This Misfit's Life

Hi, I'm Laura. I'm a misfit fuelled and inspired by coffee, food, travel, music, and yoga.

[thismisfitslife]

I found myself again in Verona, Italy

Last December I was watching a film I adore, Letters to Juliet, and I suddenly felt an urge I couldn't fight, and booked myself flights to Milan. Not to visit Milan, but to take the train elsewhere, it's when I realised that Verona is only just over an hour away by public transport. I found a centrally located hotel, and started making lists of things to do and see, places to eat and drink. 

The moment I landed I felt at home, comfortable, certain. I took the bus from the airport, after a delicious focaccia at La Marianna, and walked from Verona Porta Nuova to my temporarily place only a few minutes from Arena Di Verona. I'd been lucky with this last minute booking as the room was large, spacious, with a separate wardrobe area, and a comfortable bed. I woke up early, giddy with excitement, as I had already decided I would start by simply discovering the city. I started with a cappuccino at Caffee & Parole, which cost me a whopping €1.30 after which I spent some time with the books at Biblioteca Capitorale. €6.00 got me entry to the magnificent building and museum. I then stumbled upon the Complesso del Duomo di Verona, an immense building that is hard to describe in words, although I am a lover of words, they don't always do things justice. An €8.00 ticket got me entry to four churches which I all ended up visiting during my three days in Verona. 

Next I stumbled into the Basilica S. Anastasia which was included in the previously mentioned ticket that allowed me entry into four churches, and I have to say that no one truly does churches like the Italians do. However I must add that by the fourth I did think I'd seen them all, yet still the architecture was incredibly impressive of all of them. The next adventure was to find some lunch which I found at La Focacceria Di Ponte Pietra. An absolutely delicious focaccia zucchine and polpetta with spinach and feta had me dancing throughout my entire lunch. I then bumped into Palazzo Maffei, an incredible modern art museum with multiple floors and a rooftop you could walk along which offered wonderful view of the city and the wider region. For only €15.00 I spend a good hour at Palazzo Maffei before heading to Elk Bakery for a juice and a sweet treat in the form of cheesecake.

More stunning views were reached through a cable car up to Parco Scalone Castel San Pietro. Of course, a musician set up their equipment a few minutes into me soaking in the views and the afternoon sun, which was the most tasty cherry on top of the most beautiful first day in Verona. For dinner I enjoyed a pesto pasta and a glass of red wine at miscusi, only a few minutes walking away from my temporary home.

I started Tuesday with a wander towards the Museo Di Castelvecchio, which I walked past because the weather was stunning and I simply had to stay outside, I nipped into Palazzo Bevilacqua but it looked too much like someone's house so I quickly left again, I enjoyed a cappuccino and sandwich at Du De Spade and used my four churches ticket again to visit Basilica Di San Zeno, and then enjoyed a polpetta a my local Focacceria Ponte Pietra. Next was a beautiful wander through Museo Archeologico Al Teatro Romano, which was well and truly worth it for €9.00. The first part of the museum was its big open air theatre, which led to a set of stairs that led up to a very extensive museum with a stunning collection of statues.

I then popped into Chiesa di San Fermo Maggiore, and even though I'm not religious, there was a certain energy in the air. I do believe that things such as the cosmos and the energy that binds us is interwoven with our very being, there's no denying our roots, and I felt them strongly pulling at me while visiting some of Verona's churches. Wandering through this small yet impressive city I found myself again, comfortable, at one point thinking how I was practicing walking down the aisle as I walked through one of the churches, and then finding myself thinking "nah, I don't feel the need to get married, it would only disturb my peace".

I felt that again later on when I went to have dinner by myself at La Tradision, where I enjoyed a delicious gnocchi dish, a tiramisu and two glasses of wine, because no one was there to stop me. After this delicious and soul-filling meal I wandered around the arena as I realised I'd only seen one side of it so far, and after a brief evening walk, I wandered towards my bed, walking past the waiter that had served me earlier that night, a short but too sweet interaction made me feel butterflies and had me smiling the entire rest of the way home.

Just when I thought I'd seen it all I turned a corner and stumbled upon Torre dei Lamberti, an old house, a beautiful building and a statue of Dante. I found peace and quiet at Giardini Giusti for €14.00, after a wonderful breakfast at Caffè Rialto. I still had to try to focaccia patate at my focacceria which I did, together with another polpetta before I wandered back towards Torre dei Lamberti to actually enter the tower and watch the city from up high, although I must say it wasn't entirely worth the €6.00, a walk up the hill would've given me the same views. I then treated myself to a brezel at Heidi & Peter for €3.00, as I wandered back to my hotel to give my feet some rest I slowly covered my face in sugar and let the sun warm it up, a smiling heart and soul that is fuelled by Italian coffee, pasta, and sugar is truly hard to beat.

I'd been looking for a souvenir to take home, a lemon, a bracelet, not a magnet, maybe a tote bag, and when I finally found one, they wouldn't let me pay with card, so unable to stop myself I headed back to my downstairs neighbour; Downtown Ink. That's where I treated myself to a lemon tattoo, within an hour I had finally scored the perfect souvenir to take home with me, and one I'd never be able to lose. After letting it rest for a little, and checking in on the home front, I found my dinner place for the evening.

La Griglia came highly recommended, was also situated around the corner from my accommodation, and had a great-looking menu. I went for a gnocchi with a cheese and mushroom sauce and, of course, a glass of red wine, another tiramisu to truly end this absolutely wonderful trip made for the perfect, although sadly, last evening of my travels. The next day I checked out early to get on the bus back to Bergamo airport. A sad smile, but a warmed heart, I returned home. Verona was all I could have hoped for and so much more, the ultimate city for a short break and in particular for solo travellers. I'll undoubtedly be back.

[thismisfitslife]

Wonderful Hexham

I had been working for weeks, had only had a few days off before I'd tumbled down the road of emails, projects, events, marketing and conferences once again. I've been down that road before and can feel the exact shift when I reach the bottom and there is nowhere left to go for me. It's when I feel like erupting into tears when someone checks in on me, or when all I want is to curl up against my mom on the sofa, even though I've not lived at home nor in the same country as her for the past nearly seven years. I'd already nearly reached the end of the road when I had to reschedule an event I didn't want to reschedule, however having to move the event was a blessing in disguise.

Everyone including myself was better off for it, and it meant that suddenly I was left with a completely empty Sunday in my calendar. So when I saw the empty Sunday I started searching Google Maps for the nearest yet most adventurous place I could journey to by public transport, on my own. Something pulled me towards Hexham and its abbey, because I knew that there was a direct bus heading that way from Newcastle. Of course I still ended up working the morning, answering emails and working on the press for a single that had just been released, but when hunger kicked and I didn't have any breakfast, I decided to close the laptop and jump on the bus. I should have planned my journey better but after waiting for about 50 minutes I finally got on a bus that dropped me off right in front of Hexham Abbey, free entry by the way!

The Abbey had me in awe, despite the café and the shop not being open, I wandered around for a good hour, taking in all of its nooks and crannies, as well as the jigsaw that had seemingly been put out for me especially. The daylight, the sunrays and the stunning architecture and design of its stained glass windows painted patterns on the wall that seemed out of this world. It created shapes and colours that were simply mesmerising and had me staring in awe. After walking around a few times, standing still, taking some photos, and letting its beauty wash over me, I finally noticed my rumbling stomach and heading towards Marketplace for a bit of reading and a delicious sweet potato and pepper soup with an oat milk latte.

After some nourishment I decided to head towards the Tyne Green Country Park for some more walking and to soak in the last of the sun for the day, after which I headed on the bus back towards Newcastle where I enjoyed a simple dinner at Yo Yo Noodle and a stunning cocktail at brand new Cookhouse extension Wren. Aside from the food and drinks, the act of wandering around a vaguely familiar place on my own had been even more nourishing and it truly set me up for the week ahead, and I am hopeful I will now stop running down the familiar road a little earlier, so I don't end up battered and bruised down the bottom of it again.

Although best was for me to take time to enjoy my own company and thoughts for a little while, I couldn't have gotten back up again if it wasn't for my incredible friends who at all times are ready to listen or give advice, whichever of the two is most beneficial at the time. Friendship is still the most nourishing nourishment of all, when you surround yourself with the right people, and I've clearly succeeded at that.

[thismisfitslife]

Another form of grief

I think we don't grieve enough. We seem to only grieve death, while there are friendships and relationships, lives, and versions of ourselves that we have lost along the way that inevitably make us feel a certain loss. Often we brush past them, minimise their impact while in fact they should be grieved like a death. I lost a life I loved.

I am still coming to terms with the impact of it, acknowledging how untethered it makes me feel from time to time, when I stand still and allow myself to let grief wash over me, go through the process. It is always a surprise, when I go through a next stage. I am still unsure about many of its stages, and the process that will allow me to heal, but I know that feeling it wholly is without a doubt part of it.

I think that as long as I walk this path on my own I will grieve, I doubt we ever fully get over past relationships when there is no better example to fill its place. Although every other aspect of my life has shifted into place and I am whole, content and growing, it isn't filling what another person could.

That is not to say that I currently need another person to fill those gaps, I am fulfilled and live a life I want to on my own terms. But it is different. An adjustment. I am finding ways to make that work for me, and I must say I am doing fabulously at it. Tears, pain, fear, and regret are just part of the process and part of what makes us human.

[thismisfitslife]

New Year's Eve in Macclesfield

I am anything if not a great reminiscer, so here we are looking back on some key events from the past few weeks, with a personal highlight being New Year's Eve in Macclesfield. If you are not from England you'll most certainly not have heard of the place, and if you are, you'll wonder why in God's name that's where I spent my New Year's Eve. Well, it had a good reason, because two of my wonderful artists performed at The Button Warehouse and I have never had any New Year's Eve plans before, so this one made the whole stress of deciding what party or pub to go to a lot less stressful.

The drive from the north east across the country to Macclesfield was stunning from start till finish and with good company that was part of the journey. When we arrived the process of getting ready for a big evening out started, something I've not gone through in a very very long time. Dressing with the girls out, and I don't mean girl friends, I mean my girls, was another process I'd not gone through, potentially ever, so the nerves had to be calmed with a glass of wine very early on. But since I was in good company, exactly what made this such a wonderful evening, the wine and the compliments hit all the right spots and I was able to head outside in a jaw dropping, if I may say so myself, outfit.

We watched the guys perform their music live, ate from the buffet, enjoyed the elderly and mostly married crowd and danced the night away to some of my absolute favourite artists, to the surprise of the rest of the audience, most at least twice my age. There I was, drunk on mostly free red wine, comfortable, and completely at ease knowing I was surrounded by people I could trust. I don't think I've ever been terrible at choosing my friends, but I seem to be absolutely exquisite at it now, and thinking back about the evening, not so much the morning after, still brings a smile to my face.

[thismisfitslife]

Manchester Music Conference

I've always had a soft spot for Manchester thanks to its brilliant music scene and the wonderful memories I've made in the city throughout my life so far, and the fact that my favourite music conference takes place in Manchester only adds to that! I arrived on Wednesday evening and stayed at Malacuna Manchester, another reason why I always enjoy staying in Manchester. The hostel is a simple yet modern and aesthetically pleasing one with lovely and spacious rooms and private bathrooms, as well as very centrally located!

I enjoyed a lovely lazy evening in, ready for the first day of the conference which I started with a coffee and a slice of banana bread at Northern Pour. I then headed to Band on the Wall for the conference. For lunch we enjoyed another coffee and a wonderful apple cinnamon donut at Siop Shop, a necessity when attending panels all day long. For dinner we gathered a lovely group of people and went to Turtle Bay, a place I'd not been before but with lovely curries, dumplings, and cocktails! After our meal we headed to Night & Day for the live music showcase, connected with some more like-minded friends and headed in early. It is not to be underestimated how knackering conferences can be!

The next day I ventured out on my own again, enjoyed the panels throughout the day, a meal deal in the afternoon, and a dinner on the go on the train back up to Newcastle. As always, I had a wonderful time at Un-Convention, and even more so since I got to share the experience with close friends. Despite tiring, also incredibly inspiring and exciting as I left with new ideas, contacts and memories!

[thismisfitslife]

A London Rollercoaster

What I thought would be a fun part of working in different cities has soon become the bane of my existence. Trying to fit trains that also suit my schedule and accommodation that is affordable yet comfortable within a tight budget can be an absolute pain in this day and age, in particular when visiting the big smoke... Here's the highs and lows of a short weekend I spent in London last month.

I started with a smooth night coach after I'd worked a show in Newcastle, which arrived in London early, which gave me time for a coffee before I headed to the venue for the day. After a day of tiaras, lit up dresses, wings, props, and strict timings, I was able to put my let loose a little with some friends at The Lucas Arms, where I had a glass of red and enjoyed the wonderful company. I then headed to my accommodation for the evening, one of the first I wouldn't recommend. The Clink261 hostel is a simple and cheap, very centrally located, hostel with small shared rooms and even smaller shared bathrooms. With only two toilets and two showers for a hallway of about 20 beds I was very lucky not to have to wait too long if I needed either of the two. It did the job, but I was glad to leave after a wobbly night's sleep.

With two shows in a row the second day always starts around midday which gave me the chance to have coffee and cake with another friend. We met at HALFCUP, but since neither of us fancied queueing we moved to Fiena Cafe, which was a lovely café with very friendly staff, good coffee, and delicious carrot cake. Very much worth it! We then walked over to the theatre and said our goodbyes, after which I returned to my tiaras, lit up dresses, wings, props, and strict timings. Having some time over lunch I was able to check into my hotel for the evening, I'd never been so happy I'd booked two different places to stay. The receptionist at the Argo Hotel was friendly and made me feel comfortable and welcome, and the comfort just kept on coming! The moment I wandered into my double bedroom I dropped my bags and spread out on the lovely big bed.

After I finished some admin I turned on Netflix only to find The Greatest Showman on there, with smoothie and snacks by my side I enjoyed an absolutely blissful evening with only the best company; myself. The next morning I took a deliciously long shower and took my sweet time before heading over to the train station. My room looked out over a garden green, with a big tree that showcases all sorts of different autumn colours, the perfect view for a short meditation and some full body stretches. I then headed to King's Cross train station to get on the train to Durham where I'd be picked up for a video shoot of one of my artists!

My day started in a hotel room in London, stretched out on a double bed, and ended in the forest on a cold dark evening, filming a topless musician singing his heart out to promote his new single... My life is truly magnificent, fascinating, and absolutely bonkers!

[thismisfitslife]

Highlights of Budapest in November

I have found that what is most healing is a girl's trip to a foreign place with last weekend's trip taking us to Budapest. This captivating city surprised us every step of the way and it was an absolute joy to share the experience with my Nico. We arrived Friday morning and were able to check into our apartment early but not before a coffee and a delicious sandwich on wholemeal bread at Cosy Café. The pesto sandwich and oat milk chai latte made up for the ridiculously early start of the day and the weather even allowed us to sit outside!

We then headed to our apartment which was simple yet modern and contained all we needed, after a brief personal recharge we headed out into Pest, roaming its street and eventually enjoying our favourite meal of the trip. We enjoyed potato and mushroom paprikash at Pause and I opted for a nutty chocolate souffle for pudding, washed down with a homemade iced tea. After we slowly made our way home to make up for some of the sleep we'd lost the night before. 

Saturday morning started at Cube Coffee and continued at the fine art museum which was on the edge of a stunning park where the mesmerising architecture of the agriculture museum blew us both away. Dressed in warm autumn colours all buildings looked just that bit more magical. We wandered around, not enough as we aimed to visit the botanical gardens but didn't end able to fit the in, and enjoyed the William Blake exhibition at the fine art museum and started our hunt for a simple lunch after. We found it at Rira, a small vegan café with an extensive menu that had us both in decision paralysis. I went for the spinach falafel wrap with a red juice and Nico went for the beetroot falafel. Another brilliant food choice was Marumba, the vegetarian and vegan friendly restaurant served small dishes to share as well as main courses and natural wines.

I had the feeling that all of their dishes would have been a winner but the crispy potato dish and the falafel and bean stew definitely were! Pudding was a cashew cheesecake with a delicious plum dressing, the natural red wine was the first that made me taste the difference between wines and was very decently priced. After Marumba we searched for a ruin bar as every single person had recommended visiting those, the most popular and well-known one had a very long queue waiting outside so we skipped that, and the one we eventually found was nice and quirky pub but not as special as we'd hoped.

Our last full day in Budapest started with coffee and cake at Robert Capa Cafe & Gallery, which was quite special and located across from a beautiful church. We then crossed the river into Buda to see Buda Castle, Castle Hill and the viewpoint looking out over Pest, which was much less of a hike then we'd thought and the buildings in the area were absolute favourites. Surprises again we'd not researched much of the area so when we turned the corner and saw the beautiful white church with the mosaic roof I audibly gasped and had to just take it in for a moment.

We ended our visit to Budapest with a deliciously warm and comfortable dinner at Mama Goulash, a slightly different version of the potato paprikash with two slices of garlic bread on the side and the wonderful service of waitress Teresa. It was then we realised what a perfect time it was for us to visit this autumnal and magical city, November made for the perfect time to do so!

[thismisfitslife]

The evening of a lifetime at London's Roundhouse

These days, still being within the 26 - 30 Railcard age range, traveling to London isn't all that bad anymore, despite an hour delay, myself and photographer friend Celia arrived in London late afternoon on Sunday and walked along the river towards the Big Ben to see what all the fuss is about again. We enjoyed the early signs of autumn and the fresh breeze in our hair as we wandered through this busy, bustling city.

After we'd seen most of the obvious touristic attractions from the outside, we headed towards Palmers Lodge Swiss Cottage, where we'd booked a private room for the night. I'd stayed in the hostel 11 years ago together with pretty much lifelong friend Demi, and we had a most wonderful time, so being back felt like being catapulted back into a wonderful time in my life. We dropped off some of our stuff before walking over to the Roundhouse, right on the edge of Camden Town.

We nipped into a takeaway across from the venue where we both had a wrap and shared a portion of chips, the lovely and kind staff made it a lovely yet quick meal before we headed over the road to enjoy an evening with ex-Måneskin singer Damiano David. It was my first time at this particular venue and I was pleasantly surprised by its size; not too small, not too large, despite its staff being rather rude and direct. As Celia was taking photos, she headed towards the photo pit while I found our seats on the first level.

The evening was as memorable as I'd hoped and expected it to be, a potentially once in a lifetime event performed by an incredible singer, songwriter and performer at a lovely venue despite the pillars obstructing our view from time to time. After a good two hours of pop hits, we walked back to Palmers Lodge, to start our next morning at the Camden Market and Stables with coffee and a sweet treat at Bossa Coffee Bar. After a shot of caffeine we headed towards Regents Park, walked through it, and headed towards Kings Cross for another shot of caffeine at Origin Coffee. I then got myself a delicious vegan pasty at The Pasty Shop for the way back up north!

[thismisfitslife]

Back in Liverpool...

After a good four hours on the train from Newcastle I arrived back in Liverpool for another one of Fever's We Call it Ballet: Sleeping Beauty's shows at the Liverpool Playhouse Theatre!

I'd booked two nights at Malacuna Liverpool as I was impressed with their Manchester not-a-hostel, and I was pleasantly surprised by its location after my four hours train journey that got me into Liverpool Lime Street at about 23.30pm... Sadly there were some issues with my room key, but once I got in another surprise awaited me; a brilliantly large double bed and a very spacious bathroom with a colourful yellow ceiling, big fan. With a ten minute walk to the theatre the next morning I was able to sleep in and enjoy the breakfast I'd picked up the day before, who doesn't love a Sainsbury's meal deal?!

I'd worked at the Playhouse Theatre before so knew what to expect, and it might be one of my favourite theatres, not just because of the classic VW pillow in the green room. When I say green room, I mean living room slash kitchen, I'd happily have a very similar set up in my future home! For my dose of caffeine I went to the neighbours; Caffè Nero, added a slice of lemon drizzle cake and for dinner had a lovely burger at a joint that-shall-not-be-named, we can't all be perfect right?! After a hectic but brilliant workday with a brand new crew I had another hotel room key struggle before crashing out and enjoying a great night's sleep.

The next morning I found my new favourite coffee spot; 200 Degrees Coffee Shop where I enjoyed an oat latte and a delicious veggie sausage roll! My oat latte came with the cutest latte art and set me up very well for the rest of the day; more live music at Alphabetti Theatre that evening. Can't wait to be back in Liverpool, and back at Malacuna!

[thismisfitslife]

The Peak District's Highlights

My folks had booked a campsite near Holmfirth for two weeks and urged me to come and visit them for a few days, and with an August stacked with work I decided that would be a good idea. I made my way to Leeds on Wednesday, where they met me at the bus station.

After a quick stop at Costa, where I picked up a free coffee and a birthday treat, we headed towards Jumbo Records and Waterstone's, the unavoidable stops, after which we headed to the Yorkshire Sculpture Park. We'd visited years before and all only recognised the park once we got there, through its stunning greens, great architecture and how it had adopted the lake in the middle as its own. I stood on the bridge and looked out over the calm water, enjoying the silence of a Wednesday afternoon in an area where no surrounding motorways disturbed my peace.

We headed to Holme Valley Camping & Caravan Park, where I checked into a dream; The Ivy Pod. As someone who used to live in a van and would love to end up in a tiny house, this was a wonderful taste test and it passed with flying colours! This adorable pod comes with a double bed, a little kitchen with kettle, fridge, and microwave, a heater, and a full on garden including a serene river running alongside it. Can you imagine?!

The next morning got kickstarted by a delicious oat latte from Brew Beginnings who were pitched up at the campsite with their coffee stall, a true blessing before heading. After coffee and breakfast we headed out into the country side and after an unsuccessful search for a Roman Fort, we ended up at the Albian Farm Shop & Café just in time to avoid a massive downpour. We enjoyed an incredible lunch and then headed back out for a circular walk around the Dovestone Reservoir. We continued discovering the area and stumbled upon the Folly Dolly Falls, not massively impressive, but a little oasis nonetheless.

Friday started with a brief walk through Beaumont Park, a wonderful brunch at Sons of the North, crate digging at Vinyl Tap, Pieminister pies at Head of Steam in Huddersfield, and ended with, of course, a gig! My dear friends in To The Lighthouse performed a blinding set at Parish with support from Bryony Williams and The Caymans. An absolutely stunning evening of live music was the only right way to end this short holiday, after which I jumped on the train back to the north east, already aching to return to the parks and falls of the Peak District.

[thismisfitslife]

Ballet in Leeds and Oasis in Manchester

Although trying to stick to a budget and booking travel and accommodation anywhere these days is a nightmare, once the bookings are actually made, the excitement is real. I was due to manage another We Call It Ballet show at a, for me, new theatre; the Riley Smith Theatre in Leeds, hence the booking of travel and accommodation!

I arrived early the day before and enjoyed a wonderful night at the ibis Hotel which had all I needed and more. I treated myself to a McDonald's dinner - inspired by the massive McDonald's billboard right outside my hotel window - and headed to bed early after an eventful night during which I found out I was able to attend Oasis at Manchester's Heaton Park that weekend.

The next morning I woke up still giddy with excitement but focused on the job ahead and enjoyed a wonderful day at the theatre with the regular crew, who by now I'd gotten to know quite well. I enjoyed a meal deal for lunch and dinner - the Co-Operative's pesto pasta salad is a favourite and after finalising the show report I fell right asleep, knackered but extremely excited for the day ahead.

With a bit of work to do I settled at Caffe Nero with an oat latte and my laptop to get that out of the way ahead of catching a train to Manchester. Once I arrived in the city that was already shaking at its core from the anticipation of what was about to embark that evening, I headed towards my 'bagbnb' to drop off my luggage. I ended up using Bounce and only paying a few quid for my bag to safely be stored at a hotel's storage room while I was having the time of my life at Oasis, I highly recommend it!

After the drop-off I went on the hunt for some dinner, and to my excitement found a Vapiano that had just gone through its Oasis-rush! The quick and easy Italian place is one I used to visit frequently when I lived in Amsterdam and I wasn't even aware there was one in Manchester. I enjoyed a delicious penne pesto and a strawberry lemonade before making my way to Heaton Park. I followed the crowd until I got separated at the entrance, where I got sent a different direction and ended up at the band's guest bar. Not a place I'd expected to find myself, but I had no complaints!

Being able to grab myself a drink and the toilet between bands and not having to worry about losing my - front standing - spot made this night even more incredible, I cried, I wept, I danced, I got hugged, I got goosebumps. There is absolutely nothing like seeing a band you never thought you'd see live reunite at a hometown show, clearly enjoying the ecstasy that came from their eager fanbase. Typing it all out sees me reliving the absolutely priceless memories I made watching Cast, Richard Ashcroft, and Oasis perform at Manchester's Heaton Park. I've got goosebumps once again.

Afterwards I took the last train to York and rested my head at Safestay York Micklegate and headed back to Newcastle the next morning, but how does one go back to 'life' after having just seen one of the most influential bands alive?!

[thismisfitslife]

Sand between my toes

The best laid plans are last minute plans, so when I received a message from my dear Nico, who I hadn't seen for too long, asking if I wanted to join her to the beach there was no other answer then yes. I finished up some work, grabbed myself some lunch - I'd made a pesto egg salad and would highly recommend! - and jumped onto the metro to Tynemouth.

Something that I am only slightly obsessed with is Laneway's divine peanut butter cookie dough blondie so when I realised they had recently opened their Tynemouth shop I could not contain my excitement. We grabbed an iced drink and my obsession, marvelled over the stunning new café with its wide open doors and simple interior, decided we'd come back for a productive co-working session as soon as possible, and finally headed to the beach.

St. Edward's Bay wasn't as busy as it could've been, so we pottered towards the edge of the priory's cliffs and a darling little waterfall and enjoyed a spot that was good for both sun and shade. We enjoyed the people, the music they'd brought, our drinks and snacks, the incredible weather, the sound of the sea, and the sand between our toes. We of course had to dip our toes into the sea which was incredibly refreshing, and as soon as a group of boys joined us in the water for a ball game we quickly headed back to our spot.

We chatted some more, put the world to rights, and when it was nearly dinner time we slowly made our way back into the city. With the fresh and salty sea air still on my skin, the sand still between my toes, and my hair in knots, I couldn't feel more scrubbed and cleansed. Nothing truly cleanses like a salty sea breeze or a sandy scrub, does it really?

[thismisfitslife]

My tips for Ouseburn Festival

On Saturday the 5th and Sunday the 6th of July, the Ouseburn will once again be transformed into a freely accessible creative extravaganza showcasing the region's elaborate talents with live music, theatre, markets, pop ups, and plenty more all across the valley and beyond! I got overwhelmed just looking at the programme so thought I'd pick a few favourites to make it a little easier for those that are in the same boat.

Join the circus with Newcastle Circus Arts, head to the Ouseburn markets to shop directly from your favourite independent maker, check out the vintage pop up market at St. Oswald's The Space, head out on a the Tyne through boat trips departing from The Cycle Hub, book your taster tour at the Victoria Tunnels, get covered in traditional henna by Jahan Artistry, enjoy a pottery workshop at Kiln, book your brewery tour at Full Circle Brew Co and end your day with art pop outfit Cat Ryan at The Cluny!

On Sunday the Ouseburn Bandstand will be shaking at its core thanks to incredible local bands ivies, Camel Island, Hannah Robinson, Melanie Baker, George Bailey, and SomeVoices, all of whom I have worked with before (except for SomeVoices) and I can't recommend any of them enough! There will be a late summer market at the Ouseburn Garden, there's a grand climbing wall near the Riverside Walk, fantastic street theatre, magical story times for the kids (and their parents) at Seven Stories, there are wellness drop in workshops at Yoga X Life (and delicious coffee at their café), you can create your own summer print at Northern Print, and there will be more live music at The Cycle Hub and Two By Two!

It is truly incredible to see so many local entrepreneurs come together to curate two fantastic days of free activities and performances in an area filled with passionate grassroots businesses and hopefully this is a way for you to get acquainted with those you've not come across yet. As for the aforementioned I can promise you that when I first met them it was love at first sight... Or yoga session, or henna design, or musical note!

Read all about Ouseburn Festival on the website and their socials!

[thismisfitslife]

Live music and food in Manchester

Because flights back from Rome were a lot cheaper going to Liverpool, I decided to book it before dear darling Sarah even mentioned that the Yeah Yeah Yeahs were performing at Manchester's O2 Apollo! For dinner we went to House of Fu, a solid new favourite due to the food and delicious cocktails. After dinner we enjoyed a mesmerising night of stunning live music, which you can read all about here.

After the seated stripped back show we walked back to our hotel for the night, the wonderful and soft summer evening weather was the perfect backdrop for our reflections on the night's events as we walked to Motel One. A very well kept yet small room with a clean and spacious bathroom made for the perfect place for us to rest our heads ahead of a day of strolling through Manchester's city and northern quarter.

We enjoyed Turkish eggs at Federal Café for brunch, popped into Lucy & Yak, Cow Vintage, POP BOUTIQUE, and Affleck's, and enjoyed an iced oat latte at Fig + Sparrow before we headed back home to the north east. Our visit was short but sweet and oh so tasty!

[thismisfitslife]

Part II: Summer in Rome

We started our Saturday at the great Caffe San Pietro, just outside of the Vatican, we tried a bit of everything; pesto pasta and some delicious potato after which we visited some of the shops along the street, popped into the Parrocchia Santuario di Santa Maria in Traspontina and then finally visited the main event; the Basilica Di San Pietro.

We were very unsure on where to go but followed the crowd and ended up into the basilica with no issue and for free! The stunning building is decorated throughout and despite the big crowds we were able to marvel over its delicate details and enjoy the feeling of the majestic building.

After all that seriousness - needing a blanket to cover our shoulders to enter the basilica for example - we headed back towards the river and enjoyed piña coladas from pineapples, the only way I'll now have one. After a piña colada each we both longed for more pasta and headed towards Casa Mia in Trastevere where I had a delicious truffle pasta and we shared a bottle of pinot grigio. Earlier we'd seen the option to join an evening boat tour which we decided was exactly what we wanted to do on one of our last evening. So, after our meal we sprinted to the corner shop to get a bottle of limoncello - we'd been told there wasn't a bar on the boat - and headed towards the harbour to enjoy a 45 min boat tour along Castel Sant'Angelo among some other beautiful sights.

We decided to take our Sunday slow, as it was my last day in Rome, enjoyed a wander around Trastevere's massive vintage market and then headed to NaturaSi for a delicious brunch. After another round at the market we enjoyed crepes at Guiffre, practically our neighbour while we stayed in Trastevere. After that we very much enjoyed a brief visit to Vicus Caprarius, The Water City under the Trevi Fountain for only €4.

We then enjoyed our very favourite meal of the trip at Rotonda Restaurant; spaghetti in pesto sauce. After that we walked back to the Trevi Fountain to see it up close with less people surrounding it and in the meantime we enjoyed two scoops of gelato from Giolitti, while next door a fantastic violin player played 'Bella Ciao' which was the cherry on top of a most wonderful trip.

[thismisfitslife]

Part I: Summer in Rome

Not too long ago a lifelong friend and I were pondering on where to meet next, and ended up deciding on Rome, a choice I will never regret. I arrived a few hours early, nipped to our B&B, B&B Gina Trastevere and then headed out for lunch at Cotto e Portato, a great recommendation from our B&B host! I had a plate full of delicious vegetables, potatoes, some bread, and a bottle of water because hello 36°!

I then headed towards Terme di Caracalle by tram, for which I'd purchased a ticket in advance online. For just €8 it was more than worth seeing the incredible remains of these roman baths, with plenty of seats and shade to hide away in, and a soundcheck for Caracalle Festival going on in the background this Rome trip was off to a great start! After a wonderful first visit to marvel over the history of Rome I headed back to our B&B to pick Steffie up, who'd just arrived. We took things slowly and then headed towards Hostaria Pizzeria da Nonna Nella for incredible Italian pizza. The service was more than we'd hoped for; nothing beats that Italian charm, and we shared a pizza with cheese and one with courgette, both absolute winners.

The next day we wondered into town and enjoyed a delicious Italian breakfast; iced cappuccino and a 'cornetto' at Bistrot before nipping into the stunning building that houses Chiesa di Santa Maria in Portico in Campitelli. After that we climbed the stairs towards the Basilica Santa Maria in Aracoeli, which delivered stunning views over the city. All churches are free entry, and although some might look similar, they all very much come with their own charm. We made a pitstop at Trattoria Lungaretta ahead of our 5pm walking tour with incredible guide Mary. She took us past the Pizza Venezia, Capitoline Hill, Fori Imperiali, Trajan's Column, Palazzo Venezia, Palazzo Bonaparte, Pontifical Gregorian University, Fontana di Trevi, Piazza Rotunda, Pantheon, and Largo di Torre Argentina, and that for just €10!

We headed towards the river to enjoy the markets, enjoyed a fresh plate of ravioli at Scalo Trastevere, and then headed towards Galeassi Ristorante for delicious bruschetta and tiramisu! Again; the wonderful service at this place made us both hardly want to leave. On Friday we decided to properly visit the Pantheon as we'd only seen it from the outside during our tour, and for only €5 and nearly 20 minutes queueing it was so very worth the visit! We had a delicious brunch at XXXIV Rome, visited the Chiesa del Gesu, enjoyed an iced coffee and tiramisu at Antica Enoteca Ristorante, and then headed to the Colosseum (€18 pp). Although it seemed we were unable to enter the arena we ended up being able to visit all the areas we wanted and with the scorching heat on us and the stunning building walls towering over us it was a wonderful visit. I fell in love at Iari The Vino, not just with the food but also with the waiter... I'd highly recommend the ravioli with spinach and ricotta as well as a drizzle of green pesto!

[thismisfitslife]

Nothing beats pie in Manchester

After having spent some time with family and friends in the Netherlands I flew to Manchester to work a brand new ballet show at a brand new venue, at least for me! Although Manchester isn't my favourite city, I absolutely don't mind spending some time in it.

After a tiring flight I arrived at newly rebranded hostel Malacuna Manchester, right in the middle of its vibrant centre. A warm welcome and a lovely room made me feel quite instantly relaxed and also wonder where to go for dinner. I ended up ordering what I know; Coco Di Mama, not per se for their banging pastas, but definitely for their incredible sides, arancini and mac 'n cheese bites, and deserts, biscoff bombolini!

After my fulfilling dinner I went out for drinks with a friend, we started at hip and happening place Flok, which I immediately fell in love with, we then headed to The Castle Hotel, quite the institution and a live music venue I hadn't visited before. After I developed a crush on the bartender we went to a speak easy where we had our last drink before retiring. After a wonderful night's sleep I headed to Blank Street Coffee for an oat latte and slice of chocolate banana bread, picked up a meal deal, and went to the venue for the day; Royal Northern College of Music.

With plenty of incredible stage hands we were done a lot earlier than I had anticipated so I took myself for dinner at one of my favourite joints in the country; Pieminister where I had a cheesy pie and a glass of wine that just hit the spot. I was tempted to search out some live music but my body screamed for some rest so I went to bed and watched a couple of episodes of Gilmore girls instead. The next morning it took me a while to find the motivation to get up but coffee was calling my name, I wandered around the city when I noticed a sign outside Caffe Nero that screamed "TIRAMISU LATTE" and just had to try. It lived up my expectations and I'll absolutely go back for another soon!

Afterwards I didn't have much time left but I was in a mood to spend some money and since Newcastle doesn't yet have a Lucy & Yak store I had to pop into their Manchester branch. I came away with a beautiful flowy skirt and see through top, feeling very chuffed I then hopped on the train home barely able to wait before I could unpack and repack for the next trip; holiday in Rome!