Exploring the Lake District has been on my list of places to go for ages! I can't believe how long it has taken me to get it booked and head up there. We went in November, certainly not the warmest time of year to go, but I would argue it's one of the prettiest. The trees are all turning orange and although it's cold, it's not icy cold. Anyway, cold hands are just an excuse to get a hot chocolate.
We were based near Windermere and Bowness-on-Windermere, Exploring the Lake District
Exploring the Lake District has been on my list of places to go for ages! I can't believe how long it has taken me to get it booked and head up there. We went in November, certainly not the warmest time of year to go, but I would argue it's one of the prettiest. The trees are all turning orange and although it's cold, it's not icy cold. Anyway, cold hands are just an excuse to get a hot chocolate.
We were based near Windermere and Bowness-on-Windermere, 
This was a gifted event.
Having eaten there before I was really looking forward to this cocktail masterclass at L'Ortolan. I thought the idea of pairing cocktails with canapés was really interesting; wine, beer, cheese and charcuterie are all well matched but how would it work trying to match the complex, sweet flavours in a cocktail with a canapé?
Jayson mixing up cocktails
The masterclass was held by Jayson, L'Ortolan's resident mixologist 
This was a gifted meal.
A quick whistle-stop visit to a British seaside town is a perfect way to blow away the cobwebs and having recently spent a weekend in Brixham, Devon I wanted to share some of my favourite spots to eat and drink. As a harbour town with a thriving fish market it’s no surprise that there’s Brixham fish, crab and shellfish almost everywhere. From little seafood stalls on the harbour front to the restaurants it’s not hard to get fresh fish and Devonshire 
Apart from a weekend in Edinburgh I hadn't been to Scotland before. A few weeks ago we set off for a stay in central Scotland, overlooking a loch, naturally. The weather was exceptional for the whole week we were there; blue skies and sunshine every day! The views, sights, towns and villages were all fantastic but the thing that really stood out to me was the food. It seemed that whether you were in a little cafe or a restaurant the food was almost 
We learnt a few things about Sweden while we were there. Firstly, if you drive on the smaller roads there's hardly anyone else driving the same way. Secondly, if you like lakes, red houses and pine trees then Sweden is the place for you. Lastly, it doesn't seem to matter where you are, all the food is brilliant. Embarking on a west coast Sweden road trip meant we had to consider a few things we don't normally have to think about on other road trips: 
I think being in connection with the seasons is hugely important. When it gets dark in the evenings and the mornings are gloomy and grey it can be hard to see the different colours, the natural changes and shifts that happen at this time of year. Last weekend we headed down for a Shepherd's hut weekend getaway to the New Forest and it was just what I needed.
I planned a brilliant road trip; it was all mapped out, places of note to stop at if there was time, places to stay and eat all sorted. There was going to be plenty to see and do and then after a series of unfortunate, last minute events, the plan went out of the window entirely and a new road trip was drawn up rather hurriedly, while on the road! But you know what, managing to see two UNESCO sites in two days and then tick somewhere else off my bucket 
This was a gifted meal.
This was a gifted meal.
