40. Visit 40 cities in the UK (Part 3)

Despite doing a lot of travelling with my work, I was scrolling through a list of cities and saying "yes" or "no" against the places I've been and I came across the next place in my list:

26. Leeds - Back in 2008 the National Hospital Radio Awards was held in Leeds and I had submitted my first 5-minute reel for Female Presenter of the Year which had been shortlisted. A little group of us headed up to Leeds for the weekend and explored the city before the awards ceremony. It was very nerve-wracking knowing I had been shortlisted and waiting through the list of awards being announced one by one, getting closer and closer to the announcement. And then, it came around, Female Presenter of the Year - snippets of all entries were played out. Then, the bronze award was announced - I began to think that I couldn't possibly have beaten that entry. Then, the silver award...LAUREN RICH at RADIO NORTHWICK PARK. I couldn't believe it. I was sure that I hadn't got into the top 3 - the competition was fierce. I came 2nd again in 2009 in Blackpool.

Me with my award and certificate

My lovely glass award which I was only allowed to keep for a couple of weeks

27. Chichester
28. Canterbury
29. Coventry

Three cities beginning with C all in August. Driving around Canterbury was an interesting experience.

30. Leicester
31. Stoke-on-Trent
32. Southampton

Our Southampton journey was tied in with a red jet journey across to the Isle of Wight which was my first trip there.

A little bit of "old" Southampton

33. Salisbury
34. Worcester
35. Nottingham

A view of Salisbury Cathedral

Five more cities to go!

20. Take 40 photos of interesting tattoos (Part 3)

I can't believe how amazing some of the following tattoos are - so beautiful and arty. I would still never have one done but I admire those people who do and am intrigued by certain choices they make.

There are six more tattoo photos in this blog bringing the total to 36.

Number 31. This was quite an interesting and slightly creepy tattoo. I was at the wedding of some friends of ours and I saw that someone I knew from the music scene (who was also a guest) had this on her arm. I can't remember the relevance now (as I took this photo in October 2015) but it's of the grim reaper/skeleton as a baby in a pram. I'm sure there was significance but I think it would be too weird to ask her now.

The grim reaper baby

32. This photo was taken on 27th November 2015 at a gig featuring Nizlopi and The Moulettes. The tattoos were on the arms of a dedicated Antonio Lulic fan. They are the lyrics to the song "Hey, It's Okay" featuring Kal Lavelle on backing vocals. Go check out the song.

Hey, it's okay!

33. I went to the birthday party of a friend and I was talking about the tattoo part of my 40 list to a friend of mine, Claire Hagen. She said she had a tattoo of Edie Sedgwick and I replied "who's that?" (being the uncultured person that I am). Apparently, she was and actress, fashion model and Andy Warhol's muse. This is such an amazing tattoo - it looks like a portrait.

Andy Warhol's muse - Edie Sedgwick

34. This is on the back of my very good friend Minnie Birch (a superb singer/songwriter). I have been friends with her for ages but I had only just noticed this tattoo because of the dress she was wearing at this particular gig we were playing at Merlin's Cave in Chalfont St Giles. It's obvious why she chose to have a guitar tattoo being that this is one of the many things she is superb at.

A beautiful guitar surrounded by flowers

35 and 36. These are tattoos on the arm of a former colleague of mine - these are all around the one arm. I love the cartoon feel of the artwork, the vibrant colours and the shading. There is such intricate details on the snowflakes side of her arm. Also nice use of purple (my fave colour) on both sides of her arm!

One side of the arm

The other side of the arm

 FOUR MORE TATTOOS TO GO!

30. Learn Dutch (Part 2)

I completed the app! Gosh, it's just like a game! I got a gold cup with the Dutch flag as a scarf around it. Very exciting. It took me 297 days...that was with a few streak freezes though, when I forgot to do my lesson or was too tired before bed.

Ta dah!

I came across a few other amazing phrases which have been used since:

This comes in very useful when trying to speak Dutch to Mathijs and his family

A lovely "Finding Nemo" inspired quote

Purple is my favourite colour!

I have to say this to Mathijs all of the time

I'm really starting to understand the structure of some sentences. The conditional lessons are quite difficult and there are a few other subjects which keep frustrating me but it's all a learning curve - that's the point of me learning Dutch!

The only question Mathijs asks me in Dutch is if I slept well and I reply "Ja, ik heb goed geslapen" (even if I didn't as this is currently the only response I know).

The levels "ungold" themselves if they haven't been done in a while so there are always opportunities to refresh my learning every day.

Onwards and upwards...to 365 days, perhaps?

40. Visit 40 cities in the UK (Part 2)

Four months into my new (not-so-new) job now and really enjoying the challenge. My love of spreadsheets and OCD has put me in good stead. It's been interesting travelling around the country with my Clinical Lead, Rob.

Continuing with my city visits, here are a few more I've done over the past four months where I've never been before.

15. Oxford - I went to observe another Project Manager in action before I started my own Trust visits. This was an Oral & Maxillofacial visit. I'd got off the train at Oxford Parkway which was practically dormant but going to Oxford city station to head to Hereford was an absolute nightmare. I thought London traffic was bad. It was so awful that I missed my train and had to wait an hour for the next. Luckily my ticket was still valid. Nice city to look at though. This month we did our own visit to Oxford.

16. Hereford - This is where I was heading after the Oxford visit. This was to observe another Project Manager on an Ophthalmology visit. Stayed in a very quaint Guest House (which is where I will probably book when Rob and I have our trip to Hereford. Didn't get to see a huge amount of the city but had a very nice dinner there and the sun was shining the following day, so #winning.

17. Norwich - The first of my Trust visits. I got up at ridiculous o'clock in the morning to drive there but actually the traffic wasn't bad. However, travelling in an easterly direction first thing in the morning was not fun for my eyes - the sun constantly in my face! This is where I also met Rob for the first time. Following the meeting I found a quick little geocache around the corner before heading back home.

18. Plymouth - Tiring train journey but lovely views on the way. Stayed in a Travelodge and Rob said "we can do better in future"! The locality of the hotel was pretty good as it was a stone's throw from the hospital. Had a nice meal with Rob when he arrived, at the pub across the road from the hotel. I think where we were was slightly outside of where the city centre was and didn't get to see much of the coast apart from when I was on the train.

19 & 20. Newcastle-upon-Tyne & Durham - We did both of these visits in one day although made our way from Southport to Newcastle the night before. Our morning visit was actually in Gateshead but we had to get there from Newcastle so that counts. I took a photo of the bridges coming into the station. I can't believe on the journey between the two in the cab I missed spotting the "Angel of the North". I was too busy looking at the route the driver was taking! The weather was also abysmal. 

The bridges in Newcastle

21 & 22. Derby & Bradford - Two others done in the same day. Early start to travel to Derby. Visit done and then headed to Bradford for the afternoon.

23. Lincoln - Another hospital visit - travelled up the night before. Interesting city - reminded me a little of York. The cathedral looked amazing and it was right opposite the hotel we were staying in. I got to Lincoln and thought I would get an Uber to the hotel. Opened the app - no Ubers!!! This is a city...in the UK...no Ubers? Apparently, the city council banned Uber. I managed to call a taxi from a number I saw on the side of one of the taxis that had driven into the station forecourt. The taxi driver told me that Uber had been banned but also that black cabs HAVE to be black (no ads and no other colours). Mini cabs can be any colour but NOT black. Uber were told if they wanted to work in Lincoln it would have to be from an office base - we know this is not how Uber works!

Outside the station (not a prison camp)

Lincoln Cathedral

24 & 25. Sheffield & Wakefield - Visited these two places in one day. Travelled to Sheffield from Macclesfield the evening before. We checked into the hotel and decided to head into the city centre to grab a bite to eat. The Uber driver was giving us a guided tour and eventually dropped us in the centre at the cathedral. The city was dead! Hardly anyone around; no hustle and bustle; no noise. The city is usually filled with students but they were all probably out with their parents preparing for graduation the following day. We got a good deal at the sushi restaurant we had found in the city, had a wander around afterwards and then went back to the hotel. Headed to our meeting the following morning to the Jessop Wing at Royal Hallamshire Hospital and had a meeting in a very big lecture theatre. Wakefield in the afternoon was more of a dash into Wakefield Kirkgate, get to the hospital, and then get home from Wakefield Westgate. At least we got to visit both stations!

Sheffield Cathedral

15 cities to go! This is going to be a piece of cake. 

39. Drive a European car in Europe

I've always felt a little reluctant to drive in another country - the other side of the car on the other side of the road. I'm a very good driver so I should, theoretically, be a pro!

This year, in August, I will have been driving for 20 years...yes, 20!!! Every time I've been to The Netherlands I've been told I should try to drive the car in Makkum - the roads are quiet but I've chickened out at the last minute. Instead I've watched Matheus' parents and sister drive, all the while watching and trying to build up some confidence; after all, it will be their car I will be driving. The good thing about driving in The Netherlands is that the driver is insured to drive any car whereas in the UK it's the car that's insured.

I finally mustered up the courage to drive the car this month when we had a lovely weekend in Makkum celebrating Matheus' Mum's 60th. It was just Matheus and I in the car and Matheus was filming.

One thing you can take away from this; the Makkum resort is so lovely!

Thanks to Matheus for filming and to his parents for the use of their car.

14. Donate £40 a year to charities (Year 5)

So, since my last blog about this which was a year ago I have donated a fair bit - not only in monetary terms but in time too.

6th July 2016

I donated £10 to John Parker (from Nizlopi) because his brother and sister took part in a memory walk for the Alzheimer's Society in Birmingham on 11th September 2016. 

1st August 2016

My lovely friend Martin Williams decided he was going to take part in the London to Brighton cycle ride for NSPCC also on 11th September 2016. I donated £15.

Amazing fundraising!

29th August 2016

My friend, Laura, gave birth to Aidan 3 months' early. It was a hard time for her and her husband, Gavin. So, to honour Aidan's first birthday on this date they wanted to raise money for Bliss - a charity for premature and sick babies. I immediately headed to the link and donated £10.

He's so cute!!

18th September 2016

My friend Marion likes a charity walk! She's very generous with her time and her feet. She completed the MS Walk on 25th September 2016 for Multiple Sclerosis Society. I donated £10 but she and her friend, Emma, managed to raise well over £500.

MS Superhero Marion - doesn't even look out of breath

So, at this point I had already donated over £40 but I didn't stop there.

23rd September 2016

Jeans for Genes Day - that was also the day I found myself with my first, new, crisp £5 note. So, what did I do? Put it straight in the donation bucket at the building where I worked.

2nd November 2016

I donated £10 to my bass player, Carl, when he decided to grow a mo for Movember. Movember raises money for testicular cancer research. 

Great moustache, Carl

18th November 2016

Children In Need - I donate £10 to them every year - without fail. I seriously can't watch some of the videos without crying. Last year I got the opportunity to sit in a pre-recording of part of the show. Luckily I didn't have to travel far - Elstree Studios.

16th December 2016

I think that the work Macmillan do is incredibly important. I have donated a lot to this charity in the past. I was saddened at the news of my friend, Ray's, brother's passing the day before. They come across as a very close family so this must have been a massive heartache. I made a donation of £10 to the charity in his memory. 

30th May 2017

Just yesterday I made a donation of £5 to Macmillan for an eCard for my friend, Nicole's birthday, in memory of her late mum, Pamela. I wanted to do this rather than get a card from a shop as I thought it would mean more to her.

Another year of donations, totalling £85, for worthy causes. 

As well as donating money to charity, I also donated my time to Crohn's & Colitis UK by organising a live music night on World IBD Day - Friday 19th May. I selected some acts who had donated tracks to the No Bum Notes charity albums to perform at The Flag in Watford. Massive thanks to Adrian Roye, Minnie Birch, Zoe Konez and Tom Craven for being so awesome donating their time and music to the cause as well. The night raised a grand total of £233 and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. I even got a thank you from the charity, below. You can view videos of certain performances here - go ahead and "Like" the page while you're there.

Thank you letter

29. Post 40 online reviews (Part 2)

I've posted three more reviews since the last time I posted about doing online reviews (September 2016).

Matheus and I did a cheese-making course which was a present from his siblings but they'd bought it for two people. We chose to go to the Bishop's Stortford class as it was the nearest. Once there, we learnt how to make ricotta, mozzarella, paneer, cream cheese and goats cheese. There were other couples in the class as well. I made the goats cheese and Matheus made the cream cheese. We had to make soft cheeses because hard cheeses take too long to make and mature. We also got to make focaccia bread with rosemary and tomatoes to eat with the cheese at the end.

We really enjoyed the class and we were asked at the end to do a review if we didn't mind. I'd never really thought of posting reviews of courses online but I thought I would.

Read my review here (sorry didn't take any photos). 

My fourth review was of another course which I received as a present from my birthday from Matheus' parents - CHOCOLATE MAKING! I only just got around to doing the course at the beginning of this month. I was so looking forward to learning how to make truffles and was hoping they would show us how to temper chocolate as well. Unfortunately, there was no tempering involved but the truffle-making was so easy. There was no spoon-licking allowed in this class! This was a very strict rule. It felt like such a waste wiping it on kitchen towels!!! First we had to make a slab similar to Hotel Chocolat but make a shape - the most original would have won a prize. Then we made our truffles. I wish I'd used more fudge to bulk them out but they tasted good anyway. The review can be found here.

My Star Slab

My truffles

We actually have people coming around for tea tomorrow (Bank Holiday Monday) so I've made these bad boys!

Truffles for tomorrow
Top Row - Dark Chocolate, Rose Water and Raspberry
2nd Row - Dark Chocolate, Peppermint & Mint Chips
3rd Row - Dark Choc, Orange, Popping Candy & White Choc Drizzle
Bottom Row - Milk Chocolate with Dark & White Drizzle

Anyway, back to the reviews. The following weekend we went to York (finally). It was almost as I remembered it as a kid. It was so much fun going to all the same places again and new places as an adult. We had pre-booked a lovely looking bistro before the weekend, which overlooks York Minster. The meal was exceptional. Due to my food issues they were really supportive and couldn't do enough for me. I like this restaurant so much that I'm making sure to come here with my work colleague the night before our York Hospital visit! You can read my review here.

Upon writing these reviews I obtained three more badges. One of these is the "Senior Reviewer" because I've posted five reviews. Once I've done 10 reviews I'll be a Contributor, 20 and I'll be a Senior Contributor and 50 will make me a Top Contributor. I guess I'll have to carry on after 40 then.