Fabulous February Adventures – Dolphins, David Hockney & Pancakes!

February is the shortest month and it certainly seems to have flown by. I’m not complaining as that means that Spring will soon be on its way! Valentine’s Day is a little too commercialized in many ways but there’s no escaping it – I suppose every month needs a big event although if I had to pick my favourite for February, it would be Pancake Day! Here are just a few of our fabulous February adventures…

CULTURE VULTURE

Tate Britain is one of my favourite London museums and I simply couldn’t miss the David Hockney exhibition. It’s celebrating 60 years of his work and there is much to admire…from his iconic swimming pool paintings to the colourful Yorkshire landscapes and more recent iPad creations. It’s on until 29 May so do visit if you get a chance.

LIFESTYLE FILE

With the wind and rain playing havoc with my skin, it was time to focus on skincare this month ;-). I went to an interesting talk on the subject by Dr Russo at the Four Seasons Park Lane and I’ll be sharing the information with you. I’ll also be writing about my fabulous Skeyndor Timeless Prodigy facial at the luxurious Peak Health Club & Spa at Jumeirah Carlton Tower. Italians know a thing or two about looking good and I’m currently trialling Dolomic skincare so will let you know how I get on with it. Last but not least, I underwent a Mind Cleanse, which I’ll be writing about in detail.

TRAVEL TALES

Tenerife is one of those islands that you have to visit at least once. It’s blessed with the highest peak in Spain and is a great place to see dolphins and whales swimming in the wild. We had a fabulous trip organised by Keys Concierge Lifestyle, including a Michelin starred Japanese fusion meal at Kabuki, and stayed in a beautiful place called The Paramount.

On the blog, I wrote a Valentine’s Day ditty to the city of London, and shared the fascinating story of the Indian Maharaja and Ballynahinch Castle in Ireland. There were lots of other adventures to write about including the top attractions on the Paradise Coast and skiing guides to Val d’Isere and Verbier. The Canary Islands are great for Winter sunshine and Lanzarote and Tenerife have many attractions. Finally, check out our first posts on Mayakoba, the Mexican eco-retreat. Expect more sun-filled moments from Mayakoba very soon.

WINING AND DINING

We packed in lots of catch ups with friends, but to name a few I caught up with newly weds, Jon and Laura at Kona Kai, a tiki bar in Fulham, and later in the month with the lovely Anouk at Blanchette in Brick Lane. Blanchette specialize in French sharing plates and all the dishes were very tasty. For Valentine’s Day, Paul had arranged a delicious lunch at La Dame de Pic at the new Four Seasons Trinity Square.

Our favourite find this month could well be Bala Baya, for its modern take on Tel Aviv cooking in the Old Union Yard Arches in Southwark. Their playlist is pretty cool and the food is even better, especially their braised beef and lamb.

As it’s pancake month, we couldn’t resist a trip to Where the Pancakes Are. Southwark is clearly having a moment as this casual little place is also located there, in the new Flat Iron Square. I chose a quirky Welsh rarebit pancake with vinegar crisps and Paul went for the Eggs Benedict.

COMING SOON IN MARCH

We can’t wait to see Paul’s father in Lugano, Switzerland. He’s a regular reader of the blog and as charming as the town that he lives in! Lugano is famous for its lake and is a great combination of Swiss efficiency and Italian influenced gastronomy, being very close to the border. We’ll be staying at historic Villa Castagnola on the shore of Lake Lugano. Afterwards, we’ll head to Milan for a long overdue return, so any travel tips are very welcome.

Which of these February adventures do you prefer and what was your own favourite moment in February?

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