Sprinkles, Portswood, Poppy's Tea Rooms and Lilys, Wickham

 Sorry for the delay!! Busy few weeks for both of us. For Margaret - settling little Alfie into his new home and getting to know his new friends, and Polly and Peggy have both been poorly so causing her mum emotional (and financial) stress!

 Still managed to get out for our weekly breakfast/outing though, but have just visited previous places we have reviewed.

 Went to Sprinkles in Portswood, a firm favourite when in the mood for pancakes/waffles, as having tried a few venues, Sprinkles wins hands down for value and quality! And the white chocolate waffle is yummy.

Yummy Yummy

 Off to Poppy's Tea Room (situated within Park Place Nursery) near Wickham the next Saturday. Cooked breakfast this time, but too busy trying to guess our favorites for the Grand National that day, and get to the bookies, so nearly forgot to take a picture, hence half eaten! (and a horse with 'Dude' in its name, the nickname for dearly departed Jake, came 3rd. GO JAKE!! Margaret was quids in!!)

Half eaten....

 Quick visit last weekend to Lilly's in Wickham Square, and baked Eggs Benedict for both this time. Huge helping - yummy and very filling!

Mega filling

 So - our main priority (for Margaret, and his Aunty Jan!) was to get Alfie feeling at home. Not too much effort for Margaret as he has settled straight in.

Sussing each other out

Awww - new brother (not a replacement tho) for Jessie

Loved by all dogs and humans so far (though maybe not the vet who he took an instant dislike to, naughty boy!!)

Alfie part of the gang

Alfie a bit worried Peg is going to eat him

 On the whole, he has been great off the lead, running around madly and trying to entice the others to run with him. It works briefly, but unfortunately the others are getting a bit too old.

Jessie happy playing

But had enough now...

So Alfie just has to run around by himself!

Peggy is intrigued.. he does look a bit like a fox.. should she chase him?

Nope - maybe he is a dog and will play instead!

Polly had a bad week, but has slowly reverted back to her happy but increasingly wobbly self. Still swimming once a week, and managing alternate day shorter walks.Had a double wobbly walk with her old friend Bud, so they took it in turns to fall over :( ....

Polly and Bud at Titchfield Abbey

The spring weather has been beautifully hot - lovely except Pol does struggle in the heat...

Mega thirsty post walk

Peggy had a dramatic 'poorly' day last weekend. So far seems to have resolved, and she was distracted from her usual howling at the vets by meeting her first python !

Peg not sure about this.....

Lots of exciting outings (not just eating!! ) over next few weeks - so keep reading!! x

 

 

 

 

 

 

Westlands Farm Shop

We have had a very busy couple of weeks since our last posting to the blog. So much has happened including the arrival of a new member of our group.

First of all on Saturday 21st March Jan and I took our friend Chris to Westlands Farm shop in Shedfield for breakfast and also because it was the first of two lambing weekends.

They had a very extensive menu and we all of us went for the light breakfast which cost £6 each plus coffee.

           

                   

We had all the usual full English items, service was quick, food was hot and was enjoyed by us all.

Of course we were eager to get outside to visit the lambing pens. This was the first day but several of the lambs had been born over the last couple of days, some of them just that day.

This little one was the only surviving triplet so they were giving him his Mothers milk by tube and hoping for the best

The little one on the left stood there for ages resting his chin on his Mother.

This is Jan, Chris and me with lambs that were one or two days old.

They are so soft and cuddly. Really would like to have taken one home.

however, I didn't know it then but there were even better things to come.

While we were there we were talking about my ongoing search for a new little dog and how I was despairing of ever finding the right one. Me and Jan are regular visitors to all the local rescue centres but Chris had never been. So, we decided to visit the RSPCA at The Ark in Stubbington on the way home, by a circular scenic route.
How glad am I that we did. After we had looked around with no luck and were just about to leave, Steve who I know from the Ark called out to us. He said they had a little dog just in, not even listed yet and would I like to see him. He was a little bit nervous and overwhelmed but we all loved him straight away.

The next day Jan and I came back with Jessie and what a difference. I think he remembered us and was much more relaxed.

Think he did have a naughty plan in his mind while he was standing there so innocently

Anyway a week later and Alfie came home. No problems except maybe a very over the top welcome for anyone who visits and making a nuisance of himself while I am trying to do this blog

The first introduction to the cat was quite uneventful although Mitzi played it safe at first.



But soon decided to investigate.

First Kiss

Good sniff around

Time to meet best friends Polly and Peggy

And of course his lovely sister Jessie.

That is all for this very exciting week, more news next time.............................Margaret x

Bonne Bouche, Hamble and Yoglates, Warsash

Busy few weeks hence delay in writing blog. Went to Hamble a few weeks ago as a glorious sunny morning, so took Peggy and Jessie across the river on the infamous pink ferry. Free for dogs, £1.50 each way for adults.

 

Peggy off to catch up with Margaret and Jessie at the ferry waiting point

 

waiting for the ferry

 

 

Ferry on its way to pick us up

 

Walked the short distance up the high street to Bonne Bouche, a lovely little café with an outside decking/sitting area,

 

so no problem having the dogs with us.

Even though they weren't on the menu, the lovely owner made us American style fluffy pancakes with honey and bacon.

 

 

Lovely they were! Dogs enjoyed their bit of bacon! Recommended.

Followed by a sunny walk around the fields and shore front, though still a tad muddy in places.

Filed in Hamble in way to shore front

Stopped off for a takeaway coffee at the café on the beach on the way back to the quayside.

Jessie loyally waiting for her mum to come back with the coffees

Ferry trip back to Warsash. Dogs not that enthralled with travelling on water though!.

Not impressed

Hamble view (and pink ferry) from Warsash side

 

Not impressed by travelling on water

Polly had her rest day bless her.

Missed a Saturday breakfast as Jan has a weird obsession with fitness at the moment and was busy doing a comic relief charity danceathon,

Fareham Leisure Centre Comic Relief Danceathon (after 2 hours solid dancing!)

 

but instead we snuck out on a weekday morning to a new café/icecream parlour called Yoglates in Warsash, as we saw they had waffles on the menu.

 

New venture, nice set up inside, with more of an icecream parlour theme. But..... we got there at 1000, first in (and the only customers while we were there!). Got a coffee, 30 minutes later still waiting for the waffles with frozen yoghurt we had ordered.

Yoglate's waffles with frozen yoghurt (optional blueberries)

 

The lady did apologise after 30 mins, saying the oven was warming up. But not impressed really. Apart from paninis',it is really just ice-cream, milkshakes, etc they seem to do. So really prefer the Clocktower café or Village Bakery just up the road. But early days, so hopefully things (and the menu) will improve.

Nice walk down to the beach at Chilling during the week, gorgeous when the tide is out.

action phot!

Margaret and Jessie

Jan and Peg

 

 

Poor Polly cannot make the long walks, but manages grassy flat walks with the others.

In the car

my darling wonky polly

kisses for mum


See you next week... EXCITING NEWS ON ITS WAY :) ......x