A quick jaunt to London, Baby!

I'm not really a big fan of big cities and I don't often go to London for pleasure, but recently I had to visit to get my visa ready for my upcoming American internship. It's just so busy and fast paced, everyone is in a rush and it can get pretty tiring, especially if you have to carry your luggage around with you. It's not a place I could ever see myself settling but every now and then I don't mind a flying visit!

When I arrived in Kings Cross Station, they were filming something and there were loads of people around taking photographs. Though I hadn't the foggiest idea what it was, I joined them and took a few snaps. It turns out it is something starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Kiera Knightley so I probably would've seen them if I'd have stayed around! 

I arrived in London in the afternoon and headed straight to my hotel, after first heading to completely the wrong tube station (my fault!) It was really nice, the people were friendly, staff couldn't do enough for you and it was about a minutes walk from Paddington tube station. For those of you that are interested, it was The Cardiff Hotel and I would highly recommend it! I had a nice meal in a restaurant up the road but didn't bother travelling around as I just wanted to chill out before my visa interview.

A cup of tea in my hotel room

The next day I travelled bright and early on the big red London bus to Oxford Street and went through the visa process. It felt like I was in there forever but thankfully, it was approved! I promptly headed to my favourite bakery, the one whose recipe books I use all the time to bake with: The Hummingbird Bakery in South Kensington. 

I chose a pumpkin cupcake - yum!

I headed back to the tube station but then saw a sign for the V&A museum which I have always wanted to visit so changed my plans and popped in there! It was good as I could put my luggage in a locker and have a wander around. It was huge so I didn't get to see it all but here are some of my favourite parts:

I loved the fashion exhibition

Raphael Cartoons - truly stunning

Some amazing prints!

I had NO idea what this room was but I sat in there a while.

A history of tea.

Lights in the entrance

One thing I absolutely must mention is the gift shop. I am obsessed with Museum gift shops and this has to be one of the best I've ever been in! I spent ages in there, but only bought a few nice postcards though I could've bought nearly everything. This museum also had a fashion shop and a book shop, though I didn't find the book one (luckily.) It's worth a visit just for that though in my opinion!  

Sorry about the poor quality of the photos, the lighting was really relaxed throughout which was lovely but didn't make for very good iPhone photos! 

After my lovely visit, I headed back over the stations and had a look around the shops in St Pancras station. I LOVE that place as it has all of my favourite shops; Cath Kidston, Joules, Fat Face, Paperchase and Accessorize to name a few as well as some lovely cafés. 

I had a spot of late lunch in Peyton and Byrne - great food and a much needed coffee whilst a strange man next to me struck up a conversation about suicide which was just what I wanted to talk about over lunch. Not. This happens to me ALL the time. Shortly after that, I found out that nearly all the trains going back up north had been cancelled and all passengers were being advised not to travel. That surely popped my bubble after a lovely culture-filled afternoon. 

I had to quickly find an alternative route which involved running to Euston station carrying my luggage, having to stop halfway to read the free map the hotel gave me. I arrived to find a train I could catch which I ran to and he closed the doors just as I got there at which point I almost cried. I then waited for the next one, getting a great seat but then missed my connection because we were delayed so had to wait a further 30 minutes before I could eventually get home in one piece. 

Things I have learnt: travelling is not always so fun.

Much Love xxx 

Read More

This Weeks Roundup.

If you know me, you will be aware of my strange obsession with cowboys. I don't really know what started it all, I guess it must have been my first trip to Arizona about 7 years ago. The sites I saw in that state felt like another world to me. The obsession grew after my second trip, where we went back to Tucson but also explored Utah - which you can read about here. Anyway, a friend 'tweeted' me this week to tell me about an exhibition in a museum in a city close to us that had my name all over it. The exhibition is called 'Wild West Outlaws' but there didn't seem to be that much going on inside the museum, it was more what was going on outside! Today, they had a live gunfight - which nearly gave everyone a heart attack as they started it off by shooting a rather large shotgun without warning. Everyone was in costume, and there was a Chuckwagon where they were cooking stew on a dutch oven. Here are some pictures:

The Gunfight.

Right before the majority of the cowboys were 'shot.'

The Stew Cookin' Coffee Brewin' Cowboys.

Me, with my Cowboy Coffee.

Inside the Museum.

I love this photo!

I cannot get enough of these things.

We were a bit early to watch the films they were showing so we had a bit of lunch and then walked into Leeds. I went in Cath Kidston and managed NOT to buy a single thing. I hate being sensible.

Other things I did this week were:

I Baked Cupcakes - Vanilla with hidden raspberry jam.

Make my first ever batch of fudge (needs perfecting.)

Saw Die Hard 5 - AMAZING.

I also read a VERY interesting article that I wanted to share with you all. Follow this link to read it. Though the content may not make a lot of sense to my American readers - the message is still important. To fill you in - this week, one of the big scandals in this country being exposed by the media is that companies have been selling some frozen foods disguised as beef when they actually contain horse meat. Though I do agree that it is outrageous, there are more pressing hidden secrets in the food supply chain. I'm so glad someone has taken the time to right this article, because it is not only the content of the food that should be honest, but also the way in which it is produced - are people being paid a fair wage? Are they being forced to work? Are they being treated correctly? Were they brought to this country under false pretence? Human Trafficking IS modern day slavery, and it exists in many different forms. Here is a clip from the article:

'More people will probably have to die before slavery becomes as urgent an issue to politicians as the horse meat affair. A pity, because it is by far the greater scandal.'

What can we do to put an end to it?

Much Love xxx

Read More