August.

Where the HECK did September come from?! After having a pretty hectic month, i'm quite looking forward to a slightly calmer one where the only exciting thing to be happening is going back to University and Freshers Week, (which after being away on placement for a year I am really looking forward to).

So the first week of August saw me flying to Disneyland Paris with my sister, Sophie and her brother, Danny. Read about Day 1 here, Day 2 here and 3 here.

Then there was the rest of my birthday week. Laserzone, birthday meal, Thorpe Park, Manchester and a well needed lazy day. You can read about all of that here!

Then came a pretty normal week at work doing the usual grafting. Not long after, my Mum, Dad, Emma, Auntie Alex, Uncle Simon and cousins Anya, Natasha and Katrina along with my Gramps John went to the villa that we visit in Mallorca every year. This left me with a free house, so naturally, the alcohol began to flow. I had 2 friends from work, Tom & Nathan (the only ones that could make it) round to my house and i'll be honest, it's very surprising how messy it can get when there's just 3 of you. The night consisted of multiple games of Ring of Fire, Shot Roulette and sitting on my shed roof playing 'Never Have I Ever'.

We learned way too much about each other and if we ever played again it would be way too soon.

A few days later, my boyfriend James and I flew out to meet the rest of my fam in Mallorca for just over a week. Revisiting the villa always feels like going home and I can honestly say it's one of my most favourite places in the world. On our second day we went on a yacht trip and this is when we all (including James) discovered that he is incredibly seasick. We also discovered a natural/man made pool next to the ocean. We all had such an amazing holiday (as always) and yet again i'm sat writing this with some serious after holiday blues. But I still have Rome to look forward to in a few months!

So here's to finding out what September brings!

Post holiday blues.

I had such an amazing week in Mallorca. It was the first time I had been away with my boyfriend and my family together so it was quite exciting!

We stay in the same villa every year and it feels like home every time we go back. My mum, dad, sister Emma, Gramps John, Auntie Alex, Uncle Simon, and cousins Anya, Natasha and Katrina left a week before me and my boyfriend James joined them.

During their first week they went on a yacht trip that went into the evening and they told us all about how they saw the sunset over the horizon.

A week after they left, it was mine and James' turn. When we arrived at the villa, only my Dad was aware that we had arrived (we had told everyone else our flight was delayed). Whilst my Dad took our shoes and suitcases inside, James and I ran around the side of the villa, shouted 'HI GUYS!' and jumped in the pool fully clothed.

We got an amazing reaction and it was so great to see everyone.

One night I was walking back to the villa with my cousin and it was dark. There were few street lamps so it was difficult to see, and for some reason I had completely forgotten about the bright light on my iPhone. But whilst we were speed walking (we were late), my hand hit a cactus that was sticking out of someone's front garden. 

My hand ended up like this;

Natasha had to get a pair of tweezers to pry them from my fingers!

We visited the Cala Egos market which arrives every thursday evening on the main street of Cala Egos. It's perfect because our favourite restaurant is just at the bottom of the street so on our way back to the villa from the meal, we'll mooch our way up slowly looking at all the cute little trinkets and gifts.

It was so cute.

Meet Gary.

He came to say hello one evening whilst my cousins and I were making our way up to bed.

He was tiny!

Halfway through our week, we met our family friends Sharon, Scott and their kids Hannah and Luke at Cala d'Or beach and went on the pedalos. Our mob of 14 people took over the Mediterranean. Needless to say, it was a bit frantic. At one point I ended up underneath a pedalo, fell off another and almost caught my foot in the wheel that powers the boat underneath. The rest of our rabble enjoyed diving off the top of the ladders on the slides, swimming through the fish, bombing off the boats and belly-flopping their way into the crystal blue sea.

One evening whilst making the most of the limited Wifi in a restaurant, I logged on to Facebook and after looking at my notifications I regretted this instantly.

I had been nominated for an ALS ice bucket challenge.

My first thoughts; 'aw crap'.

Second thoughts; 'make the most of the 30 degree heat!'

So here is a screen shot of James pouring icy water over my head.

I nominated James and Emma, so later that after noon they completed their challenges. Emma nominated Katrina, who nominated my Mum, who nominated my Auntie and Uncle. Natasha had also been nominated by one of her friends back home so it was a holiday full of ice buckets!

My favourite point of the holiday, the absolute cherry on the cake, was successfully smack-camming my sister with shaving foam. Here's the video for your enjoyment;

Now I can't wait to see what next year brings.