Author: Alphe

English Christmas Markets – Manchester, Liverpool, Winchester, Birmingham – Better Than London!

As a true Christmas Market aficionado, every year I continue my mission to find for the best Christmas Market in the country. Underwhelmed with London Markets, I have now visited many English cities and their Christmas Markets. I’ve already written about those in Canterbury, Folkestone and Rochester – you can read about them here. Today, I’m taking you on a trip to Christmas Markets in Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham and Winchester. Have a read if you’re wondering which of the cities offers the best gift shopping opportunities, and where to find the tastiest mulled wine!

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Autumn In England 2024 – London, Lake District, Kent

It’s now become a tradition on this blog that I share photos of my beloved London every season, as a form of my personal diary, but also to share this beautiful city with others, living far away. This time, I’m going to extend this post with photos from other parts of England too, since I’ve been travelling a lot recently and spent more time this autumn outside of London than in. So, let me take you on yet another photo journey through London, and other English regions.

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Mini DIY Cross Stitch Kit – Santa – Christmas Crafts

This year, one of my greatest hobbies has been cross stitching. I’ve completed numerous projects and especially loved working on seasonal designs for Easter and Halloween. So now, in the run up to Christmas, I obviously had to find some time in between baking and gift shopping to do some Christmassy cross stitching! This time, I completed a cute mini design featuring Santa Claus with his large gift bag.

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Christmas Markets In Kent – Canterbury, Folkestone, Rochester – Better Than London

If there’s one thing all of my family, friends and colleagues know about me, it’s that I love Christmas. The atmosphere, the fairy lights and baubles, the gift wrapping, and of course – the Christmas Markets. And whilst London has some Christmas attractions and small markets, they’re typically underwhelming, at least for me. So, I decided to check out some of the Christmas Markets just outside of London. Let me take you on a journey to three towns in Kent: Canterbury, Folkestone and Rochester. Their Christmas Markets were fantastic!

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8 Christmas Recipes To Try Out This Year

Christmas is less than a month away now, and I’m already looking forward to baking all of my favourite cakes and cookies for the festive season. From gingerbread men to almond cookies and the classic Yule Log – it wouldn’t be Christmas in my family without them. So today, I made a list of my favourite Christmas recipes – ones that I’ve enjoyed every single year for ages, that have been tested and perfected by my Mum and myself throughout the years. If you’re looking for inspiration for this year’s Christmas baking, or if you’re curious to see what my Polish family will enjoy during the festive season – have a read!

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Needle Felting – Gingerbread Men Gift Tags – Trying New Crafts This Christmas

Christmas is just around the corner, and that means one thing – it’s officially time for Christmas crafts. This week, I decided to try something new – needle felting. I found this DIY needle felting kit on sale in January, bought it, and saved it for the next festive season. I wasn’t sure if I was going to enjoy this craft, but I actually ended up loving it! And whilst I was working on this cute project, I decided to divert from the original instructions and turned my felt gingerbread men into gift tags for my family members instead of making a garland. I can’t wait to use them on this year’s Christmas gifts!

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Raspberry Cheesecake Souffle Recipe [High Protein, Under 400 kcal]

I love to experiment in the kitchen, and I love to recreate popular comfort foods in healthier, high protein versions. This time, I had a stab at making a fit cheesecake, and let me tell you – it was a success! It ended up being more of a souffle, but it definitely hit the spot and left me feeling satisfied and satiated. This cheesecake souffle is high in protein, but only uses “normal” ingredients – no need for protein powder! I created this recipe to work as a single serving – perfect for those who, like me, live on their own. This healthy treat is easy to make and only requires 5 ingredients, plus a topping of your choice – I made a simple raspberry sauce. Give it a try, you’re going to love it!

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Harry Potter Warner Bros Studio Tour, London – Visiting The Place Where Magic Happened

Growing up, I was the biggest Harry Potter fan. I fell in love with the franchise from the moment when I read the first book in one sitting, and for many years I read all of the books available at the time in a never-ending loop. I must have read the very first book over 50 times (I stopped counting after 33). In fact, Harry Potter books played a big part in me becoming fascinated with the British culture and eventually, I moved to London. And now, I finally managed to visit the place where the magical films came to life. The Warner Bros Studio Tour – The making of Harry Potter – located in north-west London, is the place to go if you’d like to re-live the magic. Here’s everything about my visit to the Studio, some practical information if you’d like to go yourself, and of course – lots of photos!

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DIY Mini Cross Stitch Hummingbird Card

Today, I’d like to share yet another tiny cross stitch project I’ve recently completed. And if you’ve been following my sewing adventures and think the design looks somewhat familiar… well, there’s a reason for it! A few months ago, I shared a hummingbird project, which remains one of my favourites to this day. It featured a cute bird inside a floral wreath, all kept in bright shades of yellow, orange, red, blue and green. Recently, I randomly saw a mini cross stitch kit in a shop, and it instantly reminded me of that past design. So of course, I had to buy it!

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Free London Panoramic Viewing Spots – Things To Do In London For Free

London is beautiful, and full of famous landmarks. But because of the size of the British capital, it’s hard to find a place from which you can see all of those best known places. That’s why various viewing terraces, allowing you to admire the whole London skyline, are a popular tourist attraction. But before you spend your hard-earned money on the viewing platform at the top of the Shard or a ride on London Eye, read this! There are many places in London with stunning panoramic views that you can visit completely free of charge.

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