Currently | April 2023

It's been almost four months since I last sat down for a catch-up, so I think it's time for a long over-due Currently post. 

Today, I'm going to talk about some of the things I've been enjoying and doing lately. 

Let's start with some books:

Reading

Since the New Year, I've fallen down a Sarah J. Maas rabbit-hole and have been flitting back and forth between the Throne of Glass and A Court of Thorns and Roses series'. Two series that I've wanted to read for years, but have only just got around to. I'm kicking myself, as they're both amazing. 

So far, I've read the first three books of A Court of Thorns- A Court of Thorns and Roses, A Court of Mist and Fury, and A Court of Wings and Ruin, and I've just began A Court of Frost and Starlight after a a little ACOTAR break to stop myself reading them too quickly. I'm completely obsessed with the series, and it's been living rent-free in my head for the last four months. 

A Court of Mist and Fury has definitely been my favourite so far. It's so different to the first book, and completely changed my perspective on several characters (Tamlin's out, Rhys is in, Lucien can get a time-out for being an enabler), but it's one of my favourite reads ever. The trauma, PTSD, depression, abuse, and recovery storylines were so powerful and heartbreaking, and the character development was amazing. The book is quite melancholy for a while because of the trauma and abuse, but as characters heal and so many different things unfold, it turns in to such a funny, flirty, empowering, and exciting read. I loved getting to know Rhys and the Inner Circle (hello, Cassian), and I adored Rhys' relationship with Feyre- especially the way he tries to piece her back together with banter and flirting. Chapter 54 killed me, and that ending! Cauldron boil me, it was so good! Would highly recommend it and the series in general... as long as you don't mind a bit of spice... (Avoid chapter 55 of ACOMAF if you do). 

I can't wait to read A Court of Silver Flames for Cassian and Nesta's story, but I won't know what to do with myself once I'm finished and have to wait God-knows-how-long for the next book to come out.

I've also been loving the Throne of Glass books (perhaps even more than ACOTAR), and have so far devoured Throne of Glass, Crown of Midnight, Heir of Fire, Queen of Shadows, Empire of Storms, and Tower of Dawn. Just two more to go.

I loved the first two books and the Celaena/ Dorian / Chaol love triangle, but Heir of Fire is when it really started getting good, and has definitely been my favourite so far, followed by Queen of Shadows- mostly because of Rowan, who quickly became one of my favourite male fictional characters ever. Sadistic side of him, an' all. I adore Rowan and Aelin together- especially how cute the big grouchy warrior is when he gets protective and starts fussing over her, or later worships her like a queen. (Where can I get one?) The introduction of the fae magic definitely adds something extra to the story, too. I really enjoyed Empire of Storms, as well, though, with so much of the storyline focused on war, I found it a bit slower than the other books at times. But, I loved the Elide and Lorcan scenes, and all the romance and sexual tension building between several couples, and I can't wait to find out if they all end up together in the final book. And that ending! Brutal! Rowan's reaction to what happened broke my heart. I was gutted when I began the next book, Tower of Dawn last week, and realised it took a break from the main characters and storyline to tell Chaol and Nesryn's stories, and that I have to wait a whole other book to find out what happens next. I wasn't so invested in Chaol and Nesryn's POV to begin with and it took me a while to get into as it was a bit duller than the rest of the series, but I loved Yrene as a character, Chaol getting his ass handed to him by Yrene, and Sartaq being so obviously smitten with Nesryn. It was also interesting to see Chaol learning how to adapt to life with his spinal injuries, battling his limitations and his pride, and realising using a mobility aid doesn't make someone less of a man / woman. Despite the unrealistic fantasy healing, it sent a good message about disability, and it was great to have an ambulatory wheelchair user character to open people's eyes to how mobility levels can alter through activity, and that not all wheelchair users are paralysed.

I'll try to post some proper reviews of both series' once I've finished them, but you can find some mini reviews on my Instagram highlights, and more in-depth ones for some of them on my Goodreads.

Another book I really enjoyed was The Stolen Heir by Holly Black. It's the first book of a new duology set in the same world as The Cruel Prince series, but eight years on. It follows Jude's younger brother, Oak, and Suren (Wren), now all grown up in their late teens as they team up with his knight and their prisoner, and travel across the faerie lands of Elfhame to the Ice Needle Citadel to free Madoc and defeat Lady Nore. Along the way, they face dangers and threats, like trolls and monsters made of human body parts, and there's some fledgling romance developing, before they reach the Citadel, where there's lots of shocking twists and turns. I didn't see the ending coming, but it was brilliant. I can't wait for the second book now- and it pains me that it's almost a year away.

Watching

I haven't watched a lot lately, as I've been in a weird funk, but I've been loving Shadow and Bone on Netflix these past couple of weeks. I'd been looking forward to it since I finished season one last year, and though it's different to the books, it hasn't disappointed. I need season three and the Six of Crows spinoff now!

I also recently watched Avatar 2: The Way of Water for the first time, and absolutely loved it. Possibly even more than the first one. It was so beautifully done- especially the underwater / sea creature scenes.

Listening

I'm loving the new Fall Out Boy album, So Much (For) Stardust, which came out recently, and have been playing it on repeat. The entire album is amazing, but I particularly love Fake Out, Love From the Other Side, The Kintsugi Kid (Ten Years), and So Good Right Now. I've also been going back in time twenty years with Linkin Park's Meteora 20th Anniversary release. I've been playing the original since I was seventeen and still at college, and it's always been a favourite album (and Linkin Park era) of mine. I'm enjoying reminiscing about those good old days with it, and getting to hear lots of unreleased tracks from that era on top of the original songs from the album. It's like 2003 all over again.

Playing

I've been playing Animal Crossing New Horizons a lot, and have jumped on the bandwagon and got myself Disney Dreamlight Valley, when it was on sale after Christmas. I haven't actually got past making my avatar yet, though. I've been in too much of a funk to want to play or concentrate on anything new lately- sometimes my brain-fogged head gets like that. I'll have to give it another go again soon.

Stitching

I haven't done any cross stitching since Christmas. I've been so uninspired with what to make next that I've lost my sewing mojo. Hopefully I'll spot a fun, colourful pattern I like soon.

Painting

I recently bought myself the A Court of Thorns and Roses colouring book, and have enjoyed colourising Feyre and Tamlin in the glen of the Spring Court with my watercolours recently. I'm just beginning the second coat, and making a complete mess of it, especially of Tamlin, who is a complete train wreck at this point. I ruined a patch of his hair and sleeve by overworking the areas, and made his gold mask too yellow, since I didn't have a gold paint when I started. (I do now)! I'm hoping I can improve them before I'm finished, but he might remain a bit of a fixer-upper- much like his character. It's going to take me forever to work through the book as my joints will only let me paint in short bursts, but I'm enjoying destressing with it, trying to improve my painting 'skills' (I have none!), and bringing one of my favourite book series' to life this way. It's so therapeutic. I'll post a review of the colouring book once I've painted a few more pages.

Loving

The new book covers for the Throne of Glass series- especially the hardbacks, which I'm currently collecting. The cover art is so pretty, and the books are such lovely jewel colours.

Liking

The Nivea Organically Good Aloe Vera body lotion. I've been trying some cheaper skincare options since the cost of living crisis to save my pennies where I can, and I'm so impressed with how good this one is. I don't think my skin has ever felt softer! It smells so good, it's vegan, and you can roll up the bottle as it empties to get every last drop of lotion out of it. Very impressed, especially considering it's a budget brand.

Enjoying

the extra hour of light in the evenings now the clocks have changed, and all the blossom and colourful spring flowers that are popping up. I love it when everything comes back to life again after the winter. 

Seeing

I recently saw Ronan Keating and the City Light Symphony Orchestra live at the Royal Albert Hall in London, and it was amazing I've seen Ronan live countless times over the years, but never quite like this. The classical music really complimented his voice and they were some of the best performances of his songs I've ever seen / heard. The music was so powerful, I had goosebumps all night, and even got teary-eyed over a few songs because of it. It was such a fantastic experience, and the 65-piece-orchestra was incredible. I've never really seen a big professional orchestra perform before (though Ronan toured with a small one years ago), or been to a classical concert, but I was definitely impressed by what I saw and heard. There were so many talented musicians on that stage, and the maestro was so fun to watch as he was such a character. It's a shame it was just a one-off gig in the UK (with random shows in places like Cape Town and Switzerland), as I'd have happily gone to see them again. 

Needing

I really need to get my hair cut. I haven't had it cut in almost two years, and I'm beginning to look like Cousin It again. Hopefully I can afford a visit to the hairdresser's this spring to get it cut into a more manageable length. I also need to get to the optician's for new glasses (I'm about five years over due), and see a dentist about my cracked molar.

Wanting

About 8929134 books, several of the new Lady Vintage Lyra dresses, a new Vendula London clasp purse (to replace the one that was stolen), quite a few Loungefly bags and purses, a few Erstwilder My Little Pony brooches, an Illyrian bat boy, my own Rowan Whitethorn, a pain free day, more time out of the house, some adventures, a holiday, and a good night's sleep. Not asking for much, really...

Wishing

the two guys who pick-pocketed my purse from my bag at Victoria Station last month get kicked in the balls before enjoying a pleasant stay in hell. 

Buying

Most of my purchases over the last few months have been books. I just can't resist them, and they're the best form of escapism and distraction. I've been gradually collecting the Throne of Glass and ACOTAR hardbacks, and also treated myself to the Illumicrate editions of The Stolen Heir, Ninth House, and Hell Bent, which are all absolutely gorgeous. (I'll try to review those for you soon). I also treated myself to an amazing A Court of Thorns and Roses book tin from Litjoy Crate in the style of Beauty and the Beast (yes, I'm obsessed!), some Erstwilder brooches, and an amazing My Little Pony print smock dress from Truffle Shuffle. 

Eating

I've been enjoying treats in Easter form- especially Cadbury mini orange eggs, and Kinder Bueno eggs. They're so good! Why is Easter chocolate so much better than regular chocolate??

Drinking

Apart from being treated to a Hotel Chocolat hot chocolate after Christmas, I haven't drank anything interesting in  ages. I don't think I've even had a proper drink in about five years. I've not made a conscious decision to quit drinking or anything (though I'm not meant to drink on my painkillers), I just don't tend to drink unless I go out, and it's been a long time since I did that. *Tiny violins.*

Well, that's been my life lately.

What have you been enjoying recently?

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Fall Out Boy Mania Tour Live At The O2 & Other London Adventures

A couple of Saturdays ago, I took a little trip to London with my sister to see Fall Out Boy perform live for the third time, and I had such an amazing time, I'm still buzzing almost two weeks later. I wish I could rewind the clock and do it all over again.

Fall Out Boy have been one of my favourite bands since about 2005, and they're definitely one of the best bands I've ever seen live, so when I heard they were touring again, I just had to get tickets. Typically, when I could finally afford to buy them, they'd all sold out, so I went against everything I believe in, and bought some off a resale website for more than double the price. The hiked up price was still worth it to me, though, because as you know, I'm a bit of a concert addict and the experience always means more to me than the money, plus I hadn't done anything remotely fun since last August. In the last eight months, I'd only left the house for medical appointments and a handful of short shopping trips, and after the year I'd had, I knew a night away enjoying one of my favourite pastimes, and seeing one of my favourite bands live would do me some good. Of course, I was absolutely right.

We arrived in cold, rainy Marylebone around midday, and as we had a little time to kill before we could check in to our hotel, we headed over to Covent Garden, but only did a quick lap of the piazza because it was hellishly busy and Marie was struggling to drag the suitcase over the cobble stones. Covent Garden ain't made for wheelie suitcases, that's for sure. We treated ourselves to some Ben's Cookies (best cookies ever!), and then grabbed another cab to the London Eye, and took a river cruise up to our hotel at the O2.

Whenever my sisters and I go to a gig or an exhibition at the O2, we always take the ferry from The London Eye. I personally think it's the best way to travel there when you're not in a rush because it's more enjoyable than being crammed on the tube like sardines, and cheaper than a cab, and you get to do some sight-seeing along the way. It takes you from Westminster up to Greenwich, so you get to pass landmarks like Big Ben, Westminster, The London Eye, Tower Bridge, The Shard, The Walkie Talkie, Canary Wharf, and so much more, while enjoying being out on the water. It takes about 35 minutes to the North Greenwich Pier, and if you pay by Oyster Card or Contactless, it will only set you back £7.50 each way- which is £2.40 cheaper than purchasing an adult ticket. We used Contactless, and just had to scan our debit cards as we got on and off of the ferry, and it was soooo easy and convenient.

It was cold and wet, but we sat outside on deck for most of the journey because we're hardcore like that, enjoying the incredible views from The Thames. We eventually retreated inside to the warmth, when we lost the feeling in our fingers, and then got off at the North Greenwich Pier.

The mannequins raising awareness of male suicide.

Marie had booked us a room at the Intercontinental Hotel which is literally right beside the O2, thinking it would be less hassle than getting a hotel across the city, and having to travel across London after the gig. It would have been less hassle- if a member of the pier staff we asked for directions hadn't given us the wrong route to get to the hotel. The hotel was surrounded by tall metal fencing all along the riverside footpath, so we had to walk a good mile or two from the ferry around its perimeter before we reached an opening. With my body already screaming at me, and my sister towing our luggage (thanks, human pack-horse), we were both exhausted by the time we got to the lobby. If we'd taken the other route, the right route, around the O2, we would have reached the hotel in minutes... They could really do with some signage, or installing some gates in their fence line.

Fortunately, it was all forgotten when we saw how beautiful the hotel was, went to check in, and were given a free upgrade to a deluxe twin room by the lovely Italian lady checking us in. I don't think that's ever happened to me in my life! We were given a room on the tenth floor, and it was absolutely beautiful. It had two big twin beds with the most comfortable mattresses, massive pillows, and good quality bedding, and a big bathroom with a marble bath tub, a walk-in monsoon shower, fancy Anne Semonin beauty products, and even speakers over the sink so you could listen to the TV in the bathroom. There were tea and coffee facilities (including an Espresso maker), along with a mini bar, and a big smart TV. We also got free Wifi, and had a floor to ceiling window with a panoramic view of the O2 to the left, and the Thames and London skyline to the right. Sure, it was a bit industrial in the middle, but it was a pretty great view and we could see for miles. I seemed to notice something different every time I looked out, and felt really relaxed watching the waves on the river lapping on to the riverbanks. We normally just book a Premier Inn, so that room was such a treat. I didn't have the energy to take many photos of the hotel room, but it was absolutely gorgeous, and the hotel was stunning. It was so fancy, it even had a ballroom! I only wish we'd found time to check out the rooftop bar, and make use of its pool and spa. We're planning to stay at the hotel next time we see a show at the O2, so we'll definitely be checking them out next time!

We spent the next few hours resting so that I could recover before the gig, watching The Big Bang Theory, and eating delicious cookies (and in Marie's case, napping) from our comfy beds.

Our plan was to go grab a bite to eat at one of the restaurants in the O2 before the gig, so we started getting ready late afternoon, and headed over to the arena just before half six. Our hotel had a covered walkway to the arena, which conveniently stayed open 'til 1am, so we made good use of it. When we got outside, there were already two massive queues forming, so we joined the back of one and waited the ten minutes for the doors to open. There was a lot of work being done on the arena, so it wasn't until we got through security (which, reassuringly, is now airport-style) and had our tickets scanned (thank God they worked!!) that we realised the queue had led us straight in to the arena, and not the main entrance to the O2 complex like we'd thought. I still don't know how I didn't realise it- I've been there half a dozen times before, and it looked nothing like the main entrance! #Dumbass. Once tickets are scanned there's no readmittance, so we couldn't leave the arena before the gig, and our dinner plans had to go out the window. We hadn't wanted to watch the support acts, so we were stuck in the arena far earlier than we wanted to be, which was kinda annoying, but we were mostly just annoyed at ourselves for the mistake. We ended up sharing some fries from one of the arena's fast food stands to tide us over, and then headed in to the arena because I needed to sit down.

I'd booked seats right at the front of one of the nearest tiers to the stage (block 101, row H- A-G was replaced by the disabled seating block), and they turned out to be some of the best seats in the house. (Apart from front row, or y'know, Andy Hurley's lap). They were totally worth the money they'd cost me. We had an amazing view of the stage, and it was great to see the show a little less side-on than the last few gigs we'd been to. The only drawback was we had to walk down like a hundred stone steps to get to them, and getting to them without a hand rail was not a fun experience; they were so steep, I was terrified I was going to fall. I had the same problem when I saw Linkin Park there a couple of years ago. I must have looked like a right knob shuffling down them a step at a time. I really wish the O2 would install hand rails, or have stairs leading up from the floor for easier access.

We made it in to our seats during the first support act's set, who were an American funk-pop duo called MAX. I'd never heard of them before, and it's not the kind of music I'd usually listen to, but they were good fun, and we both enjoyed their set. The other support act was an American group called Against the Current, who had a similar sound to Paramore, and I really enjoyed their music, too. It was surprising as I rarely have much regard for support acts, but I'm glad we fucked up and got to hear them. 

Fall Out Boy exploded on to the stage at 9pm with a killer performance of The Phoenix, and they just kept on getting better and better as the night went on. They were phenomenal. They performed crowd-pleasing classics like Sugar, We're Goin Down, Dance, Dance, I Don't Care, Grand Theft Autumn (Where Is Your Boy), and Thnks Fr Th Mmrs,  awesome old album tunes like Thriller, Uma Thurman, Irresistible, and Centuries, hits like My Songs Know What You Did In The Dark (Light Em Up), Save Rock 'n' Roll, and The Phoenix, and heaps of new songs from their newest album, Mania, including Wilson (Expensive Mistakes), Stay Frosty Royal Milky Tea, Church, Hold Me Tight Or Don't, and The Last of the Real Ones. Every single song was amazing; I loved every single one. It was all so good I don't think I could even pick favourites. I really enjoyed hearing Wilson (Expensive Mistakes), my current favourite tune, and all the new tracks live for the first time, and of course, all the classics. I was disappointed not to hear A Little Less Sixteen Candles and Young Volcanoes, though. Their vocals were some of the best I've ever heard, and they played their instruments flawlessly- especially Andy, whose drumming was incredible. I couldn't stop watching him impressively beating the shit out of that drum kit. That little tattooed bearded man sure has stamina. How does he do it? My arms would be dead after one song!

It wasn't just the music that impressed me, the set was also spectacular. They had a runway stage running down the middle of the arena from the main stage, and two raised platforms at the back where they performed several songs halfway through the show. There was smoke, fire, and fireworks keeping time with the music, and explosions of confetti and stringy stuff (yes, that's the proper technical term) being released which looked incredible. The fireworks lining the runway from time to time looked especially awesome. You could tell they'd sunk a lot of money in to the show, and had a bigger budget to play with them ever before.

It was a really fun experience, with the crowd going mental for every song, and everybody singing along to everything. It was the best FOB gig I've seen to date, and without a doubt, one of the best gigs I've ever been to. The only downside was, it was over waaay too soon, as concerts always are, and I didn't want it to end. I would've happily gone and seen that show again and again, but sadly, they only played a few UK dates, and it was the last one before they moved on to Europe. If you're a FOB fan and they're bringing the tour to your country, go and see them! I promise you won't regret it.

I didn't take many photos of the gig and the ones that came out are shit, but I videoed most of it to look back on, so here are a few of the best ones, if you'd like to see them. 

You can find all of the videos I took over on my personal Youtube account, which I mostly use to upload any videos I take at the concerts I go to so I can look back on them from time to time. Yes. I already know I'm a total fan girl, and I'm okay with that.

After the gig was over, we headed out to see if any of the restaurants were still open in the O2. Luckily, most of them were, so we sat down for a very late dinner at Frankie & Benny's. (More for a sister catch-up than out of hunger. The sister was only home from Germany for Easter). It was odd eating at a busy restaurant after eleven at night. I'm so used to living in the country where everything but the pubs and bars are shut by then. I tucked in to cheese and chives potato skins, and a massive portion of carbonara (with added chicken), kindly made with penne for me, instead of spaghetti. It was absolutely delicious, but there was so much of it, I couldn't eat it all. We also treated ourselves to cocktails. Marie got a Benny on the Beach, and I went for a Woo Woo. It was delicious. I'm not actually supposed to drink on my medication, but I figured one wouldn't hurt. It's been years since I last had a drink. Sorry I haven't got photos of the meal to share; it was too dark and shadowy in the restaurant for decent photos.

Once we'd finished our meal, we made our way back to our hotel. I was in so much pain by then, I dosed myself up, stuck a trail of heat patches up my spine, and crashed in my comfy bed. It was a few hours before sleep came.

In the morning, I awoke before Marie, and lay there awake for a while in the dark realising I had numbness in three of my fingers- I must have pinched a nerve, as the feeling didn't return for over a week. The black out curtains did their job so well I didn't realise how late in the morning it was until I checked my phone some time later, and saw it was ten past ten. It felt like six in the morning! We'd originally aimed to be up and out before half eight, to go grab some breakfast, and visit The London Aquarium before going home for our family Easter meal, but I guess we'd needed the sleep.

We didn't end up leaving our hotel until our checkout time of midday, and went in search for an open shop at the O2 for drinks and pastries (FYI, there's a newsagents in the O2, and a Tesco Express out the front), before catching the ferry.

It was another dismal grey day, but it was dry and a little warmer than the day before, so we sat outside on deck again, marvelling at the views of the landmarks, and a random boat with a giant octopus wrapped around it as we passed by. Sadly, it wasn't a real giant octopus; that would have been a pretty awesome sight to see.

I've been to London and seen the sights at least fifteen times, but I never get tired of seeing it all again. There's something so magical and enchanting about it, and living in a small country town, I find the fast-pace of the city exciting. It was weird seeing Big Ben surrounded by scaffolding, though; Westminster just didn't look the same without the iconic clock tower standing out in the skyline.

At the London Eye, we got off the boat and back on to dry land, and wandered down to the London Aquarium to see if we could pay it a visit. The bank of the Thames was swarming with people, and I mean swarming- there was hardly room to breathe; it was hellish. When we reached the aquarium, it was so busy the queues were out the door, and we discovered you have to book a time slot to go inside, so that was another plan that quickly went out the window. (Last time we visited, which must have been over a decade ago, you could just queue and go in, so I don't know when that changed). It was disappointing but I was too exhausted to care. I'm sure we'll fit in a visit next time we're in London to make up for it.

We decided to hail a cab to Oxford Street to see if Selfridges was open instead, but once we got there, we discovered it was shut for Easter Sunday- some shops were, some weren't. Nothing was working out for us that weekend! After an impromptu detour past Buckingham Palace so Marie could see it for the first time, we headed to the train station to travel home. By then it was about 3pm. Typically, after we'd bought our tickets, the on-time train to Oxford suddenly disappeared from the boards, and the next train home wasn't until two hours later. After a bit of stressing and panicking, we decided to get a train to Reading, which had a million stops, and took FOREVER, changing at Didcot, and finally arriving at Oxford after 5pm where our Dad picked us up because the bus causes me too much pain. We arrived home around 6pm, and sat down for our annual family Easter Sunday meal- a turkey roast and all the trimmings- minutes after we got in the door. I held on until dessert, and then finally crawled in to my bed in agony and exhaustion, and have stayed there recovering ever since.

The aftermath has been painful, but my little London trip to see Fall Out Boy with my sister was more than worth it. I'd do it all again in a heart beat, and I'm certain I will. I already can't wait for the next one. I just hope it's not too far on the horizon. I'm having concert withdrawals already!

What's the best gig you've ever been to, or the best band you've seen live?

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October Road Trip Day One: Bournemouth

A couple of weekends ago, I went on a little road trip to the south coast with my sister, Marie, and spent two nights away from home having a little fun for a change. It was my first weekend away- actually, my first holiday of any kind away- since the chronic pain began just over five years ago, so it was a long over due break, and exactly what I needed to put a smile back on my face after a few months of feeling pretty blue.

So, on the Saturday morning, we hit the road, and travelled about a hundred miles down to Bournemouth. When we left home it was grey and drizzly, but by the time we made it there the clouds were parting and the sunshine and blue skies were breaking through. We checked it to our hotel- nothing fancy, just the ever reliable Premier Inn- and after resting for a while, we decided to head on down to the sea front as we had several hours to kill before the concert we had tickets to that evening.

The sea front and the entire area surrounding Bournemouth beach was heaving with people, so it took us a while to get parked, but there was no way we were leaving without a walk by the beach. As it turned out, the Bournemouth marathons were taking place all weekend, and the sea front seemed to be the hub where everything was happening. It took a bit of effort to weave through the crowds to get to the beach, but there was a great atmosphere, and the view on the other side was more than worth it. Picture bright blue skies over a fairly-calm teal-blue sea, with small white-tipped waves breaking on to a long stretch of soft golden sand, with a few palm trees dotted along the promenade, and flocks of sea gulls flying over head. To our left was a view of the (ugly) Bournemouth pier, to our right, green-topped cliffs in the distance, and straight ahead, we could see boats sailing along the horizon. It was beautiful, and absolutely blissful.

I can't tell you how much I wanted to go dive in the sea for a swim, or at least go for a paddle in the surf, but I didn't have the strength. Instead, I settled for a short walk along the path beside the sand, enjoying the gorgeous view with an ice cream- although it was so blustery that half my ice cream ended up in my hair!

After five or ten minutes of conditioning my hair with ice cream, we decided to visit the beach-side Oceanarium aquarium, which is literally just a few metres walk from the sand. Marie and I had both visited the aquarium before, but since my last visit was more than half a decade ago, I couldn't remember much about it, so it was like visiting it for the first time again.

Unfortunately, I didn't get many decent photos from inside the aquarium, so please excuse the quality of the next few photos.

We  spent about an hour or so wandering around looking at all kinds of fish and aquatic creatures, including sharks, rays, seahorses, jellyfish, crocodiles, sea turtles, penguins, otters, and so much more. It had everything you'd expect to see in an aquarium, with the exception of sea mammals like seals and dolphins, which, thankfully, aren't commonly seen in aquariums in England. 

I particularly loved watching the beautiful green sea turtles gracefully gliding through the water, and the open-air penguin exhibit was pretty awesome, too. They have a group of humboldt penguins sharing an enclosure with the cutest little black sea birds with white tendrils of feathers on their faces called Inca terns, which we stood watching for ages because they were just that cute. I believe there's also an underwater viewing area at the bottom of the pool on the floor below, where you can watch the penguins swim under water, but I don't think we went past it- although, I did get to see my first otter swimming under water in the otter habitat.

As  a big animal lover, I can honestly say, I found all of the animals there really fascinating, and I enjoyed looking at pretty much all of them, from the menacing looking sharks to the tiny orange and white clown fish. Yep, I totally found Nemo!  All that I felt was missing was Leonardo Di Caprio circa 1996 gazing back from the other side of a tropical fish tank, but you can't have it all.

The Oceanarium is a lovely place to spend an hour or two, but you'd be hard-pressed to spend an entire day there, unless you're fond of doing laps. I mean, the place isn't tiny, but it's not exactly enormous, either. We saw everything there was to see in approximately an hour and a half, and that included stopping for a couple of rests, and lingering at several of the habitats. After that, we were ready to head for the exit, content with what we'd seen. At £12 for an adult ticket, it wasn't the cheapest way to spend ninety minutes, but we both enjoyed our visit, so we think it was money well spent. If you're an animal lover, I would recommend you pay it a visit, but buy your tickets online where they offer discounted rates.

After leaving the Oceanarium, we spent a few minutes admiring the view of the beach again, watching the surf lapping and gently crashing on to the shore, people strolling on the beach, a few braving the (presumably chilly) sea beneath the pier, cheeky sea gulls navigating the breeze, dogs paddling in the shallows, and the sea stretching out as far as the eye could see, beyond the horizon. I could've stayed there taking it in all day.

With the exception of watching my favourite bands perform live, I've always been happiest when I'm by the sea; I just feel so at peace there- probably because I grew up with so many trips to the seaside and made some of my happiest childhood memories at the beach. I've not been able to take a trip to the seaside or set foot on a beach in over five years, and it's been torture- it's just not natural for me. So, this short time spent looking out to sea was exactly what I needed.

We  headed back along to the lively sea front, planning to gamble a few pennies in the arcades, but it was so packed with people, we walked in and straight back out again. Instead, we sat and people-watched for a while close to where the marathon was being organised. There were runners of all ages, dog-walkers, families, couples, groups of friends, locals, tourists, young people, old people, even people in fancy dress. At one point, three guys dressed as Boy George, Jack Sparrow, and a blond cowboy (a character I couldn't place) came strutting past, on their way to who knows where. It was so random, but the atmosphere was really fun and upbeat, and it wasn't a bad way to spend a Saturday afternoon.

We were going to find somewhere for a bite to eat, but I was in need of a rest, and we couldn't find anywhere with a drive-though, so we bought snacks from M&S, and had a picnic in our cosy little hotel room while watching The Big Bang Theory, before getting ready to go out.

Here's where I admit that the main reason for our road trip was to see Ronan Keating in concert. I'm not much of a pop music fan these days, but I've been a big fan of him and Boyzone since I was nine, and old habits die hard. My best friend and I have been going to their concerts together since 1997, and we were supposed to go see him together in Cardiff in September, but she couldn't make it at the last minute. As I'm too wobbly to go off gallivanting anywhere by myself (though I was very tempted to try), I had to sell the tickets, but eventually convinced my sister to go see him with me instead, and even coaxed her in to seeing him the night after in Brighton, as well! We thought we'd make a weekend of it along the coast. It probably sounds really sad, but it was something I needed to do to put a smile back on my face after a crap year that's included two more diagnoses, worsening symptoms, and barely leaving the house for anything but medical appointments. I needed a good concert or two to help snap me out of my funk, and thankfully, it worked like a charm.

I feel happiest and most like myself at gigs, and before I got ill, I went to a lot of them. It was a big part of who I was (and still want to be), and losing that part of my life feels like I've lost a big part of myself. I think it's the only thing I truly begrudge about my health conditions; missing out on the gigs I long to go to. It sucks. I can only manage one or two a year now, but I'll happily take a gig or two a year over none at all any day of the week. I hope I never have to shut the door on that part of my life entirely. 

We headed over to the Bournemouth International Centre and made it in to our seats in time to hear the last few songs from the support act, a Cypriot solo artist and guitarist called Nikolas Metaxas. He had a beautiful voice, which I found surprising because I rarely find myself enjoying support acts. Or pop music. Apparently he came second in the Greek version of the X-Factor.

After what felt like forever, Ronan and his band, The Shams (made up of six or seven musicians and a backing vocalist), kicked off the show just before nine pm, sending a venue mostly full of grown women in to an excited frenzy. Who could blame us? The man may be pushing forty, but he's still drop dead gorgeous, and ageing like a fine wine. I'm digging the salt and pepper stubble he's now rocking. I think he's going to be quite the silver fox in a decade or two.

The gig was absolutely amazing, and definitely one of his best tours yet. They performed most of the songs from his latest album, 'Time of My Life', along with a few classics like 'Lovin' Each Day', 'Life is a Rollercoaster', and 'When You Say Nothing At All'. In the middle they performed an acoustic set of  four songs which was just gorgeous, and I welcomed the opportunity to sit down and rest, and just listen for a while. He paid tribute to his Boyzone bandmate, Stephen Gately, who passed away in 2009, with 'One More Song', and even added in a rendition of Van Morrison's 'Brown Eyed Girl' before the show was through, which had everybody up singing, and dancing along like crazy. The atmosphere was electric.  Ronan's vocals were some of the best I've ever heard, and his band were on fire, too, beautifully playing everything from guitars, keyboards, and drums, to bodhrans, flutes, and accordions, and more, between them. 

It  turned a bit chaotic during a few songs, after a woman collapsed in the row in front of us. The people around her did a good job of looking after her, but the staff didn't seem to know what to do, holding her up like a rag doll before someone finally went and got her a wheelchair after five or ten minutes. I guess they're not used to people passing out at gigs in Bournemouth. She didn't return to her seat during the show, but I hope she was alright.

Aside from the distraction, having to move out of our seats for a few songs and the people behind us bitching and whining about us standing up (as almost everybody does at concerts; imagine that! *Rolls eyes*), I had a fantastic time, and enjoyed every second of the show. It was amazing from start to finish. I left even more excited about going back for round two the following day.

By the end of the gig, my legs were like jelly, and I was ridiculously stiff and sore, so it was back to the hotel room for me, where I crawled in to my PJs, broke out the heat patches, and crawled in to bed. We watched a movie I've forgotten the name of and shared some chocolates, and I eventually drifted off to dream land, exhausted after one of the most fun and active days I've had in years, and excited for what the following day would bring.

Part two coming soon...