This weekend we went up to Bristol for the afternoon. I took my big camera with me so that I could take some pictures and felt very grown-up walking around, snapping away; like one of those cool lifestyle bloggers who always has adorable shoes with buckles and a vintage handbag. (Except I had neither of those things.)

I love Bristol. I love just mooching about, peering into shop windows and watching the people. There is something about the people in Bristol; they look far more interesting than people in any other city I have ever visited. I think it might be the facial hair.

Bristol is far more colourful than Taunton too and although I’m settling back into small town living, I do miss the vibrancy of a city. I had forgotten for example how much street art there is in Bristol – it adds a certain something when you’re walking around and suddenly see a beautiful painting or funny cartoon on a blank white wall.

Bristol street art View Post

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I have always wanted to live in Bristol. I’m not sure when the feeling started, but it has been there as long as I can remember – a sort of tingle of excitement, mixed with a happy contentment from knowing a place is just right for you.

The move was a long time coming – Bee started using air quotes whenever she said ‘when we move to Bristol’ – but I had to wait for the right moment. It happened though, and although it wasn’t easy moving to a new place, especially with the Chuckle Brothers as our moving team, I never doubted my decision.

Circumstances conspired unfortunately to make living in Bristol difficult for me last year, and so we moved back to Somerset. It sucked at first. I’m adjusting, but I still miss Bristol and hopefully one day I will go back.

While I don’t want to sound negative about Somerset – it has plenty of good points – Bristol is, I’m fairly certain, the city I love most in the world.

Here’s why: View Post

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With Belle becoming something of a food critic in recent months – her eagle eyes always on the look out for ‘previous food’ on the cutlery and gum under the table – it seemed only right that I should take her along as my guest to try out the new Byron Burger restaurant in Bristol.

To be honest I am open to any excuse at all to go back to Bristol, even though it does make me a little bit sad to wander around, surrounded by young and interesting looking people, knowing I have to then go home to the barren eggs-florentine-less wasteland of Somerset.*

As soon as we arrived we were made to feel very welcome. Service throughout the meal was excellent and we loved the decor – an industrial vibe with exposed brickwork, white tiles and an open kitchen so you can be sure that no one is sneezing into your malted milkshake. We sat in a booth for the full on diner experience.

Byron burger Bristol

Byron burger Bristol

I went for the special Shady burger and Belle went for the Byron burger with dry cure bacon. You know how Belle feels about bacon. She even took a picture of it. Both were absolutely huge and totally delicious. Neither of us managed to finish them and they’d certainly be enough to satisfy even the manliest of burger appetites.

Byron burger Bristol View Post

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I walked into Taunton town centre this morning.

*stop the press*

It was the first time I had actually left the new house on foot since we moved in as Belle is still on crutches; our outings so far have mainly been to Sainsbury’s where she can wheel herself around in a complimentary wheelchair and we can pretend we are anywhere other than Taunton.

As I walked I tried to think of the positives of having moved out of Bristol. “It’s really handy,” I thought to myself, “that it’s only a ten minute walk to the bank for me to pay this cheque in.” In Bristol I had to go all the way down into the city centre for a branch of the Halifax.

And then I ran out of things. I had been walking for more than five minutes and there was not a single Boston Tea Party in sight and I started to cry.

I totally realise that crying in the street is not a normal reaction to not being within walking distance of a decent eggs florentine. I am clearly the most ridiculously spoilt, ungrateful woman ever, but I waited so bloody long to move to Bristol and even though no one apart from me seemed to like it, it was everything I ever thought it would be. It felt like home. And now I’ve left and I can’t help but think ‘SHIT SHIT SHIT WHAT HAVE I DONE??’

*stamps feet like a toddler who has been refused a giant candy floss*

Eggs florentine Taunton

I do try to remember that I felt like this when I moved to Bristol as well, that it always takes a while to adjust to somewhere new, but that’s part of the problem I suppose, that Taunton isn’t new. I lived here for a few years ten years ago, and never really liked it much then. Ten years on and am I really simply back where I started, only older and more tired?

So I paid in my cheque – that really was handy – then it started to rain so I went to Starbucks and cried in there instead.

This post is an extract from my new novel – 1001 First World Problems to Experience Before You Die 

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Last night I played my very last netball match for Sefton Stingerz. Belle drew a picture to mark the occasion.

Netball

I’ve been playing netball in Bristol for about two and a half years now. It was something I thought I would try after we moved here, a way to make a few new friends, and I never for a minute imagined I would grow to love it so much. I’ve never been a sporty person and it took me completely by surprise. I also never expected to make such lovely friends.

At our training session yesterday morning I was taken by surprise all over again by the trouble everyone had gone to – I had a card, flowers, a signed ball and even a cake, freshly baked before our 9am practice! I genuinely wasn’t expecting anything, and may have had a little tear in my eye. I was so touched though, it was hard not to feel emotional.

Netball

I’ve talked before about the difference netball has made to my life, so I’m not going to bang on about it, suffice to say that I will miss it a lot when I leave Bristol. I’ve been made to feel so welcome, made so many new friends and discovered skills and a passion for a sport that I never thought I would find.

Our final match last night was the most enjoyable match I have ever played. We were beaten rather conclusively by a fantastic team but we played our hearts out, had a cracking gaggle of supporters on the sideline (including Belle, clacking together her crutches) and I sported a rather fetching side ponytail. It was ace.

Thank you to Sue and to all the Stingerz for helping me create such wonderful memories!

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So here I am, about to move house again. This will be the fourth house I have lived in just in the lifetime of my blog and I’m heading for thirty in my lifetime as a whole. While I’m an old hand then when it comes to packing, this is quite probably the hardest move I have ever made and represents a significant crossroads in my life. I feel like the last two months have all happened outside of my control without me really meaning them to, and that things could so easily be so different.

(I do know that this isn’t actually how things happened, it just feels like it right now.)

crossroads

I’m moving for three key reasons, all stemming from the recent breakup.  View Post

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I had a bit of an awesome Friday recently. Aside from a slight toddler vomiting incident, which we will figuratively and almost quite literally brush under the carpet, I had what for me is a near perfect day.

It basically consisted of one meal after another all day long.

Actually, to be fair, there were other elements. First off was a very successful breakfast meeting, in which I managed to sound convincing enough to secure myself some training work, so that was an excellent start. Then I headed off into town to meet Purple Mum and her lovely daughter to check out The Stable, the new pizza and cider place on the Harbourside.

That’s right, pizza and cider. Two of any Bristolian’s favourite things surely? View Post

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Have you ever been to a production of Twelfth Night where you have been invited on stage for a shot of tequila?

Come to think of it, have you ever been to a production of anything where that has happened?

Neither had I until last Thursday.

I was invited along to Bristol’s Tobacco Factory to check out their new comfy seating and watch the Filter Theatre Company’s production of Twelfth Night, and was jolly glad I said yes – not only did I get a tequila, but half way through, as some sort of quirky-theatre-company-interpretation-of-Shakespeare thing, they had pizza delivered for the audience. Very avant-garde.

(Be warned, this is the level of my theatrical review skills.) View Post

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Restaurants Blog Hop (1)

 

So, as you may remember, a little while ago I took part in my first ever blog hop as part of the Social Fabric community, and wrote about my favourite places to eat in Bristol. Today then I am sharing the links from everyone else that took part. Sure, you might not often find yourself in Charlotte, North Carolina, but when you do… well, you certainly won’t be stuck for somewhere to eat.

Even if you aren’t looking for restaurants in all of these places I hope that it might prove a useful list in terms of discovering new bloggers all around the world, which can’t be a bad thing.  View Post

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Restaurants Blog Hop (1)I’ve never taken part in a blog hop before. I have heard that generally it’s a Good Thing though, so I thought I would give the Social Fabric restaurant blog hop a go…

I love food. If you’ve ever met me in person you can probably tell this by the size of my bottom. I don’t spend loads of money on things like clothes or shoes or holidays but I do like to splash a bit of cash on eating out. This is partly a laziness thing, but also I love the social side of it – it forces you to switch off from work and other worries and instead focus completely on the people you are with. At home, I like to making cooking easy – who doesn’t love a good spicy meal kit?

Moving to Bristol has been an absolute joy for food. Here are a few of my favourite places to go: View Post

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I am a Taurus.

This means I am all about the good things in life. “Think physical pleasures and material goods,” says one website, “for those born under this sign revel in delicious excess. Taurus adores comfort and likes being surrounded by pleasing, soothing things. Along these lines, they also favour a good meal and a fine wine.”

It is true. I do revel in delicious excess.

A situation like this is my idea of a good time: View Post

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You know those people who, no matter what, can’t resist sticking their hand up and saying ‘meeeee!’

I am one of those people, which is why on June 29th I will be abseiling down the Avon Gorge to raise money for Home-Start Bristol. Just to put that into a little bit of perspective for you, this is the Avon Gorge: View Post

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