Explore...Jan, Feb Mar, 2015

Lots of Exploring has commenced this year already and I havn't been able to share it with you yet. So starting with January...

I went to my first Leadership Academy and met a load of new friend. I speak to them every week and so it feels like they are already my best friends. Meeting them was special.

A weekend bike ride took me to the top of a local carn. You can see for miles up, which the camera doesn't capture. In the distance you can see the sea.  It's so quite, I can just sit and ponder for hours.

Mylor Harbour, Cornwall. I went for a drive by myself and came across this little gem. This was the first dry day after a long wet spell and the sun felt so warming.

February.

I was a lucky lady on Feb 14th and very well looked after. The planned day of relaxation finished with a delicious 5 course meal.  Perfection.

Higgingson Park, Marlow. I grew up here and have string memories of coming with my god mother and her children. She sadly passed away nearly three years ago, so this park is a happy place with good memories for me. And it is beautiful, placed right next to the river Thames. 

A beautiful sun set in Beaconsfeild, again right next to the River Thames. Ha ha, I nearly fell in trying to run to the deck in time before the timer finished and the picture captured me trying to grab Luke.

Spring is in the air and this prety sun set put a big smile on my sleepy face. Walking to my car at 7.00am and seeing this, before going to run around on the beach for work, gave me a big grin.

I have been desperately trying to stay on the super clean eating path, but am eating so much food. So I have been baking. These date and walnut cookies are delicious.


March

St Michaels Mount at Sunset. If you go to any coast in Cornwall, you will be amazed with the beauty. I love living here.

Luke and I had an invitation to attend a car presentation. The girl who received it is a god friend and this car is well deserved. As part of the business I am in, when you reach a certain promotion, the company say thank you, by giving you a free white Mercedes.  You get rewarded for the effort you put in to your work. Amazing

Perranuthno, Cornwall. This is a new beach that I discovered and on such a beautiful springy day. The surf was perfect and the atmosphere buzzing with families getting out to enjoy the fresh air. 

Bath, England. I went here to support a client who I had trained to run the Bath Half Marathon. She did brilliantly well and it was a proud day for me. But also, I love hanging out in this beauty full city. 

Explore...Planning 2015

'Ello Explorers...

I mentioned in my previous blog that I had read the book 'Eat That Frog' recently and it had got me planning.

One of the list I have started to construct is to help me start planning 2015.

You may feel like it is a long way off, but really it is less than two months away and I want next year to be even more epic than this one.

Its pretty vague because my life could go in many directions, as it can for others too, but some goals stay the same. And I can't tell you everything because it's business top secret, sorry.

So, in three sections:

Work:

• Gain a new qualification.
• Start an early morning boot camp.
• Buy a field.
• Start 2015 as a District Manager.
• Finish 2015 as a Regional Manager.

Explore:

• Go to Vegas, for a conference.
• Go to Sardinia, for a wedding.
• Go to Australia.
• Visit somewhere new in the UK.

Eat:

• Something I have never tried in each new place I visit.

Enjoy

• Get into surfing.
• Go penny boarding.
• Go rock climbing.
• Try snowboarding.
• Enter and complete a charitable running race more than 5K.
• Enter and complete a charitable muddy obstacle race.

Ok so I've told you all now, there is no hiding from it, just gotta get on and do it.

I would love to know what targets and goals you all set for yourself, please tell me or tell your friends.

When you tell other people it gives you that little extra push you need to complete it. Trust me you will feel amazing once you complete something you really want to do which is out of your comfort zone. 

Big Love

Explore...Barcelona

October began to get a little chilli and my feet were getting itchy, so I decided to go exploring, to Barcelona.

If you follow my snap chat (rebeccauterhark) then you will have seen my journey leaving Redruth to arrive in Reading just under five hours later.

I was picked up by a handsome sight after three weeks of being apart, to eat, sleep and prepare for the early departure in the morning.

The 10am departure meant we had time to have breakfast and could still enjoy the afternoon in a beatiful new place.

The heat on arriving at the airport was glorious and really warmed the bones, you know that feeling? It made us both smile. We caught a local bus to the hotel, and was greeted with a tall, modern and smart building. Really close to the bus route and metro station.

Our first afternoon was spent on 'La Rambla' a famous street bustling with markets, artists, buskers and beautiful colours. Actually, as we were both hungry, we ate at the Hard Rock Cafe before exploring.

I couldn't stop looking at all the buildings, each one an individual and eye catching in its own way.

 

The locals Market called 'Mercat de la Boqueria' Is also very famous and known as a must visit place. I can see why. Fresh fruit, ones I have never seen before, chocolates, nuts, sweets, dried fruit, fresh fish and meat. This is where we bought food and drink for that evening and breakfast the following day.

Sweets. 

I thought these were Cornish Pasties, in fact they were Calzones.

Fresh Fish

We continued our walk down street and followed Christopher Columbus, telling us to go the way he pointed and ended up in the port area. A very clean, decked and sparkly area. Filled with boats, smartly dressed people and laughter. The still water, warm air and odd music being played while locals danced was a real holiday treat.

Sunday was a day of exploring suggested sites. First to 'Sagrada Familia'. I don't really need to say much about it, you can see what a magnificent building it is. I looked at it for ages and still don't think I picked out all the tiny details hidden within the architecture. This medieval cathedral, designed initially by architect  Francisco de Paula del Villar (1828-1901) and later commissioned and carried on by Gaudi, has taken over 100 years to build so far The old from the new is so defined and there is still more to build. It is expected to be finished in 2024 with 18 towers: 12 dedicated to the apostles, 4 to the evangelists, one to Jesus and another to Mary.

From here we went to discover more of Gaudi's work at 'Park Guell'. Eusebi Güell gave Gaudí the assignment of drawing up plans for developing an estate for well-off families on a large property he had acquired in the zone known popularly as the Muntanya Pelada (bare mountain). It was a healthy location with views over the growing city and of course of the sea and landscape. He wanted to recreate British residential parks,which is why 'Park Guell' is named in English.

After a long day of walking and climbing hills we headed to the beach, to relax and sit down to enjoy the sun for a while. We stumbled across a little band, playing exactly the type of music that I love and also what you want to hear when your on holiday. Happy and bouncy, the musicians made it a performance to watch and not just listen to. 

A further walk along the boardwalk lead us to Pacha, among other bars where locals were dancing, singing and having a great time, on a Sunday. It can only make you feel good inside. We finally sat a beach side restaurant to indulge in a Spanish special...Tapas.

Monday and our final day, we were off to Camp Nou. I am not a fan of football, but this experience was interesting, for two hours, then it gets tedious (my opinion)! I learnt a lot actually. For example how and why the team was created and then how the stadium came about. Along with Technology Development of the boots, balls and kit. I found it interesting that the team was actually created by a Swiss man, Joan Gamper, in 1899 and the rest of the team were foreigners visiting the Catalan Country. These days, the stadium that seats 99,354 people is the largest in Europe and the 6th largest association football stadium in the world. It's planning an extension, which I saw the plans for, it's insane. Do that many people really go and watch football?

Trophey Room

Away team changing room.

Steps leading on to the pitch, used by the players.

Our holiday finished with a stroll back down Las Ramblas and finding a street Tapas restaurant for dinner.

Barcelona is my idea of a perfect place. A large and beautiful city, right by the beach. There is plenty to do and to look at. The only thing that does put me off a little is the amount of smokers around, the buskers and people begging for money and the risk of pick pockets. I would suggest to everyone to go and visit and I probably would go back again if I was offered. But like to try and visit somewhere new each time.

We flew out of the country before the sun came up and landed in the UK welcomed by the cold wind and thunder. I spent fourteen hours travelling home and it was a very depressing time. Saying goodbye always sucks, holiday blues, busy trains and traffic every where.

I was happy to be home, showered, fed and in my onesie. Already planning the next adventure. Where will it take me?