Meal Planning Monday

I've not taken part for some time and need to get a rein on food costs.  I;ve not been planning for the last 5/6 weeks and the food bill is getting out of hand.  This week we are having:

Monday - Sunday roast left overs and lots of veg

Tuesday - Liver and bacon casserole

Wednesday - Paprika Chicken

Thursday - Mexican

Friday - promised the kids a Chinese takeaway

Saturday -Cottage pie

Sunday - Roast Pork and all the trimmings.

What are you cooking this week?

Pop on over to Mrs M's blog to see other meal plans.

Time With The Nephew

Stonehenge

Stonehenge....

A large quantity of very large, very heavy rocks that are believed to have come from South Wales and placed on top of each other many many miles away in Wiltshire.

A prehistoric monument.

A temple for sun worship, a healing centre, a burial site or perhaps a huge calendar.

One of the most famous sites in the world.

A world Heritage Site.

Surrounded by mystery, Stonehenge never fails to impress.

This is our visit on a very very windy September morning.

Linking up with Coombe Mill for Country Kids.

50 by 50 - Afternoon Tea

Regular visitors may have noticed an additional tab at the top of my blog; 50 by 50.  I have finally got round to doing a bucket list.  I had fully intended on doing a 40 by 40 when I was 39 but with one thing and another I just didn't get round to it.  Well the list is completed and I thought it was about time I got on with some of the experiences.  First up, afternoon tea.

While we were in Bath we went on a guided tour and went to the Roman Baths.  In one of the rooms is the most gorgeous tea rooms which serves afternoon tea.  by the time we got to the Baths the afternoon tea was well under way and we had the tour to continue with.  By the time we finished the tour the heavens had opened and we were all tired and went back to the hotel.  

The next day we went to see the toy supplier we had come to see then on to Stonehenge.  We were coming back through Bath on the way home and just could not resist going back for afternoon tea.  The rooms looks out on to the Roman Baths.

Afternoon tea was amazing.  We were certainly not disappointed.

The tea room is in the most stunning room with some amazing features.

Really fabulous afternoon and that is one item ticked off the 50 by 50 list.  Bring on the remaining 49!

Wednesday Words (25 September 2013)

Linking up with Emma.

What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday (25 September 2013)

I wasn't planning on taking part this week as I have a hospital visit for a round of tests today but couldn't sleep and I had taken a photo of me card making yesterday morning at work to put in my Project Life album.  Just love those little butterfly's   

Many years ago I used to make cards to sell but stopped when life i.e. work and kids took over.  Since then I have only made for friends and family.  Now I've started up again making large quantities to sell I am finding I can't sit for more than 2 hours at a time.  I'm shocked by this as before I was working for myself I would have loved to have sat and crafted all day long.  

Strange  when you can't do something you want to do it so badly but when you can you just don't want to.  Am I the only one who feels this way?

So here I am, insomniac me, joining in this week as it's preferable to type this at 5.30am than do housework!  I'll be busy travelling and being poked and prodded most of the day so may not be able to visit many of you until tomorrow/Friday.  I'm going to visit a few of you now as it's clear I am not going to go back to sleep.

Pop on over to Julia to see some other crafty spaces that are probably far more interesting then mine.

An unexpected Find

Once we had checked out of the hotel in Bath and we drove off on our way to the M4 the minute we turned the first corner my eyes lit up.  

Right before me was.......

There was only one thing for it.  Turn round and go on in for a look.  I had seen online the lovely mushroom range and saw how quickly it sold out online. I hunted and hunted but I could not see what I was looking for.  I asked an assistant and said all the stock was out.  Then she said 'we did have one in the window' and off she went.  She came back clasping my treasure in her hand.....

A mushroom mug!

And now it was mine.

The other items in the range I like are:

    

   

Just wished I'd purchased the cup and saucer now as Bath had one left on the shelves and I don't like the idea of china being posted.  There are some  cups and saucers and the tea pot left online so some may find there way through the post to me but sadly no toast plates in stock.

As well as my mug we also came away with a few other things which are on their way to Santa as we speak for The Girl.  She already has two Cath Kids bags and has choose a few new things for Christmas.

   

   

A purse, a gadget pouch and two new bags.  The Cath obsession is starting!

Tea really does taste best in a nice china mug.

Beautiful Roman City Of Bath

Last weekend we were lucky to be able to take some time away from home by having a very short City break.  I've missed not being able to have time away this year but with moving house and setting the businesses up there just has not been time or the money that I have been able to not keep for some or other up coming expense.  I'd got to the point that I needed a break, I needed to be looked after, have no cooking or more importantly no washing up to do.  I needed a change of scenery.

Therefore, when a toy supplier** invited us to see their showroom in Warminster we jumped at the chance.

After 4 1/2 hours of travelling we saw the first sign.

Followed shortly after by another:

And then we were in Bath.

We checked in at the hotel and were not disappointed.

When I finally get my house sold in the Midlands and buy a home here, I am so having a bed that large and an en-suite like that!  After some refreshments we went off to explore Bath with our guide.

The last original servants lift in existence in Bath.  The lift is covered by the same rules as listed buildings and can't be altered, removed etc without express permission.

The Circus:

Our guide explained that the building are different colours as over the years dirt has built up on them and the bright ones have been cleaned.  The current charge to clean just the front of one of these is house is in excess of £12,000.

Royal Crescent:

Gravel walk, Bath (Jane Austin):

One of the entrances to Royal Victoria Park:

Sights we passed whilst walking around:

Along the way we were told all about the history of some of the places we saw.  Our 2 hour guided tour certainly didn't cover all there is to see in Bath.

Bath Abbey:

Sadly at this point the heaven's opened and we made our way back to the hotel.  We certainly did not see all that Bath had to offer on our short stay but have decided that this is one City we would like to come back to when we have more time available.

Although it was drizzly and damp this visit got us out and about and walking together as a family and because of that I am linking up with Coombe Mill for #CountryKids.

**Our stay at The Hilton City Bath (Bed, Breakfast & Evening meal) and 2 hour guided tour of Bath for 2 adults and 2 children was provided by Asobi Toys.  We were not asked to write this review, received any other compensation or contracted to make any purchases from them.  This piece has been written showing our experience in Bath.  The three further posts that will appear shortly were experiences we paid for ourselves and are in no way linked to Asobi Toys or any of their associates.