A trip to Venice and other things

So in the dark depths of January, when all we have seen was grey clouds and enjoyed freezing cold temperatures, the thought of getting away and having something to look forward to was just too much, so I decided to book a romantic break to Venice, especially with Valentine's Day coming up. I've been to Venice before and absolutely loved it, however, I wasn't really thinking properly about it when I booked it. Because in February it is going to be FREEZING in Italy. A few hours north and you're in the Alps. What was I thinking!?!

I was actually after somewhere nice and warm and sunny, but I found a great deal to Venice on mybudgetbreak.com so I couldn't really resist it. It's flying with Ryanair (urgh). That's bad enough as it is, but it does also fly into Venice Treviso Airport which is further out of the city than the normal Venice airport. Still a 40 minute coach right into the main area and it will all be fine. I can't really complain when I got the flights and 2 nights hotel for less than £150pp. Bargain in my eyes!

So we are looking forward to this break. It's a little treat for the month of love and it wasn't expensive so we can always look at going away somewhere warm in a couple of months. Maybe Morocco or the Canary Islands? I love Morocco.

So if anyone has any tips for things to do in Venice, favourite restaurants, etc. then I'm open to ideas. Like I say, I've been before so keen to find some of the lesser known places. Someone did recommend a restaurant called Da Rafaelle which isn't too far from Piazza San Marco, and sits on a quiet canal with an outside terrace so I figure that's quite chilled and romantic. So shout if you have any other recommendations.

And at the same time, if anyone has seen any great deals for sunny holidays from London then I'm all ears. No where too hot, but warm enough to sit out and sunbathe and soak up the sunshine, although I've been told that sunshine and more specifically UVA rays are the leading cause of wrinkles and I'm not getting any younger so I've "been advised" to start using a daily moisturiser which offers five-star UVA protection in it. Apparently is was on a documentary not so long ago which went into detail about what the main causes of aging were and how this could be prevented and improved. By the way, it's retinol that you need in your moisturiser to try and get rid of existing wrinkles. I'm yet to try it but it's what all the best dermatologists use according to this TV programme. You might still be able to watch it on BBC iPlayer.

So that's where I'm at, January has depressed me, I've realised that I have booked a silly destination to go to in February and I'm getting old. Bring on the summer when I can enjoy sunshine (with sun protection of course), and things are looking a little more cheerful than dull and grey January. Next year I will be planning in advance (I already am) and will be planning to go away for at least a few days in January to minimise the January blues....or will that just depress me even further when I get back from holiday?

2018 Update On Life

So I thought it was about time I updated this. One of my new year's resolutions and all that!
I've started using Instagram much more now as I prefer pretty pictures and videos to text. I'm much more of a visual person! But still it's great to keep the blog updated right?

So what's new? Well I am still in my job, 2 and half years, which is the longest job I've ever had, surprise surprise. My millennial ideology fortunately doesn't make me "expect" things, however, I'm constantly moving about, eager to learn, which is no bad thing. I do get bored quite easily though so perhaps it won't be long before a new move is on the cards. I love sales because of the extra money I can earn each quarter but being tied to targets is incredibly stressful. Those that have been in a sales job before will know what I mean. Unsure of whether you are going to hit your sales target, working so hard you stay late, spend endless nights in hotels as you travel the country meeting with clients to try and win those sales. It really can be a tough gig. But then you are rewarded for your efforts...

So from the job to the gym. As always, January is the time to refocus your efforts at the gym and I have been doing no different. The long, dark nights and early mornings really aren't helping though. It's so difficult to get yourself up in the morning at 5.30am when it's dark and cold outside. But with my eyes stinging from tiredness, a brief and brisk walk to the gym, I'm there, working out, and it's true what they say, you never regret having a workout.

My luxury stay in London

Just recently I was invited to enjoy a selection of rather luxurious experiences in London.

It all started with a driver picking me up in a beautiful Mercedes C-Class, well-equiped with water, newspapers and it's very own iPad. The journey was short but made me feel like a superstar, especially when we pulled up to the five-star Hotel 41 in central London, located between the Rubens Hotel and bbar and restaurant (amazing meat by the way).

As I was ushered inside and sat down at the reception, one of the staff pushed over a drinks trolley with a lovely glass of champagne for me while I checked in. Highlighting all of the features of this beautiful hotel, one in particular caught my eye, the 'Plunder The Pantry' service, offering a range of snacks to nibble on throughout the day, all of which were complimentary. I was just in time for afternoon tea with some tasty scones, enjoying the rather grand designs of the hotel's lounge area.

After checking-in and checking-out how super comfy my bed was, I headed over to my next port of call, the Mayfair hotel where I enjoyed a (semi)private screening of Suffragette, the amazing film depicting the lives of a number of 'Panks' fighting for the right to give women the vote. Another glass of bubbly, free sweets and popcorn and I was well on my way to becoming a heffalump by the end of the day. Fantastic film, I would definitely recommend it and the Mayfair hotel's staff could not be faulted.

Back to the hotel for a wonderful night's sleep (the best in ages). I always know a good night's sleep when I feel the need to make a note of the bedding information the next morning before check-out. You know, in case I come across thousands of pounds and can start shopping for all this luxury bedding.

After a little lie in, snacking up to my eyeballs and check-out, I took the quick cab ride to the five-star Corinthia Hotel near Embankment station. This hotel is frequented by the rich and famous with penthouse apartments and all sorts. Here, the beautifully designed spa, award winning and voted the best in the UK, was awaiting me.

Heading downstairs to the depths of the hotel, the maze of corridors led to plush changing rooms and a very well equipped gym, complete with chilled water with lemon, coconut water, bananas and protein balls. After a brief (but sweat inducing) workout, it was time to really enjoy myself. The dark and tranquil surroundings of the spa are simply sublime. Sauna, steam room, jacuzzi pool and other water features, swimming pool and finally some relaxingly warm loungers, perfect for relaxing the mind and......zzzzzzzz

Sunday evening - Back to work

Ever think 'where the hell has the weekend gone?'

I think that is me almost every weekend. Monday comes around so quickly and back to work I go, but crazily enough, before I know it, it's the weekend again and time is just flying by. It's so easy to get caught up with the daily grind of life. I've actually started questioning what's the point if you aren't actually stopping to enjoy it all.

There have been a few conversations about death recently. No one I know directly but friends of friends. Someone I know well recently lost her brother. It was tragic. A bit of a shock to everyone but it was one of those situations where you had feared it might happen. She came back from his funeral dazed, confused and questioning everything. And she was right to. Her brother was young, in his twenties. He was younger than me and I still believe I have decades ahead of me. But it ultimately comes down to the fact that you can be taken away at any point, and actually you shouldn't get caught up in day-to-day life. You should live for today.

It's a phrase I've always believed but never really appreciated until recently. With age comes these types of situations and it does make you question things. But it's happened a little too much recently and it's started me thinking and reminding myself a lot more that today is your life. Yesterday has been and gone, there's nothing you can do about it. Tomorrow may never come. So actually today is your life. What if you didn't wake up tomorrow? Would you be happy with what you have achieved today, let alone in the past week? Maybe, but maybe not.

It's a bit deep and meaningful but I am in one of those contemplative moods. I'd much rather be enjoying myself than simply having to get through each day. Possibly looking forward to a holiday that I've booked, or simply the weekend. But what do I do with my weekends? Probably not as much as I should. My problem, however, is a lack of cash? Up to my eyeballs in debt that I really need to get myself out of, and I'm working hard to get out of, but my prospects for enjoying an easier life are limited until I don't have this debt hanging around my neck.

Just some food for thought....

It's 2016...where have I been?

Wow, so it's been a very long time since I last updated my blog. So much has happened and I have so many stories to tell, however, I think I will have to tell them gradually over time as it would just be too much to read if I put it all in this one blog post.

So where am I now? Back in London (I've moved around a lot). Central London actually, which is amazing. I can walk to town, my commute is only 40 minutes door to door (although I wish I could walk to work), and the best part is that my weekly Sunday morning run takes me right along the river Thames, from Westminster Bridge, all the way down to London Bridge and back. Early in the morning when the sun is rising over East London and Canary Wharf, the views are absolutely stunning.

I'm working in the travel industry (I won't tell you where) but I'm enjoying my job....to an extent. Well, no one 100% loves their job do they. That's why we get paid for doing it, although working in the travel industry does have it's perks.

I've visited some incredible places. Had a blast on the beautiful beaches of Thailand. Saw the Hollywood sign in Los Angeles. Chilled out by the pool at a five-star resort in Tenerife. Saw a stunning wedding underneath the Cherry Blossom in Tokyo. And so much more. And the best part of it all is that I've got plenty of trips to come in 2016. This year was supposed to be the year of working hard, paying off debt and getting on the property ladder. I'm not so sure anymore but I'll still try and get out of debt. The problem is that sometimes, some of the deals I find are just too good to miss. Cheap flights to Thailand, utilising Nectar points for flights to Tenerife (that's another blog post), and collecting free hotel nights because I stay so often with work.

So watch this space and I'll (try and) keep my blog updated again.

Yet another one of my cheap weekend breaks.....

Today I have been researching my next weekend away and I think I have decided on Scotland again. I love it so much up there and my last break was incredible, climbing Ben Nevis and camping in the Highlands. There’s nothing like heading into the great outdoors and explore nature at its best. My friend and I had searched on mybudgetbreak for cheap weekend breaks to Scotland and we managed to do it on a budget. Sleeper coach to Scotland, camping for accommodation and the odd train here and there made it quite a cheap holiday. This time, I’m determined as ever to get up there again on a budget, only this time, I want to head to Arran, one of Scotland’s incredible islands off of it’s West Coast.

Airline taxes - a government ploy?

I've been focusing on a few other different things recently and not spending enough time on my blog. There's so much going on at the moment but I've finally got round to finding time and writing a post.

As a quick update, I started at the gym (woohoo), although I went in the other day and one of the regulars was joking that they needed to focus their attention on the rats and cockroaches instead of a silly school promotion that is currently running. Needless to say, I won't mention the gym by name as I have still have 12 months left with them! Still it does what I need it to.

I've been travelling around everywhere recently, both for meetings and pleasure. There's so many amazing places in the UK. I just wish I had time to get out there and see it all. I was having a discussing with a friend the other day about the state of the aviation industry in the UK and how ridiculous it is. With the highest taxes in the world, it makes me wonder if it's a ploy by the British government to try and keep people staying in the UK for their holidays and spending their money in the UK to help the economy. It wouldn't surprise me anyway.

The problem is that you only pay one set of expensive taxes when you go abroad. If, however, you are flying within the UK, say London Heathrow to Glasgow, for example, not only do you have to pay for it when you depart Heathrow, but because Glasgow is still in the UK, if you fly back, you have to pay the ridiculous taxes again.

I always wonder whether there is anything the UK public could do as a stand against such high taxes, apart from simply not flying of course. For many though, it's just not the case and we all still have to fly for whatever reason. If you've seen an online petition or anything against APD and similar government taxes, let me know and I'd be happy to promote it. Anything to help us get away on holiday for less money. I often feel that I save up my money only to simply pay it to the government in one way or another.

Anyway rant over...