On Saturday night, I went to the Royal Lyceum Theatre in Edinburgh to see Picnic at Hanging Rock.  The production was put on by the Malthouse Theatre Melbourne and Black Swan State Theatre Company from Australia.  Edinburgh is the only international venue that they are taking their play to.  For those not familiar with Picnic At Hanging Rock, it is an extremely well known Australian book and movie about a group of school girls in the 1900s who go missing on a picnic.  The story is intense and extremely eerie, and as an Australian who grew up knowing the iconic story, I was interested to see how it could possibly work on the stage.

​The staging of the performance is quite bare, with just odd shaped dark walls and a few props, but I think this works well as the focus is on the characters and the dialogue.  The time and place is portrayed to the audience through words illuminated on a screen between each scene.  The entire cast is made up of just five girls, who take on different roles throughout the performance.  I thought Elizabeth Nabben as the School's Headmistress Miss Appleyard was superb, and I really liked her speeches about trying to make the girls 'civilised' in an environment as apparently 'uncivilised' as Australia in the 1900s.  There were a lot of references to how wild Australia was seen as, and some of these comments provided some comedic moments to break up the eerie mood.

For those of you that know the story of Picnic at Hanging Rock, you will know that it has a spine tingling, skin crawling eeriness to it, and I'm happy to say the play has captured this perfectly.  I don't want to reveal too much, but there was one moment where I was petrified, but then it was gone in a flash and I was questioning whether I'd just seen it or whether it hadn't happened at all- which I think is how the audience is supposed to feel.

The acting in this performance was some of the best theatre performances that I have seen.  The actresses are to be commended on how well they played their roles, and the staging fits with it perfectly.  The play runs at the Royal Lyceum Theatre until the 28th of January and this is its only stop in the UK, so make sure you see it.  As an Australian, I may be a little biased in this view, but this play is a perfect reminder of the immense talent that Australia has just waiting to be given a world stage. I loved it.

WHAT: Picnic at Hanging Rock
WHERE: Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh
WHEN: Until 28th of January
TICKETS: here

​ 

I am a total cat person and have been meaning to go to Edinburgh's cat café Maison de Moggy for a while.  Today I finally got around to going and dragged along my friend Emily (I say dragged... she needed little persuasion after the word cat was mentioned...).

​Maison de Moggy has been open since 2015, and if you aren't familiar with the cat café trend, its like a normal café only you get to pat and play with cats while you're there.  Emily and I went this afternoon for a 3pm slot (you have to book in advance for a 1 hour slot).  There was about 15 other people there, but plenty of cats and space for everyone.

​When we got there we were asked to take our shoes off and store our bags away in their cloak room.  We were given some ground rules for interaction with the cats and were then free to roam and pat the cats.  The staff took our orders for tea and cake, I had a cup of tea (£3.00 for a pot for 2 people) and a piece of rocky road slice (£2.75).

​The cats are so beautiful and peaceful, even with lots of strangers patting them.  I don't know how they manage to make them so tolerant, as I know my cat Oscar back home in Australia would freak with so many people in the one room.  My favourite cats were Marcel and Pierre, but the star of the afternoon was Elodie, the bald Sphynx kitten.  She was ripping around the café saying hello to everyone and trying to get her paws on the cake and the milk.  She was a right little miss that put smiles on everyone's faces.

​Each booking slot goes for an hour, which is just enough time to enjoy afternoon tea and get your fix of cats.  A booking costs £7 for the hours which I think is a fair price, especially as you know that money is being put into care for the cats (who by the way have the SOFTEST fur I have ever felt).

​I'll definitely be back to Maison de Moggy!
​

Maison de Moggy
17-19 West Port
​Edinburgh
www.maisondemoggy.com

Raise your hand if you are sick of the Fringe festival already? no? just me then..... I'm a little bit of a Grinch about the festival this year, so I thought I'd give you some options for things to do that doesn't involve sitting in the broom cupboard in a pub listening to a free comedy show which is essentially university students complaining about how hard life is for them.....

Visit one of our many amazing bookshops
Edinburgh is a City of Literature and along with hosting the Edinburgh International Book Festival in August (the only part of August in Edinburgh that I enjoy)- we also have some great bookshops.  My favourites include The Edinburgh Bookshop in Morningside, Till's Bookshop at Causewayside (above), and the Oxfam bookshop on Clerk Street.  I'm not picky about my books being brand new, and Edinburgh has some great second hand bookshops.  Do yourself a favour and take a walk away from the crowds and revive in one of our bookshops.
​Interested in the Edinburgh International Book Festival? check out my Top 10 picks here

Escape to the beach
Even though Portobello Beach doesn't really compare to the white sandy beaches of Australia, it's still nice to escape the crowds and enjoy a day by the sea.  Take the number 26 bus from the city centre and you can be enjoying some fish in chips 20 minutes later.

Visit Boxsmall
Back for another year, and one of my favourite pop up markets, Boxsmall is situated on top of Princes Mall in the City Centre.  I love browsing the stalls for gifts and Edinburgh related prints and tartans.  In addition to the pop up shops, you can also grab a bite to eat at one of the many food stalls including the crepes stall which I can highly recommend.  A great addition this year is the mini golf area which was great fun even in Edinburgh's horrendous August weather.  It's the kind of place I'll be back to all month, and definitely somewhere I'd recommend to visit during August.  www.boxsmall.com

Go gin tasting, perfume smelling and goodie- rummaging
From the moment I heard about this pop up shop I was excited.  Urban Reivers will be on George Street during August and promises to be a total treasure trove of gifts, gins, perfumes, makeups and pretty much anything else that is cool.  Throughout the month they'll be holding events in store so you should check out their website for more details.  The store is bliss and very Instagram-friendly.

Explore the history of the Grassmarket
Edinburgh has some of the most interesting historical areas of any city in the UK- so while you're in town you should discover some of our history.  The Greater Grassmarket Business Improvement District and Edinburgh World Heritage recently teamed up to release a free audio tour of the area which includes stories of Burke & Hare and Half-Hangit Maggie.  The tour takes about an hour to complete and you can pick up a map from stores in the Grassmarket and follow the trail to find the 11 audio spots.


More posts about EDINBURGH here

The most glorious time of the year is nearly upon us again, and of course by that I mean the Edinburgh International Book Festival.  Every year this festival gives me the excuse to live and breathe books and book chat for 3 weeks- in other words it's a book lovers paradise.  This year the festival has particularly outdone themselves with the best line up since I moved to Edinburgh in 2011.  For the sake of this post, I've had to narrow my favourites down to ten choices- so here they are, my top 10 picks for the book festival:

Never trust any one who says they don't like Mexican food.  My mind boggles at any one who can look at, smell or taste Mexican and decide they don't like it.  Lucky for me, Mexican food has really taken off in the UK recently and earlier this week I was invited to a burrito making masterclass at Barburrito in Edinburgh.
 
Barburrito can lay claim as being the founder of Mexican 'fast food' in the UK.  Their first restaurant opened in Manchester in 2005, at a time when Mexican restaurants offering great quality food, ready in minutes, was unheard of.  Once they'd conquered England and Wales, the team at Barburrito set their sights north of the border and have made their way to Edinburgh.  Located on Lothian Road, Barburrito has taken over the site of Pinto, giving it a rather sleek makeover and tweaking the recipes to make them just right.
 
When I went along for my masterclass with some fellow bloggers on a Wednesday evening, the place was already busy.  I really liked the vibe of the restaurant- it felt relaxed, cool and fun.  I'm always suspicious of 'fast food' and try to avoid it, but Barburrito takes fast food to a whole new level.  Their ingredients are fresh, piping hot and actually look like someone has put some effort into making them.  In short, you could be around at a mates place for dinner (admittedly a mate who is clearly a talented chef).  ​

Big kudos has to go out to the team at Barburrito who put up with us getting in their way as we tried to make it like a pro behind the counter.  Thankfully we weren't going to be released on the public for some burrito making carnage, instead we got to make our own under the expert guidance of the team.  I'm happy to say that I proved to be a bit of a ninja with my burrito making and managed to make it through without spilling or dropping anything, and at the end I had a pretty impressive burrito.  On it I had rice, spicy beans, mild salsa, pork, chorizo, mushrooms, guacamole and cheese.  I don't want to brag or anything but it was pretty epic.
 
This was my second visit to Barburrito since it's opening 2 weeks ago, and I can happily say the food is great.  It's perfect for grabbing on the go, sitting in with friends, or in my case 'post-gym workout stuff your face' occasions.  Unfortunately for you, I won't be there to expertly roll your burrito myself, but you'll be in safe hands with the team at Barburrito.
 
Barburrito
119 Lothian Road, Edinburgh
EH3 9AN
 
You can also find them at:
6 Shandwick Place, Edinburgh
EH2 4RN
 
And opening soon in Glasgow!
 
www.barburrito.co.uk ​​

I'm a big fan of the author Alexander McCall Smith.  He's an Edinburgh local and his '44 Scotland Street' novels helped to fuel my enthusiasm to move from Queensland to Edinburgh.  This book, 'Trains and Lovers' isn't in the 44 Scotland Street series, but the synopsis hooked me in.

One of the things I love most about Alexander McCall Smith's novels is his natural flair for telling a good story.  All of his characters are believable, and they say and do things that instantly endear readers to them as we can see tiny portions of ourselves or our friends in them.  Trains and Lovers tells the stories of Kay, David, Hugh and Andrew who get chatting to one another on a train going from Edinburgh to London.  Each of them in the course of their conversation reveals a story about love, each in a very different setting and spanning various time frames.

I thought the story that I liked most was Kay's- she spoke about her father who emigrated from Scotland to Australia after the Second War War and how he made a new life for himself and met his wife.  I instantly identified with this story (being Australian) but I also understood some of how her father must have felt when he emigrated.  I thought this would be my favourite story, however when I got to the end of the book and heard Hugh's story I was instantly intrigued.  Hugh meets a woman on a train platform and asks her to dinner and a love affair begins, but there are some unanswered questions about his new lover that causes some trust issues in their relationship.  I thought this story was very well written and had me totally engrossed.

If I had to choose a down side to the book I would say that in the beginning I got a little confused as to who everyone was, but this was soon rectified as the novel progressed.  The stories read like short stories so it's a perfect read for a train journey or on holidays at the beach.


Title: Trains and Lovers
Author: Alexander McCall Smith
Publisher: Polygon
ISBN: 978 184697 2454

99% of the contact I get for my blog is from people wanting to ask questions about settling in to life in Edinburgh.  It's great to hear that so many of you have been inspired to take the plunge and start planning your expat life in Edinburgh.  So I thought it was about time that I wrote a post on frequently asked questions about moving to Edinburgh- got a question I haven't answered below? get in touch and let me know! Chances are that others are wanting to know the same thing!

What kind of VISA did you get?
I got an Ancestry Visa as my grandparents are British.  This visa entitled me to live and work in the UK for 5 years.  If you don't have British grandparents then a Working Holiday Visa is your best option.  I would recommend the UK Home Office website who will be able to set out the different Visa types.
I paid a company called 1st Contact to process all of my paperwork for me and check it was correct.  They helped my Visa process and also helped me set up a bank account before I got to the UK.  I highly recommend them, and you should visit their website for more information about the services they offer.
www.1stcontact.com/visas
www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-visas-and-immigration

How did you cope being away from home?
In all honesty, the thought of moving overseas didn't worry me all that much.  My brother already lived in London and I was taking my twin sister with me, so I wasn't going it alone.  I knew I would miss my Mum and Dad, but on the other hand I knew that moving overseas was something I had to do- I just wasn't going to be happy unless I took the plunge and did it.  Yes, when I waved goodbye to my parents at Brisbane Airport I felt a little sick with nerves, but moving over here was the best thing I ever did.  It was just the opportunity I needed to recreate myself and forge my own path in the world.

What's Edinburgh really like?
Ummm cold? yes, Scotland isn't known for their fantastic weather and yes the winters here can get a little dreary, but Edinburgh is a really beautiful city.  I'm never stuck for things to do here and the UK is a pretty small country compared to Australia so there is plenty of opportunity to travel.  You can check out some of my Edinburgh recommendations here.

 
Was it easy to make friends?
Edinburgh can at times be a bit of a prickly pineapple.  The locals aren't unfriendly, but you have to make a real effort with them before they get friendly.  I didn't find it too hard to make friends when I first moved here as Edinburgh is such an international place, so most of my friends became friends as we bonded over not being local to Edinburgh.  I would suggest going to events, joining a gym, or going to a class as great ways to meet people in Edinburgh.

Was it hard to find somewhere to live?
The rental market when I first moved here was no where near as competitive as it is now.  My sister and I only really had to look for about 2 weeks before we found somewhere and moved in straight away.  However, I recently had to move flats and it took a good 6 weeks and numerous viewings to find somewhere within our price range.  So I would recommend that you give yourself plenty of time to find somewhere to live.  The website Zoopla is great for finding properties, and some nice areas include City Centre, Leith (depending on how far down into Leith you go), The Shore, Newhaven, Meadowbank, Stockbridge, Broughton, Newington, Tollcross, Polwarth and Morningside.
 
How long did it take you to find a job?
For me, it was 6 weeks.  It's difficult to advise on how long it would take to find a job as it depends on so many things (like your skill set, whether you just want a job that allows you flexible hours to travel while you're here, whether you want a career move etc).  I recommend indeed.co.uk and linkedIn for job postings, and if you are creative then go to the Creative Scotland website and search their opportunities.  Gumtree is also a good one for flexible jobs and s1jobs is good for career minded people.
 
What is the cost of living like?
Compared to somewhere like London, Edinburgh is ok for cost of living.  That being said, rent in Edinburgh is going up all the time as there is such a huge demand for properties.  Things like groceries don't cost as much as somewhere like Australia, but this is reflected in the low wages compared to Australia.  They say the average wage in the UK is in the region of £20, 000 a year, but don't believe that for an instant.  I don't know anyone who has a salary higher then £12,000- £15, 000 a year.  I definitely wouldn't recommend the UK as somewhere to come if you want to make money, but if you want the opportunity for cheap travel to Europe and the experience of living abroad and seeing the world then I highly recommend it.

What is the public transport like?
In Edinburgh, it is excellent.  Lothian Buses is the main provider of services in the city and I cannot fault them.  I pay £50 a month via direct debit for unlimited travel on any bus route, the tram to the airport and the Airlink bus which also goes to the airport.  Single tickets currently cost £1.60 and day tickets cost £4.00.  The Lothian Buses website has a great journey map which shows you how to get from A to B and at what times.  I travel a lot around Edinburgh for my job and use their website regularly to plan my trips.
http://lothianbuses.com/

Is Edinburgh a safe city?
Generally speaking yes. There isn't any more crime here then what you would get in any other major city.  Common sense is key here and you'll know whether its a good idea to walk home by yourself in the dark at 2am across a deserted park- you wouldn't do it at home so don't do it here. Lothian Buses run several Night Bus routes and there are plenty of taxi's to get you home safe. 

When is the best time to move to Edinburgh?
Well coming from someone who moved to Edinburgh in December on the very year that they had their coldest and heaviest snow nearly in living record, I would say no to moving here in the winter.  Coming from sunny Queensland it was a bit of a shock to the system.  That being said, summer can be a pain to find somewhere to live in Edinburgh as a lot of flats are let out for the Festivals that take place across the summer months.  A flat that would normally cost £700 a month can go for more in 1 week during the festival- but this won't matter to you if you come a few months before and sign a 6 month lease, or if you come afterwards when people go back to normal.  So I think April/May or September/October are the best months to get acquainted with Edinburgh.


Let's talk! Got a question about moving to Edinburgh that I haven't covered? Leave a comment :)

There's just something about the theatre that gives me butterflies, and while I'd never have the guts to tread the boards myself, I love being an audience member.  There's something extremely exciting about walking into a theatre, seeing the stage set and finding out how the characters unfold.

Last night, I was lucky enough to score myself tickets to see Thon Man Moliere at The Royal Lyceum Theatre on Grindlay Street in Edinburgh.  The Lyceum is a beautiful intimate theatre and has some amazing gold gilded work on the ceiling.  I've been there a few times before for various events, but never for a big comedy production like Thon Man Moliere.  I was particularly impressed to read in my theatre programme that all of the scenery, costumes and props for the production were made in The Lyceum Workshops at Roseburn in Edinburgh.  (Side note: I would LOVE to visit this workshop.....it would be like Narnia!).

So, I had better tell you about the story.  Thon Man Moliere is about Jean-Baptiste Poquelin de Moliere (or Poqui) as he is often referred to in the play)- he's a genius (mostly in his own mind) comic playwright for a theatre troupe that he runs with his former (and brief) lover Madeleine Bejart.  Going by the names, you can probably guess that the play is set in France (in 1642), but what really gives it an edge is that the play is performed with thick Scottish accents and a lot of Scottish slang.  You may think that France in 1642 and Scottish slang seems like an odd combination, and I thought this to begin with but once the actors get going it proves to be comedy gold.
Poqui is adamant that he has written his next masterpiece with a play about a dodgy priest, but his theatre troupe aren't so sure and don't want to incur the wrath of the King.

One of the things I liked most about this performance was the 'play within a play' theme.  The actors perform and rehearse parts of Poqui's masterpiece and in a way it reminded me of the theatre troupe in A Midsummer Nights Dream which is a favourite of mine.  

The play progresses when Poqui falls in love but you WILL NEVER GUESS WITH WHO! I for one, didn't see it coming and then just before interval a total bombshell in the story is dropped and there was a collective intake of breath from the audience with the revelation.  I think it's a sign of how well the piece was written (and performed) that there was such an audible response from the crowd.  I couldn't wait for interval to end to find out what was going to happen next!

My favourite character was Therese du Parc, played by Nicola Roy who I think is a wonderful actress.  She played her character brilliantly and for me was a real stand out whenever she was in a scene.  I also thought the character Michel Baron (played by James Anthony Pearson) delivered one of the most hilarious lines I have ever heard in a comedy and I was in stitches (and it still makes me giggle now when I think about it).  The writer Liz Lochhead clearly has a real talent for writing fantastic comedic lines for the actors.

I won't reveal any more about the way the story goes because I don't want to ruin it for you if you go to see it, but I had a great time and would definitely recommend the play to any one in need of a laugh.  One thing I will say is that there is a lot of Scottish slang in it and as a non-native to Scotland it took me a while to tweak on to what they said occasionally, but it didn't impact on my enjoyment of the story and the characters.  I left the theatre smiling, and what more could you want at the theatre?


Thon Man Moliere is on at the Royal Lyceum Theatre until the 11th of June.  You can buy tickets here.

They both have a world renowned Festival
Any body who is any body or wants to be somebody in the comedy world has these two events firmly cemented in their calendars.  The Melbourne International Comedy Festival is the third largest of its kind in the world and runs for 4 weeks from March, and the Edinburgh Fringe runs during August.  Both events jam-pack hundreds of shows into their schedules, and my favourite comedian (and Edinburgh local) Danny Bhoy is a regular at both.
www.edfringe.com
www.comedyfestival.com.au

​

They both have a thing about coffee
It is a common known fact that Melburians (I think that is the collective name for a group of people from Melbourne), worship at the altar of the coffee gods.  The whole city is practically a shrine to coffee and well if you can't get a decent coffee in Melbourne then there is no point searching anywhere else in the world.  While Edinburgh isn't quite at altar worshiping status, the past few years have seen a real surge in independent coffee shops and they now even have a coffee festival for true connoisseurs.  If I had to pick favourites in both cities, I would go for Market Lane Coffee in Melbourne and Filament Coffee in Edinburgh.
www.marketlane.com.au
www.filamentcoffee.com

They both have an Espy
What's an Espy, I hear you ask? Only a great Aussie pub at St Kilda in Melbourne!  Officially called 'The Esplanade Hotel', the locals have shortened it (lovingly) to The Espy and its a must visit venue for anyone wanting a cold beer by the beach on a hot summer's day.  Edinburgh's version can be found at Portobello beach and have in the past been known to host Australia day events (or at least attempt to but the weather just isn't the same).
www.espy.com.au
www.the-espy.com

They both love art
When I say art here, I'm not talking about the fancy stuff you get in the galleries- I'm talking real street art.  Melbourne's many lane ways are famous for some pretty impressive graffiti art, celebrating Australian culture, icons and raising political or social issues.  What may have once been seen as an ugly addition to the streets has now breathed fresh life into unused spaces.  Edinburgh may not be quite on the scale of Melbourne's street art scene, but they do have plenty of lane ways and some graffiti art is starting to pop up across the city- Leith in particular has been a real mover in the street art scene.

They both experience four seasons in a day
Who doesn't love a bit of variety? but one draw back from both cities is the extremely changeable weather patterns.  In Australia, Melbourne is known for having some pretty random weather, and after living in Edinburgh for 5 years I can safely say that its pretty similar over here.  Moral of the story for both cities is always pack a raincoat and sunglasses.

Let's compare cities! Have you noticed any similarities between Edinburgh and Melbourne?

I've been seriously hibernating in Edinburgh in the past few months- winter this year has felt more like something from Game of Thrones then wintry bliss.  BUT the sun has now started to shine again (I thought it had totally forgotten where Edinburgh was on the map) and things are starting to look up.  I thought I'd share some snaps with you of my first few weeks out of my winter hibernation and hopefully they encourage you to shake off your winter blues and get out and start enjoying our beautiful city again.

I love discovering new places to eat in Edinburgh and this month I have found a real gem.  The food at Kim's Mini Meals was so good, that I debated whether to tell you all about it for fear of never being able to get a table there again!  In the end I decided I had to tell you about this place as it is just simply too good not to share.

Kim's Mini Meals is a Korean restaurant on Buccleuch Street and if you didn't know it was there you may walk straight past it.  The restaurant has a really homely appearance to it and it makes you feel like you are having dinner at a friend's house.  They are only open from 12:00- 3:00pm for lunch and 5:30pm to 9:00pm (last orders 8:30pm) for dinner and be warned that this place is so popular that there are sometimes queues at the door.  We arrived at 6pm and had to put our names on a waiting list, but thankfully 56 North is just up the road and we could sit and enjoy a gin cocktail while we waited for a call.

About 45 minutes later we got a call to say a table was free, and we headed back to the restaurant.  The minute we walked in the smell of the food was AMAZING!!!  My dining buddies and I had already pretty much decided what we were going to eat by now (thanks to online menu stalking that we'd been doing all day).  After we'd ordered we were given some chicken and sweetcorn soup as an appetizer as well as some tasting plates that included kimchi in a chilli sauce.  Our food came quickly afterwards.  We went for Dolsot Galbi (pork ribs), Pork Bulogi and Chicken Bulogi- all of them were served with rice.

Now, I know I've used words on my blog before about amazing food, but this food was something else. It was INSANELY good, and I think this is now my favourite place in the whole of Edinburgh.  I can't even put into words how good the food was as any words I think of just don't do it justice.

Apart from the amazing food, I think what really sets this place apart is the homely atmosphere, the sweet staff (one who showed us how they eat the dishes in Korea), and the value for money.  Dinner only cost us £10 each and we were so full that we decided to walk all the way home afterwards.  It's almost unbelievable that somewhere this good only costs £10 for a fantastic night out.  Do yourself a favour and head to Kim's Mini Meals- I know I've already made plans to go back again next week!

Stalk the menu for yourself on the Kim's Mini Meals website

Read more FOOD posts here

Read more REVIEWS here

Earlier this year I wrote a post about expat.com, and since then the team have been kind enough to feature my blog on their website and interview me about my experience of moving to the UK.  You can take a look at the interview by following the link below:

​A new year usually brings New Year’s resolutions, but I have to say I’m not really a fan of them.  New Year always seems like such an overrated holiday which sees people blindly make resolutions that they quit two weeks later.  So this year, I decided not to make big grand resolutions but a ‘to do’ list.  Here’s 10 things I want to do in Edinburgh this year!

Go to Mary’s Milk Bar
I’ve heard so many good things about this place and I’ve heard that even celebrities who visit the city know that this is a ‘must visit’ when in Edinburgh.  I’ve been here 5 years and haven’t managed to make it there but this year it is happening- chocolatey sundae goodness, I’m coming for you!


Dine at The Printing Press
I love anything writing and bookish related and so this relatively new restaurant on George Street is on my hit list this year. I’m told the décor is all vintage typewriters and Scottish novels so sounds like heaven to me.  I’ve been drooling over their menu online and have basically already decided what I want to try…I just need someone to take me on a dinner date.
​

​Go to the National Museum of Scotland’s Library
I made myself giddy with excitement when I found out late last year that the National Museum of Scotland has its own library- how could such a monumental discovery have been kept a secret for so long!!??? If you haven’t worked out by now that I am a complete book nerd (and proud Librarian) then you really need to brush up on your Miss Marple skills.  I can’t wait to get a look at these books and probably annoy the Librarians with endless questions about their collection.


Go up the Scots Monument
I pass this monument pretty much every day in Edinburgh and yet I’ve never ventured to the top.  I’m told it offers great views of the city and as it’s only a couple of quid to go up, it’s something I really need to get around to doing.  It’s also the largest monument to a writer anywhere in the world and you know…books and all that.
​

 ​Visit the Poetry library
Recently re-opening after a major redevelopment project, I’m keen to have a nose around the poetry library.  While I admit poetry is not something I’m at all good at, I’d love to see what gems they have in their collection.


Visit all of the Independent Book shops in Edinburgh
I picked up a handy map at the Edinburgh International Book Festival last year that lists some interesting independent book shops in the city.  This year I want to make it to all of the ones in the city to scope out their collections and find some new quirky favourite places to spend my money on books to add to my ‘to be read’ pile.
​

Step foot on Inchcolm Island
Smack bang in the middle of the Firth is Inchcolm Island which in my mind looks like something like an island from a Famous Five novel.  You can get a ferry out to the island and I think it would be a quirky and interesting afternoon on the island (as long as it doesn’t turn out to be anything like Soldier Island in Agatha Christie’s ‘And Then There Were None’).


Do a Photography Tour of Edinburgh
Last year I bought myself a rather expensive amazing camera to use for my blog and travel writing and nearly a year on I still have no idea how to work the thing properly.  I’ve already picked the ‘Iconic Edinburgh Photo Tours’ as the man to help me achieve my photographic skills.  The director of this tour is a former Lonely Planet photographer (hello dream job) so if he’s good enough for Lonely Planet, he’s good enough to teach a novice like me.  
​

Make sweet treats at Edinburgh New Town Cookery School
I’ve always been fascinated by patisserie.  It looks so small and complicated and yet so beautiful.  I’ve always wanted to learn how to make some French patisserie and luckily for me, the Edinburgh New Town Cookery School offers a one day course- I just need to find the time to enrol…especially as their classes fill up months in advance.  


Be a Penguin Keeper for a day
I LOVE penguins.  They are one of my favourite animals and since hearing about Edinburgh Zoo’s ‘Keeper for a Day’ experiences, it is definitely on my list to do.  I don’t mind their fishy smells, it would just be amazing to be up close to them.  Edinburgh Zoo also offer other Keeper experiences, so if you fancy it yourself check them out on their website.


Is there something in Edinburgh that’s been on your ‘to do’ list for a while?

The majority of contact I get through my blog is from readers wanting to know information about moving to the UK or to Edinburgh.  Packing up your life and moving to the other side of the world can be a tough and sometimes daunting proposition, so I thought I'd share with you a website that you may find helpful (I know I did!) when I wanted to make the move here.  Expat.com (formerly expat-blog.com) is a dedicated website for people wanting to ask questions about making the move, and also for people who have already made the move wanting to network and meet fellow expats.
 
The website was formed in 2005, so it's got 10 years worth of goodies on there and includes a forum, business directory, jobs, interviews, guides and events.  I can guarentee you that if you have a burning question that you can't find the answer to about expat life, then this website will probably have the answer....from real expat's currently living in your chosen destination.  And if by chance you don't find the answer then you can ask the question on their forum and get answers from some of their 1.5 million members worldwide. 

The website is broken up into destinations so the hard work of filtering out all of the irrelevant information is already sorted out for you.  The Scotland forum has nearly 6000 members, so you're guarenteed to find someone on there who can answer your question.  Some current topics being discussed in the forum is advice on good school's in the area, salary expectation and expats looking for travel buddies for a road trip to the highlands.
 
So along with all the great insights I offer you in my blog (you might find this post 'Top 10 expat tips for Edinburgh'), Expat.com is a great source of information if you're thinking of taking the plunge and moving overseas.

Take a look for yourself www.expat.com
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You may remember a few weeks ago I posted an article about Mamma's Pizza in the Grassmarket celebrating their 30th birthday with a Star Wars themed party (if you missed it you can read it here).  There's still time to taste their Star Wars themed menu, and after going along for dinner there earlier this week I can safely say the pizza is out of this world.

I'm a big fan of pizza (who isn't), but I rarely go out for pizza because I often find that the pizza's never live up to my rather large expectations.  I'm quite particular you see.  I like a crusty base (not too crusty but not too thick and heaven help me if it's soggy), it can't be too salty, has to have enough sauce on the base (but not too much) and enough toppings that I don't feel like I'm being short changed (anyone else ordered a pizza that says it comes with olives and it comes with the equivalent of one olive??)- oh and it has to have enough cheese but not too much that it over powers the rest of the flavours..... it's safe to say that I'm just a little high maintenance when it comes to my pizza....

So, there I was in Mamma's Pizza in the Grassmarket.  Firstly, the restaurant has a really cool laid back American diner style vibe with cool murals on the wall mixed in with band posters and some great tunes playing over the sound system.  I went along with my boyfriend and my sister (no one ever says no to pizza) and we ordered 3 pizza's between us.  We had a BB King (chicken, bacon, sweetcorn and barbecue sauce), The Cash (spicy beef, jalapenos and roquitto peppers, onions and salsa) and The Veggie (mushrooms, onions, peppers, garlic tomatoes and black olives).  We ordered the medium sized pizzas and they were HUGE!! 

One of the great things about Mamma's is that all of their food is handmade which is definitely reflected in the quality and the look which has a great rustic feel to it.  My favourite pizza was the BB King mostly because barbecue sauce, sweetcorn, bacon and chicken are my all time favourite toppings on a pizza.  I'd like to be able to tell you that we ate the pizza's like civilized adults enjoying a meal in a nice restaurant, but they were so good that we made total pigs of ourselves.  The pizza's were the best I've tried in any restaurant in Edinburgh (and for the record there was no sign of soggy bases).

My dining companions and I have already decided that we are definitely going back again to try the rest of the menu.  It's the perfect place to go on a relaxed date, but also a place to get your friends together as there is plenty on the menu aside from pizza to tempt even the fussiest of eaters.  In just one night Mamma's Pizza became one of the my favourite places to eat in Edinburgh.

Try it, I know you'll love it!


Mamma's Pizza & Panzerotti
30 The Grassmarket
Edinburgh, EH1 2JU
www.mammas.co.uk

I think that right now, half the world is eagerly counting down the days, hours and minutes until the 18th of December.  If you don’t know the importance of that day (shame on you), then you clearly have been living under a rock, or perhaps another planet.  The 18th of December is the day that the new Star Wars film (called ‘The Force Awakens’) is released in cinemas.  But, if the 18th just seems too far away for you to possibly bare the anticipation any longer, then I may well just have a remedy to what ails you.   How would you like to try some Star Wars themed pizzas and meet Gold Leader? (Also known as actor Angus MacInnes….yes THE REAL GOLD LEADER FROM THE FILMS).

Mamma’s Pizza in Edinburgh’s beautiful Grassmarket is celebrating its 30th birthday with a FREE Star Wars themed party on the 8th of December.  You may well be scratching your head and thinking- why would a Pizzeria host a Star Wars themed party? Well it turns out that Gold Leader also once moonlighted as the owner of Mamma’s Pizza….. how awesome is that?

As well as getting to meet Gold Leader, you’ll also get to taste some Star Wars themed Pizzas (‘Ham Solo’ anyone?! No? how about a ‘Cheese-3-PO’?), take part in some blind pizza tasting competitions and view some cooking demonstrations…..oh and it is totally socially acceptable to come dressed as your favourite Star Wars character (I knew my Princess Leia costume was a good investment!).  Tickets are available for FREE through eventbrite.

If you can’t make it on the night, fear not! The Star Wars themed menu will be running from the 8th of December until the 31st of January.  I’m putting ‘Darth Veggie’ at the top of my list to try because there’s just something a tiny bit irresistible about Darth Vader.  See you there!

Mamma's American Pizza
28-30 Grassmarket
Old Town
Edinburgh, EH1 2JU
​www.mammas.co.uk

One of my favourite things in the world is Afternoon Tea- what’s not to love about cakes, tea and dainty sandwiches?  It is an often underrated British tradition that I would love to see making a full revival (yes let’s all please pause work at half 3 and indulge in some cake and gossip!).  I recently read an article in Stylist magazine that said we have one woman from the 1800s with an attack of the munchies to thank for this tradition.  The Afternoon Tea tradition was sometimes as much about the gossip as it was the cakes, which makes it the perfect excuse to get the girls together.  I recently met up with fellow expat travel bloggers Camila (Adventitious Violet) and Jordan (Beer Time with Wagner) to try out the Afternoon Tea at Mimi’s Bakehouse.

With two locations in Edinburgh, Mimi’s Bakehouse is cake heaven for those with a sweet tooth.  We headed along to their Leith location on a Saturday afternoon and I was surprised at how busy it was- this is definitely a place to book in advance if you don’t want to be disappointed.  Our Afternoon Tea came out quite quickly after we ordered it, but I expect the staff are total Afternoon Tea ninjas by now.  The first tier of our stand was filled with dainty scones which had jam and clotted cream to go with it, the second layer was even more tempting with a variety of cakes including a red velvet biscuit with filling (oh my god they were good!), a caramel tray bake, a huge meringue topped with fluffy cream and a raspberry and a delicious carrot cake cup cake. The bottom tier was filled with bite sized sandwiches- ham and mustard, egg mayonnaise, and Thai chicken.

It didn’t sound like a lot when I read it on the menu but it was definitely a feast when we made our way through it all.  By the end we were all teetering between a sugar induced happy coma and feeling like pigs.  The staff at Mimi’s certainly know how to do a decent Afternoon Tea, and at £15 per person (including your choice of teas)- I would definitely recommend this as one of the best places for Afternoon Tea in Edinburgh.

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Mimi’s Bakehouse
63 Shore, Edinburgh, EH6 6RA
PH: 0131 555 5908
www.mimisbakehouse.com

It's not every day that I get asked if I want to be locked in a small room with strangers for an hour, but that's exactly what happened on Tuesday night when I went along to trial Dr Knox's Enigma.  Relatively new on the scene in Edinburgh, Dr Knox's Enigma is a live escape game where you'll need your wits about you to complete a series of tasks and puzzles to escape the room.  What sets it apart from the other escape games that seem to be popping up everywhere is that Dr Knox's Enigma draws on a tale from old day Edinburgh. 
 
For those who need a little brushing up on their Scottish history, Dr Knox is famous for being the doctor who bought dead bodies for anatomical studies from the shady duo Burke and Hare.  I've spent enough years in Edinburgh to know that the story of Burke and Hare is one of the most famous in Edinburgh- they were Irish immigrants who happened upon the idea that they could earn a bit of money on the side if they murdered the guests at their lodging house and sold their bodies to Dr Robert Knox for use in his anatomy lectures.  Although Burke and Hare were caught, the question still remains as to how much Dr Robert Knox knew about where all of his fresh cadavers were coming from.  Which brings me back to Dr Knox's Enigma.  
The game sees you enter Dr Knox's study, where you'll need to use all of your 'little grey cells' (uummm that's a Poirot reference for all of you fellow mystery novel lovers) to find the solution to a set of puzzles that all relate to Dr Knox and his study.  Once you've craked that code, you'll be able to enter the second room which is Dr Knox's lab....ooohhh scary!!!  
 
I don't want to give away too much of the game as it will spoil the fun for you, but I have to say that I had a total blast at Dr Knox's Enigma.  As a tourist in this country, I've been to quite a few tourist attractions in the UK and this is now one of my absolute favourites.  I loved the historical story that connected the game to Edinburgh, and the set, clues and staging of the game was fantastic.  I took my sister along with me as she'd been to another escape game in Edinburgh and I thought I could use her expertise and she said Dr Knox's Enigma was miles better then the other escape game in town (I won't menion any names).  Dr Knox's Enigma is the perfect location to get a group of friends together for a fun night out and it's definitely something that I would do again (especially to try and beat my time as we only escaped with 20 seconds to spare!).

Dr Knox's Enigma                                                       Cost: £75 per room for up to 6 people
3 Warriston's Close,                                                             £37.50 for couples
Edinburgh, EH1 1PG                                                             £10 for students
​www.dr-knox.com

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Alexander McCall Smith's '44 Scotland Street' novels were ones that I read enthusiastically in the months leading up to my move to Edinburgh.  Set in Edinburgh and featuring well known Edinburgh landmarks and streets, the 44 Scotland Street novels are a fascinating dramatised love letter to Edinburgh.  Alexander McCall Smith has written ten novels in this series and it is obvious from the content that he loves Edinburgh and all of the weird and wonderful people that inhabit it.
 
I recently listened to the 10th book in the series 'The Revolving Door of Life' on my audible subscription, and I have to say that listening to it on audible adds a whole new level of enjoyment.  The story is narrated by David Rintoul and he does a fantastic job at capturing the characters and the scenes.  As a writer, Alexander McCall Smith has a knack for delving into human feelings and placing his characters in entertaining situations without it seeming in any way far fetched.  One of the things I love about this series of novels is that you totally believe that you could bump into these people on your normal way around Edinburgh.
 
In The Revolving Door of Life, Matthew and Elspeth move into a brand new home with their triplets only to discover a secret room and some very valuable paintings, Pat thinks her Father's new girlfriend is a gold digger and enlists the help of Bruce (the man you want to hate but just can't) to prove she's right, Big Lou's gets a make over and Bertie finally gets his chance to live out some of his wildest dreams.  There's also mentions of Art societies, the Duke of Johannesberg and the Scottish Nudist Society, all wrapped into a highly entertaining read.
 
My favourite character is Bertie, and I have a sneaking suspicion he might be Alexander McCall Smith's as well.  He writes the character so well and some of the lines that Bertie comes out with had me smiling like a lunatic on the bus.  Bertie was the highlight of my day when I was listening to the book and I couldn't wait for his parts of the novel.
I also like the character of Bruce, as egotistical, rude and outrageous as he is, you just can't help but like him just a little bit.
 
Alexander McCall Smith has a knack for capturing the real essence of Edinburgh, and all of his 44 Scotland Street novels finish with what I would call 'an ode to Edinburgh'- if you love this city (whether you live here or abroad), then you have to appreciate these books and I urge you to pick up this 10th installment (or start from the very beginning!).

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Sushi is one of my all time favourite foods, but I have to admit to being a bit picky with my sushi restaurants.  When I find a good one, I tend to cling on and object to trying anywhere new for fear of being disappointed.
I'd heard on the grapevine that Harajuku Kitchen at Tollcross was good, but it wasn't until I happened to find myself walking straight past its door on a cold Sunday afternoon, starving hungry, that I finally gave it a go- and I'm so glad I did.

Harajuku Kitchen has a laid back cafe feel to it, and some fascinating murals on display showing images of Tokyo and Japanese scenes.

I always take ages to decide what to have at a sushi restaurant, but it's fairly safe to say that if they do a dragon roll, I will be ordering one.  My boyfriend and I settled on dumplings, a dragon roll, chicken skewers and a California roll.  It didn't sound like much when we ordered it, but it was a feast when it arrived!

I loved that the dragon roll even had a face made into it to make it look like a dragon, and even better was that it tasted great and was HUGE. My second favourite dish was the dumplings which were cooked perfectly and weren't too soggy (one of my pet hates at a sushi restaurant is an overly soggy dumpling!!!)  My boyfriend was particularly impressed with the size of the chicken skewers as there would have been at least two whole chicken breasts on that plate (or plenty of 'protein' if you speak his language).

We managed to make our way through all of that food, and I can definitely see why Harajuku Kitchen has so many admirers.  The food was good and I loved the laid back cafe feel to the place.  All of that food and our drinks came to around £35- so not bad for a meal for two.  I'll definitely be back to try the rest of their menu.


Harajuku Kitchen
10 Gillespie Place,
Edinburgh, EH10 4HS
​www.harajukukitchen.co.uk

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This week I  reached a pretty big milestone in my Expat life in Edinburgh- I passed my 'Life in the UK' test which means that I am eligible to become a Permanent Resident in the UK. For as long as I can remember, I've wanted to be British, so to know that I am just a few bits of paperwork (and a large amount of fees) away from being able to permanently stay in my adopted country is an amazing feeling.

A lot of people stumble across my blog looking for inspiration and tips on making the move over here themselves, so in honour of my huge milestone I thought I would share some of the tips that I have learned from my move to Edinburgh.....

1. Pick your moment
Before you book your one way ticket you should take a look at what's happening in Edinburgh (or any other UK city you are moving to) around the time when you want to arrive.  Every year Edinburgh hosts a variety of massive festivals (aka The Fringe and Hogmanay) that are great to experience, but are awful times to try and find a flat to rent.  A lot of flats will be let on a short term agreement for the festival and this rate is often WAY more then what it would go for any other time of year.  I would recommend arriving in Edinburgh a few months before these events as they are actually great times to find some work and that'll give you time to secure a place to rent before festival prices kick in.

2. Sort out your bank account BEFORE you travel
You may be tempted to just sort things out when you arrive here, but I would recommend that you do it before you leave home.  If you need help organising your VISA for the UK (if you need one) then I recommend using 1st Contact, who not only helped me make sense of all of the paperwork, but they also help me set up a bank account for the UK and make a international money transfer to the account.  I cannot stress how important it is to have your bank account sorted before you arrive.  You'll also need some character references or a reference from a previous landlord to be able to sign up to a rental agreement here so arranging this in advance will save you time when you arrive.

3. Only sign a lease with a Letting Agent
It may seem like a no-brainer for some but believe me when I say some people come over here and sign a lease with a private landlord without knowing the rules and regulations for renting in the UK and then end up in a lot of trouble.  I highly recommend that when you move here that you only sign a lease through a letting agent- they liaise with the landlord on your behalf and most property companies have their own maintenance people who can come and fix problems for you at short notice.  Letting Agents also collect your bond/ deposit money that you pay when you first agree to a rent and it is then kept with a 3rd party to avoid any horror stories of landlords not returning bond money when you move out.  If you're looking to rent in Edinburgh, I recommend Factotum and s1rental as a great place to start.

4. Get to know the area
From experience, I can tell you that reading about an area in your Lonely Planet guide is vastly different to actually having to live in that area.  Before you make a decision on signing a lease, I would recommend you spend a bit of time in the area you want to rent.  Check things like the bus links to the city centre, supermarkets and shops nearby and how safe the area is.  Edinburgh is generally a pretty safe city, but its worth checking how safe it is at night, especially if you want to be walking home after a night out.

5. Invest in a Lothian Bus pass
I don't know where I would be without my bus pass.  Lothian Buses operates some of the best city bus routes I've come across in any country.  They have a bus route to just about anywhere you would want to go.  Bus passes are around £50 a month (depending on whether you are a student or sign up to a direct debit), but the pass gets you unlimited travel on any Lothian bus route, the Night Bus, the Airlink (the airport bus) and also the relatively new Tram route.

6. Get a National Insurance card
You can't work in the UK without one. The National Insurance card is your tax number and most employers will ask for this during the application process.  You can apply for one by filling out a form at Job Centre, and you usually get your card in the post pretty quickly.

7. Be realistic in your job hunt
FACT: For Aussies making the move to the UK, the salaries in the UK are probably going to be a lot lower then what you can get in Australia- but you're here for the experience right?  When I moved to Edinburgh I applied for a variety of different jobs and wasn't too fussy with what I got to begin with.  The first two jobs I had over here, I got through the website www.gumtree.com, so I definitely recommend you take a look there for your job search.  If you are wanting something a little more professional then s1jobs is a great place to start.  If you want bar work then most bars/ restaurants advertise vacancies in their windows and you can just drop your CV in.  Edinburgh has a lot of recruitment agencies as well so it might be worth dropping your CV in there as well.

8. Watch your pennies
Moving to the UK can be a big expense as you set yourself up and find a new job, so you're going to want to watch your pennies.  Let me introduce you to my two favourite stores when I first moved here- Poundland and Pound Stretcher.  As their names suggest, they are stores where everything is £1 or a little over £1.  Here, you can buy pretty much everything- toiletries, household cleaning products, pots, pans, kitchen items, duvets, pillows, food, sweets, stationary.... the list could go on.  When I needed to set up my flat with household appliances and toiletries etc this is where I found it all and all for a fraction of what it would cost if you went to other stores or supermarkets.

9. Make friends with your work buddies
Edinburgh people tend to stick to their friend groups- and you're either a work colleague or a friend they've had since school.  It's in your best interest to make friends with your work buddies and go along to after work drinks to meet new people and start a bit of a social life for yourself.  This might seem a bit obvious, but even if you aren't keen on your work colleagues you'll still be in a social environment where you can meet others.  Also, I cannot recommend highly enough that you take up a hobby.  The University of Edinburgh offers short courses in a range of subjects (hello learning and friend making!), or you could join a gym (which is actually where I met all of my Edinburgh friends).

10. It's okay to panic!
Undoubtedly there is going to be a moment (probably several) when you panic and question why the hell you gave everything up to move somewhere new.  I'm not going to lie, sometimes it's going to be tough.  Especially when your friends back home get together to share a birthday or milestone and all you get to do is look at the pictures on Facebook.  You're probably going to want your Mum a lot more then what you ever did when you were at home, and it's totally okay to burst into tears.....but I'm telling you now that it is all worth it.  Every hard moment is often counteracted with many more moments of happiness.  

​Moving overseas was the best decision I have ever made, I've travelled to some amazing places, met some amazing people, worked in jobs I never thought I would find myself in, grown as a person, met the love of my life, but most importantly discovered the kind of person I am.  Yes, I've had tears and many moments of doubt, but I wouldn't change any of them for an moment.  It's okay to have your panic moments, but just remember why you wanted to move in the first place and be thankful for every new thing you see and experience- there's plenty of time to be safe and boring when you are old!

October is always a bit of a blah month for me.  It's no longer summer, the days are getting colder, its getting darker earlier and for some reason stores are in the Christmas spirit already (yes I'm pointing the finger at you John Lewis with your FULL Christmas tree selection out already!!??).  Edinburgh seems to have caught this vibe as well and this year is making a conscious effort to make October pretty jam packed with great things to see and do.  If you need a bit of excitement in your October, then here's 10 suggestions of great things to do in the coming weeks.

2.  See Benedict Cumberbatch as HAMLET
Okay, calm yourself ladies, you can't see him in person so to speak as his performances are in London and all sold out, BUT Vue cinema is screening a LIVE performance for us poor souls who missed out on tickets to the real event.  Screening on the 15th of October at 7pm, tickets are available online now through their website.

3. See 'And Then There Were None' at The King's Theatre
Agatha Christie enthusiast that I am, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to see an Agatha Christie play live.  The plot goes along the lines of 10 strangers end up on an island together off the coast of Devon but discover that their host is missing and then they are stuck there due to a torrential storm and well **spoiler alert** someone is definitely going to get killed.  Running for one week only from the 26th to the 31st of October, you won't want to miss it! You can buy tickets online here.

4. Cocktails in the City
Back for another year and being held once again at the stunning Mansfield Traquair, Cocktails in the City is the perfect excuse to get the girls together for a great night out.  Some of Edinburgh's best bars and distilleries will all be in the one venue whipping up some of the best cocktails to ever tantalize your taste buds.  I went to last year's event, and can't wait to get my hands on some tickets for this year.

5. Samhuinn Fire Festival
Street Theatre at its absolute best, the Samhuinn Fire Festival is organised by the Beltane Fire Society and tells the story of Summer's transition into Winter.  You can find some great background information about the event on their website - but there will be Summer and Winter Kings, a Goddess and some great music and theatre performance.  The event takes place on the evening of the 31st of October and is held in the Grassmarket.

6. Halloween Feast at Ghillie Dhu
One of the many reasons that I love Ghillie Dhu is because they are holding a Hogwarts themed Halloween Feast this year.... enter squeals of sheer excitement here.... Tickets are £35 per person and include a three course dinner and then the scariest ceilidh you've ever seen (mostly because my ceilidh skills are so awful my dancing will be a true terror to watch).  Pre-booking is a MUST and you might want to get in quick by visiting their website here.

7. Outlander Experience with Mercat Tours
If like me you are having some serious Outlander withdrawal symptoms as we eagerly await the next season, then The Outlander Experience from Mercat Tours should help in some way.  If you haven't heard of the books or TV series Outlander then you have been living under a rock and I pity you (joke- just google it).  Mercat Tours will take you back in time to experience some of the landmarks mentioned in the books by Diana Gabaldon- but you better hurry as the tours only run from April until the end of October.  Full details on the website here.

8. Get a little saucy at Odyssey Boutique
If your October needs a little spicing up then I recommend heading along to Odyssey Boutique in the West End on Thursday the 8th of October from 12noon.  The Lucile Trunk Show, which showcases some beautiful lingerie by designer Camilla Bolis will be on display and you have the chance to meet the designer in person.  See the Odyssey Boutique Facebook page for more details.

9. Explore the Botanic Gardens at night
What could be more romantic then an evening stroll through the beautiful Botanic Gardens when it is all lit up like a Christmas tree? Swoon!  Back again due to popular demand, the event will take place every night from the 29th of October until the 22nd of November.  Buy your tickets online, pack some hot chocolate and a picnic blanket and maybe drop a hint to that special someone in your life. 

10. Immerse yourself in Victorian photography
Time is running out for you to experience 'Photography: A Victorian Sensation' at the National Museum of Scotland.  There are over 100 Victorian images on display and even the chance for you to pose in your own Victorian themed photograph....uummm awesome!  Entry is £10 and the display is on until the 22nd of November. 

I have been counting down the weeks and days until Edinburgh has its first ever coffee festival.  This Saturday, the beautiful Mansfield Traquair will be turned into what can only be described as a coffee addicts paradise. Coffee demonstrations, tastings, masterclasses and experiments are just some of the things on offer from around 30 exhibitors.  I've done a little bit of research and below is everything you need to know about the festival:

So last week I let you know about the new Mexican street food restaurant that was open in the Grassmarket- this week I thought you'd want to know what the food was like.

For those of you who missed my last post about their launch night, you can read it here.  I went on Sunday afternoon for lunch with my boyfriend.  El Toro Loco has a really inviting exterior, and its interior is authentically designed to look Mexican.  It has animal skulls on the walls, a beautiful mural and a floor made of Mexican coins.  The menu has a great 'no faff' approach- burrito, taco, quesadilla or 'naked burrito' with 3 choices of meat or a vegetarian option plus your choice of beans and extras.  After much deliberation, we went for a chicken burrito, a pork burrito and a pork quesadilla- ambitious I know, but we love Mexican food and had just been to the gym to work up an appetite.

My pork burrito had white rice, a pork/ bean mixture, pulled pork, cheese, sour cream, lettuce and guacamole on it- and it was huge! My boyfriend had the same but with chicken and we shared the pork quesadilla with cheese.  The outcome was the best burrito I've had in Scotland (I love Mexican food so this is quite a statement).  The restaurant has an impressive selection of super hot and spicy sauces to go on your feast.  We thought it would be rude not to try some so went for the Kick Ass hot sauce, something called Whoop Ass Chipotle Fire and another one called Bacon Hot Sauce (my favourite).  Great names and REALLY hot, so if you know anyone who loves a hot sauce then send them to El Toro Loco.

After we'd devoured our mains, hardly uttering a word to each other apart from things like 'Christ that sauce is hot', we moved on to a sweet treat.  Now, sweets and desserts is not something I usually get at a Mexican restaurant mostly because I have stuffed myself silly with a main, but I thought you would want to know what the whole menu was like, so I took one for the team and tried dessert..... just for you guys.  We had a chili chocolate mousse and a crème brulee with chili flakes on top.  It seems everything in this restaurant has chili in it.  I've always wondered what chili and chocolate is like as a combination, and this chocolate mousse was pretty damn good.  I had a chat to the owner, and he said they tried it without the chili but felt like after having a spicy main, the plain chocolate mousse would feel a bit bland- an idea I totally agree with.  As for the crème brulee with chili flakes on top, well it was actual heaven and you HAVE to try it.

I loved El Toro Loco for its laid back vibe and great simple Mexican food.  The owner has some great plans for the little place and I'm excited to see where it's heading.  Apparently during the festival, queues to get into this place were out the door so you know it must be good.  I thought it was great and will definitely be back again, I've already decided that I'm trying the tacos next time (a man at the table next to me had them and I had serious food envy even though I had just stuffed myself silly with burritos).

El Toro Loco
60 Grassmarket
EH1 2JU




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