Amazon Kindle: A traveller's best friend

I've recently headed back to Geneva for my Easter holidays, and want a break from the horrors of university work before revision sets in...

...and there it is, sitting pretty in it's Klevver Case cover with a whole world of books for me to enjoy. 

I am a sucker for a good book- therefore expect more reviews to appear on here from time to time. 

However, I do not appreciate the size and weight of my limited 20 kilo allowance that books take up. Enter Amazon Kindle as my hero. 

I've had this for a while, since my birthday in November to be exact and I'm just loving it. It's light, easy to use and has meant that I read for pleasure so much more- something that had rapidly declined when I went to uni. 

Anyways, my companion at the Bristol Airport Starbucks, here are my recent purchases from the Kindle Store: 

1. The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith- This is the book that caused a stir when it came out because of the not-so-new news that it's J.K Rowling actually writing it- the sequel is now open for pre-order. I'm currently half-way through and loving it! It's taken a while to get into it, but now it's a great little bedtime read. I'll review it properly once finished. 

2. Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell- This was recommended in a review by booksandquills on YouTube- her excitement and enthusiasm for the book piqued my curiosity. It's about twins who are heading off to uni and one of them is a fan fiction author. I'm excited to see developing internet crazes and social media starting to feature in literature- it seemed to be what Sanne (booksandquills' actual name) was excited about too. 

3. Half Bad by Sally Green- This was another booksandquills recommendation from her haul. I wasn't convinced until I saw the review comments on the Amazon site- sounds like it's going to be the next Hunger Games, so of course I have to see what all the fuss is about. 

4. The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides- A bit of a heavy-going choice, I know, but YouTuber JustKissMyFrog is to blame here- she was so passionate about the ideas explored in it and it just sounds so... cool? I'm hoping it's going to be as interesting as The Five People You Meet in Heaven or Perks of Being a Wallflower. 

Side note- how cool is this cover? You can still appreciate these things with a Kindle 

As you may have guessed, these will probably be the first on the review list, but I make no promises! 

Holiday Wishlist

As springtime is attempting to be upon us, I'm dreaming of holidays. Despite having lived abroad for over half my life, there are so many places that I want to go- somebody take me, please?

1. New York City
I'm sure everyone is reading that 'The Londoner' New York posts right now, and it is sparking up the same old envy I feel every time someone mentions that they're going to NYC, or have just come back. I don't even know why I want to go there especially- I have never been to America and New York just seems to be the centre of the universe sometimes. Part of me thinks it's because all my family have been without me and I'm just suffering from massive FOMO. 

From Wikipedia

2. Vienna
Simply for the Spanish Riding School- since the whole 'New York' issue with my family, I have banned them from going here without me. I would never say I was a demanding child, would you? 

The Spanish Riding School of Vienna- http://www.srs.at

3. Copenhagen
I saw Essiebuttonvlogs videos from Copehagen and it has made me curious- simply because I would have never picked it as a place to go until then, but it seems to be featuring a little bit more on the holiday scene. 

4. Hong Kong
I was born here, but we left when I was a year old- I simply want to know where I spent a year of my life, but more importantly a place where my parents actually lived, rather than where I just pooed and cried a lot (lovely image for you there of baby me). 

From a tax-break blog. Don't Ask- http://taxbreak.me/category/hong-kong/

5. Vietnam
I know it's not a city, but I want to explore the whole country- I've studied the Vietnam War a far bit as part of my degree and anyone who I have spoken to that has travelled there has loved it. I want to know what all the fuss is about. 

From BBC- http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-16567315

6. Barcelona
Whenever I have been in Spain, it's for beach holidays or big family trips to a villa in the countryside- amazing, but it doesn't give you any real idea of the culture. Barcelona just sounds so interesting, plus it's the ultimate tourist city- beach and culture all in one area. 

Las Ramblas- http://servicio-informatico-barcelona.com/barrio/las-ramblas/

7. Morocco
Again, a whole country but from what I've seen about travelling there, you want to explore everywhere, not just Marrakech, so why limit myself? I don't know why but I always think it's going to be like Istanbul, which has been one of my favourite cities to visit. I want to know if I'm completely off the mark. 

http://www.enjoyourholiday.com/2012/04/24/holiday-in-marrakech-morocco/

There are about a million other places that I want to go, but these are my top picks. Hopefully I'll make it happen! 

Sunday Funday: Brunchtime

It's deadline season and the flat have been bogged down with work- I've felt like a hermit for far too long.

I'm sure I'm not the only one- well I know I'm not because my flat have been feeling exactly the same. 

Merryn (one of said flatmates) put her foot down and told us it was high time we did something fun- the original plan was going out for brunch but then due to deadlines, we realised we could whip up one that was just as lovely. 

It's safe to say this has been an amazing Sunday as a result. 

So I crawled out of my duvet cocoon this morning, threw on some clothes and went for a wander with Merryn around town, finishing at the Quay. If you're ever in Exeter, head down there- there are some great pubs and little cafes, plus beautiful views of the River Exe. 

We finished our mosey around town with a trip to Tescos, picking up our brunch goodies: we went for the full show- fresh bread, sausages, bacon, beans...and to make us feel a little healthier, some fruit and greek yoghurt. We even mixed up some pancake batter, but were way too full to think about them (breakfast tomorrow though is going to be especially yummy with the mix all ready to go).

So here's a few pics of the day- if you're a student experiencing uni work blues, organise a brunch with your flatmates- between the 4 of us this only cost £5 each and was such a nice way to spend time together. 

Also, check out my flatmate Ali's blog for more food envy pics. 

Scrummy Scallops

While I was home I was treated to some amazing food- courtesy of chef Mummy. My Dad on the way home popped into Halles De Rive, an indoor market in the centre of town. For the first time ever, we decided to cook scallops at home. Since this recipe was such a success, I thought I’d share it with you- it’s really surprisingly easy to do and a great treat/something to impress someone with.

What you need: Serves 3 people

-       Scallops (ask your local fishmonger the recommended amount for however many you’re cooking for- for a main I’d say between 5-6 scallops, for starter, about 3.)

-       3 handfuls of asparagus

-       3 handfuls of beans

-       1 lemon

-       1 pack of lardons (or a pack of back beacon, chopped up)

-       Little bit of butter

-       Little bit of oil

(As you may have guessed, when my family cooks we don’t use precise measurements!)

First things first in terms of prepping the Scallops is to remove the muscle that’s attached to them and the orange thingy, called a roe if they have it (the ones we cooked with didn’t, but lots do- it’s edible, but apparently an acquired taste). They should just look like short fat cylinders now.

This is quite a quick recipe, because everything is either fried or steamed. It worth having everything prepped and ready to go before you actually cook anything.

So, we had our scallops with greens- asparagus and green beans. Top and tail the beans and get rid of the woody stalks of the asparagus

and they’re ready to be boiled/steamed. Might as well get the kettle boiling at this point (especially if like us your kettle takes an age for anything more than a cup of tea’s worth of water). I also quartered a lemon at this point to have ready as a garnish.

Scallops taste great with smoky flavours, so first up we fried some lardons (it’s chopped up bacon bits- conventional back bacon is nigh impossible to get in Swiss supermarkets). Once those are cooked, put them aside in a warm (no hotter than 60 degrees) oven on a plate with some kitchen roll). Next it was getting the veg on- aspagagus in the kettle and beans on the boil.

When your veg are a minute away from done, or even already cooked, drained and back in their pans to keep warm it’s time to cook the scallops. Drizzle a little bit of oil and butter and heat it (but not too much because you don’t want the butter to burn). Next its time to pop your scallops on and fry on one side for 30 seconds, until the side touching the pan is golden-brown.

Key tip: place your scallops around the frying pan at the points of a clock face so you can turn them in the same order they were placed in the pan. Makes sure that each and every one is cooked perfectly!

Flip over for another 30 seconds- and at this point we kept them on for 10 seconds longer for those that needed it. Serve immediately on the plate with greens and then sprinkle with lardons. Squeeze some lemon and a touch of pepper and it’s an amazingly filling yet light springtime dish.

 

This could, of course be better presented- but it's so yummy! 

Hope you enjoy!

Boots and Swiss Pharmacy Haul

It’s been pretty stressful at uni with deadlines (hence the general radio silence, apologies) so mine and my flatmate Ali’s response was to have a little bit of retail therapy.

Also, during my trip to Geneva I picked up a few little treats for my skin too, so thought I’d share them all here now that I’ve had a little test of everything.

Geneva:

Hopefully this is big enough for all the names to be read! 

-       Caudalie moisteriser: With the change into springtime the weather has completely screwed over my skin. Plus, with hand luggage only travelling I had to leave my moisturiser in the UK- nightmare. My mum recommended Caudalie products and the amazing pharmacist’s help meant I picked up this little tube. It’s lightweight and has a jelly like/watery consistency, but once rubbed in soaks in instantly. It has a light fragrance that I love- kind of floral-y. There’s a more hydrating version, but I didn’t want to clog up my skin and this has been perfect so far.

-       Bioderma: I finally have it! This little baby bottle was for Ali (my flatmate) and I took back in a travel case some from a larger one left at home. It’s met all my expectations, except be careful getting this stuff in your eyes or mouth- tastes foul and can leave your eyes feeling pretty uncomfortable.

-       Caudalie face mask: This came free because the pharmacist is a babe. I haven’t tried it yet, but I put it in a little travel pot to give it a test soon- I’m expecting good things!

-       Travel case: this was really just for the bottles to take bioderma back with me, but also the tubs and the clear case itself have been great for travelling and bringing back the caudalie goodies.

Boots:

I felt in serious need of some new makeup and went to town on the 3 for 2 mix and match deals they have on at the moment.

Soap and Glory ‘One Heck of a Blot’: My YouTube beauty blogger addiction led me to this, because the Rimmel London Clear Complexion powder I had was just not doing the job. The packaging of this powder really drew me to it, because it was the biggest issue with the Rimmel- the case didn’t protect the powder! Anyway, this stuff is way more effective- to the point that I don’t need as much of it as I did of my previous powder. It’s long lasting and does the trick- plus comes with a mirror and a blotter in the case- great for on the go make up!

Soap and Glory ‘Archery’ brow pen and pencil in ‘brownie points’: Another blogger tip from YouTube- my eyebrows are thin and blonde, despite being a brunette (DNA can be a bitch sometimes) so always need helping out. The current pencil I have is too dark for me and this kind of goes the other way- it’s a little too orangey but mixed with my old one it should be perfect! It’s really easy to use and helps create a great shape for my brows, so I think it’s a keeper.

Benefit’s the ‘Pore-fessional’: Worth the hype, but it's expensive to use all of the time. This stuff makes my skin look and feel so good! It just makes my foundation go so much further and evens out my skin, which I have quite a challenge doing. I wish it were cheaper/there was a dupe out there! For now it will have to be an occasional treat.

Maybelline’s Baby lips in Cherry Me: I love the colour, but I’m not so keen on the scent- cherries are just not my thing! This is great under a red lipstick at night, or to take out to boost colour and shine. It’s also an easy way to wear colour on your lips during the day. Shame about the packaging, because it looks cheaper than the quality of the product, but what's inside it is pretty great. 

There's no place like...

 Last week I was able to take a long weekend away, due to fortuitous timetabling (this was the main silver lining of doing a week’s worth of reading in 3 days). So on Wednesday I fought the floods (and network rail) to get myself to Bristol Airport, which is sadly a glorified air hanger- the joys of countryside universities I suppose! I have to credit First Great Western for saving me a horrible bus replacement service for a faster train option to get from Exeter to Bristol- it was nice to actually have station staff not look at you like a piece of poo on their shoe for once.

I said I was from nowhere, and this is kind of why; Geneva's 'home', but for the time being. We’ve lived there for about 2 years now and I love it as a place to really relax. Our house is 20 minutes outside of the city centre and even then it’s small villages and vineyards, rather than commuter suburbia like in the UK. When I want to disappear for a few days from the madness of uni- or in my sister and brother’s case from the working world, this is where we go!

The first couple of days my parents were both working and I barely conscious to be honest; the shutters on our windows cut out every inch of sunlight in the mornings, plus I had forgotten just how comfy my bed was. But I had two little monsters to take responsibility of, so it was up and out without a stitch of makeup (hence the sunglasses in most photos, I don’t want to scare you off) to enjoy the spring sunshine.

The lovely Tim...

...and the lovely Tilly

The walks around here are amazing- it’s all farmland and when the sun shines, I don’t think there’s anywhere better. Plus, dog walks mean that I can spoil myself to breakfasts like this:

The only place that could possibly trump down by the lake in the sun is up on the slopes- I was able to sneak in a day of skiing while I was out here, in the nearby Les Gets, France. The boarder is only 5 minutes away from us, actually on the edge of the village and then it’s about a 45-minute drive to the resort. My parents get to ski every weekend and after Saturday’s ski session, I am really jealous.

My sister flew out on the Friday night, so along with Dad we headed up for a day’s skiing. It’s coming to the end of the season, because Les Gets is quite low and they’re having unseasonably warm weather at the moment- but it makes for some lovely views.

Generally speaking around this time of year and when the weather’s reaching 6-10 degrees C, it’s best to ski from 10am-2pm. Our guide, Fabrice (the only ski instructor my mum trusts) said that before that it’s too icy without fresh snow and after it becomes ‘like ze porridge’. I take advice from a man who’s a born and bred Les Gets boy.

It was amazing weather- but don’t let yourself get burnt! I use Le Roche-Posay factor 50 face sun cream for skiing, or whenever I’m spending long periods of time outside. I’ve got really fair skin and it’s non-greasy and it soaks in really well. I’ve never been burnt wearing it so I guess that’s the ultimate testament.

We had originally planned for a weekend’s worth of skiing, but with the weather being so pretty down by the lake, we decided to follow a Sunday tradition (outside of the ski season); a long dog walk!

We kept it local, around the countryside outside the house and went down to the village. It was clear skies and for me had the best of both worlds in the weather- sunshine and warmth, but a cool breeze that meant I wasn’t a sweaty Betty strolling around the countryside.

 

As I said, we stopped into the village partway to have a drink and just to enjoy the weather- common practise, I would think. It was a small miracle that anywhere was open. Geneva/Switzerland is pretty traditional on Sunday being the day of rest- but luckily the sunshine had meant it was an opportunity too good to miss for the cafes in Hermance! It was great sitting out, but the experience was mixed. Firstly, my dogs aren’t great in enclosed spaces where there are other dogs (outside this pub there were a couple just chilling), so our table had a bit of a wobble when a lovely black lab came near! Secondly, our waitress was a nightmare- upon our order of drinks (and a few little nibbles), she realised we weren’t stopping for food and was outraged. Her whole attitude was rude, disrespectful and not what I’m used to in Geneva, where restaurant service is normally amazing. It put a slight dampner on an otherwise amazing last day in Switzerland.

 

The View down into the village

We continued on through the village and mum and I took a few snaps of the ‘plage’ in Hermance- a park on the lakeside. It was pretty idyllic to say the least and it seemed like the entire village were there!

Me, Mum and Em 

We wandered home to a cuppa and dozing in front of the six nations (me) or passionately watching it with much excitement (dad).

I didn’t really want to leave when I got up for my flight on the Monday morning, but it was a great getaway- hopefully shows some of you there’s more than skiing to do in and around Geneva. I’ll be back there in 2 weeks for more antics.