England – Claire's Blog

30th July 20199th August 2021

Over the Border

Tuesday 30th July 2019

It was time to say goodbye to England and hello Scotland as we made our way up the motorway with Gavin behind the wheel to Glasgow. It had been raining on and off the whole journey but it stopped, temporarily, as we crossed the border. We had to make good time as we had afternoon tea booked for 1.30pm.

We didn’t have any problems as thought we might with the Glasgow one way system and easily found the NCP car park, and our hotel for the night, Motel One, was almost next door. We were early for check in but they had two rooms available so could leave all our luggage and head off for our afternoon tea at the Willows tea rooms which was just a few minutes walk away.

Note the empty cake stand, afternoon tea was yummy

Gavin saw this tent which was outside the tea rooms and couldn’t resist boasting.

We found a lovely basement Italian restaurant that was a short walk from the hotel for dinner, I had a pasta dish while Gavin went with the steak. After dinner it had started to drizzle again but we went for a walk down to the Clyde by the time we got there (only few minutes) it was pouring. I’d given Gavin my small pop up umbrella to keep him dry but my fold up mac proved not to be as waterproof as I would have liked!

29th July 20199th August 2021

Sunshine and Holidays

Monday 29th July 2019

We left later than hoped for so missed out on lunch in Kendal, but we did arrive at our overnight stop in Romney’s apartment in time for dinner.

Studying the plan for next day’s journey

We had dinner in the gastro pub next door, as with last time I chose the cumberland sausage and yorkshire pudding, this time Gavin went with the burger option.

As we are much earlier in the year for our holiday this year, it was still light and we had a table over looking the pub gardens of the beautiful evening.

21st April 20199th August 2021

The Fortunate Archer

Saturday 21st April 2019

We attempted to visit Carrisbrook Castle this morning, but were later leaving than planned, then we followed the SatNav which took us not near the castle – it was 9 miles away. At which point we decided to head back and have some lunch at the hotel, sandwich and fries.

After lunch we went on a tour of the lifeboat station with Patch, found out the hotel was a holiday camp and before that was used by the Navy, HMS Blazer. The tour showed us the D Class in shore lifeboat and the Tamar Class all weather boat and was really interesting. It costs £5,500 each time they get a shout and the money all comes from donations.

Bembridge Tamar Class All Weather Lifeboat

Had to rush back to the hotel afterwards for an archery lesson. It turns out i’m not a natural archer, after almost giving up I gave it a try left handed which was much better. So today’s lesson I learned I am a left handed archer.

After dinner, roast chicken tonight, it was time for the weekends highlight for me, The Fortunes in the Admirals lounge. A bit different to other times i’ve seen them as it was just Eddie and Michael, but they were still really good and entertaining. Gavin watched about half the show with me and I took some photo’s which turned out quite well.

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.

28th October 20189th August 2021

Breakfast in Bed

Sunday 28th October

Bonus extra hour in bed and we had breakfast in bed – well delivered to our room which had a lounge area. A very spoilt way to start the day – juice, cereal, toast, fruit and hot chocolate.

I was feeling the effects of yesterday’s flu jab, lumpy achy arm and a cold 🙁 , so decided to head home after breakfast and re-packing.

It was lunch time when we got to Olney (different route home due to road work), so we had a look around before going to teapots. Gavin had some strawberry and raspberry fizz, soup and chocolate cake, I went for a ham sandwich (with salad, crisps) and the usual diet coke.

All that remained of our lunch in Teapots

Then it was back home to unpack and do some washing. An eager squirrel was on the table awaiting a walnut.

Early night tonight the F1 race is recorded and can wait until tomorrow.