Just like that, it's a brand new year. It's hard not to see the turn of a new year as a fresh start; the beginning of a new chapter and the opportunity to make plans for the year ahead.

I looked through my Facebook memories on New Years Eve, and couldn't help but laugh at what I posted in 2009. My 17-year-old self expressed horror at the thought of being 'almost 30' when the new decade came around. It's funny, because the closer I get to 30, the more content I feel with life. People think their 20's are the best years of their life, but for me they've been riddled with self-doubt and uncertainty of who I want to be as a person. I think we often spend too much time deciding who we want to be, that we don't let ourselves just... be.

I'm a sucker for making resolutions and breaking them - as I type this, I've broken my 2-day stint of eating salad with a strong coffee and a Double Decker bar - so instead I just want to do more of the things I really enjoyed last year: getting lost on long Sunday dog walks, visiting new cities or countries, spending time with people that make me belly-laugh.

One thing I do miss, is being creative, and I want to try and unleash creativity in me again. After all, it was creativity that drove me to start this blog, and to buy my first DSLR camera, and to sit for hours upon hours drawing anything that inspired me. I'd like a new camera and I'd like to learn some new skills to go alongside that, whether it means taking a class or watching tutorials. Hopefully this won't be such a hard resolution to keep, so stay tuned either here or on my Instagram page...

Happy New Year - I hope 2020 is good to you.

Olivia x

One of my favourite Christmas traditions is to go on a nice long walk to the pub for a tipple before dinner. As I've said in previous posts of mine, we're lucky to have such wonderful walks nearby, so we're never spoilt for choice. I thought I'd list some of my favourites here so that any readers local to Derbyshire might take a bit of inspiration and go out and explore over the festive season.

1. John Thompson Inn, Ingleby

We did this walk on New Years Day and it was the perfect way to walk off the hangover. You can park in the car park at the John Thompson Inn, Ingleby, and head up the road to Ingleby Village. You pass some incredible sights, including Anchor Church; four inter-connecting caves that have a lot of history attached to them, as well as Heath Wood which is the only known Viking Cremation Cemetary in England. Two things we had no idea were on our doorstep until we stumbled upon them.

Details on the walk




2. The Admiral Rodney, Hartshorne

One of our favourite pubs for the well-kept beer and friendly locals. There are a couple of great walks in this area; you can park at the Admiral Rodney and head down the road to where the Mill Wheel pub is/was - there's restoration works currently so the pub's closed, but if you find the path that leads to the fields at the back of their car park, you'll find some great walks that lead you to the back of Foremark and Calke, depending on how far you'd like to walk.

We often walk to the Admiral Rodney from Rob's parents house in Midway too, taking the path from the side of the Midway Inn and heading over the fields. There's livestock in the fields this way though, so dogs needs to be on leads for part of the way.


3. The Swan, Milton

Park up on Main Street in Milton and look for the green public footpath sign that's near the red phone box. Head straight on over the fields up to Foremark Church, which you'll pass with the church on your left. You'll quickly approach some gorgeous holiday cottages, which again you'll pass through heading through the fields. Keep going straight on, and after you've walked through 3 or 4 fields, you'll end up at Ash Farm Boarding Kennels. Here, you'll turn left and head back up towards Heath Woods - the same place I mentioned earlier with the Viking cemetary. Once you're through the woods, you'll be in the grounds of Foremark School - walk through the grounds, turn left and you'll find yourself back at Foremark Church, where you can walk back through the same way you came in towards Milton. Be sure to pop in the Swan for a pie and pint!


4. The Dragon, Willington to The Bubble Inn, Stenson

One of our favourite towpath walks starts from the Dragon, Willington and goes straight along the canal until you get to the Bubble Inn, Stenson. It's around a 40 minute walk, so a nice short one if you've got places to be and dinner to cook! We'll most likely do this on Christmas morning.

5. The Black Lion, Blackfordby

Another fantastic pub with a great atmosphere - if you don't fancy trecking through fields in the dark, start from Swadlincote and walk towards the Clock Tower. After here, walk straight on up the A511 as if you're heading towards Ashby bypass. Turn right onto Hepworth Road - if you do fancy the fields, you can walk over these straight towards the Black Lion, but if not, you can turn onto Butt Lane, which eventually joins Main Street, Blackfordby. The pub is situated just opposite the church, so be prepared for the steep walk up the hill!

Let me know of any nice Derbyshire walks you'd recommend...

One of my favourite memories from my childhood is helping my Mum write her Christmas cards. She would have the longest list of friends, family, colleagues and neighbours, and we’d sit in the front room by the fire, where I’d tick each name off the list as she wrote them. Once we had a pile of completed cards, we’d set off to hand deliver them, sometimes roping my Dad in to reluctantly drive us around town. I’d stare out of the window at everyone’s Christmas lights, comparing each house to the last one we saw. And it was magical.

This year, digging out the Christmas decorations, I found a bunch of cards from last year that I forgot to send.

So I’m putting a bit more magic back into Christmas card writing, and actually taking the time to sit and write out seasonal wishes to my nearest and dearest.


My good friend Carina is a whizz at designing Christmas cards - how gorgeous are these designs from her little shop, Fawn Creative?! If you’re local to Derby, Carina has a concession in Design at 44 (located in Intu and Sadlergate), but for those further afield, you should have a nosey at her Etsy store.

I can’t tell you how good it felt to pop the festive playlist on Spotify, sit with a glass of mulled wine, and write out my Christmas cards like the good old days.

Will you be sending Christmas cards this year?

What’s your favourite thing about Christmas? Could it be the gifts under the tree? The time you get to spend with your loved ones? I mean… my family are great and all, but my favourite thing about Christmas is the cheese.

Yep. You heard me.

Don’t know what to cook for dinner? Have a cheeseboard.
Looking for a snack? Cheeseboard.
Friends coming over? Cheeseboard.

So if, like me, you love any excuse to get the Christmas cheese out, then here's what you'll need to create 'the Ultimate festive cheese board':

Shopping list:
- Olives
- Sun blushed tomatoes
- Cured meat
- Chutney
- Crackers
- 3 or 4 of your favourite cheeses
- Fresh rosemary for decoration

When it comes to the cheese, I always go for a blue cheese, a soft cheese (goats cheese or Boursin), and a Brie (my favourite). I also picked up some amazing local cheeses, including a tomato and garlic Wensleydale, a chilli & lime cheese and a mustard & ale cheese. Make sure to get them out at least an hour before you want to eat them. The longer you leave them the better - especially if you want a nice, runny Brie!

If you're having a big party, you could also throw in a Camembert too. Here's what you'll need:

- Camembert
- Garlic (chopped into 1cm pieces)
- Rosemary
- Honey
- Black pepper
- Crusty bread for dipping

1. Score the top of the camembert, around 1cm from the edge. Put little 'breathing holes' in the top, and place some of your garlic pieces and rosemary in the holes.

2. Drizzle with olive oil, and pop in the oven (180, gas 6) for around 10 minutes. I find this is the crucial turning point for camembert - check it after 10 minutes by sticking a knife into the middle. If it's not runny all the way through, pop in for another couple of minutes until it's perfectly gooey throughout!

3. When it's done, drizzle with honey and a sprinkle of black pepper, and serve!

Last week, my best girl Laura and I had a beautiful festive day out, starting with breakfast at Soho Farmhouse’s Farmshop, then shopping at Bicester Village (which you'll have already read about), and finally we scooted across to the beautiful Cotswolds to visit Daylesford Farm.

It’s somewhere that’s always been on my list of places to visit, so looking for some much needed food after a day shopping, we hot-footed it over to the Cotswolds before pulling up to the beautiful farmshop.



Twinkling Christmas lights greeted us at the entrance; the doorways lined with the most delicious seasonal fruit and veg. We walked through the farmshop, desperate to get some food in us before we could explore. We sat down in the Old Spot restaurant and ordered some Daylesford wine, before ordering wood-fired sourdough pizzas. Mine was topped with slow cooked beef, porcini mushroom, rocket, parmesan and horseradish. Laura went for a heritage tomato and mozzarella with pumpkin seed and kale pesto. We both agreed they were absolutely delicious...


Once we'd satisfied our grumbling tummies, it was our chance to explore the farmshop. Here you'll find fresh meat and fish, chutneys and condiments, to a room filled with cheese (the smell is absolutely incredible) and so much more. You can also have a look at a large selection of wines, walk through their 'zero food waste' section where you can fill up your jars, and then browse their vast selection of homeware. Honestly, I would have happily walked out with one of everything.



Don't forget to visit the flower shop too - it's tucked just outside the Old Spot, and we might have missed it if we hadn't gone for pizza. There were even some gorgeous open fires lit outside, which would have been the perfect space to enjoy a coffee if we didn't have to escape back to reality and get on the road home.


If you're ever around the Cotswolds area, do make sure you pop in to Daylesford Farm. You can find out more about the farmshop and their pledge for sustainability here.

Brussel Sprouts always get such a bad reputation. Every Christmas, my Mum would try her best to get us to eat them by hiding them amongst other veg, but NOPE, there was no chance I’d be eating them, so they’d get pushed aside, ready for the dogs to devour.

As I’ve got older, wiser, and more experimental with cooking, I’ve realised that these little green goodies are actually delicious when cooked in the right way. Don’t get me wrong, I still won’t thank you for a plain, boiled sprout, but mixed with chilli, lemon & parmesan? We’re onto a Christmas winner…

Once again, don’t forget to save your leftovers for bubble and squeak!

To serve 6 people as a side, (with some leftovers), you’ll need:

1kg brussel sprouts
3 rashers of Bacon
Olive Oil
Dried chilli flakes
Juice from half a lemon
Freshly grated parmesan (around 4 or 5 tbsp)
Salt + Pepper to season


Method:

Before you start – Preheat the oven to 180, Gas 6.

1. Trim and halve the brussel sprouts, giving them a little wash over the sink before adding to boiling water for 5 minutes.

2. Whilst your sprouts are bubbling away, chop your bacon into small pieces and begin to gently fry in a little olive oil.

3. In a small bowl, mix the lemon juice with 2 tbsp olive oil and a pinch of chilli flakes.

4. When the brussels have boiled, take them off the heat and drain, before scattering onto a baking tray.

5. Pour the olive oil and lemon mixture over the brussels and coat them in it. Add your chopped up pieces of bacon and a sprinkle of salt and pepper too.

6. Place in the pre-heated oven for 10 minutes until the edges of the sprouts start to caramelise.

7. Take them out of the oven, sprinkle over a generous amount of parmesan, and pop back in the oven for 5 more minutes.

8. Your sprouts are done! Take them out of the oven and place them into a sharing bowl, making sure you give them a good mix around, before serving.

Pigs in blankets are Britain's favourite part of a Christmas Dinner, apparently. And I couldn't agree more. Last year I made my own, in a sticky balsamic sauce and they went down a treat with the family, so I thought I'd share the recipe here. I can't take credit for this, as it's a Jamie Oliver recipe that I've tweaked ever so slightly, but really wanted to share it in case you're hoping to make your own pigs in blankets too this year.

Here's what you'll need:
12 rashers of smoked streaky bacon
12 chipolata sausages
5 tablespoons Balsamic vinegar
2 teaspoons runny honey
A few sprigs of fresh thyme
Olive oil

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C/gas 4.

2. Lay the bacon out on a chopping board, and run the sharp side of your knife along the length of the rasher to stretch it out. This means it'll wrap around the sausage better, and give it a nice bit of crispyness too.

3. Wrap your bacon around the sausage until all 12 are complete and then sprinkle with fresh thyme. Drizzle with olive oil and cook in the oven for 30 minutes.

4. After 30 minutes, take your pigs in blankets out of the oven and transfer to a frying pan on the hob. Drizzle in the honey and balsamic and cook for another 10 minutes, or until they've caramelised, making sure they're all coated in the sticky balsamic goodness.

5. Dish them up and enjoy!

Over the next couple of days, I'll be sharing three of my favourite festive dishes that will make great sides to your Christmas dinner.

One of my absolute favourite accompaniments, and something you can make a nice big batch of to last throughout the festive season, is red cabbage. This particular dish requires little preparation, and you can just pop everything into the slow cooker and let it do it’s thing – perfect for when you’re trying to juggle everything else you’re cooking for Christmas dinner.

I like to make mine with a festive twist, by adding a glass of mulled wine or Gluhwein. It gives it a sweet, cinnamon taste which is absolutely delicious.

Simply pop all of these ingredients into your slow cooker, and cook on low for 6 hours, adding an extra bit of butter to run through the dish at the end. Scatter the parsley on top when it’s cooked, and serve – you could even garnish with an orange slice or two if you want to be fancy!

This recipe makes enough for 6, with some leftover for your boxing day bubble and squeak...

• 1 Red Cabbage, quartered and shredded
• 1 Red Onion
• 2 tbsp Balsamic Vinegar
• 1 small cup of mulled wine or Gluhwein (normal red wine is fine if you don’t want the sweetness)
• 3 tbsp Muscovado sugar
• 1 tbsp fennel seeds
• 50g butter – plus an extra bit to run through the dish at the end
• A handful of fresh chopped parsley to sprinkle on top
• Optional: Orange to garnish

My best friend Laura is my favourite kind of company.

She's the first person I turn to for anything: Trouble at work? Laura. Can't decide between a pair of shoes? Laura. Husband hasn't done the washing up again? Laura. We are never not in conversation on WhatsApp, and always looking for an opportunity to mooch around the shops.

So when we both decided to take the first Monday in December off, we had to make sure we had something festive planned. Combined, of course, with our two loves of shopping and eating.

We've both been to Bicester Village before, but separately. Her husband knows how to shop, whereas mine... not so much, so I was desperate to go back with someone who's more than happy to spend a couple of hours looking at luxury shoes and bags. (Emphasis on the 'looking at...'; there's nothing like going to Bicester Village to make you realise how NOT RICH you are.)

We hopped in the car and set off on the 2 hour journey to the pretty Oxfordshire countryside. I always love our country at this time of year and I'm always up for exploring new villages and places. English holidays are the best kind. I want to soak up the atmosphere of this beautiful country, especially at Christmastime.


If you haven't been to Bicester Village before, let me set the scene: characterful buildings, boutique shops and eateries, and lots of pretty clothes, shoes and bags to lust over. It's a designer outlet complex, so you'll find luxury brands like Gucci, Mulberry, Prada and so on, selling stock at discounted prices. Win! Complete with twinkling Christmas lights and a nice frosty day, it was the perfect way to get us into the festive spirit.



Our first stop of the day: coffee and breakfast at the Farmshop by Soho House. Probably as close to Soho House as we'll ever get, we soaked up the atmosphere with delicious coffee, fresh orange juice, a pastry for Laura and avo on toast for me. We mapped out our day - I was after a very specific Gucci bag, and Laura wanted to pick up some Christmas presents for her husband - then off we set into the shops.

There are a few new additions since we both last visited; the boutiques are always changing so it's always nice to go and see new things. As luck would have it, it also happened to be 'Cyber Monday'; something we hadn't considered when planning our trip. It was fairly busy, but not overly so, and it meant that a lot of the boutiques had fantastic sales on.


As wonderful as I think Bicester Village is, I do feel like I should say that it can be quite soul destroying if you're not up for spending loads of money. There are people who take suitcases and fill them up with all of the luxury goods they buy. There are people dropping thousands upon thousands of pounds without flinching. After a couple of hours of simply looking at stuff, we both started to flag a little bit. There are some 'cheaper' shops such as Ralph Lauren, Sandro, The Kooples and All Saints and they all had some lovely bits, but nothing that caught our eye (except a Sandro skirt for Laura, but that's another story entirely...)

The Gucci bag I wanted wasn't available, but I'd had my eye on a Mulberry purse which I'd actually been wanting for quite some time. So before we headed back to the car, we popped into Mulberry and I treated myself. With an extra 20% off in the Mulberry shop, the purse was £160 - probably the cheapest I'll ever get a brand new stunning Mulberry purse, so I can certainly justify it this close to Christmas.


Instead of heading home early, we then decided to hop over to the Cotswolds. But that's a blog post for another time... stay tuned to hear all about our visit to Daylesford Farm!

Keep up with me on Instagram @oliviakatewainwright

I bought my little Christmas tree at the start of November. Some might think that’s early, but I’m under the opinion that when you see ‘the one’, you shouldn’t let it pass you by. I spotted this tree at the Fabulous Places Christmas Market and just had to bring her home. Living in a small space, we don’t really have any room for a big tree. For the past couple of years, I’ve been buying festive bouquets instead, but this year I really fancied a tree to string my lights in.

I’ve been frantically pinning on my Winter Pinterest board for lots of festive styling tips, and I must say I’m loving the Scandi / Nordic vibes. Most of this year's decoration are from either Homesense or JYSK. Most people I talk to about JYSK have absolutely no idea what I'm talking about - if you're a lover of Scandinavian homeware, then it's an absolute must visit. Lots of cheap and cheerful decorations in there this year!

Here’s a little glimpse into some of my Christmas décor...

Okay, it's time to 'fess up. It wasn't even November when I had my first mulled wine this year. I'm a sucker for it - and if there's mulled wine on the menu, you can bet I'm having some. I just love the feeling of clasping at that warm cup of deliciously sweet wine and breathing in the cinnamon.

Did you know that mulled wine was originally a Medieval tipple designed to show off wealth and generosity? That means there's no holding back when it comes to the garnishes here, so gather your finest ingredients and give this a try.

You'll need:
• A bottle of red wine
• 1 orange (one slice per cup)
• Cinnamon sticks (one per cup)
• Star anise (one per cup)

Optional extras:
• If you want a sweetener, try adding a couple of tablespoons of honey or maple syrup
• If you're feeling a bit 'extra', try adding another shot of liqueur into your cup, such as Amaretto or Brandy.

Method:
If you want a quick fix, then simply simmer all of the ingredients together on the stove, making sure it doesn't boil. It'll be good enough to drink in around 10 minutes or so. Alternatively, throw everything into the slow cooker on 'low' for up to four hours to make all of those flavours really come together. Strain out the spices and add a couple more to garnish, and there we have it. The best mulled wine you'll ever taste!

If you’re like me, then you’ll probably be going – or even already been – to a Christmas market. There’s nothing that gets me in the festive spirit more than pottering around stalls going ‘ooh’ and ‘ahh’ with a cup of mulled wine, trying all of the cheese samples. Here I’ve rounded up some of my favourite markets in the Midlands for you to enjoy – they’re the perfect places to be if you fancy shopping with local, independent businesses this Christmas.

•

Chatsworth Christmas Market – until 3rd December

You’ll have to be quick with this one, because the last day for it is tomorrow, so if you’re looking for last minute plans then I cannot recommend Chatsworth enough. It’s always been a family tradition for us to go each year, although we haven’t actually managaed to find a day we’re all free this year and I’ve really missed it. Soak up all of those idyllic Derbyshire views and make sure you pop in to the Chatsworth gift shop too!

More details here.

•

Fabulous Places ‘Deck the Halls’ Festive Evening - 5th December, 6pm-9pm

I absolutely adore everything Fabulous Places do – after visiting their Christmas Market at the Roundhouse back in November, I’m hoping to be able to make it to their festive evening in Wirksworth next week. There’s always the most beautiful selection of stall holders, plus there’ll be a couple of festive demonstrations going on too, so it’s ideal if you’re looking for a bit of Christmas inspo…

More details here.


Matlock Victorian Christmas Market - 6th - 8th December

Matlock is absolutely one of my favourite Derbyshire towns, and this Victorian-themed Christmas market combines over 150 stalls with street performers and a fun fare. Visit on Saturday to see the Christmas lights turned on, or on the Sunday to see the epic fireworks display.

More details here.

•

Belper Christmas Food Festival - 8th December

If there’s one thing the folk of Belper know how to do, it’s host a food festival. I always pop along to their Summer event and the streets are lined with the most delicious food and drink. There are, of course, some great bars and pubs in Belper too so it’s definitely worth a visit so you can make a day out of it.

More details here.


Christmas Markets in The Riding School - 7th - 8th December

The Riding School has a special place in my heart – it’s where we host our beautiful weddings at work and it’s such a dreamy venue. Have a mooch around their Christmas market, and whilst you’re there, you can take advantage of the grounds, have a coffee in their cafe, and have a look at the National Trust gift shop too – there are always some gems in there! For an extra cost, you can have a wander around the house and gardens – believe me, if you’ve not visited the gardens before, it’s SO worth it. They have a stunning Orangery, and always have some seasonal fruit and veg for sale with an honesty box too.

More details here.

So it's finally here - the best month of the year! This might be a controversial thing to say but I think the build-up to Christmas might actually be better than the day itself, from the first open of your advent calendar door, to the Christmas songs on repeat, the buzz you feel on that last day in the office before the Christmas break... I love it all, and am not ashamed to say that I fully immerse myself in the Christmas spirit.

Making lists, buying gifts, picking a tree and decorating, lighting the Christmas candles, choosing wrapping paper, and of course, devising our Christmas dinner menu's...

I've got lots of festive content planned for the rest of the month as I've decided to take part in 'Blogmas' - where I'll attempt to blog every day throughout December. I want to get back into the swing of writing for 2020, so I figured this might be a good way to get my creative juices flowing once again.

I'll also be sharing what I'm up to over on my Instagram page, and you better believe I'll be visiting 984729 Christmas markets and eating all of the festive food... so I'd love it if you could give me a follow and come and say hello!

...See you tomorrow!

Olivia x

It's become somewhat of a yearly tradition that Rob and I take a long weekend away for our wedding anniversary, combined with his birthday, in November. Starting off with our honeymoon in the Maldives, then on to Looe on our first anniversary, Bruges on our second, and this year it was Amsterdam's turn.

Amsterdam is a place I've wanted to visit for a long time. There's just something about the Netherlands that seems like a totally relaxed and carefree way of life. Not only is it a beautiful city with stunning scenery, but there are so many incredible boutiques and independent shops and cafes to nip in and out of - not to mention the friendly and welcoming locals.

Here's a round-up of some of the lovely places we visited during our stay.



Accommodation: Yays Bickersgracht

We took this trip with a couple of friends, and stayed in boutique apartments Yays Bickersgracht which was just a quick 10 minute walk away from the train station and central Amsterdam. With floor to ceiling walls, extremely comfortable beds and a nice little dining area overlooking the canals, it was the ideal accommodation for the four of us to stay in. Plus, it was in a quieter area of the city, which was much appreciated when it came to getting a quiet nights sleep!



Shopping at Magna Plaza

It took me a while to convince the boys that a shopping centre was a good idea, but as soon as they realised the Magna Plaza had a bar, they suddenly appeared up for it! One of my favourite shops, Sissy-Boy is on the bottom floor. Think Anthropologie mixed with Sostrene Grene – some fantastic fashion and homeware pieces that got me wanting to clear out my wardrobe and home and start from scratch.


Head up to the top floor for a selection of bars and restaurants, where you can have a beer, or a glass of wine and people watch. It’s particularly delightful at this time of year because of the huge Christmas tree that sits in the middle of the mall.

Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal 182I, 1012 SJ Amsterdam

Drinks at Brouwerij de Prael

We fell in love with this brewery in the heart of the city. Head there for some delicious local beers and their food platters. It’s a great atmosphere in here too, but you may want to get in early if there’s a big group of you, as tables get booked up fast!

Oudezijds Armsteeg 26, 1012 JD Amsterdam



Brunch at The Breakfast Club

We very almost skipped out on breakfast here under the illusion that it was part of the UK chain of the same name. It’s a good job we didn’t! One of the best breakfasts we had during our trip. You'll find a few of these cafe's over the city, but we visited the one in Haarlemmerplein because it was close to our apartment. I opted for the Bearnaise Benny (poached eggs and roast beef on bread with mizuna bearnaise sauce) a freshly squeezed orange juice, and a flat white.

Haarlemmerplein 31, 1013 HR Amsterdam



Take a stroll around The Jordaan Area

Take a stroll over to the Jordaan area where you can walk through their market on a Saturday morning. Some delicious artisan foods, local craftsmen, and the most stunning bouquets of flowers I’ve ever seen for prices that England will never be able to match. If only I could’ve brought home the purple hydrangea’s…



Drink at Bier Fabriek

Can you sense a trend here? Yep, we drank a lot of beer in Amsterdam. Bier Fabriek is a bar and restaurant located right in the centre of the city and is famous for their monkey nut shells, which are scattered on the floors. Don’t be alarmed, apparently it’s totally normal to eat the nuts on your table and then throw the shells onto the floor afterwards… We were slightly disappointed with our main meals here, but the Bitterballen and cheese sticks were great if you’ve got the munchies… ahem.

Nes 67, 1012 KD Amsterdam


Visit The Red Light District & Sex Museum

Photographs in the Red Light District are strictly prohibited, for obvious reasons, however it’s truly worth a visit. I think most people will have a preconceived idea of what they think the Red Light District will be like, but for me, overlooking the rowdy stag parties and tourists on a space-cake come-down, I found it quite fascinating. The Sex Museum was a bit of a laugh for 6 euros, but not an absolute must visit.


Drink at Brouwerijt I’J

Another day, another brewery. This one was the infamous ‘windmill brewery’ for reasons that are probably obvious to you looking at the picture. It’s quite a walk out of the city, but completely worth it if you want nice beer, great ‘picky food’, and a fantastic atmosphere. Order yourself a flight of beer, and do the brewery tour too if you’re curious about the brewing process. It’s only 6 euros and you get a beer at the end of it. There’s also a lovely bar next to the brewery called Bar Langendijk, so you can spend a good amount of time in the Eastern Docklands area.

Funenkade 7, 1018 AL Amsterdam



Brunch at Cafe Keyser

If you’re looking for a brunch or light lunch, head over to Cafe Keyser. Their ‘pan of eggs’ dish is delicious and it's in a nice, quiet area of the city that's a little less touristy than the main streets. It's nice to have a stroll around here and check out the buildings and house boats too!

Haarlemmerplein 3, 1013 HP Amsterdam

Until next time, Amsterdam...