Finding a New Normal
Needless to say, the past few months have been extremely peculiar not just here in England, but for the entire world. Having just posted the adventures of my holiday to Aus and Bali back in January, I must count my lucky stars that I was able to complete my trip with no disruption as I flew back to the UK as planned at the beginning of February. Soon enough the effects of this pandemic hit home shores, so by mid March I was put on ‘Furlough’ from work and we watched on as the country went into almost full lockdown.
This will certainly be one of the most unique periods of life for our generation, as we learn to accept social distancing measures for an extended period of time. In the UK the lockdown has allowed us to get outside once a day for exercise and as we welcome in a particularly sunny springtime, it’s a blessing that we can still enjoy the gorgeous weather and boost our mood with some vitamin D.
Being on ‘Furlough’ from my job has given me the gift of time, so it’s been a great opportunity to get on with my ‘To Do’ list and finally see to those longer term projects which I’ve always wanted to do (more on this in a later post!). I’ve also been able to spend more time looking after my wellbeing as I get rested and can priorities those things which matter most to me; staying fit with home workouts, brushing up on my dance skills in the garden, cooking yummy creations in the kitchen, reading books, taking photos and of course, writing my own blog 🙂
Cooking has always been one of my favourite hobbies too, so I’ve been experimenting with a few new recipes and even tried some baking. The popular quarantine sweet treat which everyone has been making is banana bread and being my first time, I was impressed with my creation pictured above. With the sun shining over the past few weeks, I’ve also been making a lot of delicious fresh summer dishes, including this easy Greek salad.
Maintaining sanity during this time has pulled family, friends and community together as we all find ourselves in the same position. Our extended family now have a weekly ‘Zoom’ quiz every Sunday evening and my work colleagues organise regular drinks via video conference too. Creativity is key also as my Dad decided to host a neighbourhood quarantine disco from our back garden last weekend! Having posted fliers around our surrounding neighbourhood to notify them of the party and to text in with song requests, my Dad setup his sound system in the garden ready for two hours of music from 7-9pm on Saturday.
With the BBQ lit and the bubbles flowing, before we knew it requests for songs were flooding in! At 7pm on the dot we heard cheers from the neighbours in their gardens as we got the music pumping. By the end of the set, we counted over 70 messages from neighbours sending their song choices and thanking us for the disco. Being such a success, our plan is to do the next one to raise money for the NHS which I’m sure our neighbours will appreciate.
So as we continue forward in this period of uncertainty and apprehension, I remember how incredibly fortunate I am to be in my position during this pandemic. With my job secured, a comfortable home to reside in a lovely village and most of all a healthy family, I’m optimistic that my life will go back to normal once this all blows over. In the meantime, I hope this pause on our busy lifestyles will help us all slow down, appreciate the simple things and build a stronger relationship with loved ones as well as ourselves.
Being my 3rd year in a row celebrating in Aus, it’s always a big one as coincidently my birthday falls on Australia Day – the anniversary of when the first fleet of British ships arrived on the shores of Australia. Although a controversial national holiday given the impact white man had on the indigenous Aboriginal people of the land, it’s an excuse to get out the BBQ and join together with friends to soak up the peak of summertime.
This year I found myself back down in the Southern Highlands with my closest friends from my time in Aus. It was also another friend’s birthday that weekend, so the guys pulled out all the stops for a fantastic party including delicious food, good old Aussie garden games and even a coffee cocktail cart!
One of my old housemates comes from a Portuguese family of foodies, so produce is super fresh and nothing done in half measures. I was very happy with the array of cocktails on offer, including my favourite Espresso Martinis made with the best Australian roasted coffee. The night previous I also got involved prepping homemade hummus and even fermenting sauerkraut and kimchi. However the star of the show was the Hog Roast which got going on the spit from 9am to be ready for the afternoon.
After such a feast and plenty of beers down, we spent the arvo basking in the sunshine and listening to Triple J Radio top 100, before going out into the field at sundown for an obligatory game of Cricket. It just wouldn’t be an Australia Day if we didn’t play Cricket and it’s become a tradition to do so on my birthday… along with the need for VB Beers to keep me smiling of course!
As golden hour glowed and the sunset, I was so happy to have spent another fabulous birthday in the land down under. I’m very lucky to have made such special friends during my time living in Sydney and I don’t doubt we will be partying together again in the very near future. Cheers for the beers and awesome times Straya!
One of the places high on my list to try in Canggu was Give Cafe, sister to the famous Kynd Cafe in Ubud. This colourful little eatery with its pretty interiors gives all of its profits to charity, so at the end of your visit you pop your token into one of the charity boxes that they support to choose where your money goes. A fully vegan menu includes local dishes such as the Balinese curry which I opted for, as well as nutritious salad bowls and meat free alternatives which could be mistaken for the real thing – those satay skewers were just like chicken!
Another awesome cafe we were keen to hit up was Cinta Cafe which overlooks a rice paddy. This makes for a picture perfect lunch setting in the heart of Bali, especially when enjoyed sitting back and sipping on a coconut.
Next we tried Shady Shack for dinner as we’d heard great things about this hidden gem nestled in the trees just off the main drag in Canggu. Sat on wooden benches amongst the foliage glistening with fairy lights, it makes for an intimate dinner setting with friends or a partner. I was overwhelmed with the extensive choice of salad bowls and vegan dishes, but finally settled on the green bowl including zucchini noodles, broccoli heads and lettuce drizzled in a creamy peanut sauce and topped with a sweet almond brittle. Everything was so fresh and portions were certainly generous without compromise on flavour; this was my favourite dinner spot as I can’t resist a loaded salad bowl.
Back to brekky, I had my eye on the acai bowls I’d seen on Instagram from The Loft. A little on the pricier side given its reputation, I couldn’t fault the presentation of this perfectly formed bowl which even came with a cute pineapple gold spoon for me to scrape every last bit from the coconut. Located on one of the main strips in Canggu, I sat out on the terrace and savoured by sweet acai bowl whilst watching the madness of Bali scooters racing by.
Given our short trip, we weren’t in Bali long enough to sample all of the fabulous places I’ve seen scrolling through Instagram. We did however cover a lot of Canggu and on the most part everywhere was reasonable and eating out was relatively cheap, with the total cost of dinner and drinks typically about half what you’d pay in England! Whilst I didn’t manage to photograph every place we went – I was enjoying myself too much 😉 – below is a list of some of the best cafes, restaurants and bars we did visit and would highly recommend trying for yourself:
Stopping by for a late brunch we got seated on an outdoor bench and table overlooking the golden stretch of Bondi beach. Having been out for a few wines the night before, I was ready for some clean food and kick of good coffee to fuel my afternoon, so I opted for the bircher muesli topped with crunchy granola, yoghurt and heaps of fresh berries.
I was however a little envious of my friend’s choice to have the french toast which was made with a deep fried croissant instead of bread. Basically a desert for breakfast, but we weren’t mad about it and I was more than happy to help her finish it off!
After devouring our delicious breakfast we sat and sipped our coffee watching the hustle of Bondi pass by as we soaked up the afternoon sun. I was particularly chuffed with my purchase from the day too – a Stanton bucket hat. I’d wanted a bucket hat for ages so when I saw this one at the street market in Bondi, I couldn’t resist. Happy days 🙂
Strolling the endless rows of distinctly Victorian terraced houses, you never know when you might stumble across the next cute café or even another old fashioned pub. Famous for its English style architecture and leafy green tree lined neighbourhoods, it certainly feels like you’re miles away from the city in Paddo.
We found ourselves a little table outside Café Five Ways and dug into some delicious food having worked up an appetite shopping and walking around. I always loved this café for its location and the fantastic food for a very reasonable price. I went for a goat’s cheese beetroot salad whilst my friend chose a melted brie toasty with some cheeky chips to share – yum!
It was the perfect way to spend our arvo in Paddington; strolling, shopping, lunching and laughing!
Arriving in Bondi just after noon, it was busy and most places had a long wait for a table. Thank fully we came across Heart Cafe tucked behind the main drag of Bondi offering all kinds of delicious, nutritious dishes. I opted for a granola bowl with plenty of fresh fruits, yoghurt and edible flowers, whilst my friend chose a power bowl bursting with greens and other yummy superfoods. Breakfast any time of day is definitely an Australian tradition and something I always loved when living there.
Coffee is another speciality of the Aussies and it was a warming welcome back to sip my favourite long black with a dash of hot milk. With a jet lag to power through, strong coffee and sun on my skin was just the answer.
Being such a great spot for shopping with its countless boutiques, surf shops and numerous vintage stores, my equally shopaholic bestie was excited to take a look around the neighbourhood too. Weaving in and out of the streets behind the main drag of Bondi, every time I go I discover another hidden gem.
Finally we made our way over to the beach via the iconic grass hill which overlooks the vast expanse of Bondi Beach. Being a bank holiday between Christmas and New Years it was of course heaving and full summer vibes were in swing as we strolled past the beach front bars pumping out the tunes. As we sat just by the skate park soaking up the salty sea air watching surfers in their line up for the next wave, I truly felt back in the thick of Sydney life and ready for the holiday fun to commence!
Waking on Christmas morning at home, we were treated to clear blue skies as the sun glistened through the crisp winter air. After opening our presents sipping some bubbly, we drove over to my Auntie’s house in Surrey. I was thrilled to be wearing my fabulous new prescription sunglasses by Kenzo.
As always my Auntie and Uncle’s home was exquisitely decorated with tasteful touches of Christmas and aromas of the roast dinner cooking away welcoming us as we arrived.
It was a very much scaled down family affair for us this year as our international family continues to expand. Nevertheless it was lovely to be with close family again and soak up the festivities as we drank and ate wonderful food. Starter was Jamie Oliver’s seafood cocktail with smoked salmon, prawns and a thousand island dressing – a classic Christmas entree.
The main event was of course a traditional roast turkey with all the trimmings including my favourite bread sauce with leeks. After enjoying a perfectly matched white wine to have with my starter, I moved onto red to compliment the rich flavours of dinner. Every single mouthful was scrumptious!
After such a culinary delight, we all slumped on the sofa and kicked back to watch the Gavin and Stacey Christmas special. Later we served the cheese along with an assortment of deserts including mince pies, Christmas pudding and a decedent cream and chocolate choux pastry. A midnight Baileys finished me off before I curled up in bed feeling very merry indeed, the way it should be 😉
Bake in the oven for 10-15 minutes until golden brown and leave to cool before adding the icing. I opted for buttercream icing sprinkled with hundreds and thousands, some pink edible crystals and little individual flowers. I even made a few slices of fairy bread with the left over hundreds and thousands – a funny traditional Aussie birthday treat of buttered white bread topped with sprinkles!
I was chuffed with my creation and everyone at work was impressed with my baking skills. I’ve always seen baking as more of a science, but once you know the basics there is room to experiment and get creative with different recipes. I look forward to making another batch of these soon and having a play with alternative flavours and maybe even trying to formulate my own healthier mix using natural sugars and plant based milk.
Being regulars, the owners of Mama Mia always make us feel welcome and deliver fantastic service to match the exquisite food. With a beautiful bottle of red Syrah wine on the table we toasted to mum’s birthday.
I usually opt for the Spaghetti Al Frutti di Mare which is packed with delicious seafood, but this time I chose something a little different and discovered a new favourite. The Tagliatelle Al Funghi di Bosco delivered terrific flavour using such simple ingredients of mushrooms, tomatoes and olive oil. My sister went for a pizza, mum had Petto di Pollo alla Cindy chicken in a creamy sauce and of course dad had his usual personalised dish which is the Gamberoni All Aglio prawn starter served with rice.
Before our coffees mum was treated to a profiterole stack with a candle as the restaurant joined in a happy birthday sing song. After sharing the desert we had our digestif for which I indulged in a Calypso coffee featuring a shot of Tia Maria. It was a lovely evening celebrating mum’s birthday and spending quality time with my family as we enjoyed delicious food and wine alongside friendly service; smiles all round.
Consequently, I have chosen to take it easy this weekend and prioritise my mind, body and soul. After getting through those basic chores like washing, cleaning and groceries on Saturday, Sunday has been all about self care and indulgence starting with a long lie-in and comforting cup of tea in bed.
Being a dull, cloudy October day, I chose to burn my Apple and Honeydew candle from El Collectives as I lounged in bed and read my book. With breakfast being my favourite meal of the day but not having time to enjoy it properly during the working week, I always look forward to indulging in an extra special brunch on the weekends. This bowl of goodness was just what I was craving and brightened up this dreary day; sweet crunchy granola, creamy greek yoghurt, tangy cinnamon apple and warm berry compote.
Following a much needed quiet afternoon to recharge my body and mind in preparation for another hectic week at work, it was time to cook up a comforting autumn evening dinner. Taking inspiration from Pinterest and making use of ingredients we had in stock, I made a Spanish Chicken Cacciatore served with couscous and broccolini. Accompanied with a glass of wine whilst watching a film, this was the perfect Sunday night setup.
Whilst I’ve always been focused on getting that to-do list ticked off and completed, I now also appreciate the importance of taking time for me to switch off and rest. Weekends should be spent prioritising ourselves, nourishing our bodies with good food and ensuring self care comes before anything else in order to perform our best in day-to-day life.
Dani Aneka 