As mentioned in my pervious blog it was in fact my birthday on Tuesday, 10th March!

I had a brilliant weekend back at home with my family, even though it was super hectic...

Friday
I got in from the station at about 2am so it was officially my dad's birthday so me and mum decided to give him his presents then, and since I wasn't going to be with them on mine, I opened mine too. I got loads of lovely gifts including Ted Baker earrings (I'm obsessed with Ted Baker), clothes and a fluffy hat which I wore all weekend. One was a joint surprise, we were going 4x4 extreme off roading on the Sunday! Then having afternoon tea in the hotel which was on the same grounds, as it was my granddads birthday that day.


Saturday 
Saturday was spent with my other grandparents as it was my grandmas birthday on Monday (told you it was busy) my mum and of course my dad, the birthday boy. We had a lovely day at Newcastle's quayside having food and drinks at 'the Pitcher and Piano', and looking round the Baltic art gallery. It really made me miss Newcastle as a city. On that night we went for drinks and more food with my parents friends in Tynemouth at Davanti Classico, the food was incredible and it was made in an old train station so the decoration was authentic and really cool.



Sunday
Sunday was an early start as we needed to drive to Slaley Hall in Northumberland, the activities company 'Allout Adventures' are situated on their vast grounds.

If you know me you'll know I'm not the best driver in the world and I have a problem reaching the pedals because of my miniature hight, and they were going to let me drive a Range Rover! Pardon? Are you sure? Me?
The course was really cool, going right up and back down over steep mounds, wading through deep water, tilting the car right on its side and over rocky terrains. It was just me my dad and the guy who took the course in the car. One of the main things I couldn't get my head around was the fact that I wasn't to press the brakes on the way down the hill! My dad seemed to handle the whole thing pretty well although he was going a bit slow but the car wouldn't let him go mad so it think it was for the best. He was looking like he was really enjoying it, and the tongue was out so I knew he was concentrating really hard.

My turn, look out little pheasants Alanna is driving...
It took a while before we could get going as I had to adjust the seat to the furthest it would go and even then it was a stretch, then there was the challenge of just looking over the wheel! When I eventually set of it was so much fun, I think I was doing really good. I was about 3/4 of the way round the course when suddenly there was a big snapping noise and the accelerator just went! (Oh great, well done Alanna, you broke the car) Well your wrong apparently it had nothing to do with me and the car was really old, So there.



The guy had to ring his boss to bring up another car, So there was a bit of standing around but we didn't mind it was only for like 10 minutes max. Then his boss came bounding over the course in a new automatic Land Rover Defender, Brilliant! I thought, while dad got the old slow car I was going to be tearing it up on this faster beast, and by god was it faster! The rest of the course, and extra because of the problems, was epic. I was a lot better than I thought, even if I did press the accelerator by accident while going down a steep decline and skid a tad, it was still really fun! I'd love to do it again, all the staff were super friendly and so lovely.


Afternoon tea in Slaley hall was really nice too, I was so hungry after driving and there was so much food! I love how I could choose my own tea pot, I was expecting it just to be normal tea but the darjeeling was amazing! So was all the food and the scones, oh I could eat them till I popped. The staff were so lovely and sweet too, really helpful and polite.



Monday
Monday day time was spend all day travelling back from Newcastle to uni, I got back at about 6pm and my party was organised to start at 8! My girls helped me with my hair and I knew what I was wearing but I didn't have time to decorate to house but lucky my wonderful housemates bought a balloon and and one of my friends actually made me a home made cake. I also got some lovely cupcakes as a present from Lola's Cupcakes which were delicious! The night was really good, I'm so happy that everyone turned up and it was a brilliant night, even if I did leave at about 1... blame the champagne.







Tuesday
Finally it was my birthday! I woke up, feeling a bit muggy, with breakfast in bed made by my wonderful boyfriend. We then went for a trip to his house in the country in my friends car, as it was sunny and she has a convertible. After I got dressed up, you have to on your birthday, we walked to town and stopped for food and coffee at my favourite coffee shop in Canterbury, The Chocolate Café. Then we done a bit of shopping and went to the cinema.


When we got back my boyfriend has a brilliant idea to use all my sheets, scarfs and drapes to create a fort over my bed with fairly lights and the TV on my coffee table at the end of the bed. It didn't take that long and it looked fab! We ordered dominos and watched a film, the perfect end to a brilliant chilled out birthday, which was needed after the busy weekend.



Its now Friday and I'm really looking forward to skiing in a week!!





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Just a quick post while I'm on the train traveling home for the family birthday weekend. I say family because its my dad's birthday tomorrow, then my grandma's the day after then my granddad's and mine connectively afterwards. Yep I'm 20 on Tuesday! I don't want to grow up I still feel about 15...

Anyway I digress, I was at the station waiting for my late train to London and I was thinking of what I was once told about women traveling alone.

I can't remember who told me unfortunately but I think it was mainly about women in the victorian era... never the less women have moved on from then and we are a strong independent feminist movement, or something like that. So therefore I stress that the tips are not specific to woman, they are just from my point of view, and I'm a woman, so, there.

These are the rules to which I follow when I am travelling alone.

1. Always keep one hand free.
It helps with expected things like doors and ticket barriers and not so expected things also, its always good to be prepared.

2. Always carry a scarf.
Sounds odd but you can use it to cover the contents of your bag if you have one of those trendy bags without a zip or lock. Also if it rains it can keep your important stuff dry, like your phone.

3. Walk with a purpose.
This is mainly if you have to walk at night or your in a foreign place. Even if your just shopping, if you look like your walking with a purpose people tend to bother you less.

4. Don't trust pockets.
Coat pockets are usually large and are an easy pray for pick pockets or just for your stuff to fall out. also back trouser pockets, especially not your phone, you risk loosing it or sitting on it and you know one of them is going to happen. Or you'll forget its there drop it down the toilet like I did... twice, TWICE?!

5. Give yourself time.
For the love of god please give yourself time people! There is nothing worse than running for your train in heels, dragging your bouncing suitcase behind you. I'm the type of person who will arrive half an hour early for everything, but thats because I know what I'm like. My best friend will have a lecture at 11 and wake up 20 minutes before hand ... how the hell does she do that!?

There it is, my five rules whenever I am travelling, which is a lot lately. I'm off to have a frantically busy weekend I hope you have a lovely one too.

Why when we grow up do we loose that voice in our head which tells us to have fun, and gain a voice that tries to guess what others are thinking about you? 

As we grow we become more aware of our bodies and become self conscious of our 'big' thighs or our 'little pot'. Do you think children are worried about that? Hell no. They just want to dive on that roundabout mid-spin and dance to your own tune, Thats what I think life should be.

Now I don't mean go off and throw away your responsibilities. Go live in a blanket-fort and stuff, Nor do I mean be childish and immature to others. I just think it is important to find the simple things that used to make us happy when we were younger like for me it was singing and dancing, my grandma used to introduce me in a 'royal voice' to all her friends, "Ladies and Gentleman...", and I'd come out from behind the curtain singing and dancing whatever I had just learned that week. I still can't go a day without a little dance or a song, especially when I'm in the house and I'm supposed to be cleaning! Its amazing how much it really does lift your mood.

People like Jim Carrey, who are just one hundred percent in control and comfortable with every part of their body, are an inspiration to me as they don't care about wether or not they may look a bit silly because they are happy and they make others happy too. I say this because my boyfriend and I watched his stand up show ("The un-natural act") from the 90s last night and we were crying laughing, highly Recommend if you want a giggle and it also helps prove my point, if I have one... 


People usually describe me as a constantly happy person but I do still struggle to create my own happiness sometimes. Relying on others to make you happy only leads to being sad when your alone, I believe. If you are happy with your own company you will always be happy. Obviously friends, family or your 'other half' can make you happy too, enormously, but that should be an extension of your happiness not your bases.

There is no way we were born to just work and pay bills, life is too short to not strive for total happiness. You should never give up either, find what makes you happy and doing it as much as you can. Be your inner child and just let go a little. 






Here is a list of things that make me happy, let me know what makes you happy, I'm always looking for more things that make me laugh if anyone has youtube recommendations or something. 

• Stand up comedians - Jim Carrey, Lee Evans, Eddie Izzard 
• Dancing - Mainly 60s early 70s music
• Singing - Anything and anywhere even when I'm shopping
• Musicals - Hairspray, Chicago, Legally blonde, Rocky horror
• Funny youtube videos - Cats mainly, or dogs slipping on titles
• Trying on outfits - My own and in store 
• Decorating food - Like cupcakes 
• Making others laugh or smile - Small things mean a lot