To wrap it up ....or not to wrap it up?!

I would like to take this opportunity to thank those of you have faithfully read my blog. Its been appreciated that you took the time to do so! I've enjoyed sharing my highlights and lowlights with you over the last year. However, I'm not picking up many page views at the moment and i suspect that most of you that are reading are my lovely pen pals!! So you'll be hearing all my news in my letters anyway. At the moment, I am wondering whether to carry on with this blog, maybe start a new one with a different theme.....or maybe retire from the world of blogging altogether.

So, watch this space x x x

A city of dreams and inspiration

For me its been a stressful week, so I was mega glad when the week end came around. For anyone that's seen the news surrounding Spirit in the media this week, you'll know why I am stressed. But sometimes you need to let fate run its course, so I am currently trying to do just that.

 Our week end started with the long drive down to London  not a fun experience.....rain, roadworks and an accident didn't help. But finally we arrived at my parents house at just before 11pm. What a long day it had been. After a cup of tea, it was straight to bed.

On  Saturday we were up early to head off to London, as usual we were running late and had to speed walk all the way to the station. I can only say I am glad i have a contactless payment debit card or else we would have missed the train. It was on the platform as we dashed up the stairs, thankfully we made it.....JUST!!! We arrived at Victoria and met the lovely Mandy for a coffee, and then it was off to Southwark. We discovered the underground had temporarily been closed due to crowding and we had to wait a few minutes before they let us all go down. Once at Southwark we headed to Borough Market, I love the place. It was full of delicious smells. Its wonderful to explore the stalls and see what is for sale. Somethings are familiar, but around every corner is some interesting discovery. Next stop was Southwark cathedral. We arrived just at the right time, a wedding had just ended and the guests were just leaving. What a lovely place to get wed!! We spent a while walking around the cathedral, its beautiful.We also visited the excellent gift shop. I bought a lovely christmas decoration which I love. I had booked us a table at the Anchor Bankside for lunch, so we had to make our way their for 12.30pm. The place is one of the oldest pubs in London and has a colourful history. Inside the pub is huge, and full of nooks and crannies. You could almost imagine it full of smugglers and other such unsavoury characters in bygone days. The pub was very busy, but the service was good and the food lovely. The pub is famous for its fish and chips, that's what Paul had and he said it was lovely. After lunch we shared a dessert, churros with two dipping sauces - custard and chocolate orange, absolutely yummy!! I really enjoyed the experience, and best of all it was a Spirit owned Pub so I was able to use my staff discount!

After lunch we went back to the cathedral as Mandy wanted another look around the gift shop, and from there we headed off to do one of our London walks. To start this we had to make our way along Bankside. I love this part of London, add to that the weather was beautiful. There were many street entertainers, and we stopped to listen to some live music. At this point we managed to lose Paul....a moment of panic, but thank goodness I found him! Along the way we found an art gallery, so we popped in to admire the artwork. They were all watercolours and some were beautiful. Finally we arrived at Blackfriars Bridge, we crossed the river here and there started our walk. I love doing these self guided walks, you see so many hidden gems. This walk took us past St Paul's Cathedral, Temple bar, haunted pubs etc. There is so much history at every turn in the road. I love this city!! We had coffee in the shadow of St Paul's at a coffee shop called Pauls! I was shattered by then and glad of the sit down. After our walk ended we made out way to the Tower of London, easier said then done as the District and Cirlce line was out of action....BOO HISS!!  But we got there and it was so worth it, what an amazing sight, very moving. It also made me very sad. As we walked around the tower the sun started to set and the daylight faded. Finally it was time to make our way back to the underground station, sadly it was also time to say good bye to Mandy. But what a wonderful day. 

We had to make our way back to my parents house via London Bridge because of the underground closures, which meant a long walk back from Clock House to Penge, where we met mum and dad at the Moon and Stars for dinner. It was a lovely end to the day, we made use of the free wifi to show mum and dad family photo's on facebook.

On sunday after breakfast we went for a wander around Penge with mum. We did a little shopping, and I bought a few things from Wilkinsons.It was nice walking around the shops arm in arm with mum. I miss her and dad so much. If only they didn't live so far away. On a lighter note, i found a wonderful card in one of the shops....Happy christmas to our dog it said, so obviously i had to get it for Lucy.....shhhh.....don't let on!!

We had lunch with mum and dad, and then sadly it was time to head home. I feel so sad, the home sickness never really goes away. It stays there simmering away in the background. You learn to live with it, but its there. That said, this has been a lovely week end, one I will never forget. Thanks Mandy for being part of it, and for being an amazing friend.I can't wait to head back to London, soon I hope!!

following our hearts to Wales

At last the week end was here, and despite being full of cold i was up early on saturday so we could head off to Wales. Its been way too long since we were last there, and how we have missed the place!! We arrived at Tredegar House around 11am, a lovely National trust property near Newport. It was fun to explore the house, gardens and parkland. The weather wasn't too bad, though we had to dodge a couple of showers. It was no where near as bad as we had expected. So can't complain!! Tredegar House was once the home to generations of the Morgan family. I think we all know of one infamous member of the family, none other that Captain Morgan the pirate!! Now best known for bringing us rum....ha ha!

After leaving Tredegar we headed into nearby Newport, we haven't been there for several years and quite honestly were disappointed to see how many shops were closed and boarded up. The high street area just looked forgotten about! We had a quick lunch, and popped into Primark, and then left. I did get some fab boots, so all was not lost. But would i go back? Sadly, no!

I am still full of cold and was shattered, so we headed off to Langstone to find our hotel. We were staying at The New Inn, its a Goodnight Inn and part of the Spirit family, so for me a fab choice because of the staff discounted rate. The hotel was along the lines of a Travelodge, and maybe in need of a refurb.  But for what we paid, it was a bargain! Its a nice area, and the staff were lovely. Everyone we encountered was friendly and made us feel welcome. Our room was tiny, thank goodness I had no desire to swing a cat!! It wouldn't have been possible. After having a rest and a shower, in the hopes my head would stop pounding, we headed down to the pub for dinner. There's a big Fayre and Square adjacent to the hotel, and the food was good....especially the golden syrup sponge and custard we decided to have for dessert....loved it! I was so full after dinner we had a walk around the car park....LOL!! We spent the rest of the evening chilling in our room, and me watching the X Factor. It was nice to do very little!

This morning we woke up to heavy mists, we headed to Tintern Abbey, somewhere we have been many time before and love. It looked stunning shrouded in mist, you could almost imagine you could hear the monks chanting, and out of the corner of your eye you could just catch a glimpse of a robed figure making his way to morning service. I love the atmosphere  the place is steeped in it! There is also a wonderful gift shop - National Trust should take note - and I was able to do a whole bunch of Christmas shopping, with a lovely 10% off for being a CADW member. I was very happy with my purchases. On leaving Tintern, we had lunch at the Sloop Inn at Llandogo, a little village we are very fond of and then we stopped off at Labels Outlet centre, this has gone thru a major over haul since we were last there. Looking good, and much better stocked. Paul bought a couple of books, and we got some biscuits. Does anyone remember Lady finger biscuits, I saw some of them and had to buy them. They reminded me of my child hood and i probably haven't had them since then. They tasted exactly how I remembered, and took me straight back to my childhood in the 70's!!  Sadly then it was time to drive home....stuffing biscuits in our faces....poor car is covered in crumbs!  Another week end bites the dust.....BOO HISS!!!

From Crewe to Benidorm....!!

The weeks seem to be flying past at the moment, works busy and the days just melt away. I am always delighted when Friday arrives. This Friday especially as we had a room booked at DeVere's Wychwood Park Hotel in Crewe. A room i got when DeVere were having one of there flash sales! We left home at about 7.15pm, i didn't get back till after 6pm and we decided to have dinner before we left. We know from experience how expensive the hotel restaurants can be!! Anyway we arrived at about 8.30pm, checked into our room and then headed up to the bar for a drink. Its rare for us to be out late on a Friday with the grown ups, so it was nice to  chill out with a glass of wine, and wind down. The bar was quite busy, and it was nice to people watch. I am always curious as to why some groups of people have to be so loud. Maybe they feel if they are the loudest, it must prove they are having the best time! Our room was lovely, and very comfortable. 

After a good nights sleep we woke up to a grey and dismal morning. It had clearly rained heavily in the early hours, the ground was wet, the sky was grey and the wind was blowing leaves everywhere. We checked out around 9.30ish and headed to Bridgemere, a large garden centre not far from the hotel. We had a great time looking around, as well as the garden centre there are several outlets like Lakeland, Hobbycraft WH Smiths etc there. Best of all they have several show gardens and they are beautiful. Wondering around those was the high light of the day. Sadly, I have a horrible cold and feel shattered so we decided to head back fairly early. Not a bad idea to be honest, we stopped at the Cornerhouse in Burton for a late lunch. Quite the bargain, its part of the Spirit family, and with my staff discount, we had a very nice and cheap lunch. Cannot go wrong with a fishfinger wrap!! 

After lunch it was off to Burton, where we headed straight to Thomas Cook. We have decided to throw caution to the wind and go away next month. We've booked a week in Benidorm, and honestly....I can't wait. Its nothing fancy, an apartment in a quieter part of the town. Somewhere we can escape too for peace and quiet (I hope) at the end of the day. I am so excited, and now its all sorted and paid for, all I have to do is pack and count the days till its time to .... leave on a jet plane! Walking back to the car was an adventure, the fair was setting up in town, roads were closed and there were lorries and fairground rides blocking the pavements. I wonder whether many people went this year, with the weather being so horrible?

We didn't get too far on Sunday, grocery shopping had to be done but mostly i wanted to curl up on the sofa and feel sorry for myself. Colds do that to you! And as usual, i blinked and Sunday afternoon had disappeared. I hate that!!! I always seem to run out of week end with still so much to do!

This morning was dark, cold, wet and very windy. I silently gave thanks that I didn't have to drive to Derby. That was never any fun when the weather was bad. My little car would get blown all over the A38, a bit like a runaway car on a roller coaster!  I don't miss the journey, but I miss my old colleagues. I found myself sitting at work this morning munching on grapes, and thinking - Alisha would never believe I am eating fruit! That made me smile! Well, I made it through Monday.....let me survive the rest of the week!