Looking Back Over November

A little round up of favourite moments of November 2013. Thank goodness for camera phones.

• Watching the leaves turn, and disappear
• Getting out the Winter woollies and heading to Sefton Park's firework display
• Games night with friends and snug nights on the couch with Lottie and Bruce

• Marking 12 years since my dad died with a family day of bowling and laughter
• After work walks and Christmas cups
• Baking. This one is Nigella's chocolate and raspberry cake. Icing sugar over the top... 
• Being treated to an after work spa night at The Club and Spa and a meal at Marco Pierre White

• Heading to New Orleans for a conference and returning with a suitcase full of sweets
• Christmas crafting, starting with homemade Christmas cards  
• My brother turning 25. Actually cannot believe he is so old, and lets forget for just a moment that I'm actually older than him!

This month seems to have whizzed by. In fact, this whole semester has whizzed by. BUT, with my last lecture now under my belt I can start to wind down and prepare for Christmas. Hoo-rah!

Once Upon a Weekend

Another fun weekend. On Friday we tried out Lark Lane's Caribbean restaurant, Raggas. I had jerk chicken and M had jerk prawns, both served with coleslaw, rice and beans. The food was fresh, colourful, inexpensive and tasted delicious. Better still, it was BYOB so we took a bottle of vino and drank it out of tumblers.

Afterwards, we popped over to Bier, a busy, candle lit bar serving beers from around the world. Love a good unplanned dinner date and it was good to feel our age on a Friday night, even if we did mutter about how loud the music was!

Saturday I was in work for an open day but in the afternoon, my beautiful friend and her new husband came over to look at the photographs I took at their wedding last weekend. 

Saturday night we met up with friends for Mexican food and a showing of Grease at the cinema. Cue lots of singing and hand jive!

Sunday was February's official 'Date Day'. I cannot remember if I've mentioned this before, but basically for our wedding anniversary I made up a box of date day vouchers (paper), one for each month with a particular activity that we love to do together. This month was spa pampering. I am lucky that I have a man who jumps at the idea of a spa day, who has enjoyed countless massages and loves getting wrinkled in a hot tub.

We went to Rookery Hall and Spa in Cheshire, about an hour drive from us. After one of the most friendly, helpful spa inductions I've had, we changed and headed straight for the glass roofed pool side and worked our way through the sauna, crystal steam room, hydrotherapy spa pool and swimming pool. This area is open to all health club members but even for a Sunday it didn't get too busy. Wrapped in fluffy robes, we took advantage of the spa relaxation areas, available to spa customers only and complete with complimentary water, juice, herbal teas, and fruit. Our treatments were quite late in the afternoon so we had something in the spa cafe before enjoying a very relaxing aromatherapy massage. I think I floated out of that treatment room! 

Once Upon a Chinese New Year Weekend

I can't believe it's Friday again. Where has this week gone? Here are some photographs to remember highlights of last couple of weeks. The photograph of the gorgeous lady in the beautiful white dress is a reminder of my favourite day of February 2013.

• Made (another) teacup candle as a birthday gift
• Car radio finally fixed (three years later)
• Long drive with radio
• Catch ups with two of my favourite people over cheese toasties and cups of tea in Birmingham
• Chinese New Year, Chinese buffet, dragons eating lettuce, and dodgy dancing
• Bridesmaid chats in pjs and making plans a Bath Thermea Spa trip
• Traffic jam on M6 and singing along loudly to Radio 2
• Service station creme egg
• Home for a chicken roast
• Evening alone catching up with Mr Selfridge, packaging #Heartswap, making an origami heart for a homemade Valentine's card, and watching BAFTAs
• Impromptu midweek cinema trip with M to see 'I Give It A Year'
• Too many Nutella pancakes on Shrove Tuesday
• For the first time ever, received a delivery of flowers at work
• A lamb, wine, champagne and candles dinner
• My AOW #bookswap arrived
• Hair pampering
• Baked a cinnamon Nutella cake and made carrot cake for the first time (and it looked decent)
• Leftover lamb rogan josh for dinner, from scratch
• My best friend got married and I played 'wedding photographer' for the morning
• Tears and laughter, cake related compliments, ridiculous dancing to Proclaimers' 500 Miles
• Recovery duvet morning and About A Boy
• A Sunday walk along the Mersey
• Pub lunch watching M get frustrated as Leeds United concede four goals
• Scrabble
• Rewatching BBC1's Spy in the Huddle and laughing at rockhopper penguins' walk

Just a few more hours of work between now and another fun filled weekend! Whoop.

A Wedding Weekend

And it's going to be a good one! I'm about to finish my work for the week and take myself off to the hairdressers for a bit of a pamper and get my hair all pinned ready for tomorrow's main event. A wedding. My best friend's wedding. I'm so excited! The beautiful bride-to-be got engaged to her man in November and tomorrow is the day she becomes his Mrs. She's organised a cake reception after the church service and I'll be spending tonight baking two cakes: a cinnamon Nutella cake and a carrot cake. I hope they turn out okay and also that my hair isn't covered in flour by the time I go to bed... it probably will be. That will teach me for leaving it until the last minute! I've also been asked to take photographs of bridal preparations*. I'm feeling quite nervous about this but also mega privileged that I get to be there with one of my best friends as she gets ready for her wedding day. I hope I'm able to capture the special moments of her morning for her. Fingers crossed (well, kind of; I still have to be able to press the shutter button).

Enjoy the weekend!
*Fancy a peep at the photos? Click here

A Review: The Ampersand Hotel

In December we stayed at The Ampersand Hotel; a new, luxury hotel in London's South Kensington. Enter a grand Victorian building, just a few steps away from the tube and you're met with the vibrant, contemporary design and friendly atmosphere of this boutique hotel. Our beautiful ornithology inspired room was spacious and full of little personal touches, including a rubber duck in the shower, Miller Harris toiletries, a bedside bird dictionary, complimentary soft drinks, and countless vanity items. The hotel is in a perfect central location. It's on the doorstep of the National History Museum, the V&A, and the Royal Albert Hall, and only a short walk down leafy streets and you're in Knightsbridge. Despite its location, our room was quiet with little noise from the street.

I wanted to share some of the photographs that I managed to snap during our stay.

We loved our stay at The Ampersand Hotel and enjoyed a great meal at Apero Restaurant and Bar. The chef even joined us at the table to give his (excellent) menu recommendations! After our night at the Albert Hall, we went back to Apero to sample their cocktails. The Rose Caryatid (prosecco, Martini Rosato, pomegranate and rose water) was gorgeous. 

I hadn't planned to write anything up and so there are some beautiful details in the hotel that I haven't been able to show here. The Ampersand's website showcases the hotel, including the stylish Drawing Room. Check it out! Since we stayed at The Ampersand Hotel, their reputation seems to be increasing (no causation implied!). It now features on lots of 'best places to stay' lists and was recently listed a Mr & Mrs Smith hotel. I would definitely recommend a visit to The Ampersand Hotel, or even just a trip to their Drawing Room for afternoon tea. We were too busy being London tourists to try it, but it looked pretty yummy. We're looking forward to planning our next visit, whenever that might be.

Once Upon a Celebration Filled Weekend

• Celebrated my brother's PGCE acceptance with pizza, champagne, fizzy strawberries and Silver Linings Playbook

 

• Run (walked with a handful of running efforts) around Sefton Park for the first time this year
• Housework (boo)
• Across to M's parents for his grandpa's 86th birthday feast

• Happy Birthday sing song in Latvian and sponge cake 

• Competitive game of Scrabble with my lovely in-laws
• A cooked breakfast and meet up with M's friend
• Traffic jam
• Cadbury Creme Eggs
• Suit shopping with M at the Trafford Center
• Thai dinner at ChaoBaby

• Cat cuddles
• A bubble bath
• Sofa, candles and Youth In Revolt
• Fresh bed linen

Once Upon A Snowy January Weekend

This weekend was lots of fun! What did I get up to?

• Our big boss men approved our holiday time and so WE BOOKED OUR FLIGHTS (see here for earlier trip related rambles).
• My best friend is getting married in less than three weeks. All very exciting! We braved the snow in our heels and went for a meal at Carluccio's followed by lots of dancing. My amazing little bowl of  amaretto chocolate cake (it had a suitably Italian name, but I can't remember it!) gets a feature spot here, as does the bride-to-be in all her hen do finery.
• Saturday morning and afternoon was all about relaxing with a girly spa day and lunch. 
• Home with time for a couple of episodes of The Wire and a hot chocolate.
• A 30th birthday do, with a gorgeous cupcake tower.
• Breakfast date with friends at the Tavern Co. Their 'American' breakfast, which comes with a syrup pancake on the side, is the best Sunday morning breakfast. I was too busy eating to remember to take a photo so this one is taken from Tavern Co. webpages.
• A post-breakfast game of Articulate.
• Curl up on couch for another episode of The Wire (nearly finished! Last two episodes of Season 5 to go).
• Over to Manchester to see Davad Bazan in a small, intimate venue with a well stocked bar.

Take that, ice and snow. You couldn't stop our fun!

What did you get up to this weekend? Did the snow stop any of your plans?

What Weekends Were Made For

For me, this weekend was just what weekends were made for: Long walks together, Scrabble, dancing feet, family and friends. Here's what I got up to.

 Thursday 

M had a day away from work, but only because he had an exam in the afternoon to pass. Well, the boy passed! Hoot-hoot! This meant we had the rest of the afternoon together and we went for a long walk around our local park, stopping at The Moon and Pea on Lark Lane for some food, hot chocolates and a game of Scrabble. The night was finished with more episodes of The [very addictive] Wire. 

 Friday

Image via xxbluemoonxx on Tumblr

Day off spent in Manchester with mum and a cinema trip to see Les Misérables. One word: Amazing. I've not stopped singing! 

Saturday

Sun setting over Crosby Beach

LAZY pjs morning, The Wire, boiled egg and soldiers. A walk at another favourite spot, watching the sun set over Crosby beach. Scouse, red cabbage and wine at the lakeside bistro. Back home, heels on and tissues packed, and out for lots of dancing to send a friend off on her travels in style! FIVE megamix got some airtime, and for about two seconds we pretended we couldn't remember the moves. Three seconds in, there was no stopping us.

 Sunday

Pennington Flash Country Park

A trip to pick up a drum pedal turned into an opportunity for another walk at a new spot, Pennington Flash Country Park, an extensive nature reserve about 30 minutes drive. Warmed up with cupasoup and hot Vimtos from the man-in-a-van, we had a good couple of hours exploring. We'll definitely be making another trip there, maybe when the ground's a little drier! Squeezed in another episode of The Wire, before heading to my mums for a Sunday dinner. 

There's another weekend on its way, but this one's looking pretty empty at the moment. What to do? 

What's your idea of a perfect weekend? 

Escape To The Movies #JanuaryJoy

Image Source

Today's #JanuaryJoy prompt is to go to the movies. Well, Les Mis is out today. Mum and I went to see the stage production when it was in Manchester a few years ago. I'm all booked to take my mum to the cinema tonight, and we will laugh and cry and sing. I hope the film adaptation lives up to expectations. I cannot wait!

2012: A Year in Review

Inspired by Rebecca at Florence Finds, I decided to spend a couple of hours looking back over the highs, and making my peace with the lows, of 2012. Here are some of the little pieces that made me happy this year. I hope when I come back to this space I'm reminded how full 2012 was!

 

January

Me jumping at the top of Kerið

In January, we travelled to Iceland, staying in CenterHotel Thingholt, Reykjavik. We did a Golden Circle tour visiting volcanic crators, Gulfoss waterfall, geysirs, Þingvellir National Park and the Blue Lagoon. We had one of the most amazing meals at the Lobster House, got tipsy in Islenski barrin, and warmed up with hot chocolates in the colourful Laundromat Cafe. Here you can do your laundry downstairs, if the mood so takes you.

 

March

Birthday celebrations with a family walk and picnic in beautiful Tatton Park, followed by a meal out and Beatles themed cocktails at Hard Days Night Hotel.

April

Sea Odyssey, Liverpool. April 2012

Liverpool is a great city, always offering something to its residents and visitors. One weekend in April two rather large tourists came to visit. The 30 foot tall little girl Giant and her 50 foot Uncle in a diving suit wandered around the streets of Liverpool, brought to life by Royal de Luxe company. The Sea Odyssey Giant Spectacular was part of the Titanic memorial events in the city. We had lots of fun chasing the giants through the city. Amazing.

 

May

I've not spent much time with M's old school friends. So, a group of us rented a cottage in the Cotswolds for a long weekend. It was good to get to know his friends better over long walks, complete with a near death sinking inquick clay(?) experience, an unexpected and excellent Gurkha meal, and a 1920's speakeasy murder mystery (not guilty).

 

June

In June, M and I had a week in Andalucia, Spain. We took this photograph before we scrambled downhill and relaxed in a little cove at the Spanish Lake District at Ardales Park.

 

July

Walt Disney's Magic Kingdom Fireworks. July 2012.

In July, me, M, my mum and brother had a two week holiday in Orlando, Florida. We rented a villa with its own pool and did all the theme parks, shopped and indulged in naughty food. It was Mr.'s first time to Orlando's theme parks and I think he fell for Disney's magic charms!

 

August

My lovely mum's not had an easy time of it the past 10 years or so but our friendship has developed throughout, perhaps as a consquence of what's happened. In August, Mum and I spent a few days in Harrogate, visiting Betty's tea rooms and the Turkish baths. I hope we get to do more trips like this in 2013.

In August, we also celebrated our One year as a Mr and Mrs! Me and M celebrated in a gorgeous little cottage in Dentdale and had a great meal at Holbeck Ghyll's Michelin starred restauraunt in the Lake District. I can't believe how quickly the time passed by, but this weekend away gave us both a chance to reflect on our year as a Mr. and Mrs. and make plans for the years ahead.

 

September

A night exploring Bath with M and relaxing at the Thermea Spa, before a week of tennis, bike riding, mini golf, (more) murder mystery fun, and just generally catching up with good friends in CenterParcs, Longleat.

October

Eiffel Tower. Oct 2012 (Edited on Picassa)

As an anniversary gift, M organised a short weekend trip to Paris in October. We stayed at Mr. and Mrs. Smith recommended hotel, Hôtel des Académies et des Arts. This art hotel in Paris' Left Bank was perfect and we spent the weekend exploring, riding the batobus, visiting the Eiffel Tower, Sacre Coeur, Notre Dame and of course, Laduree! We also spent time walking through beautiful gardens and street markets, as I search my brain to remember what I learned in French A-level lessons.

November

In November, I was fortunate to attend a research conference in San Diego with a friend from work. It was good to have an opportunity to talk about my research, and San Diego was amazing. We stayed in the Gaslamp area, and everywhere we went there was a really chilled atmosphere and lots to do. Between conference related stuff, my friend and I made a stop at San Diego Zoo, introducing ourselves to this gorgeous guy! To top it off, my friends' beautiful baby girl was born the day after I returned home.

 

December

Royal Albert Hall, London. 2012

December was the month of visiting Christmas markets in Liverpool, London and Nuremberg. We had a weekend trip to London and, after admiring window displays, we went to see Jools Holland and his Rhythmn and Blues Orchestra in the Royal Albert Hall. I also visited a good friend in Germany. Then, Christmas! Christmas day no#3 happened yesterday as we hosted our first Christmas in our own home for both of our families. It was such a lovely day. We decided against the stress of a sit down meal and opted for a table piled high with buffet food and Christmas treats. Christmas music playing, Christmas tree lights glowing and all our favourite faces!

I'm fairly certain we had some sort of fun in February, but I can't think what we did! Perhaps this will get updated when my memory returns.

Today is the last day of 2012, and as I reflect on the past year I feel very lucky to have experienced all this in 12 months. I hope 2013 comes with its own adventures, and I know there's a few special dates in the diary already. Come on 2013, we're ready for ya!