Happy to have Met you

New York City is famous for many things. Broadway, Central Park, The Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, Macy's...the list goes on. One thing it boasts is a plethora of excellent museums. I was on holiday in NYC recently and, being a bit of a history nerd, was excited to check out a few of its world-famous museums. Luckily my travel buddy Rowena was on exactly the same page.

I'd been to the Metropolitan Museum of Art (the 'Met' if you want to be casual) once before, ten years ago, and only for about an hour before it closed so I was looking forward to spending a whole afternoon there. Because we took our museum trip seriously - as one should - Rowena and I decided to go our separate ways and spend our time at the Met exploring solo. Armed with a map, a backpack and an intrepid spirit of cultural exploration, I knew at once where I wanted to head first - the Impressionists.

The Met is huge. Massive. If you have ever tried navigating to a particular era in the National Gallery, but actually ended up finding yourself in a room of fat cherub paintings when you really wanted Picasso, then think of that. But on steroids. There was a map. I followed the map. It didn't help much. That being said, there is something freeing about getting lost and discovering new and intriguing art that you might not have bothered about otherwise.

One of the first exhibitions I came across on my way to my chosen destination was one based on the theme of this year's Met Gala. Every year the Met hosts a famous ball which is presided over by the icon and titan that is Anna Wintour and attended by the most famous celebrities dressed in bizarre outfits. There is always a slightly pretentious theme and, for designers and celebrities alike, it is a chance to stretch the imagination and come up with something really creative and outlandish. This year's theme was entitled 'Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination.' Quite. On display were outfits that have been inspired or influenced by Catholicism in some way. Clothes from fashion houses such as Dolce and Gabbana, Versace and Alexander McQueen, to name a few, were featured and ranged from the beautiful to the odd. Accompanying the designs were items from the Vatican. The exhibition was held in the cloisters, aptly making it feel like we were in a Catholic church. To add to the overall effect, it opened out into a large room dressed a bit like a cathedral with 16th century choral music playing over loudspeakers. It was overkill but also somehow that made it even more excellent.

After visiting a number of other art eras I hadn't intended on seeing, but ended up mostly enjoying anyway, I finally made it to the Manets and the Degas. It may be a bit cliche but the Impressionists are some of my favourite artists. The Met hosts an impressive array, with some of the more well-known Monets on display, such as the Water Lilly Pond, and a whole room of Degas ballerinas. The Met also is home to many other non-Impressionist paintings like Van Gogh's self portrait and The Denial of Saint Peter by Caravaggio. To tell you all the paintings I saw would take all day. And frankly, I don't remember them all. But I did end up discovering some artists that I'd never seen before and really liked, like Pierre Auguste Cot.

The Met doesn't just include paintings but also sculptures, furniture, costumes, Egyptian mummies and even a temple. I didn't make it around everything I wanted to see - museums are surprisingly tiring - but I felt like I got to see the majority of its delights. I now consider the Met one of my favourite museums ever and one of my highlights of NYC.

Facebore, Instaglam and that old chestnut comparison

I blame Bebo. It was the gateway drug. A place where you could talk to your friends, tell the world about yourself and upload low-quality photos all in one place? 17 year old me approved. It spiralled from there. Though I wasn't quite cool enough for Myspace, I made an account anyway, emo fringe and raccoon eyed profile picture unfortunately not included. And then came along this little site called Facebook and poor Bebo, once so beloved, was cast aside like the 2005 relic it has become. Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat - I got them all and slowly, before I knew it was really happening, I became addicted.

People always talk about social media addiction with a wry smile and an exasperated eye roll. It's a socially accepted 'addiction', like chocolate and caffeine, not a real addiction that will control you and mess up your life. I know I wasn't addicted in the true, dictionary-definition of the word, but when I found myself scrolling mindlessly through my Facebook feed and opening Instagram multiple times a day for no real reason, I knew that I was deep down that rabbit hole.

Somewhere down the line social media has changed - globally - from a place to connect with your friends to a platform on which the world views you. Instagram models, bloggers, fitness coaches, 'influencers' and the like now use social media as a job, making millions of dollars off advertising to their millions of followers. Everyone is so careful to curate an acceptable image of themselves. We all know that social media is just a front, a filtered snapshot of a fabulous life, hiding the real, mundane day-to-day behind. But it's so very easy to forget that as we scroll, scroll, scroll through our news feeds, perfect people with perfect lives pouting out at us through our tiny phone screens.

I have a complicated relationship with social media. In some ways it is a joy to me. It allows me instant communication with people I don't get to see often in real life. It lets me feel like I'm getting to watch my niece and nephew grow up through pictures and videos. I get to see my friends flourish, I get to celebrate with them as they get engaged, get job promotions, have babies and generally live awesome lives. I get to keep my life documented in photos, so I can look back and remember the wonderful times I've had. I like to communicate and social media is a fantastic way of doing this.

And yet...

And yet. And yet. And yet.

Without meaning to, the little liar called comparison often creeps up beside me and infiltrates my thoughts, filling my mind with negative whispers about myself and my worth.

Wow, that person's art/baking/writing/photography is so great! They are far more talented than you'll ever be. Why do you even bother trying to be creative, you untalented hack. 

She looks stunning in this picture, she's so very beautiful. Far more beautiful than you'll ever be. Why do you even bother posting photos of yourself, you hideous swamp monster.

Oh, they seem to be having the best time on holiday! Your life is boring. Why aren't you paddle boarding in Fiji, rather than sitting in bed with your laptop. You've wasted your life. 

Maybe you can relate. Maybe for you it's those blogger mums with the perfect house and kids, while your little darling hasn't given you more than two hours of sleep in a row and you haven't showered in three days. Maybe it's that acquaintance with the really great job who's constantly travelling to exciting places while the most fun you've had in your job recently was that time Karen from accounting brought in Krispy Kreme doughnuts. And you begin to wonder why your life isn't like that. Or why you're not as good as that person. Why they have it all together and you don't. It's all lies of course. Vicious, vicious lies. Not only the fact that their lives aren't perfect, but the fact that just because someone is good at something, means that you're worthless in comparison.

Someone else being successful doesn't mean you're a failure.
Someone else being beautiful doesn't mean you're ugly.
Someone else having fun doesn't mean you're boring.

I'm so tired of it (I'm posting about being somewhat tired of social media while posting this on social media. I'm aware of the irony). I'm tired of the pressure to look good, to have it all together but I'm also tired of the impulse social media brings to compare my life and myself with others, rather than  appreciating my own journey.

I fasted social media for a few weeks a while ago and while I definitely missed it in some ways, in other ways I felt so free. I felt mentally better about myself and my life and I had so much more time for doing things I liked (reading! writing! baking!), rather than just wasting time on my phone. This isn't some grand proclamation about how my fast made me want to leave social media forever. Far from it. I went back to that well. I'll continue go back there, though I know sometimes I'll need to sit back and take some time out. But I'm going to make a concentrated effort for social media to become something else. I want it to be that place where I get inspired by people excelling in their own way. I want it to be a place of comfort - where I can keep up to date with my awesome friends and how fantastically they are doing - rather than a place where I feel inadequate.

So if you, like me, struggle occasionally (or hey, maybe frequently), why not make the decision to join me with this. Let's use social media as a place not to push our opinions down others throats, judge or try to impress, but to share our lives and share in our friends lives. Let's celebrate each other, our joys and successes and dreams, without tearing each other or ourselves down.

On the eve of turning 30

Somebody somewhere once decided that 30 is the age you officially get old. The fun, carefree 20s are over and now it's time to be a Real Grown Up. I'm never sure what exactly that entails, but I imagine it's something like pension plans, sensible shoes and trips to Ikea on a Saturday.

The world tells me that turning 30 is a big deal. So big, it seems, that there are think pieces in Huffington Post and Vox on learned life lessons, things you should no longer do and, in an attempt at a positive spin, why life actually begins at 30 (as if I've been stuck in limbo this whole time).

According to society, there are a number of things I should have achieved by now. These include having a high-flying career, owning a house, getting married, having children, publishing a book/creating an app/starting a business/winning a prestigious prize and traveling Asia with nothing but a backpack and my joie de vivre.

I have done none of these things.

And, much to my dismay, I've found myself buying these lies the past six months. Hook, line and shameful sinker. Instead of focusing on the wonderful life I've lived and the adventures I have had, I've been caught up in all that I haven't done. Should I have dyed my hair pink and got a tattoo at Glastonbury? Should I have studied a Masters? Why oh why haven't I lived in a yurt in the Gobi Desert? Then there's the flip side of turning 30, the idea that I'm suddenly meant to be wise, calm and have my life figured out. Part of me feels like I'm still a kid. Like one day someone will find out that I'm just pretending and that I actually have no idea what I'm doing.

I know in reality nothing will change. That I'll wake up tomorrow and look the same and feel the same and act the same. And I know how blessed I am to have got to 30 with such a full life lived. Not everyone gets that privilege. So rather than reflect on my past and lament any regrets I might have, I'm going to focus on the future. On the things I want to learn and the things I have yet to achieve. Below I've listed just a few things that I want to do as I head into my next decade.

Live bravely

I'll let you into a little secret. I'm pretty damn scared of failing. No matter how many times it happens, it sucks every time and doesn't really get easier. But I don't want the fear of failure to keep me from attempting my life goals. I want to dream recklessly and go for what I want, regardless of whether I succeed. I'll try, I'll fail, I'll get rejected and I will get back up and keep on trying. And, hey, one day I'll get there.

Care less/ care more

Care less about the things that don't matter. Social media, appearances, material possessions, what people think about me. And care more about the things that do - kindness, being a good friend, being more selfless, showing love, combating injustice.

Be perpetually curious

The world is a place of wonder and colour and possibility. There's so much to see and do it's a bit overwhelming. I don't want to stay in a comfortable little bubble, I want to push the envelope. I want to learn and explore and travel and immerse myself in creativity. I want to burn as bright as possible (bright - geddit? Haha...oh).

Stay in my lane

My life's journey is not going to look exactly like someone else's and that's ok. So what if I have not done everything I thought I might have by this age? There's still time. I don't want to spend my life preoccupied on whether I'm...enough. Clever enough, pretty enough, fun enough, ambitious enough. God tells me I am, even if the world might not, and I aim to live in that truth.

So thanks 20s, you were pretty great. You bought me travel, education, jobs, friends, family and a greater sense of self. And here's to you 30s, I have a feeling you might be even better.

A year of living in London

I remember sitting down to write my first blog the day I moved here. It was catharsis, a way of coping with the enormity of my life situation and an unknown future. I sit here a year (well, 14 months) later, having not written my blog in nearly as long, and a somewhat seasoned veteran of the city I call home. It seems strange reading back how foreign London was to me. It started as this impenetrable metropolis, where only the rich, career-driven or starving artists could live with not much room for the rest of us normal folks. I wasn't here to work in finance or chase some music dream, my dream was only to experience the day-to-day of a city I've loved since I first visited as a little girl.

I eventually stopped writing my blog, because that real life I was searching for took over and there was no need to try to make sense of it anymore. But I think it's time to revisit it and so I've compiled a list of a few things I have learned about London, life and myself over the past year (be warned, this list will be a mix of trivial observations and some deeper feelings).

London life

• Everyone gets a 'tube face'. You will try to fight it but eventually you will succumb. It is inevitable. Sorry.

• The best coffee in the UK is here and right on my doorstep. Costa? Starbucks? Ugh, no thanks. Why have that rubbish when I can get Monmouth, Caravan, Prufrock, and Black Sheep? Non-Londoners will call it smug London superiority, but we all know it's the truth. 

• The North/South divide is a real thing and it suddenly matters. When I first moved here I was determined to travel all over. After all, it's one city right? Yeah...not so much. Now you can often hear my shocked exclamation of, “I have to go SOUTH of the river?!” Heck, going past the West End is an issue in itself. My life is mostly a nice little square of Islington-Farringdon-Kings Cross-Dalston.

• You will quickly learn to avoid Central on a Saturday. It's just not worth your sanity.

• Everyone told me London is expensive. I already knew London was going to be expensive before I moved. It's true, London is expensive. It doesn't make it not worth it or make me want to move somewhere cheaper though. I have also rapidly got used to the price of rent and food so that when I do go home, I exclaim how cheap everything is. I've become one of 'those' people.  

• Deliveroo will become a way of life. And you may even on one occasion use Uber Eats to get McDonalds delivered. You will feel ashamed, but also defiant.

Personal life

• Although I'm used to living here and it's often very routine and mundane, I sometimes still find myself getting wide-eyed country girl look when I walk by the Thames and see the world-famous views. It truly is a stunning city.

• My extroverted side has been unleashed a lot more since I moved here. I always considered myself an introvert, although now I think maybe it's pretty even. An ambivert, if you will. I often find myself getting energised by parties rather than tired. 

• Because I knew very few people when I came here, I had to push myself into social situations where I didn't know anyone and basically force myself to talk to strangers. This helped my confidence tremendously, but I also remember how exhausting it was. It's still something I'm not hugely comfortable with, but I'm better at it than I was (or perhaps better at faking it).

• London has a million fun, exciting things to do and it's tempting to try all of them. I'm having to learn when to say yes and when to say no – it's still a struggle. I often find myself getting sad when I don't have any weekend plans although I know I need that time to refuel, especially after a busy week.

• I often find myself morphing into one of those 'London is where life is' people, as if such life doesn't or can't exist outside the city. I hate that I do it and I don't mean to but it's quite easy to get swept up in it all. 

• Loving where you live is so important. You will spend more time there than anticipated and if you hate it, life will be difficult. I'm pretty lucky that I love Highbury. It's got loads of pubs, restaurants, great transport links and is in walking distance of three (three!) beautiful parks. Oh yeah, parks are VERY important when you have no garden. 

• I am so grateful for all the wonderful friends I have made. People I didn't even know a year ago are now so dear to me I can't imagine not having them in my life.

The serious stuff

• For a city of 8 million people, London can be be very isolating. I remember the feelings of loneliness I had in the first few months after my move and how difficult it was to overcome the thinking that it might never change. I was meeting lots of people but didn't really know them and there was no quick fix for that. I just had to ride it out, trust God and understand that this too would pass. It has, a long time ago in case you're wondering. 

• Having a community around you is essential. Getting plugged into a church was one of the major factors that helped me feel settled, more than a job or a long term housing situation. It wasn't like I had an instant group of friends - friendships take time to cultivate - but it was a place of like-minded people my age that had the potential for something more. And I luckily stumbled upon a church (KXC) that I can call home and that has given me that sense of community. I have a strong dislike of cliques and I want to make sure that no one I come across ever feels that they are unwelcome or unwanted. I want everyone who comes through the doors to feel that sense of community and welcome that I felt when I first went there. 

• I've spent a year enjoying all London has to offer, but I don't want to just consume, I want to give back. I want there to be a reason I'm in London. I love having fun but I don't want that to be the only thing that I take away. I want to make a difference in this beautiful, broken city. 

• It's very easy to fall into the trap of comparison, especially in such a frenetic and competitive city. I admit to measuring myself against others when it comes to careers, finance, looks, hobbies and social life and coming up short. It's something I've been wrestling with a lot over this year and something I'm actively trying to avoid, but I can't confess to having the all answers. I suspect that it's not just me that feels this way, though, and that it's a symptom of a society obsessed with appearances, where status is everything. 

• I've recently been trying to decipher the difference between happiness and contentment. Is happiness a state of being or is it transient? I've been asked time and again whether I'm happy, whether moving to London was all I thought it would be. I guess the answer to that is yes, and no. Life has its ups and downs, like all lives do, and some days I'm on top of the world and beaming from ear to ear, loving life and everyone in it. And some days, the tube is crowded and work has sucked and I have an achy back from my terrible mattress and life isn't all shiny. But when I stop to think about it - and really take stock of my life - I may not always be happy in the emotional sense, but I'm satisfied. I am content. 

Looking back on my past blogs, it all seems so silly that I was afraid that it might not work out. Of course God had it under control, of course He was there all along. But in a way, my future is still unknown and uncertain. Sure, I'm living here - but now what? I guess I'll have to find out along the way and then look back at this blog post with an AHA moment in a year's time. All I know is, for the foreseeable future, I'm right where I want to be.

When country met city

I’m a fan of music. Not in the ‘put on your oversized headphones and listen to that rare Pink Floyd vinyl’ sort of way, more like ‘I listen to Spotify a lot and go to a gig now and again’. A duo I’m a fan of, The Shires, were having an album launch at HMV Oxford Street and tickets were limited and free. I’d been wanting to see them live for a while, after hearing them on Radio 2, so I quickly booked my ticket. They're English but play American country music. However, they're not your average yee-haw, I've got my truck, my gun and my ol' blue jeans country; they sing in beautiful harmonies, more similar to The Civil Wars than the Florida Georgia Line.

The doors didn't open until six and I got there an hour early as it was so near work. A few people were milling by the door, but I figured there wouldn't be that many people coming to see them, so I spent some time browsing Oxford Street instead of standing around for an hour. By the time I decided to queue up, around half an hour to forty-five minutes later, the line snaked around the building! I've learned that there's nothing more fascinating to people than a long queue. Those of us waiting were gawked at and a number of people even came up to ask us what we were queuing for. When we replied 'The Shires' a look of confusion crossed their faces and they shrugged, no doubt disappointed that it wasn't someone they'd heard of, like Justin Bieber.

Apparently the Shires rolled up in a massive truck but because I was around the corner I unfortunately did not get to see the spectacle. The doors didn't open until at least quarter past and we all dutifully shuffled in and up to the top floor of HMV where there is an intimate venue space. We again waited (there was a lot of waiting during the evening but I didn't mind - it was free!) until at last the Shires came onstage. The Shires consist of Chrissy Rhodes (singer) and Ben Earle (singer, guitar and piano), both attractive, hugely talented and very down-to-earth. Their set was acoustic, playing around six songs, four from their new album, one from their last album and a lovely cover of Robbie Williams' Angels. Their voices were amazing, blending together in stunning, effortless harmonies and with very few vocal cracks or off notes.  The crowd swayed toward the older demographic but the participation was lacking. Most of them just stood and stared, even when the Shires desperately tried to get them to clap and shout out the words.  I, for one, shrugged off my inhibitions and got into it, bobbing to the music with uncool jerky movements, clapping my hands above my head when they called for it, singing along and having a grand old time.

After the set we all got in line for the signing. I somehow ended up at the back of the queue - again - so it took me nearly another hour to get to them. The security guard fancied himself a comedian and would go up and down the line chatting and regaling us with his 'jokes'. By the time I neared them, we were told that we'd only have time for a quick photo and hi and bye. We were all a little disgruntled by this news, as we hadn't waited so long for a 30 second impersonal meet and greet. Chrissy and Ben, bless them, did not adhere to this at all even though they must have been exhausted. They spent time with every single person, chatting with them, signing their cds (someone even brought a guitar to sign) and posing for multiple photos.

I wasn't at all nervous while waiting in line. I like their music but I'm not a super fan girl and they are not mega famous, so I was rather laid back about the whole thing. I even rehearsed a few droll lines that would make them think I was witty and cool. And then it was my turn.

Reader, I babbled.

I went in for the hug rather than the handshake - because why not - and then my mouth ran away with me. I went on and on and on about how similar they were to the Civil Wars, and did they like the Civil Wars and wasn't it a shame they split up? Etc etc etc. It makes me cringe just thinking about it. To their credit they took it in their stride, probably used to crazy people, and engaged me in conversation and obligingly posed for the photo with the 'arms around me' shot. I mean, who wants the awkward lean shot?

I think I'm now even more of a fan of them than I was before. Their albums don't do them justice - they are a band that shine when they play live. It's sad in this day and age that it's novel to see a band that sound exactly like they do on their cd (rather than the standard weak voice being drowned out by an overpowering backing track) and The Shires are undeniably talented. While country is not everyone's cup of tea I think the Shires are a good gateway band, definitely more folky than twangy country and chilled out enough to be a soundtrack for a dinner party. Although my evening consisted of A LOT of waiting, it was all worth it to see such a great band in an audience of only 250. Having recently been signed by the same record label as Taylor Swift in the USA, who knows if I'll ever get such a chance again? 

Stepping into a story book

I went home, once again, this past weekend to attend a hen party. Luckily, I managed to get a couple of days off work so I got a chance to see some friends and have some time to actually go out for a day in my fine home county. After the intensity of the city, I needed some country prettiness so on Friday morning my Mum and I headed for the Cotswolds.

The Cotswolds is full of precious little towns and villages, most consisting of light stone houses and tiny, overpriced fudge shops. The biggest and most popular are probably Bourton-on-the-Water, Stow-on-the-Wold (they like hyphens in the Cotswolds) and Chipping Campden. Much like London they are, however, overflowing with tourists. I wanted somewhere a little more low-key that still kept that Cotswold charm. Mum had heard that Lower Slaughter (yes, that is its name, there is also an Upper Slaughter) was home to a good tearoom so off we drove, merrily singing along to James Taylor.

Lower Slaughter is as darling as expected – more, perhaps. It is a chocolate box village to be sure, but not so sickeningly quaint that I felt the need to scrub the twee off myself. A stream runs through the heart of the village and is crossed by a couple of stone bridges. I half expected some extremely small trolls to be waiting under them. The cottages alongside the stream are perfect. I mean it, log piles neatly stacked, windows and doors all painted the same uniform shade of blue or green, gates without a scrap of rust on them. Mum and I agreed that there must be a rigorous neighbourhood upkeep programme to keep it looking so picturesque, so while living there looks like it might be wonderful, it would be more hassle than it’s worth.

There’s not much in the village, just a church, a town hall and an old mill which houses a tiny museum, a leather shop and the tearoom. The mill reminded me of the one from Beauty and the beast – from any fairy tale, really, where the plucky miller’s daughter goes on an adventure and ends up marrying the prince. There is a craft shop in an outbuilding which sells all sorts of vintage and old-world odds and ends. You have to go through the narrow shop to get to the tearoom, which is in a small converted barn. It has been decorated nicely and appropriately for the space – spotted plates and cups in the same sable green as the tables and even as the houses outside. The café does the usual fair, sandwiches, soup, cakes, coffee etc. I had a jacket potato with beans and cheese, an underrated yet entirely delicious autumnal lunch, especially as it was quite cold outside. 

We sat upstairs at a narrow table which was a little cramped with all our plates and cutlery. It got even more cramped when more and more people started to arrive and decided that sitting upstairs was also a good thing to do. Fortunately, we were finished by that point so we wrapped up, dodged the child waiters (ok, maybe not but there were very young!) and went outside. Some crazy people were eating outside and while it was a beautiful setting, I’m not willing to sacrifice my extremities to gaze at a river while I eat.

Lower Slaughter is a bit like a film set. The only people around the streets seemed to be people like us who were visiting. Perhaps it was just the time of day but it seemed to me that there was no sort of village life. No dog walkers, no old men sitting on a bench and taking in the world, no screaming kids. It seemed to me a beautiful, empty village, one that you visit but no one actually lives in. I mean, people must live there but there was no evidence. It was, in some ways, a stepford village. That isn’t a criticism. It is adorable, it is brimming with cuteness and charm. I want to go there at Christmas and sip mulled wine as snowflakes flutter against my cheeks. I want to sit by the river in the summer and read Brideshead Revisited. I want to make apple crumble in my cosy cottage kitchen as I watch children play outside in the fallen autumn leaves. It makes me want an idyllic life, goshdarnit.

I’m just not sure the life the village promises actually exists.

Spotlight on: Fortnum & Mason

When I'm not cautiously deciding whether or not I'm too broke to afford a Pret wrap, I like to pretend I'm a fabulously wealthy socialite who lives in Mayfair and has a butler named Whatley. As in, "Get the car, Whatley, we're going to Harrods. I'm in desperate need of a new Birkin bag." Anyway, one of the places where I like to live in my imagination is the upscale department store of Fortnum and Mason. Generally known for its food halls, it is a grand shop with some of the most beautiful displays I've ever seen.

It was still summer when I went and the sweeping staircase in the middle of the ground floor was decorated like something out of a fairy tale. I wanted to descend those stairs in a giant princess ballgown and waltz with Prince Charming.

Founded in 1707 as a grocery store and situated along Piccadilly, Fortnum & Mason certainly have cornered the market for fancy and overpriced food but somehow, even though you laugh at the prices, you somehow still want it all. Or at least I do. I wanted the delicate chocolates and the little pots of honey in their honey mansion. I wanted the splendidly English hampers and especially the tea, for which the shop is famous. I wanted to laden Whatley's arms with shopping bags and have him drive home and unpack while I take afternoon tea with Lady Pendlington-Smyth.

I felt a little like an impostor while I perused, like the shop assistants just knew I wasn't going to buy anything. Not everything was terrifically expensive, I must admit, but enough was specialist and artisanal to make it obvious I was just there for a nosy. I noticed there was a sign for the crypt downstairs and, my interest piqued, I wandered around the wine section in the basement like a lost sheep until I found it.

Situated in what is probably one of the oldest sections of the store, it has been arranged to look like a Vampire Count's dining room. You can almost see Dracula swishing his goblet of wine and saying, "I vant to suck your blooood." Of course there are ghost tales about the crypt to add to the store's mythology. You can actually hire it out for private functions, which is pretty cool. I bet it would make a terrific party location. In fact, I think fancy socialite me may hire it out for Halloween. I'll get Whatley to pick up the decorations at once.