tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7745327392331762642024-03-14T19:07:05.653+00:00being ericabeing ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01447158394306745621noreply@blogger.comBlogger1598125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-774532739233176264.post-55826562544446249592021-10-17T15:32:00.011+01:002021-10-18T13:57:51.543+01:00a dog-friendly weekend in Lincoln<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhjHeUs9WxQnnV4ZG-5fXgSC3jHKz-kNUyCeIiU4WSqemgtLcJ9IxiuGUPDACCBiIerMgo_2fA4hI4jcjLMoE0u_Z7tDsCzz1l_KH--Mmnl5PMYjVvtYTsXM9DsXVZ0LB-P7B-3S9K3ANKyJjSSgaQ_hNpysXF8xDp3aLXhQoU_3UGqH7Fo0vuPMPGT=s2880" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2880" data-original-width="2160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhjHeUs9WxQnnV4ZG-5fXgSC3jHKz-kNUyCeIiU4WSqemgtLcJ9IxiuGUPDACCBiIerMgo_2fA4hI4jcjLMoE0u_Z7tDsCzz1l_KH--Mmnl5PMYjVvtYTsXM9DsXVZ0LB-P7B-3S9K3ANKyJjSSgaQ_hNpysXF8xDp3aLXhQoU_3UGqH7Fo0vuPMPGT=s16000" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><p><span><br />with international travel still on hold for many (including myself) for the best part of two years now, i've joined the millions of others looking to partake in uk staycations this year instead of getting abroad. for me, it feels safer still, it's a lot more convenient, and it solves the problem of "what do i do with my dog while i go away?" as well. this time though, instead of heading to the coast with the rest of those chasing the last of the summer sun, i decided to spend my birthday weekend exploring a new-to-me city in the uk; one that's been at the top of the list for ages thanks to it's history, impressive landmarks, and "pretty city" status on instagram: </span><a href="https://www.visitlincoln.com/" target="_blank">Lincoln</a><span>.</span></p></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">i'll admit i knew very little of the city before planning began, other than its cobbled stones, gothic cathedral, and minimal distance from London - 2 hours max from king's cross direct to Lincoln, which is just long enough for me, especially with a small dog in tow! this was my first solo trip with just me and Peanut, so i was glad to not be toooo far away in case it all became a bit tooooo hard to manage. he and i have done days out on trains before, but there'd always been a car at the other end (or a bed), so this was our first time travelling somewhere long-distance. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">another reason for picking Lincoln was that the tourism website has a section dedicated to <a href="https://www.visitlincoln.com/dogs" target="_blank">dog-friendly stays</a>, and so it seemed the perfect place to start our solo adventures! let me tell you all about it..<br /><br /></span></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"></h4><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">HOW TO GET THERE</span></h3><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; margin: 0cm;"><span><span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">we travelled up with <a href="https://www.lner.co.uk/" target="_blank">LNER</a>, because they offer a faster, more direct route from London to Lincoln - bang on two hours. we were really lucky to travel on one of the new Azuma trains, which are nice and spacious, have incredible wi-fi and plug sockets built into every seat. the carrier has also pioneered at-seat ordering in standard class via the new LNER app, which lets passengers order from their phones using a QR code, and have their order delivered directly to their seat.<br /><br /></span></span></p><p class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjK95JG7ICFvLEzNG2K6p6MoAWwl3LeS18F3VuN0XSrFeWhufpSedG7nJWKDF4aOnkzZ98OoxSK9UXwC-okdSLSSK6Rmj77MKtLgkaLgNLtjJB9t0XkFek-ZWQ7xHtS_myNrKC2miNiVIC3kj4TB5r0QWwWwFbJrGEgYqmoROQfivoDC4cDzpcM-XVs=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjK95JG7ICFvLEzNG2K6p6MoAWwl3LeS18F3VuN0XSrFeWhufpSedG7nJWKDF4aOnkzZ98OoxSK9UXwC-okdSLSSK6Rmj77MKtLgkaLgNLtjJB9t0XkFek-ZWQ7xHtS_myNrKC2miNiVIC3kj4TB5r0QWwWwFbJrGEgYqmoROQfivoDC4cDzpcM-XVs=s16000" /></a></span></div><p></p><p class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEip_Zbks8_zJl6OLnmFH_R4d_3_NeTy8-Gm_UcCOqeDYiCKXQFDzDewOyLWSn9XbFMPmwhEfOYvxln3aWCSWzTTvYtioagguw70jo0_-D1_3X8ktj74QcABOpAYbUHeVEILqVyOI7CCaKwqW-BTjCT3Wzex9IZbFBJhTVyIv7m1rtZBZ7IEEqaUOhWA=s2048" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEip_Zbks8_zJl6OLnmFH_R4d_3_NeTy8-Gm_UcCOqeDYiCKXQFDzDewOyLWSn9XbFMPmwhEfOYvxln3aWCSWzTTvYtioagguw70jo0_-D1_3X8ktj74QcABOpAYbUHeVEILqVyOI7CCaKwqW-BTjCT3Wzex9IZbFBJhTVyIv7m1rtZBZ7IEEqaUOhWA=s16000" /></a></span></div><p></p><p class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; margin: 0cm;"><span><span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0cm; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span>LNER are also very dog-friendly, and Peanut was treated like a king on both trips up, and back. on the way up, he was fine to sit on a seat next to me (on his blanket) without any concern, though on the way back the train manager told me he was only allowed on the floor. he didn't <b>love</b> being on the floor as it's louder there and maybe a bit scarier, so i spent a bit of time on the floor with him on the way back too, to keep him calm. he was fussed over so much though, by one member of staff in particular, whose job it was to carry out the cleaning and sterilisation between stations. he was so lovely to Pea and made him feel a lot more calm than those just walking past all the time, so we really were grateful to him (and for him making sure the carriage was very clean for us too!).<br /><br /></span><span><i>advanced return fares start from £66.80 in first, and £28.80 in standard - dogs don't need a ticket.</i></span></span></p><p class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; margin: 0cm; text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: black; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><h4 style="background-color: white; margin: 0cm; text-align: left;"></h4><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: black; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-weight: inherit;">WHERE TO STAY</span></span></span></span></h3><span><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: black; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span><span style="font-weight: normal;">there were a number of options that listed themselves as "dog friendly" in Lincoln, which was great to see! i was there for three nights, and the first night i stayed at a lovely boutique hotel called <a href="https://thetowerlincoln.com/book-a-stay" target="_blank">The Tower Hotel</a>. the property is set in the historic Bailgate area of the Cathedral Quarter, and has 15 lovely en-suite rooms to choose from. </span></span></span><span style="font-weight: normal;">it also has an amazing restaurant on site called No38 which has some of the best food i've had in ages (delivered straight to your room, if you so choose!). Peanut was more than welcome to join me for breakfast and dinner in the courtyard, just not the inside dining rooms - which was fine, as the weather was wonderful anyway!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">our room was small, as it was a single room i grabbed with late notice, so i makeshifted a dog bed for Peanut out of the chair and some cushions so he could sleep near me but not on me (he still came and slept on me, but it was nice while it lasted!). we were in an attic room, so the window was also quite small and meant he couldn't people watch which is his fave past time, so i definitely know for future what to look out for in a hotel room when i'm taking a doggo with me. it was perfectly comfortable, if not very warm up there, but we were knackered and slept like dogs!</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjmA51j9r1_TXXDjNyiD2IQxnCgLaKLa5PzSqXAo3Lz3rf0bzu6cF8c4ohd3MULA9_OEa8oMd4HDjWKCGM-U-2PLxnAWhDl_G3-OplhrHRzHxC56ZLFHlrrzXkiWNC4RBq5gpOvs4Aoks7RzTcFPd12uljLKMsMD1cYwOQuEv28EUyMPlN3R7jTocEw=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjmA51j9r1_TXXDjNyiD2IQxnCgLaKLa5PzSqXAo3Lz3rf0bzu6cF8c4ohd3MULA9_OEa8oMd4HDjWKCGM-U-2PLxnAWhDl_G3-OplhrHRzHxC56ZLFHlrrzXkiWNC4RBq5gpOvs4Aoks7RzTcFPd12uljLKMsMD1cYwOQuEv28EUyMPlN3R7jTocEw=s16000" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjWzBXh8s8QPAODDijTzrVJW4BkkbIaL3ENoEIB7mRa3jIwKBlpRjXlkQ__sguwNyouEXBxrnQatrdrUDyWhizSLgFfHets7nmW-uscpbyzMZsJ6MSRbQ6xEjZDA7i89CauHlBfDzmLr-FPE6mRQWquMAOrP0uUaHjYQcYWvFGImcvP27HpbOOsxE1p=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjWzBXh8s8QPAODDijTzrVJW4BkkbIaL3ENoEIB7mRa3jIwKBlpRjXlkQ__sguwNyouEXBxrnQatrdrUDyWhizSLgFfHets7nmW-uscpbyzMZsJ6MSRbQ6xEjZDA7i89CauHlBfDzmLr-FPE6mRQWquMAOrP0uUaHjYQcYWvFGImcvP27HpbOOsxE1p=s16000" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />on the second and third nights i stayed at </span><a href="https://www.whitehart-lincoln.co.uk/" style="font-family: inherit;" target="_blank">The White Hart hotel,</a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> which was only a short stroll from The Tower, and which also had doggy biscuits waiting for Peanut at reception! The White Hart took the whole doggy friendly thing to another level with the treats at reception, and dog bowls available on request, and inside the room when i checked in was a special note for Peanut to welcome him to the hotel and basically say he was as welcome as anyone else - which i thought was a nice touch!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div>we were really lucky to have been upgraded to a very spacious suite this time around (i think a birdy told them it was my birthday), and so there was much more room for Peanut to explore and get comfy, rather than sharing a single bed with me. he was able to see out of the windows this time, and i was able to put his food away from his bed, so he was able to do relax a bit more.. who knew dogs could be so fussy!</div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;">the restaurant on site does not allowed dogs in it, but the restaurant was more than happy to send food up to the room so i could eat meals in peace and quiet up there, and even sent extra bits of breakfast for the pup to eat as well. every time we ran into someone who worked in the hotel, i got the question: "is this Peanut?!" - he was very warmly welcomed, and we could not have asked for more attention!<br /><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEik1x9DUljZCCWOV44WNL9cCdrNVHGyWh84_W21btP1dpYdUVAHets6d5-qr6xZsiFroocxGCo2y8LM4hbRUWqmbAy2ahhJjGPvwSH4q0CS4QVdADO5OmljqRea9jGQ1KnXZxR7m1XpfduZ5nsi4rvipPFbC2idKIIH3d_B1D0mQmtTddduAkrSdKFq=s3884" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3884" data-original-width="2913" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEik1x9DUljZCCWOV44WNL9cCdrNVHGyWh84_W21btP1dpYdUVAHets6d5-qr6xZsiFroocxGCo2y8LM4hbRUWqmbAy2ahhJjGPvwSH4q0CS4QVdADO5OmljqRea9jGQ1KnXZxR7m1XpfduZ5nsi4rvipPFbC2idKIIH3d_B1D0mQmtTddduAkrSdKFq=s16000" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjdWnhPZRR-aeEhHGuyxuKwlt5NCijmZXxkPmpO2aAuTDBe7SW_3SPisfEZD2g69r1g6peh99KOqqROkYwtKsPpX6tV8xoI5tbw9CTpcvcDGNcZdzRA21JfUNrOfo39OM0iT_2dCP-PQJyAemESK_u-eVW7-42rOYysTqJCYf7fpXmmRYKyvWNGR4_S=s3927" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3927" data-original-width="2945" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjdWnhPZRR-aeEhHGuyxuKwlt5NCijmZXxkPmpO2aAuTDBe7SW_3SPisfEZD2g69r1g6peh99KOqqROkYwtKsPpX6tV8xoI5tbw9CTpcvcDGNcZdzRA21JfUNrOfo39OM0iT_2dCP-PQJyAemESK_u-eVW7-42rOYysTqJCYf7fpXmmRYKyvWNGR4_S=s16000" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;">in both cases though, our room was at the top of the property, so if your dog is older, or less mobile than my energetic puppy, be sure to ask for a room closer to the ground. particularly in the case of The White Hart, which has one of those token vintage lifts in it made for no more than two people, which was noisy and clunky, and scared the life out of Peanut a little. we opted to take the four flights of stairs (down, but not up because i'm lazy), or i had to sit on the ground with him to keep him calm! it'd be easier to get a room closer to the ground! (though, the view from the top of The White Hart.. woah, incredible! below are from the windows of my room!)</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;">quick note on the Cathedral Quarter and the area called Bailgate: it is at the top of a road called Steep Hill. i know the hint should have been in the name, but folks: it was steep, and we walked up it on a 25 degree day, me with a backpack, doggy-pack and dog, and it was <b>hard</b>. so, be prepared, or get a cab from the train station! the walk down is lovely, and the view from the top is gorgeous. just the walk itself? yikes!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></div><h4 style="background-color: white; margin: 0cm; text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhT-YiMQQ4qvnxHCpmsuJEe06EiAfLokB_KzeMbQ-ZYhUrQSpcmq81kxlGm1ynm6Vw_e6ovlmFeHGZVh_T2rBxcC2nASp-VJuxJk2zhfEPmmWnRATH5zU8UsuaYrkI1wIxVxXBu3hbg8QWBWjlYHGSeJRKonIQyA18ZjaijbTvE4T8H3wtuF_v3rXC8=s4032" style="font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhT-YiMQQ4qvnxHCpmsuJEe06EiAfLokB_KzeMbQ-ZYhUrQSpcmq81kxlGm1ynm6Vw_e6ovlmFeHGZVh_T2rBxcC2nASp-VJuxJk2zhfEPmmWnRATH5zU8UsuaYrkI1wIxVxXBu3hbg8QWBWjlYHGSeJRKonIQyA18ZjaijbTvE4T8H3wtuF_v3rXC8=s16000" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiez2m25C6KcV39c8CGYkIMV9YFW3oKbm9yjKBv6Gj8CeapaPquVaUmeN6DyfwMoEUl-SrGVfbQ9aFPz6K_Pg8zIFq6ZmbzU8mT_HqnnOlploM3sK_8I3LdU0slg1I6fNkfPGvU6BPR0fyMzqXVOBdL6ppNuT_wtC3DawTVmyPBt2PRK_nMQc6I0mXL=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiez2m25C6KcV39c8CGYkIMV9YFW3oKbm9yjKBv6Gj8CeapaPquVaUmeN6DyfwMoEUl-SrGVfbQ9aFPz6K_Pg8zIFq6ZmbzU8mT_HqnnOlploM3sK_8I3LdU0slg1I6fNkfPGvU6BPR0fyMzqXVOBdL6ppNuT_wtC3DawTVmyPBt2PRK_nMQc6I0mXL=s16000" /></a></div></span></h4><h3 style="background-color: white; margin: 0cm; text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: black; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">WHAT TO DO</span></span></h3><p class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; margin: 0cm;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: black; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; margin: 0cm;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">there are so many things to do with a dog! but, one weekend every month, the gorgeous <a href="https://www.lincolncastle.com/content/events" target="_blank">Lincoln Castle </a>is open to dogs, so that's where we started. during this one dog-friendly weekend, pups of all shapes and sizes are allowed inside the castle, Victorian prison, and on the walk around the medieval wall ruins too. so if your pup is into history, then this is a great place to visit.</span></span></p><p class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; margin: 0cm;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: black; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; margin: 0cm;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: black; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">the castle was built by William the Conqueror in 1068, and holds so much history within - not just of Lincoln, but of England too. while in the castle, you can see Lincoln's Magna Carta, Charter of the Forest and the Great Charter Wall - real life piece of history! there are guided tours of the castle daily, which i would definitely recommend if you're anything like me and prefer to hear history than read it.</span></span></p><p class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; margin: 0cm;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: black; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><br /></i></span></span></p><p class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; margin: 0cm;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Lincoln Castle is open 7 days a week, and adult castle day tickets start from £14.50 (dogs don't need a ticket)</span></i></p><p class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; margin: 0cm;"><i><br /></i></p><p class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; margin: 0cm;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhM0p8nE6lLT5XwMrXPPfTh2MQ998f-sPDLo6emZWb1VaZhE2aPxPLgQn-MRPn_PH-e5tppevRfR8boM-5z2h9jURz0A5MI4qlkHH83X4wiuKzRQsnsWHrD8CYsZMhkgSY6P1eUYY0CQwpJvQsiTAcQQYQnXneI9BEkZuoZ11hvWkwZoTS_z1MLaGCG=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhM0p8nE6lLT5XwMrXPPfTh2MQ998f-sPDLo6emZWb1VaZhE2aPxPLgQn-MRPn_PH-e5tppevRfR8boM-5z2h9jURz0A5MI4qlkHH83X4wiuKzRQsnsWHrD8CYsZMhkgSY6P1eUYY0CQwpJvQsiTAcQQYQnXneI9BEkZuoZ11hvWkwZoTS_z1MLaGCG=s16000" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhyIDau5h9kPDVm_K5Tf373-9YCRwe-fnc_qUoIhHGDr6KmnuJDqvZ52bnTR9Mp7TJLlHQIYRBlRzauhuN1o3IE0BfIkUSFyn0hKcehqR2R1URiDmTwbzpUIEU68McQDyn0e2_QCUTrvLIipwW0gwN4GH6hCqL8CpaZIKpmLCCREekMYJDCPWhsJpln=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhyIDau5h9kPDVm_K5Tf373-9YCRwe-fnc_qUoIhHGDr6KmnuJDqvZ52bnTR9Mp7TJLlHQIYRBlRzauhuN1o3IE0BfIkUSFyn0hKcehqR2R1URiDmTwbzpUIEU68McQDyn0e2_QCUTrvLIipwW0gwN4GH6hCqL8CpaZIKpmLCCREekMYJDCPWhsJpln=s16000" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhxgbtPm9q86IDmcRT4HeTrrs4z17sKTB8A9sinpljh4kPon-aYoz6SJjFa72PQLqhVAT0Fq_TtSOD8ItP2Qof87N6yFvElzYfGcswWmiIfl2MzNfnPoDWPKRaqRe6f_TB15eUVX8V5U7_NWvT7P3Dnj-a7HCL-IO9XwE0FbxNfADmrbDf7CBfpjvkT=s3932" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3932" data-original-width="2950" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhxgbtPm9q86IDmcRT4HeTrrs4z17sKTB8A9sinpljh4kPon-aYoz6SJjFa72PQLqhVAT0Fq_TtSOD8ItP2Qof87N6yFvElzYfGcswWmiIfl2MzNfnPoDWPKRaqRe6f_TB15eUVX8V5U7_NWvT7P3Dnj-a7HCL-IO9XwE0FbxNfADmrbDf7CBfpjvkT=s16000" /></span></a></div><br />speaking of walking tours, i was lucky enough to also take a private guided tour of of the historic city with Hidden Lincoln. our guide was so incredible knowledgeable about Lincoln (despite not being from there originally!), and even brought snacks in his pocket for Peanut (nothing for me, boo!). our guide Ivan took us around the Bailgate area, and around the Cathedral Quarter, and gave us the lowdown on the entire history of the city - right back to the vikings, through to the Magna Carta, Kings and Queens, <a href="http://www.hiddenlincoln.com/tennyson/" target="_blank">Tennyson</a>, right up to modern day. <div><br /></div><div>we did not go in to the Cathedral, though i would have liked to, we just ran out of time/opportunities. it was my plan to go on the Sunday, not actually thinking that Sunday would be an actual service day, but also there was a memorial being held that day for the local police so it was mostly closed to the public. then on Monday, i totally forgot/was on the phone to my mum for my birthday than it just.. didn't happen. I do think the walking tour usually goes inside though, and it was a lovely way to spend an early afternoon, so i highly recommend taking a spin with Ivan.<div><p></p><p class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; margin: 0cm;"><br /></p><p class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; margin: 0cm;"><i>find more info on Hidden Lincoln walking tours <a href="http://www.hiddenlincoln.com/" target="_blank">here</a>.<br /><br /></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh2cfy4EukkxhDsDSUjFIk2iHgdKGUPj6CcBsehhDThwP_QADqNA8net5_8ssMD70F2WgrBDC5LuqBSEr0WGYQkBkI4vP8lyv8e8zC4GHL9UMEaZuA2iUg5IaRpDeCEPgrW52PMe2ARn_48P5x_5CM7-vLMoECSw57lAKj_mFUR7uzw9FszPtsuRX3k=s3866" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3866" data-original-width="2900" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh2cfy4EukkxhDsDSUjFIk2iHgdKGUPj6CcBsehhDThwP_QADqNA8net5_8ssMD70F2WgrBDC5LuqBSEr0WGYQkBkI4vP8lyv8e8zC4GHL9UMEaZuA2iUg5IaRpDeCEPgrW52PMe2ARn_48P5x_5CM7-vLMoECSw57lAKj_mFUR7uzw9FszPtsuRX3k=s16000" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhPcfF0E1MN90uyxE8NZULqrlNI09ZgXR6avk8j-SS_MAuouPySD6ga68McCkZ6opGqrCtknZBb4h16L2sEY8RneRcXrBYG0QOQpEIkdpPiYxIAveLPG2bntC-fHjdVNtXEU1_IEA6qr-YFpT3efqhJIQqrdyBnUFpZA3V2BG2ex7fRLU-E30k1kerR=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhPcfF0E1MN90uyxE8NZULqrlNI09ZgXR6avk8j-SS_MAuouPySD6ga68McCkZ6opGqrCtknZBb4h16L2sEY8RneRcXrBYG0QOQpEIkdpPiYxIAveLPG2bntC-fHjdVNtXEU1_IEA6qr-YFpT3efqhJIQqrdyBnUFpZA3V2BG2ex7fRLU-E30k1kerR=s16000" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhZ7BlQQMJVOpj2XXpLa-obmoIzJKRToYac9wRYAFYpVUW2J_jfFqBrl9Evv3OVK6yeJ6O78p3wJMwWXIjsBYluH5qAKpw0-xQqcZp7pq8uzEkpKaDgdrqDZ0OlZ8QBiehA_0h20feQZmvOO7WThWrOmzcd1_Bm1SIBlQ0yoH994ef_w5oWeQX1gDo0=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhZ7BlQQMJVOpj2XXpLa-obmoIzJKRToYac9wRYAFYpVUW2J_jfFqBrl9Evv3OVK6yeJ6O78p3wJMwWXIjsBYluH5qAKpw0-xQqcZp7pq8uzEkpKaDgdrqDZ0OlZ8QBiehA_0h20feQZmvOO7WThWrOmzcd1_Bm1SIBlQ0yoH994ef_w5oWeQX1gDo0=s16000" /></span></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; margin: 0cm;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-weight: inherit;">and one last highlight was the beautiful <a href="https://www.doddingtonhall.com/" target="_blank">Doddington Hall and Gardens.</a> again, dogs are </span><b>more than</b> welcome - in <b>most</b> parts of the property. they can roam the grounds (on lead, of course), and are also welcome in the onsite cafe, the bauble barn (more on that soon), and in the lifestyle shop as well. they <b>aren't allowed</b> in the actual stately home or the manicured gardens, which is a shame as a lot of stately homes and listed properties with gardens have no problems with dogs, but it is what it is. it did limit what i was able to visit, as i would have <b>loved</b> to visit the house and gardens, but it just wasn't possible.</span></span></p><p class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; margin: 0cm;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: black; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; margin: 0cm;">there are a number of <a href="https://www.doddingtonhall.com/visiting/doddington-walks/" target="_blank">gorgeous walking trails</a> for humans and dogs alike to take, from an easy river walk to up to a few hours walking around the property, but Peanut was like a wild thing with all the new smells and sights he was experiencing, and it was a bit overwhelming for us both. we did take a wander around the bauble barn - the property's own Christmas shop, and picked up some decorations and gifts, as well as a spot of shopping in the lifestyle store, and grabbed some tasty treats from the farm shop too.</p><p class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; margin: 0cm;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiD_q45wt-mxjmxaQZyO8qs6WgoGegUBMa50mPn0jA5xTf7lV0VCNCKgbzvzAZwcV3pwlArjO1tUaLg93XX_5JjAA487j8oufjebh-6jS_PAeG1KWCC2rHhdTzX1kqhBrkqWXZ2G_sHc7Zvtig64dJVbkEs-mOhSyYbzo811dFQDcbLjUb_5qXqv4PX=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiD_q45wt-mxjmxaQZyO8qs6WgoGegUBMa50mPn0jA5xTf7lV0VCNCKgbzvzAZwcV3pwlArjO1tUaLg93XX_5JjAA487j8oufjebh-6jS_PAeG1KWCC2rHhdTzX1kqhBrkqWXZ2G_sHc7Zvtig64dJVbkEs-mOhSyYbzo811dFQDcbLjUb_5qXqv4PX=s16000" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgGS6UI-A8m1etq9Xi7E4k6l6ajnrCivY5FQg0grdkn4pbifPL5ytux2hsyqALTpG7S_3vYCWnLAcuccygxfZJr-FKWuWYsRgDgpUbmyjGKKXFc6-tOw1AXgPE6v1YhP0VOhHibQ0RWofX-6vEM1G808_6v2BAyhKM8qyjKkoUuQ7F3NAgnP1eP1StW=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgGS6UI-A8m1etq9Xi7E4k6l6ajnrCivY5FQg0grdkn4pbifPL5ytux2hsyqALTpG7S_3vYCWnLAcuccygxfZJr-FKWuWYsRgDgpUbmyjGKKXFc6-tOw1AXgPE6v1YhP0VOhHibQ0RWofX-6vEM1G808_6v2BAyhKM8qyjKkoUuQ7F3NAgnP1eP1StW=s16000" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi3PMIeoqM5FB3kgvQiEG4WN7Fe0ul8rcWR_bAhbKrmgonzKxNj9f5FHIZH1AVjJtgPo8zPIF_F1lhSisDKyr6QObo9doT44tFCjcdz2gkXGTC7VO_os4ZyZBMVe4d68oF0opD0qz14wiBkri2MIJ0BRjbtnere3iWCtnmPjjd8WJ_CDbC3BrMDj6jE=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi3PMIeoqM5FB3kgvQiEG4WN7Fe0ul8rcWR_bAhbKrmgonzKxNj9f5FHIZH1AVjJtgPo8zPIF_F1lhSisDKyr6QObo9doT44tFCjcdz2gkXGTC7VO_os4ZyZBMVe4d68oF0opD0qz14wiBkri2MIJ0BRjbtnere3iWCtnmPjjd8WJ_CDbC3BrMDj6jE=s16000" /></span></a></div><br /><p class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; margin: 0cm;">there were loads of other dogs there for Peanut to play with or socialise with, which was lovely! and there was coffee and cake, which is always a winner for me. if you do plan to take your dog, you will also want to take a car! i'd had a return taxi booked, giving myself a few hours on site to take it all in. but, with Peanut playing up and me being frustrated, i would have liked to go home sooner than planned - and that just wasn't possible with the local cab service (very busy day, no cabs available) - so we just sat under a tree in the shade for an hour or so waiting it out, while i tried to calm Peanut down. so, take your own car! plenty of parking on site.</p><p class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; margin: 0cm;"><br /></p><p class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; margin: 0cm;"><i>the grounds are free to visit, but the house and gardens will require a ticket - adult entry from £12</i></p><p class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; margin: 0cm;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhLs3Eg4OjyZ8JRZhuufIz8TQOupfFZ5ZTYncQlPPiDKFxP-TzGtcpR7OAWA-v7mRRlLacTUkTQmQnmNZWtAUc5PhVLTMrES_oLSrCYcnRQt6FGaT5aHKhHwodz9R96fZQdXNgu5sn6roNvwg-HEBVBDDZoxUOjdAO4UpY9eHhIkcmy0xvwSdx9LZTj=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhLs3Eg4OjyZ8JRZhuufIz8TQOupfFZ5ZTYncQlPPiDKFxP-TzGtcpR7OAWA-v7mRRlLacTUkTQmQnmNZWtAUc5PhVLTMrES_oLSrCYcnRQt6FGaT5aHKhHwodz9R96fZQdXNgu5sn6roNvwg-HEBVBDDZoxUOjdAO4UpY9eHhIkcmy0xvwSdx9LZTj=s16000" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh7GLrHR4FYslwwR3Vok3GdXB_ahohPrutEGFbJuqcu0X_IRDOsncR079niSX6NKpXO_8gU6E_6wlZsxvZ7cqYtxzKLI07B8AKqxf11lrLUgG2TuCvlLnJj9wdhfInmIAwehOmDpUKUAZ3QbbaxF14K_wwioIHfcvQluW1PwDBXMLsYF-9XJXgJnZlG=s4004" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4004" data-original-width="3004" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh7GLrHR4FYslwwR3Vok3GdXB_ahohPrutEGFbJuqcu0X_IRDOsncR079niSX6NKpXO_8gU6E_6wlZsxvZ7cqYtxzKLI07B8AKqxf11lrLUgG2TuCvlLnJj9wdhfInmIAwehOmDpUKUAZ3QbbaxF14K_wwioIHfcvQluW1PwDBXMLsYF-9XJXgJnZlG=s16000" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><h3 style="background-color: white; margin: 0cm; text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: black; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">WHERE TO EAT</span></span></h3><div><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: black; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">right-o, so, i did have a lot of room service as it was just *easier* than trying to take Peanut out for food. he's still not great in cafes and pubs, so a whole meal out would have pushed me over the edge, i think. but, there were loooooads of dog friendly foodie options to choose from, which was awesome to see! in fact, there's a whole list of them on the Visit Lincoln site - <a href="https://www.visitlincoln.com/dogs" target="_blank">check that out for a comprehensive list</a>!</span></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: black; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">on the first night the room service from <a href="https://www.doughnottsofficial.com/" target="_blank">No38 at the Tower Hotel</a> blew my mind. no photographic evidence as i was starving and it was demolished. but, truly delicious food! on the last night, i grabbed takeaway from a place the lovely Becky from Visit Lincoln had recommended me the day before, a pizza spot called <a href="https://www.doughloco.co.uk/" target="_blank">Dough Loco</a>. this restaurant started as a pop-up in a garden after the founders were furloughed last year, and then did so well they now have a permanent spot! it was cheap, cheerful, and did take away cans of IPA. happy days!</span></span></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhJDSbxluRy0o4QUEjEW32PBCBW02THMLTVIMVtbYMswd5ydCYQ58pFtqzD2RVbCYkMUyYwdp6bIC9eL1BMw0PVJcs7AqJGQ_TG83V7WHaEshcfDuLcOEY-PjEx2cafJDsHsfUyd9OhUlDZtRt3qimeIoZoDxbObRj-8ryhzLtnC9PDOL2nWvRASgEd=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhJDSbxluRy0o4QUEjEW32PBCBW02THMLTVIMVtbYMswd5ydCYQ58pFtqzD2RVbCYkMUyYwdp6bIC9eL1BMw0PVJcs7AqJGQ_TG83V7WHaEshcfDuLcOEY-PjEx2cafJDsHsfUyd9OhUlDZtRt3qimeIoZoDxbObRj-8ryhzLtnC9PDOL2nWvRASgEd=s16000" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiyj2wSFPsBlJGyrtztytYKmAyJC5V4G4ZaaaLePHP2mZHSuq6P7T9OhzUdF7ST1StGoR5D8VUrmVT_uecz6cqG23oNCyxR00aXD4vvyM7py9n9L9lxjB9x3BL7uvbnlubj3MZTOsesyZdTQU94mzHzUAiIkTvFJNPSWxnGrBrEcT3MGX1CznPfiFOU=s3381" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3381" data-original-width="2536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiyj2wSFPsBlJGyrtztytYKmAyJC5V4G4ZaaaLePHP2mZHSuq6P7T9OhzUdF7ST1StGoR5D8VUrmVT_uecz6cqG23oNCyxR00aXD4vvyM7py9n9L9lxjB9x3BL7uvbnlubj3MZTOsesyZdTQU94mzHzUAiIkTvFJNPSWxnGrBrEcT3MGX1CznPfiFOU=s16000" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjiRk8hF0qvhPbHwvBA8Tr_rI1cBb7qe30fSUW0ChsVBSSNzERLPefhgz2p2dmiRI89J_iixO2q4z85z2mCHzFvZvXYVvJhHZRQPNGes6KhmeFs1SIcWxhNb16k7t7qqibFc1OMmp0IEIlTvhEv_qBoJQUOXSTgfzLSaxNsMC4M6kEw9OTnNx4gXA7K=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjiRk8hF0qvhPbHwvBA8Tr_rI1cBb7qe30fSUW0ChsVBSSNzERLPefhgz2p2dmiRI89J_iixO2q4z85z2mCHzFvZvXYVvJhHZRQPNGes6KhmeFs1SIcWxhNb16k7t7qqibFc1OMmp0IEIlTvhEv_qBoJQUOXSTgfzLSaxNsMC4M6kEw9OTnNx4gXA7K=s16000" /></span></a></div><br /><div><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">a couple of the other places i had my eye on for meals were: </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"><a href="http://www.wigandmitre.com/" target="_blank">The Wig and Mitre </a>pub for local Lincoln sausage and mash, The Cosy Club and <a href="https://www.thecuriosityshop.info/" target="_blank">The Curiosity Shop</a> for some fancy cocktails and craft gins. and <a href="https://www.doughnottsofficial.com/" target="_blank">Doughnotts</a> for the best doughnuts in the land. i did actually grab some doughnuts for the train on the way back, and i can confirm they were exquisite!</span></div><p class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; margin: 0cm;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: black; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><h3 style="background-color: white; margin: 0cm; text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: black; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">WHERE TO DRINK (COFFEE)</span></span></h3><div><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: black; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div>the lifeblood of any (human) dog mum: coffee. there is a coffee roastery <b>in Lincoln</b> so there is some really great coffee in most coffee shops - <a href="https://stokescoffee.com/pages/our-history" target="_blank">Stokes</a> is the brand you want to look out for. Stokes have a couple of their own coffee shops too dotted around the city, so you will be drowning in tasty coffee options - a nice problem to have!</div><div><br /></div><div>then there's Doughnotts. not only do they sell delicious doughnuts, they also sell deeelicious coffee - <a href="https://200degs.com/pages/location-lincoln-sincil-street" target="_blank">200degrees coffee,</a> which is another local (Nottingham) roast. 200degrees do have their own cafe in the Cornhill Quarter, but it isn't dog friendly, unlike Doughnotts, so kill two birds with one stone and just go there!</div><div><br /></div><div>the good news for coffee drinkers is, there are looooads of coffee shops (and tea rooms) around Lincoln, some of the others i noted were: Coffee by the Arch, Sanctuary in the Bail, and Happy Culture Cafe, which is also totally vegan.</div><div><br /></div><div><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhjTSbAosi9ypzUEsEqbxYIt58kqI0nIi0DK50-6KINdcQt5QQ4FfiIXpTxJbl66g0hJ_w5avauh0nkz3VJ-4Ljzwc8vixl2MpWKrqX5V9DzH78BJR051TlTKkYHfVsRbHfEbKZ7NNpzCccg5ca9zqDwbaZC4cvpLEs7_GHndDFplJz46SzI_m3IduX=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhjTSbAosi9ypzUEsEqbxYIt58kqI0nIi0DK50-6KINdcQt5QQ4FfiIXpTxJbl66g0hJ_w5avauh0nkz3VJ-4Ljzwc8vixl2MpWKrqX5V9DzH78BJR051TlTKkYHfVsRbHfEbKZ7NNpzCccg5ca9zqDwbaZC4cvpLEs7_GHndDFplJz46SzI_m3IduX=s16000" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg6Th-IXlpFBm8EdJsZfqGGT7Q0jzhAccD232jhyd6nZhrwaSbLKb9vTB1NO-6xK5hL2QL2sdkAKMvpovdeD20iAmoIUgD9Np_n8gMtiSWk7YnROkCGkpsNnzhMvpbfpn_hqol1-QfgjgrIvETRaC7NN00hCzaLcD_5LmB_cA9OvSg66DxleDxfzyJN=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg6Th-IXlpFBm8EdJsZfqGGT7Q0jzhAccD232jhyd6nZhrwaSbLKb9vTB1NO-6xK5hL2QL2sdkAKMvpovdeD20iAmoIUgD9Np_n8gMtiSWk7YnROkCGkpsNnzhMvpbfpn_hqol1-QfgjgrIvETRaC7NN00hCzaLcD_5LmB_cA9OvSg66DxleDxfzyJN=s16000" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhxL1I3jvczeV8WZC4eEXa46hWZYLOrLQB_X9cp1Sng2NsG19Oi14pSYE7U1li-7qPi9Ik00kKzZe4mynn4bTHvr8S4-X6rt6e8MsVJ5lXdZXnjmNSBauAjLQ_IFLBRGPYYjrJW660nK3e571XyBBmcZyiumZr5jfvYPPStAgXBayp2mTHdRpBoRXMt=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhxL1I3jvczeV8WZC4eEXa46hWZYLOrLQB_X9cp1Sng2NsG19Oi14pSYE7U1li-7qPi9Ik00kKzZe4mynn4bTHvr8S4-X6rt6e8MsVJ5lXdZXnjmNSBauAjLQ_IFLBRGPYYjrJW660nK3e571XyBBmcZyiumZr5jfvYPPStAgXBayp2mTHdRpBoRXMt=s16000" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><h3 style="background-color: white; margin: 0cm; text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: black; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">WHERE TO SHOP</span></span></h3><h3 style="background-color: white; margin: 0cm; text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: black; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></h3><div><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: black; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">up in the Bailgate area there were LOADS of cute independent boutiques and local crafty shops, so many were dog friendly too, which was fab. the architecture is all really cutesy and old, so a lot of the facades have been painted in bright colours too, which just gives this area so much character and appeal. it all basically starts around the area of The Strait and Narrow, right up into Bailgate and the Cathedral Quarter. think quirky bookshops, local produce, and middle-class boujie goods - the holy trinity!</span></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: black; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div>then you have the high street back down around the Cornhill Quarter, where you have the Central Market as well as all the shops you know and love - dotted amongst these are some indy shops too, to keep your eyes peeled for them.</div><div><br /></div><div>and there are also TONS of charity shops in both areas too - a lot of these weirdly did not allow dogs inside, which is a shame as trawling charity shops is one of my fave things to do when out and about around the country - especially when you're in Joules and Barbour country! lots of quality finds in the counties!</div><div><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: black; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><h3 style="background-color: white; margin: 0cm; text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: inherit; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiZe29ZayOtBJTlUdrQGE0Zt7FFtDYx9XFXzErc-rDGE6Cyf1-Yrw3N23VGtThxfSSBEh8nvGcMcnApHqEM9AW5rGGUQFVOyfjtTxM3f5iMpy_yQ_kV5qqMzk-s75qhr6mThu7bnwytKy0qYSkfLzlvQEfF7nmWcrZZ3Iv_9ytQTHUw8Zks4unbKlwO=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiZe29ZayOtBJTlUdrQGE0Zt7FFtDYx9XFXzErc-rDGE6Cyf1-Yrw3N23VGtThxfSSBEh8nvGcMcnApHqEM9AW5rGGUQFVOyfjtTxM3f5iMpy_yQ_kV5qqMzk-s75qhr6mThu7bnwytKy0qYSkfLzlvQEfF7nmWcrZZ3Iv_9ytQTHUw8Zks4unbKlwO=s16000" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: inherit; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjd6bR1KUHwimuEz9PnJRkTpuxz9dkL-rDhZVKYbJS9G7EDdbw4J3Cx1-j6O6nU33ryFU7ueMZFKXTXrqoGFd3QHJVj7JGIpgguF7jrRSPebFM4V65WdXdPZokRGn99nVSD3GeKg4JwVE5PLQEKlS8nB7qSYsZw8_czH8fbL3r3am3JRCqFb2-YH2D_=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjd6bR1KUHwimuEz9PnJRkTpuxz9dkL-rDhZVKYbJS9G7EDdbw4J3Cx1-j6O6nU33ryFU7ueMZFKXTXrqoGFd3QHJVj7JGIpgguF7jrRSPebFM4V65WdXdPZokRGn99nVSD3GeKg4JwVE5PLQEKlS8nB7qSYsZw8_czH8fbL3r3am3JRCqFb2-YH2D_=s16000" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: inherit; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhweeB31OV29IRZQw-z2quHs1QteoIV8i-CeWwbMtED33lq2Q1ujJPGMTE50AZod9gRxw9qMoeFhSQdtulXwZP_8K9L4bvGfRtzKsuo6mqhbIScR_CPjolr2SpGi9BOuobTCeZem7UshuOCTXV06PH_JCvs0LTyBeL_HMAeQG80V13EdaGbaCeusm7G=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhweeB31OV29IRZQw-z2quHs1QteoIV8i-CeWwbMtED33lq2Q1ujJPGMTE50AZod9gRxw9qMoeFhSQdtulXwZP_8K9L4bvGfRtzKsuo6mqhbIScR_CPjolr2SpGi9BOuobTCeZem7UshuOCTXV06PH_JCvs0LTyBeL_HMAeQG80V13EdaGbaCeusm7G=s16000" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: inherit; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjY8G7ZK7KMq99N0aYFM1ztH4frio8jdA0u-glARyKzKAsNi7NmvgaxdRryywe8C5sUT6apCHqHl8s7fZWt4EveKP2VONSeLyObmZn7BfkOG5UPe1ebNHMKegLkC4XedLWlABF7E3u-NgReUA8VJ5bxUB3xBkanBZsep__loYIUW-Pj8Ht66PMsIEJH=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjY8G7ZK7KMq99N0aYFM1ztH4frio8jdA0u-glARyKzKAsNi7NmvgaxdRryywe8C5sUT6apCHqHl8s7fZWt4EveKP2VONSeLyObmZn7BfkOG5UPe1ebNHMKegLkC4XedLWlABF7E3u-NgReUA8VJ5bxUB3xBkanBZsep__loYIUW-Pj8Ht66PMsIEJH=s16000" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></span></h3><h3 style="text-align: left;">FINAL THOUGHTS</h3><p class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; margin: 0cm;"><br /></p><p class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; margin: 0cm;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: black; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">truth be told - </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">i was definitely a bit nervous about taking him away on my own, but i packed up a bag full of snacks and his favourite toys, his settle mat, water bowl and a few things from home to keep him occupied on the train, and to allow him to settle in the rooms we had booked for our three nights away. i'm not going to lie - it wasn't the easiest of trips in terms of </span></span>spontaneity<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"> - Peanut very much is still a pup and needs lots of sleep still, and being in a new place meant i couldn't just leave him in the room to chill and nap while i went exploring, which meant i too had to stay in the room and chill with him. that's not my fave thing to do in a new city, i would love to have explored the shops and cafes a bit more, but many of charity shops and boutiques had "no dogs allowed" in the windows, so i wasn't able to with him in tow.</span></span></p><p class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">having him there and me just being on my own just sort of meant i had to think about every little thing in advance, and make sure the plan was puppy-appropriate. thankfully, in most cases, they were - which made Lincoln the paw-fect place for our first Me and Pea trip away. keen to explore the <a href="https://www.visitlincolnshire.com/" target="_blank">Lincolnshire countryside</a> next!</span></p><p class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; margin: 0cm;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgcJjqJv_wK7vTtBtRglKBZTGqLRy7NhCO174QhisfNexHjSOsc1A2ZdxQSsowvhptktvDFLA0wL8o0zm6kt0cYm-15PxO-ntRitBSXG16I-hYjNSXEl-9b3wehH0ohtpEBFQnnArYkUI-Suc7DPGVcRT2Q-6RLvDpLi1jggpg_H03M8MuXWotYCaEl=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgcJjqJv_wK7vTtBtRglKBZTGqLRy7NhCO174QhisfNexHjSOsc1A2ZdxQSsowvhptktvDFLA0wL8o0zm6kt0cYm-15PxO-ntRitBSXG16I-hYjNSXEl-9b3wehH0ohtpEBFQnnArYkUI-Suc7DPGVcRT2Q-6RLvDpLi1jggpg_H03M8MuXWotYCaEl=s16000" /></span></a></div><p class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; margin: 0cm;"><br /></p><p class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">*this was a press trip in association with Visit Lincolnshire; all train travel was arranged by LNER.</span></i></span></p></div></div>being ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01447158394306745621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-774532739233176264.post-36145269494856932312021-05-26T11:39:00.004+01:002021-05-26T11:39:37.958+01:00[ad] 20 reasons why being in my thirties does not make me an adult<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVmSOH9CA1s0oFoJByTkThYqQ7mfwJTLST3N6BUCK7tzXjCXsez_wIef-817FFprAniyQjObzhG14xmNMtJYAzYNQ87T50Tb7Rci7_vMnYP-mpt-LFa4KGoZpMYaJJURZEi_FINvhCcfE/s1824/ac02cb6f-405b-4acc-88c2-25234dc5ad48.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1824" data-original-width="1368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVmSOH9CA1s0oFoJByTkThYqQ7mfwJTLST3N6BUCK7tzXjCXsez_wIef-817FFprAniyQjObzhG14xmNMtJYAzYNQ87T50Tb7Rci7_vMnYP-mpt-LFa4KGoZpMYaJJURZEi_FINvhCcfE/s16000/ac02cb6f-405b-4acc-88c2-25234dc5ad48.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><p>there's a meme floating around that i see at least once a month that basically sums up my inability to be an adult in the way i expect other adults to adult at the ripe 'old' age of 36, which says:</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRj86p-DXAYSX2r1Oxh6DfDP58IInxAAXuNGJHHVqvBYkViaSj7d2MV2XAsxbnK2NtlpNeqFk52HbDhjW7o0M_pvBA6UXJHB7xe_uaqncUqgQkwHSh0JS5MfduS9LffS5HUvt8lUL2ao0/s640/adultieradult-5c76ffa5c9e77c000136a683.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="640" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRj86p-DXAYSX2r1Oxh6DfDP58IInxAAXuNGJHHVqvBYkViaSj7d2MV2XAsxbnK2NtlpNeqFk52HbDhjW7o0M_pvBA6UXJHB7xe_uaqncUqgQkwHSh0JS5MfduS9LffS5HUvt8lUL2ao0/s320/adultieradult-5c76ffa5c9e77c000136a683.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div>i'm quite sure that when i was a kid, being in your thirties meant you were olllllld (i mean, my mum had me at 30, so she was already an adult then!), and that you were most definitely an adult by any definition of the word, but now that i myself am in my thirties, i am here to tell you the myriad of reasons i am <i style="font-weight: bold;">absolutely not</i> the adult i expected someone my age to be.<div><br /></div><div><b><u>here are twenty reasons that explain:</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b><p>1. i recently had to ask my mum how to get rid of black mould on my living room walls.</p><p>2. when something happened to peanut last week, i just cried because i didn't know what else to do.</p><p>3. i had to ask my neighbour what the building insurance covered, and if i needed to get my own <a href="https://www.mustard.co.uk/home-insurance/" target="_blank">home insurance</a> for the stuff inside.</p><p>4. i can't work out why there is water pooling in my fridge so instead of solving the problem, i leave paper towel in there to soak it up.</p><p>5. i still don't rinse my dirty dishes before putting them in the sink despite being yelled at by my dad to do it every day of my childhood..</p><p>6. i have google the difference between baking soda and baking powder (and the many types of flour)(and sugar)(it's easier to just not bake, i think).</p><p>7. i wonder daily if antiseptic and antibacterial are the same thing?</p><p>8. i don't have any kind of first aid kit, or end of the world preparation, at all. not even a torch.</p><p>9. i wonder daily how the boiler actually <i style="font-weight: bold;">works</i>?? and, is that covered by my <a href="https://www.mustard.co.uk/life-insurance/?REFID=LF-SO-PR&utm_source=blogger&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=socialpr&utm_content=link" target="_blank">insurance</a>, or no? and, is there a comparison site for this type of insurance, if so?</p><p>10. at least once a year i have to ask how to make [insert childhood dish here] the same way my mum did when i was a kid.</p><p>11. i've reaslied that steam baths are hard work when you're the sick one, and also the one making the steam bath.</p><p>12. daily i wonder why the oven even has more options that the 200 degree fan one? what do all the others even do?</p><p>13. i often also wonder who even needs more than one frying pan? the one big one does it all?</p><p>14. up until recently i wanted to know what *exactly* is a mortgage and how do you go about getting one? now that i have one, i'd like to know how to get out of it.</p><p>15. recently, when doing some light diy and when i was knocking on the wall before hammering a really long nail into it, i thought to myself: what am i supposed to be knocking for exactly?</p><p>16. i had to ask the vet to show me how to give peanut a tablet because.. my mum always used to give my pets their tablets when i was a kid.</p><p>17. before this week i had no idea how to use the grill on my oven, and had to text pictures of it to my pals to have them explain it to me..</p><p>18. i also do not know how to set the clock on my oven. there's something about the oven that just makes it the most confusing appliance???</p><p>19. i'm 36 years old and still eat until i feel sick, not until i am full.</p><p>20. i've lived in my flat for two years; last month my neighbour showed me how to turn the bathroom fan on..</p><p>look, there are loads of other reasons why being in my thirties does not necessarily make me an adult by default, but i think you get the point. for now, i'm off to eat some toast for tea - a suitable and adult dinner food, i'm sure you'll agree.</p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>this post was written in collaboration with mustard.co.uk, but all thoughts are my own.</i></p></div>being ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01447158394306745621noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-774532739233176264.post-17360586952305656162021-03-09T15:52:00.010+00:002021-03-11T12:02:49.095+00:00[ad] I miss my Mum<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeArdnG2B9wKq9dLGQQAgFyReFQng7R5seV7DJI3NV1x0wg8tUacQGxEgnA4ru5Iw54dkv68KrPoB2U2AXDl5yOmkKMrXVkNsWgyNk5GARakx9pxo_394FzJdDa-MdlTIAovYz-H247LE/s2048/IMG_20200306_123718.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeArdnG2B9wKq9dLGQQAgFyReFQng7R5seV7DJI3NV1x0wg8tUacQGxEgnA4ru5Iw54dkv68KrPoB2U2AXDl5yOmkKMrXVkNsWgyNk5GARakx9pxo_394FzJdDa-MdlTIAovYz-H247LE/s16000/IMG_20200306_123718.jpg" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">the last time i saw my mum was march 8th, 2020. it was just as the
covid pandemic was beginning to be seen for what it was, but at the time didn't
feel like it would be anything more than a couple of weeks of no loo roll or
spaghetti in the supermarket. at the time, i didn't know that would be the last
time i would be allowed to see her for... well, that we still don't know. and
now, while she is living an almost-normal life back home, i will spend another
mother's day in the uk without my mum - without anyone, really. i miss my mum.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">i've always been a very independent person, until - of course -
something "adult" happens, like my boiler goes or i find mould in my
flat, or peanut has a funny tummy, and then - even at the tender age of 36 - my
mum is still the first person i will go to for help. she has the patience of a
saint, my mum and, despite us looking near identical, that is a virtue of hers
i did not get!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p>
<p><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">things i <b>did </b>get from my mum, that i'm endlessly
happy about: my kindness, humility, quest for adventure, and love for animals.
we share a passion for travel, for asian food, and for crime dramas. we read
the same books, watch the same films, and have the same (terrible) eyebrows. i
am my mother's daughter, there's no denying that - one look at us together will
prove it. (unless you're the lovely older lady we met in the north island of nz
last year, who asked us how we knew each other...)<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p><span style="color: black;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlWPCTPhvnWpIwKLCXiJ3IbM26V6uUNIGlbty9zOxzGSBvoJnqoJU86bzoDFDdFvGGCdLjN4Xh9BrehncCiBXwNUJ1_AFQj9GH0WKEBqalAviSBcFwhMGjgGf-grcfVT5G0x7KhvCZi9E/s3622/IMG_20210309_114319.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3622" data-original-width="2717" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlWPCTPhvnWpIwKLCXiJ3IbM26V6uUNIGlbty9zOxzGSBvoJnqoJU86bzoDFDdFvGGCdLjN4Xh9BrehncCiBXwNUJ1_AFQj9GH0WKEBqalAviSBcFwhMGjgGf-grcfVT5G0x7KhvCZi9E/s16000/IMG_20210309_114319.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmZJgTJUrq_CW0hH75mRtDadezK5Wv-nylKOAlYiFdR2cP244HYzrKPWjmPzIvwTZaKAxRHgaxesC3d4BT7I2sGxIBgn42tYzvFPAJqGLs3tFzyEJw35TqGKGg2w-uaz7VXIIaKjQUOUQ/s3648/IMG_20210309_113913.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2736" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmZJgTJUrq_CW0hH75mRtDadezK5Wv-nylKOAlYiFdR2cP244HYzrKPWjmPzIvwTZaKAxRHgaxesC3d4BT7I2sGxIBgn42tYzvFPAJqGLs3tFzyEJw35TqGKGg2w-uaz7VXIIaKjQUOUQ/s16000/IMG_20210309_113913.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />something else i got from my mum, much to the dismay of many, is
my lax a</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">pproach to skincare. growing up, i would watch my mum get ready for bed
every night, and it looked like this: contact lenses out and into their little
saline bowls for the night (this was the 90s, you didn't throw them away!),
warm water and a foam cleanser from whatever pyramid scheme she belonged to at
the time, then "oil of ulay" night cream slapped on every bit of
skin, from eyebrow to elbow, all in one go. that was it. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">that's the kind of no bullshit attitude to skincare the</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> women in
this family take, and one i sometimes try to veer away from but always come
running back to, when i realise how boring a whole skincare regime is and how
anything other than water and night cream makes me break out. it's not just
skincare that my mum has no time for, she also doesn't bother with make-up.
this is why it took her about a year to work out that i had stolen a sample
size foundation of hers, that was wholly the wrong shade for me, and was
wearing it to school without her noticing, or that the one eyeliner pen she had
was now the length of her pinky finger, and heavily used, despite never really
using it.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">she's a "no-muss, no-fuss" kinda woman when it comes to
lotions and potions, preferring to jazz up her outfits with accessories
instead. when we'd go out, she was all about that day cream (not even spf,
tut!), and a lightly tinted lip balm she threw in her bag, and that was it.
unlike me, who - aged 15 - got her first job working on the make-up counter at
the local department store, and came home nightly with sparkly new palettes,
all colours of the rainbow, to experiment with. my love of a sparkly eye
remains, 20+ years later, too. for her, a spritz of </span><a href="https://www.boots.com/fragrance/perfume/all-perfume" rel="sponsored" target="_blank">perfume </a><span style="color: black;">and a dangly earring to finish the look was all it took.<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjndyIFaBTi5fBPCGVeANeM3rK6Oj8auj-gcKVtzErrdqbbrJg_ABCWJKyOmnygZwdfbTz9sCk4Xy-MqNYF0Nlstmn19NwVe8srK-_H7tOgbgosiYeoM9EGyuz4MvMzz0t9ZbY0hLI9PUY/s3371/IMG_20210309_113758.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3371" data-original-width="2697" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjndyIFaBTi5fBPCGVeANeM3rK6Oj8auj-gcKVtzErrdqbbrJg_ABCWJKyOmnygZwdfbTz9sCk4Xy-MqNYF0Nlstmn19NwVe8srK-_H7tOgbgosiYeoM9EGyuz4MvMzz0t9ZbY0hLI9PUY/s16000/IMG_20210309_113758.jpg" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi49i4tZ05eE3bl3goh1x_fEeGIb-iMSAJD5QpLLJYlkLP82nWoWif5woW68xZivAmsH6jhI0NZXrOubq_yexAo2fS6ZkJkXCh4n4vEwUlVKqVS_Rw30rYgmae_Ht6WFfb2RE62MOJ_Rs/s3648/IMG_20210309_112623.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2736" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi49i4tZ05eE3bl3goh1x_fEeGIb-iMSAJD5QpLLJYlkLP82nWoWif5woW68xZivAmsH6jhI0NZXrOubq_yexAo2fS6ZkJkXCh4n4vEwUlVKqVS_Rw30rYgmae_Ht6WFfb2RE62MOJ_Rs/s16000/IMG_20210309_112623.jpg" /></a></div></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />i left home at 21, and since then have caught her on many
occasions, wearing some of my favourite perfumes. she insists it's because i
"left them behind" when i moved, and she started wearing them, but
it's obviously because she misses me. the biggest culprit for this is the
classic <i>lovely</i> by sarah jessica parker. it's now the most affordable
perfume on the market, but it's my signature scent - and by association, my
mum's too - and she will never turn up here on holiday without another bottle
of the </span><a href="https://www.boots.com/fragrance/perfume" rel="sponsored" style="font-family: inherit;" target="_blank">women's perfume</a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> for me. but, times do change, and these days
she's moved on to stealing my marc jacobs scents when i go to visit, so much so
that she now has declare <i>daisy dream</i> to be "her
perfume". it's bloody not, but i'm not going to argue with an oap. *wink*</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></span></p>
<p><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">there's now nothing i won't do to get my hands on the latest version of <i>daisy dream</i> when i can - the floral and fruity scent simply makes me think of my mum, and wearing it makes me feel like i am close to her. the combination of sweet jasmine and lychee mixed with the sharp pear and grapefruit just feels like a great big hug, and there's nothing i want more right now than that. (boy am i am glad to see it's on sale at the mo at boots!)(*stocks up*)</span></span></p><p><br /></p><p></p><p></p><p><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">i miss my mum. i miss my mum, and i don't know when i'll see her
next. so, this mother's day i plan to celebrate my mum in my own way by wearing
"her perfume", rocking a shimmery eyelid and a lightly tinted lip,
and order in some delicious asian food while watching a terrific crime film.
might even give her a call - wouldn't that be something.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p align="center" style="text-align: center;"></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>tell me how your mum
has rubbed off on you?</b></span></div><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><o:p></o:p></span></span><p></p>
<p align="center" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2LvqkD-UgKxHHPCiyaJSe0pBlXCZD-DExpjQEVcDRQQ6opMewq7PFCB3risz-3hBofrpfr3YDPU-uOv7MeD2OQ5A1DO-nHu3MXcazgq1vQanczLlIPSkv8-IfvTKrTY7_eP8guWmj5lo/s3648/IMG_20210309_114300.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2736" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2LvqkD-UgKxHHPCiyaJSe0pBlXCZD-DExpjQEVcDRQQ6opMewq7PFCB3risz-3hBofrpfr3YDPU-uOv7MeD2OQ5A1DO-nHu3MXcazgq1vQanczLlIPSkv8-IfvTKrTY7_eP8guWmj5lo/s16000/IMG_20210309_114300.jpg" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /> </span><p></p>
<p align="center" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">*this post is written
in conjunction with Boots UK but all thoughts are my own*<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></span></p><br /><p></p>being ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01447158394306745621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-774532739233176264.post-62466329972466933242020-11-17T08:00:00.003+00:002020-11-22T09:24:21.498+00:00[AD] THE GIFT OF SLEEP<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Q-pzFCxvH0uQa-SaOgP8Ymm1QvylQxRw4C5sT9hyphenhyphenkC-BVSW4Y1nX3mJxL9dA0NvtnVBqK5F1moYDNvLg89eB96KINRdj68RIO3V-n60BGXqRGLJ1FYvJ01BUC-q6Q628vGEYDNsZikM/s1600/IMG_20201114_125230.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Q-pzFCxvH0uQa-SaOgP8Ymm1QvylQxRw4C5sT9hyphenhyphenkC-BVSW4Y1nX3mJxL9dA0NvtnVBqK5F1moYDNvLg89eB96KINRdj68RIO3V-n60BGXqRGLJ1FYvJ01BUC-q6Q628vGEYDNsZikM/s16000/IMG_20201114_125230.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">2020 will forever be known to me as the year of "the great pause"; a term used to describe the first lockdown (and subsequent reopening of life) by a gentleman at a petting farm (don't ask), but the general slowing down of life has certainly not meant - for me, at least - any amount of additional sleep. and i do very much enjoy sleep.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">more time at home with my thoughts, my growing collection of sweat pants, and a mounting pile of dishes - absolutely. more sleep? hardly, with the amount of world crises happening at any one time. and now with a puppy who's adorable but doesn't sleep in one position for many hours? not a chance.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZI1Us8yynfivlGoMcOOQgWC5zY8PtomFMG7nkEDGpiN4yRwK02jBPlI1RRwSgCfnxDFhtMLUSV8Ts4reFrrjZXSlAjx8Fyp-lE8fMgKIgujgSlAY6DCqadxZvNJ1vikEsW7m_Gp9xQSo/s1600/IMG_20201114_125055.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZI1Us8yynfivlGoMcOOQgWC5zY8PtomFMG7nkEDGpiN4yRwK02jBPlI1RRwSgCfnxDFhtMLUSV8Ts4reFrrjZXSlAjx8Fyp-lE8fMgKIgujgSlAY6DCqadxZvNJ1vikEsW7m_Gp9xQSo/s16000/IMG_20201114_125055.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhglBDb4k-mVmM3gDS8Xr8agrFPRgYcV3vU_UMiYRLmOCQHkQx90ZJJuiCrLIm0NiKiYg2XYo4tZsSZ_Dphj0KAmoH2XfSEAxNR98Mh3G7H-W0EwGNlrdAwz99SUvym07oJUHNsvKBFIfg/s1600/IMG_20201114_125304.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhglBDb4k-mVmM3gDS8Xr8agrFPRgYcV3vU_UMiYRLmOCQHkQx90ZJJuiCrLIm0NiKiYg2XYo4tZsSZ_Dphj0KAmoH2XfSEAxNR98Mh3G7H-W0EwGNlrdAwz99SUvym07oJUHNsvKBFIfg/s16000/IMG_20201114_125304.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">having suffered with insomnia for far too long in my twenties, i like to see to it that i am in bed by a decent time, having read a chapter of my book and sprayed my bedding with lavender spray until damp, with a thick eye mask on my face and my fan on low (for both white noise, and because i'm a hotttt sleeper) - and since the addition of peanut, him settled nicely at the foot of the bed. or, let's be honest, wherever the heck he wants to sleep, because he is the king of this colourful castle.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKViJf29o5CAnOBuA5A30a4EJATqyiKt8xr_S5VMmHtVCll8OdTGZUd3xJBm7Dw5Tmrt4HdQkvvSxee0dbl6xziRQ_eCUObUacwUtqSnzgQvcx8BnZ6cEolCWEAzyZq8Nk7KhGJkgCmY8/s1556/IMG_20201114_125224.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1556" data-original-width="1167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKViJf29o5CAnOBuA5A30a4EJATqyiKt8xr_S5VMmHtVCll8OdTGZUd3xJBm7Dw5Tmrt4HdQkvvSxee0dbl6xziRQ_eCUObUacwUtqSnzgQvcx8BnZ6cEolCWEAzyZq8Nk7KhGJkgCmY8/s16000/IMG_20201114_125224.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">that might be the ideal scenario, but the amount of times i take each and every one of those steps yet still don't easily find sleep, is vast. back in the summer in invested in a new <a href="https://uk.tempur.com/mattresses" rel="sponsored" target="_blank">mattress</a>, to replace the thin and lumpy amazon purchase from when i first moved in. it made the world of difference on my back, even after only one sleep! but the newly found comfort wasn't always enough to head off to the land of nod, so then shortly after that, i invested in a good quality <a href="https://uk.tempur.com/pillows/" rel="sponsored" target="_blank">pillow </a>too. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">and since then, a second one too - this time, a TEMPUR®. the brand's proven pressure relief gives your neck and head total comfort and support, which means it helps to reducing tossing and turning - and if your sleep habits are anything like mine, that's where my biggest problem is.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7XacMTyqv1KvJtcW8Lw0QjSt9Ms2oxFwxLK-1f0y3Jt7bLa7mzqMmis4t4EeilZdEHw5X739nY7qci5sH4q98kg1VaBHkpxmI2VhBtD9f9Kj3h293y_vLYF6-Vz6GbpvLRf45KXLWeb0/s1600/IMG_20201114_125028.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7XacMTyqv1KvJtcW8Lw0QjSt9Ms2oxFwxLK-1f0y3Jt7bLa7mzqMmis4t4EeilZdEHw5X739nY7qci5sH4q98kg1VaBHkpxmI2VhBtD9f9Kj3h293y_vLYF6-Vz6GbpvLRf45KXLWeb0/s16000/IMG_20201114_125028.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p>i can't tell you the world of difference a comfortable set up can have to your evening routine. you can throw all the lavender spray and yoga and pre-bed meditation you want at a situation, but if you want to <a href="https://uk.tempur.com/brand-page.html -" rel="sponsored" target="_blank">sleep better, longer, deeper</a> and <b>easier</b>, i cannot recommend investing a little bit more than the two-for-ten pack of pillows you'll find on the high street, and upgrade to the superior comfort of a TEMPUR® pillow.</p><p><br /></p><p>don't believe me? no bother. from now until the 26th of november, TEMPUR® are kindly gifting readers with a <b>£5 off </b>any full-size pillow (or £50 off any double size or larger mattress - including those in the outlet!), meaning you too can finally have the perfect sleep. consider this my christmas gift to you. use the code <b>TEMPUR9287 </b>at checkout, and thank me later.</p><p><br /></p><p><i>this post was written in conjunction with TEMPUR®, but all thoughts are my own.</i></p>being ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01447158394306745621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-774532739233176264.post-58804476963928747122020-10-26T17:54:00.001+00:002020-10-26T17:54:11.224+00:00adopting a puppy via underdog international<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3YxPM0oJTr8shWYYRDzVgk5zO6Yva-0aLHR2hpTDvumSGgsi2ybefZP1yUib0wOZuu7gOyGiHhUjTB1qEqCe6iPt9PWSzN0x2QpZhRPfI7L_63Uu9Ny-BXlhy0psut6vUlDbE_30Wp2Y/s1298/Screenshot_20200919_102732_com.google.android.apps.photos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1298" data-original-width="1039" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3YxPM0oJTr8shWYYRDzVgk5zO6Yva-0aLHR2hpTDvumSGgsi2ybefZP1yUib0wOZuu7gOyGiHhUjTB1qEqCe6iPt9PWSzN0x2QpZhRPfI7L_63Uu9Ny-BXlhy0psut6vUlDbE_30Wp2Y/s16000/Screenshot_20200919_102732_com.google.android.apps.photos.jpg" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p><b>alternate title: introducing peanut.</b></p><p><br /></p><p>but first, a bit of background. i am the biggest dog person in the world. instead of getting broody for kids in my late twenties and into my thirties, i became broody for dogs. when my <a href="http://www.imbeingerica.com/2017/09/in-pursuit-of-happiness.html" target="_blank">mental health really took a battering</a> a few years ago, one of the things that genuinely made me feel better and helped pull me out of my black hole of despair, was spending time with dogs. i joined <b>borrow my doggy </b>(basically a dog-sharing app for those not in london!) and was a friday walker for <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Bn_kBOPhzyI/" target="_blank">monty the cavapoo</a> for almost three years before moving away, and leaving my fluffy pal behind.</p><p><br /></p><p>i've always wanted a dog, but was realistic that it would be a lot of work, and i certainly couldn't have a dog in a small flat in london. i grew up in a country where dogs had big back yards to run around and explore, so didn't think it would be fair on the dog to be in a small flat with no garden. also: time. i had none. none to spare, anyway. i was away from the flat for ten hours a day, four days a week, and travelling at every opportunity. i had absolutely no spare time to look after a dog.</p><p><br /></p><p>my dream of being a dog owner was put on the backburner until the summer of 2020, which will never fondly be remembered, but will now for me for other reasons.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQAXHdCl82wsJ71uvG3l7SsdDNbQtB4S50xIKkCDjLG3rl5Kki8y8Fneg4wUWhnl87k6XnBnwP4fRHO0OvafKwMGHplGFgAhYNxVLz8BRy2RrFdAJH7cRhxKK1Y3SSpfS-jydlWSXIUro/s2048/IMG_20200908_090913.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQAXHdCl82wsJ71uvG3l7SsdDNbQtB4S50xIKkCDjLG3rl5Kki8y8Fneg4wUWhnl87k6XnBnwP4fRHO0OvafKwMGHplGFgAhYNxVLz8BRy2RrFdAJH7cRhxKK1Y3SSpfS-jydlWSXIUro/s16000/IMG_20200908_090913.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN7yuVTlFzJGdUqekv9pC_piuhA31AhrFP4TtsJx4i1Nce09IKwIFxrd8BFzpCNdWDUyGT80_GC4P3LW1B8DWzH55QnZWYfFengywt_gmn8efrlYk04NW677LAkSog_DE_HYEuDIF-R2M/s2048/IMG_20200909_203315.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1639" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN7yuVTlFzJGdUqekv9pC_piuhA31AhrFP4TtsJx4i1Nce09IKwIFxrd8BFzpCNdWDUyGT80_GC4P3LW1B8DWzH55QnZWYfFengywt_gmn8efrlYk04NW677LAkSog_DE_HYEuDIF-R2M/s16000/IMG_20200909_203315.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p>with the news that we would not be returning to the office until the new year at the very earliest, and even when we did, it wouldn't be full time again, i found myself at home a lot. like, always, actually. and then, with travel restrictions in place, and no-one really to travel with anymore, that too was put on hold. for a moment in time, all my reasons for not getting a dog, had disappeared, and there seemed to be a window of opportunity i'd never had before.</p><p><br /></p><p>couple that with some new friends i'd made in my neighbourhood this year, all with dogs, all who work from home regardless of global pandemics, i felt that actually.. i had quite a good network of people around me who would support me if i was to consider getting a dog. they would take walks with me, share concerns with me, have doggy dates with me.. and in the case of one in particular, share details of the perfect adoption agency with me.</p><p><br /></p><p>adoption was always my preferred method of getting a dog. i feel the same way about if i was to have kids one day: there are too many unloved ones already in the world that need homes, so why add to that. i tried all the classic uk charities like rspca, blue cross, battersea, etc, but had no luck. in some cases i just never heard back as they were "too busy" due to covid, and in other cases, was rejected as i don't have a house with a garden. there were too many rules about who and how you could adopt a homeless animal, and being a good person with a big heart and lots of love to give just didn't cut the mustard.</p><p><br /></p><p>until i came across <b><a href="https://www.theunderdog.org/" target="_blank">underdog international</a></b>.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuqyqPlfR7klZP5oeWKj4n-rYHSttjyvNAR1VPXsiaVewVlnlJUz_a3_nwGjWIS-o8IwIjdrwpdr-C2qCwfYq6z9dgcV34Rc8MwPMIg6rNA06WYwOdOxkBRaO-r3j2yJPszkYTFc5FlqM/s2048/IMG_20200916_151706.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1638" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuqyqPlfR7klZP5oeWKj4n-rYHSttjyvNAR1VPXsiaVewVlnlJUz_a3_nwGjWIS-o8IwIjdrwpdr-C2qCwfYq6z9dgcV34Rc8MwPMIg6rNA06WYwOdOxkBRaO-r3j2yJPszkYTFc5FlqM/s16000/IMG_20200916_151706.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtTsViGspFSJ5A9vpPcrhS4ltt7AMmyqsYUW9REyq1pRKoTO_3wJOBUvOSRA3XHpkjFF9j5myiR9BP7SrPsWGmRgn6BxuRHFZN-yOt55tbYsgqfyvI6KIvv1fr-aY16llrKu4TNJDH1g4/s1496/IMG_20200918_133810.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1496" data-original-width="1196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtTsViGspFSJ5A9vpPcrhS4ltt7AMmyqsYUW9REyq1pRKoTO_3wJOBUvOSRA3XHpkjFF9j5myiR9BP7SrPsWGmRgn6BxuRHFZN-yOt55tbYsgqfyvI6KIvv1fr-aY16llrKu4TNJDH1g4/s16000/IMG_20200918_133810.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>my friend <b><a href="https://www.instagram.com/claireimaginarium/" target="_blank">claire </a></b>had adopted through the charity last year, and had nothing but glowing things to say. i had a look at the dogs they had available, fell in love with two, and sent off an application form - expecting a similar result to the last few times. except this time, the response was far from similar.</p><p><br /></p><p>with a week of my application, i received an email from <b><a href="https://www.instagram.com/evewoof/" target="_blank">eve </a></b>- the head of adoptions - thanking me for my application to adopt, and telling me i was an ideal candidate for their program. i don't think i have ever been an ideal candidate for anything in my life, but it felt good to hear those words in this scenario, let me tell you! eve's email also revealed that the pups i had shown an interest in were not suitable for the environment i had to offer (they needed pup friends to live with and somewhere less than urban), but that she would find me the perfect pup in no time at all.</p><p><br /></p><p>maybe two days later, a dm popped into my instagram account from eve, introducing me to peanut. a four month old terrier mix who was currently in foster care in cyprus, but would be ready to fly in a few weeks once he'd had all his final vet checks and jabs. what did i think? well, based on the few pictures she sent, i think it's safe to say i fell in love immediately, and by the end of that day had paid my deposit on little peanut, and began preparing for the homecheck i had to have before i could proceed with adoption. it's also fair to say i went a little mad preparing for his potentially imminent arrival, and bought far too many things for a puppy that actually may not be mine. i digress.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDK_Grw6YlLDLlI9EXEKY5F0QVVEjwegWC8yUKGj09b2giGt40Q7bDZIKxZgrllU6kr6vZ5A6NimhzzRNWZEhVBs1X4dNoqPslDg0q1D3tIVTNLYymOeM5tMRGtoOkLNvQCECswJihqno/s1500/IMG-20200917-WA0009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDK_Grw6YlLDLlI9EXEKY5F0QVVEjwegWC8yUKGj09b2giGt40Q7bDZIKxZgrllU6kr6vZ5A6NimhzzRNWZEhVBs1X4dNoqPslDg0q1D3tIVTNLYymOeM5tMRGtoOkLNvQCECswJihqno/s16000/IMG-20200917-WA0009.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzVMpYwOd6CvqMZ-o_kVtst4rTrPyyRPjz5NOMMcK7nFHBEZ1Efzxmnl-ttN9GGXuJr8Tb4-z6z2keVNiVv_zqWGBT3ZoI2I_mYmWugyCpuAe-p56wp5rhnigzpkwt1kG-IhHxTP8LJTM/s2048/IMG_20200924_174249.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzVMpYwOd6CvqMZ-o_kVtst4rTrPyyRPjz5NOMMcK7nFHBEZ1Efzxmnl-ttN9GGXuJr8Tb4-z6z2keVNiVv_zqWGBT3ZoI2I_mYmWugyCpuAe-p56wp5rhnigzpkwt1kG-IhHxTP8LJTM/s16000/IMG_20200924_174249.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p>the homecheck was held via skype and was with another of the underdog volunteers, etta. the call was basically to sound me out, to make sure i knew how to look after a dog, that i had considered food, vets bills, insurance, where i would walk a dog, how i would treat a badly behaved dog, and where i had the opportunity to ask questions of her of the dog, and general dog-owning things i maybe didn't know (or hadn't yet asked google). the call was great, really positive, and etta told me at the end of the call that she saw no reason why i shouldn't be approved by eve, but that i'd find out in a few days...</p><p><br /></p><p>a few days became a week or so, and with my absolute lack of chill, that stressed me out a lot. i was preparing for my birthday trip to italy at the time, too, and i was finding it all a bit distracting, not knowing if i'd be a dog momma soon too, or not. i had made it clear in my homecheck and in my application that i would be on holiday in late september, and ready to adopt from october. though, i think there was a miscommunication somewhere along the way because one friday afternoon in mid september i received another dm from eve basically saying that, when she had said he would be ready to fly she really meant that he was booked on a flight, and he would be arriving in three days, and could i make that work? so, not really the "approval process" i was looking for, rather the most stressful friday afternoon of my life - making arrangements to find a way to collect a puppy from a services in rural surrey, cancelling holiday plans, arranging for flight refunds and the rest of it, but basically.. peanut was coming home with me!</p><p><br /></p><p>i have to give <b>claire </b>more props here, as she was with me the whole way through the process, and was so committed in fact that she even offered to drive me to collect him from cobham services the following monday. that day was even more stressful than the friday, with delays to the transfer from flight to van (the dogs flew from cyprus to greece, then to cologne, before being transported via chunnel to the uk in a transit van). what started as a 10:30am pick up on monday soon became a "will let you know when they are en route" to a "you should get ready to leave soon" to a "they're parking up now" to a: i am now in possession of a dog, after sitting in the services for a few extra hours.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwQsUfcoVdAXZHbOjdAibcZjX9AFwSuAcxTMnQ8qcDn0etCcSRzwqU6dMR8zD4rVZqZ_8lZbhLU2xp_7XUyLoC_Lhcr8UCismeRM2VM6IK3k5qWlYGihyZkG-HeMKluA6i7IDIhATgKAQ/s2048/IMG_20200919_100247.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwQsUfcoVdAXZHbOjdAibcZjX9AFwSuAcxTMnQ8qcDn0etCcSRzwqU6dMR8zD4rVZqZ_8lZbhLU2xp_7XUyLoC_Lhcr8UCismeRM2VM6IK3k5qWlYGihyZkG-HeMKluA6i7IDIhATgKAQ/s16000/IMG_20200919_100247.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p>and on the car ride home, it no longer mattered how random and stressful the communication had been, as i was united with the happiest, cutest, most perfect puppy called peanut, and that's all thanks to <b>underdog international</b> and their volunteers. i have to note, that during this time of stress and uncertainty, eve and her volunteers were in the middle of a rescue mission of fifty dogs from the <b><a href="https://donorbox.org/freedom-fifty" target="_blank">chinese meat trade</a></b>, and were arranging flights and homes left, right, and centre, and that any and all miscommunication was underlined by good deeds and acts of kindness, and genuinely decent human beings saving dogs from the worst of humanity. </p><p><br /></p><p>i couldn't do what they do, and i am so grateful for what they have done for me, and peanut. welcome home, golden boy, you are perfect.</p>being ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01447158394306745621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-774532739233176264.post-60449305221269973212020-08-02T19:22:00.006+01:002020-08-02T19:22:50.513+01:00postcards from great yarmouth<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge0OqBlLd7u-FZ6zDIRjZB-__LHHqR2uWNLuvPcaTdrsIAtYaMIVFZPV_rHEPq0UPLFfSBeRCquHxCKJAlMwWFl3HRL1QWDc4y1iKpXogzAzOxOHkV7ZhrY8t1720ZD17y6EPgKQKl3qY/s3648/IMG_20200730_141358.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2736" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge0OqBlLd7u-FZ6zDIRjZB-__LHHqR2uWNLuvPcaTdrsIAtYaMIVFZPV_rHEPq0UPLFfSBeRCquHxCKJAlMwWFl3HRL1QWDc4y1iKpXogzAzOxOHkV7ZhrY8t1720ZD17y6EPgKQKl3qY/d/IMG_20200730_141358.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div>speak to any brit, and they will tell you about the cheesy seaside towns they spent their summers in as a child. usually with a sneer, but rarely with any level of fondness. which, well - i had some pretty memorable caravan holidays myself, and i know they're not the same as fancy trips to disneyland, but they have their own perks. there are pros and cons to every type of travel, and if a seaside break a few hours away from home is the best you can do, then that in itself should be something to relish! and, while we find ourselves in this weird limbo between real life and a global pandemic, it has us all re-evaluating the little things. for me, i'm desperate to travel, to explore and be taken by local customs and - let's be honest: food, that at this point i don't really care <b>where</b> i travel to anymore. which is why, with parts of the country out of lockdown, i have decided to take advantage of the options i have, and spend some time at the great british seaside this summer.<div><br /></div><div>i asked around to see which of the uk's coasts had the "worst" reputation for tackiness, and started there. and that's how i ended up in great yarmouth this last weekend.</div><div><br /></div><div>when i told people i was going, i mainly got laughed at. i was told stories of caravan holidays there, of fish and chips, of dodgy 2p machines and ice cream that dripped down arms and legs. of yarmouth rock, of run down caravan parks, and fights over the buckets and spades. i also got a handful of "better" beaches i should go to, that are less tacky and more interesting, and that are generally "more appealing". and here's the thing: what appeals to one may not appeal to the other.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj27QCKCBEPSTUACYNF-Cl97xGubcoSgUWVakWTjFl33M43HAToyXQ1BPbDY09-HT8rX6g0hHUvu4guG8bWajdQwufuvbJJjyHNFAOPEAMaAZ4JtWLiO5CLdr1KnltNBg9AjxvtpY_YsLQ/s2849/IMG_20200730_132934.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2849" data-original-width="2136" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj27QCKCBEPSTUACYNF-Cl97xGubcoSgUWVakWTjFl33M43HAToyXQ1BPbDY09-HT8rX6g0hHUvu4guG8bWajdQwufuvbJJjyHNFAOPEAMaAZ4JtWLiO5CLdr1KnltNBg9AjxvtpY_YsLQ/d/IMG_20200730_132934.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWpACo_Nz_GTcvfN_sqgbwaJjT-7FJolJaTORGE9NyYkrKlqfqB0yyVXQwfh6kXrsYT49BUH4BmsAV-Vg8q_o52MjFr8MKKm-0JbGUWmDS6rR-KT5Vrs_3Kp6L78_HmSaiX2yIgGaAeqM/s3648/IMG_20200730_142645.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2736" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWpACo_Nz_GTcvfN_sqgbwaJjT-7FJolJaTORGE9NyYkrKlqfqB0yyVXQwfh6kXrsYT49BUH4BmsAV-Vg8q_o52MjFr8MKKm-0JbGUWmDS6rR-KT5Vrs_3Kp6L78_HmSaiX2yIgGaAeqM/d/IMG_20200730_142645.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc_6jyAyMnrIxpi9-It2a7UKGwW6g0iUa0B_rmlG7ekBSNZLnXwyjkvTTQQYt7GuHuqe3RwDYoEAg8o-mDdySQe1Kbw_3UX43ouy8e05eQzq69kC3D0_FYPOrQ_yHvRONA1f1qoyM9A1s/s1631/IMG_20200730_184907-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1631" data-original-width="1305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc_6jyAyMnrIxpi9-It2a7UKGwW6g0iUa0B_rmlG7ekBSNZLnXwyjkvTTQQYt7GuHuqe3RwDYoEAg8o-mDdySQe1Kbw_3UX43ouy8e05eQzq69kC3D0_FYPOrQ_yHvRONA1f1qoyM9A1s/d/IMG_20200730_184907-01.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgno4t1AHXh1VnqA6YpGH1yFUsHv8X7nUmu91q6hOeD6PnN5ugAMXElQlGOM5gOi4txs_V7GbuMyjRTiv8GD3LcmQaJ5cwMzDGItMmnITuM_4w81D9cCXRqQyP4bJkNL03Q9EC7aMZwmUk/s3648/IMG_20200730_182544.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2736" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgno4t1AHXh1VnqA6YpGH1yFUsHv8X7nUmu91q6hOeD6PnN5ugAMXElQlGOM5gOi4txs_V7GbuMyjRTiv8GD3LcmQaJ5cwMzDGItMmnITuM_4w81D9cCXRqQyP4bJkNL03Q9EC7aMZwmUk/d/IMG_20200730_182544.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>i'm not after fine dining and boutique shops. not all the time. not when we're in a recession and i have taken a pay cut at work. not when i'm travelling solo and can't afford to split bills. not when i'm looking at quantity of breaks versus quality of breaks. not this time. for now, i'm looking for a clean and comfortable bed, somewhere with a train station, a sandy beach i can dig my toes into, and lots of colour and charm to satisfy the magpie in me. and i found all of those things in great yarmouth, in bucket loads.</div><div><br /></div><div>i arrived by greater anglia trains, delayed, but ready to explore. once i'd dumped my stuff in the lovely and quiet room in the andover guesthouse - which was moments from the beach - i took a walk. i headed down to winter gardens, and was instantly in love with the vintage signs and architecture that spans the esplanade! so much colour and quirkiness everywhere you look, and the smell of hot donuts and fried chips hit my like a ton of bricks! i picked up some donuts and headed down to the beach, to dig my toes into the sand and sample the water of the north sea (cold, as expected).</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI0j7k_F49TwZd5MBgkt01OzOvuHzyPEDdfS1aNWUXw-CUSfkN4bbwPkBINJIv8OsqccOfGNkss9Vf5dd-CcihKC9bdZbUhVfPwwyw2jrTiYUJoVTZdv7-aaUm-XCG7HoeEU6doJ-wPgk/s3149/IMG_20200730_140520.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3149" data-original-width="2361" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI0j7k_F49TwZd5MBgkt01OzOvuHzyPEDdfS1aNWUXw-CUSfkN4bbwPkBINJIv8OsqccOfGNkss9Vf5dd-CcihKC9bdZbUhVfPwwyw2jrTiYUJoVTZdv7-aaUm-XCG7HoeEU6doJ-wPgk/d/IMG_20200730_140520.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTj-MprUHpAPbvdEPPAGtgNiJjbd_o_FuSEe5RHNJHzORMbyNlE77H8NuDNEENXqY2Xl4c1p6IzkX7CGMzIlq4Vj8OTKHYYato1osvhMQkxABz55Y5tWT15uSz6FPac_4CqTAJ9Jksm1M/s3330/IMG_20200730_141034.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3330" data-original-width="2663" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTj-MprUHpAPbvdEPPAGtgNiJjbd_o_FuSEe5RHNJHzORMbyNlE77H8NuDNEENXqY2Xl4c1p6IzkX7CGMzIlq4Vj8OTKHYYato1osvhMQkxABz55Y5tWT15uSz6FPac_4CqTAJ9Jksm1M/d/IMG_20200730_141034.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGJVcRfzz1CWBGZ-mpEX3tUsAwlp7CPdAwg7qTYgHMXeQjARHGliGhk4WdgWRoJHrIhzdXiaHej2G-4xga373qSCxUisn8KhmPMOp7sBboQnOzjLQ1nNkEckluCKg7H4rfYMFZKuU4GR0/s3648/IMG_20200730_135853.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2736" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGJVcRfzz1CWBGZ-mpEX3tUsAwlp7CPdAwg7qTYgHMXeQjARHGliGhk4WdgWRoJHrIhzdXiaHej2G-4xga373qSCxUisn8KhmPMOp7sBboQnOzjLQ1nNkEckluCKg7H4rfYMFZKuU4GR0/d/IMG_20200730_135853.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4JRB00s-hqDYPusC2jPp812H5NUlICQK0oyFG2kXxU9fJ2xGq3CT8isvwDfnz6ZVm-3iuzt1GXYKaF0omIdICNgkh58s-pKhATOUKYcuSM1tVOV-swZnuJjbSceljUqIL5qdzRaj3gC4/s3017/IMG_20200730_142905.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3017" data-original-width="2262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4JRB00s-hqDYPusC2jPp812H5NUlICQK0oyFG2kXxU9fJ2xGq3CT8isvwDfnz6ZVm-3iuzt1GXYKaF0omIdICNgkh58s-pKhATOUKYcuSM1tVOV-swZnuJjbSceljUqIL5qdzRaj3gC4/d/IMG_20200730_142905.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWtshsgWF8_Cxrt5QJ9savOwkShikO1sk4ZwabYxa29WiUuKbEwEl3YyXV49DH977pr6bEmhhUT4YoPSHdcvynbBfwikN4Z62z4XwLjHc8wjKDh4J6zSuehKtfrIN4UoyVWjh1pOloJuw/s3648/IMG_20200731_121136.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2736" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWtshsgWF8_Cxrt5QJ9savOwkShikO1sk4ZwabYxa29WiUuKbEwEl3YyXV49DH977pr6bEmhhUT4YoPSHdcvynbBfwikN4Z62z4XwLjHc8wjKDh4J6zSuehKtfrIN4UoyVWjh1pOloJuw/d/IMG_20200731_121136.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>i was there on a thursday, and it was pretty quiet - considering it's school holidays, but the beach was nicely spaced out with families and there beach towels and mini tents, and all the gear a child "needs" for a day at the beach, despite being perfectly happy with sand once they get there. and i mean, the kids were in heaven. screams of joy as they ran back and forth between dry parents and wet ocean, splashing and squealing, and have a whale of a time. in a non-creepy way, i could have watched those kids having the time of their lives for ages, until it hit me that these kids would probably grow up to be the ones to sneer at this place in ten years' time.</div><div><br /></div><div>i ambled from there along the esplanade and was lured into the flamingo because, well, because it's called the flamingo, and has a giant pink vintage sign towering above it. inside, i lost £5 to a 2p machine, and came away with ten chewy sweets. i mean, if that's not an ad for anti-gambling, i'm not sure what is. know what else? it was bloody good fun!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSjMIv_U9sfJVJQI4WvXHKJZ-d4CZsvHnzfrCP255IVhmz0ryMAOhTljGe7zKzBOhDt2IPA69BVviQvBgUpHNr8LO0q7Gd_Y8pcILono9g10-JMmTNiVBBFNkWrzEUg9TfsV6YsWvMqAE/s3648/IMG_20200730_143525.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2736" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSjMIv_U9sfJVJQI4WvXHKJZ-d4CZsvHnzfrCP255IVhmz0ryMAOhTljGe7zKzBOhDt2IPA69BVviQvBgUpHNr8LO0q7Gd_Y8pcILono9g10-JMmTNiVBBFNkWrzEUg9TfsV6YsWvMqAE/d/IMG_20200730_143525.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRfZw1j3JCxeT-ZCGyoBDeCOWap0u9lpl3MFKuuvBuxSGzo-jir1CYwYgZUGUkaTWBVG7TWylPRLo-4oNi7tbNnCIBMK1g2VI_-7eF5nxjEnJG2L4klUM83tG-gtXvkjUppEsYkkf1XBY/s3648/IMG_20200730_144543.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2736" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRfZw1j3JCxeT-ZCGyoBDeCOWap0u9lpl3MFKuuvBuxSGzo-jir1CYwYgZUGUkaTWBVG7TWylPRLo-4oNi7tbNnCIBMK1g2VI_-7eF5nxjEnJG2L4klUM83tG-gtXvkjUppEsYkkf1XBY/d/IMG_20200730_144543.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibA6emaREpxFheTq4FxAaLuFHrGjeGTl1KXeJJRrGZhRZ8p9mVPoeqq2TZkfLp2aGDyx3UyUaVspWmOTwkDhc5e_aXBqMUsK8pGlTsvr4Hb7IJQJpzMeYKYYZu5HULA2SpVUeLIFGrVPk/s3648/IMG_20200730_151028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2736" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibA6emaREpxFheTq4FxAaLuFHrGjeGTl1KXeJJRrGZhRZ8p9mVPoeqq2TZkfLp2aGDyx3UyUaVspWmOTwkDhc5e_aXBqMUsK8pGlTsvr4Hb7IJQJpzMeYKYYZu5HULA2SpVUeLIFGrVPk/d/IMG_20200730_151028.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioBha65pHephT9fNABOJrDcqPdHrb2wHxkxGMH-tSyDrArTNkpcColVvg9GAOTYS1lQTXdMhuedoQNFUb5fJjG1uNT08A9skaBToN0yyek1g-1FE0SDAdIrl_4YCij-9-0lqfcftauynQ/s1600/IMG_20200730_144831.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioBha65pHephT9fNABOJrDcqPdHrb2wHxkxGMH-tSyDrArTNkpcColVvg9GAOTYS1lQTXdMhuedoQNFUb5fJjG1uNT08A9skaBToN0yyek1g-1FE0SDAdIrl_4YCij-9-0lqfcftauynQ/d/IMG_20200730_144831.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>from there, i grabbed an ice cream and walked up to britannia pier before heading back to my room for a shower and clean (un-sandy) clothes before i went looking for some dinner. i regret to say i found myself in line for "the world's best fish and chips" and ordering some cod and scampi before i realised - too late - that i had just ordered at none other than a harry ramsdens. of all the chip shops in all the world, i had to pick a bloody chain! trust me, no one was more disappointed in me - especially when the food was typically below par and i kicked myself the rest of the night.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-SYrpUVKPixI9UbuDdN1Js4Ff43uquJhNw07Ff734M_hl3pTqFJpANZalBFOZOhTEQFlwo24eIqzjkOf9J6eLtQwDF1Yge5TrR_YtslFjQ7lTMfZAY4y6QqfiK4o0NyPcrQ_si8B_gsk/s1499/IMG_20200731_104439.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1499" data-original-width="1199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-SYrpUVKPixI9UbuDdN1Js4Ff43uquJhNw07Ff734M_hl3pTqFJpANZalBFOZOhTEQFlwo24eIqzjkOf9J6eLtQwDF1Yge5TrR_YtslFjQ7lTMfZAY4y6QqfiK4o0NyPcrQ_si8B_gsk/d/IMG_20200731_104439.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiepigPmncbiv_NXFD_HELke0QljwB2YmT-GIj5ErjvvwMC2_f9-po89mUcMWPbwoWaenaZRw-PtlekI5K0Tq7z9JmqCRMxb7sTxQ1l3SA6zQFhYs9Br2Zcs36heioqQk7ljfT2avJHGW4/s1500/IMG_20200731_104803.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiepigPmncbiv_NXFD_HELke0QljwB2YmT-GIj5ErjvvwMC2_f9-po89mUcMWPbwoWaenaZRw-PtlekI5K0Tq7z9JmqCRMxb7sTxQ1l3SA6zQFhYs9Br2Zcs36heioqQk7ljfT2avJHGW4/d/IMG_20200731_104803.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUtbcsqw4Q6-UspSc9_lbSRY29hAfiLidBKESUs1Z3_OIszwHCOeLf64nd-KIbYYNx5Pne7AoRWsFOimaWBv8paWjKt3TF3nXfNBshifI8xNFy7pR0AjjQSR8bnzXuV9dnf9XIYpUycSo/s1499/IMG_20200731_105007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1499" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUtbcsqw4Q6-UspSc9_lbSRY29hAfiLidBKESUs1Z3_OIszwHCOeLf64nd-KIbYYNx5Pne7AoRWsFOimaWBv8paWjKt3TF3nXfNBshifI8xNFy7pR0AjjQSR8bnzXuV9dnf9XIYpUycSo/d/IMG_20200731_105007.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>the following day, i headed down to the market (which closed at 5pm the night before!) to see what local wares i could find - when i stumbled into the biggest rock factory in the world! might be all for show, but look: when in rome, right? i obbbbviously bought far too much fudge and rock (for the journey home!) and nosied my way through all of the souvenir shops, desperate to find some vintage prints similar to those i'd seen on the pier, but no such luck.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivle3XDQ3v8I2lwWsgaLtb00j8EY-Fy3os664MeKUEwdjdXsV5-SK47vEET9PZJke_ZJJRneSiG6-fpBID4ultdCWSj23zhcS16TVABhwuirPZtxkFcbVv9J72S_9MQSd3NVycctxiusE/s3648/IMG_20200730_143404.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2736" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivle3XDQ3v8I2lwWsgaLtb00j8EY-Fy3os664MeKUEwdjdXsV5-SK47vEET9PZJke_ZJJRneSiG6-fpBID4ultdCWSj23zhcS16TVABhwuirPZtxkFcbVv9J72S_9MQSd3NVycctxiusE/d/IMG_20200730_143404.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibI92ObwoSUPmdUaTMBVl_Kh2wmKz4pdsQvxhYC8p0T64r5bfwaHuX-p9AputynAUpeBln7SBF_I_m-qzGoouXv2Sup-e_JzVTBvAIIf8IOYtoq8KGbM5GD1pKFqZmg4XUsbMVyuzqMp8/s1600/IMG_20200730_142922.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibI92ObwoSUPmdUaTMBVl_Kh2wmKz4pdsQvxhYC8p0T64r5bfwaHuX-p9AputynAUpeBln7SBF_I_m-qzGoouXv2Sup-e_JzVTBvAIIf8IOYtoq8KGbM5GD1pKFqZmg4XUsbMVyuzqMp8/d/IMG_20200730_142922.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNDyyxJ2O-HgZMHabgkF5IkOcfNFu7fHtXMnmici5VH5WKPOgWVK-d8D-l6rTChsrckIEsiPvd1W8y78Uw1ju1x4zAbk0Zlt2qUk0501HV5eIHzg_gOcrKyj8sbgdjQWLbWi3dxQEkdrM/s3511/IMG_20200731_111546.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3511" data-original-width="2632" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNDyyxJ2O-HgZMHabgkF5IkOcfNFu7fHtXMnmici5VH5WKPOgWVK-d8D-l6rTChsrckIEsiPvd1W8y78Uw1ju1x4zAbk0Zlt2qUk0501HV5eIHzg_gOcrKyj8sbgdjQWLbWi3dxQEkdrM/d/IMG_20200731_111546.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv3SuPyj_qrtAHqZm9_WkZf6T8xlIrNWdWkg-BN6xlmO7RQ8aOLBa9v-karsS1sx74jWtq06UeryLrNCwYD_kBDaPG026WRFzEQBeaSy5CgdyBqQzKOSQ8AJQqcghf2szu-8wfKdSoPKE/s3648/IMG_20200731_114807.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2736" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv3SuPyj_qrtAHqZm9_WkZf6T8xlIrNWdWkg-BN6xlmO7RQ8aOLBa9v-karsS1sx74jWtq06UeryLrNCwYD_kBDaPG026WRFzEQBeaSy5CgdyBqQzKOSQ8AJQqcghf2szu-8wfKdSoPKE/d/IMG_20200731_114807.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>for lunch, i picked up more donuts and another icecream, and sat on the beach, reading my book, in a comfy beach chair a kind lady let me have as i had no more change on me to rent one off her properly. a few hours later, it was time to go home! it was a wonderful whirlwind of an adventure, but certainly one i won't be sneering about to anyone, any time soon.</div><div><br /></div><div>next on the seaside break list is clacton-on-sea (in essex) and then ramsgate (in kent). both have a pretty bad reputation from those who've been lucky enough to spend summer holidays there as children, and i cannot <b>wait</b> to get there and see it through the fresh (and desperate) eyes of someone who will never take her own country for granted ever again.</div><div><br /></div><div>what's your fave seaside town?</div>being ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01447158394306745621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-774532739233176264.post-20982333571136047102020-07-29T17:18:00.000+01:002020-07-29T17:18:38.949+01:00diagnosis.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioDBFXF7ieunK_XSdMVtNnoJNUnCREU_vzTFaJRW8FLUpKIQq2JYBDG6clAMiXHt2HkUaIa4HKPODObqlPhPOcg4rfryqDfixRogMjylCWSSiAr9khqGK4SADXf5nY3Nj3szuRhHHBjTE/s2048/IMG_20200728_140841.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1639" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioDBFXF7ieunK_XSdMVtNnoJNUnCREU_vzTFaJRW8FLUpKIQq2JYBDG6clAMiXHt2HkUaIa4HKPODObqlPhPOcg4rfryqDfixRogMjylCWSSiAr9khqGK4SADXf5nY3Nj3szuRhHHBjTE/d/IMG_20200728_140841.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div>it's been some time since i took to this site to update "you" on my life. whoever "you" are these days. it's fair to say that i have massively lost my mojo this year, lost my love for words, and lost my ability to travel and explore the world. it's sucked, massively, but it's had its ups and down.<div><br /></div><div>in my most recent (recent: it was april, it's now the eve of august) <a href="http://www.imbeingerica.com/2020/04/life-in-lockdown.html" target="_blank">update</a> i talked about honing my photography skills and making the most of the sunshine and what have you, and maybe that was wonderfully optimistic for what was probably the strangest few months of my life. since april, things have been.. interesting.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj-lgabrcMjrzYrHjj_Wl_koi42Hly0dw89CSErGK0rY6O0ERLFQ2KlnW1jg1XgFA1Ra8ogljxw9ZpRfn8eKA4JrQU4yKCnNnOarjIULvYwzaBkUnurVjy3Jny7Yz7ClcS4dtyLkutLrE/s3221/IMG_20200728_141020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3221" data-original-width="2577" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj-lgabrcMjrzYrHjj_Wl_koi42Hly0dw89CSErGK0rY6O0ERLFQ2KlnW1jg1XgFA1Ra8ogljxw9ZpRfn8eKA4JrQU4yKCnNnOarjIULvYwzaBkUnurVjy3Jny7Yz7ClcS4dtyLkutLrE/d/IMG_20200728_141020.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVGYYhqLL94vQmfuuqJKwJWxAnOP9wmyNxVQLEjyLzAZF3vf7YbncwnPx98Qc_VPcJ4IIngQ4Qx43rIWj6Z4uqFI4xyI7Z9eBnfmIIjbmNOpuotj6VSNPGlOh38_5jDPObfJVm4kveB1k/s1533/IMG_20200728_115413.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1533" data-original-width="1151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVGYYhqLL94vQmfuuqJKwJWxAnOP9wmyNxVQLEjyLzAZF3vf7YbncwnPx98Qc_VPcJ4IIngQ4Qx43rIWj6Z4uqFI4xyI7Z9eBnfmIIjbmNOpuotj6VSNPGlOh38_5jDPObfJVm4kveB1k/d/IMG_20200728_115413.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>shortly after my previous post, i found myself spiraling down a drain of depression. it started with a few things that went wrong at work, compounded by not being able to address my triggers as i'm stuck in this flat by myself 24/7, and on top of that, not being able to drag myself anywhere inspiring for a break. a chat with my doc saw me signed off work for a few weeks, and an increase in my medication. i also took up cycling. it was coincidental, but turns out, i bloody love cycling.</div><div><br /></div><div>i've never been one for meditation, for mindfulness or any of that woo woo stuff, but when you're cycling away on two wheels all you can really do is focus on not falling off. it's quite therapeutic, actually, and so yeah - cycling 10km a day (ish) coupled with a new dose of meds kinda helped. it made things a little easier, but it didn't fix anything. being away from my team and navigating a job i already feel pretty imposter-y in has been really hard. and it has become quite.. heavy.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjioQ_LNINwYVya_id5XbZ-t9NMKUEBTP282byevNuG_N5GhGtNgwJku0CxvyQjzGM5kKbOqpJBr_yQuTsV_TyGByWJlBWhhS4nZJoY4H7i9d-RQUD9nylNrgF-v0X5Z0jrumkHDDN8gUI/s3648/IMG_20200727_135216.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2736" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjioQ_LNINwYVya_id5XbZ-t9NMKUEBTP282byevNuG_N5GhGtNgwJku0CxvyQjzGM5kKbOqpJBr_yQuTsV_TyGByWJlBWhhS4nZJoY4H7i9d-RQUD9nylNrgF-v0X5Z0jrumkHDDN8gUI/d/IMG_20200727_135216.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM_QH4wjwWV7Y6lOB6R0gOH5Yq_WyvZAP9hmede93svVpzUjNmykd-25t3qxEgN1uprbZCvSJOsXH96bSr7nAQq3yaqsd90gAbvlsx0FHMm6pbgiA1yj-i0TtT5Fe9ghFMH5cTghhncko/s1373/IMG_20200720_122909.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1373" data-original-width="1030" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM_QH4wjwWV7Y6lOB6R0gOH5Yq_WyvZAP9hmede93svVpzUjNmykd-25t3qxEgN1uprbZCvSJOsXH96bSr7nAQq3yaqsd90gAbvlsx0FHMm6pbgiA1yj-i0TtT5Fe9ghFMH5cTghhncko/d/IMG_20200720_122909.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>i'd been noticing little things about my behaviour for a while now that seem heightened because of the lockdown situation, and when i looked into them in combination with my anxiety.. it all pointed to <b>adhd</b>. i did some research on this disorder, and felt an emotional relief when i read the memes and stories of people who live with it. and that's it, the moment i realised it was an actual disorder with my brain and not me being me, i felt such a wave of emotion that i realised you don't "suffer" with disorders, you live with them. i "suffer" from anxiety, but that's because i live with unmedicated <b>adhd</b>.</div><div><br /></div><div>a disorder that's becoming increasingly diagnosed in women later in life, as the spectrum for any autistic disorders (<b>adhd </b>is on the spectrum) doesn't include female symptoms, only male ones. if you think back, how many little boys did you know growing up who were treated for <b>adhd</b>, versus girls? in girls, the symptoms of distraction, inattentiveness and spontaneity were seen as adorable and whimsical, but in boys it was seen as a problem. but now, more women are being diagnosed with what used to be called <b>add</b>, and is now referred to as <a href="https://www.additudemag.com/slideshows/symptoms-of-inattentive-adhd/" target="_blank">inattentive <b>adhd</b></a>.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwubUBoc5Rr4J2tHpsGcYOGqgHfyh6qjWN5ijRtgb_e-zXDRZgTqbCIhHHOkSz-6BJBbXiht2xksKU5s5vXlnc8iAbN5Iq7QkVfopcwzqlRAdTr_Ttsq4sBPxnPJxXopNLPmJ1IpZh6UM/s3648/IMG_20200718_211002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2736" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwubUBoc5Rr4J2tHpsGcYOGqgHfyh6qjWN5ijRtgb_e-zXDRZgTqbCIhHHOkSz-6BJBbXiht2xksKU5s5vXlnc8iAbN5Iq7QkVfopcwzqlRAdTr_Ttsq4sBPxnPJxXopNLPmJ1IpZh6UM/d/IMG_20200718_211002.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlwzBkRSuVvLt2rK9Ka9kQzJxEwCYPULEBnAXhE6wx6nuDAKQg6bqrti2Cgz5vYRiyI78MBwt5X6ND0PluLTsfixgZvSK4wdYotJnEH4Zs7yp0kRG2zuXtArwR-dvS1fI0gNh2LdOGETs/s1499/IMG_20200728_153846.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1499" data-original-width="1199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlwzBkRSuVvLt2rK9Ka9kQzJxEwCYPULEBnAXhE6wx6nuDAKQg6bqrti2Cgz5vYRiyI78MBwt5X6ND0PluLTsfixgZvSK4wdYotJnEH4Zs7yp0kRG2zuXtArwR-dvS1fI0gNh2LdOGETs/d/IMG_20200728_153846.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>i won't bore you with the details, but what you need to know is that i now have to wait to be seen by a psychiatrist, as a gp can't treat a cognitive disorder. and the current wait time is 18 months. so, that's nice. and in the mean time i continue being treated for my anxiety - a by product of a mental health disorder i can't be treated for, for another 18 months. seems whack, but that's the overworked and underfunded NHS for you.</div><div><br /></div><div>i feel so relieved to know what is going on, and that i'm not alone in living with this brain fog, and my line manager and team have been soooo great about it, by giving me room to breathe, and making allowances for the things i need so i don't crack again. i joke, but i cracked. turns out i am an introvert who - on occasions - likes to work with others. i find that i rely on others to keep me motivated and not distracted, to keep me in line and to bounce ideas and struggles off of. being stuck alone has meant i have to do a lot of that myself, which is not fun long term.</div><div><br /></div><div>but anyway, apparently there's no more pandemic* so we can travel again, and i have planned a few uk holidays, but i'll share those with you another time. maybe.</div><div><br /></div><div>anyway, we move. </div><div><br /></div><div>*there is definitely still a pandemic, wear a mask.</div>being ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01447158394306745621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-774532739233176264.post-44662386275792541932020-04-19T19:44:00.001+01:002020-04-19T19:44:39.733+01:00life in lockdown<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA4Imeb65J6ZMad9q5KhgSNDivNt_tLZGd4UWdT3c7LhBAjEyLqKi-bfSVmkYgQsYDsWPsyv-UzKt6YaGpIXJbRF5duZagYw6Q5AnDSbM6vFGA7X5ZA4ydsSyuhuPO8n4oKad99t7oDTc/s1600/IMG_20200326_162635.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA4Imeb65J6ZMad9q5KhgSNDivNt_tLZGd4UWdT3c7LhBAjEyLqKi-bfSVmkYgQsYDsWPsyv-UzKt6YaGpIXJbRF5duZagYw6Q5AnDSbM6vFGA7X5ZA4ydsSyuhuPO8n4oKad99t7oDTc/s1600/IMG_20200326_162635.jpg"></a></div>
<br>
it occurred to me today that i hadn't really recorded anything of note during this whole covid-19 sitch, other than on my instagram stories which obviously don't have any longevity, and it might be something i'd want to read about later in life. the diary of anne frank is a book i read a lot as a teenager, finding her life in lockdown so scary and unknown, and very dangerous - and obviously our lockdown is a lotttt different to hers, but the comparison of her daily life to ours is interesting. yes, she was in hiding, and with her family, and was in danger of far more than catching a potentially fatal disease, but.. there are *some* similarities. <b><i>some</i></b>.<br>
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<a href="https://www.imbeingerica.com/2020/04/life-in-lockdown.html#more">keep reading »</a>being ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01447158394306745621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-774532739233176264.post-1164419088180885482020-04-06T00:00:00.000+01:002020-04-19T21:35:42.642+01:00eight things to do in canggu, bali<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUpj2ramPUZG5yG8xu5MTUyYhRkfkyuuEDVPIs7phKMuG1OKZ8-ISbLjvw9uAIKN9hrvmxZwNrEG8QBCXP4BU4mBzk89-c9nKJpz7z9k9UbPv_UtTYwr5hqJ9lN0iL0MkWLU4gAyZOtpI/s1600/IMG_20200223_113125.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUpj2ramPUZG5yG8xu5MTUyYhRkfkyuuEDVPIs7phKMuG1OKZ8-ISbLjvw9uAIKN9hrvmxZwNrEG8QBCXP4BU4mBzk89-c9nKJpz7z9k9UbPv_UtTYwr5hqJ9lN0iL0MkWLU4gAyZOtpI/s1600/IMG_20200223_113125.jpg"></a></div>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
-stay-</h2>
<h3>
grandpa resort</h3>
when i went looking for accommodation in my first stop in bali, it had to only tick three boxes: it needed a pool, it needed air conditioning, and it needed to have restaurants in walking distance. i planned to do not much in my first few days in canggu, other than relax, so i hit up booking.com with these parameters, and then sorted from lowest to highest, unticked any shared accomm or hostels, and sifted through the rest. that is literally how i landed on <a href="https://www.booking.com/hotel/id/grandpa-resort-badung.en-gb.html" target="_blank">grandpa resort</a>, a cute little guest house that cost me less than £40 for three nights.<br>
<a href="https://www.imbeingerica.com/2020/04/eight-things-to-do-in-canggu-bali.html#more">keep reading »</a>being ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01447158394306745621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-774532739233176264.post-17148036689759995642020-03-23T00:00:00.000+00:002020-03-23T09:47:25.347+00:00solo travel for beginners<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKqPDuWNN3A_6EnlcadBf9mFLC6ZTn42odMMwT56HjOceHiQLG7SYx6GL3cQjL0uYhpXX_1d2r3ra6HBrlVy2EVL4zt_3uLeUGgdnf1DjFynT0OSMS5Li5SQ9ejXgR1r0fIDy8xYpQch4/s1600/IMG_20200223_125158.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKqPDuWNN3A_6EnlcadBf9mFLC6ZTn42odMMwT56HjOceHiQLG7SYx6GL3cQjL0uYhpXX_1d2r3ra6HBrlVy2EVL4zt_3uLeUGgdnf1DjFynT0OSMS5Li5SQ9ejXgR1r0fIDy8xYpQch4/s1600/IMG_20200223_125158.jpg"></a></div>
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the reason i ended up in bali alone was simply because i had no-one else to go with. it wasn't one of those "eat, pray, love" moments, or a quest to find myself, it was just that i had a wedding to go to in new zealand and wasn't able to be flexible enough with dates to allow for any of my keen friends to come with me. i booked my flights more than six months in advance of travel, kind of hoping that by the point of travel someone would have a change of heart and join me, but as the time approached.. it appeared i was going solo. so, rather than dwell on the lack of company, i decided to take destiny by the balls and plan one heck of a solo adventure.<br>
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there were obviously things i was concerned about, this being my first real solo travel trip, but nothing too big i considered changing my plans. i'm an introvert by nature; i like spending time alone, i enjoy my own company, and i never struggle with loneliness (the covid19 self isolation will be a test for the ages), so the idea of a week alone in a new place seemed like no big deal. but, i definitely did have worries...<br>
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<a href="https://www.imbeingerica.com/2020/03/solo-travel-for-beginners.html#more">keep reading »</a>being ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01447158394306745621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-774532739233176264.post-48073735914850679032020-03-16T00:00:00.000+00:002020-03-16T07:39:25.375+00:00an ode to the balinese tourism industry<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibjCOZGA8hXKjCYrC-mrm9ZwYxQiw05OnV4AvDZ5qpAMTGsIow0JweOg5TpvvjS6enESHP28r4YsP6463Sv1SujtvbeCWESysy3mBJcgyVoO281hZffZrTzTQy2Wt5tYImNjrqhGCZmno/s1600/IMG_20200225_181002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibjCOZGA8hXKjCYrC-mrm9ZwYxQiw05OnV4AvDZ5qpAMTGsIow0JweOg5TpvvjS6enESHP28r4YsP6463Sv1SujtvbeCWESysy3mBJcgyVoO281hZffZrTzTQy2Wt5tYImNjrqhGCZmno/s1600/IMG_20200225_181002.jpg"></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">i was worried about going to bali, for one reason and one reason only: who would take my photos for instagram? such a minor worry to have, but honestly the only one i had about going away on my first <b>big solo trip</b>, and as it turns out, one i needn't have worried about at all. why? because the tourism industry in bali has totally exploded thanks to the instagram effect, and now everyone from taxi drivers to ticket touts and waitresses in cafes are also skilled part-time photographers, snapping hundreds of pictures of you from multiple angles - without even being asking, in order to help drive their industry forward.</span><br>
<a href="https://www.imbeingerica.com/2020/03/an-ode-to-bali-tourism-industry.html#more">keep reading »</a>being ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01447158394306745621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-774532739233176264.post-61934828822087355792020-03-13T00:00:00.000+00:002020-03-13T14:40:34.709+00:00single, and ready to... stay that way<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1GzpYe1MVV1sJmV3rp4W9FVNn_yowzE1t4EwblzIC6BkTL6UMfI9LevyXHyNmDVyc7zun0asnKgLFsTgpiiyqdSn8qyXOI4et35NS-V1EnpoPYsmtVn-Kx9UrkUzCSKTDO8CUKeefMR8/s1600/IMG_20191214_143959_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1GzpYe1MVV1sJmV3rp4W9FVNn_yowzE1t4EwblzIC6BkTL6UMfI9LevyXHyNmDVyc7zun0asnKgLFsTgpiiyqdSn8qyXOI4et35NS-V1EnpoPYsmtVn-Kx9UrkUzCSKTDO8CUKeefMR8/s1600/IMG_20191214_143959_1.jpg"></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">i was recently featured in issue 14 of zabby allen's <a href="https://zabbyallen.com/collections/the-procrastination-paper" target="_blank">procrastination paper</a> - the love and relationships edition. when i saw zabby looking for contributors from all sides of the love and relationships debate, i knew i had something to add. being happily single for such a long time now (by choice) been something akin to the making of me and my happiness, and i wanted to be able to give that side of the "being single by choice" story in my own words. now that it's published, i'd love to share it here with you as well.</span><br>
<a href="https://www.imbeingerica.com/2020/03/single-and-ready-to-stay-that-way.html#more">keep reading »</a>being ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01447158394306745621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-774532739233176264.post-16096263768369509122020-01-17T00:00:00.000+00:002020-01-17T13:36:47.900+00:00how to install a sliding-door wardrobe<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf71xFrWf9qAB5YknKhkKlMNXSh1xH3xpTMvQl5z5UoOv9U2_cCbOY5S1DuyhyhRAFeGQEMgX76ovmSMDb_V-qIGrbTRQErOkZmVzXHmJmiHnSte6qwck9SbHHTH-0riUlRpAYyVF10D8/s1600/IMG_20200113_121658.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf71xFrWf9qAB5YknKhkKlMNXSh1xH3xpTMvQl5z5UoOv9U2_cCbOY5S1DuyhyhRAFeGQEMgX76ovmSMDb_V-qIGrbTRQErOkZmVzXHmJmiHnSte6qwck9SbHHTH-0riUlRpAYyVF10D8/s1600/IMG_20200113_121658.jpg"></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
*this post contains a complimentary service, though all words are mine*</div>
<br>
since even viewing the flat way back when, i knew a sliding-door wardrobe would be a necessity for the space. there's the perfect spot for it in the bedroom, and no other storage to speak of, so i've window shopping wardrobes for ages knowing that it was a "nice to have" feature and not something that would need to have been purchased within the first few months.<br>
<a href="https://www.imbeingerica.com/2020/01/how-to-install-sliding-door-wardrobe.html#more">keep reading »</a>being ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01447158394306745621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-774532739233176264.post-14198610921770063332019-12-28T17:17:00.000+00:002019-12-28T17:49:20.085+00:00shared ownership - where to start?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEganqHtvwfezfQnCMACs0-HRaDshshfe42amHM6wt_vhAHx9KYdTdS1YRC6Qj9Dv8trb1gN5gZ_MbXN13uliuZYmN-fm3R9Z6CunkDIDPVbgHF_SsfQzDqud4xX82bROEWq4GOtjdqa1Vk/s1600/IMG_20191216_120101.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEganqHtvwfezfQnCMACs0-HRaDshshfe42amHM6wt_vhAHx9KYdTdS1YRC6Qj9Dv8trb1gN5gZ_MbXN13uliuZYmN-fm3R9Z6CunkDIDPVbgHF_SsfQzDqud4xX82bROEWq4GOtjdqa1Vk/s1600/IMG_20191216_120101.jpg"></a></div>
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since sharing <a href="http://www.imbeingerica.com/2019/07/so-youre-thinking-about-shared-ownership.html" target="_blank">my own shared ownership experience</a> online, i've somehow become the unofficial go-to for all those unanswered shared ownership questions - especially since the internet itself doesn't seem to be very helpful on the subject, a fact i had to learn the hard way. being that i still need to ask my mum how to do basic adult tasks, like how to cook christmas dinner (true story), it's a miracle that i made it through my own experience alone, let alone without the help of an adult holding my hand.<br>
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so, if you are thinking of looking into buying a home - shared ownership or not, i guess this is my attempt at being the adult holding your hand through what can often be the most terrifying and confusing process.<br>
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<a href="https://www.imbeingerica.com/2019/12/shared-ownership-where-to-start.html#more">keep reading »</a>being ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01447158394306745621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-774532739233176264.post-29795861915278563812019-11-11T00:00:00.000+00:002019-12-28T17:18:01.486+00:00staying in: the hallway tour<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikUhhVnFWyprMyAnFtEOobK5WQqMsne0D8pVJN2TG0JWqhHdx6GzcdcZzOn-YBOpQ91Dr6wXFNKQB_DkrwltbaZRWEdrJ_VocYvhb7CPYqNVKIPDpN5pVyVWFN3yMP0w4Um6sPeHZgdjs/s1600/IMG_20191110_130211.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikUhhVnFWyprMyAnFtEOobK5WQqMsne0D8pVJN2TG0JWqhHdx6GzcdcZzOn-YBOpQ91Dr6wXFNKQB_DkrwltbaZRWEdrJ_VocYvhb7CPYqNVKIPDpN5pVyVWFN3yMP0w4Um6sPeHZgdjs/s1600/IMG_20191110_130211.jpg"></a></div>
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*this post contains gifted product and is sponsored*</div>
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and last - but not least - is the hallway make over. you've had the <a href="http://www.imbeingerica.com/2019/11/staying-in-bedroom-tour.html" target="_blank">bedroom</a>, <a href="http://www.imbeingerica.com/2019/07/staying-in-bathroom-tour.html" target="_blank">bathroom </a>and <a href="http://www.imbeingerica.com/2019/07/staying-in-living-room-tour.html" target="_blank">living room</a>, and now i bring you: the hallway of dreams from my colourful little flat. as the entry way to the rest of the flat, it had to be full of personality, and give (what little) visitors (i have) a real sense of what to expect from the rest of my place. so naturally, it's pink, rough, and full of pictures. </div>
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my painter sam and i decided to only bother painting the left wall as we weren't sure that i'd picked up enough paint (oopsie), and also, the reverse wall gets absolutely no light whatsoever, so keeping it the light magnolia that it started out as seemed a bit more practical (and a lot less fussy than painting around aaaall those door frames!). </div>
<a href="https://www.imbeingerica.com/2019/11/staying-in-hallway-competition.html#more">keep reading »</a>being ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01447158394306745621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-774532739233176264.post-73984020972101485252019-11-04T00:00:00.000+00:002019-11-04T08:17:15.581+00:00staying in: the bedroom tour<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnVxR95mph-RZknklc52rtGD2HcWjggZhRbG7U00FjYMbVCe3shaw78JPftB4NV8G4yWX5rZ8EzMD0pA3PxS03U-TuWodgbR0g34zurzEojzV55D9gt4FBhyphenhyphenq3n-Ai3eY8jflu5xDz_9Q/s1600/LRM_EXPORT_277181031738434_20191103_124543893.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnVxR95mph-RZknklc52rtGD2HcWjggZhRbG7U00FjYMbVCe3shaw78JPftB4NV8G4yWX5rZ8EzMD0pA3PxS03U-TuWodgbR0g34zurzEojzV55D9gt4FBhyphenhyphenq3n-Ai3eY8jflu5xDz_9Q/s1600/LRM_EXPORT_277181031738434_20191103_124543893.jpg"></a></div>
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*this post includes some gifted items*</div>
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fiiiiinally, at long, long last, my bedroom is complete. i say "complete" - though because it's me, i doubt anything will ever really be finished (i like changing things too much) - but what i really mean is: the walls are finally painted, and i have finally been able to hang my many, many prints. i feel like "hanging things" is a real sign of completion in a room, and the morning after i'd finished hanging everything, i looked around me and was just so.. cosy. the room finally has a sense of personality, and is somewhere i now actually want to lounge around and spend time in, whereas before, it was all just a little... dull.</div>
<a href="https://www.imbeingerica.com/2019/11/staying-in-bedroom-tour.html#more">keep reading »</a>being ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01447158394306745621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-774532739233176264.post-50376422030838420872019-10-21T00:00:00.000+01:002019-10-21T00:00:06.899+01:00day tripping to sintra<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3ILilHJ_M1xdUSkn3hP38SUWK9NIYAsng-nxa0SNuYQ7m-X9eBBRT0KNvgy9-noceswvc-JSKlnGX1rAYiSftxiqwCRsiYao4IWpSQzA8aNJHL4nJSwIW6zaFVPQnMjzcdhoe6AWJ_Tw/s1600/LRM_EXPORT_773011749462237_20191014_173954080.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3ILilHJ_M1xdUSkn3hP38SUWK9NIYAsng-nxa0SNuYQ7m-X9eBBRT0KNvgy9-noceswvc-JSKlnGX1rAYiSftxiqwCRsiYao4IWpSQzA8aNJHL4nJSwIW6zaFVPQnMjzcdhoe6AWJ_Tw/s1600/LRM_EXPORT_773011749462237_20191014_173954080.jpg"></a></div>
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on my recent <a href="https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/ericagoestolisboa/" target="_blank">trip to lisbon</a>, there was one day trip i was desperate to ensure we built into our itinerary - and that was to get out to sintra. it's only 25km from the capital city, and is supposed to be one of the prettiest areas to explore while in lisbon, so it was a given. typically, though, we did no planning other than making the decision to go, so wasn't until the day before we planned to head out that i read <a href="https://www.charliedistracted.com/2019/10/day-trip-to-sintra-from-lisbon.html" target="_blank">this post from my pal charlie</a>, telling me all the things i should have done in advance; namely, pre-book train tickets, and get out there nice and early.<a href="https://www.imbeingerica.com/2019/10/day-tripping-to-sintra.html#more">keep reading »</a>being ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01447158394306745621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-774532739233176264.post-6611484542209768162019-10-07T00:00:00.000+01:002019-10-07T00:00:06.835+01:00nine things you must do in sri lanka<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUomihkoWGBpLekI7fS85xA_QUKooIKSQgHagDQorxwWQvXuPwQG-teuiaMnA-gPdzPbrPA1orIQnuw4QHKHhOpRODlcuOcPdpideGpaTa3RhZIK5RcZQWEm3Y54UThQy2WOXXIq5wDV0/s1600/LRM_EXPORT_42878916837727_20190925_135604213.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUomihkoWGBpLekI7fS85xA_QUKooIKSQgHagDQorxwWQvXuPwQG-teuiaMnA-gPdzPbrPA1orIQnuw4QHKHhOpRODlcuOcPdpideGpaTa3RhZIK5RcZQWEm3Y54UThQy2WOXXIq5wDV0/s1600/LRM_EXPORT_42878916837727_20190925_135604213.jpg"></a></div>
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thankfully, <a href="http://www.imbeingerica.com/2019/09/what-to-expect-on-your-first-group-tour.html" target="_blank">my itinerary in Sri Lanka</a> was totally pre-planned for me, so i didn't have to think about what to see and what to do at all while I was there. and while I didn't totally love everything we did on the tour, there were so many amazing highlights that they carried me through those other times, and are the things I continue to talk to friends about now when they ask about the trip. those things? read on.</div>
<a href="https://www.imbeingerica.com/2019/10/nine-things-you-must-do-in-sri-lanka.html#more">keep reading »</a>being ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01447158394306745621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-774532739233176264.post-17483256183999155002019-09-30T00:00:00.000+01:002019-09-30T11:36:36.437+01:00what to expect on your first group tour<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbVxUHe8Ddms1Gkry2AuJJEjjhvrDNBcdXm143J-BRZhw0NyVyUTZ_Enc9h7ETA-gHw0gft_u_5Twueauc0mnZWSNkwrwJ5XtrpWrwVG2S9hz_MPQUJecyyjFoB3lxQ-d90T3n1zbPcW8/s1600/8cbb65f5-0e28-41ca-9c60-57abc1315f01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1533" data-original-width="1150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbVxUHe8Ddms1Gkry2AuJJEjjhvrDNBcdXm143J-BRZhw0NyVyUTZ_Enc9h7ETA-gHw0gft_u_5Twueauc0mnZWSNkwrwJ5XtrpWrwVG2S9hz_MPQUJecyyjFoB3lxQ-d90T3n1zbPcW8/s1600/8cbb65f5-0e28-41ca-9c60-57abc1315f01.jpg"></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When I won a place on <b>Unmapped Travel's</b> first ever <a href="https://www.unmappedtravel.com/destinations/sri-lankas-got-soul" target="_blank">Sri Lanka's Got Soul</a> tour, my first thought was: "I'll never get a minute to myself." My second thought: "what on earth happens on a group tour?!" Now that I've been and done my first ever, I thought I'd give you some insight of what to expect on your first group tour, so you're more prepared than I was...</span></span><br>
<a href="https://www.imbeingerica.com/2019/09/what-to-expect-on-your-first-group-tour.html#more">keep reading »</a>being ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01447158394306745621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-774532739233176264.post-6839716233608495932019-09-11T00:00:00.000+01:002019-09-11T00:00:02.261+01:00a homeware haul at tk maxx<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9-VF1HDODK7UptvljmR9OEksd453TUJDw5wNFyp9EV1xQaLf8uFc_hq8kXANwtVcJlXJTxPKn8R2jGXWiJoBJ5pO4Kuf2rq6Txlox8Qi697TShNN9S17V9sKEChm6fnHa4aDN4NCbpF4/s1600/LRM_EXPORT_29628061544437_20190904_195952801.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9-VF1HDODK7UptvljmR9OEksd453TUJDw5wNFyp9EV1xQaLf8uFc_hq8kXANwtVcJlXJTxPKn8R2jGXWiJoBJ5pO4Kuf2rq6Txlox8Qi697TShNN9S17V9sKEChm6fnHa4aDN4NCbpF4/s1600/LRM_EXPORT_29628061544437_20190904_195952801.jpg"></a></div>
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*contains gifted items*</div>
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i have been a fan of <b><a href="https://www.tkmaxx.com/uk/en/" target="_blank">tk maxx</a></b> for the longest time, but to an unhealthy extent since buying the flat. name me one other store that sells some of the best homewares brands up to 60% less than anywhere else on the high street and i will willingly give up my addiction, but until then, it's my mecca for home bits and bobs. and with the new oxford street store now open (and soooo close to work and easily accessible in my lunch break) - and four whole floors of bargains to be found - i was over the moon to find myself there after work last week, gift card in hand, and a list as long as my arm of bits i "still needed" to be able to have friends around for lunch this past weekend.<br>
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<a href="https://www.imbeingerica.com/2019/09/a-homeware-haul-at-tk-maxx.html#more">keep reading »</a>being ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01447158394306745621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-774532739233176264.post-45505732478899133582019-09-09T00:00:00.000+01:002019-09-09T11:16:10.515+01:00what's been occurrin'?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm9adAVXO8FTSdW_hs_m4-T50gIXDCrC4iAO4x4asx5giXHHKomm44ISIzCjBSus1ZCuxn4Flo0tRKRAw7PeRICH80WtkQ-_ZxOcqToSqHPa-yx7uebApME54tNEayZ3t6cKM8iPCvBFw/s1600/IMG_20190907_082700.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1564" data-original-width="1564" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm9adAVXO8FTSdW_hs_m4-T50gIXDCrC4iAO4x4asx5giXHHKomm44ISIzCjBSus1ZCuxn4Flo0tRKRAw7PeRICH80WtkQ-_ZxOcqToSqHPa-yx7uebApME54tNEayZ3t6cKM8iPCvBFw/s1600/IMG_20190907_082700.jpg"></a></div>
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hello, hello. it's been brought to my attention that i have let this blog slip a little lately, and to be quite honest, it's been some much needed time off. i put so much pressure on myself for a long time to make sure i updated so much of my life on here, but for what? and for who? we all know blogs are on the way out, and as much as i write this blog because i love it, i also am tired of the pressure to maintain it sometimes, so it's been <i style="font-weight: bold;">nice</i> to have the summer off. and also, i've not really <i style="font-weight: bold;">done</i> anything worth writing about lately - buying a flat has shifted my priorities from traveling to decorating, and as much fun as that is, it's more of a visual thingy, less of a blog thingy.<br>
<a href="https://www.imbeingerica.com/2019/09/whats-been-occurrin.html#more">keep reading »</a>being ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01447158394306745621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-774532739233176264.post-78938320426411696072019-08-05T00:00:00.000+01:002019-08-05T00:00:00.904+01:00another look at lewisham's model market<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXKW0GUBzrIvvMM4Z_tmzq_eNqxEgP-1NUnXXGAU8P9U2BShXRYL6VlbRdrPCoQXyc1Fe3H80ErEcKuENcDSQfOForR3GryhL8epB2QXz4UvwWksbVmAqbmzg0I3ejtk3i7AJK8iOv98U/s1600/LRM_EXPORT_492751599071904_20190802_223529782.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXKW0GUBzrIvvMM4Z_tmzq_eNqxEgP-1NUnXXGAU8P9U2BShXRYL6VlbRdrPCoQXyc1Fe3H80ErEcKuENcDSQfOForR3GryhL8epB2QXz4UvwWksbVmAqbmzg0I3ejtk3i7AJK8iOv98U/s1600/LRM_EXPORT_492751599071904_20190802_223529782.jpg"></a></div>
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to clarify, <b>model market</b> is not a market for or of models. it's just the name of the food market. already had to explain that one to my mum... second disclaimer: i was a guest of <a href="https://lewishamshopping.co.uk/shops" target="_blank">lewisham shopping centre</a> on this occasion.<br>
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i've found a local friend! i met <a href="https://claireimaginarium.com/" target="_blank">claire </a>through instagram when it turned out we lived a few minutes' walk from one another, so it's been nice having her introduce me to local hot spots as i settle into the new neighbourhood. what's not so new to me is <b>model market</b>, which i <a href="http://www.imbeingerica.com/2017/08/six-reasons-to-visit-lewishams-model.html" target="_blank">have been to before</a> but not since moving to the neighbourhood, so this was a first of sorts.<br>
<a href="https://www.imbeingerica.com/2019/08/another-look-at-lewishams-model-market.html#more">keep reading »</a>being ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01447158394306745621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-774532739233176264.post-11499775211779284542019-07-22T00:00:00.000+01:002019-07-22T00:00:04.301+01:00staying in: the bathroom tour<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8xp7TgwZ_HzingOFp0eipraS65vzoUfuHazrjV7hYM8uBwsIRmld3jh0oxxp6ObJjdguoX7-DMeTEEFlCabHJqOSeOA5jjG9uD51az_3xKtbyf56u3d0PIzu3z8TtzHX2zHfzLcLoaDA/s1600/DSC07207.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8xp7TgwZ_HzingOFp0eipraS65vzoUfuHazrjV7hYM8uBwsIRmld3jh0oxxp6ObJjdguoX7-DMeTEEFlCabHJqOSeOA5jjG9uD51az_3xKtbyf56u3d0PIzu3z8TtzHX2zHfzLcLoaDA/s1600/DSC07207.JPG"></a></div>
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if <a href="http://www.imbeingerica.com/2019/07/staying-in-living-room-tour.html" target="_blank">my living room</a> was inspired by trips to scandinavia, then the bathroom was definitely influenced by jaunts to the mediterranean and north africa. this room gets no light whatsoever, and was pretty bland and basic when i first moved in; there wasn't even storage in the room for basics, or a mirror above the sink. i'm surprised there was even a loo, to be honest. with the lack of natural light in there, i knew the walls would need to be light and bright to create some warmth, and when i started looking into inspiration, i knew exactly how it was going to come together.</div>
<a href="https://www.imbeingerica.com/2019/07/staying-in-bathroom-tour.html#more">keep reading »</a>being ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01447158394306745621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-774532739233176264.post-30486634308063830622019-07-16T00:00:00.000+01:002019-07-16T00:00:20.427+01:00staying in: the living room tour<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsKjD3luuhu4njy5qbEp4NP6btkO_nZm_r_zHOlE6I65ERcRTnMa-0-2R1DLBZbHJWNQaqQjjZW1jfwOFzt-YL7e3JKgORz_7NFRnj3XR9cFHGz4QAKMIidCq0DXqGXopYxE80MmQAsp4/s1600/DSC07196.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1066" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsKjD3luuhu4njy5qbEp4NP6btkO_nZm_r_zHOlE6I65ERcRTnMa-0-2R1DLBZbHJWNQaqQjjZW1jfwOFzt-YL7e3JKgORz_7NFRnj3XR9cFHGz4QAKMIidCq0DXqGXopYxE80MmQAsp4/s1600/DSC07196.JPG"></a></div>
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i'm very lucky that when i moved into this flat, it was already "neutrally decorated". what that means, is that it was magnolia throughout, and hideously boring. so when it came to decorating, and making it my own, i knew the only way i was going to do that, was with colour. i've also been lucky enough to visit a number of very colourful countries in my life, and so with my love of travel and exploring countries in the back of my mind at all times, i wanted to make sure my true love was well represented in my decor - which is how my flat has somehow become somewhat of a dedication to travel. and the living room certainly takes its cues from trips to scandanavia, with the great swedish design elements, the candy colourings from denmark, and the unholy temperature of norway in the summer.</div>
<a href="https://www.imbeingerica.com/2019/07/staying-in-living-room-tour.html#more">keep reading »</a>being ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01447158394306745621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-774532739233176264.post-4611106289963352702019-07-11T00:00:00.000+01:002019-12-28T17:17:37.499+00:00so, you're thinking about shared ownership<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi026q03SLNwFhPtWTX2u57qBj34ohe0qOVxpLpqcFJzPr_8DFxt9z7M3yMglxKFgKib_BWHmdbGiO95W9zhgAC1Ka5nF5tv6aqaFQiU4KKX5Y_4nFKv-5IVv8kcnDV8YkdRojJFeHYZEY/s1600/a187751c-1273-41e0-80a9-94ab031fd78d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi026q03SLNwFhPtWTX2u57qBj34ohe0qOVxpLpqcFJzPr_8DFxt9z7M3yMglxKFgKib_BWHmdbGiO95W9zhgAC1Ka5nF5tv6aqaFQiU4KKX5Y_4nFKv-5IVv8kcnDV8YkdRojJFeHYZEY/s1600/a187751c-1273-41e0-80a9-94ab031fd78d.jpg"></a></div>
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over the last few weeks or so, i have seen a huge surge in content being published online around shared ownership, and help to buy schemes in and around london. being that this topic is aligned with some rather big changes in my own life, i sort of thought now's the time to finally put together my own shared ownership experience - in case a first-hand re-telling of what's what helps in ways the excellent and informative posts from the likes of my pals <a href="https://emmajanepalin.com/how-to-buy-your-first-flat-and-make-it-your-home/" target="_blank">emma </a>and <a href="http://iwantyoutoknow.co.uk/2019/07/shared-ownership-london-affordable-housing-lq.html" target="_blank">kristabel </a>maybe can't, because they haven't been there themselves as yet.<br>
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it's important to reiterate that this is only my experience, that i'm in no way affiliated with any of the schemes, nor am i offering professional advice. at every stage i would recommend speaking to an expert who can answer all your questions in their sleep - all i have for you is one girl's journey into the (not so) scary world of home ownership.<br>
<a href="https://www.imbeingerica.com/2019/07/so-youre-thinking-about-shared-ownership.html#more">keep reading »</a>being ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01447158394306745621noreply@blogger.com0