Edwards @ Abshot Country Club

Another busy Saturday! We did an early visit to the relatively new Edwards Catering café/coffee bar situated within the Abshot Country Club.

Entrance to Abshot Country Club (Edwards café inside)

 

They open at 0800, and as it is just up the road for both of us it is convenient.

We were initially the only customers.We had 2 'medium' white (Starbucks) coffee, which were big size mugs, so no idea what the large would be like!.

 Relatively limited menu. As this is within a gym/health club, it is surprisingly that they do a cooked breakfast really (though I guess most customers would have done a workout/played squash or something to earn it - not us!!).

 

We both went for eggs benedict for £6.95. Beautifully done - and served on a slate. Which seemed a bit odd really for a potentially runny meal. But delicious.

Yummy - but the slate (plate) a bit odd

Only problem was the limited seating, situated adjacent to the coffee bar.

 

Initially we sat at a small table, but a couple of people came for a coffee and stood right behind us to watch the sport on the TV in the bar. Bit unnerving, so we moved to a table with sofas, which was a bit low to eat off. We found out afterwards there are seats outside (through the physio room), which would have been better as a lovely sunny morning.

Worth a visit though.

We then went our separate ways, only to meet back up at the Westlands farm lambing again!. Margaret went with her daughter and 2 grandchildren,

Margarets grandson

and I picked up my dear neighbour Mrs A (a surprise outing for her!),

Jan's neighbour Mrs A with her new friend

 

and also met a friend from work with her 2 children.

Jan's friends children

 

Lovely time at the lambing again, though no lambs born this week while we were there.  Good time had by all though.

Varied walks this week as the weather was rainy and chilly.

Tadpoles stuck in a puddle overflowing from a stream. Peg and Jan tried to save them!

The weather has brightened up and all spring like again.Polly had her hydro,

Polly being camera shy amongst the daffodils

 

so we took the others to Swanwick Nature Reserve.

Waterlogged bridge behind the sign

 

Still a tad muddy, but the dogs had a good time. Some areas still very flooded though.

Still muddy in the field leading down to the Hamble river

Peg and Jess chasing a rabbit down the hill

Peg and Jess heading up to join Jake and Margaret

Catch you next week......x

Westlands Farm and Garden Beauty

What a busy morning we had on Saturday, so many things we wanted to fit in.  First of all we went to The Garden Beauty plant sale which is held three times a year and is becoming more and more popular. It is at Lowaters Nursery in Hook lane. It gets very busy so it is worth going early. We arrived about 8.45 and it was already packed. All the plants look so healthy and the prices are excellent.  The larger shrubs all seem to be £6 and the smaller ones £2.50.

This is a selection of the plants that Jan bought.

After we had finished going round the nursery we took off to Westlands Farm at Shedfield. The main reason was to visit the lambing week-end, but we thought we would eat breakfast first as it didn't open until ten.  We have been to the farm shop before, last year in fact and to be honest at that visit we weren't all that impressed with the service, very slow.  Anyway we thought we would give them another try and chose something which we thought would be a bit quicker. We decided to have eggs on toast and it was served very quickly by very friendly staff. A much better experience this time. Our brekkies cost £4.50 each plus coffee.

Now for the highlight of the day, the lambing.  It costs £3 each for adults and £1.50 each for children and it was lovely to see. We were lucky enough to see twin lambs born, one of which was rushed off for an emergency operation but was back in about 15 minutes.  The staff weren't very sure if it would survive or not we hope it did.

This is the stronger one just minutes old.



Just trying to stand.

This is the weaker one after it's op having been cleaned up.

We were lucky enough to be allowed to hold some of the lambs born the day before and they are so cuddly. I would like to have brought one home but not sure the dogs would have appreciated them.

 We could have spent all day looking at the lambs.
Because this is a slightly smaller set up than when we visited Sparsholt, we found that you were able to get up close and personal.  You could reach into the pens and and they would come up and suck your fingers.

The lambing is open for two week-ends, so there is still a chance to visit if it appeals to you next week.











We've managed to do a few walks this week without getting coated in mud.  A couple of local walks to the boardwalk on the way to Chilling which can be very wet but wasn't too bad. We've also done Warsash Common and on Sunday we went with our friend Barbara to Manor Farm.  First time this year because that can be very muddy but this week it was ok.

A few pictures.

Don't know what we are going to find to do next week-end but we shall think of something.


Byee for now  ...........................Margaret x 

Lakeside Cafe

Slight delay in this weeks blog! Sorry.

Last Saturday we headed over to Gosport to try out the Lakeside Café, a lovely family run café situated in a lovely position over the lake at Walpole Park.

Lakeside café jutting into lake

Don't go if you have a swan phobia

As it was a sunny day, it was definitely worth the trip as there were so many swans, gulls and other birds enjoying the water.

The inside of the café is remarkably spacious, though there is limited sitting. All tables have a wonderful view of the lake.

inside of cafe

View from our seat.Not quite warm enough to sit outside

We both opted for the smaller breakfast with a mug of coffee. Beautifully presented and delicious, and not bad for approx. £9.00.

Yum Yum

They have a good reasonably priced menu for lunch and dinner (licenced bar). So well worth a visit.

Afterwards we went for a wander across the walkway in the centre of the lake, closely followed by the relatively tame swans.

 

The park is just across from Gosport High Street, so a pleasant wander through the Saturday market which is always worth a look.

Busy week up til then!

Jake and Jessie have both been to the hairdresser.



Jake - Before



 

Jessie - Before

Jake - After

Jessie - After

 

Good timing as the spring has sprung and the warmer weather is back. Though its an exhausting day for them.

Zzzzzzzzz......

Polly and Peggy are enjoying their new transport as their mum bought a new car.

Our new chauffeur driven car!

Various local walkies this week,and already we are having to go to walks with rivers/streams or puddles for a quick paddle.

Tractor ruts to paddle in

Peggy nearly falling in for a drink

Jake nearly falling in for a drink

Polly has the occasional rest day due to her arthritis, but is quite happy sunbathing whilst the others go for longer walk.

Pol sunbathing

Beach walk

 

Hunting for rabbit poo to eat - nice!

Its definitely a dogs life! See you next week :)

Awwwwww