Mr Betty and I have returned from our mini break.
We have had such fun.
Driving round the Great Orme , twice.
Searching for Land Rovers hidden down country lanes.
Treasure hunting for my kinda treasure.
Eating....a lot
Listening to real bad karaoke
Laughing
Drinking tea (moi)
Drinking coffee (Mr Betty)
Visiting Drew Pritchards place (of Salvage Hunters fame)
It may not be what everyone considers to be a great weekend, we live the exact opposite of the rock and roll lifestyle, but this is what makes us smile.
We set off leaving littlest son, trunks and towel under his arm, ready for a pool party.
Largest son anxiously awaiting the arrival of some Twang tickets, there was pacing.
Middling son sprawled across the playroom floor after a particularly late running sleepover.
We were not too sad to see the back of them to be brutally honest.
On route Mr Betty surprised me with a sneaky visit to Drew Pritchards antique place in Conwy We have been avid watchers of 'Salvage Hunters for a while so I was very excited.
The place is amazing, industrial lighting, life size bronze stags, refectory tables that could seat 20,pews,circus signs, and loads more crazy but fascinating things. Too pricey for us, I would have loved a haberdashery cupboard, but well worth a visit.
We then stopped for lunch at a restaurant that was established during a very important year.
Panini for the Mr and an omelette for moi. I rarely partake in the eating of omelettes but I came over all welsh and had to do a Stacy....if you have watched it you will understand.
We checked in to the B&B. Looks quite small from the front but it was a really large Edwardian house. Lovely original tiled hall and great panelling on the walls. We liked it a lot.
We took two trips round the Great Orme. This pic was taken this morn, I did not have my camera the first time round which was a great shame as the sun was out and it was breath taking.
At the peak of the Great Orme there were names written in stones that could be seen from quite a distance. I would have liked to add Oooh Betty loves Mr Betty but it was too cold and the stones appeared to be rather thin on the ground.
I also am very lazy and couldn't be arsed.
Mr Betty and I found a cozy little pub for few beers, it seemed nice and peaceful for all of 20 minutes, then a short orange man fired up the karaoke equipment and the fun really began......not.
At first we felt that we were going to have to move on but before long we actually started enjoying it. The short orange man was certainly loving it as were all the singers, all the fun was quite infectious. We stayed all evening.
Next day we pottered down to the dining room in time for the breakfast (quite an achievement I would say). Lovely full welsh breakfast, yum. Then it was back on the road destined for home but the long way round, travelling through all the villages and towns.
We did find an old Land Rover tucked behind a fence so Mr Betty was happy and we stumbled across an Attic Sale on the way home (I do get lucky I cannot lie) so I was a happy bunny too.
I will save all my finds for Thrifty Thursday if that's ok with you.
Mr Betty and I have returned to what can only be described as carnage. I think my boys have managed to set the world record for 'the most pots in a kitchen sink'. Biggest son had decided to try his hand at pancakes, it had not gone well.
My mum was in charge btw, she lives next door and by the look of things that's where she had remained for the duration of our trip, god bless her.
I have made broccoli and gruyere soup for supper and managed to sort out the house and now I am going to catch up on all my PC stuff. Our mini break rule was 'no internet'. I left the IPad at home but I think Mr Betty might have been secretly surfing when I was not looking....
This week I will mostly be blogging about the Vintage Fair. Lots of prep and pictures of all the stuff that I will be selling.
Thanks for reading, sorry if it is a bit of a ramble, I am very tired ;) x
Location:Llandudno
After an incredibly sleepless night I have awoken feeling that I need to do a blog all about the rearing of sons.
I have been a mother to sons for 16 years so I am more than qualified to share my pearls of wisdom with you all (ahem).
1. Bulk buy antibacterial loo wipes. It may also be worth while having a sign made for the bathroom that reads as follows : If you find this lavatory to be in an unsatisfactory state please call (insert ones mobile number) and the lady of the house will restore it to a satisfactory state on her return from her daily food shop.
2. When your son asks you an awkward question, for example, "what does hire a prostitute mean", I find this to be the best response.
"not now son, I am cleaning up your wee with an antibacterial wipe and don't ask anyone else that question particularly your teacher.
3. If your sons ask you if they can have a friend sleep over (let's call the friend 'the big pritch') don't enter into a long debate via text, or phone. This will just waste precious loo cleaning energy and the result is always the same, ie, son arrives at door, the big pritch in tow, and tells you some obvious lie involving the friend virtually being of orphan status.
4. Whilst aforementioned sleepover is underway don't waste crucial toilet wiping energy on uttering these words throughout the night "stop laughing", "stop eating all the crisps" and "it is now getting up time, do you think you should maybe get some sleep".
5. Do always keep a clear memory of what each of your sons look like. This avoids any confusion when you awake to a house with 12 boys that need feeding. Send the unfamiliar ones home unless they are 'orphans' of course.
6. Keep tabs on your washing. If you notice a pair of jeans in the dirty laundry basket that you only ironed 20 minutes previously, remove said jeans from basket, spray with a little febreeze, fold and place back in sons wardrobe. They will never know and they might even be impressed at your speedy laundry service.
7. On receiving the most welcome gift of an IPad from your other half don't for one minute believe it to actually be yours. Do expect to find it under a duvet, battery dead with a fruit pastel stuck to it's screen.
8. Don't bother to purchase any clothes for teenage sons. Just hand over vast amounts of cash and expect to be rather shocked when they return home with one pair of designer jeans and no change. They have actually now become fashion gurus and you are deemed to be an embarrassment of epic proportions even when wearing your bestest gear.
9. When dropping your sons at school do play your favourite music full blast, do toot the horn as they walk towards their pals and you absolutely must shout out of the window that you love them and that they have a great day at school. They appear to not like this but deep down I can assure you that they really appreciate your kind words.
10. Be prepared on the food front. If making a recipe for 5 adults, double all the ingredient amounts and serve a load of bread as a side. Buy cereal twice a day. Do expect that your cupboards will always be empty apart from any healthy food offerings that will remain there until way beyond their sell by dates. Offer a menu choice, you might as well as they never fancy the same things.
I am sure I have missed some crucial tips from this list so I may be back with more as they occur.
I am going away tonight for a good sleep.
There are 6 boys in my house this morning and as far as my memory goes I am convinced I only gave birth to 3.
Before I go off for my mini break I will have to clean the loo and do a 'big shop'.
Have you got any pearls of wisdom to share with me?
This pic just about sums it up!
Today I went to Stockport. I went on the bus!
I don't often visit Stockport as it is so easy for me to hop on the train to Manchester. I am of course there on the 2nd Sunday of the month for the The Vintage Village . To be quite honest it is even rarer that I travel by bus. It was all rather exciting.
Stockport has such fond memories for me. My first job was in a little cafe called 'Tiviots'. The cafe was on the market brow. I was in charge of the coffee machine, I suppose I should have been called a Barista! Tiviots sold every flavour of tea that exists....in the world!!
Also my dad displayed, and sold, his first pictures in an art gallery in Stockport called Van Goghs. Most of the first pictures my dad sold were scenes of Stockport. The market, underbank etc
I did have a particular reason to be visiting today.I was meeting an old friend (a friend of old rather than him actually being old). I blogged about him here Obviously, being the person that I am, I had a quick browse around the flea market and the indoor market. Being me I did purchase some buttons.
We met at a really nice cafe (pictured above) called Da Vinci's Best coffee I have had in a while might I add. We had a good catch up, 10 years to be precise, a lot has happened as you can imagine.
My friend works in this fabby shop on Stockport Market.
The shop is called Restore and you can read all about it here It is so worth a visit.
My friend showed me around. The are 2 floors of beautifully restored furniture that can be bought for very good prices. There is a basement where, quoting my friend, "all the magic happens".
Donated furniture is given a new lease of life using fab paint and hard work.
The ethos of this wonderful shop has made me love it even more, I want to be involved in some way.
I decided to blog about it so that other people know it's there and to hopefully encourage more good quality furniture donations.
Everything is on the Restore website. There is an easy link on this here blog to save you time!
Please have a read and let me know what you think.
I'm sure I will be blogging about this place in the future.
Anyhows, it is Friday, it is the weekend and Mr Betty and Moi have plans.
We are off to Wales. Ooohbetty loves Wales.
I will tell the tale on Sunday night, leaving out any rude bits (no kids so who knows).
I hope to fit in a bit of thrifting, a coastal walk, loads of coffee and food breaks and hopefully find Mr Betty a Land Rover or two.
Thanks for reading. X
