The Awkward Blog

25th September 2017

where have I been?

here have I been? This has been the longest blogging break I've ever taken in the history of this blog's existence. It wasn't intentional (I've been battling a stomach bug and couldn't even bear to look at my laptop) but the longer I was away from it, the more it became normal. Stepping away was an eye opener, in a good way. I have always felt like an outsider in the blogging world- and I felt ... Read the Post

30th August 2017

Life Lately | the Bank Holiday edition

he August bank holiday is always a little bittersweet- it's the last three day weekend of the year and I've always seen it as a farewell to Summer (even though it tends to be a scorcher of a weekend!) Even in this mini heatwave the leaves on the trees lining my street have started to morph into reddy hues and the park I walk through to get to work had crunchy leaves along the pathway. In as little ... Read the Post

25th August 2017

My new Photography website

o you hear that? that's the sound of crickets on the Awkward blog. There's a good excuse why it went quiet for a week- I built another website! A photography one, and I love it. Awhile ago on Twitter I asked for a few blogger volunteers to do some photo shoots and Sade from In My Sunday Best came through- we spent a really great hour in the City, taking pictures in a churchyard park. As we ... Read the Post

19th August 2017

A Dutch Baby Pancake with Apple Cinnamon Compote

pples and cinnamon, the two best cooking smells in the world I reckon. There's nothing that makes my home feel cosier than the scent of the two baking away in an oven. And to top that? Maaaaybe a big old giant pancake. Specifically, a looks-so-good-it-can't-be-simple Dutch Baby pancake. Why not? It's the weekend. The wishy washy weather outside makes me feel like the leaves will start to turn ... Read the Post

17th August 2017

Our Flat Renovation | The New Kitchen

his is a long overdue renovation update, but here we go, a year later, I can finally show you what the new kitchen looks like. The last update I made was this sneaky peek in the new year 8 months ago. Since then, we have finished the back garden, repaired the front windows, installed shutters, replaced the old back door, painted the side patio decking, and oh yeah, made the spare room a guest ... Read the Post

15th August 2017

A fancypants dinner at Nobu Shoreditch

rasshaimase!" that is the greeting that Robin and I encounter as we walked into Nobu, inside their new Shoreditch location. Rewind a few weeks back, I had made dinner reservations for the day after our wedding anniversary. My only excuse is that sometimes there is too much information going into my brain and therefore, things slip from time to time. On a rainy, dreary night after work, I made the ... Read the Post

Instagramarama! Follow me @theawkwardblog

I usually drag my feet when it comes to something like a doctor's appointment but having to come here regularly doesn't bother me- it's so pretty and quintessentially London. I love the shops, old and new- there's a shop for cleaning brass instruments, another making fancy candles, whisky and old Italian delis and cafes. Streets like this, make me remember why I love this place ❤️(and also appreciative that no one bats an eyelid when you walk down the street clutching your trousers up when the zip breaks)
When you're making the most of the sunshine outside by practicing with your new camera when suddenly the sky rumbles with thunder and it POURS down! So much for practice. On the upside, I'm cosied indoors with tea, Gilmore Girl reruns and sleepy cats so there's that 🙂
16 years I've lived here and I'm still finding myself in new places. I'm in a new website tunnel so it's a bit crickets on the Awkward Blog at the mo'- bare with...bare with...bare with (anyone else a Miranda fan?) But okay, cool, got a tea in one hand, a biscuit in the other and my camera in my bag ready to go!
What a day. I hit my favourite Vietnamese cafe on Whitecross Street for the best pho I've ever found in London and felt a little sad that tomorrow is my last day in our eccentric old building in Shoreditch. Autumn is around the corner!
Have spent this weekend in old raggedy sweatpants, my hair is pretty much crying out for some TLC and I have been picking at fridge leftovers. Oh and I've been a bit ill this week (isn't everyone at the moment?!) Robin is away and I have turned into the crazy lady talking out loud to herself. CABIN. FEVER. I'm about to run a bath to snap out of the doldrums- I did book a salon appointment at George Northwood to feel human again too!
If, like me, you fell in love with the idea of hygge then you'll be pleased to know that this year @meikwiking has written all about Lykke (meaning Happiness!) "...I felt a sense of community, a sense of belonging, a sense of home. This was my tribe" Entering Autumn and a new chapter in this life, I've enjoyed sinking into this book. It's made me grateful for the moments that have given me the sense of yes, this is my tribe and this is my home. Happiness isn't measured in my Instagram likes or how busy I can fill up my schedule, it's about being with my people. Now excuse me, I think I better go call my Mum!
I don't sleep very well, and I especially don't sleep very well when Robin is away. So last night I put the cat bed next to me on the bed and me and Peppy had ourselves a snuggly snore fest together. After a bowl of Coco Pops this morning, I 'accidentally' crawled back under the duvet 😏 ...if you can't dedicate some extra snooze time on a Sunday, when can you?