Birthday Treat

Went to Luton on Saturday as a belated birthday, for my son.  He had a party at his house with his mates on his birthday.  So he came to see us on Saturday.  We went round the shops and did a little shopping like you do.  We had decided that we would go back to Dunstable for our evening meal and eat out, but going into the Mall, we noticed a new restaurant a Toby Carvery so we thought why not.  Every thing was lovely, and we eat our fill. The staff where pleasant and attentive, "and then I go and spoil it all by saying something stupid like," I  would like a hot chocolate please. I rarely ask for coffee on my first visit, as you know by my moans I am a little fussy with my coffee, however as lots of pubs serve food these days, a lot of the machines are pretty rubbish, but not all of them, which is what gets me   I know two pubs that have machines and no steamers, that serve decent cups of coffee, at a reasonable heat.  So I assume being a restaurant, they would have a steamer, wrong!"  My son looks on laughing my husband with trepidation, "Just have another Lemonade and we will go to Costa's", which again all the same machinery, but can be hit and miss, all though I must admit the only miss in the area is the one at the library end of the mall next to Toby's. 

I took a sip well it was smooth, creamy,  tasteless, and lukewarm not remotely hot, I thought at first it was froth, but no what an idiot I am when will I ever learn.  I sent it back and got the standard reply that is the temperature the milk comes out of the machine.  So no drink, until I got home, I can't belief that these manufactures,  or restauranteurs ignore there customers, so I must summise that I am the only one that complains. I will admit that Toby's is the coldest and weakest I have ever tasted, for a hot drink. Drinks are so expensive out, meals are getting cheaper so there must make their money somewhere I get it!.  It is not a problem with me I will pay for a good hot cup of coffee, I resent paying for lukewarm dish water, but I can't belief that these machines are set properly, the chocolate at Toby's was not remotely hot or chocolaty for that matter.  The other answer is that it was made and the waitress  left it sitting to long, but  I don't think so.  They did take it off my bill, which is rare, so at least I didn't pay for it, but I didn't get a hot drink either.  Rant Over.

Woman In Black

My son started playing on his phone, and said lets go to see the Muppet's! two groans.  The hotel film with all  the older actors in was not on until 8.30pm.  My son's favourite stage play is 'Woman in Black',  The film version being due to start in 20 minutes over the road.  While it is not exactly mine or Kevin's favourite subject matter and despite that Kevin always sleeps through films, with one exception The Kings Speech, we thought why not, so we went.  I loved it I thought Daniel Radcliffe was excellent, I am  one of those few people that is totally unbiased, apart from the TV film 'My son Jack', I have not really sat down and seen one of  his films all the way through, not even a Harry Potter.  Oh I do intend to watch them, but will buy them and watch them quite quickly, I hate waiting years for the next chapter.  I realy enjoyed the film if you can say enjoy to a horror film, but it freaked me out in all the right places, and had me holding my breathe in other's all in all a good film.  Even Kevin despite having the wrong glasses with him, did not nod off during it. My son, though he liked it, still prefers the stage play.  Now he wants to drag us to London  for the play, we'll see.  All in all an enjoyable day,  a magical moment to treasure. 

Maureen Moans

What is with all these reality shows, I rarely watch them, so as you can imagine I end up watching very little television. I tend to watch tried and tested DVD's or I play on my lap-top.

last night I watched channel 4 Daddy Day Care, only because I was at work, and it was on. It was dire. We are told that most men today would rather spend time working, or watching TV or down the pub with their mates then with their families. So each week 3 men are sent to work at a nursery because they don't do enough around the house, or with their own children.

Last night they sent them to a packed nursery for 168 children, in London to look after 12 children!!!  If you put any stranger in a room with 12 pre-schoolers and you will get havoc, guess what even a mother.

I want to know why the owners/managers of these nurseries gave their consent? money? fame? why?

We are told by the staff that the children have strict routines and that they need to be handled a certain way.  Yes by people who they know and who know them.

Nursery Nurses are trained professionals, after their training in college they are sent on placements to nurseries. Where guided by an experienced member of staff learn about the children, and the children get to know them.

Expecting a reluctant dad, to be able to get 12 children to sit down, and be read to, or to change nappies for a man whose wife hasn't had a baby yet, and the third had to get his 12 to sleep.

Yes Right.  It would not have been filmed if they had succeeded, so it was obvious they wouldn't.

Yes they are men out there who do not want any part in child care, so send mum on holiday and let dad look after his own kids for a week, not so much fun, well neither was this.  Even though they returned home, more determined to support their wife's it is all parts of the shows remit.  So if this is the best reality show you can come up with then give up and let's have some proper drama or comedy, shows made.

Needless to say I will not be watching the next 2 episodes, as it will just be a repeat of the first.  By the way I did not see a disclaimer saying that no Children or for that matter Dads where harmed during filming.

Maureen's Moans

This is a moan about bloggers who loose the tool bar at the top of the page, with next blog on it.  You will be sailing along jumping from blog to blog, which I find interesting. Then Stop! there is no next blog sign, where is it I got four in a row this morning and I had to keep going backwards to get new posts.  Leave the toolbar alone it is useful for those of us who like to blog hop, if you don' then, don't.

Maureen's Moans

Have you noticed when you go in to a cafe or coffee shop, and get a hot coffee it is never hot enough.  I get told that, that is the highest temperature that they are allowed to make it. Rubbish!! When Kevin has a black tea, it is at least ten minutes before he can drink it, let alone hold the cup.  So I have now started looking at their machines with their fancy coffee's and I ask for them to make it slightly hotter, some do, some just look at me as though I am stupid, and some still try to tell me that it is health and safety.  However it is alright for some one drinking tea to be scolded.  I have even been told very pompously that, the machines are set at the best temperature for serving coffee, set by whom, not me I like my coffee hot! hot!! hot!!!  I now only go in to shops where I know they have steamers and when I ask they will make it hotter for me.

Maureen's Moans

This is going to be a collection of little moans, those little things in life that annoy me.  So this is my first one.

If there is one thing I can't stand it is when it is raining and your on the narrowest part of the pavement and car's will still come to close and when they do get it right and splash you they take great delight in beeping there horns and giving you the thumbs up when your stood there freezing cold looking like a drowned rat.