Walking in a Winter Wonderland

Winter Wonderland in London's Hyde Park is a popular festive family treat. But a word of warning: never ever visit the attraction on a Saturday lunch time. It is unbearable. Hyde Park Corner underground station is beyond it's capacity, the pathways are so crowded that it takes an hour to walk from one end to the other, and you have to queue to do any activity.

But aside from the blanket of people covering this corner of London's biggest park, the seasonal festivities on offer are pretty spectacular. The ice-skating is particularly popular, with barely any room on the rink to move. There are theme park-style rides ranging in size from the slow but beautiful traditional carousel to the plunging drop of the Power Tower. There are also many fairground games offering gullible visitors the chance to win a naff cuddly toy! (Generation Game, anyone?).

But by far, the best of all is the Christmas Market. Styled in a similar manner to the well-known and much loved German Christmas markets, there is a wonderful array of delights on offer. And this seasonal food and drink is more than just some roasted chestnuts. There is the Bavarian Village with its bratwurst and beer, fairground staples such as donuts and chips, and of course, what Christmas fayre is complete without our favourite, mulled wine.

Leonardo da Vinci

The Leonardo da Vinci exhibition at The National Gallery has been phenomenally popular. So much so, that the three-month showcase featuring some of the finest works of the Renaissance master together in one place has been a sell out. Luckily, I was on the ball and booked tickets well in advance (July, to be precise).

Even with the months of hype and critical acclaim surrounding the exhibition, it definitely didn't disappoint. Seven rooms had been dedicated to one of the most well known men of all time, each covering a different area of his work.

Of course, the paintings and drawings were the most impressive of all. Da Vinci's incorporation of delicate features and careful consideration of light and shade is unique and inspiring. The recently discovered 'Christ Mundi' was a favourite of mine, with the style and aura bearing a strong resemblance to Da Vinci's most famous work: The Mona Lisa (which, unsurprisingly, was not among the works on display here - I don't think The Lourve would ever let it out of its sight).

But for me, I was especially taken with the drawings of the human anatomy, accompanied by Da Vinci's distinctive left-hand mirror script. It is absolutely beautiful, and just as mesmerising as the art.

Countdown to Christmas

The chocolate Advent calendar, for me, marks the start of the festive season. Each little door, when opened, slowly and steadily counts down to what everyone has been eagerly waiting for: Christmas Day. However, it can be difficult to remember to head to the calendar on each day throughout the month of December.

And so, usually, I end up storing a weeks worth of chocolates between visits. But I have discovered that this is a great way of enjoying the cute chocolate shapes hiding behind the doors. On their own, they are far too small (granted, my Pepper Pig calendar is for children, but still). But six or seven at a time, now that is much better.

Yellowcard @ HMV Forum

I have been a fan of Yellowcard for over five years. During that time the pop punk band have released several amazing albums, been on a three year hiatus, thankfully reformed and have recently embarked on a long-awaited European tour.

Due to being completely immersed in my postgraduate coursework, the band's UK tour in March earlier this year with fellow alternative rockers All Time Low passed me by. Luckily for me, during a rare break from study-hibernation, their second trip to London caught my eye and I quickly bagged myself tickets.

The gig took place in one of the few music venues in our capital city that I haven't yet visited: the HMV Forum in Kentish Town. I enjoy attending gigs in that area of North London as it has a great atmosphere and buzzing vibe. The venue was a decent size, but as usual became incredibly packed by the time the headline act graced the stage.

But the five year wait and crowded venue was completely worth it. Yellowcard are amazing live. Some bands sound great when recorded, but are a disappointment in person. Not Yellowcard. They actually sounded better live than they do on my iPod.

Ryan Key, with his true pop punk voice, can hit every single high-note he attempts, and Longineu W. Parsons III (what a name!) is an insanely talented drummer. But it is violinist Sean Mackin who steals the show for me. Having played the violin for a number of years, I have a soft-spot for this beautiful stringed instrument, and Mackin plays it to perfection.

The intricate violin playing (complete with vibrato) is a sound truly unique to Yellowcard. Most alternative music aficionados may say that a traditionally classical instrument shouldn't work in this way, but it does. It so does. In fact, it is the very thing that makes this band one of my all-time favourites.

I love Nando's

This is really just a Nando's appreciation post. The restaurant chain needs no introduction, with over 230 outlets located across the UK. In fact, I have only ever met one person who is not a Nando's fan (even vegetarians like it!). Now that's saying something.

I don't remember my first Nando's experience, but it must have been good because I have returned again and again. When asked to describe Nando's to my dad (who until today, had never set foot inside this fine food establishment), I was challenged to describe it in any way other than upmarket spicy chicken and chips. But that's exactly what it is, and what I love about it.