Restaurant Review - Alexandra Ristorante Italiano - Ramsgate

This is a brilliant family run Italian restaurant right on the seafront. We went on a Thursday night in March and we were the first people in when they opened at 5pm so it was just the 4 of us for a little while before another couple came in. It felt like we were getting special one-on-one service as it was the husband and wife in that evening.

My mum had the spaghetti bolognese and absolutely loved it, she was worried that the portion would be too big but it was the perfect size for her and she said it was delicious.

I had the Orecchiette Piri Piri which was diced piri piri chicken, onions, medley of mushrooms, sweet red pepper, piri piri spices, a cream sauce and saffron. OMG it was delicious, it was so tasty that I wish there had been more of it.

The for dessert, my mum and I shared a plate of John's Panna Cotta which was so creamy and smooth. Loved every bite of it.

They did loads of gluten free and vegetarian options, so there was something for everyone. My sister-in-law gets a very bad reaction to gluten so it was nice that she had plenty of options for what she could eat.

My Review Of The Ozzy Osbourne Exhibit In Birmingham

There was absolutely no universe in which I was going to miss the Ozzy Osbourne exhibit in Birmingham before it closed at the end of September. It had already been extended once, and I was NOT risking fate by assuming it would happen again. This was a mission, and I was determined.

We were outside the museum before 10am, practically vibrating with excitement, and the best part? We weren’t alone. A whole little tribe of fans gathered with us — and yes, several of us were proudly wearing Ozzy t‑shirts. We all gave each other that knowing nod, that “we’re here for HIM” smile. Instant camaraderie.

The second those doors opened, we were off — inside, up the stairs, breezing past Lucifer like he was just part of the furniture, and straight into the heart of the exhibition.

The Ozzy Osbourne: Working Class Hero exhibit at the Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery hits you right in the feelings. Nearly 800,000 people have already visited, and you can tell. The whole space feels like a living, breathing tribute to the Prince of Darkness, especially after his passing. It’s emotional, powerful, and honestly… beautiful. I felt emotional as soon as I saw the poster at the beginning of the exhibit.

The gallery is packed with treasures from his life and career. You get to see his actual Birmingham Walk

of Stars plaque which was temporarily rescued from Broad Street during tram works. Ozzy's Grammy Awards, MTV trophies, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame honors. The walls were covered in his gold and platinum records, they even have the official Ozzy Nike trainers on display and there was huge photos of him throughout his life.

And then you see it. The throne. THE throne.

Ozzy’s iconic black Gothic-style throne sits encased in glass like historic relic that it has become. The bejeweled skulls on the armrests, bat wings, clawed monster talons for feet — it’s everything you’d hope Ozzy’s throne would be. The plaque on the back marks his second Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction, and the whole thing just radiates legend status. I couldn't help but stand there looking at it and picturing him sitting in it for his last gig.

And then there’s the part that really gets you, the little cinema room. A huge screen that shows a video of Ozzy watching footage from his childhood, early Black Sabbath days, and decades of monumental solo performances. The bit that finally got the full water works was when they showed a video of Ozzy singing Mama I'm Coming Home live. I couldn't hold the tears back and I wasn't the only one, there was a few of us shedding a few tears at the loss of such an amazing man.

The end of the exhibit is the civic book of remembrance. Fans from all over the world have filled it with emotional messages, and it will eventually be given to Sharon and the Osbourne family.

The exhibition runs until 27 September 2026, and honestly, if you’re even thinking about going, do it. It’s powerful, it’s emotional, and it’s the perfect tribute to Birmingham’s own Prince of Darkness.

Hotel Review - The Briar Rose - Birmingham

The Briar Rose in Birmingham is such a quirky little find — a full hotel perched right above a bustling Wetherspoons. The whole place has this charming art‑deco vibe, and the staff were genuinely lovely. I asked for extra pillows and the receptionist had them at my door in under ten minutes, which instantly put them in my good books.

Now, the pub downstairs is lively. It closes at 1am and stops serving food at 11pm, and every time we walked past the door it was absolutely heaving. Thankfully, the hotel has its own separate entrance outside, and if that’s locked you can ring through from inside the pub.

We arrived around 9:30pm, checked in, and headed straight down for dinner. It was packed — classic Spoons chaos — and we hovered for about ten minutes before grabbing a table. The food was exactly what you expect: cheap, cheerful, and hits the spot when you’re hungry.

Our room was huge because it was an accessible room, and honestly it felt like a mini apartment. Big comfy double bed, bedside tables, wardrobe, tea and coffee setup, TV, two chairs — loads of space to move around. The view wasn’t glamorous (just the backs of other buildings), but the noise‑reducing glass was incredible. With it closed, we heard nothing from the bars and restaurants outside. Open it for fresh air and you could hear the city again, but even then it wasn’t too loud.

I loved the hot drinks tray because as well as the normal tea and coffee bits, there was also hotel chocolate, cookies and instead of just having normal milk, they had sachets of oak milk.

The bathroom was a massive wet room with a power shower and a chair. It took us a minute to figure out how to get the water hot, but once we cracked the code it was fine. The bed was super comfy too — I slept brilliantly both nights.

The location is unbeatable. You’re right in the town centre, surrounded by shops, restaurants, and other hotels. Everything is walkable. The only downside is there’s no parking, but the Town Hall multi‑storey is your best bet. It’s £23 for 24 hours, and if you need longer, just wait for your session to end on the Ringo app and start a new one straight away.

Overall, a great stay in a fun, central spot — perfect if you want Birmingham right on your doorstep.

How Is It Nearly Christmas?

I got a message yesterday from one of my friends saying she had started Christmas shopping, I nearly replied back saying we have loads of time when I realised that we actually don't.

It's 102 days until Christmas Eve, I only have 3 more paydays until Christmas. 

Where exactly has 2026 gone?

I need to start thinking about what to get people for Christmas and most of the list is kids who I have no idea what they are into anymore. 

This also leads to the fact that in a few months, I am going to start seeing Santa everywhere which will freak me out.

You see, my dad was basically Santa. He looked like him, had a Santa suit, loved Christmas and especially loved walking round at Christmas in his Santa suit raising money for charity.

Christmas was always magical when he was alive, he was the one waking me up on Christmas morning because he couldn't wait any longer. I remember one year when I was little, he woke me up in the middle of the night on Christmas Eve and whispered that he thought Santa was on the roof. We went over to the window, opened it and I could hear seigh bells. We both got all excited and he said I better get back in bed or Santa wouldnt leave me any presents. I found out many years later that it was actually my big brother standing in the alley next to our house shaking the bells, but I love that they did that to make Christmas magical for me.

This is why, since my dad passed away in 2020, Christmas isn't the same anymore. I want to love Christmas like I did before, but it's hard to get into it and not have dad here.

The first Christmas he was gone, I spent the whole week with my mum. The second year I didn't want to know Christmas so Sean and I booked a hotel in Cornwall. Christmas Day was a day in the hotel room eating pizza and watching Doctor Who. The years after that we have been at home, I have decorated the house in Christmas stuff and tried to be as festive as possible, but my heart breaks multiple times a day. 

I went to a Christmas market with my mum last year and we had to leave because a guy dressed up as Santa was there and he looked like dad. It completely freaked me out.

I have no idea what I will be like this year, and that worries me.

Album Review - Bloodletting - Rory

There is nothing that I don't love about this album.The pure emotion that comes through is incredible, you can feel the pain that Rory has suffered through her life. You can feel her anger, her pain, her grief.

But you have to remember that these are all things that she has survived and is here to tell us and motivate us to be brave and strong.

When asked about the album, she said:-
“I realised I was sick from being nice. I’d spent so much of my life being the bigger person, forgiving people, understanding people, making excuses for people. I’d become disconnected from huge parts of myself. BLOODLETTING was about reclaiming them.”

The title itself is the perfect metaphor as history tells us that bloodletting was an ancient medical practice where blood was released from the body to cure illness. For Rory, it became a spiritual act. A release of everything buried too deep for too long.

Rory pushed herself further than she ever has to bring us the raw emotion she has deep down. She wanted to take her music to a new level and she most definitely managed it with this album. She started having vocal lessons and even learned to scream in order to get her message to us, the adoring fans, that life can be shit, but it's never too late to be who you want to be.

The album includes her last 5 singles Degradation, Dead Girl Walking, Kids These Days, Strange and Swallow.

My favourite track is A Cure For Cancer, although it made me cry because it made me think of my dad, it is a beautiful song, it pulled on ever heartstring. It's one of the songs that Rory sang at Download this year and cried my eyes out then as well.

Tracklist:
1. Welcome to bloodletting
2. Degradation
3. Swallow
4. A cure for cancer
5. Mortal
6. The death of a people pleaser
7. Kids These Days
8. Dead Girl Walking
9. Grey
10. Oh when the saints
11. Hometown
12. Strange
13. Do you want to live?