Weston-Super-Mare

Family day at the beach!

It was a beautiful Thursday morning and everybody was awake by 6am ready for my first ever road trip. Me, Mum and Sam went to macdonalds on the Coventry road first for a breakfast, me and sam had a double sausage and egg mcmuffin with a coke and Mum had a bacon roll with a coffee. By 7.30am we headed off to go and get Dad. We were well on our way to Weston-Super-Mare..... WOop woOP.

I was over excited to be on a motor way that I definitely drove quicker than I thought I would. I was nervous and excited which was weird, I was switching lanes and overtaking it was really good just a little bit on the fast side. We stopped off at a service station and went to the toilet and had a quick drink I had a mango and passionfruit smoothie. This gave my leg and foot a good rest haha.

We arrived at Weston at roughly 11.30am we all got undressed as it was warm, we got the chairs and the picnic hamper then we all made a beeline for that beach. We made up a little camp and ate some sandwiches, pork pie, crisps. I had a little sun bath and got to put my feet in the sand  then we headed off. Sam and Dad took the hamper and charis back to the car and me and Mum waited on the wall with a drink and relaxed in the sun.

We then went to the loo which cost 20p and hopped on the little train along the seafront it was nice to see all the different buildings but it was extremely cold. Me and Dad then went on the big wheel the views were amazing but I was absolutely pooping my pants because the cart kept swinging from side to side Dad loved it. We both came off shivering because it was roughly 3pm and the winds had definitely picked up.

We all took a little stroll up the pier which is like a massive tradition in our family. It didn't seem as long as it used to feel. We went in the arcade section at the back but Mum couldn't handle the loud noise as she wasn't feeling very well. Me, Dad and Sam went up to level 2 and had a go on these drifting go karts, Sam won and I lost, I was terrible at it. 

Dad then went to join Mum outside for a quick cigarette. Me and Sam went in a thing called the crystal maze which is loads of mirrored walls and glass, we had to try and walk around finding our way out. We then went into the mirrored room, which was ok but it is literally a room with a couple of weird mirrors and some LED lights. We went outside to find Mum and Dad to see if they wanted to join us on the ghost ride, they didn't they were going to go and get Dad a little jumper. 

Me and Sam went onto the ghost ride and it was scary I do not understand how children can go on this ride without crying. We had a picture taken which I am never putting on to the internet because as they take the picture they spray air into your face so it looks horrific.....thanks pier ride people haha. We then spent some more time playing air hockey, shooting, a bouncing game, horse riding game and a basketball game I won 3/2 hahaha 2 days in a row I beat Sam. 

Mum and Dad came and found us trying to win a Dory teddy out of a grabber machine and then we went to get some food. I really wanted some fish and chips. Mum and Dad took us to a cafe but the food didn't look very nice in my opinion so we went to a chippy that we went to the last time and we all enjoyed it. We had fish swimming by us in a big tank and we all had yummy food, I was the only one of us not to have fish, I had a burger instead which was okay. Me and Sam had waffles for pudding which was nice, I dont normally have waffles as a pudding.

We headed home, It was the hardest drive I have ever had to do. I was soooo tired and sun burnt trying to drive 96 miles, it wasn't a plan. I made it though. We went into Dads bungalow to say hello to his new dog Spartan and have a little rest before driving back home.

It was such a great day.

Have you ever been here? What did you do?

Becky xx

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