Falling victim to the London bubble

I spend so much of my time in one of the most multi-cultural, forwarding thinking cities in the world. A city so rich thanks to embracing other cultures from around the world. I surround myself with people with similar views on both politics and the essential purchase of a Mulberry handbag. I follow strong, independent women on Twitter that encourage me to be the best of myself. People who are desperate to make a change and have their voices heard.

But then I see comments on newspaper sites, hear people discussing things in the street, and catch posts on social media. Then realise that I've fallen victim to the London bubble. I have forgotten that there is a huge world outside the city and despite my thoughts, it is not the centre of the universe. There's a vast majority of people all over the world straining to get their voices heard too. But not always doing it in the best way. To put it nicely. People are angry and frustrated, desperate for change. But in their desperation, they're blaming the wrong people, taking the wrong action and being blindsided by toxic information. Change doesn't come from the status quo, of voting in the exact same type of people who believe in making the rich richer and poor poorer. It comes from men like Jeremy Corbyn and Bernie Sanders who offer a different type of politics. I understand their sometimes stubborn stances are not for everyone but there's lots of other people who offer different views. It's a just a matter of finding them. You'd be surprised at what people are fighting for.

The world is so uncertain at the moment. Sometimes I just can't comprehend what is happening at the minute and I feel at such a loss. It feels like something I would have been learning in my A Level history class. But all is not lost. I've watched Hillary Clinton's gracious speech numerous times and cried. In the face of defeat she was empowering and humble. You don't fight hate with hate. You defeat hate by standing up with love. And boy is there endless people in the world showing love to each other. I proud to say I know some of them personally.

The world has just lost it's way at the moment but it will find it's way back. It has too.

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Restaurant review: The new menu at The Diner, London

The Diner has a special place in my heart. Back in 2012 I think I went once a month and it was always the 'blogger' hang out. We gossiped over chilli cheese fries and put the world to rights. But I haven't been back in a couple of years as you know London is a big place and new places are opening all the time. There is a reason why places are old favourites though. The Diner got in touch to tell me about their new menu and offered me a chance to try it out for myself.

My boyfriend and I trotted to east London for a monster lunch in celebration of it being the weekend. After scouring the menu and sipping on cider we decided we couldn't not have the crispy bacon jalapeño tater tots and wet fries in bacon gravy and topped with lashings of melted cheese. The wet fries were a revelation. The rich bacon gravy partnered with the melted cheese was comfort food at its finest. For our mains we both couldn't resist the BBC dog. The frankfurter sausage in a  toasted bun was filled to the brim with spicy chilli, gooey cheese and crispy strips of bacon. It was so big that it had to be eaten with a knife and fork.

Despite having full bellies we decided to take one for the team and share a cookies and cream cheesecake. Chunky oreos embedded in a creamy cheesecake was the perfect end to such an indulgent lunch. After all, go big or go home!

The Diner as always is a good solid bet. The prices are reasonable, the portions satisfying, the food delicious and the decor on point. The waiting staff couldn't be more helpful and made it a joy to stuff our faces. We won't be leaving it two years before we return again!

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How to spend 48 hours in Plymouth

As I mentioned in my last post, I spent a long weekend in Plymouth last month. It's a great place in a great part of the world. There's just something about the salty sea air that pulls me in. So here is how you can spend 48 hours in Plymouth.

Day one:
Breakfast
As with any busy weekend a good breakfast is essential. Now this isn't Instagram worthy but you have to make it down to Jake's Cafe. A proper greasy spoon, its the best place to set you up for a long day of breathing in the sea air. I opted for a cheese and hash brown baguette with a side of curly fries. So much beige food, it was glorious. Sometimes you just want comfort food rather than a fancy brunch dish that costs the earth.

Barbican
After breakfast, take a walk through the town centre and head down to the Barbican. The dainty cobbled streets and the picturesque Sutton Harbour are the perfect places to get lost. With more than 200 listed buildings, make sure you spend your time looking up. Be sure to stop at the Mayflower Steps where the pilgrim fathers are said to have boarded the Mayflower ship bound for a new life in America in 1620. Stop for cream tea in one of the many tea shops, have a cider on the harbour front or grab some chips from the chippie - just make sure you keep an eye on the seagulls!

Plymouth Gin Distillery
Hands down, Plymouth Gin is one of my favourite gins so we just had to take the distillery tour. With some of the building dating back to the early 1400s, it is the oldest working distillery in England. Tours cost £7 and include a gin and tonic in the lovely cocktail bar upstairs. Make sure you stay for a few as they're delicious! One tip is to make sure you book in advance.

The Hoe
Once you've enjoyed a few cocktails take a stroll along The Hoe. Offering stunning views over the Plymouth Sound, its flagged by Smeaton's tower, an art deco seawater lido, the Royal Citadel and a statue commemorating Sir Francis Drake. It's the perfect place to wander aimlessly marvelling at just how beautiful the coast of England can be.

Smeaton's Tower
For a view over the city and beyond, pay the £3 and climb the red and white lighthouse. Standing 72 feet tall, its a little steep but a pretty easy climb. The reward is definitely worth it.

B bar
Once you've headed back to the hotel to freshen up, it's time to head out for some dinner. Located in the Barbican, B Bar is a thai restaurant in a theatre. Offering killer cocktails and a whole host of different Thai dishes, it's a great place to fill your belly. We opted for prawn crackers, spring rolls, vegetable tempura and chicken satay to start before having a mixing of curries and Pad Thai for our mains. Reasonably prices and generous portions got it a thumbs up for me. There is also a DJ or  a band once it hits 9pm. If you fancy carrying on the party elsewhere, head outside where you'll find lots of bars before retiring home to bed!

Day two:
Breakfast
As we had stayed in the Travel Lodge, we popped downstairs and had breakfast in Bella Italia. Now I'm not usually one for chains when I'm in a new city but it was convenient. And it was absolutely delicious! I opted for the breakfast pizza piled high with bacon, sausage, tomatoes and mushroom before being topped with a fried egg. Just the ticket for the morning!

Ferry to Cawsand
If the weather is playing ball, take a trip down to the Barbican and catch a ferry over to Cawsand in Cornwall. It costs £3 and takes 30 minutes. There's nothing there to be honest but it's like taking a wander back in time. Head to one of the pubs to have a drink or sit on the pebbly beach and watch the waves crash against the rocks. If the ferry stops running - as it did for us! - there a bus that takes an hour to get back into Plymouth from the top of the hill. Ask the pub for directions!

Cream tea
No trip to Devon or indeed Cornwall is complete with stopping for a cream tea. We wandered around until we found somewhere that tickled our fancy so stumbled across The Old Boatstore Cafe. It offer gorgeous views of the sea. For a fiver we got two gigantic fruit scones, clotted cream, strawberry jam and a large pot of fruit tea. Bargain of the century right?! I'm still dreaming about the scones now.

Quay 33
All that sea air can make you peckish. If you fancy another sit down meal then I can't recommend Quay 33 enough. Using fresh local seafood, the shabby-chic style restaurant has a great vibe. It's cosy and the waiting staff are attentive. I went for the fish stew which was absolutely delicious although the fish pie looked just as good too! They're open for lunch and dinner seven days a week.

Harbourside fish and chips
Alternatively, fish and chips can equally hit the spot! Award-winning Harbourside offers a takeaway and a sit in option. The crispy chips and battered sausage are just the ticket to end a trip to the seaside. The curry sauce is pretty darn good too!

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