Cardiff

We realised not so long ago, that we hadn't seen my Mum and Dad since Christmas!  We booked in to see them for October half term.  They suggested we meet up somewhere rather than us go to them.  I thought Cardiff would be a good idea, I haven't been since we lived in Backwell, and of course Mum is from Newport so plenty of interest for her and it wouldn't be too far for them to drive.

We didn't book anywhere till quite late for one reason or another, meaning that we didn't have a huge amount of choice - but we found somewhere not too far from the centre of town and at a reasonable price.  When we arrived we found out why it was a reasonable price - it was an ex student house and the people who own it hadn't really done much to change it.  However, the sheets were clean, the boiler worked and we didn't really spend that much time there anyway.

We decided to go down the scenic route so got the motorway as far as Shropshire and then headed on down via the A roads. We were quite surprised to see a huge amount of flooding everywhere - the Severn had burst its banks so it was looking very very wet and soggy everywhere.  We stopped off at Ludlow Food Centre for lunch which was very reasonable and very tasty.  We then headed on down to Cardiff.  We did good until we entered Wales, then roads got congested, and we came to a halt!  Oh hum.  Took what felt like an age to get to our Air BnB but we got there eventually, to be greeted by Mum and Dad who had come up the day before and had been doing some memory lane and National Trust visiting before meeting up with us.

A bit chilly!

First night saw us at an Indian, where we met up with Jude and Craig (complete coincidence meant that they were in the city too - but going home the following day).  Had a really lovely meal, we all seemed to get on fine and Tom had his favourite person to play with.

Enormous Crocodile

Tom and a 37.

The following morning, we decided we would spend the day walking the bay.  We got a bus down to the bay area and had a look round.  First was the Wales Millennium Centre which is very good looking.  Then we decided to walk the quick way to Penarth.  It was a little cold, but dry so can't really complain.  It was a nice walk past many points of interest: children's playing areas, across the barrage, a Norwegian church, we even found the enormous crocodile from Roald Dhal (he was born in Cardiff).  Having got to Penarth, we got a boat back to the bay and found ourselves some lunch in an ice cream parlour and then freshly cooked Welsh Cakes from  a Welsh Cake shop.  We then headed back into town, warmed up in John Lewis (where I did quite a bit of market research in their Christmas shop - coming home with lots of ideas).  Mum, Dad and I then went back to the house on a bus, whilst Tom and Matt went for a ride on a train - something about wanting to ride a 37, I'm sure it makes sense to them?!  We got home, warmed up with some mulled wine and then I cooked tea in time for the boys on their arrival home.  We then had a cosy night in.

Dragons

Wednesday, we headed to Cardiff Castle for the day.  It is a good looking castle right in the middle of the city.  First thing you see is a very good looking red welsh dragon in the courtyard.  WE had a good look round.  Mum impressed us by getting up to the keep which was pretty steep.  Was a good view from the top.

We had a look inside.  The rooms were amazing - no expense spared, every decadence they could think of included.  We saw something called the Arab room, which was just a spare room, but had the most amazing ceiling I have ever seen - it wouldn't have looked out of place at the Al Hambra in Granada.

We also took a walk down the second world war air raid shelters in the walls of the castle.  Including a cafe with minimal equipment which took Granma back to her days as a new teacher in a bed sit in Bristol.  We called Tom back to try to explain to him how Granma used to live, not sure any of it sunk in - but we tried.

We then had lunch to warm up before heading to the castle museum where Tom got to try on lots of soldiers' helmets and learn a bit about the history of them.

The Arab Room

Once we were done, we headed to the nearby Brew Dog bar so Matt could check in and try out some new brews.  Then a rather long wait to get a bus that went the wrong way before getting the right bus back to the house. Matt and Tom then went for hair cuts whilst we headed back to the house for mulled wine to warm up again.

The best meal ever!

We didn't have any food in for tea, it was cold and raining and we didn't really want to go out looking for food.  We first thought to get a take away, but I thought to look at reviews for restaurants nearby and found a place that had won lots of awards.  It was next door to the barbers where Matt was getting his hair cut, so I sent him along to have a look.  He came back saying it was a goer, so we decided to head there as it was only 3 minutes walk away!  Wowzers -  this was the best meal we have had out for a very very long time.  EVERYTHING about the restaurant Oz Urfa was wonderful, the service was very friendly and the food was AMAZING.  I wouldn't have changed a thing about it.  We managed to get a freebie plate of prawns for a starter as they brought it to us by accident with our calamari and told us to have it.  It was very tasty.  We then had a mix of main courses - all of which were very very tasty and came with the most amazing rice - it was Baldo rice cooked with butter: glossy, sticky and delicious.  All the while we were watching their TV which showed films of them cooking things.  They made everything from scratch - that means bread, mozzarella, baclava and everything else.  Basically it was food porn, being a foodie family, it was right down our street and we all agreed that it was the best meal any of us had had for a while - very reasonably priced too, including the 2 bottles of wine we demolished.  It was a very good ending to our trip to Cardiff.  I would happily go back to Cardiff just to eat there again!

Thursday we had breakfast, packed and went our separate ways.  We went the more direct way up the motorway, stopping off at Ikea in Birmingham on the way to look at furniture for Tom - he will need a desk for next year and meatballs (of course!).  Then back home, a quick change for the boys.  Tom in his halloween gear so he could go trick and treating with Matthew in Bentham and Matt into his sports gear so he could play in a badminton match.

Friday we had a relatively quiet day, Tom made some flapjacks and then we spent most of the day round the Mannings playing monopoly.

'I like ironing Mummy'

Sewing the velcro on - took about 1.5 hours to do one side!

The finished cushion.

Saturday we didn't do huge amounts.  Matt was hungover from a night out and I had a hangover headache even though I hadn't touched a drop!  We decided we would have a quiet day, perfect for Tom to finish his cushion for school (long story!).  We went to the new yarn shop to pick up supplies and get some tuition on what to do.  I was determined that Tom would make the cushion himself, so I directed, but Tom did it.  It took 3 hours to iron on his stripes and to then sew on one length of velcro.  I think I had to undo about 12 knots and re-thread his needle about 10 times, but to be fair Tom perservered and it got finished.  I think he is probably the only person in his class to actually make it himself!  Here is the finished product - can you guess what it is supposed to be and see the huge mistake?!  Luckily it is going to live at school - so I won't see it.  If it was to live here, I think I would have to fix it!

Sunday we got out of the house and headed to a lovely new cinema in Clitheroe to see Abominable about a yeti's journey back home to Nepal after being kidnapped by a scientist.  Was a lovely film and so good to know we have a lovely new cinema near (ish) us now.  It is one of those cinemas where you can have food delivered to your seat, we did this, but not sure about it, realised just how much you need to see your food to enjoy it properly!