Love lives here, come on in and see for yourself! 

Finding the love of my life in David has been the best thing to have happened to me in my entire life, so I could have written a really corny post about him but instead decided to let you into our house to see the environment our love lives in. 

This Valentines Day I am going to share with you all the things David and I have collected for our home that we love. There’s no better way to show these items off than with a deep clean from Fantastic Services who I am collaborating with on a competition where you could win £50 towards a Fantastic service. 

In our bathroom we have a set of lockers which always get tongues wagging, ‘Why would they have a locker in their bathroom?’ - why wouldn’t we? It’s industrial and hardwearing. It also allows us to put up our favourite postcards from exhibitions and galleries. Something to look at when you’re on the loo! 

So for your chance to win I need you to write a short Valentines poem, verse or ditty and tag #FantasticValentines in the comments on my Instagram post by 12pm on 14th February. Remember to put your own spin on it!

Here are the the T&C’s

It's hip to dip those chips at HIPCHIPS! Crisp lovers rejoice as London's hippest trend supports Vegans!

Being vegan doesn’t mean you can’t access decent, fun and fast convenient food. Last week I visited the latest trend food restaurant in London HIPCHIPS.

Located in the heart of Soho HIPCHIPS is the world’s first crisp and dip café and recently launched their new range of delicious vegan dips to celebrate Veganuary. Don’t worry if like me you’re more acquainted with crisps coming in a foil bag with your favouite flavor. The crisps served at HIPCHIPS are cut from heritage potatoes including Highland Burgundy, Salad Blue, Pink Fir Apple, Shetland Black and Red Duke of York. Who knew there was an education to be had in potatoes!

 With vegans in mind, but perfect for those having a crack at Veganuary, or simply trying to eat meat free in the New Year, the new dips are the perfect for those wanting a naughty pleasure or looking for a healthy and tasty treat. 

 There are two choices of toppings when you order, savory (salt) and sweet (Cinnamon sugar). I decided on savory, but the real fun comes when choosing the dips. I had the large box, which came with six dips

 ·      Coconut Dahl with Carrot Pickle

·      Veggie Ceviche

·      Baba Ganoush

·      Beetroot & Lemongrass Marmalade

·      Tomato Salsa

·      Vegan Chocolate Mousse

 When HIPCHIPS say large, they mean large! I couldn’t believe the size and quantity. Every dip was packed full of flavor and showed real variety. My favourite was the Vegan Chocolate Mousse, which I saved until the end. The combination of the sweet mousse and savory crisp was perfection.

 If you’re taking part in Veganuary or like me going to stick to the vegan diet full time please do yourself a favour and head down to HIPCHIPS, you won’t regret it!

'Love, James'... How a recent screening of a movie has got me thinking...

How often do you hear some gay men bash other gay men for being too camp, referring to him as her and the ever so popular “Princess”. Growing up in the 90s and early noughties (where I did a lot of growing up) I was embarrassed to be effeminate; there were no role models like there are now. I can’t help but wonder, how would my life have been different in comparisons to younger generations who born from 2000 onwards when I was at my most painfully mistaken self.

This blog post is nothing more than a trip down memory lane, I am not wanting to write a huge story about my sexuality and begrudge teenagers and men in their early 20s for feeling more secure about themselves. It is simply how I feel about my upbringing.

Every Sunday, come rain, shine, snow or hail I would be forced to stand on the side lines of the football pitch watching my brother play his favourite sport, he and dad had this in common. Mum would even be there – in fact, all the boys mums were there and they treated it like a Sunday social. I would be either on my own or I’d might see a friend or two that I met. He or they were also there supporting their brothers but the difference between us was that they wanted to be there and they wanted to watch the game. Sometimes they would play and engage with me, usually throwing a ball of their own. This rarely interested me and in fact, what I really wanted to do was play with my Care Bears, Jem dolls or with My Little Pony figures. This would embarrass my family no end and I remember feelings of feeling different.

Am I normal I would often ask myself? There was no one else like me in my class, year or friendship circle. At 8 years old I didn’t know what being gay was and I remember years of confusion surrounding why I fancied the men in the catalogue and not the women.  For years, I questioned it and even contemplated the idea that I had been born in the wrong body? There was no one to turn to.

At the end of Primary school, I remember being attracted to the same boys as the popular girls were and even acted on it. I sent him a valentine’s card, to this day no one knows and he never mentioned anything about it. He and I don’t talk as we were never close and it has been 24 years since that happened. Thankfully I think it is good that I didn’t see or hear his reaction.

I have memories of being bullied at both primary and secondary school for ‘behaving like a girl’. I’d hear strangers on the bus say “it’s a boy that behaves like a girl” – sometimes they would use other not so nice words about me. It all fell on deaf ears to the outside but inside it hurt really bad. I would sometimes shake with fear, rage and sadness at myself.

Perhaps this is why I felt the feeling of shame growing up, I was part of a society that was very much about boys behaving like boys, playing with boys toys. You have to remember that back then there was no such thing as gender neutral toys and clothes. The Sex Education programme in schools was appalling and showed no diversity to the different kind of relationships that existed. So I went from confused child to awkward and confused teenager.

This all came about and resurfaced recently when David and I attended an exclusive screening of a new film, which is coming out in April based on a teenager coming out to his friends and parents called ‘Love, Simon’. The film is beautiful, funny and in no way disrespectful to the struggles gay men face. I hope everyone goes to see it and understands how things have changed and moved on so.

I am not bitter about the experiences I have been through, After all without them I wouldn’t be me; someone who owns their power. Camp and masculine in equal measures. I am James Barley.

Vegan Diaries: Week 2

Week 2

My second week of veganuary has been an enlightening one. I once questioned if I’d make it an entire month on a plant based diet and I now feel like I don’t ever want to go back. I entered the week feeling lighter and braver with my cathartic blog entry from the previous week.

I deliberately didn’t weigh myself on January 1st to avoid falling into the trap of weighing myself every day and getting obsessed, I have been victim of that obsessive pattern before and I vowed never to go back there again.

So, although I’ve not physically changed in appearance (the Barley is still there!) I feel a lot lighter in myself. Colleagues, friends and David have pointed out that I seem to have more energy and have asked if I am eating less than I was before when I was an omnivore. Truth is, no I am eating more than I was before but it is all the right things – loads of fruit, vegetables, grains and pulses.

What I failed to mention last week was that along with cutting out dairy, meat and poultry I have also decided to cut out caffeine and drink no alcohol. Yes, I am fully aware that this makes me the most boring human being on the planet but I am trying to restart my health – I do little to no exercise and have eat pretty much anything I want, the perils of being in a happy comfortable relationship.

When our local lido reopened, we started swimming again; I have so far managed to maintain going three to four times a week and every session pushing myself more and more. Over the weekend, I attended my first dance class with my friend Kevin. It was so much fun dancing to pop tracks making routines and laughing so hard my sides actually hurt. The aching started the following day when all the muscles that have been dormant came back to life.

After the dance class had finished, Kevin and I ate in Leon on Tottenham Court Road – if anyone is well prepared to cater to vegans, it is Leon. Their menu is full of delicious meals including a Brazilian Black Bean Stew and a rainbow meze salad.

After the dance class had finished, Kevin and I ate in Leon on Tottenham Court Road – if anyone is well prepared to cater to vegans, it is Leon. Their menu is full of delicious meals including a Brazilian Black Bean Stew.

From the restaurant, we headed over to the Curzon with David to see ‘Call Me By Your Name’ – I asked which popcorn would be suitable for a vegan and his response was not what I was expecting, “I don’t know. Sorry”. It frustrates me that restaurant and hospitality staff don’t know what is in their food. What if I had an allergy? Anyway, I Googled it and it turns out Sweet is fine but Salt isn’t. I would have put money on that being the other way round.

Going vegan has been a piece of (dairy-free) cake!

Am I strong enough to change my life and fight against my instincts?

31st December 2017

At the end of every year, we are inclined to create a list of resolutions to better improve our lives and by the middle of January we throw these life changes aside and regress back to old habits. In my past, I have committed myself to a cutting out sweets/chocolate and cake, exercise more and lose weight. Well I'm still living with a sweet tooth and haven't seen the inside of a gym since the original Sugababes reformed and am carrying round an unnecessary spare tyre aka the ‘Barley Belly’.

In November, David and I talked about changing our diet to improve our health. We had already cut out dairy - well, we only drink plant-based milk. We still had cow’s milk in our diet in the form of butter and chocolate, we also ate eggs. I suggested we go vegetarian and David countered that with going vegan. My heart stopped and I felt panicked.  It all sounded like too much hard work and I didn’t think I would be able to cope with such a change. I instantly stated that it would be too difficult and that perhaps David could.

On reflection sometime later I got thinking about my behaviour and attitude to change, would going vegan be too difficult. That's one thing I've noticed about me, I shy away from personal challenges so easy, I have such little self-belief sometimes that I cringe thinking about it. How do you know if you’ll succeed if you don’t try! Excuses exhausted I watched some vegan inspired Netflix documentaries on my commute home and then I saw a poster for Veganuary - this was my lightbulb moment.

When I heard about Veganuary I thought that I could challenge myself to commit to one month and then become vegetarian as discussed back in December. Knowing this weakness in me I told everyone at work and all my friends that I'd be taking part in the month so that I couldn’t admit to failure.

I'd like to add here, that I decided to start the non meat eating diet in January as I wanted to say goodbye to meat properly. My last turkey Christmas dinner, a dirty bucket of KFC, square sausage (Scottish delicacy) and a steak worthy of my 'last supper' – we had that on NYE at Hawksmoor, Commercial Street.

Week 1

I've realised early on that being vegan means you have to be organised, especially when you work long hours and don't have any vegan friendly providers like Veggie Pret near your work. The convenience of eating quickly is taken away from you but it is a small price to pay. Meals planned for the week ahead David and I opted for a soup, a curry and a chilli made with black beans.

On January 1st we walked around our local supermarket and inspected the products of what we were buying and it was an educational experience – Whey, which is a by-product of cow’s milk is added to so many brands of bread to 'bulk it out'.

Recipes in hand, forty-five minutes and £100 later we were all stocked up and ready for the day ahead of cooking. Four our first supper I made a Parsnip and Chilli soup; when making soup I like to add a small handful of rice at the start, allowing it to soften in the stock so it becomes creamy after going under the hand blender.  

For dinners and ‘packed lunches’ we alternated between the black bean chilli and the chickpea curry. I even managed to turn some left over Parsnip soup into a sweet potato stew.

Eating at home would be fine, it’s being at work stuck in suburban West London and feeling the need to eat to fill the void of a 9-5. In the past I am ashamed to admit I would eat large breakfast at work of sausages and hash browns, eat meal deals with a share bag of chocolates for lunch. Have a chocolate bar on the way home (as a treat … treat for what I now ask!) I have faced facts, I am an over eater who needs to stop. My health is at risk and I feel uncomfortable in all my clothes.

One of my triggers for depression is my wardrobe and photos of me and my large belly. I am calling time on it all now, 2018 is the year of change, and although I haven’t lost any actual weight (as if I would after one week) I leave the first week feeling lighter and in control.

My top tips for the first week:

1.      Throw out any non-vegan food before starting. Be rid of the temptation 2.      Allow yourself treats if you want them* 3.      Read labels on all items before putting into your shopping bag 4.      If a restaurant doesn’t cater for you, go somewhere that does 5.      Don’t be embarrassed or feel you need to explain yourself. It’s 2018 FFS! 6.      Don’t be judgemental about others food choices

*More things are vegan than you think. Oreos, Veggie Percy Pigs  from M&S and Co-Op doughnuts.

Christmas gives me the tingles, a bit like Pines and Needles! 

Every December since living away from my family home I’ve been on the hunt for the perfect Christmas tree. Looking at lots of different trees for their symmetry, long evenly distributed branches, standing proud ready to be decorated and a big bulky bottom. On reflection, I thought if we had what looked like the perfect Christmas then it would all be how it is in films. Life isn’t a Richard Curtis movie and in reality Christmas is a force of nature that knows no rules or boundaries.

I’ve never been one for worrying about the inconvenience a large tree poses on the living space of two adults in a small space because before you know it, it’s time to take it down and allowances can be made and furniture can be moved.

Last year I didn’t get a tree as my living arrangements didn’t lend themselves to having one, it was a bleak December. Lonely too as David was with his family in Scotland and it was too early in our relationship to get a tree together, so this year he and I agreed that were going do Christmas. In our house the motto is, go hard or stay at home! So I knew when I started to buy tree ornaments from September that it was going to be big. We wanted to have a tree similar to the ones we had as children, tinsel – lots of it! Lights and colourful ornaments made of glass.

This Christmas is a season of first times for me:

I’ve been lucky enough to be given a tree this year by Pines and Needles. Walking to their new location at St Mary’s Church in Stoke Newington by Clissold Park with my jetlagged family they were kept awake with the sounds of carolers singing and the crisp cool British air.

My nephew couldn’t hide his excitement when he saw all of the trees, lined up and standing proud with men in kilts walking around talking to other customers. We hurried in and spoke with Ian who asked about the space the tree was going in and what I was looking for. David gave me free reign with the type of tree we got.

I was immediately drawn to a 6ft Nordic non-drop tree which was £41 as it was considered less bulky around the middle (unlike me). It was perfect for our house. We completed the paperwork and was asked when we would like it delivered. 

Who knew buying a tree could be so easy and hassle free. From here on in my christmas trees will be from Pines and Needles. 

He ain't heavy, he's my Huawei Mate 10 Pro

Could an AI powered device defeat my fear of new technology? 

I recently attended the launch of the Huawei Mate 10 Pro at Dirty Bones in Soho on Denman Street, David was my plus one, and he was excited like me to see the new phone and to eat some fantastic tasting and looking food at the restaurant I’ve been talking to him about for ages!

Okay, confession time. I am not into tech in a big way that others around me are, I identify as a ‘factory settings kind of guy’ and the furthest I have been from this is when I was 18 and couldn’t decide on a ringtone, playing all seven (that was a lot back then) options out loud on the 54 bus from Lewisham. So how would a tech-phobic (technically) a millennial feel with a new phone …

David and I arrived on time and got talking to James Thompson, a food and travel enthusiast with an Instagram following so huge that it took my breathe away to find out he started it as a hobby, you might know him as @Food_Feels – if you haven’t seen his profile I would recommend it. He’s lovely and very down to earth. James’ role was to lead the exclusive experience at Dirty Bones to demonstrate the device’s AI led capabilities including photographic algorithms that help people like me who rely on great quality photos for my Instagram to take the perfect image

The Huawei Mate 10 Pro has launched with an inspiring campaign entitled, I Am What I Do, which showcases how AI technology helps people do great and life enhancing things. Featuring tech-driven entrepreneurs Samantha Payne, co-founder of Open Bionics that uses innovative engineering and 3D printing to revolutionise the prosthetic design and fitting process, and Steven Bartlett, CEO of Social Chain who is connecting the world to culture thorough AI technology.

I was fascinated to learn that the Huawei Mate 10 Pro  can recognise different scenes and objects. The device automatically adjusts colour, contrast, brightness, exposure and more to produce vibrant, sharp, perfectly framed photographs. Different modes to try out include Food, Flower, Plant and even Dog mode, while the Bokeh effect automatically focuses the subject and blurs the fore- and background, for picture-perfect portraits and selfies.

 The food kept coming out of the kitchen, we started with mushrooms and chilli on toast, fries with lamb and both ordered the beef filet for our mains. The dessert was the true high light, peanut butter ice cream cups and donut holes with crème patisserie.

I am happy to say that I enjoy using my Huawei Mate 10 Pro when out eating with friends as it captures the food beautifully and I’ve found the photos need very minimal editing – which fits my own aesthetic approach to instagram. Long gone are the days of over filtering and face tuning my face to point Barbie and I could pass for the siblings!

As part of his work with Huawei @Food_Feels has created food photography tips for capturing a great shot. Without wanting to just copy and paste his work here, I thought I’d select five of his tips that I solely live by when photography my food.  

Throwing a house party isn’t just about the Spotify playlist, food, drinks and decorations. Let's talk about the deep clean!

When David and I decided to throw a joint house party to celebrate my thirty-fourth birthday and our first home together we knew that being two men in one house meant that we needed to tidy things up for our guests and selves. Just to be clear, we are both very clean but sometimes a tossed sweater on an armchair can get comfortable, days turn into a week and before you know you are living in a homage to a Tracey Emin masterpiece!

I went with my friend’s recommendation of using Fantastic Services, I have never had a cleaner before, and I’ve always struggled with my conscience about having one. Growing up in Plumstead as part of a working class household with parents who both worked long hours whilst simultaneously managing to keep a tidy house. I am fortunate to not have children or a house, just a flat, so what makes my life so much harder to warrant needing a cleaner? 

On the Monday prior to the party I easily booked a cleaning session, I selected the deep clean which was for three hours and would be done by 3 cleaners. The price was reasonable at £142.00. Apparently Fantastic Services calculates the cost against the size of the property and its location. They recommend that for a one off clean you have three hours and then have a regular cleaning service - weekly, monthly or fortnightly.  I had little odd jobs in all of the rooms, from dusty shelves and windows to water stained shower glass and carpets that were due a hoover so I knew I wanted something intensive - just wish I knew about them before I left my previous flat.

The flat isn’t large by any means so it goes against us that both David and I (mostly me!) are hoarders who are always trying to de-clutter, we have implemented a rule that any new item of clothing or soft furnishing that comes in must replace an item not worn or used/appreciated in at least 6 months. We are even talking about donating the contents of our entire wardrobes to charity and buying new clothes (a minimal wardrobe), making sure we keep to the essentials i.e. white shirt, decent jeans and shoes. We live in a consumer driven world and I am almost at the end of my tether with it! - I am sensing another blog post coming up.

With one large bedroom, a good sized bathroom and an open plan living room and kitchen I couldn’t see it taking too long for a small team to work on. When I have done it in the past I have lost three hours – mostly because I like to listen to music and dance around whilst cleaning.  

Friday arrived and I made myself scare as three friendly cleaners from Fantastic Services arrived armed with more cleaning products than my OCD Mother has in her cupboard and fully equipped with dusters and a Henry Hoover (I love his smiley face!

I had so much writing to catch up on so I agreed to go back to the flat at 1:30, as I sat in my local coffee shop I wondered what the flat would like on my return and contemplated my previous thought about the need for a cleaner in this day and age. Both David and I work long hours and when including the commute, it’s even longer. Some nights we don’t finish until 9pm or later depending on the function/event. By the time the weekend comes we are both knackered or just really want to spend some proper quality time together – not cleaning or doing chores.

Having made progress with my overdue writing projects and emails I looked at my watch and saw it was time to go home. I walked with a quick step so I could get back quicker, the suspense was killing me! As I opened my front door three hours later, my untidy haven had been spruced up and was looking fantastic. Every surface shone, the drinks trolley was standing proud at the end of my hallway, the wooden floors sparkled. The flat looked better than it did the day we went to view it. I was totally gob smacked and when David came home from work he couldn't quite believe it was our home.

All in all, I am now more comfortable with the idea of having a cleaning team come in and I just have to realize, times are changing we are no longer in the 1980s and just because I have cleaner doesn't mean I am a bad person who can't run a household.

Good news if you want Fantastic Services in your place for a deep clean because I have a discount for you to use! The discount code is "JamesB10" - Here’s the  T&Cs: £10 off your first booking. Does not apply to regular domestic cleaning and Christmas services. Cannot be combined with other deals and promotions. Min charges apply. Subject to availability and area coverage.

So, what are you waiting for! 

#Ad https://www.fantasticservices.com/#

NEW YORK, SUMMER 2017

LOVE INVENTS US

"James what do you know about sausage?" - not a question that needs to be asked of me as I am an experienced gentleman, haha ... or at least I thought! 

Last night I attended the launch of BEEFSY: A Study in Sausage by Peperami at 15 Bateman in Soho, which will be avery short fun pop-up! It was so much fun seeing all the cool art works, trying on the uber gorgeous and funky leather jackets. With free entry this weekend (closes on Saturday 21st October) it is well worth visiting for the beef curtains alone! :-)

Peperami have managed to recreate some classic artworks including an iconic Andy Warhol, their take on the infamous Tracey Emin bed and a Peperami wrapper dress which would have Lady Gaga's mouth watering. A totally random night, full of fun and Peperami cocktails!  Unlike the pretentious rubbish peddled by so-called “modern artists”, BEEFSY: A Study in Sausage will get straight to the point with creations that actually mean something, at least to die-hard meat-lovers. With free entry and bags of free samples, this is one show you can’t afford to miss (unless you’re vegan or a veggie ... in which case, I'd say give this a wide birth! 

Cinque Ports

Arriving in Margate on the last day of September I noticed how the cold sea air was crisp and sharp against my naked face. Autumn was here and that means several things for me, warmer clothes, including my favourite selvedge jeans, winter boots and fleece jacket. It also means the days of salad heavy dinners of summer are behind me and I have classic British dishes to devour. 

 David and I were invited to the launch of the new autumn menu at Cinque Ports which over looks the sea front which often promises the most incredible sunsets!

After spending the day looking through all the vintage and reclaimed furniture shops of Margate's old town we spent an hour running around Dreamland like big kids, David and I couldn't resist a quick spin on the waltzers. The feeling of being spun round was incredible, within seconds I was 14 again. 

We arrived at the restaurant which has been opened since May this year and were instantly impressed with the decor, the clientele were couples and young families, I even spotted some women on one table - luckily it wasn't a hen do, don't even get me started! 

We sat at our table and hovered our eyes over the cocktails, I my decision was made instantly, my mind was made up on a Negroni. The bar has an impressive range of draught and craft beers and a wine list curated by Margate fine wine merchants, Urchin Wines.

The chef explained that all the produce on the menu was 70% local to guarantee freshness. I used this opportunity to start my farewell to eating meat, as of January 1st 2018 I will be a pescatarian trying to eat more vegetables and responsibly sourced fish. 

I started with the Pork Cheek Bon-bon, the meat fell apart so easily with the slightest touch of my cutlery, the pork melted in the mouth and there were echoes of a brisket about it. Very tasty and definitely set me up for my main.

 The steak arrived medium rare as I ordered, it was accompanied by Truffle Mac n Cheese, a garden salad and home cut chips (the size of Jenna blocks). 

Although slightly fatty, I enjoyed the steak and with each mouthful I kept asking myself 'James, are you sure about giving this up?' 

At the end of the first two courses I didn't feel bloated as I would normally do having eaten so much food. My unusually sweet tooth had kicked in, so I ordered the Poached Pear tart, I'm pretty sure it was the promise of frangipani that won me over.

The evening ended with cocktails and networking with fellow bloggers and food writers. 

David and I often find ourselves in Margate, so we know that we will return for dinner. My best friend Emma visits with her boyfriend and hasn't eaten there yet so I will be sure to tell her. 

 Margate is only an hour away and is the perfect getaway for friends, lovers and foodies, the restaurant on everyone's lips will be Cinque Ports.

A real highlight for me was being sat facing the open kitchen at the centre of the restaurant, I got to see all the passion, care and attention into the meals by the kitchen staff. 

Let’s get trollied!

When David and I decided to move in together he suggested we write a list of all the things we would like to furnish our new home with. The only rule was: there are no rules. It didn’t matter how abstract or ‘out there’ the suggestions were

The things we both wanted to include in the flat, because we have similar tastes, were plants, a record player, more plants (we want an urban jungle!) and somewhere nice for our drinks to be displayed or kept.

Ever since I was in my early twenties I’ve wanted a vintage drinks trolley but was always met with a wall of negativity and a resounding “no” when moving in and out of all the different places I have lived.

So when David met my suggestion with an enthusiastic yes, we both agreed that we would play the long game and not cave in to buy a replica that seem to be so readily available online and saturating the high street.

Weeks of searching the internet and visiting antique showrooms in Margate and London we finally found one on eBay, the price was right, it was in London and could be collected before the same week.

I think it was coincidental that my best friend called me around the same time to tell me about their favourite bourbons and asked if I had tried them, they were talking about the Woodford Reserve and Jack Daniels Single Barrel Select, and wanted to buy me a bottle of each for a house-warming present.

I have attended a Woodford Reserve event previously when they assisted One Aldwych with the launch of the Old Fashioned Cocktail trolley. Anyone who knows me knows that my cocktail of choice is the Old Fashioned. The Old Fashioned is a cocktail made by muddling sugar with bitters, then adding alcohol, such as whiskey or brandy, and a twist of citrus rind.

So with my newly acquired bottles I can now start the weekend off with my tipple of choice at home with David. There’s something romantic and deep about making and preparing something for your partner to consume, whether that be food or drink. Taking your time and completing each stage with precision and paying attention to the littlest of details.

Ever since being introduced to Woodford Reserve I have insisted that my Old Fashioned cocktails are made with it when I am out drinking with friends. I think the rounded and smooth tones with its complex citrus, cinnamon and cocoa notes make Woodford Reserve the perfect ingredient for what is the perfect cocktail.

Since becoming Hackney residents with David, we have enjoyed adding bottles to the trolley and building up our collection of glassware including six beautiful Italian glass tumblers.

When getting home from stressful days at work we aren’t always in the mood to make a cocktail so we usually unwind with a double shot of Jack Daniels Single Barrel over ice. Nothing is better than putting a record on, talking and sipping on some Jack.

Words & Photography - James Barley

Joie-de-vivre with Cointreau & their new cocktail for the summer; The Cointreau Fizz

If like me, you’re guilty of only ever buying Cointreau because you want to make Cosmopolitans, (Yes, I am still reliving the glory days of Carrie and co!) prepare yourself for something new. Cointreau Fizz cocktails are perfectly refreshing, easy to fix up and I could even see the fab four enjoying them over more 'boy drama' created by Carrie. 

Last night I attended the summer launch of the Cointreau Fizz at Soho House, Shoreditch where I got to meet Alfred Cointreau who is the brand's ambassador looking after the 165 year old business and taking it into a new direction with UK advertising and media campaign for the first time in what feels like forever!

Although this cocktail (Cointreau Fizz) has been around for years, this event was my first opportunity to try it. If truth be known, I had never heard of it! This year Cointreau have devised the Cointreau Fizz Cocktail Kit which includes everything you would need to make up the delicious drink, the kit could even accompany you to a gathering like a picnic.

Each beautiful Cointreau Fizz Cocktail Kit contains:

All you need to purchase is ice and whatever additional flavours you would want to add. I stuck closely to the traditional recipe and added the juice of half of a lime and some botanical edible flowers.

The kit is being sold exclusively at Selfridges from 19th June 2017 for the recommended retail price of £44.99. I was lucky enough to be give one and I can't wait to use it in my new home. David and I are building up our drinks collection as we want to adorn our vintage trolley with as many beautiful bottles as possible. The Cointreau Fizz will go down well at our upcoming House Warming.

The materclass with Alfred was great, he is warm, charming and oozes the Cointreau spirit. His passion and knowledge is as clear to see as the liqueur itself. I left wanting to speak French so that we could converse over our cocktails with the East London skyline in the distance.

Before attending the event, I did some research and found out Cointreau was created nearly 165 years ago in Angers, deep in the heart of the Loire Valley. Its iconic amber bottle presents the perfect balance between sweet and bitter oranges, a subtle taste uncovering incredible strength of character. Cointreau combined with fresh lemon or lime, is the base for Cointreau Fizz and a whole host of classic cocktails like the Margarita, the Cosmopolitan, the White Lady, or the Sidecar.

Visit – www.cointreau.com for more info

#Cointreaufizz

Margate 2017. A selection of photos from Margate using my Samsung Galaxy S8

It's Time for Tea

Wedgwood who? You'd be forgiven for thinking Wedgwood were that brand of bone china your Grandma collected and might have used for special occasions. You might not think much of it, but be prepared to have your mind blown with their latest stylish collection that celebrates the best of British horticulture.

A few weeks ago I was invited by John Lewis to attend the exclusive pop up Wedgwood Tea Conservatory launch in Peter Jones, Sloane Square. This pop up was designed to celebrate the 2017 RHS Chelsea Flower Show and by some miracle we were given summer weather during a period of cold snaps and downpours!

Located on the Ground floor, the Tea Conservatory is a haven of peace and tranquility, submerge yourself into the idyllic English garden setting and allow all your senses to go wild! Birds actually cheeped and I couldn't hear the bustling streets of Chelsea, pure bliss.

Wedgwood's Wonderlust tableware is inspired by the tropical plants and exotic influences discovered and brought back to the UK during the Grand Tour of the 19th century. A wonderful menu featuring new Wonderlust tea blends won't leave you disappointed, the Wedgwood Tea Conservatory is an imaginative take on an English garden, offering a unique afternoon tea experience.

On the night, I got to sample three tea infused cocktails and ate canapés with edible flowers, but the highlight was meeting and attending a masterclass with Bernadine Tay, who is Wedgwood's resident tea curator. What Bernadine doesn’t know about tea isn’t worth knowing! We had a great time conversing about our favourite teas, flavours and how she became the ambassador for Wedgwood.

I fell in love with every piece of the new collection and was lucky enough to take a piece of it home. 

The tea experience at the Wedgwood Tea Conservatory will be open from Wednesday 24th May – Friday 16th June 2017. Prices start from £35.00 and you can book online at https://www.johnlewis.com/content/wedgwood-tea-conservatory

All the pieces used to serve the food and tea is available to buy directly from John Lewis, my advice is to collect the pieces now so that future generations of your family can enjoy them as vintage items. Who'd have guessed Wedgwood would have created future vintage items that are just as special now.

Monday Morning Mindfulness

Breathe in, hold for ten & breathe out. Mindfulness; worth practicing in a stressful world or is it all hype?

When I was invited to attend a Mindfulness session with the recently published Emma Mills on Monday morning in Soho Square I jumped at the chance!

For a while now I have been trying to find ways to include meditation and calmness in my life but without it becoming my whole life! The invitation came from home insurance company Neos who are launching their new Peace Of Mind Campaign for all of their customers.

Neos are passionate in their mission to revolutionise home insurance and alleviate any anxiety associated with leaving the home unattended, the insurance company have partnered with highly acclaimed mindfulness expert Emma Mills, to create a collection of bespoke mindfulness video guides that come free with every Neos policy. The videos cover three central themes, ‘How and Why’, ‘Being In The Moment’ and ‘Managing Emotions’, the guides have been produced in direct response to research conducted by Neos on homeowner concerns which I think is a fantastic idea.

Leading from the front, Neos are the only insurance company to give their customer’s actual peace of mind by providing them with eight smart home sensors and a wireless indoor camera at no extra cost on top of the home insurance premium. The smart home sensors can detect and help prevent fire, water leaks and theft. They provide real-time updates to customer’s smartphones via an app. For me the real comfort Neos provide is a 24/7 UK-based emergency home assistance team who can sort the problem out for you, even if you’re on holiday.

Excited to be on board with the project, Emma Mills said, "Mindfulness is a highly adaptable form of meditation and perfectly suited to aiding with the anxiety of leaving one's home. Neos share my ambition to genuinely improve the lives of their customers, so I can't wait to get started on this new campaign."

Matt Poll, Neos CEO stated, "We know that our customers still worry when they are away from home, despite having access to one of the most robust insurance policies available and being able to keep an eye on their homes from afar through our dedicated app

Introducing mindfulness into each of our policies is our way of changing the way in which we think about home insurance, and going one step further than our competitors in order to continue in our quest to change the face of the home insurance industry for the better".

I left the session feeling more in control of my breathing and decided that the techniques taught can be easily done when I am travelling on the tube into work, I think this will be a good use of my time and hopefully allow me to start the day off calmer.

"Not another Gin launch email surely" I quipped whilst drinking my tea and gazing over my emails on a dreary Monday morning.

For some reason this particular Gin Distillery stood out for me and I would like to share with you my reasons why. The Isle of Harris Gin is infused with Sugar Kelp - Kelp for those who aren't in the know is a brown type of seaweed which holds many healthy properties and is loved in Asia. It is really salty, as you would expect and for me is perfect consumed in a gin based cocktail or even on the rocks!

First of all, let it be known Gin is one of my favourite spirits to drink - especially when David makes his (soon to be famous I'm sure!!) Martinis on a Friday night. I love Martinis because they need no special occasion to be supped, there's something quite bohemian about them, especially when they are served out of different glasses.

 Where did the idea come from and why?

The concept for the distillery was born and set up in 2015, when it was realised the island and its natural assets could best be harnessed to address the economic issues through a project that combined its charm and beauty along with its other qualities (having looked online I would guess we are talking about how beautiful it is!) to a wider audience. I am guilty of only ever visiting Glasgow and Edinburgh. I really want to visit the Highlands, now I have the perfect excuse. The Isle of Harris Gin is distilled, bottled, labelled by hand and sent out  from the small Hebridean village of Tarbert.

What's in the Gin?

The ingredients are... Juniper, Coriander, Angelica Root, Orris Root, Cubebs, Bitter Orange Peel, Licorice and Cassia Bark all play their role in defining the taste of this beautiful gin but what puts this Gin in its own league is the Sugar Kelp, which is key to the subtle coastal notes.

The Sugar Kelp is hand-harvested by a local diver (Lewis Mackenzie) from the deep waters of the Outer Hebrides. The Sugar Kelp is 100% natural, fully sustainable and not only completes the gin's flavour profile but puts this product in a league of its own!

When served with tonic I suggest using this method:

Isle of Harris Gin

This new Gin which is coming to London very soon captures the elements of the Isle of Harris really well. The unique inclusion of local, hand-harvested Sugar Kelp connects the spirit to the sea while working with eight other carefully chosen botanicals.

The Gin is currently only available online via The Isle of Harris website. I would like to see it in shops down here in the capital but who knows, perhaps the USP of this Gin is that it isn't readily available.

For £35 a bottle though it is an absolute bargain and will make the perfect gift for any gin lover out there!

Photos from the Isle of Harris website (I wish I had taken them!)