The Life of a Freelancer: A 6 Month Update.

I can’t believe I’ve been freelancing for 6 months now. It’s been 6 months as my own boss, 6 months learning my way around working directly with clients, 6 months of being able to set my own agenda and 6 whole months of learning to understand what my own strengths and weaknesses are as a girlboss businesswoman.

This point was another marker, another waypoint in the journey, and I’m so pleased to have been developing a portfolio of lovely, interesting clients who are also challenging my creativity and helping me expand my skill base – and I’ve also picked up a few unexpected projects along the way to add to my CV and LinkedIn.

A Dinner Party with La Belle Assiette - Fine Dining At Home.

Numbering 4 nationalities (5 if you count yearning) amongst 6 diners, we gathered on a snowy evening gathering from all corners of London to make merry in a pre-Christmas celebration. We covered the globe ranging from Antipodeans (New Zealand and Australian) to Americans with a token English Rose, we knew by the tone of the late excuses from "sorry I’m going to be 5 minutes late" all the way through to "I got held up at carrot point by snowmen - they wanted to know where I was hiding the penguins but I refused to tell them. Trying to uber a reindeer now..." it was going to be fun night.

Disclaimer: Our meal was provided courtesy of La Belle Assiette, but I would absolutely use them again - and with the 3-course meals averaging out from a pub dinner to a luxury restaurant pricing, without having to put up with other noisy diners, I will definitely be using them again. 

Sorry for the long disclaimer. Which I've just made longer.

On the table we spread out Eucalyptus fronds in a beautifully haphazard array, crowned with a bronze ornament placed just so and star tea-lights sprinkled amidst the table centre, twinkling merrily away. Gathering in our good friend’s lounge, we hugged and told tales of our recent adventures.

A Day Trip To The Birmingham Christmas Market.

We tried to visit last year but ran out of available December weekends and the Birmingham Christmas markets eluded our grasp. This year was a different story. Rounding us up like Rudolph gathering his sleigh of reindeer, but with Whatsapp rather than elf-dust, our esteemed organiser not only managed to secure a whole day that we all could do but book train tickets in as well. She cracked that tinsel covered whip...

So, bright and early on a Saturday morning we gathered, scrubbing the sleep from the corners of our eyes and brightly hugging - glad that instead of cracking our usual escape rooms, we were just shuffling onto the train - we boarded our sleigh (also known as a Class 165/0 Network Turbo train) nice and early.

6 Luxurious Winter Cocktail Hotspots in London.

Christmas time, mistletoe and wine...

Disclaimer: we have been invited guests to the bars marked with a star, 
but I've been to most of these already on my own dime, and more than once...

It’s unmistakable. It’s the time of year that people get a twinkle in their eye, rosy cheeks and feel the need to get out an celebrate with their nearest and dearest. And why not, indeed.

A (Too) Quick City Break in York.

Much like the Grand Old Duke of York, who had ten thousand men and marched them up to the top of the hill, and then marched them down again, I can't get enough of York... (because he visited repeatedly, that was obvious, right?)

Having visited nearly half a dozen times over the years, and somehow not managing to share it on my blog over the years, I would say that although you could visit from London for the day, I wouldn't. Go for a minimum of an overnight stay, or a few days if you can. Witness a misty morning, and a candy coloured sunset, wander out into the Dales or slip in a seaside visit somewhere like Scarborough, and really get to know the ancient city.