12th August 2010

My National Trust membership has really been worth its weight in gold over the last week! As a child I was taken (dragged?) to NT places and I swore never to do that to my children. Now I take (drag?) my children to NT places regularly because they are free (or at least our pre-paid card gets us in free), educational, wholesome, etc etc....! The easiest way to make a NT visit palatable to them though is to combine it with a get together. Today we not only met my parents and Grannie but also my Uncle, Aunt and two cousins who although technically are the the same generation as me are much closer in age to my children and thus great favourites with them.

Little Moreton Hall, Cheshire
Sneaky Coffee-ers: Anna, Ethan, Naomi, Edward and Susie; Mum, Dad and Grannie; Uncle Lloyd, Auntie Isobel, Mark and Tim
Bought: Our family had a cafetiere of coffee, two 'afternoon tea' for kids (carton of apple juice and a chocolate crispie cake), a glass of milk and a bottle of posh juice. Lactose intolerance has made cream tea a treat of the past.
Cost: Dad paid! Thanks Dad!
Cafe: In the actual hall - unusual and charming. A bit on the small side and we were lucky to get three tables on which to spread out.
And: I was on a table with Auntie Isobel, Tim and Susie. We had fun. Susie shared her drink and cake with her doll.

26th July 2010

My wonderful parents have taken my adorable children away for the first week of the holidays. They have only gone as far as Stafford and they are camping... but it's at a Bible Week which the kids really get a lot out of as well as having a lot of fun. I nurtured the idea of romantic interludes with Simon but various work and church commitments have got in the way. So I have decorated Susie's bedroom! It looks so good and, amazingly, can be done very quickly when there are no interruptions! Anyway - on the Monday of the Bible Week there is no daytime meetings so I went up and joined them for a day. We ventured out to Sudbury Hall, a National Trust property which has the National Museum of Childhood on site, and (crucially!) a National Trust tea room! (I suspect Heaven will feature National Trust tea rooms!)

Sudbury Hall
Sneaky Coffee-ers: Anna, Ethan, Naomi, Edward, Susie, Mum and Dad
Bought: Three coffees, four ice creams, three variations of cake (fruit for me, millionaires shortbread for Mum, a tea cake for Dad), then later on three mugs of coffee
Cost: Not cheap! The first round was £15.?? and the second was nearly £6.
Cafe: Typical of the genre, a converted stable block (or similar!) with light pine tables and chairs, canteen style service with unutterably tempting cakes on display!
Position: But we sat on the picnic tables outside!
And: Nice coffee BUT the cheapest option (still £1.60) was a CUP, a small cup! You can pay more for a mug or even more for a large mug but I think the cup is too small.

However - the rest of the museum and the play area are excellent and very well worth a re-visit.

23rd May 2010

My Mum turned 60 on the sunniest weekend of the year so far (and possibly the sunniest weekend of the year in its totality judging by recent years) and the whole family were at Center Parcs. We were so busy enjoying the facilities, weather and necessary icecream that it took us until Sunday morning to make use of one of the many Starbucks outlets on site.

Starbucks, Sherwood Forest Center Parcs
Sneaky coffee-ers: Anna, Simon, Ethan, Naomi, Edward and Susie; Mum and Dad; Grannie; James, Heidi, Luca, Theo and Ellis; Paul and Angela
Served by: A slightly inpolite young lady - I expected that my Starbucks card (which is empty of credit but usually qualifies me for a free shot of syrup) would not be accepted but other similar outlets allow me the free syrup even if they don't accept the card as payment. She wasn't exactly impolite... but not apologetic either.
Bought: Our family had two flavoured spring water drinks (to share between the four children) a decaff coffee for Simon and a black coffee with a shot of almond syrup for me.
Cost: £7.20 - prices noticeably higher
Cafe: It was a nice place - spacious and well equipped with soft comfy chairs. However - we took advantage of the terrace area - mainly because the weather was stunning but also because we had seven children in our party and spilled drinks and noise matter less in the great outdoors!
Position: In the Center Parc 'village' which feels like an upmarket pedestrianised market town street.
Food: The others bought cakes etc. They were the standard menu items.
Complaints: No - all was well.

And? It was a nice time. However - such a big party does limit the feeling of 'having coffee together' as you can realistically only chat to a few people.

Mac Banana, April 2010

I am a blessed lady! One of the recent blessings in my life was the chance to go to South Africa on holiday (and for my brother's wedding!) in April 2010. Sneaky coffee-ing over in South Africa was so cheap that even Simon couldn't object! Thus we did it a fair amount!

Thus - the next entry is not intended to provide information (unless you plan to go all the way to South Africa for your sneaky coffee), but rather a nostalgia fest for me!

Mac Banana, Kaw-Zulu Natal, South Africa

Sneaky coffee-ers: Anna, Simon, Mum, Dad, Ethan, Naomi, Edward and Susie
Served by: Smiling, polite, helpful staff - they all earned their generous tips many times over. Especially the lady who replaced Susie's spilled milkshake (no use crying!) and didn't charge extra.
Bought: Coffee (black) and Cappuccino. Banana Milkshakes. Beer. Pineapple milkshakes.
Cost: Can't remember exactly but eight drinks were less than the equivalent of £12
Cafe: GORGEOUS! We sat outside in a colonial dream of a garden. Peacocks strutted past, weaving between banana trees. The sun shone and we sheltered under a parasol next to the fountain.
Position: There was an indoor cafe but who would want to sit there?! The gently sloping terrace was perfection!
Food: We bought pancakes on one visit - banana and cinnamon! Hmmmmmm - though a dollop of cream would have improved it further that is no longer permitted due to the lactose intolerance. The bananas grown there (and available for silly money) taste amazing. Juicy, intense.... It's because they are ripened on the tree.... I can no longer eat bananas from Tesco. My eyes have been opened.
Complaints: Why don't they open a branch in Birmingham?

And? Everything about this place was lovely (though it probably benefits from the holiday mood factor) and I was delighted to have had it recommended. It also had a large shop selling fresh produce, homemade goodies and knick knacks. We got a lot of stuff there! The banana milkshakes (and I must confess I sneaked a sip - naughty girl) were to die for. I wouldn't normally be so enthused about a milkshake (or any other drink) but these really were. Freshly picked and ripe bananas, blended with honey and soft ice cream.... delicious.