Month: October 2012

Day before my Birthday, so we wanted to escape somewhere for the day to get out of the house before the rains. Almost went to Avesbury, but instead headed for Hereford. Not sure I have ever been there before, certainly driven through it, and would be surprised if I had not – but I can’t remember if I did. Anyway, its about an hour up the road – so we were there about mid day.

Looked on Google Maps for the best parking place on the approach, so no problem with getting somewhere to park, then we walked over the bridge and into the town. Just over the bridge was a place called Left Bank, it had fantastic terraces overlooking the river – three tiers and looked really nice. Until you got close up and realised it was now an empty shell – probably was something once, but was in such a fantastic position it seemed strange nothing had been done to it. Followed some folks down a back street and came out at the cathedral.

There was noise and white tents and lots of people, we were shaghighed as we entered the court-yard and was told that we had stumbled upon the Hereford Food Festival – and yes, Mary Berry was going to be there. Lots of tents and stalls, mostly selling cheese or some type of fruit drink. You could see the stalls with free samples as they were packed, the ones without were left alone by the greedy throng. Too many people really for my liking, but it was bustly and a little like a Christmas market. We had a nose around and tasted some very nice cheeses, but with all this food around we needed lunch!

We took a walk into the town itself and came across an array of food stalls, selling lots of hot, tasty, nice smelling stuff. But it was parky out, so we had a look, then a warm in The Entertainer, then looked for a pub. None to be seen. This must be the first place I have ever been that didn’t seem to have any pubs around. We found one, which was closed (or at least looked closed) and lots of shops, but nothing else – we must have been looking in the wrong places as there are always pubs in towns like these – but they weer well hidden. So we ended up in Pizza Express. We nearly had a buffet of English/Chinese and Indian, but Sian scoped the place and we decided against it. Pizza Express was good.

Then we had another stroll around the tents, and the Cathedral itself, then Kate bought a rubbish cake from a stall and we made our way back to the car, with 10 mins to spare on our three hour ticket. That was Hereford. Seems nice, not enough pubs to keep my attention though.

Big deal today was the Houses of Parliament. So after a pretty good breakie we were off on the tubes to Charring Cross again to see it in day light. From Trafalgar Sq we walked up the Mall to Horse Guards then out to Whitehall and past Number 10. There were many police about because the Unions were moaning again about the fact that the world is suffering a shortage of money, but they don’t want to help they just want more money and no cuts to anything. Like we live in a magical world that because they think it makes it so – idiots.

Had a meeting with our guide to keep, so we headed over to the Big House. Stopped on the way for a tinkle, until we found it cost 50p. 50 sodding pee for a tinkle. Crazy, I’d prefer to wet myself than pay that. Anyway we survived the wee scare, and trundled through the ridiculous security screening to get into the House. All these security personal are tossers. Whether in the airports or at screenings like this. They all have the same holier than thou attitude, brisk and borderline rude. Hateful little people, who know no one dare say anything in these situations cos they’ll “do you” ;o)

Into the hall and time for a free wee, then into line for the tour. Tour takes about an hour – and takes you around the Lords area, which is dripping in gold and fabric, then through to the Commons area which isn’t. It does all have the pomp and ceremony around it – which I think I think is okay – but the Commons area is completely different in appearance. I thought the most interesting bit was seeing the marks Black Rod made on the door and the area where the dudes go to be in the “Yes” camp or the “No” camp. When they have to vote like this a bell is rung across the Whitehall area and they have 8 minutes to get into the right room for the vote to stand. Its like a grown up and slightly posher “Runaround”, but without Mike Read. Tour was good, interesting and not too long. I snuck a sit down in the House of Commons, even though we weren’t supposed to – ain’t I naughty.

After this the tour began, because of the imbeciles “protesting” it took longer than it should have to get the tube, and we headed out to Aldgate East. From this tube we walked east to a little road, which looked very dodgy indeed. But it soon turned into a slightly less dodgy road called brick lane – very famous for the Chinese and Indian “restaurants”  all along the street. Also, not quite so famously for the street art, or graffiti as us New York hipsters call it. Too much choice for lunch, so we picked a street vendor and had a nice bit of chicken and noodles on a little bench. After food we had a quick look at the banksie car in perspex. And a little look at an exhibition by some bloke called Shepard Fairey, no, I didn’t know who he was either – apparently her did a picture of Obama.

Onward to the top of Brick Lane and across to the North West to a place called Arnold Circus – which my dad wanted to see. Back then to Spitalfields Market – which has been all revamped, so we had a beer at a traditional London pub called Los Iguanas. Back to Aldgate tube, then next stop – Monument – which I didn’t realise was called Monument because there is a Monument there. And I also didn’t realise it was a Monument to the Great Fire of London which started in a little road called Pudding Lane, which is just there!> We paid 3 quid each for the pleasure of walking up 311 steps – it was quite tiring, and the top made me feel dizzy!. Once done, off to Bank to have a quick look at the Bank of England.

If we had arrived earlier we were going to have a looksee at the Bank of England museum, but some might same fortunately we were too late, and after a quick look around we took the tube a couple of stops to St Pauls. Once here we walked past my head office and to a little place called Postman’s Park – which is really worth a visit if you are in the area. Not much here but a very pleasant place. After this we headed off for a pint. First place we went was just about to serve us, but told us Kate had to be out at 5:00, as it was 4:55 we declined a pint and walked elsewhere. Next stop was Madison Roof Top bar, which was high up, high up in a lift with glass sides. That’s scary ;o) What was more scary were the prices. Luckily not my round, but two wines a three quarter pint of   heineken and two soft drinks was a wopping £25. He nearly bought a bottle, but after she pulled the cork out he inquired on the price – £36 she said – just stick some in two glasses then he said.

After that expense we went a stop down the line and got to the Citte of York, quite an old pub, with secluded dark wood alcoves – again policy is no children after 5:00, but we snuck Kate into an alcove and the rest of us sat at the bar and had adult conversation. Sam Smiths pub, so cheaper prices a good £10 cheaper. Couple of pints here, then it was time to walk around the corner to Red Lion street and Isolabella’s for nosh. Another top table 50% off grub offer, so we all ordered with blatant disregarding for prices and had a pretty good meal. Got a great table again and left full and happy if a little tired. Great thing about the place was the slowness, which could annoy you, but we were in no rush so it was great to have a big pause between the starters and mains…

Back on the tube again, and 20 mins later we were home to bed. I was knackered and slept almost immediately, not everyone did. Sunday morning saw a couple of swimming off in the pool, a big massive breakfast and back on a packed train at 12:37 – the London visit for Autumn was over.

Long weekend, and time for our London visit.

Ma and Pa arrived up on the Thurs around 5:30, just time to show them the buildings around the corner in the last of the light. Then we had mash and a couple of sausages, bought from the sausage company in Bristol – so we had quite a variety – from lamb to Buffalo and back to good old Gloucester old spot. Early to bed supposidly ready for the trip tomorrow.

Friday morning, and with school and work booked off we set off to Bristol Parkway just after the morning rush-hour. Surprisingly easy to park at the station we were all ready for the train at 10:30. As we knew we were going I had booked tickets for 4 adults and a child, for 80 squids all in – bobby bargain. By 12:00 we pulled into Paddington.

I took everyone to where I thought the Underground for the City line was, but things had changed slightly at the station, so I figured we would be better off going down the side of the station and back onto the District line to Edgeware road where the hotel was. By the time we had popped up into the London grime it had started to rain. A quick dash across the road and into the Hilton Metropole.

What a place. Its massive, and I hated it as soon as we arrived. After a while queuing I was told we couldn’t check in, and had to drop the baggage off in the “West Wing”. After a bit of a faff, as some of us had to get changed into our finery (I had my tie on all day) we dropped the bags off and headed out into the rain for a drink.

A few yards past the Underground was a decent looking pub called The Chapel, so we called in for a beverage. Once slightly watered we walked round the corner to a “famous” place called the Windsor. It was jam packed with English memorabilia so a real London boozer, but also a Thai restaurant – that does fish and chips. Odd. Couple of pints, and a plate of fish and chips for the little one – cheaper than a round in the last place. This one had name plates on the bar next to peoples seat so the pissheads knew where to sit I suppose?

Anyway – by this time we were ready for the main event, so a couple of tube stations later we emerged once again into the rain opposite the Ritz.

Firstly we didn’t know which way to get in, and the entrance and foyer area is not much to write home about, and someone opened some double doors and there we were, next to Palm court ready for our tea. Walking along the corridor a little way and you find the tea area to your left and the cloaks to the right. Its nice, but not *that* nice. So we hung about for 10 mins, and then walked up to the bloke with the penguin suit and the iPad and were shown to the table. Great table on the edge, so that everyone apart from me had a great view of the whole room. Took some time, to be served initially but once it started it was pretty well done.

17 Types of tea on show, and it’s impossible to guess what might be nice. The table went for English Tea, I pushed the boat out with one with Red in the title. Then came the tea tray things, with some little cakes on the top, then an empty plate and then sandwiches at the bottom. The are finger sandwiches, about three to a normal slice of bread, with Salmon, chicken, ham, cheese, cucuber and egg – along with others types of “sauces” and breads. The best for me was the cheese (and onion bread) and the chicken ones – although I ate a number of ham ones. If you need any more, you just shout, although they do come around and top them up anyway.

After a while, they took the middle plates away, only to return slightly later with a half dozen warm scones  – they were fabulous. Massive dollop  of clotted cream, and jam if you like it. I loved them. Not really something I eat much – but I managed two – they were good. Then I had a tiny cake on the top, which was chocolate and more chocolate and was lovely. They came round with another two big cakes and more tea but by this point I was surprisingly stuffed. We stopped for about and hour and a qrt, we were full and enjoyed it – £42 a head, you wouldn’t want to do that every day, or week, or even year for that matter – but taking it all into account it was okay as a once off experience. Kate was £21, so here cucumber sandwich and small cake were about 11 pounds each!!! ;o)

Still raining, so we headed back to check in. Hateful. We queued, and attempted to track down our luggage, then we got to the counter only to be told the room bill would be an *extra* £160. So that made it over £900 for two rooms for two nights. I couldn’t bloody believe it. £226 a night per room. We were looking at around £760, as this was what we were quoted when we booked, because we were using the fantastic Tesco Voucher scheme – but we had no regress when told it was more again. We just stared dumbstruck and muttered to ourselves like any self respecting Brit would do. We got the keys and off we were to rooms 708 and 710. They were not big, and neither were the bathrooms. But, we didn’t have a second bed in the room – for Kate. We were specifically told that out of all the hotels in London we had to book this one as the rooms were big enough (and more expensive) to cater for another bed – seems to be complete and utter bollocks.  So, kindly Sian went and had a chat, then half hour later we were on the 17th floor, with another bed, but an even smaller bathroom.

Out later and straight onto the Strand to pitch up at Smollensky’s for half price nosh thanks to top table. The drinks took ages, then all the food came at the same time, starters and mains. No one was hugely hungry, but I managed a full rack of BBQ ribs, couple of Stella’s and then the night train back to the Hotel.

Didn’t sleep great – was so stuffed and still felt a bit sick after the scones!

To Caerphilly today.

Had to stop off at Tesco first so Kate could print out her photo’s for her Scout photography badge – interesting set up where you just stick your USB stick in and print them out then and there. Our’s came out with a bit too much green on them, probably cheaper than doing them at home, at 30p each.

Caerphilly is only a few miles away, and I had never been there, so a quick drive North brought us to the town. The Morrisons has a massive carpark, so we parked there and had a stroll around the town. It was okay, but nothing special – two parts to it really, and we ventured through both, but it was lunch time so we looked for somewhere to have some nosh – we picked – Wimpy. Yes its still open.

Plenty of space in there, so we sat in the diner chairs which have not changed for 30 years – very very efficient staff, we were asked if we were ready three times before we’d picked up the menu. After what for the staff seemed like ages, we were finally ready – I asked for a chicken toastie – she told me it would take “too long”! She said he’d have to cook the chicken, then mix it with the sauce, then add the cheese, then make the toastie – pretty much what I would expect – but she really did’t want me to have it – so I had a bacon cheese burger. Sian asked for a Tuna toastie, but they had no tuna, so she settled for a cheese and onion one. I had chips and onion rings cos I is greedy…

Foods came in seconds, and it was okay – tasty in fact, and I was stuffed at the end.

After lunch was the main event – cookies from Greggs, then we had a look round the castle. Very impressive – the only thing we didn’t get to have a proper look at was the Great Hall, because there was a wedding going on, although we spied then from an upstairs window. It’s a very impressive castle, and has been refurbed to an extend over the last 100 years. Lots of rooms and heights to see.

Not a bad place Caerphilly, but its done now, and we won’t rush back I don’t think.

Out and about in Bristol today. Went down in the morning to do a little bit of shopping returns in Cabot Circus. Its really quite a good place to go now, with the new “mall” thing, and easy parking – and the bays were big enough for the car. M32 can bit a pain, but we sailed straight in around 11:00. and spend an hour or so mooching around the place.

Once returned, we made our way to Clifton, a “village” on the top of Bristol – its a village in the London sense of the word – as it is plainly not actually a village, but it likes to dress itself up as one. The last time I was here was probably about 20 years ago, when I can for a breakfast in a famous place, which I cannot remember much of. Biggest pain in Clifton is parking.

We circled three times before deciding to cross the suspension bridge and park on the street on the other side. After a bit of faff, we secured a parking space and walked back over the bridge. 50p for cars, but free for walkers, it really is quite impressive, its high, its suspended and it now has a security fence to stop all the jumpers. It was too high for me, I am pretty sure I couldn’t do a bungee anymore. Over we went and into Clifton proper – even though we had parked on the other side it only took 5 mins to get across, then into the village itself to find a pub and some food.

We were going to go to the terrace bar at the White Lion, but could see it was packed – so we decided to go there later. Onward and into the village, passed old Georgian houses which looked a lot like Bath. Found what looked like a nice pub, which it might have been, but no for us, so after a quick coke and moldy Smirnoff we let Kate take us to a sandwich shop. I had a “doorstep” sausage sanger. It was massive, good job my gob is too. Nice and full we wondered around a little more, and Sian took us past her old digs and told us stories of yesterworld.

Once full of Clifton (want to go to the chippy next time), we ambled back down to the White Liuon which has a large terrace area with a great view of the bridge and the gorge. It was packed. It was sunny mind. The service was shite, and we queued for a fair while for our expensive drinks and just managed to get a table and steal a few chairs. It was hot, it was sunny and we had alcohol – fab. We assembled some Lego figures and before we knew it we had to leave. Another walk over the heights – not so bad this time, and home.

Got back and the sun was still out, so nipped to the local for a couple in the last of the autumn sun.

Nice day – like Clifton (and Bristol).