Trip to Bridlington with gran, July 2024

July 11, 2024Leave a comment

Hi everyone! My latest UnicornPostbox blog post is a travel blog of a day trip to Bridlington yesterday with my gran Ruth, hope you like 🥰

We set off early in the morning (I woke up at 7am, a rarity for me, I’m not really a morning person 🤣) Travelled via a local coach company 👍 It took us roughly an hour and 30 mins travelling from Doncaster 🥰

Our first port of call was browsing around the shops. I bought a new diamond art 🎨 and sketching pencils from The Works. I also bought my mum a seagull teddy 😄

We were both peckish by lunchtime so we walked to ‘Pier 6’, close to where the bus dropped us off, for some nice grub 😋 Gran had haddock and chips, and I had a veggie cheeseburger with salad and coleslaw 😋

We then had a leisurely walk around the harbour, admiring the lovely boats. A doughnut for gran and a waffle 🧇 with chocolate sauce and bananas 🍌 for me. Yum, yum 😋

We briefly passed through the fair ground rides (no, we didn’t go on any, haha 😆) and took some photos of the beach, before ascending up a slope to the arcades

Gran was a pro on the race horse 🏇 and ball game, winning some candy floss and a barbie doll. It was highly amusing also my gran’s tactics with the 2p machines, bashing them in all at once! I took a video, it was really funny 🤣

We made our way slowly back to the coach. We sat down on quite a few occasions on benches as we travelled around Brid. Gran isn’t fantastic on her feet bless her, in need of a knee replacement 💕 We had soft drinks in one cafe, and a latte/ vanilla milkshake with squirty cream in another 😋 I don’t even want to think about the calorie intake! 🤣

Overall, it was a lovely day 😊 Although the sun never came out, it was cloudy ⛅️ with only a slight drizzle. We were quite lucky

It was really nice to spend quality time with gran, she’s a wonderful woman and Grandma, 87 bless her 💕

I believe there is another coach trip next month to Skegness (we love it there!) and Bury Market later on in the year…

Thank you as ever for taking the time to read/view. All the best, Lauren xx

Skegness 31st May 2023

June 4, 2023June 4, 2023Leave a comment

On Wednesday 31st May, me and my grandma Ruth went on a coach trip, organised by the bingo club, to Skeggy for the day. It was the third time travelling, the two previous years the sun was scorching. This time however it was cloudy but fortunately not raining 🙂🙂

On arrival, we ordered tea, caramel latte and scones with jam and cream at a little cafe 😋 We ventured then around the shops. I bought two new books for myself from The Works, and three teddies for mum; a sloth, dog and hedgehog 🥰 For lunch we went to a gorgeous quaint fish shop, gran had the cod and me mozzarella sticks, chips and salad

Gran was a bit reluctant at first but I persuaded her to come with me to Skegness Aquarium..it was fantastic! There were small sharks and jelly fish, starfish, tropical fishes, blue lobsters, sting rays…and outside there was a dinosaur exhibition! Loads of huge dinosaur statues! A park keeper/enthusiast came at us with a hand held one, great photo opportunity, haha 😄😄 Gran was pleased I’d persuaded her to go, she loved it

To finish off the day, we had a wander around the funfair, and played on 2p machine in the arcades… another quick hot drink, then back on the coach home 🥰🥰

I am so glad we made it. Only a few months ago my gran had a nasty fall and broke her shoulder 😫 I stayed with her and looked after her for about eight weeks. She has other health complications too at the moment, and she’s eighty six now bless her..so I’m just happy we had a nice day away the two of us

Thank you as always for reading/viewing..I think my next project will be an upcycling job for the Children’s Air Ambulance, so keep a look out 😛

Many thanks, Lauren xx

Skegness 11th August 2021

December 3, 2021December 3, 2021Leave a comment

Earlier this year, me and my lovely grandma Ruth had a fantastic organised day trip to Skegness (skeggy). Here’s just a few photos and thoughts regarding our outing, hope you enjoy…

We were so fortunate that the weather was beautiful all afternoon, bright and warm and sunny; exactly what you wish for going to the seaside. Some others on the bus trip decided to visit Ingoldmells market first, we went straight to Skegness however.

I was very pleasantly surprised how gorgeous Skegness is. I’ve been to butlins often as a child, but couldn’t really remember how pretty the seaside itself is.

As soon as we got off the coach, we relaxed a while having a coffee / iced latte before strolling into the center. We window shopped a little, gran was adamant she was going to find a particular shop which just was not there, bless her. We had superb food in a popular fish and chips restaurant (no fish for me, urgh lol) before leisurely wandering around the fun fair, grabbing a slushy to cool down. Then we contently and casually walked along the promenade; it was amazing and heartwarming seeing families so happy on the beach. Me and gran sat down on the pier some time to unwind before heading to the pub, haha. I had a few ciders so I was rather tipsy on the way home and I don’t think the driver appreciated having an unscheduled toilet break, oh dear lol.

Skegness was not what I thought it would be at all, it completely surpassed my expectations. I can’t wait to go again and take my Dad along he would love it!

Thank you so much for taking the time to read / view, it is appreciated. Please keep a look out for my next blog post, a portrait of Muhammad Ali.

Much love, take care, Lauren xx

Uncle Jim’s birthday weekend: Retford, Nottingham, Doncaster

July 12, 2021July 12, 2021Leave a comment

Not this weekend but the weekend before, we had a wonderful time celebrating my Uncle Jim’s birthday. Please continue reading for a description of mine, my Auntie Gina, her son Rich and Uncle Jim’s travels to; Ye Olde Bell Hotel & Spa in Retford, a day out in Nottingham and another trip to Yorkshire Wildlife Park in Doncaster. Hope you enjoy!

We went for a posh meal on the Friday evening at Ye Olde Bell Hotel & Spa, Retford. As you can see, we dressed up nice for the occasion! The food was delicious, I opted for the lamb which was very succulent. Our original choice for dining out was Spencer’s On The Square, Retford, the venue for Uncle Jim and Auntie Gina’s wedding a few years ago – however due to covid confusions, we changed to the place they have celebrated their subsequent anniversaries. Ye Olde Bell certainly didn’t disappoint on a taste point of view, even if we did have to wait a little longer than expected for our meal to arrive – annoying!

Of all the UK cities I’ve visited over the years, I have never been to Nottingham, so I was super excited to go on the Saturday! We started off at the Victoria Shopping centre. I was quite smitten with a quirky fancy / alternative dress emporium lol. We moseyed leisurely around the shops, enjoying a latte and cake break half way. Unfortunately Auntie Gina couldn’t find a particular hair accessory salon, to her dismay and Uncle Jim’s best efforts! The weather was slightly changeable in Nottingham city centre; one moment overcast with clouds and the next we knew, rays and beams of sunshine! Nottingham City Hall in Old Market Square proudly displayed a Union Jack flag, which would then be in excited anticipation of the England football teams’ upcoming Euro 2020 games. We decided it would be fun to take some typical tourist photos with street performers and in Seaside themed comical booths, hehe. Furthermore, Uncle Jim was delighted to get a photograph with his lovely wife in front of the Brian Clough OBE statue! We finished off our great day with some more retail therapy, something Auntie Gina relished 🙂

Sunday – yes, another venture to Yorkshire Wildlife Park, haha! We were so disappointed when we arrived because the new Point Lobos enclosure for Californian Sea Lions was closed due to essential maintenance. We were however able to see the new mother polar bear Flocke and her three triplets at Project Polar 2, which was fantastic! I managed to get some pretty decent photographs of the tigers and meerkats which I was chuffed about, although it was a shame Uncle Jim was unable to catch a glimpse of his beloved, timid red pandas lol – likewise the giraffes unfortunately were not visible in their indoor huts. So though it was a sad we were unable to see some of the wildlife, it was still a brilliant day seeing all the other amazing animals. I think we walked for about four and a half hours in total around the park, I was knackered afterwards, haha – it definitely didn’t help I was suffering from a urinary tract infection and on antibiotics at the time. I was slightly relieved when we entered the gift shop at the new Yorkshire Hive at the end of the day. I bought my beautiful mum a red panda and a zebra teddy 🙂

Thank you so much for taking the time to read / view my latest travel blog post!

I just wanted to mention, it is a misfortune that we didn’t win the Euros last night, especially so cruelly on penalties – but I think the England lads did terrific in the tournament, and brought joy to so many people this Summer, in such awful, dark and unprecedented times. Well done, thank you, and bring on the World Cup!

Yorkshire Wildlife Park October 2020

October 19, 2020Leave a comment

Hi blog followers! This Friday just gone, myself, mum, my Uncle Jim, Auntie Gina and her son Rich had a lovely day out at Yorkshire Wildlife Park. I just thought I’d share with you a few photos and a description of our visit. Hope you enjoy!

Me mum and my sister Beth visited Yorkshire Wildlife Park only a month or so ago, however, my Uncle Jim, Auntie Gina and Rich had never been before, so we thought it would be a nice day out 🙂

When we arrived we had lunch at the ‘Tsavo Bakehouse’. To be honest, I would not recommend it as the service was poor and there was hardly any food choices available. After an unfortunate start, we had a leisurely stroll around the park. It was quite a chilly day, so sadly some of the animals retreated to their little huts in their enclosures to escape the cold weather, ha 😛 Nevertheless, we still had a very enjoyable day 🙂

We made our way from left to right, seeing the baboons and spotted dogs first, then we had a walk through the ‘Lemur Woods’, on to ‘Project Polar’, ‘Land of the Tigers’, ‘Leopard Heights’, ‘Into Africa’ and ‘Lion Country’ etc. Somewhere I have never visited previously was ‘Himalayan Pass’, so it was a fantastic experience to see the hyenas being fed raw meat and we also tried to spot the new red pandas, however they were being shy hiding in the trees! We had a rest and a hot drink at the ‘Masai Coffee House’ near the giraffes shortly before leaving.

It was great for us all to spend quality time again with mum. As explained before, she is sadly in the later stages of early onset Alzheimer’s disease dementia, so all time with her is very special and to be cherished. On the way out, I bought her two new teddies; ‘Leo the Lion’ and ‘Georgina the Giraffe’ – we have quite a collection of teddy bears now which I put into bed with mum after I’ve read her a nighttime story, very cute, hehe 🙂

Thank you very much for taking the time to read / view this latest UnicornPostbox blog post. Up next, I think I may do some more amateur art – perhaps a portrait drawing of Russell Crowe in ‘Gladiator’ as this is one of my favourite films 🙂

Take care, stay safe, much love, Lauren xx

(Please visit my Facebook and Instagram page ‘UnicornPostbox’ to ‘like’ and ‘follow’)

Further Information:

http://www.yorkshirewildlifepark.com [Accessed 19th October 2020]

unicornpostbox

art / craft, travel / theatre

Tag: day trip