Spitfires and fire spitting cocktails

So for a brief spell it got hot, very hot over here in Good old England.. As usual I was the height of classiness and sat by my out door pool - well my son's paddling pool.

But hey I'm poor, but I've got imagination so you might see my very untanned legs in 2 inches of water - but in my head my feet are hanging off the side of my yacht in the Med lol

With the sun coming out in force, thank goodness for fruit ciders - this really refreshing Old Mout Cider very fruity and delicious.. The only down side it takes just like juice so you could end up drinking a bit more than initially planned - I only had two bottles so I was okay.  

Quick food update, I know right, most of my post lately have been drink, drink and more drink!! I using the excuse it for the blog and probably not facing up to my problems lol.

In all seriousness I found this fab, brilliant, amazing and lots of other words that describe it's epic-ness, the Med Bar Restaurant down Berwick Street in London Soho.

It has a full restaurant and then this great open window area where you can pick up a fab takeaway lunch. 

The food is great and such good value I got the Chicken and Halloumi Salad - there is so much, I was totally satisfied and stuff after wolfing it all down. For all that food the only a £5 brilliant.

When I wasn't working and eating lovely lunches I took a visit to Imperial War Museum Duxford it is a working airfield with hangers upon hangers full of plans from the start of aviation up to today (They even have a hanger full of tanks).

They were flying my favourite plane, the iconic Spitfire, the sound of it is amazing.

Every time I hear one I am full of emotion, as I think about the  brave men and Women (who had to deliver them between airfield at great risk) who at really wieghed against them odds, got into this little bits of metal and took off to protect all that they hold dear..

Winston Churchill put it best - "Never was so much owed by so many to so few" - oh getting teary when I write this. So a moment of silence for their Amazing sacrifice. 

The Museum itself is such an amazing space, albeit a very big space there is quite a walk between the hangers and on a hot day it was very hard work but so worth it.

You can even walk through a concord, it was  a bit small. It was also one of the few planes you could go on which was a shame but I understand why they don't want people all over the planes lots of expensive kit about.

It good also for the little ones as there is lots of space to run about in and there is an amazing play area for them to explore.

The food offering is also very good, they had lovely treats - my Husband has a healthy lunch of a cookie and a scone.

I opted for a sandwich instead and it was huge, it would fill up an elephant but I struggled through (lol) and good value at only £5.

So a fun day out for every one, ending, like with all great attraction, with a exit through the gift shop.

 I picked up a great ration cook book that I am going to try a few recipes from (although have no idea where to get powdered egg from). I also saw this great poster I wanted to get it and pin it on my wardrobe but it was a bit too big - if only they had it in postcard size.

So after a hard day looking at planes I decided to treat my self to a Pimms.

Now if your unsure of how to make Pimms on my You Tube Channel (Please subscribe) I have put up a video of how I like to make it - Pimms Vlog

(Disclaimer:  I know others make it differently and add cucumber, but I don't want cucumber in my drink so I didn't add it.  Well I'm sorry if you wanted it in there, next time you pop over I'll add it in for you, happy? yes, thank you)

So the drinking was slight exasperated this week, as I  went out two nights - two night and you with a toddler I hear through gasps and exclamations.

I went out with work to a great cocktail bar in Soho call The Escapologist  they do have a happy hour but we got a great offer through Time out for 4 cocktails for £16 total and utter bargain especially for London.

The bar has an interesting history, it use to be an old Mason meeting house and they have kept the decor very mystic and spook but added a couple of modern twist which make it a fun place to visit.  

I started off the night with a classic Long Island Ice tea, very nice and they even made it with diet coke for me which was nice as I find normal cola far to sweet.

It was served in a lovely mason jar.

One of the group had a fun coffee style Martini not 100% sure what the drink was called as I was told but my memory is like a sieve.

The cocktail highlight of the night was definitely the Flaming Zombie - great cocktail and brilliant presentation and worked so well with the slightly Gothic interior. 

So for The Escapologist - I would definitely give it two thumbs up. The atmosphere was great, the decor was fun and interesting, the drinks were amazing and the service was superb. If you in an around SOHO at anytime go there.

I then went out again the next night - what, what, WHAT!!!

I know right, this was a last minute thing as my crazy friend from Amsterdam was over for a couple of days so we grab a quick (4) drink. 

As the hubby wasn't working, meaning  the little one was covered, I venture out for another night in a row.. Gosh it like I'm in my twenties again - although more weighed down with life and responsibilities - yay adulthood. 

This time I went to Black and Blues on Mortimer Street .

So for our first drink, I decided to pair, good friends I haven't seen in a while with an glass of fizz which always works well lol.

After the Fizz we moved on to cocktails as they have a great happy hour of cocktails at £5 each.

My first cocktail was Bubble Trouble -I  am a sucker for a layered cocktail. (My Friend had a Lychill Out) it was a mix of Vodka, Melon, Lychee, Mango and Fizz.

We also thought it was prudent to get some food.

They do amazing food platters we got the Hummus one. 

and a cheese one - (Also we got a portion of chips each but shhh I was trying to pretend I was sophisticated)

For my second cocktail I had a Black and Blue punch (Friend had a Classic Champange Cocktail).

It was a mix of Vodka, Pomegranate Liquor, Lychee and Lime and Fizz, very refreshing

My last cocktail was a Frozen Lava - Fruit Vodka mixed with Forest fruits, creme de mure, hazelnut liquor, cranberry juice and cream.

OMG it was fan-bleeding-tastic.

It tasted exactly like Raspberry ripple ice cream in a glass - so creamy and nommy

And I also think it kinda looks like the planet Jupiter.

To end off the night had some more fizz, but I also found out the flower they had on the table were called, Flaming Katys - Right that is now my favourite flower going to definitely get some for my garden.

Although I do kill every plant I've ever owned so I don't know how long they'll last lol                                              

Last thing as I missed it on the in the Cinema, I got Zootropolis, didn't get much Buzz in the UK so didn't really know what to expect.

Verdict - very good and is worth a watch and another watch, as it's got a lot of in jokes which can be missed on the first viewing.

Is it ever too late for Kebabs?

Hello and welcome.

Well true to my word I've been cooking up a storm in my house trying to stay healthy and happy and hopefully loose all that weight I put on during the baptism. Although must of that was medicinal, stress eating, it was either start shouting or cram my cake-hole with cake lol.

I started off by just doing a simple salmon, literally buying Salmon from the supermarket and cooking it in the oven. I just added a little flair by cooking a whole red chili on the top. Made it nice and spice but added hardly anything to the calorie count.

My other health discovery of the week, I made butternut squash, Sweet potato and chili soup - so all those ingredients chopped cooked in Stock then blended. Really for soup the weights and measure come down to how thick or thin you want it and how much you want. I'm sure other cooks wouldn't be pleased but I approach soup with throw it all in and hope for the best method. I find simmering for 20 minutes always make the veg tender and as you've cooked in stock it straight to the blender.


But any who, instead of having a slice of lovely hot, buttered crusty bread to dip into it (sorry excuse me when I wipe up my drool as I love bread) I used raw carrot Batons.

"Raw Carrot batons?" I hear you cry in slight dismay but honestly it works. You get a lovely crunch from the carrot and the hot and the cold really add a little something.


Look if I wasn't being healthy it would be bready bread goodness. But if you want a healthy alternative to loose a few extra pounds I would highly recommend it.

Okay time to come clean I have tried this week and have been really good. I'll come on to my fab Kebab recipe later. I must admit I had a tiny slip up but honestly it was all for a good cause. On Friday it was the Macmillan Coffee Morning. Macmillan are a great organisation that offer help and support for people and their families dealing with cancer. My cousin had a Macmillan nurse when she was battling (and unfortunately lost) with Cancer. That was back in the early 2000 they were great then and they still do great work now.

So once a year they get people to have coffee mornings, like a big bake sale with lots of people doing it up and down the country. So I gave in as some guy at work put on a fab spread.

I only had one bit of cake but bought two (gave the second bit away) and I took part in the raffle so did a small little bit to help. But small little bits add up and they raised nearly £800 which is about $1000. So all the people at work little bits added up to that and our total will add up to much more with everyone else.  Meaning they can carry on doing such great work and helping a lot of people.

Also technically charity cake doesn't have any calories. As I'm sure the universe sort it self out, as you're doing something good it won't punish you by adding that cake to your hips.

So after that mini treat I was back on it.

Over the weekend I made some lummy yummy kebabs. I know the summer is over and we have hurtled straight into Autumn and on the downward track to winter's cold embrace.

But hey I'm dyslexic and we have a problem with being organised and getting things done in the right order so your getting summer dishes in the Autumn and I might do a spring salad in the winter lol.

So I made Spicy Lemon Lamb Kebabs.

Really easy to make even though they take a bit of Prep.

So you take the Lamb, Lemon (I prefer fresh but I'm sure juice would work as well) and some chili powder.

Place the lamb into the bowl

Squeeze over the lemon. I do this through my hand to I don't have to pick out the pips :)

Then add as much or a little chili powder as you want.

And stir in. Then you need to let it marinate preferable overnight (at least 8 hours) as you want the flavor to take.

This recipe unlike the normal lamb with mint kebabs, which I find can sometimes be an overpowering taste this is more sublet. Sort of adding more of a zing that an fanfare.

So after the meat is prepared all you need then is some lovely veg - what ever you like. I went simple with Tomatoes, Mushroom and peppers. But you can have courgette (Zucchini) Red Onion to name a few, really what ever takes your fancy.

then all you need to do is alternate between meat and the veg to get the perfect balance of tastiness.

Now you can either cook these under the grill or on a Bar-Be-Que. Although as I said earlier I've sort of missed the BBQ boat. So I put them into the oven for 20 min at 180 degrees turning them half way through.

Also if you have any veg left over you can always throw that in too cook too.

Then serve how ever you want on there own, with rice, put them in a pitta bread..........

So hopefully all my goodness will pay off and a can loose a few pounds before I head off to Scotland for a few days in the middle of October for the little ones 2nd Birthday.

And be thing for my second Amsterdam trip in November.  Definitely will need to loose weight before then as I will be putting on a few pound over the two day period as everything is all so nice to eat and there will be a few drinkies.

That hopefully will slake my Wanderlust for a while. As I went part the airport the other day and saw this.

So made me really, really, really, really (I could go on) want to go away.

I do know this is a very first world problem with all the places and stuff I've done this year I know I am very lucky compared to most. Just need to turn on the news to see that.

But that still doesn't stop me wanted more fun and adventure. I think as long as when I am whining about my next trip to WDW or somewhere exotic I remember how lucky and privileged I am to be able to do that. It won't be that bad. I would say I should give up the whining but think that is asking the impossible, just ask my other half lol (I'm not that bad really).

Oh and my Disney holiday fund is now up to a whooping 2.5% only 97.5% to go lol

Seaside Shenanigans

I'm Draft So this weekend I attend the wonderful Whitstable Oyster Festival with the train gang.

Actually not all of the gang as you know from previous post there are the four of us but one of the gang due to other things could attend which was really a shame as I know a weekend away drinking and mayhem would do her the world of good.

But Hey Ho cant have everything :)

So me and my partner in Crime traveled down on the Train from central London Late afternoon of course we had supplies on the way.

Don't worry this was strictly a girl trip for the first 2 days the little man was safe at home with his dad and was kept well away from anything that could result in years worth of therapy lol

As we were staying at our other friends folks lovely house we had hoped the weather would be nice and we could spend the evening sitting out in their fab Garden no such luck it was tipping it down. The heavens opened so after an hour and a half of nice warm dryness of the train we were out at the station. Then I had the bright idea as it's not far to her house to Walk.  I blame the booze as it was hideous. We got to the house like drowned rats didn't help that Hannah then took forever to open the door.

so we dripped our way in my suitcase was so wet it had seeped into my clothes luckily I had wine in my bag so discovered this as it gave me a great opportunity to hang them out for then next day.

Our hostess made up for her lack of door opening by having a lovely spread laid on.. mmm Bread and Cheese with some nice bottles of wine what could be better for drying out.

It wasn't a too late night, I'd been up since 5am with the little one he does like to wake up with the dawn..

but it was so much fun sitting around chatting and catching up on everything and hearing everyone's news. Definitely if you've got a small child you need just the odd night like this to re-charge and replenish (oh and get a tiny bit tipsy lol).

We finally made it to bed at a reasonable time.

Work up the next day not feeling totally my best I grant you but after an amazing service of Orange Juice and Toast followed by  a nice shower I felt human enough to get dressed.

So glad I hung everything out as poor Sue clothes were still damp (even the undergarments lol :) )

But once we were all up and dressed we ventured out to see what the day had to offer. Thankfully the weather had done a complete u turn and was actually shaping up to be a really pleasant day.

We headed up the wonderful quaint High Street looking for adventure. First stop was this great little sweet come Nic-Nac Shop Sundae Sundae where I needed to pick up a diet coke to get some caffeine into me to even me out.

So cool not only did they serve it in a glass bottle they did an amazing twisty thing with the straw which added to the coolness of it all. I was uber impressed over such a simple thing. It true what they say the little touches do count.

so with a drink clasped in my hands we headed on visiting a lot of the boutique niche shops that makes Whitstable High Street such a rare gem.

We ended up in the Community Center and where like last time they were having a Art fair. All of it was lovely. I really like the TotalPap who made scene out of papier-rmache.

It also included scenes that move.

As well They do prints on card and had someone on hand demonstrating the process. It nice to see local artist at their work.