Bubble kingdom with a unicorn horn

This is possibly my most unusual and unexpected review to date. It’s an account of a horn.

But I’ll hold back on the double entendres and keep it clean; because, in fact, this is an entirely clean horn. It is a Unicorn Horn Bubble Bar, a limited edition from LUSH’s Valentine’s product range.

A beautiful rainbow of colours, the horn is a treat straight from the world of unicorn magic and delights – and comes complete with sparkles, glitter and sweet stars.

As a complete bath addict, this little piece of rainbow heaven was just perfect.

Being hopelessly extravagant I used the entire horn in one bath (apparently it can bubble-up many baths).

But when I want a bubble bath, well I WANT a bubble kingdom; and luckily this is exactly what I got.

The horn produced a mass of glorious bubbles while turning the water a luxurious purple-blue hue fit for a queen.

And oh my, the scent – unlike many of the excessively eye-wateringly strong LUSH products – was sublime and gentle denoting lavender and neroli tips. Conducive to a very relaxing bath affair.

All in all, this unicorn horn soap reigns and I’m pretty sad it’s a limited edition!

With thanks to Suzanne Clare Whelan.

Browns is definitly the new black

If you’re after a civilised joint to hang out in for the likes of afternoon tea, girl chat with cocktails or even a three-course dining treat, you’ll not go far wrong with Browns Bar & Brasserie.

Located on the esteemed Grey Street in Newcastle, our local Browns is a chic destination in the heart of the city’s epicurean scene, and especially handy for a post-retail therapy pit-stop.

Upon entry, past friendly suited and booted doormen, its opulent decor is reassuringly soothing, and comprises rich, dark woods complemented by plush leather seating, atmospheric lighting, and welcoming tables across a number of different levels and dining areas.

Let me tell you – for a slight snob like me, complete with a sensitive disposition, frankly I feel safe and at home.

And what’s even better, is there is space for a resident pianist. I mean, really, what more can you ask for than a tickle on the ivories while relaxing in good company?

So, enjoying a sparkling night out with friends we were treated to a corner table with a superb overview of the huge and busy central bar area, offering ample opportunity to indulge in a spot of people-watching from a safe distance.

The extensive and interesting menu is served up by very friendly staff. The dishes see some of the best seasonal ingredients used to create mouth-watering delights to please every taste.

There were a few of us, and we all enjoyed our fayre, which was washed down with bubbly Prosecco – a delightfully sparkly combination!

Check out Browns website and do pay a visit soon!

The BMWi8 – it’s a bit back to the future

(Warning: this is a non-technical review and I don’t watch Top Gear)

If you’re after thrills, attention, speed and a glimpse into the future, with hardly a carbon footprint to mention, the BMWi8 is just for you.

BMW’s most flamboyant car yet was released back in July and it certainly wouldn’t feel out of place in a futuristic Hollywood blockbuster.

I’d say it’s a bit back to the future, what with its upward-swingy doors and slightly menacing headlights, bringing to my mind a certain Doc Brown’s DeLorean time machine.

It’s quite a task not to just stand and gawk at it for a very long time.

Inside the car, the fun continues. There’s a digital dash and all the clever mod-cons you’d expect in such a mean machine to make it a super enjoyable experience.

The inside is surprisingly comfy even if the back seats and the boot are iddy biddy. To be fair I didn’t expect anything else.

What I didn’t anticipate, however, was how tricky it is getting in and out of this beast. Suffice to say I was very relieved I was wearing trousers or my dignity would have been swiftly destroyed.

Once on the road it’s quite a pleasure to pootle along at leisure in either comfort or eco mode while watching others goggling as you glide past. But, even better when on the open road you can toggle into sport mode, which is where the full awesome thundery power of the i8 comes into play.

Acceleration from zero to 60mph takes just 4.4 seconds.

Whatever that actually means, to me it was nerve-jangling speedy. However, its handling is obviously agile, the steering precise, and the braking effective, a combination which felt reassuring safe even at speed.

Of course, being a plug-in hybrid it’s also incredibly efficient. With a full tank and a fully charged battery the i8 can cover around 310 miles, so thankfully range anxiety shouldn’t be a massive issue.

The reality though is while it isn’t a time machine it certainly makes me think that we’re heading to the future – insanely FAST.

In the words of Doc Brown: “Roads? Where we’re going, we don’t need roads!”

Essential facts you might like to know

• It costs £99,845
• It’s a petrol engine with a 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbo
• It has a top speed of 155mph
• CO2 emissions are 49g/km (zero tax band)
• You’ll probably need a lie down afterwards

For more information about the BMWi3 tweet Andygclark or visit www.lloydnewcastlebmw.co.uk

 

Tenting it up at Rye Hill Farm

Without a doubt, Northumberland is my favourite county in the country. Strikingly beautiful, largely unspoilt, steeped with fascinating history and is home to many wonderful places to explore and stay.

One of my favourites has to be Rye Hill Farm. Located in rural Slaley deep in the heart of Northumberland, the 300-year-old small holding is the perfect base for getting out and about to explore the surrounding countryside.

As well as offering visitors a marvelous four-star experience in either its farmhouse bed and breakfast or self-catering holiday cottage, Rye Hill is also home to a bit of a hidden treat; a small, but perfectly formed, campsite.

It had been a while since I had enjoyed camping, so when the opportunity to pitch a tent and stay over at Rye Hill presented itself I was super keen to check it out.

Well-maintained, the campsite is quiet – a relatively long driveway from the main road through the 30-acre farm ensures that the only noise likely to disturb is the hearty bleating of sheep and enthusiastic clucking of free range chickens.

While situated high enough to command panoramic views, the site is actually very well sheltered. A world away from wind-tussled I can assure.

Best of all it offers commodities to ensure a comfortable stay. This includes electric hook ups, a fresh-water tap, a waste disposal point and, importantly, a clean modern toilet and shower unit.

The location of Rye Hill is conveniently close to a number of footpaths and tracks to explore on foot. If you wish to go a bit further afield you’ll find that the Derwent Reservoir, the woods of Dipton and Slaley, and Hadrian’s Wall are all short car rides away.

And after the trials of pitching a tent it is also particularly comforting to note that a very friendly hospitable pub aptly named The Traveller’s Rest is just a stone’s throw away.

Of course one of the pleasures of the great outdoors at night is sky watching, and Rye Hill’s location is privy to some of the most clear upward views, revealing fascinating constellations and other captivating night sky activity.

Such a treat, I would go back in a tent in a heartbeat.

Why not follow Rye Hill Farm on Twitter and Facebook.

A secret French paradise

It’s fair to say that the Ardèche is a secret French paradise. Nestled in the Rhone Alps region which borders the Swiss alps, Cote D-Azur and Burgundy it’s one of the lesser known destinations in France and is certainly one of the most remote.

Comprising grandiose, wild and unspoilt scenery, the region is known as the Grand Canyon of Europe because of its plunging gorges carved out by the crystal clear waters of the Ardèche and Rhone rivers.

The deeply breath-taking Ardèche Gorges Nature Reserve is a must see. The series of canyons wind around the rivers, which have no less than 25 rapids. Simultaneously sumptuous, savage and friendly it’s not difficult to see why walking, kayaking, canoeing and white water rafting are favourite activities here.

Lucikly for me, Ardèche is also impeccable for more sedentary activities like enjoying fine wines and feasting on gourmet foods.

The charming ancient cliff-top village of Balazuc provided me with the perfect place to indulge. Rightfully awarded both the status of a Village of Caractere and classified amongst France’s most beautiful villages, it clings bravely to the mountainside overlooking the river Ardeche and is a delightful maze of cobbled streets, ancient walls and eclectic shops.

It is in this idyllic setting that ceramicist and artist Tom Charbit creates a range of pottery and art using raw materials working with their imperfections, vitality and beauty, and a mere 15 minute walk away lies the ecotourism hamlet of Viel Audon where tasty organic goat’s cheese, fruit jams, syrups and juices are produced.
The Château de Balazuc, a luxurious 11th-century castle, was my home for an enjoyable evening. Run by the most hospitable Luc and Florence Lemaire, the restored Chateau boasts beautiful contemporary bedrooms, an outdoor swimming pool, and a terrace offering the most stunning sweeping scenery. Simply a perfect setting to enjoy local delicacies prepared by the lovely Florence washed down with beautiful viognier white wine and the region’s delicious speciality chestnut liqueur, châtaigne d’Ardèche.

Of course a trip to France isn’t complete without a visit to a winery. The ultra-modern Néovinum offers a unique interactive immersion into the Ardèche’s wine universe, followed by a most educational tasting session which did wonders to advance my oenologic knowledge.

The scenery in Ardèche continues underground, for the region is home to a secret world of seven magical caves. The largest cave is the awesome Aven d’Orgnac, which extends for over 20 hectares and its ceilings reach heights of up of 55 metres, the equivalent in height to Niagara Falls. Its geological jewels include fine crystallizations and enormous stalagmites and are a glorious sight to behold.

Ardèche is an essential destination for anyone seeking a slice of paradise. Its dramatic mountains and rolling green hills alongside paradisiacal chestnut forests and lavender fields all make for truly exquisite and goose bump-inducing visual treats. It really does offer some of the most diverse and spectacular landscapes I have ever set my eyes upon.

With thanks to the kind hospitality of the Ardèche Tourist Board.

Other places to check out:

• Pont-d’Arc Cavern. The world’s largest replica cave ever built will open in April 2015. It is a carefully constructed copy of the original 36,000 year old cave which is only accessible for scientific purposes.
  Alba-la-Romaine Archaeological Museum. A recently opened Roman cultural heritage site showcasing archaeological discoveries made over the last 20 years.
  Bistrot de Pays Au Levant. Situated in St-Maurice d’Ibie, this restaurant offers seasonal cuisine prepared by owners Elodie and Nicolas.

Tender loving skin care

Every now and then it’s lovely to really treat your skin to something utterly luxurious. Whether it’s just for the sheer indulgence or if you need to treat a condition such as psoriasis or eczema, it’s simply a must-do in my opinion.

So when my mum and I got the chance to try out the rather lovely range from Puriskin Therapy, we couldn’t resist.

My skin is a bit dry and sensitive and as I’m a little bit vain I always do like to try out new products in the endless quest to maintaining some semblance of youth.

Meanwhile my mum was in desperate need of tender loving care following some medical procedures that had left her skin sore and tender.

Introducing Puriskin.

Billed as innovative new natural technology that resurfaces the skin, it is a deep cell, reconditioning treatment specially formulated with a vitamin-rich complex to soften hardened blemishes while smooth and refining raised or bumpy bits of skin.

We both used the cream for a good few weeks and it not only presented noticeable differences for both of our various ailments, but it felt like a proper indulgent treat too.

The cream is infused with tigergrass and comfrey so smells exceptionally wonderful and best of all it was really effective in hydrating dry skin and improving damaged areas.

Would recommend to all!

Skinature offer a wide range of luxurious skin products and cosmetics all completely pure made with organic and natural ingredients. Their products promote healthy and vibrant skin and are gentle and nourishing. A perfect essential for children and anyone with skin problems.

The wonderful thing about Tiger Bills, is that Tiger Bills is a wonderful thing

The newly opened Tiger Bills, or as I affectionately call it Tigger, up in Consett in County Durham was the perfect location for a chilled out lady-like bloggers’ tea party on a warm summer evening.

Settling into the cavernous restaurant, I realised Tigger is deceptively like a Tardis; SO much bigger and interesting on the inside than the outside.

The atmosphere was pleasantly buzzing with a mix of families and groups of friends enjoying mid-week festivities.

Seated on the plump cushioned seats, I took the opportunity to size up the menu and was delighted to indulge in a non-alcoholic honey-based cocktail, which was the perfect aperitif for the feast that awaited us.

And what a feast it was! Tigger specialises in authentic Thai and American food options – the perfect east meets west neighbourhood dining experience.

In fact, so keen Tigger is to ensure that their Thai food is authentic they recruit specialist Thai chefs and ensure they have local accommodation. What a wonderful way to ensure authenticity and boost the local economy.

Tigger’s menu offers a huge variety. From burgers, steaks and fajitas to curries, stir fries and noodle dishes there really is something for everyone.

To start we feasted on a huge selection that included the most amazing prawn toast I’ve come across in years (prawn toast really is excellent if done properly), spring rolls, and sweet potato fries – all of which were cooked to perfection and pleasantly presented.

It was difficult to contain the grazing pace as we indulged in these delicious nibbley treats – the perfect accompaniment to girly chat and putting the world to rights.

Almost replete I insisted on a petite-sized main portion of Pad Thai. However Tigger, being such a generous beast, served me my meal in a bowl as big as my head. Nevertheless it was an authentic dish and thankfully there is the option to take left-overs home in essential doggie bags.

Tigger really is a perfect venue for a fun evening for family and friends alike. The service is attentive and friendly, the food is presented beautifully and the venue is perfectly relaxed and atmospheric.

And if you’re lucky you may even meet the restaurant’s friendly mascot. Who, obviously, looks a bit like Tigger.

It’s worth a visit; after all Tigger is the only one!

Check out Tiger Bills on Facebook and Twitter or visit their website.

A boost for my bare skin

Bare skin beauty is what I’m after.

I’m acquiring an increasingly aged look thanks to months of accumulated stress and leaning, perhaps a bit too heavily, on vices like smoking, drinking, and far too many late nights.

It doesn’t help either that I’m hurtling towards 40 with increasing speed.

I’ve noticed my skin is dry and sensitive. More worryingly for me, full-on bags have developed under my eyes complete with deepening wrinkles and general crinkles.

Now I understand to achieve desperately clear skin requires a certain amount of healthy living, and to my self-confessed credit I drink gallons of water a day and always get at least six hours sleep a night, even if that means missing the alarm.

But nonetheless, I was keen to review some beauty products, aptly named Bare Skin Beauty.

Luxurious, natural and organic skin food, this product is formulated perfectly for the natural beauty gourmand.

The citrus green clay cleanser is made with marine and botanical extracts and designed to decongest the skin and withdraw even the deepest impurities.

Goodness, this exactly what is required here! And certainly after using for a few days while relaxing in a hot bath my skin does feel unblocked, calmer and, dare I say, a little bit radiant. Quite a feat.

I’m addicted to facial moisturiser so I was keen to try out the antioxidant firming face cream that promises to deliver a powerful boost of vitamins, minerals and essential fatty acids to my face. It smells beautiful and has a lovely cooling zing; my poor dehydrated skin really benefited from this lovely cream, restoring a little calm and relaxation.

Equally, the illuminating eye serum was a godsend. Anxious about the appearance of my wrinkly and puffy eyes, this lightweight balm is blended to soothe and nourish the delicate eye area. After two weeks of use I have started to notice the dreadful puffiness and dark circles are abating somewhat.

The organic peppermint water worked perfectly in my everyday emergency situation where I need to wake up quickly. A quick spritz is all that is needed for a refreshing mental AND beauty boost.

Bare Skin Beauty claims you’ll feel happy on the inside and look fabulous on the outside.

I agree wholeheartedly.

Visit the Bare Skin Beauty website.

The Plough: a public service announcement

I feel that this perhaps isn’t so much a review as a public-service announcement.

The Plough, an exclusive boutique hotel and restaurant, offering a perfectly prepared dining experience in the most luxuriously relaxed surroundings is a not-to-be-missed experience.

Established for years, the Plough has been there all along nestling in the heart of the historic Northumbrian market town of Alnwick. Perhaps you’ve just forgotten about it or haven’t come across it yet; but it’s there patiently awaiting your arrival.

And what a lovely reception we received upon our arrival. Running late, as ever, I turned up for a Mother’s Day lunch with my parents and son a disgraceful 20 minutes late.

We were escorted by the Michael, the manager, and made comfortable in the upstairs dining area. With my tardiness guilt assuaging rapidly, we settled down in the contemporary upstairs dining area which is tastefully decorated and simply charming.

Large windows offer plenty of light, while fixed to the ceiling is chandelier style lights, and the walls are home to a gleaming display of wine bottles and ornate clocks.

The Mother’s Day menu offered a selection of local fish and meats from Northumberland’s farmlands. A great wine list and a good range of beers are also available.

To start with, I opted for oak smoked salmon with lemon and caper berries. I can eat capers by the spoonful straight out of the jar, so this was a seventh heaven delight for me, and the salmon was excellent quality.

My son and father both chose sautéed fresh chicken livers, smoked bacon with toasted running fox artisan bread. As a pescetarian this doesn’t float my boat, but I was assured it was delicious and both plates were certainly swiftly cleared.

The twice baked Doddingtons Admiral Collingwood cheese soufflé tempted my mum, and a delicious treat it was too.

My son can never resist lamb and was thrilled to find herb crusted loin of spring lamb with roasted garlic and rosemary jus available as a main. Beautifully presented, my boy was super happy with this culinary delight.

The rest of us selected grilled fillet of sea bass, warm salad of new potatoes, roasted fennel with a lobster butter sauce. The sea bass, the skin of which crisped to a crunchy delight, was set upon crushed new potatoes and a tasty lobster sauce.

This meal was one of the best I’ve had for a long time. My only trouble was finishing it as the portions are healthily generous.

Replete, we decided to share two desserts between the four of us and the homemade banoffee pie with vanilla pod Doddingtons ice cream and the homemade melt in the middle chocolate fondue with raspberry coulis made the grade.

Both deliciously sweet they were the perfect round-up to an enjoyable Mother’s Day feast.

For a family dining experience that you’ll all enjoy, a great night out with friends, or an intimate dinner for two, The Plough offers the perfect setting and boasts beautiful food that is locally sourced, homemade and reasonably priced. What more can you ask for?

Get there now!

Stay up-to-date with special offers and events with The Plough on Twitter and on Facebook.

An African adventure

Travelling ‘free-style’ (to me that means having no definite plans or places to stay) has always held fascinating appeal to my, until now, suppressed sense of adventure. So when my mum and I booked flights to Malaga in Spain with a vague idea of hitting Morocco in Africa I was certain this would prove to be a sure-fire and exciting way to fulfil this ambition.

It would also be, I thought, a good way to tick off a couple of my other long-standing bucket list desires – seeing Gibraltar and visiting Casablanca.

One plane, three buses, one taxi, and a ferry
Upon arrival at Malaga airport I was immediately struck by how cold it was. Being February this shouldn’t have come as a shock but, nevertheless, I was expecting it to be a little toastier than England. Fuelled by the desire for warmth and sunshine, we decided to continue heading south and aimed to reach Tangiers in Africa before sunset.

It was exceptionally easy to navigate the Spanish transport system. Within minutes we had boarded a local bus and were heading for Marbella where we transferred onto an Algeciras-bound coach. One further bus ride, with a taxi journey squeezed in between, saw us safely arrive in Tarifa, a town located on the southernmost coast of Spain and just a mere few miles from Morocco.

The main advantage of traveling by road, apart from the fact it is unbelievably cheap, is that it’s a great way to admire the scenery. Stretches of markedly quiet roads snake around the unmistakable charm of the Mediterranean Sea, which is beautifully lined with mountains and cliffs all scattered with curious-looking Spanish structures.

So content I became (and just a little bit smug that events were proceeding so smoothly) I succumbed to accidental sleep during the final leg of the bus journey and missed the views of Gibraltar. I expect it looks like an impressive grey flinty rock but, for now at least, that first-hand sight remains on my ‘to-do’ list.

Undeterred, the next step of the adventure was getting to Morocco and, luckily, from Tarifa it’s not a difficult task. Speedy Tangier-bound ferries leave the Port Of Tarifa regularly and the short journey is spent in relative comfort gliding over the choppy Gibraltar Straits.

Tangerine world
While Tangier offers lovely unspoiled beaches, February certainly doesn’t offer sun-basking weather so it was the city streets that we eagerly headed for. After finding one of the loveliest hotels along the seafront, we set about exploring the city, which is home to a bustling vibrant medina, and plenty of cafés and restaurants.

The medina is a pleasant place to get the feel of local ambience and, remarkably, we did not get pestered by the locals – who are known as Tangerines – so we had the opportunity to browse the shops selling food, souvenirs, clothes and other goods at a pleasurable and leisurely pace.

Playing in Casa
Proceeding south via a surprisingly comfortable five-hour train journey, we reached Casablanca. Fuelled with a romantic ideal to find a Bogart-style gin joint we swiftly checked into the first hotel located by the city’s Casa Voyageurs station and headed out to explore the surrounding area by dusk.

What a mistake to make! In hindsight, it’s abundantly clear that my research and planning skills need serious work as our excited roaming on the Casablanca streets near and around the train station yielded us a serious shortage of cafés or restaurants, let alone gin joints.

The one establishment claiming to be a restaurant we did venture into soon saw us ushered out with the claim that food was not served or available. Beaten, for this day, we reverted to dull food and sweet Moroccan wine savoured in the hotel lobby.

While Casablanca certainly is the industrial and economic heart of Morocco, I found it to be less than endearing. The traffic congestion made crossing the French-inspired boulevards into what felt like at times a life or death situations, and the pollution was eye-wateringly overwhelming.

Its unassuming and maze-like medina is fascinating but I personally found it mildly threatening after an interlude with a persistent local who insisted on advising us on the surrounding sights then demanded dirhams for his unasked trouble.

It must be noted though, I am naïve: two lone European women wandering the streets of Casablanca is bound to draw attention – indeed WE were the tourist attraction.

However, the awe-inspiring Hassan II Mosque more than made up for this minor hassle and we settled by the edge of the Atlantic to take in its ethereal beauty as the sun went down for another day.

One noticeable difference in both cities, I found, is the way people (well, the men) know how to enjoy the moment. Relaxing in cafes watching the world go by, drinking coffee, smoking, and chatting – it’s certainly a pleasant way to spend time.

No place like home
With our time in Africa drawing to a close all that was left to do was to return to Spain in time for the flight home to Newcastle. An easy feat I confidently assumed given the inbound smooth experience. How wrong I was.

Adverse weather conditions saw all ferries from Tangier to Tarifa cancelled and a Spanish taxi driver strike threated to thwart a timely arrival back to Malaga. However, after frantic discussions in broken English and Arabic and some quick thinking, negotiations, and a small trek by foot on a busy motorway we were soon at our final destination.

Exhausted and ready to return to normality I have never been so happy to board an EasyJet plane. While I enjoyed every moment of my Spanish / African adventure, I have to say coming home can be as nice as discovering somewhere new.

As a certain Dorothy once said “there’s no place like home”.

With thanks to my dear mum.