Bournemouth

12th-15th March 2020

What a wonderful time we had despite breaking news of the Corona Virus.  We really didn't know whether to go or not but when we got there is was sooooooooooooo lovely to be besides the sea.  And as we now know, probably our last break away for a long time.

The Bed and Breakfast accommodation we stayed in I can't recommend highly enough.  We were the only guests and had a large ground floor room (Rm 1) in Mory House, 31 Grand Avenue, Bournemouth - see my review on Trip Advisor.

The attention to detail at this B&B was superb - a little fridge in our room filled with treats, a jar of liquorice allsorts and plenty of beverages;  in the bathroom the sink plug chain was curled on top of the plug - such lovely touches to make us feel special guests.  Outside our room there was an array of home-made cakes and cookies as well as a bowl of fruit to help ourselves to.

 



Grand Avenue, Southbourne is five minutes walk from the High Street where there are a plethora of eateries, a lovely library to pick up information leaflets from, lots of bus stops and well knowns shops as well as querky but classy gift shops.  It is also a walkable distance along the coast to Bournemouth and interesting walk to Christchurch.  If you are not a walker and don't want to drive, the buses are extremely plentiful and frequent.

In the High Street of Southbourne we visited Brewhouse and Kitchen where we sampled real ales and good food; the Larder House and Makla Bistro restaurants and Urban Reef Café on the front at Bournemouth.

Brewhouse & Kitchen 1

B & K 2

B & K 3

Makla Bistro (Morrocan Food)

Looking over the sea, or walking on or next to a beach, no matter what the weather is soul-joy for me.  If there are beach huts to feast my eyes on, so much the better.

 

 
The highlight and main purpose of our visit was that I had won tickets to the Russian Ballet performance of Sleeping Beauty at the Bournemouth Pavilion courtesy of Yours Magazine.  Again it was decision time whether to go or not, but in the end we had a taxi there and back, waited outside until it was about to start and were pleased to find the seats either side and immediately in front of us were empty.  We enjoyed the show but there was definitely an atmosphere of tension in the theatre.  We left promptly and that began our journey into the current situation where all places of social gatherings have closed.  Staying home, self isolating, social distancing, toilet rolls and panic buying became every day words along with Corona Virus.

 

Outside Spring was blooming regardless of the spreading of COVID19, streets and roads began to become deserted and today we are in lockdown - paramount to curbing the spread, saving lives, helping the NHS.

I hope you enjoyed reading this blog and seeing the photos.  Do Tweet me on @tweetsue13, your comments are appreciated.

A Highland Holiday 1 of 2

Well that was an interesting holiday during Storms Ciara and Dennis!  After a very long and exhausting journey by coach we arrived at The Highland Hotel in Fort William, Scotland.

At breakfast the following morning it was announced that due to the inclement weather it was too risky on the roads to venture out so a whole day stretched out before us with the wind raging and the rain lashing at the windows.   

A notice was soon displayed to tell residents of a Tai Chi session in the Function Room which I was drawn to.  Having done a little before I'm always ready to learn more.  Our instructor was Shaun Folds, trained by Master Faye Yip based in Telford, Shropshire.  Shaun holds classes in Hull if you live near do look him up or visit www.deyin.taiji.com for further information.

I was so chilled and relaxed afterwards, a great unwinder from the stress of travelling all the previous day, that I found myself at the hotel reception offering to put on a Writing Workshop in the afternoon for anyone interested.  A small group attended between 4-5 pm and I really enjoyed leading them in four writing exercises using pictures from a magazine as writing prompts.  I started with a simple one minute sentence exercise, then a 3 minutes and then a 10 minute write.  Finally we started a story with (appropriately) 'One stormy day.....'  At each stage we shared our scribbles, had some laughter and at the end I was clapped and thanked.  Such a lovely time.  

On Monday 10th February we had a short excursion to Ben Nevis Distillery - well you just have to consume some whiskey whilst in Scotland.  The tour was interesting and the cafe was a blessing as it was so cold outside - not all the tour was inside.  

I now have my very own 'tot' glass so joining the ranks of whisky drinkers!  We visited the distillery on a day when the Scottish news reported about four young lads had been rescued from Ben Nevis by helicopter the previous day (Storm Ciara at its worst).  They were not equipped to be climbing a mountain and were wearing trainers!  Really???  Did not one of them think to turn back and save the rescue costs?  Soooooo dangerous.

The coach dropped us off in Fort William town and we braved the elements to see the shops, cafes etc.  And on the evening the entertainment of Bingo followed by a singer/musician was enjoyed by many.

Tuesday was Inverness day stopping at Fort Augustus and then Loch Ness - no I didn't spot Nessie. Our driver, Sandra Deak, who was from Hungary but lived in UK for 8 years, was very informative of what to see along the route and also made sure we were all returned to our coach seats before setting off.  Inverness is a lovely town with a good mixture of old and new buildings.  

Victorian Market

Town House, High Street

Leakey's Bookshop, Church Street

A Highland Holiday 2 of 2

  Mallaig

Thursday was the last day of trips out on the www.lochsandglens.com coach holiday.  I have to say that the company (hotel and coach combined) have organisation down to a tee.  All meals in the hotel were staggered between three groups/coaches; service at the tables was most excellent; all the staff were pleasant and rooms were spacious.

So off we set again, this time for the port town of Oban, the gateway to the islands.  The scenery en route was fabulous - it was like being driven through a winter wonderland in the Glen Coe area.  Stags and deer were grazing by the roadside having come down from snowy heights.

The sun actually shone warmly in Oban and we walked the main street looking for somewhere to have lunch.  I fancied some Cullen Skink - leek, potato and smoked haddock - a typical Scottish soup.

Having found Coast Restaurant www.coastoban.co.uk in George Street we went inside and found it a delightful place to spend some time in.  I don't normally post pictures of food but it was so well presented and yummy I just had to take pictures.

To sweeten up afterwards I had Rhubarb with honeycomb crunch and ice cream.

The final journey home was very long and besides a comfort break at www.thegreenwellystop.co.uk Tyndrum and www.visitmoffat.co.uk Moffat Mill just off the M74 at Junction 15, I had a numb backside. It is nice to go away but nice too to be home.

Just for Christmas

Santa always leaves me a 'Christmas' themed book of his choosing so I dipped into this on Boxing day.  It is based in a Cornish harbour village with Alexandra having left her home town in Scotland for a complete change and get-away life.  Her unusual job has the new neighbours sceptical at first but they soon learn that she is more than capable and she is taken into the friendly community making the move interesting for her.  She finds new friends and takes on care of the Harbour Master's old dog too.

Being cagoled into taking part in the Christmas pageant, which is the very old tradition of Poldore, she reluctantly steps out of her comfort zone - she has gone there to change herself anyway.  She is befriended by Lucy and they share their secrets of life 'before' and Alex finds this frees herself to hope for love again.  

Being so far from home and making this little place her own, she doesn't expect any visitors.  She becomes the Virgin Mary and local lad Ruan, who lives in the lighthouse, plays Joseph.  Trouble is around every corner and drama, confusion, love and doggie delights will have you laughing and crying in equal measure.  

When you dive into a book and it delivers a 5 star read it's hard to put it down.  I really didn't want it to end and have kept the epilogue for later today.

Well done Scarlett Bailey and Penquin Publishers for producing another seasonal winner.

 

Book Review:The Songs of Us

Headline Publishing Group

For the first few chapters I did wonder at the main character, Melody.  Her behaviour is somewhat 'different'/unusual/crazy.  But when you read this book you will soon be singing in your head, if not out aloud to the songs Melody knows.  By chapter 8 I was hooked into this lady's life, her children's view and the mystery and adventure that begins with a train journey.

My heartstrings were connected to this family, the situations they found themselves in and how they interact with one another in their realistic love/hate family way that teenagers do.

The book is edgy.  Melody is on a knife's edge between sanity and insanity, between normal behaviour and being overtaken by an affliction of mental strangeness following a car accident - or is it Tourette's syndrome?  Her unstable mind takes her over uncontrollably.  Life, for short bursts of time, is embarrassing for those around her.

You will laugh, cry and resonate with quirky family traits.  Emma Cooper has written a real page-turner.  What genre is it you may ask?  It is many - saga, contemporary fiction, mystery to be solved, romance, - all wrapped up in a mother, father, teenage boy and girl family where tragedy has disrupted and scarred their lives, where love leads them to search for truth and face life and death together. 

You will find my comments too on Goodreads and Amazon.  

One small step for our planet....

In my endeavour to make small changes to help the planet I have come across a new search engine that helps PLANT TREES with every 45 or so searches.

I don't know about you, but my laptop and mobile phone automatically put Google on screen or on top search favourite so that each time I want to research something, buy something or want to access information of any kind I use the BIG G.

Now though, I use Ecosia - the app symbol is as in the picture above.  Trees are being planted in Ethiopia, Morocco, Brazil, Nicaragua, Tanzania and so many other countries and Ecosia post news of how many trees have been financed this way.  You can read about them on their bog: blog.ecosia.org.

It is free to use.  I have been using it and am very satisfied with this alternative way of searching on-line sites.  Do give it a go and let me know how you get on.

An Italian and British merger

Book Review - The Lemon Tree Café  by Cathy Bramley

This book is a jam sandwich of emotions.  It is typically British with a flavour of Italy.  It will make you hungry and you will want more.

This family run business gets a revive when Maria's grand-daughter Rosie leaves a city job and makes a Derbyshire village her preferred place to be.  Love, loss and loving again is mirrored between the generations with tragedies, trauma and trouble befalling them both.  An old man called Stanley and a young man named Gabe and his son Noah, help them trust their hearts again.

From big business to small local concerns, this will tickle the taste buds of young and old alike.  When life gives you lemons, make lemonade...…..

This book made me seriously think about 'bitterness' and how it affects ones heart; about open doors that let the bitterness flow in and out in ways that damage relationships; and of closed doors where peace dwells, endings happen to hurtful situations; where hearts heal and become whole again.  This is clearly woven into the lives of the characters of the owners of The Lemon Tree Café. 

It's tangy, it's sharp and it's squiggy.  It'll make your eyes water and zing your mind with a zest for life.

Loved it.  *****

Booklovers.....

Twenty plus years ago I nearly bought a bookshop in Wales but plans fell through and I let the dream die a death.  Reading about Posy's inheritance had me champing for her to make a go of it despite the obstacles that present themselves in the process.  

For anyone who loves reading books, is writing a book, or fantasies about owning a bookshop this is the book for you.  You will be transported to a courtyard of shops, become a member of the family and circle of friends and like, or perhaps loathe, some of the characters. 

The struggle between Happy Ever Afters and Murder fiction is played out between Posy and Sebastian, Lavina's grandson who inherited the courtyard shops.  Whose side will you take, I wonder?  Will romance win in the end or will Posy be driven away from her desires?

It's the perfect book to curl up on the sofa with now the darker nights are here.

Well done Annie Darling and Harper Collins Publishers.  

A trip to Northumberland...

I stayed in a Northumberland Cottages property which is a company I have used before and I have to say both times the cottages have been immaculately clean, welcoming and in a good location.

                            

Homlea in Alnwick had everything anyone on holiday could need - big lounge, kitchen, utility room with ground floor toilet and washing machine; bath and seperate shower, sink and toilet in a spaceous first floor bathroom; three good sized bedrooms and a private garden to sit outdoors, weather permitting.  There was space for 2 cars to park and the property is dog friendly.

It was within walking distance to Alnwick town, Alnwick Castle and Gardens and Barter Books - see review of these on https://wisepurchases.home.blog.

A short drive away is Bamburgh Castle and village which is also on the coast so you can see the sea and beautiful sandy beach. 

Lindisfarne/Holy Island is another place to see following the causeway when the tide is out and entering life that saints have trod before us.  

My favourite place was Seahouses, having had a holiday there a few years back.  This little town has a harbour where boats go across to the Farne Islands where puffins and seals reside.  

On a blowy day you can get a drink inside the quayside pub and look out of the picture window at the seamen bringing in their catch for the day.

From there a short drive to Craster, where for walkers its a short coastal walk to the ruined castle, for others perhaps a smoked kipper lunch.

Bamburgh Castle

Any comments or questions please contact me on Twitter @tweetsue13.