Margate 2013

My two best friends (Jason and Ivy) and I always said we should take a trip abroad somewhere but we couldn't decide where. After some long discussion, we decided we should do a day trip first and then lead to a weekend away perhaps then a week away. We decided to do a day trip within the UK, and chose Margate based on journey time, cost and convenience. 

JIL in Margate

We met at 7.30am at Stratford and got to Victoria Station at about 8.20am. We collected the tickets from the self service machines and chilled at a bench. Our train wasn't until 8.52am, so we had time. We went to WH Smiths and got some free chocolate from Priority Moments (Was rather funny). 

WH Smith Snacks

We boarded the train and we managed to get a good seat. The train left as planned and it was going to be about a 2 hour journey. A few days a go, we had made a list of things we could discuss, so we started with the list. The first topic was talking about Ivy and her plans to move out which ended up her telling us about her growing up and her family relationships. We learnt a lot about each other and had some laughs too. 

We arrived at Margate and the weather was dull. I knew it would be around 15-20 degrees but it felt pretty cold! As we arrived, we had decided that we needed to find a Primark and buy a hoody! As we left the station, to our surprise  we saw a Primark! We decided to buy identical black hoodies. We all left the store with a black hoody!

Thankful to see this!

We decided to go straight to the beach and check that out. We had some jokes on the beach and played a few games and made a few things on the sand. It wasn't packed at all! We drew in the sand, played long jump in the sand, made our houses, chilled. It was tiring but good fun. It was around 1 o'clock when we decided to get some fish and chips and eat on the beach. The seagulls were flying everywhere and we was nearly finished but we decided to get moving. We walked for a bit towards the centre of the beach where it seemed there were less seagulls but by that time we had finished. We chose to seat for a while, and then head to do some exploring. We found a spot on the beach and I made a bed. This was a pile of soft sand for my pillow and I made a little hole where I would fall nicely in. 

Our Sand houses

Heart on flames

Fish and Chips on the beach!

My great sand bed

In the end, I did manage to sleep for a short while probably about 30minutes! People had passed us and thought we was dead! It was very funny and when we got up from our little nap, we decided to burry Jason in the sand. It was hilarious. 

Digging

Buried!

After, we decided to go for a walk by the sea and explore the area. We walked quite far along the coast and ended up by a garden of some sort. We stopped by for some refreshments which was lovely. We decided to sit in this peaceful garden and continued our talks. We sat down and this time attention was focused on Jason and I. They helped me analyse a dream for me and even though I didn't agree with everything they said, it was funny to see what they thought of it. Jason told updated us with his relationships. It was a really good talk and we got to know more about each other. It was nice.

Garden of some sort

We then headed back to the beach area where the restaurants were. We decided to have a look around that area too, to see what was going on there and then eat. I ran for a little bit because I was cold and left them two walking. It didn't warm me up and the breeze came stronger, it was cold! We got to back to the beach area and most of the shops were closed! It was around 6pm. We was shocked because it was a Saturday night and it was dead! We laughed about it and joked around. We ended up going to Whetherspoon's and ate. We sat about chatting, laughing and eating. It was lovely. It was nearly time to go back and we headed out towards the station. We reflected on the day and we all agreed that we won't be coming back in a long time but the day was really good. 

We was a little early, so on the platform whilst waiting for the train, I decided to call the seagulls. We was so tired but we still managed to have more laughs. We had a good day. We got on the train and it was more busier than when we came. There was a few drunk people on the train but we managed to discuss the last thing that was on our list to talk about. We ended up playing some games on the phone and played 'speed dating'. It was funny. We rested for a little while and it wasn't long until it was time to get off. We headed back the way we came from by tube and said our goodbyes at Stratford and departed home. It felt like we had been away on holiday for much longer than just a day and somewhere far. It was a good day out! We plan to go Rome for the weekend next year some time.. 

JIL Margate 2013 <3

Margate 2013

Cafe Rouge

Location: 77 Kingsway, Holborn

Meal: Bavette 7oz Steak with French Fries (or salad) (£13.95) and Garlic Butter (£0.75), Grapefruit Juice (£2.40).

Price: £17.10 (They have a Service Charge of 10% included in final price but also usually have deals, we was lucky enough to find a 20% total bill discount via VoucherCloud.

After a lovely summer evening stroll with the boyfriend we stopped for some food. We decided to try Café Rouge, a French restaurant. I wasn't too sure what I wanted to eat today, the menu selection was ok. I wouldn't have said it had a great deal to choose from but the steaks had caught my eye. I chose the Bavette 7oz Steak. This is steak cut from the abdominal muscles of the cow which should not be cooked more than medium as advised, but this wasn't a problem as I like my steak medium rare. The steak was good. It isn't the best I've tasted and maybe a little tough but the steak was still good. The fries was amazing! It tasted very good and there was a substantial amount. It was nicely presented in a bowl of its own and I think I'd definitely go back to Café Rouge again.

An overall rating 9/10.

Steak & Chips with Garlic Butter Sauce

GBK - Gourmet Burger King

Location: o2, Greenwhich

Meal: Chicken Camembert & Cranberry (£9.25), Citric Fizz (£1.95)

Price: £11.20

This isn't the first time at GBK so I thought I'd pick something I wouldn't usually. So I went for this Chicken Camembert & Cranberry, which had camembert, cranberry sauce, salad, mayo and relish. It was really good and quite a big burger, which was expected for the price I guess. The amounts were good. It wasn't too over powering with cheese neither was it too dry. I'd say if you wanted to try some quirky burgers this was the place to go. It was a good night overall with some good conversations with some old friends! 

An overall rating 8/10.

Chicken Camembert & Cranberry Burger at GBK

#21 Overcome A Fear - 'Driving Comfortably' - Part I (Year 2007 - 2012)

Background
Here's a little background first. Since I was about 6 or 7 years old, I was taught how to ride a bike and since then I have loved riding bikes. Then as I was probably around 14 years old, I went go Karting at Southend and it was one of the best things I had ever done! It was exciting and I loved it. From then, I knew that I wanted to drive. My sister go her license at 18 years old, my older cousin also around 18 years old and he was obsessed with cars. 

In February 2007, when I was 19 years old, I decided to take lessons. I went with a private company and drove a mini copper. I had such great fun with lessons and I usually would do two hours lessons once a week. Around May, my instructor told me I was ready for my test, and I it was the scariest feeling ever! I felt confident but it was still nerve wracking. I failed. My instructor reassured me that I was ready and that mistake was nothing I should worry about. We rebooked the test and within a month my test was due again. The second time round was more nerve wracking, I was so nervous to the point I felt sick. The only ever time I remember feeling this nervous was when I had piano exams! Thankfully, I passed. I sighed with relief and so glad that my licence was now pink as opposed to green.

The fear
With the excitement and buzz from passing my test, I wanted to drive as soon as possible! I did a pass plus scheme too which was further driving in different conditions which lowers your insurance. After a month or so, my sister added my name to the insurance for her car and I was ready to drive. She sat with me and we drove around the block and to near by places. It was ok at first but my sister, at the time, an experienced 3 year driver was, for the first time sitting in a car with a first time just passed driver. She was not impressed. At times, she would panic and shout and tell me things that I was doing and made me feel rather scared myself. I think this is how I developed my fear for driving. 

Saying that, after those occasions, in 2007, I drove to a few more places. Over the year I had the insurance I didn't drive a lot at all because I avoided it and my sister said she would not want to sit in the car when I'm driving because she is fearful for her life.

In 2008, my sister said it was not a good idea to put me on the insurance if I was not going to drive. So I hardly drove in 2008. I made excuses to myself that it wasn't that I didn't want to drive or was scared but I just didn't need to and other methods were easier. It was just easier than admitting that my love for driving became a fear.

In 2009, my friend passed her driving and she got a car. We both agreed that we should drive to uni for fun and it was less hassle then taking the public transport. It was around this time for renewing insurance again. I told my sister I wanted to try again and really missed driving but sometimes my head just stops me from doing so and this time I was ready. I managed to convince her and she put me on the insurance again. I did push myself. I drove to uni a few times and even got lost at one point and probably did drive a bit manic at times but it was good. I had people in the next door cars shouting racist names at the traffic light (but not in an aggressive way) he just said chicken chow mein and my friend and I looked at each other burst out laughing. I was still half panicking. The nerves never stopped and I was battling it every time. My friend said to me, I was better than I made myself sound. I drove for a bit more after from place to place but avoided it if I could and still made excuses. When we stopped driving to uni, I fell back into not driving again. 

In 2010, I probably drove once. I didn't have insurance for a while too and it made me feel better in some ways because I knew that even if I wanted to drive, I wasn't allowed. But every year, it has been something I have wanted to over come so bad. I started to open up to friends about this ridiculous driving phobia. Everyone around me had passed their test and started to drive and I felt like I was the only idiot who had a license but couldn't bring herself to drive even when I had insurance. This frustrated me but it was a mental battle I could not win with myself.

I told a few friends and they were encouraging. One comment one of my best friends said even though he was joking said to me 'I would never sit in your car if you was driving' and it stuck with me, I never took it as a joke at all. I was angry and upset and more so, disappointed in myself. The few friends that had constantly encouraged me that it was silly and that I could drive they would trust me driving made me feel good. They gave me confidence and I would confide in them. One friend had his own car so when we met up, he would drive me around, he has been one constant person who has told me I can do it and stayed positive even when I have felt the most negative. I truly thank him for that.

So after all the excuses I made over those years, I ended up blaming the car as my sister said it was getting old and the breaks and clutch wasn't working well. She bought a new car in 2011, i think. I was happy because I thought that all this driving was attributed to this car and that when a new car was here all my fears will disappear. I was wrong. I still get nervous but less. I was insured and drove a couple of times again. I could not over come this fear.

In 2012, I was taken off the insurance and didn't drive. 

Try. Chase. Ask.

Nightmare: Disaster at the Art Gallery

I was in a building like an art gallery. My boyfriend (Nigel) fell asleep on the bed so I walked downstairs. My mum and dad were cooking and to my surprise Nigel's family were there too and my sisters. There was some other friends that were at the art gallery too. Nigel finally woke up and came down, I went up with him and he took his phone out but messed all my things up as he did it from the drawer. I flipped and got angry and said "fuck sakes stop messing up my stuff". I went down to the art gallery and he went somewhere, it was unclear where he went to at this time. But I didn't care because I was angry. I then spent time with some friends and we were joking in the art gallery. We was laughing and having so much fun. 

After, I went back to the kitchen and I saw Nigel sitting there behind someone. I spoke with my sister who ate a crisp and I asked her why as she was on a diet. Anyways, I walked out with the group of friends which included one girl that liked Nigel (which I didn't know) and two other guys. Both who were quite good looking. I walked outside with them and the girl said to one of the guys, "what do you think of buying Nigel a pair of trainers but customised and says 'there's there and just'" One of the guys said he wasn't sure because of the 'just'. The girl said she will think about it. We walked towards the Kitchen and the girl walked ahead. I asked the guy whether she had liked Nigel and the guy said "Yeah, she did". And I said "She better not try anything". The guy then said to me, if he was going out with someone good looking he would always have some ugly friends as back up incase they broke up. I was a little shocked and I disagree with him and we both just chatted about the matter. 

He then pointed at something and said "get ready" loudly and in a panic. I looked but couldn't see anything then a few seconds I could see a tall blue truck crashing onto the building. The guy grabbed me to safety and protected me from the debris the other guy was left so I dragged him towards us. When it calmed down we all had to go look for our to see if everyone were ok. I was really worried. The girl said 'we have to look for Nigel' and so we did. We looked in the kitchen but there was no luck. I was starting to get upset and scared and after looking at a few places he was no where to be seen. The girl said "oh lets call". As I looked for his number, the girl already was on the phone to him. He was ok and with the rest of the survivors. I was relived. Then I thought oh no what about my family. I was looking for the number to call when. I revived a call but battery and reception was low. He said it was Kurtis and that everyone knew him but I said I wasn't sure who he was. He then asked for my name and I told him Lai. He said "Lai with both parents dead?". I shouted down the down "fuck off, no, fuck off, no". He read my full name and confirmed two dead parents. Tears started to fill my eyes and the guy was there to comfort me and I woke up shortly.

Dinner in the sky

Me and Nigel were 'dinner in the sky' testers, we sat in the seats and you kind of loop like a roller coaster. We looped and went up side down and ended up on our bums on the grass. Nigel then told me he will join me in my next trips.

Be..

"Be Weird. Be Random. Be Who You Are. Because You Never Know Who Would Love The Person You Hide."

Quotes..

Successful Vs Unsuccessful

Something I found when I was browsing and I found it quite interesting, so I thought I'd share...

Successful People Vs Unsuccessful People

Alone

I was in a bar or club in another country. I was looking for my boyfriend but couldn't see him so I left feeling quite upset. I ran through these black gates as fast as I could and sat down by these stairs. I got a bit scared and then after I got his text saying 'Hey, about to leave'. So I ran back. As I was going back, the club/bar was closing so there was loads of people outside. I held my phone tight trying to work out where my boyfriend was and trying to read it. Then two white girls was standing near me, one hit me across the head and I got scared and had anticipated it. I wanted to see a gap and make a run into the building but a car was coming towards me and a gang was near by. A while guy came by and saw me and said 'ok get her, she's a foreigner'. He wanted to hit me, I tried to hide my phone and I looked around frantically trying to find my boyfriend. He started to shout and I grabbed one of the white girls for protection and hid behind her. She looked at the friend as if to say 'what the fuck is she doing, come here and help me'. I looked around for him and I couldn't see him. No one was there to protect me. I was so scared my heart was beating fast. I woke up. I remember in the dream I told myself that it was only a dream and that it was ok. 

I haven't woke up from panic in a very long time! My resting heart rate is around 65bpm, but I woke up with a heart beat of 79bpm. 

Slug and Lettuce

Location: Canary Wharf

Meal: BBQ Half Roast Chicken (with spicy BBQ Sauce, chips and chilli-spiced coleslaw), Hot Chocolate-puddle sponge pudding (with chocolate sauce, served with vanilla ice cream or hot custard), Coke.

Price: £10.00 roughly (with discount : 50% off Food on Monday's) 

Slug and Lettuce has a good choice of food. I wasn't sure what I wanted to eat when I arrived, but I was torn between a couple of options. I decided to go with the roast. I wasn't too sure about this at first because it was BBQ based and to my surprise I did not realise how big the chicken was! It was half but it was a big half. Even though it was BBQ based, it tasted good! I managed to finish it, just about and even had space for dessert! But then we did stay there for about 4 hours! I went with two other friends and the bill was split, we had a good laugh and just socialised throughout. The staff were friendly and service was good. However, I was slightly disappointed with their desserts as around half of them was unavailable that day but it was a lovely evening with two great friends and a good decent meal for a reasonable price. 

An overall rating 7/10.

Half BBQ Chicken Roast

Hot Puddle Chocolate Pudding with Vanilla Ice Cream