Georgina Does

A very fun February

2026-03-06T06:49:00.000-08:00

At the start of this year, I decided that I wanted to expand my life a little. Things had gotten a bit samey, and I wanted to break the monotony; try new experiences, learn new things, and meet new people. My plan worked! Four weekends and four fun, new adventures. February was packed full of activity, and I had a great time - which would you try?

Afternoon Tea

Ok, this one wasn’t completely new for me, but it was for my (American) friend Paige who I took along with me! I love being able to introduce people to new experiences so I very much enjoyed this, whilst laughing at her trying to eat a scone like a sandwich.

What was new for me, was doing it drunk. Having not seen each other since our respective trips abroad over Christmas, we decided to go for the champagne option and spent the afternoon catching up on each other’s drama over tea and tiny sandwiches.

Lemon Meringue Pie Masterclass

This was such a unique event, I'm very glad I got to experience it. I spent the morning in Shoreditch constructing my very own version of Gloria's massive 8” lemon meringue pie at a class in their wine room. After handing out all but one slice to everyone who would take some, I’m three days in and it is still going strong! I really enjoyed the whole format of this LOTI class, so I’m hoping there’ll be some more that catch my eye over the next few months. (spoiler: I've already booked 3 more)

I wrote a full post on this if you’d like to read more about it.

Floating sound bath at The Mandarin Oriental

I've done the odd sound bath before. The first time I did it, was in Australia and I had a bit of a strange out of body experience so I've been interested in these types of experience since then, but always on solid floor until now.

Keen to try a floating sound bath, I booked one at the new Mandarin Oriental in Mayfair which included four hours of spa access after the session. It was a really wonderful experience, regardless of the crying it triggered, and I look forward to doing it again.

Matcha Masterclass

As someone who drinks matcha laced with milk and sugar, it was really interesting to do a matcha masterclass and get to experience it in its purest form - before lacing it with sugar and milk. I learnt a lot, met some great people and I got to try making my favourite drink from scratch.

Other February highlights include:

The sun finally came out so I spent a lot of time enjoying it by the river.

I got gifted a lava lamp which was very exciting.

Went to the Science museum.

Celebrated Chinese New Year in Mayfair & Soho

Visited 2 rooftop bars (it's been a long winter!!)

Got roses on Valentines Day

Tried sunset yoga

Matcha Masterclass with Tea PArlour

2026-02-23T07:24:00.000-08:00

I've been searching out my favourite foods and making it my business to learn more about how they're made, where they come from etc so this weeks solo adventure was a matcha masterclass.

Chat gpt suggested “your readers already know you’re a matcha girly” and matcha girly I am. I first became part of the cult in 2023, when I insisted that all of my un-foodie friends, came to Taste of London (the food festival) with me. We stopped at the Blank Street stand (little did we know) which was practically unknown at the time, but they were playing very loud EDM and we were there for an absolute age just vibing and chatting to the guys running the stand. I had quite a few mutual friends with one of them, who I later discovered one of the founders of PerfectTed, who are supplying most places (blank street included) with their matcha nowadays. Anyway, whilst we were there, they were handing out cups of this new drink and we were all hooked from that point on.

Fast forward three years and with the amount of matcha I now drink, I thought it'd be interesting to learn a bit more about it and try it in a purer, less sugar spiked form. After a quick google I found Tea Parlour, which according to their website, serve London’s best ceremonial-grade matcha, sourced from Uji, Kyoto. Seemed pretty specialist to me.

Just behind Leicester Square, they hold similar events in store every few weeks, an hour before opening.

This was a better class for people on their one than my last! The couples positioned themselves at one end of the table and at the other end, there were 5 of us on our own which was great and meant a lot more chatting and social interaction.

Yay, my plan worked!

We started by trying three different types of matcha, each with different characteristics as a results of where they were grown. Each were different grades which I was most interested to understand more about, turns out I couldn't tell the difference. I learnt 100% Japanese matcha is becoming less and less common as growers are having to mix it with Chinese grown to meet demand and clearly, most people, like me, don't notice the difference.

After inspecting their colours and tastes, we learnt about the best ratios of hot water to bring out the flavours and how to correctly use a chasen (the wooden whisk.)

Once whisked to perfection, we lined our plastic cups with whatever syrups we wanted. I went for strawberry, (although my usual order is vanilla,) filled it with ice, milk (coconut) and then carefully poured the matcha on top to get that very satisfying separation of colours.

It was a delicious matcha if ever I've tasted one, although it definitely wasn’t as sweet as I’m used to which showed me just how much syrup goes into my usual order.

Regardless, I left feeling a little bit more knowledgeable about something I consume daily, and having had a nice chat with some friendly strangers so it was a success if you ask me!

Lemon meringue pie masterclass at Gloria, Shoreditch

2026-02-18T06:12:00.000-08:00

I have decided this year is going to be more fun than last, particularly my alone time. I have been signing up for all sorts of new things and this weekend, I kicked it off with a lemon meringue pie masterclass. Fun!

Although this was not just any lemon meringue pie. It was Big Mamma’s very extra, lemon meringue pie.

Gloria was Big Mamma’s first London restaurant which opened in East London in 2019. After taking over the London restaurant scene with their theatrical Italian dining rooms and OTT dishes, there are now six spots scattered across the city, with the newest recently opening in Canary Wharf.

I first spotted their famous lemon meringue pies all over Instagram during lockdown. Gloria is in East London, so I was ecstatic when they finally opened a dark kitchen serving SW London. With pizza, pasta, and pie in my basket, I expected a toned down, transport friendly version to arrive so you can image my joy when the Napoli gang delivered our food, with a sheet of stickers, and a plastic pint glass with a perfectly preserved slice of their 8” pie inside.

I don’t go to east London very often but now that I can freely travel across London again, I was happy to oblige for this. The district line was doing its usual Sunday thing, so I caught a bus to Clapham and got in the northern line direct to Shoreditch. Surprisingly more convenient actually.

Starting with a cup of tea and one of their giant cocktails, (I went for alcohol free since I didn’t need to spend Sunday morning drinking alone) we took our seats (me, between two couples) in the wine room.

Chef took us through the processes for each stage from the dough to the curd and then the meringue. We were lucky to have a bit of a know it all in the group. He was asking some very detailed and complex questions, which means I know far more than the average person about the protein content of different types of flour.

Soon, the aroma of freshly baked dough filled the room, and we were each handed a pie crust as multiple vats of different mixtures appeared from the kitchen downstairs. It was time to get to work on constricting our own pies.

My favourite stage was definitely the meringue. Filling the base with zesty curd required smooth precision but when it came to the meringue, chef demonstrated, gabbing handfuls of it and pretty much dumping it on top and pressing it down to fill any air bubbles. With the texture of sticky, but slightly more stable shaving foam, I was grinning like a kid once I got stuck in.

A real glimmer of joy on a rainy Sunday morning; and that’s what we’re chasing.

Adamant that it wasn't going to be wonky, I did also enjoy taking off my gloves and returning to the world of adult, smoothing it out with the palette knife afterwards.

Once we were happy with the shape, we took to torching our pies, one at a time, in front of everyone. Probably more of a health and safety measure - giant cocktails, small room filled with wine etc! The biggest challenge of the day, however, was getting it home on the tube afterwards.

If the rest of my solo adventurers look like this, I’ll be very happy!

This class cost £25 which was amazing value for money and was an exclusive event for LOTI members. Highly recommend! I signed up a week ago and have already made very good use of it.

Bali Highlights

2026-01-12T07:11:00.000-08:00

And with that, another Bali trip comes to an end. I worked out that my recent Christmas visit was my 7th trip to Bali and I'm still not quite bored of it yet. Here were this times highlights:

The White Palm Boutique Hotel

Three of the four hotels I stayed at were amazing but the room at The White Palm particularly stands out as a favourite. It's a small boutique hotel with just a few rooms bordering a pool. The aesthetic was very black and white which is right p my street and the rooms themselves were super simple and very clean. I was upgraded to the suite which had a lot more space and added a lot to my overall enjoyment of the place! Sadly, there was construction next door so whilst the room was perfect for outside the hours of 9-5, spending time by there pool was a no go as not only way it loud, but it was very overlooked by the builders.

Lazy pool days

I didn't let that stop me enjoying my pool days however. I love to swim whilst I'm on holiday, and that was all I really wanted out of this trip so I spent most of my days lazing around the pool at the previous hotel I'd stayed at which was a 3 minute walk away.

It was more of a traditional, island resort type place with two pools and a restaurant so I picked my favourite of the two and set up on a shady sun lounger. Between swimming, sleeping, reading and drinking one iced tea after another, whole days disappeared.

Hiring a photographer

This was a case of serendipity I think, because usually I really enjoy taking my own photos on holiday, but this time around, I just couldn't be bothered.

The first hotel I stayed at offered a free photographer session and I was really happy with the outcome. A week later when I realised I hadn't taken any holiday photos, I reached out and asked if she'd come to my new location and take some photos for me.

The results was a fun afternoon activity, and some great, professional looking memories!

Spring Spa

I usually like to find new, niche salons and I did a couple this time around but often, I'm disappointed so I've realised that sometimes, it's best stick with what you know.

Spring Spa is a popular chain in both Bali and NZ and have never failed me before. They'd opened a new location in Bingin since my last visit so I got the benefit of trying somewhere new paired with the quality I have come to expect from them.

I booked in for a reflexology session on my penultimate day and it was great. I had a male therapist and his thumbs were so strong. After a bit of research, I now understand why I enjoy reflexology so much - it's all about nervous system regulation. Fine, makes sense. Anyway, it was so good that I went back the next day for another half hour on my feet and a wonderful facial just before I left for the airport. I'll definitely be doing that again next time.

Flight upgrade

I was adamant that I was going to fly business at some point on this trip and it was a definite highlight; of the year, not just the trip. I've flown upper classes before but I was so proud of myself for the first business class flight I had bought for myself.

Ice tea

I get hyper fixated on food in Bali. In the past it's been smoothie bowls, but this time around, it was iced tea. You never know what you're going to get when your order an ice tea in Indonesia, sometimes it'd get sugary, sweet milk tea, other times it was refreshing lemon iced tea and quite often it tasted like jasmine. I'm not quire sure what that one was but either way. I enjoy them very much.

Yoga Class

I did three yoga classes whilst I was away and I probably would have done a couple more if I felt like my back could handle it. My favourite class was Morning Light Yoga at Uluwatu surf villas. Their open air shala was overlooking the ocean and surrounded by palm trees which meant gentle stretching to the sound of the waves!

Jetlag

2026-01-12T05:12:00.000-08:00

I'm back from my trip to Bali and jetlag has been kicking my butt this week.

I always struggle with it, but this time was bad. Coming back to dark, snowy London probably didn't help and of course forgetting to eat (something I've been doing over and over) makes everything worse. That being said, going away for Christmas was one of the best ideas I've ever had so I won't let it put me off.

With all the Christmas and New Year holidays, it worked out that I had five days to recover before life officially started again in 2026 but we're almost two weeks down and I'm only just starting to feel normal again.

My biggest learning is this: upon return, I was completely out of whack on my day to day routines. Working from bed, afternoon naps and random headaches; but I'm taking this self awareness as a good thing. Before my trip, I was understanding more and more how important my routines are so this experience has simply reinforced that. With this knowledge, I've been making an effort to listen to my body and do all the little things I know will help.

I did a big food shop yesterday and have been making sure to eat breakfast before 10am. I took a couple of mornings off of work which really helped and have made sure to get out of the house at least once a day, even if its cold. Yoga on Sundays, Volunteering on Wednesday and Therapy on Thursdays. Slowly but surely, I feel like I'm coming back to life!

Volunteering with Age UK

2025-12-01T07:09:00.000-08:00

In an effort to expand my life and do something good, I decided to sign up for some volunteering.

"Age UK offers a Telephone Friendship service that connects older individuals with volunteers for regular phone calls, helping to combat loneliness and social isolation."

I'm only four calls in but I've just put down the phone for this weeks call and felt a genuine glimmer of happiness. I signed up to do something good for someone else, but it's been really good for me too - more than I'd have ever expected.

A lot of the old structure of my life has fallen away recently and whilst spending a lot of time soul searching, I’ve realised that connection is at the centre of who I am. Meeting new people, listening to their stories, understanding their feelings and their emotions; it's all I want out of life at the moment, and in doing this, I've gained a very wholesome, new connection.

The application process was very simple. Just a few questions and some online training. I was a little bit nervous before our first call and had written a list of conversations starters but I needn't have bothered. Steve and I got paired up because we have a lot in common so the conversation flows easily. We have already bonded over our love of food, plus he is full of useful advice for me.

This tiny routine with someone I’ve never met has given me a little anchor to base my week around. It's one of few things that allows me to escape from my day. Particularly as my phone is at my ear so I can't mindlessly scroll. Instead I’m fully in the moment, invested in someone else’s world for half an hour.

I don’t know how long we’ll be telephone friends for, but while it lasts, I’m enjoying every call.

Pottery Painting at Phresh, Battersea

2025-09-08T04:03:00.000-07:00

Having made it my mission to expand all areas of my life, I've been researching wholesome, fun things to do with my time.

I realised I get a lot of relief from just being creative at home, scrap booking, knitting, whatever it is so my search started with looking for local creative hubs; and I quickly came across pHresh.

Run by friendly mother and daughter duo, the cafe itself is a peaceful, healthy haven on Lavender Hill in Battersea. I assumed was just a juice bar at first glance but it seems they now have a creative arm next door in the form of a very cute little pottery cafe.

Offering everything from candle holders to plates, the pottery room is full of natural light which is perfect for painting. They'd just had a delivery of new ceramic pieces and had a lot of things I'd not seen before which was fun, we took a long time to decide what we wanted to paint. I went for a classic bowl in the end but it seems the cute little honey pot is their most popular piece at the moment. Someone else picked one up whilst we were there!

My mum used to take me to these pottery cafes all the time as a child so not only was it peaceful and quite therapeutic but also very nostalgic.

I also loved that they had stencils, stamps and other tools dotted around so there were lots of options. Mimi went with one of the stencils whilst I took a risk and went freehand with a pencil, a paintbrush - and many screenshots of inspiration I'd found online.

By the time we'd looked up to take a breath, we had been there for two and a half hours! It was such a lovely way to spend a Saturday morning and I was both please and incredibly surprised that it came out looking how I'd have hoped.

Now just to wait for them to glaze and fire it before I get to see the end result!

Learning how to be alone

2025-08-27T06:02:00.000-07:00

Bank holidays have always terrified me, it’s sad but it’s true. I remember being in a relationship when I was much younger and crying every time one came around because we never did anything fun, it would just be another boring day. Worse than that, being single altogether on a bank holiday - the thought was just terrifying. I had that ahead of me last week. My first single bank holiday in over a year.

I've put a lot of mental work into this breakup. Analysing what went wrong and why, seeing multiple therapists and journalling every day but this time, I've also started to focus on putting effort into rebuilding myself - which is the step I always miss. Having had a wonderful bank holiday weekend, just flitting around, doing normal life, I think it’s actually been working.

Friday night I was a little worried. I know I’m worst in the mornings and have realised if I don’t have something to get up for, I’ll lay in bed and just get more and more depressed as the hours pass so the night before, I found a yoga class and decided I’d have to go to that, even though I really didn’t want to, at least it'd get me out of bed. But then I thought a little harder about what would really make me happy.

I realised I haven’t had a pedicure since leaving because I would never even have thought to treat myself to something like that. I went from monthly pedicures courtesy of my boyfriend to breaking up and reluctantly painting my own toes because I didn’t think I was worth spending £15 on. Well, I decided that I was, in fact worth spending £15 on. I booked myself in the next morning and spent the rest of the weekend absolutely elated that my toes looked so pretty. What a mindset shift!

This weekend really reminded me how much I love where I live and how pleased I am for dragging myself through hell and back to be here. On one of the days, I popped to the park, the riverside and home three or four times and thought nothing of it because it was only a couple of minutes walking each time. The big supermarket is five minutes away, there are places to skate everywhere and Wandsworth Park has been my happy place since I first visited it.

I went for a walk along the river one afternoon, skated at my favourite spot on another and made the effort to join a Facebook girls group for drinks one evening. I wasn’t really in the mood for it but I know how important finding a new group of friends is for me at the moment, so I made the effort to join.

I bought myself a bunch of flowers at the supermarket, although this is something I've been doing now since I've moved out and it really lifts my mood. I didn’t realise just how little I thought of myself until the last couple of months. It really has been a revelation and goes quite a long way in explaining why I feel so low so often.

One other thing I saw a huge improvement on was how I dealt with plans changing. Often I have a total meltdown if plans change, particularly if it was something like this time when it was a whole day activity and I had nothing to fall back on - but it was one of my favourite days. When my afternoon plan got changed, I grabbed a blanket, my headphones, and a book (trying - and failing - to get into reading. First step - take book with you) and headed back to the park. Within a couple of minutes, I’d bumped into my friend walking his dog. We ended up getting some takeaway wine from the mini golf hut and spent the whole afternoon drinking in the sunshine. It was awesome.

Choosing myself again and again is hard, especially when I didn’t even know I hadn't been doing it for the last 32 years. But a whole weekend of self-aware choices added up and seems to have made an impact. This bank holiday felt like a milestone. I’m slowly building something I should have started working on years ago, and this weekend is proof, maybe, that I can create happiness for myself in ways I never used to believe I could.

South Coast Staycation

2025-08-26T02:00:00.000-07:00

With the weather hitting late teens back in March, we wasted no time in deciding to head down to the coast. After a well remembered overnight charge for the car, at 9 am on Saturday morning, we hopped in and headed south.

It was still a little overcast when we arrived, but warm enough to sit out and enjoy breakfast on the seafront. Breakfast breakfasts and tea for two cost less than £20 - one of the few benefits of leaving London. Being at the seaside is so peaceful, I really enjoyed just slowing down a little bit.

As the clouds cleared and the sun peeked through, we wandered down to the beach and made our way to the pier.

My penny machine skills are yet to fail me, I won 3 key rings and spent the rest of my change on an ice cream. A must by the seaside; always mint choc chip with a flake.

After that it was just about time to check in & we seemed to have booked the nicest hotel room in Eastbourne, the studio apartment at The Port hotel.

Dan went off to his car race that evening so once he left, I took myself for a walk to find some food - I was very tempted by the local Chinese but decided I probably wouldn't thank myself in the morning so instead went to the supermarket in search of girl dinner.

I spent a good hour or two by the big bay windows in the room, eating, journalling and watching the sun go down over the sea before making full use of the massive freestanding bath (with bubbles, obviously).

The next morning we did a little section of the Seven Sisters hike along the cliffs in search of a red and white striped lighthouse. Success.

ad then headed home via Brighton, spending the afternoon lazing by the Soho house pool.

Four SW London Spas for a rainy day

2025-08-20T04:22:00.000-07:00

For a long time, I could never justify going to a spa in London. Possibly for a special occasion; a birthday, an anniversary, but it’s expensive and somehow it made more sense to wait for my twice yearly trips to Bali.

More recently though, things have changed. Or maybe I’ve changed. I've started to understand the importance of self care; not just in terms of the act of a massage, but more the fact of me, being 'worth it.' Worth the time, worth the money, worth the effort to make my life easier, happier, whatever it is.

If I pay for a gym for my body, and therapy for my mind, then why shouldn’t I invest in something that soothes the soul every now and then too?

We’ve had a good run of sunshine lately, but when a rainy Saturday rolled around, I found myself heading to a spa. It was the perfect way to spend the day and the rain makes it all the more Bali reminiscent!

So I thought I’d share a few places I’ve discovered recently. Here are four spas in South West London that are perfect for a rainy day, a tough week, or a much-needed moment of peace.

Spa and Massage - Various Locations

If you're looking for a consistently good massages in London, then Spa & Massage have spots all over - I've been to a couple now.

They all seem to be just another store on the high street, somewhere you'd walk past a hundred times but as soon as stepped foot inside, even just the reception area, I was transported away from the hustle and bustle on the street and into the serenity that was to follow with incense sticks, calming music and warm tea from the get go.

I've been to both Chiswick and Bayswater now and you are able to book by therapist which is great if you have a favourite; although each new person I've encountered have all been very good. My most recent session, was a deep tissue massage with Roxy at the Bayswater branch, which I booked in as a per birthday treat (guilty) and it was the perfect start to my relaxing weekend.

They always have amazing deals, so I'd recommend signing up for their newsletter and keeping an eye out for promotions.

Silver Moon - Various Locations

I am hugely into reflexology and spend a lot of time having my feet rubbed, cracked and pressure pointed when I am in Bali. I find you don't quite get the same intensity from reflexology in the UK and often it's just a foot massage by another name - but I've actually found two very good places recently.

The first one is called Silver Moon Therapies.

Louise works out of Clapham & Chelsea and I visited her at Reflexions on the Kings Road. I arrived mid breakdown (other people have public meltdowns sometimes too right?) and the staff there were so lovely. They took me into a private room, which I had not booked or paid for, and calmed me down before my very relaxing treatment started. I felt at ease right away and got the deep reflexology session I was after. What I also really enjoyed about this was the explanation afterwards, Louise talked about what she could tell from the way my feet interacted with her. Fascinating.

Chanle - Nine Elms

This is the second reflexology place I mentioned. It's just opened on the ground floor of one of the high rises in Nine Elms and the facilities are spotless.

They sat me down in a big armchair with a built-in foot bath which was filled with petals and Chinese medicinal herbs.

It's not often I get a male therapist but I am always so impressed when I do. This guy in particular had such a firm hand. I wanted deep pressure points and stronger thumbs - and he did not disappoint.

Yue Float - Wandsworth

Sensory depreciation pods. They sound terrifying but actually it's one of the most peaceful and serene experiences I've ever had.

Just off of Wandsworth roundabout you'll find Yue float, and independent wellness centre that does saunas, massages and the pods.

They have two pods, each in a private room with a shower, complete with products and waterproof earplugs. You lock the door, turn off the lights and lower yourself into the salty, body temperature water, closing the lid if you're brave enough. Once you're settled, the lights go off, the music goes off and you spend the next 50 minutes, floating in silence.

As someone who spends a lot of time scrolling and often fills every moment with activity, I really enjoyed this time to think, properly, and totally undisturbed for an hour. Leaving afterwards, I felt at ease, slow and peaceful. And my hair was super soft from the salt. If you're looking for something different to try, it's definitely worth a go.

Five problems we encountered on the road

2025-06-19T01:44:00.000-07:00

Road trips, I think like a backpacking trip, have so many moving parts that there is way more opportunity to encounter problems than on a traditional, beach hotel holiday.

Solving them however, is all part of the fun!

Here are five problems we encountered on our latest road trip:

Road Closures

Whilst we were in California, both the Tioga Pass and Big Sur were closed due to ‘seasonal conditions’ and landslides. These are two iconic tourist routes so they were both on our original plan. Luckily, we had done our research so were able to substitute Yosemite with Lake Tahoe and still make it work but this could have been disastrous if not. Some areas of California are so remote that a single road closure can add hours to your drive.

Car issues

Our car was really great but since Turo cars are personal vehicles, they aren’t always freshly serviced like standard rental cars. We quickly realised that one of the tires had some kind of puncture which was affecting the air pressure. Most days, we were able to easily pump it up at a gas station but there was one morning, in Mammoth, where we went from one gas station to another and all of their air pumps were out of order. The tire was getting flatter and flatter as we were driving around searching and in the end, we had to take it into a garage. Dan was getting very stressed.

When we got to LA, our Turo host very quickly sent someone to properly fix the problem.

Restaurants shutting early

We really enjoyed the driving days so often, they were quite long. We’d usually arrive at our accommodation for the evening at around 6pm, get settled, shower and then head out. In the bigger cities, this was fine but in more often than not, in the smaller, local towns, we struggled to find restaurants that stayed open past 8:30. It was really quite odd and left us with very little choice when it came to dinner. In the end we would drive to the restaurant with all our stuff still in the car before checking in and just eat earlier.

Mobile Connection

Large stretches of the Mojave Desert, Route 66, and Death Valley had little to no phone reception. At first, I thought this was an awesome opportunity to be fully present, with only my favourite downloaded songs to listen to but actually, having google maps is quite helpful when you are driving 6 hours though a dessert without another person in sight. To get around this, we set off on our route whilst we had wifi, and just had to hope that the map got us to where we needed to go without any changes or updates.

Driving Times

This seemed to happen last year too but we’d plan our route, Google would say it took 4 hours and somehow it took us 6. I guess when you plot a route, you don’t take into account all the photo stops, wrong turns, toilet breaks and the gas refills. This wasn’t a problem for us, as we were quite casual with bookings but it did mean that we often arrived much later than planned so that is definitely something to keep in mind.

These things all made our trip what it was, so they weren’t necessarily bad, just things to look out for!

My recommendation is to just go with the flow and don’t stress, it’s all part of the adventure!

And usually nothing a little snack wont fix.

USA West Coast Road Trip 2025

2025-06-12T02:38:00.000-07:00

"I hopped off the plane at LAX with a dream and my cardigan."

Sorry, Miley worked her way onto my playlist; much to Dan's disdain, but as a millennial, in Cali, in charge of the music, it kinda just felt right.

I had such a magical time last year that I was eager to get back in the passengers seat. This years road trip was totally different to the East coast however, the wild West had sprawling desserts, worldly wonders and iconic Route 66.

Here's how it went:

Day one - Arriving in America

We arrived at LAX at about 6 pm and after a gruelling customs queue, we were quickly in our Turo and on the way to Barstow.

Our Turo, by the way, was a shiny blue convertible Corvette. Super cool - and very affordable. The app made it so much easier than traditional car rentals. I’ll definitely write a post about our experience with it.

Barstow had no relevance to our trip but it was about as far out of LA in the right direction as we could get after a ten hour flight; although we might have pushed it too far. Arriving just before midnight, and greeted by a cockroach in the bathtub, we were both past caring by that point and just happy to see a bed.

Day Two - Vegas

Things started to get fun the next morning as we started our journey towards Route 66. We packed up and headed to our first American diner, as always, keeping a lookout for checked floors and sticky stools. We found Penny's along the way and I was ecstatic to rediscover an old favourite from the last trip - the sausage patty. It just gets me every time, it’s so American.

After that we were on our way to Vegas, via the Mojave desert.

The only place on Earth where Joshua Trees grow natively, this road was expansive, sandy and barren - and took us for miles without seeing another car. ChatGPT said it’s that classic “middle of nowhere” look and I cant agree more; and it was hot, the kind of heat that makes the road shimmer.

I wanted to go to Vegas, but was already pretty sure that I wasn’t going to be a huge fan, so in an effort to see it, but not spend a whole day, we booked a late afternoon show (The blue man group – great by the way and something Dan had been talking about for ages) which gave us a great excuse to have a drive along the strip, stop for a cocktail and leave after the performance.

Vegas reminded me of Magaluf for grown ups. As suspected, I was overwhelmed by the big streets and the excess of it all. That being said, I’m very pleased to have been able to see it for myself.

We didn’t want to go too far in the wrong direction so our accommodation for the night was a Hipcamp booking. A cute, baby blue caravan, pretty much in the middle of nowhere (somewhere called Jean) but actually, the location was just half an hour away from the strip. It felt like a much more authentic experience than staying in one of the huge hotels.

Day Three - Route 66

Today was a big day. There was no civilisation for hours as we left the camper on our way to the Grand Canyon, only one lonely, dessert Starbucks, which we were very pleased to see. We finally arrived in Kingman, at a colourful but sticky diner for our scheduled sausage patty and scrapbooking session before driving on to the Grand Canyon. There were some much more experienced hiking routes but we walked around the top of the south rim which was super easy and an amazing view.

Leaving the canyon, I’d just found a new American road trip playlist and listening to that whilst the sun set behind the mountains on the way out was quite special.

Route 66 is a bit confusing, because it technically doesn't exist anymore. There were signs everywhere saying we were on Route 66, but Google said we were driving along Interstate 40. It turns out that in 1985, much of it was replaced by Interstate 40, which follows a similar path and was built over sections of the original road.

Arriving in Seligman (the birthplace of the historic route 66) I thought it looked familiar and I was right. Many towns along the original route were devastated because they relied on the traffic and tourism Route 66 brought and that, is the story that inspired Pixar’s Cars. Seligman, was one of the main inspirations for Radiator Springs and being there made my inner child happy. I had recognised it from a cartoon.

We stayed at a classic Route 66 themed motel complete with a big retro sign.

Day Four - Death Valley

We had a particularly nice start to the morning, opening the motel door to 37 degrees and amazing views off the bat. I was also feeling deep about Seligman and Cars, the whole thing made me really happy.

We were backtracking a little bit today. So, on our way back towards Vegas, our first stop was Kingman for another breakfast spot. Sweet tea finally secured; we were then on the way to the hottest recorded place on earth - Death Valley - once hitting 56.7°C (134°F) at Furnace Creek. Toasty.

I was feeling very grateful for my boyfriend today. I think, sat in the car with the roof down and the sun shining, I realised how much I now love a road trip and it dawned on me, I wouldn’t have had this experience without him. I also realised I really like America. I had misconceptions because you see so much of the US from the news, but what I love is not the parts you see on the TV; or the big cities but real, country, natural America.

Anyway, first stop of today's checklist was Red Rock Canyon. A scenic drive around a natural conservation area just outside Vegas.

Then, with the roof down and the big open road ahead of us, on to Death Valley - which true to reputation, hit 105 degree whilst we were there. I was very glad to have stopped off for snacks and water beforehand.

There were lots of points of interest to see in the dessert but with our drive already quite long, we just stopped off on the ones that were on our way - Zebraski point, a surreal viewpoint of unique rock formation, and then Rhyolite, a haunting, little ghost town.

Leaving the dessert a few hours later, we joined an amazing twisty, whimsy road that lead us through a lush mountain valley. We stopped off at a Texas BBQ restaurant and caught up on our scrapbooking before heading to a Motel 6 for a well earned sleep. It was a long, but very fulfilling day.

Day Five – Lake Tahoe

Day five started slowly. Dan had a work call and we spent the morning running around Mammoth looking for somewhere to refill the tyre air. The views had gone from dusty dessert roads to green, mountain resorts overnight. All of a sudden we were driving through forests of lush evergreen trees with beaufitul lake views up into the mountains.

Admittedly, I was the one who wanted to go to Lake Tahoe and I hadn’t done much research but our day turned out to be everything I wanted. Lake Tahoe is an awesome place. It reminded me all the American films set at lake side summer camps! A real parent trap vibe.

We drove to a Google maps recommended viewpoint (Emerald Bay) which was lovely but from there, we could hear water. Hidden off to the side, we spotted a small waterfall that we’d driven over to get to the viewpoint in the first place.

Flowing water is my favourite part of nature, I find it so peaceful and mesmerising, finding this was a very happy accident. It was less waterfall, and more a flowing creek, with big stones, crystal clear water and sunlight flickering through the leaves. Babbling, like a storybook. Funnily enough, our day by the creek last time was one of my favourite and it was the same for this trip.

I accidentally fell in which I was very pleased about, it was a non traumatic fall and meant I got to get in the water guilt free since there was absolutely no good reason for my to soak my one pair of trainers.

After frolicking in the creek, we had another couple of hours to drive before arriving in San Francisco. Not only had we booked a real hotel for the first time but it also happened to have ocean front views. We dropped our stuff off and quickly got changed before strolling down to the pier for a seafood feast at Scomas.

Day Six - San Francisco

Waking up in San Francisco felt like anything was possible, it was the first big city of our trip so we took advantage and ordered uber eats acai bowls to eat on the balcony to start a very busy day.

Our first stop was Alcatraz, this was super interesting and a very easy experience. It’s an all in one ticket and we timed it perfectly so no faffing around, We walked to the pier, bought tickets and hopped on the ferry. Everyone warned me about the weather before we arrive in San Fran but it turned out to be a lovely, sunny day.

The audio tour was really interesting, I found it and the personal stories from inmates fascinating & really could have done another couple hours. Alas, we finished up 40 minutes later, in the gift shop, making sure to pick up a sticker for the scrapbook.

The ferry back, of course was included in the ticket and from there, we walked along the seafront to pick up a couple of e-bikes - refuelling with a street hot dog along the way.

The e-bikes were amazing. They were pretty much skinny motor bikes so I didn’t actually do any cycling but I enjoyed it all the same. Our route took us from the seafront along to Fisherman’s Wharf, across the Golden Gate Bridge and down to the Sausalito on the other side.

It's not the easiest cycle - the bridge particularly is high above the water, and it’s windy but I’d still recommend doing it. It was quite an experience and the views were incredible.

On the other side (Sausalito) we rewarded ourselves with a cocktail and a chower bread bowl at Scoma’s other branch, set on stilts in the water.

The most popular option is to bike into Sausalito, then take the ferry home so that’s exactly what we did afterwards.

Back on the mainland we had to try the cable car - a SF icon. After riding the Powell-Hyde Line end to end, we had time for one last adventure; a Waymo - in simple terms, a self driving car. We’d seen them driving all over the city and were intrigued. The whole process is like grabbing and uber, except the drivers seat is empty. What a cool experience, and yes, I felt safe throughout.

We checked out, hopped back in the car and headed to Half Moon Bay for the night.

Day Seven - Coastal Drive

This was a much slower day. We had a nice slow breakfast, did some scrapbooking and hopped in the car and drove to Cambria. Along the way we stopped at a lighthouse, (and saw a seal!) Carmel beach and Davenport strawberry farm.

Day Eight - Malibu

Day Eight was exciting because we were now on our way to Los Angeles. The route took us along the coast and the ocean views were very special. By lunchtime, we were in Malibu so pulled over for lunch on the pier at Malibu farm. What a dreamy menu, we were finally getting to health conscious America and ordered fresh fish tacos, with avocado, citrus spiked red cabbage and a homemade slaw.

We had booked our next three nights at Soho warehouse in LA, but we arrived to be told that they vacate the pool area every three hours which was a bit of an issue. We had planned to spend the whole of the next day by the pool so ended up booking a new hotel on a whim ad then rushing back to the car to make our way to Paramount Theatre; a drive in movie spot!

Day Nine - Lazy Day

We had finally made it to our lazy day. We woke up at our new hotel, laid in late, had breakfast by the pool and stayed there all day. Keen to explore that evening, I’d booked an early dinner on Venice beach, I knew we were going the next afternoon but I wanted to see the night time vibes. We ate Polynesian food with pina coladas at Belles Beach House before wandering around the souvenir shops and watching the skateboarders on the famous bowl as the late evening sun went down. Since it wasn’t too late, we took a detour through sunset Boulevard to have a little look on the way back.

Day Ten - Los Angeles Beaches

Considering it was our last full day; we had a busy one! We woke up early and headed into residential LA to meet up with Luke, a friend I met at a hostel in Bangkok years ago (who’s probably featured on the blog a few times since!) He was saying ricotta toast is all the rage in L.A so we went for breakfast and caught up for an hour or so.

We then picked up more e-bikes at Hermosa beach and cycled along the coast from there, to Santa Monica and back. It was a long cycle, way too long for me and I could barely string a sentence together by the end of it. We stopped off for a matcha afterwards which helped but proper calibration came from getting back to the hotel and catching up on our favourite TV show in the bath. A couple of highlights however, were seeing the amazing beach houses and also stopping for a lobster roll at one of the beachfront hotels. The bikes themselves were also great; $70 for five hours and I didn’t actually do much cycling because you can just push the throttle and go if you want.

Dinner that evening was exactly how I’d have liked to the end the trip. We found ourselves a big, anonymous seafood restaurant, snuggled up in a dark booth and ordered a couple of strawberry mojitos before recounting our favourite memories from the trip. The waiter recommended halibut, which we ordered with a whole load of sides and it was a lovely meal, followed by a cocktail and dessert on the rooftop of our hotel and an early night.

Day Eleven - Home

With a midday flight, we were able to have a slow breakfast at the hotel, using up the last of our free credit, before heading to the airport. The car drop off was super easy, we just parked it in the TURO specified bay at the short stay car park and hopped on the bus as we would’ve done with our own car, and soon enough, we were back in London.

All round, a big adventure. Another American road trip in the bag

Five Not so basic London Rooftop Terraces to try This Summer

2025-05-15T08:24:00.000-07:00

After a week of long, sunny evenings, spritz weather is officially upon us - and with it, the usual start of summer panic. Every year, it sneaks up on me. The sun comes out, and I realise I've forgotten how to do summer. I had no clue what to wear, what to eat, or where I wanted to go. I just knew I wanted to be outside.

I quickly rectified my wardrobe issues by ordering an ungodly amount of new clothes and turning the house into a catwalk for a couple of weeks. So, I thought I'd get to work on solving my second problem by doing some research and putting together a list: Five Luxe London Rooftop Terraces to Book This Summer.

I have a whole heap of pubs, bars, and cheaper places in mind as well, but I'm going to start with a list of not-so-basic, fancy rooftop restaurants. I've been rooftop crazed for a few years now, and whilst the old classics are always a safe bet, I'm a little bored. So here are some that I'm actually excited about this year.

Seabird at The Hoxton - Southwark

Okay, you got me - this one isn't new, but it's a long standing favourite. Perched on the 14th floor of The Hoxton in Southwark, I was still going to Seabird through the winter. I think that's what makes it even more exciting, the possibility of seeing my favourite place, with its scalloped tables and palm trees, thriving again in the sunshine.

Oysters and champagne on the terrace, fruity cocktails in the sun, flavourful rice dishes, whole wood-fired sea bass and of course Torrija - a strange Spanish dessert I came across the first time I was here here and now look out for every time I visit.

SACHI at Pantechnicon - Belgravia

Since we're based in West London, Pantechnicon is our closest central London rooftop. Housed in a very impressive looking building on Motcomb Street, Pantechnicon consists of multiple spaces. SACHI has recently moved from the lower floor to take over their roof terrace space.

The space is beautiful, but I never really liked the menu when it was Eldr, so with the menu now in the hands of Head Chef Collin Hudston, (aka Zuma and Roka) I am extremely excited to go back now try all of the raw fish, tempura, and robata-grilled dishes.

Flute at The Broadwick - Soho

We booked dinner at Dear Jackie, (which is underneath the new Broadwick Hotel) a few weeks ago whilst we were on the barge, and as the day rolled around, it happened to be a lovely sunny evening. We decided to take full advantage by showing up an hour early and trying for a pre-dinner drink on the rooftop bar.

I'm often wary about turning up to somewhere with no online availability, particularly anywhere a little bit nicer, but Dan rightly reminded me: we have a dinner booking with them, of course they'll accommodate us - and sure enough, they did.

The service was very slow (turns out they forgot our order), but we were kept happy with complimentary snacks and a particularly large glass of champagne once they'd sorted everything out.

Scotts - Richmond

I've done Scott's a few times, but only recently did I learn that their Richmond branch has an upstairs outdoor terrace, right on the river! We went on Sunday when it was 26 degrees, and you'd never know you were in bustling Richmond because, whilst the whole riverbank was packed with what seemed like most of West London, up on the second floor, it was serene and peaceful, with views of the river

We both ordered the cod - white fish is just my favourite thing to eat on a hot day - with a glass of champagne (definitely back in my champagne era), some cocktails, and a selection of side dishes. It was perfect.

Yasmin at 1 Warwick - Soho

I stumbled across Yasmin by accident and gasped when I realised what I'd found: a fancy Middle Eastern restaurant, in Soho, on a rooftop! Why has no one been talking about this?! I booked a table immediately, but sadly my friend had to cancel, so I haven’t made it over there just yet, but it’s firmly at the top of my hit list.

Headed up by Chef Tom Cenci the menu looks awesome. I cant wait to try the whipped sheep’s cheese with hot honey and the duck skewers with orange & saffron mayo. Yum

Where’s your go-to rooftop spot? Let me know if there’s a secret gem I need to add to the summer hit list!

For more mouthwatering insights into Britain’s most exciting chefs and restaurant scene, pop over to Square Meal website - it’s a treasure trove of culinary inspiration.

the slowness of barge life

2025-04-24T08:23:00.000-07:00

Life in London can be non stop. Even when there's nothing specific going on. Work, notifications, commuting, appointments - there’s always something.

And that’s usually how I like it. But I’ve just spent a week on a canal barge in Wales and maybe for just those few days, I enjoyed the shift; the quiet, the slow.

I started to see the value of a slow start. Not that we were laying in all day, actually we were waking up with the gentle swaying of the boat, at 6 am usually with the dappled sun streaming through the curtains and the sounds of the birds and the ducks outside, but it was slow ad peaceful all the same. Mornings were serene.

The internet connection was bad, and that was something none of us had planned for. I had decided to wfh for the first three days, there was exam revision going on, map routing; we assumed we would just watch Netflix in the evening but it turned out that wasn't an option in the Welsh valleys. I tried, but eventually, gave up; and in that surrender, I found peace. Weird. Bad internet, surprisingly (or not,) did a whole load for my mental clarity.

I enjoyed my screen-free peace and not feeling guilty for it - I couldn't be online even if I wanted to. In the end I gave up watching my tiktok buffer and locked into knitting, dog walks, board games, conversations and just being present.

Knitting, I have recently gotten back into after my six month stint during lockdown. It’s a quiet, repetitive motion that gives my brain the soft space. At home, it is only, little ten minute snippets of peace during my working day, but 7 days on a barge with not much else to do meant I could stop for a half hour or 45 minutes at a time and really check out from the rest of the world.

I also made quite a lot of progress for my jumper which was nice.

Dog walks gave ample opportunity to get off the slightly crampt boat and stretch our legs. What the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal lacked in 4G, it made up for in beautiful views. The tow paths were well maintained, with he occasional pub along the way. I loved looking at the cute little stone bridges and all the spring animals with their babies!

One of my favourite things was standing out on the back of the boat with Dan as he steered. Just the two of us, quietly watching the trees go by, the water rippling behind us. There was something so peaceful about it. It just reaffirmed that meaningful connection doesn't require grand plans - just presence.With no internet once we had moored for the night, we had to entertain each other in the evenings. We all sat down for dinner and then whether it was a quiz, board games or just chatting, the nights flew by.

I didn't bother with how I looked. I had to accept there was no hope of washing my hair and very little opportunity to shower so I gave up altogether by the second day. We took photos, but more for memories than Instagram - capturing moments as they were, unfiltered and genuine.

Returning to London, I carry with me the lessons from the barge:, the joy of simple pleasures, and the importance of genuine connection; and the knowledge that sometimes, stepping away from the chaos isn’t so bad.

USA East Coast roadtrip 2024

2025-04-04T04:06:00.000-07:00

Last years (July 2024) American road trip was an amazing adventure. Over the course of two weeks, we drove from Washington to Key West and back again, and it was filled with unique experiences, incredible scenery, and memorable moments.

Arriving in Washington at 8 pm with no hotel booked, the plan was to pick up our (very cool) car and drive towards where we needed to be for the next morning - which was the Blue Ridge Parkway. We went for as long as we could manage, with the roof down and American pop rock blaring from the speakers and arrived in Culpeper - where we checked into a cheap motel for the night.

Day 1: Blue Ridge Parkway

Our journey began on the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway, winding through the Appalachian Mountains, again with the roof down and a blanket we’d stolen from the flight to keep my legs warm.

We stayed in a yurt we’d found on Air bnb in the forest that evening. After a day of intense sunshine, it had gotten a bit stormy by the time we arrived so we set up the fire pit and cooked dinner on it while rain poured down around us before heading inside our fairy lit tent for the night. It was one of our most memorable accommodations and the perfect start - magical, peaceful, and a full sense of adventure.

Day 2: The Mile high Swinging Bridge

Our second day on the road took us to see the Mile High Swinging Bridge on Grandfather Mountain.

After eavesdropping on some very loud Americans on the way back down, we discovered there was a winery nearby, so we found it on the map and headed straight there. The afternoon sun was warm, and the air was filled with the sounds of a local folk band playing as we arrived. Every table was taken so we grabbed a glass of wine and sat on the edge of the creek.

It was here we discovered banana pudding which I picked up from one of the food trucks. I have a few memories of particularly special mouthfuls of food, and this was one of them. I searched for it in every town we visited for the rest of the trip, it was so good.

This serene moment by the creek remains one of my favourite memories from trip. We sat there for a while, lost in the moment, enjoying the spontaneity and serendipity of it all.

From there, we left for Atlanta.

Day 3: From Georgia to Florida

Today we tried our first American diner. We were after an old-school spot with sticky red stools and found just the place. It was cramped, bustling, almost 100 years old. Perfect. We ordered an array of different dishes but the standout item was my first cup of sweet tea. An American friend had told me about it once and his excitement was justified. I drank it every day for the rest of the trip.

After breakfast - and more sweet tea to take away - we left Atlanta heading towards and what was our favourite night of the trip, leaving the mountains, via the big city, for the beach!

Arriving in Pensacola, we checked into a boutique hotel called Oyster Bay with views over the bay (and a fully stocked snack kitchen). Dinner, at a beach shack called Shaggy’s, was all the more fun with $4 cocktails and a beautiful sunset, followed by a spectacular drive back to the hotel with lightning lighting up the night sky.

Day 4: Prepare for lift off!

Today was mostly about covering ground as we had a particularly big day ahead tomorrow. We had acai bowls on the beach and then drove 7 hours to Titusville which was not somewhere I’d heard of before.

The driving was such a highlight of the trip that actually, all that time in the car was super enjoyable and quite special. We got caught in storms, stopped for snacks, listened to music and talked for hours on end.

Arriving late in this sleepy little roadside town, we skipped dinner in favour of ice cream and scrap booking - just in time see 3 police cars and an arrest at the parlour.

Day 5: A very busy day

We talk about this day all the time, it’s hard to comprehend just how much we got done, not to mention just how exciting one of those things was.

We were up and in the car with the roof down, on the way to beach by 5 am. Apparently the car park there was the best place to watch the rocket launches at Cape Canaveral. We pulled into a little lay by, and found the perfect spot the watch the launch, framed by the trees.

Dan found the space channel online and we were able to listen to the iconic countdown before the rocket shot off into the sunrise, leaving a trail of smoke in the sky behind it. Unforgettable.

We planned to visit the Kennedy space centre afterwards but it was still very early so stopped off for breakfast first. Sweet tea and scrap booking, as per our routine, in a cute little small town booth by our motel.

We got caught in a torrential downpour as we were finishing up in the space centre which provided the perfect excuse to visit the gift shop – for NASA branded ponchos of course – and stickers for the scrapbook.

That cleared up and we were soon back on the road with the roof down, heading for Miami.

We stopped off at a roller skating rink along the way. We had brought our skate all the way from London after all and it was a great way to get some movement in whilst escaping the afternoon heat for a couple of hours.

Arriving in Miami that evening, we checked into our room at Soho beach house, which had been upgraded to a huge, almost apartment for a three day mini break. First stop, the roof for cocktails!

I loved the vibe of Miami. I knew I would enjoy soaking in the vibrant energy of the city from the moment we arrived.

Day 6 & 7: and relax

Our first day with no plans, and the perfect place for it. We had a lazy morning and found ourselves a cabana by the pool to spend the day at. Breakfast turned into cocktails, which turned into snacks and more cocktails. Before we knew it, it was 5 pm.

Known for its skate culture, we decided to take the evening to skate along the Miami boardwalk, where we found a fairy lit, beach facing restaurant. They were a little dubious about giving us a table but once I switched my skate for heels, we were sat at the front of this very romantic restaurant, eating fresh fish with a view of the ocean.

The next day was similar, although headed out to explore the neon-lit streets of South Beach that evening. Our uber driver insisted we watch the backstreet boys on his ipad as he drove us there. We ate Mexican food and stopped on the street for slush puppies spiked with alcohol.

Day 8: The Florida Keys

Our route out of Miami followed a trail of dessert shops, hot chocolate stops and Jewish deli's before joining the incredible road that took us through each of the keys, all the way to Key West at the end. I really liked Key West. We grabbed tickets for the last trolley tour of the day and saw the town which felt like a real-life Disney Main Street full of charming clapperboard houses, cute local bars, shops and food shacks. I would have liked the stay longer but our hotel for the night was half way back up the Keys and we were very excited to get there.

It was right on the beach and we arrived back there in time to grab a couple of frozen cocktails and drink them on the jetty as the sun set over the ocean – just before a dramatic electric storm rolled in.

Day 9: Storm Debby hits

The rain had started again by the time we checked out but we didn’t care because we were at the nearest diner, drowning our storm sorrows with sweet tea by the time it got bad.

Having decided it wasn’t going to ruin our fun, we set off in the light rain with the roof down hoping it’d soon stop. Unsurprisingly, the opposite happened and we ended up getting totally drenched when they heavens opened whilst we were on the motorway. There was no place to stop, so we turned the music up, put our foot down and enjoyed the ride.

Arriving at a roadside hotel, just in time for the most incredibly coloured sunset, we dropped off our stuff, dried off and headed straight out to the drive in cinema across the road. We bought our tickets, parked up and ordered every classic cinema snack under the sun. The car was a mess by the end of the night - chaos that comes from an evening well spent, it was a classic American experience ticked off our list.

Day 10: Stormy St. Augustine

In the morning, we headed to St. Augustine, which was another one of my favourite places. We stayed in an eerie house which I'm sure was haunted and had the most surreal conversation with the guy who checked us in, he was adamant about the time, which didn't line up with our phones so after questioning him for ten minutes, we accepted we must have driven over a time line - only to go back into the real world and realise we were right in the first place.

During our short visit, we hopped on another trolley tour bus - they were our most used company from the trip - we looked for one in most locations and they were really great way to see everything quickly & comfortably.

Looking back at it now, the weather can't have been that bad because I remember stopping off for ice cream (and then going back for two more because they were so good) and at dinner, we requested a table on the balcony, only to be told "Sir, we are in the middle of a hurricane, you cannot sit outside"

After a full & rainy day, we had a wonderfully romantic moment once we got back to the haunted house having put on our dressing gowns and sat on the creaky swing on the balcony watching the storm around us.

Day 11: Savannah

After a quick stop at a diner, we were back on the road and heading across state lines in the midst of the storm. I remember worrying for my life on this day, we were getting emergency storm alerts on our phones which were quite frankly, terrifying & I'm not sure how Dan managed to get us there, the rain was so bad that I couldn't really see through the windscreen.

But he did! and after a couple of hours, we arrived at the Inn on West Liberty, a safe haven from the storm. We were the only guests, greeted by the owner and her super cute little dog Sydney, they sat us down in the living room with a glass of wine and everything was calm again.

It rained all day and all night so we didn't get to do much sightseeing in Savannah which was a shame, although we did venture out for a Chinese that evening and then, with some more wine, took a long, hot bath in our lovely room.

Day 12-14: The Outer Banks

Our next stop was Wilmington, which again, as a destination, was ruined by the rain. That's not to say we didn't have a good time. Our room was above a coffee shop come cocktail bar so on our way back from dinner by the water, we stopped in and it was perfect. A cosy, candle lit room with dark leather sofas and a specialist espresso martini menu. We stayed there all night and when it was time to leave, we walked up the stairs outside to our room and watch the lightning across the night sky.

Over the next few days, we managed to drive, ferry and eat (and nap) our way across The Outer banks without too much bother from the storm. I was a bit worried about this part of our trip but all the timings lined up perfectly and we managed to see three of the four lighthouses on our list.

Day 15: Washington D.C. Finale

Finally we were back to civilisation, heading to Washington D.C for one lat night. It happened to coincide with our one month anniversary so as soon as we arrived, we headed out for dinner to celebrate. Our evening took us to a dingy speakeasy where we had the best time reliving out favourite moment from the trip.

and then there was one day left to explore. We decided to do that on a lime scooter. A brilliant idea. I really liked Washington and think I could happily live there.

Our time in DC was great although bittersweet as it was the last stop on the most amazing holiday. We ticked off all the sightseeing destinations, went shopping and got our last sweet tea & banana pudding fix before heading to the airport.

Our flight home that evening was delayed; which initially sounded like a problem, but since they had overbooked, we got upgraded to first class. A perfect end to a perfect trip.

I'd never had any interest in America, or road trips before this, but it was an adventure I’ll never forget and something I hope I get to do again and again.

48 Hours in New YorK

2025-03-05T06:38:00.000-08:00

New York in the winter is something special. I’m sure that’s the best way to see it; scarves blowing in the wind, steam rising from sewer grates and bright sunshine breaking through the gaps between skyscrapers. It’s a classic NYC image.

I was there for a few days earlier this month and it was bitterly cold. But that’s all part of the experience. Having packed three coats, there was no way I was going to let a little -9 degree temperature ruin my fun.

Here’s how we spent our time:

Walking the High Line

One of my favourite things we did was The High Line, an elevated urban walkway built on a former railway line. What an amazing idea! I thought it was super unique and a great way to see the city. I feel like there was a lot of life to be seen up there.

Skyline Views at The Edge

We stumbled upon The Edge after wandering off in search of banana pudding & were able to find discounted tickets online. Up on the 100th floor, we took in the iconic New York skyline from an outdoor viewing platform. It was freezing on the ground level but in the streaming sunlight, it was very warm and peaceful at the top.

I’ll be honest, I didn’t realise just how beautiful the New York skyline was until I was up there but from this point on, I was in awe of every tall building we walked past.

P.S If you don't like the idea of paying just to see the view, we also had a great skyline view from the bar at the top of The Ritz which cost us much less.

Endless Wandering

More than anything, we walked, and that was really all I wanted to do. We spent hours exploring the streets, marvelling at the towering buildings around us and poking our heads into every cafe, bagel shop and dessert parlour we walked past.

Central Park

Just as pretty and instantly recognisable as it is in the films.

Times Square

Dazzling.

The Guggenheim

Not really my thing, but Dan wanted to go, so of course, we did. Culture. Tick.

Citi Bikes

We took the Hudson river cycle path, along the river, down to the to the financial district and Battery Park. Highly recommend, it was a really lovely and easy to cycle route.

9/11 Memorial

Seeing where the Twin Towers once stood was a powerful moment. Sobering, but I’m really glad we went.

Lumon Industries

We are both big fans of Severance and after a little research, discovered that the building they used as Lumon Industries HQ was a couple hours drive outside of NYC. So of course we made the journey to NJ to go and have a look. Turns out its actually a big shopping centre in real life.

Food

Oh, we ate, but that is my #1 favourite thing to talk about so a little section here wont do it justice - there’s a whole other post to come for that!

I didn’t have many expectations for New York, but I’m leaving in awe of its towering skyscrapers, impressed by its high energy buzz, and feeling incredibly grateful to have finally experienced it for myself.

A typical day aboard Cunard's Queen Anne cruise ship

2025-01-23T04:08:00.000-08:00

Less that a year old, Cunard’s Queen Anne has just set off on its maiden world voyage. This was big news in cruise world and only a few days earlier, I was aboard, with my family, for its previous journey to Hamburg and back.

The Queen Anne is one of 10+ ships I’ve been on and even as Cunard’s second largest, it still felt very intimate - carrying only to 2,996 passengers. So, whilst there isn’t a huge amount to do, it was surprisingly easy to keep myself busy.

Here’s what a typical day on board looked like.

We are a family of early risers, so breakfast at 8:30 would typically be the plan. I was sharing a room with my brothers and they often stayed in bed until the last minute which meant I had undisturbed access to the bathroom; a surprisingly spacious one for a cruise cabin. The shower was huge.

We chose to eat breakfast at the restaurant rather than the buffet which meant heading down to to Deck 3 for a more formal dining experience with white tablecloths and waiter service.

Breakfast, like every other meal on board was a multiple course occasion. We all started with the smoked salmon, it’s a die hard Goodman favourite, and it was delicious - served with cream cheese, a slice of lemon & some zingy capers.

I liked to keep breakfast light as I knew how much eating the rest of the day involved. My brothers and dad, however, went all in and ordered second and third courses.

After breakfast, it was time to disembark - we’d arrived in Hamburg today. Getting on and off the ship was as simple as scanning the room card at the exit and stepping off the boat. A shuttle bus then picked us up from the terminal and dropped us in the middle of the city. It was a minimal hard work situation.

Germany in January was cold so we didn’t get a lot done. We wandered around the shops for a while, but after failing to find a cute café to enjoy some German treats, we decided it was just too cold and headed back to the ship for lunch.

I’d planned on having a light lunch, as I was determined not to miss afternoon tea again. However, that plan quickly went out the window when I joined my family at the buffet on Deck 9. I ate a plate of roast pork with mash and vegetables and then a bowl of ice cream. Despite my love for food, I found the constant availability overwhelming, and by this point, I was eating more out of habit than hunger - an aspect of cruising I didn’t enjoy this time.

After lunch, it will come as no surprise that we headed straight down to the tea room - a couple of hours early - to secure a good spot before the next round of eating began.

Afternoon tea was delicious, and this was one meal I truly enjoyed - not just for the food but for the theatre of it all. White gloved waiters served finger sandwiches and miniature desserts from silver platters, followed by freshly baked scones with clotted cream and strawberry jam.

As you can imagine, I was completely delirious afterwards, so I headed straight to the gym for refuge and to try and restore some normality.

The gym on board is small but perfectly functional - and honestly, how often do you get to work out with a view of the ocean right in front of you? Since it was a port day, the gym was pretty empty with most people off exploring, which meant I could get through my workout without any interruptions and was able to hang around afterwards. I find the gym really peaceful and often end up lazing on a yoga mat for half an hour after I’m done, simply enjoying the tranquillity.

I then headed back to the room to have a shower and get ready for dinner. Tonight was a formal night which meant getting dressed up. I wore a black dress and my new heels while my brothers both put on a suit jacket and tie. During the formal nights, there are photographers set up all around the ship taking photos so on our way to meet my parents for dinner, we stopped for a photo.

This evening’s dinner was the best one we had on our four day voyage. The veal that my dad and I both ordered was nice, but nothing special so as we watched everyone else go on about their beef wellington, we decided to order ourselves a second main course to share; and they were right, it was a standout dish.

For dessert, I was stuck again between the brownie and the pineapple so I just ordered them both, it seems such a normal thing to do on a cruise ship. The brownie again, was unremarkable but the rum roasted pineapple, was I think, my favourite dish of the whole cruise.

After dinner, we wandered into one of the big lounges and found a table with some nice chairs around it. Not that I needed to eat any more, my mum ordered the hot chocolate she had been telling me about for the last three days, which arrived in a teapot enough for two so I shared that with her. It came with three accompanying plates of chocolate shards, whipped cream and marshmallows.

As we were enjoying our drinks, my brother pulled out two packs of cards and told us about one of his favourite games by which everyone had to guess the rules as you go. A very confusing concept at first but we enjoyed it so much that we were up playing it, in that lounge until 2 am; before heading back to the cabin and swiftly falling asleep. I always sleep very well on a cruise ship!

plaza khao gaeng

2025-01-21T04:40:00.000-08:00

I went to Plaza Khao Gaeng last night, and I'm still thinking about the food this morning.

Actually, it wasn’t just the food - it was the whole experience. It was so good, in fact, that I have very few photos to share from the evening. Sorry about that.

Plaza Khao Gaeng is the lesser known little sister of Soho's currently very popular Speedboat Bar. Walking through Centre Point’s bustling Arcade food hall after work, I was surprised at just how busy it was for a Monday evening. Even with the cold, people still love to go out, I love London.

I found an unassuming staircase tucked away at the back - you wouldn’t really know it was there unless you were specifically looking for it - leading to a small mezzanine brimming with energy. Packed tight with tables covered in plastic tablecloths, trays of cheap pressed metal cutlery, and a roaring wok at the back that would burst into flames every few minutes. Chaos.

If I hadn’t spent a lot of time in Thailand, I might have thought it was a bit of a hot mess for a central London restaurant. But this wasn’t a cheap gimmick - it was very Thai - all that was missing were the tiny plastic stools, although I’m sure the public were much happier with Londoner-sized chairs. Regardless, it was the most authentic dining experience I’ve had since leaving Thailand, and the menu reflected that same authenticity.

This was not a restaurant for unadventurous taste buds. I was a little bit confused about what to try, and I’ve spent years eating who-knows-what from street stalls in Thailand. The Massaman curry was an obvious favourite, although it didn’t look like the Massaman I knew. Two huge chunks of beef and two potatoes sat in a broth-like sauce. It was all over Instagram, and lots of plates of it were whizzing past.

Both of my friends ordered it, but I had a yearning for a plate of morning glory, which is hard to find in England. Unconventionally, I built my meal around that and decided on sticky rice and fried chicken to accompany. It took me straight back to a particular meal I ate on a street in Bangkok, sitting opposite the party hostel I was staying in, eating a meal like this for breakfast - except that one cost 20p. Not that I’m complaining. The fact that I was able to get it in London made it worth it, and actually, the price wasn’t that bad. We had three mains, three sides and two drinks (yay Thai iced milk tea) for £81.

By 6:30 PM, the restaurant was packed and stayed that way for hours, though atmosphere was super casual and inviting. We sat there chatting for a while after dinner, and by the time we left at 9:00 PM, things had calmed down, but the magic lingered.

If you’re looking for an authentic taste of Thailand in London, I’d highly recommend Plaza Khao Gaeng.

and a perfect opportunity for me to post some old photos from Thailand.

2024 Travel roundup

2024-12-30T06:58:00.000-08:00

From solo adventures to romantic getaways - and seeing much more of the UK, this year's travel looked a little different than it has done in the past.

Bali 2.0 - April

My adventures for the year started in April, a little later that usual when I realised I hadn't left the country since my last Bali trip, six months prior.

Promptly after I had this realisation, I was on my way back to Indonesia.

The last trip was a little chaotic, and that's how I like it sometimes! But this trip wasn’t about escaping or chasing something, it was about relaxing and truly enjoying the moment - and that felt like a bit of a turning point for me.

I realised that I finally felt at ease with my life on this trip. I was more free and easy with my money so I just had a really nice time.

Apart from the usual joys of solo travel I skipped the hostels and stayed in nice hotels, paid more for the fancy spas and pretty much bought myself whatever I wanted. That being said, I still enjoyed the usual indulgences of solo travel. I went to two different cafes for breakfast most days, booked motorbike Ubers to nowhere just for the experience of being on the back of a bike and cancelled hotels on a whim because I changed my mind at at check in.

There was no rush, no stress, nothing to achieve, just the luxury of time and space to savour it all. I also took my skates with because I missed them on my last visit so I managed to squeeze in a couple of skating sessions amongst the swims and massages.

Dubrovnik with friends - June

Last year, I vowed no more girls’ holidays because whilst I loved spending time with my friends at home, the trips themselves never quite did it for me. But when the boys decided they wanted to join, I took a chance - and it completely changed the experience. Strange, isn’t it?

I think that, and the length of this trip made all the difference. It was only a couple of nights and we all shared a three-storey air bnb in the centre of town. While holidays with friends still aren’t my style, I enjoyed this one more than the others, exploring within the city walls, sharing big group meals, and soaking up the amazing weather.

Spontaneous Mallorca - June

I remember waking up one sunny Saturday morning and booking this trip on a whim because I fancied a paella.

There are still so many places on my bucket list, but there are also a few that I will happily go back to again and again - because they are easy. I hadn't been to Magaluf since I was 18, but this was definitely one of those not needing to think about planning it trips.

It was quite comforting to be back as an adult. I knew where everything was but no longer cared for the party scene, just the beach day clubs that I couldn't afford before, the nice restaurants by the ocean and the serenity of an early night.

I took my skates again - and of course I managed to eat at least one paella a day! Mission accomplished.

Suffolk Countryside Retreat - June

As our relationship started to change, Dan took me on a couple of weekends away! The first, was a cute little countryside lodge, that we arrived at as the sun was going down on a warm Friday evening. With a Chinese takeaway & bottle of wine in hand, we lit the fire pit outside and ate by the flames.

Waking up the next day was very peaceful, looking out the window to we were surrounded by woodland grass, wildflowers and the sounds of birds chirping in the morning sun.

We took advantage of a slow, lazy start before going to the local town and the beach beside it. After that, Dan took me to Thorpeness Mere and rowed us around the lake on a boat. This was before I knew he'd spent a chunk of his childhood on a rowing boat so I was both surprised and impressed. It was all very romantic.

On the way home the next morning, stopped off in Cambridge for a private punt on the river Cam, complete with more wine - and pizza.

Discovering Bath - July

A week later, Dan took me to Bath to show me around the city where he went to uni. We stayed in a very cool apartment for a couple of nights, drank cocktails in the sun & wandered around the campus. Bath is very cute.

East Coast Road trip - July

A three week, American road trip with my boyfriend - of just two weeks at the time.

It was a big risk, agreeing to that many hours in a car with someone I'd not spent a huge amount of time with but those long journeys on the road became my favourite part of the day and created the kind of connection that only comes when you have nowhere to be but together.

We spent two days driving through the blue ridge mountains, watched a space rocket launch, ate breakfasts in old school diners, got caught with the roof down in Storm Debbie and decided we'd like to live in Washington one day.

To top it all off, we were upgraded on the way back and flew home first class. What a dream.

Devon Seaside - August

I actually visited Devon multiple times after this trip, (I'm posting this blog from there after spending Christmas by the seaside) although this was the first and we stayed for a whole week so it felt more like a holiday!

We were there the Shaldon regatta - a lively week of traditional water activities in Dan's cute and very small hometown. It was a relaxing week by the water and a good chance for me to see where he grew up. I tried paddle boarding for the first time, went for lots of dog walks and got to spend my birthday on a boat!

Canal Barging in Rugby - September

My mum went a bit rouge this year and decided she wanted a family holiday on a canal barge. It was totally out of character but we all agreed and six of us spent three nights on the water in Rugby.

While it was an interesting experience, the weather really wasn't on our side. I did however still very much enjoy the family time and the many pub stops along the way!

SkateLove'24 in Barcelona - September

Barcelona holds a special charm for me after last years solo visit, and this year, I returned with Dan for a roller skating festival set up right by the beach.

We accidentally booked accommodation outside of the city so it was quite a long commute into the centre, but the plus side of that was that it had an awesome private beach which we spent both mornings on.

Once we were there, we enjoyed a skating, exploring and, of course, more paella.

As I said last year, I'd always avoided Barcelona but it has since become one of my favourite spots in Europe.

Tagging along in Brighton - September

We actually went to Brighton twice this year but in October, we stayed overnight. Dan had a meeting and I decided to join him. We arrived late and left after work the next day but I was able to get a table at The Burnt Orange, a restaurant we missed out on when we were there in August and it alone was worth the visit!

I also really enjoyed the drive there and back, it reminded us of road trip.

Bali 3.0 - November

My third Bali trip in a 12 month period but this time was different because I had company! Highlights include tree house villas, concrete bathtubs, late night discussions over exotic cocktails, hourly Gojek orders, lazy pool days & lots of steak.

Travel is one of my greatest joys in life and 2024 brought some very happy trips. Beyond that, this year was hugely transformative for me. Filled with personal growth & self development, big changes in who I spent my time with, a deep sense of connection and happiness that I've not really felt before.

I'm entering the year ahead feeling more positive and excited than ever!

Bali Beyond Myself: How Travelling as a Couple Shifted My Experience

2024-12-09T07:22:00.000-08:00

I've written a lot about solo travel. Between the backpacking adventure, moving to the other side of the world on a whim and my mum having a meltdown every time I say I'm going to go on holiday alone, it's defined so much of the past seven years of my life and taught me a lot about both myself, and the world I live in.

I love to travel solo, it's a part of who I am but now I’m lucky enough to have someone to join me on some of my trips; and it is an entirely different experience when he does.

Bali wasn’t just my adventure this time; it was ours. I've been forwards and backwards a lot in the last few years but this time felt like I was discovering it all over again.

Travelling with my boyfriend was different to being there alone. It wasn't compromises as such; just adjustments I was happy to make. It was a fresh take but I loved every moment of it.

One of the first things I noticed was the need to consider someone else’s preferences at every turn. Normally, I’m up with the sun, but when I woke up 6 hours before he did on our first morning I didn't really know what to do with myself. I became aware that I couldn't (shouldn't) get up and go for breakfast at 5 am if I'm jet lagged like I have done in the past - so I grabbed my journal and tried to make sense of it all in the morning sunshine.

Otherwise, it was more of a good thing. I enjoyed having someone to discuss where to go for dinner with; and checking if he wanted to go the the spa at 10 am or 11 am wasn't exactly a huge problem.

The only time it did bother me was when I felt bad for changing plans - which was through no fault of his - but something I do very often when I'm solo. I had booked a cliff side hotel, like Rock n Reef because I know he loved being by the ocean. I just so happened to forget how anxious the stairs made me feel last time until we arrived again.

Usually I only have myself to consider so I would have bolted asap but I knew he liked it there so I didn't react as quickly. After the second anxiety attack however, I made the call to move hotels a day early. I felt guilty for prioritising myself, but decided it was the right thing to do because my reaction was so strong, it would have ruined the next two days for the both of us.

One thing I did miss, was the motorbike taxis. He wasn't keen, so we got cars everywhere but that was nothing in comparison to the good things being with my boyfriend brought.

Travelling with someone else gave me the opportunity to enjoy things I’d previously avoided.

Staying in Air BnB's, wandering around after dark, and even drinking alcohol was suddenly safe in a way that never was when I was travelling alone, and that was something I really appreciated.

I also really enjoyed seeing Bali through Dan’s eyes. Watching him try my favourite foods, seeing him in awe of the spa I'd booked in the middle of the jungle and sharing some very unique accommodation made everything feel fresh again.

This trip really reinforced how I feel about the importance of our connection. We're a few months into our relationship now and having time together, away from the calls of every day life was my favourite part of being in Bali together. The deep conversations, memorable moments and shared happy memories were a daily occurrence that sadly we just don't have time for when we're at home.

It wasn’t always easy to let go of some of my solo habits, but it was worth it for the time we spent together. Bali will always hold a special place in my heart, but this time, it’s not just because of the hotels, the food, or the long lazy afternoons, it’s because I had someone to share it with.

Moving Out, Moving On

2024-11-05T05:57:00.000-08:00

My last post mentioned I've been living in Chiswick for a few weeks but until this weekend, that wasn't the full story.

On Sunday, I gave my notice and picked up the last of my stuff from my room in Wandsworth.

It's a happy story, I'm moving in with my boyfriend and that, I'm very excited about, but closing the front door for the last time caused some totally unexpected emotions.

Leaving the house, I cried. I know I was unbelievably sad when I was living there, but that room was my safe space, away from the world and everyone else.

I moved in with my mum's help; and Charlie, my plant. Mum agreed to take the tube, but as soon as we reached the station, she decided one flight of stairs was one flight too many and insisted we get an Uber across London. I remember driving past the Shard with Charlie by my feet.

Within ten minutes of arriving, we almost smashed the window. The room was so small that moving my single bed meant pushing it halfway through the old, wooden frame. We unpacked my suitcase, went for lunch, and then she left. That evening, I built up the strength to end a relationship I had been trying to escape for six months, that is why I moved in the first place after all.

After that, I didn't know what to do with myself. For the first three nights, I ordered Too Good to Go bags because I didn’t know how to put a meal together.

I never really got the hang of that. Instead, I built a life so busy that I was never home for dinner anyway.

For the first six months or so, I had the most magical summer. I’d work from a little desk with the window wide open and the sunlight streaming from the south-facing garden. It was boiling that year. Even isolating with COVID wasn’t too bad, I’d spend hours on my single bed with my legs hanging out of the window enjoying the sun.

I experienced real friendship for the first time that summer and with the whatsapp chat going 24/7, my room is where we built it. I loved getting ready for a night out in the tiny space I had, in front of the cheapest mirror I could find, with my music playing as loud as I wanted.

Being so close to the nightlife meant I was able to afford an uber home. I felt like a joy like no other ubering home, drunk and content, waiting for Deliveroo to bring KFC after a night of chaos at Northcote Records with the girls. Excitedly dragging myself out of bed the next morning for brunch.

In those three years on Haldon Road, I grew up. I learned to look after myself and to figure things out. I now know how to use a washing machine.

But after a wild, single, summer with the girls, I was cold, we all were, and I was lonely, worried that it was going to be like this forever. I felt like I was just waiting for life to begin.

Trying to run away from the sadness, I started going out every single night, finding any excuse I could do not have to shower at home because it was too cold.

I went from very happy, to very sad but I was always relieved to come back; it just meant I needed to exercise for 20 minutes before got into bed in the winter.

After exhausting myself all week, I’d seek refuge on Sundays, going to bed at 4pm. During the week, I’d sit there and cry my heart out, day after day, at precisely 10:15 am, just after I'd taken my work break to write in my diary. I learned a lot about myself in that time, but I think I healed huge parts of myself too.

I recovered from the breakup, received life - changing medical news, booked holidays on a whim and heard that my granddad had two weeks to live - all on that bed in my little room in Wandsworth.

The winters were brutal, especially the first one. I had to pull out my summer duvet because even my winter one wasn’t warm enough on its own. I wrapped myself in two dressing gowns at a time and wore the boots I’d taken to a snowy wedding in Norway around the house just to keep warm whilst I worked.

My mum suggested a hot water bottle, but I didn’t even understand the concept. How blessed I was to have never been that cold. She bought me one for Christmas, and it changed my life.

And candles. When it was cold, those little flames kept me company on miserable, dark days working from my room. But they remind me of happy times too - the nights when I finally started feeling content with staying in on my own. Getting into bed, lighting a candle, and watching the sun go down through the open window. And every time I blew one out, I made a wish.

The dressing gowns, blankets, and snow boots that kept me warm when I couldn’t afford to turn the heating on, I don’t need anymore, because those candles made my wish come true. And now I’m in a place where everything just feels right. My life is different now. I’m happy again.

Looking back, that time in my life was so unbelievably miserable, yet it was such an important phase.

I moved in with one suitcase and left with two cars full.

I moved in scared, but I moved out confident that no matter what, I can look after myself.

I moved in single, and out in a relationship with someone I'm excited to spend the rest of my life with.

I built my life there. I built myself there. I’m a much more well-rounded, confident, and capable person than the girl who moved in three years ago.

So, an ode to my little room in Wandsworth. Thank you for everything.

My experience making new friends as an adult in London

2024-10-15T04:28:00.000-07:00

Making new friends in London is tough hey.

I've just moved to a different part of town and I don't know anyone. Again. My old friends are long gone and whilst I still have people dotted around, it's not helpful for last minute dinners or popping out and sharing a bottle of wine after a hard day.

But this isn’t the first time I’ve been in this position, so where do I start?

The same place I started last time. The internet.

I’ve done it before, and I will do it again. At least this time, I have some direction and some motivation because I know it works. Facebook groups are the answer. Bumble BFF has also worked in the past, as has just going up to someone I thought might be interesting, in a bar but Facebook is my go to.

There are thousands of other girls, like me, in these groups looking for people to hang out and build a connection with and this knowledge has changed my approach to making new friends. It’s no longer an impossible task, just one that will take a bit of effort in return for a big reward.

I've been in Chiswick for six weeks now and am very proud of myself. I’ve been proactive and arranged two group dinners (this is great because I get to pick the restaurant and explore the new area at the same time) and a few one-on-one outings and slowly but surely I am coming across people who I think I would like to be friends with.

It’s hard at the beginning because I don’t want to sit around making small talk, I want to have friends I can talk to in depth, about stupid things, intense feelings, emotions and opinions, good, bad & ridiculous, about people and things that are happening in my life, and vice versa.

Whilst it’s always a little frustrating in the beginning, you can’t rush the process. Building real friendships take time, effort and lots of shared experiences - plus getting to know someone in the process, is fun in itself!

It's a very odd situation to be in and I can only compare it to dating. It's exciting but also scary. Did they like me? Do I want to see them again? Should I text first?!

And as well as being scary, it's hard work. You have to put in a lot of effort to make friends from nothing. Sometimes you can’t be bothered to explain who XY&Z is, or sometimes its raining and you just want to stay in bed. But staying in bed isn’t good for me and not having friends isn’t good for my mental health.

Because life in London is hard enough without having people you care about to offload on and share it with.

Exploring Dubrovnik

2024-06-24T06:51:00.000-07:00

After a late arrival the night before, Dubrovnik welcomed us with warm temperatures. We had been out for some drinks but luckily, most of my friends are also morning people, prompting an early start to our day of exploration.

The Airbnb had arranged for breakfast at a quaint cafe in the Old Town, so we sat eating out eggs and orange juice in serenity before the arrival of cruise ship crowds and tour groups. One of the biggest perks of starting early in Dubrovnik.

After breakfast, we continued our wanderings around the old town. Picking up a later arrival and an ice cream on the way.

The Old Town was very interesting to explore, offering picturesque views and historic charm. It was a little bit otherworldly.

We followed a path which led us to an archway, one of the old town gates that opened to the water, outside the old city walls. There was a port, lined with cute restaurants and though there was no beach, like many others, we spent a blissful couple of hours lounging on the rocks by the water.

The boys swam while the girls and I relaxed on the rocks. I felt like a siren.

In the afternoon, we headed back to our Airbnb for a quick shower and change before setting out again.

Our destination was a charming bar and restaurant adorned with vines and pretty pink flowers. Despite the staff's slightly grumpy demeanour, the beauty of the location made it a perfect spot for pre-dinner drinks.

Dinner that night was back by the harbour, naturally featuring seafood and wine.

Then back to our wandering, we stumbled across an abandoned bar carved into the cliffside. People has brought their own chairs, drinks, music so we grabbed some drinks from the shop and settled in for the sunset.

The following day we booked a boat tour, which turned out to be quite a memorable adventure. It started having mistakenly boarded the wrong transfer and found ourselves on someone else's boat, complete with skipper and a bar stocked full of champagne.

Everyone involved was very confused but after a bit of back and forth, we soon found our boat.

After a quick explanation of how to drive it, we loaded it with our own supplies and set off in search of a beach. Despite the mix-up, the day turned out to be one of my favorite travel experiences. I often travel alone, but this day made me truly appreciate having my friends with me on holiday.

Being by the water always brings me such happiness, and spending eight hours on a small boat in the sunshine with them was all kinds of wonderful. The sea was a beautiful colour, the music, the snacks. Perfect. Even with a few other mishaps along the way.

One night at Rock n Reef, Uluwatu

2024-05-08T03:00:00.000-07:00

Uluwatu was a part of Bali I’d not explored until recently so I thought it was worth a visit this time around. Known for its stunning cliffsides, I knew I wanted to spend some time at one of the beach front hotels there although adamant I wanted somewhere that wasn’t a big resort; something small, unique, boutique. I ended up using Google Maps to see what lined the beach and soon came across Rock n Reef. It ticked all my boxes.

As I learned from my BBQ on the beach a couple of days prior, getting from the top, down to the beach in Uluwatu is no easy feat. The paths are steep and rocky, often leading through abandoned sites with no idea where they are going to end up. I had to trust Google Maps more than once this trip, but as I got closer to the beach and passed through a small door, suddenly I found myself in the safe haven of the reception area. And relax.

I had booked a room called "Sunset," and it was perfect. Open plan with a bed on one side and an open stone shower on the other. I unbolted the doors and swung them both wide open onto the balcony overlooking the ocean. It had a straw roof and a hammock and was pretty magical.

As soon as I walked in, I knew I wanted to stay an extra night, but of course, it was fully booked; unsurprisingly so.

After a couple of hours listening to the waves from the hammock, I started getting hungry so headed downstairs and grabbed a sunbed as the evening drew in. There were only three or four beds, and they were all empty so I had the area to myself.

I actually wasn’t planning to eat there, but there was no way I was going to bother with the stairs more often than absolutely necessary, so I ordered a plate of fried rice (and dessert, of course) and dined at what felt like my own private, beachside restaurant.

I retreated to my room just in time to shoot some golden hour content before settling in to watch the sunset from the hammock. Very pleased I'd chose the sunset room over the sunrise one, the sky turned orange as the day faded into night.

Once it got dark, I laid inside with the doors open, listening to the sound of the waves until I fell asleep.

I woke up early the next day as the morning light flooded in. After spending most of the morning lazing around on the hammock, I got up for breakfast served on the balcony. A very nostalgic banana pancake circa 2017 baby backpacking Georgina, accompanied by tropical fruits and honey, tea and fresh pineapple juice.

With the tide out for a couple of hours, I grabbed my chance to take a walk alone the private beach. It was totally empty apart from one woman selling bracelets who I couldn't say no to. I finished my exploring with just enough time to shower off the sand and take one last hour in the hammock.

After checking out, I was planning to hang around in the communal area for a little bit longer, but the idea of tackling the stairs again was playing on my mind so I couldn't relax and ended up heading out for lunch pretty soon after. Despite that, I would 100% recommend this amazing hotel. It provided me with such a special experience, that I will never forget.

Spiritual Healing in Bali

2024-03-20T07:00:00.000-07:00

As I mentioned in my roundup, my recent trip to Indonesia was about grounding myself; and maybe a little bit of closure - for the year I’d had. It was some of the hardest months, emotionally, of my life and Bali was a chance for me to put a physical finish on it.

Asia had healed me before I needed its help again.

A healing ceremony; I told my friends as I showed them TikTok videos of girls screaming into the abyss. A traditional Balinese Purification ritual known as "Melukat"

I woke up at 3 am that morning, crying about something that I didn’t think had affected me, so that was a good start. It set an emotional tone for the day.

Arriving at Tri Desna felt eerie. The dark wood structures and purple fabrics set an unfamiliarly dark ambience, heightened by the distant echoes of other girls' screams.

That’d soon be me.

Sitting in a wooden cabana, I sipped my tea and waited. We started with a tarot reading which did not relate at all, so I came out of there in a huff. We’ll just breeze over that part.

I was then asked to pick an outfit from a wall of sarongs and ties that lay in front of me. By the time I had gotten changed, another girl had arrived so we sat together and shared stories of what brought us there.

I told her how eerie it all felt and she quite wisely said, 'people come here to dump their trauma and leave, of course it felt weird.' It made so much sense. The dark, moody sky all added to the atmosphere.

The videos I'd seen, had shown girls screaming their hearts out at this part and to be honest, I thought it was a load of rubbish. Surprisingly, I wasn’t told to scream, just to let it all out as and when.

I could feel myself tearing up as it was happening. I'd had a really hard few months.

They poured water full of flowers over me and as chants filled the air, the emotions I had suppressed surged to the surface; so I did let it all out. Screaming, sobbing, releasing what had consumed me for months. I felt terrible afterwards.

After sitting there for a little while, we moved to another corner of the garden - which was now a sunny spot. A sanctuary of vibrant fruits, flowers, and swirling incense. Together we said prayers as I was blessed with holy coconut water and offerings of rice and fruit.

As you can you can tell by the photos, I was feeling very sorry for myself at this point.

Before I left, they tied a traditional Indonesian bracelet of red, white and black thread around my wrist; representing love, life and death. Told not to remove it, I am still wearing it now, 5 months later.

The weird feeling lingered for a few days after the ceremony, I was emotionally drained. Sitting by the hotel pool that afternoon, I called home to talk it though amidst the haze of emotions that clouded my mind.

Adhering to instructions, I also refrained from showering for three days to let the holy water sink into my skin. Like a good little girl, I arrived back in the UK with dried flowers stuck in my hair, still smelling like Bali.

Returning home, the haze slowly lifted and was replaced by glimpses of happiness which I hadn’t felt for months. Tri Desna gave me what I had come for. Looking back on my trip to Bali - and all my adventures of the past year, I was thankful to have them as happy memories during the worst year of my life.