See: Balmedie Beach

I went home to Aberdeen at the weekend and we took a day trip out to Balmedie which has the most beautiful sand dunes and beach. If you are in the area it is totally worth taking a 30 minute drive out of the centre as you can look back on the city and the main promenade strip and then out to the North Sea. I also recommend taking a picnic as you can sit in a dune bunker and keep some of the breeze off or just go for it on the beach itself and enjoy the views. I used to come here loads growing up, either with holiday playschemes or with family so it was nice to take Mark out and show him. It was a bit different from my last visit which was a dj night that you had to find by just following the music!

 

Eat: Inn Deep

Inn Deep is a craft beer & BBQ in the heart of Glasgow's West End. Next to Kevinbridge underground and tucked away in the old archways on the banks of the River Kelvin this is a bar that really deserves the hidden gem tag.

We were lucky enough to get a table outside and take advantage of the freakishly hot late September weather and with the river running right next to you, it's an amazing spot to sit and pass a Sunday afternoon. There are also lots of indoor booths and picnic bench seating in the second archway that still allows you to enjoy al fresco drinking and dining but can shelter you in case the british weather strikes.

The menu offers good pub food staples like pizzas, burgers and bangers and mini snack options for those focusing more on the wide selection of cask, keg & bottled craft beers on offer. What we ate:

Me: Veggie burger with chorizo and avacado and sweet potato wedges

Mark: Kelpie, Rhubarb, Pork and Samphire sausage dog with sweet potato wedges

The servings were HUGE as you can see. You can build your own burger which is why I had the contradictory combo of a veggie burger and then chorizo topping but I often opt for the non meat option and this was one of the best I've had. The sweet potato wedges were chunky and crispy and we could have easily had another serving. The verdict on the sausage dog was a little bit less favourable, as even though it sounded like an interesting combination of ingredients I'm not sure the flavours really came through, still tasty though.

We then walked along the river to Kelvinbridge park and museum and just chilled on the grass as we were too full to go any further!

Event: photo booth fun

Love some photo booth fun, this was at our friend Luke and Cristina's Italian meets Scottish wedding in Edinburgh.

Eat: Mulberry Bar & Bistro

We have just had my parents down staying with us for one night before they jetted off to Andalucía for two weeks, the lucky sods (lucky being the holiday bit, not their night on the blow up bed). Since it was a Sunday and a few of us were suffering from wedding related and all nighter related hangovers we thought some homely, tasty, will squash the one too many gin feeling by the sheer weight of the carbs meal, was just what we needed. The other stipulation was it had to be close by. 

So with this in mind we trotted around the corner to Mulberry, with two bushes of the same name helpfully stationed outside to welcome you in it always looks really inviting with twinkle lights hanging all year around. Situated on the Southside’s Pollokshaws Road, Mulberry is one half pub and one half bistro and has a big menu with some old classics and international inspired dishes.

We settled into a roomy wooden booth which Mark apparently took as a direct indication that they would do a good burger, and that they did.  We had; 

Mark: water (ahem) Homemade beef burger with chilli and cheese and hand cut chips

Mum: large Malbec (they were in holiday mode) Mulberry St. fishcakes served with salad & dip

Dad: large Malbec ( see above) macaroni cheese and hand cut chips

Kirsty: water (also see above)  Breaded chicken burger served with mayo, coleslaw & Cajun fries

Me: gin and tonic (no judging) Stornaway black pudding & chorizo salad with walnuts and chopped celery  

In two Doric words: fit fine. Everyone really enjoyed it and was stuffed full by the time the last cheesy macaroni morsel was nabbed of my dads plate.  

What I like about Mulberry is the atmosphere which is really warm and relaxed and I think the style of the food reflects that with big portions and lots of familiar favourites, however elements like adding a Cajun spice to the fries, serving a bouillabaisse and tagine mean there is something for the more exotic tastes.  The meal costs are extremely reasonable averaging about £10, which for the amount of food you are served is great value.  

I have to give snaps to the pub side of the set up which has guest ales from brewery’s like Fyne Ales and a great whisky and wine selection or a Lauren Perrier if you’re feeling funcy.

 

Travels: Granada part 1

I meant to post on my trip to Granada ages ago but time always gets away from you. Anyway here I am.

We went during their easter week religious festival Semana Santa, which is a time to mourn Jesus and reflect on the fact he died on the cross to save us from ourselves and to repent for our wrongdoings. As we're not Catholic we felt like guests looking in on some secret society and didn't fully grasp the meaning behind some of the parades and the costumes. That said we definately got the sense from the locals of the community coming together, honouring their traditions and the religious devotion that the parades represented and the visual spectacle of the parades created a great atmosphere for visitors like us.

Above and below are the Nazarenos in their tall pointy hats that look uncannily like the Ku Klux Klan , but apparently there is no connection, although they are no less unsettling as they walk slowly along in silence.

The constant drumming and the discordant notes from the brass bands that passed through the narrow streets gave me goose bumps, it was so loud and just went right through you. Some in the audience were crying and constantly crossing themselves, and the silence in between the drumming is heavy with emotion. The floats were so intricate and detailed and you had to admire the guys carrying them, around 50 per float, during the heat of the day and at such a slow pace. They stopped ocassionally to rest, and you could peek through and see them with towels on their heads and shoulders to take the weight and their adidas trainers just visible at the bottom which added a nice 21st century touch to proceedings!

Read all about it

World Book Day, a way to celebrate the written word and inspire a new geneation of readers. With libraries closing at the rate it is (200 in 2012!), it'll be events like these that keep books alive for the book worms/kindle readers of tomorrow.

Growing up we went weekly as a family to the library where you were allowed 15 books each which was never enough, I always used to get greedy piling them higher than my limit. Oh how I used to want to work as the 'stamper' checking the books in and out!

I gobbled up books and read most things I could get my hands on, within reason, I was no War and Peace reading child prodigy. I loved the world of Mallory Towers and my mums books from her childhood about wholesome characters who always had a 'tally ho' on the tip of their tongues and who always ended up doing the right thing in the end. I remember finishing Rosamund Piltchers September at 11, no idea how I dealt with such adult themes of family feuds and adultery!

Books are still important to me now and I love getting a tip off from a friend about one they've just read and I must read it too - past successes include When God Was A Rabbit and The Perks of Being a Wallflower. The old adage about 'judging a book by it's cover' is so true, only now they are getting proper design makeovers and really giving that phrase some meaning, below are some of my favourite reads and amazing covers...

 

all images via pinterest

Eat:toast

Not my most profound moment but my god I love toast, and if it came with a pretty pattern like this I would love it even more...

Elle Japan

Let's cut a rug

We've not long moved into our (first ever!) new flat and while we've got some main pieces of furniture the rooms still need the extras that make it homely, like rugs. And so, with time on my hands over xmas and lying turgid from too much cheese and mince pies, I launched 'mission rug research', I think I have delved deeper into the world of rugs than anyone really needs to and have found loads I love but can't afford and one that I really really like and can just about stretch the budget to. Here are my top picks of the rug world including the one I've settled on ....

Mr Fox Rug from www.wovenground.com £149/£239

Vapor by Calvin Klein from www.johnlewis.com £299 - £1,199 

Sybil Diamond Blue by Jonathon Adler from www.therugcompany.com £420 - £6,110

Dynasty by Doris Leslie Blau from www.dorisleslieblau.com £poa

Abacus by Fiona Curran from www.therugcompany.com £920 - £13,325

 

Cubizzmo Bech by Second Studio from www.2modern.com £653

Ikat from www.customcoolrugs.com £poa

Blue Lulu by Madeline Weinrib from www.madelineweinrib.com £poa