Isle of Cumbrae and Millport

This weekend I went up to Glasgow for the long weekend to visit Caroline. On Friday we headed over to the Isle of Cumbrae. And the weather was amazing! It didn't rain. In Scotland!

The trip took a while but it was worth it. After an ice-cream, we got the ferry to the isle. It was a tinkly little ferry but crazily efficient. They started putting down the car ramp quite a while before we got to the shore. Everyone was looking a little nervous as it started be lowered. But they have it timed to the minute.

On the ferry across (with an ice-cream)

The ferry lands on the north East side of the island. Where there is nothing. So we got the bus to the south and the main (only) town, Millport. It is a beautiful little town which some gorgeous beaches.

Beach.

Enjoying the sun

They were holding a country music festival that weekend (sadly it didn't start until the Friday evening so we missed it) but the whole town got into it with a lot of flags. (Even a Confederate flag - I am guessing they didn't know what it meant.) Embarrassingly it took me a while to figure this out. 

Lots of flags.

We found the cathedral which is the smallest cathedral in the UK. And it was pretty small. It took us a while to find a way in but the walk around was nice.

UK's smallest cathedral.

Not sure what is in here.

Before lunch we wondered along the sea front to visit the crocodile.

Caroline told me to pose - I think she expected serious. 

The crocodile is famous on the island. It's a rock that someone has painted a crocodile face on.

Crocodile

After lunch, we went for a walk to the tea rooms. The path started off as a path. Soon, as with all the walks I seem to go on, it soon become less clear.

Walking.

Less obvious.

Then we ended up going through a field of cows. They watched us suspiciously but thankfully were mostly more interested in the grass. And then the path just become a suggestion down the hill with some lovely muddy patches. Next time I am having no input. I always pick dodgy paths. 

But we did make it to the tea rooms. 

And then we realised the only other way back (other than back up the hill we just slide down) was going to take an hour. But the route was only the coat so very pretty. We stopped part way to investigate some rocks. Why not?

War memorial.

We were very happy to get back to the bus, which broke down on the way to the ferry. We did make it in the end and we're on holiday. We didn't care.

We ended up at thai for dinner and back at Caroline's early, both knackered. I am really not used to walking that far. 

BBC Good Food Festival

It seems to be the season for food festival. Kerry and Craig came down to London to come with me to the BBC Good Food Festival this year at Hampton Court. We decided against the VIP tickets this year as they were much more expensive. Thankfully the weather was ok so it didn't bother us.

Enjoying the music.

We got there early

This year they had a circus and some of the working horses they use for the carriage rides. We nearly witnessed a nasty accident as a small kid (about 3) wondered into the area and under the horse. Thankfully the horse trainer grabbed him back (while praying and swearing) before anything nasty happened.

There were plenty of stalls and I got some more Christmas presents but mostly we just ate. A lot. And had a few drinks. It was great.

Sausages!

Spit roast

Tea rooms.

Drinks - actually her first!

Clouds

We did have to duck inside once when the weather threatened and rained a little but the ticket included entry to the Palace so we had a wondered around.

On the Sunday, we went to see the greyhounds. Unfortunately the weather sucked and poured it down. The dogs were not keen on going for a walk in the wet any more than we were. Charlie in particular just stopped at one point refusing to go any further until we got a cuddle (and someone to keep the rain off him). But one of my favourite has just been reserved for her forever home which made me happy. Not sure what kerry and Craig thought about the grey hounds. I didn't take any photos due to the down pour. :(

I spent the rest of the long weekend just chilling out, ready for the next few chaotic weeks at work.

Great British Food Festival

Sunday, we got the bus to Chiswick House for the Great British Food Festival. The weather was not kind and rained to most of it but it was mainly just drizzle. And we are British so stuck it out. And after a glass of wine, it's easy to ignore.

Happy now.

Unfortunately until the early afternoon no one else thought the same and it was pretty empty. Though it did mean the food queues were short.

The band had a pretty small audience.

We wondered around a few times, got desert (they had GF crepes - amazing!), did some shopping, and enjoyed a really good G&T. 

We found somewhere to sit to finish our G&Ts and it turns out we had joined a cake competition and got to sample all the entries.  

The competition

Very happy about this.

We spent the evening in the usual way - watching films.
They left this morning :(
So I did some work this afternoon and then went for a run to cheer myself up. I love Bushy Park and there was some great wildlife out this afternoon.

Heron.

Baby deer.

Picnic and Pampering

After a pretty busy day on Friday, we planned a quieter, more leisurely day on Saturday. So we went to Bushy Park for a little walk and a picnic. We ended up doing a lot of walking.

Dad enjoying

Mom was too hungry to smile.

Posh Picnic

We walked through some of the woodland part and I found a new lily pond I hadn't seen before. Bushy Park is huge.

On the evening we were all knackered so we got a bali in and did some pampering. Dad does enjoy a good face mask and we even convinced mom to join in.

Trying the pout.

Dad's was invisible - he was a little disappointed at this.

Boat trip and Gin tasting

Mom and Dad came to visit this weekend and I took a few days holiday to make it a long weekend. They didn't pick the best weekend weatherise (we are Harris' - we have a weather talent) but we managed to miss most of the rain. 

On the Friday we got the river boat from Hampton Court up to Richmond. The trip was lovely though busier than I expected. It is a beautiful journey even when raining.

A little soggy on the boat

Our river boat

We had a lovely lunch in Richmond by the river. And then sat with a coffee watching it pour down. It slowed when we left and we wondered through the town and did a little shopping. 

On the evening (well late afternoon) we went to the Sipsmith Gin Distillery near Stamford Brook tube station. We had to stop halfway for a coffee due to rain and mom's foot (she is still waling with a stick). The distillery is on a residential street so a bit odd and hard to find. 

But it was probably the best tour I have been on. We got a very nice G&T as sooner as we entered. Which was appreciated. It was all in the distillery room but mom got a seat so we were good.

Inside Sipsmiths.

Welcome drink

We had a talk on the history of gin and the Sipsmith name, followed by a tasting of 4 different gins and an explanation of how gin is made.

Very happy tasting

We all really enjoyed it, and we got a little gin gift at the end.
We spent the evening back at mine watching films and sampling a few more gins. :)