Thoughts on leaving home for the first time

I'm in the process of looking for a house to buy. A house to BUY. God that's a sentence that I never thought I would ever write. It seems like we've been saving for years and while we have been saying we've been saving for years, realistically we probably only put some effort into it at the beginning of this year. Back in January it didn't really seem like a possibility but yet somehow, we've managed to scrape together enough money for a deposit for a house. Thank the lord for those 5% deposits. It all so exciting and after spending ten years with my boyfriend, I'm so ready to move out and make a home together.

But yet as it seems to be getting closer, it's also becoming just a little bit scary. At the grand age of 27 years old, I'm getting ready to leave home for the first time. My safe haven. The place where I can be myself. I never moved away for Uni so I haven't had the experience of living away from home. I've lived in the same house in the same town my whole life. I'm only looking to move out into the same town - it's as close to London as we can afford - so I'm really not venturing that far. But, it will be on my own away from everything I have ever known. I'm a massive homebird and as an only child, I genuinely enjoy my own company and in my house I often get that. It's such a nerve wracking thing to set up home with someone and even when you have ten years behind you, you never really know someone until you live with them. Their little quirks that seem cute at the moment but may grate on you after a few months of living in each others pockets. I'm pretty confident not much will change as thanks to our jobs we rarely spend much time together. But there's always those niggling feelings at the back your mind.

Will my own house ever feel like home? Will I feel comfortable in my own home as I do at my home at moment? Will I always feel like my parents house is 'home'? Will my boyfriend and I be able to live in perfect harmony? What will happened why I get only child syndrome and want to be alone?

I suppose all those questions will never be answered until you finally take the plunge and set up house yourself. One thing I do know is, I'm looking forward to finally leaving my shoes downstairs by the stairs without being told off!

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Restaurant review: The Sail Loft, Greenwich, south London

Last Sunday I ventured down to one of my favourite part of London to try out The Sail Loft, a new Fullers pub that is part of Fuller's Kitchen and prides itself of its food. Situated along the river in Greenwich, it's a short walk from the Cutty Sark DLR station around the back of the Cutty Sark itself. Offering fantastic views of the other side of the river, you can gaze at the impressive Canary Wharf and watch the river come to life.

As soon as walked in, I fell in love the nautical theme. Quirky sailboat ornaments, copper interiors and bundles of rope decorated the pub, making it feel more like a country pub rather than one in a bustling city. I'd already given the interiors a thumbs up but was the food about to hit the spot too?

Yes it did! When I found out the pub boasted the former chef of Duck & Waffle, I knew we were in for a treat. With eyes bigger than our bellies, we scoured the menu and opted for a creamy spiced pumpkin soup and roasted octopus with wedges of onion to start. Just the right start to wet our appetites. The octopus was tender, flavoursome and served alongside a spicy chorizo jam, it had a great kick. I often find octopus can be rubbery and squeaky but this was cooked to perfection. I can vouch for the soup being delicious too, thanks to stealing a mouthful!

As it was Sunday, we decided to pay tribute to our British heritage and opt for a roast dinner. Controversially I'm not too much of a fan of a roast and it's not always my first choice as I can find they can be boring. But I really fancied one this day so took the plunge! Choosing roast chicken, when the plate arrived I actually did a little gasp. Half a roast chicken is actually quite a lot! Paired with glazed root vegetables, a fluffy Yorkshire pudding, crunchy roast potatoes, a bundle of kale and lashings of gravy, it was a joy to eat. The chicken was juicy and tender and the potatoes were exactly how a roast potato should be. Nothing worse than a weak, undercooked roastie!

A delicious cheese board was just the ticket to round off such a great meal. Black bomber cheddar, Ragston soft cheese and Barkham Blue cheese helped to give the board a luxurious feel.

I'd heard good things about The Sail Loft and after visiting myself, I discovered all the praise was well deserved. Sometimes places rely on their good location to draw customers in but this time, the food is just as fabulous as the views. The portions were generous, prices were decent and the food was absolutely delicious. We left with full bellies and big smiles on our faces. Thanks for such a wonderful afternoon Sail Loft!

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Hotel review: Hotel Loft, Bratislava, Slovakia

As I mentioned before, for our trip to Bratislava we got a little bit merry on NYE and decided to throw caution to the wind. I stumbled across Hotel Loft on booking.com and was drawn in by the industrial feel with ultra-modern interiors. The decor felt like it had decor and promoted a homely feel rather than the sterile vibe that hotels sometimes have. After spending two nights in the hotel, I couldn't be happier with our choice.

Located just a ten minute walk from the Old Town, the hotel was in the perfect location. Away from the main hustle and bustle yet close enough to be part of the action. We opted for the premium room which I think it worked out to be only about £25 more than the standard. It was totally worth paying extra. We got to enjoy a free mini bar, incredibly spacious rooms, free wifi and a divine king-sized bed. I adored the industrial vibe of the room with it's brown, neutral tones, making it a joy to come home to each night.

One thing that really caught my attention while researching hotels was the fact the hotel boasted it's very own micro brewery in the grounds. Something we definitely took advantage of while we were there! They offered a more casual pub downstairs with a selection of traditional and European meals. With more than 200 wines on offer as well as their beer Fabrika, you could be in for a long night to try them all! Alternatively, there is a smarter wine bar opposite if you want to be more sophisticated. When the sun is shining they have a great beer garden too! We opted to eat in the beer pub one night and it was really good. Nothing ground-breaking but huge portions of comfort food that was perfect after a long day.

If you ever find yourself in the city of Bratislava, I would wholeheartedly recommend the hotel. It's something a little different from the sterile environments, the staff couldn't be more helpful and it's in a great location. The brewery really gave the hotel something extra special - and I'm not even a beer drinker but I loved it!

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