The Travel Bug's 3 Fascinating Facts About Hawarden, North Wales

The Travel Bug took a day trip to the beautiful North East Wales town of Hawarden (with his humans in tow) and this is what he found out by speaking to the local ladybirds:

• Hawarden served as the home of Liberal Prime Minister, William Gladstone, who lived in Hawarden Castle and now has a library in his name.   

(TTB also found out that both Gladstone's parents were Scottish and he liked this because he's from Scotland, too!   He now lives in Wales, just like the Prime Minister did). 

• Footballing superstars Michael Owen and Gary Speed were both educated at the local school. 

• Idwal Davies (of Bolton Wanderers, Liverpool, West Bromwich Albion and Wales), was born in the Hawarden area of Ewloe Green

The Best Christmas Movies For People Who Don't Like Christmas Movies

I'm not a huge fan of Christmas.   I'm not even a small fan, come to think of it.  The mere thought of all the work involved in prepping and cooking food, buying gifts, decorating houses, and fulfilling obligations by attending parties I don't really want to go to just isn't for me.   However, I love spending time with my family,  and I enjoy buying noisy presents for my three nephews, which I then leave my sister to deal with for the rest of the year.   I'm evil like that.

I find it quite difficult to get into the whole Christmas mood because I'm not really that way inclined.  I hate Christmas music and seeing decorations EVERYWHERE I go from November 1st onwards.    I do, however, quite enjoy Christmas TV.   I particularly enjoy all those roundup programmes and, this year, I'm excited as Sherlock and Luther are coming back on.  I think that's more a matter of timing, rather than them having any real Christmassy themes.  A bit of drama and murder really encapsulates the whole spirit of the holidays, don't you think?  No?  OK, just for me, then.

In saying all this, I do *try* to join in the fun.   I don't just sit in the corner in the dark, rocking on my chair and muttering 'bah humbug' at everyone.   Although, that does absolutely sound like something I could really excel at.    Anyway, in the hope of gearing myself up for the whole silly season, these are the not very Christmassy Christmas movies I'll be switching on in December:

wake me up when it's all over

Die Hard:

This is a movie that I can really get into around the festive period.    I love a bit of death and destruction, and who doesn't want to watch Bruce Willis and Alan Rickman battle it out against each other in a half built tower in the middle of L.A with a stash of guns and a bag of explosives?   Nothing fills me with sprit of the season quite like the sight of a shoeless John Maclean in his pristine white vest.        

Gremlins:

Again, this is set at Christmas and it's got some snow and stuff in it, so it absolutely makes it into my end of year movie watching schedule.  The sight of evil green beasties getting drunk in a bar and singing along to songs from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is just an added bonus.  It makes me laugh every single time.    What could possibly be more festive than monsters driving snow ploughs through people's houses or fighting off a rogue Gremlin that's been hiding in your Christmas tree?  Nothing, that's what.

Lethal Weapon:

Another brilliant movie that just happens to be set around the Christmas period and doesn't involve any mushy nonsense.  Result!  The first in the LW instalments involves nothing but good old fashioned shoot 'em ups, loose cannon cops, and some really mean bad guys.   What's not to love?   

stick 'em up!

Trading Places:

Should you be in need of some cheering up around the holidays, this is the movie for you.   If you don't need cheering up, this is the still the movie for you.   It doesn't have much shooting in it, but it does have greedy, horrible traders (is there any other kind?), a kind hearted prostitute, and two hysterically funny characters in Eddie Murphy's portrayal of Billy Ray Valentine and Dan Akroyd's Louis Winthorpe, trying to survive in each other's worlds.   

Black Christmas:
This movie is best viewed from behind a cushion, with a large glass of wine served in a plastic cup with a lid.   You don't want to smash a good glass when you knock over your drink during one of the creepy bits, do you?   Also, I don't like wasting wine because Lord knows I need it to get through Christmas.     

I'd advise you to steer clear of the 2006 version of this movie and stick with the original 1974 film.   It combines all my favourite things about Christmas:  dodgy phone calls, creepy blokes hiding in your attic, and the grisly murders of stupid sorority girls.    Merry Christmas, bitches!


What is your favourite non Christmassy Christmas movie?

Don't go out alone...

Suzanne x 

Christmas Chillin' at Liverpool Ice Bar

It's no secret that I'm a fan of Liverpool.   Since meeting my little Wirralian, I've been lucky enough to make numerous trips through the Kingsway tunnel into the Merseyside hotspot.    

This year, we thought we'd go and check out what the city has to offer during the festive period.   I don't like Christmas.   All the pressure of gift buying and the sheer attention to detail for is, quite frankly, exhausting.   Seriously, people, it's one day!   I do quite like the time off work, though.   Oh, and not being judged for having a glass of wine with breakfast is also pretty sweet.  

Because of my perennial bah humbug attitude, it can be difficult to entice me into any kind of festive activity or event.   However, after discovering that Liverpool has an ice bar, and after telling LT just how fabulous the Stockholm equivalent was, I knew I had to take him for a visit.   Also: cocktails.

Welcome to the Ice Bar...

As part of Liverpool's fabulous ice festival, the ice bar and associated freezing attractions, such as the skating rink and the UK's largest ice slide, are located at Chavasse Park.   The ice bar temperature sits at a chilly minus 3 degrees, which is pretty similar to a regular spring day in Stirling, so it's pretty cosy for a Scot.    I jest, of course; it was baltic.   

Luckily, your £7.50 adult ticket gets you a 25 minute lock in and comes with a rather attractive sheet of tin foil to stave off the frostbite.    Helpfully, you also get gloves so that you can lift the complimentary cocktail glass, which is carved from ice (because obviously). 

No chance of luke warm sprits in Liverpool 

The overall space is pretty small, but the carved seats, sculptures, glasses and, of course, the bar, are amazing.    When you book your tickets, you can choose a particular slot and limited space dictates that only so many visitors can be inside at one time.   This ensures that everyone gets the chance to take lots of shots, enjoy their cocktail and sit on the ice throne.  It also gave me time to stick my tongue on to some of the sculptures and pretend it was stuck.   Hey, don't judge me; I don't get out much.

a minimalist look

To be fair, 25 minutes is just the right amount of time for a small drink and a wander round the bar.  The carvings are incredible and the whole space is pretty impressive.   The atmosphere in the bar was also brilliant, but I find that's just an everyday thing in Liverpool.   I paid more than double the price for a ticket in Stockholm's Absolut Vodka Bar, but Liverpool's is every bit as impressive.  Also, it's closer to home, so it saves on all that travel...  

If you have little people attached to your being around Christmas time and can't go into the ice bar, you might want to try a skating'  and a slidin' around the rest of the Ice Festival.   

Further details and ticket prices can be found HERE.  

I can't even make ice cubes

The Wizard of Ice

I'm still unsure what this is...

Have you visited Liverpool's (or any other) Christmas Festival yet?  


Suzanne x 

Something Old, Something New: The December Challenge

No, I'm not getting married.  Again.  I've merely stolen part of that silly poem that people who *are* getting hitched tend to use to and shamelessly used it to fit my own agenda.    Recently, I've had a few conversation with people that have made me realise how set in my ways I am and I decided to do something about it.

The main reason for this is time...or lack of.   I go to work, write, eat and sleep, and that's pretty much how it goes at the moment.    I was off for a week recently and it's the first time in about 6 months that I watched something on TV that I was actually paying attention to.   I do watch the occasional episode of X Factor on a Saturday night, but I have one eye on it and the other on my phone/ipad/wine glass.    

hmmm...

It's not just TV that has taken a back seat; it's pretty much everything.   I barely read, I don't keep up with new music, I haven't had time to discover new blogs and I buy the same stuff from the supermarket every week.  In addition, I buy the same makeup, keep the same style and I never do anything different with my hair.     Basically, I've stopped discovering anything and it's been bothering me for a while.

In saying this, I have moved nations, taken on a new job, started my blog and am in the process of buying a new house, so it's not like I've been sitting around, staring into space.   I have had a fair bit to keep me busy, but I'm still very conscious of all the other things that have fallen by the wayside, as well as the fact the things I actually *do* get involved in are pretty much always the same.  I am entirely predictable.   I'm not saying this is necessarily a bad thing but it annoys me nonetheless.   I recently lost a school friend at the age of 38 and I'm still reeling from thinking about all the things he'll never get to do.   This, combined with my ow random thoughts, has been at the forefront of my mind.  

I have, therefore, decided to challenge myself each month by trying a few new things and maybe picking up a few skills along the way.    And not content with just challenging me, I've decided to rope LT in to all the fun.  I haven't told him about it yet, so if he reads this, it might come as a *bit* of a surprise.   He's always up for taking on something new, so I'm sure he'll be ok with it.

Yeah, I totally won't be doing anything THIS challenging.

Books:

I always opt for crime or travel novels because I love them.  When I log on to Amazon , I wouldn't dream of even looking at other genres.    I wouldn't even know where to start.  My Mum and sisters read all different kinds of books and I find the concept all a little overwhelming.    I'm not saying I'm going to run to the closest WH Smith and grab a copy of Jane Eyre, because I want to expand my horizons, not bore myself senseless.   What I AM going to do is choose one book each month that has no horrendous murders in it and attempt to read it.   Even if it's just a chapter a day; it doesn't really matter.  The important thing is that I actually do it.  

Music:

This is a difficult one for me because I listen to the same artists constantly.    They're all country stars and if I deviate from this genre, it's usually in favour of Counting Crows or Green Day.   Even when I do listen to something else, it's usually just a song or two before I revert straight back to my normal choices.   In this respect, I'm going to look at the TOTP charts instead of just the Billboard country chart in the hope I find something that I don't detest.    This will not mean I'll be listening to One Direction or Justin Beiber because, well... I'm 37.   

I just can't resist a track about rednecks, tequila and dirt roads.

TV:
I live in rural North Wales and, well, my internet is really slow.  Way too slow for Netflix or any kind of catch up service.  This pretty much dictates that, if I want to watch something, i really have to watch it like I did in the 90's:  i.e. when it's actually on.     I won't be watching The Apprentice because life's too short to watch the staggering arrogance on display, but I reckon I could expand from the BBC Wales news and repeats of Ice Road Truckers to something a bit more...meaningful.   I must consult my Radio Times immediately.  Watch this space.   

Blogs:
I always feel terrible that I don't read as many blogs as I'd like to.   I read a few, including Forever Amber (always), Dominique Travels,  Ms.Adventures in London and Confessions of a Sober Essex Girl    My aim each month is to find myself a new blog that I genuinely love reading.  There are probably tons of them, I just need to find the time to look.  

Hair:
I have long blonde hair, which I straighten to within an inch of its life once every month or so.   The rest of the time it's scraped back, wet from the shower, and that's how it stays day in, day out.   One of the reasons for this is that I don't much like getting out of bed.  The other is that I'm only going to work and I don't feel the need to make that much of an effort.   As far as I'm concerned, If I manage to leave the house, fully dressed, by 8:10am, I'm already having a good day.  

I love watching tutorials and looking at styles on Pinterest, but the time and effort they all seem to take makes me tired.   I'm fairly sure I could find something a little less complicated that's still within my capabilities.   Whether I can find a new style every month is another challenge all together.  One would surely be enough, no?  

this is such a good look, no?

Food:
I don't need much encouragement to eat.  Like, none.   At all.   I would like to find a little time to make something a little different.    Currently, our household meals revolve around the same 6 or 7 dishes that I frequently rotate, depending on their levels of difficulty and how knackered I am on any particular day.    I'm not a bad cook, but I need to change my shopping list and come up with something new and tasty that's quick and simple to prepare during the week.   

I'll post a monthly update and this should keep me on track.    If you'd like to join me by doing something new every month, regardless of how small: get in touch and let me know what you've been up to.  Also, absolutely come and shout at me to keep me motivated.  

Suzanne x