The other week I went to visit two of my friends that live in Germany. It's true that as we get older, it gets harder to make time to see everyone but it's always possible to make time for those that matter most...even if it means jumping on a plane - they're worth it!

Also, at £23 return can you really complain? (yes Ryanair!!!)

I brought along one of my best friends and we were impressed with Germany the moment we arrived at the train station McDonalds...sounds crazy but that's because you haven't tried their white hot chocolates yet now have you?

And did I mention they also sell muffins oozing with nutella. Makes sense now doesn't it. Can the UK McDonalds pleeaseee make note. 

Aside from gawping at any place that sold 'brotchen' and currywurst, we actually did some visiting too!!

As a surprise, our friends took us to Harz for some traditional sledging...but not like the plastic sledges we have here in the UK. The proper wooden ones you see in old fashioned films etc!

I wasn't expecting to be going anywhere snowy so it all felt quite magical and narnia like. I definitely got butterflies of excitement like a small child!!! Snow makes everything look so clean and peaceful.

They did have ski lifts, but some of us have to be bikini ready this summer, so we manned up and walked up the mountain...in the snow.. dragging sledges...things got pretty sweaty but I was promised gluhwein if we made it half way.

Everyone looked so happy and it was cute seeing couples. parent and child and friends racing eachother down the slopes, some of them tumbling off!

We had snow up to our knees which meant there was a lot of tripping up (and some voluntary rolling around making snow angels)

Dare I say, I felt a little Christmassy?!! Maybe more so than I did on actual Christmas!!!

The half way point eventually came and that meant warm alcohol was the order of the day. The walking was worth it!!

Now feeling a little tipsy, we continued our journey up the mountain. Going where no sledgers had been before (because it was actually forbidden)...to the ski slopes!!!

 We whizzed down, dodging the skiiers and clinging on for dear life. It was sooooooo funnn!!!!

And obviously we returned to the gluhwein hut halfway down because you know, it's good to keep warm for health reasons.

Stick fairylights on anything and I'll find it adorable.

After hours of sledging, drinking and getting a LOT of bruises along the way, it was time to go home. Jeans soaking wet and muscles aching, we climbed back in the car and headed home. 

A perfect day was ended with peppermint tea, candles and blankets whilst we watched one of the best films ever made, Chocolat. 

There's definitely some days that I will always treasure because they were just that extra special and this is one of them. 

How to survive a night shift

Working when your body is supposed to be sleeping can be tough. It throws your sleeping pattern, eating routine and can take some adjusting to!! I have just finished my first week of 'out of hours' work for uni which actually wasn't too bad, and here's how you can get through working nights too...

1) Go in with a positive mindset: if you start off feeling rubbish then you're only going to make the night drag for yourself! 

2) Stay hydrated: if you're like me, you forget to drink during the day, never mind the night...but water is super important to keep any headaches at bay!

3) Bring comfy clothes: If you're lucky enough to catch a few hours sleep in between tasks, bring some comfy clothes to change into. It'll help your body get into 'time to sleep now' mode.

4) Bring healthy snacks: If you're not lucky enough to sleep in breaks then you're going to need energy to get you through the night! Healthy snacks like bananas, yogurts and nuts give you energy without making you feel slugging and bloated.

5) Invest in some decent ear plugs: It can be hard to sleep during the day so give yourself the best chance possible by blocking out the hustle and bustle of the day. I absolutely love theses ones.

6) Wear a night mask: Daylight sends signals to your body that it's time to be up and about. Stop those signals by wearing a comfy night mask during the day when you're catching up on your zzzz....

7) Reduce the brightness on your phone: Ideally, you should try and avoid using your phone when you want to try and sleep...but if you absolutely must, reduce the brightness setting! You can also download a free app called Twilight, which gets rid of the blue light on your phone which otherwise prevents you sleeping,

8) Play white noise: Another tip for helping you get your sleep is to play white noise from your phone. I always use this link. It'll also help drown out any outside noises.

9) Stay busy!: If you don't get many breaks in your shift , then my advice would be to power through and keep yourself on the go as much as you can. As soon as you start to slow down, your mind will too and you'll struggle.

10) Find what works for you: Because I was getting sleep within my shift, I kept my eating routine the same as normal...but if you're up all night, it might be worth shifting it round to re-programme your body into a reverse routine. I found power naps before my shift made me feel groggy but some people swear by them!

If you have any other advice on how to survive a night shift, drop them in the comment box below :)

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Our African Safari Tent in Wales

An African Safari tent...in Wales? Sounds a little mad but also pretty awesome as well though right?

We honestly had one of the best weeks staying here. The weather was amazing, think 28 degrees!! (Yes even in Wales) and each day was filled with different activities; mountain biking, segwaying, quadbikes...basically a load of things that would keep us outside.

So this was our tent, come on in...

The inside did not disappoint. I thought they'd be nice inside but even my high expectations were exceeded and these photos don't do the place justice! The bed, as you can see was huuggee and covered in African animal cuddly toys and hot water bottles, which we didn't need of course. 

And as you'd expect to find in any tent (Ha!) we had a much bigger than I'd expected bathroom! A his and hers sink, fancy bath and an open shower! 

It gets better though...

Wait for it...............

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....................................

TADA :)

Each tent comes with its very own private hot tub! We spent most of the evenings in ours with a can of cider in hand, looking up at the stars. The poor TV didn't get a look in! 

Does it really get any better than this?

Staying in the UK has made me realise that you don't need to jet off somewhere to have an amazing experience. 

Every morning, I sat by the 'window' and looked out onto the ponies in paddock opposite, as I sipped on my tea. I remember feeling completely zen and rejuvenated when I took this picture. Clear mind and all that jazz...

What added to the safari feel was that the ponies lived around our tent, so we'd hear them chomping away at the grass. You could look out a window and see a cute little face staring right back!!

If you fancy staying somewhere a bit different then check out the website here 

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Incredible India

When I was younger, I found going into shops on my own daunting. It's only in the last couple years I've really found my independence and this summer I leaped out of my comfort zone and set off for India. 

   I'm in my final year at vet school so I went to do a surgical course, neutering street dogs to help control the population and control the rabies problem over there. You can read about the charity and the different trips they offer here. I highly recommend them if you're an animal lover :)

 I knew people said it was a culture shock, but my goodness was it!! The driving was absolutely manic! There was no way I was getting any sleep on the mini bus. 

There was so much to see as we crossed southern India; people selling coconuts on the side of the road, men chopping up raw pieces of meat swarming in flies, cages of live chickens, stalls selling spices, sweets and other goodies...and lucky for us, our drive over meant driving through the Mudumalai tiger reserve where we saw so many wild jungle elephants, monkeys, bison, wild boar and  deer!

After 10 hours on a plane, a 6 hours wait at the airport and another 9 and a half hours on the mini bus, I arrived at the training centre. Our hot water wasn't working and all we had was a bucket so my 'shower' was basically the ice bucket challenge. The toilets were those dreaded squat toilets you find abroad. Electricity came and went throughout the day. It was a bit overwhelming, especially as I hadn't slept for 48 hours but by the end of the trip, I embraced this way of living! It really does make you appreciate how lucky we are! 

I did two surgeries and two anaesthesias a day which included lots of puppy cuddling too! It was an amazing opportunity to build on my (basically non-existent) surgical skills and confidence. 

My favourite day was when we visited the local villages to vaccinate the dogs against rabies. The houses were made out of all kinds of materials, a mix of beautiful colours and there was lots of climbing up and down ladders to get to them! 

Can we all just take a moment to take in the cuteness of this little fella'!

We stopped for breakfast halfway through...and yes that is curry! Something I grew to love first thing in the morning and actually miss. Over there, they eat it with their hands so of course, do as the locals do!

On our day off, we got up super early and headed to the local tiger reserve. A huge bison walked right past the window of our mini bus! We also had a bit of an encounter with a monkey...it's a good idea to close car windows when near monkeys, just a little tip. 

We also did a spot of shopping in Ooty where I bought sooo many shawls. I'm obsessed with them. I don't even wear shawls but anything with a colourful pattern will steal my heart. I have reluctantly given a few away as gifts to my family (love them for me please if you're reading this). 

I've never tasted a samosa as good as this!

They know their stuff!

As well as chocolate, Ooty is famous for its tea. We ventured up into the tea fields and found ourselves looking down into a valley where there were lots of wild bison scattered throughout the trees. A local man had to guide us back to safety as it turned out we'd explored our way into a bear's habitat who had already killed two people!! Who'd have thought a little stroll could turn into an adrenaline filled experience!

I still get emotional now thinking back to how amazing the trip was!!! On the way back to the airport we stopped at Mysore to see the beautiful palace. We even went inside, and did the whole taking off your shoes to show respect thing. 

The best part was of course meeting everyone in my group! I've definitely made some friends for life there :)

India. You are smelly, dirty and amazingly beautiful. You can't help but fall for the place. 

Anyone thinking about travelling or doing anything outside of their comfort zone, I'm yelling at you now to do it!! You won't regret it!

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