books i've read in lockdown

Since lockdown started I have been doing so many things to try and make me feel normal. I downloaded tik tok and became addicted to that... I bought Disney+ and have watched a lot of tv shows on that and on Netflix, quite often whilst colouring - which is a lovely combo I must say. I also completed my 2nd year of University (online), which was a little stressful and weird however ended nicely. Finally, I started reading a lot more than I used to. 

Normally I am the type of person to read when I go on holiday, but this lockdown has turned me into an avid reader. I seem to spend more time on Goodreads than I do on any other social media app. 

1. TWO CAN KEEP A SECRET BY KAREN M.  MCMANUS

4/5 Stars ★★★★☆

I was so excited to read this after reading Karen's first book (One of us is lying) in 2018, and the reviews were mixed however, I absolutely loved this! In the beginning, I always find it difficult to remember who all the characters are, especially when each chapter is in the perspective of different characters. After a couple, you get the hang on it and grow to love it. Was shocked by the ending and did not see it coming, but once I knew I was like "ohhhhh"... when it all suddenly makes sense!! 

I have recommended this book to all my friend and gave my copy to one of them - dropped it off at her doorstep and waved from 2m aways about a month ago. 

2. ONE OF US IS NEXT #2 BY KAREN M.  MCMANUS

5/5 ★★★★★

The sequel to one of my favourite books. I wasn't 100% sure what to expect and wasn't sure anything could top the first but this did. I loved seeing what had happened to the characters since the last one and how they had grown - I want to say I almost missed them. Again, I love how each chapter is in the perspective of a different character. Yet again the ending was brilliant and had a totally unexpected twist. I almost feel like there could be another book but not 100% sure... who knows. 

3. TO ALL THE BOYS I'VE LOVED BEFORE #1 BY JENNY HAN

4/5 Stars ★★★★☆

The first book in the series. I stupidly watched the film first, which is very unlike me. However, I have to say I loved the book so much more than the film. It is the perfect start to the series, allowed me to fall in love with the characters. Lara Jean and Peter are truly my favourites.

4. P.S. I STILL LOVE YOU #2 BY JENNY HAN

4/5 Stars ★★★★☆

Some people say this book is 'unnecessary', however, I loved it. It showed me that no one is perfect, especially when you are in High School. The differences between the book and the film almost made me laugh, and wonder why the chose to change such key things. However, my favourite was the fact John was blonde... 

3. ALWAYS AND FOREVER, LARA JEAN #3 BY JENNY HAN

5/5 Stars ★★★★★

For me, this was the perfect ending to this series. It made me cry at times and was great to see Lara Jean grow as a person, alone and with Peter. I honestly do not know what else to say about apart from that I am SO excited to see what Netflix decide to do for the final film. 

4. LYING ABOUT LAST SUMMER BY SUE WALLMAN

- Currently Reading

I have actually borrowed this book from my friend, and she came and dropped it off for me at my doorstep. I am not very far into this book, so not a lot I can say. But so far so good - I am enjoying it. 

I am thoroughly enjoying reading, especially sitting outside in my garden in the sunshine - making the most of the weather. I have also added it into both my morning and night routine - reading when I wake up and just before I go to bed.

I have a nice long list of the books I want to read on my GoodReads app and created an amazon 'shopping-list' of all of them. - Lockdown has not changed me that much though as I am still watching tv shows and have a good list of shows to keep me going too, as well as films too. 

If you want to follow me on GoodReads, I have linked my 'to-read' book list bellow. 

Megan's to-read book montage

Megan Tucker's favourite books »

photo diary | lincoln christmas market

On Friday my friends and I decided to take a little break from essay writing and revising to take a trip up to Lincoln to see the Christmas Market. The train wasn't too bad for us on the journey there as they put on a large train due to the market and all the carriages are declassified so you can sit in first class, so that is exactly what we did. We were the only ones there, and as it was lunchtime while we were on the train we all sat and eat that without funny looks from other passengers like normal. 

FRIDAY 6TH DECEMBER

We had a look round Lincoln Cathedral as entry is now free and I felt like I was walking around Hogwarts. There was also a choir singing some Christmas song, they were lovely. 

Now onto the market, the bit we went for!

This beautiful building in the heart of the market is actually the crown courts!

For the journey back we again got to sit in first class and enjoy our dinner as we left at 6:30 and didn't get back into Leicester until 8:30. I had the new pigs and blankets panini from Costa! It was so yummy! It was followed by a doughnut from Doughnotts, of course, where we both had a cookie monster this time. 

Lizzie stayed in Lincoln and took a picture for me of the Cathedral at night!  SO beautiful, definitely will be going back there. 

We are planning to go to Manchester Christmas Market next year as I have always heard such good things about. I am also going back to Nottingham next week and I can't wait to see the Winter Wonderland there as it is always my favourite thing!

less than 24 hours in leicester

The other weekend my mum and I took a little trip down to Leicester for a concert at De Montfort Hall, called Gigs in the Garden. It consisted of 3 acts, Scouting for Girls, Professor Green and Busted. 

BODEGA CANTINA
Our first stop in Leicester was actually for dinner which we had early due to the concert starting at 6:30pm. As we were in the city to pick up some Lush and for mum to get her tragus pierced we stopped in St Martins Square (my favourite place in Leicester) and tried out Bodega Cantina. It is a beautiful little Mexican place, we had nachos to share to start which were homemade and absolutely beautiful. I decided to go all out and get a cocktail, a vodka cosmo. For our mains mum and I, both had a burrito however I had a naked on (in a bowl rather than a wrap).

SCOUTING FOR GIRLS
Roy, Pete and Gregg always put on amazing show, scouting for girls truly are one of my favourite bands ever. I can't even count how many times I have seen them live but they always impress. Mum and I always have the best time seeing them, and we have definitely already get tickets for their UK tour in November/December this year.

The setlist
Heartbeat
This Ain't a Love Song
James Bond
It's Not About You
Grown Ups
Millionaire
Posh Girls
She's So Lovely

PROFESSOR GREEN

BUSTED
I have always been a massive fan of Busted, ever since I was a little girl. I knew after I saw McBusted live I needed to see ALL of Busted when they got back together. So when I saw they were coming to Leicester with Scouting for Girls I asked mum straight away if she wanted to go and thank goodness she said yes!! We had such an amazing view and honestly had the best time, 4-year old me would never believe that I'd been seeing them live at the age of 20 and close to the stage!! Still emotional.

The setlist
Airhostess
What I go to School For
Thunderbirds
You Said No
Crashed the Wedding
Sleeping with the Light on
3am
Shipwrecked in Atlantis
Radio
Nineties
Year 3000

We ended the evening by having a nice walk back to the hotel, followed by a cup of tea and a doughnut from my favourite place - Doughnotts!! If you ever find yourself in either Leicester, Nottingham or Derby I definitely recommend trying them out. Mum loved her's (choc orange) and she isn't a massive fan of doughnuts. I had cookie monster - a personal favourite from them. 

The following morning we packed up our bags, had another cup of tea and got ready to head to breakfast at spoons. I went for something different this time, usually I am a small or large breakfast type of girl at spoons but instead, I went for smashed avo on a muffin with poached eggs. Mum had scrambled egg on toast with baked beans, and of course, we had several cups of tea too. 

It felt strange going to Leicester and not staying in my accommodation but instead of staying in a Premier Inn. It was fun to experience it in a different light with my mum, however, I cannot wait to move into my new accommodation - NEXT SATURDAY !!! woohoo. Can't wait to show you my new room for my 2nd year at University, and get back into blogging again as I been slacking.

university room tour | first year

I thought it was finally time I got round to share my university accommodation, especially as semester 2 has just finished so I only have exams left to go of my first year. I am currently located on the ground floor of my halls so the lighting is terrible most of the time, especially as I only have one window which isn't that big and we have offices just behind us.

First of all, what you see when you walk through the door. Underneath those jackets and hoodies, there is my wardrobe which contains all my clothes, washing basket, a box of lush bath bombs I got for my birthday and on top of it is actually covered in an empty box, appliances I use but not that often and my toilet roll.

Just before the wardrobe on the left is the bathroom, as I was lucky enough to be blessed with an ensuite room. The bathroom itself is a pretty decent size considering this is student accommodation, the shower, however, is big enough for me but a little too small for my liking - my shower next year is a lot bigger.

As you leave the bathroom, there are 2 hooks on the wall opposite it. This is where I keep my coat and my rucksack - which I use every day for uni.

The overview of my entire room, which I must say was quite difficult to take because of the layout but I managed to sit on my desk for the first shot - which looks very plain and boring. Also exposing the random mess at the top of my wardrobe.

Just underneath my radiator is where I keep all the shoes that I wear the majority of the time and as you can see, I have a wide range of colours...

The shelves above my desk. These have been changed so much since I have been living here, and just recently they were covered in birthday cards but I finally took them down last week. The first shelf is home to the box sets I bought with me - Big Bang Theory, How I Met Your Mother and Gilmore Girls. Along with a couple of DVDs - Pitch Perfect 1-3, Girls Trip and Solo: a Star Wars Movie. I also have a reed diffuser as we aren't allowed candles or plug-ins in our uni rooms, so I have one in my room and one in my bathroom - both from home bargains. The second shelf is home to my skincare, makeup palettes, water bottle, a travel mug (free from my uni) and cinnamon - for my coffee machine.

Finally, my favourite bit, the pinboard. As you can see I decided to cover it in photos along with some concerts tickets at the bottom (the ones I have been to so far this year), my calendar (solo: a star wars story) and 2 cinema tickets - Captain Marvel and Five Feet Apart. 

So, that is my university room! It isn't the biggest or the best but compared to other accommodation I have seen at other University I think I am quite lucky. My room is also next to the kitchen so I can sneak into the kitchen without the light in the corridor turning on. Thank you for reading and I hope you have enjoyed this snapshot of my uni accommodation and how I decided to decorate it.

Meg x 

photo diary | LANY, nottingham

This time last week I was back at home in Nottingham for a concert to see the wonderful LANY. So I thought it was the perfect opportunity to do yet another photo diary as they are one of my favourite things to do, especially concert ones. 

Being home allowed me to take a trip to my favourite place, Bunk. If you are from either Derby or Nottingham then I highly recommend you try them out as they have the best food and some lovely cocktails too! Whenever I see Jodie, Sophie and Lauren we ALWAYS go out to Bunk.  

THE SETLIST

Thick and Thin
Good Girls
4EVER!
Yea, Babe, No Way
I Don't Wanna Love You Anymore
Taking Me Back
Made in Hollywood
Hurts
Run
Valentine's Day
If You See Her
The Breakup
Pink Skies
Hericane
Super Far
Malibu Nights

(encore)
Thru These Tears
ILYSB

meg x