Talking therapy

I'm no stranger to therapy. If anyone knows what it's like to sit in a room, once painted 'positive' yellow (since bleached by the sun) with chairs as comfy and welcoming as the NHS can afford, it's me.

Brunch at NAC

As a belated birthday treat, I asked my friend where she'd like to go for brunch. As we're both south west I thought she'd suggest somewhere local, but I was quite excited when she said she'd had her eye on NAC for a while, so did I want to try there?

Dating diaries: on being enough

People think that because I date, I know how to date. They ask for me advice - what to wear, what to say - when clearly, as someone "who dates" i.e. is never in a relationship, I don't know what I'm doing any more than the next person.

Summer at Oslo

It's OSLO, take two. I blogged about Hackney Central's (not) best kept secret last year, when I was invited to try the summer cocktail menu and ended up being treated to dinner, too. I was excited to return with the promise of sampling their summer food menu.

Bottles, Spitalfields Market

In London, it's unlikely your interest will be peaked by the words 'wine bar'. Here, alcohol is a key part of the restaurant landscape. There are places for the snobs, and there are places for those who are just looking for the nearest (and longest) happy hour.

Sherry tasting with Tio Pepe

Mention sherry to anyone, and most likely they'll describe it as a 'Granny' drink. It's certainly not a 'hip' libation; it's not a G&T, or the increasingly popular Aperol Spritz... But truth be told, I've never tried sherry. So when I was invited to a tasting, I was curious.

A few from Madrid

Hola! It's been a while. And in that while, I've taken a bit of time out from London and headed to a different capital - Madrid. I spent a whirlwind 3 days there and I was sad to go. It felt like a second home by the time we left.

Champagne & canapés at The Devonshire Club

A few Fridays ago, I'd RSVP-ed to a cocktail party at The Devonshire Club. But when the day came, I was hungover, and so very tired. The last thing I wanted to do was trek from west to east (if you consider Liverpool Street east) to drink again.

Dating diaries: Flakers gon' flake

As we welcome spring, I for one am hoping that the dreaded Beast from the east has finished causing havoc for the year. I'm done with bundling up, feeling my stomach flip as my sole slips on the icy ground, and hiding away inside, desperately trying to keep warm. 

Rudie's at Boxpark

Read this glaring neon sign and you'd be forgiven for thinking you were being casually insulted... But in all realness, the jerk refers to the seasoning, and what you're witnessing is the second branch of popular Jamaican casual dining restaurant, Rudie's.

Dipping into Hipchips

I don't know about you, but I love a good crisp. I count Hula Hoops, McCoys and Tyrrells amongst my top three (closely flanked by Doritos Tangy Cheese). So a crisp and dip cafe is right up my street. Well, actually, it's up Old Compton Street, in the heart of Soho.

A Very Lazy Chinese New Year

I'm not blessed with any sort of culinary pazazz, my method being 'throw it all together and hope for the best.' My specialities (if you can call them that) are curries, bakes and spag bol. I'm a sucker for anything that promises ease, and that's where Very Lazy comes in.

Glow To Go with facialist Abigail James

Recently I spent the evening in the company of 'the Queen of skin' Abigail James, a facialist who works on the likes of Rita Ora and Poppy Delevingne. She's collaborating with healthy food hangout Squirrel as part of their 'Best in Field' series, launching a 'Glow to Go' salad.

The Secret Garden and lessons learned

Our final day, we slowed down and took on the role of the flaneur. Which is just a fancier way of saying wandering aimlessly, i.e. being a tourist. After a lie-in and a leisurely breakfast, we headed towards another recommendation: The Secret Garden.

The Atlas Mountains

On day two, we escaped the hustle and bustle of the Medina and journeyed to the peace of the Atlas Mountains. My mum booked a day trip which included a guide, an experienced driver (for the mountain trails) and lunch with a Berber family, finishing with a hike.

Les Bains D'Orient & Le Jardin Majorelle

We didn't think we'd make our flight to Marrakech. I've never experienced a taxi journey fraught with so much tension, stress and doubt as we crawled along the M25 towards Gatwick. Snow and accidents delayed us, as a two hour trip became upwards of four hours.