This week my Word of the Week is: Tired! #WotW

This week my Word of the Week is:

I have really struggled to come up with a word this week. It hasn't been a bad week really but has been one with a lot of things going on most of which have been stressing me out. Thankfully most of the things that I was worrying about have been sorted out but this week has left me feeling tired.

The birds on a morning are driving me crazy! I start hearing them about half 4 and from then on I am awake, mostly. Last year the man over the road chopped down his hedge and the birds moved into our roof, well the eaves of our roof. We hear them flapping about and the squawking. I could of course go to bed earlier on a night but I enjoy that time on an evening when everyone else has gone to bed. I know, I'm my own worst enemy.

For years I have told the girls not to get involved in other peoples arguments. Do they listen, of course not! I am tired of telling them to stay out of other peoples drama and this week it almost backfired on one of them. I'm not going to go into what happened but it caused a couple of stressful days and I am hoping a lesson has been learned. Kids! 

My Great Aunt had a fall a few weeks ago and broke her hip. She spent a bit of time in hospital and she made it home. My dad went to visit her this week and she was doing great but has ended up back in hospital with a bad chest. She has COPD so her chest hasn't been great for the last few years but it's a worry. She's 88 years old and has been like a grandmother to me all of my life. My dad said she looks and feels tired which has really knocked me for six. I don't want to think the worst but I am.

I am tired of this weather! I am sitting here now looking out of the window trying to decide whether to hang some washing on the line. It's windy enough but looks like rain. Where is the sunshine? I am not usually one for the heat but I want to be able to sit in the garden without having to wear a coat or thick jumper.

I would like to say I am going to have a nice relaxed weekend but I doubt it. Becky's girlfriend is coming to stay for a couple of nights. It will be the first time she's been in our house since October. She is a lovely lass and I love her coming to visit but I know I won't be able to fully relax until she goes home. Home doesn't feel like home when someone is visiting and you have to be on your best behaviour.

I hope you all have had a good week!

(Ad - Gifted) Rose and Lemon Flavoured Turkish Delight from Sous Chef.

Father's day is next month and I have been thinking about what to get my dad. Since having Covid he has gone right off chocolate which used to be my go to gift for father's day. His taste hasn't been right either so I wanted something with a bit of flavour and just at the right time I received an email about great gift ideas for food-fanatic fathers from Sous Chef!

They have a great selection of gifts for but one thing which caught my eye was the Lokumcuzade Fez Box of Rose and Lemon Flavoured Turkish Delight.

This is fantastic present for Turkish Delight fans and loved ones with a sweet tooth.

The rose and lemon flavoured sweets come in a stylish gift box reminiscent of a fez hat which I love. It really made me smile and the kids said it made them think of Doctor Who. lol I am sure my dad would think of the comedian Tommy Cooper when he see's it.

I have course had to open the packet of Turkish Delight and have a taste which means my dad will be getting this present early.

I tried one piece of each flavour of the Turkish Delight and could have easily eaten more. They were delicious, the flavours were strong and I think my dad will love them. Like I said his taste has been off since having Covid and I know these will give his taste buds a work out.

The Turkish Delight comes in 275g boxes and costs £7.50 from the Sous Chef website.

Sous Chef have some great gifts for those dad's which are into their food. As well as the usual gift hampers including food and drinks there are recipe kits, cookbooks, delicious ingredients, all sorts of cooking utensils and confectionery.

These are some of the top picks:

The Sous Chef Club Tasting Box - A 3 Month Subscription.

Labelled as "the go-to subscription box for keen cooks" by Vanity Fair, and rated a best-buy by The Independent. The Sous Chef Tasting Box offers five hand-picked new ingredients monthly, along with tasting notes and ideas for each product. Truly the gift that keeps on giving!

Pastificio Del Colle Squid Ink Striped Farfalle 250g.

Resembling striped bow ties, these pasta pieces are almost too good to eat! Made by Italian pasta maker Pastificio del Colle using natural dyes and artisanal methods.

Stuart Gardiner Wine Towel

This vibrant tea towel from British designer Stuart Gardiner will guide you through everything you could possibly want to know about how wine is made, drunk and bottled.

Venchi Nougatine Chocolate Cigar 100g.

Venchi’s nougatine chocolate cigar is made with the finest Italian ingredients, making it an exceptional chocolate bar for gifting. Enjoy with a tipple of whiskey as a post-dinner nibble!

Do you or a loved one like Turkish Delight?

I was sent the Lokumcuzade fez rose and lemon flavoured Turkish Delight free of charge in exchange for this blog post.

Cinemas have opened and films I am looking forward to seeing!

 I didn't realise how much I missed going to the cinema until we couldn't go! I think the last film we saw at the cinema was Toy Story 4 way before the virus happened. I have no interest in the James Bond films but the latest film has been postponed that many times I am actually wanting to see it now. 

There has been so many films postponed and delayed because of Covid. There were films talked about with trailers ages ago and they never appeared because the cinema were closed.

These are the films that I want to see:

The Matrix 4.

The Matrix 4 wasn't meant to come out till 2022 but in a surprising move it has been brought forward to December 21, 2021. I don't even know what it's about but I want to watch it, I love all of the other Matrix films even though I have never fully understood them.

Top Gun: Maverick

Fast & Furious 9

Dominic Toretto and his crew join forces to battle the most skilled assassin and high performance driver they've ever encountered - his forsaken brother. The only reason I am taking interest in this film is that Stu has agreed to go and see it with my dad's partner because there's only him and her who have interest in it. Oh, and John Cena is in it! It's like it's law now that there has to be a WWE wrestler in it. hehehe

A Quiet Place: Part 2.

I am not usually a fan of horror/thriller films but Becky made me watch A Quiet Place and it wasn't as scary as I thought it was going to be. It wasn't nice but I wouldn't say a horror. I am quite intrigued about the 2nd film.

Following the deadly events at home, the Abbott family must now face the terrors of the outside world as they continue their fight for survival in silence. Forced to venture into the unknown, they quickly realize that the creatures that hunt by sound are not the only threats that lurk beyond the sand path.

Cruella.

Candyman.

In present day, a decade after the last of the Cabrini towers were torn down, Anthony and his partner move into a loft in the now gentrified Cabrini. A chance encounter with an old-timer exposes Anthony to the true story behind Candyman. Anxious to use these macabre details in his studio as fresh grist for paintings, he unknowingly opens a door to a complex past that unravels his own sanity and unleashes a terrifying wave of violence.

I remember watching the original Candyman film back in the 90's. My friends and I were the fools looking in mirrors saying Candyman. lol For not being a fan of horror films I am fancying watching some this year. 

Peter Rabbit 2.

Mortal Kombat.

I know Mortal Kombat is available to watch on Sky but I think this is one of those which would be better on the big screen. I remember playing the game on my brothers Sega Megadrive when I was a teen and he got a pirate copy of the film from the 90's and I loved it. It was one of those films I knew word for word and watched over and over. From what I've read this new version is nothing to do with the first film but has a lot of the same characters.

MMA fighter Cole Young seeks out Earth's greatest champions in order to stand against the enemies of Outworld in a high stakes battle for the universe.

Are you looking forward to seeing any films at the cinema?

(Ad - Gifted) A self-guided treasure hunt for all ages from Treasure Trails!

I am always trying to get my family outside, for walks or bike rides but it is tough. They're teenagers and would much rather spend time inside watching TikTok or playing Fortnite. They always want a reason to go out and just going for a walk sometimes isn't a good enough excuse.

What is a good excuse to get out of the house are Treasure Trails, a self-guided themed treasure hunt around different villages, towns and cities across the UK which I have been sent to have a look at.

The Trails are a great way to get people outside and explore somewhere new or to even let you see somewhere you've lived your whole life in a new way.

The Trails come in small booklets but inside of them and big adventures. The Treasure Trail experience was designed primarily for families, with kids from the ages of 6 upwards but you don't need a child to do them.

The Trails take around 2 hours to complete and take explorers on a circular outdoor walking route, they are Covid safe and approximately two miles long. are themed as a Murder Mystery, Spy Mission or Treasure Hunt. By solving the clues in the booklets you will either be discovering whodunit, cracking the code or finding the location of the long lost treasure. The Trails will normally have around 20 to 25 clues and the answers of which are found within the area you are exploring. It could be the name on an information board, signs, statues, monuments, images, engravings, and other eye-catching features. A great way to learn about the history of the area that you are exploring.

There are over 1,200 different Trails across different areas of the UK so you are bound to find one near you to explore and enjoy.

Father's day is next month and this would be a great activity to do as a dad or a dad in your life. Set out on a secret spy mission with Treasure Trails, crack the code 007-style and give dad an assignment to rival that of James Bond.

The top 10 spy mission Trails for families to embark on this Father’s Day:

York - Clifford’s Tower.

Will you take on the challenge and crack the code on a spy mission Trail through the historic city walls of York, exploring the remarkable Clifford’s Tower and gardens?

London - Mayfair.

Embrace 007 life and set out on a mission exploring Bond Street this Father’s Day. This Trail will lead you through the shops of Old and New Bond Street, embassies, squares and gardens ending in Shepard Market.

Cornwall - Perranporth.

Dads and little ones will need to be prepared for this spy mission, which uncovers clues and secrets of the old tin-mining town. Explore coastlines, parks and even woodland before finishing on the cliff tops where a mysterious sundial may form part of the final task.

Oxford - University Parks.

This historic University City holds many secrets, and you’ll discover them on this Treasure Trail. Work together to solve clues as you follow the River Cherwell to the suburb of New Marston, along Mesopotamia Walk and then around the southern perimeter of the parks.

Newcastle – Fog on the Tyne.

Dust off your spy gadgets, and get ready for an action-packed adventure! Your self-guided spy mission Trail begins at the futuristic Millennium Bridge and will soon have you delving into Newcastle’s rich engineering history – all whilst hunting high and low for captivating Clues!

Warwickshire - Stratford upon Avon Statues and Canal.

Calling all double agents! Spot clues and work swiftly on this Trail that leads families through Firs Gardens and into the centre of town before heading on to the canal towpaths.

Scotland - Edinburgh New Town.

This sweet-toothed Trail needs the UK’s best spies to help stop villainous mastermind Dr D’Astardly. He’s discovered the top-secret ingredients for Edinburgh Rock and is planning on becoming the sole-producer. Will you discover the deactivation code before time runs out?

Gloucestershire - Tewkesbury.

The Trail starts in Gander Lane, then explores the fascinating High Street before travelling over the river and along the riverside path. It then heads back over the river and through Victoria Gardens, finishing at the Abbey.

Manchester - Castlefield.

The word on the street is that a villainous factory owner has created a rain-making machine over the city of Manchester to increase production in his cotton mills. Local spy agency, SWARM, are busy bees tracking down the enemy and need you - our TOP agent - to help!

Somerset - Bath Cake-tastrophe.

There is an evil mastermind in Bath, and he’s holding the city to ransom! Exploring this town, famous for its Georgian architecture, agents have two hours to figure out the detonation code. Will you take on the challenge?

The Treasure Trail booklets cost £9.99 for the downloadable print-at-home version or £11.48 (including P&P) for the posted version.

Explorers who get all the correct answers to the clues can then enter themselves into the £100 Treasure Trails monthly prize draw.

We will be doing our Treasure Trail in Scunthorpe sometime over the half term holidays and I am really looking forward to it. I've peeked at the clues already and have an idea of the direction we will be heading. My girls who are not usually keen on going outside on walks are really looking forward to our adventure.

I was sent the Treasure themed Treasure Trail free of charge in exchange for this blog post.