My weekend in Oxford

Hey bloggers,

I have been so busy recently, I finally have the time to sit down and write about the weekend. I have just spent in Oxford with my friend Jack. Because I've finished uni so early at Glasgow, compared to the English universities, I decided to make the most of it and catch the train from Leigh-on-Sea to Oxford.

I didn't know what to expect in Oxford, but en route, it really was a nightmare to get there. Upon arrival at Paddington, I was told on the train that it was cancelled as a man had jumped in front of a train at Twyford. Despite this horrid news, I had to get off and was really annoyed as Jack had planned to attend a 'formal' at the Trinity College, one of the colleges amongst the others at the University of Oxford. He wanted me to experience of the more posh side to Oxford and its traditions!

Luckily, I arrived JUST in time, with only minutes to get changed and then made our way to dinner.

Jack and I at dinner.

After this, we made our way to drinks that were being held by the Cherwell News. The newspaper that Jack writes for, before making our way back to the room to sleep before the activities next day! The next day we went to walk around the different colleges. Here's me at Trinity College in the day:

And then we booked a punt with Christchurch as Jack attends there (YES! The university where Harry Potter was filmed in the Great Hall!!) 

Punting down Cherwell River.

Jack and I.

Jack punting at the back of the boat.

I had such a great time, as we played music down the river and relaxed in the afternoon sun. 

Afterwards, we made our way to the Great Hall for dinner with Matt, another school friend who attends Balliol. 

Outside the Great Hall where Harry Potter was filmed.

I was definitely thinking of returning, as I made my home on Sunday. Oxford itself is such a small city and we were able to walk all around it. It was surrounded by tourists as they walked around the city looking at the picturesque scenery of the ancient buildings standing that are now owned the university.

Did you do anything nice this Bank Holiday weekend?

Kirsty

xxx

Santorini

Following my last blog post, the ship sailed from Turkey and headed to the picturesque island of Santorini. We arrived at 7AM, and unfortunately, we awoke to cloud. Once on the boat to take us to the island (as this island has no port and so the ship is tendered), it started to rain.

Our ship from the boat, so majestic.

Brandon and I had decided to take a tour on this day with Thomson. So we were the first off the ship. Despite the overcast weather, we were determined not to let it ruin our day. Firstly, we visited the tranquil Oia village, where celebrities tend to hideaway in the summer months to catch the glorious sun rays and wandered around for two hours.

Oia is a village, built upon the cliff and, leading down to the sea, villa's are cut into the rock to make the beautiful getaway spots that most of us dream we were on the days we're stuck in lectures or in the office!

Oia Village.

After wandering around and seeing some lovely shops, I found a book shop, which to much disappointment was closed. 

Such a unique shop, surrounded by souvenir shops.

We then stopped in a coffee shop overlooking all the beautiful sun houses I dream of owning! Here, I wrote my postcard to my nan.

The swimming pools are to DIE for! I am so jealous of anyone who spends the night here.

We had to meet the tour guide back at the church in the middle of the square. It is chalk white and looks stunning when standing against the blue sky.

Wouldn't it be a dream to get married here?

We then made our way to Santos Winery. They gave the group a tour of the winery. Although, it was obvious that most of us had come for the wine and olives they provided us with. We were here for around an hour. I had glass after glass, tasting a white, red, and a dessert wine. I enjoyed the white the most! The sun came out for this part of the tour and it was lovely to sit on the verandah and watch the world go by and watch the boats come into the Cyclades.

Santos Winery.

A picture before leaving.

After this, we returned to Thira, and we were given a coupon to get the cable car back down to the port. Once we spent some time in Thira, the capital of Santorini, Brandon and I made our way back down back to the ship. We enjoyed the rest of the afternoon on the ship, tanning and listening to Top Men on deck. 

Truly, a marvellous and memorable day.

Have you ever been to Santorini?

Kirsty 

xxx

An Evening with Hobbie Stuart

The long awaited day came on Sunday, Hobbie Stuart had finally decided to take a break from YouTube and go on his first tour. He has visited places like Leeds and Manchester already and is yet to visit London and Bristol. He headed north, past Hadrian's Wall to visit Glasgow, and I could not wait for the show!

Despite his popularity on YouTube, I was surprised to see that the gig was not full, in fact, at a push only half full. It took place at the Garage, in a room round the corner. It was small and intimate and it felt cosy to be there.

Due to other commitments, I did not see the support act, although, I don't feel as though I missed much, as I had paid £8 to see Hobbie really and it was only really a bonus that someone else would be performing. I met my friend Laura at the venue and we went inside and got ourselves a drink, before heading the floor where Hobbie would be taking the stage.

How close to the front we were.

When he arrived, the audience were awkward, and as my friend and I clapped, many others did not and so we stopped rather abruptly, without too many people noticing we were excited to see him there! He played a few songs, some I knew and some I did not. He introduced a few of his new songs.

Hobbie with his beloved guitar!

 In between each song, Hobbie spoke to audience, but something about him made me feel that he wasn't really connecting with the Glaswegian's and in his last efforts, he even told the story of how he once visit Scotland and saw a football match there, when he was four or five years old to soothe the somewhat tension in the room only half full.

I was somewhat disappointed, he did not play any of the songs I love, and he did not sing the songs that made him famous on YouTube, such as Diamonds and Payphone. Furthermore, he sang some of his original songs, but not the first song he wrote; When you Wake. This song, especially, I felt had a good sense of rhythm and the lyrics were good. Another song he chose to sing in the Garage titled Put a Movie On, to be frank did not really appeal to me. It was funny but this was a gig to showcase his talent.

For the new fans who have just subscribed to him on YouTube, I believe they were impressed, as they sang along to the covers he sang by Drake and Ed Sheeran, but for me, I always knew him for his unique song choice and originality. Thus, it was somewhat convoluted by the current pop songs of the day. One of the only songs he chose to sing that I enjoyed was a cover of Fast Car.

For this show, I believe he chose to sing songs that the audience would want to hear, and while it's good he is thinking of them, I would like to hear the songs he loves the most, rather than hearing he chose them because they were popular with the stars he covered.

After the show Hobbie announced he would be doing a Meet and Greet. This was a nice idea, but Laura and I chose to go to Nandos instead. I think we were somewhat disappointed, but still glad we went as we got to see him off the screen on our laptops. It was also an evening out!

Waiting for our food to arrive!

Have you ever been somewhere that did not live up to your expectations?


Kirsty
xxx