It seems like a lifetime ago now but the weekend before last, me and my boyfriend went down to Brighton so I could take a look at a University Masters course that I'd been looking to applying for. Since we are all distancing ourselves from each other and panic buying toilet roll and hand wash, I wanted to reminice on the simpler times of two weeks ago where I wasn't sacred to take ibuprofen or simply cough in public.
I thought since we were going all the way to Brighton anyway, we may as well stay for a couple days and take a look around, drink, sunbathe and so on. Surprisingly, the weather didn't permit any sunbathing and, on top of that disappointment, I was forced into asking myself the existentialist question of what I want to do with my life - a perfect, relaxing getaway.
Back to the start of my weekend away. As I was going away for a whole 2 days, I had to pack at least 3 outfits as well as both my morning and night time skin care products plus some make up just incase I felt like wearing it. I call it being prepared, my boyfriend calls it being excessive.
I packed more outfits then I knew I would need and then also packed another one last minute just in case. I separated my clothes into one half of the suitcase and then put all my other belongings, like my hair straighteners etc, in the other side. And before anyone says anything, my boyfriend and I shared this suitcase so really I didn't bring THAT much stuff with me - I would've bought more if we didn't have to get the tube in London. And with the packing done, it was time to travel.
(the hotel was so close to the beach!)
I was pretty impressed at myself when we got onto our train, without knowing it, I had managed to book us on the fast train to London. We went from Birmingham to London in less than an hour and a half which is mind boggling, we are living in the future. But as lovely as that train journey was, the second train from London to Brighton was a stark difference, what some may call a nightmare. As I had booked the train in advance, we had to catch a specific train but of course, it was cancelled. Everyone that we asked for help told us to do something different so after having a mini meltdown, we ended up having to get a train to some other place and then get the train to Brighton, which to normal people isn't so bad but since I had gotten myself so stressed about the situation it just made it so much worse.
Also, side note, people in London are on a different level of 'in a hurry', our train was about to leave and some old man pried open the doors to get him and his wife into the already packed carriage, like seriously, just wait 10 minutes and get the next one man.
After a change over of trains, we were in Brighton and I was finally feeling relaxed. We got to Brighton a little later than expected so we went straight to the hotel/BnB we were staying at as we were late to check in but graciously, the man was wonderful and didn't mind at all. We stayed at the wonderful 'Nineteen' which is essentially the house of my dreams. The townhouse had been repurposed as a hotel and my god, it was gorgeous. The room that we stayed in was so dreamy, the bed was the comfiest thing I've ever slept on in my life and the bedding was the softest material I have ever felt in my life, just a perfect start to this experience all round.
That night we went for an average pub meal after wondering around a bit and then had a drink at The Blue Room - I think that's what it was called anyway. The place was very cute and quaint, lots of African decor pieces lined each flat surface and teapots lined the ceilings. After two drinks I was practically falling asleep so like a retired couple, instead of going out on a Friday, we wondered home, watched Night at the museum 2 and fell asleep. To be honest, I didn't watch most of the film because laying on that bed felt more like laying on a cloud, I couldn't keep my eyes open whilst feeling so comfy and relaxed, like honestly what was that bedding made out of?
For some reason, maybe the while going to bed at 10pm thing, I woke up at 8am raring to go. I took 30 minutes to put some make up on, it definitly shouldn't have taken me that long to look so mediocre but whenever I have to do makeup outside the comfort of my home it throws me all kinds of off. Once I was ready we still had a bunch of time before we were scheduled to get the train to my masters open day so we went for a walk around the town, popped into a couple of charity shops and then I ate maybe the best hotdog I've ever tasted.
Now, the open day. This part didn't go exactly as I had expected. As soon as I saw the Uni I was already doubting it. It looked so much like my secondary school, not good off the bat, and the place was so huge it made me feel tiny and intimidated - and not in a 'face my fears' way but more like an uncomfortable, out of place, don't want to be here at all way.
I registered and had a look through the programme they'd handed us as we walked in. For staters, the course I wanted to look at wasn't even on the list and when I asked around I was told to just look at a different course, not great first impressions.
I'm one of those 'trust your instincts' people, you can think what you want, but I knew that deep down I'd already decided I wasn't going to this uni to do my masters. After 20 minutes sitting silently trying to talk myself into going to the presentation, I just felt so uncomfortable and wanted to get the hell out of there. After calling my mum and my boyfriends mum for advice, I got my free cup of tea, and headed back to Brighton. To be honest, it wasn't just that I didn't like the uni. After being in Brighton the past evening and that morning, even though it was a very short time, I couldn't picture myself living there. Everything is a little too pretty and holiday-esque, plus I'd be so far away from everyone I love. I think I like Birmingham too much to leave it yet.
When we were back in Brighton we went for a walk around the town again and, unfortunately for my bank account, we happened upon a plethora of vintage clothing stores, record stores and antique shops. I ended up only buying two skirts, both midi skirts obviously because I have an actual obsession with them - they just look so freakin' cute on me okay? In one of the antique stores we went into there was a photo booth so me and my boyfriend had to do that annoying couple thing where you be cute and kiss in a photo booth, because were in love and whatnot.
We also went to the pier and I spent WAY too much money on the claw machines. You see, I won the first time I put money in and therefore felt I was the BEST claw machine grabber person to ever exist. I got greedy, but won no more cute dog teddies. Once we'd spent a sufficient amount at the arcade we grabbed some dinner, some people thought the toy dog I had won was real because I was carrying it like my baby, and then we went back to the pier to buy the classic pier desert of eight sugar donuts. We would've eaten them on the pier if it was not March but it was March so we ate them in bed and then felt very sick because we had just eaten four sugar donuts each.
Clearly on a sugar crash from the night before, I woke up on Sunday needing food. After we'd packed up our stuff and handed over the keys we found a crepe place to just really add to that health kick we'd clearly been on whilst in Brighton. Before going to this crepe place, I didn't know that crepes are just pancakes. I thought they were a completely separate entity but, of course, these were still delicious - anything with that much Nutella on it is going to be perfect no matter what.
After breakfast, we walked around a beautiful park for a while but, being weighed down by the suitcase and yesterdays shopping bags, we decided that it would be best to get an earlier train than planned. As much a Brighton is lovely, in March especially, there's not a bunch of stuff to do plus I was already nervous about the trains home after the stress I'd gone through on the previous journey.
Almost like we'd planned it, we got to the train station right on time for a London bound train. We got seats and I'd even remembered to download a movie onto Netflix so I could watch it on the train without getting interrupted by a lost signal.
The London Underground wasn't busy at all and we even managed to fit in a quick lunch on the floor when we got to Euston train station. We got the fast train back to Birmingham and just like that the weekend was done and dusted.
I may not have had the perfect weekend, it didn't really go how I expected it to but I still enjoyed the rest I got to have away from the pressure of assignment deadlines. If you ever find yourself in Brighton, I highly recommend staying with 'Nineteen' and I also recommend taking a spare suitcase so you can shop till your hearts content - honestly I could've spent forever in those vintage shops.
I hope you all stay safe and have as happy a self-isolation as you can. Though we are stuck indoors, don't cut yourself off from the outside world. Talk to your friends, make sure everyone you love is doing ok - both physically and mentally.
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