en Archives - Eventually Busy

3 Reasons why positivity can change your life

3 Motivi per cui Positività può cambiarti la vita

Nope. this is not about the Law of Attraction, although I truly believe in the LOA and you should too.

I know very well that being positive is a struggle. Sometimes we truly struggle to think positive when we see things going badly all around us. Believe me, I do know how that feels.

I don’t believe in giving up, I believe in trying everything we can to feel good and achieve our goals. Will these 3 reasons make you achieve your goals? I believe so, but they won’t they will change the way you see things, and this definitely can change your life.

01. Because it makes everything real.

Most of the times we truly desire something, specific. But we keep visualizing ourselves not getting it, instead of ourselves being successful in achieving our goal. Have you noticed how our mind plays this trick on us most of the times?

It does. And it’s not cool at all.

It is not cool at all because when we keep seeing negative outcomes, we don’t think straight, we don’t think strategically and, this way, we will unconsciously sabotage our success.

Sounds crazy but it true. Visualizing positive outcomes and us being successful will strengthen our ability to get a better idea, to be more motivated, to think clearly and…yes, you guessed it: all these things will help in getting right there where we want to be.

02. Because it will attract more people like us

I got rid of negative people ages ago ( and you should too!) – and that’s something that I did intentionally, but positive thinking and being positive about things in our life will attract people to have a similar attitude in life.

Negative people hate you to achieve your goals because they are so negative that can’t really achieve much often. So in a very non planned way, you will get rid of those negative people, they will find you annoying, which is rather funny really, but it is true. have you ever noticed it that when you are so chuffed about something, and talk to someone that is usually quite negative on things…they seem not to be interested at all?

Of course, because they have that negative attitude that will prevent them from achieving what they want. So they cant stand you and will, eventually, stop hanging around.

And you win.

03. Because it is cool.

Yes, it is cool to think positive and it is cool to spread positive vibes. Let’s be real, what’s the harm in it?

Dont think about what people might say about your super happy and positive attitude towards life, even though they might think you sound a bit crazy…who cares and, there is no harm in that. You being positive won’t harm them, nor the people you love.

So just do it.

Try and switch to positive mode. Every day, try and insert into your routine more positive thoughts, decrease the negative ones and increase the positive ones. Till you reach that point where you are more naturally inclined to think positive.

Try, you have nothing to lose.

Mini Cruise along the Thames

Mini Crociera a Londra (economica!)

I have lived in London for a lifetime and I often realize that I have never done things that all tourists do. Sometimes I understand that I’ve seen fewer places compared to what visitors see! I have been on a mini-cruise on the Thames twice, as a summer party of my previous company. Nice evening. As a tourist I would definitely recommend doing such a thing, it’s worth it but… don’t buy the mini-cruise specifically arranged for tourists!

I recently took a ride on a UBER BOAT (aka Thames Clippers) – wow, so good! And the cost is super low when compared to that of tourist boats. Uber Boats is a kind of taxi along the Thames, and the wonderful thing is you get the chance to go underneath all the beautiful bridges, including the TOWER BRIDGE! Let’s face it, it is a dream experience that is not quickly forgotten. It is a fairy-tale bridge, too cute and, passing under it, it is truly magical!

Where does it start from?

I traveled from the London Eye to Greenwich but obviously, there is an even longer journey starting from the Battersea area. You can book online, or in person at the ticket office at each stop. But currently, the cheapest solution is to buy the ticket with the UBER app. I saved around £ 2.00.

Ho risparmiato circa £2.00. VIEW THE MAP

For more info and tickets: CLICK HERE (Uber Boat website)

Onboard there is a small coffee shop where you can buy snacks and coffee. The seats are comfortable and almost look like those of an aeroplane. In short: all very modern and comfortable! All along the way, you will find yourself wanting to observe a thousand things, left and right! You will see City Hall, the City, The Shard, and then Canary Wharf. It also gives you the chance to explore the East London area, an area that you may never have seen on foot: the most deserted and industrial part along the Thames!

It’s an incredible experience, definitely a must-do in London!

Food Shopping in London

Fare la Spesa a LONDRA

Let me tell you what I think about shopping in a supermarket in London.
I have travelled a lot and lived in 9 countries. Believe me, you are not always in places where there is a wide choice of things to buy.

Try living in Malindi and then we’ll talk about it!
In short, I’m used to having to settle and adapt.
This means that I also have a very broad and general vision of what there can be in the world in terms of food. Living in London for me means being super lucky because I have an infinite choice of food to choose from. From every culture, from every country and infinite choices for just about anything, really!

It's expensive, isn't it?

Absolutely not. And the reason why it is not expensive to shop in a supermarket in London is that you have so much choice, it’s up to you to decide how much to spend.
If you want to shop at Whole Foods every week, you already know that you will spend more than the average, it is up to you to decide where to go and what to buy.
Tesco and Sainsburys, as well as Asda and Morrison, are supermarkets that are absolutely super stocked with everything and with normal prices. Then of course we have LIDL and ALDI, and why not mention one of my favourites: ICELAND. Where to find all the frozen foods you need. Great prices and good quality!

Then there are obviously the various markets, to buy fresh vegetables if you want. Of course, you can also find fresh vegetables in the supermarket, but going to the neighborhood markets is always a good habit and experience. So, why not!
I also think it is nice, when possible, to support small businesses, so green light for shopping from the local butcher and greengrocer!

Inoltre credo sia bello,q uando possibile, sostenere i piccoli businesses, quindi via libera alla spesa dal locale macellario e fruttivendolo!

London Pub: The Bull

Londra Pub: The Bull

Here we go again.

Where are we going for lunch today? So, John and I literally marched up and down Upper Street one day looking for a nice place for lunch. After having scraped off the usual Café we have been several times already, and after having scanned every menu pinned outside each and every restaurant along Upper Street, we ended up here.

The Bull Pub.

It looks very pretty. A mix in between a traditional British pub and a Mexican restaurant, with a mezzanine floor for bigger parties and a lovely bar area right in the entrance space. We picked a table right next to the window, scanned the QR (hey, we are going through a Pandemic!) and decided what we wanted to eat.

I went for fried chicken because that was what I was craving, and John picked a lovely pie. Everything was super delicious, the waiter was also very sweet and patient with John who, as usual, asked for extra mash and gravy. I have chosen sweet potatoes as a side for my chicken and that, I guess, was the best thing to do: so yummy and crispy.

From their Website: “We pride ourselves on serving up a seasonal menu that’s packed with hearty, traditional British pub classics. From mouth-watering starters and tasty sharing platters to sensational roasts and freshly grilled burgers alongside sumptuous steaks and great vegetarian and vegan options — we’ve got a dish for you this season.”

The rest of the menu looked interesting too, and they have a great selection of drinks, beers and cocktails.

From their Website: “As is the custom in any Great British pub worth its salt, properly poured drinks are at the heart of what we do. So, from our annual Craft Beer Residency to our limited edition On Tap Beers, we’ve got something to tantalise your taste buds.

Not a beer person? Not a problem. We have a fantastic range of wines from around the world for you to sample, along with a great selection of spirits. For those of you who fancy something a little lighter, we have an amazing selection of low & no alcohol drinks.”

Do I recommend it? Yes, great lovely place, great food and the location is perfect too. Ideal sport after a nice shopping session in Angel.

The Bull: 100 Upper Street, London, Greater London, N1 0NP

Mac & Wild | Great Scottish Meat | London

Mac & Wild | Ottima Carne Scozzese | Londra

So, I had someone visiting back in February 2020, and this someone loves meat. Like in “good meat”. Did some research and MAC & WILD came up. Ok then let’s try it.

We booked a table at 7 pm, the restaurant in central London is lovely and I am going to tell you this straight away: the staff is very nice and very knowledgeable, especially when it comes to talking about meant a whisky. Which is what this place is all about.

The Menu is Scotland-themed, from the starters to the desserts. We decided to go for a “trio” when it was time to choose the dessert: the best choice ever! Honestly, desserts here are super good!

As for the main meals, I don’t think I have to tell you much, you can see the pictures: good, aren’t they? Yes, the meat was top quality, and the waiting staff very helpful in explaining what was available and how to pair it with their wide selection of whiskeys.

I wanna tell you a bit more about this lovely place, I will paste here a short description take from their website, you can read the rest of it by clicking on the link at the end of the text.

“Scotland is home. It’s where we both grew up, and the warm Highland way of life is the constant inspiration for Mac & Wild.

In the Highlands, most folk are closely connected to the land and the produce we gather from it. Perhaps that’s why many traditional farming practices have blessedly been preserved. You won’t find industrialised animal practices here – animals are reared the ‘right’ way – on open pastures, with natural feed and without the use of any chemical nasties. “ CLICK HERE TO READ MORE.

Do I recommend this place? Yes. Of course, it is not cheap, but I don’t think you can place “cheap+good quality+meat” in the same sentence. I believe that when it comes to meat, especially, you need the pay for its value if you expect quality. Great quality, in this case.

Would I go back? Absolutely yes. Because as I was mentioning at the beginning, the experience was super from the starters to the desserts.

Thank you Mac & Wild, we will be back!

Address: various locations. We went to the one it Fitzrovia.
65 Great Titchfield Street, London, W1W 7PS

More Places Where to EAT while in LONDON? Click here!

London Local Cafe: Cafe & Latte in Pretty Highbury

Local Cafe a Londra: Cafe & Latte e la zona di Highbury

Yes, another lovely Local café I want to tell you about.

But today I also want to tell you about the area in which this Café is located. It is called Highbury. If you are visiting London, chances are you might never end up here. Or maybe you will since it is where Arsenal Stadium is, and I know a few people love to go and visit that Stadium.

Highbury is a residential area, a lovely “villagy” area. This is where you can find your local butcher, the nice pubs, and a lovey greengrocer too. Located near the posh area of Islington and Angel, where the majority of the houses are very nice looking and expensive, and where many VIPs live.

So if you by any chance find yourself here in Highbury, please do go and enjoy a great traditional Full English Breakfast at CAFÉ & LATTE CAFÉ. They also serve lunch and dinner.

My partner ordered here his breakie with a Bubble and squeak, and if you don’t know what that is, I have an article where I tell you everything you need to know about it 😊

I went for bacon and chips, with a good portion of baked beans too. I can’t have gluten often and not even eggs, so when I do find yummy alternatives I go for it. And everyone loves chips and baked beans, innit?!

The staff is super lovely, and the menu is filled up with a good variety of options. You won’t be disappointed. A lovely traditional café with a nice interior deco: exposed brick walls and a very comfy looking armchair. Everything you need to feel at home.

After the meal you can have a walk going south, and back to Highbury Barn. It is just a few mins away and if you still have a little bit of space in that tummy, please visit Highness Café. I used to go there pretty often when my partner lived in Highbury (born and raised there!). It is a nice family-run bakery and they make every single cake from scratch with the best ingredients. You can read more here, in this article.

Hopefully, you now have an extra option for your traditional breakfast in London. Remember that many more “where to eat” options can be found HERE.

Enjoy your breakie!

Address: 147 Blackstock Rd, Finsbury Park, London N4 2JS

Local Cafe in London: Cafe Express | Dollis Hill

Local Cafe a Londra: Cafe Express | Dollis Hill

The name of this place truly sounds like another cafe I have told you about. Star Express. Well, lets say many do look the same and have similar names! This one tough, is on the opposite side of London. I will be very honest here: it is not located in a tourist area, actually there is nothing truly interesting around here. Please do visit this Cafe if by any chance you end up in Willesden or Dollish Hill area.

It is not far from Neasden Temple, so that might be a great chance! It is a traditional workers cafe. The owners are super kind and the food is very good. Price-wise of course, amazing. We normally spend £10 for the 2 of us, and just £13 or £14 when I decide to go for a more subsantial plate. As I have mentioned you many times in previous article, I am intolerant to eggs, gluten and dairy. So I try not to have those ingredients very often. I know, I then go to Ole & Steen and have muffins and buns… I should not do that, but sometiems I truly cant resist! Anyway.

Cafe Express is located on the main road, just opposite B&M. So if, eventually, you end up here, do go and visit B&M too. Not much that you need in there if you are a visitor (homeware and tinned food mainly!), but a great place to buy if you live in London and need nice cheap stuff.

Address: 404 High Rd, Willesden, London NW10 2DS

I recently had here a jacket potato with tuna. The potato was nicely baked, huge and I must add they used great quality butter on it, it really was tasty!

10 Things to do when you get bored at work

10 Cose da fare quando ti annoi in ufficio

Let’s face it, sometimes we get bored in the office. Yes, it’s true, you often don’t have enough time. But sometimes it happens that you do actually have time to spare, what do you do with it?!

I have some suggestions, things you might have definitely already thought about. But let’s do this: you print that list out and you keep it there, next to you on your desk, this way, next time you have time to spare, you will check the list and see what you can do…Instead of getting up and going to see if there is any cookie left in the office kitchen.

WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU GET BORED AT WORK

1. Clean up the SPAM folder

Seriously, when was the last time you did that?

2. Unsubscribe from 10 newsletters.

You just keep deleting them. And they come back. Well it is time to unsubscribe. But please, not mine! Remember that with my Newsletter I regularly (monthly) send you super London related news!

3. Sign up for a new newsletter that really interests you.

Instead of receiving newsletters you don’t care about, sign up for a newsletter related to your job industry. There’s plenty in LinkedIn, for every sector. They will motivate you and inform you on the latest news in your field.

4. Contact someone for coffee.

I find it horrible to ask someone to meet us for coffee… just when I need something. So if you have time, do it spontaneously: ask someone if they have time for a coffee, without having to ask for anything. I mean, create a network…

5. Update your email signature.

No, really, when was the last time you looked at her? Is it still valid? Could it be more pleasant? It’s time to edit it.

6. Create a “must-read” folder in your inbox.

Do you know those newsletters in your inbox that you want to read, (the ones you didn’t unsubscribe from) but are too long to read right now? Set a folder now and put them all in there. Next time you get bored at work, you can read them.

7. Make a “To do Soon” folder in your inbox.

Not only in an email folder but also a folder on your browser. All those things, such as short courses, that interest you and that you would like to do one day. And when you have time you can read the details better and sign up. It’s a great way to have everything at your fingertips and don’t forget where you read about that specific course or webinar!

I tend to read online, or sometimes, I confess, to watch youTube videos. But I realize that it would be better to devote ourselves to more productive things. I’ve been telling you 7 you can do when you get bored at work, and that seems like a good place to start.

I also find that if we can overcome the boredom of those first 10 minutes in which we would just want to procrastinate, we can instead be active and feel super satisfied and motivated at the end of the day.

The fact that we are aware that we have not wasted that free time that we had at work, makes it clear that often it really takes an “initial kick” to be super active.

But if these 7 points are not enough, I would add another:

8. Clean the desk drawer. Yes, come on. I mean, we know it is not that “minimalist”, I got it right, didn’t I? No problem. It’s normal. We throw everything in there. Well, now you have time to fix this too. You have time, you’re at work, so you can devote yourself to that.

And why not, I almost add one more:

9.Throw away the pens that don’t work. We are really very used to writing on tablets, laptops, smartphones, and pens are used much less. I wonder how many you have in the pen holder that no longer works and the ink is actually leaking. Yes, it’s time to clean up!

Could I ever leave you with 9 tips? №.

So here comes my tip number 10.

10. Clean up on your computer’s desktop.

Did you think I forgot about that? It’s like…I can see it, you know?
I know you have 1267 useless, chance-created, temporary folders that’s been there for eight months. You have those image files that you saved because “I will just save in on the desktop for now”, and that too happened 6 months ago.

Seasonal cleaning, again, is needed.

Remember, working on fixing the little things creates great satisfaction. Start with one and you’ll see!

Ole & Steen | Danish Bakery

Ole & Steen: Bakery Danese a Londra

This adorable bakery has been a marvellous discovery. I can’t recall how I got to know about it, I just know that I fell in love with it even before stepping inside it!

It is a Danish Bakery and I have a thing for danish pastries, a real thing. I thought it was going to be kind of touristic and chaotic since it is right in central London, just a few meters away from Piccadilly Circus.

pics take pre-covid, that’s why nobody is wearing mask

Happily surprised to see that it is actually the opposite. Nice dark, modern, sleek, and rather minimalist interiors. As soon as you enter you must take a numbered ticket, go to the pastry counter and tell the staff what you’d love to have, they have pastries and sandwiches, but also avocado on toast and stuff like that.

Everything looks so yummy!

You can also order your drink and collect it from the cafeteria counter. Take your tray and enjoy this fab place!

I love going upstairs, it is so nice. Dimmed lights (that’s why the pictures are nothing good, unfortunately!) and a long nice counter with stools. Free wi-fi and you can stay there as long as you wish.

I fell in love with their Mini Apple Pie. I’ve been baking apple pies for a few years while running my own bakery & cafe, so I guess I can recognize a good apple pie, and Ole & Steen Apple Pie is made to perfection. Tasty with a very good pie crust, filled with flavoured apple chunks, and so-ooo very moist.

Cinnamon Social is another pastry that is to die for. So-ooo flaky and buttery, but at the same time light and tasty. I highly recommend to buy this pastry on your first visit, it is their best seller!

Who are they?!

They have been serving delicious bread and pastries for over 20 years, products made with the very best ingredients, always.

In 1991, Ole Kristoffersen opened a small bakery in Copenhagen, he wished to create the best pastries ever, baked every day to perfection, by hand. It didn’t take long for the bakery to become very well known in town.

But he was not the only one who actually opened a bakery back in 1991: Steen Skallebaek was opening his own bakery too, this time in Jutland. Similar products, similar ideas, and projects.

In 2008 Ole and Steen decided to join forces.

Nothing much has changed, they still bake the best pastries and bread every day, freshly, at any time of the day.

Very cool and nice place with great quality food.

What else can you ask for?
Prices are affordable, not too high and still, remember you are right in the heart of London.

London Local Cafe: Star Express

Local Cafe a Londra: Star Express

Here we are, a lovely local cafe in Angel. This particular one was some kind of surprise. My partner and I were in Angel, as usual, looking for a local cafe, and to be honest with you we wanted to skip the market area, but then we ended up having our fab breakfast here

It is a traditional local café, and even though it is located right on Chapel Market, prices are still very good and in line with a traditional café in a more residential area. We’ve spent an average of £12 for the two of us, and we have been there twice so far.

In these pictures you can see you can have a lot more than the usual fry-up, my partner went for an omelet! Me, being intolerant to a lot of things, I have to adapt and my plate always looks kinda sad! 😊

I have lots more suggestions on local cafe HERE

This area is so nice, the market is a traditional local market, not a tourist one so I strongly recommend visiting Angel. Also, on the nearby (1 min walk away!) the main road you can find lots of restaurants, shops and there are 3 supermarkets in the area too.

Address: 71 Chapel Market, The Angel, London N1 9ER