“Everything good, everything magical happens between the months of June and August.” – Jenny Han, The Summer I Turned Pretty

If you have no idea what 80 days of summer is all about, then where have you been!? Boy, you have a lot to catch up on!  Don’t worry you can catch up here. But basically for 80 days, I am going to make sure I do something every single day that makes the most of summer, some things will be new some won’t. This challenge is to show that life is really made for living, no excuses, no wasting days! Just happiness every single day!

Day 29;

Day 29 and I don’t think it had rained once during this challenge, not once. For the first time in 29 days, there was finally a cool breeze, desperate for some fresh cool air I did the most natural thing for me and climbed a hill (“you are random as fuck” is something that is said to me on a daily basis) in such of cooler air. Day 29 was also a day England were playing in the world cup so I literally had the whole place to myself! So I have been pagan for four years now and I am convinced it has changed my life in the most positive way, part of that is my connection to nature. I have spoken about this before but when I am sad I always go to the beach because stood in front of the sea all my problems drift away and remind me that everything will be ok. When I am looking for a change I head to the woods. Then there is a magical time during windy spells that I just head outside and literally let the wind blow through me and take everything away. Being stood there almost feels like the old me is being blown away. So I went up a hill, let my hair down and let the wind take all my problems away, I have no idea what it is because I always feel refreshed after doing it.

I have never in my lifetime seen the English landscape so dead during the summer, literally just driving along the road reminds me of trips to Spain. Instead of lush green fields, every view was a golden dead colour.

Day 30;

One of the best things about working in Manchester is that shit stays open late. Where I live in the 24 hour Tesco closes at midnight every night. However, every Thursday the Whitworth Gallery in Manchester has a late night session, perfect for anyone in need of a little museum time. Before heading into the gallery I walked through Whitworth park and discovered parked in the middle the best Mr Whippy I have had this summer. Probably my favourite thing about summer is all the activity you see in local parks, friends and family gather to spend time together, to play sports or to picnic. You really feel the sense of community. With a full and satisfied tummy, I headed on in and was pleasantly surprised by the gallery, not at all what I was expecting, in fact, it was a lot better. The gallery is small with several different collections, certainly enough to entertain. Most importantly it was actually just really nice to be able to do something different in the evening. I will be most definitely returning, something tells me it will be even more wonderful during winter!

The technical bit!

“Founded in 1889 as the first English gallery in a park, the Whitworth has been transformed by a £15 million development. This is a gallery whose visitor numbers have climbed spectacularly in the past five years, whose contemporary exhibitions programmes have given new life to international collections, and whose risk-taking curatorial team has gained global attention.

Part of the University of Manchester, the Whitworth is a gallery that is a place of research and academic collaboration, and whose education and learning teams have generated new approaches to working with non-traditional arts audiences.”

The Whitworth Gallery holds one of the most important collections of wallpaper in the country … The collection has other 5000 pieces in it although not all are on show. In fact, I would say there is only about 20 on show including Spice Girls wallpaper, who knew that was even a thing??! This wallpaper not so cheery though, not sure I could have this on my walls without being permanently in a state of sadness.

Day 31;

Doing something every day on top of a 60+ hour job and blogging daily is kinda challenge within its self, one I love but certainly comes with tiredness. For day 31 the air had finally started to cool in the evenings to the point of sleeping under a duvet again. So what better way to celebrate than a long hot shower, new bedsheets and one of my favourite books. My life is so rock n roll that as a treat I climbed into bed at 8pm and read until I fell asleep. Happiness is rarely some big event, in your life, it is more the kind things you do for yourself. Whether that’s a night out with friends doing shots and drinking until 5am or an early night with a good book.