Site Switch

Exciting times. 

Decided that a blog overhaul was long overdue. This means a new name - Avellana (which means Hazel in Spanish), and a switch over to WordPress. 

Please come and visit and share your thoughts x Hazel 

New URL:
http://blogavellana.wordpress.com/

Blackbird, London

Independent jewellery and gift shops have always existed, but it was Oliver Bonas that started a chain version. A few years ago, I felt the need to go into every Oliver Bonas I stumbled across, but everything in there is a bit too boring and predictable these days.

The British Summer Time Festival, Hyde Park

Another photo heavy post for you today.

Dining Table Inspiration

With our move to Walthamstow fast approaching I'm into all things interior design. This is first time I've ever bought anywhere and, as such, it's the first place that I'm going to be able to put a proper stamp on. I'm sure they'll be many more interior posts to come, but to begin with I thought I'd focus on my current obsession - dining tables.

Source

Tierra Verde

Having lived in Clapham for the past 3 years, I thought I pretty much knew all the places worth eating out at. Turns out I was wrong, so, so wrong and when Ana took me to Tierra Verde yesterday, I couldn't believe how much I'd been missing out.

Christmas Comes Early

One of the most surreal things that has happened to me so far this year happened on Thursday.

Let me set the scene. Last Thursday I was drinking champagne on a balcony in Somerset House in an exceptionally balmy 28C. Yes, very pleasant but nothing particularly odd about this scenario, but it gets bizarre when I tell you that I was also eating mince pies to the sound track of Bing Crosby's 'I'm Dreaming of White Christmas'

Model Market

So last Friday was one of the best Fridays I've had in such a long while.

The Nudge is a fantastic website which sends a weekly email of the latest things to do in London. As it says in its byline, The Nudge gives you access to 'new launches, exclusive invitations, secret goings-on ridiculous competitions and insider perks'. Most of the time I don't pay that much attention, but when Model Market popped up, I just knew that a visit was imminent.

Wild Caper

Before we make the big move north of the river to Walthamstow, we're determined to squeeze in as many visits as possible to our favourite haunts south of the river. Ultimately, this really means as many visits to Brixton Village as is humanely possible.

Wimbledon

Since the year 11s, 12s and 13s went on study leave, it's fair to say that my work load has decreased dramatically. Happily this means that I now have time in the evening to do impromptu things like nipping to Wimbledon straight after work.

Buying in London - Walthamstow Village

M and I have been renting very happily in Clapham for the past 3 years. Inevitably though, you get sick of lining your landlord's pocket with your hard earned money and around January time we started looking in estate agents' windows for property to buy.

Rioja Tapas Fantásticas

My Spanish friend Ana loves living in London but boy does she miss the food and wine in Spain. Imagine her excitement therefore when she discovered that Rioja Tapas Fantasticas was taking place this weekend in Southwark.

Tempted by the promise of the best in Spanish wine and tapas, we headed over Sunday lunch time with rumbling bellies.

Belated Birthday at Bistro Aix

I swear that the older you get, the harder you become to buy birthday presents for.

Lakeside Yurts

Don't you just find that life always seems to get in the way of catching up with some of your oldest and dearest friends?

Seven At Brixton

Cheeky after work drinks could only mean one place, Brixton Village. Ana and I ventured there last Tuesday. Brixton Village has such a cool, laid back vibe. No one's judging what you're wearing, just catching up with friends over post-work drinks.

Seven's also high on my list of favourite cocktails places, because unusually for London, they're just £5 each.

London Food Markets #3 - Brockley Market, Lewisham

Last Saturday my exploration of London food markets reached Brockley Market.

Recipe: Chicken Dim Sum

I love rediscovering cookbooks. Do you ever find that you end up cooking the same things over and over when you're in a rush, and things just get a little boring? That's when I return to my little library of cookbooks.

When time's an issue Jamie's 15 Minute Meals is the perfect companion. Ok, it might not take 15 minutes, and some of the ingredients are hideously expensive, as are lots of the specialised equipment he uses, but with careful tweaking you can still make a tasty dinner without breaking the bank.

Dabbous Take Two

Anyone who is a regular reader of my blog will know how much I've been looking forward to my second visit to Dabbous.

London Food Markets #2 - Real Food Festival

Second on my list of London food markets to visit was the Real Food Festival at Southbank.

Located just a 2 minute walk from Waterloo station, the Real Food Festival provides an amazing range of fresh produce and street food stalls. Not only that, but as part of the Southbank Centre, it is a very short walk to ever enjoyable liveliness of the Festival Riverside walk.

Flat Planet

Ask people what they're planning to do when they visit London, and shopping on Oxford Street will almost certainly feature on their list. And in my experience, hours spent traipsing up and down the endlessly long high street always necessitates a pit stop. What always amazes me though, is how so many people seem incapable of leaving Oxford Street in search of sustenance.

St John's College, Cambridge

After the excesses of the day before, there was only one place I wanted to be come Sunday morning and that was chillin' on the backs of St John's.