Christmas in Hawkshead with Brian & Bernadette

During the period from 22/12 to 29/12 we visited Hawkshead in the Lake District with Brian and Bernadette, whim visited from Cape Town.

Click on the picture above to see our 35 favorite photos from the festiver period.

Nicole the cocolatier

On Friday Nicole went to Manchester to attend a chocolatier course, which was a birthday present. She left with the 07.00 flight from London to Manchester, being slightly nervous about what to expect.

I didn't hear a thing from her the entire day and only when I met up her in Manchester in the evening did I get to see what she had been up to...

The course was scheduled from 9.30 in the morning to 15.30 in the afternoon. Initially they went through the history and the theory behind chocolate. Apperantly the chocolate beans grow on trees and when they are ripe they are plucked and barried underground until they ferment.

Apparently the Venezuelan 47% chocolate is the best type (according to Nicole's taste that is).

Thereafter they started on making pralines with all sorts of filings. Some where with a nougat type, some with coconut.

After having done those they went on to make truffles which I think Nicole had a hard time with because the cream and the chocolate started curdling when she added the hot coffee for flavour. The second batch went a little better. She teamed up with another guy, who instead of coffee used brandy for flavouring. The coffee flavoured where the best...

Later in the afternoon they went on to make a coating for a cake and chocolate lollipops.

All in all she came home with more chocolate than we could possibly eat during our continued stay over the weekend in Windermere in the Lake District.

Copenhagen Ultra Light

So far the Blog has contained advice about what to do in Copenhagen during
a weekend break in the summer or in the winter. Only now is there also
advice for a 60 to 90 break, should you arrive via Copenhagen airport...

Although Copenhagen town center is only 11 minutes away it is far better
just to exit the terminal building and walk right, past car park 12 and
over to Statoil. Buy yourself 2 Hapsdogs for DKR 45 and enjoy..

This should not take longer than 30 minutes and thus you still have time
to explore all the tax free bargains...

Apparatus for tail wind whilst cycling...

Jacob Haugaard was around 10 years ago elected into the Danish parliament by proposing:

1. Tail wind on all bicycle lanes
2. Nutella in the army food rations

I think he wished that he had patented his ideas:

Check out www.patentlysilly.com to see for yourself.

A word of warning, Do NOT start browsing the other PATENTED inventions on this website unless you have HOURS to kill.

Personally I can recommend:

1. Article of Clothing with a Novel Attachment Means
2. Bottle Cap Necktie
3. Solar Powered Candle AS WELL AS Lightbulb changing device
4. Illuminated Wreth for the front of a car

And so it goes on as long as you want it to...

France & Barcelona pictures available

France & Barcelona

Sep 5, 2006 - 121 Photos

Click on the thumbnail above to view some of our best holiday photos...

New sofas

 

Visit to Carcassonne

Tuesday we visited the medieval town of Carcassonne.

They say it is one of the best kept medieval fortress in France and maybe
even Europe. It was impressive to walk around in this fully functional
town, catering so nicely for the tourists...

All the towers and walls are intact and quite a few also still have wooden
walkways around.

We are learning and this time we enjoyed our "artisan" (homemade) lunch and
only went exploring for our coffee.

After having explored the rest of the medieval town and spent a good EUR 12
on bisquits for the evening, we devided to take a walk through the
remaining town. The town has a really good atmosphere in the shopping area
as well. We made our way up to Gare SNCF abd bought tickets for Perpignan
to Barcelona on Friday morning. This was the only thing we weren't
completely sure was possible.

At the end of the day we raced home to the house to make a braai.
We made lamb chop for Nic and a nice steak for Mic. I have enjoyed the
steak with a nice bottle of Carbades feom the neighbouring town...

It is 21.45 and we are still able to sit on the terrace, drinking coffee
and our EUR 12 bisquits... They are allright.

Miraval, Carcassonne, Languedoc

This morning we left Avignon to drive to Carcassonne. We stopped at Pont du
Gard the amazing aquaduct sloping exactly 7 percent (As I remember) to
create the perfect stream of water in Avignon.

As we left, I estimated that we would arrive at Bentes house at 18.00 in
the evening. 18.03 and we pulled in, in front of the house. Scandinavian
precision...

Bente had told is the house was just north of Carcassonne, but in actual
fact we ended up 26 kilometres of winding streets later.
The situation is so remote, that I have got to ask Bente where and why she
has managed to find it in the first place?

The drive from Avignon to the house was mostly done on country roads. The
area is truly spectacular. Wine fields as far as the eye can see, until you
engage on the mountain drive. It is in fact more like driving through a
canyon with steep mountain sides both to the left and to the right.

We did the mistake of leaving Avignon, feeling confident that we would find
a supermache that was open on a Sunday. Eventualy wgen we arrived at the
house we had missed both lunch and dinner opportunities.
After having settled in the house we drove 12 km back to Corgues s. Orbitel
where we managed to find the only open restaurant. 2 entrecotes latee, we
were happy people and we could drive back to the house. We are now very
comfortable with road and I am almost not put off by the thought that I
have to drive 7 km to the nearest patisserie in Las Tours.

Although we had glorious plans about using this place as a base for endless
exploration, I think we both agree, that we will be content with sitting
and reading books in the swirley bench, listenibg to the mountain stream.
Only interupted by the churchbells LITERALLY above our heads.

Avignon, Provence

We stayed for quite a while in Cassis and to be honest I think we both
regreted not to have booked another night in Cassis. After having layed on
the beach and walked in the Calangues, we were finally ready to continue to
Avignon.

After getting lost in Cassis (seemms compulsary) we left for the motorway.
We spent more time queuing for toll booths than actually driving on the
motorway and subsequently EUR 10 later we arrived in Avignon.

My Dad and Anne had recommended Hotel Medieval and after getting lost in
Avignon also we managed to cheque in. In best French style you plonk your
car in the street (which isn't much wider than a Citroen Xsara Picasso)
with your hazards on untill you are ready to continue, preferably with
between 2 to 4 cars having waited behind you...

The English receptionist at the hotel was so nice that he managed to uplift
the entire stay at Avignon with his helpful advice and general interest.

From or top floor window we have a nice side view to Pepes Palace...
Apparently the pope back in the old Roman days prefered to stay in Avignon
as opposed to Rome. Just as Queen Margrethe prefers Fredensborg to
Amalienborg...

Avignon in August is a nice town but very quiet. The shops are generally
very funky and you do get the feeling that the citizens are very
innovative.

We had a lovely lunch in the sun in the garden of Pepes Palace. Hereafter
we decided to spend the afternoon visiting Chateauneuf de Pape.

In Chateaineuf de Papel we decided to drive back to Avignon and enjoy the
meal in the town. We managed to find a nice restaurant that speciallised in
crepes and thus we had savoury and sweet pancakes for dinner.

Cassis, Provence.

We had reserved a miniature car from home and were quite chuffed to
reallise that the car had been upgraded to a Xsara Picasso, which is a
large family minibus type of a car. Only later in Avignon, should we
realise that unneeded space in a car is NOT a plus.

Anyways, shortly after having landed, we were on our way to Cassis via
Marseille. Initially we wanted to stay in Marseille, but after being lost
there for a little hour, we were quite glad to continue.

Cassis at Cape Canaille, is a gorgeous little natural harbour. It is the
starting point to walk alpng the Calangues. This is essentially to be
walking on the cliffs and looking far down into turquise canyons. People
are kayaking and doing all sorts of water sports. Qe had bought salami and
baguette at the market and had the most scenic view with our lunch.

Only after hour first lunch at EUR 40 did we realise that French cuisine is
very different. When the menu is in French and the waiter only speaks
little English, the food order leaves room for surprises...

The room at Hotel Le Golfe was well worth the money and we would stay there
again. We had a scenic view from the balcony via the harbour front to Cape
Canaille in the background, amazing.