So I am back in my hometown of Nottingham for the holiday and I’m sitting in my parent’s living room watching The Big Bang Theory with a glass of red wine and a tub of Salt and Vinegar Pringles. This is bliss for me.. I love London but sometimes it is lovely to escape from the pollution and hustle and bustle of London. I have just braved the Christmas Eve Eve supermarket shoppers and done the Christmas dinner shop and amidst Asda I spotted someone I used to work with, sometimes I really feel like Tamara Drewe. Small town girl who moves to London, becomes a journalist, comes back to her hometown and causes a stir. Now, I’m no journalist and neither do I cause a stir but I do think about how my life has really changed since I moved to London almost three years ago.

This blog isn’t about the last three years but it is about 2014.

In 2014 I will be completely honest and say there were many ups and downs. One of the highest points was when my blog was nominated for the Best Blog Award at the Asian Media Awards.. I was disappointed though I must admit when I lost out to a photo sharing site which is unique and great in its concept but as my housemate says ‘your blog doesn’t just appeal to Asians, it’s all women’ and as an Asian woman I think it’s something not many blogs do.

I discovered my love for food again and was lucky enough to sample foods from all over the world. From French influenced Indian food at La Porte Des Indes to Peruvian food with a Japanese twist at Senor Ceviche I was able to review many exciting restaurants. Its something I have really come to enjoy and really hope to continue experiencing such delicious-ness in 2015!

I only went abroad once this year and that was a trip to the beautiful Spanish city of Valencia with my friend Urvashi. We laughed, we cried, we ate, drank Sangria, we sunbathed, we took in the beautiful culture and ate delicious tapas. It was memorable in every way. I love Spain and everything about it. I think I should have actually been born Spanish!

Of course, my blog would be incomplete without a reference to love but I don’t want to talk about my love life so I just want to share this quote with you from my favourite book Shantaram “nothing grieves more deeply or pathetically than one half of a great love that isn’t meant to be.”

I wanted to thank all the friends who have been part of my life in 2014 (you know who you are) because you are all my rocks and I love you for being part of it, you are my rocks and I really wouldn’t know where I would be without you.

I’m going to raise my glass of red wine to an amazing 2015 for us all.. more laughter, more amazing food, better health, deepening bonds with friends and to discovering love.

Priya Mulji