A Weekend in The Cotswolds

About this time of year I start craving a bit of a change of scenery. But with finances still slightly dented after Christmas, plus the unreliability of the weather, it always feels a bit daft to splash out on an expensive weekend away in February. I don't want to travel for hours to arrive somewhere and find a solid two days or rain or snow is forecast - I'd rather hedge my bets by keeping travel time to a minimum and choosing somewhere with a (relatively) benign climate.

Step forward the Costwolds. Just over an hour from Bristol, the villages around Cirencester offer a no-stress option if you're looking for a countryside getaway with the chance to visit some quaint towns, smart gastropubs and interesting shops during your stay. 

For our weekend's exploration of this pretty corner of the country, we based ourselves in Bibury, an idyllic village not far from the region's capital, Cirencester. Bibury has charm by the bucket-load; despite attracting vast numbers of tourists throughout the year, it retains a quiet, sleepy vibe and you can take refuge from the crowds in the surrounding countryside.

With its typical Cotswold stone buildings - including the picturesque, much photographed Arlington Row - and rustic bridges, Bibury is as quintessentially English as villages come; there are pretty pubs, tea shops and even a trout farm to complete the bucolic scene.

If you like things to be lively, Bibury may disappoint, however there's more bustle just up the road in Cirencester, where you'll find a good selection of high street shops, cafes and restaurants in a pleasant setting. But if you really are after a bit of a digital detox and the chance to roam the great outdoors, Bibury makes a great base, offering some idyllic rolling countryside to explore.

We enjoyed a lovely ramble through tranquil fields and woods, taking in the village of Coln St Aldwyns and a welcome pit stop at the very tasteful New Inn pub. When I say 'pub', this place perhaps typifies the fashionable demographic of this corner of the country - think an expensive looking, Range Rover driving clientele, Farrow and Ball decor and Bloody Marys at £8 a pop...the Cotswolds most definitely have an affluent feel about them.

Away from the celebrity associations (Kate Moss, David Cameron and Lily Allen are just some of the famous names with homes in the area) there are more 'ordinary' attractions to enjoy - traditional country pubs, quirky tea shops and charming churches aren't difficult to stumble on, plus there are several places to try your hand at watersports in the area.

It was a bit cold for us to sample that side of the area on this visit, but come in the summer and you can take to the water at the Costwold Water Park or at South Cerney Outdoor Education Centre. We kept our feet on dry land instead, visiting the nearby town of Burford on our second day, a lovely place for a stroll and a browse in the high street's selection of cute independent stores - it's the kind of place that has a shop specialising in handcrafted brushes and artisan cheeses.

Just outside the centre of Burford is one of the most exciting shops I've visited in a long while - the Burford Garden Company. Ostensibly a 'garden centre', this place ain't quite the same as your local B&Q. I'd describe it as a cross between somewhere like a Wyevale garden centre and Liberty - it's a vast space of several buildings selling not just gorgeous plants, flowers, garden furniture, pots and other accessories, but stunning homewares, clothing, toiletries and stationery as well.

To say you could spend the best part of a day here is no overstatement; there's also a toy department and cafe on site too. Given that Liberty is perhaps my favourite store ever, I could have parted with some serious cash here - like the aforementioned retail legend, it's a shop filled with a carefully curated collection of lovely things, from hippy-luxe Moroccan rugs to hand-made pottery, boutique brand perfumes and candles to vintage crockery. 

And of course, there are the flowers and plants too, which have all your outdoor requirements totally nailed. I absolutely loved the place.

We stayed in a lovely stone cottage in the heart of the village, 33 The Square, a suitably cosy and cute place to rest up after a day's exploring. It's everything you'd want from a country retreat with its real fire, low beams and beautiful aspect overlooking a picturesque square. 

With three double bedrooms, it comfortably accommodates six and feels pretty roomy for a cottage - it wouldn't be a hardship to while away an afternoon in front of the fire if the weather wasn't on your side. 

I loved the comfortable, simple decor of the cottage, with its traditional shutters, wooden staircase and cushion-filled window seats - anywhere that has a window seat is all good with me.

We'll definitely be back to this corner of the UK - on a sunny day (we enjoyed glorious sunshine on our trip) I can't think of many nicer places to unwind, have a screen detox and perhaps enjoy an expensive Bloody Mary... 

For more information and to book 33 The Square, visit the website here.*

*We enjoyed a complimentary stay at 33 The Square but all opinions are my own.

Pay Day Treats

Do you take respite in mindless activities when all hell's breaking loose in global politics? It's not like I'm burying my head in the sand - the world's gone to s**t and it's terrifying - but I do think we all need a bit of a refuge from the deluge of worrying news stories and anxiety-filled Facebook feeds every now and again. 

So I'm not at all ashamed to say that I took great joy in indulging in an afternoon of surfing interiors on Instagram and seeing what's new in the shops right now - yes, it's all very superficial when there's a new world order happening around us, but sometimes you've just got to gather your troops around you (in my case, two sickly children), make a pot of tea and take half and hour out from the world to wonder if buying a banana design bag from Zara might bring some small joy into your world right now. 

Here are some other things that caught my eye during my afternoon of surfing - all under £50 and all available online...

Mini Banana Crossbody Bag - Zara, £17.99

I love a fruit motif, do you? But maybe you haven't got a bag with a banana on it - if not, this might bring a pop of summer colour to your wardrobe. 

Lakeesha Blouse - Monsoon, £49

Just the right amount of boho detailing to make this an interesting and versatile addition to your spring wardrobe, plus Monsoon stuff tends to be well made enough to justify the more expensive price tag.

Denim Ruffle Top - Next, £30

Next reported disappointing profits last year which really surprised me - this is one of the few high street stalwarts that I think has really upped its game recently by introducing some really affordable, fashion-forward pieces to its range. I guess retail - like politics - is a capricious and totally unpredictable beast. This top is the sort of thing they do well.

Mocki Light Blue Jeans - Monki, £30

Monki recently opened in Bristol and while clearly its demographic is much younger than me, I'm glad I wasn't put off by the hordes of teenage girls buying crop tops and stick on patches when I made a visit or else I wouldn't have discovered it does brilliant jeans. The Mocki cut are fantastic - I really can't recommend them enough; they're made of quite heavy-weight denim, the cut is great (exactly the right kind of skinny) and they come in really nice washes. And they're £30. Go check them out. 

Embroidered Kimono top - Marks and Spencer, £39.50

This feels like a really good 'transitional' piece - the sort of thing that will provide a bit of respite from the slightly boring grey jumpers I live in during the winter, but which still has long sleeves to provide a bit of warmth on chillier spring days. And it has embroidery on it, so I'll probably end up buying it...

Black Floral Print Shirt - New Look, £17.99

I really love this look, even though florals aren't usually my bag. Granted the gorgeous model can work high-waisted jeans and dewy skin a lot better than I can, but I think adding a flowery flourish to your wardrobe might have restorative powers if you're feeling a little world-weary right now. 

Gina V-Cut Flare Block Heels - Topshop, £56

Whoops. These come in at just over £50 but forgoing a couple of shop-bought coffees justifies them, right? For the high-heel phobic like me, these are perfect - not too high and blocky. And they're animal print which is a print I mainly like to wear on my feet. 

Printed Cotton Sweatshirt - Mango, £19.99

I know, Mars would be a preferable option right now. Alas, we're just going to have to stick it out here on Earth for the time being - I recommend wearing cosy sweatshirts like this one, making cakes and drinking lots of tea. It might help a little bit...

Book Recommendations: Letters of Note

I've been extolling the joys of a book called Letters of Note recently, a two volume compilation of letters that makes for perfect reading if you're looking for a bit of refuge in these strange times we currently find ourselves living through. It's all been a bit confusing, dispiriting and unsettling, don't you think? But this book might help if you're looking for something to let a bit of light in. 

Both a lesson in history and a reminder that humans are capable of the most extraordinary acts of compassion, it's a really fascinating collection of letters written by people from all walks of life, from powerful heads of state to ordinary individuals. With motivations ranging from the globally important (you'll find a plea from Gandhi to Hitler to abandon his march on Eastern Europe "for the sake of humanity") to the more individualistic (there's a brilliant letter by a copywriter pitching for a job as a Hollywood screenwriter) the collection shows how powerful the written word can be. 

With the world currently in tumult, I found it reassuring to read letters written at times when humanity was going through similar upheavals and uncertainties. There are also examples of the incredible kindness of strangers in the book; a particularly poignant letter to the Ciulla family - whose son Frank was killed in the Lockerbie air crash - displays how the written word can extend a hand of friendship and connection that crosses physical boundaries and geographical borders, giving comfort and hope in times of personal tragedy. 

Amongst the poignant notes, you'll find truly uplifting pieces of correspondence - a lovely letter from Roald Dahl to a young reader, a tongue-in-cheek "personal letter" from actor Steve Martin and a hilarious response to a disgruntled reader from Spike Milligan. 

The letters in this first book are a wonderful, diverse and fascinating examination of what it means to be human. A love letter to letters, it's a useful reminder that the world is always in flux, that life is messy and things can seem pretty bleak at times - the writers of many of these letters were looking for answers to life's big questions or simply a ray of hope during difficult times. 

As a new, uncertain year dawns, I found this letter from writer EB White (author of Charlotte's Web) particularly pertinent - it was a response to a Mr Nadeau who sought his opinion on what he saw as a bleak future for the human race:

Dear Mr. Nadeau

As long as there is one upright man, as long as there is one compassionate woman, the contagion may spread and the scene is not desolate. Hope is the thing that is left to us, in a bad time. I shall get up Sunday morning and wind the clock, as a contribution to order and steadfastness.

Sailors have an expression about the weather: they say, the weather is a great bluffer. I guess the same is true of our human society — things can look dark, then a break shows in the clouds, and all is changed, sometimes rather suddenly. It is quite obvious that the human race has made a queer mess of life on this planet. But as a people we probably harbor seeds of goodness that have lain for a long time waiting to sprout when the conditions are right. Man’s curiosity, his relentlessness, his inventiveness, his ingenuity have led him into deep trouble. We can only hope that these same traits will enable him to claw his way out.

Hang on to your hat. Hang on to your hope. And wind the clock, for tomorrow is another day.

Sincerely,

E. B. White

Find out more about Letters of Note and buy your copy here.

E.B. White letter and page inserts reproduced with thanks to Letters of Note

Creating Recipes with Exeter Cookery School

I've started 2017 with a culinary first - I've devised my very own recipe. Thanks to an exciting opportunity with Exeter Cookery School, I've channelled my inner Nigella (I knew she was in there somewhere!) and turned my mind to coming up with a recipe for the sort of comfort food I crave at this time of the year. It's actually quite daunting devising a recipe - it's one thing to love food and have an appreciation for different flavour combinations but quite a different proposition to come up with something that's a) edible and b)actually enjoyable for your dining companions. 

After thinking about the flavours I love and the sort of food that I naturally gravitate towards, my recipe was always going to look towards the Med for inspiration. And having recently been inspired by Nigella Lawson's programme on the legendary food writer Anna del Conte, I've been craving a taste of Italy as an antidote to all that turkey and Christmas buffet food. 

So, my recipe blends classic Italian flavours with a nod to Spain - I just love chorizo and sherry so I wanted to find a way to include these in my idea. The result uses Orzo, a rice-shaped pasta that creates dishes that look more like risotto. It's perfect when you're craving carbs but want something a bit different to more ubiquitous pasta varieties. 

I've used a picante chorizo but standard chorizo will do - you need it in a ring rather than thin slices. Be generous with the sherry - white wine might also work but sherry gives the dish a particularly special flavour. And you need good quality tomatoes that are really juicy - I used delicious cherry tomatoes from Waitrose. 

I hope you enjoy my idea - if you get a chance to try it, I'd love to hear what you thought of it! 

Orzo with Spicy Chorizo, Tomato & Basil

Serves 2

Ingredients:

2 tsp regular olive oil
120g chorizo picante, cubed (regular will do but I used an extra spicy version from Waitrose)
75ml dry fino sherry 
250g orzo pasta
625ml boiling water
Knob of butter
1 heaped tablespoon grated parmesan (and a little more to serve)
Generous handful of ripe cherry tomatoes, quartered
Generous handful of fresh basil

Method:

Gently heat the oil in a large heavy-based pan - I used my regular pasta pan. Throw in your cubed chorizo and gently cook without burning. Add the sherry to the pan and let it bubble and absorb. 

Then add the orzo and toss it in the juicy oil from the chorizo, making sure each grain is coated. Add the water and and turn down the heat to a simmer. 

Let the pasta cook for around 10 minutes, stirring occasionally to make sure the pasta doesn't stick to the bottom of the pan. You may need to add a little more water from the kettle; a bit like making risotto, you want the water to absorb but the pasta to be cooked properly.

Once the pasta is cooked and all the water is absorbed, beat in a knob of butter. Then beat in a good tablespoon of grated parmesan so your orzo becomes a little creamy. Then thrown in your tomatoes and basil.

Plate up your orzo and add a scattering of basil and perhaps a little more parmesan and black pepper to serve. 

Find out about Exeter Cookery School and the courses it runs here.

The Trouble With...Lunch Hours

...is nobody appears to take them anymore. I know, it's hardly news - people stopped leaving their desks to have lunch sometime around 1993, but it never ceases to amaze me that not having a lunch hour is A Thing. As the big return to work gets underway this week, I've been reminded how totally unnatural is it for humans to sit in front of screens for 8 hours a day. There's nothing like the Christmas holidays - a time for complete surrender to lack of routine and a life-enhancing break from the tyranny of desk-bound employ - to ram the point home: sitting in front of screens for long periods is bad for your back, your eyes and your general sense of wellbeing. 

So why do more and more of us feel bad about taking a full hour in the middle of our working day to do things that are essential for our personal wellbeing and professional productivity? What's the big deal about enjoying your lunch at a reasonable rate of mastication and perhaps taking a stroll outside before returning to the afternoon's endeavours? 

When I first started working back in the mid 90s, we were pretty much forced to take a lunch break. At 1pm on the dot, everyone downed tools and one of my more elderly colleagues wandered through the office informing us it was 'synching time' - we literally had to 'rest' our computers while things 'synched'...I'm still not sure what this really meant, but I'm grateful that my first experience of work was embedded in pre-noughties technology and a culture that didn't yet follow the American model of 24/7 working where taking lunch is 'for wimps'. Those halcyon days were filled with conscientious working during office hours (we didn't have social media and mobile phones to distract us back then) and fun lunch breaks spent in the park or down by the river in Twickenham. 

But then that aforementioned American way of doing work started to creep in and subsequent workplaces I found myself at didn't seem to have a culture where taking a reasonable lunch break was considered good use of time. Strangely, it seems that it's not necessarily the organisations or senior managers that are to blame, but the staff who impose desk-bound activity upon themselves. I'm truly amazed that so many people deny themselves the opportunity to enjoy their lunch away from the glare of the computer, have a blast of fresh air or simply get a few tasks ticked off their personal to do list. Are there really that many people with that much work to do each and every day that taking a break for an hour just isn't a possibility? 

I think it's interesting that many parents bemoan the time their children spend in front of screens yet we don't apply the same rules to ourselves. Of course, our children's screen use is (usually)conducted during their leisure time; working in front of screens is a necessary part of working life and I'm not denigrating those people with stressful jobs that really do have to put in the hours at their desks. 

But the point remains the same - it's good to take a break from screen time whenever we can. Don't be a martyr if you really don't need to - take a walk outside in the sun, for Chrissakes! I truly believe most working people can allow themselves a full 60 minutes away from the computer more often than not during their working week. 

So, as a new working year commences and the office air is charged with possibility and the whiff of new stationery, I believe we should all be resolving to keep ourselves refreshed and recharged with daily (wherever possible - deadlines and other stressy stuff permitting) breaks each lunchtime. If you're feeling really brave, you could even - whisper it - leave your phone at your desk too...

PS: this rather pertinent article popped up in my Twitter feed as I was writing this piece - take a look and heed its warning:

"Studies have suggested that those who overwork themselves are more prone to myriad health issues that include mental illness, which ought to force us to question our system of values. 

At the end of the Pew report, the authors warn that in 2020 "People will not take the time to enjoy nurture or nature." Welcome to the future..."

Quick Christmas Beauty Fixes

So, how are you feeling ahead of Christmas? Twinkly, bright-eyed and radiant for the festivities? Rested, full of energy and not in the least bit sniffly? Oh, come on! It's party season, which, as we all know, is that wonderfully opportune time in which your skin decides to do weird things, your hair - thanks to a winning combination of cold winds and central heating - wouldn't look out of place in the school nativity crib - and you'll be nursing an unpleasant cold. You may even have what feels like the onset of flu. It's simply the law that the week of the office party, or whichever other big Christmas event you're attending, you will possibly look and feel the worst you've felt all year.

However, there are a few short cuts to making yourself feel at least a little better about your outward appearance this time of year. I can't help with the feeling coldy bit, though I do find that drinking copious amounts of water and Pukka Tea's Detox blend helps, along with liberal imbibing of vitamin C and paracetamol. So head colds and racking coughs aside, these might help:

Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate

I'm a big fan of oils throughout the year but they really come into their own in the winter, when central heating sucks the very lifeblood from your skin, making it dry and dull. I actually can't stand central heating - it seems to cause me all manner of ills. But hey, we live in the UK so what are you going to do. This oil is one to gift yourself as a pre-Christmas treat and then buy your groceries at Lidl for a few weeks as it's expensive. 

But a little goes a long way and it makes you look somehow fresher and less blotchy on waking up in the morning. It sinks in really nicely and won't give you spots if you're that way inclined. Plus it's scented with a sleep-inducing, all natural fragrance that smells divine.

Buy here

Rapid White Tooth Whitening Strips

I read somewhere that nothing gives away your age more than having yellow teeth. My teeth are in pretty good shape - one of my proudest achievements is reaching middle age without a single filling - but a penchant for tea and red wine have left their mark. Thankfully there is a safe and convenient way to give your teeth a little dazzle without having to lose several thousand pounds at the dentist in the shape of these whitening strips which you can buy in Boots. 

I gave them a go a few weeks back and they definitely made a difference. You apply the strips morning and night for a week and they self dissolve - not the nicest sensation in the world, but a small price to pay for visibly whiter teeth after seven days. You just have to rinse out the residue then you're good to go - the whole process takes around 7 minutes. You can repeat after a month if all that tea and wine has started to take its toll again. 

Buy here

Charles Worthington Instant Root Concealer

Of course you haven't managed to fit in a hair appointment before Christmas - this is because you're busy working/ferrying children around/Christmas shopping/making things for the school fair/being ill/etc., etc. Also, it costs a lot to get hair cuts and colours these days - that £80 seems a bit indulgent on top of all the other stuff to shell out for. Which is why root touch up spray is a such a helpful invention. 

On noticing a few greys peeking through the other day I decided to give this a go and it was absolutely fine, totally doing what is says on the tin. You simply brush the powder where your hair needs it and it stays put until you wash it out. At £14.99 it's lot cheaper than a trip to the salon.

Buy here

Benefit Dew The Hoola

"You looked washed out, have you been ill?"...yes, thanks for noticing, I have had a cold for the past two weeks and haven't seen sunshine for some time, as it happens. Sound familiar? Then this product might help you restore some colour to your cheeks. I got a sample of this with a magazine and it's very helpful for faking a glow when you feel like poop and your mother helpfully reminds you that you look like it, too. I mix it in with moisturiser to ensure a subtle glow rather than Trump-esque hue. 

Buy here

Glam Crystals Dazzling Gel Liner

If all else fails, glitter is the only way. I bought this in a bit of a hurry from Boots the other day and have been thrilled with it - it's £2.99 and it's bloomin' great. Unlike most glitter products which tend to end up looking a complete mess on me, this is an easy to apply gel liner which totally stays in place so you can do the glitter thing with sophistication. Can't recommend this one highly enough.

Buy here

Sampling Deep South Cooking and Cocktails With Absurd Bird

Chicken: it's either bloody lovely or downright horrible, right? A perfectly roasted chicken, a rich coq au vin, or a crispy rotisserie chicken, served with a side order of fries...they're all on my 'things to eat to make you feel happy list'. But have you noticed that some chicken you buy to cook yourself, or indeed ordered out at a restaurant, often fails to hit the spot?

On a mission to discover the best chicken in the west (and to find out what I might be doing wrong when I cook it myself) I headed over to Bath last week to hear from people who really know their stuff when it comes to poultry. Turns out they also know a thing or two about cocktails too, which was another reason to make the train trip for an evening of chicken enlightenment with the lovely folk from Absurd Bird.

Absurd Bird will be bringing a taste of the Deep South to Bath when it opens its doors on the 14th December, promising diners the chance to sample beautifully prepared and cooked chicken as well as unusual side dishes inspired by this vibrant corner of America, mixed in with a dose of London-style street food inspo. Arriving in the thriving Little SouthGate quarter of the city, Bath joins a small chain that includes branches in Soho, Spitalfields and Exeter.

To give local press and bloggers a flavour of what's to come, the team held a cookery and cocktail demonstration at kitchen showroom Hobson's Choice last week. Having never been to a cookery demo before I was looking forward to getting some insider knowledge and inspiration from the restaurant's head chef and mixologist...and, being a generally hungry person, the chance to get stuck into some of Absurd Bird's signature dishes. 

The evening started as my Tuesday evenings rarely do - with a glass of 'Kentucky Barn Dance' in my hand, a delicious cocktail served in a kilner jar that felt very decadent for a school night. It was a bit of a shame it was school night, to be honest, as Nicole, our drinks adviser for the evening, was on hand to shake up cocktails on demand using some enticing ingredients that aren't, perhaps, the most conducive to getting up for work the next morning.

Step forward Absurd Bird's very own variety of Moonshine, a potent little number that comes in at 41% alcohol - yeah, you read that right! Obviously best used as a mixer, you don't need a lot of this stuff to feel its effects, but Nicole's expert mixing made the drinks I tried slip down a treat. 

Suitably relaxed for our demonstration, it was over to Head Chef Andrew Hazel to share the background story of Absurd Bird and talk us through some key dishes from the menu. We learnt to spatchcock a kitchen - not as tricky as you might think - and how the restaurant only uses the highest quality, locally sourced chicken in its dishes which is slow grown and brined to ensure the meat is moist and packed full of flavour. On sampling an absolutely spectacular 'Dirty Bun' - fried chicken, spicy mayo and pickle, served in a Bao Bun - you could tell those chickens had had a good life. This dish was a real highlight of the evening for me.

Also on offer was a selection of mouthwatering chicken wings - if these are your favourite bit of the bird, the restaurant caters to your desires with a dedicated 'Wingshack' section of the menu, including Smoked Garlic Parmesan and Lemon Wings and Crispy Fried Buttermilk Wings. We also got to sample a supreme mac 'n' cheese, topped with Absurd Bird's signature Cheetos topping - one to be enjoyed without thinking about the calories, but totally in keeping with the restaurant's ethos of injecting a bit of fun and absurdity into dining out. I loved it though good manners kept me from hogging the whole sharing plate for myself. 

We also got the opportunity to sample some of the restaurant's imaginative side dishes - light-as-a-feather Jalapeno Cheese Biscuits (a deceptive name - these babies are more like cheese scones) which so impressed my guest that she made up her own batch the very next day. I was more taken with the spinach and artichoke dip, served with fried tortilla crisps, a really unusual way to get your fix of leafy greens. 

Talking of healthy stuff, you can probably tell from the choices I've described so far that this sort of cuisine doesn't really give two hoots for careful, restrained eating - it's all about deep frying, robust sauces and marinades, creamy dips and butter-coated corn on the cob. I mean, when a restaurant serves its Sweet Potato Bake with toasted marshmallows, you really need to leave any thoughts of calorie counting and carb excluding at the door. Absurd Bird is about abandoning yourself to food that's fun, exuberant and life affirming. It's about taking things a little less seriously and enjoying that extra cocktail. That said, there are lighter options on the menu too - the Greenish Plates should satisfy any healthy urges you might have. 

But if you're in the mood to experience the full Absurd Bird vibe, you'd be mad not to treat yourself to dessert. We were served a carb-tastic share 'n' tare Dipsy Cake (essentially a southern-infused take on a brioche) served with a trio of dipping sauces. 

And then there are the cocktails. Absurd Bird knows a thing or two about them as its extensive drinks menu demonstrates. We might have been drinking ours in a very smart, high-tech kitchen showroom but my Mississippi Mud Pie did a good job of mentally transporting me to a hot and steamy corner of Louisiana. As I said, it was a shame the cocktails were flowing freely on a school night, though we did get given a cute little bottle of Moonshine to make up our own concoctions at home.

Despite holding back on the booze, we left our first experience of Absurd Bird with a warm glow and slight feeling of jealousy that the people of Bath will have such a fun and feel-good place to hang out at on their doorstep. So please come to Bristol, Absurd Bird - we need good chicken, moonshine-laced cocktails, crisp-topped mac 'n' cheese and marshmallows with our sweet potatoes, too! 

To find out more about Absurd Bird, visit the website here. The Bath branch opens on 14th December at 20 St Lawrence Street, BA1 1AN

With many thanks to Absurd Bird and Attention Media who invited me to a private pre-launch event.