Heyy,
With many wedding plannings afoot, Mr Warehouse and I decided to take a break and head to London for the day, partly to celebrate Valentines Day, our last as a Fiancee and Fiance, but also as a Merry Christmas Pressie to our Beau. I had promised him that I would take him to go and see his favourite Disney film in theatres - Mary Poppins! As the website suggests Disney and Cameron Mackintosh’s have collaborated in order to create a multi-award-winning musical. Playing at the Prince Edward Theatre, this is the timeless and magical story of the world’s favourite Nanny. Being triumphantly and spectacularly brought to the stage with dazzling choreography, incredible effects and unforgettable songs. MaryPoppinsOnStage.co.uk goes into detail about the cast, starring Zizi Strallen, returning to play the title role following great acclaim on the recent sell-out international tour along with co-stars Charlie Stemp as Bert, Joseph Millson as Mr Banks, Amy Griffiths as Mrs Banks and the legendary Petula Clark as The Bird Woman. "The stage production of Mary Poppins is brilliantly adapted from the wonderful stories by PL Travers and the original film. It is co-created by Cameron Mackintosh and has a book by Oscar-winning screenwriter and Downton Abbey creator, Julian Fellowes. With a timeless score by Richard M Sherman and Robert B Sherman including the classic songs; Jolly Holiday, Step in Time, Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious and Feed the Birds with new songs and additional music and lyrics, including Practically Perfect, by the Olivier award-winning British team of George Stiles and Anthony Drewe."
However, as we attended the third ticket office we were met with the same response, and unless we were willing to pay over £150.00 PER TICKET then we were in no way going to be able to afford such an affair. Unfortunately the combination of booking slightly last minute and more so the fact of it being half-term holidays for kids, Londoners or otherwise, it was going to be damned impossible to get any sort of supposed discounted or cheap tickets. Disappointingly I accepted that it was not meant to be, but promised Mr Warehouse I would take him to see it again soon, maybe a weekday evening, before the play shuts for good in June 2020.
Instead, we decided to grab Costa Coffee (well I did). Indulging in the new Valentines Day inspired drink, made with Ruby cocoa that gives the drink a stunning natural rose pink colour - The new Ruby Hot Chocolate. Infused with sweet berry flavours, crowned with a swirl of cream and finished with red shimmer chocolate curls it certainly was not Slimming World friendly.
Following our little pitstop, I decided to take my future Husband to the wondrous world of Borough Market with all its tidbits and nibbles. As its website reveals, Borough Market is rich with history, but it remains as relevant now as it has ever been. As London’s oldest food market, it has been serving the people of Southwark for 1,000 years, and that extraordinary heritage is an important part of its appeal. However, despite the array and variety of the food on offer, it was far, far too busy for Mr Warehouse to even entertain eating something overpriced and Hipster and so we left, empty-handed and slightly hungry.
Next stop, throughout the horrendous weather storm Dennis was inflicting on us and the rest of the country was the Tower of London. Included in the ticket price (which we used a 2-for-1 offer, I ain't made of money) are captivating stories of pain and passion, treachery and torture on the Yeoman Warder tour, a chance to meet the famous ravens and discover why they are known as the guardians of the Tower and a once in a lifetime opportunity to see the breathtakingly world-famous collection of 23,578 gemstones and crowns of the state.
The weather truth be told was horrid, that frustrating combination of spitting rain and high-speed winds that made for a pretty miserable day out in the City. And so, following our visit we headed to the tube in search of Absurd Bird in London's Soho District, something I have been begging to take Mr Warehouse to ever since I first tried in in Bath with Miss Tweedle-Dee during our trip to HMP Shepton Mallet (Haunted Happenings at Her Majesty's Pleasure). Advertising itself as "Deep South Fried Chicken, Wings, Waffles & Cocktails", Absurd Bird hit the spot, even for a weary Mr Warehouse who selected a Chicken burger and onion rings. For me, I was yet again met with disappointment as the waiter informed me that there was no deep-fried Babybel on the menu and that this was taken off several months ago, much to my dismay. Instead, I drowned my sorrows with an ABBuffalo Chicken Burger with spicy buffalo sauce, garlic mayo, lettuce, tomato, blue cheese served in a brioche bun with a tangy carrot & celery slaw. This was all washed down with a BOGOF cocktail, The Green Jubel: Vodka, melon Midori, kiwi syrup & apple juice. Shaken hard with lemon juice & fresh apples - Simply Delish!
Heading home I was glad to be back in the 'Shire. Despite the darkness and black of the now night sky, I was glad to be out of the rat-race-mentality of the Big Smoke. Now don't get me wrong, I would never admit it, but I am glad I didn't follow my earlier dream of working in the city as a 20-something. I very much doubt it would be all Bridget Jones and Notting Hill, more likely than not I would have been stuck out along the ends of the tube, ages from the hustle and bustle. I would have grown tired of the corporate events, meetings and high-powered nature of business. Now whilst I imagine the money being good, maybe very good, I eventually would have grown frustrated with the price of everything including socialising and eating out, not to mention the fact I would have never been able to afford my own home. Granted the dating scene would have been plentiful, but I would soon have eaten through the Tinder profiles and POF dates, only adding to my city-frustrations.
Yes, certainly glad to watch from afar and enjoy city living for a few hours, maybe even a few days, but I am always glad to return to the greenery of home and the peaceful surrounds of Cranfield. Yes, I could have gone to the City, earned my money and come out again, possibly even man in toe; But I know I would have gotten far too used to the pennies and would have ended up living out the rest of my days in the smog of London, miserable and bitter not looking at people or making eye contact with whilst on the tube, all after I have raged on Instagram about having to wait 2 minutes for the next tube.
'Til next time, Love A.Lou xx
Showing posts with label City. Show all posts
Showing posts with label City. Show all posts
Monday, 17 February 2020
Monday, 18 November 2019
The Worlds Best Date!
Evening,
Setting up the pups for a day by themselves and with the neighbours being left a key, my Mr Warehouse and I hit the road ready for the big smoke. Now, normally we would hire ourselves a cottage or a cabin for the weekend at about this time of year and head out to the countryside for a bit of rest and recuperation with a chance to reflect on another year being together. However what with the wedding and Christmas, we decided to have ourselves a day trip to London to celebrate instead.
Starting our day with a cheeky trip to Camden Town, we hit up a chic and niche culture and even sampled some tasty delights of hipster North London. Unable to bring forward our Chocoholic Afternoon Tea in a top Paddington hotel, we stole a few moments in a greasy spoon cafe for a cuppa and to get out the chilly November air. As we sat and talked about our day, the conversation soon turned to the last few anniversaries and some of the memories we have had over the last half-decade. From trips and holidays to days mooching around our little starter flat - Most of it enjoyable and full of laughter.
Soon it was time to head off, across the city on the London Underground in search of our Chocoholic Afternoon Tea. After walking past the scenic Hyde Park and Serpentine, we arrived early but only after Mr Warehouse had to pull me away from a posh pet store before I nearly bought the puppies presents and overpriced treats. Stepping inside the four-star hotel, we marvelled at the marble floor and high ceilings. Nestled in the idyllic corner of Queens Garden at Paddington, the Park Grand London Paddington offered the perfect calm to outside on the busy city streets and all whilst still being in the heart of all the buzz in the capital with bustling Oxford Street and the dazzling West-end only a short distance away. As Mr Warehouse and I sat after relieving ourselves from a bathroom stop, we wondered on the clientele and the rooms, although looking at the prices of £170 per person per night it would appear it was slightly out of our normal price bracket.
Nevertheless, it was soon time to be indulged. The glorious waiter, a little Indian chap came along and offered us a choice of tea to pick from a snazzy looking box. Sitting back in the chair after he left I sighed and looked over to my Fiance. We were certainly relishing an unforgettable afternoon in London and as our decadent chocolate afternoon tea for two arrived we were perplexed when we were asked by our waiter if we would like our bubbly now or later. Confused we asked for it to be given later.
"I thought this didn't come with Champagne?" Mr Warehouse asked to which I agreed and frantically began reading through the voucher details. Nothing. Maybe they were trying to swizz us and make us pay for an overpriced bottle of plonk? despite this, however, I accepted the seemingly free glass of Prosecco.
Diving in and ignoring my Slimming World plan, our delightful afternoon was filled with delicious sweet and savoury treats. To start we had an array of freshly made finger sandwiches including a yellow, carrot infused bread and pink, beetroot infused bread, along with your standard brown and white. Inside was crammed with egg mayonnaise, chicken with bell peppers, tuna a la cucumber and cheese with houmous. More delights come on the second layer and whilst the website described the indulgent chocolate swiss roll, it was nowhere to be seen. Instead, we had two massive warmed chocolate scones, a smooth milk chocolate moose topped with berries and a slightly dry, chocolate and banana loaf bite. But, to top it all off was a cute little selection of petit fours consisting of chocolate brownies, macaroons and a mini key lime pie.
Sat in our window box seat in luxury surroundings I just simply couldn't fault the utterly wonderful service. The afternoon tea had been a scrumptious treat and all the better when the waiter came to top up our prosecco and leave the bottle on the table. Returning with I asked rather baffled if the whole bottle of Prosecco was included and to mine and Mr Warehouse's surprise he said yes! Winning! I didn't think that the voucher Miss Tweedle-Dee had got us included any booze, let alone a whole stinking bottle. Over the moon, we chin-chined our way through and by the end were a bit of a mess, stumbling out onto the streets of Paddington, half-cut and still daylight.
Honestly, everything combined was the best Afternoon tea I think I have ever had and Mr Warehouse agreed. Just impeccable.
Giggling all the way back to the tube we headed for part three, a trip to the London Dungeons. After blagging a freebie from someone in the village (all because I was too lazy to have found a two-for-the-price-of-one on the back of a cereal box somewhere) I was excited to have finally gone somewhere I have always wanted to go. Exploring the capital's most perilous past, Mr Warehouse and I were able to be fully immersed in the unique experience and able to see, hear, feel and even smell the chilling atmosphere as the characters of Ye Olde England came to life.
Starting in the year 1536 in medieval Britain, we were greeted by a gruesome Jester and taken to the basements of Parliament in the year 1605 and watched on as the actors told of Guy Fawkes and his plot to blow up the Houses where laws are passed and lives controlled (something I think many British people have thought about in recent times with Brexit looming). Onto the Torture chamber, we went to be met by a grizzly soul that informed us of certain methods used in order to obtain information.
Wandering through the darkness into 1665, Mr Warehouse and I were met by the Plague Doctor with his long pointed beak and menacing look. Taken to the "Plague House" we were sneezed on and told of the misery that would await should we come down with such an ailment. Fast forward a year and its the 2nd of September 1666. Sparks from Thomas Farriner’s bakery in Pudding Lane have set the packed timber houses of London alight and the city has become a raging inferno with the plague rats scurrying and the helpless left to burn we experienced the sites and smells of what it may be like to be stuck inside a burning building - seventeenth-century style.
"Now this was my era right here," I thought as my Date and I found ourselves in quaint surroundings, although this wasn't no dream but a nightmare as we noticed our surroundings were of Mrs Lovett's infamous pie shop. With Sweeney [Todd] upstairs in his barbershop, I was sure of our next fate on Fleet Street. Heading into the seats I could hear children screaming and crying as the dramatic settings and surroundings had become too much for their little heads, I however was loving every moment of it. Finishing up our hairchop cut, myself and our group headed to 1888 and Mitre Square in particular where Jack The Ripper stalked. Whitechapel was not a safe space and soon more victims would be added to the list of the dead.
The final stop was 1783 (don't know quite where the chronology has gone but nevermind) and we were met with The Long Drop. One of the only rides that was working when we were at the Dungeons I considered not doing it, simply because had done ride like this in the past and hated them, however not wanting to look like a pussy, I sucked it up and accompanied a pompous Mr Warehouse to the coaster where an exhilarating vertical free fall drop ride awaited us.
Heading out of the establishment I was disappointed in the extortionate prices for photos, and, even though it was priceless now I look back on it, I couldn't have justified twenty-quid for a photo of Mr Warehouse looking like he was screaming his lungs out on the ride (which he was by the way). Hunger had yet to take ahold so we cancelled our further plans for dinner out and headed home to the fur-babies. Five years has seemed to slip by so easily and yet it already feels like a lifetime. I am so glad to have Mr Warehouse as my Fiance and cannot wait to be this time next year a Wifey!
'Til next time, Love A.Lou xx
Setting up the pups for a day by themselves and with the neighbours being left a key, my Mr Warehouse and I hit the road ready for the big smoke. Now, normally we would hire ourselves a cottage or a cabin for the weekend at about this time of year and head out to the countryside for a bit of rest and recuperation with a chance to reflect on another year being together. However what with the wedding and Christmas, we decided to have ourselves a day trip to London to celebrate instead.
Starting our day with a cheeky trip to Camden Town, we hit up a chic and niche culture and even sampled some tasty delights of hipster North London. Unable to bring forward our Chocoholic Afternoon Tea in a top Paddington hotel, we stole a few moments in a greasy spoon cafe for a cuppa and to get out the chilly November air. As we sat and talked about our day, the conversation soon turned to the last few anniversaries and some of the memories we have had over the last half-decade. From trips and holidays to days mooching around our little starter flat - Most of it enjoyable and full of laughter.
Soon it was time to head off, across the city on the London Underground in search of our Chocoholic Afternoon Tea. After walking past the scenic Hyde Park and Serpentine, we arrived early but only after Mr Warehouse had to pull me away from a posh pet store before I nearly bought the puppies presents and overpriced treats. Stepping inside the four-star hotel, we marvelled at the marble floor and high ceilings. Nestled in the idyllic corner of Queens Garden at Paddington, the Park Grand London Paddington offered the perfect calm to outside on the busy city streets and all whilst still being in the heart of all the buzz in the capital with bustling Oxford Street and the dazzling West-end only a short distance away. As Mr Warehouse and I sat after relieving ourselves from a bathroom stop, we wondered on the clientele and the rooms, although looking at the prices of £170 per person per night it would appear it was slightly out of our normal price bracket.
Nevertheless, it was soon time to be indulged. The glorious waiter, a little Indian chap came along and offered us a choice of tea to pick from a snazzy looking box. Sitting back in the chair after he left I sighed and looked over to my Fiance. We were certainly relishing an unforgettable afternoon in London and as our decadent chocolate afternoon tea for two arrived we were perplexed when we were asked by our waiter if we would like our bubbly now or later. Confused we asked for it to be given later.
"I thought this didn't come with Champagne?" Mr Warehouse asked to which I agreed and frantically began reading through the voucher details. Nothing. Maybe they were trying to swizz us and make us pay for an overpriced bottle of plonk? despite this, however, I accepted the seemingly free glass of Prosecco.
Diving in and ignoring my Slimming World plan, our delightful afternoon was filled with delicious sweet and savoury treats. To start we had an array of freshly made finger sandwiches including a yellow, carrot infused bread and pink, beetroot infused bread, along with your standard brown and white. Inside was crammed with egg mayonnaise, chicken with bell peppers, tuna a la cucumber and cheese with houmous. More delights come on the second layer and whilst the website described the indulgent chocolate swiss roll, it was nowhere to be seen. Instead, we had two massive warmed chocolate scones, a smooth milk chocolate moose topped with berries and a slightly dry, chocolate and banana loaf bite. But, to top it all off was a cute little selection of petit fours consisting of chocolate brownies, macaroons and a mini key lime pie.
Sat in our window box seat in luxury surroundings I just simply couldn't fault the utterly wonderful service. The afternoon tea had been a scrumptious treat and all the better when the waiter came to top up our prosecco and leave the bottle on the table. Returning with I asked rather baffled if the whole bottle of Prosecco was included and to mine and Mr Warehouse's surprise he said yes! Winning! I didn't think that the voucher Miss Tweedle-Dee had got us included any booze, let alone a whole stinking bottle. Over the moon, we chin-chined our way through and by the end were a bit of a mess, stumbling out onto the streets of Paddington, half-cut and still daylight.
Honestly, everything combined was the best Afternoon tea I think I have ever had and Mr Warehouse agreed. Just impeccable.
Giggling all the way back to the tube we headed for part three, a trip to the London Dungeons. After blagging a freebie from someone in the village (all because I was too lazy to have found a two-for-the-price-of-one on the back of a cereal box somewhere) I was excited to have finally gone somewhere I have always wanted to go. Exploring the capital's most perilous past, Mr Warehouse and I were able to be fully immersed in the unique experience and able to see, hear, feel and even smell the chilling atmosphere as the characters of Ye Olde England came to life.
Starting in the year 1536 in medieval Britain, we were greeted by a gruesome Jester and taken to the basements of Parliament in the year 1605 and watched on as the actors told of Guy Fawkes and his plot to blow up the Houses where laws are passed and lives controlled (something I think many British people have thought about in recent times with Brexit looming). Onto the Torture chamber, we went to be met by a grizzly soul that informed us of certain methods used in order to obtain information.
Wandering through the darkness into 1665, Mr Warehouse and I were met by the Plague Doctor with his long pointed beak and menacing look. Taken to the "Plague House" we were sneezed on and told of the misery that would await should we come down with such an ailment. Fast forward a year and its the 2nd of September 1666. Sparks from Thomas Farriner’s bakery in Pudding Lane have set the packed timber houses of London alight and the city has become a raging inferno with the plague rats scurrying and the helpless left to burn we experienced the sites and smells of what it may be like to be stuck inside a burning building - seventeenth-century style.
"Now this was my era right here," I thought as my Date and I found ourselves in quaint surroundings, although this wasn't no dream but a nightmare as we noticed our surroundings were of Mrs Lovett's infamous pie shop. With Sweeney [Todd] upstairs in his barbershop, I was sure of our next fate on Fleet Street. Heading into the seats I could hear children screaming and crying as the dramatic settings and surroundings had become too much for their little heads, I however was loving every moment of it. Finishing up our hair
The final stop was 1783 (don't know quite where the chronology has gone but nevermind) and we were met with The Long Drop. One of the only rides that was working when we were at the Dungeons I considered not doing it, simply because had done ride like this in the past and hated them, however not wanting to look like a pussy, I sucked it up and accompanied a pompous Mr Warehouse to the coaster where an exhilarating vertical free fall drop ride awaited us.
Heading out of the establishment I was disappointed in the extortionate prices for photos, and, even though it was priceless now I look back on it, I couldn't have justified twenty-quid for a photo of Mr Warehouse looking like he was screaming his lungs out on the ride (which he was by the way). Hunger had yet to take ahold so we cancelled our further plans for dinner out and headed home to the fur-babies. Five years has seemed to slip by so easily and yet it already feels like a lifetime. I am so glad to have Mr Warehouse as my Fiance and cannot wait to be this time next year a Wifey!
'Til next time, Love A.Lou xx
Monday, 24 June 2019
Sunning Ourselves in the City by the Sea
Morning one and all,
Last week I explained of the issue I had with my Landlord in paying back my deposit which was rightfully owed to be following Mr Warehouse and I moving out in November 2018. No sooner had the money hit my bank account my fiance was asking what I was going to be spending my money on. Jokingly I said about going on a holiday, expecting his normal response of "No, we cant afford it". But, on this occasion there was something different.
"If you can find a holiday for under £400.00 then we can go!" Mr Warehouse said playfully. And so, heading to my go-to websites I found a flight for under £100 for both of us. Not booking any allocated seats and only one bag between the two of us I was off to a good start. Heading over to the hotel websites I found a great little hotel, less than five minutes from the beach and with a pool and air-con. Even better was the £250-odd that I had been saving up in Tesco Clubcard vouchers paid for it entirely. Malaga here we come!
It was dark. It was fucking dark. But we were now hours away from boarding a flight to the sunshine coast of Spain. We had only been asleep for a few hours after partying with some of my work colleagues at a friends 30th birthday party so to say we were tired was an understatement. However, driving down as dusk broke and checking ourselves through security I could feel Mr Warehouse becoming more and more anxious about the baggage and seating arrangements. After a quick spot of breakfast we were on our way and stepping into the Ryanair Jet, bound for Spain.
The flight itself was nice and mainly smooth going, helped along by the film Baywatch and a pecan plait from home. Arriving in Malaga airport I could feel the humidity hit as the doors of the plane opened. Reunited, Mr Warehouse and I headed through the airport and outside where we decided not to get a transfer or taxi and instead opted for the local bus, only three-euros and was less than forty-minutes, about the same as a cab. This saved us about twenty-euros and whilst we had not necessarily pre-planned this, I would certainly recommend. As we left the comfort of the bus, Mr Warehouse and I walked through the beautiful botanical-inspired gardens to our hotel, located as described, perfectly between the beach and harbour.
"So is the pool on the top floor?" I asked the clerk who met us there to show us around our apartment. He looked at me confused. I repeated my question and this time he responded, telling us that there was no pool. Annoyed slightly the clerk and I both looked through the photos n the website and sure enough there was not any, however I was certain to have booked one with a pool that all the holiday apartments shared. Signing away the papers I vowed to check once settled, although after checking it seems I may have been thinking of another hotel that was in running when booking.
And so far since then our little holiday has been great. Halfway through now and still lots left planned in. Our first few hours were spent exploring and finding the amenities such as the beach, cafes, restaurants and the Harbour before having dinner and getting an early night. Yesterday was spent again mainly exploring and having a walk around the old town of Malaga City. We have yet to go to the traditional indoor market however we have booked onto a trip to visit my fathers birthplace tomorrow - Gibraltar (hes not Spanish, just part of a travelling military family).
Yesterday evening I think was the best so far by a mile as Mr Warehouse and I boarded a catamaran boat trip to watch the sun set over the city by the sea. Standing in line we waited patiently. Mr Warehouse had ushered that the group of Spanish teenage boys behind us a few meters away were also boarding the catamaran.
"Oh god I hope there not a little bunch of Arseholes" Mr Warehouse stated. Agreeing with him I nodded. A few moments later the queue we were in began to move and people began to board the boat and take up their places on the netted seating/sunbathing area.
"Excuse me you were here first," Mr Warehouse said ushering the man stood next to him to take the spot in front of him in the queue. Clear and concise came his reply.
"No, No. I'm with the group of boys over there" the Spanish looking man said in plain English. Oh Fuck! Feeling embarrassed Mr Warehouse said nothing and turned back to face the front. Whether he heard us or not make the comments about his pose/crew, Mr Warehouse and I now had to spend the next few hours out at sea with him and his gang of 'youts'.
Sailing away on the deep ocean with nothing but water between us and North Africa, it was nice to see my fiance fully relaxed.
"I am really glad that you push me out of my comfort zone and to do things and go places I have never been to before" he said, quite out of the blue. Sweet and romantic, my earlier naughty dream only reinforced the fact that I knew he was the one. To think that this may be the last holiday I have with a an unmarried name! The boat trip was beautiful and I have taken many many photos which I am hoping, when I have a free moment that I can make into a little holiday montage and video, similar to what we did with our Tenerife vlog!
Tonight I think we will head up to the old town again, hoping for some yummy Paella and fresh seafood before a spot of shopping for nic-naks and holiday crap before an early night as we have to be up and out before 7am in order to get the transportation to Gibraltar - The home of my ancestors, named after the rock itself and to be forever adorned with monkey's.
Last week I explained of the issue I had with my Landlord in paying back my deposit which was rightfully owed to be following Mr Warehouse and I moving out in November 2018. No sooner had the money hit my bank account my fiance was asking what I was going to be spending my money on. Jokingly I said about going on a holiday, expecting his normal response of "No, we cant afford it". But, on this occasion there was something different.
"If you can find a holiday for under £400.00 then we can go!" Mr Warehouse said playfully. And so, heading to my go-to websites I found a flight for under £100 for both of us. Not booking any allocated seats and only one bag between the two of us I was off to a good start. Heading over to the hotel websites I found a great little hotel, less than five minutes from the beach and with a pool and air-con. Even better was the £250-odd that I had been saving up in Tesco Clubcard vouchers paid for it entirely. Malaga here we come!
It was dark. It was fucking dark. But we were now hours away from boarding a flight to the sunshine coast of Spain. We had only been asleep for a few hours after partying with some of my work colleagues at a friends 30th birthday party so to say we were tired was an understatement. However, driving down as dusk broke and checking ourselves through security I could feel Mr Warehouse becoming more and more anxious about the baggage and seating arrangements. After a quick spot of breakfast we were on our way and stepping into the Ryanair Jet, bound for Spain.
The flight itself was nice and mainly smooth going, helped along by the film Baywatch and a pecan plait from home. Arriving in Malaga airport I could feel the humidity hit as the doors of the plane opened. Reunited, Mr Warehouse and I headed through the airport and outside where we decided not to get a transfer or taxi and instead opted for the local bus, only three-euros and was less than forty-minutes, about the same as a cab. This saved us about twenty-euros and whilst we had not necessarily pre-planned this, I would certainly recommend. As we left the comfort of the bus, Mr Warehouse and I walked through the beautiful botanical-inspired gardens to our hotel, located as described, perfectly between the beach and harbour.
"So is the pool on the top floor?" I asked the clerk who met us there to show us around our apartment. He looked at me confused. I repeated my question and this time he responded, telling us that there was no pool. Annoyed slightly the clerk and I both looked through the photos n the website and sure enough there was not any, however I was certain to have booked one with a pool that all the holiday apartments shared. Signing away the papers I vowed to check once settled, although after checking it seems I may have been thinking of another hotel that was in running when booking.
And so far since then our little holiday has been great. Halfway through now and still lots left planned in. Our first few hours were spent exploring and finding the amenities such as the beach, cafes, restaurants and the Harbour before having dinner and getting an early night. Yesterday was spent again mainly exploring and having a walk around the old town of Malaga City. We have yet to go to the traditional indoor market however we have booked onto a trip to visit my fathers birthplace tomorrow - Gibraltar (hes not Spanish, just part of a travelling military family).
Yesterday evening I think was the best so far by a mile as Mr Warehouse and I boarded a catamaran boat trip to watch the sun set over the city by the sea. Standing in line we waited patiently. Mr Warehouse had ushered that the group of Spanish teenage boys behind us a few meters away were also boarding the catamaran.
"Oh god I hope there not a little bunch of Arseholes" Mr Warehouse stated. Agreeing with him I nodded. A few moments later the queue we were in began to move and people began to board the boat and take up their places on the netted seating/sunbathing area.
"Excuse me you were here first," Mr Warehouse said ushering the man stood next to him to take the spot in front of him in the queue. Clear and concise came his reply.
"No, No. I'm with the group of boys over there" the Spanish looking man said in plain English. Oh Fuck! Feeling embarrassed Mr Warehouse said nothing and turned back to face the front. Whether he heard us or not make the comments about his pose/crew, Mr Warehouse and I now had to spend the next few hours out at sea with him and his gang of 'youts'.
Sailing away on the deep ocean with nothing but water between us and North Africa, it was nice to see my fiance fully relaxed.
"I am really glad that you push me out of my comfort zone and to do things and go places I have never been to before" he said, quite out of the blue. Sweet and romantic, my earlier naughty dream only reinforced the fact that I knew he was the one. To think that this may be the last holiday I have with a an unmarried name! The boat trip was beautiful and I have taken many many photos which I am hoping, when I have a free moment that I can make into a little holiday montage and video, similar to what we did with our Tenerife vlog!
Tonight I think we will head up to the old town again, hoping for some yummy Paella and fresh seafood before a spot of shopping for nic-naks and holiday crap before an early night as we have to be up and out before 7am in order to get the transportation to Gibraltar - The home of my ancestors, named after the rock itself and to be forever adorned with monkey's.
'Til next time, Love A.Lou xx
Monday, 2 October 2017
Here We Go Again!
Ahoj (Pronounced Ah-hoy),
For those of you that are fluent in Czechoslovakian you will know that this is how you say hello. Why am I starting off by saying hello in another language you might think. Well dear friends, after months of searching and scouring the web for cheap deals to go to Europe for a Christmas market getaway, I thought that I had tracked down the perfect place call Mr Warehouse and I to visit. However after a rather heated and intense discussion with Mr Warehouse, it was decided that I would go with Miss Tweedle-Dee instead. Where are we heading to you might ask ... Prague! With Miss Tweedle-Dumb in Florida with her Bae we will just have to sit tight and wait to see if this trip for two turns into a tour for three.
Now don't get me wrong I feel bad that I kept going on at Mr Warehouse nearly every evening after work about a holiday to somewhere else in Europe more cold and Christmasy than England. With less than two paychecks until the big day now it was fairly unrealistic to expect that Mr Warehouse could find nearly £300 for the spending money we would need for a few days in a foreign country. Even when I offered to pay for him to go as a early Christmas present I was told that this would not be allowed and was too much of a gift. "Yeah, because the Christmas that I bought you a holiday to Ireland with flights and hotel all paid for or last year when I bought you an Xbox One Slim weren't too much" I thought to myself as I succumbed to the fact that I would be holidaying without him. Instead Mr. Warehouse and I have agreed that we will go away with the pooch for a long weekend somewhere in the UK for a little break and already I have seen the pressure lift from his shoulders at the thought of not having to shell out on lots of Christmas presents and a holiday to Eastern Europe. I suppose that in the long run though when it comes to next year Mr. Warehouse and I will be able to have one and maybe even two nice holidays away somewhere. He has even been looking forward to booking somewhere a little bit more exotic and luxurious than Tenerife and have seen Mexico, Caribbean and Florida have all been on the cards.
With the money that I had got from friends and family for my birthday paying for the flight itself, all I now really need to think about is just spending money and the small amount Miss Tweedle-Dee and I would pay for a hotel. It appears that whilst we have spent nearly £100 on a flight from Stansted to Prague in late November / early December, the hotels seem very well priced and definitely within our small budget. Obviously though, Miss Tweedle-Dee and I have different wants from a hotel. I would prefer to have accommodation that touches the luxurious side of life. In true fashion, I want everything champagne on a lemonade budget so if the hotel could include a spa, sauna and hot-tub with a pool that would be just great. Throw in a massage or treatments for free and I will be more than happy, however I know for a fact that Miss Tweedle-Dee does not share the same outlook on relaxation as I do. One thing we can agree on is that we want an inexpensive but nice hotel with beautiful interiors we can Facebook and SnapChat about and in the perfect location for walking to all the sights and smells of the city.
Miss Tweedle-Dee and I will be flying in just before the Christmas market starts, one of Europe's best and hopefully it will not disappoint as York did last year. Prague is meant to be one of the most historically filled cities in Europe and with its history sprinkled with tales of the old Soviet Union and its fight to become its own independent country. I am looking forward to learning parts of history that were missed from the pages of the text and reference books we were taught and finding out alternatively what life was like through the World Wars and the Communism of its latter years. I want to visit the infamous Charles Bridge, take refuge in the St Vitus Cathedral and stroll along the Old Town and past the Astronomical clock. Maybe Miss Tweedle-Dee and I will take a romantic-bestie dinner on-board the Vltava river by night and by day shop in strange boutiques and outlets. Maybe I will even find a spa out there with everything I ever dreamt of for chilling out in the warmth of a Solarium or solitude of a Salt Cave.
Ahh, I suppose now I just have to wait and start the count down to take-off ...
'Til next time, Love A.Lou xx
For those of you that are fluent in Czechoslovakian you will know that this is how you say hello. Why am I starting off by saying hello in another language you might think. Well dear friends, after months of searching and scouring the web for cheap deals to go to Europe for a Christmas market getaway, I thought that I had tracked down the perfect place call Mr Warehouse and I to visit. However after a rather heated and intense discussion with Mr Warehouse, it was decided that I would go with Miss Tweedle-Dee instead. Where are we heading to you might ask ... Prague! With Miss Tweedle-Dumb in Florida with her Bae we will just have to sit tight and wait to see if this trip for two turns into a tour for three.
Now don't get me wrong I feel bad that I kept going on at Mr Warehouse nearly every evening after work about a holiday to somewhere else in Europe more cold and Christmasy than England. With less than two paychecks until the big day now it was fairly unrealistic to expect that Mr Warehouse could find nearly £300 for the spending money we would need for a few days in a foreign country. Even when I offered to pay for him to go as a early Christmas present I was told that this would not be allowed and was too much of a gift. "Yeah, because the Christmas that I bought you a holiday to Ireland with flights and hotel all paid for or last year when I bought you an Xbox One Slim weren't too much" I thought to myself as I succumbed to the fact that I would be holidaying without him. Instead Mr. Warehouse and I have agreed that we will go away with the pooch for a long weekend somewhere in the UK for a little break and already I have seen the pressure lift from his shoulders at the thought of not having to shell out on lots of Christmas presents and a holiday to Eastern Europe. I suppose that in the long run though when it comes to next year Mr. Warehouse and I will be able to have one and maybe even two nice holidays away somewhere. He has even been looking forward to booking somewhere a little bit more exotic and luxurious than Tenerife and have seen Mexico, Caribbean and Florida have all been on the cards.
With the money that I had got from friends and family for my birthday paying for the flight itself, all I now really need to think about is just spending money and the small amount Miss Tweedle-Dee and I would pay for a hotel. It appears that whilst we have spent nearly £100 on a flight from Stansted to Prague in late November / early December, the hotels seem very well priced and definitely within our small budget. Obviously though, Miss Tweedle-Dee and I have different wants from a hotel. I would prefer to have accommodation that touches the luxurious side of life. In true fashion, I want everything champagne on a lemonade budget so if the hotel could include a spa, sauna and hot-tub with a pool that would be just great. Throw in a massage or treatments for free and I will be more than happy, however I know for a fact that Miss Tweedle-Dee does not share the same outlook on relaxation as I do. One thing we can agree on is that we want an inexpensive but nice hotel with beautiful interiors we can Facebook and SnapChat about and in the perfect location for walking to all the sights and smells of the city.
Miss Tweedle-Dee and I will be flying in just before the Christmas market starts, one of Europe's best and hopefully it will not disappoint as York did last year. Prague is meant to be one of the most historically filled cities in Europe and with its history sprinkled with tales of the old Soviet Union and its fight to become its own independent country. I am looking forward to learning parts of history that were missed from the pages of the text and reference books we were taught and finding out alternatively what life was like through the World Wars and the Communism of its latter years. I want to visit the infamous Charles Bridge, take refuge in the St Vitus Cathedral and stroll along the Old Town and past the Astronomical clock. Maybe Miss Tweedle-Dee and I will take a romantic-bestie dinner on-board the Vltava river by night and by day shop in strange boutiques and outlets. Maybe I will even find a spa out there with everything I ever dreamt of for chilling out in the warmth of a Solarium or solitude of a Salt Cave.
Ahh, I suppose now I just have to wait and start the count down to take-off ...
'Til next time, Love A.Lou xx
Monday, 31 August 2015
Bonjour! Merci!
Bon Soiree mon ami,
Finishing work and hurrying out the door of my office before anyone could ask me another thing I was more than ready and very excited for my holiday away in the Mid-South of France. Lyon was a place that I have thought about going to but as with most I did not know a lot about it and chose not to research too much into it so as to fully experience the city when I arrived. Watching the time I headed to get my nails done and pick up some bits in Bedford Town Centre before heading back to my little apartment to meet with Mr. Warehouse who was soon en route with the suitcase which by his own admission he had filled more than half of the twenty-kilo allowance EasyJet was giving us. Nevertheless we packed what I needed and double checked all our tickets and passports before settling down for a cheeky Chinese takeaway and some GBBO - The Great British Bake Off for those whom are unfamiliar is a show in which contestants slave over a hot oven in order to impress and 80-year-old and a pompous old git, and all whilst trying their best not to let their Pavlova end up on the floor. I don't know whether you can receive this in other countries such as the States or Asia, but you cannot receive in Europe, at least through the BBCiPlayer.
Anyway back to the holiday. So after getting up at about the same time I would usually be going to work (6.30am to be precise) all because Mr. Warehouse didn't want to be late for his flight. In turn after arguing about when to call the cab we arrived at London Luton Airport so damn early that our flight (that didn't take off until 11.50am) wasn't even on the board. Grabbing some breakfast and checking our hold luggage in we headed to the security. Once passed their which was smoother than other times I had flown though London Luton Airport we arrived in Departures with just over an hour and a half to spare. So i did what I knew best, headed for duty-free and Starbs. But as usual my beloved Coffee Frappuccino barely made it onto the flight and once seated and up in the air Mr. Warehouse took it upon himself to order himself a beer and a rather hefty bottle of Prosecco for his lady in waiting. Anticipating a two-and-a-bit hour flight we dug out our free papers and started reading. But no sooner had I finished my bottle of bubbly we were on our decent into Lyon. Shocked at the speed of which we travelled I soon packed things away and prepared for the barge that usually happens when a flight lands on the tarmac. No sooner than we exited the air-plane we were hit with a warm breeze and the smell of a foreign land.
Getting through customs and immigration we soon were at a sticking point as the travel money card I had got before travelling was being temperamental and after nearly four hours stuck in the airport with soaring temperatures we were more than ready to get to the hotel. So when we checked in and slotted our card through the slit in the door we were more than grateful for the super large king-sized bed, cold water in the fridge and clean areas we could relax in before getting ready for dinner. And boy did we eat dinner. Lyon, known otherwise as the gastronomical capital of France and world known for its foodie-influences we soon settled into the life of luxury, dining out three times a day and enjoying all the delicacies the city had to offer. Sadly as I write to you on my last night here in France Mr. Warehouse and I have yet to try Frogs legs and Snails, although me-thinks that this is something for the less sophisticated parts of town. And since our hotel is located just metres from International brand stores such as Cartier, Louis Vuitton and Hermes just to name a few, I doubt we will be dining at anything less than four-star. First night we dined on French styled brioche burgers with a wonderfully rich sauce and fries to rival anywhere at King Marcel, certainly a contender for my fave London burger joint Honest Burger. Later throughout the holiday we dined at typical Lyonaisse Bouchon and Restaraunt A La Traboule where I indulged myself in Beef Carpaccio and Roasted Duck Breast all washed down with a cocktail or two.
City sites have included the wonderful Place Du Jacobin which is seconds from our hotel room. A simple square surrounded by boutique shops and world-wide high end stores, it hosts an impressive water fountain, encased in marble and white stone. If you look up at the overlooking buildings you can see why it is called Place Du Jacobin as the architecture and building beauty is to be desired by anyone, especially a resident. Oh what it would be to have an apartment overlooking the city, cast-iron curly balcony and modern Parisian inspired interiors to match. Another place we visited was the Place Bellacour, again, not far from our hotel. Red Sand, Pigeons and a huge statue of a horse mid-trot; it reminded me a lot of Trafalgar Square back home in Blighty, only a lot bigger, and less busy. Throughout our stay Mr. Warehouse and I went through these two tourist attractions almost every single day, at least twice, and still were in awe of their beauty right up until the moment we leave tomorrow probably. As well as visiting these Mr. Warehouse and I have seen the La Basilique Notre Dame de Fourvière, a seventeenth-century cathedral that was built with the pretence to inspire the Parisian create of Notre Dame and other European cathedral's. A sneak peek into the world of the Roman settlement here in 43bc with the Theatre et Odeon Gallo-Romain. We even had time to be dragged along a guided walking tour through the Traboules which are little residential and secret streets throughout the city leading to houses and apartments that only the locals know about. This hurt my little piggies a lot and as a result I laughed hysterically when our guide announced it was over and ran all the way to the nearest pub.
To my surprise I have done little shopping and the only thing I have bought so far for myself other than food and consumables was a silver ring etched with thirteen little diamonds round the outside from a little independent French boutique whereby no-one spoke a word of English. But that didn't bother me and as I went to pay for my items I noticed Mr. Warehouse too was at the till, anxiously awaiting the cashier to gift-wrap something. I asked what it was and he turned to me and smiled. The store owners looked at each other and back at myself and Mr. Warehouse. With broken French vs English the cashier ushered to Mr. Warehouse and then to me as if to ask if what was concealed in the little pink bag was for me. With no French vocabulary, Mr. Warehouse said Birthday and put his finger to his lips, all the while looking at me. As the staff giggled and wished me a Bon Anniversaire (Happy Birthday in French) we headed for the exit into the now 34-degree-heat. Being a jewellery store, specialising in Silver and Gold as well as accessories I wondered what it could be, however as we passed through the little stands near the door, Mr. Warehouse was keen to not let me peruse any further for fear I might buy the same. Sneaky man! Very sneaky man! And so sly and stealthy. If I hadn't been paying attention I don't think I would have ever known he had bought something until we were outside the shop. Hmmm, only a matter of weeks before I know what it was he purchased! And as if that wasn't romantic enough we spent that evening cruising along the Saone and Rhone rivers by the light of the huge moon and glistening lights of the city.
And so on our last day of our holiday in Lyon, Mr. Warehouse and I are more than ready to go back home. We need rain! I loved the holiday but I will be the first to admit that the weather has been so very, very hot. Every single day we have been here has averaged between 32 and 36 degrees and all with no breeze. Tomorrow it is very likely to rain here but as our flight is at 2.55pm we will probably get that in about three-days over in England. I can handle heat, but this was way too much! Mr. Warehouse and I are already budgeting and planning for our next adventure. Maybe over Christmas we will head to another European city, Copenhagen, Belfast, Dublin, Lille, Berlin - Who knows. But as for our next Sunshine holiday ... Definitely in order for the same weather, just maybe a sea and sand instead of city-living. Although I must say, this is probably the best way to spend a Bank Holiday!
'Til next time, Love A.Lou xx
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