Menorca 2012 Day 2 - Bubble Baths & Boquerones

One of the things that attracted Mrs CT to the Audax Hotel was the room and the fact that it had a Jacuzzi bath (common name for a bath with water jets but actually a brand name, a bit similar to Hoover. The system bath was actually from Roca. My friends in the bathroom industry will understand this).

Anyway, today after a day around the pool was declared bubble bath time. The remnants of the freebie bottle of fizz was poured and the water did flow.

The bath is the size of a small swimming pool and the jets very powerful. My first bath for probably 2 years - I prefer showers. Soapy bubbles, back scrubbing and lather ensued. Made Prince Harry's hotel activities look positively tame ;)

Mrs CT declared that this shall be our chosen method of washing from now on - dirty girl!

For those that have followed this blog over the past 4 years will know that food is one of the more common entries.

I took a small walk (less than 100m) into town this lunchtime to track down the now über trendy Tapas. I wasn't disappointed, with several establishments offering the tasty little dishes.

I am partial to the odd plate of anchovies (not those in oil from a tin but the fresh ones) otherwise known as Boquerones. A dish of these was ordered together with some crispy Calamares. I wasn't too sure how the anchovies would be presented but the result surprised even me!

On crisps, are you taking the proverbial pi$$! As it happens they were a taste sensation with the crisps soaking up the tasty vinegary juices.

Finally back to the after bath (pun intended) here is a nice pic of Mrs CT finishing off her fizzy with book in hand, not 50 Shades, which she says is too tame and lacks imagination!

Menorca 2012 Day 1 - Luton, Mahon & Giant Beer

So off we go on another annual adventure to the sun. This time to Menorca, a sunny isle in The Balearics, and somewhere that we have not been before.

Greece and her islands were given a miss this year after 6 on the trot as it was clearly visible last year that there was trouble afoot.

Luton airport at 6 in the morning was its usual mix of suits and holiday makers all jostling for breakfast, the only difference being that the latter were having a pint with their bacon bap, including moi.

No, not a giant pint, just an odd photo angle.

TOP TIP #1
Spend a few quid on purchasing Priority Lane for the security hall. The normal queues were 40mins long! We sailed through in 3mins

So onwards to gate 23, fighting our way through the hoards of Czechs, Polish, Hungarians, Romanians etc who are waiting for one of the 13 WizzAir flights that depart Luton between 7.15 - 8.00

Well, well ThomsonFly I spot a modern plane compared to the 20 year old crates that we have flown for the last 2 years (see blog from last year). A Boeing 737-800 awaits resplendent with oversized bent wing tips.

Despite what this next picture looks like, the flight was full.

As I write, sitting in seat 16D, we are on final approach into Mahon. Speak later!

Breakfast in Cuckfield

Weekend away with the Cross' at their recently finished refurbished house.

Fantastic!!

Breakfast in full production.

House has fully integrated Sonos sound system. My faux pas of the weekend was to show the 12 year old twins how to use the Sonos iPad app to control the system.

This unfortunately allows them to change Mum and Dad's music choices during dinner parties. Whoops!

Harvest Time

First crop of the year all grown from seed. Cherry plum tomatoes, garden peas and broad beans. What I really like is that Waitrose will not get £5!

Scallops, Sea Bass, pink fizzy and the English Summer

So the sun at last puts in an appearance. Time to get the BBQ lit, the outdoor table set and the rose on ice.

Tonight's menu is pan fried scallops with chorizo and crouton salad followed by BBQ Sea Bass and asparagus with new potatoes and hollandaise.

All washed down with a delightful pink fizzy number.

HELLO SUMMER!

Please stick around for a few weeks at least!

This mouse should have gone to Specsavers

How the hell can this mouse not see the great 5kg lump of fur sitting there?

For those that are concerned for the mouse, don't be. Smudge dropped her when I shouted!

Mouse in the House

Smudge is the name of my cat. I feed her 3 times a day, always make sure she has water and ensure that no fleas or disease becomes her.

So WTF is this?

It maybe your plaything but it had better he gone by the morning otherwise you are going back to the cat home!

Olympic Torch comes to Isham