[13th – 21st January 2018]
Hello lovelies,
I have now been eighteen for two whole weeks and 2 days but I decided it is only necessary to share what I got up to. Some of you will not be interested what so ever but I thought there is no point missing out on writing about a birthday milestone, especially considering I am now considered to be an adult. All my birthday celebrations over the years have been different and special in many ways but I think my eighteenth ones topped them for sure. With my birthday month being January, I always have hassle planning things as it has just been the new year and everyone is returning to normality from the chaos they have been in for the past month. People often describe something along the lines of January blues, whenever I speak to someone they say I’m unmotivated, I’m unproductive or I’m ill. And I’m like hey, it’s my birthday next week, come dance with me?!! And I can relate to all you January babies, who HATE your birthday month for several reasons. Instead of dwelling on the fact that the day your entered this world was in the most miserable month of the year, embrace it, go excessively beyond with celebrations and surround it with people who care and love you so very much.
13th Jan – One of the best nights
It started off with work, but that’s not all as I had been planning my party for a couple of weeks now and it was a stressful part of turning eighteen, let me tell you that. I had initially invited a fair few amount of people, not many but enough to have a bigger celebration. I imagined what it would be like having us all together, but it did not work out quite like that. In the end there were five of us, I was disappointed that people couldn’t make it but then I thought about how much more personal it would be and the close-nit group was a perfect outcome. The meal was gorgeous, it was extremely busy on the night we went though so they sort of forgot to bring out my cake but once reminded they did which was a relief! As I was not turning eighteen until the following Thursday I couldn’t have alcohol, but we had some drinks back at mine after which was fun. Opening presents, having a cake disaster *dropping the leftover cake*, taking polaroids and dancing to high school musical soundtracks into the late night made my birthday incredibly special, not to mention the friends I spent it with, I am forever blessed to have them in my life.
18th Jan – The day I turned eighteen
A few days before my birthday I found out college was not open as it was an open day so I never had to go to my lesson that I was not looking forward too anyway. As a result it ended up being a very spontaneous day. Mum and I decided to go to get our nails painted and then me and the beautician were having a chat about what good places there are to go out in my hometown!! As it was mums day off work I tagged along with her, whilst she went to the gym – I know so exciting but I did not have much choice, haha. And I spent my time wisely sitting in the cafe and catching up on youtube videos. I just relaxed for a while when we got home and then we went out to Carluccio’s restaurant in the evening. It was lovely food and the presentation there is amazing. Mum and dad brought me my first legal drink, a peach prosecco! Then I had a sparkler in my fudge cake and when we returned to my house I finally opened my presents, as my brother was at school and my dad was at work during the day. Every single present and card I received was so unique and thoughtful. The night consisted of just my family around me and I felt to grateful for spending parts of my day with them, not just today but most the days of life so far have been spent with them.
20th and 21st Jan – Our trip to London
I had been looking forward to this weekend with my family for a while now. When it finally rolled around I could not be more happy with how I spent it. So Saturday morning we travelled to London, and it took us quite a while to get in as the traffic was crazy. After we reached the hotel around 2pm we headed to Oxford street to do some shopping. The lively hustling city is definitely one of my favourite at this time of year, everyone being wrapped up in their hats and scarfs. Although Oxford street is one of the busiest places, especially on a Saturday afternoon it did not feel overwhelming and although everyone is rushing from one place to the next, you feel welcome as a tourist and that is what I like about visiting.
You feel apart of a community, something that not happens in many places I go. It may be weird to you that I feel this way, but I spent a lot of my childhood years in London as my dad worked and lived here, whether it was a speedy weekend up or the entire October half term. I’ve had some good memories – Ice-skating, roller skating around the park, shows, eating out, museums, madam tussauds, getting the best waffles ever, the underground, whatever we did I loved every second of it.
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We wandered around for a while and although it was wet and windy both days it was enjoyable. With Oxford street being a popular tourist destination, most of whom walking around seems to be embracing the city and taking it all in, it just has such a positive vibe despite the mad rush. We checked into Bella Italia as our table was booked at 6pm and I had the fanciest pasta dish, which I advice you to try. We then headed to Piccadilly Theatre as I chose to see Annie the musical in celebration of my birthday, I absolutely love the film and really wanted to see if it matched up in production. Although the seating was not as close as the other shows we have seen (The Lion King, Oliver, Billy Elliot and Charlie in the Chocolate Factory), I had the best evening. I cannot fault the cast and these children are so talented and dedicated to performing and incredibility brave, I could not do what they do if someone paid me a million pounds. If I had not been surrounded by just over a thousand people, I would have been singing along quite happily.
As of Sunday, it was a day of more shopping, although slightly shorter as mum and dad wanted to travel home not too late that evening. I seemed to buy more this day as we knew where we were going and what we were doing. In London you find the largest stores, Topshop being decked out with a DJ in the entrance and three whole floors of clothing bliss, then you hit Selfridges and the Mac counter is crammed with young girls who all share the love of makeup. Then after all this excitement you walk into the Zara sale and start picking up the whole store, trying it on and loving it all and then realising that your bank balance is going to explode when you are queuing at the checkouts (at which point I dispose of half my items).
Not going to lie though, you do feel a little pressured to have the best of the best in London. Obviously not everywhere you go but many places are kitted out with everything and more. Everyone walking the streets is honestly SLAYING and their outfits definitely go above and beyond. But with my rambling said, people work so hard to get to where they wan’t to be and are so lovely and friendly. So the trip ended with us driving through the busy crowds in the car, before reaching the outskirts and driving away from this inspirational and couragous place, after everything residents have gone through, the spirit does not fade and you can see that in the faces of London. London, although you will always be my most distant place to live due to being too busy in my opinion, you will always be a home from home to me.
xoxo,
Safie
SIMPLY SAFIE 