A weekend in Kaunas, Lithuania | December 2025

Every week, myself and my wife along with our two best friends put £5 each into a Monzo pot - we let it build up for roughly six months then book something to do together, and it's a great way being able to plan and do something without needing a chunk of money at the time. Last year we visited York in the summer, and we had a two night trip to north Wales booked in December. The latter was cut short due to a storm, meaning we had plenty of funds left in the pot. With 2025 being such a busy year with our wedding, we didn't end up using any of the money earlier in the year so we opted to book a night at the darts (a lot of fun) and a Christmas market break.

But where to go? We were initially thinking Edinburgh, but it was turning out to be tricky to plan with the dates we were all available/lack of flights/long train journeys etc. And so, after a quick look on Skyscanner, the idea to visit Lithuania was born...

Liverpool to Kaunas

We paid just over £70 each to fly from Liverpool to Kaunas with Ryanair (and back), hand luggage only but with extra leg room seats. Our flight out was 7.35am on Saturday, with our return flight at 9.30pm on Sunday - we drove to the airport and paid around £32 for parking which I booked via Holiday Extras. As with any Ryanair flight, it was nothing spectacular but got us there safely and on time!

Saturday in Kaunas

We jumped in an Uber from the airport to the city, which cost £14. It dropped us off at Laisves Aleja, the main pedestrian avenue of the city, and we headed straight for lunch at Casa Della Pasta - a gorgeous Italian restaurant. We all went for pizza, and it was proper woodfired pizza which was utterly delicious!

After lunch we checked into our hotel (more on that later...) and freshened up before heading out to explore properly. Our first stop was the Aleksotas Funicular, one of two funiculars in the city; the other one was closed which is why we opted for this one, which is around a 20-25 min walk from Laisves Aleja and across a bridge. It's cash only, so do bring some euros if you want to ride it - it's 1 euro per person each way. The funicular goes every 10 minutes, and it's only a short ride; at the top there is a nice view of the city, and it was snowing when we got up there which made it that little bit more magical.

We then headed back to the city via Rebels, an Irish bar, for a drink and a warm up. Then we headed to Town Hall Square which had a *huge* Christmas tree and little igloos selling mulled wine, hot chocolate, waffles and more. It was spectacularly pretty! We also popped into the beautiful Archcathedral Basilica of Apostles St. Peter and St. Paul of Kaunas, although we did walk right into mass... it's a stunning building though, so I definitely recommend having a look.

A lot of our day on Saturday was spent around Laisves Aleja, and I just wanted to say how absolutely gorgeous it looks at Christmas - all of the shops and restaurants and businesses go really all-in when it comes to decorating. Everything from trees to gonks to reindeer, bows and baubles and twinkly lights galore. It was so special!

Most of the restaurants in the city seemed to be completely booked up at dinner time, which is definitely something to note. We ended up back in Rebels with some bar snacks, before a mooch around a supermarket (a must during city breaks, don't you think?) for snacks. Then it was time for a few games of cards in the hotel bar before an early night after being up since 3.30am...

Moxy Hotel, Kaunas

We stayed at the Moxy Kaunas Center, and we paid £70 per couple for a room for the night. It was absolutely spot on - the perfect location, just off Laisves Aleja and within walking distance of everything we wanted to see. The rooms were spacious, warm and clean with a comfortable bed, en suite bathroom with sink, toilet, shower & good toiletries, a TV, free WiFi, space to hang a couple of clothing items, USB ports on one side of the bed and plenty of plug sockets, a small seating area, a full length mirror and a fold down table. Downstairs there was free water, lockers to store luggage, and a large bar area with board games. The bright pink Christmas decorations were a hit, too! I was really happy with our choice of hotel in Kaunas city centre.

Sunday in Kaunas

If you're looking for breakfast in Kaunas on a Sunday, you're most likely going to be eating a pastry of some sort - we ended up at a branch of Caffeine, a chain of coffee shops which started in Vilnius and has now expanded throughout the Baltics. It was warm and bright, and there was plenty of choice. We all opted for ham and cheese croissants, and I also treated myself to a Lotus cinnamon bun because when on holiday...

After breakfast we explored a bit more, including King Mindaugas Bridge and some more Christmassy spaces as well as the obligatory trip to Flying Tiger. Then it was time for our chosen museum of the trip: the Devil Museum, which is home to 3,000+ depictions of the devil - from statues to paintings to pipes and everything in between. It was really interesting and we all enjoyed it!

From here we started walking towards Kaunas Castle; along the way we admired the architecture and took a detour through a 'yard gallery' which was really cool. We stopped for a drink at Hop Doc, a craft beer bar, and then we got to the castle itself. It's closed on Sundays but we really only wanted to see the outside, which was interesting, and the big #KAUNAS city sign is there for a nice photo opp. 

We'd been recommended Berneliu Uzeiga for dinner, which was really close to the castle, so we headed there at around 3pm. It's a really cute, cosy and traditional-looking restaurant; we had to wait around 20 minutes for a table as it's so popular, but we got seated in the lovely upstairs area away from the queue itself which was a bonus. The menu has a lot of traditional Lithuanian foods as well as standard meat options; I had fried bread with cheese for my starter (which could definitely be shared...) and for my main I went for a traditional potato dish with beetroot cream and fried chicken bites. I enjoyed my dishes, but the consensus throughout the group was a mixed bag - for example, my wife ordered the pork chop but it was actually a pork schnitzel, and our friend had to send his starter back as it was still frozen inside. They had a couple of mocktails on the menu, but I went for the orange and passionfruit lemonade!

From here we mooched back through the city centre, stopping to buy souvenirs and also to grab a donut (not that we needed more food but again, when on holiday...) from Holy Donut - this was one of the best donuts I've ever eaten, so I'd highly recommend.

And this brought us to the end of our trip, as we headed back to the hotel to pick up our bags and book an Uber to the airport!

Total spend for a weekend in Kaunas, Lithuania

Flights - £73.22 per person

Reserved plane seats - £23 per person

Hotel - £35 per person

Airport parking - £8 per person

Petrol/tunnel money - £5 per person

After paying for actually getting to Kaunas, we were left with £346 in the pot - around £172 per couple. But would this be enough for 36 hours in this Baltic city? Here's approximately what me and my wife spent while we were there...

Saturday spends

Uber from the airport - 15 euros

City tax - 4 euros

Lunch @ Casa Della Pasta - 35 euros

Coffee from Vero - 4 euros

Two soft drinks @ Rebels - 5 euros

Funicular - 4 euros

Soft drinks and bar snacks @ Rebels - 15 euros

Supermarket - 16 euros

Coffee and a soft drink in the hotel bar - 7 euros

Sunday spends

Breakfast @ Caffeine - 18 euros

Devil Museum - 16 euros

Two soft drinks @ Hop Doc - 7 euros

Dinner @ Berneliu - 44 euros

Souvenir magnet - 3 euros

Two donuts @ Holy Donut - 10 euros

Soft drink in the hotel bar - 3 euros

Coffee and a soft drink in the aiport - 9 euros

So in total we spent 215 euros or around £190, so just over what we had saved in our little Monzo pot. I haven't included the bits I bought at Flying Tiger or the tablets/cream I had to buy in the pharmacy after having an allergic reaction to my eyeshadow (perks of travelling with a skin condition...) and as you might have noticed, we didn't drink. I'm alcohol-free anyway and my wife doesn't drink within 24 hours of flying, so this definitely kept the cost down for us!

If we break that down for the two of us, for getting there, the hotel and our spends, the total cost for a weekend in Kaunas was £239 per person - which I don't think is bad at all...

I absolutely love a weekend city break, especially when you don't have to use ANY annual leave, and we all really enjoyed our time in Kaunas, Lithuania. Let me know what you think of what we got up to and what we spent...

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The Natural Advantage

Before we dive into the fun DIY recipes, it’s worth taking a moment to understand why natural cleaning methods are such a smart swap. After all, you’re not just trading one bottle for another; you’re changing the whole feel of your home.

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DIY Recipes

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Baking Soda & Vinegar Scrub

If you want a reliable all-rounder for sinks, tiles, and general bathroom grime, this paste should be your go-to cleaner.

Mix equal parts baking soda and vinegar in a bowl. While it’s still fizzing, dip a damp sponge into the mixture and gently scrub your surfaces. Then, rinse everything with warm water and enjoy that fabulous shine.

Lemon-Scented Disinfectant

For a fresh, zesty spray that lifts your mood as much as it cleans your surfaces, try this simple mix.

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Fizzing Toilet Cleaner

When your toilet needs a refresh, this little duo works overtime so you don’t have to.

Pour half a cup of baking soda into the bowl, followed by half a cup of vinegar. Let it fizz away for about ten minutes, then scrub with a toilet brush. The reaction will loosen stubborn stains, making the process far less exhausting.

Mirror & Glass Spray

If streaky mirrors drive you up the wall, this gentle solution will bring back that crystal-clear finish.

Blend two cups of water with two tablespoons of vinegar in a spray bottle. Lightly mist your mirrors and shower panels, then wipe them using a microfibre cloth in circular motions. Voilà—clean, clear, streak-free glass.

Smart Cleaning Shortcuts

You’ve got the recipes sorted, so the next step is figuring out how to use them in a way that makes bathroom cleaning feel easier, not endless. Here are some tips you can try out:

Declutter First

Start by giving yourself some space to work. Clear the counters, move products off shelves and relocate anything that doesn’t belong in your bathroom.

Once the surfaces are bare, every bit of grime will become easier to reach, and you’ll avoid the frustration of cleaning around small piles of bottles. A tidy starting point will also help your brain switch into ‘let’s get this done’ mode.

Clean From Top to Bottom

If cleaning feels chaotic, you probably need to change your technique. Begin with the highest surfaces, like the light fixtures, shelves, and mirrors, and work your way down to sinks and countertops.

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Build a Routine

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Conclusion

You’ve got the tools, tricks, and the confidence to keep your bathroom in great shape without the harsh chemicals weighing you down.

So, grab a sponge and start with the easiest recipe. You’ll see results before the enthusiasm wears off. And yes, you’re absolutely allowed to feel smug about it.

24 hours in Oxford

Sometimes you just have a rogue day of annual leave left to take and nothing much to do with it - and when that happens, it's always best to try and get away! I also had a TrainGift voucher burning a hole in my pocket, a birthday present from lovely family members, so myself and my wife decided to book a night away in Oxford. Here's what we got up to...

Liverpool to Oxford

As mentioned, I booked our trains using a voucher for TrainGift - it was super easy to book our tickets, and I just paid the difference myself. Then disaster struck as we remember it was the final race of the F1 season the day we were travelling, and our train would get us into Oxford midway through the race. My wife is a big Lando fan, so this simply wouldn't do. I was a bit unclear as to whether the tickets I'd booked would allow us to travel on the earlier train, as the ticket split showing for the prior route was different - but the customer service team at TrainGift were really helpful and very friendly, and we got it all sorted.

Watching the F1 in Oxford

We arrived around 45 minutes prior to lights out, and legged it through the rain to one of a few places in Oxford that show the F1 - O'Neills on George Street. It's a chain, it's nothing special, and we'd been unable to reserve a table, but we did manage to squeeze onto some stools in between two other tables and got chatting to some locals before the race started. The drinks were around the price I expected - it was just over £11 for a pint of Coors and a bottle of non-alcoholic cider, of which they promptly ran out after I'd only had one. Never mind. Anyway, we watched the race and I left O'Neills with one very happy wife, ready to properly start our 24 hours in Oxford!

Premier Inn, Oxford City Centre

While there are plenty of lovely boutique hotels in Oxford, we were booking quite last minute and a lot of places were either booked up or way out of our budget. We opted for the Premier Inn, which is right opposite Westgate shopping centre and around an 11 minute walk from the train station. I booked us a Premier Plus room, which was really fresh, clean and well decorated with some extra features you don't see in their standard rooms...

• Choice of pillows
• Rainfall shower
• Luxury toiletries (Baylis & Harding 'Goodness' range)
• USB ports next to the bed
• Comfy chair
• Coffee machine and mini fridge
• Sweet treats
• Iron & ironing board
• Ultimate Wi-Fi

We were really impressed, and we added breakfast to our stay as we had a busy full day on the Monday so it was definitely the convenient option.

Sunday in Oxford

Anyway, back to Sunday. After checking in, we went for a wander through town - we visited the famous Covered Market, which was really nice, and popped to see the Christmas market too. The latter was much smaller than we expected and quite disappointing in all honesty, but hey it's festive! We also had a quick look at some of the colleges, but this was our main plan for Monday so we didn't want to spoil it for ourselves too much. By this point it was raining and miserable, so we went back to the hotel (via a mooch in a Japanese supermarket) to chill, read and freshen up for dinner.

The Ivy, Oxford

For dinner I thought we would be spoilt for choice, but again this was a last minute trip so most places were completely booked up! We opted to eat at The Ivy, having never been there before together. We had a 7pm booking on the Sunday night and it was fairly quiet, so we were served really quickly and everything was very positive. The restaurant is beautifully decorated during the festive season, and they had some excellent Christmas drinks on the menu.

I opted for the Wild Berries mocktail, which has spiced berries, passion fruit, and Wild Idol sparkling white. It was honestly delicious, even at £10.50! For my dinner I had the The Ivy Truffle Burger and my wife opted for Traditional Fish and Chips. We honestly couldn't fault the food or service at all, and we really enjoyed the whole experience.

Monday in Oxford

We got up, got ready and headed down for our Premier Inn breakfast, then it was off out into the cold (but thankfully dry) weather to explore. 

We had a little wander around the castle area before heading into town to meet our guide as we had booked a "free" Oxford walking tour. Our guide was hilarious, such a dry sense of humour, and of course really knowledgable about the city. Some of the highlights we got to see were:

• The Sheldonian Theatre 
• The Bodleian Library
• The Bridge of Sighs
• A tree and a window both featured in the Harry Potter films
• The Radcliffe Camera
• All Souls College (from the outside)
• The door that allegedly inspired The Chronicles of Narnia
• The house where Edmond Halley lived
• The Turf Tavern
• Mansfield College grounds

So all in all a great list of famous places, with some great stories to go along with them. The tour was around 1.5 hours, and we did end up paying £10 each - you're not exactly forced into paying, but we did feel like we had to!

After the tour we visited Blackwell's, a huge bookshop where I bravely bought NOTHING, then visited the spot where three martyrs were burnt at the stake in the 1500s. We headed round to the Ashmolean as I really wanted to stop for a mocktail in the rooftop restaurant, but they put us in dreadful seats where we couldn't soak in any of the view - presumably because we weren't eating! Instead, we headed to the gorgeous Morse Bar at the Randolph Hotel. I had an utterly delightful mocktail here by the fire.

From here we headed back round to visit University Church of St Mary the Virgin, and then popped into the grounds of All Souls College for a peek in the chapel and to catch some lovely views. Our last stop before heading back to the train was St. Phillips, a secondhand bookshop, where I picked up a very old copy of Tom Sawyer. 

I'd say our 24 hours in Oxford was a roaring success; it's a very pretty city with plenty of gorgeous architecture to see, lots of filming locations and some great history. We really enjoyed this last minute staycation and I'd definitely recommend a visit!

November 2025 reading round up

I can't believe this is the penultimate reading round up of 2025 - this year has flown by! Without further ado, here's everything I read in November 2025 and what I thought of them...

The Hidden Girl by Lucinda Riley

I picked this up in Waterstones when I was spending my birthday gift vouchers, and my wife actually chose this for me as she liked the cover. It's not my typical genre of choice, but I was absolutely awed by this book. I ended up choosing it for our mini bestie book club, and I was so pleased I did. It's a beautiful story about a young girl who is whisked away from her quiet Yorkshire life in the 60s to become a model; intertwined with her life, and the tragedies that happen to her, is the story of two young siblings during World War Two. The way the story seamlessly weaves between the decades and shares so many perspectives is expertly done, and it's just honestly fantastic. 5 stars from me!

Their Double Lives by Jaime Lynn Hendricks

I listened to this one as an audiobook while working; it's a mediocre thriller about a woman who's been paid to kill a man at a country club and what happens when she can't go through with. Told from the dual POV of her and the man's fiancée across two timelines, it's relatively well-written and the twists, though not too difficult to guess, are tied up nicely. I gave this 3.5 stars.

The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling

What a whole lot of fun! This is the kind of fantasy I can get behind; I'm not an ACOTAR girly and I don't read about faes and dragons etc, but cute witchy urban fantasy with cosy vibes? That's a bit of me. This book had been on my TBR since last autumn, so I was really happy to finally get around to reading it this year. A very enjoyable, easy read - well written and cute with a fast paced storyline and good spice! 4.5 stars from me.

One Of Us Is Lying by Karen M McManus

I read this for our November pick at the main book club I go to, and I loved it - YA thrillers are definitely one of my favourite genres, and this didn't disappoint. I *had* seen the TV show, quite a while ago, so I had a vague sense of what was happening but I'd forgotten the twist and had a completely different suspect in mind. It's really well told and a very interesting story; I gave this 4 stars, though it's more of a 4.5, and I'll definitely continue the series.

On The Ferry to Skye by J A Forde

I absolutely loved this - books set in Scotland really seem to do it for me. It's a lovely romance about two childhood friends who never quite get together, then completely lose contact. When life brings them back together, it's a bit of an enemies to lovers, second chance romance situation and it's gorgeous. With the exception of some really questionable decisions by the FMC, I really enjoyed everything about this. 4.5 stars!

What Have I Done? by Teresa Driscoll

This was a thriller ARC, and it was good! It follows a family who have been drawn into the orbit of a cult, lead by a very dangerous woman, and the whole family get completely wrapped up a whole lot of drama which all stems back to one horrific event a year or so prior to when the book is set. The twist was really good and I enjoyed the subplots too! 4 stars from me; releases January 2026.

Dove by Paisley Hope

I adore Paisley Hope - her writing style is honestly brilliant. I believe this book is set before the first book in the Soldiers of Bedlam series (confusing but whatever) and it follows Sean, ex-soldier and member of the town's very intense motorcycle club, and Layla: struggling student/server who has been left orphaned after her parents were killed by another MC. The spice is intense but so well done, and the plot is of course very insta-love but also very cute. Overall I just really enjoyed this book and gave it 4 stars,

The Eight Heartbreaks of Hanukkah by Jean Meltzer

My 100th book of the year and my first holiday romance of the season! This is a retelling of A Christmas Carol, but with a Jewish twist and set in NYC. It follows a TV producer who is married to the job, and still reeling from her divorce - throughout Hanukkah, while preparing for a big live action TV show, she is visited by eight 'heartbreaks' who take her on a journey through her life to see what she can learn. With a second chance romance plot too, this was an enjoyable read although I found it a bit odd in places where the character literally explains she is living in a retelling. That felt a bit jarring! Overall though, 3.75 stars!

Second Chance Romance by Olivia Dade

Rather unimaginative title aside, this was a really sweet... second chance romance, of course, set in a small town following an audiobook narrator who goes back home upon learning about the death of her old best friend, who actually turns out not to be dead but running a cute bakery. The two rekindle and things go from there, but there are plenty of fun subplots and the romance is an enjoyable slow burn. 3.5 stars!

Some really good reads in November, and I was thrilled to hit the 100 books mark for 2025 - I'll probably end the year at around 108, but we'll see in my December reading round up...

My Great British Bake Off 2025 bake along journey

If you follow me on instagram (lucky you) then you might know I've been doing my own version of a GBBO bake along - not baking what the contestants have to bake each week, because my blood pressure couldn't handle it, but instead just baking something to fit the theme of each episode. I thought I would document everything I baked, and my experience/what I might do differently etc, in this blog post. I'm excited to look back next year and see if my baking has improved!

Cake week

Week 1 of GBBO 2025 was cake week, of course. I opted to make Crunchie chocolate cupcakes, using a Jane's Patisserie recipe and utilising my new Progress stand mixer which was a 30th birthday present from my family. Honestly these couldn't have turned out better; the bake was super easy and they were the ideal texture, and decor wise I was really happy with them too. This was literally the very first time I had used a piping bag, too - so I was honestly quite happy with how the buttercream looked on top! They were absolutely delicious and I plan on making them again for sure. I did Crunchie spread in the middle (don't recommend having this in the cupboard as it's simply TOO delicious) and chunks of Crunchie on top. Splendid effort for week one.

Biscuit week

I wasn't sure what to make for week 2, biscuit week - so I asked my fiancée (now my wife at the time of posting this because I did literally get married in the middle of a bake off season) what she fancied. Her favourite biscuits are the Fox's Viennese chocolate sandwich ones, so I thought I would make something similar but hopefully easier. I used this Viennese biscuit recipe, dipping one end in milk chocolate. The dough was straightforward to make, and then I had to pipe them out onto greaseproof paper on a tray. This was my second ever time piping and honestly, it could have been better but they did turn out pretty good if I do say so myself. I think I was cautious and not applying enough pressure at first, so they didn't come out as thick as I would have liked meaning I re-piped some, which is why they're definitely not even looking. Wouldn't win any Bake Off technical awards but hey, they tasted lovely (if not quite as sweet as we might have hoped) and the texture was genuinely spot on. 

Bread week

For GBBO week 3, it was bread week. I've never made bread before but there's a first time for everything! I opted for focaccia, and I already had everything I needed - you only need flour, yeast, water, salt and oil. I mixed the flour, yeast and water in my stand mixer, letting it knead for 15 minutes using a dough hook. Honestly, if it wasn't for this mixer, I don't know what I'd do. Then I transferred it to an oiled bowl, letting it sit for half an hour - around 20 minutes into this time frame, I filled by baking dish with boiling water to let it warm up. At the half an hour point, I emptied the water from the dish and dried it, then put the dough in there to prove for another 30 minutes. Just before popping in the oven, I pressed my fingers into the bread to dimple it and topped with more oil, salt, mixed herbs and also some chopped peppers to make a flower and sun design. This bread was unreal and I can't believe how simple it was to do, and I've made it MANY times since!

Back to school week

Bake Off week 4 was a new one in the schedule - back to school. Of course my first thought was classic school cake, so I ordered a square tin and again followed a Jane's Patisserie recipe to make the cake. I didn't actually let it cool long enough before adding the icing, so it was very runny and didn't really stick to the top of the cake properly - but otherwise, this was another success and it tasted delightful.

Chocolate week

Week 5 (and at this point I was very impressed to have stuck at this every week in the midst of planning a wedding AND working full time) was chocolate week; I really didn't want to do anything too complicated, so I went with a biiiggggg fat chocolate orange cake. I used the Jane's Patisserie basic chocolate cake recipe, adding some orange essence into the chocolate buttercream and decorating with Terry's segments. I was so proud of everything about this cake - it tasted and looked absolutely fantastic, and we were living off it for days. Possibly my favourite one!

Pastry week

When it came to pastry week, I'll admit I failed Paul Hollywood and cheated by using pre-made pastry. I've never made pastry in my life, and at this point it was 2 weeks before the wedding and work had ramped up big time, so pre-made pastry to the rescue! I opted to make sausage rolls, but to jazz them up a bit I did mix the sausage meat with some sage & onion stuffing. Honestly they were a delight, and of course this was a super easy recipe - though I did have to separate an egg for the first time to do the egg wash/glaze, so that was a new skill for me.

Meringue week

This was the week of our wedding, so I went simple with what turned out to be basically meringue blobs - made in my mixer, of course, and topped with a chocolate drizzle and fresh raspberries. The meringues took ages to whip into a stiff peak in the mixer, like honestly an absurd amount of time, but otherwise this was really easy to do. It was also only my second ever time separating eggs, so that was a new skill for me! I did add sprinkles to the meringue mixture but they didn't really show up much or taste that good, so I wouldn't do that again.

Dessert week

Week 8 was dessert week and this was just 3 days after my wedding - I was in Poland, and had absolutely not had the time to try making any sort of dessert for the occasion which was such a shame as I could have definitely put something delicious and chocolatey together...

Patisserie week

Another fail on my part - in my defence, this was a few days after we got home from Poland, and we'd been to a gig AND I was straight back to work, so my time was completely eaten up. Not so devastating because I honestly don't have a *clue* what I would have been able to make for this one!

The final

Aaaaah, the final! SO pleased Jasmine won, what a superstar - as there was no given theme for this week, I went with a basic (and sensational) Victoria sponge with some granny chic, chintzy floral piping on top. *Still* practicing my piping skills, though I'll be honest I don't really seem to be improving at all. I feel like it's something you need three hands for?! Also the cake just wasn't level at all, but it's rustic and a 10/10 for taste.

And that's it done - until 2026, when I'll definitely be attempting this again, hopefully with even better results and with every week ticked off.  I've learnt new skills, tried a lot of new things, and added some amazing regular recipes to my roster! And for that, I'm calling this challenge a success.