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About my ab fab friend Loren...

It's that time again, in which I declare my love for a wonderful woman in my life and today's crush is the fabulous Loren Silk!

I'm 16 years old, Dan Brown has made Da Vinci cool again, The White Stripes have released their Seven Nation Army, Johnny Depp is donning a pirate hat and I've got a looong summer off before starting College, so what do I do...stay at school and get involved in the summer production of Annie of course... During the first rehearsal, it became apparent that the only other person my age crazy enough to spend their summer doing musical theatre was a girl with the curliest hair and biggest smile I had ever seen. To avoid hanging around with anyone under the age of 13, we instantly gravitated towards one another and haven't looked back since.

Theatre is how we became friends and has played a big part in our friendship ever since, from Loren acting intoxicated in front of our headteacher as Ms Hannigan, to being my roller-skating robot lesbian lover in Return To The Forbidden Planet, to playing my love interest in Robinson Crusoe (can you see a pattern here...), to the countless theatre shows we have seen and sung along to the soundtracks in the car on the way home. I can't think of anyone I'd rather spend countless hours rehearsing with and even after all of that, still want to socialise with them.  

A few reasons why everyone needs a Loren in their life:

1.) She has an insane memory - seriously, she could give Big Bang's Sheldon Cooper a run for his money. Loren is always on hand to whip out a quote from a number of cult classic movies, she'll even throw in a perfect imitation too.

2.) She knows all the best YouTube videos - Loren should actually work for YouTube, any video she shows me will surely go viral almost instantly.

3.) She is the most people person I know - she will talk to anyone, anywhere; whether it's talking about dirty weekends with comedian Sarah Millican, or teaching Russian to a Hungarian driver in Austria, whenever you're with Loren, your guaranteed to make friends.

4.) She is ALWAYS up to something - mischief is Loren's middle name and depending on your own mood, you will inevitably find yourself telling her off for her latest prank, or being led astray by her yourself.

As with many of Loren's past Birthdays, this one will be spent popping open a bottle of prosecco, eating her favourite Thai food and discussing plans for the year ahead.

Loren, you are one of the best people I know, always on hand to give me one of your fantastic hugs when needed, threaten to annihilate anyone who hurts me and have me hysterics when we're both off on one! Thank you with all my heart for being such a big part of my life 😊

Happy birthday hun, love you forever xXx  

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About Miss Nelson

Continuing the theme of giving a shout out to the fabulous females in my life, today is the turn of the wonderful Laura Nelson!

It’s 1998, the world is excited by Harry Potter, The Spice Girls and Titanic and 11 year old me is about to experience their first day of senior school at the City Technology College Kingshurst. Luckily for me I lived literally just down the road from the school, however, most people had the unfortunate business of piling on to a bus every night. One evening I noticed a girl from my class walking the same way as me, thinking she may live near me, I caught up with her. It turned out that Laura did not live near me, but had the sense to go to the bus stop before the school bus stop in order to avoid the inevitable horror and secure a seat. Clearly this was a girl who knew her stuff and worth keeping as an ally on the senior school battlefield and seven years of walking home together ensured we became besties for life.

As I’m sure many people will testify to, one of the great things about having a childhood friend is the amount of growing up experiences you get to share together and then embarrassingly recount years after now you’ve grown up in to such mature, got it together adults. From scribbling graffiti on to our school books of our latest crushes, to looking after each other when one of us has had too much to drink after the school prom, to fulfilling our dream of touring Austria on the Sound of Music Tour (granted this one may just have been us…), we’ve done it all and I can’t think of anyone I’d rather have been on that journey with.

A few reasons why everyone needs a Ms Nelson in their life:

1.) She would definitely win The Great British Bake Off – seriously, Laura is in the premier league of bakers, Mary Berry needs to watch out! Each year we have an annual Girly Christmas where we essentially have our own Christmas Day and whether she wants to or not, Laura is always in charge of the pudding. I’m already looking forward to this year’s entry.

2.) She must hold the world record of owning the most Christmas jumpers – another highlight of Girly Christmas is seeing what new Christmas jumper Laura has added to her already vast collection. No one can accuse this girl of not taking Christmas fashion seriously!

3.) She is the real life Belle – in my head I’m Ariel, Loren is Merida and Laura completes our Disney Princess trio as Belle. Just like Belle, Laura always has her head in a book and whenever I ask her what she’s currently reading I’ll instantly add it to my book list, because inevitably it’ll soon be the thing everyone is reading! In fact my love for The Hunger Games is all down to Laura. 

4.) She is a lover of musicals – all the best people in world are! I have mentioned my love for musicals previously and there is nothing better than a night out at the theatre with both Laura and Loren, bookended with cocktails at the beginning, ice-cream in the middle and an epic singathon in the car on the way home to end. 

This will be the 20th time I get to celebrate Laura’s Birthday with her and much like the past 20 Birthdays it will be filled with food, drink, catching up, reminiscing and putting the world to rights.

Laura, I feel very lucky to have had you in my life for so long and long may it continue. I hope you have a fab birthday as you utterly deserve it; you’re such a kind, loyal and generous person, with a good measure of feistiness to boot!

Love you always xXx :-) 

[drifter-off-to-see-the-worl-blog]

I blame The Little Mermaid...

Growing up I had many role models, but the one that sticks out the most is Princess Ariel (yes, as in The Little Mermaid). Here was a redhead fascinated by the cultures of other communities and because of this got to go on an amazing adventure, what's not to like?

When I was eight years old a new teacher started in our school called Mrs Vincent and she was Chinese (I grew up in a predominantly white British area, so you can imagine my excitement!). In a 'getting to know you session' she told us all about China and I went home filled with images of a strange alphabet, years being named after animals, lion and dragon dances, paper lanterns and fireworks. Very quickly my new favourite animal became the panda and I vowed to one day see China for myself! 

On the 21st December 2009, a Mr Iain Swingler got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. Just like that, without the need of selling my voice to a sea witch, I bagged a Prince Eric! Now my Prince Eric was very aware of my desire to see the world and we decided what better way to start married life than a honeymoon travelling around Thailand. We LOVED it and ever since then we've been trying to make our way around the world as much as possible.

Now you'd think I'd head straight to China right, but I've been keeping this trip especially for the year I turn 30, because I can't think of a better present to myself then keeping my childhood promise and visiting the first country I ever wanted to explore. So, Ariel and Mrs Vincent, thank you for inspiring my thirst to learn about the world and Iain, thank you for putting up with all my travel projects and joining me on my most personal journey yet. Now I may not be a Mermaid, nor married to a Prince with a ship, but I do have an Iain, a passport and a plane to catch!

I’m Beijing bound...

[drifter-off-to-see-the-worl-blog]

Farewell China; you have been EPIC :-) . . #liriver #guilin #china #travel2china #loves_china #chinainsider #chinatrips #visitchina #asia #asianwanderlust #topasiaphoto #travel #instatravel #travelgram #wanderlust #lonelyplanet #natgeotravelpic #bbctravel #lovetheworld #photography #photooftheday #travelphotography #landscapephotography #naturephotography #view #landscape #nature (at Guilin)

[drifter-off-to-see-the-worl-blog]

Cruising along the Li River :-) . . #liriver #guilin #china #travel2china #loves_china #chinainsider #chinatrips #visitchina #asia #asianwanderlust #topasiaphoto #travel #instatravel #travelgram #wanderlust #lonelyplanet #natgeotravelpic #bbctravel #lovetheworld #photography #photooftheday #travelphotography #landscapephotography #naturephotography #view #landscape #nature (at Guilin)

[drifter-off-to-see-the-worl-blog]

Cruising along the Li River :-) . . #liriver #guilin #china #travel2china #loves_china #chinainsider #chinatrips #visitchina #asia #asianwanderlust #topasiaphoto #travel #instatravel #travelgram #wanderlust #lonelyplanet #natgeotravelpic #bbctravel #lovetheworld #photography #photooftheday #travelphotography #landscapephotography #naturephotography #view #landscape #nature (at Guilin)

[drifter-off-to-see-the-worl-blog]

Cruising along the Li River :-) . . #liriver #guilin #china #asia #travel #instatravel #travelgram #wanderlust #photography #travelphotography #view #landscape #nature (at Guilin)

[drifter-off-to-see-the-worl-blog]

Cruising along the Li River :-) . . #liriver #guilin #china #travel2china #loves_china #chinainsider #chinatrips #visitchina #asia #asianwanderlust #topasiaphoto #travel #instatravel #travelgram #wanderlust #lonelyplanet #natgeotravelpic #bbctravel #lovetheworld #photography #photooftheday #travelphotography #landscapephotography #naturephotography #view #landscape #nature (at Guilin)

[drifter-off-to-see-the-worl-blog]

Cruising along the Li River :-) . . #liriver #guilin #china #travel2china #loves_china #chinainsider #chinatrips #visitchina #asia #asianwanderlust #topasiaphoto #travel #instatravel #travelgram #wanderlust #lonelyplanet #natgeotravelpic #bbctravel #lovetheworld #photography #photooftheday #travelphotography #landscapephotography #naturephotography #view #landscape #nature (at Guilin)

[drifter-off-to-see-the-worl-blog]

Hiking through Longji Rice Terraces :-) . . #longji #riceterrace #guilin #china #travel2china #loves_china #chinainsider #chinatrips #visitchina #asia #asianwanderlust #topasiaphoto #travel #instatravel #travelgram #wanderlust #lonelyplanet #natgeotravelpic #bbctravel #lovetheworld #photography #photooftheday #travelphotography #landscapephotography #naturephotography #view #landscape #nature (at Guilin)

[drifter-off-to-see-the-worl-blog]

Hiking through Longji Rice Terraces :-) . . #longji #riceterrace #guilin #china #asia #travel #instatravel #travelgram #wanderlust #photography #travelphotography #view #landscape #nature (at Guilin)

[drifter-off-to-see-the-worl-blog]

Hiking through Longji Rice Terraces :-) . . #longji #riceterrace #guilin #china #travel2china #loves_china #chinainsider #chinatrips #visitchina #asia #asianwanderlust #topasiaphoto #travel #instatravel #travelgram #wanderlust #lonelyplanet #natgeotravelpic #bbctravel #lovetheworld #photography #photooftheday #travelphotography #landscapephotography #naturephotography #view #landscape #nature (at Guilin)

[drifter-off-to-see-the-worl-blog]

Hiking through Longji Rice Terraces :-) . . #longji #riceterrace #guilin #china #travel2china #loves_china #chinainsider #chinatrips #visitchina #asia #asianwanderlust #topasiaphoto #travel #instatravel #travelgram #wanderlust #lonelyplanet #natgeotravelpic #bbctravel #lovetheworld #photography #photooftheday #travelphotography #landscapephotography #naturephotography #view #landscape #nature (at Guilin)

[drifter-off-to-see-the-worl-blog]

Hiking through the Longji Rice Terraces :-) . . #longji #riceterrace #guilin #china #asia #travel #instatravel #travelgram #wanderlust #photography #travelphotography #view #landscape #nature (at Guilin)

[drifter-off-to-see-the-worl-blog]

Hiking through Longji Rice Terraces :-) . . #longji #riceterrace #guilin #china #travel2china #loves_china #chinainsider #chinatrips #visitchina #asia #asianwanderlust #topasiaphoto #travel #instatravel #travelgram #wanderlust #lonelyplanet #natgeotravelpic #bbctravel #lovetheworld #photography #photooftheday #travelphotography #landscapephotography #naturephotography #view #landscape #nature (at Guilin)

[drifter-off-to-see-the-worl-blog]

A lovely evening stroll in Guilin :-) . . #sun #moon #pagoda #guilin #china #travel2china #loves_china #chinainsider #chinatrips #visitchina #asia #asianwanderlust #topasiaphoto #travel #instatravel #travelgram #wanderlust #lonelyplanet #natgeotravelpic #bbctravel #lovetheworld #photography #photooftheday #travelphotography #landscapephotography #architecturephotography #view #landscape #architecture (at Guilin)

[drifter-off-to-see-the-worl-blog]

Sun and moon pagodas :-) . . #sun #moon #pagoda #guilin #china #travel2china #loves_china #chinainsider #chinatrips #visitchina #asia #asianwanderlust #topasiaphoto #travel #instatravel #travelgram #wanderlust #lonelyplanet #natgeotravelpic #bbctravel #lovetheworld #photography #photooftheday #travelphotography #landscapephotography #architecturephotography #view #landscape #architecture (at Guilin)