Wombourne Christmas weekend

This weekend I went back to the West Midlands to spend the weekend with friends. Every Christmas, 4 of us from Uni meet up and have a fun weekend. This year it was in Matt and El's new house in Wombourne. They had been in 1 night before we descended! Oops.
I meet up with Clare on Friday and we went around the German markets, and picked up some desert for that evening.

Gourmet Donuts desert (and breakfast).

 On Saturday we ended up in Bridgenorth and wondered around the markets, getting some final presents, and had a very nice full breakfast. When we got back, there were a load of boxes and stuff that needs to be sorted, including putting up the christmas tree. And I think we did a pretty good job.

Our (Matt and El's) fabulous Christmas tree

Mini Christmas trees!!!

Saturday night was our annual Christmas Chinese feast. As it was from a new place (given the new location), Matt and El had thoughtfully tried it out previously to ensure it was up to par! :-) The food was good and Sinead and Chris came along. After we watched Toy Story 3, while eating more and drinking wine. And I will admit I cried a little as they kept telling me I would. (Or maybe because they kept telling me I would!
Sunday was a lie-in and then a roast. Clare and I were willing test subjects for the Christmas dinner run (as they want to do it in their house this year). I think it worked out well. I certianly tasted good and plates were finished.

Huge (practice) Christmas dinner

Waiting for me to finish taking photos so they can eat...

Then Clare washed up. And the annual soap suds fight between Clare and Matt started. I was drying up but legged it. I have been caught in the middle of that before and learned from experience to get out of the way. Clare was very proud of her initial stealth sneak attack. :-)

I think it was a draw in the end. :-)
We ended the weekend by going to see the Nativity II: Danger in the Manger. I am not sure I liked it as much as the first one (this one was more far fetched). But it was a good laugh. And we learned if you take Dorritos and Salsa into the cinema, at least get the bowls sorted out before the lights go out. Otherwise it gets a little messy!
I had a fabulous weekend and miss you guys already! Thanks for the amazing present! You're the best!

Locked in a chocolate shop!

Friday night, I got locked in a chocolate shop! And not just any chocolate shop. A Hotel Chocolate shop! Katherine and I went to a chocolate tasting adventure, run by Hotel Chocolate in celebration of National Chocolate Week. When Katherine and I got to the Ardale centre in Manchester, the shop was shut so we got a drink. Then at 6.45pm, Katherine got impatient, picked up my things and went to stand outside the shop. :-) So we stood at the window grinning like idiots until they let us is. We were the first ones there. They opened the shutter for us and shut them behind us, thereby locking us in. And then a good looking guy asking me if I would like a glass of Prosecco.:-) If only all nights were like this!

Very happy!

Katherine, equally happy!

Nice man pouring Prosecco.

When everyone else arrived (another 14 people), we settled down for the chocolate tasting. Over the evening, we tasted 13 different chocolate and learnt a lot about chocolate. The most interesting bits were when we got 2 or 3 pieces at one time so we could compare. Usually when I eat chocolate, I just open a bar and eat it. I never realized different chocolates could be so, well, different. Cacao trees are very delicate. They only grow 20 degrees above and below the equator and they don't like too much heat or sun light. So the farmers grow other trees such as coconut trees around the cacao trees to shade them. So the cacao beans take on flavors from whatever is grown around them. The beans can be completely different.

Cacao pod, cacao beans, and bread to cleanse the palate

Also the percentage doesn't mean the amount of coco solids, but the lack of sugars. So dark chocolate has less sugar than milk. But the taste can be just as mellow. The main factor is hot much conching is used, which is basically how much they mix the chocolate. The more they mix, the more mellow the taste.
It was a really good night with loads of chocolate. And then I spent a load of money on chocolate (and port!). Some of it was presents, so I don't feel so bad. And we got a free goody bag on the way out (the 3 items on the left in the picture).

Haul from Hotel Chocolate (3 on the left from the goody bag)!

Go Ape!

During our reunion week in Birmingham, we went to Go Ape in Cannock
Chase. Before we went climbing (as we were supposed to be climbing over lunch), we went to Beckett's Farm near Birmingham for a breakfast. The most epic breakfast I have ever seen! This is supposed to be for 2 adults and 2 children. (There another 2 plates like mine you can't seen on the photo.) We definitely didn't need any lunch. Or dinner.

Epic Breakfast.

The area is beautiful and the weather was amazing. Go Ape is a tree top assault course. I love climbing but each time I do this, I find a new fear of heights! Though by the last section we were all swinging from the trees like experts with not a fear in the world. (Though I had a small accident near the end when I slipped from a platform and have some amazing huge bruises!)

Looking down from the first platform.

Clare in the barrels.

El in the barrels

Clare, climbing between trees

Zip wire disappearing into the distance

Clare and El (who does not look impressed)

Me and Clare

El and Matt (great face!)

El and I waiting on the next platform

El, me and Clare (before the highest section!)

Finished with our certificates! So proud!

When we got the end we were exhausted but it was great fun and we were all very proud we managed it. And with only a few bruises (except for me but I expected that: once a klutz, always a klutz!). Though we did rush home for showers. (At the end of the zip wires there is a bark pit where you land. And we all landed back first. Every time. The bark gets everywhere!)

Warwick Castle

On Wednesday, Matt, El, Clare and I went to Warwick Castle.

Warwick Castle

Stockades

By the time we got our tickets, we had missed the raising of the portcullis and the Arthur thing, and had to rush over to see the firing of the trebuchet. This is basically a huge slingshot, used to fire rocks and burning tar over the walls of the castles so that the walls themselves aren't damaged. It makes it easier to defend the castle after you have taken it (likely from the people you have just taken it from!). This trebuchet was 18m high and weight 22 tonnes. There are two human hamster wheels, one on each side, where "volunteers" walk and wind up a rope around the axis between the wheels. This pulls down an arm with a counterweight (about 5 tonnes) attached to the other end. When they release the rope (after securing the arm and unwinding rope or the result is very bad!), the counter weight falls and throws the rocks etc. They didn't have anything attached (not safe I guess)but it was cool nevertheless. And they used to do the whole thing in 6 mins. Impressive.

Trebuchet

While waiting for the trebuchet to launch, Matt and I went closer to the front near the river to get some better photos. And got chased by one of the biggest swans I have seen. No way was I messing with that!

evil swan

After lunch (16yrs working on for the summer so it took forever), we went to Merlin's dragon tower, which was rubbish. The technology used was good but just not thought out.

Matt, El and Clare outside Merlin's Tower

We also wondered around the state rooms, which were very impressive.

Swords in the State rooms

Henry VIII and some of his wives

Marie Antoinette's clock

They also had the Empty Chair exhibit on display. Each of the chairs is for the empty chair left in someone's home due to the death of a solider in the recent Iraq and Afghanistan war. As of the beginning of it's stay in Warwick, there are 416 chairs.

Empty Chairs exhibit

After cooling down indoors, we went up the towers and to the ramparts. The views were lovely, though the 520 steps... not so much. Though the views from the top of the towers were worth it.

Through the Archer's window

View across Warwick from one of the towers

From the Tower, across the court yard and State rooms

By the time we got down from the ramparts (and got some very nice mini pancakes), the weapons display with some huge swords and axes was just starting. In the 11th Century, a Christian could not kill another Christian with a sharp edged weapon. So they created the "Knobbler", a stick with a metal ball on the end (like a mace). Bashing someone's head in is fine, just don't stab them. The guys doing the display demonstrated the efficiency of the Knobbler with a cabbage. It makes a really big mess!

Showing off the Knobbler!

We had to get make to Brum early for a house survey and Clare had a hankering for a good Indian (not available in London). Birmingham and the Black Country still have the best!

Dad's 60th Birthday

It was my Dad's 60th birthday on the 4th July.
On the day, we (Mom, Dad and I) went into town for a little while and then went for lunch at the vineyards. The food is amazing there. I had a really nice pate and a huge piece of lemon cake which was amazing. I definitely recommend it. And of course they do free little samples of the wines too. This time we just brought some of their pomegranate balsamic vinegar which is great on salads.
On the evening, Mom took Dad to Dunsley Hall and hotel for a meal and night away.
Then last night we had his "party". We were going to throw him a big party but he didn't want that. Instead, we took 10 of his friends and family to "Il Michelangelo" in Brockmoor, which is a dodgy area but the restaurant was really nice. I had veal in white wine sauce. Though Mom's fillet steak had to be the most impressive. I wish I had a photo of it. It was huge! But she dived straight in so I didn't get a chance! :-)
It was a brilliant night and everyone had a great time!

My amazing Mom and Dad (And one of Dad's bottles of whiskey! )

Luke and Mom

Jim and Chris

Mandy, Nick and Dad

Dad, Janet and my Uncle Roy

Sue, Dad and Trevor

Blowing out the candles (a lot of cake)

Me and Dad, the best man I know!

 It was a really good night. Everyone came back to ours after the meal and Dad cracked open the bottle of Kentucky Bourbon I brought him about 3 years ago from America. He had been keeping it for this night. :-) It is 90% proof. So a few people ended up staying over! But we had thought ahead and made up some spare beds (though I ended up on the floor - after 90%, no one really cares where they sleep!!!!!). Think everyone went to bed at about 2am. 

Then this morning, it was tea and bacon sandwiches. 

So all in all, a great night! 

Happy birthday Dad!

Graduation!

So the day finally arrived and I had the PhD graduation ceremony.
I wasn't going to attend but my family wanted me to go (and with everything happening at home, it was nice to have something good to celebrate!).
Mom, Dad and I travelled up to Preston on Friday morning in torrential down pour. The motorway was a nightmare. Once we arrived and recovered, we headed to the Guild hall to pick up my gown and hat, and for the professional photos, and for Dad to take his photos with his snazzy camera. :-)
Once all the was done, we went to lunch with Katherine and Tricia, me trying very hard to look cool and casual and fit in walking around St. Georges. :-)
Lunch was lovely (at Raffles - Yum!). Then it was back into the rain (which was running down the streets like a river) and my very large umbrella (still got wet) and off to the Guild Hall.
Now, after graduating from the Great hall in Birmingham, it was a bit of a let down. Really not as impressive. I was sat on the back row which was fine by me. And I got lucky. The people I was sitting next to were awesome. On my left was an engineering masters student who was already in his first year of a PhD elsewhere. On my right was a girl from computing who has also finished her PhD. We had a really good laugh at some of the speeches and how different the views of the people on stage were to the the people who actually went through the courses.
After the ceremony (where I am glad to say I made it safely up and down the stairs though I wasn't sure when to go up the stairs at first - they read out your thesis title; I had forgotten mine was that long!), we headed back to the hotel for a break and a cuppa.
On the evening, mom, dad, Katherine and I went to Duk for a really nice meal (and few bottles of wine!). The food was really nice and they were really helpful as always (especially with Katherine who has food allergies but not normal ones). Then it was off to the Studio for dancing. Well, more sitting as I haven't danced in so long, I don't know any of the current dances. Plus I found dancing after the equivalent of a bottle of wine is harder than it seems. Normal dancing is fine, but when you have to go in the same direction and at the same time as everyone else, it's not so easy! Still it was a great night.
And a pretty good day, (especially since I was dreading it!)
:-)

Very pleased and relieved!

Owl Sanctuary

In Cornwall, we went to Screech Owl Sanctuary. We got a little lost getting there. You can see it from the main road. Getting to it is another story! But once we found it, it was great.

They have a variety of owls, both rescued and born in captivity. If an owl is born in captivity they can not release it.
Three times a day, there are flying displays. The first owl we saw was huge! His name was Oscar and he was a grumpy old man.
Then the second owl came out, called Kaya. Kaya is a Boobook owl (also called a Morepork owl) and is found in New Zealand. There are different names for this owl, depending on where they live. Kaya is only 2 years old and was very sweet. When the guy flying the owls asked if anyone would like to hold her, I jumped at the chance.

Me and Kaya

After the display, we had a walk around the other animals. They have a small group of meerkats which were so cute. We timed it right and the animals were being feed. They have black skin on their stomachs, so once they have eaten they lie back with their legs in the air and try to get the sun on their stomachs. The black skin helps their digestion. The group had 3 meerkats, two older males and a younger female. Because she was the youngest she had to do the most look-out duty.

Lucy, keeping look out

having a snack

They also had some pigmy goats, which were cute. (Though there was a young boy who didn't like them so much as the goat thought his fingers were lunch. He was fine, the goats just nimbled.)

Hungry?

There were also 2 emus. The female lays the eggs (obviously) but it's the male who then sits on it. They feed them special emu pellets and asked if anyone wanted to feed them. I was a bit cautious; I have seen emus bite! But they just pecked the pellets off my hand. Fairly gently. But I wouldn't like that beak anywhere near my face!

They spotted dinner...

... but were surprisingly gentle.

We had a look around the owls. The snowy owls were very noisy. The male was displaying for the female. Male snowy owls hold a chick in their mouths while spreadying their wings and making a noise that sounds a lot like a train. Apparently this is very attractive.

Displaying male

 However the female was not looking very impressed!

Unimpressed female

There is a show area where a member of the staff shows off some owls and you can stroke them. It was brilliant! Owls don't have water proof wings like most other birds, which means they can fly silently, but avoid flying in the rain as it then takes them ages to dry off. This is one of the reasons they like barns. When it is raining there are usually mice etc in the barn so they can still eat.
The colours of an owls eyes tell you when it flies. Not all owls fly at night. If an owl has yellow eyes they fly and hunt during the day. Orange eyes means they hunt at dusk and dawn, while black eyed owls are the ones which flight at night.

One of my favourites was Digger, a burrowing owl which are from northern, central and south America. They are the cutest little things. They grow to about 30cm tall and live in little burrows.

Digger, the burrowing owl

 My other favourite is Baden-Powell (named by scouts!), a British barn owl. He parents were two rescue owls who got together in rehab. Because he was born in captivity, he couldn't be released into the wild, though he parents went back. He was my favourite because of the way he greeted people. When they said his name, he wiggled! It was so cute. He just gave a little body wiggle. They have no idea why he does it. None of the other owls do. Just him. Very sweet.

Baden-Powell, the wiggling barn owl!

Feeding Baden-Powel

The birds were beautiful and I got to hold Baden-Powell and another bird later. Here are a few photos of some of the others.

one of the breeding owls

Digger again

Darling, a Tawny owl

Lazy teen owl.