• Book Reviews,  books

    Book Review: In My Dreams I Hold a Knife by Ashley Winstead

    “In My Dreams I Hold a Knife” is an intriguing and enigmatic novel penned by author Ashley Winstead. With its intense storyline, intricate character development, and a suspenseful atmosphere, this book is a rollercoaster ride that will keep readers on the edge of their seats from start to finish. Winstead’s masterful storytelling and ability to delve into the darkest corners of the human psyche make “In My Dreams I Hold a Knife” an absolute must-read for fans of psychological thrillers. From the very first chapter, “In My Dreams I Hold a Knife” grabs hold of readers’ attention and never lets go. The story centers around a gripping central plotline that…

  • Different Cultures,  Eat Like A Londoner,  Eating Out,  food,  Teas

    Eating My Way Through London: Afternoon Tea at Ladurée, Covent Garden

    Ladurée Covent Garden is renowned for its exquisite French pastries and delicate macarons, which take center stage in its afternoon tea menu. Ladurée originate in Paris, where they started out baking their famous double-decker macarons in 1862. They’ve since shipped them all over the world, with cute little shops popping up everywhere.  I wanted to plan an afternoon tea to celebrate a special occasion and the afternoon tea at Ladurée seemed perfect. I am a lover of French cuisine, so embraced the opportunity to enjoy a quintessentially English past-time with a French twist. I also liked the fact that the vibe was more low-key than other afternoon teas I was…

  • adventures

    Karlstejn Castle- Is it worth visiting?

    Karlstejn Castle, built in 1348 near Prague to house Bohemian Crown Jewels and other treasures, has undergone various renovations and now exhibits a neo-Gothic style. Easily accessible by train and a scenic 30-minute walk through Karlstejn village, the castle offers guided tours with stunning views. Despite some negative reviews, the castle's rich history and architecture make it a highly recommended day trip from Prague.

  • Different Cultures,  food,  Food Whilst Travelling

    Where to eat in Prague (and Dresden)

    Food in Prague is hearty. It is also filling and tasty. I was lucky enough to visit Prague recently for a birthday trip, so was keen to try as much of the local food as possible and discover where best to eat in Prague. The local beverage is Pilsner and it is ridiculously cheap (as is all the beer). My partner loves the stuff so it was his dream. I don’t like beer so I wasn’t so keen. However, there are plenty of other drinks to enjoy. Fancy a few ideas of where to eat in Prague? Here is a round-up of some of my favourite places I ate and…

  • Different Cultures,  Eating Out,  food

    Bistrot Pierre, Nottingham: Something a little fancy

    Up until recently, I honestly thought that Bistrot Pierre in Nottingham was a one-off. I visited a few years back, and it has stayed in my mind as probably my favourite Nottingham restaurant since then. I remembered the excellent quality of the food and how the flavour really hit the spot. But actually (as you probably already know) Bistrot Pierre is a chain, with restaurants in Derby as well as Nottingham. I was excited to get a chance to visit again recently and see if the restaurant is as good as I remembered. We visited late afternoon on a Sunday and had no problems getting a booking. The restaurant felt…