Cardiff & River House Backpackers

Since I live a little while from Cardiff, I inevitably had to find somewhere to stay while visiting. I arrived just after 2pm on the Tuesday.


I ended up staying in a hostel called the River House Backpackers. Honestly, I really loved this place! The staff were very welcoming and the whole place was bright, clean, and very homely. £17 got me a night's stay in a 4-person women-only room on the third floor, and it was only 5 minutes from Cardiff Central.


There was even a cheeky street cat there!


A short walk away was Cardiff castle. There were lots of squirrels chasing each other around in the park next to it!


I had nachos and a pint at a Wetherspoons in town after having a little look around the galleries in the National Museum. I didn't get much time there as I had left the hostel later than originally planned due to anxiety.


The next day I got up quite early and had free breakfast! There was a variety of cereals, yoghurt, bread, pastries, welsh cakes, juices, and there were free tea and coffee on offer for the whole stay.


I went back to the museum to look at the small natural history section. Taxidermy birds everywhere!


I also had another quick look at the gallery. This painting was my favourite.


Before heading home I went back to the Wetherspoons as they still do mexican burgers in that one! Awh yiss.


Next I went shopping! I realised I might be a goth as I tried on so many black clothes and only 1 non-black thing...


Spoopy4lyf


Picked a few black basics and also this pleather top. Not sure about keeping it though as wouldn't know what to wear it with and it seems a bit formal for daily wear.

I ended up leaving in the afternoon and getting home at around 5pm. Was awfully tired afterwards, and still kinda am!

Bristol Museum Meet

Today there was a little meet in Bristol! Things didn't go to plan as our host Maria was ill, and it turned out that everyone was really quiet so it was a little awkward.


As usual, I missed my intended bus. But I did have time to take the obligatory shoe shot! My coord was sailor themed, and was complete with sand.


Full outfit shot from post-meet shopping. I had a sailor coat too, but the predicted storm never happened! OP, hair ties, and shoes are Angelic Pretty, socks are Topshop.


We met at The Tea Birds at lunch time, although I ran a little late as I had to return a sweater to Primark. I had a sweet cream tea with vanilla black tea. It was delicious! The scone was warm too. The tea room was waaaay too hot though thanks to the weather and lack of air conditioning! But it was a cute tea room and I want to go back to try out some of their cakes.


Next we went to the museum for a little wander, and there were more derp owls!


Learned a lot in the Egyptian section.


The first birdie!


Vase bird you are drunk.


Fancy printed tiles.


Birds made completely of glass.


Glass barnacle brooch that looked like a yummy donut!


Banksy!

We were all pretty tired though, so we didn't get to finish looking at the paintings before we split. I didn't mind as I wanted to hit the shops! I hope we have more weekday meets soon though as they're so much better for me, and everywhere is quieter in the week too.

Oxford Adventures

After the Kyary show I went back to Oxford with Hayley, as it was nicer and less stressful than staying in a hostel in London.


I had this cruddy Twix Krushem for the coachride back, where a pair of nerds spoiled every damn plotpoint of A Song of Ice & Fire by discussing it at length the whole time.

Hayley had work in the morning, so I browsed Instagram before leaving for town at 09:30.


I decided to walk to town to save money, and saw this cool Red Bull car!


Oxford is so pretty!


I went to the Natural History and Pitt Rivers Museums first.


I feel like I shouldn't love taxidermy, but the birds were so derp that I love them!


I dunno what this is...a beaver I think?


The White Rabbit with his pocketwatch!


Rarr.


So many pretty shiny things!

 And DNA.


Yes, I found more birds in Pitt Rivers.


Lifts are for selfies! Loving my new shirt.


And selfies with dodos!


DERP OWLS


DERP OWLS YEAH


I LOVE THEM DERP OWLS


Owl isn't amused by my amusement.


I then went to the Ashmolean, which was really disappointing. I had to carry my backpack in my hand and it was too heavy, and the painting galleries were shut off. I'm not interested in jugs and stuff so I didn't stay very long.


I did find Ancient Egyptian birds though.


Lots of lovely instruments.


And a tiny Japanese tearoom!

I figured I'd go shopping a little since I was on the highstreet. I made the mistake of trying on cute things in H&M that I really want but couldn't justify buying. I wish I'd just bought them now as they don't sell them locally anymore!


Wear ALL the foods!


I want to be a donut gangster princess =[


Here's the stuff I bought in Primark! Only cost £11 total. There was a sweater I wanted too but no moneyyyy. Oh and the Perry the Platypus was from Poundland where I also bought a cheap and yummy sandwich for the train and some Softmints!


Pretty flowers by the Oxford castle! I wandered around town looking for some grass to sit on to eat food and have a break from my rubbing shoes for 2 hours but couldn't find anywhere at all.


So I ended up on a random picnic bench in the deserted castle grounds hehe.


I was thinking this sushi would be hella disappointing, but by that point I was so hungry that it was like eating the best thing ever!

Afterwards I went to get the train. The weather was so nice out so it was a shame to waste it travelling back home, but I was exhausted and sore.

I should really travel more! I just need a better paid job first orz

Cake & Cider!

It seems like a really long time since the last meet, so needless to say I was really looking forward to seeing all my frilly friends. Low on photos as I didn't use my camera at all and so have pilfered these from other people!



I wore my new Angelic Pretty dress that I only unpacked just before leaving the house (had a stressful morning and ended up being late as the car broke down halfway up a hill so I had to wait to make sure Rob would be okay and then get a bus to town and then out to my house to change and then back to town!). It's called Moon Night Theater and while the pleats are a pain, I absolutely adore it.

We went to Sydney Gardens for a sheltered picnic. I took the muffins I made (I left a few and the cupcakes at my house for my housies to eat), and my finished cupcake-shaped cake.


It was really good to see everyone and meet some new people too! Here's a photo of the group:


After the picnic we went to Number 1 Royal Crescent, a restored Georgian town house. It was kind of interesting, but I was really tired so I struggled to focus on the history.

After all that, we went to our favourite pub - The Hob. Beestings all round! I ended up drinking far too much (and apparently Rob had planned on surprising me with a romantic dinner, but I stayed in the pub and then missed my bus. So he wasn't too happy when he came to pick me up Dx apparently he'd wanted to get McDonald's instead, but he had to practically carry me to the car so we didn't go. Oh dear!).

Can't wait for the next meet, although since I probably can't afford to attend the Alice Day one (partially due to forking out for September's super-meet with J et J in attendance!) so the next one isn't for a whole month. Boo!