The Best Summer with The Best People

From picnics to parties, time with family and time with friends (captured in my little edit above!), my summer was packed full of good times and great memories. It's sad to think the majority of my friends are now packing their bags, ready to set off to University; a lot of them are already there too. It didn't quite kick in until our goodbye drinks last Thursday that the next year will be so very different to any before. I definitely welled up giving the final hugs 'goodbye' to friends I wouldn't see for at least a couple of months. I'll try my hardest to visit them all but with my new jobs and busy times approaching, it'll be difficult to squeeze it all in.

I'm feeling quite bitter-sweet. As happy as I am with my summer and as excited as I am for all my friends to start this new chapter in their lives, I feel like I'll miss them even more. Because my life is staying the same, I feel like I'll notice their absence even more. I couldn't possibly ask for a better group of friends though and have made some memories for life over this summer.  

Some of my favourite moments were my Camping Holiday with my best friend Hannah in the New Forest (I've written a blog post all about that here!). It was so nice to escape and have a little adventure with just the two of us, something I really hope to do again soon. I also had so much fun at a 'slip and slide' BBQ with everyone. We covered my friend's trampoline in washing up liquid and water (see the picture at the top left!) and spent an afternoon sliding around and into each other. I completely underestimated how difficult it would be to stand up! What I loved especially about that day was how carefree we were. No thinking about Uni. No thinking about the future. All we did was mess about and have fun, enjoying each others' company and laughing until our stomachs hurt. 

I want to wish all my friends the best of luck at Uni. It'll be crazy and it'll be stressful, but it's all part of life. I can't wait to hear all their stories and, maybe, I'll even have a few of my own to tell them when they get back. Until then, thanks for the best summer guys and here's to the next! 

- Becca x

♡

25 Things To Do This Summer | #4 Summer Bike Ride

Edited using Pixlr-o-matic

I used to love riding my bike but, since falling off several years ago, I was too scared to pick up a bike and go cycling again. I didn't even have a bike to encourage me to face my fear and do the activity that I used to love so much. When my friends invited me out on cycle rides, my excuses merely related to my lack of owning a bike than my lack of confidence. A friend of my Nana's had given her a bike that she bought but just hadn't used, asking her to give it a new home. With a positive frame of mind, the bike soon became mine and I was excited to take it out for a ride once exams had finished and summer had begun.

My best friend loves going out on cycle rides and phoned me up a few days ago, asking if I wanted to join her. No excuses now, I thought. I accepted, not only because I was excited to ride a bike again but also to tick the first thing off my 25 Things To Do This Summer list. We set out one afternoon, unsure of what we would uncover on this little adventure.

We cycle down a local cycle track, continued through a housing estate and onto another cycle track. We then faced an overgrown footpath that seemed to take hours to navigate. The nettles hung over the path and, as Hannah cycled on ahead, I could barely see her through all the green leaves that hindered our cycling. Although slightly scary and overwhelming, particularly for me having just reclaimed my confidence on a bike, the end result was worth it. We discovered a little field, littered with sheep and a beautiful river. It was so peaceful to sit there and watch the animals, the soothing sound of the running water a perfect accompaniment for the scenery.

It was so nice to spend a day trying something new. Although I started shaky, I never realised how much I had missed cycle rides and just going on an adventure to see where you end up. Today, we're so focused around technology, sitting on our laptops and smartphones, oblivious to the simple activities with which we can still have a great time. If I've learnt anything from this little outing it's that, although it's easy to stay in your own comfort zone and stick to the things you know you enjoy, taking up an old hobby might surprise you and open up a new window of experiences, even if it's just for a day.

So, when's the last time you did something for the first time?

- Becca x

♡