the view from the bottom of the cliff walk (outside the pub of course)


the poor neglected back garden...


the front - in desperate need of sweeping up and some plants in that porch!


the front garden - J can't wait to get his chainsaw out on that lot!



the back garden - 2 apple trees and lots of brambles - but not a decent shrub in sight!

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Being absent from Kent for several years, we were intrigued to discover recent positive reviews of the group of new Foodie pubs overseen by the now notorious I'm-a-celebrity-Michelin--starred-chef John Burton-Race.

We were particularly curious about ‘Harvey’s restaurant’ in Ramsgate. Had we blinked and missed Ramsgate becoming the new classy Dartmouth of the South East? Had Whitstable finally fallen off the Champagne & Oyster podium? We looked at the website with wide-eyed anticipation – "Oyster & Wine bar and their own fish market"!!? "Newly refurbished premises right opposite the marina""?
Quick!!! – lets get there for lunch before the rest of the world finds out about this….or so we thought....

Having (at last) secured a place to live; back ‘home’ in good old Kent, this was an excuse for a family celebration. My brother-in-law lives in the area and is a wheelchair user, so we decided to ring the restaurant in advance to book a suitable table. Despite the Disability Discrimination Act, we occasionally are disappointed to find that restaurants are not as flexible as they should be in accommodating their customers who are less-able bodied. At the time I dismissed the fact that no-one rang me back after leaving a message but in hindsight this should have sent alarm-bells ringing....

We booked for a sunny Friday lunchtime. We were assured by the staff-member who took the booking that the tables were “fully accessible”. However we were surprised upon arrival at 1pm to find the doors closed and no outward evidence of the restaurant being open. Despite this, we accessed by the side door and found the two staff present very helpful and courteous. Sadly, the tables laid out were all inaccessible to a wheelchair user – down a foot-deep drop - and it was with some considerable and somewhat embarrassing encouragement that the staff moved a table to a central place in the room. I was unsure where the toilets were but suspected they were also inaccessible. Of course Harvey’s is a very old building and it was highly likely to have problems with making appropriate modernisation. However, I cannot understand why the large step down to the eating area was not made into a ramp during the recent "extensive refurbishment" (or at the very least made clear upon booking).

More bad news followed: the website advertised ‘set lunch offer’ was off (with no explanation). So we ordered from the daily menu. The food was only average. Presentation was good but lacked vegetables. My sea trout was undercooked in places and over-cooked in others and the fish-pie was lacking in seasoning and had no smoked haddock (isn’t that illegal?!! LOL). The staff openly admitting that it indeed included "cheap off-cuts of various fish" (but this didn’t stop them charging us £14 for it)! The service was good, but without ANY fellow diners there was little ambience and the music was a repetitive irritation (Level 42 – no doubt because they have a forthcoming reunion tour at the nearby Margate Winter Gardens). Were those strawberries in plastic tubs on the bar from a supermarket? Oh dear… perhaps I'll skip the £8 desserts.

Overall, perhaps it was not surprising that the restaurant was empty. The four of us enjoyed the meal, but when the bill came and totalled £90 we were shocked. We had ordered one starter, no wine or desserts. Interestingly, during our lunch some other customers were drawn in, but declined the menu when they discovered the set lunch was not available. They really have got it so wrong here. Are they forgetting this is RAMSGATE!?!

We exited to the nearby ‘Belgian Cafe’ for dessert and after-dinner drinks, where the accessibility, ambience and prices were much more welcoming.

Ramsgate the new 'Millionaires Playground"? Eh, ...well , actually no. Not yet anyway.....Raspberry beer anyone?

Can you believe it? So soon! Another academic year has well and truly reached its Autumn and slowly but surely my seemingly-endless ‘marking’ pile has subsided into a boring pile of filing in a bunch of colourful cheap (collapsing) lever-arch files. I feel change is now well overdue and am having difficulty motivating myself with thoughts of potentially delivering the same lessons to (yet another) wonderful bunch of university-aspiring naive students in a few short months. Another 150-odd new names to learn? Mmmmmm…..

Anyway, whilst pondering (and waiting) for various ideas, suggestions and opportunities to (hopefully) raise their beautiful heads above the ground, I'd like to avoid talking anything 'footie' - apart from to show you how lovely my doggie looks in her new Football Bandana (handmade of course)
......................but now onto more serious matters and what ‘foodie’ things I have been up to lately….

J took me to Brum for my birthday (not YET ‘the big one’ – but getting frighteningly too close for comfort). It was that day over the Bank Holiday when it (inevitably, I guess) absolutely p***** it down - virtually all day. This was a blessing really as we were to be inside most of the day – firstly on the short train journey to New Street, then onto enjoying the culinary delights of Michelin-starred chef Andreas Antona at the now famous Simpsons restaurant. Later on to see a revised version of Barrie Keeffe’s 1979 classic and emotionally raw play ‘Sus’ at the Rep.

Simpsons was originally in the picturesque town of Kenilworth (convenient foodie town to escape to whilst I was at Warwick Uni), but the chef had higher hopes than a shop front and sold-up to invest in this lovely Georgian style place in Edgbaston – which was obviously the right thing to do as he’s won loads of awards since.
















We arrived a bit early as for once the train was on time. Although it’s only a 20 minute walk from New Street station it was raining so hard we took a cab. It was a little frustrating that we were a little too early to taste something from the bar (not being residents you see (if only)), but we enjoyed a comfy leather seat in the oak-panelled lounge and a fresh coffee with the papers. It was quite interesting to speak with the staff preparing for the lunch service and the bookings being taken.

Very soon however, others started arriving and we were allowed a ‘proper’ drink and a peep at the menu. There’s a choice at lunch of either the tasting menu (£70 pp) or the (very reasonable I thought) set 3 course lunch at £30 pp inc half a bottle of wine. If we’d had a ‘lazy’ afternoon ahead of us, we would have treated ourselves to the former option, however the play started at 2.45 so we had a schedule of sorts….

The setting is really wonderful at Simpsons. The light and airy ‘conservatory’ area, with rattan-style chairs and brilliant-white tablecloths was just so stylish without being pompous. The outside area looked lovely and green and inviting, but sadly we couldn’t really venture out as it was just too wet! I admired the vibrant Rhoddies though - through the floor to ceiling glass.

I won’t detail here everything about what we ate as I’m sure you can easily find specfic dish details elsewhere, however I will say a bit about what I can remember about the simply glorious food. Everything was perfect. the amuse bouche was a cube of cod which had been deep fried and served on a cocktai stick (may sounds awful but was actually delicious). I had the cod for my main (J had the lamb 'cooked 3 ways') and the desserts were lovely if a little un-adventurous - one passion fruit and pineapple sorbet thingy and mine was a (much better) Simpson's Knickerbocker special. Oh if only we had the time to meander through the cheeseboard! The service was attentive without being stressful or over the top. There was a good mixture of customers (amongst the highlights of the people-watching experience was a couple on the next table who were also celebrating HIS birthday and a large family group ordering lots of champagne because there was “no special occasion – just a get-together” (how wonderful). With almost a cover on every table at one point which made for a buzzing but relaxing atmosphere. The maitre-d was wonderfully experienced and very French of course and went out of her way to make all the guests feel comfortable.

We got to the theatre in plenty of time and it was fascinating to see the players so close-up in this intimate production. I was a bit worried when they were smoking so much on stage (I hate it when someone starts coughing during a performance) but the ventilation was obviously good and I hardly smelt it at all (what a long way we've all come since the smoking ban in the UK). It was a fab performance and very thought-provoking.

"We must visit the theatre again soon"! We always say that. But most importantly, let's go back to Simpsons. Next time we visit I would love to have a table either nearer to the open kitchen area – or - even better outside in the covered area on a warm summers evening...champagne on ice of course....

Here we were, not that long ago walking along the Northumberland coastal path again and returning to our cosy cottage at Christmas....but now Winter is well and truly over and I'm sorry that this Blog has been somewhat neglected since the colder months.

But now the daffodils in the garden are well and truly raising their heads again, the lambs are bleating in the field beyond and I'm about to change my winter tyres again - so it MUST be spring right?!
It's that time when (helped by Mr Darling's latest changes perhaps) we are thinking again about moving to pastures new....maybe 2010 will be the year?

We must have been to hundreds of nice restaurants since Nov - and I've been very lazy in not writing about any of them.

The most memorable was maybe the 'Cheerful Soul' in Marlow where as you will remember the couple from Raymond Blanc's "Restaurant', Michelle and Russell have been running their own foodie dream. Michelle was there (apparently Russell doesn't work in the kitchen anymore - not sure why) waiting truly 'cheerfully' on the tables. It was very quiet though - Saturday lunchtime. Although Michelle told us they were "chocker" that evening...
the food was...good. Not outstanding. Can't even remember what I had now...(although 'you know who' will remember).
We also had a great meal at Edwards (or is it Edmunds?) in Birmingham. Which apparently is hoping for a Michelin star soon...and J ate lunch recently at the now famous (thanks to Ramsay) Lasan Indian restaurant in Birmingham which apparently was superb. I'll have to wait in line with all the other customers for an evening meal - apparently there's a 3 month waiting list...
So, I'll get some more thoughts down soon...and some photos....til then :)

It's been MONTHS since I updated this. And now, here we are, in NOVEMBER! I can hardly believe that the evenings are so dark again all of a sudden. Soon I'll need to get organised for Christmas. Over a year has passed with Dizzy and walking her makes you so much more aware of the seasons passing. There's sloe gin in the cupboards and pickles of various types. Blackberry jam and jelly is lurking in the darkness next to the Kings Acre Pippin apples that have to sit for a few months before they're even remotely edible (by that, I mean cookable)!

Talking of Christmas, last weekend was spent in the shopping paradise that is Cheltenham Spa. My first ever weekend without my puppy. OOOohhh how I missed her :) But what a fantastic place! I wandered around the grand Georgian town house where Gustav Holst was born (accompanied by the Planets in the background of course) and then we had lunch in the Michelin pub "The Beehive". This was a bit disappointing in terms of venue - but the food and wine were excellent. Lots of 'shabby chic' nearby to browse...

Shopping was followed by dinner at the famous Art Deco ex-cinema "The Daffodil". I've never seen a place like it! The nearest thing I can think of is that weird and wonderful restaurant in Brussels which is like walking into a stage play. You know the one - with lots of statues and gold taps everywhere. The food was delicious and the service was excellent even if it wasn't silver service. No pretences - just good quality and honest. It was great to hear the banter going on from the kitchen which was fully visible at the 'screen'. The cocktail bar upstairs was brilliant fun too:)

Sadly 'rain stopped play' early the next day and so I'll have to go again to see the Art Museum and Town Hall. Dizzy scored the doggie bag that was madeup from the left over 'Full Englishes' though (proper sausage - yum)

Maybe Dizzy can come along next time too?!!

This was to be my first experience at Raymond Blanc's famous "Le Manoir aux Quat' Saison". We opted not to go for the valet parking (is J getting a bit precious about his BMW now?) and walked down the avenue of lavender to the old manor house. Greeting us on reception was not the man himself (I expect he had better things to do on Fathers' Day) but the "Ali" guy from the TV show. Obviously Raymond had realised that he had some talent - but I thought it was his chef partner, James, who was the real star of that show. I wondered whether it was him in the kitchen today....
J had been here a few times but was quite excited by the prospect of being seated in the dining room instead of the 'school hall' conservatory (or is it an 'orangery'? I never know the difference). I was a bit miffed that I had been told they couldn't fit in an extra guest at the last minute - but most of the other tables were empty! It was nearing 1.30 and surely more people would be here for lunch on fathers' day? The loud American voices were a bit annoying from the other table, e.g. "....and I find when I give them my title over the phone I always get people's attention...." Yawn yawn...

We had managed to persuade C&C to go for "Les Classique" menu - much better value than the "a la Carte" - at £95 per person (listen to me)! It's a set 5 course menu inc coffee (or their own 'unique' mariage Freres Teas) with the option of cheese for £10 extra. (later we heard the inevitable arguments from another table about whether to go the 'french' way with this or not)...

1st course was a small crab dish. Beautiful delicate flavour. Sorry - I didn't take photos of each course coz I can't help feeling that its a bit 'naff' -
2nd course was the risotto with fresh vegetables. I loved the peas!
3rd course was the lemon sole - Oh la la! !!! I found a little fish worm! Mulling over whether to tell the waitress or not, I decided to mention it. J (ever the joker) responded to her "is everything OK?" with a "Yes, but she couldn't eat that" (pointing at the little brown alien. Apologies followed and a swift race to the kitchen with the offending item. It did put me off a bit. But not for long.
4th course - Goosenargh Duck (served pink unless you asked). Embarrassingly, C&C both requested "well done" which was a bit of a nerve really. I trust the chef to know when it's done. It was perfect. So tender! In a orangey sauce but with a difference. So fresh!
5th course - the strawberry 'celebration': layers of fresh strawberry flavours, topped off with - wait for it - a piece of gold leaf! Amazing!

By this time the whole restaurant had filled-up. I was a bit disappointed that some of the poor people sitting against the wall had to have their table 'pulled out' for them to be seated (a bit like when you're at the local Indian). This was a sign that they had tried to fit too many tables into the room. It was a little stuffy. The sun had come out and a walk around his famous organic vegetable garden was calling us.


We stopped in the padded-walled bar for coffee (I went for the Tibetan Tea - superb!) and the hand-made petit fours(with more gold leaf).


I half expected an explanation or acknowledgement from the kitchen about my fish-worm, but nothing turned up - either in person or as a discount from the bill. Oh well, another piece of emailed feedback required!



A walk around the garden was lovely and it wasn't that busy. Apparently, there another few acres attached to the grounds that are going to expand the garden over the coming seasons.


I have to admit to being quite jealous of people retiring to their rooms with a bottle of something sparkly (he promotes his own champagne at a very reasonable price). The odd floodlight here and there and the realistic bronze sculptures hidden in the undergrowth must have looked fabulous in the evening light.
But unfortunately, we had to drive back home...

J asked me - so what's your favourite? Here? Or the Waterside at Bray? That we visited last year.
MMmmmmm there's a question to ponder....

Another Glorious Weekend in Dorset!

We stayed at the wonderfuly named "Piddle Inn" again. On the banks of the river Piddle. J's treat for my B'day and we couldn't have hoped for better weather. Dizzy was very glad of the cool, clear water running literally by the the side of the beer garden.



We walked for miles and miles. It is absolute heaven to get away from all the traffic and people. We didn't see another person all day!


We set off from the pub and walked in all directions (but always towards a pub of course). In nearby Cerne Abbas there are loads of good pubs, including the New Inn which is newly opened after a re-furb and has one of the nicest beer gardens...There is also the 'Brace of Pheasants' at nearby Plush, although annoyingly we never seems to be able to catch them when they're open. Never mind they have been taken out of the Michelin Guide anyway!


the views around the area are breathtaking!



Reminiscent of another wonderful weekend we had earlier in the year at Great Malvern....


Lets hope this Summer weather continues for us..

Have you ever been mistaken for a doppelganger? I have. More than once.



Is it something to do with the way I look perhaps? Am I too ordinary? Am I not at all unique in the way that I aspire to be (doesn’t everyone?) Are my clothes too ‘everyday’?




I have a theory about these complete strangers who come up to me and ask if you are “anything to with so-an-so” or “whether you have lived in such-and-such”. No, I don’t think they are just using this as an excuse to try to chat me up (I wish;). They are just bored, or maybe living in fear that some horrible, embarrassing misdemeanour from their past is going to catch-up with them and seek out its revenge. Perhaps their insecurities force them to seek out any potential emotional damage in some kind of irrational self-inflicted obsession.

I had a weird experience of this on our latest holiday. I was aware of this guy staring at me every time we walked through the hotel and he was around. Sad git I thought – 50-something. You know, the kind of guy who sits in his too-small trunks and sunbathes all day until he (as J likes to call it) ‘lobsters himself’ and ends up the colour and texture of a very cheap over-cooked sausage.

“Did you get married in Thailand?” he asked me, out of the blue at the bar one night.
Bizarre.
“No” I said (please God get the message)
“Oh” he says, rather disappointed.
Small embarrassed pause….
Then, trying again..
“Have you ever taken drugs?”
(where is he going with this exactly? Who is this wierdo?)

How odd that, even when I explain (teacher-training patience firmly secured) that, No, my name isn’t Susan, that No, I haven’t ever lived in Bath and that NO! J isn’t a GP that I met 10 years ago – this idiot still insisted that I apparently might be someone that he lived with for a year and a half 17 years ago (when I was 20? MMmmmm maybe I would remember that? Just maybe?) Did I change my name then?

Then I'm reminded why J and I have this unwritten rule that we never - NEVER talk to people whilst on holiday (not unless we have to that is). We spend so much of our lives talking to people that we don't want to talk to - that NO! this is OUR week OFF! We will be rude if we have to be! But of course we're English - we have to be civilised. It's in our genes....

(View outside the hotel)


Turns out this guy is apparently a teacher (yes, how did you guess) of RE in an ‘academy’ (oh, I wonder why) in Maidstone of all places (If only I’d kept my mouth shut about living in Kent).

Why is it that some people have to seek out people that might possibly have something remotely ANYTHING remotely (however insignificant) ‘in common’ with them. Why? Haven’t we all got something in common with each other – if we talked for long enough (and maybe got drunk enough) that is?




Anyway, I’ve posted my comments about this particular hotel on my Tripadvisor site (incase anyone’s interested. Not recommended really – but it was good to get away for some proper sunshine). Reading - that's what we did - we read and read and read. the best one was Paul Today's The Girl on the Landing. I love the way this guy builds such utterly boring but at the same time fascinatingly interesting characters.




Meanwhile, the good news is I’ve won another short story competition. Well, OK, not ‘won’ exactly – just an ’honorable mention’ (whatever that means). It’s to be published though – so another small victory. Ho hum, one day….when there’s more hours in the day….

OK - This is for you S - and you can answer anonymously don't worry;)

What's your favourite Place in the world?

Deep, dark and magical: Doubtful Sound, South Island, New Zealand: the most remote and silent place I’ve visited. Some areas of the fjord are still unmapped with lots of undiscovered plants and wildlife. Heaven – if it wasn’t for the blasted sand-flies.


Your favourite Book(s)?
The Time-traveller’s wife by Audrey Niffennegger (if you haven’t read it yet you better had do quickly – it’s about to be released as a film).


Anything by Ian McKewan – including Atonement (as always the film didn’t get anywhere near).....
& Khaled Hosseini’s Thousand Splendid Suns


Your favourite way to kill time...?
Facebook & searching Rightmove.co.uk for that ultimate home....


Most important piece of advice you’d want to pass on...
Never take anything in life for granted.

Biggest regret?
Not pestering my Dad enough to let me learn the piano.

Your least favourite Film (as we’ve done our favourite already) Titanic

If you had all the time and money in the world, where would you go and what would you do? Buy a big shack on a deserted beach on a Greek Island or buy a Sunseeker Boat and sail out to an exotic Caribbean island and spend a year or so writing a book.


Proudest moment in your life (so far)?
Watching my Mum pass her driving test aged 50-something. Divorce behind her and relishing her new independence!

Most scary moment in your life so far:
Not knowing whether J’s brother would live or die after his motorbike accident nearly 20 years ago (he survived, but is in a wheelchair).

Thing(s) that you find most annoying?
Anything celebrity-related, especially people obsessed by Big Brother or Hello magazines...sad, sad, sad

Material object you couldn’t live without:
My iPod – especially my Meditation Oasis podcasts!

Non-material object you couldn't live without?
my hearing - I couldn't survive without my music:)

Look forward to reading yours...

Thought - right! Not another day will pass without me adding SOMETHING to this Blog. I've neglected it for months!



Here's quick Blog about Banffshire, Scotland, where we spent Xmas. Very Strange place! Where we stayed - Gardenstown - lovely, unspoilt seaside town. But the community is spilt into the God-fearing 'oldies' and the English people with second homes. One group on top of the hill (nearer to heaven obviously) and the others near the sea. It was an interesting Christmas Eve service - not least because we had about twenty different churches to choose from! Only one pub to visit afterwards though, and very cosy it was too!
Within a day's drive was the battlefield of Culloden. Dizzy had a great time running around between all the graves. We were alone on the moor and it was getting dark soon. I could imagine it being very spooky up here...








more later.
marking marking marking...

I have to admit to this new 'Doggie' life being somewhat of a surprise. Especially in terms of restaurants and hotels. Amazingly, lots of the places that I would expect not to be at all accommodating of our four-legged friends, actually are. Our time at Piddletrenthide (see below)included a breakfast sausage for Dizzy for example!!!

You might think that places like Marco Pierre White's Yew Tree Inn for example, might be completely off the list. But no. We turned-up early thinking we would have to take DD for a run and leave her in the car, but actually she was welcome in the bar and the owner (assuming partner) guy was very friendly in offering nearby walks for the after-lunch stroll. It was a glorious day.



Inside the Yew tree - which disappointingly is quite far out of the village of Highclere itself - not far from the castle - is a lovely cosy place. Maybe a bit too cosy in fact. Although the service and food were absolutely excellent, I felt a bit claustrophobic with all the tables close together (one of which had no cover at all over lunchtime so could have easily been moved away) and it made the service a bit unnecessarily clumsy. Otherwise, beautifully done. Very subtle with the mis-matched chairs and old bits of antique mirrors everywhere. Not too much clutter but enough with the amusing prints on the walls to make it interesting if you happen to be with guests that are (at times) perhaps difficult to communicate with;)

The menu has the option of a set one for lunch, which is very reasonable £15.50 for 2 courses. It's not often you have the opportunity to try Michelin-starred food at these prices! The Fish and Chips was particularly good and my smoked mackeral starter was delish! I could be tempted to buy his new book - but that hair of his really puts me off him!!

Yes, the view of the Giant at Cerne Abbas. We escaped to this little dog-friendly pub a few weeks ago called the Piddle Inn. On the banks of the river Piddle (Trout season just finished, sadly)in such an idyllic spot surrounded by unspoilt hills and rivers and woodlands. When I say 'unspoilt' that is with the exception of the Giant of course. He's supposedly an imposter - not at all as old as the stone circles and other chalk things on hilsides up and down the country, but perhaps as new as 400 years old (!!!) Recently re-chalked and looking in his prime now, apart from National Trust won't actually let you get too near him for fear of the land slipping away.

Glorious landscape around - this was just before the weather closed in and we had to seek refuge in a nearby pub.



Cerne Abbas is a lovely little village with surprisingly quite alot of very nice pubs. Not at all the touristy place I half expected to see. proper pubs serving proper beer and pub grub at reasonable prices. It was lovely and quiet too. I love to escape to where there's not too many people. we had planned to eat at the nearby Michelin pub The Brace at Plush, but ran out of time. Fortunately, our own pub menu was full of lovely fish dishes and organic and/or local meat and veg. I met the chef, Simon. Very talented guy. We'll keep this pub a secret otherwise if they get in the Guide their prices will inevitably go up. As it was, we had a fantastic meal and a bottle of wine for about £50.

Dizzy thought the pub facilities particularly comfortable after a day-long walk on the hills... Must come back for the fly-fishing in the Spring....