Monday Review - London

On Saturday, with Minibakebakegirl at a sleepover, Hubby and I headed into London for a day/night away.  

In the afternoon after checking into our hotel near Marble Arch we headed down Park Lane to Wellington Arch.   This is owned by English Heritage.  You take a lift to the top and there are great views once up there - you can see the London Eye and The Shard in the distance and also some hideous concrete buildings!  There are two exhibitions on the first and second floors.  The building used to be a police station in the 50's complete with a station cat called Snook!

We then crossed the road to Apsley House which is also owned by English Heritage.   We took the audio tour,  this is a very glitzy and ornate house - full of paintings and dinner sets - amazing.  The dining room was particularly impressive with a table to seat 85 people!

On Saturday night we ate in the hotel.   Pudding for Hubby was a salted caramel cheesecake and I had the lemon tart - delicious.

On the Sunday morning the weather was beautiful and after a pastry and coffee at Paul's we went for a walk. 

We then walked over to Hyde Park and down to the Serpentine.  I hadn't been there since 2007 when me, Sister, Minibakebakegirl, Niece1 and Niece2 went on the solar powered boat.  It's still there but only runs from 12pm.   Hubby and I walked round the lake enjoying the warm sunshine.  Look at the colour of the sky compared to yesterdays pictures!!

Thanks for visiting,
Bakebakegirl

Today's top three Spotify Songs:

1. Stand and Deliver - Adam and the Ants
2. Prince Charming - Adam and the Ants
3. Antmusic - Adam and the Ants
  

Monday Review - The Garden Gate Tearoom

Minibakebakegirl went out with her friend yesterday afternoon, so I suggested to Hubby we go for a walk as it was such a beautiful afternoon.   

On the edge of Hitchin is Oughtonhead Common, we hadn't been there for years, the last time was probably when Minibakebakegirl was about 8.  I had heard of the Garden Gate Tearoom at Oughtonhead Farm so we decided to go and try it out on the way to the Common. 

We had no trouble finding it, we just followed everyone else!  It's only open Friday, Saturday and Sunday 11-4.    It was very busy when we arrived but we were in no rush, there are about 3 tables inside and lots of tables outside.   It was very windy so we decided to sit indoors.

We both had cappuccinos, Hubby had a huge slice of coffee and walnut cake, and I had a huge slice of victoria sponge with fresh strawberries.   Both were lovely and very generous slices.   We will definitely go back!

After our pit stop it had clouded over but it was still a very pleasant afternoon. 

Thanks for visiting,
Bakebakegirl

Today's top three Spotify songs:

1. Love of The Common People - Paul Young
2. Wherever I Lay My Hat - Paul Young
3. Love Will Tear Us Apart - Paul Young

Monday Review - Westgate Galleries North Berwick

Once a year when I go up to Edinburgh to stay with Sister we make a trip to Berwick Upon Tweed - usually when I am up in February.  Our Mum and Dad are buried there, so first stop is to lay flowers on their grave. Then we make a day of it and it always is a lovely day - this time there was so much sunshine. We have lunch at the Town Hall (a few more cafes have popped up but Minibakebakegirl says we need to keep up the tradition and have lunch there!) and then a wander round the shops.   Lots of independent shops - some are a bit hidden away but it is a nice wee town to walk round.  I took a lot of pictures - here are some of them.

Then we drove back up along the coast and stopped off at the Westgate Galleries in North Berwick for coffee and cake.   I had a huge slice of chocolate cake - yum! 

Afterwards we went for a bracing walk along the beach.   The sky was such a pretty shade of pink as the sun was going down.

 

Hope to see you next week,

Bakebakegirl

Today's top three Spotify Songs:

1. Love of The Common People - Paul Young

2. Come Back and Stay - Paul Young

3. Every Time You Go Away - Paul Young