started my Post Grad certificate and now its very nearly finished, come at me January 2017. It wasn’t initially in my plans to work full time as well as study but wow its been tough at times and there’s been a few tears but I’m nearly done it feels like a real accomplishment. Well done 26 year old me.

February – I took Kevin to New York for a 5 day last min trip, basically we had some annual leave left and couldn’t let a deal pass me bye. So off we hopped over the pond to stay in the upper west side and get my Gossip Girl on again. It was 5 years since I was last in the City and I left part of my soul there!

March – The Rocky Horror Picture Show Live, it was the first time in around 10 years that I got dressed up with friends and enjoyed an amazing evening! Also a night in Manchester at the Gotham Hotel aka only the chuffin Bat Man themed hotel and Edinburgh for 2 nights including a trip to the Zoo hello Giant Pandas.

April – Got a Record player and quickly built a collection of Vinyl, it now stands at over 30 records and afternoons listening to music rather than mindlessly sat watching Netflix.

May – Annual family holiday 6 adults and 3 kids = mayhem. It’s busy, it’s crazy, it’s normally 5 days in a cabin and I need another week to get over the madness but family is family and amazingly we haven’t killed each other yet!

June – Attended the wedding of one of my best friends, she’s a force to be reckoned with and planned an amazing day in 1 month. We used my 1973 Beetle as the wedding car and it was just perfect.

July – We did another drive across America (it really started at the end of June but 3500 miles later it was July), this time we hit 10 states but the highlights included Dollywood, Memphis and Palm Springs. I will write a post about road tripping across America later.

August – Drove North of the Wall and hired a cottage in Avimore for a week! Saw Loch Ness and looked for a monster, walked around many Lochs, drank wine and relaxed in a hot tub.

September – Ward Thomas, I hadn’t seen any live music for a few years and drunkly bought tickets and it turned out to be an excellent idea. Ok, so my music taste is somewhat eclectic and there is a bit of a country thing going on at the moment, you should check out Kacey Musgraves too.

October – Gave our American friend a whistle stop tour of London as well as Yorkshire. He was here on a layover from Malaysia on his was back home to Chicago. And RHPS for the 2nd time in a year and only on bloody Halloween, I even got Kevin to dress up.

November – SNOW, it snowed for a few hours and then disappeared but yay snow. I was treated by Mum to a girly trip to the Theatre to see Mary Poppins with my cousin and an Auntie. We left a little disappointed mainly because who changes the words to supercalifragilisticexpialidocious????

December – I only went and cooked Christmas Dinner successfully for the first time for 5 people. Ok this may not be the biggest achievement ever, but no one died and we had family close by which is the most important thing.

In total we visited 11 states of America.
Stayed in Manchester, York, Edinburgh, Avimore, London and Penrith.
Day tripped it to Scarborough, Flamborough Head, Blackpool, Bridlington, York x4ish, Whitby, Yorkshire Sculpture Park and many other little adventures.

Now lets see where 2017 takes us, the world is a scary place but we can’t let it stop us enjoying life. 28 days of annual leave start again in April so stay tuned to see what magic I can work with them. I think we’ll be looking for discounted last minuet trips again, not sure we’ve ever booked anything more than 2 months in advance.

How was your 2016? Try and pull out a positive moment for each month, it doesn’t matter how big or small it was, write it down and smile at the memories made.

December 29, 2016

Going For Brunch Alone in Olive & Rye

We’re in that funny bit of time between Christmas and New Year. It is where time seems to disappear and days seem to merge into one another. This year seems somewhat worse then normal, maybe because Christmas was on a Sunday and we got that weird extra Bank Holiday day.

So to combat the Netflix binge, the cabin fever that sets in after 3 days of not leaving the house and the 6 days of friends and family visiting. I escaped for brunch at Olive & Rye in the Queens Arcade.

Sometimes it is all you need to get out for a few hours, have a brew and be in your own company. I know this can be daunting and I’ve yet to ever go for a full restaurant meal on my own but coffee or tea in a cute cafe seems like a compromise.

Olive & Rye has only been open 6 weeks or so, it is a Deli but has a cafe/restaurant attached. I’m sure most people in Leeds have tried Hepworth’s Deli, they do amazing all day brunch and their wine selection isn’t to be moaned at. This means obviously I had to frequent Olive & Rye as it is also run and owned by the same Joe Hepworth of Hepworth’s Deli, so this was on my radar ever since I saw it pop up on Facebook.

I had a portion of Chorizo Baked Beans on Sourdough Toast and it was a rather nice 11am pick me up with a cuppa tea. I was going to go with a fancy coffee but since I already had my caffeine hit while shopping earlier tea it was.

It was empty when I arrived and I got seated quickly and meant I could take a pretty interior shot. I think the combination of a weird Bank Holiday Tuesday and it not been quiet lunch meant that I got to eat in peace and make plans in my notebook without the hustle of a busy cafe. When I asked the waiter though he said it does get pretty busy with the lunch time crowd.

I’ll be more than likely visiting again soon, I want to try more of the menu and maybe one of the events they do on an evening. It’s somewhere that I’d also go with my Mum if we were going shopping on a weekend, waiter service is a massive bonus and makes it feel that bit nicer then a greasy spoon and going to order at the till.

I swear at some point a few years ago I had visited every coffee place and restaurant in Leeds. Now I can’t keep up with new places that are opening. And yes thats pretty amazing.

November 1, 2016

2006 vs 2016 and 15 Things I Tell 16 Year Old Me

I had to jump on the bandwagon of 2006 vs 2016 and take a look at the fact that I no longer bleach every little bit of life out of my hair and heavy ’emo’ eyeliner has disappeared. Instead I found lipstick, glasses that I now have to wear all the time and lost the bleach for the moment. Also found five guys!

Hello 16 year old me in the next 10 years a few things will happen:

1. You will leave school with good range of academic GCSEs but you will go to Art College and study fashion design

2. Fashion design will still be your thing for 2 years and you will move to Uni to do Costume Design and hate it then leave after 3 months. This is not the end of the world, I repeat not the end of the world.

3. When you fall in love it will happen fast and hard.

4. Moving back home will be traumatic and you’ll last 2 months, move in with your new boyfriend have a little commitment panic but that will pass. You’re now 19, sassy but working in Burger King part time isn’t cutting it anymore, this isn’t forever I promise.

5. Decide to reevaluate your life choices and start an 8 week night school course in Photography, this will keep you occupied and you will play less Lego Indiana Jones on the Wii.

6. Oh God, UCAS! Sorry this is as awful as you remembered it first time around.

7. You will make another grownup choice – you are now doing a degree in photography. Full time. You will realise it’s more expensive then a degree in costume design but fall in love with the darkroom and spend ours developing film and prints.

8. Wowsers, 3 years will fly by and you’ll graduate. You will hate photography, but this again will pass.

9. Ok so now you’ve graduated, you won’t be able to find a job as it’s the middle of a recession. You will realise you can’t afford to do the travel thing so hello you choose to spend 5 months in the French alps playing chalet girl. It will be difficult and you’ll spend a few teary nights on the phone back home to your beau but then you’ll also love the mountain life.

10. You’ll spend the next 18 months working part time at a 5-a-side football club. You’ll learn some awfully amazing team names that work beautifully for the pub quiz ‘stroke titty’ anyone?

11. You did it! Your first full time job! It’s agency work for a year covering maternity but its photography related and hello money and all the things you can buy and the adventures you can now afford.

12. Next will come the soul destroying interviews for the job you really want. Keep trying, keep applying because it will all pay off.

13. Congratulations it’ll take 5 years since leaving uni the first time, you will have stressed out, cried, laughed, lost all hope and applied for some very questionable jobs but you did it. 25 year old you will be proud that you stuck it out and made it finally.

14. Oh here comes the study again, you thought you had finished but this is only for 1 year, it’ll fly by and you will pass all your assignments even though there will be a stressful moment or 3 waiting for the results to be emailed to you. Don’t forget about the student discount that has magically appeared too, it’s not all bad!

15. You’ll almost be 27 at the end of these 10 years, way past the melt down you will have just before turning 25. Life is good.

You don’t know where you will be in 10 years and I think I am testament to this, I’ve worked crappy jobs, left uni and started again, been in a relationship 8 of them 10 years. Cried happy and sad tears but overall got through it.

So I guess this is the hello and welcome.

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