Well, it looks like we don’t have to travel far to get into the festive spirit this Christmas with the newest addition to Sutton Coldfield, introducing Silver Tree Bakery. Now, you may recognise the name as throughout lockdown I was none stop ordering from them, from essential groceries to the lockdown treats such as cream tea, Silver Tree was an absolute lifesaver not just for me but for many who live in Sutton Coldfield and the surrounding areas.
Located in the heart of Sutton Coldfield, Silver Tree is a catering company, catering for events and weddings throughout Birmingham, they then turned to local heroes delivering essential groceries and treats to people in lockdown and now they have become shop owners. I was delighted for them when they announced they will be opening up a Bakery in Sutton Coldfield, and now seeing the Bakery open during the pandemic, seeing people enjoying themselves and the business thriving already, I am over the moon for them.
Located on Water Orton Lane in Minworth you will find this quirky, Scandinavian style wooden chalet accompanied with fire pit, picnic benches, and faux fur throws. A little bit of Lapland in Sutton Coldfield, We didn’t ask for it but now realised how so badly we needed this especially this time of year with the pandemic, there was not one miserable pout insight!
There is a queuing system and of course, social distancing rules put in place, as you enter the bakery there is more seating however due to Tier 3 restrictions, the seating can not be used. You can grab breakfast sarnies, cakes, bakes coffee and more, and toast your tootsies too on the fire whilst munching away on some awesome food, It’s absolutely delightful. There is also the option for click & collect on their website here where you can also order hampers and desserts such as lemon drizzle cake and Bakewell tarts.
Hot drinks are also on offer at the bakery, I opted for a cappuccino and it was a beauty alright, I spotted a few fancy hot chocolates some of the kids were tucking into however I thought scrapping with a six-year-old is not how I would like to end my year, plus, the six-year-old was way taller than me, I didn’t have a chance.
The cakes and bakes are amazing, especially the cinnamon bun, crikey, I could kick myself just for picking up one! Before I even made it into the bakery, a man stepped out and announced to the queue “The sausage rolls are the best around” so of course, I ordered two and I can confirm, That they are indeed, the best sausage rolls around…boar off Greggs.
The staff are so lovely here, I had the pleasure of meeting some of them in lockdown and it was great to meet them again and hear they are doing so well already. Smiles all around, and you can tell they are proud of their bakery, I would be to, it’s wonderful and the positivity of the staff here just make it even more wonderful.
Not just for kids, but for the whole family, Silver Tree Bakery is a must-visit for all. It was lovely to see people come together (social distance of course) enjoy good food, have a coffee and just to feel a bit of normality! The Bakery is perfect, put together so well and is just so festive, it’s impossible to not get into the Christmas spirit here. Congratulations to you all and I wish you the very best with the Bakery, I am sure it will thrive here in Sutton Coldfield.
Open from Wednesday to Sunday Wed-Fri: 8AM to 6PM Saturday: 8am to 4PM Sunday: 9AM TO 2PM
Last year I did a post on some of my favourite spots in Birmingham to take my camera, nearly a year has passed and, there is no surprise that there are even more spots in Birmingham to snap! This year I haven’t really been out a lot due to CO-VID ( as the same for every one else!) isolating for two-three months wore my creativity down until I had the green light to go back to work in Birmingham. I spent one day just walking around Birmingham and I couldn’t believe there were so many locations that I have never discovered before… From Digbeth to Chinatown, when it comes to photography, Birmingham is the perfect City to imagine and create. Some spots I found don’t even look like your in Birmingham but, more so you’re in Paris, Japan or maybe even a futuristic Birmingham, Yes Birmingham is a pretty fantastic city for creatives to CREATE and take imagination/creativity to the next level! Here’s just a few new spots that I have found that you may want to check out yourselves AND use them for photo opportunities!
I have mentioned quite a few businesses in this post that are great for photographers (very open to letting photographers in and doing shoots) HOWEVER please ask before you snap AND, don’t just snap and dash! I always ask permission and, I like to give back, buy a drink/some grub and remember to tag them in your photos!
CHINA TOWN/BATH PASSAGE
Located in China Town(right next to China Court takeaway) Bath Passage is full of amazing street art by the talented Gent 48. Bath Passage has become one of my favourite places to do photoshoots in the City! Making my photos POP and stand out!
VICTORIA SQUARE FOUNTAINS
Now covered in lavender blooms making photos pop with gorgeous lilac colours, victoria square over the years seems to be coming along quite nicely! I usually take many of the bloggers here for photoshoots and take photos against the lavender, also the architecture on the Town Hall is pretty cool to shoot against.
THE MAILBOX
The Mailbox is a lovely setting for a photo shoot with beautiful interior and stunning view’s of The Canal and The Cube It’s especially beautiful at Christmas time when they put up all the lights and the Christmas tree, really gets you in the Christmas mood and creates beautiful festive photos!
Looking for somewhere to stop off for coffee? why about stopping off for coffee and tuck into a delicious brunch as well as getting in a few more photos? Located just underneath the bridge from The Cube to The Canals (on way to Brindley Place) you will find Cocoa By Ali. A very popular spot for bloggers to snap with all the beautiful pink interior and blooms but don’t just Snap and Dash, this place has some beautiful and delicious dishes on offer for you try too (definitely recommend the french toast :P)
TOP OF THE CUBE/HOTEL INDIGO
So you can either buy a room with a view for the night or head on up to Marco Pierre White’s restaurant on 25th Floor for a pretty cool panoramic view of Birmingham. Beautiful in the day and beautiful at night, take your pick! The shot is going to be awesome any time of day.
And let’s not forget about the bottom of The Cube where you can get some pretty epic low angle shots of the “uplifted” sculpture. At Christmas time The Cube’s Christmas tree appears and it’s a lovely sight to snap!
DIGBETH/STREET ART/VENUES
Home of the future creatives, an ultimate favourite of mine and I bet it is of soo many other photographers as well! It’s like the upside-down of Birmingham, endless possible shots to take in this colourful area full of talented street artist’s work, with exciting possibilities for all creatives. Everyone knows I love Digbeth, the one reason why I love it so much is it’s always changing, there is always something new around the corner. New artwork, new venue’s, new opportunities for creatives to get stuck in and exhibit their talents. Of course, one of my favourite walls in Digbeth is The NightOwl, retro, cool and just makes a killer backdrop.
Let’s talk about the venues where you can get some awesome shots:
FloodGate Birmingham: Full of Neon, quirky artwork and rammed with photographers. I see photoshoots going on in there all the time so photographers are welcome to create!
NQ64: NQ64 to me is like stepping back in time, into the 80s, Stranger Things style. Glow in the dark, street art and retro gaming, what’s not to love?
Birdies Bar: Tropical vibes, fantastic for those cocktail photos!
Zumhof Biergarten: Quirky and different, Digbeths very only little Glastonbury, take a few photos here and convince your pals your THAT BITCH.
SELFRIDGES CAR PARK: TOP LEVEL
I am always on the hunt for views of the City, on the Selfridges car park I have view’s of Digbeth way and up-close views of the Bullring which is pretty stunning at night!
BRINDLEY PLACE/CANALS
Take a walk amongst the canals towards the Utilita Arena and, you will come across bridges with floral just like the bridges in Amsterdam layered with bikes, Birmingham to Amsterdam and I didn’t have to get the EURO?!…BARGAIN!
The trees in Brindley Place by Ikon are a must in the Spring and Autumn, The beautiful pink blossom is to die for and, then in the Autumn the splash of orange from the Autumn leaves create’s stunning images!
THE BOTANICAL WALLS
These walls make fantastic backdrops for photoshoots and you will find them near Grand Central and Snowhill Station! I use these a lot with my blogger and couple photoshoots and they always make awesome photos!
GRAND CENTRAL TOP LEVEL CAR PARK
The car park for Grand Central is amazing to take photos of The Rotunda and John Lewis (RIP!) Its an open-top car park and its on the top level, and you can grab Grand Central and The Rotunda in one shot!
GREAT WESTERN ARCADE
In my last blog, I hardly touched on the Great Western Arcade and, for most of this year, it has been the number one place for me to do photoshoots. A very popular location for photographers and it’s perfect for a couple’s photoshoot especially engagement/wedding day photoshoot’s in which, the scenery is just simply stunning to capture!
A few new neighbours have arrived since the last blog post including the very vibrant Pineapple Club. Neon, botanical, and just oozing Beverly Hills hotel-style makes it a beautiful place for those blogger/model photos as well of course, for dining and having a cocktail or two with friends.
JEWELLERY QUARTER/ST PAULS CHURCH
Unfortunately due to CO-VID I had to cancel my family shoots in Birmingham, ST Pauls Church in the Jewellery Quarter was going to be the first location as it’s so beautiful especially in Autumn with all the leaves, just look at those beautiful Autumn colours! I always find it such a peaceful location to photograph and there is just so much you can do with it!
MOOR STREET STATION/EPIC SHOTS OF THE BULLRING
Moor Street to me is one of the most beautiful train stations I have ever stepped foot in, every time I am there my mind is flooded with happy childhood memories coming to this station. The beautiful victorian interior, the old school feel you get it almost transports me back to being a child thinking I was going on some amazing holiday (that holiday being just Solihull for Christmas shopping) and the amazing photo opportunities make its quite a fabulous location for photoshoots. I mainly come to Moor Street to catch the train to Leamington Spa(usually platform 3 or 4) but, I also come here to get some fantastic shots of The Bullring too!
EDGBASTON/ THE EDGBASTON HOTEL
The Edgbaston Hotel is well-known for its beautiful Art deco interior design and especially at Christmas, where many call it “The house with the Bow that everyone wants!” Around Christmas time I will often walk past and find people outside taking photos of this gorgeous house, however, it’s even more gorgeous inside! I would 100% recommend to book for Christmas and get into the Christmas spirit and snap some beautiful seasonal photos for the gram!
Can you believe it’s that time again? Where everyone is rushing around like headless chickens carrying 50 Primark bags, middle-aged women are crying out George Micheal’s Last Christmas and everyone is sodding off their diets?! URM…CORRECTION! Everyone is rushing round in masks carrying 50 Primark bags, middle-aged women screaming out George Micheal’s Last Christmas from across the road from one and other and everyone is sodding off their YEAR LONG LOCKDOWN diets, 2020 goes down in the history of being the most wanky year ever. I know it’s not just me who still thinks is 2020 a nightmare or not? It’s been a rollercoaster (the crappy wooden one’s that you find on the side of a dirt road in a foreign country) of a year, so I thought why not bring a little bit of joy and get everyone in the festive mood by creating a Christmas gift guide to Independent shopping in and around Birmingham. The Autumn gift guide was a big success so I decided to give the Christmas gift guide a go, you may be thinking…Bab, Its November?! You are correct, but TKMAXX had their Christmas decorations out in September and to be honest, 2020 keeps fucking up my plans so I have decided to start early!
The Midland’s has an impressive list of independents, from competitive fashion brands to quirky giftware stores, and I really want to show them off to you all! It’s of course, been a very tough year for independent’s and this year I have done my best to support as many as I can so here is to the last hurrah of 2020 supporting my Midlands independents! All these businesses deliver across the Midland’s, so you may not even need to leave your house to do Christmas shopping this year! From gifts for the kids to gifts for that someone special in your life…that’s the dog of course! My Independent Christmas guide is here to deliver and I am hoping it will make Christmas shopping a little bit easier for households across the Midlands.
This blog post will cover gifts for your loved ones to secret Santas for your work colleagues, all colour coordinated to help you out…It’s quite a big guide!
GIFTS FOR COUPLES GIFTS FOR YOUR GAL GIFTS FOR YOUR CHAPPY GIFTS FOR FOODIES -CHEEKY BEVVY GIFTS -HAMPERS -COFFEE GIFTS -FOOD & DRINK VOUCHERS GIFTS FOR THE LITTLE ONES GIFTS FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY GIFTS FOR THE PROUD BRUMMIES GIFTS FOR THE CRIB BLOOMING LOVELY GIFTS-PLANTS & FLORALS LETTERBOX GIFTS SECRET SANTAS £10 & UNDER CARDS & GIFT WRAP
GIFTS FOR COUPLES
-EXPERIENCES
THE EDGBASTON HOTEL
Cocktails for two and an overnight stay at the Boutique hotel from £250
Stratford-Upon-Avon’s first-ever Michelin star restaurant is offering cookery classes and gift vouchers offering 6-8 course taster sessions for you and your partner!
Make your own! Working Clasp offer gorgeous jewellery as well as DIY Jewellery kits such as the Christmas wreath earrings and necklace colouring set from £27.00
Hart + Co are offering gift vouchers for you to buy to give the ultimate FEMME experience! All you need to do is message Hart + Co on Instagram, Facebook or send them an email reservations@hartrestaurants.co.uk Vouchers can also be posted out or a digital copy can be sent instead! Merry Christmas Gurl!!!
Purity Brewing Co offer some fantastic gifts to keep the chap happy this Christmas from Picking your mixed case of beers to these exclusive Aston Villa Purity Pale Can case for £23.90.
THE STAFFORDSHIRE CRAFT HAMPER COMPANYFROM £37 TO £43
The Staffordshire Craft Hamper Co offers contemporary, seasonal, limited edition hampers filled with artisan foods and beverages from the Midlands. Many of the items are award winning and these small batch treats aren’t freely available to buy from mainstream shops. Support local producers, through this local hamper company!
Birmingham Museum offer a range of memberships for the whole family to enjoy this includes NINE Birmingham museum sites for you all to visit for 12 months-entry FREE. Family Memberships start at £95.00
Festive alcohol truffle box of 12 for £9.95 or for 50p over your budget you can get trio collection of Kneals chocolates offering a variety of flavours with gift message
Located in the iconic Cube building in the Mailbox you will find Hotel Indigo, offering sleek and stylish modern boutique rooms with stunning panoramic views of Birmingham. If there is one place to stay and see what Brum has to offer, it is definitely Hotel Indigo, get ready for a fabulous experience that won’t burn a hole in your wallet and will make you fall in love with Brum more!
Hotel Indigo boasts an impressive selection of rooms on the 24th floor of The Cube, from standard comfortable doubles to eye-dropping feature rooms with skyline views of Birmingham. I have been lucky enough to stay in both room’s in the past month, I have been living the suite life baby and here is how I found it! For my Birthday I decided to stay in one of Hotel Indigo’s Superior King Rooms with a balcony which was purchased via Booking.com for £122.
Arriving at Hotel Indigo, straight away you know you are in a prime location. Surrounded by bars, restaurants and retail, convenience at its best. If you’re arriving by train it’s only a 10-minute walk through the gorgeous Mailbox. For guests who are travelling by car, Hotel Indigo does not have a car park however when staying with the Hotel you do receive a 15% discount at The Mailbox car park which is a short 5-minute walk away. Checking in is very simple here, a few little scribbles and show off a card and you’re on your way to your room. The lady at the reception desk was very lovely, she noticed it was my birthday and wished me a Happy Birthday as well as giving me two complimentary drinks token’s in the Marco Pierre Restaurant on 25th Floor to celebrate, what a treat!
CO-VID measures have been put in place here, hand sanitising stations are provided around the hotel, face coverings are required, deep cleaning off rooms and social distancing measures are all put in place, and I have to say I felt very safe and comfortable at all times in the hotel. The hotel rooms are on the 24th floor, and there are lifts or if you really want a workout…the dreaded stairs, in which I wouldn’t recommend!
Please note that The Club Spa is not open due to CO-VID
SUPERIOR KING FEATURE ROOM WITH BALCONY
As I opened the door, my jaw dropped…Wow, now this is unique. The room oozes coolness throughout, it’s quirky, different and oh wait…EVEN PROVIDES BALLOONS AND COOKIES?!
That’s right people, I got birthday balloons, cookies and even a lovely birthday card from the staff, what a lovely gesture and had me beaming with joy when I read it.
The room was spotless, couldn’t fault it at all. The bathroom is big with a rainfall shower in which you could fit the rule of six in there and offers luxurious spa toiletries. The room also included a fancy coffee machine with coffee pods…my own coffee machine for the night? this could be dangerous…but so worth it! The room also provides tea facilities, robes and slippers, complimentary bottled water, massive plasma screen with a media hub (YouTube on tap Bab) and lots of wardrobe space. Plenty of towels and they also mentioned that if we needed any more there is a phone in the room to use and the staff can bring some more up. Plastic cups for drinks are supplied as well as take away cups if we fancied taking our coffee away with us or drink it outside on the balcony.
Let’s get to the best bit, the Balcony and wow, this is just sensational. Our private balcony showcases panoramic views of Birmingham (Get those EXTRA Instagram photos) chairs are provided so it was perfect at night in our robes, drinking our espressos watching Birmingham at night. Living the life of luxury for one night for just £122 for two people with a balcony offering beautiful skyline views of Birmingham is quite hard to find in Birmingham, However, Hotel Indigo provides this.
We headed out for Dinner and came back to the Marco Pierre Restaurant on level 25 to spend our drinks vouchers, it was quite quiet on Sunday, they offered outdoor seating that was of course, spaced out from other diners and heaters were provided. The view from the restaurant is also spectacular, and personally I think this is one of the best views of Birmingham. A variety of drinks are offer here from sassy cocktails to spicy spirits, a drink with a view at Marco Pierre’s is a must.
We did have an option of booking into the restaurant however we already had plans on the night to go elsewhere and already booked in for breakfast at another restaurant, The option is there for you when you check-in if you want to book breakfast which will cost £12.95 to add on to your stay.
Heading back to the room we decided to get in our robes and enjoy more of the view with our espressos then headed in for a film in our King size bed that was just glorious to sleep in. No noise disturbance, we both had a very fantastic and peaceful night’s sleep. I will metion that I do struggle a lot sleeping and getting comfortable due to back problems however I had no problems and I felt so comfortable, I wanted to live in it forever!
VERDICT
Living the luxury suite life on a budget at Hotel Indigo is something that will stay with me for a long time, for what you get for the money it is astounding, we all deserve treats especially with this crazy pandemic and so, I would recommend treating yourselves to a stay at Hotel Indigo especially in the feature/balcony rooms. Value for money is astounding, I have stayed in a couple of hotel’s in Birmingham for around about the £130 mark, and they do not come close to what Hotel Indigo offers to their guests. Smaller rooms, no luxuries and certainly no views that come close to this hotel so staying at Hotel Indigo you’re guaranteed amazing value for your money.
A massive thank you to the staff at the hotel for making my birthday so magical this year especially with the current circumstances, they still managed to deliver above and beyond. Hats off to you all for delivering exceptional service, sticking to Co-vid guidelines and ensuring the safety of their guests. A stay at Hotel Indigo is essential when visiting Birmingham, guaranteed to give all guests a stunning and memorable experience without burning a hole in their pocket!
Thank you to Hotel Indigo in Birmingham, I’ll be back again very soon!
If you would like to book a stay at Hotel Indigo please head to their website here
If you would like to see more of the room I stayed in then you can head to my Instagram where I made a IG Reel of my stay
Given the current climate and the massive impact the virus has had on small businesses not just in Birmingham, but across the whole world, I have been doing my best to shop independently in my city. Birmingham has an impressive list of independents, from competitive fashion brands to quirky giftware stores, so I have put this blog post together to show off some of my top picks for gifts this Autumn. The past few months have been extremely tough for our beloved indies, with some struggling to make ends meet. So as a local bab and supporter of Birmingham, I want to showcase a seasonal gift guide for encouraging independent shopping. From buying for your loved ones to treating yourself, you’ll find a good few Brummie gems in this guide.
FOR THE BABS
ISHER WOOD & CO
THE OCTOBER BOUQUET
For that Special Bab who deserves some beautiful blooms to remind her how much of a beautiful Bab she is! From Isherwood and Co, located in Stirchley and priced from £45+
Because you can’t have enough bags right? Especially these classy every day tote and backpack, that are spacious, 65% recycled cotton canvas and fit right in this Autumn season!
Let’s get organised ORGANISED! Fabolous little organiser from Folk like these that sell creative goods and serve up some pretty decent coffee and sarnies! Priced at £20
Joining forces with Birmingham Pride and Artist Hannah Dickins to create this AWESOME Proud Bab tee for just £24.99 and 20% of sales from the tee will be donated to Birmingham LGBT, Bloody FABOLOUS!
Spoil your Bubba with an awesome Flipped to Death tote AND a box of beers of your Bubbas choice, with a mad variety of craft beers to choose from, you’ll be in your partner’s good books for LIFE! Tote bag £10 Build a Box £30+
Every lad needs a fresh pair of white trainers to be messed up by Autumn leaves right?! Ideal in The Custard Factory sell some pretty cool skatewear from hoodies to decks! £59.95
Because coffee makes the world a better place and keeps the chappy very happy! 200 Degrees sell a range of high-quality coffee on their website including home brewing equipment and in-store barista classes. It’s not all about the coffee here, they also offer an impressive selection of teas, seasonal drinks, bakes and more! A gift voucher would be perfect and this can be purchased online, happy day’s!
A hamper full of premium meats, cheeses, snacks condiments and drinks?! personalised to your taste and the highest quality, That’s a deal done there Bab, priced from £29.95.
Classic ribbed beanies for you and your partner to match in, You know your both the coolest couple out there with these bad boy hats on your heads! Priced at £22
We can’t forget about the matching Yes Bab top too?! Punks and Chancers have brought out this little stripey number which is perfect for you and your partner to match in! £32.00
Have a night in and have a cheeky G&Tea online experience perfect for those tipsy couples! This G&Tea edition curated by Loki Wine’s in-house gin raconteur Carl Hawkins features 5 gin combinations and canned gin cocktail to complement this traditional English pastime. In addition to the booze, your pack will contain a selection of tasting cards, fact sheets, mini etiquette quiz, Fortnum & Mason Gin and Tonic tea bag, and Pinkster Gin jam for £40.00!
A romantic night in with cheese and wine…Oh, and your other half for just £50. Choose from white, red or fizz with fine cheese, salami and crackers for the ultimate night in treat!
INDIAN INSPIRED AFTERNOON TEA WITH CHAI INFUSED PROSECCO
Looking for something a little bit different to your traditional afternoon tea? Zindiya has got you covered with their Indian inspired afternoon tea with chai infused prosecco for £22.95!
The cutest clutch you ever will see, but not only can it be used as a clutch but as a toy house too for your Babbas to play and carry their most prized possessions…LEGO.
Because who doesn’t love pugs? Smithsonia located in the Piccadilly Arcade has got some great giftware from beautiful jewellery to quirky homeware gifts. These vases are my favourite and priced at £22.95
Ikon Gallery has a lovely gift section on their website and of course, I spotted this adorable vase that would make the cutest gift IN THE WORLD! It can be your’s for £14.95
Introducing a vibrant new independent to Birmingham located in the Great Western Arcade you’ll find The Pineapple Club, A new bar that is currently slaying the Birmingham bar scene. Neon lights, pink interior, art deco furniture and the Basic Bitch photo opportunities to be had here, The Pineapple Club is bringing the EXTRA that Birmingham so badly needs!
Opened in September, bookings are filling up quite fast so I managed to book in for early October on a Friday from 5.30 pm to 7 pm for drinks and food. Arriving at The Pineapple Club you enter into the shop where they sell a variety of wines and cheeky alcohol beverages, looking a little bare yes, but its quality over quantity here Bab and there is quite the impressive selection of booze on offer. Walking up the stairs you are hit with botanical and pink neon scenes that is sure to make you eye lit up!
Straight away, this place oozes sexiness and style, So stylish with the 1920s interior with art deco styled furniture throwing in a bit of futuristic neon creating those Instagram photo shoots opportunities. We all are a sucker for a little of neon and pink so straight away my eyes lit up to this and got me quite excited!
Sitting down at our table we took a look at the drinks menu which is very impressive, you got your basic bitch cocktails like Pornstar Martini but then you got your fancy and creative cocktails such as candy club punch and Kawaii Milk. If you don’t fancy a cocktail you can always opt for Wine and beer. They also provide non-alcohol cocktails and soft drinks for those who fancy a quiet one or don’t drink alcohol. In regards to the food menu, they do a good selection of Spanish tapas inspired small plates from meat dishes such as chorizo to vegetarian dishes such as Colombian Arepas with guacamole. We did worry a bit with the amount of food we were going to order as the table was quite small so we did ask if we could change tables however this was not allowed as all tables were booked up.
For the drinks, I ordered a Candy club Punch, Beefeater pink gin, fruit wine, cranberry and vintage candy cordial, so fruity, so sweet and so satisfying. Very easy to drink too however could be going down the dangerous route as I was drinking it like fruit juice! For food, we ordered Gambas al Ajillo (prawns), chorizo, chicken skewers, Colombian Arepas with guacamole and the cheese board for two. The lady who served us was very informative, one of my friends only eats Halal meat so she was very helpful in advising which dishes would be best to eat such as vegetarian dishes.
The food came within 15 minutes, and it was quite the squeeze fitting it on the table however we managed it. The chorizo dish was beautiful but it never came with sliced bread in what the menu said (however we did ask for this and it came straight away, no problem)The prawns were cooked to perfection, couldn’t fault them and full of flavor. Colombian Arepas was surprisingly delicious (it was the least dish I was looking forward to) and the portion was pretty generous!
Unfortunately, the cheeseboard was a little bit disappointing in regards to size and variety, I expected more cheese’s and more meats HOWEVER what was there was delicious, just could do with a bit more variety. The cheeseboard also came with pickles and breadsticks, there was nothing to dip the breadsticks in so to me, it was quite random, it would have been better to have a dip (aioli) or freshly baked bread to put the cheese and meats on top. Early days of course for Pineapple Club but maybe these things can be considered.
The meal came to £60 between three £20 each, which I was very happy to pay and really enjoyed the meal. If you’re looking to improve your Instagram game and chill out with a couple of cocktails and eat some good food hit this place up! It is really thriving and quite busy in there, but no wonder, they got it right, Brum needed something like this. We need more neon, botanical, fancy pink interior and basic bitch vibes because let’s face it, we all have a basic bitch in us and we bloody love it!
There is no doubt in my mind that The Pineapple Club will continue to succeed and become a much loved independent in Birmingham by Brummies and travellers to our City. Thank you to The Pineapple Club for having us and Welcome to Brum Babs!
So it’s been a year today since I hit that publish button on my blog, I was a complete nervous wreck, I had to change my top twice as I was sweating like a sweating like a nun in a field of cucumbers and I consumed a whole tub of Marks and Spencer’s spicy chicken wings (no regrets) It’s funny because now I look back and think why the hell did I not do this earlier? Its been a hell of a journey and with this post, I want to be a little bit more open with you all, as to why I started this blog and what I have achieved from blogging.
BEFORE BAB ABOUT TOWN
Since the age of ten, I have also had an interest in writing, the number of stories I have written all crammed into my closet is crazy, many girls collect shoes, I collect scripts. My love for writing suddenly was put to the back of the mind when I was nineteen and was in a serious relationship. One thing I have learned from relationships is that love does distract us from our passions in life, sometimes we don’t notice because we are so wrapped up in love or the idea that we are in love. Suddenly my life was almost planned out for me, work in courts, marriage, kids and growing old together with my Ex. I do remember wanting to do the blog when I was in a relationship but as the years passed I seemed to lose a lot of confidence in myself and just cancelled out that dream.
I would call myself a bit of loner because I liked going out a lot on my own with my camera, taking pictures of Birmingham, it was sort of therapy for me really, creating a world that was in my mind that really, I wanted to live in, so weird because even in a relationship, I still felt very alone.
Due to the breakdown of my relationship, it sent me in a deep depression for months, the worse thing I did was hide it and that is the worse thing you can do when you are feeling down. I would say, I was punishing myself for the breakup, I stopped believing in myself, I was a complete NOB to myself and it was like my mind was bullying my body 24/7. It’s hard to look back because I look at that depressed Girl and God, I feel so sorry for her. I remember sitting in my room one night thinking “You either stop moaning and kill yourself or you get some balls and live your life to the fullest” Just like that, I did the sulking, I did all the crying in the world and I got some balls and wrote a list of things I wanted to achieve before thirty. Of course, getting over/dealing with depression is not as easy as that, it took a lot of time to finally forget the negative and focus on the positive, I really owe it to my friends and family who provided me with a blanket of love and support through such a horrible time.
WHY I STARTED BAB ABOUT TOWN
“Start a blog” was on my list to do before turning 30 so, I did some research and I went on Twitter and got some advice on how I could put together a blog. What was it going to be about? well, I thought I love photographing and talking about Birmingham, so why not combine them together and create a blog based on my City with reviews, beautiful photography and Brummie banter, I love my City and so, I wanted my readers to fall in love with Birmingham like me. People who know me well, know I am a bit of a Gobshite, so if I was going to put together a blog it had to be honest, true and pure Amy, The Amy who doesn’t think before she speaks, shouts Balls all the time and talks about how fucked up vaginas are. I remember drafting up my first post and thinking why would anyone read this? but then I thought well at least I’m going to give it a go and say at least I tried.
To be totally honest with you I think well, I know! I definitely underestimated the blog and myself. I thought maybe I will do this for a couple of weeks, maybe months and then get bored of it or just think no one is reading it so what’s the point? However as I kept up my writing and documenting my way through Birmingham and posting it on the blog/social media, I started to get followers, subscribed readers, business contacts regarding promotional/PR collaborations for the blog and invites to new business openings in and out of Birmingham, that is bloody crazy. The weirdest thing is going out in Birmingham and to have someone come up to you asking if your Bab about Town and then proceed to talk about your blog like your some big shot, That is bizarre to me, but its a nice bizarre! It just makes me think wow, people like you, they like your blog, your writing is actually interesting…Now, how the fuck do I become a millionaire from this?! 😛
WHAT HAVE I LEARNED?
The main lesson I have learnt from Bab about Town is don’t be afraid and it’s never too late to achieve what you want in life. Why do we think of the negative before the positive? Sometimes you just got to tell that negativity in you to shut the fuck up and take a backseat because I remember all the negative thoughts on this day last year and all I can say is MAHA MOTHERFUCKER! Honestly is important in the blogging game, I panic if I have attended a venue or if I’m tasting out a new menu and it’s not up to scratch but you have to be honest, and there’s the disrespectful way or the professional way, A lot of people rely on me, to tell the truth, and I have always said that my blog will always be open and honest to my readers. Another lesson is that blogging is not easy, you can write a post about pretty much anything but it needs to grab readers, lucky for me I am a photographer and I do use a lot of photography to lure the reader into my blog posts but obviously, your words need to match. I am always researching, educating myself and not many people know that I am dyslexic. I’ll put a sentence together in my head and when it comes to writing it down, it makes no sense. I can sometimes sit on a sentence for 30 minutes, trying to work out if it makes sense or not, so this is something I am still learning to deal with but it never stopped me from blogging.
ADVICE FOR PEOPLE WANTING TO GET INTO BLOGGING?
The best advice I can give is to be consistent, be true and remember to give yourself the credit you deserve once in a while because you bloody deserve it. It’s a tough world out there and starting this blog up when I was in two minds of ending life completely proved how strong I am, we all go through a rough patch in life and you either go forward or shutdown, I chose to go forward and use that negatively in my life to push forward and strive for positively in life. I know your probably thinking who the hell does this girl think she is, Jesus Christ or something but honestly, what I am telling you, it works, I am the proof in the pudding baby.
WHATS NEXT?
More content, more reviews, more laughs and more bad bitch vibes of course. My life is about to get REAL, maybe I am a bit behind in getting a house etc but I needed to do this before jumping into the serious stuff. How can anyone fall in love with you when you haven’t got love for yourself? 2020 has been a bloody bizarre year but I have made sure I have given myself the love I need, that lead to more people falling in love with me and the blog. The blog has helped me to grow up, and the girl last year to the woman now I don’t know at all, no confidence, always putting herself down. This blog post is quite emotional for me because it’s kind of saying goodbye to that person, it sounds morbid but it’s almost like putting her to sleep… Who knows what will happen next? but I can only see Bab about Town growing and getting bigger, I have worked really hard on this blog and I will continue to work hard and remember to give myself a bit of loving and credit that I deserve now and again. You never know, I might have a sodding book by next year?! I might even be a Victoria Secret Model…Well, anything is possible if you got enough nerve right? the only thing is stopping you is you, and like I said before, sometimes you just got to tell the fear in you to shut the fuck up.
Thank you to everyone who’s believed in me, friends, family, and people who don’t even know me but saw the potential, really thank you. Its been a crazy and exciting journey, and I can’t wait to celebrate with you all next year!
Secret Garden meets Narnia without the snow in Westminster tube station…Intrigued? confused? of course you bloody are. I just involved Narnia and a tube station in a review of a restaurant in Birmingham! Craft Dining Rooms is not the typical dining experience that you will find on every street in Birmingham or any City! Bringing artistry, coolness, and a very British feel giving diners a unique dining experience that they would want to experience all over again.
The last time I went to Craft was for the launch of Crafts Secret Garden back in January/February time, it’s been on the list for ages to try out and finally, on a chilly Friday afternoon, my cousin and I got to try out Craft, finally! Located just outside the ICC opposite the bridge to Brindley Place (you can’t miss it) full of blooms, sleek design, and awesome futuristic dining pods outside. Upon entering Craft, you walk through a tunnel of flowers which is an impressive touch, and I can also hear the squeal of those Instagram Girls eyeing it up for their next post, An blooming lovely great impression.Inside the venue, you are greeted by the receptionist on the front desk, and on your right is a pretty cool cocktail bar that is oh so chic! We first had our temperatures checked which was a pretty odd experience as we just stood in front of a device on the wall which looked like a camera, and then the receptionist confirmed all was well and showed us to our table, technology these days hey?!
The dining room is just stunning, it’s so sleek, so fancy and so clean! Covered with blossoms and a pop of yellow here and there making it already quite the classy dining experience my cousin and I were looking for.
A set menu is displayed on your table: starter and main for £33 or starter, main and pudding for £39, and there is also a four-course set menu for £45. We decided to go for the two-course menu, starter, and main as I am not really a pudding person! A staff member came over and collected our orders. I ordered a raspberry gin with lemonade, for my starter the salted beef, pickles and mustard, then for my main I ordered the lamb, garlic and aubergine.
The cocktails came out first, refreshing, and delicious, and plenty to get through! Within ten minutes the salted beef starter came out, I loved how quirky the dish is, very beautifully presented and it was full of flavour. Accompanied by a Brioche roll, we were off to a great start with our meal! My cousin went for the tomato soup which she said was very delicious and quite filling.
Onto the mains and the lamb came out within 15 minutes, lovely and tender, absolutely full of flavour and I will say this, that was some of the best lamb I have had in a very long time! complimented with garlic, aubergine, caramelized onion, and a variety of purees, it really was quite a powerful dish. Now, a little criticism all though the food was sensational, the one thing I would have liked to be offered is CARBS, a few potatoes would have topped of the lamb dish and filled that pesky little bit of hunger in my stomach after finishing my meal. It just would have been nice to have the option of ordering a side dish to accompany the main, maybe this is something Craft can look into?
That is all the criticism I have to say. The experience and the food is sensational here at Craft, the staff are an absolute joy to talk to, so helpful, so polite, and they really do make you feel quite important here at Craft! Our server was amazing, full of information, and was delightful!
Upon our visit, we managed to get a sneak preview of About 8 which is Crafts sister restaurant opening on 8th October which is going to be the ultimate fine dining experience and something Brum has never seen before! I won’t go into too much detail but if you’d like to know more then please do head to their website here and make sure you book yourself in!
The option of private dining is available, as Craft offers a beautiful private dining area for that special occasion, and let’s not forget booking one of the garden pods which adds a bit of uniqueness to your dining experience. For £33 for a two-course meal oozing fine British dining at its best with a side order of fantastic customer service, beautiful scenery and delicious cocktails is something not to be missed when visiting Birmingham, Craft is a must-visit for all to experience something a little bit different to your “Basic Bitch” chain restaurant dining.
Craft is that unique dining experience we all crave occasionally, however once visited you’ll be craving it once a week. The attention to detail, the creativity, and the passion that this restaurant has put in to create a positive and special dining experience to guests is something that should be admired by all. Craft dares to be different and is a fantastic representative of the foodie community here in our amazing city, which is sure to be loved by all.
I have seen a lot of things in my time on Broad Street in Birmingham, I have seen suited up cats, walking dildos, and I once saw a girl throw up the River Nile, I’m not kidding, she was like a bloody hose pipe without the off switch. When friends say “let’s go clubbing” that is the first thing I think off is that god awful street in Birmingham but then, I also think about the terrible house music, the sweaty bodies all over me and the unpleasant fart smells that no one owns up to. Once upon a time, I loved clubbing, I loved getting all sweaty in my clothes, screaming let me be your fantasy and throwing back the cheap neon shots. Time is getting on now and well, I just rather be in an old man’s pub with a pint listening to a bit of Dexy’s Midnight Runners Come. I’ll be honest those clubbing days were a lot of fun and It took me a while to get out of that phase and realise its not that fun anymore. So, what were the signs? when is it time to say I am too old for the club, well, here are the signs to look out for and realise that you are too old for the club!
YOUR CRAVING MCDONALDS AT 10PM
All that build-up, all those hours of getting ready, only to hit the club for one drink and end up in McDonalds at 10pm for a Big Mac.
YOU CANT “GET LOW’ ANYMORE TO FLO RIDA
I mean, why the hell would you want to dance to that song anyway…
YOUR WIPING THE TOILET SEAT IN THE CLUBAND REFUSE TO SHARE YOUR TOILET WITH YOUR BESTIEANYMORE
I remember the days of rushing to the toilets with your friends after all those vodka and cokes, and sharing a lovely toilet seat covered in other peoples urine and cigarette ash…Bliss.
ITS HAPPY HOUR! BUT YOUR FIRST THOUGHT IS I GOT TO GET UP EARLY TOMORROW…
I got a 6 am alarm, shit loads of work to do and bloody loads of meetings, have you ever done an all-nighter and gone into work the next day pissed as a fart? It took me a good hour to find my work trousers the following morning only to realise that I was already wearing them and had dropped toothpaste down my crotch…FFS.
YOU DONT EVEN MAKE IT OUTTO THE CLUB…
Have you ever gotten ready, had a glass of wine then suddenly your bed is more appealing than a night out with the girls and hideous shots…yeah, happens all the time mate.
“LETS GO TO THE NEXT CLUB!!”
Everyone has that Twat in each friendship group who doesn’t know when to call it quits on a night out but we still bloody love them to death but not when you want to call it a night. You have done your bit, you had a couple of drinks, you bopped up and down on the dance floor, that should do it, right? HECK, NO! There is always some fucker who can’t call it quits until they pulled a one night stand and a kebab.
YOU ARE ASKING FOR THE PRICE OF DRINKS
£10 for a sodding Gin and Cranberry, does that include the bloody whole bottle of gin?!
WHEN EVEN MR BRIGHTSIDE CANT BRING YOU ONTO THE DANCE FLOOR
I remember the days of Mr Brightside, the whole of Snobs flooding to the small sticky dance floor, jumping all over random people, people hugging each other screaming the lyrics and then at the end of the song leaving the dance floor smelling like someone’s stinky armpit. Good times, but now when this song comes on and you see the big sweaty crowd forming I just think BACTERIA and I cant be arsed to shower when I get in…
YOU DIVE ON YOUR FRIEND WHO IS “TOO DRUNK” BECAUSE HE/SHE IS YOUR TICKET TO GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE!
Right, so who is the one friend that is absolutely going to get shit faced tonight and is your ticket out of this joint to a Mcdonalds and an early bedtime. 8pm “I’m Fucked mate” And we have an escape plan, exxxcellent!
YOU LOSE YOUR FRIENDS ON PURPOSE SO YOU CAN GO HOME EARLY
“Just going to pop to the toilet, back in a bit” Runs to the exit and Dials Uber Get home, fling heels to the floor, whip off the bra, jump into PJs, pray to the Lords that you don’t have those clingy friends that like to pee in the same toilet as you and go to bed. MI5 you can hire me anytime Babe.
WHEN YOUR FRIENDS ARE TRYING TO GET YOU TO DANCE BUT ALL YOUR THINKING ABOUT IS WHATS HAPPENING ON LOVE ISLAND RIGHT NOW?
You agree to go out with your friends, you have a drink, you have a bite, you have a bitch, and then you are forced to sway side to side on the dance floor to some god awful pop music, but all your thinking about is whats going on in Love Island right now…and then Sean Paul comes on…FFS.
WARNING: Some Seriously New High Fashion Food Coming Your Way This Summer/Autumn.
Introducing Pinch of Masala -POM- A family-run catering company in Smethwick who cater for weddings and events but unfortunately was hit hard by the pandemic, looking for ways to get business back on track they decided to offer a new takeaway service across Birmingham. This is one takeaway service that stand’s out from the rest, I can assure you. I was gifted a free meal of my choice in exchange for my views. I posted quite a few photos on Instagram and you were all gagging for a full review so here it is, expect nothing less than 5-star service and food from Pinch of Masala.
Pinch Of Masala have a website where you can order your food [here]once accessing the website you’ll realise straight away that this is not your typical Indian takeaway! Full of colour and beautiful photography, A website that is very easy to navigate around and what I love about the ordering process is that POM provides photos of all the food on the menu so you know what to expect. You can book delivery on the day or in the next couple of days which is fantastic if you are having a little gathering and inviting your friends round!
With such a large selection of meat, vegetable, and vegan dishes I did just want to order the whole menu! A Fantastic menu for all and also for vegetarians and vegans, loads to choose from! Also people with allergies there is an allergy guide on the website telling you about all the dishes and what they contain, which will come in very useful. They also have set menus, and offer dessert and BEER!
MY ORDER
Starter: Masala Fried Prawns Jackin’panko wings
Main (Feeds up to two): Palak Gosht (Lamb and Spinach) Butter Chicken
I was going to be sharing between three people so I thought this was plenty! I chose a 7 pm time slot and my food arrived at 7pm in which, from all the way from Smethwick to Sutton Coldfield was very impressive. I met the owner Dinesh who was so friendly and passionate about his business, full of positively and was just so lovely to meet. What caught my eye straight away was the most fashionable takeaway bag I had ever seen! compared to a Selfridges kind of style (but way better) I knew straight away that POM are not playing when it comes to standing out. Another impressive point was that the food came in containers that are made from plant fibre and recycling plastic! great for those who want to look after their environment and it just makes the food look a lot more appealing using these containers instead of those hideous plastic 20P boxes.
I have to say, from coming all the way from Smethwick to Sutton Coldfield and opening the lid of the food seeing the heat rise made me gasp, I just didn’t think it would be hot and ready to be served so it was such a surprise, it was like taking it out of the oven there and then. Straight away this takeaway was screaming high quality to me, The packaging, the food, this takeaway is definitely different to my down the road Indian takeaway I usually go for.
The masala fried prawns tasted perfect and very similar to Dishooms Prawn Koliwada dish, they may look small but these guys pack a powerful punch of spice however combined with my mint yoghurt dip I tamed them down a bit! Prawns were cooked very well and also went well with the little salad garnish. Onto the Jackfruit wings, a favourite for vegans! one portion gives you 5 pieces in which they are quite big and my god, tasted lovely! There’s also a little surprise in the middle [Wink Wink]
The butter chicken with the pilau rice, a little bit on the sweet side but I like sweet and it tasted so bloody good! Chicken cooked to perfection, and sauce for days! Such a tasty dish that even when finished we were all craving more!
Now I don’t usually go for lamb curries because every time I’ve have done the lamb has just been way too tough to eat so I thought I would put POM to the test and oh my, they passed with flying colours alright! Lamb was perfect, couldn’t fault it at all, every piece (I was hogging on to it…) was nice and tender. Accompanied by the mixed vegetable pilau rice this was defiantly my favourite dish! The portions of the curries were perfect and very generous, shared between three there was still a bit of curry left for even a fourth person!
The Chili Cheese Naan was BANGING! full of chilli and all the cheesy cheese you need for those sweet dreams….or nightmares. Accompanied by the garnish tub and a bit of mint yoghurt, pure joy!
The poppadoms came with a variety of sauces such as mint sauce and mango chutney, A must of course with any curry! We ordered one portion which is two poppadoms in eight pieces and that was also the perfect amount for sharing.
In conclusion, This has been one of the best takeaways this year, definitely the best Indian takeaway I have had and definitely the most stylish takeaway! Very generous portions of food that is packed full of flavour that is cooked to perfection. POM has a wide variety on offer that will tempt you to challenge yourself and try something new, and yes, it’s absolutely worth it! If you fancy something a bit different to your basic chicken tikka masala and garlic Naan then I would definitely recommend to push the boat out with POM, A fantastic new takeaway service that will no doubt in my mind will go far in Birmingham and beyond.
Delivery is Thursday to Sunday from 5pm to 10pm you can opt for delivery or pick up, they also are available on the Deliveroo app. There is a postcode checker for delivery that you can check to see if they deliver to you and also displays the fee, POM would like to mention if you live too far then you can also give them a call and they can see what they can do.
Last weekend I was gifted an afternoon tea experience at Browns in Birmingham by the lovely Craft Beer Pin Up to celebrate afternoon tea week that certainly did lift the mood on a miserable rainy day in Birmingham. Snugged just under the Bullring, it has been a while Browns, I think the last time I visited was about three years ago for a Christmas roast dinner so it’s nice to return and try out something different. If you know me, you’ll know I love a good brew and love stuffing my face with sandwiches so I can never turn an afternoon tea down even if Weatherspoons offered one…
Arriving just before our time 3.15 pm, we asked if we could sit down early in which the staff were very happy to assist. We were seated at a gorgeous green marble table (it went very nicely with my green bag!) looking around Browns they certainly do have style, it just screams British Summer with all the floral however I was also getting a bit of 1940s American with the super stylish bar aswell! Tables were spaced out, hand sanitizer was displayed on the way in and social distancing was in place here, straight away I felt very safe.
We were brought the afternoon tea menus right away and left to decide, The traditional afternoon tea was priced as £18.50 however we saw the G&T afternoon tea and we just fancied a bit of a pick me up after our boozy previous night. A staff member came over took our afternoon tea order and asked us what hot drinks we would like to go for, we both opted for English breakfast.
After a five minute wait, the rhubab and raspberry G&T cocktails came out, a very generous glass in which I could possibly get lost in as a 5ft 1 woman. Ice cold and refreshing, the flavour was a little bit on the strong side at first however as the afternoon progressed it became less strong! Our tea followed shortly after and then the afternoon tea.
The Browns Afternoon Tea Includes:
Sandwiches: Prawn & baby gem lettuce, ham & dijon mustard, cucumber & cream cheese, egg mayo brioche bun, smoked salmon & cream cheese on a whisky & thyme oatcake.
Home-baked scones with clotted cream and strawberry jam.
Sweets: Victoria sponge, lemon drizzle cake, almond macarons and chocolate praline mousse in a chocolate flower pot.
One Pot of English Breakfast tea or any tea of your choice
One glass each of Tarquin’s Rhubarb and Raspberry G&T
Price: £25.50
I was very impressed with the sandwich selection, for some reason I didn’t think I was going to get that much however I was pleasantly surprised. The quality is nothing to be amazed about but it was still pleasable, the sandwiches tasted fresh, there are no arty-farty ingredients here but you can’t beat a traditional cucumber & cream cheese sandwich can you? The egg mayo in a brioche roll was my favourite, just a shame it was a bit on the small side! The only sandwich in which I wasn’t so fond of was the prawn & baby gem lettuce it was a bit too heavy with the sauce creating almost a slimey texture.
The scones were definitely on the small side but I am not a massive cake/scone fan so I actually preferred them that size plus I can’t stand having the massive scones that completely crumble everywhere, you spend more time cleaning yourself than stuffing yourself with them. They were also warm and tasted fresh, so I was pretty pleased with them!
Onto that impressive looking flowerpot, which at first I thought was for decoration but it is a lovely chocolate mousse, perfect for those chocolate lovers out there. The lemon drizzle cake was delicious and so was the Victoria sponge, Wasn’t too mad about the almond macaron. Maybe could have squeezed another sweet (maybe a tart?) on there however I like the variety and I like the portions of the sweets so maybe I’m just being a little bit greedy! I have to say the chocolate mousse is very filling on its own!
The Afternoon Tea with the G&T really complimented each other well and I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised with this afternoon tea. For £26.50 I think it’s pretty good for the money, I have to say I have paid £30+ in grand places where I have received a small/basic afternoon with just a pot of tea, no fizz involved. I believe they have the right balance of sweet and savourly, and I have to say I was pretty full after eating it so I didn’t have to venture out to McDonald’s after.
Browns Quintessentially British afternoon tea with a splash of Gin went down a success, offering a great variety and good quality for all to enjoy. priced at £26.50 with a very generous glass of G&T, a pot of hot tea and an impressive selection of savoury and sweet,I believe that this is a worthy contender for you all to try out in Birmingham.
From the 3rd of August to 31st August the government will implement a new scheme to encourage diners to dine out in restaurants and to protect those who work in the hospitality industry. Diners will be entitled to a 50% off discount to use in UK restaurants that have signed up to the scheme. The establishments who are taking part in the scheme can then claim the money back from the Government.
I have put together a list of all the restaurants in the North of Birmingham area (Erdington to Mere Green) who have signed up to the Eat Out to Help Out scheme. The 50% off discount will be applied to your bill automatically this is 50% off food and non-alcoholic drinks (maximum discount of £10 per person) from Monday to Wednesday.
What are the rules?
Discount can only be used at restaurants that have signed up to the Eat Out to Help Out scheme (please check the list below or head to the Gov website here)
Discount valid every Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday between 3rd and 31st August 2020.
Discount is not valid for alcoholic drinks or service charges.
The discount only applies to eating out, and cannot be used for takeaway.
Who can use the discount?
Everyone! and let’s not forget the little Babas!
How do I claim the discount? What do I need to do?
You just need to turn up and feast Bab! just decide where you want to go, make sure you book in, turn up, enjoy your meal/drink and the discount will be automatically applied to the bill, Simples.
Can I Combine Eat Out to Help Out with other discounts?
For some places but not for all! For those you can, you can end up saving more! For example a two-course meal deal for £10 you can use your Eat Out to Help out discount and you would only have to pay £5, BOOM! HOWEVER this may not apply to ALL businesses, so please double-check this.
How many times can I use my discount?
There is no limit on how many times you can use the discount per day, so knock yourself out!
Okay, GIMME! Where can I get the Eat Out to Help out discount in the North of Birmingham?
Below are a selection of all the businesses who are taking part and running the Eat Out to Help Out discounts. Check them out, head to their social pages, keep up to date with the latest and get yourself booked in and most importantly, enjoy!
If you are participating in this scheme and not on the list then please send me an email and I can get you added on. I will continue to look into this weekly and add to it, so make sure you keep up to date with ya Bab!
Gooey Naans, Seductive killer prawns that pack a punch and Harry Potter Butter Beer? Yes, believe it or not, I am talking about the eagerly anticipated opening of Dishoom in Birmingham.
The last two months social media has been dominated by Tiger King/Normal People memes, the cat with nine lives we call Aston Villa, and of course, The Kardashians, one lost their marbles, one faked her millions and one that just needs to be bloody single for Christ sakes. Ergh what a headache right? However, one thing that has been dominating our feeds and is “headache-free” is the exciting announcement of Dishoom opening in Birmingham on Chamberlain Square. In which, is now open operating their soft launch with 50% off food until their official opening date on 6th August 2020 was just the welcoming addition to the city that so many of us Brummies need after the last few months.
With branches operating over London, Manchester, and Edinburgh, it was only a matter of time Dishoom was going to make the wise choice of opening their next restaurant in the second biggest City Birmingham. I have heard so much about Dishroom, I have never dined there before so I was really looking forward to my first experience dining with them. I had a brief look at the menu before me and my cousin Jess went for our 5.15 pm sitting but even then, I couldn’t decide with the generous offering of food on offer.
We arrived on time and already it was quite busy, we sat in the bar area for two minutes just skimming through the menu and then we was taken over to our table. The tables are nicely spread out, the layout of the restaurant is big, spacious with indoor and outdoor seating. I was feeling quite chilly that evening so thank goodness we were sat inside. The staff wore face masks, there was hand sanitiser stations and everyone was keeping to the social distancing rules, so I felt 100% safe dining here.
The interior of Dishoom has really been thought out through out the whole of the restaurant, bringing Bombay to Birmingham (Wish I could of get more pictures, but it was so busy!) and very cleverly has its own story of Roda Irani finding her voice and incorporating that story into the design of the restaurant which is so creative and wonderful to dine in and feels like you are reliving the story. It’s classy and it’s 1930s Bombay Bab.
Within 5 minutes of sitting down, we were greeted by our server Diogo ready to take our drink orders. Diogo is absolutely fabulous, a right character that knew his stuff, he was like a walking and talking encyclopedia of Dishoom, he knew everything. Feeling quite parched I fancied an alcohol beverage, I was thinking more on the lines of a fruity cocktail but then the words “Forget beer, drink only this” caught my eyes. What came was what I can almost describe as one of those Harry Potter butter beers but tasted so much better and tasted like…well, beer. Hoppy butter paanch is a Foam beer with a butter syrup base with a sprinkle of ginger that gave it a tangy sweet kick, different but I really liked it! Jess ordered the Colaba Colada cocktail, however, Diogo came back over to tell Jess they just sold out, he asked her what does she like to drink “gin” “something sweet” she replied and with a click of his fingers “I know exactly what to get you” Diogo went away and came back with a fabulous gin cocktail with a hint of lime, fizz, and fruit that she really enjoyed.
Diogo returned to take our food orders, he talked us through the menu and suggested the number of dishes to order, he also made the best decision for us to opt for a cheese AND garlic naan instead of ordering cheese and garlic naan separately, excellent choice Diogo!
The afternoon menu has a variety of small plates, grills and curries on offer for you to share or not share! There is so much on offer that we defiantly didn’t order everything we wanted especially missing out on the exclusive Birmingham dish, the mutton korma but there is always next time right?!
We first ordered small plates of Lamb samosas and prawn koliwada that came literally in five minutes. We were told that the food in different sections may come out at different times, we didn’t really care as long as there was food! The lamb samosas were a nice light dish and tasted beautiful, as for the prawn koliwada, my goodness! these babies blew our heads off! Small and delicious but don’t be deceived these prawns pack an almighty punch, accompanied with a mint chutney dip to cool down the fire in my mouth. A little bit on the spicy side for me but tasted very nice. Both of these dishes are the perfect beer snack so make sure you order a few of Dishooms IPAS.
Now, in comes the feast! We opted for chicken ruby murray curry, paneer pineapple tikka, gunpowder potatoes, 2 x cheese and garlic naans, steamed basmati rice and the Vada Pau (Bombay’s version of London’s chip butty)
The colour, the smell, and the saliva dripping from our mouths everything just looked incredible. My favourite dish out of the food would have to be the Chicken ruby murray curry paired up with basmati rice which was an absolute winner. Silky texture, sweet, and chicken that is cooked to perfection and easily just melts in the mouth. The gunpowder potatoes tossed in butter, crushed aromatic seeds, and green herbs tasted nice, nothing to get overly excited about however, a nice accompany dish to the paneer pineapple tikka that I really enjoyed. The Paneer cheese had a gorgeous mouth-watering coating of tikka paired up with pineapple which left a cool refreshing taste in my mouth which helped to knock down some of those spices.The Vada Pau (Bombay’s version of London’s chip butty) I wasn’t a big fan off sadly, a little bit too spicy for me so all I could taste was fire in my mouth.
The naans were of course, bloody sensational. So gooey, and I am all for the cheese! it was just dripping and oh my god, I have literally just had to wipe the saliva off the keyboard thinking about this so let’s just end it here as it was pretty sexy… (apologies for the saliva on keyboard images)
The review doesn’t end here, oh no, we went for pudding Ladies and Gents, and we went for the Dishoom chocolate pudding with chili ice cream. All I got from this pudding was PURE JOY, melted chocolate mixed in with a vanilla/chili ice cream is the pairing that I need in my life, a sensational dish. Finishing off with a nice cup of Assam, the food must have knocked me out a bit because instead of asking for Assam tea I asked for “Sam” in which Diego was quite amused, Bill, please!
So, the bill came to £63.41 with the 50% off that included an optional service fee of £10.61 that we were more than happy to pay and more. For all that food and the quality, it felt like we had won the lottery with Dishoom.
The customer service is something I will always remember at Dishoom, from the host on the door to our amazing server Diogo, it was such a pleasure to dine in Dishoom as they are so attentive, and it almost makes you feel like you are the only ones dining in the restaurant. Of course, we weren’t it was completely packed out. To deliver 110% service on a packed-out Thursday with every table full and a queue outside the restaurant is absolutely fantastic and I applaud Dishoom and especially their hardworking staff.
A very happy welcome to Dishoom, a restaurant that will settle in just fine and will be celebrated by Brummies and all for a very long and foreseeable future here in Birmingham. The taste of Bombay in Birmingham is the light at the end of the tunnel that we need after the last worrying months. Thank you for the fantastic dining experience Dishoom and you will, of course, see me very soon….How does Breakfast Monday morning sound?
I would advise pre-booking your table as it’s pretty busy, you can just turn up but expect to wait! Soft launch (50% off) ends 5th August 2020 Vegetarian/Vegan friendly You can book your table here
Espresso rubbed beef brisket baps, lemon curd tarts with syringes, and cold soup?! Well, this is certainly not your basic bitch afternoon tea …
The Early Bird Bakery has whipped up an afternoon tea for us to all enjoy in the comfort of our homes. If you’re not familiar with The Early Bird they are a coffee shop and bakery that serve up creative and delicious bakes plus sensational brunch options in Kings Heath, They are pretty much bakery Gods! I live in Sutton Coldfield so when my sister invited me to hers to enjoy an Early Bird Bakery Afternoon tea my first thought was “Why is she being nice to me?” and then “Who cares? ITS FREE!!!!! YES I’M IN!”
Delivered on time and all boxed up, the afternoon tea comes with a little information booklet listing everything that you get in your afternoon tea, and how to serve, very useful and very considerate.
The Sweets you simply serve, the tea you simply pop into a teapot and the savory, well, this is where it gets a bit faffy (Yes, I just made that word up) I don’t know if this is just me but with an afternoon tea, I had it in my head to just take out of the box and pop on a tea stand to serve but not quite as simple as that. The espresso brisket and belinni you have to construct it together yourself. The kitchen was crammed with all sized cardboard boxes and pots full of ingredients so It was a bit of a faff especially when we weren’t expecting but hey ho, you get on with it. I must say everything was so fresh, the quality is outstanding and when you put it all togeather it looks great, just full of colour!
The Early Bird Bakery Afternoon Tea Includes:
Savory Spicy Tomato Gazpacho Fennel and apple sausage roll DIY espresso rubbed slow-cooked beef brisket, BBQ Sauce, slaw and brioche bun Cured salmon blini, pickles, creme fraiche, and watercress Curried cauliflower, chickpea, lentil, lime yogurt, pomegranate, raisin, and coriander salad
Cream Tea buttermilk scone x2 Currant bun x2 Strawberry, raspberry and orange jam Passion fruit and lime curd Clotted cream Morgans tea
Sweet Raspberry, white chocolate and rose macaron Lemon and early grey drizzle cake chocolate and coffee ganache cake Gin and tonic choux bun
So when you look at the amount and the sort of ingredients that have been used you would think okay, this is going to be one pricey afternoon tea but much to my surprise this has been one of the cheapest afternoons teas I have ever had, priced at just £17 per person. A small price for such an over-generous spread however comes with a few tiny issues…
The spicy tomato gazpacho tasted nice but I wouldn’t serve up as a starter before an afternoon tea. I felt it didn’t really tye in well with the rest of the spread and there is a lot going on already in the afternoon tea so I just found it to be a bit unnecessary really. The curried cauliflower salad was very refreshing however again, it didn’t tie in well with the afternoon tea. You got sandwiches, cakes, basically finger food so to throw in a salad, I didn’t quite get it however it did taste good, personally, I would have preferred a sandwich/savoury pastry instead. The lemon and drizzle cake looked lovely but biting into it I think the guys at The Early Bird Bakery when a little bit too heavy on the tea! it was quite cold, had a strong overwhelming aroma of earl grey and was soggy. A little bit of criticism but it certainly didn’t ruin the rest of the afternoon tea which was fantastic.
The espresso brisket was just pure sexiness, yes I am going to add sexiness into this review, okay! The bun was soft, the brisket was packed full of flavour and was an unusual yet satisfying touch to the afternoon tea. The sausage roll?? not your basic bitch roll we are talking about here Bab! Fennel and apple tasted gorgeous together wrapped up in flakey pastry, small yet filling and you won’t find that in your local Greggs. The blini was light yet gave a naughty little kick of flavour with the pickles, salmon and creme fraiche.
The cakes are absolutely sensational. Top-quality, the variety was all there and it wasn’t dull! it was actually enjoyable to eat, it was lovely to look at and absolutely devour! My favourite sweet would be the chocolate and coffee ganache cake. Chocolate and coffee, two powerful forces, you team those up you have yourself FOODGASMS all over the world so yeah, it tasted pretty incredible! The currant buns had a beautiful glaze that tasted wonderful warmed up with a spread of butter. The buttermilk scones tasted gorgeous especially with the orange jam, just wow! Quite different to your basic scone you would find for 35p in your local Asda but you should know that The Early Bird Bakery don’t do basic here.
Okay, so there were a few little hiccups but did it ruin my whole experience? absolutely not. There were more positives than negatives and when you think about what you get for £17, its a fantastic afternoon tea. The amount, the variety, and the quality are all there, quite surprising really for a very reasonable price tag! It was exciting to eat and it was appealing to see, and it was enjoyable to experience with the whole family in my sisters home. Maybe go down the less faff route and add in some more buns for me eh? but Fair play to the bakery for daring to be different and not going down the easy route (meaning finger sandwiches, they always look so sad…) It dares to be different, and I believe its a worthy afternoon tea for all to enjoy, not perfect but will get there I’m sure.
Thank you Early Bird Bakery
Early Bird is currently running a delivery service of their cakes and coffee to your doors, you can check out their website and orderhere. They are also now open for takeaway on Friday 11-2, and Saturday & Sunday from 10-2.
The last couple of months have been challenging, from no rules to rules, restrictions, and penalties. I have been dreaming about this day for a long while since the start of lockdown I would kick myself daily the number of times I would wake up in the morning and moan about going into Birmingham for work. Now, we can finally see the light at the end of this long and confusing tunnel, sometimes I still think Did it actually happen? restrictions are being lifted, the number of deaths are falling, and it seems, most of us are getting our smiles back. It’s been challenging but now, we are almost at the finish line, but we must stick with our strategy and still be alert. So, I thought as everything is easing up a bit, it was the right time to reunite with Birmingham, to see my cousin, and to roam through our awesome city. Would it feel like Brum? what’s changed? Will it feel normal? Am I safe? All these questions were running through my mind and a lot of you have the same questions too responding to my IG stories last week. So, I thought I would put a post together to answer those questions and give you a little glimpse of the Birmingham we all know and love.
On arriving in Birmingham it wasn’t quite the zombie apocalypse aftermath that I was expecting especially in the City Centre. I was expecting scenes from I am Legend, scrunched up rolling newspapers, empty stores, eagle-like birds patrolling the skies, and silence. What I got instead was the countdown to Christmas shopping scenes, it was like the scene’s out of The Grinch (without the explosion of Christmas decor) where all the who’s in Whoville are rushing to buy Christmas presents and carrying bags that are way too big for them- One lady had eight large bags, possibly smaller than me! People were going about their day and well, it looked like a normal “busy” day in Birmingham. Add in a couple of hand sanitiser stations, floor markings, and queues -(never thought I would see the day of people queuing up for Poundland), but other than that, it was normal until you walk past Primark…
AVOID PRIMARK
There’s me, laughing at all these sad people waiting to get into Primark on the first day of reopening, I said: “Look at all those people lining up for shit Disney merch, fluffy flip flops and face wipes, have they not heard of online shopping?” However, I find myself queueing outside Primark for £2.50 sunglasses, face wipes, and pants…You Tit Amy Langston. However, I came away with ZERO and an almighty headache. What’s social distancing like in Primark? Well, It doesn’t exist Bab. There were floor markings and hand sanitiser stations but social distancing? Out the bloody window on the way to the bloody North Pole! It just does not exist here, someone sees a bargain and another person sees the same bargain and then you find yourself walking past two people who are fighting over the last pair of Disney pants. I couldn’t believe it, I had people brushing past me, and why is it every time you go to Primark there is always someone up your arse?
Take my advice, if you really need your basic bitch wardrobe, just shop on eBay, most of the fashion in there looks like it came out in the 90’s so just hit the charity shops instead. I have to admit I didnt feel that safe in there and I wouldnt recommend to go just yet.
DIGBETH
Now Digbeth was a bit of a ghost town, it was 1 pm and no one was about just business owners having their meetings and the one group of builders eating their sorry wife’s lunches. Many businesses in Digbeth are not open, I know this week they will be so there is a lot of meetings taking place implementing safety procedures and so on. It’s so strange because whenever I am in Digbeth it’s absolutely thriving with creatives, you always bump into a street artist, photographer, or a tv crew. However, what’s so nice to see is the street art and some added additions to this colorful urban village. The blue NHS heart sign, the Hope artwork, and the massive Co-vid wall art, all are very impressive. Businesses such as Birdies, Ghetto Golf, The Night Owl and so on are all closed still, but I still couldn’t hold my excitement of walking past these once lively places and reminiscing of my drunken times there “Oh look that’s where I found a Marks and Spencer’s sandwich!” They may be closed for now but boy, the memories are still alive and well
Digbeth felt very safe, even walking past people they were keeping their distance. Also, we walked past a few venues that had builders inside so I am guessing there are going to be a few new neighbors moving into Digbeth!!
We decided to walk through China Town and the Gay Quarter which was pretty quiet, no one was about even checking out some of the street art in which, you would see one or two photographers there but it was deserted. I got to check out Bath passage in which you might have seen on social media as it had a new lick of paint…as in a lot of lick of paint! The artwork is incredible and what an amazing background for a photoshoot! If you want to check this out and not too sure where about it is, it’s off Ladywell Walk, right next door to the Cantonese Restaurant.
COFFEE SHOPS
A couple of coffee shops we walked past in Brum had queues outside such as Faculty and Java, Everyone was keeping their distance and I saw one or two employees standing outside making sure people were too., We headed to 200 Degrees which was completely empty, so weird, this place is always packed out! Social distancing procedures have been put in place in 200 Degree (floor markings, sanatizer stations) and I felt very safe in there ordering my drink. Instead of opting for the coffee I went for their summer drinks range and opted for a summer berry smoothie which was mighty refreshing as it was bloody hot as hell day! And do you know whats nice to see? smiles, Its’ nice to see that the impact of the virus hasn’t broken employees’ spirits, There are still smiles a bout.
FOOD
I know a couple of café/restaurants were open for collection, so we just decided to download the UberEATS app instead of going on the hunt for food (best option if you still feel a bit on edge) We ordered from a much loved Brummie favourite-Bonehead. “It’s not going to be the same” well you can shove that comment down your pie hole because it was just as good as eating in their restaurant! fried to perfection chicken dipped into a smoky mayonnaise sauce with waffle fries, SENSATIONAL. Ordered and ready to be collected within 20 minutes, now that some serious service in a pandemic! We decided to head to the Mailbox and chill out by the canal. It was bizarre, I am uset to seeing this place so full of life, it was quiet, really quiet. I have to say it was so lovely to sit on the canals and eat our food, it took me back to my time in Amsterdam the sun was blaring down on us, the food was delicious and the sound of water splashing against the canal walls was someway therapeutic. I think that was the most chilled out I’ve been in the last four months
KIDSARE BLOODY EVERYWHERE
Walking from The Cube towards the Birmingham Library it was starting to get a little bit busier, the tram was running, the fountains outside the library were surrounded by kids and families and sunbathers all huddled around each other. It was like anaimals gathering round the watering hole on a hot day, it was packed out! Another negative and I am sorry parents but its children. I understand that some kids can be little bastards sometimes I know, I uset to be one BUT we are in a pandemic if your kid runs up to a random kid and licks their face don’t just ignore it, DISCIPLINE YOUR CHILD. I’m pretty sure if that was me going up to some random and licking their face I am most likely to get a well-deserved punch or end up in a cell for the night. The kids were knocking into all kinds of people, god knows what the parents fed them that day but it’s a worrying sight to see because of course, they are putting themselves and others in danger. Now, that doesnt apply to all children,I also saw some good eggs on that day sitting quietly or just playing with their Mothers but the Scallys need to be told.
New buildings, new businesses are popping up near the Birmingham Museum, The Dishroom terrace was something new and I could see new signage for restaurants opening soon to Birmingham where Paradise Forum once was. It’s good to know that we are still heading for the future here in Brum.
A lot quieter by the big Mama statue, few people around but all spaced out reading books, drinking their Starbucks, and sunbathing. Walking towards the Bullring/Grand Central was where it started to get very busy again, queues for the apple store, music blaring, and performers still performing..
I understand we are still learning and adapting but there are some players that don’t want to abide by the rules. Like it or not, we are a team at the moment, we are all in this together. Birmingham is on its way back returning to full glory, the businesses are cooperating but the public…not so much. Did I feel safe? yes in some areas of Brum, the shopping centres not so much. There were gang’s of kids and families of eight or more shopping near the Bullring without a care in the world if they brush past you. If your really worried about Co-vid I would advise to just avoid the shopping centres in Birmingham for a bit as I was really taken back at how selfish some shoppers are, It honestly felt like I was invisible to them.
I am not going to lie, I am quite worried about the re-opening of pubs today, I do think it will be absolute carnage. There are a lot of selfish people out there who only care about themselves and how much booze is in their liver. They are not going to like being told what they can or can not do, and If you are one of those people, just get pissed at home save someone the headache that’s working their ass off to pay bills to look after a chump like you. If you are heading out this weekend and thinking that it’s going to be “a mad night on the town with the lads” then you are sadly mistaken. Have a laugh, have a drink, bloody smile of course, but don’t just go out to get completely rat arsed because you can easily just do that at home? These independent businesses have struggled in the last couple of months, many business owners have woken up daily wondering if they are going to survive, some businesses owners are excited yet absolutely terrified for this weekend so please, understand. Be sensitive, and be kind. Remember, we are nearly at the finish line, focus, and we will succeed.
So, I am on week 6 or maybe it’s week 7? I don’t even know anymore; it feels like week 86 especially with my new fine-line features on my forehead. The days are long, the biscuit tin is empty again and I am slowly but surely losing my mind that I am not able to talk to friends face to face or strangers’ dogs. I think the reason I am losing my mind (I suspect everyone is losing it to) is because we don’t have any idea of when this virus will pass, and we can go back to normality. A good thing is that the alcohol cabinet has not been completed raided…just yet. It’s not all doom and gloom at home, I have been quite busy discovering new independents, developing new skills aka eating quietly and saving & planning for the future.
When the lockdown was first announced and I was told to stay at home, I was pretty pissed about it. I didn’t want to isolate but then I sat down and thought about all the things I could do and didn’t have the time before to do them, for example, a “Sex and the City all-nighter” (INSERT TROLL FACE) thats when I started to get excited and celebrate the isolation…
DAY ONE: LOCKDOWN AKA FREEDOM
DAY FIFTEEN: WELL THATS ALL MY CHORES DONE FOR THE YEAR, THIS SHOULD BE OVER SOON…
DAY TWENTY FIVE:CALLED NAN 50 TIMES TODAY AND THE WALL IS IGNORING ME!!
Of course, I wasn’t speaking to the walls, but I definitely have been speaking to the birds. It does get a little depressing when you can’t see your friends and family but I am grateful that I live with my parents still, In December I was thinking to rent in Birmingham however took the wise decision not to go forward with renting as it’s just dead money and I want to continue to see my savings rise so I can buy not rent, so best deicison I have made because god knows what I would be like on my own. So I have been keeping busy and here are a few thing that I have been doing whilst in lockdown AND a few updates on me!
INDEPENDENT SHOPPING
So, I have been focusing more on shopping independently whilst in lockdown so buying my essentials independently rather than queue at Asda for half an hour for out of date bread. I have tried out some new fantastic independents in which I have blogged about in My North of Birmingham self-isolating guide and hoping to review in my next blog post. I finally got to visit some well-known favourites such as OnTheBreadLine well known for their tasty bakes and breads, also discovering new businesses such as Silvertree Catering which have become an instant favourite of mine for delivering my essentials.
SUPPORTING BUSINESSES
Most of you will know that I have been constantly supporting local independent businesses throughout lockdown. I’d put together a self-help guide to help those who are isolating and can’t make it to the lengthy ques of Tesco, why go queue for basic Bitch Warburtons when you can get freshly home-baked bread delivered to your front door? I have been so busy every week researching and updating the blog post, I have been posting quite a lot on my social media to get the word out for businesses and the response has been incredible! Many people use the guide every day and have passed it to those who are vulnerable, what is so heart-warming is receiving messages from people who have said the guide has helped their vulnerable loved ones so much (I cried the other day because a girl messaged me saying she uses the guide every day to help her ill Dad and that it’s literally saved them) I have put a lot of hard work into the guide so it’s really lovely to hear such positive feedback from people. I have mentioned above that I will be putting together a review blog post of all the independents I have used whilst in lockdown so look out for that next!
HELLO BABY! SAY HELLO TO MY NEPHEW HENRY KIT
There’s a new member of the family, introducing Henry Kit who is absolutely lovely! Well and truly over the moon, I have a nephew! It’s a shame at the moment that we can’t hold him, so frustrating as well when you see him and he just looks like he needs a cuddle! A bit of positivity that the family needed after losing Nasher (our dog) I think as a family it all hit us really hard and it seems that we were all really down so it’s nice to have something new coming in and perking us all up.
IMPROVING AND DEVELOPING NEW SKILLS
Okay, so I have really got into my cooking lately, I love experimenting with all kinds of things (wink wink) but especially with food. Last weekend I made this pretty dirty burger and I was pretty impressed with myself using Stripclubs Streetfood DIY kit. I have also been experimenting with healthy meals as well, trying to cut out the yeast and cut down on the salt/sugar intake (that burger is definitely not an example of it) but I’ve made meat-free burritos and spicy prawn one pans, that was absolutely delicious! So, I am excited to look forward to having my own kitchen and experimenting more. I have also been topping up my photography skills, street photography/food photography/ and floral photography. It’s always great to keep creative, I have even taken up drawing again which was absolutely bizarre holding a pencil to paper as the last time I did that was in detention at secondary school, God I hate pencils.
I have also been keeping creative in the garden and dabbling with a bit of self-portrait photography, mainly focusing on my editing skills and creating something that people wouldn’t expect has just been taken in someones back garden. My Dad has also shown an interest in photography so I have been teaching him portrait photography where of course MOI as the subject, I think he’s done a pretty good job!
HAD A MELTDOWN AND CHOPPED MY HAIR
So not many people know I wear hair extensions, so It came to many as a bit of a shock when I posted this on my social media. I chopped it myself, I just watched a YouTube video, washed my hair had a swig of beer and chopped it. I defiantly look older because I didn’t get ID’d for a Gin & tonic in Marks and Spencer’s the other day and the old little Lady who lives down the road from me stropped saying “Hello chicken” to me on my daily walks now. I feel pretty free without them although they did give me confidence but I feel like I have changed so much from when I first got them I had no confidence at all and now, I just feel 100% good about myself! It’s always nice to have a change so we shall see how it goes!
DATING ONLINE? NAAAH
The one thing that kind of sucks about being single is when you are constantly surrounded by people who are not single, it’s almost like you pressured into jumping onto a dating app and speaking to the first guy that you think is a worthy 5/10. Don’t get me wrong I have been on the dating apps, but it has become quite clear that I am just not interested. They say Hi, I say Hi back, they say I have a cute face and I just ghost them, I don’t like talking online, I rather do it face to face but its look like that’s not going to happen for quite some time. So, I’ll just jump on Bumble at like 10 pm at night and talk to someone for 30 minutes, I fall asleep and thenI forget about them the next day. I sound like an absolute fuckwit and I know girls would kill me for doing it because we give guys a hard time doing it to us girls but I can’t help feeling bored and obviously a bit frisky …oh Come on, We have all been there!
When the time is right it will happen and if doesn’t happen, oh well! there is always cute dogs to keep you company!
THAT COFFEE TREND IS BALLZ
I tried that Dalgona whipped coffee trend that everyone is going mad about and well honestly, it was just a bag of balls trying to attempt to whisk the bloody thing. I tried to do it old school using my hands and well, this was the finished product, my “whipped” coffee. Just embarrassing, it’s a coffee alright without the sodding whip! never again.
Daily walks and seeing new places, It’s always good to experience something new once a week. So I like taking my bike (robbing my Dads bike) riding down the country lanes and seeing new spots. I would go through the park but it’s just so packed! full of kids running into you and complete nobs in gangs on bikes, rather go somewhere quiet and on my own and feel like I’m not in Sutton for one day! It’s like a mini-holiday without the fruity cocktails, shit karaoke and GUCCI “lucky lucky” geared up blokes.
So there you have it, a little bit of an update on me in self-isolation! Hope you are all keeping safe and looking after yourselves, also remember to check in on your loved ones now and again!
