Beaulieu National Motor Museum A Must See

I have always loved cars for as long as I can remember and in particular my toy cars were my pride and joy.I was devastated when my toy cars were given away without my permission! I was gutted and I’m still gutted to this day I miss my toy cars !!My favourite car was the James Bond Lotus Espirit from the Spy who loved me and talking of Ian Flemming the author of the James Bond Books he also wrote Chitty Chitty Bang Bang .






Ian Fleming once said: “Never say no to adventures. Always say yes, otherwise you’ll lead a very dull life.”







You can see this much loved car Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at Beaulieu car museum which is a must for a throughly enjoyable day out in the area of the New Forest.

Myself and my husband were kindly invited to Beaulieu and my husband was equally thrilled as he hadn't been back since he was a a small child ( well children are generally small ! )

The charming village of Beaulieu stands at the head of the Beaulieu River and is home to
National Motor Museum and you can have a great family day out here At the National Motor Museum you can see over 250 stunning vehicles on display from every motor here,rnaging from some of the World's most iconic land Speed record breakers to motoring oddities such as a giant orange on wheels.



New for 2018 is The Luxury of Motoring with the glittering centrepiece of 28 stunning Lalique glass car mascot on show together for the first time.The new gallery showcases a selection of the worlds most luxurious cars ever built and tells the story of their design, the people who owned them and the chauffeurs who drove them.Spanning the golden age of luxury motoring to today's aspirational cars,preceptions of taste and class are themes that are explored though a range of fascinating objects, films and rarely seen images from the National Motor museum Trust's archives.

There are many special museum displays which include For Britain & For The Hell Of It featuring Beaulieu 's iconic Land Speed Record cars, also there is The Motor Cycle Story which takes you on a journey through motorcycling history. Grand Prix Greats and Road , race and Rally which features F1 rallying, trails and drag racing exhibits, as well as clothing, trophies ,photographs,film and video of both track and road racing from its beginning to the present day.

My husband in particular loved Jack Tucker's Garagewhich secrets the sights, sounds and smells of a typical country garage from the 1930s.As a Doctor Who fan I loved that they had Doctor Who's car Bessie on display , other On screen Cars include Del Boy's Reliant Robinl as featured in the BBC sitcom Only Fools and Horses and the flying Ford Anglia used during the filming of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.

World of Top Gear has had a make over to reflect the changes it has gone through , and it was recently relaunched by Top Gear presenter Chris Harris.We are avid viewers of Top Gear and the exhibits are bang up to date including the impressive Ssangyachct built from the world's ugliest people carrier, the longest limousine selfie opportunity.The Enormodrome boasts a new studio which is in keeping with the style of the new series and in homage to the past there is plenty of vehicles and rarely seen images from the National Motor Museum.






We took the monorail to the Palace house and you can also travel on a vintage bus , the monorail gives you cracking views and I especially loved the fact it goes through the car museum giving you a unique viewing experience.

The stunning Palace House been to the Mintagu family since 1538 , the rooms are magnificent and the staff being costumed really adds to the ambiance and feel of the place.The staff will talk to you about living in a Victorian country house and you will come to understand their “Upstairs and Downstairs “ life.















The Victorian kitchen is newly restored and has a fully working Victorian range and I was able to see what would have been in my old house.

Walking through the house you’ll see also the spectacular Lower Drawing Room and Dining Hall with beautiful fan-vaulted ceilings.You’ll be able to see clearly the monastic origins of Palace House.

A private wing of the house had recently opened which gives you a glimpse of the late Lord Mintagu’s private apartment and also includes his personal library.The Lady and the Tebel tells the story of two remarkable women in the Montagu family , Pearl Pleydell-Bouverie and Elizabeth Montagu. A section of the corridor has become the first Soviet Russian art gallery in the UK,with paintings and sculptures from the Art Russe Foundation.

After you’ve marvelled at the house then gently meander it Beaulieu Abbey where you csn see a film presentation and an exhibition of the daily life of its Cistercian Monk founders, the picturesque tranquility can really be felt and seen in the Cloisers and Herb Garden.Going upstairs in the Abbey’s Domus and you will see the impressive wall hangings which depict scenes from the history of the abbey.

Have a ice cream made with ice cream from the New Forest while you wander further round the Victorian Flower Garden and an informal Wilderness Garden which dates back to the 1770s.A Ornamental Kitchen Garden is laid out on the site of the original 1872 Palace House Garden. And be charmed by the topiary display which features Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland with topiary characters sitting round their “thyme for tea” herb planted table.

A poignant must see is the Secret Arny this is an exhibition which tells the story of the Special Operations Executive (SOE) which trained secret agents at the Beaulieu ‘Finishing School ‘ during WWII.The brave agents were trained at a number of large country houses around the Beaulieu Estate before they returned to occupied Europe to work with Resistance groups.Sadly many paid the final sacrifice and did not return.

You get a lot for your money at Beaulieu as all attractions are included in the standard admission entrance.Tickets can be brought in advance online 

The prices of admission are for adults £24.65 on the day or £19.50 if brought in advance and children (5-17) £12.50 on the day it £9.50 advance purchase.

Cheese Onion Ham Luxury Omelette

An omelette need not be ordinary in fact you can elevate the simple ingredients of egg into a luxury meal that you might see an a Michelin star restaurant , I am sure Gorden Ramsey will come knocking at my door soon enough. Previously when I had cooked omelettes I was guilty of adding milk to them all the time which in my mind did take away the richness of the flavour that an omelette can have

• 5 large free range eggs 
• Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
• Herbs of your choice 
• One onion chopped
• Red pepper which I roasted separately in the oven 
• ham hock, shredded (you can use leftovers, or Waitrose sell slow cooked shredded ham hock)
• Olive oil
• 1 tablespoon Honey
• 40g soft crumbly cheese ( I used Tunworth cheese which I was kindly given as a gift )

Method 

1. Crack eggs into a mixing bowl and whisk until the eggs are frothy.
2. Mix in all the ingredients and mix well.
3. Heat a large non stick pan add in a knob of butter if you're feeling luxurious otherwise just use some oil of your choice.
4. Pour in the mixture and tilt the pan to make sure an even spread cook on a low flame.
5. Flip over I tend to hold a plate over and then slide the omelette back into the pan , but before you do that ensure there is enough butter or oil left in the pan.
6. Cook until the omelette is set .

I should have posted this last year but its been stuck in my blog draft posts and I thought it was time to release into into the wild and now I really want some Tunworth cheese again. It is with the rain I think a comfort food sort of day and Omelette is a comfort food in my opinion.

Choose The National Citizen Service ( NCS) For An Unstoppable Experience For Ages 15 to 17

Choose the  NCS( National Citizen Service) for an unstoppable experience!

I have some friends whose kids are coming up for there GCSE's this year and I myself have have a young Nephew who is 17  and a niece who turns 15 next year , my Niece is a a whizz with social media and her video skills are truly epic.The world of media has certainly changed from when I was a teenager and all I had was a Spectrum 48 K that I played games on and sometimes dabbled in writing computer programs. I truly learnt patience waiting for my Spectrum games while crossing my finger hoping the games would load as it was all done via cassette.


I know when it came to year 11 for my son he got his himself a part time job in the food industry and while he was earning I don't feel it was necessary the best for his confidence at the time especially after his GCSE's. It was not just the fact that the low pay got him down although we all like more cash it was the way he was treated sometimes , though on occasion he was happy especially when he got the recognition for outstanding service.We have always as parents did our best to give him the confidence that he needed for the future ( and still do so )  and it all started with leaving him at Beavers one day and literally running away.I think he had grown up to be a well young young man not at all embraced by his parents ( or parent looks in mirror! ) 

When you're 15 you are at a crossroads in your life and often unsure when path you will follow in either education after doing GCSe's or A levels and it is at this age that it helps to build up your skill base as well as doing things that will help your confidence.


Did you know that there is a government based Activity programme for teenagers called "National Citizens Advice " which runs in England and Northern Ireland.Their aim is to help build  more  engaged cohesive society and in also bringing young people from different backgrounds this through the NCS helps them to become better individuals which in turn means better citizens.




NCS is an activity programme of two to four weeks  brings outstanding  opportunities at an amazing price of only £50 it is aimed at 16-17 year old. In the first week there are team building exercises.After which they go onto progress while being in the same groups to doing life skills and social interaction in the community.And the end of all this there is a celebration event and of course friends and experiences that you will value for the rest of your life.This year more than 100,000 teenagers from different backgrounds will come together in common purpose on NCS. That means one in six of the cohort of 16 year olds will live together, develop skills together and build community projects together. And support is even to those students with additional needs so no one is excluded which is marvellous.

And just because you might have a summer holiday booked don't worry as the NCS will find you a place to suit your plans so why not find out more by looking here and you can also sign up.

I know friends of my teen who have signed up and I have see the transformations and the transformation are amazing as one teenage friend of my son thought that they would never amount to anything has gone on to helping out himself with the NCS to going onto university to study Sports Science.And his unstoppable experience all started with the National Citizen Service ( NCS).

For every £1 spent, NCS' 2016 programme delivered between £1.15 and £2.42 of benefits back to society.NCS is amazing value for money and the whole experience including food,accomodation and travel costs just £50 and if needed bursaries are available on a case by case basis.


So why not sign up your Year 11 this summer for this once in a lifetime experience where your teen will have fun whilst building their confidence, making new friends and learning life skills that can't be taught in a classroom. 

You can also connect with the NCS on their social media pages;
Facebook  Twitter  and Instagram



This is a collaboration post.

Let’s do this blog thing

I have a rough time recently with my mother coupled with my anxiety and just when I think I’m getting back on track my blooming back goes. Typical and my cat is no use as it’s got a poorly paw and I really need to get out and get the medicine from the vets to help it’s poor so fingers crossed I can get my back to function.So this week I’m so ready to do this blog thing and get focused and drink tea and get my Blog on, blogging really helps me and I really think more people should blog you might think it’s a ramble but hey it’s my ramble. I’m sure I’ve got a degree in tea drinking and I’ve been blogging now for 6 years I think I should get a Damehood or something I know in my heart of hearts that my invite from the Queen is winging its way from Buckingham palace.

Picture at the request of cat who is in this for full on sympathy and treats.

Since being off work I’ve discovered my cat likes Homes under the hammer and Bargain Hunt , he doesn’t like Jeremy Kyle or Piers Morgan. He does like cream teas which I have to eat on his behalf.Jack also likes the dinner things in life like nice restaurant s which again I have to visit on his behalf.

So far Jack has got to pay me back £52 in vets bills I’m trying to train him to bring back jewellery and Gold but I don’t think a jewellery heist has ever been pulled off by a cat.

So here’s to getting my Blig back on , my musings , recipes reviews ( the cat would love a new bed ) and I love anything really especially tea and spas though I’ve never reviewed a spa yet.

Here’s to more of me and the cat ..

You lucky people ....

Stonehenge Is Epic For a Visit

Firstly it’s worth signing up for English Heritage membership as I’ll assure you will get your money back and so much more.We got English Heritage membership in particular as our son is a York University studying archaeology and there is a good concentration of properties around Yorkshire which we just love.

I’d seen Stonehenge occasionally from the road side but never close up , parking is free and simple at Stonehenge and booking is advised before attempting to visit.You can walk to the stones seeing various Barrows that litter the countryside surrounding the henge and whatever the day Stonehenge and the surrounding is stunning.

The Stonehenge you see today is 4,000 years old Salisbury is the closet Cathedral city to the stones and while I didn't visit Salisbury I will be back to do so as the area is just stunning.Stonehenge is older than the Pantheon which I have visited too when I was in Rome and it is older than the great Wall of China ( which I haven't made it to as of yet )

The route around the stones is well thought out and it is not over touristy despite being a top tourist attraction and no worries about there being a souvenir shop or ice cream shop at the stones ) as that is reserved for the the start of the art visit centre and cafe )














And there was a news report that Stonehenge was overpriced and yes it is expensive if you just rock up to the property but this is why me and my husband have a  English heritage card the same can be said for many a National Trust property also where again we have an National Trust card.The expense I think comes when visiting houses and properties that are in private house and then the cost can mount up so I say do your research and get a English Heritage card and National Trust card and where properties and monuments aren't part of these see if you can source vouchers.