Electric Ladyland, Museum of Fluorescent Art, Amsterdam

During my last trip to Amsterdam, I wanted to visit some more "off the beaten track" museums having visited the more tourist-dominated ones during my previous trips. After a search through Google, I stumbled across a recommendation for 'Electric Ladyland - the First Museum of Fluorescent Art' (yep - it is named after the Jimi Hendrix album), and without a second thought it jumped to the top of my 'to see' list during my time in Amsterdam. Whilst I was studying illustration at college and university, I specialised in psychedelic and fluorescent artwork, so finding out there was a museum in Amsterdam dedicated to it was the best news!

We navigated our way to the museum fairly easy, as it's only a short distance (5 minutes walk or so) from the Anne Frank House (which I have still not yet visited, despite how often I frequent Amsterdam), but when we arrived at around 2pm on a Saturday we found the museum was closed. However, there was a notice on the door that stated the museum was by appointment only and that you could book an appointment online. It actually does state this on the homepage of their website too, but I somehow managed to overlook this. It didn't put us off at all, so I booked an appointment from my phone for the last tour of the day at 5pm and we spent the rest of the afternoon wandering around beautiful Jordaan in the sunshine.

I arrived back at the museum around 4:45pm like the keen bean that I am, but this time I was solo. James wasn't as enthusiastic about visiting the museum as I was, so I decided to go alone and meet up with him a little later on. Upon arriving, I was greeted by a kind lady who explained the previous tour was still going on but I was more than welcome to wait upstairs in the store space, which was filled to the brim with vibrant and colourful pieces of artwork. She mentioned that photos were not allowed of the artwork in this particular space, which I respectfully adhered to, despite my overwhelming urge to want to photograph everything because it was just so mesmerising! She explained that I would have to swap my shoes for some foam slipper socks that they provide because the artwork within the museum is participatory meaning you can actually walk on top of the artwork installation. 

As the final people from the previous tour left the museum, I paid my entry fee and was invited down into the basement of the building where the museum was. As with most staircases in central Amsterdam, it's incredibly steep and not accessible at all unless you're able-bodied. In fact, it's so steep that I would describe it as more of a ladder than a staircase, so this is something to bear in mind before booking your appointment. Due to me being incredibly punctual, I was the first person to enter the museum and meet the artist and curator, Nick Padalino. Whilst the museum alone is absolutely magical, Nick absolutely makes the experience of the museum so much more. He's one of the most interesting and passionate people I've ever had the pleasure of meeting and his knowledge about fluorescent art and minerals is impeccable. It was so utterly refreshing to meet someone with an incredibly open and creative mindset who spoke passionately about every inch of his museum. 

This could have been a little embarassing if I wasn't wearing a slip dress underneath

The first thing you notice as you step down into the museum is the outstanding, vibrant installation piece that beams vibrantly underneath the UV light and resembles some sort of psychedelic cave formation. Layers upon layers of fluorescent paint have been built up on top of the plaster formation used to create the participatory piece and you can truly see just how many years of graft have gone into creating the awe-inspiring piece of art. The fact you have to clamber down the 'staircase' in an almost 'down the rabbit hole' manner to reach the trippy, multi-coloured, fluro den makes the visit more of a psychedelic and unusual experience. The pièce de résistance, the interactive installation, is so much more than what first meets the eye. As you walk around the creation, you'll notice there are multiple hidden crevices and caves to explore and peer into. You begin to notice a lot of Indian influences within the work, including a teeny Taj Mahal nestled within the installation. After speaking to Nick, I learned a little more about his time in India and it's clear that his time in the East has formed some of his work.

Our tour of the museum started with around twenty people or so, shoulder-to-shoulder in the basement whilst Nick patiently guided us through every corner of his museum. If you're claustrophobic at all, then this museum probably isn't for you. In fact, it was probably for the best that James didn't accompany me back to the museum because I'm not sure if he would have actually fit considering he's ridiculously tall.

Throughout the hour we were left to explore all the different corners of the museums including the vivid, fluorescent 60s & 70s music posters that lined the walls and the ceilings, small yet intricate painted sculptures, books that retold the history and beginnings of fluorescent art (it started much earlier than you would originally think) and the most surreal display of them all: the natural minerals. The natural minerals that Nick has collected from all over the globe are pale and ghostly beneath a natural light; you would honestly not glance twice at them. However, as soon as Nick displayed them to us beneath a black light, the rocks and mineral came alive with colour and light. There's something almost alien about these minerals, but believe or not, these are their natural states on this Earth.

The entire tour takes around an hour or so, although I spent a little bit longer there and made the most of the museum being empty after everyone else had left. I was actually the first one to arrive and the last one to leave. The hour does give you a sufficient amount of time to explore all of the displays and Nick is a thorough and informative guide. 

As far as I'm aware the museum is currently closed for renovation, so I'm glad I managed to visit before it closed. In all my time spent in Amsterdam, Electric Ladyland is one of the best and most unusual places I've ever had the pleasure of visiting. If you're heading to Amsterdam any time after they re-open, I really recommend you book an appointment and see something a little different from the usual tourist spots.

Entry: €5

Address: Tweede Leliedwarsstraat 5 Hs., 1015 TB Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Book appointments: electricladyland.appointy.com

Natural minerals under a black light

The humble museum front

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6

Amsterdam Has Stolen My Heart (Again)

At the end of August I visited Amsterdam for the sixth (or seventh? I've lost count!) time. The first time I visited Amsterdam, a few years ago, I absolutely fell in love with it. Admittedly I fall in love with a lot of cities whenever I travel, but there something about Amsterdam that I can't help but romanticise and something about the city that just makes me feel at home and completely at ease. I just don't think I'll ever tire of visiting there.

Maybe it's because it was the first place that James and I holiday-ed together (it was covered in a dusting of snow at the time too) and have done multiple times since, but Amsterdam is truly special to me. I want to live in a pretty Amsterdam townhouse with a vintage ride with a colour to match my hair and a closet full of vintage frocks. Is that too much to ask for?

The weather whilst we were in the Dutch capital was absolutely wonderful, which meant a few days of sipping beers and strolling along the canals under the blazing hot sunshine. One of the days was a little too hot, dare I say, as it was incredibly humid but I am not complaining at all because it was a far better option than torrential rain, which I've experienced from Amsterdam in the past.

The warmer weather meant that my outfit choices from day-to-day were my typical floaty, vintage dresses, including this printed tunic from Tick Tock Vintage. It's made from such a light and sheer material that I had to wear a slip beneath it, which came in particularly useful when I visited a museum under UV lights and the entire dress ended up becoming see-through. Luckily, the slip beneath my dress became luminous rather than my underwear, which could have been a disaster. It's hard to pick up in the photos, but the tunic is laced with a gorgeous silver shimmer thread, which runs through in horizontal lines. It's definitely a new fave vintage piece of mine and I'm a little heartbroken that the weather is already too cold to continue wearing it.

Next summer, I'll be wearing it non-stop and who knows, maybe it'll accompany on another trip back to Amsterdam? Are there are cities that have a hold on your heart like Amsterdam does on mine?

Dress*: Tick Tock Vintage

Bag: Charity Shop

Boots: Zara (old)

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Hello Autumn!

Well, let's face it - summer is well and truly over in the UK *sob*! In fact, it feels like we completely skipped autumn and found ourselves bang in the middle of winter, considering the temperature has just plummeted and we've been dealing with constant grey skies and torrential rain. As soon at we flipped our calendars over to September, it just seemed like the weather took a turn for the worse. I suppose after being gifted a gorgeous, sunny August bank holiday by Mother Nature, we should expect no less than to pay it off with an awful September.

There's something about September that I see as the start of a new year, despite it being the ninth month of the calendar year. It's the beginning a of a new season that will see the air getting chillier and the nights getting longer, but I also suppose it stems from going back to school and university after a long summer break and starting afresh with new stationery, new clothes and most importantly - a new bag!

To help my wardrobe transition for the winter, Kipling treated me to one of their new 'Superwork' bags, which is the perfect work and travel bag. I don't think I've ever seen a bag with so many compartments before, including one specifically designed for a 15-inch laptop. It also has a pretty large front pocket too, as well as a phone holder, pen holder, umbrella compartment, wallet pouch and so much more. It's quite deceiving just how much you can actually fit into this one bag, which makes it perfect for travelling when you're flying with hand luggage only. It's easily the most *sensible* and practical bag I've ever owned in my life and in all honesty, it's a revelation!

Jacket: Charity Shop

Dress: Oliver Bonas via Charity Shop

Bag*: Kipling

Boots: Missguided

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The Most Budget Friendly Canal Cruise in Amsterdam

I've been to Amsterdam more times than I can count over the past few years and one of the first things I recommend to anyone visiting for the first time is to take a canal cruise through the city centre. Walking around the Amsterdam central you'll find tons of different companies and tours being advertised along the canals and it can be a little overwhelming deciding upon which boat to jump on and usually most people will opt for the first one they see.

Over the course of my first few visits to the Dutch capital, I didn't actually step foot on a boat because the typically crowded, glass-roofed boats with benches that seat nearly 100 people never appealed to me. There just seems to be something a little impersonal about the experience and I can only imagine how dreadful that glass top must be in the summer months! However, last year whilst taking an afternoon stroll through the Red Light District, James and I chanced upon a boat that boasted a huge sign that read: "BOAT TOUR - UNLIMITED DRINKS - €15". Well, we were sold as soon as we read those two beautiful words pieced together like a piece of fine poetry, "unlimited drinks".

Boat Amsterdam canal cruises run every thirty minutes between 11:30 - 22:00 and pick up from Oudezijds Voorburgwal 30, in front of the brewery named 'De Prael'. We enjoyed our experience with Boat Amsterdam so much last year that we decided to sail with them again during our trip this summer too! You don't have to pre-book your tour, but simply turn up and you'll find a host standing beside the canal outside of the brewery who will let you know when the next available boat will be arriving. The boats themselves are incredibly comfortable as the seats are lined with cushions and blankets, and if you're early enough, you can nab the seats right at the front of the boat like I managed to on our most recent trip; being at the front also means you get to take advantage of the perfect photo opportunities.

The tours themselves may not be as thorough as some of the bigger, impersonal boats with a voiceover, but the hosts do give you some snippets and fun facts about the sights you pass en route and because there are fewer people per tour, you have the opportunity to ask any questions about the sights. The whole round trip lasts approximately an hour and takes you through the canals in the centre of the city and there's nothing quite like looking up at the heightened, beautiful architecture Amsterdam from below street level.

The drinks on offer include cans of Heineken, a selection of wines and some soft drinks. However, when we first sailed with Boat Amsterdam last November, there was even some warming glühwein on board, which was perfect in the chillier weather. If you've visited Amsterdam before, you'll know it's quite expensive to drink in the city centre (approximately the equivalent to £5 a pint, so similar to London pricing), so an entire canal tour with unlimited drinks for just €15 is a bit of a bargain! I mean when I see 'unlimited drinks', I take it as a bit of a challenge and I manage to drink 4 - 6 beverages within the hour whilst onboard.

If you need any more information regarding Boat Amsterdam or want to take a look at their timetable, then you can do so here.

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'Rave with Rennie' at Notting Hill Carnival*

Despite having grown up in London, I had never, ever visited Notting Hill Carnival before. It's not that I ever didn't want to go (in fact, quite the opposite), but I was always either working or away during the bank holiday weekend when it's held. However, this year, for the first time I dragged myself along to the west end of London on the bank holiday Monday (a few hours after landing in Luton from a weekend in Amsterdam, I'll have you know) and experienced the carnival in all its glory for the first time ever!

Granted, I was absolutely exhausted after an early morning flight and a long weekend drinking in the Dutch capital but we still had an absolutely incredible time roaming the streets in the sunshine! We were incredibly lucky that the sun actually decided to show its face for August bank holiday as the weather is usually notoriously bad, but not this year - hurrah!

Notting Hill Carnival is an annual event that has been celebrated since the 60s and attracts around two million people every single year. It's a celebration of the capital's Caribbean communities, focused on their culture and traditions. The streets of W10 come absolutely alive during carnival as they're filled with people dancing, drinking and eating. There are static sound systems and stages blasting out music around the streets whilst crowds gather in front dancing and partying the day away into the late evening. NHC also hosts its own parade, which weaves its way throughout the streets as a sea of colour and music, but unfortunately we arrived a little too late to catch it in action.

My favourite part of the day (and my favourite part of most days in general) was the incredible Caribbean food that was on offer around the carnival. Initially I was worried about the amount of vegetarian options there would be as NHC is well known for its famous jerk chicken, but I had no need to worry as there were plenty of stalls offering up plenty of veggie options. There are literally stalls upon stalls of street food to choose from (including vegan pancakes - HELLO!), but I ended up opting for an uhhh-mazing vegetable curry with traditional rice and peas, plus a helping of coleslaw. Although, it was absolutely delicious and I have no regrets whatsoever in my decision to inhale it in under five minutes, the indulgent spicy feast did lead to a bit of an uncomfortable stomach. Luckily, having a packet of Rennie to hand in my bag eased my uncomfortable bloating or trapped wind, which meant I could carry on drinking and dancing uninterrupted. If you're ever at a festival or party, sometimes you can't pre-plan what you'll be eating and it can cause an upset tummy, which can totally dampen your experience. A packet of Rennie is now one of my top festival essentials, so I can continue to eat as much delicious food in between partying as possible.

Although my first Notting Hill Carnival experience was brief due to our exhaustion, it was wonderful and the atmosphere was electric! I've already decided that if I'm not on holiday over next year's bank holiday, I'll be dedicating my entire weekend to Notting Hill Carnival!

Have you been to Notting Hill Carnival before?

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Disclaimer: This post was sponsored by Rennie, but all words and opinions are my own.

10

Pup Aid Dog Show 2017

Yesterday, I attended the annual Pup Aid dog show and festival at Primrose Hill in London, and I had such a lovely day petting and cuddling all of the pooches that I wanted to share the photos on my blog with you all. I mean, what could be better than a blog post that is literally full of beautiful doggos?! Not much!

I've come to the decision that I would now like to pursue my dream job of becoming a dogographer, because what possible better career path could there be than photographing pups 9 - 5?

Although, a day of hanging out with hundreds upon hundreds of canine pals was pretty wonderful, there was still an important message behind the fun and the frolics that Pup Aid works tirelessly to spread and is something that I also feel very strongly about; the fight against cruel puppy farming. The day is run by a group of dog-loving volunteers who have built an annual celebration of all things dog-related to bring dog owners and lovers (and the dog broody, like me) alike together, but to also publicly spread awareness about the issue. Their main aim is educate as much of the British public as possible about the correct and most ethical way of bringing a new dog into their home, whether it be by rescuing or via a reputable breeder.

Rescue centres are literally overflowing with unwanted dogs who are patiently waiting on their forever homes, and I will always push people to consider rescuing a dog and giving them a second chance at life. We've fostered, rescued and rehomed dogs from our family home and it's utterly heartbreaking knowing that not all dogs out there have that same second chance.

Pup Aid have put together a few quick points on how to avoid buying from a puppy farm and what to look out for:

- Only buy a puppy if you can see it interacting with its mum: Puppy farms tend to separate the pups from their mums at a very young age as the mum is usually miles away on the puppy farm, whilst the pups are taken straight out to sell. Be wary if you're told the mum is sick, at the vet's or basically anywhere else as puppy farmers will come up with any excuse as to why the mum isn't by the pup's side.

- Only buy a puppy if it's a breeder recommended by the Kennel Club (preferably an 'Assured Breeder').

- Only rescue a puppy that's from a registered rescue centre or charity.

- Be suspicious if the price of the puppy is very cheap (£100 - £350) or very expensive (£2000+)

- Never buy puppies that are sold in pet shops or garden centres as these are usually from puppy farms.

If you are intending on welcoming a puppy into your home in the near future, then please do have a little look at the Pup Aid website, which is full of information on how to purchase a pup properly.

In the meantime please enjoy these photos of some of the gorgeous boys and girls we met at Pup Aid's Primrose Hill Dog Show. If you're not dog broody just yet, then you definitely will be after scrolling through these photos.

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