Weekly Update! (Part 1)

Mazes & Trails!

This week, with it being the school holidays, I have decided to split the weekly update into two individual posts, to save having one humongous one. We have been busy as ever, especially as Aum's cousin Euan has been visiting from Singapore for the week. Monday however was a lazy one as I started at 11am due to Aum not getting back from New York until early that morning, so we just chilled out in the house. 

On Tuesday we had a picnic in Stamford Park as the weather was lovely, followed by a haircut, and then cake at The Cake Gallery (I had my favourite raspberry and oreo flavour). Afterwards I took Aum to Oldham to his grandparents as Euan was due to arrive so they had a sleepover there. 

Yesterday I took them both to Crocky Trail near Chester, Aum loved it when we went last year so I promised to take him again. The weather was gorgeous, and they'd done up the site a bit so it was less run down - and had proper food outlets and toilets this time which was better. Today has been a fun day, I picked them up and after a quick trip to the Trafford Centre with Pizza Express for lunch we went to the Maize Maze at Redhouse Farm. This year it is Alice In Wonderland themed, and was a lot harder than previous years! We spent a good two hours collecting all the stamps from around it, before heading home after a much needed drink!

Weekly Update!

Mazes, Dancing & lots of Food!

The first week back at work after a holiday is always a drag, although it could have been much worse in my case, as Aum is on school holidays at the moment, so we get to do lots of fun stuff.

On Monday we didn't do very much, just ran a few errands and then went to look at the animals at the pet shop, and then I worked at the pub. On Tuesday the weather appeared quite fine, so we went to Red House Farm with my two cousins and my auntie to do the Maize Maze there. This year it was Jubilee themed, so was shaped like a giant crown, and the nine stamps you had to collect around it were all quintessentially British, including a postage stamp, a union jack flag and a sceptre. It was more difficult than I remembered, and didn't help that it started raining half way around, so we cheated slightly to get all the stamps and find our way out (shh!).

On Wednesday we went to see Brave at the cinema (see previous post), and on Thursday I took Aum and his friend to the Blue Planet Aquarium which was really fun (see previous post). In the evening once I had finished work I very quickly got my nails done, and then went round to Hana's for some pre-drinks before going out to Sakura on Deansgate Locks in Manchester. It was a really fun night, we all had a good dance, and got rather more drunk than we had intended; so on Friday I was a little tender at work! Luckily Aum had a tennis lesson in the morning so I got to have a little nap, and then we went for lunch at Hale Spa & County Club, where I had a sunblush tomato, mozzerella and pesto risotto which sorted me right out!

That evening Lydia was back from uni so I went out with her in the Northern Quarter in Manchester. It was really nice just for the two of us to chill out and have a few cocktails in Bluu and Trof, and we ended up in this club called Mint, dancing to 90s pop music and having a laugh before getting the last met home. I was at work the following day, and afterwards I had the girls round to mine for a few drinks as I had a free house. We went out into Altrincham at around 11pm, starting in Bloom and then moving on to Heart and Soul which was a laugh. Lydia and Tasha had ordered a sharing Zombie cocktail in Bloom, and Emily and I had been doing shots of rum, so we were all nicely merry, and stayed out until the club shut at 2.30am.

Today Tasha and Lydia came round to chill out for a while this morning, and then I have just got back from Hana's house, where Lydia and I were treated to a hangover feast of lemon tart, clotted cream, After Eights, strawberries and chocolate. Not that I haven't eaten enough this week... and lack of gymming due to work is not boding well - it's a good job my scales at home have broken!

Weekly Update!

Shopping, Restyling & Sticky Toffee Pudding!

Unlike last week where I had four glorious days off at the start of the week, I was in work at 7am on Monday morning for an 8 hour shift. Once that was over though I was off until Friday, so it wasn't too bad.

On Tuesday I had a lovely lie in and did some odd jobs around the house, as well as taking a trip to the gym. Wednesday I went shopping at the Trafford Centre with my friend Emily. Although I got no clothes, I bought some much needed replacement MAC makeup, and also tried the new Creme Brulee flavoured Krispy Kreme doughnut, which was delicious (if a little sickly!). In the evening I went to her house for a bit of a gathering, where far too much gin was consumed, and I eventually got a taxi home at 4am- pretty good going for a last minute get-together!

On Thursday I got up pretty early ready to make my way into Manchester for a hairdresser's appointment. My usual stylist has quit the salon I go to, so I thought I'd try a completely different one, and was recommended Ethos in the town centre. I paid £32 for a restyle, and had a good amount chopped off, as well as more layers cut in and a new fringe, I feel much more groomed now! My sister came into town with me, so we went shopping afterwards; I bought a silk cropped top with a swan on from H&M, and a crocheted cream top to wear over a bikini or bra when I go on holiday. We went for lunch at Cafe Metro afterwards (I have mentioned it in a previous post as I love the place) and I had a prawn marie rose baguette that warded off my impending hangover for a couple more hours.

On Friday after a shift at work, Chris came to stay for the night. My mum made pork in mustard and cream sauce which was tasty, and I did homemade sticky toffee pudding; it seems to be becoming my speciality. The rest of the weekend was spent at Redhouse Farm (see previous post) and unfortunately working, but at least I had my fun first!

Days Out...

The Maize Maze at Redhouse Farm

My 4 young cousins came to stay today, so I ( accompanied by my auntie- couldn't cope with 4 kids alone!) decided to take them to Redhouse Farm in Dunham to visit the Maize Maze there. It is exactly as it sounds, a huge maze made from the leftover maize crop once it has been harvested. It is themed every year, and this year it was Wild West, so it was in the shape of cowboy riding a bucking bull. There are others dotted around the country; I know there are also ones near Nantwich in Cheshire, Knaresbrough in North Yorkshire, Kendal in Cumbria and Blackpool in Lancashire, as well as lots further afield in Scotland and down South.

It is £22 for a family of four, and then £3 each for under four year olds, so all six of us got in for £38. It sounds a lot, but we were there for approximately 2 hours, and there is an inflatable slide, sandpit, football pitch, bouncy castle and trampoline, all of which you can use for free upon admission. When you pay you get given a map, and a tall flag, so there is no chance of losing anyone!

At various points around the maze, there are checkpoints that are marked with wooden boards with wanted highwaymen on them. At each, you have to stamp the back of the map with each villain's 'brand', and upon collection of all ten stamps you get a prize (it is only a lollipop, but the kids were happy).

There are tables and a refreshment stand outside, so you can take a picnic with you, and the farm cafe and shop are very homely, and sell some lovely little gifts. Unfortunately I had to go to work in the evening, but it was something different to do beforehand that was challenging at times, even for us adults! Just make sure to take some wellies if it has been raining in the previous few days, as it can get rather muddy!