Category: Views & Ramblings

1. Guess who just flew into Birmingham Airport?

   Posted on 10:01pm Monday 22nd Jun 2015

   Okay, the title may be a little luring but that is nothing compared to the temptation of the new Marcos restaurant close to Birmingham Airport. Marco's New York Italian is situated at the Holiday Inn, just 10 minutes from the NEC / Genting Arena, Birmingham International rail station and Birmingham International Airport .As a Midlands lass, I couldn't wait to try it out and Fathers Day seemed like the perfect opportunity.

   I have to admit that I was a little unsure of what to expect with the "New York Italian" description but with Marcos name above the door, there was a certain expectation of the food and ambience and it didn't disappoint.

   

   From Italian dishes including mouth-watering Italian sharing platters, fresh seafood, home-made pizza and pasta to American favourites such as succulent steaks, burgers and Marco's special BBQ ribs (which were my starter of choice and were absolutely divine). We enjoyed the set Fathers Day menu, for the exceptionally good price of £19.95 for 3 courses (or £16.95 for 2) and for every table of 4, Dad ate for FREE (but shhhhh don't tell my Dad that I didn't pay for his meal!!).

   With the exception of my Mum, we all chose the beef main course and it didn't disappoint. I was initially worried that the meat was a little on the rare side for me (personal preference and all that) but it tasted exquisite. So much so that my Mum started pinching it off our plate after we had groaned in delight.

   

   The restaurant wasn't overly crowded, which was surprising given the affordable menu choices on the day we visited and the staff were extremely attentive. It will be interesting to see how they will cope as the bookings increase and the restaurant becomes more popular.

   I have to give particular mention to Karen, the restaurant manager, she was extremely welcoming, very professional and coaxed conversation out of a very shy toddler. It is always a worry when we take the children to nice restaurants, not because I am worried about how they will behave, but as to whether or not the restaurant "really" caters for children and welcomes families. We certainly felt welcomed by the whole team and the childrens menu gave a good selection - rather than the tiresome chicken nuggets and chips most restaurants insist on giving younger diners.

   We were seated on a circular table in the centre of the restuarant so were central to the "buzz" which was perfect for us but there are more secluded booths if you are choosing the venue for a romantic meal or business meeting. Every time I looked up from our table, I could see Marco looking down at me from his picture but we didn't get to see the man himself, although I can imagine it may be a little intimidating complaining about a meal if he was in the kitchen!
   

   

   The venue is well placed for motorway links and close enough to Solihull for those who may like to go out dancing afterwards and the only downside was the parking charge from the hotel, despite being discounted having dined in the restaurant.

   For me, it was the perfect way to spend Fathers Day with my husband, children and parents. Unfortunately for my husband, he was not feeling so well so couldn't finish his food (which is unheard of and no reflection on the restaurant) so we have made a resolution to go back to Marcos, so he can see what he was missing!

   For the avoidance of doubt, we paid for our meals and the thoughts, comments and compliments are our honest opinions. No recompense has been received for this review.

   

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2. Are you ever ready for a baby?

   Posted on 8:41pm Monday 22nd Jun 2015

   Our baby blogger talks about getting ready for Baby Number 2.

   I am not sure where the last 30 weeks have gone? I am now in my third trimester, I'm huge, and if I am honest I am freaking out!

   If you read my last blog post over on The Rose Diaries, you will know that I am a worrier. Mainly in regards to health. But, this period of worrying involves me freaking out about all sorts. My biggest problem at the moment is space, or lack of it. We are in the midst of building an extension. Which means that our little boy is sharing our room. We haven't even begun building his or his new sisters bedrooms, and with 10 weeks to go, I'm panicking.

   With our son, everything was ready for the time I was 34 weeks. I felt organised and completely in control. I knew that when he arrived, everything was where it should be. But now, my amazing husband informs me that the building work and it's contents may not be finished for my due date - is he kidding me? He tells me we may all have to be in one bedroom for a few weeks. Four people, one bedroom, have I suddenly been transported back to Victorian times? A nearly 4 year old, a crying baby, a snoring husband and a tired mummy will not be the recipe for a harmonious household!

   

   I worry about how big I am. On frequent visits to the supermarket, I have had comments such as "you can't have long left" or "are you sure there is only one in there." Or my all time favourite is "there is no way that baby is staying in there till September 4th". Whilst I am very proud of my bump and the miracle inside it, peoples comments of basically saying "I'm fat" is driving me mad. I have even resorted to telling people that she is due the end of August(which she may be as her brother was 5days early) so that people don't look at me in complete horror. 

   Then, when I finally calm myself down about the building work, and how big my bump is, listening to the reassuring words of my best friend that "all will work out in the end". I start to panic about labour -will I be able to cope? Will it be quicker? (Oh I do hope so) will I have the same placenta issues as last time? All of which I am thinking at 2:30am when I get up for my 5th wee of the night. I also keep watching re-runs of "One Born Every Minute". I love this programme, but am I doing myself any favours of reminding myself of labour? But, then I watch the wonderful outcome of labour and realise it is a position that so many would love to be in. 

   My friend is still trying to get me to try Hypnobirthing, to relax me. I know the benefits of it. However, you could have the gorgeous Gary Barlow singing live in the room and it still wouldn't relax me. 

   So what do I do? Keep convincing myself that it will be less painful and quicker than last time, or think of the worst and anything else is a bonus? 

   What would you do?

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3. One Tip To Make The School Run A Little Easier

   Posted on 12:52pm Thursday 11th Jun 2015

   I love the summer holidays, I love the sunshine, the lazy days, the light nights and no school run! If you have children of school age then you doubtless have a Monday to Friday routine that is the same every day - well, at least it's supposed to be! School clothes on, brush hair, clean teeth, grab school bag, coat and shoes on, and off we go... or not.

   Anyone who doesn't have children would think it quite simple to keep to a routine that happens five days out of seven. After all, getting a routine going from an early age based around feeding is one of the first things parents learn. Routines for older children help to instil personal responsibility and prepare them for higher education and work. Yet so many parents find that, somehow, each and every morning there is some new drama that seems specifically designed to slow you down and make everyone late. (insert : I haven't finished my breakfast, can't find my shoes, where is the hairbrush, have you brushed your teeth, etc.....) 

   

   So, if you're having problems getting the morning routine to run smoothly and without complaints, yelling and screaming on all sides, then you might want to try a simple reward-based system where good behaviour and sticking to the routine earns privileges in the form of time allowed for entertainments in the evening. Perhaps the most obvious one is TV time, but it could be computer game time, tablet time, mobile phone time - and, as all of these are things that you may well want to limit the use of anyway, it's a good way to kill two birds with one stone.

   I know that there are some that might consider this blackmail or bribery, but this depends whether or not you consider something like TV time a right that should be allowed no matter how your kids behave. And you could always make the reward things that you approve of and want to encourage - story time, reading together time, games together time, and so on. The time earned by good behaviour could also be saved up for use at the weekend.

   The system is very simple. Just make a check list of all those little tasks that have to be done each morning: getting dressed; combing/brushing hair; getting down to breakfast on time; cleaning teeth and washing face; and so on. Each is to be completed without complaint or drama, and the reward for completing each task is a few minutes of whatever leisure activity you decide. You can even add bonus time for completing all tasks without the need for being told, or told more than once.

   If time after school is also stressful, with homework not getting done and bags not getting packed for school in the morning, dinner not getting eaten, bedrooms not getting tidied and so on, then you can use the same system.

   There may well be resistance at first, with kids bound to see less time for entertainment as something that's being taken away from them. However, if you make it clear that everyone starts with NO time, then not earning any time is not really a punishment.

   So, if your school run is hell on earth and you're fed up of barking orders morning and night, then why not try out a reward-based system for those little things that need to get done every day at the right time?

    

    For more help and advice, there are some great resources here : http://www.sunny-d.co.uk/tips/

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4. 10 things to do before you are 10

   Posted on 9:12am Wednesday 3rd Jun 2015

   I am the proud owner of a 10 year old. How is that possible? Where has the last decade gone? It is certainly a milestone for any child to reach double digits (as my daughter calls it) as when you are very little, being 10 seems extremely grown up. It is that age where you are “almost” at senior school and people expect you to behave your age.

   However before you reach those double figures, there are certain things that you should absolutely have on your “To-Do” List, so my daughter and I put together a list of things we agreed that were essential to do before you are 10!

   

   1. Purchase a small, furry, cute yet hopelessly fragile pet and try and keep it alive for longer than 1 month. (Word of advice; if you buy a ball for a hamster, don’t put it on a table …. Because they will roll off ...... trust me on this one) 
   2. Locate and climb the largest most awkwardly constructed tree known to man….and get stuck. 
   3. Learn to swim wearing your pyjamas, (I’m assuming this is in case a tsunami sweeps you from your bed). 
   4. Master the rope swing that the older kids constructed across the river at the park. (You know the one you were told never to attempt) 
   5. Learn how to effectively scrape dog poo out of your trainer tread with your dad’s screwdriver, wearing carrier bags on your hands …. (That is if all the local dog owners haven’t been good citizens and picked up the doggy poo!) 
   6. Try and make a daisy chain that is at least 15ft long (slight exaggeration but you get the picture) 
   7. Catch a snowflake, make a snow angel or go sledging down a big hill (depending on your level of desire for adrenalin) 
   8. Have a sleepover with a midnight feast! (As a parent I am totally not advocating this but the children LOVE them. Try not to arrange anything that needs any focus for the following day). 
   9. Hunt for buried treasure, whether it is on the beach or in your back garden, get a bucket and spade and a whole heap of curiosity. 
   10. Last but by no means least, learn to ride a bike with no stabilisers (be prepared for endless hours of an adult desperately clinging to the underneath of your saddle whilst repeatedly telling you they haven’t let go - when they have!)

    

   What would you add to the list?

   

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