Thursday 27 April 2017

Tea Is all the love you need !

Tea is all the love you need.

I'll tell you why   I've had a busy day as I've been running all over town doing stuff , here there and every where I was springing everywhere likeva hypber Zeberzdee. I had a quick cup of tea in town and it was in a paper cup and tea whatever the brand isn't quite the same in a paper cup.

Tea is all the love you need.

I wish I had a magical suitcase out of which I could produce a fully set up afternoon tea , now wouldn't that be amazing and oh so Harry Potter. I think very much that a cup of tea would be my petronas . I had a very busy day rushing around and I was very much lamenting my cup of tea in a paper cup , it just wasn't the same . Everyone loves a good cup of tea surely no one in their right mind would want a bad cup of tea ? I know for one that I wouldn't ! good tea is a right !! 


 

Tea is all the love you need.

This would you believe is the third time I've tried to write this blog post , Blogger keeps losing the blog post for me so instead of crying I'm just drinking tea the irony of the situation really isn't lost on me at all. Remember ....

Tea is all the love you need.

Correction this is the 4th time of writing this post as I've just come to add to the post I had in draft and all but the first paragraph was left , luckily I had copied the post to check the word count. Things are sent to try us so I'll just keep drinking tea I expect here as gremlins afoot to try my patience.


Tea is all the love you need.

Tea is my mantra .

Tea makes me all the more thoughtful than I already am .

"Remember never hide your light under a cup of tea instead drink the tea and shine as one ."

I'm great with quotes like that ~ the inspiration of tea you see us not to be under estimated.


Sunday 23 April 2017

Cromford Mill World Heritage Site

 

Wednesday 19 April 2017

My Blogging Reality

I have always blogged reality and will continue to do so there are times I do think. But I'm not like so and so but I soon shake those thoughts away. I have actually been blogging for 6 years now and I am still enjoying every minute , blogging has brought me friends though it has also brought me some right rum moments but I have come through that . I am honest in my blogging for that is me and if I wasn't honest then this blog wouldn't really reflect me and my life. I have written before about my love of blogging , yes I have had a few times I have loathed it but that because I was trying to keep up with the blogging Jones's and that really isn't me.


If you are thinking of starting a blog then do it , you can really blog about anything and there is no time frame or deadline unless you agree to do something for a company or guest post for another blogger perhaps. You don't have to blog everything otherwise it can feel as if you are not in the moment and blogging can overwhelming . To make it less overwhelming for myself nowadays I will perhaps take a picture of something that I am doing or places I have been and maybe blog about it at a later date. The same can be said for cooking the other day Mr T made an awesome Shepperd's pie and I didn't take a picture of it nor did I blog the recipe ) it had those wavy lines on the potato topping and everything )

None has the right to likes on a say a Facebook picture I really have seen people wound up about why they haven't got as many likes as someone else . I like my Facebook to be organic and not contrived.

I love the little conversations blogging throw me into and I feel that it real even though I haven't met all the people , meeting people through blogging does in a way put the cherry on top of the online friendship.

I love how I can talk about anything on line and people chipping in, I am inspired my others and in turn people are inspired by me ( I am not presumptuous ) . Batting ideas off each other and being a sounding board can really help people.

Last night for example I followed a Nigel Slater recipe and though it wasn't completely to the letter as I only pepper so therefore I had to adapt it. I tweeted out my version of the recipe to Nigel Slater himself , I hadn't expected a reply but he did. He is a very affable chap and said it "looked delicious " and that has filled me with confidence to keep on going on with my cooking. You see social media can indeed be a very wonderful thing you just have to handle it as social media is like a dinosaur it just needs herding and taming .... impossible it may sound but impossible is so much more fun...



Saturday 15 April 2017

The Wonder of Trentham Gardens A Jewel In The Midlands



 



We are so lucky living in the midlands as we've Trentham Gardens which is in Staffordshire  on our doorstep , it's only 45 minutes from where we live in Derby and makes for a gorgeous day out. And as you are near to all the potteries there is plenty of other places to visit as well. Myself and Mr T decided to drag the willing teenager out from his A level revision though he took his revision with him in the car in the form of notes .


 

Trentham Gardens is suitable for all ages and it's great for a family get together , there are plenty of places you can have you own picnic , of course as well there are cafes .


Cost wise to get into Trentham Gardens 

Admission and Prices

Ticket Prices for Trentham Gardens

Garden Day Ticket Prices
27 Mar to 29 Oct 2017*
27 Mar to 29 Oct 2017*

On arrivalSave 10% buy online

Adult£11.25£10.12
Concession (Seniors and Students)£9.60£8.64
Child (aged 5-15 years)£9.60£8.64

Family (2 adults + up to 3 children aged 5-15 years)

£39.00£35.10
Family (1 adult + up to 3 children aged 5-15 years)£28.50£25.65
Disabled Persons & Carers (per person) £5.75£5.17
Child (Age 4 and under)FreeFree
Group Day Ticket (12 or more)£8.64£8.64

<td style="background-color: #92c219;"><strong>Up to 30 March 2014</strong></td>

<td style="background-color: #92c219;"><strong>From 31 March 2014</strong></td>

<td style="background-color: #f7f7f7;"><strong>Adult</strong></td>

<td style="background-color: #f7f7f7;"><strong>£7.00</strong></td>

<td style="background-color: #f7f7f7;"><strong>£9.25</strong></td>

<td style="background-color: #f7f7f7;"><strong>Child</strong> (aged 5-15 years)</td>

<td style="background-color: #f7f7f7;"><strong>£5.25</strong></td>

<td style="background-color: #f7f7f7;"><strong>£7.75</strong></td>

<td style="background-color: #f7f7f7;"><strong>Family</strong> (2 adults + up to 3 children aged 5-15 years)</td>

<td style="background-color: #f7f7f7;"><strong>£23.00</strong></td>

<td style="background-color: #f7f7f7;"><strong>£32.00</strong></td>

</tr>

<tr>

<td style="background-color: #f7f7f7;"><strong>Family</strong> (1 adult + up to 3 children aged 5-15 years)</td>

<td style="background-color: #f7f7f7;"><strong>£16.25</strong></td>

<td style="background-color: #f7f7f7;"><strong>£23.50</strong></td>

</tr>

<tr>

<td style="background-color: #f7f7f7;"><strong>Concession</strong> (seniors and students)</td>

<td style="background-color: #f7f7f7;"><strong>£5.50</strong></td>

<td style="background-color: #f7f7f7;"><strong>£7.75</strong></td>

<td style="background-color: #f7f7f7;"><strong>Disabled Persons &amp; Carers</strong> (per person)</td>

<td style="background-color: #f7f7f7;"><strong>£4.00</strong></td>

<td style="background-color: #f7f7f7;"><strong>£4.50</strong></td>

<td style="background-color: #f7f7f7;"><strong>10% DISCOUNT</strong> applies for day tickets purchased online, in advance</td>

<td style="background-color: #f7f7f7;"><a style="background-color: #f7f7f7;” href="https://shop.omniticket.com/trg “>Buy Now</a></td>

<td style="background-color: #f7f7f7;">

<div id="_mcePaste” style="position: absolute; top: 70px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow: hidden;">Garden Admission Winter Sale - £4.00 per person admission. £4.00</div>

<div id="_mcePaste” style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 70px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow: hidden;">(Available Monday 6th January - Friday 14th February).</div>

<strong>Garden Admission Winter Sale</strong> - £4.00 per person admission<br /> (Available Monday 6th January - Friday 14th February)</td>



You can make the most of your Tesco clubcard vouchers and out this towards an annual membership and then you can visit as many times as you like.

 

The Spring sunshine is absolutely gorgeous and it was really warm at one stage I even took my coat off and everyone knows it has to be really warm for me to do that !


I love how the light plays upon the water of the lake like miniature diamonds that's at the heart of Trentham Gardens .


 

Everybody knows that fairies live at the bottom of the garden and there's certainly plenty of fairies to spot rounds the gardens , they're beautiful and magically everything a fairy should be. There are 15 fairies to find round the gardens , the fairy sculptures are sculptured beautifully.


 

 M

 

I really do find the sound of water babbling over rocks very relaxing indeed and could watch it all day .



It's just over 2 miles round the lake the route itself is very pushchair and wheelchair friendly , it didn't feel like it was 2 miles at all I think because there is do much visually to entertain your eye like the abundant wildlife.

 
 

  


With the grounds of the garden are the ruins of Trentham hall it is sad to see such a once magnificent house in decline , such is the state of many of our historical houses. I believe it's on the at risk register for buildings and there is hope one day it will be snapped up for a luxury hotel.

At the end of visit to the gardens why not take the chance to grab a cheeky bite to eat in the shopping village. There are 50 shops waiting to part you with your money or you can just window shop.

 

Thursday 13 April 2017

How Does A Cup Of Tea Make You Feel ?

"Well for me a cup of tea amens me feel extremely relaxed ... "


The above sentence is Blogger autocorrecting what I am writing it should actually read "

"Well for me a cup of tea makes me feel extremely relaxed  "


But in a way tea is religion for me anyway as I am always in search of a cup of tea , I can not survive without tea .


 
   


Even in the darkest of times I feel better with tea , along with photography I give my part of my recovery from a mental health breakdown 3 years ago I personally thank tea. And even though I'll never be fully recovered from these issues tea really does play a part for me . 

I have a regular haunt in my city of Derby for my cup of tea , it really is a hidden gem and it's the Cathedral tea rooms . 

 

 
  

I like my tea without pretentiousness even in the poshest of surroundings as I don't want to feel overawed.

Awwh tea my very special friend ..


I've always loved a good cup of tea especially in a nice china cup , tea is absolutely wonderful .

Tuesday 11 April 2017

Beamish Open Air Museum County Durham

During the Easter holidays as a family we decided to get away from it all and head up to County Durham, it's somewhere we'd never been before and we decided that we would have a leisurely visit to Beamish open air Museum. We stopped overnight in a B &B the  & B that was 7 miles away now I used to the sounds of the countryside but I was ready to throttle the cockerel on the first morning we were there * it knew just as you were drifting off again !

It's a lovely drive to Beamish with high hills and rolling countryside scattered here and there with sheep and lambs  it was very much the rural scene. Upon getting to Beamish we found there was oodles of parking , we made a mental note of where the car was .Luckily I had already prebooked my sons ticket ( student ) so we didn't have to join the longish queue which was relatively quick moving, my husbands and my tickets had been cited to us thanks to Beamish and are valid for the day. When you buy your ticket it allows you to come and go as you like for a year ( There are some restrictions I believe for special events ) I do think it is very reasonable to get into Beamish as especially as your tickets allow you to keep going back for free all year long Adults are £19  ( the rest of the prices are on the website )



You can get a trams/buses  to the various parts of the museum and they are very regular but as ever Mr T likes to get out on foot and make us walk every where ! The museum takes you back to how people used to live showing various aspects of lives from the 1800's and 1900's to 1940's, we were stood in the Victorian school at one point I remember this and I remember that ( I actually work in a school that is Victorian thoroughly modernised inside it actually regains much of the Victorian character ) .


The museum is split into various sections and no where is really that far of a walk away ( it is all signposted and tell you how long it is to walk ) . The sections that the museum is broken into are 1940's farm,1900s town, pit village, colliery and there is even an old fashioned fairground , park and steam railway. There is so much to see and it is really inclusive for all ages we as a family thoroughly enjoyed our day there.



I could not get over how inactive the staff are and not once did I see anyone out of character it was jolly and you were made to feel as if you were part of the place.



When looking at one of the buildings we came across a dolly tub and Mr T said to the teen

"Mind the washing machine "


Now in the day there used to used dolly blue to brighten the whites which would be quite useful as I have managed to dye 3 pairs of Mr T's white socks grey now ,I did say to him this isn't matter as no one could see them but he is banking on the hot weather so he can wear shorts ....

One of the first areas we visited was the 1900's town and this took us all back as years ago we actually lived in a lovely turn of the century Edwardian house that had been a dentist. I say lovely but when looking round one the houses we saw some wallpaper that we had at the Edwardian house and were reminded then when Mr T pulled it off the wall it took the plaster off the wall too ! ( I am not sure what they stuck it on the wall with but it must be one of the strongest substances known to people kind ) There was a gentleman there enthralling people with gruesome dentist stories and I must admit the old fashioned dentist drills sent a shover down my spine, as I remember the dentist as a child having drills like this just as well we didn't buy any sweets !


Beamish is huge and very spacious and you really do appreciate the space that even when there are loads of people there it never ever feels crowded as it it really set out spaceciusly with rolling fields to boot.


There are plenty of shops in the town they are on both side of the tram tracks , there is a car mechanics, a grocery shop , sweet shop, haberdashers, bank , pub and we all stopped for a pint ( the teen is 18 . My cider was over 7 per cent and knocked my socks off ) . 

 

Though we didn't buy sweets in the old fashioned sweet shop we did stay a while and watch some sweets being made , which I think was cinder toffee. You will find there are queues for the sweet shop but they don't last overly long for what I saw. We will have to go back to Beamish as one visit is simply not enough to take it all in and we were there nearly all day.



In the pit village we decided to stop for fish and ships though we had half a fish and chips each which is known as a dab and chips ( £4.95 each ) which I didn't think was to bad of course you are welcome to bring your own picnic along and eat it in the picnic areas.


We covered every area within Beamish though we didn't go in a couple of the buildings within the town , there really is a lot to see.  The farms are brilliant to go and visit though it is a bit of a climb to get to them ( it does warn you that the surfaces are uneven to give  an old fashioned feel ) I would say that most of Beamish is accessible to those with mobility needs.











You see from the pictures how fabulous everything is and how wonderful , it really is a visual feast upon the eyes and we really can't wait to go back as a family , which will be handy as the teen is going to York University which isn't that far away. walking round you really do get a feel of how the villages used to look and feel like.

So if you are yearning for the yesterday then come visit Beamish ...


Tuesday 4 April 2017

Wishing To Go On An Exciting Train Journey

You know if you've s secret place you go and perhaps read a book to feel all wonderful and safe with , or to watch a program when the rest of the family and then your secret gets rumbled well it's a bit like that with myself and Michael Portillo . Obviously I'm not cheating on my husband with Michael Portillo ( looks over glasses and whispers ) but when my husband and son were at rugby it was my guilty pleasure it was quality time with just me and Michael ( he doesn't look like a Mike) . So excited was I to watch this Continental Railway Journeys I'd pretty much be clutching my passport and suitcase then shouting wistful " Don't forget me Michael "











Phew they've popped out to rugby and I had Michael all to myself  Michael and I whined ourselves to Missouri and had such fun on the trains as they rolled past the vast plains . Perhaps I am in the throws of a midlife crisis who knows I just know I have quite an eccentric dress sense like Michael , I don't dress to fit in I dress to be me , pretty much like this blog post if I am honest . I honestly want the whole boxset of all the train journeys he has been on , I believe you can actually go on a train trip with him ~ my family don't need to eat please just take my money and whisk me away .

I never thought in my wildest dreams that I would be writing about Michael Portillo but as you know this is sort of who I am and Life,Ninjakillercat and Everything Else. I am nothing but original , whimsical though and a whole host of other interesting and nice adjectives.

Pats television soon soon we will be together again.


SO if anyone wants to whisk me away on a *train journey overnight and in any country I will be more than willing to go * optional to have Michael Portillo .


Disclosure I am as sane as a toothbrush though I am not quite sure how the sanity of a toothbrush can be measured ...