clairestanton – Page 4 – Claire's Blog

24th March 20199th August 2021

Needles and Golf

Sunday 24th March 2019

This morning we went for a drive out to The Needles at Alum Bay. It is still out of season so most parts were closed including the chair lift. The shop was open so we made a cat ornament with coloured sand for Charlotte, and the view point over The Needles and lighthouse were open.

When we got back had a go on the pitch and put, 9 hole, golf, which was amusing. I took a huge divet out of the grass on the 5th hole which mum found very funny, then she went into the water, well reeds on the next hole.

The ploughmans for lunch could have fed 4 not 2, it was huge. The two quizes today were the sixties and name that tune, we were much worse than yesterday.

Mum brought a lovely blouse in the shop, white with red flowers, lovely for summer and her cruise.

Today’s dinner was roast followed by ice cream and chocolate orange pavlova. In the theatre it was a tribute to the blood brothers, not really our thing.

23rd March 20199th August 2021

Mistiness

Saturday 23rd March 2019

It was very misty this morning as we walked into Yarmouth. Started off on the coastal path but became a dead end, walked back on the beach then onto the road path into Yarmouth.

Misty view of the mainland behind me from coastal path

Mum brought some Christmas cards in the RNLI shop, we both chose books in the charity shop and purchased lunch from a bakery.

We spent afternoon in the bar watching the boats and trying our hand at a sixties quiz and a TV theme quiz with mixed results.

Desert was highlight of dinner, mum had apple crumble with custard and I had Pavlova with pear and toffee.

Then it was the highlight of the weekend, The Fortunes. The sound wasn’t set up the best but The Fortunes were as good as always, they did 1 1/4 hour set.

22nd March 20199th August 2021

Over The Sea And Not Far Away

Friday 22nd March 2019

I collected mum at 9:30 and we headed south for the ferry. A short stop at Southern Scotney services and a slight hold up going through Lymington. Getting on the ferry was no problem, don’t know why I was worried about it.

Mum on top desk of ferry, looking where we have to go

View out from top of ferry with IOW in the distance

We checked in and got shown to our table for dinner, table 28, and our seats in the theatre with a great view of the stage.

For dinner we both had fish and chips followed by ice cream. In the bar tonight it was Country Joe, just my type of music.

11th February 20199th August 2021

Religious Architecture

Monday 11th February 2019

Started with a good breakfast as the hotel, we had a late check out so no rush to leave.

In the morning we went for a look around Sheffield Cathedral. Lots of interesting grave stones with old dates. Inside you can see where it has been extended many times over 100’s of years, one part is very modern with lots of glass.

We stopped by a local sandwich shop to pick up some rolls for lunch on way back to the hotel before heading home.

We came off the motorway and found a nice place to stop for lunch, picnic in the car, we shared some our lovely rolls with a blackbird and sparrow which were hopping about nearby.

10th February 20199th August 2021

It’s Cosmic

Sunday 10th February 2019

Today we travelled up to Sheffield for a night away, staying at the Leopold Hotel. It is where I stayed last year for Ricky Ross concert and is part of the Small Luxury Hotels of the world.

We arrived mid afternoon and had a table booked for dinner at Zizzi’s which is just around the corner from the hotel. We both started with aranchini then spaghetti for mains. Gavin was good but I had ice cream and sorbet for desert.

After dinner we caught the tram out to the Sheffield Arena for an evening with Brian Cox. Was really interesting few hours, some of the talk I had already seen on TV. Didn’t realise the arena was also the ice rink for Sheffield Steelers.

1st December 20189th August 2021

Friends and Food

1st December 2019

Gavin travelled to Woking yesterday evening and after dinner in an Italian with Wendy we had stayed overnight in the hotel by Wendy’s apartment block.

Today after we checked out we met up with Wendy, Alison and children in Cafe Rouge for our annual Christmas get together and gift exchange.

It was a great catch and then a long drive back home around the M25.

30th November 20189th August 2021

Home Sick?

Friday 30th November 2018

We had a late afternoon flight home, so after a last breakfast at the Frothy Monkey we left our bags in the good hands of the hotel and headed down to the Honkey Tonks.

After listening in at a couple we ended up in one of our favourites, Roberts Western World, more traditional style of country music.

One artist had only just started their set, so we had their company for 3 hours, with some hot dogs and grilled cheese sandwiches for lunch. What a great way to spend our last few hours.

Some great pedal steel, my favourite.

Unfortunately all too soon we headed back to the hotel to reclaim our bags, grab a cab and off to the airport for our flight home. On the flight home we were treated to this very unusual and special sun rise.

29th November 20189th August 2021

Out In The Suburbs

Thursday 29th November 2018

We were up a little earlier for our pancake breakfast this morning. Wendy went into the office afterwards while I headed back to the hotel and read for a while.

In the afternoon we went to the Country Music Hall Of Fame, which is huge and there are some amazing costumes on display and Elvis’ gold plated car.

Wendy’s friend, Kendal, met us in out hotel bar when she had finished work for an hour or so before we headed out of downtown to Madison. We went to a place called Dee’s Country Cocktail Lounge in the suburbs to watch Sam Outlaw. It is a local country club, very traditional. A great experience, Sam has just moved to the area and this was the last show of him one month residency. He only sang one original song the rest were covers unfortunately. One of the many guest singers was Aaron Lee Tisjan, what a treat.

When we got back to the hotel we had to pack up our suitcases ready to head home tomorrow 🙁 Slight panic when Wendy weight her suitcase at 32kg (limit is 23!), but as we both lifted it easily decided must be error on scales.

28th November 20189th August 2021

Bit Of History

Wednesday 28th November 2018

Today we went on a Greyline historical tour which meant an early start, 8.30am pick up.

The first stop was the Hermitage, home of Andrew Jackson the 7th president of America.

“The Hermitage is a historical plantation and museum located in Davidson County, Tennessee, United States, 10 miles east of downtown Nashville. The plantation was owned by Andrew Jackson, the seventh President of the United States, from 1804 until his death at the Hermitage in 1845.”

After the Hermitage we stopped for an early lunch at a southern buffet.

In the afternoon it was Belle Meade plantation where they bred race horses, amazing property. Huge wooden veranda of rocking chairs, a winery and exhibit about the slaves that built and worked on the plantation.

“Belle Meade Plantation represents various architectural styles of the 19th century. General William G. Harding, master of Belle Meade Plantation, enjoyed a penchant for architecture and design and typically choose the latest trends in building design for his beloved plantation.”

Dinner tonight was downtown on 2nd Avenue at the Spaghetti Factory. The food was amazing and inside was beautiful, chandeliers and even a tram!

27th November 20189th August 2021

Predators

Tuesday 27th November 2018

Today we had usual pancake breakfast at Frothy Monkey and then headed back to the hotel to catch up on more sleep.

We had lunch in the hotel library, a lovely chicken noodle soup before getting ready for ice hockey.

Met Wendy’s colleagues Todd, Phillip and Tom at the office and went to a bar called Barlines for drinks and a meal before heading over to the arena. Tonight the Nashville Predators were playing Colorado Avelanche, it was a close game but Colorado won 3-2. Was great to watch with Wendy’s colleagues and learn all the chants.. Was really cold all day today was down to -4 for the walk home Brrrrrrr.