April Verbs

My twitter bio ‘Nomad with a Heart for Home’ has never been more apt.  Beautifully settled into our gorgeous new flat, I already had itchy feet.  So what happened?  We toodled off to Paris with less than a weeks’ notice.  It’s not that I don’t LOVE my flat, I do, so much.  I love everything about it, I love being in it, I love making it a home.  I think I just love the big wide world a bit more.  Here’s what I got up to in April:

Watching: Jackass

I’m not entirely sure how this happened.  We were settled down with our dinner, cruising over Netflix without the drive or determination to watch anything serious.  ‘Jackass 3D’ on ‘Most Popular’ – meh, why not?  We were laughing and rolling and drinking and before I knew it I’d ordered a skateboard.  Fast forward two weeks and we’ve watched all 5 films back to back … twice.  Oh, and I’ve pretty much fallen in love with Bam Margera.

These Boys.

Reading: ‘Be Careful What You Wish For’ – Jeffrey Archer

Also known as Volume 4 of the Clifton Chronicles .. Archer’s latest literary (for young adults) masterpiece.  No, I love it I really do.  I’m not quite sure how I stumbled upon the Clifton Chronicles.  All I know it 4 books in I’m so wrapped up in their lives, in their hearts, in their stories the characters feel like family.  Archer writes with a hunger for you to turn the next page, so you do … again and again.  Just read it.

The Clifton Chronicles.

Listening To: 4Music

I’ve ordered an Ipod.  Stupidly, said Ipod was ordered just before the crazy long Easter bank holidays leaving me with zilch music (and I must admit, I’m a little bored of Spotify Top Lists) thus resorting to 4Music.  The TV channel offers a good mix of shows, genres, battles and interviews.  It’s just a shame about the adverts.

4 Music

Wearing on my body: Tye-Dye Vans

This April, I turned 22.  It wasn’t a particularly momentous occasion.  Not like last year’s incredible trip to the boutique Bath spa hotel.  No, this year I lay on my new sofa in my new flat, swigging champagne watching ‘The Sound of Music’ whilst boyfriend brought me bagels.  Anyway, a week after my Mum and I went on a wee shopping trip to Westfield to spend our monies (her birthday falls a week before mine).  I knew I had a £50 cheque in the bank so as we walked into Office and spotted these for bang on the money, I just knew I had to get them.  The kind of frivolous purchase that’s over in 5 minutes … but I’m oh-so in love, and they definitely caught a few eyes walking me around Paris.

Utter. Beauties.

Wearing on my face: Nothing

So maybe I’m a bit late to the #nomakeupselfie party.  I did however do a pretty gnarly FB post having a rant and rave about THIS post from 4 years ago.  (https://bellasbits.wordpress.com/2010/02/23/why-i-dont-wear-make-up/)  I think I might have ruffled a few feathers.  This month my skin has been particularly bad so I decided not to encourage it further.  I’ve been wiping off the make-up and feeling clear and free skin from the get-go.

Holly looking BEAUT make-up free.

Eating: Café Rouge

Maybe this is why we decided to go to Paris in the first place.  My family collect Café Rouge vouchers with Tesco Clubcard and its always a good place to go with a lovely atmosphere, any time of the day.  My breakfast favourite would be Oeufs Royale and you just cannot beat the Goats Cheese Salad.

Cafe Rouge.

Drinking: Gordon’s

Boyfriend treated me to a big bottle of this yummy gin for our growing cabinet when it was on offer in Tesco (charmer).  I forget how refreshing it is with lemonade, lots of ice and a slice of cucumber.  Lovely!

This.

What did you get up to this April?

Steps at the O2

Steps.  My childhood love.  My dream was to be able to cook like Claire (kind of LOL looking at her now), dance like Lisa (think I achieved that one) and have dreadlocks like Faye (not yet…).  I wanted to be as funny as H and just wanted to marry Lee.  To see them ten years on, knowing what I now know about them was just insane.

The evening itself was beautiful.  I took the day off Uni to travel up to London with the Ma, to hit the shops (where I bought a BEAUTIFUL maxi dress for two weddings I’m hitting up this summer), eat, drink and laugh.  Eat, drink and laugh we certainly did.  Eat: Cafe Rouge, one of my favourite places to eat in the world.  French food is the bomb.  Drink: Pinot Grigio, in large quantities.  Laugh: at pretty much everything.

Stumbling to our seats a few hours later we were buzzing, on top of the world, not just the O2.  Cue fireworks, lights, dancers, screaming, flashes.  Uh-maz-ing.  Here and Now, One for Sorrow, Tragedy, 5,6,7,8 … the works.  But not only that, they decided to do solos (a perfect opportunity to sprint, and I mean sprint, to the ladies).  Lee did Moves like Jagger; pretty standard I have to say.  Faye, One Night Only from Dreamgirls, actually really good!  H sung Don’t Stop Believing.  Predictably and Autotuned.  Lisa sang her 2000s hit ‘Lately’.  I’m thinking of a nice word for terrible.  And I’m failing.  But Claire, wow.  Just wow.  She sang ‘I Surrender’.  Absolutely beautiful.  She didn’t need any theatrics.  Just her, in a beautiful gold mermaid dress commanding the stage, commanding all 14,000 of us.  Outstanding.  Here’s a recording I found.  If you just listen to ten seconds of it, you will see what I mean.

So in short, amazing.  I came away happy, on top of the world, with a severe lack of voice left.  I know Steps aren’t the band I grew up with, but were they ever?  I’m sticking with yes.  I don’t care about the one night stands or the tour bus catfights or who got fat and who got pregnant (I’ve watched their reality show FAR too much.)   I care that their songs make me happy, make me smile and gave me one of the best nights of my life.  Incredible.