June Challenge: Day 21: A list of links to my favorite posts on my blog.

Day 21, Friday: A list of links to my favorite posts on my blog.

So this is delayed from Friday, but never mind. My five current favourite posts from this blog. I think each speaks for itself if you read them. 

Longleat - Animal Magic

My favourite poem - Desiderata

My favourite quotes - June Challenge 4

Childhood stories & finding Heidi - June Challenge 18

Glasgow, sitting and the wonderful Toni

Just taking the time to enjoy yourself

Anyone who has commitments in their life, be that work or studying or regular plans, knows how easy it is to get caught up in the day to day madness of what you consider normality.

As I've referenced on this blog before I have recently been taking some time out to sit back, chill out and enjoy just taking some time. However even I don't think it was my intention to have 3 weekends away in May!

I spent the first weekend away in Glasgow, a trip that possibly did me more good than any other I've had in years. I then spent a weekend enjoying the sunshine and animals at Longleat, before heading to the best concert I've ever been to (still can't believe Lana del Rey hugged me but there we go). And this weekend I've been to my nan's for a couple of days of relaxation.

I don't think I've had this many plans in such a short period of time in years but what I've learned from all this is three things.

1. Spending time away smiling, laughing and just generally enjoying myself is a definite positive.

2. I've learned to take the time to do what I want to do not just what I need to do and that change of balance is something that was long overdue.

3. I need to translate my new attitude to my normal life more. I can't keep disappearing away for weekends as much as I would like to. I mean my credit card would rebel for one thing.

So my next mission should I choose to accept it (which I already have done) is to apply my new relaxed attitude and ability to rise above the madness to my daily life more. I've come a long way since early May that much is true but I'm determined that I won't lose this new attitude when my weekends away cease.

But in the meantime I've got Cardiff to look forward to in two weeks time. Maybe I really should just keep planning weekends away instead!

Where next? Any suggestions?

Animal Magic!

On Saturday 18th May I went to Longleat Safari Park with Emma. Now the first thing I should say here is that I do not like the idea of animals in cages, so I was concerned by what to expect. I am pleased to report that I need not have worried, the animals at Longleat had so much space, were in really good condition and were obviously still as wild as they come. I was much impressed. As well as taking our own tour of the park in my car, we also took in an off road safari with a guide and I have to say it was money well spent. We got so close to the animals and were able to take so many pictures over those few hours, and the memories of that afternoon and the laughs we shared at the crazy animal behaviour around us will live with me forever.

I'm not going to bore you to tears with the 600 photographs I took that afternoon (yes, really, 600! I had to plug my phone into my laptop to ensure I could recharge my battery as we went) but instead just point out a few highlights in the hope it might make you want to go yourself. If you can get there, I would thoroughly recommend it!

The African Plain area

Gorgeous cheetah

There was so much monkey madness it was untrue. I mean, who knew monkey's hitch hiked and then tried to total your vehicle?

Small monkey liked my windscreen wipers!

Mummy and baby!

And after the madness of monkeys, we moved onto the majesty of the gentle giants - the giraffes. 

Only it turned out that these creatures are goofy as hell!

Doing the splits!

Smile

Being hand fed... the tongue touching me was a little gross!

What a poser!

 The lions were a creature we had been looking forward to seeing and they did not disappoint one bit!

Pose for the camera!

Daddy dearest!

Family time

Siamese lions?

 We then walked with meerkats and lemurs! I think I nearly passed out I was squealing so much!

Spying on the sky!

Wondering if the camera person was about to eat them!

Lemur!

Smile for the camera!

So close to this big beast!

Tiger crossing!

Beautiful tiger

Wolf dancing!

We headed back into our car and drove through the African plains, making friends with some animals along the way!

The African plains, the tiger homelands and the wolf kingdom. What an amazing place.

RHINO!

We spent the day at Longleat, it really wasn't long enough. I will definitely be going back again. Okay, it wasn't the South African safari Emma and I had always dreamed of, but for a UK adventure and to make one of her dreams come true? Well we couldn't have asked for more!

Weekend Plans

I'm all excited with myself like a small child!

Why?

This weekend I'm going to Longleat Safari Park. I'm going in an off road jeep around the park and I'm going to meet some meerkats. Yes, really!

Emma and I are going on safari because she won't ever make it to the dream holiday in South Africa we have been planning for years. Okay, not quite the same but the feeling will be there.

Afterwards we are going back to the hotel and having a Euro Vision party, basically listening to cheesy music, eating food and drinking beverages from participating countries and exploring the world via Google Streetmap.

To some people this might seem tame or silly, but put yourselves in our shoes. It's going to be epic.

Oh and then I have Lana del Rey tickets for Sunday night. This weekend is going to be unbelievably brilliant.