Family Fun: The Newbold Comyn Arms

I got a visit from this little pickle last week...

Whenever he comes up, we always go out for lunch rather than cooking something 

(you'd understand why I never want to cook at uni if you saw the state the boys leave the kitchen in)

I've lived in the area for nearly 3 years now, so we've done a lot of the main places around here.

One place I'd not ventured to, though, was the Newbold Comyn Arms - a pretty little pub/restaurant in Leamington Spa.

It's lovely and light inside, and looked fab on that sunny spring afternoon.

Absolutely starving (my lack of funds MAY have prevented me from eating properly recently) I chose my dish straight away. Mum chose shortly after, but it took a good 15 minutes of battling with Louis before he made a decision.

We waited and chatted, and Louis and I cuddled and snuggled and kissed and squeezed.

Aaaah, I miss him.

Then the food arrived...

Mum went for the warm pancetta, toasted pine nut and avocado salad, with balsamic dressing...

Which looked pretty tasty.

Not willing to hold back, I'd gone for the burger.

It was bloody good.

I'm gunna say it's the best I've had outside of London.

Couldn't fault the burger at all, and the only thing I'd say about the chips is that they were very potato-ey (is that a word?), but crispy chips are a personal preference and everyone's different.

Louis had chicken but the pictures pale in comparison to ours.

It was a really lovely lunch.

I can't wait for more family time this summer. I'm taking 3 months out of work to spend it all with my boy. This academic year has been a real struggle for us and I can't wait for it to be over. I just want to be with him every single day.

I mean, who wouldn't?

Taking Time Out: Coventry Cathedral

It’s been pretty quiet here as of late. I’ve just started a new job (which I love) in a marketing and press office, and am writing another essay. I did have loads of lovely things planned for the other weekend when I went home - we were going to go out for lunch, out for dinner, to a pottery, the lot - but alas, that was not meant to be, and we were all struck down with the norovirus instead. It was a horrible time.

Anyway, I feel like I’ve been giving off this vibe recently that I’ve gone off art. I won’t talk to people about it, I haven’t been in a gallery in weeks, I put off writing my MA personal statement for as long as possible etc etc.

I have to confess now though, this is all a massive front and actually I still love everything related to art, culture and heritage.

I needed to have a break from things I think, after the nightmare that was my dissertation. You know, absence makes the heart grow fonder and all that…

So I kind of accidentally started nurturing my inner culture vulture once again. I’ve been living in a bit of a bubble recently and I needed to get out of it, so I absent mindedly boarded a bus with the intention of clearing my head, and found myself at Coventry Cathedral.

There's absolutely nothing special about this post whatsoever, I just wanted to write something. This place is beautiful - probably the only good looking thing in the whole of Coventry - and it deserved a little mention.

My friends told me I was getting old when I told them I'd spent my day sitting in the Cathedral ruins, and whilst I kind of agree with them, I do think it did me the world of good to get out and clear my head.

Everyone needs some peace and quiet now and again. Everyone needs a break.

Before it's all over, I just wanted to say that I hope all you brave and beautiful mothers out there had such a special day today.
We spent most of ours snuggled in bed recovering from the norovirus outbreak that struck our household on Thursday.
It was bliss to have a break from vomiting just to calmly hold my baby's hand.

Happy Mother's Day.