Aber food scene

There's quite a few pubs/restaurants/cafés in this little town and after 3 years of living here I've been to most of them (ok half at least?). So here are my fave places:

1. La Taberna – ever since I've been to Spain and understood what tapas are, I've been craving to have them every single day :D I don't really know why I've never been to the restaurant before (probs coz it is open only during evenings and said to be full all the time). But I was very positively surprised with the food – like real tapas man + they have honeyed aubergines mmmmm... my faves. The only reason I don't eat there every day is because I think they'd think I am a weirdo... AAAnd they make their own delicious sangria!!!! 
2. Agnelli's – a little Italian café with amazing food and not your typical spaghetti bolognese or lasagnes but chicken skewers and paninis etc. fresh Italian mediterranean food. You mustn't forget the authentic homemade desserts. Omg I want a tiramisu now! ;)
3. Medina – another mediterrenean cafe but more of a greek and african influences. Chilli jams and baklavas, not to mention the various dips to start off your meal. Only been there once so far but would definitely go back to sample more of their food :)
4. Irie's – Caribbean restaurant that is one of the poshest places here. Quite expensive but worth it. I wish the menu would be a bit bigger though – I would defo go more often then. The owner always comes for a chat and is lovely and nice + Don't even get me talking about the cocktails! There are SO many to choose from: some traditional and some exotic.
5. Nick's – A lovely little family restaurant with amazing and interesting food. A little fresh twist on traditional dishes and omg the mozarella stuffed tomato is why I go back there :D The only thing that irks me about the place is the looong waiting times – seems like they don't have any employees: it's just them cooking and serving. The service is very nice though :)
6. Y popty - Best jacket potatoes to takeaway. They also do bakes and little desserts. Nice lunch.
7. AberYankee – American Diner. Huge choice of burgers and hot dogs + pancakes!!!! The one thing I miss is having pancakes!!! Chips are served in little buckets and you can have icecream with coke for drink. The design is very American - the colours, the flags, the diner-like booths. I do like it.
8. Le Figaro - Nice fresh fish dishes but apart from that they have a pub menu as well and somethng for everyone's taste. After the first time I went there I was raving about it :D
9. Fusion King – Best takeaway place :D They have quesadillas and wraps and burgers and noodle meals and ice cream fritters. Need I say more? :D quite a quirky place that at first I was cautious about (me no likey different things or new places :D) but it has grown on me :P
10. Gannets Bistro - Another nice little family run restaurant. This time more traditionally british menu and no long waiting times. And you can order and Asti :D
11. Backyard BBQ – my first go at pulled pork :D proper bbq food. Nice big portions as well. A good safe traditional choice for me.
12. White horse - pubgrub but a bit classier than your average local. 
13. Chives - Quiches and sandwiches for lunch :)
14. Caesars - A typical british cafe serving lunch (and only lunch). Good choice and good prices.
15. Sophie's – It used to be one of my favourite places: nice food, good prices, big portions but I find myself wanting to go there less and less... Maybe all this mediterrenean healthy food has ruined my taste buds and I no longer want greasy british food :D + they slightly changed the menu and probs took out my favourite things, so now I don't know what to get from there... The meat in the burger wasn't good once (it wasn't gone off or anything :D but I suspect it came frozen from iceland or something) and having that memory in my head I just can't order them anymore :D
16. Pier Brasserie - Could and should be so much better than it is. Food is simply not impressive: it's good but quite expensive. They have a posh vibe but it doesn't really work in my opinion and that kind of puts me off...
17. Crimson Rhino – only been there once when they had their one year anniversary. It's supposed to be a super healthy gluten–free etc. place and the little food I had to taste was amazing. The main reason I haven't properly been there yet is bc I haven't really understood before what it was... just a smoothie bar or? + it does look a bit shabby... (yes you have miss fuifui here ;D ) And after having my first try of halloumi there, I've decided to properly give them a go and drag Ruby out there for a lunch one day.
18. Wetherspoons - Once my spaghetti carbonara had the shape of a box it'd came out of :D
19. The Starling Cloud - Very hit and miss. At first I loved it but as time went on I started noticing that the food is not great... They do the rotisserie meat very well but everything else is not up to scratch. Last christmas meal was just awful :D And most of our party thought that...
20. Casablanca - On paper this kind of moroccan? arab? food is not my style at all. I've only been once first year with the girls. For the life of me can't remember what I had but that also means it was not awful and instead was very much pleasant and eatable :D
21. Little Italy – I've heard that they have finally gotten they're food hygiene rating up to 5 but the food just isn't as good as it should be. The atmosphere is great and you do feel you're in italy but the food is just bland I guess... nothing horrible just meh... + why in the UK you get pasta carbonara with freaking leeks??? WHY? So I haven't been there for a while now...
22. Baravin - Quite expensive and nothing really interesting on the menu + no music :S AND the last time we went there I could smell the dishes... Not really wanting to go back... Great location though :D
23. MG's - A coffee place that offers paninis and small salads? Nothing really for my taste...
24. Scholars - I've been hearing about their ahmazing sunday roast for a long time and when our cooker pretty much exploded one sunday :D we decided to go there but were so disappointed. Mainly because of the beef that was just too toug to eat :( Everything else was lovely - you could choose your own sides and how much but yeah the beef left a bad taste in our mouths. Otherwise haven't been there. I hear they also have a Little Italy upstairs.

This is it, my list of places to go to eat in Aber. As you'd notice I haven't included any chip shops, because after Dolphin closed, I very rarely eat that anymore. Also left out most sandwich places like Spartacus and Coffee1 and most pubs where they serve the classic pub grub as well... I just don't have anything to say about them :D

Ttyl ;)

Jazzz...

Back in time

Had my first holiday from work and what did I do with it? I obviously used it to go back to Aber and visit Jazz and Scarlet. My trip started with a “lovely” train ride. As the train was rather full I sat on the first free seat and omg, the seat felt weirdly cold and that was due to it being wet...great. Got up and found another one, but seriously, I thought that things like this could only happen in here, where public transport is free and all sorts of people can use it. Tried not to think too much about the contents of the liquid on the seat, otherwise would have been sick there.

Training to Aber was weird, never thought I would go back so soon and I managed to go during the time when some students were arriving for the sports week/freshers. Brought back so many memories watching those students with their huge suitcases, exactly like me and the rest of us years ago :D

Anyway, as I stepped out of the train the only thing I thought was that “I can't believe I returned so soon” :D

So many new places had opened up and some old ones were closed, but overall, still looked the same and what's most important I had such a great time :) Catching up with Jazz, Scarlet and Ruby.

Went out twice but the nigh to remember has to be the one when we decided to start with posh cocktails in a new cocktail place. The drinks were good indeed and thank god this place was not open when I was living there :D After that Ruby had to go to work, we went to eat (not gonna write about the struggle we had to decide on a place). Went to a new place, which had a cocktail bar under it and a tiny restaurant upstairs. Somewhere in between we decided to go to R.'s leaving party as he had his last shift in our beloved shop and was about to leave Aber. After eating we had time though, so we went to another restaurant/cocktail place and spend our remaining time there. Then headed to the pub where the leaving party was supposed to be. After hanging there for a while it was decided that we would go to Yokos. Oh dear, oh dear, I literally didn't think I would ever go back there but as Jazz thought that what the heck, it's probably my last chance to go there and if the music is good we might as well stay for couple of songs. I don't know if it was luck or unluck, but they had good music on which left us no chance but to dance. Jazz wanted to leave after a bit though (what a let down, I know) and even R. couldn't change her mind, so I was left in the club with Scarlet who doesn't dance and R. and friends of him. Who doesn't know yet then I like dancing and since I don't really go out in here I danced to every good song. The shock of the night was a dance battle, where one girl forgot that she is wearing a skirt and the fact that sometimes skirts have the tendency to lift up. We ended up staying there until the club closed, oopsy. Then me and Scarlet found ourselves walking her dog with R and his friend, who was rather interested in Scarlet, we told them to go home at some point (it was raining outside and I had the only umbrella, sorry guys!). That was the end of that colourful night.

Had to leave couple of days later to visit state rooms in Buckingham Palace. The start of my journey was fine until the train stopped in the middle of nowhere and didn't move for ages. Then it was announced that there's something wrong with the signal box so we ain't gonna move any time soon. Asked the conductor for an alternative train times and journey as there was no way I was going to catch the ones I bought tickets for. Started to move at some point, but too late to catch the trains the conductor suggested, so had to ask again and you can imagine my stress as the train I was able to catch now was supposed to leave me half an hour to get from London Euston to Buckingham Palace, if everything would have gone according to the plan I was supposed to have nearly 2 hours. So after stepping out in Euston had to give my suitcase to baggage hold and then run for life, because I had a prepaid ticket for a certain time. As much as I tried to rush I got there a bit later than my time but hoped to be let in with my ticket and I was, phew. The Palace was awesome of course, very nice and majestic. No pictures were allowed inside, so the only ones I have from my visit are form the cafe at the end, where I had 2 cakes (yeah, I'm greedy and love cake) which were sooooo good. After that I had a plan to buy myself one book, which was only available in 2 or 3 bookstores so then I was trying to get to the ones closest to me (of course almost nothing is close in London) before it closes, so that was even more crazy rushing. Got my book, yaay and just chilled after that until it was time to go to the airport.

Enjoyed my time back in the UK and London too much because now I want to move back. Feel so much more home in there :/

Of course, thank you Scarlet for hosting me and cooking for me!

Thank you Jazz for all the time you spent with me in cafes and around shops!

Ems

Blah blah blah

So here I am, still in Aber. No reason to go but not really wanting to stay :D You see my predicament? What I do have is my job. And currently I am applying to become an official member of the management yay right? The huge BUT that doesn't really let me get excited about it is that I'll tie myself down here, in the middle of nowhere for another year or two... Oh god how much I want to get out of here. Talking to Mr. Special, he proposed moving to Chester and while I look for work he can manage his pub, I would absolutely love that because I love Chester... And now this... This is a real shot in advancing my career (lol) and to turning it down would be stupid, right? Is there any point in moving now and basically having to start all over again from the bottom? After a year or two I can add an official management course to my cv and experience and move on to bigger things, right? That's my logic anyway...

For this management course I had to write a letter to the big boss. Umm... what kind of letter? Panicking now... So I just wrote a little letter saying I'm interested, worked here for a couple of years, would like to progress and my managers have given me the green light. Simple, short, straight to the point. After I sent the letter my manager said the big boss is on holiday next week... I could've had more time to think about what to write etc etc. What letter does he want anyway????? I don't know, my manager doesn't know either :D Oh god... now I have to sit here thinking it isn't enough or has freaking grammar mistakes in it bc my manager talked to me so I couldn't check it over and kind of sent it in a rush... yes I can take the pressure lol. 

You know what my manager said then? That there is an assistant manager position going in another shop (the current assistant manager does not know yet) and I was considered for that role. What if my stupid short letter ruined my chances?????? But I'm not technically applying for that job, am I? And I have to wait a whole week to even getting my hopes up to hear anything back...  This week will go really slowly...

You know those people who just look like complete idiots? 99% of the time they are... and we got one of them now. At first I was like looks don't matter, he'll be fine and not a complete waste of time... I was wrong... Unless a miracle happens and he'll find his brain and starts pulling his weight in the next few months, unlikely... One shop in town is full of those people. I mean people who look like they have no idea what common sense is and I've always wondered how to they get the job? Are the shopkeepers really that desperate? I realise being a cashier is not particularly hard but believe it or not but not everyone can do it...  

Ooooh remember Peggy? Well she got fired... and if I understood correctly she didn't even blink an eye, said bye and went... What? I understand it isn't your dream job but getting fired should provoke some emotion, or not? She still comes to the store regularly and is friendly to us... I would be mortified and avoid that whole street in the fear of seeing some of my ex coworkers :D Maybe it's only me...

My favorite part of the job is the moment when this man comes with his adorable adorable little collie pup. Omg he is so cute and cuddly!!!!!! The dog I mean ;) It is almost making rethink having a cat and wanting that dog instead...

Police came in one day and said if we smelt any cannabis on anyone we should call them immediately... Can you imagine that in reality though? Let's say there's a queue and he's the first person. By the time someone calls the police and they come to us that guy is long gone. Or are they going to get photos from CCTV and track him down? All because some cashier said he stinks?

Ttyl ;)
Jazzz...