Tag: feelingblessed

Bali Diaries; The Final Chapter

March 9, 2025

Happy Sunday from a beautiful spring summer day in Hampshire. We landed back in the UK on Thursday following a two day stopover in Singapore to see my brother and his family. We had a wonderful time exploring the city and spending quality time with my family which was very much needed, following a very unlucky and terrifying incident which took place during our final week in Bali…

On Wednesday 26th February, I was attacked by a pack of approximately 20 dogs on Batu Bolong Beach at sunset and bitten three times on the calves of my legs. Thankfully I managed to limp away and we got to a hospital to get my legs stitched up and the necessary vaccinations. We are still shocked at this incident which was unprovoked and caught us completely by surprise, but it’s opened our eyes to the ongoing issues they have with the stray dogs in Bali.

In spite of the dog incident, nothing can takeaway from the awesome two months we spent in Bali and the incredible memories we made there. I suppose I can be grateful that this did happen in the final week of our trip so we didn’t have to sacrifice any planned activities and didn’t have to cut our stay short either.

It was very inconvenient to not be able to walk properly for those final days in Canggu and we spent a lot of time at the hospital getting my treatment following the attack, but we didn’t let that stop us enjoying our favourite cafes, beach clubs and restaurants during our last weekend on the island.

On Monday 3rd March we checked out of our gorgeous Villa Casa Cherish and took a short flight over to Singapore for our two day stopover with family. I will share more about our few days exploring Singapore in next week’s post and there will be a Singapore Vlog over on my YouTube channel soon too – https://youtube.com/@danianeka6142?si=4QX_kc38umVrcCvH

So whilst our two month stay in Bali ended on an upsetting note, it doesn’t taint the dream experience we had of living on the island of paradise for two months.

From the fun surf sessions and breathtaking sunsets, to the delicious foodie scene and lovely locals, Bali will always hold a special place in our hearts ❤

Christmas Party Silly Season

December 17, 2023

As soon as we hit December, I find myself at another Christmas celebration week on week; this is the official season of partying and being merry!

The month began with a festive lunch and private show around on the 5th December at the newly opened Fairmont Windsor Park.

I was invited with work to view the stunning event spaces and rooms there and the hotel was beautifully decorated ready for Christmas, it got me feeling so festive!

We were treated to lunch in the gorgeous bar area where I had a few small plates of dill cured salmon served with buttermilk sauce and pickled cucumber, and the pumpkin kale salad topped with blackberries and pumpkin seeds. The food was exquisite and it was a lovely afternoon being hosted by the team at the Fairmont.

Later that week, it was our member’s Christmas Social Lunch with work which we held at Platform in Shoreditch.

Starting at 12 noon, we welcomed our guests to play retro games together whilst enjoying drinks and freshly made festive pizzas. This is a relaxed, fun event we host every December to thank our members for their engagement and support throughout the year.

Onto the second week of December, last Thursday we had our internal team celebration lunch at Zero Degrees in Reading. This was a great opportunity to spend time with colleagues outside of work and celebrate another successful year together as a team.

That brings us to yesterday when we drove to the Cotswolds for a family lunch with my boyfriend’s relatives. I wore my Stradivarius mid-wash flared jeans, Pull & Bear khaki long sleeve backless top, platform Ugg boots, Zara cropped aviator jacket, a check print scarf also from Zara, my brown knitted beret and my new Coach signature print handbag, worn across body to complete the look.

We met at a pub called The Bell Inn at Welford on Avon and to start, me and my boyfriend shared the fresh bread and olives served with oil and balsamic.

For main I opted for the smoked salmon and prawn salad paired with a crisp glass of Pinot Grigio wine, the perfect light lunch.

There’s plenty of roast dinners and heavy food to come over the Christmas period, so I always like to have something fresh and healthier when I can.

Another wonderful afternoon spent with family and friends enjoying good food and drinks whilst catching up and having lots of laughs together.

So now we approach the final week before Christmas bringing with it yet more parties and celebrations with loved ones; let the happy merry times roll ❤

Howdy Summer; Cowboy Boot Moment

July 10, 2022

The UK sun is here to stay as it’s set to be a scorching few weeks of glorious sunshine ahead. So with the first heatwave this weekend, I booked an al fresco dinner date with my boyfriend at the Bel and the Dragon in Odiham.

Cowboy boots are having a major comeback and I’m here for it! I finally got a pair from Stradivarius and I’m obsessed; they go with everything from jeans and shorts, to cute dresses and skirts.

With it being almost thirty degrees on Saturday, I paired my boots with denim shorts, a white tank and my oversized Jaeger blazer to keep the chill off my shoulders later into the evening.

We sat outside in the quaint courtyard of the pub which was buzzing on this stunning summers day. I enjoyed a crisp glass of white wine as we browsed the menu and soaked up the wonderful atmosphere.

For dinner I chose a delicious linguine of Devon crab served with spring onions and chopped chilli & garlic, whilst my boyfriend had the grilled 9oz Hampshire ribeye steak medium-rare served with triple-cooked chips and peppercorn sauce.

We also shared a side of roasted broccoli with chilli and garlic. The food was exquisite and the service impeccable, definitely a step-up from your average pub and it felt like such a treat. Very satisfied customers indeed.

We enjoyed another drink together there in the final hours of daylight before heading over to another pub for more drinks with friends. A perfect little summer’s date night with my boyfriend.

I just love getting dressed up and experimenting with cute outfits for our date nights. I’ve always loved my fashion and so these fun evenings out are a chance to get creative and feel fabulous in my carefully curated wardrobe of clothes – cheers to expressing yourself! ❤

Easter Weekend Wind Down

April 18, 2022

Happy bank holiday Monday babes! It’s the end of the long Easter weekend and I’ve really enjoyed the extra time off indulging in good food in the company of family and friends. The sun has been shining too, so I’ve had my soft top down on the Mini Cooper and been on a few countryside cruises, it’s such a good feeling!

On Good Friday, we kicked the weekend off with a pub meal at our favourite local with our parents. I had the chicken salad with a honey mustard dressing along with a side of sweet potato fries and white wine. It was a fabulous evening of catchups and laughs, we were at the table for over 3 hours.

Saturday was another beautiful day, so I went to spend a few hours at the bike jumps with my boyfriend and his mates soaking up the sun as we had some drinks and I watched them ride.

And just like that, it was Easter Sunday and we were off to my Auntie’s in Surrey for a roast dinner.

I always love to visit my Auntie’s home which was looking as gorgeous as ever with the exquisitely laid dining table ready for a feast.

We had a premium cut of beef with all the traditional roast dinner trimmings including crispy potatoes, sweet parsnips, buttered leeks, steamed cabbage, fresh peas and carrots, pickled onions and lashings of gravy – what a treat!

Before I knew it, we were back home breaking into our Lindor chocolate bunnies with a cuppa and ready for an early night. A truly wholesome Easter weekend spent with family indulging in yummy food, guzzling drinks and soaking up the glorious sunshine ❤

My Lucky Stars; Thank You Universe

September 11, 2021

Sometimes we forget how lucky and privileged we are as the day to day minor stresses and worries of life overshadow our ability to live in the moment. After a fun and spontaneous evening with my parents yesterday, I got to thinking how grateful I am for my awesome Mum and Dad.

Now I’m not going to list all of the things my parents have done for me over the years as we’d be here for a while… but instead I am simply going to thank the universe for giving me such wonderful parents who will always put my happiness first. I’m so incredibly fortunate and blessed in many aspects of life, but it’s because of Mum and Dad that I have lived such a fulfilled and happy existence so far.

Cheers to the legends of my life, you rock! ❤

26.01.21; Chapter 25 Over and Out

January 28, 2021

As a January baby born in the midst of winter here in England, I’ve always resented the date on which my birthday falls. Being a sun worshipping beach bum, my last few birthdays down under in Oz during the height of their summer and falling on their famous ‘Australia Day’ holiday, were far more my kinda vibe for a celebration. With plans to escape to Dubai for my birthday this year postponed due to lockdown, I had to settle with the reality of my 26th birthday back at the place I call home nestled in the quaint Hampshire countryside.

We were treated to a dusting of snow last weekend, turning our little village into a winter wonderland. A welcome change to the grey dreary days we’ve had most of this year so far and an excuse to get out amongst it and capture some snaps.

A few days later, January 26th came around and it was time to bid farewell to chapter 25 and officially enter my mid/late twenties. I was overwhelmed with so many kind messages and love sent my way wishing me a Happy Birthday. I spent the morning pampering, taking a long hot bubble bath and getting glammed up in my birthday suit of course.

It may have been yet another day at home in lockdown, but I can never resist any excuse to dress up and show my favourite clothes some love. So I wore my new split front flared pants from Topshop, white Zara square neck top and plenty of gold jewels, including these awesome statement rings from Cali Tiger and Cinco.

Hair loosely styled into a low bun and nails painted for the occasion, I was ready to pop the prosecco and dig into a cheese board! Treated to wonderful gifts from my family, friends and boyfriend, I feel very blessed to have been able to have such a special day despite circumstances.

I was over the moon with my new C’est Normal overshirt from the boyfriend and I’m obsessed with this pair of charcoal-blue square toe mules I got as a gift too. Ultra unique and stylish, I just can’t wait to wear these killer heels on a night out as soon as we are free again!

Soon enough it was time to get cracking on the cocktails and with a brand new kit from my sister, I was excited to see what magic I could create. First up on the menu it had to be Espresso Martinis, a speciality of mine when bartending back in the day, so we were in for a treat!

Following a few practice runs I would say I pretty much nailed my martinis. The perfect amount of sweetness combined with coffee liquor and decrotively finished with that thick creme – delish!

The family certainly enjoyed theirs too and later on we shook up some mojitos also. I was treated to Wagamama takeaway for dinner, so I ordered my favourite Kare Burosu Ramen – udon noodles with silken tofu and veggies in a curried broth.

A truly unique and much quieter than usual birthday for me this year, but no less enjoyable and fun regardless. I guess the biggest lesson I’ve learnt in my 25th year is to not take the little things in life for granted and enjoy the moments of each day…

Time is now and that is all we really have, so go get it ❤