¡ Hola y bienvenidos de nuevo!

So I've been ever so slightly M.I.A over the past couple of weeks. Apologies my small following, you see, I've been dipping my feet back in to the waters of travel, taking a much needed break from one city to experience another. 

As you've probably guessed, the topic on today's blog is Barcelona! The city of Gaudi, Art and (perhaps the most important) CAVA!

The boyfriend and I were on an adventure to see all thing Barcelona and boy did we achieve our goal. Not only did we perhaps see every single tourist attraction the city has to offer, but we even managed to take a trip to experience life in the fast lane, about 1250 horse power in the fast lane, at the Barcelona F1 testing.

If you've never been to Barcelona, I would suggest popping on Skyscanner and getting those tickets BOOKED! As far as big cities go, this one offers everything. It is everything a city of the twenty-first century should be. Every restaurant, bar or tourist haven has access to free wifi and virtual tours on you own phone (providing it's as smart as the technology on offer!). Taxis are all linked to an online platform, much like Uber and Addison Lee of London, allowing you to book at a click of a button with guaranteed arrival of between 2-10 minutes. It is smart, fast and easy to get around with frequent buses and tubes. However, despite all the new age technology and fast pace living, it still perfectly maintains it's old, Spanish, Catalina charm - a perfect mix of old meets new.

 

We only had 4 days in this gorgeous city and really wanted to make the most of our time there, so we decided we would become the geekiest of  tourists and hop on a "hop-on hop-off" bus. This way we would see everything Barcelona had to offer in 1 day!

We eagerly 

Happy Valentines wee plums!

Happy Valentines weekend everyone! Hope you've all had a lovely weekend! Mine started bright and early (thanks work week body clock) with a lovely cup of tea in bed, followed by the customary swapping of V-Day gifts. I'm not one for cliché romance of chocolates, sprinkles and all things Cupid but I have to say, the gorgeous pink roses (faves) that Guy bought this year were most certainly a hit with me!

I was then handed my main present, a beautiful, dainty, sterling silver bracelet from Essentials! What a lovely treat! Spoilt! 

We treated ours selves to a naughty sausage and eggs sandwiches before getting ready for our V-Day ramble across Hampstead Heath. We had intended for it to be a quick and straightforward jaunt across the rolling hills of the Heath to the gorgeous Spaniards Inn where we would clink glasses and relax. However, this was not to be the case. We don't know Hampstead Heath very well you see and were (I more so) impractically dressed without rain coats or boots to tackle the muddy, off-path routes our lovely City Mapper was taking us. 

These boots were not made for rambling!

Some beautiful scenery on the Heath however, even an encounter with Mr Strong Man 2015!!

Talking of minor celebs! If you are a celeb hunter and like to brush shoulders out and about with them, then the Heath is definitely the perfect spotting place! We've seen many a celeb including the flawless Elizabeth Olsen!

Having fooled around in the mud, slipping and sliding in my inappropriate foot wear we had reached the Spaniards Inn and needless to say the large glass of vino and pint went down an absolute treat!

If you've never been to The Spaniards Inn then you MUST venture across the hills of Hampstead this weekend! Its a great little pub, full of charm and country chic despite being smack bang in the middle of London. The warmth of the pub is perfect for any wintry afternoon spent lazing around with a vino or 2 and the beer garden is one of the best for those warm summer months again (can you guess) lazing around with a vino of 2! Although I am yet to eat there, I can tell you, every meal I spied looked devilishly scrumptious and smelt of all the goodness a country pub could offer. I would leave work right now to have a gooey middled scotch egg, hot out of the oven, if I could. YUM

After being re-fueld we set off back across the Heath. To top off a lovely weekend, we had a typical romantic night in with movies and Chinese take out! Amazing.

How did everyone spend their weekends / valentines? x x x

Country Bumkins

Hello, hello, and welcome back to my little blog. I've been a bit M.I.A over the last week as I've been enjoying the wonderful countryside of North Yorkshire!

I love London, it's great. But...you just cannot take the country bumkin out of me. Wherever I go, what ever I do, there has to be, most certainly won't live without, a bit of countryside. Whether that be the greenery surrounding Museo di Capodimonte during my year living in Napoli, or the rolling hills of Hampstead heath, I will always seek out a bit of something green.

I absolutely ADORE where my family have recently moved to in the North. From the winding lanes of Sicklinghall to the ever beautiful Ripon, mum made the big move (downsizing) 3 weeks before Christmas. You gasp (if not you should) but little ol' Don, 55 years of age, packed up a 4 bedroom countryhouse in 2 weeks, moved to a 3 bedroom cottage in 1 week, and had Christmas up and running by the time I went up North. WOW.

Just look what DB did!

You can imagine the how knackered mamma D was feeling over the festive period, so I decided I needed to take a much needed break to go and visit. Not only this, but we had a little baby that needed to see his Uncle Guy! So bright and early Thursday just past, both myself and lovely Guy hopped on a train up North to get some much needed fresh air in our lungs and of course some love and cherishing from our families. 

** First stop Casa Donna (mum) **

Mum's new cottage is set in an idyllic village just outside of Ripon, North Yorkshire. It is an old cottage (don't ask me for the history) and has all the charm and wonderment that a little country cottage should have. Fire places, creaking wooden floors, stone flag tiles running through the dining room and kitchen and a gorgeous bay window / front door to welcome you. My first port of call upon arrival, after teas and biscuits had been had, was to delve into the depths of the garage to find my passport (needle in haystack comes to mind!). I'm off to Barca in a couple of weeks you see. Handymen we are, Guy and I set about arranging & organising said garage, finding passport on the way. Having arrived mid-afternoon, a couple of hours of mucking in had us pooped so relaxing by the fire and enjoying a couple of films with mamma D was how the remainder of the day was spent. 

Following morning, feeling sprite, we decided to head out on a ramble. Cue a bit of country lifestyle ramblings and fashions...

Happy rambler

Still feeling chilly!

This is when I miss the countryside most, having the ability to step out the front door and into the fields - with little dog in tow. Little Bridget was perhaps more exhausted than us!

Why can't I take you back to London!!

** Last stop Guy's **

Guys family are lovely. They all live within in walking distance of each other in gorgeous Ripon city. Little Ollie is the new addition to the family and before we had even step foot in the door it was talks of cuddles, feedings and playing. Guy's mum couldn't wait to get us feeding and playing with him. Boy was this chap and absolute CUTIE! Gurgling, laughing playing and (like Guy) grumpy and frowny when hungry!

What a pair of cuties!

Ripon really is a beautiful place and what better way to spend time there than to take Guy's brothers dog Maggie (bonkers labradoodle) on a whirl wind adventure around the town. 

To top it all off we got to capture a stunning sunset - how romantic!

Stunning!

Sunday roast to top off a lovely relaxing weekend in the countryside and we were off, back down to the Big Smoke. 

Can I be honest? I did feel a wee pang of sadness having to leave the peace and quiet of the North but have a great few weeks planned so hold on tight guys! I will be back with more tales of the country bumkin in the city!

x x x

What Lovely Tourist Fun!

Good morning Saturday and hello 10am lie in. Scrambled eggs and toast with tea? Yes please Guy.

Toast's bit burnt though love!

What a lovely wake up call from my gorgeous other half. 

Saturdays are the best (even more so if you've successfully managed to avoid hangover hell). The weekend has just begun and it is full of promise and greatness. Today was no different. 

We had a lovely day of strolling around London planned. First port of call would be picking up my beloved Aran green woolly hat, that I drunkenly left at the bar in the glorious Blind Pig - a few too many vinos. If you've never heard of the Aran Sweater Market then you really have committed a crime against cosiness and country chic! Possible one of the best things I found in Killarney, Ireland along with the great Irish hospitality and beautiful scenery. The Bling Pig has become one of my favourite places to drink and dine, with a bevy of exciting and tantalising cocktails to try and to be honest (every girls dream) reasonably priced, GOOD tasting wine! It can be found nestled above the Social Eating House in buzzing and vibrant Soho, London. 

Green woolly hat on head and a skip in our steps, we set off in the direction of curiosity and wonderment that is the Natural History Museum. On this occasion we would not be seeing the beloved Dippy but would be testing out creative sides and helping one of Guy's dearest and oldest friends. We, today, would be viral video stars! Cue me, the bewildered tourist happily getting filmed by my loved one, my loved one (cue Guy) snapping the crazed Dinosaur lover fleeing great NHM (cue Guy's friend) down the street after getting just that little bit too close to Dippy and being subsequently banished for eternity from the NHM. Despite the Arctic working conditions (who would allow such a travesty) the whole thing was terribly exciting! Cue Bens Cookies ...

What better way to spend the rest of the day, after walking through rain drench London town and feeling like your toes were about to drop off due to third degree frost bite, than to sip on creamy, marshmallow gooey  Hot Chocolate and nibbling on scrumptious, fresh baked Bens Cookies! It most definitely set us on our way...I know Guy certainly enjoyed it!

To top off a great day, I had drinks planned with a University chum. We're not overly familiar with all the drinking hot spots of London as of yet, however came across a darling little wine bar called Dalla Terra which has an absolutely fantastic array and choice of wine. I would absolutely advise this as a must go to if you're a lover of the grape! 

How did everyone else spend their weekends? x

Double Pay Day Sadness

Oxymoron galore, hello double payday sadness!

Despite it being Firday, this morning was by no means glorious. I awoke with the venom of a thousand pythons with a gravelly throat and tired out limbs (online diagnosis - the flu!). I breathed fire at my poor darling significant other who DARED to ask me how I had slept (apologies were sent by owlagram as soon as I had had my first sip of morning tea). So with fevers and sore throat in tow I set off as usual toward London City and my lovely little market research job.

Arriving at work I was greeted by the tip tip tapping of keyboards and the grumblings of office life. I sat down, had my first tea sip of the day (go forth owlagram) and logged on. The emails trawled in and I set off as I usually do with the days task. Today was a crappy day. BUT WAIT, TODAY... TODAY is payday - WOOHOO. And what better way to say hello to payday than to go visit your poor, abused bank account to find not just one but that TWO lots of salary had been paid in. HELLO MULBERRY YOU WILL BE MINE!!!

Alas, this was not to remain the case, the few moments of joyous celebrating that I had finally, after 4 long years (thanks Uni), said goodbye to my overdraft and hello to being in the black, were slashed by a banking glitch. A glitch that would require me to pay it all back **weeps**. Good by Mulberry and happiness.

None the less it IS pay day, and what better way to spend pay day weekend than take out Fridays and cocktails with the girls Saturdays!!

How will you guys be spending your payday weekend? x 

Tuesday Shoes Day

Hello one and all and welcome to the insights and ramblings of a self confessed loon - with a serious obsession with all things fashion, beauty and alcohol related.

So here goes. A little late in the week but what better way to kick-start this wonderful relationship with the internet and blogging than chatting about my one true love in life....SHOES (Sorry boyf).

As everyone knows January is the worst, it's always the worst. You get paid your January salary mid December when every single thing you do revolves around gluttony and excess. So why then, WHY, would you think WAIT... LET ME SAVE THIS MONEY!! Especially when everyone's out having a raucous knees up pouring copious amounts of champers, mulled wine and food down their throats?!

So last Friday, when I was feeling the effects of the January Blues, I decided it was time for a treat. A shoes treat. So off I went on my little journey scanning and surfing the great wealth of shoe shopping opportunities on the net, when I came across these 2 little gems.

 

Shoe boots are by far my most preferred shoe style. Comfy, warm (plus for the winter) and protect your lovely little feet from all things rank in the city (city juices caused by rain and puddles). These 2 little beauts were purchased from http://www.asos.com/ and come from the lovely New Look (tanned) and London Rebel (patent).