What Lyd Did

We all like to be beside the seaside, and SEA LIFE Blackpool takes you on a trip from the town's sandy beach down to the ocean floor in a matter of minutes. Situated on the promenade just down from the famous Coral Island arcade, and with plenty of parking right behind it, it's easy to find and access.

a dogfish lies on the bottom of a tank, while a small spotted ray swims over a pile of rocks

In the line outside there were big 2m markers, hand sanitiser available in every doorway for easy access, and reminders in the gift shop to only touch items you were likely to buy, but inside it was super difficult to social distance because the tanks just aren't laid out that way, and understandably children get excited to rush from room to room, so parents follow them.

It would definitely be helpful to have some reminders on the floor, and if you are particularly wary I'd recommend heading there on a weekday when it's likely to be quieter.

Gif showing the same jellyfish swimming in different lights and changing colour from pink to yellow to blue

a dimly lit wooden footbridge with a rustic sign reading 'DANGER: PIRANHA cross bridge at own risk'

SEA LIFE Blackpool is home to a huge array of animals, from lobsters, to rays, and even a very bizarre guitar shark. The exhibits are built so you can get as close as possible to really appreciate the beauty of each animal, with an underwater tunnel, lighting to enhance the colours and shimmer of the scales, and an immersive rainforest experience.

Something I really enjoyed about this visit was the information dotted around about SEA LIFE's conservation efforts, such as their coral breeding programme, and their amazing sanctuary for Little Grey and Little White, the beluga whales that hit the news earlier this year after they were released from an entertainment park in Shanghai. With donations from Merlin Entertainment, who own SEA LIFE and other attractions, the whales now have a perfect home in Klettsvik Bay, Iceland.

Obviously I'm no expert but I didn't feel that that care and attention translated to some of the animals within the attraction. My friends summed it up when she said 'there is education about not putting plastic in the sea, but there is plastic in all the tanks' about the numerous fake plants. She also pointed out that some tanks didn't have details about the fish inside, so it felt like they were more for decoration and didn't matter as much as the bigger animals. A lot of the tanks also seemed very small or overcrowded.

For that reason I wouldn't visit SEA LIFE myself again while it is run like this. It's a nice rainy day activity in Blackpool for children, to get them interested in the oceans and the animals within, but personally I would choose another of Blackpool's Merlin entertainments like Madame Tussaud's or The Blackpool Tower Dungeon.

Ladies, gentlemen, and those of you who are yet to make up your minds... welcome to my review of Kinky Boots The Musical, a feel good, heartwarming show based on an incredible true story of self belief and acceptance. The show is currently playing at Winter Gardens Blackpool until 12 October 2019, tickets available here.

Tickets provided in exchange for honest review.
Photo credits: Helen Maybanks.

An actor of colour wears a sparkling red dress and heels, surrounded by drag queens in red and black skimpy costumes

The Story

When his father passes away, Charlie Price reluctantly returns home to Northampton to take on his failing factory. Orders are being cancelled, business is looking bleak, and jobs are on the line, until a chance encounter with glamorous drag queen Lola leads Charlie to make kinky boots to withhold the weight of her and her angels. With the Milan trade show his chance to prove himself, can Charlie come through for the factory and his friends?

The Soundtrack

Despite being written by 80s queen Cyndi Lauper, the majority of songs were no Defying Gravity, but then again, even Elphaba would have a hard time belting out lines about brogues.

Lola's songs, on the other hand, were brilliant, with a sexy dance feel to most of them, and a real Whitney-style diva vibe to Hold Me In Your Heart. Kayi Ushe blew me away with Lola's powerful numbers and softer songs alike. Joel Harper-Jackson also hit the higher notes and key changes beautifully, and their harmony together was a highlight of the performance for me.

the factory worker cast of Kinky Boots stand on a conveyor belt, while the drag queen Angels sit on the floor downstage. Everybody is smiling and has their arms raised, they are celebrating.

The Set

The set design for Kinky Boots really caught my attention, with simple industrial pieces switching to suit every scene. I particularly loved that the factory's conveyor belt split into pieces and became a central prop for the dance routine in Everybody Say Yeah, reflecting the change and fast pace the factory was undertaking as it prepared for their new line of boots and the Milan show.

In the film factory lout Don challenges Lola to an arm wrestle but Playful Productions wisely changed this to a boxing match for the musical, which is much easier for the whole audience to see and appreciate.

The set became a boxing ring with just two pieces of rope across the central unit, and the lighting quickly flashed to imitate photography while the actors performed the show in slow motion. It was a clever, engaging way to illustrate the scene, and both the set and lighting design coloured me impressed.

a male actor of colour stands centre stage in a blue dress, hat, and heels, with drag queens either side wearing beige trench coats and heels

an actor of colour in a brown suit and tan shirt shakes hands with a white actor wearing a dark blue shirt and grey suit trousers

The Cast

Speaking of fast pace, the angels' dance routines were certainly that. Half incredible choreography, half acrobatic display, they brought so much fun and sparkle to Kinky Boots The Musical. I can honestly say this is the first show I've seen where my jaw has literally dropped, when one angel leapt high and landed in a perfect box split!

I was astounded to learn after the show that the actors playing the Angels are not full time drag performers, because they pulled it off perfectly, with help from their amazing makeup and costumes. The budget for sequins and gems in this production must have run into the thousands!

Whether in sequins as Lola or suited as Simon, Kayi Ushe was a stand out for me. The script was very similar to the film, in which Chiwetel Ejiofor portrays Lola, so it would be easy to compare the two, but Ushe developed the character for the stage beautifully, exaggerating her words and actions so she really was a larger than life queen strutting before our eyes.

Every character had an element of comedy, which is partly what made the musical so fun to watch, it felt like the audience were invited into the factory banter. The only performance that jarred for me was factory worker/Charlie's love interest, Lauren, portrayed by Paula Lane.

Having seen Lane in Coronation Street I don't doubt her talent, but the character and her songs just seemed very awkward and pantomime-esque. Maybe it was the direction, or perhaps the fact I've never been to Northampton, where the musical is set, but I struggled to understand why her accent was different to the rest of the cast, too.

the cast of kinky boots assemble in a set designed to look like a factory, raising glasses of champagne

The Summary

Kinky Boots is one of my favourite films, and I really hoped that seeing it sexed up on stage with tonnes of songs and sequins would live up to it. I'm happy to report that it did, and every piece of the performance tied together to create the perfect feel good show about acceptance and courage.

I had my own lesson in acceptance too, when I looked around and saw all kinds of people in the audience. I had wrongly assumed that middle aged men wouldn't be the target audience, but my dad came along and loved every minute just like the rest of the crowd, who packed out the seats and filled the room with roaring applause.

Have you seen Kinky Boots The Musical?

The Dungeons are a group of educational, interactive shows set in well, you guessed it, dungeons around the world, bringing the darkest stories from history to life. Most of them are in big cities like London, Berlin, and Shanghai, but I'm very proud to say that here in Lancashire we have our very own Blackpool Tower Dungeon.

My tickets to The Dungeons were compensated in exchange for honest review.

Please be aware that there may be some spoilers in this post, so if you're brave enough to dive in to The Dungeons blind feel free to hop over to my other Blackpool recommendations, but if you'd like a heads up before you head in, carry on reading.

Property of The Blackpool Dungeons

The Dungeons

Immersed in dimly lit tunnels where strange sights and sounds wait around every corner, you can easily forget you're just minutes away from a massive Primark, and a few floors from The Blackpool Tower Ballroom!

Every room sets the scene perfectly, from the doctor's office where you'll feel your skin crawl with leeches, to the Captain's secret cove. Your adrenaline will surge as the lights go out and you wait in suspense to see if you'll make it into his smuggling crew.

While nothing actually touches you or puts you in danger, The Dungeons are full of clever tricks to keep you on your toes and ramp up your heart rate. Lights will drop, creatures will jump, and somewhere through the tour you'll lose yourself in a smoky mirror maze.

The 'Creatures'

The creatures, as they are called by the tour guide, are the leaders who will show and tell their part of history. Meet the doctor, his assistant, and their leeches as they attempt to cure the plague, Judge Blackheart who will decide if you hang, and the torturer of Lancaster Castle who really does not like Yorkshire folk.

Despite repeating their lines multiple times a day, the actors don't hold back on making their creature characters as horrible and intimidating as possible. Think awkward eye contact, sudden movements, and the creepiest of smiles to really put you on the edge.

At The Dungeons, you are part of the experience, so be prepared to answer their questions and do as they say- or else. This is what makes it so much fun, especially for your friends and family as they watch you squirm.

an actress dressed as a pirate pointing at a guest in The Dungeons

Property of The Blackpool Dungeons

The Ride

Congratulations, you've survived the tour! Commiserations, you've been found guilty of being part of the infamous Pendle witches, and must hang for your crimes. If you pass the safety checks you'll be ushered to your death by an executioner and strapped firmly into a row of seats.

Your heart rate will rise with the seats as they're cranked higher and higher in a dark room, until a fiery Viking face speaks the last words you will hear, and your body suddenly drops back down to the floor with a rush of cold air.

It's exhilarating, it's frightening, and it's absolutely hilarious- though perhaps not as much as the souvenir photos that are snapped halfway through your fall.

The Red Lion

You might need a stiff drink after that shock, and luckily there is a licensed pub on site where the staff stay in character and can tell you the latest scandals and gossip of 1896. Stop by the souvenir gift shop, then raise a glass to making it out of The Dungeons alive.

I'd recommend a trip to The Blackpool Tower Dungeons to anyone, even big scaredy cats like me! The idea is that the fear adds to the fun, so you'll jump, shriek, and scream, but laugh a lot, too. There are one or two slightly cheeky jokes, but aside from that it's great for couples, friend, and even families, with a recommended age of 8 for younger visits.

Do you dare to enter The Dungeons?

My tickets were gifted in exchange for honest review.

left: black text on white background reading 'afternoon tea at the blackpool tower ballroom', right: afternoon tea on a three tier stand

The Setting

The Blackpool Tower Ballroom is famously the big location on Strictly Come Dancing every year, and always looks amazing, but it's even better in person. While the cameras keep all eyes on the dancefloor, I was able to look around to the gallery and the grand, decorated ceiling that has overlooked thousands of dances in its time.

It's a lovely piece of Lancashire's history and tourism, and a luxurious place to enjoy afternoon tea. The talented organists who play the Wurlitzer live from centre stage boost the atmosphere even further. Between them and the dancers, it really felt like stepping back to a time when dances were the place to be.

a black and white picture of dancers in a line facing away from the camera

an organist sat at the wurlitzer organ centre stage

The Dancers

I stepped into the ballroom under the impression that any of the diners could get up and give the dancing a go. What I wasn't expecting was a dancefloor full of couples who knew every song and step, and performed them perfectly!

While I felt way too shy to join in alongside such brilliant dancers, I was more than happy to sit and watch them glide around the floor. Some of them looked to be in their 80s and it was obvious from their elegance that these were dances they practised and perfected over many years.

I'm not ashamed to say I had a little tear in my eye watching them sway and step in perfect rhythm, it made for such a special experience and I'm very grateful to them for that. It has definitely made me appreciate the art of dancing more, and I have a newfound respect for the Strictly celebs who learn these dances so quickly!

The Service

Every member of staff I met at The Blackpool Tower was efficient, friendly, and just wonderful. It felt like they genuinely enjoyed their jobs, and they really helped to enhance our visit.

Francis greeted us with the warmest welcome at the door, before Leia showed us to our seats. Once we were settled our server, Bethany, introduced herself, took our drinks order, and checked over our dietary preferences, advising us to let her know if there was anything we didn't like so she could change it.

We also had the pleasure of meeting Maggie, who kindly took some snaps of us from different angles, and was always smiling when we saw her.

scones and small jars of jam on a plate, with dancers out of focus in the background

The Food

Unfortunately the low point of our visit was the afternoon tea itself. Perhaps I've been spoilt by other teas I've tried, but it was a little lacklustre, especially against the grandeur of the setting.

The sandwiches were egg mayonnaise, tuna mayonnaise, cream cheese and cucumber, and ham and cheddar, and they were fine but could have benefited from a garnish of salad or a few crisps as they looked very plain on the plate.

The scone tier was much better, with large scones full of cherries, and ample cream and jam alongside them.

Usually the cake tier is my favourite, but I wasn't impressed with the selection in the ballroom. There was a small square of rich chocolate brownie, a slice of Victoria sponge, and a berry coulis topped with synthetic cream. With jam and cream on the scone, sponge, and coulis dessert, the flavours just became repetitive and the afternoon tea would have benefited from more variety.

Both the Victoria sponge and dessert were in plastic packaging too, which suggested to me that they were bought from a food company rather than prepared fresh. I appreciate the ballroom may not have a full kitchen, but perhaps they could work with a local supplier to bring in fresh, higher quality food for their teas.

The Experience

While you can eat better afternoon teas elsewhere, it would be difficult to find one in a setting better than The Blackpool Tower Ballroom. It must have been breathtaking when it first opened in 1894, and it's still spectacular now.

You can buy tickets to visit the ballroom without having afternoon tea, so whether you're a dancer, history buff, or Strictly Come Dancing superfan, I would recommend booking in to see it for yourself.

Horwich, a tiny town just outside of Bolton, is home to lots of charity shops, beauty salons, and cafes, with Chill at The Cowshed being the most beautiful of the latter in my opinion. Shabby chic Cath Kidston-esque decor meets sleek beachy vibes to make a really lovely spot for lunching and chatting.

My mum had kindly gifted me a voucher for their afternoon tea for my birthday, so I booked in to celebrate my new job in style. Straight away I was impressed with the customer service on the phone- the lady was so polite and advised me the best time to visit for a calm afternoon where we wouldn't feel rushed.

a 3 tiered stand with sandwiches and crisps, scones and meringues, and carrot cake buns and mini jars of trifle

Arriving at Chill At The Cowshed, my boyfriend and I were shown to a table for four, which I always prefer to being squashed on a table for two. Our drinks order was taken quickly, and our afternoon tea had been prepared for our booking, so that followed shortly after.

We chose a pot of Yorkshire Tea out of the options of that, PG Tips, or americano coffees, although I do wish that cold drinks were available instead, like the pink lemonade I enjoyed at Dearden Tearooms. The mini strawberry milkshakes that came alongside the afternoon tea did make up for it a little.

When the afternoon tea arrived, it had been laid out beautifully, and both the stand, teapot, and teacups fitted in with the decor really nicely.

an old fashioned floral teacup, cups, and saucers, and two small glass milk bottles filled with pink milkshake and sauce

The sandwich layer did not float my boat. We were given cucumber and cream cheese, plain ham, plain chicken,and egg mayonnaise, and I just found the meat slices to have lumps of fat, especially the chicken one which was a processed slice rather than pieces of roast chicken, so I should have chosen the vegetarian option I was offered on booking.

Surprisingly, the scone tier was my favourite. Ordinarily I'm not keen on scones, especially fruited ones, but The Cowshed got them spot on.

Already generously sandwiched with jam, cream, and strawberries, we had no choice but to eat them like burgers rather than in halves. The scones themselves were soft and tasted really fresh, with plenty of plump raisins throughout, and the juicy strawberries on them were a really nice addition.

scones filled with strawberries and cream on a red poppy print plate beside a pale pink meringue

Alongside the scones were almond meringues sandwiched with chocolate ganache. Personally I prefer a chewy macaron with buttercream or fruit in the centre, but my boyfriend favoured the crisp meringue. They were just the right size for after the scone and before the top tier.

The top tier held a tiny jar of trifle, which was nice to see. I always appreciate something novel, and the cold jelly studded with pineapple pieces was nicely refreshing after the scones, though after all the cream in the scones I didn't need custard and cream on the trifle, too.

Carrot cake buns were also on the top tier, complete with lots of buttercream and little sugar carrots. Really I should have taken mine home as I was already stuffed, but I soldiered on and found the cake to be nice and moist with a good spice.

Overall, not the most glowing review! Perhaps I've been spoilt by the likes of The Garden Kitchen's afternoon picnic with its variety of mini dishes served on a bench, but I wouldn't go back the the Cowshed for afternoon tea.

I would, however, call in for lunch, cream tea, cake, or ice cream at their onsite parlour- providing I'm not barred if they see my review! I looked over the menu while we waited and spotted quite a few dishes I'd like to try, and the decor and atmosphere are definitely worth a second chance.

Have you got a favourite spot for afternoon tea?

a 3 tiered afternoon tea stand with sandwiches, scones, and sweets, and a cup of tea in a vintage floral cup

My What's Up series is widening its horizons! This time we're stepping out of England and putting the spotlight on Erddig, a National Trust house in Wrexham, North Wales.

My first visit was on a Spring day and I was blown away by the beauty of the place. We arrived at opening time when it was quieter and we had plenty of time to explore the lovely handmade brick outbuildings which house the old blacksmith's workshop, timber yard, and penny farthings and carriages. The stables even still house donkeys which you may be lucky enough to see and stroke!

Erddig Hall

Stepping into Erddig, I immediately felt a difference to most National Trust houses. While it is still large, grand, and full of the history, artwork, and furniture I've come to expect from such estates, there was still a homely, comfortable atmosphere. It felt like a happy home.

Although some rooms have their curtains drawn to protect the fabrics from fading in sunlight, others are bathed in natural light, and even the servants' corridor, lined with photos and handwritten stories of them, has views out over the fields.

There are still children's toys in the rooms, the chapel ceiling is painted with a prayer asking God to protect all who set foot on the estate, and the volunteers told us that the family of the house was vegetarian, which was very different for the time.

a large rectangular pond lined with trees and hedges, with a large, red brick country house at the far end. The picture is taken on a sunny day, the grass is green and the sky is clear and blue.

Erddig Gardens

I don't think there are words to describe the beauty of Erddig's gardens, but I'll certainly give it a try! The back of the house has steps leading into a walkway flanked with beds of yellow and purple flowers, and in front of that lies a huge, rectangular pond, with a walkway around it full of mint, apple trees snaking up the walls, and cherry trees in bloom.

The pond itself is home to geese, which were nesting on the banks, and friendly carp, which popped up to the surface hoping for snacks as we passed, while the walkway leads off into yet more areas to explore. A forest school for little ones to go wild, a picnic area, beehives, Victorian glasshouses, and a walled garden full of flowers.

All around the garden there are seating areas that are perfect for taking time to reflect and enjoy the beautiful settings, and a trail for children to follow to get them engaged with the plants and trees around them.

a wicker basket of brown leaf shaped cards, and another filled with paper labels, on a wooden table

Eating at Erddig

One thing is for sure, you won't go hungry at Erddig! There are plenty of picnic benches in the front pond area, main courtyard, and beside the forest school, and their own ice cream parlour, tea room, and coffee shop offering everything from snacks to full, hot meals.

On our visit they were all understandably very busy so we drove to nearby Llangollen, which is full of eateries, for lunch, and I couldn't write this post without recommending you pop into the Courtyard Cafe if you're in town. They served the most delicious freshly baked bread I've ever eaten!

After my visit, I can see Erddig becoming one of my favourite National Trust properties, and somewhere I'll visit in every season. The garden looks truly gorgeous in Spring, but I can imagine Erddig Hall is lovely at Christmas too. If you'd like to see more of my days out, make sure to follow me on Instagram, as I often post them in my stories.

What's your favourite National Trust property?

My food and drink at Red's True Barbecue were provided in exchange for honest review.

My sister has raved over Red's True Barbecue many times, but it never seemed like my kind of place. I tend to choose carb based dishes instead of meaty meals, so I was intrigued to read that Red's were launching some lighter plant based and fish options, making the menu inclusive for vegans, veggies, pescatarians, and religious diets alike.

The new discoveries, as I learned on my trip to the Manchester branch, are the findings of an annual trip the team makes to America, to taste what's new on the barbecue circuit and even compete themselves. Their passion even helped them to earn the title of 1st place outside the US!

Atmosphere

Stepping into the restaurant, I definitely noticed that it's a casual, fun place to eat. The interior is dark and industrial, with wall features made of neon lights. The table we were seated at was part of a spacious room off the main dining area, so despite being dark, it didn't feel cramped or unpleasant, it just made for a different experience.

Although the vibe is casual, the service wasn't rushed or half hearted. Every member of the team was excited to talk to us, and the servers were polite, friendly, and happy to tell us their own favourites.

Drinks

I may be teetotal but it's still nice to have a 'treat' drink when I'm out, and the mocktails at Red's left me spoilt for choice. I tried their Berry Mojito and Hawai-Tai, which combined red bull with passionfruit syrup, and both were fruity, sugary, and utterly delicious.

If you like your drinks with a kick, there are boozy malt shakes or an extensive range of cocktails, including a black cherry slushie for an adult twist on a childhood favourite.

Starters

Before my visit, I had never considered myself a rib person. They're usually just too much faff for such little meat, but the ribs at Red's were actually my favourite starter! Thanks to the low, slow smoking the bone just slid straight out and the fat was soft and melty, not chewy.

The same applied to the pork belly, something I usually avoid, but the honey glazed crackling was surprisingly good, and I especially liked the crunchy mixed slaw served alongside it. It was lightly dressed with balsamic vinegar rather than mayonnaise, allowing it to cut through the richness of the pork.

Veggies can tuck into garlic mushrooms on toast or jackfruit nuggets for their starters. The toast with was soggy and spongy so I didn't enjoy that, but I was super excited to try the popcorn. I've never had jackfruit before so figured that a restaurant that knows their barbecue would be the best place to taste it, and Red's didn't let me down.

Rather than being pulled to emulate pork, chunks of jackfruit are baked then coated in a light, seasoned batter, and served with a zingy roasted red pepper and tomato dip that complemented it perfectly.

Mains

The new mains cater for everyone, with grilled salmon and an Alabama fish sandwich, a superfood plate and meat-free tray, and Memphis pork belly served with bacon and garlic kale to mention just a few.

My favourite from the selection I tried has to be the new Moving Mountains vegan burger, which you can add pulled jackfruit to. I'd heard great things about this soy based burger and it met my expectations. The patty had a true barbecue burger taste, and the inside was juicy while the outside had crisped up to deliver a good mix of textures in every bite. I also felt it was lighter on the stomach than your average burger.

The new sides offer lighter options too, with charred broccoli and baby gem lettuce with chimichurri joining the line up alongside barbecue treats like pit beans and fries topped with pulled pork and chipotle cream. Personally I felt these sides just made the meal too meat heavy so it was great to have fresh and flavourful vegetables instead.

Overall

The menu is large and varied, but the dishes are developed by true barbecue lovers rather than churned out by a chain. Too often the token veggie dish is a boring bean burger, but times are changing, and in my opinion the plant based dishes at Red's True Barbecue were the best of the bunch. They were not an afterthought, but well considered dishes that would satisfy anybody, whether you're a full time veggie, flexitarian, or just fancy something new.

Which dishes would you choose?

After successfully setting up shop in Altrincham and Bramhall, the team at Tre Ciccio (pronounced 'tray keech-ee-o') decided to come to Ramsbottom, a tiny town I love to visit. Their mission? To bring an authentic taste of Italy to Manchester, inspired by their own excellent experience at La Terrazza, a family run restaurant in Calvanico.

I was invited to dine at Tre Ciccio in exchange for an honest review.

First Impressions

My first thought was 'wow, this is like the TARDIS!'. What was a little old stone building has been brought to life with a mix of old and new, cosy and contemporary. The outside is in keeping with the street and town, but inside you'll see a sleek bar, suspended exposed bulbs and a spacious upper level, combined with traditional stone floors and a mural of fruit and loaves on the wall.

We were taken to a warm, cosy corner with a fair size table -I hate feeling cramped- and quickly given time to peruse the menu. I was pleasantly surprised to see that it didn't list 20 kinds of pasta, burgers, and risottos, but was condensed into a smaller selection of fresh and interesting options.

a plate with a pile of dough rolls, and a wooden basket containing pieces of garlic bread

a wooden basket containing pieces of garlic bread with bubbles and black char marks from the wood fired oven

To Start

I'm not usually much of a bread eater, but for starters we plumped for rotolini and schiacciata, and I'm very glad we did. The rotolini, whirls of mozzarella and ham in pizza dough, are something of a Tre Ciccio speciality and proved to be very popular on the night both with the diners around us and my boyfriend. I personally preferred the schiacciata; to call it 'just' a garlic bread would be an injustice, this was the garlic bread of the Gods.

One of the lovely members of the team had explained that the dough is a Neapolitan recipe that is very wet, resulting in a lighter bake that is chewy but not tough nor heavy on the stomach, and the schiaccata showed it off perfectly. The dough was beautifully fresh and yeasty, with a smoky flavour from the wood oven, and just the right amount of flaky salt and garlic. It made simple ingredients into something sensational, setting the tone for the rest of the meal.

a large black dish with steaming pieces of chicken and potatoes in a tomato sauce

The Main Event

Since we'd already had a taste of Tre Ciccio's divine dough, we decided on something different for our main: a roast chicken and potato bake to share. There were 4 varieties to choose from, all using locally sourced chicken.

We opted for polla alla cacciatore, or hunter's style chicken with rosemary, olives, and mushrooms. In all honesty I thought just chicken and potatoes might be a bit boring, but I had to eat my words because this dish was utterly delicious. I don't even like olives but I found myself searching for more in the bowl because they worked so well with the other flavours. Even the potatoes had absorbed the cooking juices and become so tasty and moist.

To accompany our main Claudia, our bubbly server, suggested we tried the broccoli stems wilted with parmesan cheese. While I wasn't a huge fan, it was lovely to try something new and authentically Italian. It felt like we were enjoying the same meal a family in Tuscany might sit down to, as opposed to the same old passata laden pasta you'd find in a chain.

To Finish

As soon as we saw the menu my boyfriend guessed I would choose the torta al cioccolato,and he was right. What can I say? I'm a creature of habit and a chocolate fiend, and the sound of the pistachio gelato served alongside it sealed the deal.

My first few bites of the ganache filling the pastry were too rich and dark even for me, but when I let the creamy, nutty gelato melt over it I found that they were a match made in heaven. If you're looking for a lighter dessert, try the rhubarb panna cotta, but if, like me, you love something indulgent, you must try this.

Meanwhile, he made short week of his apple and pear crumble, which was served in the same light pastry case as my tart. He said that the pear helped to sweeten the apple, and commented on how smooth the vanilla gelato was.

Overall

Tre Ciccio is the place to go if you want something different, something fresh. When you see Italian chefs on television turning a few quality ingredients into a mouthwatering meal, that is exactly what you taste.

It isn't the cheapest but not ridiculous, and the prices are very fair for generous portions of such lovely food. In fact, our main was £26.95 for the 2 of us and we couldn't finish it, so the waiter kindly offered to box it up, meaning Tre Ciccio wasn't wasting food and I got to enjoy it all over again for lunch the next day.

While the menu was different to a Britalian restaurant, so was the atmosphere. There was definitely a buzz of excitement, and the team were constantly moving between tables to deliver food and menus or check on the diners, but from our cosy corner it didn't feel hectic at all.

Everyone was looked after, and even with the restaurant full, the owners and servers found time to say hello and tell us more about the menu. It was obvious that they were excited about bringing their business to Ramsbottom, and I'm excited to have that garlic bread right around the corner.

What is your favourite Italian dish?

'What's Up' is a very fitting title for this post, because one of the main reasons to visit the Cumbrian town of Ulverston is Hoad Hill, and its lighthouse-like monument. We visited this weekend and couldn't have asked for a better day. Beautifully clear blue skies, sunshine, and a bitter breeze that was most welcome after the short climb to the top.

The walk starts through Ford Park, a setting that is obviously well used and much loved within the local community. They have a woodland trail, a main hall where classes such as seated yoga are held, a courtyard cafe, and perhaps the cutest garden I've ever seen. Tucked at one end, through what looks like a fairy door, is a tiny wedding chapel, while the other end has a modern room built for childrens' activities. Evidence of the crafting is found all around the garden, with Alice in Wonderland themed suncatchers, big knitted bees, scarecrows, and even a papier mache dog faithfully guarding it all.

I'm wearing a yellow coat and sat on a rock formation up Hoad Hill, with green field and Morecambe Bay behind me

left: a suncatcher showing hoad hill monument, with the real hill and monument in the background behind it. Right: a paper model of a black and white border collie

a tree bearing knitted fruits in ford park, ulverston

I'm wearing a yellow coat and standing in front of a small blue door set in an old stone wall

From the garden you can take a number of trails to the top or stop at the benches along the way and enjoy the view across to Morecambe Bay. The path we took was pretty steep in some parts, but we took it steady and reached the monument in around 20 minutes. The monument was closed that day but frankly I was thrilled not to climb any more steps, and more than happy to gaze out at the town, the rolling hills, and right across to Morecambe- after snapping some obligatory shots, of course.

If you'd like to see more of Ulverston you could take a different trail down from the monument, but we chose to travel a little further afield to somewhere altogether unusual. A 10 minute drive from Ford Park will take you to Conishead Priory, a Buddhism and World Peace centre tucked out in the countryside. As we turned down the driveway, I certainly didn't expect to see a temple adorned in gold rising over the hedges, but the peaceful, natural setting is really the perfect place for reflection and respect for the Earth.

conishead priory buddhist temple: a large grey building sat in a garden. It has pillars, floor-to-ceiling windows, and golden statues on the roof

I'm sitting at a sunny table outdoors wearing a dark blue jumper and eating a piece of cake

conishead priory- a huge, ornate Victorian building built in red brick with beige window surrounds

The centre is surrounded by its own woodland, which leads to a shoreline. We skimmed stones, searched for 'treasure' (sea glass and shells) then wandered back through the wood, working up an appetite for the world cafe where vegetarian food is quite literally made and served with love. The monks run it all and treat every visitor so kindly, making it a very calm and positive place to refuel. I chose a cheese scone and raspberry lemonade, and sat in the sunshine to enjoy it before going to visit the temple itself.

I had never been to a temple before, and loved that the glass doors let in the sunlight and beautiful views of the garden. The statues and images were brightly coloured, and it was surprising to see that the offerings left to them included quinoa puffs, shortbread, and chocolate brioche- these deities have good taste! While the area was sacred, it was also very welcoming, with guests being invited to join in meditation sessions. I chose not to, but soaking up the atmosphere from the people and natural soundings was enough to leave me feeling blissful.

Have you visited Ulverston? For more Cumbria inspiration and inspiration read about my break in the lakes.

Oh I do like to be beside the seaside, I do like to be beside the sea, so when I was offered tickets to see The British Musical Fireworks Championship in Southport, of course I jumped at the chance and decided to make a little trip of it so I could show Boy all the best bits of one of my favourite places.

We arrived around lunchtime so our first port of call was filling our rumbly tums. Nostalgia Tearooms is popular with older clientele but being a granny myself I really enjoy sitting in the sun and enjoying the homely food that's served by waitresses who wear proper frilly aprons and caps to match the vintage tearoom vibe. The staff are really friendly and their potato hash (or 'tater ash' if you're truly Northern) reminds me of my nana.

a wooden walkway with lampposts going over a lake

Full of food, we decided to walk it off, and walk we did, totalling 19,797 steps that day! There are loads of good places to stretch your legs in Southport. First we strolled through the park, which has fountains, swans, a miniature railway, a fab children's playground, and even pedalos to take around the lake in Summer. Sadly they weren't out when we visited- much to Boy's relief. If you have children and a picnic you could easily spend hours in the park alone.

Since we have neither sprogs nor picnic, we ventured on to the beach, crunching razor clam shells and hunting for sea glass and other treasures the shore washed in, then followed the steps up to the pier. Despite visiting many times, this was one attraction I'd somehow missed. At the end is a little cafe-come-arcade with all sorts of old games, and on a clear day you can see right over to Wales and The Lake District. It was breezy but so peaceful to just sit there and watch the world go by.

A trip to the seaside almost always calls for ice cream, and with an even bigger walk in mind I decided it was high time to refuel with a chilly treat from Rossi's on Neville Street. Their homemade ice cream is rich, luxurious, and our Maltesers and chocolate orange cones were both delicious- I was very sad when some of mine dripped while I was absentmindedly stroking a stray cat!

a flock of geese lifting off from a marsh beside a pond

The big walk I had planned was a short drive away, over on the RSPB marshes and bird reserve. Purely by chance our visit coincided with the migration of the many hundreds of geese who had flocked there, ready to take off to warmer climates. All day and night we saw (and heard) them flying overhead. It was a sight to behold, but one that made me quite sad, as I worried some might not make it there or back. I began to feel the same way about us as we walked out on the salt marshes, spotting dog prints in the sticky mud, crabs in the murky pools, and samphire sprouting by the path. If you need time and space to think, this is the place to be. The walk is very quiet and calm, but also feels very long, so be sure to wear your comfiest shoes.

After a shower and tea break back at our guest house, it was time to wrap up and head to Victoria Park (yep, another park) to see those famous fireworks. Apparently they're something of a tradition, and judging from the thousands of people lining the park and streets, one that's well loved in the town. Sadly I think that raised my expectations a bit too high. There were two displays on the night, the first of which was amazing, with fireworks twirling and trailing sparkles overhead to a soundtrack including The Greatest Showman, Whitney Houston, and a speech from Stephen Hawking that made me quite emotional. The second display was Rocky themed and unfortunately fell victim to a few technical hitches. While I appreciated the beauty of the fireworks, I felt that both shows were quite short and I left thinking "was that it?". Like the park, perhaps this is something best enjoyed by families who can experience the wonder through their children's eyes. My advice is to enjoy the atmosphere and make the most of it- take children/nieces/nephews/young siblings, put glitter on their faces, feed them a few doughnuts, and watch them have a ball singing and dancing along.

The next morning I woke up with the lovechild of a sinus infection and flu so I'm afraid we did cut our trip short, but '22 hours in Southport' doesn't have quite the same ring to it. We stopped off at Dobbie's garden centre, which has a great cafe, farm shop, and seasonal displays, but my original plan was to drive 10 minutes over to Churchtown. This little village has gorgeous botanic gardens with a mini farm, lovely pubs to lunch in, adorable old buildings and shops, and even a Peaky Blinders themed bar! I'd highly recommend a visit if you're in the area.

Where would be your favourite place to spend 24 hours?

My tickets for the British Musical Fireworks Championships were compensated in exchange for honest review.

"Let's go to the Royal Armouries" they said.

"It's not all armour, they've got a bit of everything!" they said.

'They' refers to my mother, and 'they' were very wrong, as I found out for myself when I visited the museum on Saturday.

The museum is a few minutes from the motorway, right next to Leeds dock and just around the corner from an (expensive) car park. As we arrived there was a wetsuit-clad crowd preparing to dive into the canal itself as part of a triathlon- not something I would do on any Saturday morning, let alone a chilly September one! Luckily I could watch them through the museum cafe's floor to ceiling windows while I warmed up with a hot chocolate.

A knight on a stuffed grey horse, both wearing armour

hundreds breastplates, tunics, spears, guns, and swords hung in rows on white walls

Sufficiently sugar fuelled, we began to explore the museum. The first exhibit is possibly the most amazing of all, and a really innovative example of design. The staircase leading to the other floors wraps around a tunnel which is hung with hundreds of pieces of armour and weaponry on the inside. Directly beneath it is a sort of table with raised mirrors, each facet reflecting the artefacts above it.

Climbing the stairs themselves, we reached a floor where we could see the pieces close up, read their descriptions, and find full suits of armour. It was at this point that I suddenly realised that these were real tools of wars and battles that had most likely injured or even killed real people, which was quite unsettling. There were such detailed, intricate designs, incredible engineering, and even examples of how swords were created hundreds of years ago, and it made me quite angry to think that humankind created weapons of torture and destruction before electricity, vehicles, and even vaccines.

I appreciated that the museum made me think more deeply about what was in front of me, and visitor engagement was encouraged throughout. There were virtual reality helmets where you could see through the tiny eye slits of the helmets, and stations to watch and listen to films depicting battles. To further bring them to life, there was a wall hung with pieces like a bill, a mace, and a dagger, which triggered a knight to explain how they could hurt him when they were touched. Not only was this exciting for younger visitors, I liked that it was a good way for visitors with impaired vision to feel for themselves and hear a description. The sensory element continued through the use of light scents in certain exhibits, such as a cinnamon and clove fragrance in an area paying mention to the spice trade.

Currently the museum puts the focus on a different legend each weekend, such as Mulan and Boudicca. This weekend was all about Arjuna the Warrior Prince, and children were invited to watch an animated film, create their own crowns, and watch a storytelling performance from a lady in traditional Indian dress. It wasn't a story I had heard as a child, so it was fantastic to see visitors of all backgrounds learning it, and of course it was a brilliant way to entertain the children.

3 pictures lined vertically. 1: a knight on a brown horse, both in armour, 2: a miniature battlefield seen from above, 3: a recreation terracotta warrior and horse

The Royal Armouries really does cover all areas, encompassing everything relating to armour under one roof. Aside from weapons and legends of the past, the museum touched on modern day, with exhibits for anti-war, including arms being made into art, crime and the battle against guns, and even a little case on the swords from Lord of The Rings! Despite every artefact relating to violence, I felt that the curators had done a really good job of presenting the information without making it upsetting or fearsome, which is further helped by the building itself being spacious and bright, and visitors speaking normally instead of in hushed museum tones.

I hate to say this, because entry was free and I really do appreciate what the museum do, but by the end I was all armoured out and very, very bored. We were there for 4 hours, lunch included, and each sword and breastplate began to look the same. It's so worth a visit, but unless you are a huge history or battle buff, I'd suggest either taking a lunch break in one of the two cafes or picnic area, or skipping sections altogether. The only one I'm sad to have missed is the crossbow range, where, for a small charge, you can give the bows a go- a sure fire way to pack some action into your visit!

Would you visit Royal Armouries?

Not to be hipster here, but my sister was in love with llamas and alpacas long before they were plastered on, oh, everything, so a few years back I bought her a llama walk, and for my birthday she returned the favour and gifted me an alpaca walk experience.

a girl with auburn hair holds a dark brown alpaca on a lead

The alpacas live in the children's zoo at Walton Hall and Gardens in Warrington, Cheshire, and from the moment we arrived we were taken aback by how lovely a setting it is. The children's playground is immaculate, with varied and inclusive equipment, and the zoo is home to all kinds of animals, many of them rescues.

left: a male peacock sits on the roof, right: a black and white rabbit in his hutch

The animals we were there to see were Topaz, Jim, and Malbec, a trio of adorable alpacas. With temperatures in the 30s lately, I was worried that it would be too hot for them to walk, but we soon saw that they had been sheared and even given paddling pools to chill out. They're only taken out a maximum of 3 times a week, and always at quiet times to keep it as fun for them as it is for the visitors. We gave them leaves as a peace offering, slipped their harnesses on, and set out with keeper, Peter, alongside us.

Peter was really friendly and laidback, telling us all about the alpacas and their friends, the grounds, and the hall itself. It was given to the people of Warrington to enjoy and it totally fulfils its purpose. Not only is the hall a stunning wedding venue (and alpaca photo backdrop), there are formal gardens, crazy golf, and a huge pond filled with turtles and koi carp. It's a shame I don't live closer because it's such a relaxing, well kept place to visit.

The alpacas were so fun to walk, as they generally stayed calm and gentle but showed us their personalities as they grew used to us. Jim, the multicolour one, was the cheekiest of the trio and even had a quick bite of the flowers on my sleeves! They certainly enjoyed seeing the sights and nibbling at everything in reach, treating their walk as one big buffet. They loved throwing themselves into bushes to scratch their backs, and quite a few dog owners and visitors loved spotting us strolling down the paths.

Both of us loved the experience, and it's definitely one we won't forget in a hurry.

What would you name an alpaca?

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