Judith Symons on Her Garden Drawings and Abstract Prints
Throwback time! This time in 2023, I hosted a solo exhibition by artist Judith Symons at the Tavistock Centre. Judith presented two different sets of works “united by a passion for pattern and colour”: pastel drawings of domestic London gardens and abstract screen prints on fabric. The big artworks brought so much life into the art space, […]
Boring or Underrated? My First Impression of Birmingham
It’s the second biggest British city, but hardly a tourist hotspot. Often described as uninteresting or even dull, Birmingham has a mixed reputation at best. But after years of living in the UK, and visiting over 10 cities, it was time to give this underdog a try. I went there with a friend who has also […]
New exhibition Tavi Open 2025 has launched!
The annual Tavi Open art exhibition has returned at the Tavistock Centre! This year, 37 artists have come together to share art and express their voices. Tavi Open celebrates the creativity and talent of our service users, students and staff, as well as local artists. The theme is completely open, and both professional and amateur […]
Exploring Münster in One (Rainy) Day
You can hardly call Münster a popular tourist destination. Some of us know the name, but how many have actually thought of visiting? Or know someone who has? I decided to give this modest city a go, pairing it with Düsseldorf for an extended weekend trip. Main information Münster is located in the western part of Germany, […]
How Much I Spent in 2 Days in Oslo (as a Frugal Traveller)
Nordic countries are known for being some of the happiest, but also the most expensive, regardless of where you’re visiting from. Our walking tour guide in Oslo even joked that Munch’s Scream is the horrified expression tourists make when paying for coffee! 😄 I also found Oslo’s prices expensive, even more than I expected. So, I […]
First Time in Oslo, Norway – Better than I Expected!
Norway was never on my travel bucket list. But I kind of missed Scandinavia, and when I found a cheap flight to Oslo, I didn’t think too long before booking. I was more than happy to add the final Nordic country to my list! I spent less than 2 days in Oslo, but managed to see […]
La Roux Live at The Lower Third in London, 2025
La Roux is gearing for the release of her fourth album (or fifth, if we count that unreleased should-have-been album number 3). After a string of dates in the US and Paris, she played two intimate concerts at The Lower Third in London’s Soho on 2 and 3 May. Of course, I was there on […]
Four Days in Rome – First Impressions of the Eternal City
For years, I was reluctant to travel to Italy, worried that my Italian won’t hold up. Although I did go to Milan back in 2020, it was a compromise due to Covid, and not exactly my own choice of destination. But I have really wanted to see a concert of my favourite Italian singer, Patty […]
Dublin City Break: The Spire, Carly Rae Jepsen, Cute Cafés
Dublin was never high on my travel bucket list. As a non-drinker, I was slightly put off by some of its top attractions. This famous brewery, that historical pub… I don’t care! 😃 But then, Carly Rae Jepsen announced her 2023 tour, and guess where she was going to launch it! First time seeing Carly live, and visiting […]
My Strange Encounter with Falun Gong in Dublin
My first ever trip to Dublin was just for the Carly Rae Jepsen concert, plus some sightseeing around it. I was strolling up the bustling O’Connell Street, towards the Spire, when I walked into two political manifestations. One of them was by Falun Gong, a Chinese religious movement founded in the early 1990s, also known as […]
Artist Veronica Rowlands on Inner Child Healing
Veronica Rowlands is a socially engaged visual artist based in East London, working predominantly with acrylics, ink, stitch, and digitally. She studied Surface Pattern Design at the University of Wales and Illustration at the Kingston University. In 2021, Veronica worked with a clinical psychologist and abuse victims to create a series of artworks and quilted blankets which […]
A Day Trip from Baku: Flame Mountain, Fire Temple & More!
Baku is wonderful and you can spend days exploring it. But make sure you also carve out a full day to see the attractions outside the city. Azerbaijan has some natural wonders and historical sites that can’t be missed! They’re easily accessible by car, but instead of driving, I recommend booking on an organized group […]