2.8 HOURS LATER.

The rather late zombie post! My friend Alyna's boyfriend knows the guy that wrote the script for a little something called 2.8 hours later. The website says 'Run. Understand that at every moment you are being hunted; by zombies, by police, by vigilantes. Starting from a secret border location, you are issued with a map and the address of the first location you must reach, somewhere in your quarantined city. Each location will immerse you further into the world of 2.8, where being bitten by a zombie doesn't just mean infection, it could mean quarantine. As you journey further into the game you uncover clues to the location of the mysterious Asylum. Once there, you will be scanned for infection – if you are infected you are transformed into one of the zombie horde. Asylum is a place of refuge for the infected and non infected alike, where both can live in harmony and get down at the Zombie Disco – THE party at the end of the world.'

Basically, a company called Slingshot took over Leeds (I'm talking the mall, carparks, the university buildings, random bus depots, alleys - the lot), and pretended that there was a zombie apocalypse going down. We were given a map at the start, and the co-ordinates to ONE checkpoint, then at that check point we got the co-ordinates for the next one. If you get through all of the checkpoints, you'll eventually get to the asylum and be quarantined or freed....

During our game, we started in an abandoned car park (okay, it was just late at night and no one was there, but it wasn't abandoned), gave our tickets to two very rude ladies (whom I started up a conversation about nail varnish with and eventually won them over) got given a green arm band, and prepared ourselves for a brief. The arm bands, although highly attractive, are essential to the game; the zombies know they can chase after you if you're wearing a band - if you aren't, you're an innocent member of the public and did not sign up for the fun. 

ZOMBIE FIGHTERS READY, Eley above, Aly below

My team consisted of Eley, Rosi, James, Rod, Helen.and two girls we didn't know. After the first check point Helen was too freaked out to continue (they had been misguided - you can't trust those check point helpers! - and sent down a tunnel FILLED with zombies), so she went home and we continued on. Lots of running and walking on - I had been caught by a pretend policeman who knew I was an illegal (cause I didn't have papers - yeah, it's all part of the storyline) and lots of zombies chased us. Someone lead us through the mall to a loading bay that had some very quick and angry zombies and also, at there were a few alley's we simply had to sprint through. It was tiring but you had so much adrenaline pumping you didn't care - you just wanted to get to the end! 

 

Upon reaching the last alley, I was too tired. I also actually WANTED to be made up as a zombie (why pay and play to not?), so I decided I was fair game and only jogged the final stretch. This meant I was caught and infected (marked with a UV pen), and when going through quarantine marked as infected.

 

James was brave enough to film and run, so here's a little snapshot of the last alley we had to clear. I am second on the right but you can barely see me! 

All in all it was a GREAT experience, I'm so glad I went and would urge anyone who is kind of interested to go along for the ride, it was funny in places and down right scary in others. Just perhaps do a bit of fitness training first ;)

Valerie's Visit

Valerie, my God mum, came to visit my city on Friday. Rosi and I met her at the station and we went to Starbucks for a catch up and a coffee - my mum was kind enough to buy a pay-£5-get-£10-to-spend voucher for me from... Groupon I think it was, so I was able to treat everyone without actually spending anything (which is really good at the moment!). Valerie is very open and certainly not a prude so we had some very interesting conversations, that I in fact forgot to warn Rosi about so she was slightly shocked but equally impressed, ha. Following the drinks, we moved on to an art gallery and library, as Valerie likes her art!

 

 

After a little look around we had lunch at the gallery, and then carried on to a different section. It was such a lovely day and I felt very special to have a visit from Valerie, as I don't get to see her very often! It was also nice for Rosi to meet someone from my family, as she hasn't had the opportunity to experience that just yet, although she should be visiting my home town later in the year :D

Turkish Coffee for Three

My friend Helen came to visit Rosi and I last week, as she is from York and wanted to see where we lived. While we waited for Rosi to bike to us, I took Helen on a little tour - all the big shops but also all the little independent ones too! Following this, we went to a cafe for a cuppa and food (that my mum loves).

After we were suitably full, the girls complained that their coffee was awful and they needed something better. As a fan of Turkish coffee myself, we went to a little place around the corner for some good-quality drinking. It was so cute, a little vintage store with tonnes of things to look at, play with and actually buy. Although it was a little independent place, it was very well presented and thought out.

 

 

The coffee definitely hit the spot and I wouldn't hesitate to go back and have another rummage around. We have a wonderful catch up and went our separate ways to continue with some work :(

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Weekly Roundup #36

I have had another good week, as I've been making the most of my last few days in my big city! I started out my week making popcorn on the hob - the old fashioned and best way.. without a proper lid ahaha.

 

I started packing with just one box.. that has now grown

 

I had a farewell dinner with Jess and Eley :) we had amaretto tea and blondies

 

I/Mum bought me some new skirts from a humorous charity shop (thanks mum!)

A friend visited for a day in my little area - 

a whole separate post on this else this post will never end haha

Rosi and I went to another little independent cinema to see man of steel 

(I love how cheap these are compared to the big chains!!)

I met my boss in town and we went to yo sushi for lunch (both addicted!) 

I bought a new lipstick (had a voucher) and a lovely necklace from New Look (£4!!)

A day out with my God mother - again, another post needed! and dinner with Rosi

 

Dinner at Theana's with Harriet - Homemade Gyros, incredible!

 

My beautiful flowers from Michael :)

Crushing on dream houses

It's been a lovely week filled with lots of friends and good fun. As sad as I will be to leave all my friends behind, I'm definitely ready to go home for a long while. I'm going to be redecorating my room so expect a post about that too!

Monday's Recipe: Chutaneee

Ever since Schmidt said it like that in New Girl Michael does not stop pronouncing it like that, aha. Rosi came over on Sunday for my residence's final gathering (there was a hog roast, inflatable laser quest in a maze, sumo suits, rodeo bulls, bouncy castle and those gladiator baton fighting things) it was a lot of fun although I SUCK on the rodeo bull. I thought I'd be alright but I am the WORST, I couldn't even stay on for more than 22 seconds! Anyways, whatever, I'm good at other stuff. HA!

So that day we also decided that we wanted to try and make some mango chutney. After figuring out that I did indeed have all of the ingredients (bar onion seeds and lemon juice) we decided to hedge our  bets and go for it. We followed this recipe (bar the lemon and onion, as previously mentioned), and we also had tinned mango instead of fresh.

I think Rosi mushed the mango into pulp a bit too well, as it doesn't look like any chutney I've ever eaten, but I guess it does look like the photo. I also forgot that I don't eat chutney in the first place haha, so Rosi took it home. It was a good adventure but I don't think I'd be making it again!