TKsnax

This morning we went to Gosport for brekkie at TKsnax which is right by the bus station and the ferry ticket office.

  

We were asked to go there by Mark, one of my sons because he had heard such good reports about it.  And, we were not disappointed. it is quite small with not many tables but they do a huge range of food. We went for the all day breakfast which was lovely and freshly cooked while you wait, nice and hot and served with a round of toast and butter.

The menu is shown in pictures all round the wall, all with very reasonable prices.

We were looked after by Dave the rave Hook who was holding the fort while Marten was away visiting his in-laws in Belize

As you can see we didn't go short.  Dave wasn't sure if we were meant to have two eggs or not but gave us the benefit of the doubt.  Also we had two sausages instead of black pudding. As always one sausage was taken home for our dogs.

Our whole bill came to just under £10 which included our toast and coffees. Very good value.

They do so many different foods, Mexican, Brazilian, Belizean and Caribbean as well as a huge range of rolls and snacks.They also do Take Away.  Dave was very entertaining and chatted to us about all sorts of things. We now know how to do pulled pork, steamed beef and Tamale.

We then walked around Gosport market which was busy being such a nice day. Spent a bit of money as you do but not too much.

When we got home we collected our dogs and we did a two mile walk. We went down Hook lane to the riding stables and walked round the rape seed fields, along the cliff tops to Chilling beach and back round the other side of the fields.

Me with Jake

Me with Jessie

Jan with Peggy

 Polly wasn't with us today as she was going swimming later.












We had a bit of a panic at one time during the walk, we cut across the field on the little paths that run through it and Jake got lost. Being short he couldn't see where he was going and we couldn't see him so we had no idea which way he was heading. Jan eventually caught up with him and he didn't seem bothered, don't think he knew he was lost. Later on Jessie rolled in something very disgusting, so glad we were in Jan's car and not mine (only kidding).  If you fancy this walk you can check out this link.  Think I've talked enough for today, more next time    ..........................   Margaret

Jake - somewhere in rape field

Abbey Garden Centre, Titchfield

Well this morning we decided to go to Abbey Garden Centre at Titchfield.  Jan and I have been there a few times before but not since we have been doing this blog.  We have always been happy with it and today was no exception. As always we forgot that they don't start cooking until 9.30 and we always arrive too early. The kitchen opens then but of course our meals didn't arrive until about 9.50 which meant we had to wait for 30mins.  We didn't mind too much as we chose a table over by the birthday cards and while we drunk our coffee we read all the funnies. 

Between us we bought about a dozen cards so the next few birthdays are covered. It was lucky that we weren't there at 9am, it was just that early this morning I had a very strange text from Jan saying that she had to pop to the newsagents with her grass cuttings.  I thought she has finally lost it now until later when she explained that it was for the newsagents chickens.  Weird!

 When the breakfasts arrived they were well worth the wait as always. The full English costs £5.99 which includes everything, all the usual things and fried bread (my favourite item).  Also includes a round of toast and butter and tea or coffee. Can't be bad.  You get two sausages which means we can take one home for the dogs! When I got home I forgot I had a sausage in my handbag until I saw Jessie trying to get into it.

If the weather is warm they have a nice outside area to sit in, also they welcome dogs inside or out. You just have to sit at the back on the green flooring which is fine.

 We had quite a busy morning really, after brekkie we looked round the garden centre, then we went to Garson's and then to B & Q.  Bought a few things on the way.  We ended up at Pets at Home and stocked on JWBL dog food which they had on 3 for 2.  We like a bargain.


After consuming all those calories we thought we should walk some of them off. So, this afternoon we took the dogs and did the 'Dead Duck' walk. I can hear you saying what is that.  Well a few years ago we did this local walk which starts off through a wooded copse and part way along there are electricity cables which cross over the path. Unfortunately one poor duck didn't read the warning sign and came to a very frazzled end. It was there for a very long time and now we always call it the 'Dead Duck' walk. If you would like to give it a try, just follow the link.            



I think that is it for today,  more next week........

Margaret

Wetherspoons, Garden Fair and Garden Beauty Sale

Horticulture theme for yesterdays outing (poor Margaret was dragged along as it was really for Jan's benefit only!).

Got to Fareham early, as twice a year (May and June) they do a gardeners fair in West Street. There are a fair few small stalls selling mainly bedding plants/ vegetable plants and smaller perennials, with the odd stalls with garden furnishings and supplies.



A Fareham Fair stall!!

 Then headed off to Wetherspoons for brekkie. Good value (£8.68 for 2 cooked breakfasts and 2 mugs of coffee), and good menu for children. And have pancakes!. (You can also get free small packs of coloured pencils by the condiments ?!?)

 

Did not stay too long, as headed over to Abshot to go to Lowaters nursery (wholesale greenhouses) under their trade name of Garden Beauty  for one of their thrice a year plant sales.

3rd time we have been. Really good bargains for the keen gardener. Often plants that could cost £40 in a garden centre can be £5 here. I got 5 plants  (Hebes/large fuschias etc) for £2.50 each. Not so many large plants at this sale (they are more in the May/September sales). Still worth a look.

 

 (The next Garden Beauty Sale is on September the 11th)

Quiet productive morning - so ended it with a good walk for Jake, Jessie and Peggy (Polly had hydrotherapy later so stayed at home). Lovely and sunny walk down to the river/boardwalk from Hook Lane. But then all went wrong as the 'bird scarers' were on extra loud passing the woods, so the dogs weren't happy. Then heading back the heavens opened, so freaked dogs (Peggy kept hiding in the hedge from the hail) with soaked owners.

Peggy heading for the hedge to hide from the hail!

All for this week!   Jan x

New Forest Spring Fair

Early Sunday morning Jan and I with our friend Barbara took ourselves off to the New Forest Spring Fair. It was a lovely morning and as we set off early we had no traffic or parking problems. It was free to enter and no parking charges. There were 60 trade stands, plenty of things for children to do like face painting and bouncy castles, and demonstrations to watch. 

There were lots of horses on show, ferret racing and dog shows. Altogether a very pleasant way to spend Sunday morning. We did end up spending money as you always do at these places but we were well pleased with what we got.  We spent a long time at one stall where there were lots of wooden carvings. Barbara fell in love with a set of three Giraffes which are now sitting in her conservatory and I bought three cats which are now very at home on my stairs.

 

We also spent ages at a lovely stall which sold beautiful scarves and scarf rings. I spent a bit more there and unbeknown to me Jan was plotting behind my back to buy me a lovely lacy scarf for my birthday, which she arrived with Monday morning.  I was well pleased, thank you Jan.

We didn't go for our normal type of brekkie but we sat in the sun and enjoyed venison sausage in a roll with onions for me and Barbara. Jan had bacon and egg in a bap. All very nice.

 On the way home we passed miles of cars queueing up going the other so we were very glad we went early.  I think there were a few other events going on down that way too.

Well the end of a lovely week-end, we shall look for more of these sort of things to talk about.

More soon.....................Margaret                    

The Village Bakery

  

Today we visited The Village Bakery in Warsash.  They are open from 8am to 5pm Monday to Saturday and 9am to 2pm on Sunday so very handy for us to pop in any time. We arrived just after 9am and we were the only customers then but a few people came in after us. We were a little bit critical of the surroundings, our table hadn't been cleaned and there were quite a few crumbs on the floor. Considering they were not at all busy, we think this could have been better.

They have quite an extensive menu for breakfasts ranging from the full works to lighter options.

As I am going out for a meal this evening with my friends, I opted for scrambled eggs on toast today. They were ok if slightly overdone for my taste but maybe I should have said how I like them.  Jan went for the regular breakfast which was also very well done but acceptable. Nothing started off very hot including the coffee therefore by the time we had finished it was getting cold.

I don't like being over critical but that is the reason for doing a review.  We still enjoyed getting together for our brekkie. It's a very pleasant hour or so to have a good gossip and put the world to rights. We will try them again one day to see if it is different, maybe we caught them on a bad day. I have put a link to their web site although it is not up and running yet but is coming soon.

                                                  

                                      More next time...............Margaret


Jan here with the prices! (my turn to pay and therefore remember). Came to £11.90ish for the small cooked brekkie (me), scrambled eggs on toast (Margaret) and 2 mugs of coffee. Also included a bacon butty to take away (though was just in a plain roll so not impressive), for my Polly's 'hydrotherapy' teacher, as we had an early weekly swim at Richmond Hydrotherapy for Dogs in Warsash. THOROUGHLY recommended. Natalie who runs it is smashing with the dogs under her care, really knows her stuff if they have specific limb problems, and just fills the dogs with enthusiasm to enjoy themselves. Has kept my Polly going over the last 2 years, plus swimming for 5 minutes is the same as running for 5 miles, so keeps her weight down doing 30 minutes a week.
(So we need to join in too with all these breakfasts!!)