Eat: The Rooftop Cafe

For her birthday last week, my dearest Louise had planned a fabulous birthday celebration but we started with drinks at Aqua Shard. I'd never been - and won't be going back in a hurry. Overpriced cocktails and so packed there was barely anywhere to stand...and that was before the staff took away the seats we found at the bar. (He did apologise and later find us a table, but still). Also, it was a muggy, hot day and the all glass building had the greenhouse effect - I thought I was going to pass out, it was so hot in there. London always looks lovely but all in all I was not impressed!

Onwards, quickly, to The Rooftop Cafe for a breath of fresh air. Curled just around the corner from the Shard itself, The Rooftop Cafe is relaxed and charming, with homemade furniture and interiors as well as simple, sustainable menu.

Wooden decking, potted wildflowers and super strong Aperol spritz'. The perfect spot to watch the sun go down before we headed in for a cosy dinner in a secluded corner just for the birthday crew.

 My dress: Gap

Louise's jumpsuit: Asos

No food shots because we were all too busy getting drunk, being raucus and causing fires (me!) but I can assure you the charred squid with puy lentils and sherry vinaigrette was delish, the sherry providing a tang that offset the lentils perfectly. The butterfly mackerel was nice but I tried a friends pea orzotto with yellow courgette, ricotta and pine nuts was absolutely delicious and defo what I'd order if I go back. The creamy ricotta and the soft peas flavoured the orzotto, popping in my mouth. Yum!

The Rooftop Cafe is open for breakfast Monday to Friday and breakfast and brunch on Saturdays, as well as dinner Wednesday - Saturday, 6pm -10pm. The staff were lovely..even when we were there making a mess and pretty much refusing to leave.

Call for reservations as they often close the rooftop to those who have reserved a table to eat.

The Exchange
28 London Bridge Street
London SE1 9SG
0203 102 3770

Go: Secret Cinema, Star Wars

Last weekend I was lucky enough to be offered free tickets to go down to Secret Cinema: Star Wars.
Having never even watched Star Wars (any, ever!) I was worried I wouldn't relate or enjoy the experience, but I was so wrong! Secret Cinema specialise in 'immersive cinema experience' often in a themed location that ticket holders find out about last minute, and sometimes with live interaction elements. Last year's 'Back To The Future' screenings occupied the whole of the Olympic Park in East London which was transformed into Hill Valley. I thoroughly enjoyed the screening of 'Empire Strikes Back', but not as much as the epic world Secret Cinema have created.

I can't give too much away, what with it being secret and all, but when you register you are given a rebel identity, complete with costume information and items to bring along, As soon as you arrive, actors are ushering you along and the unwavering commitment to the story and world that you now inhabit really helps set the tone. Inside it's well worth talking to everyone from security to stall holders and stopping in on as many interactive scenes as you can. I will say my friend and I sneaked, bartered and hustled our way all over the sprawling and authentic set. Unfortunately your phones and any cameras are sealed up pretty soon on arrival and we all signed contracts to say we wouldn't reveal the nature of anything from sets to missions...so these were pictures from before we went inside.

Dress up if you can! People really do go all out as you can see from the above pic. My friend and I felt decidedly underdressed. My Princess Leia style buns were a nod...and the scarves were absolutely pivotal. Also try the halloumi fries with pomegranate molasses and seeds. I literally don't know why you can't get these everywhere!

Secret Cinema: Star Wars opens to the public today and runs until September the 27th.

Black and Blossom

High waisted jeans: Asos

Body: Primark

Belt: Mums

T-bar heels: H&M

Bag: Tunisian market

If you go down to the woods today....you'll find Shanika acting the fool!

My sister took these pictures on a family trip to the common, which explains me doubled over with laughter in the above photos. If there's one thing we do often and well in my family, it's laugh and usually at each others expense.

I was rocking this black ensemble because black really highlights my tan, which I'm still holding on to from Tunisia back in April. How cute is my little bag that I picked up at the market we visited in Tunisia? Haggled that bad boy right down to the equivalent of about a fiver...result!

Ghana Girls

At the weekend my best friend got married! I was maid of honour, and it was genuinely one of the best things I've ever done. I was pretty busy doing maid of honour stuff and so couldn't really be toting my camera about, so these are all iPhone pics, but I think our happiness really shines through, it was one of the best weddings I've ever been to!
I love when weddings incorporate a cultural element and as Portia our beautiful bride is half Ghanaian, her and all her bridesmaids wore traditional Kente cloth material for the reception. We also did a dance in, to present the bride to her new husband, but unless you see the video, we won't talk about that ;)

I love the bright colours in the cloth we had and we all chose different designs for the tailor to whip up our stunning dresses, from long sleeved and peplum, to cross over back straps to my one shouldered number. And the brides' pink and gold number, sent over from Ghana, is just gorgeous.
Now I've found a good tailor, conveniently near me too, expect to see more African cloth designs on the blog. I've got some great material, just waiting to be whipped into a dress...or maybe shorts and a top...or high waisted skirt. The possibilities are endless!

Bikini Blushes

Holding my stomach in...definitely sucking hard!

Bikini: Primark

I have a pretty stupid tradition of buying a new bikini for each new holiday and this year I decided I wanted a 1950's style, high-waisted style and found this tie-dye style in cheap fashion mecca, Primark. And I realise how pathetic this sounds, but for the first time I had to buy a size 10 bottoms instead of my usual 8's. We all know our own bodies, and this was the first holiday that my body felt different. I'm a slim person, I know that, but my body is no longer as firm as it once was, there were dimples and rolls where once there had been abs. Metabolism is catching up with me in my old age!

And then I looked around at the other girls I was with. Not one of us was bigger than a size 12 and yet everyone moaned and complained about our figures when we were around the pool. Let me be clear, all of us looked amazing. Floppy hats, sheer cover ups and stylish sunglasses complimented gorgeous bikinis. At our hotel, we were practically celebrities, the staff and guests alike fawning all over each us wherever we went in the hotel (LOL) and yet we were all bitching about our own bodies the moment we were stripped down.

Body confidence has never really been an issue for me. My mum was pretty open about the naked body and I've always felt confident with mine. Ex lovers have told me the way I would walk around naked was pretty unusual, but I've always felt comfortable in my own skin. But when surrounded by the girls, suddenly I was realising all my new 'flaws' and picking them apart.

The night before I flew out to Tunisia I watched Plus Sized Wars on Channel 4, a documentary about the rise of plus sized bloggers. While some thought they glorified obesity, I felt they just wanted to be allowed to look as glam as everyone else and why shouldn't they? But what struck me was how supportive they were of each other (well apart from when one wanted to lose weight...women, get it together!) 

In the end, we all started to tell each other to shut up whenever anyone said anything negative about their size. If I want to tone up, I know what to do, we all do. But at the end of the day this is the one body I've got and I've never been ashamed of it before so I don't need to start now!