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
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!
“Have you ever played ping pong with a vagina before?”
Well, it’s not the best start to 2020, is it? for many holiday seekers relying on that booked holiday to finally relax, top up their tans and maybe even find love, are sadly having to cancel their 2020 treat due to the outbreak of CO-VID 19. Yes, corona, you have well and truly buggered 2020 “The year that was going to be my year,” said the so many millions of people that say the same quote every year. However, let’s not take this as a negative because this year could be the year to reflect, plan and save for 2021.
I find that as you get older the time just flies by and sometimes you just don’t have the time to sit down with yourself and think “Okay, what do I want to do?” I am finding whilst I am self-isolating, that I have all the time in the world to think, thoughts that have never crossed my mind are now quite common in the past week and of course, memories. I was flicking through my phone and came across my Thailand photographs in which I started laughing straight away because I remember before I went to Thailand I felt very down about life, and I just wanted to escape Birmingham for two weeks with my cousin Jess. The memories we made, the experiences we experienced, and my god, the laughs we had. I looked back at the photos in which I am gleaming, I look so happy and you wouldn’t think I just came out of a seven-year relationship with someone who I thought I was going to marry. I wanted to step out of my comfort zone, and Thailand was just that because I never fancied Thailand! a couple of my friends went before me and I would think “Why the hell would you want to go to a place like that?!” but soon as I got off that 12-hour flight, Thailand threw everything at me from condom restaurants (Yes for real), sex shows, to walking amongst beautiful temples and elephants. I learnt a lot from Thailand, and it’s a destination I would recommend to anyone in a heartbeat and so, if you’re gutted about your holiday being cancelled in Spain why not step out of your comfort zone and explore Thailand?
So I have put together a blog post with lots of photos, hilarious stories and recommendations. We travelled to Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Phuket so there is a lot to get through so there is going to be a part 2. If there is anything that has caught your eye and want to know more about just send me a comment and I’ll be happy to give you more information! Other than that I hope I don’t disgust you too much.
BANGKOK- WHERE WE ALMOST GOT ARRESTED
When we first arrived in Bangkok, we arrived with a bang…quite literally. It was like a scene you would see in a cartoon, we got off our 12-hour flight, grabbed our suitcases and headed to the escalators to get out of Bangkok Airport. We stepped onto the escalators (no steps) and missed the sign to hold onto our luggage- well my cousin Jess did, because the next thing I heard was the loudest screeching ever, so loud that the whole of the airport looked our way with panic expressions. I looked forward and I just see this suitcase running away from Jess and her running after it down the escalator. I couldn’t stop laughing and what was worse is that I needed the toilet so bad, I was having to control my bowels whilst laughing. The suitcase was heading towards these two doors made out of glass and I remember thinking “Oh shit, we are going to get arrested” the suitcase slammed of the glass doors, the sound was honestly like a bomb had gone off but luckily the doors never smashed. Jess grabbed the suitcase where security was standing looking very unimpressed. A close call to getting arrested and sharting but a moment I’ll never forget.
CABBAGES & CONDOMS- THE CONDOM RESTAURANT
I remember coming across this restaurant online thinking “This is not real! It’s got to be a joke?” so when we jumped out of our Tuk-Tuk and saw the sign and light shades made out of condoms, We knew instantly that this is going to be the weirdest dining experience we will ever experience in our lives. Just imagine condoms everywhere, floating in the sky, on the tables, mannequins and flowers made out of them, it got to the point I was starting to imagine dicks as well. The restaurant has a mission to help prevent sexually transmitted diseases and Hey, I thought I was just here for food but found myself in a sex-ed class reading of all the information boards on what you should and should not swallow. The food is pretty basic, but the springs rolls are pretty amazing, but I just kept catching the 100 condom light shades staring at me whilst eating and I couldn’t finish my rolls as I was thinking about dicks again. A very surreal experience and to our amusement when we paid for the bill, I was expecting some complimentary mints that you usually get at a Thai restaurant but nope, they gave us complimentary condoms instead.
MASSAGE- WITH AN ADDED CHEEKY FINGER
Okay, so we all know about the happy ending massage parlours in Thailand so can you imagine my face when I ask for a traditional massage and got more than what I asked for?! We went to some random parlour on the street in Bangkok, didn’t look into it but we were so desperate for a massage. They first scrubbed our feet then took us to this pitch-black room upstairs with two mattresses on the floor and told us to remove our clothes. We didn’t think much of it at first as it was just two middle-aged women plus, we have never had a Thai massage, so we did as what we were told and removed our clothes. This woman I had was pretty good she poured oil down my back and was rubbing all the knots out, from my neck to my feet however as she was gliding back up with the oil she got to my bum and well she, did me over didn’t she?! The crafty fucker slipped a finger in where no fingers shall ever go again, it was like 5 seconds, but I kept fighting with myself thinking if it happened or not. Soon as the women left I turned to Jess literally gobsmacked “I just lost my finger in bum virginity” We couldn’t stop laughing, Jess said her lady straddled her and kept thrusting her vagina in her bum, we couldn’t get out of there quick enough but my back felt great after so I’ll give her that.
CHIANG MAI- WHERE WE ALMOST GOT EATEN ALIVE.
Chiang Mai was one of my favourite places in Thailand although we had a lot of run-ins with the wildlife there, some good and some bad. One of the nights, we decided to take a look at The Night Bazaar which has everything from furniture to crocodile on a stick. On the way back we decided to get a Tuk-Tuk halfway then walk home. As we were walking past an alley, we could hear some growling, we looked down and there was a group of wild dogs. Now, these are not the dogs you get back home, they are almost mutated, dribbling and covered in wounds, not a pretty sight. They clocked us, then they started barking and charged at us. I have never run so fast in my life; I did not want to get eaten alive by dogs even if they are one of my favourite animals. The night didn’t stop there, as we were running a couple of rats decided it was a marathon and ran in front of us, so we screamed some more and increased our speed. When we got back to the hotel which was in the middle of the jungle, we felt so relieved until what I can only describe as a massive lizard orgy on our door to our room, the audacity of these big fuckers out here.
ELEPHANT NATURE PARK- A TRULY REMARKABLE EXPERIENCE
So, there is a lot of negativity when it comes to animal welfare with Thailand and especially with elephants. A lot of these horror stories you hear from elephants forced to dance to the public, carrying logs up mountains and working as beggars on the streets are sadly true. The biggest con of all is these “sanctuary’s” that make you believe that they are taking care of the elephants but when they close the doors after you leave it’s a different story. So, Jess and I did some research into legit sanctuary’s for elephants and the elephant nature park came up founded by Lek Chailert who has dedicated her life to rescuing abused elephants and is one of Asia’s heroes for animal welfare. Before you arrive you are educated in these amazing animals and how they are abused all over the world, you get to know some of the nature parks elephants stories but when you see the elephants now you wouldn’t have thought they had such a tragic past. They are chasing each other, flapping their ears and are free. No bull hooks are allowed in the nature park, each elephant has a keeper to look after them and you can see the incredible bond, they all have.
One elephant that I just fell in love with and had a tragic story was Jokia, Her story is very upsetting-Warning senstive content -Jokia is a female elephant who worked in the log trade. She suffered a miscarriage while pulling a log uphill and was not allowed to stop working to see if her calf was dead or alive. This event cause Jokia extreme physical and emotional trauma and she refused to go back to work. As a result, she was deliberately blinded in both eyes on two separate occasions by different owners.
Jokia has two best friends Navann and Sri Prae who help guide her throughout the park with their trunks. We got to meet Jokia and Navann, Navann was holding on to Jokia and they couldn’t stop flapping their ears when we greeted them. She looked so happy, for a human to hurt her like that and not attack us as we approached just shows how strong spirited and beautiful these animals are.
I shall call him Bagheera and he shall be mine!
The elephant nature park is something that will stick with me for a long time, they have strict rules of no riding, no ball hooks, no bathing, no performing and no abusing them in any sort of way. To see free elephants, behave naturally rolling around in the mud with their friends, chasing one and other and just smiling was enough for me. We did get to feed the elephants watermelon, watch them bathe in the lake and give them a stroke. The Nature park also recuse dogs, cats, and buffaloes, they all roam freely in the park and there are hundreds of volunteers who work to support the park
If you are going to a “sanctuary” where the workers carry bull hooks, promote elephant rides and elephant shows, they are chained, or not informing you about the welfare of elephants then it’s not a sanctuary, you’re paying these people to carry on abusing them. It might look great for a photo you riding on an elephant but many of the elephants at the Nature Park sanctuary have had their backbones dislocated because of this, the workers who they had worked for won’t see this (well, refuse to acknowledge) and sadly will abuse them, even more, to carry on with broken bones to make money or they die.
If you are interested in finding more about the Park, please head over to the website here
Just the best Frappe Latte at Dek-Doi Cafe just down the street from The Eco Resort where we stayed,
The sort of things you will find at the Chiang Mai markets, Me and Jess were trying to work out for a good 10 minutes if the Croc was a real or not.
That’s it for part one of The Thailand Diaries, Part two will be next week and this part gets a little bit freaky with Ping Pong shows, dancing with strippers, and bumpy rides Baby– Oh god I’m so sorry Mom!
2020 has well and truly shat all over our lives with the Coronavirus pandemic, it’s turning out that many of us will have to switch off the light and close the door to society outside our four walls. Whether its two weeks, a month or three months of isolation, how the hell are we going to survive without Saturday’s nights in Be at One [insert troll face]
From concerns of isolation resulting in feeling lonely and depressed, this is the time we must come together to help one and other, two words that have summed up 2020 so far, Be Kind. So far, the community of Birmingham coming together to support hospitality business’s in the City has been a beautiful sight to see, from donations to media coverage it really does prove that the community will come together to pick up those who are suffering to help them back up onto their feet again. Even to those who are isolating, restaurants are now offerings deliveries, neighbours offering to go food shopping and strangers just checking in. It’s going to be tough, but it’s important to keep busy, isolating doesn’t mean you can’t speak to anyone and it doesn’t mean you have to completely shut out the whole world. There are many things you can do, things that will get you excited and motivated for the future. There maybe things that you haven’t had the time for and now you can finally do, so here are 10 things that I came up with that you can do whilst isolating.
SUPPORT THOSE WHO ARE FEELING THE EFFECTS OF COVID-19
For now, many businesses have closed their doors but still offering the option of online shopping, takeaways and deliveries. You can always support these businesses behind your computer screen by sharing content via social media, purchasing gift vouchers and personal donations. If you don’t want to see our independent’s disappearing from our streets then do visit them, buy something or purchase a gift card and use social media to promote them. It’s not just the independents who are suffering, it’s the elderly as well who many live alone, have no ways of transport and are vulnerable. I have seen on social media that many neighbours and even strangers are contacting their elderly neighbours to check in with them and see if they need any supplies then delivering them to their doors. A beautiful gesture that goes a long way to some as your face may be the first face, they have seen in a couple of days even sadly weeks.
YOU NOW HAVE TIME TO WATCH THE EIGHT SEASONS OF GAME OF THRONES
“It’s too long, I don’t have time for it” YOU KNOW NOTHING, BAB. now it’s your chance to crack out those bloody long boxsets and watch them with your loved ones. It’s like Christmas but without the presents, 100 buffets and Mariah Carey…it’s like going back to the Jesus days oh wait, he did put on a fantastic buffet spread before he…Let’s just go the next paragraph, shall we!?
START AGAIN
All those new year resolutions that you swore to yourself you would do in the year 2020 (lose some weight and become a Victoria Secret model) but still haven’t done as your still warming up for the year well we could just scrap that as we have already failed and start again, right? Who knows what this year will have install for us…well at the moment no toilet rolls.
THE BIG CLEAR OUT
Clear and breath Honey! let’s dive into that wardrobe and finally get rid of that booty call outfit that you had plans for about 10 years ago. The thing is you don’t have to just get rid, you can make a bit of profit from your clear out. Of course, Car boots are a great way of making a bit of money but due to the virus, these are to be avoided. What you can do, is sell online on websites such as Vinted, Depop and eBay. I use vinted a lot to get rid of clothes and accessories I don’t need anymore and I make a nice little profit. If the money doesn’t matter, you could always advertise on social media and give to those who could make use of it.
I MAKE MONEY MOVES
As mentioned above, you can make a nice little bit of income at home. Something I have actually thought about is dog sitting I mean, I do love them more than people so me and dogs watching Housewives of Atlanta would be the perfect isolation plan.
EXERCISE, CLEANSE…NO EXCUSES
You don’t have to go to the gym to feel good. Last year I did a yeast detox, I didn’t go to the gym, I went for a jog every day and cut down on rubbish. My skin was clear, I lost a stone within two weeks and I felt pretty sexy. I was starting to show a bit of skin but not too much Jesus, this isn’t a meat market! Just an arm or a leg. It gave me confidence however, I sadly fell back into my bad ways so at the moment I feel like an orangutan. Now, I have no excuse’s so I’ll be squatting and doing laps in the garden for The Victoria Secret show…[Insert Troll face]
TRY SOMETHING NEW: GET CRAFTY, GET BAKEY, AND GET SNAPPY?…
No, none of that makes sense I was just trying to be all arty-farty with my words but now is the time to try something new! Hobbies are never-ending from baking to adding to your cotton wool collection…okay, I made it up but if extreme ironing is a hobby then I’m sure as hell collecting cotton wool can be too. It keeps you busy, it gets you excited and who knows, you might be able to make a career out of it.
COMMUNICATE EVERYDAY
Isolating yourself doesn’t mean closing the door to your room and cutting off all communication. You should be talking to your friends and your family every day! Get on skype with your friends you could play a quiz, watch a film together or you could just catch up. It’s important to talk and check in with one and other as isolation can harm us all. We may feel lonely, sad and not communicating can cause boredom leading to focusing on the negativity in our lives. Check-in with everyone, If you live alone you might want to jump on social media, Bumble for friends and various chatroom apps. Remember it is important to talk if you are feeling the effects of isolation, don’t feel embarrassed as we are all going through this togeather and we are here to support one and other.
MISS LIFE? DOWNLOAD AND PLAY THE SIMS
Missing the drama in your life? well, you can always just recreate it on the Sims and get carried away for about a year. You could create an episode of Coronation Street which is actually thrilling in the game of Sims, you could build your whole life on there if you wanted to however It’s a bit weird when you’re talking to friends or family that you know that you have killed them a thousand times on the Sims and they don’t even know.
So there you have it, but I would love to know what you have done so far in Isolation? Leave me a comment below and remember, to stay safe Babs!
Happy International Women’s Day! I thought, why not celebrate my vagina and write up a little blog post on why it’s bloody awesome to be a woman. From connecting to soppy romantic films such as Love Actually (Fuck you Harry for hurting Karen and bringing Joni Mitchell into it!) to our “get out of jail cards” we use quite often in the bedroom department. You’ll be screaming I’m every woman by the end of this post or you might stick The Notebook on, tie hair up, put on your baggy pants and tuck into a packet of McVities milk chocolate biscuits.
WE CAN REALLY CONNECT WITH THE MOVIES
Have you ever watched a film with your partner and it gets to an emotional scene, you are sitting there filling up and your partner is just sitting there no facial expression and probably doesn’t know what day it is either? Women own their feelings more than man, it’s a fact. It kills us seeing Rose let go of Jack in the Titanic, we fill up with happy tears every time the ending credits roll on every Harry Potter movie and we fall apart when Shadow the Golden Retriever turns up at the end of Disney’s Homeward Bound covered in mud and limping to Peter after him saying “He was just too old”- God that’s worse than the bloody Titanic.
MORE OPTIONS IN THE WARDROBE DEPARTMENT
When it comes to fashion we do have more choices when it comes to Men. For nightwear, men can wear a top, shorts, trousers, boxers or go completely nude. For women, we can wear, tops, shorts, trousers, bra, pants, nightie, onesie, bodysuit, go nude, and also, our partner’s clothes.
FANNY FARTS ARE PURE JOY
A Girls worse nightmare is not the tampon, It’s the almighty fanny fart. They come at the worse times most likely during sex and sometimes they can go on for a minute straight but they make cracking stories to tell the Girls!
WE DON’T HAVE TWO BALLS HANGING BETWEEN OUR LEGS
Its the one thing I can not get over, that men have two balls that they have to carry every where in the most uncomfortable place. Thank Christ we women don’t have to have that as we already have two big balls on our chest, can you imagine two balls bouncing around like it’s a rave in between our legs as well?
GUARANTEED TO GET IN THE CLUB
If you are a female you are given special treatment when it comes to going out. The number of times I have been out with male friends and they have been refused entry to a club because they are too tall or wearing baggy trousers…baffling. I once got a pint and a packet of HP nuts for free just for being “sweet” I wish that would work all the time…
WE GO TO THE BATHROOM TO PEE WE COME OUT WITH FRIENDS FOR LIFE
I think I can vouch for every girl in the WORLD that they have met someone on a bathroom break in a club/pub. I remember I was in London with three of my uni friends, I popped to the bathroom and came back with a hen party of 15 with free bottles of Prosecco, 2 sailor strippers and a pair of balls smacking on top of my head…It was a banging night.
WE CAN PUSH BASKETBALLS OUT OF OUR VAGINAS
If we can push basketball’s out of our vaginas, crap ourselves and crack a smile at the end of it, then I think we deserve all the CHANEL in the world…and fried chicken.
FAKE IT TILL YOU MAKE IT- WE CAN NOT BE CAUGHT OUT IN THE BEDROOM
And the Oscar goes to…Sorry lads!
WE HAVE A GOOD EXCUSE NOT TO GO OUT…PERIODS
They are complete bastards but periods are great reasons to get out of something and it’s a bloody good reason too! They also give us women time out to binge on crap and give us a good excuse to put on a bit of chub.
Leamington Spa is like a second home to me, you will often find me on weekends heading up to Leam rummaging through the charity shops, trying out new coffee shops and shopping in their great independents. For those who don’t know, Leamington Spa is a spa town located in Warwickshire, home to the gorgeous Jephson Gardens, Iconic Royal Pump rooms and Samuel Lockhart’s elephant trail. A beautiful Spa town that just oozes character throughout and offers so much for a fantastic day out for all to enjoy. Whenever it’s for a bite to eat, taking the kids for a day out or just finding a quiet spot to relax, Leamington Spa is the place you should put on your list to visit. So, where do you start? From unique independents to new expiring culinary openings, your Bab has got you covered when it comes to Leamington. Here are my favourite spots/hidden gems in Leamington Spa for you all to check out this month!
THE NEIGHBOURHOOD & COFFEE ARCHITECTS
The newest attraction to Leamington Spa is The Neighbourhood which is a street food dining venue where independent food companies join forces to cook up a storm and serve up meals you wouldn’t find in your local Asda. The Neighbourhood is located on Warwick Street opposite Coffee Architects their previous location and now, Coffee Architects is based in the Neighbourhood meaning YOU CAN ACTUALLY GET A SEAT NOW. The biggest pain with Coffee Architects is the food is incredible and the whole of Leamington Spa knew it so of course, you have a whole ship of people flocking there before silly old me comes trotting along from Sutton Coldfield. The coffee is fierce, the cakes are delicious, and the food is B E A UTIFUL! The new location is thriving, and I know, it will do amazingly well in Leamington Spa, the problem is I have to pop in every time I come into Leam and have a couple of dishes there (guaranteed you will be stuck for choice) which means piling on the weight on this big booty of mine…YIKES!
BERYLUNE
Berylune was once crammed into a little blue terrace house, it was impossible to move around without knocking into someone’s bottom. Now Berylune’s new location on Warwick Street is just up the road from the previous building with lots of room to browse this wonderous little gem in Leamington Spa. Berylune is an independent craft and gift shop which makes it the perfect place to be different and purchase unique gifts for your loved ones. The owners here are a ray of sunshine, always smiling, always happy and always helpful, every time I go into Berylune even if it’s raining, they manage to convince me the sun is shining outside. A must visit in Leamington Spa for all.
THE AVIARY CAFE IN JEPHSON GARDENS
One of my favourite things to do in Leamington is to go for a walk through Jephson Gardens and stop off for a coffee and a bite to eat at this darling cafe. They serve marvellous coffee/tea, delicious light bites (vegan and gluten options are available) and they offer a peaceful environment to work or to meet up with friends in whilst surrounded by artistic decor. I also would like to mention that the staff are pretty great and always comment on my lipstick…they know good lipstick! Whenever you are in Leamington, this is one of the places you most definitely should try out, a lovely gem.
LILAC ROSE
I do love my fashion and I adore small independent fashion brands that you wouldn’t see in the high street so Lilac Rose is the perfect store to find something a bit different! I find myself in here just dribbling over the dresses, the patterns, the fabrics just the uniqueness of it all, however, its not just a store for clothes. Lilac Rose also offers lovely gifts from jewellery to bags, if you are looking for something a bit different, Lilac Rose will help you find just that.
PLEASE NOTE IMAGE NOT MINE, THIS BELONGS TO LILAC ROSE
LIBERTINE BURGER
They drip, they ooze and well, let’s not turn this into a porno but these burgers are the shit. Last time I was at Libertine Burger I had a No.25 which was a signature beef patty with crispy smoky bacon, dripping stilton and red onion jam…now isn’t that just sex on buns hey? I find myself often refusing to leave Leamington without gorging on a Libertine Burger because quite frankly, they are the best burgers you can find in the Midlands.
HART + CO
Step into the world of FEMME with this little number in Leamington Spa, I have never stepped into a restaurant and been greeted by a bathtub full with balls before…Oh wait yes actually I have. HART + CO is what you call an “Instagrammable” spot with neon lights, pink lattes and props that will make you Instagram POP! HART + CO is not just offering you unique photo opportunities for the gram they offer out of this world food and creative cocktails, I mean a cocktail served in a Chinese takeaway box is AMAZEBALLS if you ask me. The cocktails are fun, refreshing and full of ZING Baby! The food looked incredible however I never managed to taste it BUT I will be doing a review of the Brunch this Month so keep an eye for it!
FAT BIRDS CAFE
From the outside Fat Birds Cafe seems to hides itself well in the high street however I call it Leamington Spa’s very own secret weapon. I have tried the breakfast and lunch at Fat Birds Cafe, both meals have soared past my expectations and really, I deserve a slap in the face for judging a book by its cover because Fat Birds Café serve exquisite food and deliver high standard service. You must try the cakes, all freshly baked offering gluten-free and vegan options.The prices are very reasonable for the food portions you receive here, the service is quick and the atmosphere is very relaxing. You are sure to leave Fat Birds feeling very satisfied.
WARWICKSHIRE STREET KITCHEN
A much-loved favourite in Leamington Spa and is one you have to set off early to so you can grab a seat. For 3 years I have been trying to get a seat in Warwickshire Street Kitchen and in December I set my alarm for 8 am, I pre-ordered my train tickets and I had my sweat pants on that I must admit, I burnt a bloody hole in where my butt cheeks lay because of the speed I was going at but all worth it as I finally got a seat…HOORAH! Well worth the wait for a good ol’ hearty breakfast to warm the baps on a winter’s day, I would recommend the ham hock, hollandaise sauce with poached egg it was utterly divine. I always pop in here for the Coffee which is brewed to perfection and grab a homemade bake in which don’t get me started on the cakes! They are a bloody treat. Another fantastic place in Leamington to eat!
I will be adding more to the list so keep an eye out over the coming months, there are more gems to be discovered in Leamington Spa and I am here to tell you about them, so keep with me Bab and subscribe.
You don’t have to travel too far to feel like royalty these days. To many people royalty could be a fry up in your local pub, a free arm massage from your work colleague or an afternoon tea in an enchanting 1875 French Chateau surrounded by 140 acres of picturesque grounds. I know which one I would pick. Introducing Chateau Impney, a stunning venue located in Droitwich that offers accommodation and plays host to a variety of events in the Midlands. Me and my friend Sian were invited to try out the afternoon tea 2 for 1 offer and take a tour of the Chateau.
Upon arriving at the Chateau the first thing you will encounter is the 140 acres of land which is like something out of Downtown Abbey or a Jane Austin novel. Views of waterfalls, cherry blossom and swans taking a dip into the lake, now all we need is an enchanting castle to go with it..oh wait! Upon entering the Chateau, we were guided down to the Impney restaurant where the afternoon tea took place in a modern extension. We were greeted by the host and shown to our tables and were asked for what drinks we would like to be served with the afternoon tea. Once ordered we had a little wonder around the restaurant which seemed to have two different styles on either side. One side was very modern with leather chairs, purple walls and wooden tables. The other side had more of a rustic botanist theme with fairy lights and greenery covering the ceiling. Very different but strangely seemed to tie in quite well together, but not so much with the rest of the Chateau that boasts original french archtiecture.
After 10 minutes the afternoon tea arrived at our table offering a very generous selection of sandwiches, cakes, and scones. There were many sandwiches with a variety of fillings such as cheese and caramelised onion, egg and cress, fresh salmon, ham and cheese, and cucumber. The sandwiches were fresh, filling and very tasty. The Scones are served with fresh cream and jam, and they were delightful. Perfectly sized cakes are on offer from cheesecake, caramel slice, fudge/chocolate cake and carrot cake. The staff are very attentive and are really friendly, the price of the afternoon tea is not high class but the quality of service and food you are receiving certainly is. The offer is 2 for 1 so it costs £20 which is an absolute steal for the afternoon tea you are getting. I have paid up to £35 in some restaurants and the quality/quantity doesn’t even come close to the Chateau.
After the afternoon tea, we were introduced to Peter who was the General Manager. He took us on a little tour of the Chateau. Peter was like a walking Wikipedia of Chateau Impney, he gave us so much information and went through the history of the Chateau. Peter showed us one of the luxury Chateau feature rooms which was just something out of a fairy tale. The room was possibly the size of my house, it also had one of those arty-farty bathtubs behind the bed that could fit a family of 6 in and a king-size bed that was fit for a King and Queen. The view of the grounds from the room is breath taking and even when you come away from the balcony the luxury of the room still makes it breath taking! On the tour, we also took a look at some of the exhibition rooms that can hold up to 800 people in. The hall that offers grand features where weddings are held and the beautiful gardens. The gardens were something that reminded me of a cross between Alice in Wonderland and The Secret garden. Sadly, the day was a bit dull so we didn’t stay long in gardens, but it would be lovely to come back in the summer to see the whole of the garden out in bloom in its full glory, bathed in sunlight.
Chateau Impney is a venue that you could only imagine would exist in fairy tales. An enchanting building full of character and life that would make a stunning backdrop for any special event. The afternoon tea was delicious and for the price it is, I believe it to be far too generous. High-quality food, very generous portions and good value for money- it should be something you need to put on your list to do this month. Chateau Impney is a real fairytale to be explored by all, from the moment you drive into the grounds to the moment you step out, you are treated like royalty. Thank you Chateau Impney for inviting me, a tip-top royal experience I will never forget.
The Afternoon tea 2 for 1 offer ends on 27th February 2020.
Located in the heart of the Jewellery Quarter is a sleek modern hotel with a pinch of neon that oozes Vice City Vibes. Bloc Hotel offers travellers a comfortable nights sleep in Japanese pod inspired rooms that to some might feel it’s a tight squeeze but to others may feel its compact, affordable and convenient. Surrounded by the historical yet animated atmosphere of the Jewellery Quarter, this hotel offers “affordable luxury stays” to the traveller who doesn’t have to go far for necessities.
Arriving at Bloc hotel that is slapped right in the middle of Snow Hill and the Jewellery Quarter train station offering a perfect location for transport links,restaurants, attractions and bars. Once we checked in and showed photo I.D we proceeded to our vista room on the third floor. Upon entering the room the first thing that jumps out at you is the size, it’s a bit on the small side. The second thing that stands out is how spotless the room is, nice clean sheets, fresh towels and not one little squirrel hair in sight. The bathroom (wet room) is also very small equipped with a monsoon shower and the essence of sandlewood.The room offers king-sized beds that are the same width of the room , ambient mood lighting (GTA Vice City vibes), toiletries such as soap, body wash and shampoo, HD TV, climate control system and WIFI. I also had a nice view from the window of the BT tower and some of the offices in Snow Hill. There is not a wardrobe in the room but there is a couple of coat hangers and hooks plus room under the bed to store away your travel bags/suitcases.
Once settled in I decided to look for food and referred to my Around the Bloc guide that’s in the room packed full of information on all the restaurants and bars in the area plus you can get discounts when you stay with Bloc! You dont have to go far to find a place that offers good grub round here, just opposite the Bloc hotel is Otto Wood Fired Pizza and located down the road in Saint Pauls Square is several eaterys and bars that are worth a pop in such as Saint Kitchen, Saint Pauls House and a golden oldie of mine: Actress & Bishop.
After a couple of red wines I headed back to the hotel just in time for bed at 10pm like the right old fart that I am. I had the neon purple “mood” lighting on with the blind open revealing a pretty cosmopolitan view of the thriving Colmore Row business district. The bed was very comfortable, duvet not too heavy and the tempature was just right. My retirement plans to bed soon changed as Ryan Gosling came on my TV screen in Nicholas Winding Refn’s “Drive” so I decided to stay up and dribble. Heading towards midnight there was a couple of “rumpy pumpy” noises in the night from next door but what do you expect the hotel is cheaper than a travelodge and well, we are all human hey? This wouldnt be the first hotel to of seen a bit of action and it certainly wont be the last. After I stopped giggling, I managed to fall asleep and my goodness, what a sleep I had, I woke up like bloody Sleeping Beauty. I suffer with a bit of back pain now and then but I felt like the mattress actually did me some good, for the past 3 years I have woken up with shooting pains in my back so it was amazing to wake up with no pain for once.
Bottled water is included in the rooms however there is no tea and coffee facilities, there is a coffee machine downstairs in the reception area however the downside to this is that you have to pay with cash. As we are leaning more towards going cashless nowadays, this may cause a right itch in the hoohar however there are many local coffee shops by the hotel that can ease the coffee morning jitters but it would of been nice to wake up to coffee in my room.
Checking out was very easy, hand in the hotel key and leave, simples. The staff were very polite and straight away they asked If I enjoyed my stay. A pleasant stay at a hotel I wouldn’t have thought to stay in but I would recommend Bloc as it offers luxurious yet affordable rooms, a great location bursting with lively nightlife, swanky restaurants and buzzing bars plus positive customer service. This hotel may be best suited for people who commute or fancy a budget stay in Brum for the night with prices ranging from £40-£80, you really can’t argue with the price even over a cup of coffee. They also have a range of bigger rooms on availability that I can confirm, do have tea and coffee facilities so its just the vista rooms that don’t provide this.
A comfortable night’s stay in a lovely modern hotel in the heart of the Jewellery Quarter where a room for the night didn’t have to burn a hole in my purse, would I book again? Of course I would, Bloc is an absolute treat for the price.
Please note this was a gifted experience by Bloc Hotel Birmingham, if you wish to use any of my photography please get in touch.
2019 was the year of discovery and finally venturing out into the world on my own. It was nice on Sunday to sit back and flick through all my photos from 2019 and seeing the drastic changes through imagery from the start of the year to the end of the year. I have learnt a few things about myself, but I have learned more about the city I live in, Birmingham. There is always going to be something new around the corner of this buzzing city whether it be a new venture, a new role model or a new Cronut. It’s crazy to think years ago I wanted to move out of Birmingham and move to London which would be such a bad move as
It’s not so much I don’t like people its the fact that I don’t like being surrounded by so many of them…
I hate the tube, everyone’s running in and out of the train like they need the toilet and have chronic diarrhoea
You have to pay every time you use a toilet or you have to pay for tap water…Christ, these are dark times we are living in.
Now I feel Birmingham is my home and I want to finally settle down here and be comfortable. I look forward to another year of discovery in my city but let’s just have a look back at the couple of things I discovered/did in 2019 in Birmingham.
CRONUTS
Our Birmingham bakers have gifted us the gift of the gods and they are called Cronuts. These little minxes come from The Medicine Bakery in the City Centre. They are baked to perfection, they are crispy and packed full of delicious filling that just oozes out creating a sensational mouth orgasm. Apologies for the pornographic chat, but take it from me, they are better than sex. Unfortunately for me, I introduced my mom to them so now every time I am in Birmingham which is 90% of the time I have to visit the Medicine Bakery and buy her a Cronut. I think she feels the same way too…
DIGBETH IS ONE OF MY FAVOURITE SPOTS IN BIRMINGHAM
last year I found myself going to Digbeth a lot more as I was doing a lot of blogger/model photoshoots in that location. I have found over the year that Digbeth just seems to grow bigger and better each year with more unique venues bursting with creativity and fun for all. Digbeth has become one of my favourite places to photograph, I can photograph kids, families, couples, bloggers and even dogs! The background is unique, its edgy, different and it makes my photos stand out. The place is crawling with not only photographers but videographers, music artists making their music videos, painters/graffiti artists, models and TV/film crews. Whether it’s a quiet sit down with a coffee at Kanteen or a buzzing night out with friends indulging in a variety of cuisines at Digbeth Dining Club, Digbeth caters for all and It’s kicking Shoreditch’s arse, period.
BIRDIES BAR- BLOODY GOOD GRUB AND BEST PLAYLIST IN ALL OF BIRMINGHAM
If you like Pina Coladas and awesome music, frigging delicious street food, palm trees, and well, a free holiday where you don’t have to get on a plane and pay the extra luggage fee, then escape to Birdies in Digbeth. This has become one of my favourite places in Birmingham to go out, day and night, its Birmingham’s very own tropical paradise. A place for all ages to mix and mingle over a cocktail, listen to some banging music ( Fleetwood Mac, Phil Collins, Catfish and the Bottlemen)and pretend they are on holiday for just a couple of hours. Intrigued? I did a review of Birdies back in October on the blog so check it out!
MY VERY FIRST GAY PRIDE
Last year I encountered my very first Gay Pride, it was full of colour, kissing, bondage and DRAG. Watching the parade and the number of people that came out to support and cheer on the people that were taking part was incredible to see. The costumes, the people and the zero fucks given is what I absolutely love about Gay Pride. It’s wild, it’s colourful and its ME! so it’s now become a tradition that I must go to Gay Pride every year with my glitter and my boobs.
THE PHOTOGRAPHY COMMUNITY
Photography credit to Rob Heath Photography and Exquisitevisualz
Last year we saw the photography community grow even bigger in Birmingham, more people entered the photography game last year and it’s great to see so much support for photographers. I see so many Birmingham social accounts like hotels, newspapers & magazines, independents and lifestyle blogs sharing photographers content daily and it offers so much exposure for that photographer. A couple of times last year I was finding my photography everywhere I was clicking on social media, I would see people commenting on my photos and tagging other people which is insane as I remember at the beginning I was so petrified to share my content to anyone! It gives you the push and the confidence we need to continue in this tough industry. I hope this year the photography community continues to grow and help promote our talented photographers.
SNOBS IS NOT SNOBS ANYMORE
2019 was the year I went to Snobs, god, it hurts so bad to call this place “Snobs” because it’s not the shithole we used to know. Snobs never played pop music, it wasn’t full of 10-year-olds and it was never snobby, the staff can clearly see you are not 10 years old so you just get a load of weird glares behind the bar. Snobs was the place where our parents would get engaged, it was acceptable to be a sweaty mess and we would have to get friends to unstick our feet from the floor. Ah sweet memories, RIP Snobs, there will never be anyone like you again
DATING IN BIRMINGHAM
So last year I was thrown into the world of dick pics, ghosting and “This is my friends” dog pics, an uncomfortable combination but that’s ONLINE dating for you. I can’t remember the last time I dated so, of course, I didn’t know what to expect. It could be a nice casual date at Yo Sushi or a date where I end up blindfolded in the back of a boot of a Ford KA (That’s my mothers warning words) but I did it. I tried dating and even though I did it when I didn’t feel ready to do so, I have no regrets. I enjoyed my dating experience of 2019, it helped to build my confidence, I got to meet a variety of characters, I went to many new places and I saw a lot of things [please insert dick jokes here]
INDEPENDENT SHOPPING
Don’t you just hate it when you see a blouse you like in a high street store like Topshop for £35 and you go into an independent or a charity shop and find something that is exactly the same or even better quality for less than half of the price? This is the ultimate tit twitcher. So last year I stopped shopping at the High street big brands and started to shop at independent shops. I found so many beautiful independent shops not just in Birmingham but around the Midlands that I can buy clothes, accessories and gifts for family & friends. I just feel the high street is pulling the wool over us shoppers eyes a lot in regards to prices and I am sick to death of wasting £100 on just 3 items! so last year I managed to save myself a lot of money (est of £600) from just boycotting the high street and giving my money to the independents that need and DESERVE it more. We all know that it ends up on eBay or the charity shops after two months of it being in the shop anyway…
