Christmas Catch-Up

It's been a while since I've sat down and done a proper post so I thought it was about time! Warning - this is going to be a long, and very photo heavy one!

So Christmas is over, just the New Year to get through and then life will go back to normal. I do love Christmas, but this is the time where I start to miss my routine, and the endless food is getting a little boring..

We spent Christmas in Venice, I've been many times before and it was as beautiful as ever - because there are no roads and you have to walk (or swim! not likely!) everywhere there is a certain peacefulness that I haven't witnessed in any other country in the world, I think that's why I love it so much. I have taken thousands of pictures of Venice but it's always the more everyday things that are so special, such as the rubbish boats, fire engine boats etc that are the most interesting.. here are a few of my favourite pictures from this time out;

Furs are obligatory in Venice - it's cold!

Look at the size of those meringues!

Christmas Eve post!

I can't resist a Disney store...

I have no shame in admitting that I had my eye on this man for quite some time...

We had Christmas Day lunch in the hotel we were staying in and this is what we had;

Peach Bellini with Canapés

Corn Millefeuille stuffed with Porcini Mushrooms over melted Asiago Cheese

Risotto with Treviso's (Treviso is an area of Venice) Chicory and Venison

Valeggio's Tortellini in Capon Consommé

Yuletide Turkey and Chesnuts with Glazed Baby Onions and Duchess Potatoes

Yule Log with Egg-Nog

Coffee and Confection

It was absolutely delicious at the time, if a little filling! But the morning after when we came down for breakfast one by one we all gradually admitted that we had been violently sick during the night - so looking at these photo's now is making my stomach turn a little! Oh well, maybe next year will be better! At least none of the calories will count!

As you may have seen in a previous post, I am taking part in the Rory Gilmore book challenge. I finished my first one (before 2013 has even started!) whilst I was in Venice. 1984 by George Orwell. It's crazy that a book that was first published in 1949 is so extremely relevant to modern life. It's a great story and really makes you think about the control of everything around us. Onto Huckleberry Finn now!

Also - my sister asked me what I was doing when I wrote my name in the book once I had finished it. I didn't have an answer! I've always done this for as long as I can remember! Do you do anything strange with your books?

How was your Christmas?

What to take when you leave?

So today is another packing day.
I seem to spend most of my life living out of my suitcase so I rank packing quite high on my list of things I'm good at!

We're off to Venice for Christmas today so I've packed my essential hand luggage;

Cambridge Satchel - An early Christmas present! (Bonus points for it matching my bedding?)

Ipad2 and cable - my life line when I'm travelling, films, books and games whilst I'm travelling then emails and links home to friends and family when I get there.

Glasses and Sunglasses - not much point going if you can't see anything when you get there!

Mulberry Purse - I've had this for years and its the best purse I've ever owned, pricey but worth it. Credit/debit cards, sterling in one side and foreign currency in another, room for all my hotel/airline/club/restaurant loyalty cards too.

Ted Baker Ballerina Make-up bag - a present to myself this Christmas. Foundation, powder, mascara, eyeliner, eyebrow pencil, tweezers, scissors, cotton buds, Vaseline, pain killers, mini deep heat, condoms and a penknife - it's good to be prepared!

Paddle Brush - the only brush that doesn't kill my hair

Books - the start of my 2013 challenge, 1984 by George Orwell and Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain.

Frankie Press Diary - this never leaves my sight!

Business cards - you never know who you might meet!

What do you take when you leave?

The Vineyard at Stockcross

A couple of weeks ago I went for a work dinner at The Vineyard at Stockcross followed by an overnight stay at their sister hotel Donnington Valley, I thought I would share some photos and the menu that we ate..

 

We arrived at Donnington Valley after work and checked in to our rooms to freshen up and change for dinner. We were all in Deluxe rooms which is the third category at the hotel, this was ideal for me because when I'm travelling the most important part of my room is the bathroom and this one was massive with a bath and power shower so I was happy straightaway.

 

 

 

 

 

Once we had all changed and were suitable for dinner we made our way out to the bar and onto the small terrace area at the back of the hotel to have Tattinger and Canapés

 

 

 

After we'd finised our drinks and nibbles we went for a quick tour around the hotel and then got into taxis for the 10 minute journey to The Vineyard.

Once we arrived at The Vineyard we had a tour around the meeting space, spa, and amazing wine cellar

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We took our seats for dinner and the food was absolutely to die for, this is what we ate;

 

Confit of Duck Foie Gras, Poached Peach, Red Chilli

with a glass of Louis Guntrum, Reisling, Rheinessen, Germany, 2011

 

 

Diver Caught Orkney Scallops, Apple, Radish

with a glass of Rias Baixas Albarino, Pazo Senoran, Galicia, Spain, 2011

 

 

Pan fried Red Mullet, Pink Grapefruit, Coriander

with a glass of Waterstone, Pinot Noir, Los Carneros, California, 2007

 

 

Scottish Fillet of Beef, Braised Oxtail, Carrot and Horseradish

with a glass of Bolgheri, Tenuta dell'Ornellaia, Le Volte, Tuscany, Italy 2010

 

 

Strawberry Clafoutis, Lime and Strawberry, Straccieatella Cone

with a glass of Familia Deicas, Licor De Tannat, Juanico Valley Uruguay, 2008

 

 

 

 

Tea and Coffee with Peach Maccarons, Crystalised Ginger, Praline Truffles

 

 

 

The above led to crys of either - 'oh my god, yum, amazing, delicious, I want more'

 

Or

 

'Eww foie gras, I don't eat that, what is that, gross'

 

I suppose you can't win them all!

Had I been in charge of the bill for this evening it would have been £110 per person including the wines, for me that is amazing value for money, the service was impeccable, right down to the teddy bear seated at place number 13 (the house rules apparently) I will certainly be back for more..

 

 

 

 

 

Adventures in Sweden - Part VI

 

Once we arrived in Lysekil we were greeted by Adrian and his dad who are mussel and oyster farmers in the region. They own a small island no bigger than a football pitch and both farm full time but on occasion will also take a group out like ours to explain the process and experience an afternoon on the sea. They took us out to the mussel beds first where we saw the 'christmas rope' that the larva attach to and then the cages they are transferred to. We then went on a bit futher and watched Adrian dive for Oysters (in Sweden it is illegal to collect Oysters in any way other than by hand) and then we came back to his tiny cabin and had the fruits of his labour! I can honestly say this was the best afternoon of my entire life. I learned so much and saw some amazing scenery and nature, we had great company and ended the day with a beer and the mussels sat on the rocks watching the sunset, it was a really perfect day and I think the pictures do all the talking, although they perhaps do not do it justice.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After this trip we went to a local restaurant to have dinner and then back to our next hotel to bed.

 

Adventures in Sweden - Part V

Saturday 1st September

We woke up and got on the coach to an island called Marstrand. We actually had to stop on the mainland just outside and get a 2 minute ferry across the river to the island as there is no bridge and no cars allowed on the island. Marstrand was by far my favourite stop of the trip, the history of the island is so interesting and it was fascinating to be with such a knowledgable guide in the form of Anthony, we walked the cobbled streets and he pointed out buildings and landmarks and explained how and why they were there. The island was originally classed as its own republic in the way that Monaco is now, so it was a haven for the rich and also for criminals. The island is hugely popular throughout Sweden as a summer holiday spot and the population rises from it's usual 2,000 to 10,000 between May and September.

 

 

 

After a walk around the whole island which took us about 35 minutes we went back to where the ferry had dropped us and we were met by Marcus and Nickolas who run RIB Events. A Rib is a 'reinforced inflatable boat' and we went out on the open sea, stood up in the boat at 70mph, dodging waves and islands and at one point even seals. I was so scared before we left as I'm not much of an adrenaline junkie but it was absolutely amazing and I would highly recommend it, the scenery was amazing and the ride was just superb.

 

We got off the Rib boat at a floating hotel and restaurant called the Salt & Sill (Sill being the Swedish term for pickled herring) it was great to be able to get straight from the boat to the restaurant with no other transfer time/cost (although we did make the place look a bit untidy as we were quite windswept!)

 

 

 

 

 

We ate pickled herring, drank Schnapps and generally lazed around on the roof terrace for a few hours before popping on the coach for another hour or so to another island called Lysekil where we had the best afternoon EVER.