LEEDS FESTIVAL 2013

Now I would add some of my own photos from my weekend into this post but 1) I only took a disposable with me and haven't yet had chance to get them developed and 2) most of them are just of my friends and not really of the music so you probably don't want to see them...

However, I still thought I'd tell you a little bit about how amazing it was. This year was my 3rd year of going and I definitely have to admit it was the best for music. All three headlines were insane and I got to listen to some really amazing bands! Unfortunately the weather wasn't to good this year. It rained heavily on at least 3 of the days causing it to be ridiculously muddy and wet for the majority of the weekend - definitely not for the faint hearted! However, it definitely didn't ruin the music and it really was an amazing weekend!

I bought an early bird ticket (i have done every time i've been and i think it's so worth it - you get the first pick of where to put your tent and avoid the main rush of people) and so the first couple of days were just spent around the campsite, exploring and getting into the festival mood!

On Friday we saw Aluna George, Tribes, Alex Clare, The Lumineers, Fall Out Boy, Disclosure and Biffy Clyro. My favourites were definitely The Lumineers (cheerful, happy music that you just had to dance along too), Disclosure (a really amazing set - people were spilling out of the tent they were so popular!) and Biffy Clyro (possibly one of my favourite ever bands i've seen live - we were very near the front and the atmosphere was just amazing).

Saturday included Kodaline, Frank Turner, Bastille and Green Day. I'd never heard of Kodaline before but I'm definitely a new fan and I'm looking forward to listening to some of their stuff later on! Frank Turner was really good as well despite everyone being absolutely drenched from the rain! And Bastille were just wonderful as expected - they really put on a good performance.

On the final day, Sunday, we saw The 1975, Imagine Dragons, Chase And Status and Eminem. I've seen The 1975 twice before (including when they were called 'Drive Like I Do' - long time fan right here!) and they were as wonderful as usual! I think it's really hard to dislike their music, it's both mellow and upbeat at the same time. Now, I definitely think Sunday's headliner, the mysterious and peculiar performer that is Eminem, was the best ever. It was his last ever UK performance so it wasn't something you could miss and I'm so glad I got to watch it. He played so many classic songs as well as ones you wouldn't really know. There were people just rapping along all over the crowd and even if you didn't know any of the words, it was fine, the performance was so good that you couldn't not enjoy it!

I know this isn't the best post and there aren't many pictures but I thought I'd update you a little bit! Leeds is possibly one of the best festivals I've ever been to (as shown by the amount of times i've been!) and I recommend all to go at least once in your life! However, I know festivals aren't everyone's type of thing so if you're not into being grungy and unclean and sleeping on the ground for a number of nights, then this isn't for you!

Sorry, again, for being away from the blog. I had planned on posting before I left to inform you all of where I was heading but completely ran out of time. I am now not leaving for a good while (just under 2 weeks...) so I'm hoping to get some regular posting going!

I'm off to bed now as I still haven't fully recovered from the lack of sleep I got at Leeds. I hope you all had just as wonderful a weekend as I did and you have a lovely week ahead of you! 

MOROCCO (and an update)

So I haven't been around for a while and if you saw my last post it's because for the majority of the time I've been in Morocco! I went for my two week family holiday and it was wonderful. I'd never been before but it always sounded like such an exotic and beautiful place to visit. And it really was. It was like a whole other world and it was a real eye opener to how other people live. I went during Ramadan and so I really got to see the Islamic religion (and the culture that comes with it) in all its glory. I know we have Muslims living in Britain but being in a predominantly Muslim country, I got to see the highs and lows of the celebration including the feasts and parties they have once the tough time of fasting has finished!

Now I don't have pictures from every single day nor would I show you them all (that would be far too many photos for one post!) but my parents and I actually went on a few excursions (organised through Thomson) as I really enjoy exploring the countries I'm lucky enough to visit. Therefore I thought I'd show you the photos from those days!

The first trip we went on was to the Cascades of Ouzoud. These cascades are just some natural waterfalls and they're absolutely beautiful. Our tour guide allowed us to visit them from both above and at water level which was amazing. Once we reached the bottom we even managed to get a ride, on what seemed like man made rafts, 'up close and personal' with the waterfall which was definitely an experience I won't be forgetting any time soon.

Later on in the holiday, we did some half day trips that really took us into the depths of Marrakesh, including the old city. We went on a history tour around a mosque, a Riad (a type of house in Morocco which is disguised as old and plain on the outside but inside they are so much more beautiful with a courtyard garden) and a palace where a president used to live (if i listened correctly...). Then my mum and I went on a tour around the souk but unfortunately I wasn't able to get any pictures as I didn't take my camera with me. It was an 'interesting' experience to say the least but one that I am glad I experienced! The final half day trip was around the 'hidden' gardens of the city. One of the ones we saw was at Yves Saint Laurent's house which included a memorial for the designer. I didn't even know he had a house in Morocco so I definitely felt privileged to wander around his garden!

For our final adventure we took a trip up into the Atlas Mountains. The trip involved clambering into some 4x4 jeeps and taking the dusty, dirty track into the old Berber villages. The views were honestly spectacular and I think they are very much hidden behind the main hustle and bustle of Marrakesh - I know I certainly wasn't expecting to see such stunning scenery.

There we are then, our adventures in Morocco! I had the most amazing time there and I would love to visit again! Perhaps stay in a city nearer the sea and just explore the Moroccan culture a little more? I would wholeheartedly recommend visiting this beautiful country and maybe travelling around a bit because I know that Casablanca is much more modern whereas you can see more of the old Berber 'ways' in Marrakesh.

Sorry if this post is extremely long for you but well done for getting this far! It's taken a long time for this post to come but I have in fact been very busy so I thought I'd give you all a little update on where my life has been recently...

• Shortly after arriving back from Morocco (9 hours to be precise), I caught the train to Wales to celebrate my friend Eliza's birthday. She is the baby of our group and so was very relieved to finally turn 18! If you're interested in seeing any of the pictures from the Hawaaian themed BBQ she had, then check out my Instagram (bethsutton_)! 
• After 2 days in Wales, my friends and I returned home to spend a very anxious night, not sleeping, as we waited for our A Level results. Last Thursday was the day I found out whether I would be getting into university. So at 8 o'clock I very nervously logged on to find out that I had indeed managed to secure myself a place at university. It's safe to say that I was extremely happy and I cannot wait to move to my new home in September! Later on that day I found out I had managed to get an A*, an A and 2 C's which I am very happy about! But it isn't just about me, if you too got into university and the results you wanted then congratulations! Here's to our exciting futures! :)
• Anyway, after those exciting few days, I thought I may actually be able to sit down and write a post. However, the lack of sleep I had had finally caught up on me and I managed to gain myself a 14 hour (!!!) nap! I'm not sure how I slept that long and I definitely didn't intend to! I simply went for a nap at 6 o'clock and woke up the next day to go to work! Safe to say I felt very refreshed afterwards though!
• Yesterday was back to work for me and it certainly took it out of me which is why there was no post then. Also, my camera/laptop was taking forever to upload the pictures so I ended up having to give up and go to bed, unfortunately.

However, I'm here now and back for a little while! Again, apologies for the extremely long post but I had a lot to update you on! I'm now off to bed as I've just finished watching Les Miserables. I've seen it at the theatre before but hadn't seen the film yet. It was amazing and definitely up there in my top favourite films! I tried reading the book last year but couldn't get past the first 10 or so chapters (which were all about a monk and not at all related to the stage play - very strange...) but I may give it another go now I've watched the film :)