Wednesday 5 October 2011

Thirteen months later...

Ok - I abandoned this blog. I admit it. The reasons were few - basically I realised how many sneaky coffees I was having and whilst I had no intention of changing my behaviour (I haven't!) I wasn't entirely sure having a permanent record of my fecklessness was wise!

Not sure how I am going to proceed but I am back!

Hope to see you around!

Thursday 2 September 2010

25th August 2010

Sometimes a trip into Birmingham is a delight. Sometimes it is unavoidable! Todays' visit was a bit of both. Had to buy some uniform stuff, some provisions for a weekend camping trip and some 'bits'. The children were actually very good and the sneaky coffee at the end was right up their street!

Krispy Kreme Donuts, Selfriges, Bullring
Sneaky Coffee-ers: Anna, Ethan, Naomi, Edward, Susie
Bought: Coffee for me, original glazed donut for Ethan, Powder blueberry donut for Naomi, Strawberry Kreme donut for Edward, Cinnamon apple donut for Susie
Cost: £7.15 - eeeeek!

And: The coffee was actually amazingly nice. AND I got the last bite of Susie's donut - also very nice.

24th August 2010

It's Tuesday and, much as they regret the fact, the children eat so must also shop! On the plus side was the promise of a sneaky coffee with a myriad of friends afterwards.

Arthur Robertson
Sneaky Coffee-ers: Me and younger three (Ethan occupied elsewhere), Danni and her younger two, Viv and Alex
Bought: A coffee for me and drinks for the children. Made the interesting discovery that you can buy a 'children's coke' for 50p.
Cost: £3.50 ish
Sat: Table 28! Need you ask?

And: A coffee with friends is always welcome. A coffee with children is sometimes a little stressful!

Wednesday 1 September 2010

23rd August 2010

Mr Tesco came up trumps again and provided vouchers for a family day trip to Drayton Manor park. The last two times we have gone my older children have thoroughly chickened out of the big rides but not so this time. The addition of one of Ethan's school friends seemed to galvanise them and not a 'train wreck resembling' rollercoaster, nor a 'thing that probably gets done to the worst sinners in hell' spinning swinging thing phased them! Danni and I had a somewhat more sedate time touring the small and mid range rides! (and watching the bags!)

Anyway - the day was a bit damp so regular coffee was needed. I won't detail each one as essentially it was all the same stuff.

Drayton Manor
Sneaky coffee-ers: Anna and Danni and associated gangs (though they were invariably off being spun and swung, soaked and dropped)
Bought: Cappuccino and coffee
Cafe: The nicest location was outside the Hollywood Diner where we had metal patio tables and proper cups. Otherwise it was picnic tables and paper cups.
Cost: About £1.50 per cup I think
And: It was pretty ok and very welcome

Sunday 29 August 2010

18th August 2010

In contrast to the previous day today was dry and even warm!

Cafe Main, Cromer
Sneaky Coffee-ers: Anna, Marjorie, Naomi and Edward
Bought: Two coffees, two smoothies and three pieces of cake
Cost: Nanny paid! (Anyone notice a theme emerging?!)
Cafe: Functional, not unpleasant. We sat outside overlooking a road like yesterday but in the sunshine roads look much nicer it seems!
And: The cake was nice, the smoothies were really nice and the coffee was excellent. The loos were a long way away though.

17th August 2010

Anna and I plotted an escape from the holiday house and the infestation of children! We walked into town with the express purpose of using a cash point (and having a coffee!)

Julios, Cromer
Sneaky Coffee-ers: Anna and Anna
Bought: A small coffee and a small tea
Cost: Anna paid (again! Thanks!)
Cafe: We sat outside as it was dry, albeit a bit gray and damp. The view wasn't much to write home about - a road. But there was no children and the chance of uninterrupted conversation!
But: It started to rain. At first it was just the odd spot but quite soon we were having to drink up as our cups were re-filling with rainwater!

And: The coffee (in its undiluted state) was pretty ok!

14th August 2010- part two of two

Now this is more like it - a proper sneaky coffee!

Tides Restaurant, Cromer Pier
Sneaky Coffee-ers: Anna and Naomi
Served: by a waitress!
Bought: A filter coffee, juice for Naomi and a slice of carrot cake to share
Cost: £6 including a tip
Cafe: On the pier on a sunny day. Sat outside and smelled the briny spray, the sun on our skin and watched the waves roll in. Lovely.

And: lovely coffee, nice cake, a nice interlude with Naomi. Having four children does mean spending individual time with them can be a challenge