Tuesday 19 December
We boarded the shuttle on December 19th to Folkestone easily, managing to get on a train half an hour earlier at no extra cost. We always tend to book the latest crossing in a particular price bracket and hope to get on an earlier one without a surcharge. It’s been working so far!
On arrival in the UK, it was dismal weather. Rain, rain and more rain! The motorway was busy and not what we’re used to!
We waited until we’d cleared the M25 before we swapped drivers and thought we’d pick up some breakfast….
We couldn’t believe the prices! £5 for an egg and cress pre packed sandwich! Not likely! Alison caved in and treated herself to a Subway and Janine a packet of brioche from Waitrose for £2.50. Strangely enough, they were shared!
As we drove North towards our first shopping stop, Boundary Mill at Grantham, the clouds subsided and blue skies greeted us….who says ‘it’s grim up North’?
As we had a cruise booked, we needed sparkle! Alison found a nice sparkly top and Janine decided to swathe herself in velour! We always buy socks at Boundary Mill….the bamboo soft top are the best ever!
Onwards up to Ellerker, East Yorkshire and the holiday cottage that we often stay in.
Hobbit Hole is a small but perfectly formed one bedroom cottage. It has everything you need for a short or long stay. The host, Nic, is a great girl and very responsive to any questions. The staircase is steep and narrow but we manage fine. It is also dog friendly.
You can book Hobbit Hole here through Airbnb
Thursday 21 December – JANINE’S Birthday!
The 21st December is Janine’s birthday and as we did last year, we booked a table at the Pipe and Glass in South Dalton to meet good friends and enjoy the beautiful food. The food was as good as usual. Janine’s steak was a little overcooked, but UK medium rare and French medium rare were miles apart, so it wasn’t mentioned.
All was going swell until “cakegate”
Joanna, a master baker and one of Janine’s oldest friends, had made a magnificent cake for Janine. It wasn’t really intended to be dessert, but as nobody was going to order dessert, we asked if we could bring the cake in.
“Of course, would you like candles?”
Yes please, that would be great.
“You’ll still have to order a couple of desserts”
Ohh ok no probs.
The cake was brought in from the car, what a magnificent cake it was! Joanna, as usual, had created a masterpiece!
The waitress was bowled over by the cake and took our order for 2 portions of ice cream as she had suggested. A few minutes later, she returned and informed us that 2 orders of ice cream wasn’t sufficient to allow us to eat the birthday cake and we had to order 3 desserts!
Now, considering we’d already eaten starters and mains and ordered drinks from the bar and a few coffees, the additional ice cream was surplus to requirements. Our plan had been to have a taste of the cake and then move to the bar to enjoy cocktails as we had last year.
Suddenly the party went flat! We couldn’t have the cake unless we bought an extra dessert! The candles never arrived, so the cake was taken back to the car.
Such a shame we were left with a bad taste in our mouths after visiting the pub so many times in the past. Considering we’d spent a good amount of money, their excuse that they had to service 7 plates and cutlery fell on deaf ears.
A little customer service and bending of the policies goes a long way sometimes! We more than likely won’t visit again, especially as the birthday cake we’d ordered from the pub the year before was dry and not a patch on Joanna’s!
Christmas is Coming….
The days leading up to Christmas passed in a flurry of shopping, eating and meeting friends.
We had a lovely lunch, as usual, at The Millhouse Restaurant in Skidby. A restaurant that we have only rediscovered recently. The menu is extensive, the atmosphere calm, the service excellent and the food extremely good. Janine recalls visiting the restaurant many years ago when Franco ran it.
Christmas Eve was a hectic morning of last minute shopping and meeting good friends in The White Hart Pub in Hull City centre. It’s always great to catch up with good friends and try the different beers and food on the menu.
Alison tried the Czech beer and thoroughly recommends it. Janine tried the Christmas kebab, shared with Julie. With us both having pretty basic palets, we found it nice but a little spicier than we expected!
Christmas Day
We decided we were having a quiet day with Alison’s mum. We arrived to find the turkey cooked and ready. Alison then took over preparing and cooking the vegetables. Considering Alison’s mum is nearly 85, she still makes a mean dinner and THE best sausagemeat stuffing!
Christmas day passed without a glitch and once Alison’s mum has reclined in her chair and started to look at the back of her eyelids, we retired with full bellies and lots of chocolate to eat in the next few weeks!
Bridlington On Boxing Day
Boxing Day had been earmarked for our regular pilgrimage to Bridlington, East Yorkshire. Off we set with everyone else from Hull, and the East and West Ridings. Brid was packed!
The sunny weather had brought everyone out. The amusements were open, the fish and chip shops, the pirate ship was taking customers out around the bay. Donuts, rock, ice cream. Bridlington equals FOOD!
We passed a lovely hour marching from the Spa to the harbour, enjoyed a walk along the pier and a few minutes in an arcade where Alison won a tenner! Before we knew it, our parking hour was up! Quickly we walked back to the car to avoid a ticket….even on Boxing Day, the traffic wardens were out in force!
Wednesday 27 December
On the 27th December, we decamped to Premier Inn West, Hessle. Another of our regulars. The staff here are always amazing and friendly and the rooms are always clean.
On the first evening, we were tired and decided to try the pub attached to the hotel, Home Farm, which is part of the Brewers Fayre chain. It was putrid! We should have walked away when we saw the state of the furniture…..the seats were disgustingly dirty, the walls scuffed, the carpet not pleasant. But we chanced it.
Alison ordered the fake Christmas burger and Janine the scampi. It was all awful. Alison’s was particularly cold. It was sent back but returned a few moments later having been in the microwave, lettuce, ketchup, mayo the lot! They offered to start afresh but Alison decided to order a pizza from Milano in Hessle, our go to takeaway. The scampi was also poor and resembled dark brown small nuggets, dry and overcooked. We won’t be eating there again.
We also fitted in our pilgrimage to see Jane our fantastic hairdresser. Janine has followed Jane around since she was an apprentice at Roots back in the good old days.
Thursday 28 December
We went our separate ways today. Janine had a coffee and lunch date in Beverley, East Yorkshire and Alison spent most the day running errands with her mum. Janine definitely had the best option. Quick drink with Nic at Carluccio followed by a lovely lunch in the Beverley Arms with Wendy, Janine’s late dad’s partner of many years.
We have spent many hours in the Beverley Arms over the years. It’s a lovely old pub, a very nice ambience, good food and across the road from Janine’s dad’s old place. How very convenient it was!
Parking is not available unless staying in the hotel but there is free parking at Tesco’s or paid parking at Greyburn lane parking. It cost over £6 for 4h but better than having to rush. There is also long stay parking available at Greyburn lane.
Back to the hotel we both went.
All too soon it was time to pack up and head to Southampton for our cruise….
