Sunny Side Up #7: What We Did On Our Holiday

Fun, food & flip-flops.

Well this is exciting isn’t it?! This week’s Sunny Side Up is actually filled with sunshine. I fled the dreary UK summer and escaped to the Algarve, one of our favourite places in the world. Here’s a diary of the things that brought me joy this week…

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1. Delish lunch, 2. Reading on the balcony, 3. Comfort over glamour for night 1

FRIDAY

We fly early in the morning which means waking up at an unspeakable hour. None of us are too pleased about it and only manage to exchange minimal words.

A decent amount of hours after, yet somehow still in the morning, we arrive at the hotel. We head to the poolside restaurant for lunch because we are all ravenous and need CARBS. I opt for a vegetable pasta - stunning - and make a mental note to replicate it at home.

I am exhausted so I sleep for the rest of the afternoon. Initially I feel guilty for this but if I don’t sleep now I’ll be grumpy and no-one wants that. I manage to pull myself together around 5pm and make myself a cup of chamomile and lemongrass tea to drink on the balcony while I read my book.

Getting ready for dinner I realise I have suddenly broken out in loads of spots?! I blame the early morning flight. We head down to the square where all the nice restaurants are and a live band is playing Unwritten by Natasha Bedingfield. I opt for a goats cheese salad at dinner - my body is a temple - and top it off with a solid fave, creme brûlée.

Absolutely shattered, I head back up to my hotel room at 10pm and watch This Time Last Year as I fall asleep.

1. Pool views, 2. OOTN, 3. Jim’s pasta

SATURDAY

I start the day in a fantastic mood because I get to have a bowl of Chocapic for breakfast. If you know, you know.

Today’s a pool day, so I grab all four of my books because I’m too indecisive. After reading the first chapter of all four I decide I’m in the mood for Anna Kloots’ memoir. We bathe in the warm glow of the Portuguese sun, and I gradually feel my muscles relax.

Tonight we’re going for dinner at the Italian so I get dressed up and ready to go. I order one of my favourites, penne alla Ciora which has a tomato and white wine sauce with mushrooms and chicken. The most impressive was my brother-in-law’s meal - linguini Nero à Guillo (see pic!).

I think Portugal has the most stunning sunsets.

We go back to the hotel and I catch up on Substacks while the others play pool.

1. It amazes me how vast the ocean is, 2. Best. Salad. Ever., 3. Dinner fit

SUNDAY

Another day waking up to the sun! I could get used to this.

Straight after breakfast we head to the beach for a walk. Every day should begin like this. I treasure hunt for seashells as the Atlantic Ocean washes over my feet. I am a water baby at heart.

Lunch today is the nicest salad I have ever eaten. No exaggeration. Teriyaki chicken, lettuce, cherry tomatoes, croutons, and a yoghurt dressing. Simple, but sooo delicious. Another one to add my list of recipes to recreate. I follow this up with a generous scoop of chocolate ice cream for good measure.

Dinner is early tonight because of the Euro’s Final!! But let’s not talk about that…

1. Look at this mist!!, 2. Beach read, 3. Ready for the evening

MONDAY

Today starts off with the craziest sea fret I’ve ever seen. The whole place is covered in grey mist - even the guy on the beach who’s been working there for five years said he’s never seen a mist like it. It disappears almost as soon as it arrives, but it’s definitely an atmospheric way to start the day!

It’s a beach day! I’m feeling fulfilled as I’ve finished my first book - My Own Magic by Anna Kloots. Uplifting, moving, inspiring, and full of heavenly descriptions of Paris.

For dinner tonight I choose one of my favourite dresses and make the effort to swipe on some lipstick. We go to a traditional Portuguese restaurant which was a-maz-ing. I choose tempura vegetables and Pica-Pau, a steak dish with oven rice and sautéed vegetables. If you’re ever in the Algarve, make sure you go to Tinto!

We finish the night at the ice cream parlour and I go for chocolate with sprinkles for an extra sugar rush. When we head back to the hotel, we can hear the Elvis tribute act coming from the bar so we saunter over to find that it’s just a man in a t-shirt and jeans miming. The music was going, his mouth wasn’t moving.

1. Treasures from the sea, 2. You need to read this, 3. Sparkly in Sézane!

TUESDAY

Straight after breakfast we head to the beach for a walk. Naturally, I find myself knee deep in the sea searching for shells.

After munching on a Caesar salad at lunchtime, I make a dent in my next book, Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa, and I’m loving it already.

It’s half four in the afternoon and I’ve retreated to my balcony to let my hair dry and do some writing. Writing is a mindfulness exercise for me and has really helped me stay present this week.

I get dressed in one of my new favourite dresses and I feel so glam! We go down to the bar for a quick drink before our dinner reservation at a seafood restaurant. I decide that there is nothing more beautiful than watching the sunset as you eat dinner, and slowly watching the fishing boats light up like stars on the horizon.

1. Gilmore Girls, 2. Sunset 💕, 3. Me & Jim 🤝

WEDNESDAY

The day starts by the pool and I listen to the latest episode of How to Fail with Sara Cox as the guest. I love Sara Cox and this podcast made me love her more. She’s a broadcaster, a writer, a DJ, a mother - is there anything she can’t do?

We head down to the beach in the afternoon and I finish my book. I’m giving it a 4 star rating! I think there’s a sequel so I’m going to have to pick it up when we’re back home. A very easy, cosy read. I’ve also never read a book set in Japan before so I really loved that aspect of it.

I quickly wash my hair and get ready on the balcony in an attempt to make it dry faster before dinner. I’ve started watching Gilmore Girls while I get ready - I’ve never seen it before and I’m loving it! I know - late to the party.

For dinner I go for bolognese (let’s hear it for bolognese!). I think we went to this restaurant when I was really little and I also had bolognese. Maybe I need to start switching it up.

1. I want to eat all these cakes, 2. New post coming soon!, 3. One of my fave outfits

THURSDAY

How have we nearly been here a week? Definitely not ready to go home.

Today we visit the bakery for some much needed cake and coffee. We try the honey and walnut cake which is UNREAL. I think the key to Portuguese baking is cinnamon and custard. Delish 😋

My focus for the day is writing - I know lots of people avoid looking at a screen when they’re relaxing by the pool but this is my form of therapy so I don’t mind. Also, the keyboard attachment for my iPad is one of the best investments I’ve ever made. I upload a spur of the moment Sunny Side Up based on our meal the other night and think about how lucky I am that there are people who actually read my work?!?

We’re returning to Tinto tonight, and I’m so excited to try more of the food because the menu is so varied! I get to wear one of my favourite outfits tonight: I saw a girl wearing this co-ord on holiday last year and thought she looked stunning. When I got home, I immediately searched for it and found it! It’s been hanging in my wardrobe waiting to be worn in the Portuguese sun.

We return to the hotel at around 10pm. We’ve noticed it’s around this time that all the sixteen year olds come out to go clubbing. They seem to appear out of nowhere, a bit like woodlice under a brick.

1. Mini dress!, 2. Good food, 3. Stunnnnnning views

FRIDAY

You know the drill - Chocapic for brekkie, slather on sun cream, head to the pool. I’m glad my sister is here so we can play mermaids in the pool like we did when we were five.

If I could bottle the feeling of being sat on this balcony in the warm, with a cup of peppermint and lemon tea to sip, I would. I’m loving Gilmore Girls so far, such a nice way to wind down late afternoon when you’re too hot to stay on the sun loungers.

For dinner tonight I break out a mini dress!! Who am I?! I opt for a sea bass and lime risotto which is incredible. I’ve eaten soooo well this holiday. Dessert is the most delicious chocolate cake and strawberries I’ve ever eaten.

When Taylor Swift sang ‘the moon like a spotlight’ I think she was talking about this view right here. Stunning.

1. This is my favourite shade of pink, 2. Napkin cake, 3. CARBS <3

SATURDAY

How have we got to Saturday already?! It’s our last day, which means I get to eat all my favourite things. I start the day strong with Chocapic, croissants and freshly squeezed orange juice.

This morning’s mission is treasure hunting at the beach (again). I now firmly believe that mermaids exist because there’s no way some of these shells aren’t actually just mermaid scales.

The rest of the day consists of lounging by the pool, taking in the sea view and interrupting our organised laziness with one last trip to the cafe. I try a Portuguese napkin cake known as a Guardanapos and it might just be one of the most delicious things I’ve ever tasted.

We go back up to the hotel earlier than usual to pack our suitcases :(

Dinner is back at the Italian, my favourite pasta and two scoops of ice cream - chocolate and mint choc chip. I’ve literally eaten all my favourite things today, I’ve outdone myself.

We take one last stroll down to the beach to see the lights along the coast. The full moon is HUGE tonight and the moon path looks like magic on the sea. I’m sad to be leaving this place, but feeling incredibly grateful for the experiences and memories we’ve made.