Out for Brekkie!

Monday, 21 April 2014

Vero Waffle and Gelato

We don't usually do a brekkie run on a Monday but this week apart from being Easter Monday we had an errand to run in Aldershot. We did a search on Google and chose Vero Waffle and Gelato.

This web site is pretty basic but a new one is starting soon. After the experience we had last Saturday we couldn't face a full English. Being Bank holiday it didn't open until 11am so we took a wander around a local shopping precinct for an hour or so. We were the first customers in Vero,s but others soon came in and it was soon quite busy. They didn't have any menus on the tables but all the waffle creations were displayed in a glass cabinet.

We both went for the banana and caramel waffle which turned out to be a very good choice.

It was absolutely delicious. A nice crispy waffle with caramel sauce, lots of cream and sliced banana topped with chocolate sauce. Hmm..! Could eat it all over again.

Being a nice day it was a very enjoyable drive to Aldershot.

We had to go through the tunnel, which Jan always gets quite excited about.

Roads weren't particularly busy and the countryside looked lovely. Very yellow with all the rape seed.

Now for the real reason we went to Aldershot. One of my dogs, Jake is finding it more and more difficult to walk very far. His spirit is willing but his body is getting tired. He is twelve years old and has several health issues. So, after a successful bid on ebay we went to collect this:-

This caused quite a bit of amusement amongst my family but Jake is very happy with it. We tried it out for the first time today and he did very well until near the end of the walk when he tried to jump out. He was attached to a very short strap and nearly hung himself. Will use his harness next time.

Polly and Peggy rolling about laughing.

Jessie showing what she thought of the offer of a lift

A very good walk was had by all. Jake seemed even more tired today when we got home than he usually is, must be all the excitement of a new toy.

Maybe next week we will be ready to try another cooked breakfast, see you then............

Margaret x

Saturday, 19 April 2014

The Courtyard Kitchen

Headed up to Botley this morning to visit the Courtyard Kitchen, which is in the yard at Botley Mills.

Got there for 0900, and we were the first in. Lovely spacious and quaintly furbished old building,

Lovely interior

with various hand made crafts and paintings on display for sale.

Lovely snug area

That, sadly, was the good bit. There was one girl working there, about 20 yrs old, who was nice enough but no overly impressed to have customers (even though they were open). Ordered the full cooked breakfast with 2 coffees.

Coffee - like dishwater (and filter too!). The cooked breakfast arrived, looked lovely.

It looked so good....

Looks can be deceiving. And they were! Yuk!

But - the sausage was just about raw. Neither of us would even take it home for the dogs. Ditto the bacon - with fat running off it. Baked beans - fine (difficult to go wrong!), Fried egg ok. Mushrooms - too greasy. Tomato - under-cooked. Toast - wholegrain - but under-toasted.

Such a shame. Wimps that we were, we didn't go and complain straight away (but having it re-cooked wouldn't had made a difference as we were put off by then!). Took the half full plates up to the girl, who did say sorry (not profusely enough though!), and only charged us £5 instead of £15 (we hadn't mentioned the dishwater coffee). Apparently she was the only one in - so cooking as well as serving.

Would it have been better if more staff on? A chef/cook maybe? (this lass didn't look as if she had any chef qualifications) .... who knows.

So we would not recommend this for breakfast, unless you specify you want your cooked breakfast 'cooked'!

To compensate - we went up the road to the café within the Hillier Garden Centre, Absolute heaven. Cheerful friendly service. Coffee (lovely!) and cake (yum yum).

Lemon cake (top) coffee/vanilla cake (bottom)

We have been there before and they do a smashing breakfast (though we are both put off cooked breakfasts now...for how long?!)

Dogs had there usual chilled week, although as it was lovely and warm they have found it fairly hot out walking.

Jessie having a giggle?!

Panting Jake

Smily peg

Pol cooling down on the kitchen floor after a hot walk

So we have to carry water if not streams/rivers around. Jake and Jessie came for the evening to stay with Polly and Peggy (and Jan). All well behaved, though hard for Jan to eat her supper with 4 pairs of eyes looking longingly at her food!

The view whilst Jan eating supper (Peg was sitting looking over her shoulder!)

Nice walk this afternoon down at the Strawberry Field in Warsash and along the Hamble river.

Jessie giving her mum palpitations by walking on the wall along the Hamble river

Jake has been doing really well, but ever now and then gets a carry to give his legs a rest.

Jakes mastered the dog 'walk'ing!

And he definitely likes being carried as settles in for the ride.

Pol's an expert at eating a marrowbone

Peg struggling to hold her bone

And lastly - a little portrait of Jan's beloved sister (!!), to thank her for her weekly dedication in reading our blog! (she has a link alert - marvellous stuff!)

Jsn's very old elder sister!

Comments always welcome!
xx

Tuesday, 15 April 2014

Cafe Ethos Fareham

This week we fancied a trip into Fareham and decided to try out Cafe Ethos in West Street. It's up the station end of Fareham and well worth a visit. They don't have an up to date web site but the link will take you to their facebook page. Also you can find them on Trip Advisor.

The cafe is quite small and cosy with a nice bright and sunny look about it. You get a very friendly welcome as well which makes all the difference.

A really good breakfast menu at very reasonable prices. You can have a set menu for the English breakfast or you can create your own, what a good idea!

We both went for the American pancakes which we did enjoy. The pancakes were obviously home made, so much nicer than the packet ones we sometimes have. Two thick slices of bacon and a generous amount of maple syrup, what more could we ask for. Sorry about the photo, we had eaten half of it before we remembered to take it.

We will definitely come back again, maybe at a later time of day to try out their sweet pancakes and waffles mmm...

We thought their menus were amazing, lots of choice, really makes your mouth water. Well worth a visit.

Use the link above and visit and like their facebook page, they are very keen to spread the word and to get known.

Saturday afternoon we did one of our local walks again. Down past fields of sheep to a boardwalk over a stream. Very popular with our dogs, lots of lovely mud to roll in, even to eat, yuk!

Interesting quote on the board walk

"As time passes slowly by this place,
Pause awhile, then so must we."

Don't know the origin of it but feel compelled to read it every time.

Jessie doing a bit of mountaineering

Come on Auntie Jan, where's our goodbye treat?

That's all for this week, byeee............. Margaret x PS, Polly stayed home to mow the lawn..

Monday, 7 April 2014

The Solent Cafe

Went back to Lee on the Solent this week. Original plan was to go back to the Waterfront Pancake House. We weren't sure if it had shut down (being winter), but it was open but not til after 10am. As we were too early headed up from the beach, and popped into the Solent Café in Pier Street instead.

Just up from the beach in Pier Street

Very good! Greasy spin type café, but very clean, friendly and good value. 2 cooked breakfast with brown toast and coffees for £12.00.

Healthy brown toast for a change!

Quietish week on the outings front. Margaret has a friend staying,, so not many walks together. Polly still has her wobbly days, so when was swimming

Wet and tired Polly

Aww

Peg and I went for a really long walk around Whiteley woods. Bluebells are coming out, but still loads of fallen pine trees down after the stormy winter, so lots of climbing involved on the walk. For me anyway!