Today dawned beautiful and sunny with clear blue skies. What a difference to yesterday!
Sophie had to be in earlier today as she had to help with the cleaning and at 8.45am we were sitting outside of the building but the gate was locked. Keith tried the old combination but the new owners must have changed it so we had no option but to wait for Maureen to arrive. It was unbelievable to think that the business was due to open in just over half an hour and no cleaning had been done. When we ran the place we would have been in at 8am (the three of us, with sometimes Sophie helping as well) to get the place cleaned and opened up before the public came in.
When Maureen arrived we all went in and I was shocked to see how dirty the place was. It was obvious that no proper cleaning had been done for ages and the slides which we used to clean on a regular basis hadn't been touched since we sold the business in August.
Sophie started mopping the floor while Maureen swept and I was itching to help out but Keith said it wouldn't be a good idea. The business no longer belonged to me. We left them to it (I felt so guilty) and went to see Mum and Dad on the way home.
Later in the morning, as I was battling with a crossword in the paper, the phone rang and it was Mum to say that Dad had fallen over while washing his car. We drove over to see him and he had a large, egg-shaped bump near to his eye. I made him promise to tell Mum if he felt sick or had problems with his vision and said that it wasn't worth going to the hospital as he would just wait around for hours and be told the same thing. He promised to rest for the remainder of the day and not do anything else silly!
We left and I put some diesel in my car before going home and having a shower. We'd planned on going to the pub in the village to see if we could book a table for their "Hangover Breakfast" on New Year's Day. Michael emerged from his bedroom looking very bleary and demanded to be taken to Moulton to see his girlfriend. With that sort of attitude I refused so we had a bit of a row... I told him to take the bus (it stops outside our estate and would take him almost to her door) so he went back into his room and slammed the door!
Ever resourceful, he called Heather and asked if she could come to him so we went off to the pub and had a very pleasant hour sitting at the bar with a quiet drink! We also booked a table and was told that the pub was very busy, so hopefully there will be a nice atmosphere with not too many bad heads!
In the afternoon we watched three more episodes of The Bridge III and enjoyed the end of the series very much. The ending left the way clear for a fourth season so that's good. I think all the actors are tremendous.
We picked Sophie up a bit earlier, at 5pm, as Maureen had decided to close earlier than the advertised time of 6.30pm! On New Year's Eve! We had a quiet evening with a delicious three course meal (pate, Tesco Finest Lemon and herb chicken and desserts) and opened a bottle of Champagne at midnight. Keith did his first-footing and we shared a slice of Christmas cake which was lovely and moist, thank goodness!
Happy New Year and let's hope 2016 is the best ever!
Thursday, 31 December 2015
Best days of 2015
I had such high hopes for 2015. As my Birthday and Wedding anniversary fall on the 15th of the month I stupidly thought that a year with 15 in it would be good. How wrong can you be! This year has been "The Year of Waiting About and Experiencing Stress." I really hope 2016 will be better.
So, a difficult choice but here are the best days of this year:
Saturday 17 January
A rare day of winter sunshine when Keith and I went for a walk along one of the single track roads near to where we live and we got close to one of the magnificent Red Kites that inhabit the area.
Sunday 15 February
Keith and I drove down to London to pick up Sophie and her friend Laura and did a lovely walk along the Thames to Greenwich.
Friday 6 March
The last day of a lovely week long holiday when Keith and I went to Leicester Races, had some lucky wins and ended up in a great pub enjoying a few beers and a delicious meal.
Monday 20 April
Sophie and I go to see Ben Howard in concert in Birmingham! A great day!
Monday 4 May
Sophie and I decide to go to Blenheim Palace and have a wonderful day exploring the house and grounds in gorgeous sunny weather. Perfect!
June
See September!
Sunday 19 July
A gorgeously summery day, a trip to Wadenhoe for a lunchtime drink and an afternoon spent planing our Scottish trip. Lovely!
Saturday 8 August
The last day of our Scottish break. Despite hold-ups on the road we found our way back to England and the Llama's Pyjama's B&B in Penrith. A delicious meal at The George and Dragon ended the day on a perfect note.
Thursday 3 September
An impromptu trip to France with a bit of shopping, a drive to St Omer and an almost perfect pub on the way home.
Wednesday 30 September
As I found it hard to find a really good day in June, I've substituted this day. All four of us borrowed a bit of magic and went to Whitby for the day. The weather was stunning, we had a good walk and fish and chips. Perfect!
Wednesday 7 October
Keith, Sophie and I went off to Stratford-upon-Avon and had a lovely day. Keith caught up with an old friend while Sophie and I had a look around the shops.
November (see December!)
Tuesday 22 December
Our first full day in Berlin and a lovely time spent at the various Christmas Markets in the city. Our evening was very enjoyable and was spent having drinks in Otello bar and a delicious meal in Reinhard's.
Friday 25 December
A much better Christmas Day than last year, spent with my parents who came around in the early evening. A very relaxed start to the day and then Keith cooked the big meal, which was delicious!
Here's to 2016!
So, a difficult choice but here are the best days of this year:
Saturday 17 January
A rare day of winter sunshine when Keith and I went for a walk along one of the single track roads near to where we live and we got close to one of the magnificent Red Kites that inhabit the area.
Sunday 15 February
Keith and I drove down to London to pick up Sophie and her friend Laura and did a lovely walk along the Thames to Greenwich.
Friday 6 March
The last day of a lovely week long holiday when Keith and I went to Leicester Races, had some lucky wins and ended up in a great pub enjoying a few beers and a delicious meal.
Monday 20 April
Sophie and I go to see Ben Howard in concert in Birmingham! A great day!
Monday 4 May
Sophie and I decide to go to Blenheim Palace and have a wonderful day exploring the house and grounds in gorgeous sunny weather. Perfect!
June
See September!
Sunday 19 July
A gorgeously summery day, a trip to Wadenhoe for a lunchtime drink and an afternoon spent planing our Scottish trip. Lovely!
Saturday 8 August
The last day of our Scottish break. Despite hold-ups on the road we found our way back to England and the Llama's Pyjama's B&B in Penrith. A delicious meal at The George and Dragon ended the day on a perfect note.
Thursday 3 September
An impromptu trip to France with a bit of shopping, a drive to St Omer and an almost perfect pub on the way home.
Wednesday 30 September
As I found it hard to find a really good day in June, I've substituted this day. All four of us borrowed a bit of magic and went to Whitby for the day. The weather was stunning, we had a good walk and fish and chips. Perfect!
Wednesday 7 October
Keith, Sophie and I went off to Stratford-upon-Avon and had a lovely day. Keith caught up with an old friend while Sophie and I had a look around the shops.
November (see December!)
Tuesday 22 December
Our first full day in Berlin and a lovely time spent at the various Christmas Markets in the city. Our evening was very enjoyable and was spent having drinks in Otello bar and a delicious meal in Reinhard's.
Friday 25 December
A much better Christmas Day than last year, spent with my parents who came around in the early evening. A very relaxed start to the day and then Keith cooked the big meal, which was delicious!
Here's to 2016!
Wednesday, 30 December 2015
Storm Frank
It's been a wild and woolly day today with almost constant rain and wind. Sophie was at work again so we dropped her off at 9am and then returned home. She'll be at work all day as assistant cook, poor thing, something she really doesn't want to do.
In the afternoon Keith and I went out in the car to look for a suitable pub for lunch on New Year's Day. We went to The Kings Head in Spratton, somewhere I can't recall ever visiting, but Keith was sure we went in many years ago.
It had been revamped as a "Gastro" pub and was very posh looking. There were a few people eating in what they called Brasserie 23 (i.e. the pub restaurant) but no-one behind the bar, only a young girl rushing about looking very harried. We waited to be served and she eventually made her way back behind the bar looking stressed and rushed. I chose half a pint of a winter ale called Chilly Dog, which, when she pulled it, immediately looked flat and unappetising. We asked for the menu which was pretty reasonable but we decided against booking a table and left to go to The Chequers in Ravensthorpe which was about ten minutes away.
By now the rain had started in earnest again and it was cold and windy. What a horrible day! We parked the car but couldn't find our way in to the pub! Not a good start! I remembered visiting this pub a long, long time ago and inside it looked as if nothing had changed. The Chequers was much more of a traditional pub with a lot of locals calling in for an early afternoon drink and the atmosphere was very friendly. However, there was a funny smell which was a bit like sweaty feet/bodies which put me off a bit!
Keith had a pint while I sipped on a tall glass of orange and lemonade and we didn't bother to look at the menu as I knew that we wouldn't be coming back with the children. When we left the weather was truly horrible and all I wanted to do was go home, put the heating on full and curl up on the sofa while watching the very excellent Bridge III. So, that's what we did, and very enjoyable it was too!
Sophie called me towards the evening and said she wouldn't be ready until 7pm as the place was in such a mess. They had been really busy with parties at lunchtime as well, so she was feeling very stressed and tired. I ventured out into the storm and the rain was torrential with some of the roads covered in standing water. Sophie emerged from the building and said that Polly and another woman were having to stay for longer as there was so much mess. I was going to give Polly a lift home so I dread to think how she eventually got home.
It was bliss to get home and relax before Keith's delicious beef pie!
In the afternoon Keith and I went out in the car to look for a suitable pub for lunch on New Year's Day. We went to The Kings Head in Spratton, somewhere I can't recall ever visiting, but Keith was sure we went in many years ago.
It had been revamped as a "Gastro" pub and was very posh looking. There were a few people eating in what they called Brasserie 23 (i.e. the pub restaurant) but no-one behind the bar, only a young girl rushing about looking very harried. We waited to be served and she eventually made her way back behind the bar looking stressed and rushed. I chose half a pint of a winter ale called Chilly Dog, which, when she pulled it, immediately looked flat and unappetising. We asked for the menu which was pretty reasonable but we decided against booking a table and left to go to The Chequers in Ravensthorpe which was about ten minutes away.
By now the rain had started in earnest again and it was cold and windy. What a horrible day! We parked the car but couldn't find our way in to the pub! Not a good start! I remembered visiting this pub a long, long time ago and inside it looked as if nothing had changed. The Chequers was much more of a traditional pub with a lot of locals calling in for an early afternoon drink and the atmosphere was very friendly. However, there was a funny smell which was a bit like sweaty feet/bodies which put me off a bit!
Keith had a pint while I sipped on a tall glass of orange and lemonade and we didn't bother to look at the menu as I knew that we wouldn't be coming back with the children. When we left the weather was truly horrible and all I wanted to do was go home, put the heating on full and curl up on the sofa while watching the very excellent Bridge III. So, that's what we did, and very enjoyable it was too!
Sophie called me towards the evening and said she wouldn't be ready until 7pm as the place was in such a mess. They had been really busy with parties at lunchtime as well, so she was feeling very stressed and tired. I ventured out into the storm and the rain was torrential with some of the roads covered in standing water. Sophie emerged from the building and said that Polly and another woman were having to stay for longer as there was so much mess. I was going to give Polly a lift home so I dread to think how she eventually got home.
It was bliss to get home and relax before Keith's delicious beef pie!
Tuesday, 29 December 2015
Taxi duties!
It was back off to Tesco's again today as we needed to get food for the rest of the week. Sophie was back at work, at 9am, which was a bit early!
Luckily the supermarket wasn't too busy so we were all done and home by 11am. Mum and Dad popped around in the afternoon to pick up a parcel that had been delivered to their old house...the new owner had brought it around this morning which was very good of her.
Mum and Dad said that they were finding this non-working lark a bit hard...they don't really like being in their rented house at the moment as it's so small and had been to Ikea on Monday to try and get a small table where they could sit and eat their meals. They only have a tiny kitchen and a small living room downstairs. I said that when I dropped Sophie off this morning I had a twinge of missing the place...that was until Polly came out and said that they hadn't many staff coming in and five parties...maybe not then!
We also had the heating engineer come out today to fix our hot water problem. The water has been scalding hot as it won't turn off so he managed to fix it for us and gave our boiler a service at the same time. The temperatures are still very mild so we only have the heating on for a couple of hours in the evening to take the chill off.
Storm Frank is set to hit the UK tomorrow, bringing even more rainfall to places in the North-West and Scotland that have already flooded. Today has been very sunny but that's all set to change tomorrow!
After we collected Sophie from work we dropped Mike off at Heather's house as she was having a "gathering." It meant Keith and I had to go back out at 11pm to pick him up again...the taxi duties have started again in earnest!
Luckily the supermarket wasn't too busy so we were all done and home by 11am. Mum and Dad popped around in the afternoon to pick up a parcel that had been delivered to their old house...the new owner had brought it around this morning which was very good of her.
Mum and Dad said that they were finding this non-working lark a bit hard...they don't really like being in their rented house at the moment as it's so small and had been to Ikea on Monday to try and get a small table where they could sit and eat their meals. They only have a tiny kitchen and a small living room downstairs. I said that when I dropped Sophie off this morning I had a twinge of missing the place...that was until Polly came out and said that they hadn't many staff coming in and five parties...maybe not then!
We also had the heating engineer come out today to fix our hot water problem. The water has been scalding hot as it won't turn off so he managed to fix it for us and gave our boiler a service at the same time. The temperatures are still very mild so we only have the heating on for a couple of hours in the evening to take the chill off.
Storm Frank is set to hit the UK tomorrow, bringing even more rainfall to places in the North-West and Scotland that have already flooded. Today has been very sunny but that's all set to change tomorrow!
After we collected Sophie from work we dropped Mike off at Heather's house as she was having a "gathering." It meant Keith and I had to go back out at 11pm to pick him up again...the taxi duties have started again in earnest!
Monday, 28 December 2015
A spot of shopping
It's a Bank Holiday today as Boxing Day fell on Saturday. It was lovely to get up and mooch about with not much to do and Sophie took today off work, which was lovely.
We went to Market Harborough at midday and we were expecting it to be busy, but the car parks were almost empty. Our first stop was for lunch and I suggested to Sophie that we go somewhere different for a change. I wish we hadn't!
We chose a cafe called Louisa's Place, just off the main street which looked promising. We sat at a table, not sure whether to go up to the counter and order, but after quite a wait a waitress appeared and took our order for drinks. She then came back and asked if we wanted anything to eat. I foolishly chose a red onion and goat's cheese tart while Sophie sensibly went for a Chicken Club sandwich.
The cafe wasn't busy but it took quite a time for our food to be prepared and there was a strong smell of burning at one point! I could see Sophie's sandwich sitting on the counter and eventually my tart joined it.
I was disappointed, to be honest. The tart was tiny and one side was burned and it didn't look at all how I expected a goat's cheese tart to look! It was accompanied by a salad garnish and some crisps and I finished it in about two seconds flat.
Sophie's sandwich, on the other hand, was huge! Three thick slices of toasted bread crammed with tomatoes (she gave them to me), chicken and bacon. She gamely battled through it but in the end she gave half a sandwich to me which went down well as I was still hungry!
To make matters worse some sort of flying insect landed in my hair which was horrible! I have no idea what it was but I couldn't get out of there fast enough and I don't think we'll be back!
After lunch we had a mooch about and Sophie bought a lovely pair of fluffy slippers in Accessorize to go with her new lounge-about suit. We went home at about 3pm to find the house empty as Keith had gone to see a football match and Mike was in town with his mates. We kept thinking that today was Saturday!
We went to Market Harborough at midday and we were expecting it to be busy, but the car parks were almost empty. Our first stop was for lunch and I suggested to Sophie that we go somewhere different for a change. I wish we hadn't!
We chose a cafe called Louisa's Place, just off the main street which looked promising. We sat at a table, not sure whether to go up to the counter and order, but after quite a wait a waitress appeared and took our order for drinks. She then came back and asked if we wanted anything to eat. I foolishly chose a red onion and goat's cheese tart while Sophie sensibly went for a Chicken Club sandwich.
The cafe wasn't busy but it took quite a time for our food to be prepared and there was a strong smell of burning at one point! I could see Sophie's sandwich sitting on the counter and eventually my tart joined it.
I was disappointed, to be honest. The tart was tiny and one side was burned and it didn't look at all how I expected a goat's cheese tart to look! It was accompanied by a salad garnish and some crisps and I finished it in about two seconds flat.
Sophie's sandwich, on the other hand, was huge! Three thick slices of toasted bread crammed with tomatoes (she gave them to me), chicken and bacon. She gamely battled through it but in the end she gave half a sandwich to me which went down well as I was still hungry!
To make matters worse some sort of flying insect landed in my hair which was horrible! I have no idea what it was but I couldn't get out of there fast enough and I don't think we'll be back!
After lunch we had a mooch about and Sophie bought a lovely pair of fluffy slippers in Accessorize to go with her new lounge-about suit. We went home at about 3pm to find the house empty as Keith had gone to see a football match and Mike was in town with his mates. We kept thinking that today was Saturday!
Sunday, 27 December 2015
Quiet Sunday...
We've had a very quiet day today, with not a lot happening! We took Sophie into work at 9.30am as she is assistant cook at the moment, something she's not really happy about!
After dropping Sophie off we drove over to Kettering as we needed some shopping. Today has been horrible weather with grey skies and lots of rain, so not a pleasant day to be carrying bags of shopping to and from the car!
No sooner had we arrived home than it was time to go out again, this time with Mikey who was off to see his girlfriend in Moulton. I certainly didn't miss all this ferrying around when we were in Berlin!
After dropping Sophie off we drove over to Kettering as we needed some shopping. Today has been horrible weather with grey skies and lots of rain, so not a pleasant day to be carrying bags of shopping to and from the car!
No sooner had we arrived home than it was time to go out again, this time with Mikey who was off to see his girlfriend in Moulton. I certainly didn't miss all this ferrying around when we were in Berlin!
Saturday, 26 December 2015
Boxing Day panto
We all had a bit of a lie-in today and it was great to not have to rush around first thing this morning. Keith, Sophie and I drove to a nearby shop to buy some bread, eggs and the newspaper and then it was home to make breakfast and relax.
I spent most of the day writing up my blog which is always like living the days over again. In the afternoon I went and had a bath as Sophie and I were out in the evening to see Cinderella at the Derngate Theatre in town.
We picked Mum and Dad up at 3.30pm and managed to park really easily in the multi-storey car park. We were a bit early so we had a couple of drinks and watched everyone arrive. There were a lot of people wearing jazzy Christmas jumpers!
The pantomime was good but I felt it was lacking in glitz and glamour. It certainly wasn't as good as last year's performance and the noise level was far too high. Prince Charming was John Partridge who I'd never heard of but apparently he was in Eastenders?
Anyway, we were out and home by 8pm and dining on Christmas Day leftovers, which is always a delicious meal!
I spent most of the day writing up my blog which is always like living the days over again. In the afternoon I went and had a bath as Sophie and I were out in the evening to see Cinderella at the Derngate Theatre in town.
We picked Mum and Dad up at 3.30pm and managed to park really easily in the multi-storey car park. We were a bit early so we had a couple of drinks and watched everyone arrive. There were a lot of people wearing jazzy Christmas jumpers!
The pantomime was good but I felt it was lacking in glitz and glamour. It certainly wasn't as good as last year's performance and the noise level was far too high. Prince Charming was John Partridge who I'd never heard of but apparently he was in Eastenders?
Anyway, we were out and home by 8pm and dining on Christmas Day leftovers, which is always a delicious meal!
Friday, 25 December 2015
Christmas Day
Well, it's been a lovely and very relaxing Christmas Day, much better than last year!
Keith and I were up fairly early and the children were awake by 8.30am. It was great to see them open their presents and they were both delighted with the stockings I'd filled for them. I do think they like these more than their main presents! I gave Keith and Mike money this year after the fiasco of last Christmas so they can both go out and spend the money on whatever they want. Sophie was thrilled with her lovely comfy pyjamas and her perfume.
I was also exceedingly happy with my Grey Goose vodka (now I know why Keith treated me to a glass in Berlin!) and a bottle of malt whisky. Anyone would think I liked a drink or two!
After clearing up I took Mike to Heather's house for a short while and Sophie and I went to see Mum and Dad to take them their gifts from Berlin. They were nicely chilled out and relaxed too, so after a quick glass of bubbly we said goodbye and looked forward to them coming over for dinner later in the day.
The weather has been horrible today with rain and winds so not the ideal choice for Christmas Day! As we neared home we saw Keith walking to the pub and I said I would collect him at 1pm. Back at home Sophie set the table while I tidied up and hoovered and then it was time to pick up Keith. I took my purse with me as I'd forgotten to buy a bottle of sparkling wine as an aperitif and I asked Ian in the pub if I could buy a bottle of Prosecco from him. He gladly obliged but said he would take the money the next time we were in, which was lovely of him.
The afternoon was spent relaxing and then it was time to get ready and put the turkey in the oven. Mum and Dad arrived at 5pm laden down with more presents which made the children very happy indeed! We spent a good half hour opening them all and watching The Sleigh Ride in the background. The scenery looked so beautiful.
Dinner went very well and Keith cooked it all on his own, bless him. It was really only a bit stressful as we dished up but Sue had lent me her hot plates so we were able to put food in dishes to keep warm. I asked everyone to help themselves to the meal in the kitchen as there was no way we could have put all the dishes on our table!
It all worked out really well and the food was delicious. Keith has also prepared brussels sprouts wrapped in bacon and dates in bacon and they were lovely. After the meal Sophie and I washed up and cleared away and then it was time to watch the last episode of Downton Abbey. Mid way through the programme we enjoyed a generous helping of Christmas pudding served with Brandy cream. Yum!
Mum and Dad left at 11pm and I finished clearing away before sitting down to relax. Phew! Another one over!
Keith and I were up fairly early and the children were awake by 8.30am. It was great to see them open their presents and they were both delighted with the stockings I'd filled for them. I do think they like these more than their main presents! I gave Keith and Mike money this year after the fiasco of last Christmas so they can both go out and spend the money on whatever they want. Sophie was thrilled with her lovely comfy pyjamas and her perfume.
I was also exceedingly happy with my Grey Goose vodka (now I know why Keith treated me to a glass in Berlin!) and a bottle of malt whisky. Anyone would think I liked a drink or two!
After clearing up I took Mike to Heather's house for a short while and Sophie and I went to see Mum and Dad to take them their gifts from Berlin. They were nicely chilled out and relaxed too, so after a quick glass of bubbly we said goodbye and looked forward to them coming over for dinner later in the day.
The weather has been horrible today with rain and winds so not the ideal choice for Christmas Day! As we neared home we saw Keith walking to the pub and I said I would collect him at 1pm. Back at home Sophie set the table while I tidied up and hoovered and then it was time to pick up Keith. I took my purse with me as I'd forgotten to buy a bottle of sparkling wine as an aperitif and I asked Ian in the pub if I could buy a bottle of Prosecco from him. He gladly obliged but said he would take the money the next time we were in, which was lovely of him.
The afternoon was spent relaxing and then it was time to get ready and put the turkey in the oven. Mum and Dad arrived at 5pm laden down with more presents which made the children very happy indeed! We spent a good half hour opening them all and watching The Sleigh Ride in the background. The scenery looked so beautiful.
Dinner went very well and Keith cooked it all on his own, bless him. It was really only a bit stressful as we dished up but Sue had lent me her hot plates so we were able to put food in dishes to keep warm. I asked everyone to help themselves to the meal in the kitchen as there was no way we could have put all the dishes on our table!
It all worked out really well and the food was delicious. Keith has also prepared brussels sprouts wrapped in bacon and dates in bacon and they were lovely. After the meal Sophie and I washed up and cleared away and then it was time to watch the last episode of Downton Abbey. Mid way through the programme we enjoyed a generous helping of Christmas pudding served with Brandy cream. Yum!
Mum and Dad left at 11pm and I finished clearing away before sitting down to relax. Phew! Another one over!
It's Christmas!
Merry Christmas! We arrived back from Berlin last night at 8pm and today has been taken up so far with preparing for my parents coming over tonight for Christmas dinner (and doing lots of laundry!).
I'd like to wish everyone who takes the time to read my blog a fantastic Christmas and I'll be writing about our Berlin adventures over the next few days.
Cheers!
I'd like to wish everyone who takes the time to read my blog a fantastic Christmas and I'll be writing about our Berlin adventures over the next few days.
Cheers!
Thursday, 24 December 2015
Pre-Christmas in Berlin 21-24 December
Buffet Breakfast and a new friend
We were all up early and by 9.30am we had checked out of the hotel but had left our luggage with them. We headed out for breakfast but a lot of cafes and restaurants were closed as it was Christmas Eve.
We kept on walking through the Nikolai quarter and over to Alexanderplatz. I suggested we have breakfast in the TV Tower but the queues to get in were very long so we headed for the Galeria Kaufhof instead. They have a restaurant on the fifth floor and were doing an "All you can eat" buffet breakfast for a very reasonable 10 euros.
There were loads of choices on offer, from cooked foods to cold meats, fruit and pastries. We loaded up our plates and I had a cup of delicious coffee. After we finished I spotted a lovely little Father Christmas and just had to have him! He was only five euros!
We called him Herr Hair because at the start of our trip Mike said he had a hair stuck in his throat and it was really bothering him. He kept making lots of gurgly throat noises and every so often we'd ask about the hair and whether he'd managed to cough it up. It turned into a bit of a joke and we asked him whether he had a passport for the hair and if we could stick it into Sophie's journal when he eventually got rid of it! Anyway, we now have Herr Hair and he can join the other Father Christmasses I have in the living room!
The store was getting busy so we left and wandered back over to the Nikolaiviertal to have a look in the shops.
From there we went down to the river to look at how the Humboldt forum was getting on. We walked along a narrow path by the river where there was a display of National Geographic photos. Some nasty person had cut a lot of them out so there were gaps in the display.
Walking along the path was the only time I felt a bit wary in Berlin. Behind us were a group of men who were talking really loudly and I just had the feeling they were up to no good. As there was nowhere for us to go and nobody else on the walkway I felt a little twinge of fear. However, they went on their way and just ignored us so that was a relief!
Outside the Berliner Dom it was very busy and the little cafe that Sophie and I visited last year for macaroons and hot chocolate was closed. Several dodgy characters were setting up betting games so we gave them a wide berth and headed back across the river. The works going on here were extensive and were for the new underground line but they blighted this part of the Unter Den Linden which is very beautiful.
We eventually reached the hotel and ordered a taxi. We couldn't face the train stations so had decided to get a taxi as a treat. The driver arrived and we had a blissful journey to the airport in a beautifully quiet and clean car.
Homeward bound
We were very early so we found comfortable seats in a small cafe and whiled away the time by watching the comings and goings outside the airport and having a couple of drinks. Herr Hair enjoyed himself...
It was soon time to drop off our suitcase which was easy and straightforward and then we all went through to departures. I made a beeline for the Duty Free shop and bought some chocolates for Mum, a bottle of German red wine for my Dad and a bottle of Black Bush whisky as a treat for Keith.
We didn't have long before it was time to go to the gate and board. I had hoped that the flight would be quiet as the airport itself was not busy but it was not to be and there was the usual scrum to get on board despite EasyJet now allocating seats at check-in.
We had a great flight home and were soon on the bus to the Long Term parking, It only seemed like two minutes since we were here on Monday! After a minor glitch to get out (we were told we owed £84 even though we'd pre-paid) we were soon on the M1 and heading home.
We were hoping that the Chinese van was in the village but we were disappointed so we drove on to Kettering and ordered a take-away from the Wok In. It wasn't the best Chinese we've ever had but it did its job and we spent the rest of the evening relaxing and resting after our busy day!
We were all up early and by 9.30am we had checked out of the hotel but had left our luggage with them. We headed out for breakfast but a lot of cafes and restaurants were closed as it was Christmas Eve.
We kept on walking through the Nikolai quarter and over to Alexanderplatz. I suggested we have breakfast in the TV Tower but the queues to get in were very long so we headed for the Galeria Kaufhof instead. They have a restaurant on the fifth floor and were doing an "All you can eat" buffet breakfast for a very reasonable 10 euros.
There were loads of choices on offer, from cooked foods to cold meats, fruit and pastries. We loaded up our plates and I had a cup of delicious coffee. After we finished I spotted a lovely little Father Christmas and just had to have him! He was only five euros!
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| Herr Hair |
We called him Herr Hair because at the start of our trip Mike said he had a hair stuck in his throat and it was really bothering him. He kept making lots of gurgly throat noises and every so often we'd ask about the hair and whether he'd managed to cough it up. It turned into a bit of a joke and we asked him whether he had a passport for the hair and if we could stick it into Sophie's journal when he eventually got rid of it! Anyway, we now have Herr Hair and he can join the other Father Christmasses I have in the living room!
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| Alexanderplatz |
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| Rotes Rathaus and the building works for the new underground line |
The store was getting busy so we left and wandered back over to the Nikolaiviertal to have a look in the shops.
From there we went down to the river to look at how the Humboldt forum was getting on. We walked along a narrow path by the river where there was a display of National Geographic photos. Some nasty person had cut a lot of them out so there were gaps in the display.
Walking along the path was the only time I felt a bit wary in Berlin. Behind us were a group of men who were talking really loudly and I just had the feeling they were up to no good. As there was nowhere for us to go and nobody else on the walkway I felt a little twinge of fear. However, they went on their way and just ignored us so that was a relief!
Outside the Berliner Dom it was very busy and the little cafe that Sophie and I visited last year for macaroons and hot chocolate was closed. Several dodgy characters were setting up betting games so we gave them a wide berth and headed back across the river. The works going on here were extensive and were for the new underground line but they blighted this part of the Unter Den Linden which is very beautiful.
We eventually reached the hotel and ordered a taxi. We couldn't face the train stations so had decided to get a taxi as a treat. The driver arrived and we had a blissful journey to the airport in a beautifully quiet and clean car.
Homeward bound
We were very early so we found comfortable seats in a small cafe and whiled away the time by watching the comings and goings outside the airport and having a couple of drinks. Herr Hair enjoyed himself...
It was soon time to drop off our suitcase which was easy and straightforward and then we all went through to departures. I made a beeline for the Duty Free shop and bought some chocolates for Mum, a bottle of German red wine for my Dad and a bottle of Black Bush whisky as a treat for Keith.
We didn't have long before it was time to go to the gate and board. I had hoped that the flight would be quiet as the airport itself was not busy but it was not to be and there was the usual scrum to get on board despite EasyJet now allocating seats at check-in.
We had a great flight home and were soon on the bus to the Long Term parking, It only seemed like two minutes since we were here on Monday! After a minor glitch to get out (we were told we owed £84 even though we'd pre-paid) we were soon on the M1 and heading home.
We were hoping that the Chinese van was in the village but we were disappointed so we drove on to Kettering and ordered a take-away from the Wok In. It wasn't the best Chinese we've ever had but it did its job and we spent the rest of the evening relaxing and resting after our busy day!
Wednesday, 23 December 2015
Pre-Christmas in Berlin 21-24 December
Treptower Park
I had a slightly better night's sleep and we were all up and out by 9.30am. I had a great cup of coffee (with fresh milk) and we snacked on biscuits for breakfast as we wanted to have lunch at one of the Christmas markets.
This morning we decided to visit the Russian memorial in Treptower Park as Mike had never been. As usual we had difficulty taking the right train to the station we needed but we found our way in the end.
(For future reference: Take the U5 line to Frankfurter Allee, then change to the S-Bahn for a line that stops at Treptower Park!)
By now the sun was shining and it looked to be a lovely, and still very mild, day. We emerged from the station and walked through the park where a lot of building work was going on. I do wonder what will happen when all the current works in Berlin finish...will they start all over again?
We crossed the road and made our way under the arch that heralds the start of the memorial. Mike and Keith went ahead to have a look and then Sophie joined them at the huge statue of a man carrying a child and trampling over the swastika.
As is always the case, the memorial was very quiet and we only saw a couple more tourists the whole time we were there. Mikey was impressed with the statues and took lots of photos on his iPod.
On the buses
We walked back to the station along the road and came across a bus stop. We've never really used the buses in Berlin but we decided to travel on the 165 route that took us right back to our hotel. We had to wait a few minutes but it was certainly easier than negotiating the hundreds of steps and different stations if we'd taken the train. The journey wasn't long but it was great to sit back and look out of the window and we saw the last remaining watchtower in Berlin, a site Keith and I had walked to from Treptower Park a few years ago.
Back at Markisches Museum we took the U2 to Potsdamer Platz and visited the Christmas market there. I treated the children to currywurst which was very good indeed. We had a brown roll and a tray of chopped up sausage covered with a mixture of curry sauce and ketchup. Yum! Keith bought himself a portion of french fries and then treated himself to some marzipan.
We wandered through the market and the kids bought some lovely little leather-bound journals from one of the cabins. Sophie saw a scarf she liked but it was 40 euros!
From Potsdamer Platz we strolled over to the Brandenburg Gate which was busy with tourists. We walked past the Reichstag and sat down on a bench nearby to have a rest. My feet were very weary by now but underground stations were few and far between. There is a huge amount of building work going on at the moment to extend the U-Bahn line between the Brandenburg Gate and Alexanderplatz and I will be mightily glad when it's finished as it means we could get a train straight back to our hotel without having to go via the main train station, the Hauptbahnhof.
While we were sitting in the gorgeous sunshine we fed a whole crowd of sparrows with Keith's marzipan and then some crows got in on the action!
Christmas shopping
Having enjoyed a little rest we went into the Brandenburger Tor to take the U55 line which only runs between three stations. However, work is now underway to link this up with the U5 line but I've just read it won't be finished until 2020! We got off the train at the mega busy Hauptbahnhof and saw that a lot of people were on the move for Christmas. We got a little confused here as we needed to get the S-Bahn to Alexanderplatz and we managed to race up and down different escalators in an attempt to catch the next train. One platform was for the Munich train so we were glad we didn't get on that one!
We finally got onto a crowded train bound for some unknown German town but which stopped at Alexanderplatz. It was hot and busy and my feet were killing me so once off the train we stopped for a drink at the small self-service restaurant where we sometimes have lunch. We sat with our beers and enjoyed a well-earned rest!
Our next stop was the Galeria Kaufhof where some serious Christmas shopping was taking place. The frenzy had caught up with us! Mike went off on his own to do some shopping, Keith went and found a quiet place to sit while Sophie and I went up to the fifth floor for some retail therapy. We found a lovely silver metal heart and a sweet decoration for the conservatory tree.
Back down on the ground floor we fought our way into the food and drink hall but it was so busy and so full of people that we gave up looking for anything. Keith kept appearing and had followed us from one of the upper floors. I'm glad he saw us as I was on the brink of buying him a bottle of beer for the astronomical price of 10 euros...and it was an English beer! He told me not to be so silly so we left this part of the shop empty-handed!
Sophie went to the Mac counter and while she was looking at lipsticks I had a wander over to the handbag section as I thought it would be nice to get a new bag. The first one I picked up was 1,250 euros so I rapidly put it back down again and returned to my daughter!
Outside there was yet another Christmas market taking place and Mike went off to do some shopping. Sophie and I waited for him while Keith disappeared to use the facilities of Alexanderplatz station. As usual I was on high alert for weirdos as this area is not my favourite place to be and is usually full of beggars, homeless people and some very suspect characters. Near to us was an obviously drunk man falling asleep while eating a sausage in a roll...
I was very glad when the menfolk arrived back and we made our way down to the U-Bahn for the train home. On the way we stopped at a little station cafe and enjoyed a pretzel (Sophie), ice-cream (me), a chicken wrap (Mike) and a coffee (Keith).
Back at the hotel it was time for a hot bath and a nap!
Saved by the Italians
Tonight wasn't the most successful of evenings! One of the things that Keith likes doing is going for a quiet drink by himself while I finish getting ready. As the hotel bar was closed I suggested he go to the "pub" opposite our hotel which is located under a huge block of flats. On our first visit to Berlin back in 2006 this was a lovely little bar and restaurant but was closed last year. It looked like it had re-opened so he said he'd go and look while I finished dressing.
We all met up in the hotel lobby and Keith said he had a treat for us. Instead of turning right outside the hotel we went straight on down Wallstrasse to the Park Plaza hotel. He'd been in for a drink and was impressed with the bar so he decided to surprise us. He ordered a Grey Goose vodka and Fever Tree tonic for me, a Mojito for Sophie and a Jack Daniels for Mike (naughty). He also had a small beer for himself (I dread to think how much the bill was!).
There was no-one else in the bar which was situated right at the front of the hotel and looked out over the quiet street. The bar was long and lit with different coloured lights and was very pretty and relaxing. We sat on comfy chairs and our drinks were brought to us by the bartender.
My drink was OK, but the taste of the vodka (I'd never tried Grey Goose before) was overwhelmed by Elderflower tonic and not the Fever Tree that's my favourite. Sophie's Mojito was also OK, but I don't think she enjoyed it as much as the ones I make her at home. Mike certainly enjoyed his Jack Daniels, though!
We are thinking seriously of staying here on our next visit as the hotel looked lovely and was in the same price bracket as the Grosser Kurfurst. Along with our drinks we were served a bowl of crispy breads which were delicious.
Tonight we planned to eat at what we called the "booby" restaurant, so named because of the first floor windows that look like...boobs! It used to be a Chinese restaurant but had changed hands and the menu looked good and was now called Schwalbennest.
The restaurant was virtually deserted with only two other tables occupied. We sat down by the window and had a look at the dishes on offer while sipping on drinks. We decided to skip starters and I chose the chicken on skewers served with potatoes and salad while Keith, Mike and Sophie opted for the pork ribs. I don't think our waiter quite understood Keith when he ordered our main courses as he thought that we wanted one dish for all three! We made sure he understood and ordered a sharing platter to nibble on while we waited for our dinner.
Unfortunately the sharing platter never arrived but our main course food was good. My chicken was lovely and Keith said he really enjoyed his ribs. We looked forward to having a dessert but the waiter cleared away our plates and didn't ask about puddings. By now we were a little fed up with the service so we called for the bill and decided to go to the Christmas market for crepes.
However, on the way there I said I couldn't walk any more as my legs were really tired and achy. I'm such a wimp! We turned back and went to the open air cinema to get some crepes there, but they had sold out. The children weren't very happy with me but luckily Keith spotted desserts on the menu at an Italian restaurant called Salino and the proprietor, standing outside having a cigarette, was happy to accommodate us.
Inside it was lovely and cosy and warm. People were finishing their dinners (it was about 9pm by now) and we ordered profiteroles, panna cotta and tiramisu. Keith enjoyed a glass of Merlot while Sophie sipped on a glass of wine. Our desserts were delicious and the proprietor really friendly and welcoming. Keith and I had been here before when we popped in for a drink before flying home and I'm sure in the future we will be back to enjoy a meal.
Back at the hotel it was certainly time for bed. It's Christmas Eve tomorrow!
I had a slightly better night's sleep and we were all up and out by 9.30am. I had a great cup of coffee (with fresh milk) and we snacked on biscuits for breakfast as we wanted to have lunch at one of the Christmas markets.
This morning we decided to visit the Russian memorial in Treptower Park as Mike had never been. As usual we had difficulty taking the right train to the station we needed but we found our way in the end.
(For future reference: Take the U5 line to Frankfurter Allee, then change to the S-Bahn for a line that stops at Treptower Park!)
By now the sun was shining and it looked to be a lovely, and still very mild, day. We emerged from the station and walked through the park where a lot of building work was going on. I do wonder what will happen when all the current works in Berlin finish...will they start all over again?
We crossed the road and made our way under the arch that heralds the start of the memorial. Mike and Keith went ahead to have a look and then Sophie joined them at the huge statue of a man carrying a child and trampling over the swastika.
As is always the case, the memorial was very quiet and we only saw a couple more tourists the whole time we were there. Mikey was impressed with the statues and took lots of photos on his iPod.
On the buses
We walked back to the station along the road and came across a bus stop. We've never really used the buses in Berlin but we decided to travel on the 165 route that took us right back to our hotel. We had to wait a few minutes but it was certainly easier than negotiating the hundreds of steps and different stations if we'd taken the train. The journey wasn't long but it was great to sit back and look out of the window and we saw the last remaining watchtower in Berlin, a site Keith and I had walked to from Treptower Park a few years ago.
Back at Markisches Museum we took the U2 to Potsdamer Platz and visited the Christmas market there. I treated the children to currywurst which was very good indeed. We had a brown roll and a tray of chopped up sausage covered with a mixture of curry sauce and ketchup. Yum! Keith bought himself a portion of french fries and then treated himself to some marzipan.
We wandered through the market and the kids bought some lovely little leather-bound journals from one of the cabins. Sophie saw a scarf she liked but it was 40 euros!
From Potsdamer Platz we strolled over to the Brandenburg Gate which was busy with tourists. We walked past the Reichstag and sat down on a bench nearby to have a rest. My feet were very weary by now but underground stations were few and far between. There is a huge amount of building work going on at the moment to extend the U-Bahn line between the Brandenburg Gate and Alexanderplatz and I will be mightily glad when it's finished as it means we could get a train straight back to our hotel without having to go via the main train station, the Hauptbahnhof.
While we were sitting in the gorgeous sunshine we fed a whole crowd of sparrows with Keith's marzipan and then some crows got in on the action!
Christmas shopping
Having enjoyed a little rest we went into the Brandenburger Tor to take the U55 line which only runs between three stations. However, work is now underway to link this up with the U5 line but I've just read it won't be finished until 2020! We got off the train at the mega busy Hauptbahnhof and saw that a lot of people were on the move for Christmas. We got a little confused here as we needed to get the S-Bahn to Alexanderplatz and we managed to race up and down different escalators in an attempt to catch the next train. One platform was for the Munich train so we were glad we didn't get on that one!
We finally got onto a crowded train bound for some unknown German town but which stopped at Alexanderplatz. It was hot and busy and my feet were killing me so once off the train we stopped for a drink at the small self-service restaurant where we sometimes have lunch. We sat with our beers and enjoyed a well-earned rest!
Our next stop was the Galeria Kaufhof where some serious Christmas shopping was taking place. The frenzy had caught up with us! Mike went off on his own to do some shopping, Keith went and found a quiet place to sit while Sophie and I went up to the fifth floor for some retail therapy. We found a lovely silver metal heart and a sweet decoration for the conservatory tree.
Back down on the ground floor we fought our way into the food and drink hall but it was so busy and so full of people that we gave up looking for anything. Keith kept appearing and had followed us from one of the upper floors. I'm glad he saw us as I was on the brink of buying him a bottle of beer for the astronomical price of 10 euros...and it was an English beer! He told me not to be so silly so we left this part of the shop empty-handed!
Sophie went to the Mac counter and while she was looking at lipsticks I had a wander over to the handbag section as I thought it would be nice to get a new bag. The first one I picked up was 1,250 euros so I rapidly put it back down again and returned to my daughter!
Outside there was yet another Christmas market taking place and Mike went off to do some shopping. Sophie and I waited for him while Keith disappeared to use the facilities of Alexanderplatz station. As usual I was on high alert for weirdos as this area is not my favourite place to be and is usually full of beggars, homeless people and some very suspect characters. Near to us was an obviously drunk man falling asleep while eating a sausage in a roll...
I was very glad when the menfolk arrived back and we made our way down to the U-Bahn for the train home. On the way we stopped at a little station cafe and enjoyed a pretzel (Sophie), ice-cream (me), a chicken wrap (Mike) and a coffee (Keith).
Back at the hotel it was time for a hot bath and a nap!
Saved by the Italians
Tonight wasn't the most successful of evenings! One of the things that Keith likes doing is going for a quiet drink by himself while I finish getting ready. As the hotel bar was closed I suggested he go to the "pub" opposite our hotel which is located under a huge block of flats. On our first visit to Berlin back in 2006 this was a lovely little bar and restaurant but was closed last year. It looked like it had re-opened so he said he'd go and look while I finished dressing.
We all met up in the hotel lobby and Keith said he had a treat for us. Instead of turning right outside the hotel we went straight on down Wallstrasse to the Park Plaza hotel. He'd been in for a drink and was impressed with the bar so he decided to surprise us. He ordered a Grey Goose vodka and Fever Tree tonic for me, a Mojito for Sophie and a Jack Daniels for Mike (naughty). He also had a small beer for himself (I dread to think how much the bill was!).
There was no-one else in the bar which was situated right at the front of the hotel and looked out over the quiet street. The bar was long and lit with different coloured lights and was very pretty and relaxing. We sat on comfy chairs and our drinks were brought to us by the bartender.
My drink was OK, but the taste of the vodka (I'd never tried Grey Goose before) was overwhelmed by Elderflower tonic and not the Fever Tree that's my favourite. Sophie's Mojito was also OK, but I don't think she enjoyed it as much as the ones I make her at home. Mike certainly enjoyed his Jack Daniels, though!
We are thinking seriously of staying here on our next visit as the hotel looked lovely and was in the same price bracket as the Grosser Kurfurst. Along with our drinks we were served a bowl of crispy breads which were delicious.
Tonight we planned to eat at what we called the "booby" restaurant, so named because of the first floor windows that look like...boobs! It used to be a Chinese restaurant but had changed hands and the menu looked good and was now called Schwalbennest.
The restaurant was virtually deserted with only two other tables occupied. We sat down by the window and had a look at the dishes on offer while sipping on drinks. We decided to skip starters and I chose the chicken on skewers served with potatoes and salad while Keith, Mike and Sophie opted for the pork ribs. I don't think our waiter quite understood Keith when he ordered our main courses as he thought that we wanted one dish for all three! We made sure he understood and ordered a sharing platter to nibble on while we waited for our dinner.
Unfortunately the sharing platter never arrived but our main course food was good. My chicken was lovely and Keith said he really enjoyed his ribs. We looked forward to having a dessert but the waiter cleared away our plates and didn't ask about puddings. By now we were a little fed up with the service so we called for the bill and decided to go to the Christmas market for crepes.
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| Reinhard's restaurant |
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| Nikolaiviertal street scene |
However, on the way there I said I couldn't walk any more as my legs were really tired and achy. I'm such a wimp! We turned back and went to the open air cinema to get some crepes there, but they had sold out. The children weren't very happy with me but luckily Keith spotted desserts on the menu at an Italian restaurant called Salino and the proprietor, standing outside having a cigarette, was happy to accommodate us.
Inside it was lovely and cosy and warm. People were finishing their dinners (it was about 9pm by now) and we ordered profiteroles, panna cotta and tiramisu. Keith enjoyed a glass of Merlot while Sophie sipped on a glass of wine. Our desserts were delicious and the proprietor really friendly and welcoming. Keith and I had been here before when we popped in for a drink before flying home and I'm sure in the future we will be back to enjoy a meal.
Back at the hotel it was certainly time for bed. It's Christmas Eve tomorrow!
Tuesday, 22 December 2015
Pre-Christmas in Berlin 21-24 December
First things first...breakfast!
I had a cup of coffee but there was only one tiny carton of milk left so I could see us making a trip to a nearby supermarket today to buy some more! Once we were all ready we took the U2 to Alexanderplatz in search of breakfast. Sophie and I suggested going to the Hackescher Hof cafe where we enjoyed a cup of hot chocolate last year and luckily we found it straight away as I could hear grumblings from Keith about having to walk so far!
Sophie, Mike and I had the full English while Keith settled for two croissants and jam which was good as he was given Mike's two eggs. The service was very friendly and polite and it was a great way to start the day. The coffee was beautifully hot and strong, so perfect!
A bit of sightseeing
After breakfast we explored the courtyards and tried to find the weird bar we saw a few visits back. Sophie managed to avoid the Mac shop, saying it was tradition to buy the make-up at the Galeria department store.
We took a leisurely stroll back to Alexanderplatz and then walked back to the hotel through the Nikolai quarter. Sophie and I went into a beautiful Christmas shop and bought a new carved wooden decoration for our living room tree. There were some gorgeous decorations in there, with prices to match!
We went into a supermarket and bought some biscuits and milk and a roll of sellotape for Sophie as she was keeping a journal. Back at the hotel we stowed everything in the fridge and Keith and I shared a Berliner Pilsner!
Ruined church
We decided to go and visit the ruined church called Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedachtnis Kirche which was destroyed by bombs in 1943. We took the U2 line to the Zoologischer gardens and as we emerged from the station the church was right in front of us.
After the war most of the ruins were removed leaving only the front tower. You can go inside and have a look at the Coventry Crucifix which was made from nails found in the ashes of Coventry Cathedral after it also was bombed during World War II.
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| The Coventry Crucifix |
We also saw an Orthodox Cross given by Russia in memory of the victims of Nazism.
It was very warm inside the church and quite crowded with people so we had a quick look, lit some candles and went outside to wander through the Christmas market. Keith bought a new Biergarten sign which we'll put up in the conservatory and Sophie and I had a look in a large cabin selling Christmas decorations, but didn't see anything we liked.
Yummy beer and food!
From the church we headed back to Alexanderplatz and visited the lovely Christmas market by the Rotes Rathaus. It was the same as last year, with a skating rink and a huge ferris wheel. By now we were a little peckish so I encouraged Sophie to try a large Yorkshire pudding type thing from one of the stalls. She chose it with chocolate sauce but there were savoury versions as well...
We're still not quite sure what it was but it tasted good! We had a good look around and Mike bought his girlfriend, Heather, a necklace and a ring for Christmas. Sophie also treated herself to a ring but from a different stall this year.
Feeling a bit weary we bought some beers and sat and enjoyed the view.
The skating rink was more water than ice as the weather was so mild! We stayed for quite a time at the market and as it was getting dark the stalls looked really pretty and festive with all the fairy lights.
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| Lovely woodsmoke brazier to keep people warm |
We took a slow walk back to the hotel through the Nikolai quarter again and saw some lovely little tea shops that were just what I would love to own. Everything was so pretty. The Germans certainly know how to do Christmas!
Back at the hotel it was time for hot baths to soak our weary limbs and a short nap before going out to dinner.
Otello and Reinhard's
Unfortunately the bar in the hotel was closed again which was extremely annoying, as we were told yesterday that it would be open and we love sitting there and having a drink before going out. There was a sign on the counter that said the bar would be closed until the 4 January which we thought was terrible.
We decided to head for Otello and hoped that it would be open. Luckily it was and we were the only ones in there all evening. I really love this cosy bar and it was perfect to sit with a chilled glass of Riesling and have a chat.
The bar was full of old accordions, poinsettias and magnums of Champagne and the waiter came in and lit all the candles, adding to the beauty of the place.
We had a few drinks in the bar then made our way next door to Reinhard's. The restaurant was very quiet indeed with only a few people occupying the tables. Our waiter who had served us in Otello, waited on us at dinner and we had a lovely meal. Mike and I chose a tomato soup served with a skewer of prawns while Sophie enjoyed her favourite - potato and sausage soup. Keith skipped a starter and enjoyed lamb chops for a main course along with Mikey. Sophie chose the Wiener Schnitzel and I opted for Hermann Tietz's favourite dish which was medallions of pork, beef and turkey in a pepper and herb sauce served with fried potatoes and mushrooms. It was delicious!
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| Sophie certainly enjoyed her soup! |
Our waiter was excellent and we had a lot of banter with him. We laughingly said we were off to a club and he recommended somewhere called Watergate. Sophie was almost asleep over her dinner so I don't think we were in any state to take him up on his recommendation!
It had been a lovely evening and the bill came to an almighty 174 euros! However, it was worth it and it is Christmas!
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