Hello there,
Well 2016 was an interesting year! There was Brexit, Trump
and stars dying left, right and centre. For
me though 2016 was a good year one that I know I’ll enjoy looking back on in
years to come!
The biggest thing for me in 2016 was passing my driving test
and buying a car, the independence gained from that is just amazing and I can’t
wait to go to lots of places in 2017. But
my days was it expensive! Looking back on how much I would have spent on the 50
hours of lessons, two theory tests, the test itself and then the using my instructor’s
car it’s crazy! But at least now I don’t have to catch a bus to work anymore
woo!!
2016 was a year for birthdays with many of my family
celebration special ones this year.
My cousin Hannah turned 21 and we had a lovely time at her
house for a special party which was a joint party with my auntie who had turned
50 just a couple of days before my cousins.
My mum turned 50 and me and my sister pulled out all the
stops, buying her 50 presents and then taking her out for dinner at an Italian restaurant.
I turned 21 and my birthday seemed to last weeks! The day
before my birthday the lovely people that I work with planned a surprise and
gave me gifts with all the children from the different rooms singing happy
birthday to me, it was so sweet and I am so grateful for the amazing people that
I work with. Then there was my actual
birthday where I didn’t really do much out of the ordinary, I went to work then
went to brownies armed with a chocolate cake and then went out for dinner at a
carvery that has always been a place I liked to go. The week after saw a big
birthday party that I got so stressed out planning but in the end it was lovely
and I was surrounded by all my lovely family and friends. Then there was a trip to London… but more
about that later.
One of my work colleague’s also turned 21 and it was lovely going
out for a meal to a Chinese and then for a few drinks afterwards, even though I
didn’t stay at the club long.
We also had the christening of my cousins little boy Oscar. It was such a lovely day with the sun being
our friend and shining the whole time.
Concerts of 2016 consisted of a small but lovely 8.
First up was 5 Seconds of Summer. This was the first concert id been too with
my god mothers daughter and the young leader from brownies and it was also the
first time that I had been in the arena since ‘ attack gate’ so I was a little
bit apprehensive about going but it was an amazing concert and I loved it.
Next up was Mike Dignam.
This tour was one on a much smaller scale, my heart really went out for
Mike as the year previous he had sold out the room in which he played that
there was only about 30 people in. Mike
is the nicest guy ever and always makes time at the end to meet all of his fans
who are there to support him. I can’t
wait for him to bring some new music out because I know it’ll be amazing!
Then it was The Vamps, regulars on people that I like to go
and see but that’s because of how good they are. I went for cheaper tickets this year as I was
saving for a car but the seats were amazing and the stage set up was so good
that no matter where you were sat (or stood) you’d be able to see. I also got to meet two of the supporting
bands! Not the band that I had hoped to meet but still I met some pretty cool
guys that day.
Fusion Festival is next and it was so fun! I dragged my mum
to Liverpool and we had a brilliant time the line-up was amazing and I can’t
wait to see who’s playing in 2017. I did
however injure myself in all the excitement of being there and danced a little
too much when Busted were on and hurt my knee. Oops!
Jamie Lawson’s tour is next and although I have seen Jamie
at various other concerts and really liked him I can’t see that I will be going
to his tour again as a lot of his music is quite slow and it was a little bit
depressing being there. His support act
Calum Scott was amazing and I was astounded by his voice! He’s definitely one I
want to see again.
There was Binny’s Big Bash again where it was local bands
helping to raise money in memory of a wonderful guy. It wasn’t as good this year to me as it was
also in memory of another person and the music and bands were totally different
to the previous years that I had loved so much.
I along with my dad went to see Ross Noble again. He is such a funny guy and I have never laughed so much in my life!
And last but not least was Meadowhall Christmas Live, a wonderful
cheap concert that raises money for charity every year. The line-up was a mazing and made me want to
see James Arthur on his own tour and made me fall even more in love with Nathan
Sykes. My camera was not my friend at this concert and told me that I had no
charge in the battery meaning all the photos that I took are on my cousin’s
camera so I don’t have them.
Holidays were good in 2016, consisting of a week away in
Newquay, a weekend in Liverpool and a couple of days in London.
London was the first holiday in June, a treat for myself for
my birthday. Me and my sister travelled
down on the train arriving and going straight to Madame Tussauds, which I was a
little bit disappointed in really, I think I prefer Blackpool’s. We then went
for a long old walk and ended up near the Thames walking along there and taking
pictures of the London eye and then walking towards big ben and the houses of parliament. We had dinner at the rainforest café which
was a pretty cool experience before going to see Wicked, which I absolutely
loved! The next day however it all went downhill my anxiety got the better of
me and we had to book earlier trains home as I was really not feeling well,
much to the anger of pretty much my whole family.
Newquay was certainly interesting, it was the first time in
a long time that we had all gone on holiday together and the first time that my
sister’s boyfriend and dog had been too. After the agonisingly long journey
there we were met by lovely sunshine and wonderful beach at the place we were
staying. Happy times! That was until the next day when it started to rain and
the roof started leaking in the landing and the whole house was covered in
damp! We ended up with no ceiling and leaving early, luckily for us we got a
full refund and a few days at home to relax before going back to work.
Liverpool was a fun trip, we went to the fusion festival on
Sunday and stayed overnight. We had a lovely stroll around Liverpool going to
the Albert docks and to a bit of the city that seemed to be all expensive
shops! It was good fun though and by the time we got home me and my mum were
shattered!
We also had a Halloween/ bonfire night party this year in
which we invited our closest family and friends to our ‘haunted house’ that me
and dad had decorated and dressed up in our spookiest of outfits. It was a lovely party and everyone seemed to
enjoy themselves.
Christmas this year was another good one despite me being
ill on Christmas day and not really wanting to do much. Not many photos got took on the day but we
had fun one Christmas eve having a games night against her fiancée’s family.
So overall 2016 was brilliant and I can’t wait to see what
2017 holds for us. I just hope it’s as
good or better than 2016!
Leigh xx
