TMTW: November and December 2025

What happened:
We headed to Rutland to see Olly's dad. Celebrated Olly's birthday back in London. I went to the theatre to see Here & Now. And then we flew to South Korea for a three-week adventure. Blog posts soon, but we explored Seoul, Nami Island, Gyeongju, Pohang, Busan and the DMZ, where we were a mere 170 metres(!) from North Korea.

Olly had to fly home early from Korea for an emergency, which meant we spent a lot of time in Leicester with his dad in December. (I flew home the next day.) We managed to have a little squiz at some of the Christmas lights in London though, and spent Christmas itself in the sunshine in St Lucia. Back to see Olly's dad on our return, then we hosted a belated Christmas at home. I was firmly asleep by 10pm on NYE, glad to see the back of 2025!

What I ate:
A birthday dinner for Olly at The Barbary Next Door. Dinner at Wahaca. Red Barn for a roast. Claro for a delicious dinner. And we had The Essence of India kit by Atul Kochhar, via Dishpatch, at home. In Leicester: Indian at Mem Saab and My Delhi. Went to The Frame for a Middle Eastern dinner. Locale, Tim Hortons (ha) and & Kith for breakfast. Plus had a pub dinner at The Admiral Hornblower in Oakham.

Too many to name in South Korea but shout outs in Seoul for Jungsik (has two Michelin stars and is superb value with the exchange rate - we did the tasting menu with wine pairing), Myeongdong Kyoja, Wildduck & Canteen and One Degree North. In Gyeongju, Daehwa Sanjang for amazing Korean BBQ, and Thankyou Fried Chicken. And in Busan: Bibijae, Vanagel, Kobe Gyukatsu (pictured above), SOL Taphouse-Seomyeon and Jayeondo Sogeumppang (also in Seoul). We were all-inclusive in St Lucia at Sandals, but did have lunch out at Project Chocolat whilst we were making chocolate there. 

What I watched:
Finished season 5 of Slow Horses, started watching season 3 of Foundation and started rewatching season 1 of Scrubs. Films watched: Bugonia (at the cinema), Mickey 17, Jurassic World: Rebirth, Materialists, On the Rocks, Home Alone, Elf, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, Knives Out, Glass Onion, Wake Up Dead Man, The Roses, Jingle all the Way, Die Hard, A Merry Little Ex-Mas, Raiders of the Lost Ark and Con Air.

What I read:
In November I read three books and gave four stars to Two Kinds of Stranger by Steve Cavanagh. In December I read 10 books and gave four stars to I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman, A Council of Dolls by Mona Susan Power and A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson. x