Candid Memoir

I went to York for the first time in the spring of 2024 for a day trip. York is one of the best cities to visit in the UK. So I was excited to finally make the trip after hearing so many good things about the city. I had started my solo travel journey a couple of months earlier, and made some beginner's mistakes. I travelled to York in early March, which is still pretty cold in the north, and I wasn't dressed for the weather. It also didn't help that it was a rainy day, so I ended up seeing only York Minster and the city walls, and spent the rest of my day cafe-hopping to stay dry and warm.

My first trip to York wasn't exactly how I pictured it. I promised myself I would plan another trip and make sure to fully explore the city. I went back to York for an overnight stay a few weeks before Christmas. I made the trip for a job interview and shared my journey on YouTube. I just had enough time to visit The Shambles and York Minster before heading to my interview, for which I received a job offer. I turned it down and honestly didn't think I would be going back there anytime soon, but I did. I went to York for the third time and finally got to fully appreciate the beauty of this walled city in the north of England.

After living in the north of England for many years and having to leave due to bad experiences, I had no interest in going back after moving to London. I thought my time in the north was over, but York keeps calling me, and I'm starting to fall in love with the city. It has a rich and beautiful history, the people are friendly, and it would be perfect for someone who wants to live a balanced lifestyle.

The Shambles And The City Walls

When I started my solo travel journey, I was more interested in adding new cities to my list of places I've been to than having a touristy experience. So I planned my trips on a budget and looked only for free or cheap activities to do during my visit. I spent more time walking around a city, visiting museums and libraries, than going to a famous landmark. My first tip to York was no exception; I started by walking around The Shambles, where I had a delicious cinnamon roll and latte. From there, I headed to York Minster, which is just a few minutes' walk away.

I didn't book a visit inside the Minster, so I went for a walk in the Minster's Garden. The garden was breathtaking in early spring with its cherry blossoms. I sat at a bench and took a moment to admire the scenery. The garden and streets were filled with tourists, but I was at peace; the moment of contemplation was cut short due to the rain. I found refuge in a cosy and vintage cafe down the street, where I enjoyed another latte before heading to the city walls.

The stairs leading to the walls were steep, and I probably annoyed the people behind me for climbing so slowly, but I'm afraid of heights. I usually avoid going to high places, but I couldn't skip a walk on York's city walls, as the city used to be a Roman fortress. York has Roman and Viking roots, and I had to walk on the City Walls as it is part of York's history. On my second trip, I went back to York Minster, but it was closed for renovation. I travelled around Christmas, and most tourists don't visit York in Winter.

Cliffords Tower

A Beautiful City And Its Friendly People

I would've never thought of visiting York in winter if I hadn't had a job interview there around Christmas last year. The city was quite a sight with all the Christmas decorations, and my favourite part of the trip was interacting with locals and listening to Christmas Carols on the streets. There were also quite a few street performances despite the cold and rain, which made the city feel lively.

York is now one of the few UK cities that I have visited more than twice. And there is still so much to see and do. I don't think I'm quite done with it yet. I still haven't had a real meal in York. During my first trip, I only had a cinnamon roll and lattes. On my second trip, I had breakfast in my hotel, and I ate so much that I didn't eat anything until I was in Leeds, heading back to London.

I would love to explore York's food scene one day, preferably in autumn when the leaves start turning golden yellow. York is just a little over an hour away from London by train, and the tickets are quite cheap when purchased in advance. On my third trip, a return ticket cost £58, and I travelled from King's Cross station to York. I had such a great time visiting York that I can't recommend it enough. I had an amazing time without breaking the bank; there are plenty of free and cheap activities to enjoy if you're on a tight budget.

Roman Crest on the City Walls

The most common question I'm asked since becoming a pescatarian is, "Did you just wake up one day and decide to give up on meat?" I usually laugh, thinking, "If only you knew how much I loved eating meat until a few years ago"

I grew up in a family without any dietary requirements for health or religious reasons, and we loved eating meat more than fish. I didn't eat fish that much when I was younger, as I preferred meat and chicken. I was a nightmare in the kitchen when my mother was teaching me how to cook, as I almost ate all the meat before the food was ready. So it came as a shock to my family when I told them I had become a pescatarian.

It made no sense to them that someone who loved meat so much would give it up for no reason; even my daughters were confused. So I understand why people would ask if it was an overnight decision. The truth is, I started losing my appetite for meat after my second pregnancy. After giving birth to my youngest daughter, meat didn't taste the same anymore, and I kept eating it for a few years, but the taste was off.

When Your Taste Buds Change

Most people wouldn't give up on something they love without a good reason. It's certainly not a decision you can make overnight, and that's something most people don't seem to comprehend when I say I'm a pescatarian. It all started during my second pregnancy in 2013. It's no secret that a pregnancy changes a woman's appearance, mood and taste buds; mine also had some health complications.

I didn't have cravings, but couldn't stand red meat, regardless of how I cooked it. It was bland and tasted like paper. I didn't think much of it, as a woman can love something she usually hates during a pregnancy and vice versa. I thought my taste buds would return to normal after the baby was born, but that didn't happen. If anything, red meat became tasteless, even though I still enjoyed eating chicken.

I loved eating chicken as much as red meat and didn't have to give it up, but I was on a self-discovery journey and wanted to see if I could improve my life and health with a new diet. I had no interest in becoming a vegan, so I chose to include fish and seafood in a vegetarian diet, and now I'm a pescatarian.

Embracing A Pescatarian Lifestyle

When I started my journey as a pescatarian, I had already stopped eating meat. However, I wanted to do it gradually with chicken, as I still loved it. The plan was to eat chicken once a week until I could fully include fish and seafood in my diet. I honestly thought it wouldn't be easy to become a pescatarian, but I had fully included fish in my diet by the second week and stopped eating poultry by the third.

It was so fast and easy for me to embrace a pescatarian lifestyle that I still cooked meat and poultry for my daughters without being bothered. The decision to become a pescatarian was mine, and I didn't want to impose my new diet on my daughters, so they kept eating their meat while I had fish. Living a pescatarian life isn't cheap, and when you add my daughters' love for meat, my food expenses went up.

At first, I wasn't sure if I could do it, but it's been over 4 years, and I haven't looked back since becoming a pescatarian. I don't miss eating meat, and my health has improved. I still need to work harder on my weight loss, though. Overall, I'm happy with this lifestyle, and I don't regret giving up on meat and poultry!

"The groundwork for all happiness is good health"

I have been self-studying Japanese seriously since I made plans to visit Japan in October 2025. I wanted to spend a couple of months attending a language school in Fukuoka, while exploring the country, and I wanted to go with some basic knowledge of the language. As I've mentioned in previous posts, anime gave me some happy childhood memories and made me feel less lonely. I have been into Japanese music, dramas and movies for years, so it felt normal for me to want to learn the language.

Although I understand Japanese due to my interest in anime and dramas, I can't speak or read the language. There are many books and manga without French or English translation that I would love to read. That's why in Spring 2024, I bought some Japanese textbooks to self-study before my trip to Japan. As you already know, I couldn't make the trip last year, but I'm still learning Japanese on my own. I listen to podcasts during my commute and practice Hiragana whenever I have time.

It's been going well, but I have to admit that I feel stuck; it seems like I haven't been making any progress with my reading and speaking. I don't have anyone to speak to, which is understandable, and I'm planning to go to Japan this summer for a few days. It would be a good opportunity to improve my language skills and finally make my childhood dream come true. I know Summer isn't the best time to visit Japan, and I was thinking of going in spring for my birthday, but I want to watch the new Kingdom movie in cinemas when it's screening in Japan.

My Motivation To Learn Kanji

Would you believe it if I said my motivation for learning Japanese is to read a light novel called The 12 Kingdoms by Fuyumi Ono? I know that's putting in a lot of effort just to read a book, but The 12 Kingdoms isn't just any book; it's a masterpiece. I would love to know how the story ends, and as there are no foreign language translations available, I have no other choice but to learn Japanese. I learned English to enhance my job prospects and to communicate effectively with people from around the world. Now I'm learning Japanese to know the ending of an amazing piece of writing.

When I was pregnant with my first child, I came across an anime called The 12 Kingdoms. I was stuck at home with a big belly and didn't have much to do, so I started watching the anime without any expectations, but I was blown away by the story. What was fascinating to me was how I found Youko Nakajima relatable. She went from being quiet and unproblematic to becoming a fierce woman ready to take on monsters and the world.

I saw my younger self in her character building. I was a quiet girl, always trying to please my parents while ignoring my own desires, and I grew up to be the woman I am now: Outspoken and making myself a priority. As good as the anime was, it was cancelled as it caught up to the story, and the novels were still being written, and I would love to know how the story ends. Which is why I'm working so hard on my Japanese, and even if it takes decades, I won't give up until I can finally read The 12 Kingdoms novels.

Japanese Literature Books and Manga

I recently purchased 4 novels by Japanese authors, and the store clerk said, "Are we following a theme?" I laughed and replied I love Japanese storytelling. I'm just happy it's becoming easier to find books and novels by Japanese authors nowadays. Haruki Murakami is certainly my favourite Japanese author, but Seishi Yokomizo's storytelling is fascinating. I bought 2 of his books: Murder at the Black Cat Cafe and The Inugami Curse. It's my first time reading his novels, and I highly recommend picking up one of his books.

As mentioned above, I'm planning a trip to Japan in the summer as a birthday present to myself, and the upcoming Kingdom movie is the reason I chose summer instead of May, my birth month. I have been a fan of Kingdom since watching the anime in 2016. I'm not into CGI anime, but the story was gripping enough to make me check out the manga, as I wanted to know if Shin would achieve his dream of becoming a general. I'm more into reading manga now than anime.

Kingdom is an exception as I love the anime, manga and live action adaptations with Kento Yamazaki. I had some doubts when he was picked to play Shin, but he delivered. I want to have the experience of watching the 5th movie when it releases in Japanese theatres. We'll see if I'll understand Japanese in Tokyo as well as I do here. When I run into Japanese people, I feel like I'm eavesdropping on their conversation. There was a Japanese couple on the bus the other day, and I heard them making plans for the day, like it was any of my business. The same thing happens when I run into French people; in this case, it can't be helped since it's my first language. Still, I wonder why I have trouble understanding Japanese men when they speak!

I went to the doctor's the other day to get a referral, and while I was speaking to the receptionist, she told me that I'm due for a smear test and there is a slot available on the same day. Mind you, I've been ignoring text messages and emails from my previous doctor for a smear test for years, and I felt ambushed since there was no reason to turn her down. A smear test or cervical screening is a preventive test done on women over 25 to find or monitor cells that might cause cancer.

I had my last smear test in 2019. As the daughter of a retired midwife, I understand how important it is for a woman; however, a childhood experience makes it hard for me to go to the doctor's. My period flow became heavier a few years ago, and it's been an embarrassing experience every month as I not only stain my clothes but also the bedding and everything else I sit or sleep on. It even happened at my new job last month, and luckily for me, I was dressed in black, and my coat covered it up.

When it started getting worse each month, I didn't bother making an appointment to see a doctor and even ignored letters and text messages about having a smear test. I went about my life as if it was normal to stain your bedding every month. Although I care about my health, I can't stand doctors and nurses because of my mother. I already mentioned in my post, The Real Reason I'm Still Single, that I grew up in a conservative family, and most traditional families are strict with their daughters. In my case, my mother valued my virginity more than anything and was willing to do whatever it took to keep me a virgin until marriage.

Helicopter Parenting & Trust Issues

As a teenager, my mother fell in love with a boy her parents didn't approve of, and when she got pregnant at 16, she was forced into an arranged marriage with her dad's nephew. She was married off to her cousin to save the family from the embarrassment of having a teenage daughter who had a child out of wedlock in the 60s. All of this could've been avoided if my grandparents accepted my sister's dad and approved their marriage, but preferred to marry her to an abusive cousin. So I often asked myself if my mother was trying her best to prevent me from making the same mistakes she made as a teenager, or if she couldn't be a better mother than my grandmother.

I still remember what my mother told me when I had my period for the first time: "Stay away from boys, your life will be over if you get pregnant". I was 11 years old and lived such a sheltered life; it meant nothing to me, and I thought to myself, "I'm only 11, so why would I want to have a baby?!" I wasn't an outgoing person even as a young girl, and I spent most of my time in my room watching anime or reading books. I wasn't one to make friends easily, and my mother didn't want me to have friends anyway, so I went straight home from school.

I wasn't popular in school, didn't have friends to hang out with and was considered weird for watching anime. Anime may be mainstream and popular now, but it wasn't the case in the late 90s and early 00s, and anyone who showed any interest in Japanese culture was bullied. So I looked forward to going home, and it wasn't about me pretending to be a good girl, even though most girls that age are curious about boys, smoking and alcohol. I felt safer in my bubble and couldn't wait to go back to it until my mother started projecting on me.

Having To Prove My Virginity

My mother was always strict with me, but it became unbearable after I had my first period. I didn't do anything crazy during my rebellious phase. I had a bit of an attitude. Still do, to be honest, but most parents wouldn't have any reason to doubt me since I didn't go out and never gave them any reason to. So you can imagine how I felt the first time my mother took me to the hospital where she used to work to check if I was still a virgin.

No matter how I tried to explain that I don't even know how to talk to boys, let alone have a boyfriend, she didn't believe me. Her answer was "Then you have nothing to worry about if you're still a virgin" When did she want me to get a boyfriend when I was always home and she kept watching me like a hawk. The only men and boys I speak to are family members and friends, and I'm never left alone with them. I was forced to take off my clothes, lie down on a bed and open my legs so they could check if my hymen was still intact.

I was 14 years old, never kissed a boy or had sex, yet one of my mother's colleagues inserted her fingers in me to see if I was still a virgin. I cried the entire time from the pain and humiliation, but more importantly, I was hurt and felt betrayed. How could my own mother do this to me? And it wasn't even the end of it; it became a ritual to go to her hospital every 6 months to prove my virginity. The experience made me lose interest in boys, if it was that painful to check a girl's virginity. I can't even imagine how painful it would be to have sex with a boy, and that's the reason I didn't start dating until I was older.

Struggling With Intimacy

I had to prove my virginity to my mother for years, and needless to say, it isn't easy for me to be intimate with a man. Any forplay that involves fingers is a hard no, as it reminds me of my experience as a teenager. I haven't been with a man since I broke up with the father of my children, and even though I've been single for years, it's still not easy for me to be intimate with a man. I can let a man touch me only if I really like him, which doesn't happen often, even though I want to date. I'm also not sure how a man would react if I told him that I don't like having fingers in a certain part of my body.

It's one of the reasons it doesn't bother me to be single. I had to part ways with men who didn't like it, and I don't feel like playing the dating lottery by going on a lot of dates to see if there is a man out there who would be fine with it. It's too troublesome, so I'll keep living my life quietly, even though I would like to fall in love again. But I wouldn't hold my breath considering how messy the dating scene is nowadays. My mother didn't want boys to touch me and made me go through an experience I still can't get over, and now she's praying to God every day to send me a husband. How ironic, most people meet their spouse in school, university or through friends. I was a loner, a late bloomer, and my mother didn't want me to socialise.

She threw daggers with her eyes every time I spoke to a man who wasn't family or a friend, so how exactly did she expect me to meet this husband? She wanted me to marry her friend's son, but I said no because she should've known better, as a woman who was forced into an arranged marriage. This is a learning experience for both of us. In her next life, she will be less overbearing and let her daughter live her life as she sees fit. And in my next life, I won't be the same boring and obedient girl; I will speak up and stand up for myself, take risks and more importantly, do what makes me happy instead of trying to meet my parents' expectations!

When I moved to London in the summer of 2025, I started thinking about taking up new hobbies. I have been a vintage collector for years, and it was time to find a new hobby as I didn't think it would fit my new lifestyle. I'm living in a shared house and don't have enough space for collectables, even though I still love them. It was also time to take a break from crochet, which I learned from YouTube tutorials and is one of my best skills as a mother.

It was always a joy to make scarves and gloves for my daughters and myself, but I'm on a solo travel journey and don't have time to sit around crocheting except for special occasions. Having a hobby has helped me through stressful times while improving myself, which is why it was important to find a new one after my move to London.

After giving it some thought, I decided to take up photography and baking; photography seems like an ideal hobby for a solo traveller. Baking is a pretty bold choice for me, as I already tried it and failed. The truth is, I sucked so much at baking that my daughters wouldn't eat anything I made. After becoming a mother, I thought about making homemade treats for my daughters, but I failed miserably!

Starting My Baking Journey

When I think about it, baking isn't a hobby that someone on a weight loss journey would pick, but I'm glad I did, even though it's making it hard to stay away from homemade cakes. I'm not sure what happened after I moved to London to improve my skills, but I can now bake, and I couldn't believe it when I made my first blueberry bread. It wasn't perfect by any means, but it was good enough to be praised by housemates, which boosted my confidence.

It was even better with the banana bread I made afterwards. It was so good I considered taking baking lessons, I even applied for a course, but had to change my plans. I've been thinking about retirement and what I'll do when the time comes, so baking could be a good way to keep busy and earn some money. It's the main reason I enrolled on the course, but I'm leaving London soon, and will have to do it where I'm moving.

I'm going to focus on improving myself until I take lessons from a professional, and I'm so motivated that my pantry is now full of baking ingredients. I've been trying different recipes and even came up with a couple of my own, which brings me to the topic of this post. I forgot to add an important ingredient when baking an apple cake, and it turned out to be one of those moments when you make something good by mistake.

When You Make Something Good By Mistake

I always like spending time in my room, but even more so now that I live in a shared house. I'm still not used to sharing a kitchen with people, and I get overwhelmed when it's crowded. Whenever I want to cook, I try to make the most of my time there by meal prepping and making meals for at least a couple of days. It saves time and money, but more importantly, I get to go in the kitchen only to get a drink, food or snacks.

So I was cooking the other day when I thought about making an apple cake while waiting for the food to be ready. I didn't want to go back later to bake. I already prepped the apples I wanted to use for the cake; I diced and marinated them in syrup and cinnamon for a couple of days. I tried this process the second time I baked an apple cake. I had some leftover apples from making pickles, and instead of eating them, I diced and put them in a jar with maple syrup, cinnamon and cloves.

As a frugal person, I'm always thinking of ways to save money, so I started pickling fruits and vegetables to reduce food waste. I used the marinated leftover apple to make an apple cake, and you could smell and taste it in the cake. It was so good I added the process to my recipe, and I wasn't done discovering good things by mistake.

Delicious And Moist Apple Cake

I usually take my tablet to the kitchen when I'm cooking, as it is dangerous to leave the cooker on and go back to my room. That way I can keep an eye on the food while watching a tv show. I was watching Nodame Cantabile on Netflix when I started making an apple cake dough. I was so focused on the drama, I didn't realise I had forgotten to add an important ingredient to the dough. I even left it on the worktop for a few minutes without realising what was missing from the mix.

As a long-time J-dramas fan, it makes me happy to see how accessible they've become over the years, but it's also so distracting. Anyway, once the oven was hot enough, I put in the cake and sat down to continue watching the drama. Nearly 20 minutes after it went into the oven, I suddenly realised that I had forgotten to add sugar to the dough. Can you believe that I was baking a sugarless cake, and what was it even going to taste like?

I prefer sweeteners to sugar in my coffee, but I wasn't thrilled by the idea of eating a cake without sugar, as it's one of the most important ingredients. I panicked for a moment and wondered if I should take it out and throw it away before it finished baking, then again, I don't like wasting food. I wasn't planning on sharing the cake with anyone, so it was fine to bake a sugarless cake for myself. I shrugged it off and kept watching the drama until the cake was ready.

All This Cake Isn't Good For My Weight Loss

I like to put my cake in a plastic container overnight to let the flavour come out. It also tastes better this way, but I was curious about the apple cake since I forgot to add sugar. What I considered a mistake turned out to be a genius moment when I ate a piece of the cake. It was absolutely delicious, and I'm not saying it to pat myself on the back. It is truly the best cake I've made so far, and baking isn't a hobby someone on a weight loss should embrace, but I'm so glad I did.

It's embarrassing to admit, but I ate that cake in one sitting, and there was nothing left in the morning. It was supposed to be for breakfast. I know, cake for breakfast?! Weird, but it keeps full until dinner, as I only have two meals a day. Having a cake with yoghurt in the morning is good for me, and it's helping me lose weight even though I probably gained a couple of kilos eating it in one sitting.

It isn't easy to lose weight in your 40s, and I made it even harder by taking up baking as a hobby. Homemade baking is a healthier option than store-bought treats, but it's still packed with calories, which is why I keep gaining back the weight I'm losing. I don't want to give up on baking, so I'll have to work on my discipline!

After living in England for a few years, I thought it was finally time to visit the beautiful and historic city of Oxford. I originally planned my first trip to Oxford for October 2024. I purchased a return ticket, booked a hotel, and planned my itinerary, but had to cancel due to unforeseen circumstances. I forgot all about it after moving to London, to be honest, until one of my cousins came for a visit this summer and took a day trip to Oxford.

As someone who has been a fan of The Lord of the Rings since my teenage years, her trip to Oxford, the home of J.R.R. Tolkien, was a poignant reminder that I still hadn't been there, despite residing in England for years. A few weeks later, I booked another trip to Oxford for autumn and this time I was planning to make it. I chose autumn again because it's my favourite season and I wanted to see what Oxford looks like in autumn colours.

I had a lot going on at the time, and couldn't be careless with money, but I still wanted to make the trip. So I purchased a return ticket by coach for a day trip. Oxford is just a little over two hours away from London by coach and an hour by train. A day trip was perfect for my first time in the city. I left home at first light to set out on my journey. I had to board the Oxford Tube from Victoria Station, which is far from where I live, and I didn't want to be late.

My First Trip To The Historic City Of Oxford

I left home before the trains started running, so I had to take a bus to Victoria Station, and the journey was nearly two hours. I got there in time to board my coach to Oxford, even though I went to Victoria Coach Station thinking that's where I was travelling from. Oxford Tube is one of the most affordable ways to travel to Oxford; a one-way advanced (cheap) train ticket to Oxford from London was around £50, and I paid only £25 for a return ticket with Oxford Tube.

It was raining lightly when I left London, and I was worried that I might have to walk in the rain for my first visit. I arrived in Oxford a couple of hours later, and it was raining lightly. The first thing I did was to find a cafe for breakfast as I was starving. I walked down the streets blindly until I found one where I had a pain au raisin and a latte. After breakfast, I went to the Westgate shopping centre, which was just a few minutes away. I wasn't looking for anything in particular; I just wanted to see what it looked like. I was sightseeing after all.

It was still too early to visit Christ Church Meadows, so I went to the covered market. I first heard of Oxford University when I was a kid, and it felt surreal to walk down the streets of such a famous and historic city. It happened to be graduation day, and I ran into a few students in their graduation gowns, accompanied by their proud parents. One of the best things about my trip was walking in Oxford's back alleys; it was so picturesque!

A view of a Gothic tower behind a stone gate with iron bars, surrounded by autumn trees

Honey Limestones, Historic Buildings And Fallen Leaves

As I mentioned above, I had a tight budget and couldn't afford the fee to visit most universities. Some offered free entry, but there was a long queue, and I had to go back to London on the same day. It's still possible to have a fun trip without breaking the bank. I stopped by the covered market on my way to Christ Church Meadows, where there were characters from Alice in Wonderland on the market's ceiling. It was fun to walk all over the place looking for my favourite one.

I only found out before my trip that Lewis Carroll was a lecturer at Oxford Christ Church, and the story was inspired by Oxford and its people. There is also a cow covered in Alice in Wonderland characters at Oxford Westgate's shopping centre. The highlight of my trip was looking at the historic buildings made of honey coloured limestones bricks behind the bright colours of autumn. The scenery was breathtaking, and I couldn't help but capture it with my camera.

Nothing screams tourist more than holding a vlogging camera and a DSLR, but it didn't matter; the moment was too beautiful to care how I looked to other people. And that's the moment I knew that I wanted to move to Oxford. I haven't been in London for a year, but I've been thinking about leaving because I feel out of place, and it keeps reminding me of why I left this city when I moved to the UK.

The beautiful journey of today can only begin when we learn to let go of yesterday. Steve Maraboli

The Trip That Changed My Life

When I got off the coach after arriving in Oxford, a bus driver told me to have a good day, and I can't remember the last time a stranger was so nice since moving to London. I lived for years in a town where it's normal to greet a stranger on the street or thank your driver, but that's not how it is in London. I wouldn't call people in London unfriendly, but they can get under your skin, and I don't like the person I'm becoming, trying to fit in.

That's the reason I've been thinking about leaving London, but I wasn't sure whether to head back north or move to Scotland or Wales. Now I know exactly where I want to live next, and I couldn't choose a better city than Oxford. Is spending a few hours there enough to make such an important decision? I moved up north after travelling to Manchester for a weekend and stayed for years until last summer. I will take a leap of faith once again, and whatever happens happens!

The cost of my day trip to Oxford came down to £40. I spent £25 on coach tickets and £15 on food. I didn't get to visit the universities, but I had fun walking down the streets, looking at the historic buildings outside, running into Oxford graduates and exploring its back alleys. More importantly, this trip changed my life as it gave me a new purpose, a start to a new life in Oxford. I highly recommend a visit to Oxford, and I hope you'll love it as much as I did!

Christ Church Meadows, behind lined trees in autumn

I went to Manchester for the first time a few months after living in England. At that time, I was living with my sister in London. It was supposed to be just a weekend trip; however, I fell in love with the city and decided to move there. I lived in Manchester until this summer. Life was good until a couple of years ago, when things started to go wrong.

A Life-Changing Experience In Manchester

I was a single woman raising two daughters when a man broke into my house one day. I'm not ready to share more about this, but it was a traumatic experience. I sustained some injuries and now have chronic pain in my shoulder. The worst part was that no one cared enough to help—not even the police. I don’t know what happened to the guy, whether he was arrested or not. It became clear to me that I was on my own.

My daughters weren't physically harmed, but I worried about my ability to protect them if something like this happened again. So, I made the difficult decision to send them to live with their dad. He wasn’t the right man for me, but he loves his daughters and will take good care of them. Since I was also being targeted at work, I packed my bags and left Manchester a few months after my daughters went to live with their dad. It wasn't my hometown, and I had no reason to tolerate the mistreatment.

My Healing Journey in London

I chose to move to London because I have a sister here and needed time to think about my next steps. The plan was to go to Japan, but the wave of xenophobia towards tourists and foreigners put me off, considering my experience in Manchester. So, I decided to settle down in London to begin my healing journey.

I couldn't think of a better city to move on from a bad experience. I started a blog and YouTube channel to share my new journey here in London. It's always been therapeutic for me to put my thoughts into writing. As an introvert and socially awkward woman, this is the best way for me to connect with people. I'm not a big city person either, and I would rather live in a smaller town; however, life has been good in London. I'm in a better place now than I was six months ago.

That's why I decided to go on a trip to Manchester for closure. I can't fully embrace my new life if I'm still holding on to the old one. I needed to know if I had any regrets, was holding a grudge, or had truly moved on from everything that happened. So, I booked a hotel for two nights and purchased a return ticket to Manchester.

Travelling in the UK on a Budget

I went to Manchester by coach; the return ticket cost only £16 ($20) and it took over five hours to travel from London to Manchester. In some countries, travelling by coach might seem like a "poor vibe," but let me tell you, this is the best way to travel around the UK without breaking the bank. I wouldn’t go on a spontaneous trip to Manchester if I had to travel by train. Advanced train tickets can cost up to £300 ($392).

The cheapest option is approximately £50 ($65), and the journey can take over four hours. I got one of those tickets when I went back to return my house key. I had to change trains, and the waiting time was nearly two hours. The worst part was that the train was packed, and I had to stand the entire way to Manchester. It's actually more convenient to travel by coach. I'm going on another trip in a couple of days and will vlog my entire journey.

I stopped using Airbnb when my host ghosted me during a trip to Paris back in April. I found them comfortable and practical until that experience. Two nights in a small hotel in Manchester cost £75 ($98), including breakfast. I wasn't holding my breath, to be honest, but I was pleasantly surprised by how clean and cosy the hotel was. I use Booking.com to find great deals.

A Relaxing Moment at the Trafford Centre

From the coach station, I went straight to Manchester United's stadium, Old Trafford. It was my first destination in Manchester because Man United is my favourite team and one of the reasons I moved to the city. I wanted to create content for my YouTube channel and couldn't think of a better place than the Manchester United ground.

After visiting the stadium, I headed to the Trafford Centre, since it's in the same neighbourhood. I wanted to check out a new Japanese restaurant I had heard so much about to try their sushi. I mostly eat at Japanese restaurants when I'm out and about because it's less stressful for me as a pescatarian. I heard good things about the restaurant and wanted to try their sushi.

Chinese families own many Japanese restaurants in Manchester, although it’s becoming easier to find authentic ones. Keep that in mind if you plan to visit Manchester. After my delicious meal at the restaurant, I returned to Manchester City Centre, where I grabbed some snacks from an Asian supermarket before heading to my hotel.

Sushi and snacks from an Asian supermarket

Sleeping Is Better Than Sightseeing

After checking in, I went to my room, which was located on the third floor. It was quite a struggle to climb the stairs with a heavy backpack and shopping bags. I didn't expect the room to be so big. There was a double bed facing the bedroom door, a single bed on the other side, a kitchen corner, and a desk. The bedroom was separated from the bathroom by a long corridor. From the front door, you have to walk to the end of the corridor to either go to the bathroom or the bedroom.

Staying in a hotel in a city where I had a house a few months ago was a funny experience. It's probably because I lived there for years that I didn't feel like leaving my room to go sightseeing. I had plans to go, but I cancelled them and spent two days in my hotel, eating sushi and snacks that I had purchased the day of my arrival. A relaxing time in my hotel room was actually what I needed after the stress of moving to London.

It may seem pointless to go to another city to lock yourself away in your hotel room, but I'm glad I made this trip. I did nothing but watch J-dramas, laugh at TikTok, and sleep. I was at peace, and that's how I know that my mind and body may not have forgotten, but they've moved on. For anyone travelling to Manchester, I highly recommend the Hazeldean Hotel for affordable accommodation.

Embracing Change and Finding Clarity

As I reflect on my journey, I realise that embracing change is essential for growth. Life can throw unexpected challenges our way, but it’s how we respond that defines our path. I’ve learned to find clarity through honest storytelling and shared experiences. My time in Manchester was not just about revisiting the past; it was about acknowledging it and moving forward.

Every experience, good or bad, shapes who we are. I’m grateful for the lessons I’ve learned along the way. They’ve helped me build a supportive community around my personal journey of reinvention. So, if you’re feeling lost or unsure, remember that it’s never too late to embrace change.

In the end, my trip to Manchester was about more than just closure; it was a step towards a brighter future. I’m excited to continue sharing my journey and connecting with others who are navigating their own paths. Life is full of possibilities, and I can’t wait to see where mine will lead next.

The Shambles And The City Walls

A Beautiful City And Its Friendly People

When Your Taste Buds Change

Embracing A Pescatarian Lifestyle

My Motivation To Learn Kanji

Japanese Literature Books and Manga

Helicopter Parenting & Trust Issues

Having To Prove My Virginity

Struggling With Intimacy

Starting My Baking Journey

When You Make Something Good By Mistake

Delicious And Moist Apple Cake

All This Cake Isn't Good For My Weight Loss

My First Trip To The Historic City Of Oxford

Honey Limestones, Historic Buildings And Fallen Leaves

The Trip That Changed My Life

A Life-Changing Experience In Manchester

My Healing Journey in London

Travelling in the UK on a Budget

A Relaxing Moment at the Trafford Centre

Sleeping Is Better Than Sightseeing

Embracing Change and Finding Clarity

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