Honey I'm home!

Recently I got asked why people blogged.

I didn't know the answer. But then I got thinking about why I started blogging, aside from it being confirmation to my mum that I was still alive.

The truth is I love writing. It's possibly one of the nerdiest and uncool things to say, but I love words, I love using lots of words, and I love using them all the time. And when I moved to the city eighteen months ago there were a lot of things I didn't know. I didn't know you weren't supposed to shot the champagne in a pornstar martini, I didn't know that you had to stand on the right of elevators, and I didn't know Tinder was a thing. (I still don't think it is but hey, you can't argue with the masses). But I did know I wanted to move to London and I wanted to document every moment of it.

So I've promised I'm going to blog every day. Ok, maybe not every day, but as much as I can. And not just about the wonderful places I haunt, but the discoveries I make along the way.

So let me catch you up on the last month…

I packed up my bags and left London for festive frolics back in the country. And my was it good to be home. Aside from the eating and drinking, and there was plenty of that to be done, the season was filled with log fires, lights and laughter. The perfect winter combination.

As well as Christmas and New Years, the Holtham family celebrated another festivity, Emily's 21st. Laden with bottle upon bottle of champagne, we were joined by 60 friends and family for a heavy evening of celebration and reminiscing. It is so crazy to think that sib is now a grown up (sort of). But what better way to toast this than with endless wine and Alan in a teal bow tie. 

This is a new face I've started pulling. It says, "please don't take my wine".

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Bodo's Schlossed

Its almost time to say goodbye to London for 2013. It has been the most incredible few months and I'm sad, but of course excited, to be returning to Cheshire for the festive season.

But to mark the end of an incredible year together, Jack, Pippa, Mel and I decided that a final goodbye dinner was exactly what we needed. And where better than Bodos Schloss. The Kensington restaurant transports you into the world of the Austrian Alpines with its themed decor, traditional menu and staff kitted out in Ledehosen and Dirndl. A perfect choice to get us in the mood for Christmas.

I opted for a satin Oxblood skort (on trend, festive and elongates the legs... yes please!) and a black sheer blouse, both of which can be found below, while Mel chose a black strap back Cami, similar below.

Skort: http://www.topshop.com/mulberry-luxe-satin-wrap-skort
Blouse: http://www.riverisland.com/Black-long-sleeve-wrap-shirt
Dress: http://www.asos.com/Glamorous/Glamorous-Cami-Dress

We jumped in a cab with Christmas music to sing along too, and headed off for the evening.

The restaurant was busy when we arrived, and we were seated swiftly in the corner table, complete with fur draped over the read leather sofas and enough foliage to truly believe you were dining in the alps.

We toasted the year with a perfectly chilled and very reasonably priced Pinot Grigio and recalled our favourite memories from the last 12 months while browsing the menu. And what a year it has been. I'm dreading doing my goodbye 2013 post, there are far too many memories to choose from. 

In perfect timing the waiter arrived to take our order, I chose the poached hens egg to start, and then mussels (surprise surprise), Jack opted for the steak, Pippa the seabass, and Mel ordered chicken. 

The starter was simple and well presented, with runny yolk, hollandaise and dauphinoise potatoes, and left me feeling content and eager for the main course to arrive... and we were not to be disappointed.

We all received generous portions, presented traditionally and with care. The mussels were especially flavoursome and served in the most delicous sauce I have ever tasted, a bold statement for a seafood lover. I soaked up every last mouthful with the sourdough bread accompany the dish. The others were equally satisfied with their mains and I cannot compliment the food enough. Bodos is centrally known as a cocktail and late night party venue, but the food is entirely recommendable.

 We were all feeling pretty full, but when an apple strudel complete with sparkler arrived (We were celebrating after all), we were all very happy to tuck in.

We ordered ourselves a cocktail from the vast choice on the menu, Jacks arrived in a St Bernard glass (the aptly named St Bernard cocktail) while I selected a champagne and belvedere Corbet's Couloir. And we headed off to party into the night.

 A blurred but very true shot of Jack and I 

Someone was having a good time!

At around 10pm the bar quickly fills up with partygoers and the tables are swiftly cleared away. It's much more of a party venue on the weekend, and I look forward to returning soon to experience it.

It was the perfect festive venue, but if you're looking to be transported out of Kensington and into the Alps anytime of the year, its an absolute must. Drinks are well priced for this type of venue, and a good time is absolutely guaranteed.

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Viva Espana

I was so excited about this weekend. Not only for a break from London, or the fact that I have been desperate to head back to Madrid since the day I booked my adventure over two months ago, but also because I got to see this gal.

Ok, so this is an incredibly old snap from the archives, but I had a lifetime to choose from. I've adored spending time with my older sister Emily (or Em, as I will refer to her as from now) for as long as I can remember, and although I was incredibly excited for her to go on her year abroad to Madrid (cheap vacations? Yes please!) I was also really nervous. Firstly I was nervous for her, moving to a big city, teaching english and knowing a handful of people, but I was selfishly nervous for myself. Who would I call crying hysterically at three in the morning, or moan about to when mum suggested we eat goose rather than turkey at Christmas.

I was also worried she wouldn't talk to me as much. I'm incredibly needy when it comes to Em you see. So you can imagine how excited I was when I invited myself out to visit her for a long weekend. Churros and my best pal? Wonderful.

So I packed up my bag on a Sunny friday afternoon and headed for the airport, before a quick flight over to Madrid.

Unsurprisingly Em was late to pick me up, so after a couple of laps of the airport we met up and I couldn't have been more excited to see her. We caught up about her new life while I envied her new tan en route back to her pad. She lives slightly out of the city in the banking district of Charmartin, very much the Notting Hill of Madrid!

We had a quick nap (Siesta darling, it's a siesta.) Before heading out for some food. Em took me to Chueca, the Soho of Madrid, to the very-chic-and-not-at-all-market-like Mercado de San Anton. We went up the hidden staircase to be greeted by soft jazz music and plastic pigs onto La Teraza, and with a cocktail in hand, took in the view and the last couple of months of each others lives.

Then with a grumble in our tummies, it was time for dinner. Em took me to her favourite Madrid discovery, El Tigre. It's traditionally charming and full of tourists and Spaniards alike who've all discovered there secret. You pay six euros for a litre of beer or cocktail, and it comes with a pile of food. Granted it may be carb central, but that was fine by us. 

We finished the evening at a quite wine bar around the corner, and with a vino or three in hand, chatted and joked as if no time at all had passed. Before too long I was most definitely ready for a sleep, with a big day of sightseeing ahead.

 We were up not so early and with slightly fragile heads Em decided we go for Churros. It had been on my to do list and even with a slightly swollen head and alcohol fuelled stomach, I could still squeeze a Churros and chocolate in. Don't ask me what they are, I have no idea. I just know that sugar and cinnamon coated, dipped in chocolate and washed down with an orange juice, they're heaven in a breakfast. And they set us up perfectly for a day of sightseeing.

We went into Sol, the centre of Madrid for a wander around the palace, street art, Christmas decorations, and a tinto de verano. Oh and a snap by a fountain. That was on my list too. Don't be deceived by the sun. It was actually about 5 degrees. 

Then Em took me to another market-that's-too-chic-to-be-a-market, El mercado de San Miguel. Another fabulous saint who saw the need for fabulous cocktails and incredible seafood. I could happily have spent all day here, but there was food to eat and plenty more to see

Met this little cutie while we were there!

We settled down for some tapas, and being the Spanish gals that we secretly are, ordered Octopus, Anchovies and Squid. 

We again headed home for a nap in preparation for a big evening. We met up with a bunch of Em's friends from school, who are also on years abroad and I realised just how different her life is now. She's so blessed to be meeting so many incredible and diverse people and we had the best time hopping from bar to bar around the centre. I didn't take a single picture but can tell you Tupperware is most definitely one to watch. It also gave me my first beer, so it's destined to forever hold a place in my heart!

The following morning we headed to the flea market in Callao, which was laden with stall upon stall, selling everything from fur coats to knives and forks and back again. It's only on on a Sunday, and sees hoards of people come every weekend. Almost the first stall I saw I fell in love with a metallic, floral print silk scarf and nothing after that compared. We went back later and Em bought it for me, it's hanging in front of me now as I type and I couldn't think of a gift I love more. 

We then spent the rest of the afternoon in Retiro park, one of Em's favourites. It also jogged my memory from a trip my whole family took almost ten years ago of an ice cream and wander, and it is just absolutely beautiful. For as much as I adore Hyde Park, it has nothing on this.

We headed home early evening for our Siesta before popping out for a final goodbye dinner. I left early the following morning as Em went to school. As was predictable from such an incredible trip, I was devastated to be leaving and already planning my return. Seeing Em living abroad makes me realise how far we've come together. We are worlds away from the little girls in matching outfits playing schools and kitchens and painting on the garden wall. I couldn't be more proud of her though and knowing that I'll have her back in less than a month will truly keep me going!

Anyone who has siblings, younger or older will appreciate this, but this really is Em and I!

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