Mother comes to town

I always love when I get visitors from home in Nottingham.  I really enjoy being able to show them around the city that I love and discovering new things together.  My most recent house guest was my Mum, now usually my sister comes with her and we somehow have to fit three of us in a bed top to tail some how! (When I eventually move a guest room is definitely something I will be looking for.)  This time sadly my sister could not come up, as she was off gallivanting at a wedding with the boy, so it was time for some one on one mother-daughter time.

This mother-daughter time consisted of shopping, drinking and stumbling across an amazing little vintage fair just around the corner from my flat.  On the Saturday night I took my mum out for her second ever night out on the town, we consumed lots of cocktails and I even convinced her to try my favorite shot Cointreau (this seems to be the bar tenders shot of choice in Nottingham) and I am happy to report that she loved it!

The original plan for the Sunday had been a cheeky trip to Ikea so we could inhale some of the best meatballs ever, but when feeling a little worse for wear the morning after the night before we decided on a mozy in to town instead.  And we were delighted that we did! Down a little alley way in Hockley there is a little courtyard with a few independent shops and once a month they have a vintage fair complete with BBQ and cake! I felt like this was the perfect discovery to make when a little hung over.  We found some absolute jems and the cake was possibly the best cake I have ever tasted, and I have tried a lot of cake!  I will definitely have to make another trip there soon to spend some more of my pennies =]

Shake it baby!

Before I went to uni I had big ideas about joining lots of different societies and volunteering for this that and the other.  In reality first year was mostly spent getting drunk with the people in my halls, getting annoyed at everyone being noisy the odd occasion when they were partying and I wasn't and injuring myself in one way or another (stories for another time).  After having to constantly choose between alcohol and food, I finally realised that I needed a job or I was going to starve (as alcohol usually won hands down).

At the beginning of second year I googled 'bars in Nottingham' and emailed as many as I could.  A few weeks later I got a text asking if  was still looking for work; pretty much every weekend since then I have spent working as a bar-back, at first and now as a bar tender.  And I love it!

I could not imagine spending my Friday and Saturday nights any other way.  I know that that probably sounds quite sad and having the night off every now and then is lovely; but I love the people that I work with and I love the job.  Yes you get the odd person who is just down right rude and disrespectful but there is an odd satisfaction in mixing up a cocktail and having someone enjoy it.  Another thing that I love is the brilliant community of bar tenders in Nottingham, seeing people you recognise when out for a quiet drink or a night out is strangely reassuring in this big city.

In some ways it has made me a bit of a bar snob!  On the one hand I can sympathise with the staff on a tough night as I have been there done that, but on the other, if I can make a half decent mojito then anyone can!

My favourite bar in the city is Boilermaker.  The intrigue of the plain shop front and the secret door behind the sink is inspired, and the menu is just mind boggling.  I think that it is an amazing place and when asked where I want to go for a drink there is no competition.

Pancake day!

It has seemed like a really super long time since I last blogged, a LOT has happened since November 2012!

Not only have I graduated, I now have my own flat along with a proper grown up job and I have grown my hair and had it all cut off again! There are also lots of littler things that I would like to talk about, so I have a lot of catching up to do!

Firstly today is shove Tuesday, and this year I actually managed to have all the ingredients for pancakes in my kitchen at once! Now this probably doesn't seem like a big achievement (after all it is only milk, eggs and flour) but for an ex student who doesn't like eggs and whos old flat mates loved milky tea, it is close to a miracle!

After a long day at work, experimenting with different pancake toppings whilst watching Game of Thrones was a perfect way for me to spend the evening (especially as it gave me an excuses to ignore the washing up sat on the side!).

I think the Nutella/jam combo made it for me this year! What is your favourite pancake topping?