The Royal Mint - birthday treat

To start the final year of my 50s we stayed in Cardiff for a couple of days. It's always good to see our daughter and son-in-law and we do like Cardiff Bay.

I had a lovely birthday, and a second day celebrating with our son and girlfriend once home. It all began with a trip to the Royal Mint, somewhere we've had on our visit list for a while.

It must have been planned in the stars as whilst enjoying a coffee before our visit Hubby noticed he had a new £5 note in his wallet (now in my purse hee hee) It's lovely but a bit strange to see the King on our currency.

The Royal Mint tour was amazing, our guide explained which metal is used, how the designs are drawn and finally how the coins are pressed. The value of each coin is the value of the metal and the weight of each is relevant; two 1ps weigh one 2p, two 5ps weigh 10p. 

We were very lucky to see one of the machines being loaded and held one of the finished coins, still warm. The Royal Mint currently makes coins for other countries and these coins were for Malawi.

At the end of the tour there was an opportunity to forge your own coin, this was one of the special coins celebrating the RNIL's  200 years. The coin is legal tender but will not be in general circulation. Our guide wore special finger covers so now sealed in its display cover the coin has also never been touched.

For obvious reasons no photos were allowed within the tour. It was allowed in the foyer where the Penny Lane mini and Grommit stood shining bright in their coinage.

It was a super tour, so informative and amazing to see how coins are made. It was also astonishing just how much money (in value) is both on display and in storage, a coin may not seem much money on it's own in my purse but it certainly mounts up .... guess that's why we have money boxes and empty bottles for collecting lose change, I wonder how long we'll be able to do that.

And then it was time for birthday celebrations 🥳

We visited our favourite Cardiff micro brewery Zero Degrees followed by a new experience at Vermut Bar where we tried different vermouths. Thanks Philippa and Michael for introducing us to new flavours and styles, a lovely experience.

Hubby and I love Miller and Carter The Hayes, it was a real treat to have their 28oz sharing experience with lobster, mac n cheese and a delicious Argentinian Malbec - thank you Nick, it was superb

And back home the following day we had a super dinner at our son and girlfriend's. Such a lively surprise to have cake with candles ... never too old for birthday cake.

It's been a great few days celebrating my final year of my 50s .... 12 months to the big 60 🥳

Musicals Afternoon Tea

I do enjoy the sea days as much as visiting new places. I also enjoy making an effort for dinner, not dress to impress evening wear but the chance to be less casual than when being a tourist on land.

The middle Sunday, a sea day, of our cruise gave an opportunity to 'go posh' in the afternoon. Once on every cruise there is Musicals Afternoon Tea in The Dining Club, there was an additional charge for this but it was worth every penny.

Each table was immaculately laid, even with opera glasses. The menu was themed on various musical songs and George, the ship's Musical Director, played the piano in our exclusive dining room for about 30 people.

Our Kir cocktail was served with the most amazing popcorn, each piece seemed to have a different flavour, not just sweet or salty. 

Our first course just confused me. A cold strawberry and Cointreau soup that my brain said 'no' to but which delighted my tastebuds. I would never have served a cold sweet soup as a starter but it was superb and a perfect light start to our afternoon tea experience.

George played a variety of songs from various musicals and after a while gave a welcome to us all announcing 'be our guest' and striking up the said song from Beauty and the Beast. Upon which all the waiters paraded round the room carrying the three tiered afternoon teas, it was quite a moment. 

The Afternoon Tea was amazing, I have enjoyed quite a few of these in some very expensive hotels and this was by far one of the best. Delicious sandwiches, warm scones and a selection of small cakes each with a theatrical style. 

When the waiters had been parading round I recognised two of the show cast. They appeared a little later carrying, then dropping a tray of cutlery and bursting into 'Anything you can do I can do better'.

What a treat to have George playing and two of the show cast singing live, they performed a few show songs which had everyone smiling ... it was an amazing experience.

I absolutely loved The Musicals Afternoon Tea, a real treat midway through our travels from west to east. 
 

Day trip to Lye

Lye? No I hadn't heard of it either and only discovered it when our lovely son gifted me a Gin Afternoon Tea at Windsor Castle Inn

Lye is just outside Stourbridge and being honest it isn't really a location to visit, however the pub, brewery and distillery is a must! 

We decided to go on Hubby's birthday as going by train meant going through Birmingham and was a great opportunity for breakfast and evening drinks. Hubby really enjoyed his full English at the Sun on the Hill; I had their Spanish breakfast which was potatoes and chorizo topped with an egg, it was delicious but a huge portion.

As Hubby's birthday is just before Christmas we could also enjoy the Birmingham Christmas German Market. The market stalls and Christmas tree looked amazing in the blue December skies but the market was a bit disappointing. The only German reference was the bratwurst and steins of beer .... every other stall was either food or drink, all the same and very expensive. Austrian and Hungarian Christmas markets are full of many food and drink stalls but all selling different items and there are many different crafts on sale. I haven't been to the Birmingham one for a few years, if you want a night of eating and drinking under the stars in a log cabin atmosphere it would be a great place to go.

The train to Lye was direct from Snowhill Station, it was very interesting to see the west side of Birmingham. The Windsor Castle Inn was a short walk from the station was a super surprise when we walked in. The bar was a proper bar with a superb selection of beer, not just lagers. We were very conscious that we were having a Gin Afternoon Tea but could not resist a beer first, just two halves. 

The pub was quite busy with works Christmas parties which gave a very festive fun atmosphere. We had no idea what to expect, our first delemia was which gin. Beginning with Dr Hardewicke's Gin we also tried their Christmas Gin. Both were amazing, clean and full of flavour.

Our Afternoon Tea arrived: a plate of delicious sandwiches, two large pigs in blankets as it was Christmas, mini mince pies and a selection of mini desserts. It was so delicious, I cut my desserts in half to try them all and then enjoy the other halves in order of favourite... it was a hard decision.

We were not ready to leave, we would have stayed all night hee hee, so we had another beer. I opted for a half of Letterhead Stout, full of chocolate, vanilla and marshmallow flavours ... it was a superb pudding beer. Hubby enjoyed a pint of their Bumblesbees Pale Honey Ale, there was so much variety it was hard to choose.

As a treat to myself I bought their festive tasting box which contained five different gins, mixers and all the recommended garnishes. The packaging was so clever, very simple, very planet friendly with the gin being the highlight. It has been very nice to enjoy these gins at home over the festive season ... cheers.

It was a superb Tea, we are hoping to visit again one day even if it is 45 miles away or a two hour train journey. I have however discovered that they have accommodation so there's an option. 

Thank you Windsor Castle Inn for a superb birthday gift for me and great birthday day out for Hubby.

Anniversary celebrations in Birmingham

Last weekend we celebrated our 29th wedding anniversary - some say we don't look very different but personally I'm glad the perm has gone!!

24th June 1989

This year our celebrations were in Birmingham, two nights away, although just 26 miles from home. To our delight we had discovered that the London Concert Orchestra was at The Symphony Hall on our actual anniversary. A concert of Hans Zimmer and John Williams movie themes conducted by Anthony Inglis - it couldn't be more perfect and we enjoyed every note !

Arriving at Hampton by Hilton on Broad Street at midday Saturday the city was relatively quiet. After checking in we took a stroll to the Library of Birmingham. I have visited before but Hubby hadn't; it's an amazing building with two roof gardens, a superb skyline view and the Shakespeare Room. This room is at the very top of the Library and was moved here piece by piece, when you see the intricate wood and glass you can see it was an amazing achievement.

Library of Birmingham - intricate modern styling

It looks more like a theatre inside

Superb skyline views 

The Shakespeare Room

On our walk through the City we passed by the Town Hall, outside which was the Chelsea Flower Show garden made in recognition of the Windrush - a floral display that had so much meaning, I'm so pleased we were able to see it.

The Windrush Chelsea Flower Show Garden

Steamboat and train 

Iconic London bus

Last year at Love Wine Birmingham we discovered many local producers and suppliers, one being Loki. They are located in the Great Western Arcade which wasn't far from the Library or Town Hall .... and so a visit was a must !

It's a superb wine and spirit shop, over two rooms downstairs filled with wine, champagne and spirits with a larger seating area upstairs with comfy sofas and coffee tables. Loki have around 40 wines in special wine machines that will serve tastings in three different measures. We have seen, and used, these in Calais Wine too in their Tasting Room, it's a great way to sample wine before buying. At Loki you load up a tasting card, each time you sample a wine the card takes that payment, you have the choice of the size of tasting, each wine clearly shows the prices ranging from 99p upwards. We had a very enjoyable time trying new wines - had we had time to stay we could have settled in upstairs and purchased a bottle of our favourite to enjoy (Loki charge £5 corkage). We will be calling by again when in the city and I do hope we meet again at this year's Love Wine Birmingham.

What a super entrance

A few of the tastings on offer

The tastings upstairs 

I tried a few white wines and a couple of reds, whilst Hubby focused on just red wine - these are the wines we tasted, the descriptions are Loki's own from in front of each bottle at the machine:

Pegasus Reisling 2015 New Zealand - honeyed rich and elegant with classic acidity with a bit of sweetness 

Domaine de Vissoux Beaujolais Blanc 2015 France - from a small hamlet near Fleurie, well presented fragrance of white flowers, rich and round with flavours of grapefruit, white peach, pear and apricot

Mahi Sauvignon Blanc 2016 New Zealand - unique aspect is the proportion of wild ferment which adds the most amazing texture and weight without being too overpowering

Bodega Norton 'Lote Negro' Malbec Blend 2013 Argentina - powerful but compact showing dense inky bramble fruit, plums and wood spice from 16 months in new French oak barrels

Domaine Viranel Aromes Sauvages 2015 France - a funky wine with big full tannins and rich bold fruit from the Languedoc 

Bodega Izadi Rioja Reserva 2013 Spain - 16 months in both French and American oak barrels to soften the tannins and add a dash of spice 

Altano Duro Vinho Branco Symington 2016 Portugal - really rounded texture with a lovely floral lift, produced using a blend of indigenous Portuguese grape varieties

After a lovely afternoon at Loki we ventured to Brindley Place, a lively area by the Worcester and Birmingham Canal with plenty of bars and restaurants. A great meal in All Bar One accompanied by a good bottle of wine -  Fico Grande Sangiovese, with all the partying around us, it certainly made Saturday night lively.

Perfect sitting on the terrace

There were plenty of hen and stag groups enjoying a warm summer evening; after dinner we strolled back to our hotel but Broad Street carried on partying until past 3am ..... resulting in a quiet Sunday for some hee hee

Not a quiet Sunday for us, after enjoying a great breakfast at the hotel we wandered around the canal area. There were quite a few narrow boats, plenty of original steep footbridges, old warehouses converted into bars and new builds blending in with the surroundings. Although in the centre of the City it feels fresh and relaxing even with all the people and activities going on.

Old warehouses and new skyscrapers

A mixture of time blending in together

The happy couple of 29 years 

Those old bridges were very steep 

One such activity on Sunday was the football - England played Panama in the World Cup. I'm not a football watcher normally but I don't mind if there is a big event on, and it doesn't get much bigger than the World Cup. As our concert was mid afternoon and the match was on at 1pm we seated ourselves in Wetherspoons The Soloman Cutler to watch the big screen, the first time I have been in a pub to watch any game be it rugby or football - quite and experience; my gin and tonic very much needed!

As I mentioned before the concert was amazing. The Symphony Hall is the perfect venue for live music, I was transfixed with the Da Vinci Code in particular. The fireworks, lasers and Anthony Inglis' variety of disguises made the whole event superb, a perfect way to celebrate.

A stroll back along the canal to the Mailbox and dinner at Cote Brasserie; and a stroll back along the canal to Brindley Place for pud at the Slug and Lettuce where I discovered a new drink that is available in the supermarkets.

Trio of puds - they were all delicious 

Bailey's Iced Coffee Mocha - fabulous 

As the evening sky turned red we took our final stroll back to our hotel, the end to our anniversary in Birmingham - what a superb day, thank you Mr H! I wonder what next year's celebrations will be ;-) 

Perfect sunset to end our perfect day