HOW TO | LONG-DISTANT FRIENDSHIPS

I'm sure any adult probably has a long-term friendship, whether you've moved away or they have here's some of my tips on not letting the distance get in the way. 

I have a few long-term friendships and sometimes it can be hard, no more spontaneous nights out every weekend, no more just popping to see them for an hour, it now has to be an event thats planned into your diaries. 

One of my New Years goals in 2018 was to spend more time on my family and friends, I think I'm good at putting aside time for friends and family because whenever I have time off work I can't sit still anyway - but I still wanted to put aside more time regularly to see them. 

It's all a bit of give and take, here and there. You need to put in to expect some back in my opinion - so my first tip is: 

Take Turns:

It's a lot easier, fairer and more fun when you take it in turns to make the effort to visit. Recently my best friend from University moved closer to me for her job, and she actually lives about 30 minutes from where I work (which is still about 1hr 30 from my house). We do this really well, we take turns to see each other and we are both so chill about it. Somehow without making it a thing it became a thing that pretty much naturally we take it in turns to drive or travel to each other. She surprised me on my Birthday with a trip to Birmingham to see me, and then recently last weekend I went to visit her in Leicester! 

Be understanding:

It can be hard to always travel, and sometimes it can be expensive. Be understanding if they can't get it off work, or if they can't afford it. After all they're your friend, and if you mean that much to each other you'll rearrange!

Do something different:

While going on a night out is great and chilling in the house drinking wine and eating 'picky tea' (a tea consisting of various little foods that you eat with your hands - my friends prefer crisps, cheese, bread, nachos yum) a good way of making the visit seem longer and more full is to plan something to do or go. My family have a lovely static caravan in Wales and it is so lovely to go and have time away up there with friends. Me and my friendship group I grew up with went there a while back and made a weekend out of it and now it will always be remembered! 

NO PRESSURE:

Don't put so much pressure on each other to press conversation every day, just because you don't talk as much as you used to when you lived closer doesn't mean your friendship is flaking! You're all busy, tag them in a cheeky meme or two, send them something funny. Instead of just liking their Instagrams message them quickly and ask them about what they did today - but don't be worried if you don't always speak! Chill. 

Have fun:

Self explanatory really... but you don't get much time with these girls (or boys) but have fun. You can have your moan and be natural but just make sure you have fun. Don't waste the time you have because you WILL regret it - trust. Ask them questions about their life, GET OFF YOUR PHONE (Instagram boomerangs of wine dates allowed obvs) but be interested and be completely present! Take photos together and make memories!

I have a fair few of long distant friends so you could call me a professional at this - but honestly these are things i've learnt throughout the years and now I've never been more happier and felt more comfortable with my long-distance friendships. I love them all...but they know that ;)

6 THINGS TO DO AND SEE IN AMSTERDAM

In March me and my house mate went on a short trip to Amsterdam, I bought him the flights for Christmas and decided to only go for 2 nights, meaning we actually only got to spend one full day there and which meant I didn't have to take any holiday at work (cheeky) - we stayed in an Air BnB apartment which turned out to be perfect, it was small but was really great for us.

In the time we were there we managed to fit in quite a few things so heres a few that I definitely recommend.

ONE - Visit the sex museum, best thing about going here was that my house mate was so into all the photographs and  exhibits, and I was just there like laughing at everything. It's a good crack to be fair!

TWO - Take a walk down Damrak Road, this is the road where the sex museum is and you will come across some cute cafe shops, and walk all the way to the monument and there are shops you can go in and a big square, theres always loads of birds and if you have food they will literally come and sit on you. When you walk down there is usually little stalls on the way selling things, and ice cream/desert shops.

THREE - Go to Hennekes Boom, its a super cool spot where they have a cafe/bar on the canal front. It was nice and busy on a Monday night even, and we were able to sit outside by the water with huge glasses of beer and nachos for a snack and an amazing view of NEMO Science Museum at night. Then we went inside when it was later, and it was a lovely warm atmosphere!

FOUR - Take a walk up the canals opposite Damrak, there are loads of bars and cafes where you can sit on the canal side, there are also loads of places for you to be able to sit on the walls of the canal which if it is nice weather is really nice and usually quite busy! 

FIVE - We went out clubbing the one night, my house mate is Gay and he wanted to check out a well known bar called Pub Soho, he dragged me all the way there for it to be CLOSED! Luckily there was a few good spots opposite that were open and looked busy, we went to a little cafe/bar which I can't remember what it was called, purely because we only went there to feed my belly before we moved on over to Taboo a bar next door - it was small but it was a great atmosphere, it was busy even for a Tuesday night, and everyone was friendly we ended up making a couple friends who then told us to come to another club with them. I believe it was Club NYX, although by this time I was drunk enough to get into a dance off with random people on the dance floor so it could've been called something else, but it is a couple doors down and opposite side from the taboo bar so can't be hard to find. Really good pubs, with great people and not too bad for prices either! 

SIX - One thing we didn't do but we really wanted to do, was rent a bike while we were there. Everyone gets around on bikes, theres even car parks especially for bikes! As well as a roads/underpasses for bikes too! It's pretty cool, but we just didn't have time. There was also options to go on little canal boat tours, which also looked good and wasn't too expensive but again we didn't have enough time! 

You defiantly need more time than we had in Amsterdam, while it is a city holiday essentially it's so chilled and a cool atmosphere. Very different vibes to London and Birmingham! 

Overall, Amsterdam was a massive shout!