Baby don't you hear my heart? You got it drowning out the radio..

Imagine:

• Slowly swaying into the early hours of the morning in a canvas hammock in the South of Holland. Being gently awoken by the birds just in time to sit up and wander over to the rivers edge in order to witness the most beautiful sunrise in the most beautiful country with some amazing people. Taking in the incredible colours and their crystal clear reflection in the water in complete awe but minutes later breaking the surface and its great silence with a huge splash, heading out for a morning swim.
  
• Curling up on a cosy, old bean bag on a sunny balcony in Amsterdam, munching on Dutch deep-fried goodness and sipping an English tea after refusing to sleep the night before because you didn't want your last night in this Utopia to end.
  
• Leaving your apartment in Paris half asleep to run mundane errands at 9.30am and not returning until the next afternoon after stumbling across the best day and night of accidental meetings and spontaneous plan making. From bumping into a camel on the pavements of Paris to sitting in Jardin des Tuileries with a gathering of British folk only for every single one of you to come away with sunburn wondering how on earth the Parisians can still spot you a mile off.

Three things, amongst many, that have made me take a deep breath, smile and appreciate life over the last week. And it's the little moments of happiness like these that I must both appreciate and prioritise over the next two weeks of what I know for sure are going to be some of the hardest goodbyes... Even though it's not goodbye, just see you on Queen's day!

So Paris, you might drive me crazy but was the juice worth the squeeze?

Absolutely.

City lights laid out before us and your arm felt nice wrapped 'round my shoulders..

Wow, extremely long time no blog but the last few weeks of my life have been so jam-packed. A continous, and ongoing, buzz of travelling, partying and hardcore studying...by far the best five weeks of my life so far. 

(Excluding Disneyland sis, don't you worry!)
So instead of boring you and cramping my fingers with the ins and outs, I thought I'd take a philosophical route and write about the lessons I have learnt over this time. Whether it be the things my closest people have taught me that have had a definite impact over the last few weeks and absolutely influenced my life or the little anecdotes and funny tales I have gathered over my travels:

1) It's ok to let your heart rule your head. To be completely reckless once in a while. And to make totally rash life decisions half way up La Tour Eiffel with your Brazilian BFF as part of a pact.

Because I have learnt it's what makes you happy that is important and life has a funny way of working things out. 

2) Always get a watertight container to store your belongings in when canoeing down the Dordogne. Otherwise when your Ma and Pa's canoe ends up upside down in amongst the rapids and you manage to rescue everything but the house and car keys, an absolute 'mare will occur.

3) Drink your beer from a boot. Never a glass, zats boringg.

4) Bring an empty shoebox to Amsterdam. Everytime. You will absolutely be able to use it for something.

5) Take a risk and embrace every oppurtunity. The friends you make when you get there will be friends for life. And experiencing life from others peoples points of view and their cultural tastes is the best thing for your soul.

6) Chill out in a park slash climb a prestigious monument at least once a week throughout the summer months. Bring your work, your friends, a french stick and a game of twister and let looose.

7) We love a good pun, we do.

8) Getting absolutely wrecked and curling up in bed with your best friend and two Pizza Base garlic cheese pizzas is the best. And spending the morning after remembering completely random incidents whilst both too afraid to sit up can completely erase the pain of that horrific hangover.

9) Follow your heart. Even if takes you across borders.
Besides, you can re-sit the exam but you can't re-sit that moment.

..And since this post is coming in from the utterly amezin' land of Amsterdam in my now favourite country of Holland, expect a more upbeat, action filled, utterly random and less meaningful post very sooon. As Queen's weekend and todays immense street party for the mere result of a football match proved, the Dutch absolutely do it best. 

I'm sorry Paris, there's someone else. But don't worry, I'll be back in 10 days, if you'll have me. Anyway they kiss three times here, nightmare..