Seaside sauce

At Maisie's request. for her birthday weekend, we bundled ourselves into the car, dog and all, and took ourselves for a fun-filled time in Blackpool. We got there, we drove round aimlessly (thanks to the highly complicated one way system), we parked, we looked for food. We had a vast array of choice - as long as it was fish and chips or pizza! We chose chips at Harry Ramsden's. I'd never been to one so it seemed as good a time as any to give it a go. 

The service was….lacking? Lacklustre? A foreign concept? We were greeted at the door with a barked "Two adults, one child?" Yes we said, as we did the next two times we were asked. We got to the table, and the waitress was bustling about with the menus, placing them on the table, complaining we hadn't sat down as she would normally put them in our hands…we hadn't had a chance to sit down. Then I upset her by asking for adult menu for Maisie - she's far too old for the kid menu which comes with crayons. This caused a little controversy  - but you said two adults one child…ahh - now I get it, she was obviously referring to what menu we needed…how silly of us not to realise. She stalked off to complain about us to her colleagues, and we were left to contemplate the various ways your fish and chips could be served. With bread and butter? White or brown? Sauce? Red, brown or yellow. With peas - mushy or minted, without fish, without chips, with pie? All  good healthy options.

The waitress who took our order was a little more civil - it couldn't have been hard. The food arrived in good time, and was actually very enjoyable - even the fluorescent mushy peas. Leanne and Maisie turned up their noses up at the peas but they have undeveloped palettes for such fine dining.

We retrieved the dog from the car and set off  down the front on a quest to avoid donuts and sticks of rock. We ended up at the big wheel on the pier. Obviously they didn't allow dogs, so it was left to me and Maisie to brave the dizzy heights. There was no one else on the wheel and the bloke implied we were not in full possession of our marbles as we wanted to go on! When we were at the top, I could understand why - it was bloody freezing!

We celebrated Maisie's birthday with a trip to Sealife aquarium, lunch out, a walk in a park, and a great japanese meal in Lytham St Annes. The scottish, japanese teppanyaki chef called Jimmy was good value, juggling the pepper grinder, clanging his spatulas, a bit of chat, more juggling - eggs this time, and cooking up a wicked teppanyaki.

Sunday morning and a brisk walk on the sands was needed. The dog loved it - a chance to run and run. There were no donkeys, but the wind turned us all into hairy creatures with a tendency to bray. Hair by Blackpool, not suitable for all, but we enjoyed it.

Highly Strung

Maisie's school Valentines concert

We arrived, we sat near the front, we were excited. Maisie had been keeping the names of the songs a secret.

Not only were the junior choir performing, but also various other instrumental ensembles. During the Junior string - grandma leant over and said - "I'm so glad Maisie is learning the flute." I suspect one to the budding violinists turned over two pages at the same time. 

The percussion band however were excellent, beforehand their teacher did a little talk saying this is the one class where we say, you can have as much fun and make as much noise as you can, unfortunately, the percussionists looked like pale frightened rabbits caught in the headlights in front of such a large audience. They gave us a rousing Sambaesque rendition. The only down side was they were right at the front of the hall, as was the old lady in the wheelchair, and the headmaster. Old lady clutched her ears and cowered in fright during the whole performance, headmaster developed an uncontrollable blink twitch kind of movement every time the snare drum was struck (frequently)

Then it was the turn of the junior choir, about 40 girls, and 10 boys. In they trouped, on the stage they stood, and out came - tunes from the shows - starting with Oliver - a firm family favourite, Maisie gave us a little grin - result. Well worth sitting thorough the string cacophony.

Knickers and glory

Last week we went for a family meal with both my parents. Not that unusual, except that they have been divorced for decades. All went well, and the menu had a selection of dishes that were probably on the menu when they were still married. I couldn't resist the prawn cocktail, Maisie and I shared a knickerbocker glory.

 We have had lots and lots of rain, lots of water under the bridge - less today, see the difference for yourselves. 

Valentines tomorrow - love is all you need

Nailed it

After much hunting for a nail kit, I found a french manicure kit, not for myself you understand, but for Maisie and her friend. £3 from Debenhams, a bargain! Way better than the £25 over the top kit form Argos, and Claire's Accessories - well they could do with a visit from Mary Portas (my new crush - not virtual this time) and one of her retail overhaul sessions where the customer comes first.

Here's the scene - Sheffield high street, lunchtime, very busy, a slightly butch, slightly overweight lesbian enters stage left. Steps into Claire's Accessories, on the look out for a nail art kit. Two assistants, one customer (me). Waiting for a gap in their conversation (banal) "Excuse me, I'm looking for a nail art kit." I thought I'd make light of the situation; "not for me of course." I might have just as well have thrown up on the counter for the look I got. One of them managed a point towards a display on ground level. I creak down with my middle-aged knees to look, fairly hopeful (after having visited Boots and Superdrug  to no avail). I was, however, slightly disappointed as the kit wasn't quite what Maisie had in mind. I expressed my disappointment to the lovely assistant, hoping for some actual care (I was their only customer, after all). Sarcastic voice - "Well, you can go to Boots or Superdrug then". Dismissed. The end. Conversation (still banal) resumed.

The woman in Debenhams was lovely.

Maisie's friend arrived, a great evening watching them play with the Wii, then off to Meadowhall shopping mall the next day - more retail therapy. We enjoyed sushi for lunch, and the girls went off by themselves for an hour (with only a little parental anxiety). They headed straight for Claire's - although I suspect may have fitted the store demographic more than me.

Oh yes - it's been really windy, a tree blew down in the garden, time to get the chainsaw out again.

Save Our Libraries Day Feb 5th 2011

Everyone who cares about reading, literacy and libraries to use their public library on the 5th February and tell as many people as they can to do the same.