Yes it's been that time of year again when the Aged Parents shoehorn TYM and a selection of his personal goods and chattels [most could be left in situ this time] into our modest sized metal box in order to deposit him back at the start of another new uni term.
Distance wise it's several hours of travelling so requires an overnight stay, so I've nipped and tucked the GBT budget where possible. The hotel is a no frills affair and part of the service station, but it's clean and comfortable. However, eating facilities are limited and I don't much fancy a fast food breakfast so we have tried out and been very pleased with the reasonably priced options at the new Wetherspoons just round the corner from his halls. Indeed none of the service stations have seen my custom...with the travelling we do to our business shows I've got the art of thrifty lunches down to a tee. With enough fruit for two days I now take something along the lines of prebuttered hot cross buns [they keep fine overnight in the car] for the return trip along with those sachets of latte to which you just add hot water. We fill the flask with hot water at the hotel and take a teaspoon to stir it all in...lumpy coffee is not my idea of manna from heaven! Not being one who eats out regularly I have sourced a slightly more expensive pub in a nearby village...it allows us to fill the car up on the way through [at 12p a litre cheaper than the hotel why wouldn't you] and enjoy a special freshly cooked meal together as a family. I am now officially in love with the Lancaster and white onion pie I had!
All's quiet here on the Western Front once again...it only takes a small adjustment now for me to get used to him being away. Knowing that he's happy and having a ball means I can relax. For once we were able to get a photo of all of us together at Christmas...I can't tell you how rare this phenomenon it is..... so with great pleasure please allow me to inflict said image of Himself with the Aged Parents upon you all!
Until next time.....
Distance wise it's several hours of travelling so requires an overnight stay, so I've nipped and tucked the GBT budget where possible. The hotel is a no frills affair and part of the service station, but it's clean and comfortable. However, eating facilities are limited and I don't much fancy a fast food breakfast so we have tried out and been very pleased with the reasonably priced options at the new Wetherspoons just round the corner from his halls. Indeed none of the service stations have seen my custom...with the travelling we do to our business shows I've got the art of thrifty lunches down to a tee. With enough fruit for two days I now take something along the lines of prebuttered hot cross buns [they keep fine overnight in the car] for the return trip along with those sachets of latte to which you just add hot water. We fill the flask with hot water at the hotel and take a teaspoon to stir it all in...lumpy coffee is not my idea of manna from heaven! Not being one who eats out regularly I have sourced a slightly more expensive pub in a nearby village...it allows us to fill the car up on the way through [at 12p a litre cheaper than the hotel why wouldn't you] and enjoy a special freshly cooked meal together as a family. I am now officially in love with the Lancaster and white onion pie I had!
All's quiet here on the Western Front once again...it only takes a small adjustment now for me to get used to him being away. Knowing that he's happy and having a ball means I can relax. For once we were able to get a photo of all of us together at Christmas...I can't tell you how rare this phenomenon it is..... so with great pleasure please allow me to inflict said image of Himself with the Aged Parents upon you all!
Until next time.....
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Awww,Lovely photo Aril.I love family pics like this!Its a long way to travel,but its great that you can make a little break out of it.I hate service stations food aswell.So over priced!,We do the same as you and take a flask and some food from home.Much more frugal!,Debi,xx
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear I'm not the only one who takes a flask. It means we can stop for a shorter period of time and don't get caught up in queues either.
DeleteArilx
I did waffle on a rather nice comment, but with the vagaries of the internet it went with a puff of internet smoke and vanished. Sigh. Precised somewhat, I said that mine is here for another week before we load his little blue car to bursting and wave him off. I will miss him too especially (!) his big feet, the amount of washing, clothes randomly shed in all rooms and the constant feeding of the foraging lad.
ReplyDeleteYes it's the small things isn't it...shoes in the hall, ping of the i-phone, yelling up the stairs because he's got his earphones in and the continuous eating cycle!
DeleteArilx
we live Up North but when we have head up into the far North and Beyond The Wall we use the Morrisons method , source a map of Morrisons and get cheap fuel , a quick cheap meal sometimes clean toilets and usually a pack of Scotch Eggs , theyre usually very close to main road and motorway junctions
ReplyDeleteThat's a very good tip about Morrisons. Much appreciated thanks Kate.
DeleteArilx
Family...still a family even when they fledge...lovely photo x
ReplyDeleteGreat tip about the coffee sachets and flask Aril - I'll take that on board next trip. I pack lots of fruit and nibbles and often take sandwiches. Service stations are real cash traps - and the ferry too.... plus I'm gluten free which is a real pain when you're looking for a quick decent meal... we do the same as Kate and go to Morrison's (or Tesco) where the meals are really quite good for the price. If we're really stuck at a service station M&S do good cheap salads which we take out to the car or to the eating area in the service station.
ReplyDeleteGreat photo of you all.