Author Archives: Lesley Tan

Lincoln Castle and the Poppies Wave 2016

2nd September, 2015 | Article By Lesley Tan

AttractionsHistoric BldgsLeisureMuseumsSightseeing

As many people may know, The Poppies Wave is doing a tour round the country. The Poppies Wave is a fabulous display of handcrafted ceramic poppies representing those who fell in the war.

We were lucky enough to visit Lincoln Castle again this year, and not only is the castle itself a great place to explore, but the Poppy Wave is just another great attraction!  We parked nearby and walked past the magnificent Lincoln Cathedral as we made our way to Lincoln Castle.

First stop inside the castle we headed for the Poppies Wave, a marvellous creation by artist Paul Cummins and designer Tom Piper. It is a wondrous sight!

Next we visited the men’s and women’s Victorian prisons which are full of atmosphere and a good insight as to the conditions people in prisons had to suffer. Interestingly and a bit unsettling, you get to see some of the very petty crimes which got some people into prison in the first place. The Ladies’ prison also houses an interesting museum which displays historical items found in the actual grounds of Lincoln Castle.

We had a break in the Café on the ground floor of this building, in the sunshine, then proceeded to climb up to the Medieval Wall and walk round the whole castle. We had a brilliant view of Lincoln Cathedral and were treated to a fabulous display from various aircraft, which looked like it had been arranged just for us!

There were more great views of the Poppies Wave from the wall and also of the whole castle. We walked through areas where hangings had taken place, burial grounds of those hanged and we ended up climbing to the top of a tower with yes, more fabulous views!

Well worth the entrance fee and would recommend a visit to anyone.

Island Outing

28th August, 2015 | Article By Lesley Tan

ActivitiesAttractionsFamily TravelHolidaysLandmarks

St. Mary’s Lighthouse, built in 1898, is one of the very well-known tourist attractions in the Whitley Bay area. I have visited St. Mary’s many times from childhood to my most recent last week. It is such a lovely landmark and is now even used for weddings, as I found out!

If you are contemplating a visit, do check the Tide Tables first, otherwise the cemented over causeway that connects St Mary’s Island (also known as Bait Island) to the mainland will be submerged, and it can only be accessed by boat. There is a little tourist shop and you can climb the many steps to the top of the lighthouse and take magnificent photos of almost the whole of Whitley Bay, which is, in itself, a well-known tourist destination. You can also enjoy fishing in the rock pools and sightings of seals sunbathing on the rocks are a common occurrence too. There is a largish car park on the land side with a mobile food van and an ice-cream van usually parked, the sale of colourful fishing nets and buckets is a popular attraction for kids and adults alike. There are lots of great walks, especially for bird watching.

Another landmark spot is Curry’s Point. In 1739, Michael Curry, a local glassworker, was found guilty of murdering a local innkeeper near the island. He was duly hanged for his crime in Newcastle, but as was customary in those days, his body was hung on a gibbet in sight of his crime, at the spot which is now known as Curry’s point.

Today, St Mary’s Lighthouse is run as a Visitor Centre and although no longer used as a working lighthouse, it still acts as a visual warning to ships in the area as the rocky outcrop remains treacherous.

I have heard that there are sites around suitable for diving, there is a nearby golf course and the beautiful beach leading into Whitley Bay is a short walk away. All very conveniently situated near Whitley Bay Holiday Park, ideal for caravanners wanting to experience the great British seaside holiday!

The Old New Inn

17th August, 2015 | Article By Lesley Tan

Food and DrinkGood ValuePubs & Bars

While I was in Surrey recently my sister and brother in law treated me to a meal in a lovely Olde Worlde pub in Send, Surrey. The New Inn is beautifully situated on the banks of the Wey Navigation Canal.

There was seating both inside and outside with great views of the canal and canal boats moored nearby. It seemed that many of the occupants of the boats were actually having a lovely evening drink and a meal there, with no worries of having to drive home. There is free parking for those who do drive there.

We chose to sit inside and were served politely and promptly. The homemade food was delicious and the drinks cold. They serve a good selection of Real Ales, wines and other drinks and the menu is very tempting. The portions were large and inexpensive.

We were seated in the ‘new’ end of this 18th Century Public House but it was carefully done out to blend in with the older parts. Evidence of log fires for the winter could be seen.

This lovely old pub seems to attract dog-walkers, joggers and fishermen as well as people from the canal boats and as far afield as the USA!

I was advised to take my trusty phone for a walk around the outside and in the Beer Garden while waiting for our meals to arrive, so took some great photos.

My sister and family have returned many times. Well worth a visit.

Mouth Of The Tyne Festival 2016

13th August, 2015 | Article By Lesley Tan

EntertainmentEventsFestivalsLeisureMusic

This year was a bit different in the sense that I not only attended The Mouth Of The Tyne Festival, but I actually attended on 3 out of 4 days and it was BRILLIANT. This year there were more days for the festival than previous years.

Crowds came from all over the place and they had mostly booked and paid for their tickets in advance but there were one or two still available at the gate. For those who had not managed to purchase tickets, the sounds of the musicians could be clearly heard from most of Tynemouth Village area, be it along the cliff sides, the beaches or the village itself. The pubs were packed, fish and chips in abundance and everyone was feeling high! And what is more, the weather was good!

This year we were entertained by brilliant artists.

The line-up from 7th July to 10th July was:
Thursday – Bryan Ferry (brilliant) and Nadine Shah
Friday – Will Young and Tunde Baiyewu (Lighthouse Family, both amazing)
Saturday – James Bay, Hyde & Beast and Tom Smith (we did not make this but heard it was a great performance))
Sunday – Lulu and Lemar (fabulous)

Well, you can bring in your own food and drink, chairs and anything else you may need except glass. So we did. We had a great time over those few days, dancing and singing at the top of our voices and chilling out. AND my friend and I can walk there and back! All of this with FAB views of The Priory and The Mouth Of The River Tyne. A festival for the whole family to enjoy.

We try to attend every year and I am sure we will be there next year!

Brilliant Brighton

12th August, 2015 | Article By Lesley Tan

AccommodationAttractionsFamily TravelFood and DrinkSightseeing

I was treated to an overnight stay in Brighton as a surprise. I had no idea we were going there till I saw the famous Royal Pavilion built by George IV. A great place for weddings apparently!

We parked very close to our hotel, Legends, and went to our rooms which overlooked the beach, the Wheel and Brighton Pier – fabulous! The hotel itself was very nice, inexpensive and the food was good.

That evening we took a little walk around and then had a very nice dinner in a tapas restaurant called Bellota. The tapas was delicious and so was the sangria.

The next day we took a lovely walk around Brighton in the beautiful summer sunshine. We walked around ‘The Lanes’, an area full of little independent shops (lots of jewellery), eateries, pubs and tourists! One shop was especially interesting with everything being made of chocolate, amazing creations!

Next we walked along the sea front and as usual I took many photos. The views are beautiful and there are many attractions such as the Brighton Wheel, crazy golf, roundabouts, and all the fun of the fair on the pier itself. Families can be kept busy all day and, of course, there is the famous pebble beach too.

We took a walk along the buzzing Brighton Pier. There are many stalls selling all kinds of food, snacks and drinks. There is an amusement arcade and the funfair, mainly located at the end of the pier. The views from there are amazing, so to from the top of the Wheel, which was super fun.

We continued the day at the Brighton Marina – loads of shops, dozens of restaurants and of course, beautiful yachts to admire! We ate and had a drink at Wetherspoons there.

The last part of our trip was to neighbouring Peacehaven where our friends had once lived. The cliff walks are very popular and we visited the ‘Meridian Line’ (site coincides with the point where the Greenwich meridian crosses the English south coast) where of course I had a photo taken!

Fun for all the family. A lovely time was had by all, I would certainly visit again.

Denmead Poultry

10th August, 2015 | Article By Lesley Tan

AnimalsFood and DrinkGood ValueShopping

Whilst visiting friends yesterday they took me to a local farm, Denmead Poultry in Hampshire, which sells eggs, chickens, anything to do with chickens, dog treats, honey, bird seed, meal worms, bird feeders and bird houses and a whole lot more!

As well as being a great little shop, there are animals everywhere which is great for all the family to see, especially the children. They have geese, pigs, hens, dogs and even bees! I took a look around and loved all of them. They also have lovely flowers planted here and there and a few areas to sit and relax.

The owners are very friendly and make you feel so welcome. Being a sunny day just made it even better. A good place to do some local shopping as the prices are very reasonable and the eggs I had for this mornings breakfast were delicious and fresh!

Denmead Poultry, Woods Edge, Hambledon Road, Denmead, Hampshire.

Lincoln Castle

| Article By Lesley Tan

AttractionsEventsHistoric BldgsHistoryViews

Lincoln Castle in Lincolnshire, built by William the Conquerer in 1068, has just hosted an extremely interesting event and we were there! Even though the event is over, Lincoln Castle is still a great place to visit. This fabulous historical destination has had 22 million pounds spent on its redevelopment and provides a fantastic insight into English heritage.

As we entered the castle we were greeted by an enthusiastic couple playing ancient musical instruments, they continued playing inside the castle grounds and we were entertained by the young children having fun dancing to the beat.

Among the many exhibits, the star that shines most brightly has to be one of only four copies remaining of Magna Carta (you are not allowed to take photos). There is a cinema which tells you all about the history of Magna Carta, which I found most interesting.

There is a very thought provoking ‘new’ Victorian men’s and women’s prison in the castle grounds with realistically dressed period actors in the prison (and all over the castle) who are very willing to answer questions ‘in character’. There are also clever movie clips in some of the cells which tell of the life and fate of some of the inmates. The women’s prison houses a mini museum of artefacts found in and around the area.

There is a cafe on site, but we chose to take a break and leave the castle for some delicious Lincolnshire bread and cheese with hot chocolate at The Ice Cream Parlour nearby. Our tickets allowed us to re-enter with ease and we continued watching a basket making demonstration, medieval dancing and a grand parade when King Henry VIII left!

Not to be missed – the Medieval 12th Century Wall Walk, recently renovated, which allows you to walk the whole stretch of the castle walls with spectacular views of Lincoln. An optional part of the wall walk includes an observation tower, a steep climb to the top, restricted to 10 people at a time.

Lincoln Crown Court is encompassed within the grounds too and adds yet more architectural beauty to the site.

The castle is open all the year round and tickets can be bought online. We arrived by car and parked a short walk away. The walk towards the castle took us past the magnificent Cathedral, another one of Lincoln’s majestic attractions.

A super day out!

Step into the Past

26th July, 2015 | Article By Lesley Tan

AnimalsAttractionsCafesFamily TravelGood Value

My good friends took me out today to The Village Church Farm in Skegness, Lincolnshire. The entrance to this excellent open air museum leads to the reception area where entry is free but you are requested to contribute a small amount to its upkeep.

The first thing to catch my eye was a glass tank on the reception desk. It contained some tiny baby harvest mice having a great game on the ‘wheel’ in the tank. They are looked after by the staff until they are old enough to be put back into the farm – very cute.

We had a great time wandering around and one interesting exhibit was an old thatched cottage which had been moved from elsewhere, reconstructed with dirt floors, original beams, cooking equipment and a lovely old range.

There is an orchard filled with lovely fruit trees and one of the dedicated, friendly and informative volunteers told us at the end of our visit, that they suspected they may have one of the oldest trees in the country in their orchard!

There are many different areas to walk around and interesting exhibits including an old house decorated from the past, an old classroom, children’s nursery, wash house, forge, cow barn and an amazing steam traction engine, which is in the process of being lovingly restored and many other ‘old’ pieces of equipment which have been sourced from various locations. There is a set of stocks on the green and some vintage tractors on display.

There is a trail around the farm where you can search for masks posted on trees, a great idea to keep the kids occupied when they visit the farm on school outings. They will learn about the way of life on a farm in the old days, quite a bit about the animals and machinery, the living conditions of people in those days, like how they used to bath once in a while in tin baths, and more importantly to me, get to know where meat and milk come from. You can even dress up in the costumes of old.

There is a very comfortable tea-room where we had a lovely hot drink and snack. It was drizzling but we didn’t mind, we had a good time. I even managed to buy some great second hand books at the souvenir area.

Both educational and fun for the whole family and not so far from the amazing Skegness!

The Wine Chambers

22nd July, 2015 | Article By Lesley Tan

Food and DrinkPubs & BarsRelaxingShoppingWine

The Wine Chambers is a quaint little wine shop in Front Street, Tynemouth, Tyne and Wear, which doubles as a wine bar and has the hard-working Chambers family as its owners. You may also enjoy a glass or bottle of excellent wine, Prosecco or any tipple you may wish for, on the premises. The garden is a pleasant place where you can relax in the sun and enjoy the beautiful flower displays, there is a statue of Bacchus who is the Greek god of wine, and an ancient well.

The proprietor of The Wine Chambers is Ben Chambers (hence the name) who has a real enthusiasm for quality wines. He opened The Wine Chambers because he had discovered how difficult it was to find good wines and was determined to bring them to the public. The Wine Chambers has an impressive stock of more than 500 wines, 100 fine whiskies as well as local beers, quality spirits, cigars and gifts. The ‘Wine Garden’ is located at the back of the traditional building, it is pretty, quiet, relaxing, and perfect for a lovely evening drink with family or friends. There is also seating at the front of this little wine sanctuary where you may sit and watch the world go by.

I have known, Linda Chambers, for many years through my all time best friend Christine and love to have a nice quiet drink in this little piece of paradise in North Shields. I have now met Ben, Linda’s son, a great character with an immense knowledge of the wine industry and would recommend anyone visiting the area to pop in. There is a corkage charge if drinking on the premises, but the atmosphere is lovely, so worth spending a few extra pennies on.

Walkies round Virginia Water

11th July, 2015 | Article By Lesley Tan

AnimalsLeisureNatureParks-GardensWalking

On a beautiful breezy morning in Surrey, my son suggested we take the dog for a walk around Virginia Water. Tilly is a beautiful, very large Laborador, with boundless energy so this place was perfect for her to have a good run-around.

Virginia Water Lake is 6 miles from Windsor town centre, at the southern end of Windsor Great Park and very near Ascot.  There is either a free car park a little way from the lake or a paying one right at the entrance.

Dogs must stay on their leads until you get past the sign post which tells you they are free to run around, and then they certainly do!  Many people bring their dog or dogs to this beautiful reservoir for their daily exercise and there are also lots of dog-walkers (with many dogs) enjoying the beautiful scenery. It is a very popular venue for joggers too. There was even an Indian Wedding Shoot taking place at the time of our visit, the couple were having photos taken sitting on a Giant Mushroom!

You can enjoy a pleasant walk around the lake, which has many things to see, including a 100 foot totem pole and part of a ruined city imported from North Africa. I was amazed with the large variety of flowering shrubs and trees, some of them towering above us and some with trunks that looked like they had been deliberately carved into strange shapes.

Tilly had a great time jumping in and out of the water as did many of the other dogs. I was impressed that not one dog challenged any other, they were all very well behaved.

The circuit around the lake is about 4.5 miles, about half is paved and half a path, both surfaces providing easy walking conditions even with a pushchair. About half way round, we came to a little clearing with an ice-cream van, this part of the lake was full of ducks and a few swans.  We didn’t go the whole way round but did a backwards semi-circle and ended the great walk with a snack and a coffee at the entrance whilst sitting in the sun. Bowls of water are also made available at this point for the dogs. Walking the dog can be as relaxing or energetic as you chose to make it, with Tilly it was definitely the latter this time round!

A lovely place to exercise, entrance is free and it is open all year round from dawn to dusk.