Pink Cupcakes

A Time of Gifts @ Eden Project UK

I'm feeling rather Christmassy, and the really great thing is, most other people I talk to are feeling festive too.  This is totally refreshing after years of hearing people grumble about it, folk appear to be embracing Christmas and all the trimmings.  The shops are twinkling and a gale is blowing and so on Sunday, Big Fella, the boys and me headed to St Austell to visit the Eden Project.

It felt really Christmassy; everything we wanted it to be.  The wind was up and there was a chill in the air that has been absent of late.  There was a snowy sky, although I knew there would be no snow, but the rain felt like pins and there it was 'A Time Of Gifts', the Eden Projects' Winter 2009 campaign.

I have to be honest, I didn't really know what to expect.  Me and Little Fella had been online the night before to check out the attractions (ice skating and various delicious looking cafes) but when we arrived, I had no idea it was so huge.  There were sparkling lights everywhere with eco friendly decorations and pine trees decorated by local kids.  It all looked really cool and had a really great family feel about it.  Little Fella was in awe, technology mad that he is, and JB was to come into his own when we went into the Biomes (the domes as I called them) with the plants and birds.

We stopped for a cuppa and a mince pie and decided what to do first.  The ice rink. Unfortunately we had just missed the Under 5's ice play much to Little Fella disappointment, but we did observe with interest the huge Christmas tree made of used carrier bags and several smaller ones created from old car hubcaps - this tapped into Little Fella's psyche immediately and a barrage of questions followed, we answered (we always do) and then moved on for a stroll around the grounds.

The overwhelming view had to be the Biomes.  Two colossol 'bubbled' domes - the first home to various plant species from the Rainforest and the other Mediterranean and Californian.

Now, I was up for this - exploring, but what I didn't think was, 15 minutes into our exploration of the Rainforest Biomes I had to turn back.  See, the moment I walked in the humidity hit me, and since we were in a dome I thought I'm possibly feeling rank because I am known to be claustophobic, although I'd struggle to call these big daddy's a confined space.  We ploughed on and I answered every question Little Fella fired at me, all the while feeling like my chest was going to implode.  Big Fella mocked me soothing me with, 'not long now' only to reach a sign that said 'you have another 30 minutes, if you feel too hot turn back now' - we turned back.

Knowing I wasn't going to escape amused ridicule from Big Fella I took it gracefully - sort of - but it was the perfect time to have lunch - homemade pizza and pasta, most of which JB launched from either his hand or mouth onto the floor, onto mine or Big Fella's clothes or across the table at his brother, who was eating his first dish of tomato pasta in almost, hum, 2 years (no lie).

It was getting cold and the boys (and me and Big Fella) were a little chilly.  We headed back to the main entrance past the Biomes to hear the choir singing Christmas Carols.  We browsed the shop where I picked up several divine Christmas decorations made from dried chilli's, oranges and cinnamon and left a few pounds lighter.  The walk back to the car was a struggle since JB had other ideas that involved running the opposite direction whenever he was 'live and unleashed'.  It pelted down and the boys were sobbing because they were cold and wet.  Me and Big Fella were desperately trying to see the funny side and when we finally made it to the car the hail began - but it was wonderful - the elements at their best.

Despite missing the skating we had a brilliant time - it was everything we wanted it to be.  It was festive, educational, interesting and great to be out as a family - when they say there is something for everyone it's true.  So impressed we bought an annual pass and plan to take the boys back before February 2010 so they can finally partake in the Under 5's ice play, and I might even attempt the Rainforest Biomes again - minus the sniggers from Big Fella of course.

A Time Of Gifts @ the Eden Project runs until 12 February 2010 - it's really cool, honest.

x

 

Bank Holiday Bliss

OK, so it was the last bank holiday before Christmas, and the weather was it's usual unpredictable self, but instead of doing what we usually do (attempt to have a BBQ), we packed up the car and took ourselves off to The Cotswolds; Stow on the Wold.

I absolutely love this part of the country.  The last time we visited, JB wasn't even a twinkle on our eye, infact, we were hell bent on NOT having another (very happy we did - bless), and now I wish we hadn't left it so long, because a day is just not enough.

I love the Cotswold for a number of reasons.  It has the Grapevine Hotel in Stow, where Jefferson  and Lily hang out during their "exile", it has the most stunning array of cottages and country homes with my favourite greeny grey doors and windows, it has uber cool coffee shops and bars that manage to remain quaint and most importantly, it has Daylesford farm shop (more later).

OK, first stop, coffee. I try to get the camera to work to show you the gorgeous carrot cake and cookie we had with our tea (me), cappuccino (Big Fella), Coke (Little Fella), milk (JB), but the batteries ran out at the crucial moment, so you'll have to imagine. Anyway, the place itself was lovely, a combination of a tea shop turned cool coffee house. 

We sat outside braving the breeze, but, it was fine, because the air was fresh and opposite the Grapevine, sending tingles down my spine as I imagine Jefferson and Lily sharing a moment of intimacy, and for one silly moment, I wonder if they're there, in the Gigot bar beside the roaring fire.

Right, so we stroll off to find batteries and all Little Fella wants is some bubbles, but carrying a pack of batteries makes him feel useful, so for the moment he's happy with that.  I'm craving a glass of wine, and Big Fella some grub.  He's seen the twinkle in my eye as we approach the Grapevine, knowing it holds a special place in my heart so he suggests we eat in their La Vigna bar (tapas, pizza and pasta), so we do.  JB's asleep, Little Fella's hungry and the restaurant is empty, which is how we like it since we have a manic toddler and a buggy piled high with coats, nappies, a snuffy and milk.  We are a smooching couples nightmare.

We order, and no kidding, I could eat everything on the menu.  I opt for goats cheese and roasted vegetable penne and a glass of dry white.  Big Fella has a mozzarella and plum tomato pizza and chips to share with Little Fella, who is fascinated by the big knife and fork and wine glasses and the "interesting" noise they made when bashed - not so good.

The restaurant is starting to fill up, but thankfully our food arrives, which means Little Fella stops chattering our heads off for all of, um, 10 minutes.  He chomps happily on the pizza, but snaps disapprovingly at his daddy when attempting to share the chips. Like Father like Son.

Anyway, I tucked into my pasta and my wine and was having a really great time, wishing tomorrow wasn't Tuesday and it wasn't back to the hum drum of the ordinary working week, but then I guess we wouldn't appreciate these special times if we did them all the time.

OK, food over and time's ticking on. We have a brief look around the shops, disappointed our favourite deli is closed, so we make the definite decision to cut across to Daylesford, the BEST farmshop in the world (after The Hollies in Tarporley, Cheshire, close to where we used to live), because they sell the most AMAZING olives I have ever tasted.  Even Big Fella swoons over them.

We wave goodbye to Stow, promising to come back again REAL soon (maybe without the kids!) and drive out to Oddington, a beautiful village, unmistakeably Cotswold.  We stayed here 18 months ago for my birthday in a sweet self contained annexe attached to a very nice house.  As we drove through, we talked about the fond memories of walking with Little Fella, then in his bright orange Quinny, to the park and playing happily on the swings, and I get that pang in my belly, because I don't want to go home.

Anyway, Daylesford beckons and we drive into the car park to the full throttle of the "Cotswolds Set", yes, they've got the cars, they've got the clothes, and man, they've got the money, but we've also got the taste and off we head inside to find those olives, maybe a crusty loaf and some cheese.

5 minutes in and I'm having to stand outside with Little Fella because he cannot stand still, plus, he's getting loud and bored, he needs a sleep, but will not give up until we're back in the car.  Fortunately Big Fella knows just what to get, so I leave him to it.

We bundle ourselves back in the car after Little Fellas driven me to despair crawling around in the dusty path and kicking small stones everywhere.  The engine starts and I peer into the Daylesford bag Big Fella handed to me, and smile.  I can't wait.

On the way home we take a detour through Stratford Upon Avon, envious of the revellers sitting outside the pub beside the river with their pints in the sunshine. Again we promise to come back, soon, but maybe without the kids!! And talking of kids, they're both asleep, so we've got at least an hour's grace before it all starts again.

Anyway, we arrive home in good time and I'm yearning for those olives, so like the gentleman he is, Big Fella pours me a glass of sparkling wine and I have a sneaky olive or 2, knowing once the kids have retired to bedforshire I can indulge in the rest of the good stuff we bought, and there's a not Louis Vuitton or Marc Jacobs handbag in sight.

Sad the Big Bank Holiday is over? Yeah, me too, but it was good while it lasted.

Be good

K xxxx

A Peak into our Weekend

OK, so if you're a regular to this site, you'll know I love a holiday, especially now that 2008 is in full swing and birth looms.

We wanted a week away, but due to Big Fella's work committments, we were happy to settle for a long weekend, and that my friends came in the form of a lovely farmhouse cottage in the Peak District.

We were (until last Friday), Peak virgins, and desperate to explore somewhere different, Big Fella suggested we try the area and so I set about finding the right sort of accomodation as I am extremely fussy when it comes to comfort and cosiness.

Beighton Lodge which stands in the hills of Stanton in the Peak, satisfied these requirements and more, and when we arrived, I realised we'd found a little gem.  OK, so as many keen guests before us had noticed, the cottage was very "well-equipped", but it wasn't just this that impressed us so much.  The thing is, as you probably know, I am a sucker for detail, and this place had it in ambundance.

Just take a look at these cute towels hooks in the master bedroom en-suite, and do you know, they even provided white fluffy towels, cappuccino bath robes and fresh white embroided bed linen in both rooms!  It felt like a seriously luxurious hotel, only better.

And things got even more exciting when I discovered the kitchen.  I loved the chicken theme running lightly through this farmhouse style kitchen, as you know, I am a bit of a chicken lady, so this appealled to me hugely, just as the spectacular view from every window at the front of the cottage, stunned us all.

Just 3 miles down the road, we were in Bakewell, home of the Bakewell pudding and tart, and even though I am trying to watch my weight, we did sample a tart and bought a pud back for my folks.  Have to say, they were delicious, and since we'd started our horrific calorific weekend with a pudding, we seized the opportunity to spoil ourselves with all kinds of naughty deli food, including olives, ciabatta and Pepperdew peppers lavishly smeared in cream cheese - luckily we took our own shopping bags with us, otherwise there would have been some serious environmental carnage in the shape of plastic bags.

I did dabble in a little rose Laurent Perrier as a treat for being on our hols, envious at having to stop at one glass as Big Fella guzzled the rest (I'm comforting myself it's only about 8 weeks now! Ahhhh! 8 weeks!), but I was grateful for one.

We visited Matlock Bath, where I had a terrible "pregnant moment" when we stopped at a cute coffee shop/cafe called 800BC.  I chomped my way through the best Carrot Cake ever, followed by another Bakewell slice covered in jam and coconut and coffee, and if it hadn't have been for the fish and chippy in Bakewell closing early on Sunday, I'd have downed a portion of them as well!  Oh dear, things are not looking good for me.

Anyway, fans as we are of a good cup of coffee, we discovered a sweet little place called Relish in Bakewell.  OK, so we had to sit outside, but do you know what, there was something really lovely about being wrapped up and sitting outside in the deep winter chill in the Peak District in January.

Overall though, 3 days just wasn't long enough, and we never got to see half the things we wanted, so we will definately be returning pretty shortly, when they'll be the four of us to experience this most beautiful place.  And I have to mention how friendly and kind people in Derbyshire were to us, epsecially little fella.  Whether we were having a euphoric moment I don't know, but from the time we arrived (hearty soup and sandwich in local village pub The Flying Childers, to the town's shop assistants), everyone had a smile and a thank you.

The other brilliant thing about us visiting the Peak District, is it's literally an hour and 20 up the motorway (an hour and 40 on the back roads), and yet we felt like we were hundreds of miles away; it was fantastic, and I absolutely did not want to come home.

But at least I had a big strong man to go home with, and a little one of course!

And don't forget, A LOVE THAT MAKES LIFE DRUNK - the long awaited novel (!!!) is due pretty imminently, everything is currently at the printers.

OK, so you've had a little Peak (sorry!) into how I spend my weekend, and now I feel hugely inspired, as I always do when I've been away, so, I'll leave you with a rather windswept me, and my girls in the garden.

 

Au Revoir for now,

Karen xxx

Effortlessly Cool...

In the fairly quiet, and often boring town where I live, a little gem has arrived in the form of an alternative clothes shop called "DEMISE".

I love this place because it's relaxed, the staff are pretty cool and the atmosphere is effortless, and that's before I begin on the clothes.

So the owner tells me, he's had this concept in mind for a while now, and since there's a market for it, and no one else is doing it, he grabbed his chance and DEMISE was born.

If you tap into the cool surfer/skater chick (or dude!) style, you'll adore this place, because it goes one step further than most of the others, that is, it sells Atticus, Lowlife, Pump Urbanwear (PUW), Nikita, Hurley, Hager Vor (Cornish Surf Company), Dickies, Haynes, Havaianas and soon to be Macbeth - all hand picked by the owner and lovingly hung (and worn!) by the staff.

  The thing I love most about this shack is that the owners and staff kitted it out themselves - blood, sweat and tears and all that, and on a fairly tight budget, and without doubt it's paid off because the result is blinding.  I especially love the graffiti graphics (this will appeal to men and women alike) and the hand glued rock collage fitting room, where a lucky girl gets to drool over the lovely Tom Delonge whilst undressing (OK, so I'm talking about me, just don't tell Big Fella).

The staff get to play their own sounds, whilst the flat screen television plays host to numerous cool music DVDs as well as iconic films and skateboarding clips.  You can browse at your leisure without being hassled by anyone, but even better, you might just put your hands in your pockets.

Having a Dream is such an amazing thing, so when you're a cats whiska of achieving it through merit and sheer hard work, I think anyone who's ever had a dream should take their hats off to them, because as most of us know, it's a big risk, and there are no guarantees.

Anyway, if you're ever near to my town, you really must visit this place, just be careful you don't collide with anyone when you come skating out.

Cheers K.

DEMISE opens 26 October 2007, 13 High Street, Rugby, Warwickshire. UK.