There’s nothing quite like a Friday evening trip down the pub to wind down after the working week and see in the weekend. With the easing of lockdown restrictions here in the UK last Monday, pub gardens were packed out across the country as thirsty punters were able to enjoy their usual tipple in the company of friends and family once again.
Whether it’s meeting girlfriends to share a bottle of vino or grabbing a drink with the boyfriend and soaking up the social atmosphere, I’ve most definitely missed a weekly pub outing. I was keen to get our Friday evening all booked to avoid disappointment, so we had 6pm sundown drinks at our local pub garden, followed by 8pm dinner at another gastro pub.
The sun may have been shining, but there’s no denying the April cold chill is still in the air. An open garden whilst the sun was setting was ideal, but later on I was glad to be going to The Hogget where they are fully equipped for that cold English weather. Fully enclosed marquee, faux fur covered benches, blankets and patio heaters, we were cosy!
When it came to choosing my outfit for the night, I wanted style but of course warmth too, so it was all about layers, layers, layers. I opted for a pair of black skinny jeans, classic maroon Chelsea boots and four layers up top – a vest, khaki chord shirt, knitted cream polo neck sleeve and tie waist Zara overcoat. Completing that country chic aesthetic with a black belted fedora hat, suited and booted ready for a glass of bubbly.
I’m not usually one for traditional pub food, but there was a novelty in eating that greasy pub grub once again. I had the veggie patty burger with salad and sweet potato fries, whilst my boyfriend had half a rack of ribs and chips. Impressively the food arrived steaming hot. Snuggled under a few blankets as we tucked into our feast, we thoroughly enjoyed the first slap up pub meal after so long.
Despite our Friday night fun pub garden hopping, I won’t be doing it again in a rush until the weather heats up. However with a heatwave set to treat England this week, a daytime pub outing will be on the cards for sure.
So as we continue to head in the right direction towards normality and socialising again, I think we’ll all find ourselves more grateful for the little moments of joy in life, even if that is simply heading down the pub for a pint!
There’s no denying it, we simply couldn’t have survived each and every lockdown without the holy grail that is Netflix. From the first UK lockdown when we were enthralled by the kooky, mysterious life of the infamous Tiger King, to the much anticipated season four of The Crown and exciting early blockbuster release of Wonder Woman 1984, Netflix has certainly heightened the stakes when it comes to keeping us entertained. With cinemas currently closed, the film industry has had no choice but to turn to Netflix to debut new works and keep Hollywood moving despite the world coming to a halt. And whilst we are kept on our toes with the plethora of new releases every month, Netflix doesn’t let us forget the wondrous catalogue of fantastic film and TV from the archives. So here’s my quick round up of February favourites to snuggle up to on the sofa this month.
FILMS
Wonder Woman 1984
When the radiant goddess Diana Prince hit our screens in the first film back in 2017, it was a thrilling breath of fresh air offering a perfect balance of muscle and heart amongst a dazzling spectacle of compelling action. Whilst this sequel draws out a much longer plot line, the most riveting visual cohesion is the flashback to a young Diana back on the magical island of Themiscrya, when the fearless youngster competes in an arduous challenge of strength and skill against women twice her age and stature. The powerful yet glamorous and elegant Wonder Woman played by Gal Gadot, maintains heartfelt audience connection as she teaches us that the nature of the truth will always win.
The Dig
Set back in the summer of 1939 just before the outbreak of war, Edith Pretty hires amateur archaeologist Basil Brown to excavate the mounds of her Suffolk property. Upon discovering the skeleton of an 88-foot Anglo-Saxon ship, the next phase uncovers the burial chamber within the ship containing a treasure-trove of perfectly preserved artefacts. Soon enough news has spread and people descend upon the land to jostle for credit, whilst there is an ongoing passionate urgency to complete the dig before the onset of World War II.
SERIES
Bridgerton
Wealth, lust and betrayal set against the backdrop of Regency-era England, this period drama follows the most affluent families of the town during the competitive Ton season, when debutantes are presented at court before the Queen. Narrated by the legendary Julie Andrews playing the gossip-girl columnist Lady Whistledow, this fluffy, humorous and beautifully costumed drama makes for easy watching. Not to mention how it will leave you yearning to go back in time to wear one of those exquisite ballgowns and attend a glamorous party, where your prince charming may well sweep you off your feet!
Tiny Pretty Things
With a dark and contemporary edge set amongst the gruelling, ruthless world of a Manhattan dance academy, this Netflix original series is no ordinary twinkle toes story. When the star pupil Cassie Shore stumbles, or is pushed in a scuffle with a hooded figure, and falls four storeys from the school roof plunging to her death, in her stead comes Neveah Stroyer. Despite being from the wrong side of the tracks and not properly trained, Neveah turns out to be stunningly talented, throwing the pecking order of the establishment into disarray. This gritty teenage drama depicts the highly competitive and brutal reality behind the curtain of classical ballet in a modern world.
OLD SCHOOL
F.r.i.e.n.d.s
An absolute classic which never fails to cheer me up and give me a good chuckle. As an OG Friends fan from back in the days, I’ve seen every single episode many a times and will still never get bored of watching those six eccentric characters as they fumble their way through life in New York City. At the moment I’m throwing it way back to the mid-nineties with the early seasons, when the fashion was experimental to say the least and hair dos even more questionable! I know my obsession is real when I start singing along to Phoebe’s rather peculiar yet comically genius songs.
Mean Girls
Arguably one of the most quotable films ever, 16 years on and this is still one of the greatest teen movies around with its accurate depiction of the jungle that is high-school. Thrown amongst a world of cliques and hierarchy, new-comer Cady Heron is quickly drawn into life as one of the Plastics and soon remarks herself as spiteful as queen bee Regina George, loosing her individuality and sacrificing her real friendships along the way. Comical and smart without the shrill edge of many teen movies, Mean Girls cleverly portrays the true culture of popularity, hierarchy and gossip entrenched in every high-school.
Needless to say the list is ever-changing, as you can see from my most updated homepage including those unashamedly guilty pleasures: Friends, Real Housewives, Clueless, Magic Mike… to name a few 😉
Netflix undoubtedly continues to reign when it comes to exciting new releases, catching up on popular TV series, or simply harping back to those classic movies that will just never get old. Whilst I do miss the thrill of taking a trip to the cinema and getting lost in the special effects of the big screen, Netflix is keeping the magic alive by bringing the joys of TV and film to the comfort of our homes as we wait-out yet another lockdown in the UK!
December dawn has broken and we’re officially on the countdown to Christmas. I love the festivities during this time of year and I enjoy nothing more than cosying up with a yummy hot drink in hand, ready to watch Christmas movie classics – The Holiday, Love Actually, Elf, The Grinch – just to name a few!
I’m sure I’m not alone in admitting loungewear has definitely been my daily uniform during lockdown. These super soft Zara camel track pants are my current obsession along with a hair clamp for a fuss-free, stylish home hairdo.
Despite that brisk cold chill in the air outside, I find bright fresh flowers in my bedroom always cheer me up and bring a bit of colour to the greyest of days. So embrace those beautiful blooms, snuggle up in your comfy casuals and grab a warming cuppa to soothe your soul during these dull winter months.
Happy Humpday Babes! It’s halfway through the week and finally looks like there’s an end in sight for this second lockdown here in England. I’ve embraced the time off after a hectic couple of months working this summer at the hotel as it’s a perfect opportunity to rest. It’s been fun taking life back to basics and enjoying the simple pleasures of things like baking and visiting the sweet shop, just like when we were kids.
Each week I’ve been making sure to get a couple of longer walks in and exploring new places in my local area has kept it interesting. Me and the boyfriend decided to investigate a local walking trial on Basingstoke Common last week and we were excited to discover a playground with a zip wire too!
Walking through the woodlands, it was stunning as the sun low in the sky cast long shadows off the trees. This takes me back to childhood memories of Christmas time walks with my family on our local heath; life was a lot less complicated in those days.
Another local gem we visited on this week’s walk was Odiham Castle which is just a short walk down the canal. We’ve been lucky with the winter sun recently too which has been taking the brisk chill out of the air, a blessing as I really do hate the cold.
I’m so lucky to live in a village surrounded by countryside and plenty of places to explore. My mum, sister and I particularly enjoyed indulging our childhood dreams and treating ourselves at the local sweet shop after our walk the other day. Just like the traditional old school candy stores, sweeties are sold ‘pick n mix’ style in jars for you to create your own personal bag. I also couldn’t resist getting one bag purely of white chocolate Jazzles, a true bag of happiness this is to me 😀
Unlike the first lockdown in the UK when I got stuck into lots of projects and longer term jobs at home, this time I’ve been focusing more on self-care and maintaining my mental well-being. I’ve found that being a bit like a kid again by indulging in what makes me happy in mind, body and soul, keeps me sane during such uncertain times. So go on, recapture the magic of childhood and enjoy the little things which make you smile in each day.
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 –
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!
Dani Aneka 