Category: Travel

Hope on the Horizon

February 24, 2021

In light of this week’s government announcement in the UK, it would seem there is a glimmer of hope for summer 2021. Bring on those Friday afternoons relaxing in pub gardens, weekend BBQs with friends and family and maybe even a few late summer festivals! Whilst it’s unclear right now how soon we will be able to travel internationally again, I can’t help but dream up a holiday hit list for when the world is free once more – I am and always will be consumed by wanderlust.

D U B A I

Number one destination has to be Dubai given our cancelled trip we had booked there for the beginning of this year. Known for its ultramodern architecture, luxury shopping and lively nightlife, the city truly is an adult’s playground. We will be sure to visit the Burj Khalifa, Burj Al Arab, Palm Jumeirah, Dubai Mall, Dubai Eye, Dubai Marina and I would have to venture out to do a desert safari! There is a sense of magnificent futurism which fascinates me about Dubai and I can’t wait to experience it for myself.

S A N T O R I N I

This Greek island with its abundance of blazing white cliff-side buildings and those iconic deep blue roofs, makes for the picture-perfect European holiday destination. Steeped in history and places of outstanding natural beauty, there is plenty to explore on the island like visiting the volcanic hot springs and wine tasting the unique flavours this fertile volcanic landscape produces. Santorini seems to be the idyllic romantic getaway I’ve always dreamt of.

B A L I

So yes, I have already visited Bali, but it just wasn’t long enough and I left lusting for more of this awesomely diverse, mysterious paradise. I need to head to Ubud to discover my inner yogi with its many temples, holistic centres and of course the monkey forest! I never got to properly visit one of those lush green magical rice fields, as well as one of the many breathtaking waterfalls across Bali for that ultimate gram pic. Although I do feel like I could go back to Canggu for a long time to just surf all day and party all night, balanced out with morning yoga and plenty of wonderful healthy food. Bali life is nourishing for mind, body and soul.

Lets fly far away… I can already taste the delicious sweet cocktails and feel those salty skin beach bum days!

Soul Sunday; For the Magic Makers

January 11, 2021

For me, there’s few things more soul soothing and mood lifting than reading poetry and finding inspiration in beautiful photography. So I was thrilled to receive my copy of Sjana Elise Earp’s hardback book ‘You Will Rise’ all the way from Australia.

Having suffered from anxiety and depression, Sjana has rediscovered compassion and love through yoga, travel photography and writing. I’ve been a longtime follower of her journey through Instagram, where she shares her words of wisdom and incredible travel and yoga photos. Hence the book is a stunning collection of these pictures and her poetry collated from some of the most challenging and dark times in life, through to her moments of love, acceptance and enlightenment.

When the package finally arrived in the post, I couldn’t wait to enjoy my Sunday evening diving deep into this magical book. I set the mood with some candles, fairy lights and a glass of French rose wine to help ‘seek, soothe and soar’ into the realms of my imagination.

And of course, I dressed comfy and cosy for a cold English winter’s evening in my Puma essential joggers, South Beach cropped green hoody and fluffy socks – comfort is key!

This is going to be a wonderful addition to my coffee table book collection. Full of incredible photography as well as thought provoking and uplifting words, it’s perfect for dipping in and out of to get that dose of magic you may need to guide you at anytime in life.

As Sjana writes, this book is for the light seekers, the sensitive souls, anyone who has ever loved and lost and the magic makers. Her words dig deep into the spiritual connection we have to this earth and illuminate a path of guidance back to ones own truth.

Link to buy the book – https://www.bookdepository.com/You-Will-Rise-Sjana-Elise-Earp/9781760897864

Year End and My 2021 Vision Board

December 30, 2020

It’s that time of year again when we look back over the last twelve months and reflect upon the highs and the lows. Here’s a little round up of what 2020 has taught me:

Looking forward to 2021 now, I’ve listed out a number of intentions and goals for the year ahead…

I find a vision board with images that inspire and spark imagination helps manifest the life you want to lead.

Pinterest is the easiest platform on which to create a vision board as there’s so much creative content including awesome photography, fashion, interiors, food, art and so much more.

Thought provoking quotes and words of wisdom add depth and motivation to your vision board.

The more eclectic and random your board, the better I think. By pulling together all those things which inspire you to one place visually, helps focus our objectives and reminds us of the bigger picture when times get tough.

Cote Brasserie; A Little Piece Of Paris

December 17, 2020

So we may not be able to travel abroad at the moment, but indulging in some delicious cuisine from our European neighbours never fails to tantalise my tastebuds and remind me of my love for travel.

Cote Brasseries have always been a favourite of mine for high quality food and sophisticated dining atmosphere without the expensive price tag. With their new Christmas menu and Prestige set menu at only £16.95 for two courses, we decided to treat ourselves to a midweek dinner at Cote in Farnham.

I was keen to sample the Espresso Martini as my Aperitif for the evening – a hit of coffee, sugar syrup and strong liquor, you can’t go wrong with this classic cocktail! To follow, we dived straight into our mains and I simply couldn’t resist ordering an old favourite of mine, the Plates Rapides of Steak Frites and side salad. This thinly beaten minute beef cut is served pink for the most succulent taste, alongside classic french fries and dijon mustard as the perfect accompaniment.

My boyfriend chose the Roasted Pork Belly served with gratin potato, braised savoy cabbage, apples, thyme and calvados jus. The meat was beautifully cooked to a pulled texture, whilst the sweet bed of cabbage provided a contrast of flavour to the salty pork belly.

To pair with our meal we chose a bottle of the French Lagarde Rouge 2018, a medium bodied and smooth red to compliment our meaty yet refined dishes. As I savoured every last bite and sipped on my red wine amongst the bustle of the brasserie, I felt transported from that dark rainy winters night in Surrey to a cosy corner of Paris.

Delivering authentic French cuisine alongside excellent service, Cote is always a good idea for anytime of the day. Inspired by the brasseries of Paris, this relaxed all day dining culture with cosy booth seating will have you booking a trip to the city of love in a heartbeat ❤

No Guts, No Glory!

November 18, 2020

Back in furlough once again with all this time on my hands, has my brain ticking into overdrive and I can’t help but dream up my next project to keep me busy. I’ve been inspired by so many people using lockdown as an opportunity to start their own businesses from home utilising the numerous online platforms we now have at our fingertips to help build a brand. My Auntie over in Australia has even branched out alongside a work colleague to launch their very own PR consultancy. With years of industry knowledge and expertise, I don’t doubt these two powerful business women will be unstoppable as their tagline perfectly sums up –

‘No Guts, No Glory!’ (https://brangwinandmoore.com)

This simple yet punchy quote resonates on a number of levels and got me thinking about my own career path. Whilst my training in professional Dance and Acting only saw me in the industry for a short while, my move to Australia for two years led me to discover an ability to adapt my skills into many different roles. From promoting the latest skincare product in the middle of Sydney’s Central Business District, to becoming Receptionist at one of Australia’s largest brand companies WPP AUNZ, my work ethic and guts to give anything a go got me to those awesome places. Not to mention it took quite some guts to get me over to Australia on my own in the first place, undoubtedly the best decision I ever made as it helped me to grow and changed my perspective on life.

Now I find myself back in the quaint little village I grew up in about to move in with my boyfriend and working at the prestigious Four Seasons Hotel Hampshire in my dream role as Events Assistant. Whilst this isn’t the path I expected my life to take, I believe it’s a gutsy attitude and need to succeed which has driven me throughout. I continue to find inspiration from those around me and feel motivated to expand my prospects and fulfil my creative passions. Then who knows, maybe one day I’ll own my very own supercar and even run my own business…it just takes some guts to reach that glory!

Borough Market Brunching

October 5, 2020

Strolling around the markets before indulging in a late brunch is my idea of the perfect Saturday scenario in London. As one of the oldest wholesale markets located in the historic buildings of Southwark, Borough Market is a foodie’s heaven with over 100 vendors offering fresh produce, imported foods and freshly made dishes from all corners of the world.

With its vibrant, buzzing atmosphere attracting an eclectic crowd of locals and tourists, it’s a wonderful experience perusing the maze of stalls as the aromas of delicious meals, baked goods and freshly ground coffee infuse the air.

Arriving at 12pm on a weekend, it was heaving and neighbouring pubs were already pulling pints for those early birds! We however hadn’t even had our morning coffee yet, so were keen to find a good little spot still serving brunch.

We stumbled upon a cafe Stoney Street by 26 Grains with the perfect corner for us to sit back and watch the market madness from afar. In fact the cafe’s original site in Neal’s Yard, is a favourite of mine serving up seasonal, wholesome dishes, including some epic twists on the average porridge bowl.

I was a lot happier once I finally had my coffee in hand and food on its way! The simple, striped back aesthetic of the cafe interiors alongside their rustic crockery, echoes the 26 Grains goal to serve up quality, everyday food and drinks.

My autumnal bowl of apple and ginger compote, cardamom granola, Northiam dairy yoghurt and maple was perfect for a chilly fall afternoon and just like having a desert for brekky 🙂 The scrambled eggs on house rye bread topped with Ogleshield cheese which my boyfriend had was excellent too. You can tell how fresh the eggs are when they are so orange like that.

We sat and sipped our coffees as the hustle and bustle of the market continued to thrive. Fuelled up and ready for the day, soon it was time to hit the shops of Oxford Street. However I underestimated the drop in temperature that weekend as I tried to clasp onto the end of summer and decided to wear a skirt, brrrr!

Wondering the market was the perfect way to kick off our weekend in the city – we even spotted a couple from our favourite reality TV series Made in Chelsea. Needless to say, Borough Market is a trendy place to be seen and a must-visit as one of London’s most historical events in such an iconic location.

Oxo Tower; Champagne Sunshine Showers

October 1, 2020

What would a romantic city break be without some super fancy wining and dining? So for our first evening in London I booked us into the Oxo Tower Brasserie upon recommendation from my Dad, who has held a number of work functions there and claims it to be one of the best views of Southbank and the city.

We arrived nice and early for our reservation at 6pm and treated to a welcome drink of champagne on the house upon arrival.

How lucky we were that the skies cleared and the most magnificent golden hour of sunshine showered the skies and glistened upon the city.

The Brasserie menu had a lot to offer serving up the finest of British cuisine alongside an extensive wine list. In fact it is part of the Harvey Nichols franchise, so I knew food would be top standard.

I opted for the Josper grilled spatchcock chicken, chimichurri, autumn vegetable slaw and maple glazed pancetta, whilst my boyfriend went for a classic Rib eye steak, green peppercorn sauce, mushroom pâté and green leaf salad.

To accompany the meal we had some potato wedges and tender stem broccoli and to drink we shared a carafe of French red wine, the perfect pairing to our meaty dishes.

Our meal was just exquisite and we both agreed it to be some of the best food we’d ever tasted! Service was absolutely impeccable too and my wine glass was never more than half empty – thanks waiter 😉

We stayed to finish our drinks and soak up those final few moments of sunset, before leaving to attend our post dinner cocktails at the Four Seasons.

I have to put the evening up there as one of the most beautiful dinners I’ve ever had. From the picture perfect setting as golden hour hues painted the London skyline, to the delicious food and wonderful service we were treated to, it was truly magical. A spacial thanks to the Oxo Tower Brasserie for taking such good care of us and ensuring our experience was so special.

Our Little London Staycay

September 30, 2020

With a well deserved break from work finally in sight at the end of September, I had my hopes up that we would be able to do a last minute holiday abroad. However the uncertainty of countries being added and removed from the quarantine list was all looking far too risky, so we settled on booking a mini break to good old London town.

After a thorough browse through booking.com we found a fancy looking hotel located right in the heart of the city at St Paul’s. I know the area well having lived just down the road back when I was studying in London, so I was excited to take a trip back to some of my favourite places nearby too.

Our hotel Leonardo Royal St Paul’s wasn’t half bad considering we paid just £104 each for two nights. The bedroom was a decent size with a lovely bathroom and dreamy, humungous sized bed which was like sleeping on a cloud!

Spa facilities were very nice too, however given that there was no allotted time slots to use the pool and jacuzzi, it was a gamble whether or not we would actually be able to get in due to social distancing.

Despite this, I had a very nice experience in the hotel’s gym which was much more spacious with plenty of equipment. I even had one of the big studios all to myself for about an hour, so I made the most of it and pumped out a good workout before practicing some old dance tricks.

Being the super organised/guilty control freak that I am, the weekend was all planned out revolving mostly around where we would be eating out next. Having lived in London for three years also gave me a lot of knowledge on the city and I had to visit some old regular haunts.

Of course a shopping trip to Oxford Street was a must and it’s always fun to have a stroll around Selfridges pretending we can afford that Rolex watch or Cartier ring 😉 We went for some truly special dinners (more posts to come on those) and I also had to take my boyfriend for a trip to my stomping ground Four Seasons for a late night tipple.

Four Seasons Ten Trinity Square is the newer of the two FS hotels in London and is simply breathtaking from the minute you pull up to the grand entrance. Given my connections back at my workplace Four Seasons Hampshire, we were treated to a spectacular array of cocktails on the house during our visit to the Rotunda Bar. How special to be the guest for once!

For our second evening I planned a more casual dinner and drinks in the trendy neighbourhood of Shoreditch. Another area I used to visit a lot, I booked us into a brilliant burger place Hache which never fails to disappoint.

On reflection, it was a perfect little getaway with my boyfriend and really great to see London still thriving despite circumstances. We certainly did miss out on our beach vacation this year, but there’s always next year and here’s hoping things are back to normal by then so we can see everyone smiling without masks once more 🙂

I Guess Life is a Little Upside Down for Now…

August 20, 2020

Usually this time of the year I would be jetting off to a sunnier corner of the world on holiday, in search of white sand beaches to warm my toes and crystal blue oceans to dive in and explore. However the entire Covid crisis seems to have pulled this luxury of carefree travel from beneath our feet, leaving everyone at a loss when it comes to getting their hard earned summer break abroad this year.

Edit 7I guess in some ways it has taught me to enjoy the simple pleasures of relaxing at home and soak up this bonus time we have to spend with friends and family. It’s also been a perfect opportunity to work on self care and personal challenges or goals.

Edit 11One of my achievements during lockdown has been to improve on my handstands which I’ve practiced every single day since March. I can now get up without support and hold it for at least 20 seconds or so. If I keep up this consistent routine of balancing everyday, my aim is to be able to handstand for over a minute and move my body into different yogi positions whilst doing so.

Edit 6Upon reflection, there are a few positives of being unable to travel at the moment, like not having to deal with the stress of busy airports and cramped planes. Not to mention getting to avoid the suffering of post holiday blues, often accompanied by a week long hangover from all those cocktails which seem so hydrating and refreshing in the scorching sun! Instead I’m feeling healthier and fitter than ever before as I relish the fresh summer countryside air of Hampshire.

Edit 15Life really has been turned upside down and like most people, this year has brought me many challenges as a result of such unpresidented events. I know I’m not the only one to have struggled with my mental health during these times, as we’ve all been forced into our bubbles of isolation and given no option but to reflect upon ourselves.

Edit 9Yet it has been the resilience of human spirit from within and to each other which has got us through – and that fundamental element of our species is something not even a virus can rob us of. Whilst the world is yet to find its feet with any kind of normality, lets remember to just keep our heads up and always look at the glass as half full.

Duke of London; Drive-in Supercar Cinema at The Brentford Project

August 12, 2020

London’s coolest and quirkiest classic and supercar showroom Duke of London launched their very own drive-in cinema season last month. With an array of automotive movie screenings set to get your motors running throughout the summer months, this unique cinema experience is exclusively limited to those in possession of prestigious cars.

Edit00012Located on the distinctive blue road at The Brentford Project, this event ooses classic American 50s charm as waiting staff on roller-skates take orders from the comfort of your car window. Guests can enjoy draft beer by The Brewery Tap, cocktails from Rye by the Water, freshly popped popcorn and even the best pizza in London (as voted by Time Out) from Santa Maria Pizzeria.

Edit00003Upon arrival, each car is escorted into position in front of the big screen and fellow car fanatics can be treated to the congregation of such prestigious motors gathered in one place. This is not only a fun movie viewing experience, but a truly unique opportunity for any classic or supercar owners to showcase their motors amongst the elite car community.

Edit00004We had the pleasure of pulling up front row to complete a stunning white line-up of sports cars. The McLaren GT certainly made an impression as we arrived with its roaring engine and falcon-wing opening doors. It was fun to have a walk around the array of awesome classic and supercars at the event, before getting setup with our beers, popcorn and pizza on order ready for the movie.

Edit00010This evening’s screening was the another automotive classic film 2Fast 2Furious. As the moonlight twinkled at dusk casting a pinkie blue hue across the sky, everyone took their seats back behind their wheels ready for the movie to commence.

Edit00006The Fast and Furious series never get old and what a spectacular and scenic setting in which to watch it again! Duke of London showrooms even brought out a number of their own range of classic cars for the event from partner RNG Classics, including a Porsche 928, Lamborghini Murcielago, Jaguar E-Type, Ferrari 308 GTSi and MGB GT.

Edit00007We were in our element as we kicked back in the McLaren and devoured our delightful pizza delivered up to the car window by our very own roller-skating waitress. Supercars, a movie classic, authentic Italian pizza and beers on tap – now that’s a date night right out of a Hollywood movie!