Hen's, Headaches and Getting Hitched!

Heyyy, 

I. Am. Tired.

After nearly 160 miles, two nights of drinking, and approx twelve hours of sleep the whole weekend I am well and truly knackered.

It was my future Sister-in-laws's Hen do / Bacholerette party this weekend and after traveling to Nottingham for a spa weekend of partying and drinking with some close friends and family. Being the land of Robin Hood I can definitely say that we were less about robbing from the rich and giving to the poor, more like we came rich and left poor ... mainly for the sake of alcohol and spa treatments! I thoroughly enjoyed myself with some incredible company and a good lot of people to while away the weekend away from husbands, kids, and responsibilities, however, if you think that this blog post is going to be spilling all the beans and providing the inside scoop, you will be sadly disappointed. I am afraid a lady never kisses and tells (not that anything like that happened at all I must say) and what happens on Hen Do', Stays on Hen Do's!

I have started the second week of my new job as Operations Coordinator in Milton Keynes at an Air Conditioning, Plumbing, and Heating company and am enjoying it so far, slowly slowly but getting there with the lingo and terminology. But with 8-weeks to go until our wedding things are getting to the point now where bills are going to need paying in the next few weeks by the end of the month and plenty of things that still need doing including tonnes of DIYs and wedding stationery that needs doing. I just hope things stay as they are and we finally make it this time to our special day.

Monday 19 July 2021 in the UK marked the ending of lockdowns and an end for all COVID restrictions including nightclubs reopening, no face masks, and big festivals and events beginning to start. Bozza Jozza's plans for the final unlocking of restrictions in England were pushed back from the 21st of June and maybe rightly so. But can Prime Minister Boris Johnson really go back on his word yet again, U-turning? Now BoJo's lifted all legal restrictions in England but he has urged the public to remain cautious, saying the pandemic is not over.

The BBC outlined today (Monday 16 August 2021) that there have been nearly 6.3 million confirmed cases of coronavirus in the UK with nearly 131,000 people have died from the deadly disease that has ruined and spoilt life for over a year now. Government figures show however that almost 90% of adults in the UK have now had their first dose of a coronavirus vaccine and nearly 77% have had their second.

Public Health England estimates that, up to 6 August, the UK vaccination program had prevented nearly 85,000 deaths and more than 23 million infections. Impressive and certainly the hope and faith we need and less of the doom and gloomy crap the news is mainly made up of. The BBC news article continues that more than 47 million people of all UK adults have had at least one vaccine with everyone over the age of 18 across the UK can now book a vaccine, so hopefully, the uptake continues and we can hear less and less about the stupid idea that you have a microchip implanted in your arm or that it makes you a magnet?! And with the most recent government figures show at least 5,894 people with coronavirus in hospitals in the UK. A week earlier that figure was 5,816. Although numbers climbed in recent weeks, they are far below the peak of nearly 40,000 people back in January. I am desperate to hang onto any piece of positivity as we break the 2-months-to-go mark! 

'Til next time, Love A.Lou x

Remember, if you would like to purchase anything then please feel free to check out my store at: https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/Wooftys or visit our Instagram @WooftysDogTreats and use "TATOATS21" to get 10% off your first order over £15.00.

Wedding planning is stress free; Said no Bride ever!

Evening All, 

And so after nearly a fortnight of being a lady of leisure; shopping most days, lunching some others and most of my other free and spare time dedicated to wedding stuffs, today I started my new job as Operations Coordinator in Milton Keynes at an Air Conditioning, Plumbing, and Heating company. A breezy 20-mins from home I was very glad to not have the ninety-minute commute I used to have to Hertford, plus the staying away.

With just over 9-weeks to go until our wedding things are super stressed at the moment, so much so after the fourth phone call one day I had to screen my Dad's call. I know that he goes at 100-Mph but honestly, the whole GO GO GO thing at the moment is getting a bit much! Last weekend my Dad, his wife, Mr. Warehouse, and I all went to view the village hall again where we will be having our reception after the ceremony. This wouldn't have been such a trial if it weren't for the fact that every single time we come to view it we change the damned layout and floorplan meaning there is something else to do or buy or think about. And on this occasion, there were no exceptions.

Lunch afterward was intense, as it always is as there are two very strong personalities in me and my father round the table with his wife trying to battle through and butt-in once in a while and poor old Mr. Warehouse being completely left out of any thoughts or feelings he may have. I always knew wedding planning was going to be tough and stressful, but this is on another level. 

Luckily, the last few days off has lent itself to some serious life and wedding admin which has been much needed - Confirming all the details with vendors, organizing meetings with suppliers to go through things, order of service, and other wed-min items. I have even been proactive in chasing all the RSVP's in advance of the end of August deadline date which has helped us in being able to possibly make a head start on the table plan and more. I must say it does make life easier knowing most of the guestlist is now coming and as such I know how many kiddo's I need to make PAQ's for (PAQ standing for Peace and Quiet) which will include coloring books, crayons, toys, sweeties and other fun stuff.

So along with a trip to the local pound shop for those kid-friendly bits which I picked up some of last week and will collect the remainder tomorrow, I have also completed a few other things off the list as long that last week was as long as my arm. Crafts and DIY's that need to be finalized and completed are not all fully there yet however some of the simpler tasks such as blankets to wrap and flip-flops to tie have all now been finished. However, that being said the bogroll list cant be put away just yet as I still need to find time to make signs, create table centerpieces, design a table plan and manufacture pretty, bathroom baskets not to mention having to relabel everything that has our old wedding dates on including the confetti boxes. But now I have a full-time job to occupy me and weekend time is limited. With Hen-Do's, Stag-Do's, BBQ's and Parties booked in the next few weeks I have no idea when this will get done but somehow it has to. Eeeeek!!!

'Til next time, Love A.Lou x

Remember, if you would like to purchase anything then please feel free to check out my store at: https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/Wooftys or visit our Instagram @WooftysDogTreats and use "TATOATS21" to get 10% off your first order over £15.00.

Wedding Rings - The worlds smallest handcuffs, or not?

Evening, 

Last week I spoke to you in anticipation of returning to work from being on furlough (or signed off sick - whichever it may be) and whilst we are all somewhat either getting back to or getting used to a "New Normal" it suffices to say from my nearly full week being back that not much has changed, and you can take from that what you will. 

Finally, there is not only a light on my laptop (Yes I bought one of those selfie stick YouTuber ring lights) but hopefully at the end of the tunnel. Week number 14 is opening and so is the UK for business and social activities following this crazy madness we all call lockdown. But things do seem to be looking up. Figures from the BBC released today confirm that the death rate has fallen to pre-lockdown records of just 15 recorded in the last 24 hours. Just 15 people have died today from COVID-19 (Monday 22 June 2020) giving us all hope we are over the worst of it. Unlike Germany whose "R" rate of infection has spiked suddenly in recent days, in the UK deaths and new cases seem to be falling from figures in recent weeks and I am pleased to be hoping for this to come to a steady end very soon. 

This weekend just gone however, Mr Warehouse and I decided to brave the shops as I had spoken of last week in the attempt to purchase his wedding ring and scout out some places for suit hire. I expected, rolling into the CentreMK Carpark for it to be rammed, people scrabbling for spaces and for some of those annoying shoppers to be out, standing in parking spaces holding it for the driver. God I hate those people. But no. Mr Warehouse was driving, getting in some practice for his upcoming (3rd) driving test in mid-July, and we were able to park on the ground floor, something unheard of unless you are disabled and even then it is only if some Audi or BMW driver hasn't taken up a space with their non-disability tank. 

Walking into the CentreMK it was dead. I was expecting, as ever (and don't get me started) on queuing to get in, but no. Welcome on in. Hae some sanitizer, enjoy your day. Making our way through it was eerily quiet and still, no one rushing or pandamonium for the last pair of £1 thongs in Primark. No, all very calm and probably one of the most peaceful and pleasant shopping experiences I have ever had. We headed straight for H Samuels, with a short stop off at Greggs for an all-important cuppa joe and sassy sausage roll. The high street jeweller was far from busy and after a brief stop outside the shop, we were invited in. "I could get used to this," I thought, with all this personal shoppers touch malarkey. 

Glancing firstly at the Gold and Platinum wedding bands there were a few Mr Warehouse took a fancy to, however when they store clerk said about getting a cheaper ring as a "work" one to use for every day my fiance seemed intrigued. Heading to the other side of the store, the H Samuels sales assistant pulled out a drawer with a selection of different styled rings. I selected one I thought my future husband might like. A Tungsten Matt & Polished Groove Ring, it was Modern, stylish, and durable, a popular style choice among men. However, on closer inspection, this sleek band featuring groove detailing set in a matt and polished design was not to "Sirs" tastes and instead lay his eyes upon its ring-cousin if you will - The 7mm Tungsten plain band Ring. After trying it on, he gave me that look. The simple and modern men's ring for perfect for everyday use and it's unfussy style made it a perfect choice for my (mostly) unfussy future hubby. Placing our order in the correct size and paying I felt excited to take another step closer to the big day.

Taking a leisurely stroll to Moss Bros. for our 1pm appointment, we chatted nonsense and arrived at the store by 12.30pm, early strangely for me. Again the store assistant welcomed us in and we started our consultation. Easily the sales clerk put Mr. Warehouse's concerns to bed and narrowed down the indecisive hunka-chunka-burning-love to a hired grey morning suit for him and his two best men and my Dad as the father of the bride. The Moss Bros. collection 1851 Grey Twill Tails was perfect. This wool-stretch-blend version offers the natural drape of wool with added flexibility to move, while its classic twill weave is understated but elegant. The clean-cut tailored fit is designed to define shoulders and chests adding a taper slightly through the midsection. 

Originally, tail suits were originally daywear back in times of old, but today they're worn to bring a sense of occasion to formal celebrations and the option to customise the outfit with a wide range of accessories (although we had already purchased the cravats and pocket hankies) to get the right look for the theme of the day was exactly what we were hoping to get a sense of. Coupled with the Ivory Brocade Morning Waistcoat for the groom (the name ‘brocade’ is Italian for ‘embossed cloth’), this luxurious fabric has intricate patterns woven into the surface and this ivory created version is a classic but distinct wedding-party look. The perfect neutral colour means it can be worn with any of our formal suits or accessories. Since it is cut in a regular fit it offers room to move with a smooth fit through the chest, while there’s an adjustable strap for a closer fit at the lower back.

Pairing the light cloud grey suits with an array of different coloured pocket squares and cravats was helpful and gave us some new ideas for how we can dress some of the male members of the wedding party. We walked away from the appointment an hour or so later with much more of an idea on what Mr Warehouse was looking for and what kind of look and style he wanted to achieve. I was proud and happy for him that he had got some confidence from it. I just couldn't wait for our big day now less than 4-months away ... 

'Til next time, Love A.Lou xx

Mini-Moon for the new Bride & Groom!

Heyy, 

With the last few months of Christmas, New Years and the last few bits of Wedding planning one of the last few big things we needed to book and research was our first few nights as a married couple. Some newlyweds now have nicknamed this the Mini-Moon, a short break or weekend away following getting hitched. 

Now whilst I spoke of last week's blog the beautiful Cornish setting and surroundings of the Retallack Resort & Spa with its bars, free WiFi and beautiful beaches nearby it would have been perfect if not for the four-odd hour journey. And so with this in mind, we took a look closer to home and in particular the Wyboston Lakes Spa and Golf Resort Complex. We are staying at one of three hotels on the 350-acre resort called The Waterfront Hotel Spa & Golf. Located just off the A1 and just a twenty-minute journey by car from our venue at Stagsden, the hotel offers free Wi-Fi, good food, an 18-hole golf course and driving range as well as plentiful leisure facilities, an incredible spa and ample free parking. 

I am sure that with its delightful lakeside setting and modern but spacious bedrooms we are sure to relax in style. All rooms feature as standard en suite bathrooms and a flat-screen TV's with good food prepared by expert chefs available at a tap of a finger using the in-room iPad and full use of a gym and small indoor swimming pool. The room itself we have chosen to upgrade because you know why not - It's our wedding night / Mini-Moon. Junior Suites at The Waterfront are not just luxurious hotel rooms with super king-size beds but host lavish Hungarian down-topped mattresses and choice of accompanying pillows. These rooms are larger than both Superior and Deluxe Rooms the hotel offers but appointed in the same pastel colours and styling with the addition of some extra storage. Sitting rooms/areas and work stations are included as well as a comfortable armchair, footstool, coffee table and sofa which can fold out into an extra double bed. Now that really is the kind of place I want to wake up on my first morning as a Mrs.

The Y Spa is really why I wanted to book though as after being there a couple of times to visit I have never had the opportunity of indulging in the outdoor hydrotherapy pool, sauna, steam rooms, mist showers, ice rooms, relaxing areas and water beds. The website states that "Y Spa has created a fabulous space which will stimulate all of the senses. Expansive areas filled with natural light and a warm ambient atmosphere. The area incorporates large picture windows to the terrace, bringing the outside in, whatever the weather. This little bit of luxury allows you to use hot and cold experiences as therapy, the benefits of which are far-reaching and include: improved respiration and circulation, relief of rheumatic aches, pains and stiff joints as well as improvements to skin texture with benefits to those suffering from eczema or skin conditions. Combining heat followed by cold boosts the body's natural defences, shifting your entire metabolism up a gear."

The Steam Room. A 42-degrees and with 100% humidity, the combination of high humidity and radiant heat gently invigorates the skin, respiratory and circulation system, all within a magical cavern, shrouded in iridescent mosaics and colour changing mood lighting to purify and relax both body and mind. Or maybe a Sauna would be more your cup of tea? With the slightly more warming, 55-degrees and humid the "soft" sauna has a lower temperature than Y Spa's traditional outdoor sauna. The humidity provides a gentler heat and softer experience to the traditional sauna allowing to relax and to recharge your batteries as well as a skin detox. Improving circulation and allowing muscles to relax, providing a peaceful space away from everyday life. 

Not hot enough? Cranking it up a gear to the 85-degrees (or hotter) and low humidity the beautiful Kelo wood sauna, made with one-hundred-year-old logs gives the hottest of the  Y Spa experiences. Not for the faint-hearted, its location outdoors in the Spa Garden can be accessed via the Hydrotherapy pool or the Garden terrace and is the perfect route to pure relaxation post-exercise or for weight loss and detoxification.

Hydrotherapy has been around for thousands of years and in its simplest form can be described as therapy through water - Obviously. However, being much warmer than a swimming pool, Y Spa's Hydrotherapy Pool is a place to relax and let the bubbling waters still your body. Used to treat common ailments such as muscle cramps, circulatory diseases, arthritis, osteoarthritis, back pain, balance, and stress-related disorders; hydrotherapy is a great way to spend some time, relaxing on the bubble bed or massage tension away using the body jets and revel in the wonders of nature enjoying the outdoor Hydrotherapy Pool all year round in the snow or the rain too.

On top of all of those, Y Spa's experience showers are used as a breather between treatment rooms. "The Chill Zone" allows guests to cool off either with a gentle blowing mist or invigorating tropical showers, raining from above like a monsoon. If you're brave enough maybe a visit to the ice wall in order to constrict blood vessels, increase oxygen flow and stimulating circulation. The Hotel's Spa also boasts the "Time Out Area" is perfect for unwinding, lounging and sitting back to read a good book, or two, all in the comfort of waterbeds, warmed perfectly to your body temperature. The Relaxation rooms with ergonomic loungers and cosy fireplaces it's the perfect place to curl up or unwind for a schnooze. 

With eight months to the day as I write to you now, I cannot wait to stay at this beautiful resort and with the added benefit that my Husband will be right there alongside me!

'Til next time, Love A.Lou xx

Food Glorious Food

Hello everyone, 

Ahh January! The hated month of many. Christmas is long gone, Summer is so far and yet the sickness of Valentine's day is nearing with all its mushy mushy-ness! Payday is long-awaited and the weekends never seem long enough. Getting back to work and into the swing of things is hard and truth be told I have not enjoyed the first few weeks of "my year" yet. That being said, there was one thing I wanted to get out the way, over and done with, booked and confirmed. The Wedding Catering. 

After months, nearly an entire year of searching for catering I had finally settled on something  Mr Warehouse and I were happy with. I wanted canapes and fizz reception followed by a proper sit-down meal with a starter and main, followed by a nice piece of the wedding cake to finish. Mr Warehouse, however, wanted something really relaxed and informal, street food or buffet style, everyone helping themselves when they want, how they want and what they want. A free-for-all. But we needed structure. We need to have some level of formality as to the meal as this is going to form part of our speeches and will support the following goings-on such as the cutting of the cake, first dance, etc. 

After searching around for everything from Mexicana dishes to pizza vans to fish and chips, but nothing really hit the mark. I started looking at what a simple two-course menu would look like, maybe soup or prawn cocktail and a chicken breast something dinner with seasonal vegetables. However, after settling on that as our wedding breakfast we soon realised the cost of it all and how ridiculous the price seemed to spike as soon as you mention it's for a wedding. 

Whilst it was very much me, it wasn't much of Mr Warehouse and I felt his disappointment. With this in mind, we went back to the drawing board, Mr Warehouse and I took inspiration from what we love most about other peoples weddings or events we have been to. We loved hog roasts. Everything about it was us, the stuffing and the meat, sauces and oh lordy the crackling, all wrapped together in a bun. Perfect weather you are sober and even better when your half cut. It feeds many and looks good. Perfect choice. If only they could carve off the meat and serve it to the tables with vegetables and other sides? If only they could provide a starter? 

So I asked. A lot of them immediately said that they couldn't provide starters and that serving to the tables was simply a no-no. Others just never came back to us. That whittled the list down considerably. We had approximately ten suppliers that could do all of what we were asking, but the longer that we went on talking to the companies in particular, the more they seemed to be able to offer or quote us for, including proper crockery and cutlery, saving someone (probably my Dad and our groomsmen) doing the washing up the following day. Another one was able to top that and add in table linen to the quotation, again saving us as the bride and groom the job of buying it all, housing it all, storing it all for months before transporting it to our venue. And then after we have the inevitable task of having to sell it. 

And some of the menus! Wow! Starters that consist of goats cheese and caramelised onion tart, smooth pate with melba toast and freshly baked bread. Another supplier was offering Tomato Bruschetta with pesto and another caterer pushing the boat out with "A Selection of Fine Italian Meats- Including Prosciutto Parma Ham And Salami Served With Fine Cheeses Including Buffalo Mozzarella, Parmigiano and Gorgonzola" (although they were one of the most expensive ones coming in at £3,500.00). 

The mains all seemed to be similar with the main theme being the whole roasted pig roasted slowly over flames until succulently sweet and moreish all carved and served by professional chefs. The meat, in any instance of the caterer we choose, would be served with freshly made apple sauce, homemade sage and onion stuffing and professionally presented crackling. Side dishes and accompaniments did vary from supplier to supplier, everything from simple roast potatoes and seasonal vegetables all the way to a zingy salad, tasty pasta or an exotic couscous dish. 

Following the main meal would host the speeches and once people had finished laughing (or crying) dessert would follow that, a nod to our wedding cake, yet to be cut. Three mini cake rounds sandwiched in between lashings of buttercream and finished with some fresh fruit. This would be supplied and provided by our wonderful (if a little lacking on the communication front) cake lady.  

Evening catering I had considered letting Mr Warehouse have his naff buffet idea, but I wanted the fun and socialising to continue into the night so I had thought up an idea of having all sorts of bar snacks on offer. No evening catering so as to speak, just bucket loads (in my head I was thinking literally buckets) of pork scratchings, Bombay mix, nuts, pork pies, cheese, scotch eggs, mini sausages, crisps - Everyone dipping in whilst guzzling a pint or knocking back some shots. No-one seemed to be enthused by the idea and so I settled on asking our already shortlisted caterers if they could provide evening catering, something to warm the cockles of our guests and be a quick and easy something that wasn't too messy for veggies, vegans and meat lovers alike.

That's when Mr Warehouse and I stumbled upon baked potatoes. Perfect! A simplistic idea found on Pinterest of all places, but the variety and unique toppings and dressings you could have were almost never-ending. Some of our favourite contenders were the homemade gourmet coleslaw, the perfect accompaniment we thought to jacket potatoes combining texture, colour and a zesty depth of flavour. Another one was a crispy Thai salad - sumptuously unique comprising spring green leaves, beansprouts and a sesame oil dressing. Another winner was warming chilli with mixed beans and spices to make our guests glow. So many different toppings to choose from, along with the menus and suppliers themselves - We had a hard job on our hands. 

So I was glad when Dad and his new wife (Yes they got married - No were not going to talk about it) kindly asked us to come over for Sunday Tea and to discuss the proposition of the father of the Bride contributing a large amount to the wedding. This being said, as his offer still stood many months ago, he wanted to pay for the wedding catering, maybe the single most important part of the day, all bar the ceremony and maybe the dress. It was most certainly going to be the most expensive part of the whole day and with nearly a hundred-day guests to feed and a few more evening mouths, it was unsurprising we were getting quotes for nearly four-thousand-pounds. 

However one quote stuck out, mainly because it was cheap, the cheapest in fact, but also because they could offer everything every other supplier could, and was fast at replying which was a big deal for me. I am impatient and want answers now. I don't want to wait or think about it. I want it now. She was more than happy to bend over backwards and help out with anything I could possibly need. She was on hand to have a quick reply via Facebook or emails. Nothing was too much trouble. However the price? Why was the price so cheap when compared and bench marked against competitors, they came out the cheapest? I asked her this question this morning and I got a pleasant and sweet reply "There is one simple reason the quote is a little lighter than competitors. It's the wedding word. We charge a standard fee, wedding or not, whereas a lot of companies add on extra for it being a wedding. We don't." And so, ladies and gentlemen, I think I have found our caterer - Now to book them in!

'Til next time, Love A.Lou xx

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 hair chop 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

Humdrum at Hinchingbrooke

Heyy, 

Finally. The day has come where Mr. Warehouse and I finally get around to completing our Save The Dates, I mean, only eleven months, one week and five days to go! All that is holding them up now is me pulling my finger out and writing on all the names of recipients. Soon, I promise everyone - Soon!

Other than that what has been happening in life ... Well, this weekend was one I had been dreading, not going to lie. With the schpoopy season in full swing, I feel, as does the bezzie, Miss Tweedle-Dee, that we really have lucked out this year. October is nearly ended and we have not visited one pumpkin patch, only shopped in Home Sense once or twice and barely done anything Halloween-y. I suppose what with Miss Tweedle-Dee visiting Mrs Tweedle-Dumb and her Husband in Los Angeles and me popping off to Krakow with me Nanny Pumpkin most of October was gone before we had even started. Nevertheless, we threw ourselves into it this weekend, and, as with last year, I feel that we continued with the mini tradition we have here and visited a horror scare maze. 

Mr Warehouse, Miss Tweedle-Dee, Miss JoHo (an old work colleague of Miss Tweddle-Dee and Miss TweedleDumb's) and I set off after the sun had gone down yesterday, en route to what is dubbed one of the scariest horror events in the UK - Hinchingbrooke House! Now I must say that I did hype it up last time we spoke in my blog post (The Horror at Hinchingbrooke House: The Beginning) but when the website is literally entitled "enterifyoudare.co.uk" and reputable (if you can even call them that nowadays) newspapers like The Sun calling it an "absolutely terrifying experience", I was in no doubt that it was most certainly the case. Waiting in the car park for the rest of the group to arrive, "The Horror at Hinchingbrooke House" loomed over us with all its terrifying trees and foreboding walls. You could hear the petrified screams of people and the roar of chainsaws. "This was not just a silly old Halloween maze for kids!" I thought to myself as we walked through the gates. 

Near to Huntingdon and nestled in the Cambridgeshire countryside, an award-winning, interactive and realistic horror experience trapped, I mean, encapsulated audiences within the famous haunted grounds and house. However as we stepped through the first couple of rooms, immersed in some of the most famous characters from both mine and probably your most feared horror films and TV shows my overriding feeling wasn't fear or terror. It was disappointment. 

Within the confines of the house we experienced the already forewarned dark rooms, forests, and mazes, however, the 13 sets and supposed around 80 actors were far from lurking in the darkness, and almost at times seemed non-existent. I do not recall walking through the attraction meet my maker with the likes of Jigsaw from the SAW franchise movies, nor did I have my nightmares come true with Freddy Krueger from the Nightmare on Elm Street films. I did however drown it all out with a visit from Jason Voorhees and walked through a very simplistic set up of Purge night. There was plenty of inspired twists the likes along the Texas Chainsaw Massacre and for me, whilst that is one of the most terrifying (because what happens if they are real, what happens if something went wrong, what happens if someone swapped it out with a real chainsaw?!) it was still a little too much which left me, at least, feeling as though they heavily relied on the noise and fear of chainsaws and not the attraction as a whole. I don't think I even saw the most popular of movie spooks this year, as Pennywise was nowhere to bee seen. My question was where is IT?

Now don't get me wrong, they did an OK job. Yes I hyped it that people touch you and reach out more than normal and I won't lie, I did scream and jump a few times, but certainly not as much as last years visit to The Howl - "5 huge Horror Mazes with live creatures at every twist & turn" based on a farm out towards Leighton Buzzard. Whilst "The Horror at Hinchingbrooke" was (still is) an extremely scary experience, being voted one of the scariest events in the UK, I really thought it would live up to more than an overuse of chainsaws and strange mazes where you knew hardly any of the characters. I suppose what also didn't help was the waiting around and the queuing as other groups in front of use kept getting held up or slowing down. In my last blog post I described it as "not for the faint-hearted" and that I shall "prepare my vocal cords for near explosion as I scream and (attempt to) run from the scaries and the baddies and the meanies" but sad to say that a combination of maybe knowing what was coming, the waiting around and maybe the camaraderie of the other groups, it just was a bit more of Humdrum at Hinchingbrooke. Maybe next year will be scarier as I will no longer be a Miss and instead be betrothed ... 

'Til next time, Love A.Lou xx