Looking after Katie - Jane

Shopping, Picnics and Feeding Ducks,

I have spent the entire day from 9.30am to 4pm with my Mum and my niece KJ. I first woke up to her playing with some outdated toys from when her brother Robert was born in 2007. Mum and KJ were playing bat and ball in the living room for a while and Katie kept asking Mum to read her a Peppa pig book.

I went to get dressed an do my make - up, I did KJ's hair and used a little hairspray so she felt grown up, I then put her make - up on just some purple eyeshadow, pink blusher and some pink lipstick. we both went to the toilet and headed out to the shops. We went to the 99p store and bought some toys to play with at the park, some sun cream and some sweets. I spent £13 and we then walked back home in the blazing sun.

I took Katie to the shops to give Mum a chance to get ready and make up and picnic. It took us roughly an hour and a half to walk to the shop and back. We came inside to put on sun cream and have a little rest, we headed over to the park between 12pm and 1pm. We sat on a flat section of grass and laid out all the food and toys.

We had ham sandwiches, roysters crisps, salad, an apple, a angel cake and some sweets. Me and Katie then took the picnic basket and the little toys back to the flat so she could go to the toilet. We headed back to the park and spent time playing with bubbles, skipping ropes and a ball. 

Once we finished playing we packed all the toys up and headed off to go and feed the ducks. We only had the left overs from our picnic but I think KJ enjoyed it. As we didn't have to be back at Sue and Chris's until 4pm ish we went into the playground and played on the swings, slides, climbing frames and roundabouts.

We headed back to the flat to collect all KJ's clothes and have a rest then we took Katie home. We were all tired, and sun kissed. When we arrived at Sue and Chris' the boy were full of beans talking about football etc, lucy was chilling in the living room watching the music chanel.

I had a very lovely spontaneous day with my little niece and I wish I could do it with all of my nieces and nephews.

Becky xx

Marco Pierre White - Birmingham

Sam's Birthday present from me
a meal at the top of The Cube.

The man himself, Marco Pierre White,
a picture on the drinks menu.

This picture and the picture of inside the restaurant are
not mine I copied them from Google. This is The Cube
we were sitting in the top glass section.

I had decided not to buy Sam a gift this year I wanted to buy him an experience, something we could do as a couple. Sam loves his steak so I instantly wanted to find a really good steakhouse. We live in Birmingham and there are loads to chose from. I was reading reviews and checking prices. I decided to go to Famous chef Marco Pierre White's steakhouse restaurant located on the 25th floor of a building called The Cube
 which is in the middle of Birmingham not far from the city centre.

The view of the Birmingham Library
From our table in the
Cocktail bar.

I didn't tell sam where we were going so it would be a complete surprise, I hardly told anyone so they wouldn't let it slip out. I did let it slip that it was a steakhouse which I assumed he already knew as that's what he had wanted to do for his birthday. Sam did know that it was expensive and a little bit posh, I had to tell him this because we had to buy smart clothes, A shirt, Tie, Trousers and Shoes because Sam normally tries to pull off  "these jeans look like trousers" and "these boots are like shoes" which wasn't going to fly in this restaurant.

I booked the table a month in advance and I saw an option for upgrading your table to a window seat. Yessss!! this had to be done, now I know Sam is afraid of heights but surely it wont be that high and we should just be able to see over the big blocks of flats. I upgraded the table it cost an extra £5 per person and all you have to do is email the restaurant with your reference number and name etc, the restaurant then email you back confirming it.

It is now the day of the MPW experience Sam still has no idea where he is going. I spent all day getting ready whilst watching once upon a time. I had a shower and applied my make up, I went for the less is more look. I wanted to keep my hair quite small and free so I went for pulling one side back and leaving the other side down, but I decided to do my parting on the other side just for a little change. I wore a blue flower dress, skin coloured tights, blue frilly cute socks, black ankle boots and a blazer which I held together with a little broch. Accessories, I wore some little blue gem earring studs and I little over shoulder bag which had little colorful beads sewed on and some tassles underneath.

You can't see the location much here, but those
grey lines in the top right hand corner, that
is New Street train station.

A little flower table centre on
our table in the
cocktail bar.

I ordered a taxi to take us to the restaurant and I wouldn't let sam in when I was telling the man our destination. Sam was looking out the window as we drove round different parts of Birmingham. We were stuck in traffic and there was a sign that said Mailbox this way, The Mailbox is round the corner from The Cube and it does have restaurants so I think that may have tricked him a little. 

This is what the inside of the restaurant looks like.

We pulled up outside lots of tall building it was then that Sam knew we were going to The Cube, we walked in and I had no idea where to go, we were on the 7th floor and there was no signs telling us how to get to the top floor. Sam spotted a concierge who pointed us in the right direction to lifts. Standing buy the lifts were two security guards who told a group of hen's they couldn't wear their hen party sashes. I hit the button for floor 25, which I saw was the right floor on a sign.

We had just sat down at our table
and took a picture with
our drinks.

Sam hiding his fear very well.

We got out of the lift and wow it was so clean, there was a man who greeted everybody pointing them all in the right direction. I told him I had a table booked for 7pm and he pointed us through explaining how we can sit in the cocktail bar and have some drinks before we went through to our table. Sam and I sat at a little table where we could see the Birmingham Library and there was a little roof terrace outside. Sam ordered me a Pina Colada cocktail and himself a Bourbon with ice and a orange peel.

The view from our table.

Look at the clouds.

We then walked through to get our table. There was a man waiting to greet us he took my name and showed us to our window seat table. I loved it, everything looked amazing I could see Edgbaston cricket ground... Just WOW. Sam on the other hand was so scared he was shaking, opps. He was so nervous that he didn't really speak. A lady called Suf came over and introduced herself and asked if we knew what we wanted? did we want any water for the table?  any appetisers?. We ordered some still water and toasted soldiers with a beer cheddar dip.

Our appetiser. it was very yummy.

Suf bought the water over and poured it into our glasses, shortly followed by the Appetiser. I was mesmerised by our view and constantly taking photos, for me it was perfect I had never done anything like it before. The appetizer was amazing me and Sam finished it in seconds I am sure. Sam at this point was still very on edge and trying to put a brave face on. I honestly didn't think it was going to be as high as it was.

                                                                                                                  

Suf came back over and asked what we would like to order, I had a starter of Baked camembert with toasted Bruschetta and a mango chutney, Sam had Potted duck, Piccalilli and toasted bread. For mains I had 10 oz sirloin steak, garlic butter, onion rings, chunky chips and a side salad (I had mayonnaise also), Sam has 8 oz fillet steak, truffle butter, onion rings, chunky chips and a side salad. We were stuffed by this point but we had to order dessert just to try it. I had a chocolate brownie sundae which was epic!! Sam had a wild berry eton mess which he must have liked because it was gone in no time at all.

For drinks we had the cocktail and bourbon. A bottle of pinot grigio rosé and a complimentary glass of prosecco Champagne. We spoke about the
view a lot and how scared Sam was, how I felt like a little girl. It was like a film that is the only way I could describe it. AMAZING!!!!

The final bill came to £144.77 that is with, £10 table upgrade, £10 service charge and £10 room charge. The drinks we ordered in the cocktail bar came to just under £19. This is an awful lot of money to part with but my gosh it was most definitely worth it. I would advise anybody who loves steak to go here, it is romantic and chilled and the whole experience was really good. The staff were friendly and they don't make you feel awkward at all, which for me is a big deal!

Have you ever been here? Can you suggest somewhere for us to go next time?

                  

Becky xx

Giraffe - Touchwood, Solihull

Waffle's Birthday Lunch

All the pictures of the restaurant and the food are from Google and
Not my own.

It is my friend Danielle's birthday. Since 2010 me and my family have called Danielle, Waffle as a nickname. I never see Waffle on her birthday but we normally do something around it, this time we went to Giraffe in Solihull as we have both never been there. We normally meet up and go to TGI Friday's which is also in Touchwood shopping centre Solihull so we ruled it out.

We met in the outdoors smoking area where we used to go when we both smoked, now Waffle goes out there to smoke and I just keep her company. I was 5 minutes late which is normal, I am always early for everything else but with Waffle I am more laid back (late). I met her with two gift bags one for Mum and one from me, she opened them and it was all just bits and pieces really but I think she liked them.

We walked into the restaurant and was greeted by a man aged late teens/ early twenties, he seated us in a booth close to the bar and showed us the menu. I asked if we could have a main from a discount menu and a starter from the regular menu, he didn't understand what I was asking and sent somebody else to answer my question. He came over and took our drinks orders, Waffle ordered and tap water and I ordered a Mango Mama smoothie and a bottle of water because I was really thirsty.

This was my starter but imagine more brown
around the edges.

The drinks came and my smoothie was amazing!! really refreshing even Waffle thought so. We then ordered our food I had garlic bread as a starter and a Deli lunch burger for my main, Waffle had beer battered onion rings as a starter and the Deli lunch burger also, it came with chips and creamy coleslaw.

Burger - No pickle, a massive tomato and loads of rocket salad, cheese was cold and a burnt bun,
Chips - Ok the pot was white not blue but that's just me finding something,
Coleslaw - had a vinegar like taste and was on a big lump of dark green rocket.

My starter was nothing special but Waffle's onion rings were really nice. My main was ok, it was covered in rocket salad, my cheese didn't melt so the burger couldn't have been hot enough. I dont like to complain but the food wasn't amazing. I think they were going for a chargrilled effect on the bread and bun of the burger but it just tasted burnt which was quite overpowering. I really enjoyed the chips they were perfect for me.

The service was really good, lot's of smiles although Waffle did feel a bit uncomfortable because the man kept staring at her. The restaurant is small I think it must only hold roughly 50 people and there were only 15 people in there when me and Waffle walked in. The art on the back wall was nice and bright which I love, but in general the overall decor/lighting was a bit dark.

We were sitting to the left of this picture.

It cost just under £28 for two mains, two side orders, a bottled water, a tap water and a smoothie. If the food was better than O.K I wouldn't have minded but I feel like I wasted money and I could have gone to McDonalds and saved money. I wont be returning because I didn't enjoy it as an experience.

Me and Waffle spent some more time having a look in phone shops as her contract runs out soon, she is interested in the Iphone 6. We came back to mine and chilled for an hour and then I dropped her home. It was a really nice lunch just chatting and laughing.

What are your opinions?

Becky xx

Big Wok - Birmingham

Big Wok Chinese Buffet

For Mum's Birthday!

This picture is from Google, I just wanted to show you
the front.

Big Wok is in Birmingham City Centre. It is known for being really cheap and really yummy. I have been there roughly 6 times in the last 2 years. For my birthday in 2014 I decided to take Mum and Dad (and Sam) there for my birthday. Mum loved it so much she wanted to go back for her birthday this year.

I copied this picture from Google to show you
the decor.

It isn't the type of place you would go for an important meeting but for a quick lunch when your looking a mess it is perfect. The dining area reminds me of a cross between a old working men's club and a community centre with lots of tables and chairs. It looks so basic, no fancy mood changing lights or colourful wall paper. It is was it is.

Me and the birthday girl.

The food selection is really good. they have a sushi bar, a salad bar and chefs ready to custom make you a stir fry. It is a little cramped and when it is busy there isn't really any form of order,  it kind of reminds me of a car boot sale but For £6.99 I am not complaining.

I had two plates of food which were:

Chicken balls, Samosas, spring rolls, onion rings, mongolian lamb, curry sauce, bean sprouts, broccoli, sweet corn, brisket, beef in black bean sauce, chicken in black bean sauce, chicken curry, beef curry, pork, lemon chicken, noodles, egg fried rice and prawn toast.

For pudding I had ice cream which you serve yourself with half strawberry sauce and half chocolate sauce.

For drinks me and my Dad had a large pepsi and Mum had a coffee, I later ordered the table a large bottle of water and Mum her second coffee. My Dad had two plates of food and two puddings (4 bits of cakes and custard but only 2 bowls) then he went up for a bit more pork. Mum had one huge plate of food and almost ate the lot and a bowl of ice cream which for her is a lot but she loves the Mongolian lamb.

Me and Dad clearly acting "normal".

The service is really good everybody serves with a smile and they are all so quick. Every Time you finish a plate of food they soon come along and take the plate away. They all have really good manners which I think can really make the experience better.

The total bill came to £30.47 and I put £4.53 in the tips pot because I think they all work really hard and we did have 9 plates of food between us so it is a bargain really.

Mom nice and full waiting for Pudding.

My advice is if you want a posh restaurant with table cloths and a sample menu avoid the big wok but If you want cheap, yummy food and don't care what the place looks like, then this will be perfect for you 

Have you been here before? What did you think of it?

Becky xx