V Day

Mr Owl and I are always happy to use any small reason as an excuse to cook something nice/appropriate and drink something bubbly - this is at a 'Tonight's film is set in Italy?  Lets cook pasta and drink prosecco' level of reasons - so Valentine's Day provides the perfect opportunity to indulge this habit. We're both big fish lovers so decided to make a day out of driving to the best fishmonger's we have found down in Manchester ( all recommendations for fishmonger's welcome) and seeing what we could get. Seems we weren't the only people to have thought of this and it was pretty busy, but we still manged to get some lovely fat scallops and a nice piece of hake!

The scallops we pan fried wrapped in pancetta and served on a small salad with black pudding and a balsamic dressing!

The hake we cooked according to a Rick Stein recipe- Hake en Papillote. This was super easy to do but looked pretty damn fancy. We had to do our own sun-blushed (oven roasted) tomatoes and tapenade to go with. The tapenade was amazing- incredibly simple to make and an amazing flavour. We had already started planning other dishes to use it on before we finished eating.

To drink we started with a Sainsbury's Taste the Difference Vintage Cava. This was surprisingly good, we both love the TtD Vintage Champagne but decided to save the pennies and try the cava. I totally recommend it. To go with the meal we had another TtD wine - a Sancerre. Again this was excellent, if I were Jilly Goolden I would be muttering about mangoes and tropical fruit...

After all the fancy we finished it off with a custard slice- guaranteed to taste good and a fraction the price of most other puds!
I hope you all had a nice Valentine's Day in whatever way you choose to celebrate it.

Little Owl 

 

To blog or not to blog

If anyone were to read this, they would realise that I haven't posted for a while, over 6months in fact. I am still not sure that I want to start doing this again, and have been trying to decide one way or the other. I think half the problem is that I didn't start this with totally the right intentions. It began initially as a fashion thang! I had come across WIWT (What I Wore Today) set up by Poppy Dinsey. The idea was that she posted what she wore every day to try and encourage her to make the most of her large wardrobe.  I was inspired by this as I also have far too much stuff and yet seem to live in the same few pieces. When she extended the website out for members, I decided to join in to see if it would help me to wear more of my own stuff. (I didn't tell anyone I had done this, at my age I felt a little daft and wasn't sure I would keep it up.) This had a few effects: 1- deciding what to wear each day became massively more stressful, as the other users could comment and approve it and I had to remember to photo myself. 2 - I realised I enjoyed writing the comments under the outfits more than what I was wearing,  3- I found blogs as other users put links to theirs up.
Naturally most of the blogs I started reading were fashion ones, and I was surprised at the feedback the bloggers got, not to mention the freebies, despite the fact they were just taking pictures of their outfits and adding some, often badly spelt, text underneath (yes I realise I am opening myself up to having every spelling and grammar error I make pointed out to me!). I decided I could get in on this too, after all I had far too many clothes and could use my husband's DSLR to take some decent photos, plus I was fighting multiple health issues so this gave me something new to focus on.

So as I said, my intentions were not the purest it was more just to prove that I could do this. Well it turns out that trying to think of  new 'on trend' outfits and then fitting in time to photograph them in interesting locations to create a beautiful fashion shoot-esque post is bloody hard work and exhausting. The more I looked at other people's blogs for inspiration the more pathetic mine seemed. I tried mixing in travel and food etc to embrace the 'lifestyle' trend but when you have spent an hour making a cake only to realise you forgot to photograph half the stages you begin to lose the will to care let alone have the time to make it all over again. This coincided with a lot of people on the blogs I was still reading talking about the meaning of blogging, why people do it and if we should do it.
When a week of no post slid into 2 weeks and then a month I admitted defeat and decided I wasn't cut out for this blogging thing- and anyway don't we all overshare too much these days anyway etc etc.

Despite this I continued to read blogs and found myself thinking how things I did would make a good post, so after too many Negronis in the New Year I swore I would give it another go, seeing as it is now mid-Feb you can see how successful at resolutions I am! Nontheless here I am and this time there are a few basic rules to keep me sane:

Outfits- I am not a trendy waif like 20something (despite all my wishes) who hits up Topshop every weekend for the latest outfits. So no more posts where I do my hair and makeup and photo a new outfit of the day, before washing it all off and putting my joggy bottoms and hoodie back on. If I wear something I like maybe I will share it.

Food- No Macaroons, they don't taste good and surely no one would ever choose them over a large slice of cake!?

Lifestyle- more real life and less stylised life. This might make for dull reading, but it will be truthful.

I guess this could all be summed up as honesty. If I keep this up I want it to be something I can look back through and remember the weekend I spent on the sofa with a box set and southern fried chicken not wonder why I was wearing high heels and a dress in the middle of winter in the woods.
Let's see if it lasts or if I lose interest again.

 

Little Owl 

Scotland: Ballamory

Ok so it is really Tobermory but it is where the children's TV program was filmed and is the reason many people visit- our interest was slightly more whisky based! The ferry runs from Oban to Craignure on the Isle of Mull and from there the local bus connects to the ferry to run you up to Tobermory. We caught the mid-morning ferry along with every tourist in west Scotland (or so it felt) but once onboard there was plenty of space. The trip over doesn't take that long and is very pretty, you get a lovely view of Oban, out past the old castle and then the lighthouse, although even in the sunshine it was fairly chilly in the wind.

Tobermory did not disappoint with the little harbor of brightly painted houses curving around the bay. We had booked a tour of the distillery for the afternoon, so meantime took a gentle stroll right around admiring the view and nosing in  the many little independent shops. The sea air had its usual effect so we stopped off for lunch at the cafe in the old church to share a prawn sandwhich and a lovely large slice of tiffin to help line our stomachs before the distillery tour.

Understandably we weren't allowed to take photos inside the distillery but the tour was excellent and very interesting. The video at the start was a little cheesy but didn't last long. We were then guided through the whole whisky making process from the drying of the barley through to the finished product. Our guide was very informative and entertaining and more than happy to answer questions. The tour finished up with a dram of their standard single malt, though for a small extra fee you could also taste the Ledaig (leycheck)- which of course we did! After all this tasting Mr Owl then convinced me we needed to buy a bottle to add to our existing whisky collection, and some whisky tablet, and a hat! Even if you aren't a whisky drinker, or even a drinker, then the tour is very interesting and gives an insight into one of Scotland's most famous industries. I certainly appreciate it even more (was this possible?) now I know more about the whole process.

Internally warmed we climbed back on to the bus to connect to the return ferry. All in a fantastic day out in a very picturesque setting!

Surf 'n' Turf

Love of good food is one of the things that Mr Owl and I have in common, and while in Oban we had to try out a few of the amazing local restaurants, in particular we were thinking of the seafood. So one evening we headed down to the Waterfront Fishouse. Admittedly from the outside, tucked away down an alley by the ferry terminal, you're not sure what to expect, but once upstairs the restaurant is beautifully decorated and has a fantastic view out across the port! If you can get a window seat then I recommend it.
We started off well, with both of us deciding to have oysters, provided freshly from the Caledonian Oyster Company. We went for a mix with 3 classic oysters with lemon and tabasco and 3 grilled with balsamic and honey pig cheeks. I still prefer the classic raw oyster with lemon and a tiny splash of tabasco but the grilled ones were also lovely, so good in fact that I forgot to take a photo until after the fact!

 

 

 

 

However our fishy resolve fell apart when it came to the main course. How could we resist a dish called the 'Black and Blue Murder Burger'?  The description from the menu is "Argyll wild venison burger on a brioche bun with cabbage slaw and topped with black pudding and melting blue murder cheese served with fishouse fries and bacon jam." We both caved in and ordered one of these.

 

 

 

They tasted amazing but were incredibly filling, meaning we were forced to share the chocolate and salted caramel tart to finish, although we did manage a Gaelic coffee too! If you are going to be in Oban then I would highly recommend this restaurant, they had a really good choice of food and it doesn't get better than watching the sun set while enjoying a great meal.



Scotland: Seafari

A friend had partly suggested Oban because of the many things we could do e.g. going out to view wildlife and then she mentioned the whirlpool! As a big Enid Blyton fan growing up I had read the Rubadub Mystery so the thought of an actual whirlpool won me over. A quick google later and we had found Seafari, based out of Easdale just down the road (in Scottish terms) from Oban, so we booked ourselves onto the Corryvrecken Wildlife tour on the Tuesday afternoon. You go out on an open Rigid hulled Inflatable Boat (RIB) and they provide all waterproofs! I had prepared myself for a cold wet day with no sightings at all, but we were in luck. The sun was shining and it was lovely and warm. However this made getting into our extra layers and waterproofs a slightly more hot and awkward experience!

All kitted up we climbed into the boat and set off. Once out of the harbour our driver Steve showed us just what the RIB could do- I would go back and pay again just to be driven around on that boat (or even better to be able to drive it)- but if you don't like flying over the waves at high speed while hanging onto the chair in front then maybe this isn't the trip for you. The trip runs out from Easdale and then down and around the island of Scarba and back up again. The wildlife you see will depend largely on luck but can include dolphines, whales, porpoise, otters, basking sharks and a whole host of birds. The sun was shining (literally) on us. We started off with seals, both common and grey basking on the rocks. We then headed down to a Sea Eagle nest only to find that the chick was sat up in it, this was then topped by a sighting of an otter, which is not that common. He wasn't that close to the boat but we could watch him with the binoculars as he dove and floated on his back. Scarba itself has a large deer population which obliged us by standing around on the hills and posing dramatically against the skyline in an almost cliched pose! When a large bird was spotted circling above I thought the suggestion of 'Golden Eagle' was a joke, but no it really was! We watched it circling above the hill and when it dived you could see the beautiful plumage that give it its name. The wildlife was finished off by a pod of porpoises circling around the boat! My only disappointment on the trip was that the whirlpool wasn't whirling. It is not a constant feature and depends on the tides and water levels and sadly our luck wasn't in. However after the amazing wildlife we didn't really mind, and it gives us an excuse to go back and do it all again.
If anyone is heading up to Oban then I would highly recommend this trip, the price is very reasonable for an amazing day out. Easdale itself was stunningly beautiful and I would recommend just going down there to see it. On the way back to Oban we stopped at Seil bridge to take some photos and just admire the view which was worth the trip in itself!

Scotland: Oban

After our time in Glasgow we were swapping the city for the coast and spending the rest of the week in Oban. The drive up to Oban from Glasgow is lovely in itself, right along the shores of Loch Lomond. We had picked up some sarnies in advance and stopped for an 'in car picnic' overlooking the Loch in the sunshine - well it was warm at least!

Oban itself is a small town right on the coast and styles itself as the Seafood Capital of Scotland, which admittedly was one of our main motivations for choosing it. I had been struggling to find any accommodation at short notice until the lovely people at Glenburnie Hotel said that they had a self catering apartment available for a very reasonable price. It even had off road parking which pleased Mr Owl! Admittedly the outside of the block was nothing special, but once inside the flat was lovely. All newly redecorated with a modern kitchen and bathroom, large lounge, diner and double bedroom tucked away quietly on the back. Undoubtedly the best feature was the bay window looking out over the harbour, where we could watch the ferries coming and going as the sun set.  Having unpacked we headed out to explore Oban and collect some fish and chips (scampi for me) for tea. At some point we started the tradition of having a bottle of something bubbly at the start of our holidays or weekends away, and unsurprisingly it goes with everything, including the fish and chips! A great start to our stay in Oban.

Scotland: Glasgow Part II

Our full day in Glasgow was a Sunday and we were up with our fast broken a good hour or so before anywhere opened. We had planned to start the day taking the subway to Kelvingrove Museum, but a quick google maps consultation suggested we should be able to walk out to it taking in a few more sights along the way- so comfy shoes on we set off. We headed along Sauchiehall Street (Sock-e-hall) past the remains of the Glasgow School of Art. Sadly the air around it still smelt burnt and it was largely cordoned off. I would love to have seen it whole as it looked like a beautiful building. We were amazed how many impressive buildings and churches we saw just on our stroll out and the striking difference between the tenements of Glasgow and the little terraces of Manchester.

We got to Kelvingrove just as the drizzle started so were pleased to take cover inside. Lots of the reviews I had read said it was worth visiting just for the building itself and they weren't wrong. The exterior is pure victorian gothic with towers and sweeping entrance stairs while main hall that you come into was beautiful and imposing. The main hall was similar to the National History Museum in London, but with no dinosaurs in the way so you could really appreciate its size and design.

However not only did the museum look good, but it contained a wide variety of displays, varying from natural history, weaponry and local history through to modern art. Their most famous exhibit (apart from Sir Roger the stuffed elephant) is a Salvador Dali of Christ on the Cross. It is a beautiful painting and also quite eerie.

After Kelvingrove we explored the center of Glasgow further until eventually the rain really started and we had to take refuge in the many bars and pubs. We started in the Butterfly and Pig on Bath St. This was the sister bar from the night before, though we were disappointed to find it didn't stock the same wide range of ales and beer. It had a nice atmosphere however and was a welcome escape from the rain in their large comfy sofas. We then carried on down to Vespbar. This bar was spread out over several levels and had a very retro fifties diner feel to it. The emormous pizzas that we saw going past looked amazing as well, definitely one I would come back to.

Having lined our stomachs with a quick burrito at Juan Chihuahuas we finished up at the Pot Still for a wee dram. This bar boasts over 600 whiskies and requires very agile bar staff to fish them all down from the shelves. I loved that all the pubs in Scotland had a little water tap on the bars so you can water your whisky to your own taste. I had a Singleton which was very tasty though nothing remarkable (my memory here might not be entirely reliable so apologies to any Singleton fans) and Mr Owl had a Dalmore which was very tasty. It was the perfect end to a great day in Glasgow, I just wish we had more time there, but the coast was beckoning.