2012: The Good, The Bad and The Unplanned

Hello!

I hope you had a magical Christmas time and Santa got you lots of great toys! He was very good to me with lovely perfumes and blingy things. My favourites! How does he know eh?!

I'm just emerging from a few days of completely re-charging my glitter, which means I really, actually, truly did nothing! It was bliddy marvelous. It's so rare I take a few days to do nothing and I really got into the swing of it. And I've just realised that in planning my 2013 diary I forgot to schedule time off - I'm going to correct that right this second....

Right, that's time off booked into next years diary. Now, to look back on 2012!

The Good

I've got all sorts of good from this year!

Here are just a few of my personal favourites:

Speaking at Birmingham Girl Geeks launch event about social media and the 4am Project. Thanks for inviting me ladies! If you are a Girl and a bit of a Geek and you are in, or can get to Birmingham, keep an eye out for their up-coming events. 

Celebrating my best friend's 40th Birthday at a haunted cottage in the middle of nowhere in Wales. I still shudder at the ghostly goings on! It was a real country break with just the sound of birds and the neighbours mooing (they were cows, not humans!). I loved the open fire, but not the cobwebs. Part of me would just love to go back there again, and the other part says 'noooooo, it's just toooo scary!'.

Partying with Bugsy Malone at Fat Sam's Grand Slam. Fat Sam knows how to throw a party! I met Bugsy and he let me hold his splurge gun! What a gentleman. He's from NYC so I had a soft spot for him.

Having an Italian adventure in Milan! I had the chance to explore this beautiful city with it's stunning architecture, designer shops, art and of course the stylish people and not forgetting it has the most fabulous graveyard ever! Honestly.

The A.May.Zing month of May! 10 days of working and living in London. I had such an adventure and so many things fell into place. It was just the place I should have been that month. Now it's given me a taste for London and I've been back a few times since and plans to return very soon!

Being recruited by Brave New Ventures I had no idea what I was getting into or letting myself in for when I was approached by BNV. What a mysterious organisation. I'm still not quite sure what happened! 

Enjoying a Great British Seaside Holiday with my fab Mum We toured seaside towns down south and had one sunny day during the week. Hey, you can't go to the beach and not get rained on the the UK. Sandy sandwiches are a must. It's tradition! Thanks for a fab holiday Mum! 

Taking the 4am Project event to Nottingham and having 40 amazing photographers turn up despite the torrential rain! I still have to blog about this event, but it was a great challenge to take the project to a new city and make it happen and also team up with the Lakeside Arts Centre and their Saturday Night Sunday Morning exhibition. I'm very grateful to all the photographers who came along and took part in the 4am Project photography challenge given the challenging weather! 

Working with the talk about local team! Not just good, but great! However, now it's time to say a fond farewell to the team and take part in new adventures in 2013, which I'll announce shortly. If you ever get a chance to work with any of the tal team, do! If you have an interest in how to use social media from a grass root up perspective, keep an eye on the great work they do in empowering people and communities. It's been a pleasure working with everyone and I'll look forward to the TAL13 conference next year!  

The Bad

This could also go in The Unplanned category, but it was it was more 'bad' than 'unplanned' (not that I planned it!) so it's going here.

Being ill and spending a week in hospital. That was pretty bad. The 'good' is that I am better now. Hurrah!

It took a month out of the year all in all and I resent it for that. And it knocked my confidence in how my body works and also what I could and couldn't eat until I ended up eating the blandest diet ever. Thankfully, I am better and I know I can eat whatever I like again. So, another, Hurrah!

The 'good' for you is that I'm pretty bored of talking about it now, so this'll be the last you hear about it. Unless 1. I get ill again or 2. I feel like I want some sympathy haha.

The Unplanned

I didn't plan 2012 quite well enough. Which in some parts worked out well (Amazing Month Of May and for the Being Ill parts), but that was only by accident. Let me explain.

Earlier in the year I applied for a Clore Fellowship. Naturally I was pretty excited about this, but I also had a feeling that my chances of securing a place would be fairly slim. However, if you don't try for things, you stand no chance at all. What with the time commitment involved in the Fellowship if I had of been successful, and even though I felt my chances were a little slim, I kept the second half of the year free of commitments. In April I got the news that I didn't get a place. I was looking at the rest of the year without as much of a plan as I would ordinarily have liked.

It all worked out in the end and I was able to get back on track with planning but I really think I should have had more of a back up plan. The power of a back up plan should not be underestimated!

FINAL SCORE

I will give 2012 a score of 7/10.

2013, I have very high expectations of you! We are aiming for 10/10!

Thank you to everyone who has brought their positivity to the year! 

I wish you all the happiness in the world and every success for 2013! 

Let's grab it and go out and make our own luck! :) 

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Milan Adventure Part 2 - Things to see and do in Milan!

Sponsored by:

Read Part 1 of my Milan Adventure here!

Where to start?

The Shops! Of course ;)

If you are a dedicated follower of high end fashion or a particularly good window shopper you will love the Golden Rectangle.

Walk along Via Montenapoleone, Via Manzoni, Via del Corso, and Via Senato and you will be in designer heaven!

You'll find all the big names; Yves Saint Laurent, Dior, Valentino, D&G, Versace, Armani..... Every shop window had the most eye catching displays.

There is a really nice, if busy shopping centre between La Scala Opera House and Duomo Cathedral (map)

You may enjoy this little video....




The Sights!

I didn't need the regular tourist bus to get around town! I set my own agenda. I have used these buses before in other cities and they are handy for big cities when they cover a lot of ground and attractions.

Duomo Cathedral

Ask anyone who has been to Milan what you should see and I'll put money on it that they will tell you the Duomo Cathedral. And I'll tell you that too!

I'm not particularly into churches or cathedrals, but if there is an impressive looking one in the town or city I'm visiting I'm always drawn into having a look. It's not for the religious aspect, or even the history, but I do find myself amazed at the scale and architecture of these buildings and of all the cathedrals I've seen I would say the Duomo is one of the most impressive.

Every aspect of the outside of he cathedral is adorned with statues and gargoyles.

If you venture inside, then you can admire the stained glass windows...

Light a candle for loved ones and also.....

Check out the dead bodies on display! Archbishops I believe. It's ok, you can only see their hands

 I arrived at the cathedral at about midday on a Saturday and expected a long queue to get in as this place is on every Milan tourist’s must-see list. However the queue was short and moved quickly so I ended up waiting for about 2 minutes. And it's free entry.

What I would really recommend is a trip up to the very top of the Duomo's roof.

That was definitely one the highlights! It costs €10 if you are feeling energetic and take the stairs up. (There are 160 steps. I counted them for you) or €12 if you want to take the lift.

You need to buy your ticket first and you can get this from a souvenir kiosk at the rear, and to the right of the Cathedral. Then take yourself and your ticket to either the entrance for the stairs or the lift. They are separate from each other though you can find both on the left hand side of the cathedral on the outside.

If you get the lift, you can take the stairs down. I would recommend doing this. The queue for the lift to go back down was much longer than the queue for the lift going up and by the time you have waited for the lift you could have waked down the stairs and be enjoying a coffee at one of the cafes over looking the square.

Oh, and wear non slip shoes. Parts of the roof top are on a slope and are very smooth so watch your step!

Another video!




If you are looking for a place to eat around the cathedral, there are plenty of places to chose from.

If you are on a budget and want a good meal try the Autogrill (map). If you are facing the cathedral entrance, it's to the left. It's on the 2nd floor. The restaurant itself is called Ciao. It's a self service cafe with a wide range to chose from; pasta and pizza (of course!), salad, fruit, fish, meats and alcohol. You get a fast service and good food at a decent price. Grab a seat by the window over looking Duomo and the square!

Sforzesco Castle

This is the sight that greets you at the main entrance to the castle.

This is a large historic site that used to be owned by the Duke of Milan and it was built in the mid-15th century. There are four small museums within the complex and it's only €3 to visit them all. I didn't go into them so I don't know what they are like, but suspect they are full of old things as they have an archaeology museum and a museum of natural history too.

I was more taken with this family of wild cats living in the old moat!

Parks

The weather was so perfect that I decided to chill out in Sempione Park which is right next to Sforzesco Castle. The park was really well used by not only tourists but locals as well.

If you are looking to escape the busy city streets, there’s a lovely little park which is just a few minutes walk from Duomo called Public Gardens (map)

I went here twice and although it wasn't deserted, it was really chilled.

Monumental Cemetery

The quietest place in the city!

 If you really want to get away from the crowds and get off the tourist trail, head for the Monumental Cemetery. Yes, you read that right. A cemetery!

I made a little video here too!



I didn't find it a depressing place to be at all! I think because so much thought and care has gone into each grave stone. In a way, not only do these elaborate headstones and mausoleums show an individual tribute to the loved ones that have passed away, but it is also a way for the deceased to show off their wealth after they have gone! Only the rich can/could afford to be buried here.

The air is thick with the scent of flowers. If you wanted to pay tribute, you can buy bouquets from stalls outside the main entrance.

It’s something a little different!

Central Station

As I mentioned in my last post Central Station is worth spending some time in and has some great photo opportunities!

I think I packed quite a lot into my 2 day Milan adventure! It helped by Milan being so walkable and that it has a great transport system. And with such a short flight time of only 90 minutes from Gatwick Airport it's a great place for a short weekend break.

All too soon it was time to go home on my return Monarch flight to Gatwick Airport. When you book a Monarch flight you have the option of selecting a meal for £7.99-£8.99.

This was my breakfast on my way out on my early morning flight.

And  my dinner on my evening flight. Lamb Moussakka, bread, cheese and biscuits with onion chutney and an apple pie.

I liked the variety and for £7.99 I think it's good value for money, plus they catered to my wheat/gluten free diet. It’s handy if you are in a rush in the morning and skipped breakfast, and it will tide you over until you get off the plane to your final destination. If you don't want to book a meal then there are a selection of sandwiches, crisps and nibbles, chocolate, and a range of hot, cold and alcoholic drinks to chose from.

William, one of the cabin crew on the return flight! 

Monarch now operate new flights to Milan from Birmingham, London Gatwick and Manchester airports from March 2012 with fares, including taxes, starting from £35.99 one way (£60.99 return).

Thank you for a great time Gatwick, Monarch and Milan! :) 

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