Time for Tea

I don't know about you, but I always feel like everybody else has a secret life they delve into on Sundays, a ritual in which they squeeze every last drop out of the weekend - except me. I never really know what to do with myself, half of me wants to get up at the crack of dawn and do five different things with my day to make the most of it, while the other half wants to lounge around making brunch and reading a good book. 

Well lovely readers, I've cracked it. I spent today enjoying delicious afternoon tea in one of the most beautiful gardens hidden in Durham city centre! 

Having received a kind invite to visit Crook Hall and Gardens for afternoon tea and a meander around the gardens, I hopped in the car and journeyed south with my mother and her broken leg in tow. Neither of us knowing what to expect, we pulled up on an unsuspecting lane just around the bend from the riverbank and Radisson Blu hotel. Hidden completely from view was Crook Hall, the family home of Maggie and Keith Bell and ancient medieval manor. 

Look at the sight which greeted us! 

The smell of the sweet peas was incredible as we made our way through the gardens! 

A little further along was a stunning wildflower meadow and maze, the land i'm told was a 40th birthday gift from Keith to Maggie - how romantic! Everywhere you looked was colour, texture and my favourite little touch, hidden settings for afternoon tea! You would turn a corner or unlock a gate and stumble upon the most perfect setting, as though fairies had set it up and invite you to sit down for a spot of tea. 

Our lovely host Maggie led my mam and I to the most perfect sheltered setting near the house where a veritable feast awaited us. Three tiers of homemade goodies were beautifully decorated with flowers from the garden. Everything looked perfect! 

Our afternoon tea for two consisted of: 

TIER ONE

- egg mayonnaise and prawn cocktail 'drops'

- A selection of cheese and pickle, salmon and cream cheese, ham and mustard and cucumber sandwiches

- fresh lettuce, tomato celery and carrot sticks from the garden

TIER TWO

- Two plain homemade scones with the most amazing clotted cream, strawberry jam and fresh strawberries and raspberries from the garden (which were unbelievably good)

TIER THREE

- Ginger parkin with garden mint

- Chocolate eclairs

- Sponge rolls

- Homemade meringues 

- Caramel shortbread 

Look how beautifully everything was presented! After devouring everything in sight (and taking home a snip of lettuce for the guineapig!) we were invited to explore the gardens. I don't want to spoil the surprise too much, so i'll say this; Crook Hall's series of old Walled Gardens and Orchard are incredibly tranquil, beautiful to behold and full of surprises around every corner. Just have a look at some of the photos I took! 

I struggle to choose my favourite part as I loved absolutely everything, but if I had to, i'd choose the Shakespeare Garden. It is so peaceful and beautiful. The planting scheme just draws your eye at every angle, I can really imagine myself sitting there on a sunny day and writing. 

I loved the Orchard too, full of cooking apples and plums. Our lovely, knowledgeable guide (and the wedding manager) Nicola told me they invite people to come and pick hoardes of the fruit at the end of the season to make tarts and sauces. 

My mam's favourite part was the vegetable garden, which I imagined to be like Mr McGregors garden from Beatrix Potter. It was full of raspberries, strawberries, tomatoes, courgettes, cucumbers and onions. They also grow a few unusual plants too, such as celery parsley and strawberry spinach. 

I had such a brilliant day here, it was a pleasure to visit and I can't wait to be back.

Crook Hall will be opening more during winter this year too, imagine how magical the whole place will look when covered in a carpet of snow, the frosty leaves and branches twinkling in the sun. There's plenty of roaring fires indoors to keep you warm, and can you imagine the Christmas-inspired afternoon tea in the beautiful Georgian dining room which looks out over the gardens and ginormous Christmas tree. 

For somebody as rubbish with directions as me, Crook Hall was actually really simple to find. It's just left towards the passport office just as you come off the A1 and arrive in Durham and a 20 minute or so walk from the train station. I can't recommend the place enough, you'll have a lovely day regardless of whether you're six or sixty. Go for a picnic on a sunny day and definitely for a birthday/special afternoon tea treat! 

Visit their website www.crookhallgardens.co.uk for opening times and more information. 

Thank you for having us! 

Food Glorious Food

Now I've probably mentioned this once or twice, but food and I have quite a serious love affair going on... I'll try anything as long as it doesn't contain raisins or mushrooms really! So when I spied a gorgeous new cafe on Tynemouth's ever-popular Front Street, naturally I couldn't wait to check it out! 

Having booked myself this sunny Friday off work, I battled with other motorists for what seemed like Tynemouth's last parking space and skipped on over to Dil and the Bear. The stylish grey and white striped awning makes a fantastic first impression, and the gorgeous window display of cake stands and outdoor tables certainly entice you in... 

Once inside, you almost feel like you're in a long train carriage, the seating is along the exposed brick walls with little tables and benches. The interior is light, bright and seriously stylish. I loved the big clock on the wall, the array of cakestands and freshly baked goodies and smart blackboards. We took a seat in the first section and browsed the menu. 

I want my house to look like this! Two icy bottles of coke later (retro glass bottles - nice touch), we both opted for soup of the day which was butternut squash (£5).  Though the lunch menu isn't big, there's an inspiring array on offer, from the fish platter and steak sandwich with shallot butter and numerous vegetarian options. Though we were pressed for time today, i'll definitely be back for a coffee and try a slice of cake. 

The atmosphere inside was very relaxed and informal, and all the staff were lovely. Just before we left we noticed a couple beside us reading Living North's summer wedding guide which I worked on. They were planning their wedding at the beautiful Close House Hotel in Heddon-on-the-Wall. It was lovely to hear their kind comments and oohs and ahh's over my hard work, I left feeling rather famous and humming along to Dil and the Bear's easy breezy soundtrack. 

You can see more of the lovely Dil and the Bear on their facebook page, or say hello @Dilandthebear

Sunshine, marshmallows & stars

To make the most of the gorgeous weather we had this weekend a few of us decided to get in our cars and head 40 minutes north to the beautiful Druridge Bay.

After stopping off at the shops for supplies (barbecue, burgers, fruity cider and marshmallows) we soon found our secret spot (just right after the turning for Red Row in case you want to go too!) it was already half 7, but still beautifully warm and best of all, we had the whole beach to ourselves! 

After a game of football (boys vs girls) and a quick run to the shore to dip our toes in the (freezing cold) sea, we fired up the barbecues while the boys went hunting for firewood. 

See the huge stone boulders all along the beach in my photo above? Those were England's first defences against invasions during the second world war. It would prevent any enemies tanks reaching the villages and towns atop the sand dunes and only haunting stumps of these once high barriers remain. I remember trying to climb up them when I was little and them being too high, now they're almost gone! Still, they make excellent countertops for barbecues and sheltered craters to hold our fire. 

After our feast of steak, sausages and plenty of melted cheese, we grabbed our blankets and huddled around fire while we put our telescope together. Admittedly, I neither know or understand a lot about space, but it absolutely fascinates me. Seeing the stars somewhere like this without any light pollution is truly breathtaking and something everybody has to experience! The fact that we had a powerful telescope means you see 100x more. I remember how awestruck I was the first time I looked at the moon through the telescope and saw its enormous craters and the sea of tranquility. 

 

It took forever to get dark, in fact if wasn't until half 12/1am that we all lay on our blankets and sleeping bags on the sand dune and looked up at the stars. Every time we go stargazing everybody seems to see a shooting star except me, but not tonight! I just caught a quick glimpse of a flash as the star flew across the sky (or fell out of the atmosphere, whatever the scientific term is). It sounds so silly, but your eyes play tricks on you. There's hundreds of stars in one little patch of sky, and the longer you stare at them they look like they're wobbling. We saw Orion's Belt, the Big Dipper and a UFO! ...just kidding. Something really bright flashed across the sky for a second before disappearing forever though, maybe it was the space station? 

Before we knew it, it was 2am! Definitely time for bed. So the five of us packed up our stuff and clambered back up the enormous sand dune in search of the cars (but not before sliding back down a few times and not being able to climb back up for laughing). It was a magical night and definitely something we should do more often! 

What did you get up to this scorching weekend? Know of any good stargazing spots?! 

Joffers Grand Opening

There's been a buzz in the air for a while now about a new fine dining brasserie and bar opening in Whitley Bay - and last night I finally got to check it out at Joffers' VIP party. I know Whitley Bay very well having previously worked in the area and living at the coast, so naturally I was thrilled to hear that somebody new and exciting was setting up shop in the face of 'turbulent times' and on a 'dying high street'. 

We arrived shortly after 6:30 to an intriguing and cool black exterior, bustling bar and glass of Prosecco with our names almost etched in the icy chill. Scanning the busy seating area for a seat, Lauren and I slipped into a cosy booth towards the back and sipped our drink excitedly. Chatting to the table next to us, we mutually agreed that Whitley Bay, and indeed Whitley Road could certainly do with somewhere stylish yet intimate to meet for a drink or light bite. Furnished with sumptuous booths, chandeliers and smart wooden tables, Joffers certainly oozed style and sophistication. So far so good. 

Food was soon announced, so we slowly made our way to a huge table filled with gourmet goodies such as antipasto, olives, melon salads, cheeses, homemade bread and tapas. Popping a little bit of everything on our plates we returned to our seats to tuck in (for research purposes y'know). The scallops were amazing, as was the bread smothered in molten butter, cheese and charcuterie meat. Washed down with a few more glasses of prosecco we chomped and chatted happily, certainly feeling very relaxed in our sumptuous surroundings.

The calm before the storm...

It wasn't long before a fire breather arrived and took our breath away with her death defying stunts on the street outside (Lauren and I applauded from the safety of our seats and close proximity to the dinner table...) After chatting to former journo Jon, I couldn't believe that Joffers was actually a former charity shop, it was unrecognisable and bordering on cavernous inside! Being something of an afternoon tea connoisseur (at 22, a bit sad I know), Lauren and I quizzed Jon about Joffers' afternoon tea, which apparently is amazing. Lauren and I promised we would return during the day and see if it was up to our standards (watch this space).

Joffers is now officially open, so get down there this weekend and have a drink for me! For more information on their British-inspired menu/late opening hours, check out their website here: www.thejoffers.com 

Thank you for having us Joffers! 

Give It A Grow

Before my recent promotion to Gardening Editor, my forays into the world of gardening were shall we say, short and sweet. My gardening skills went as far as growing cress in pots at primary school, or seeing who could grow the tallest sunflower between my brother, sister and I, and inevitably getting bored after a week. Writing about different plants every month and actually understanding how to grow/prune/propagate them has really made me want to start growing my own. One of life's simplest pleasures for me is a bunch of freshly cut flowers, if I could I'd have a vase on my desk every day to cheer me up and let a little nature in. Growing up with only a backyard to play in, I didn't really have many opportunities to practise, until now!

May I present to you... ALLOTINABOX

After stumbling upon these guys on twitter, I contacted the company about potentially featuring them in my gardening section in Living North. The lovely Lorraine answered my query and told me more about her boxes. Two days went by and I received a very beautifully wrapped surprise in the post (my favourite kind of surprise in case anybody was wondering...)

The Urban Gro Box is perfect for people like me who want to grow their own produce but have very little space/gardening know-how. It has been said that I take after my mother, who could kill a cactus from lack of watering... so I was curious to see how I got on with this. Inside my box were five small beautifully packaged seeds, some twine for measuring, some handy plant labels, and ALLOTINABOX's brilliant grow wheel, telling me what to plant and sow when. A one off seasonal box starts from £15.99, but you can order annual subscriptions, browse their range of gardening goodies and even liven up your lunch with some of their homemade jam. 

What I love most about ALLOTINABOX apart from the brilliant concept and quirky packaging, is that the company was started in the midst of  'the worst recession in the history of the world', or so people keep telling us. Admittedly the climate isn't great right now, but what we need are more people to start up new businesses so people can start investing both financially and emotionally in our economic climate and ALLOTINABOX are helping us dig our way out of this doom and gloom (terrible pun, I know). Their brightly-coloured boxes really put a smile on my face when I received it in the post and I can now save myself a bit of money by growing my own fruit and veg (my guinea pig will be thrilled). 

So I just want to say thank you to ALLOTINABOX for my little box of joy, my seeds might not be much to shout about yet, but I'm doing well! Rocky the guinea pig might have to wait a little longer for his carrots, but I bet when he does get them, they'll be great! 

So go on, fill your up your barrow and get growing! 

www.allotinabox.com 

Left My Heart In The Lakes

The view from above 

So after a very busy, but exciting few weeks, and with this month's issue and wedding guide now put to bed, it's fair to say my skin sought sunshine and blue skies. With the long bank holiday weekend coming up, it was the perfect time to hit the road and head to the Lakes. 

I'm a big fan of the outdoors; I love camping, anything to do with driving/quad biking and love nothing more than slipping on my sunglasses and heading outside, (preferably with my two little mutts in tow). So after scouring the internet for last minute deals we found this little gem! Spa? Swimming pool? Sauna? Just what the doctor ordered! 

So we set off from cloudy Newcastle in search of our blue skies, me in the driver seat and His Highness on directions duty. Fast forward two hours later and we were soon exploring the stunning Lake Ullswater. After seeing so many beautiful images of it from advertisers/photographers when writing Cumbrian features for the magazine, it was a pleasure to see it with my own eyes. No sooner could I hop out of the car and run to the shore, we discovered the perfect little picnic spot (complete with rope swing (!)) and sat down for the afternoon.

Lake Ullswater

Sandwiches eaten, we headed into Pooley Bridge where we found a thriving village full of tourists, dog walkers and beer gardens...heaven! After a leisurely stroll around Ullswater, we couldn't believe it was almost six o'clock, so made the most of the fading sun and warmth in a gorgeous secluded garden (ice-cold drink essential)

A quick half an hour in the gym, gentle swim and wallow in the fabulous hot tub (not to mention a very quick spell in the world's hottest steam room), we dressed for dinner. The nearby George and Dragon came highly recommended by people at work, so we drove along to see what all the fuss was about. Although the menu is short and sweet (meat, fish, meat and more meat), I opted for a classic meat and two veg, while Richie chose stuffed chicken and barley risotto. Service was very efficient, the wine was delicious and interior intimate and cosy. We ate by the warm glow of candlelight, sat amongst old friends meeting for dinner, families catching up and foodies coming for the umpteenth time that week to sample the locally-grown Lowther produce. 

Dinner was followed by homemade pistachio and stem ginger biscotti, smothered in ice cream and dunked in 'Charlie's chocolate pot'. Feeling exceptionally replete, we headed back to our room, excited for tomorrow's adventures! 

After a hearty Cumbrian breakfast of sausage, bacon and egg, we headed to Windermere. An hours drive later, ears popping from the altitude and eyes blinded by the stunning view, it was time for lunch. Choosing from the numerous eateries was an impossible task, did we want prawn linguine or traditional afternoon tea? We opted for a window seat in the emerging sunshine in Renoirs, a lovely French style bistro and shared a pot of English breakfast and selection of scones (sometimes I forget I'm actually 22 and not 62...). Fed and watered, we headed a mile along the road to a very busy Lake Windermere where we decided to hire a boat!

The next couple of hours were fantastic, we had such a good time playing sailors, sunbathing and singing It's A Pirate's Life For Me. I had gotten the sunshine and blue skies I wanted, eaten very well and laughed the whole time! After returning our boat there was just time to get an (overpriced) ice cream and head to the car. The views back home were incredible, although I have to admit I felt pretty sad once we reached the M6 and had nothing but tarmac and road signs to look at for the next few hours. With our phone's dead and radio rubbish, we planned our next getaway all the way home!

With tired legs, a full tummy but happy heart, it's off to bed ready for work in the morning! 

One last snap of sunshine before I go!