Weekend in Bristol

Last weekend I was in Bristol for a Christmas weekend away/visiting family trip.  Having only ever had a fleeting visits to Bristol I wasn't sure what I would think but there are loads of quirky shops and places to get some very tasty food. 

Park Street is just off the main centre of Bristol and has a mix of high end, quirky, unique shops including Motel, The Kooples, BS8 and many many more. 

My favourite store had to be BS8 which has a huge variety of clothes from local designers and a vintage selection.  If you are looking for a treasure trove of goodies from knitted jumpers to bold accessories this is the place to go. 

Bristol also has the normal stores you would expect to get in any major city and I visited Cabbot Circus which had a great selection of high street stores all clustered together.  They also have a Harvey Nichols which sold Candy Kittens sweets.  For those of you who aren't Made in Chelsea fans you may not know that this is the sweet range from Jamie Laing one of the people from Made in Chelsea. 

Having spent alot of our day in the shops we headed to Rosemarino for dinner.  This is a beautiful Italian in Cliffton.  I had Partridge for the first time and it was delicious and my Aunt had Sea Bream which also tasted amazing. 

Partridge

Sea Bream

Having devoured out main course we went on to enjoy a fabulous desert platter which had bitter chocolate panna cotta (my personal favourite from the platter), elderflower sorbet, tiramisu, apple strudel, rum and raisin ice cream, chocolate biscotti and granola biscuit.  All of which were delicious. 



Sharing Desert Platter

 

I would definitely recommend a trip to Bristol to anyone looking for a city break outwith London.  With a great variety of shops, restaurants and coffee shops you will have plenty to do while you are in the city.

Christmas Countdown

I know that everyone is talking about Christmas and that it is not every ones cup of tea but I LOVE CHRISTMAS and I am not ashamed to shout it!!

I am one of those people who can't wait to start shopping for the perfect gift for a friend or family member.  I love putting lots of thought into getting what I think is the perfect gift.  One of my 'perfect' gifts is for a cooking friend and was found in an unlikely store.  I was out for lunch with my mum, gran and aunt last Friday at Ingliston Country Club, a fab place for lunch or dinner if you are looking for somewhere a little bit different and out of Glasgow City Centre you can even watch the horses jumping while eating your meal - entertainment and food what could be better!! 

Ingliston Country Club Restaurant

Anyway we were on our way home and decided to pop into Erskine Garden Centre (below) for a look round.  My gran is 95 and needs a wheelchair so it is the perfect place for her to have a look round a shop but has plenty of room to manoeuvre.  There was loads of choice in the store from cute wee light up snowmen to fabulously different food (including passion fruit curd).  My gran found a variety of cool gifts for herself mostly but that's what it's all about and I found some uniquely different gifts for some of my friends - including something already mentioned for my foodie friend ;). 

Erskine Garden Centre

 

World War Z

A little over a a year ago Glasgow was transformed into the mean streets of Philadelphia for the filming of World War Z starring Brad Pitt and Mireille Enos. 

Now that the trailer for the film has finally been released its time to see if you can spot which parts of the film feature Glasgow!!

http://youtu.be/HcwTxRuq-uk (Apologies inserting the video is not working!!)

Yes you guessed it most of the opening scenes were filmed in Glasgow.  All along Cochrane Street and George Square feature heavily at the beginning of the trailer.  I have never been a zombie film fan but I think I will make an exception this once as I want to see how heavily Glasgow really does feature in the film.  My question is will the movies that have been filmed in the city attract a bigger local audience?  Or do people not really care where a movie has been filmed they are only interested in its content?

It's not all singing and dancing!

For the past two Wednesdays I have been at the Kings Theatre for my cultural dose of the week.  Last week I went to see 'Singing in the rain' an amateur production by the Glasgow Light Opera Club.  It was a fabulous production with an amazing set.  The main characters were flawless and I had a wonderful time.  You couldn't help but feel good after seeing the production.  There is always part of me that is a bit wary when going to see an amateur production haqving been in a few myself but I would recommend anyone to go and see the Glasgow Light Opera.  I can't wait to see what they do next.

 

 

In contrast last night I was at The Guid Sisters.  A re-work of a play written by French-Canadian playwright Michel Tremblay, 'Les Belles Soeurs'.  This was a Glaswegian translation on the original and to be honest it was not my cup of tea.  I didn't understand some of the dialect as it was very 'old school' Glasgow and some of the scenes were just not what I would consider funny but I thought the cast were really good and older members of the audience were loving it. 

In all honesty I think I am more of a musical girl.  People singing and dancing keeps my attention on the stage much more easily than dialogue.  Wouldn't it be nice to have life be more like a musical.  Bust into song to explain what you are thinking would make everyone happier...well at least that's what I think!!!

What is the world coming to...

I have just discovered social rehab.  This is a company that offers a toolkit for people to addicted to their phones to help them socialise without social media technology.  The kit includes glasses that give you an instagram effect, 'like' stickers, post it notes to make comments and a pad to draw something.  I have been out to lunch/dinner/coffee thinking I am going to be catching up with friends when inevitably both of us will check our phone at least once during our time together.  I am not sure why we have to keep in contact with the world and let them know exactly what we are doing but it seems a shame.  One of my friend is particularly bad and I always come away from meeting them wondering what was so interesting that it couldn't wait a couple of hours for them to check it.  I also think that if the person you are with is checking their phone it makes you want to check your own.  What has happened to us to make socialising so awkward some times.  I am not sure I could live without my phone but maybe it would be wise to rely on it less and experience the real world a little more.

I love the Vampire Diaries!



I just caught up on the season finale of the Vampire Diaries and what can I say - it was EPIC!! Every episode of this show is packed full of twists and turns but every finale there is always that little extra the show runners give us.  (SPOILER ALERT) Last season Jenna was turned into a vampire and then she was killed (RIP Jenna) and the season before that Katherine came back pretending to be Elena and kissed Damon - oh the drama. 

So it was no surprise that this season finale was filled with death, Elena becoming a vampire and the Originals causing havoc, as always.  I am however glad that Matt survived the season as he is the only non supernatural left and I have a soft spot for him but as the seasons continue its only a matter of time before he is eventually killed off.

So what will happen next season....my hope is that Elena realises Damon is much better for her.  Caroline and Klaus get together, you know you love him really, and that Matt survives.  What is likely to happen is Bonnie has to pay for what she did, more of our favourite characters will die and I will be sad that Ian Somerhalder's Damon isn't with Elena. 

Starting something new

Today as you can see I have started a blog! I have been threatening to do this for a while but decided that it was time.  Maybe it is the fact I had laser eye surgery on Monday and feel like a new person or maybe it is just time.  I am not sure but here we go.....