The Wednesday Hodgepodge! #18

I hope you are all having a good week? It's Wednesday which means it's time to join in with the Wednesday Hodgepodge with Joyce over at From This Side of the Pond! Each week there are 6 questions, we answer and then link up. Simple!

1. Summer officially begins this week (in the northern hemisphere)...what was your favorite thing to do in the summer when you were a kid? What do you like most about summer now?

I loved the freedom of summer and being a child living on a farm. I was out every day in the sunshine. Camping out in a hut that used to be feed storage for the animals, riding horses to the chip shop, swimming in streams, making plenty of dens, driving around in tractors, climbing trees and getting into mischief by swapping animals with other farm kids much to the disappointment of our father's. I learned you are not allowed to swap an ex racehorse for 3 sheep. lol My thought was we had lots of horses but no sheep, my friend thought the same. My dad and my friends dad did not agree. I was about 13 years old. I wanted sheep and my friend wanted a horse. We got as far as me delivering the horse and trying to round up some sheep before her dad intervened.

There is so much that I love about summer now: the days out that we have which include ice cream, the lazy days, a nice cool drink in the pubs beer garden - lemonade with ice tastes so much better at the pub, ice lollies, summer dresses and watching the festivals which are shown on TV. I am not a fan of the heat but I do love that feeling after being out in the sun, then coming inside and cooling down.

2. Something you'll celebrate this summer?

My families birthdays. My fellas and Ellie, my youngest have birthdays in August and my eldest Becky's birthday is at the start of September. Ellie's birthday this year is a big one, she turns 18 and she's not just getting a birthday, she's getting a birthday weekend as she has so much planned. It is so different from when Becky turned 18. We were still in lockdowns, wearing masks and social distancing.

3. Summer tastes like? Smells like? Sounds like?

Summer tastes like: Ice lollies that stain your tongue bright colours, cocktails with silly umbrellas, fish and chips eaten out of paper by the sea and charcoal grilled burgers off the BBQ.

Summer smells like: scented sun cream, rain and that steamy smell after a storm, freshly cut grass, flowers in the garden and barbecue smoke.

Summer sounds like: fans that never quite cool the whole room, the clink of ice cubes in a glass, children playing outside and the ice cream van playing it's tune!

4. June 18th is National Splurge Day...what's the last thing you splurged on? What might you splurge on today?

I can't really think of anything. It seems ages since I had a shopping spree so I would have to say a meal out a couple of weeks ago with my fella but we got 30% off the bill so it didn't feel like much of a splurge. I will be splurging on the girls for their birthdays, they've given me lists so I just have to get shopping.

5. Share a favorite summer quote, saying, song lyric, or meme.

Summer: hair gets lighter, skin gets darker, water gets warmer, drinks get colder, music gets louder, nights get longer, life gets better. - Unknown

A balanced summer diet is:

Ice cream (one in each hand).

Strawberries.

Rose wine.

Ice cubes (optional: in your bra).

6. Insert your own random thought here.

I am writing this on Sunday afternoon, Father's Day and the girls are really spoiling my fella Stu. One is washing the dishes, the other has promised to cut the grass, not today though. Sunday is a lazy day. hehehe They have given him cards and presents which they chose and bought themselves and he loved everything! They took him out yesterday, Ellie took him to the cinema to see the How to Train Your Dragon movie and Becky took him to play pool. He was very spoilt!

My experience of staying at Holiday Inn Express - Hull City Centre.

Holiday Inn Express is a hotel brand, a subsidiary of InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), known for offering simple, convenient and a budget friendly options for travellers. I have stayed in Holiday Inn Express in Hull quite a few times over the last couple of years and all of the stays have been so different so I thought I would write about them.

The first time we stayed in the Holiday Inn Express in Hull was as a family just over a year ago when we stayed for two nights. We found it so handy with it being right near the bus station, offering a free breakfast and of course it was reasonably priced. Since then Stu and I have stayed for a night, Becky and her friends have stayed and Becky and I have had a night there too.

Checking in has always been quick and easy. Say your name and they find you on the computer and then you can pay there and then or they will take the money later from the bank card that you booked with. I always find it so strange that they don't take the money when you book especially if you chose the non-refundable option which is always cheaper. The first time I was starting to panic why the payment hadn't been taken and gave them a ring, they said it was quite normal.

The rooms have everything you would expect and we love them. They are clean, simple but big enough to have everything that you need: A decent sized bed with extra pillows and bedding, a desk, chair, flat screen TV, tea and coffee making facilities, hangers to hang clothes an en suite bathroom with power showers and fab mirrors with really good lighting and we have been lucky each time with a great view.

You can actually have 4 adults sleeping in one room if you were willing to share a double bed and the sofa bed. More recently Becky and I slept in a twin room and those rooms were just as good as the double rooms.

It took a couple of visits to get the hang of getting the heating/air conditioning just right. We went on a very hot weekend and left the air-con on and came back to the room and it was freezing and in the winter put the heating on and came back to the room and it was sweltering. We have found the best way to use it is just not touch the heating/air con at all.

The hotel offers free Wi-Fi and it is a decent speed. I have never had any issues with it or getting connected. The only thing I am not keen on is that there are no plugs or anywhere to charge your phone next to the beds. It means if I have to charge my phone during the night I never know what time it is if I wake up as the curtains are so good, the room is dark when they are closed and it is so confusing if my alarm clock goes off and it's at the other side of the room.

The idea of a free breakfast sounds amazing but in my experience it hasn't always been great. The only time we've enjoyed it is when we were there just after they started serving breakfast. 

Later on during the breakfast serving time the food looks past it's best. I usually make do with toast and jam. They stop serving breakfast at half past 10 on a weekend but on our last stay we got downstairs just before 10am where they had stopped refilling the food and bringing out clean cutlery and glasses so we couldn't even butter our toast or get a glass of juice. So if you do want a breakfast you need to go early. What made it worse that morning was that people were filling bags with muffins, fruit and anything they could to take away and leaving nothing for people who were wanting to eat there.

This hotel doesn't serve food during the day or on an evening but people do order in from apps like Uber Eats and the hotel does supply plastic plates and cutlery which I thought was brilliant of them.

The Holiday Inn Express in Hull has a good bar and a roof terrace and it was wonderful to sit outside on a summers evening. The drinks were not overpriced and the views are beautiful when the sun is setting.

The staff are lovely! The same staff have been there each time I have visited and they are cheerful, helpful and go above and beyond even if they are rushed off their feet sometimes.

You would expect a hotel being so close to town you would hear a lot of noise but you really don't, the windows don't open but you can see all sorts of vehicles going past but not a sound from them. Sometimes you will hear people coming in, walking down the corridor and doors banging but it is not enough to keep you awake on an evening!

Prices do vary depending on what night you stay. I have paid as little as £48 per night for two of us and up to £100 per night. I think it really depends on the time of year and what is going on in town for the prices that they charge.

Have you stayed in a Holiday Inn before? What did you think?

Our weekly meal plan! 16th - 22nd June! #MealPlanningMonday

I hope you all had a good weekend? I didn't get up to much at all, I just pottered around the house. The girls and Stu had great fun with a cinema trip and playing pool in a sports bar. It was their treat to him for Father's Day! I love how they are taking control of things like that, just another sign that they are growing up.

Last weeks meal plan went OK. I can't even remember why but we ended up getting a takeaway on Monday evening. I think I was feeling lazy but I regretted it later in the week. After being really busy on Thursday I would have appreciated the takeaway more that night. We ate just about everything else apart from the quiche, I will get around to making it one day, not this week though.

I don't know what we are doing this week, it all depends on whether Ellie is expected to be in college. They are winding down for the summer and hopefully this is the week where all the teachers say she is done until September. Everything seems so up in the air at the moment. Some teachers are saying she is done and others want the students in. One thing is that she has to remember to empty her locker and bring her overalls and boots home. Last year she forgot and we had to make an extra trip to college.

On the menu this week we have:

Monday - A help yourself evening. Stu and I have plans during the day so it will probably just be sandwiches, crisps and cakes for tea.

Tuesday - Sausage, apple and potato one-pan roast. I love this meal, it is easy to make and delicious too. I am using baby potatoes instead of baking potatoes. I think they taste nicer.

Wednesday - Something out of the freezer with home made chips as requested by the girls.

Thursday - Thai-Style Pork Patties With Sweet Potato Wedges. This is a Gousto meal that we love and I will happily make without even getting a Gousto box delivered. I don't make the pickled radish and cucumber salad as my family are not keen on it, I'll make the carrot and apple coleslaw which they love. 

Friday - Tuna and sweetcorn pasta salad. 

Saturday - Fake KFC. Fried chicken, fries, corn on the cob, onion rings, baked beans and coleslaw.

Sunday - Pies, mashed potato and veg.

What are you eating this week?

A photo every day for a year! 8th - 14th June! Week 24 of #Project365

Happy Father's Day to all the dad's out there! We have no great plans for today, Stu is having a day off from doing anything productive and we'll be getting a takeaway later. I saw my dad on Friday, gave him his card and gifts and spent most of the day with him which was lovely. Sending love and hugs to those who's dad's are no longer with us and find today difficult.

Stu got an early Father's Day treat yesterday. Him and Ellie went to the cinema to see the newest How To Train Your Dragon movie. They love that series but this one was the live action one and then they met up with Becky and they went to play pool. They had a fab day!! I spent the day at home and spent it doing some jobs around the house, blogging and watching TV. It was quite lovely. 

Now for a photo every day!

159/365 - 8th June

Pretty little flowers! Apparently this is Buckwheat according to Google and my plant identifier app! Of course I read up about it. It attracts bees and other pollinators, gets rid of weeds and improves soil. That is just what my garden needs! 

160/365 - 9th June

Ellie took some time to sort out the shelves in her bedroom. I had forgotten all about all the Doctor Who figures that she has. They were up on her top shelf before, pushed to the back and me being short couldn't see them. Now she has them lower down for all to see!

161/365 - 10th June

Usually when I make a curry it's a boring Korma as Becky isn't keen on anything spicy but she has recently decided that she likes Tikka Masala so we gave that a try and it was good!! I cheated a little and used packet, microwave egg fried rice.

162/365 - 11th June

I was out in the garden weeding and after mowing the grass out of the front earlier in the week the garden wheelie bin was half full. It doesn't get emptied for a few days yet so there's a chance it might get filled even more if Stu gets around to cutting the grass in the back garden.

163/365 - 12th June

This was my dad's Father's Day card. It is a joke between us that I am his tech support and the first thing I always say have you tried switching it off and on again. That usually fixes the technical issues that he is having.

164/365 - 13th June

I spent the day with my dad on Friday. It was nice just hanging out with him while he got on with a few jobs around his workshop. He enjoyed showing me how to do things and I enjoyed learning from him.

165/365 - 14th June

Stu was sat waiting to go out for the day with the girls. First up the cinema with Ellie and then to play pool with Becky.

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