Snowy Sunday at St Albans Abbey

For me, there is nothing better than a big ol'brunch on a Sunday morning and my one of favourite breakfast spots in town is Carluccio. I'm not sure whether it's because there are always tonnes of us when we eat out, or just the fact that we are greedy pigs, but either way we managed to order almost everything off both the cake and breakfast menus last Sunday. Well just look at that food, how could you possibly resist!?

Latte Napoli

Apricot Tart, Croissant w/Fig Jam & Plum Tart Slice 

Hot Chocolate

Uova E Pancetta E Fungi

Colazione Magnifica

Uova E Pancetta E Fungi

Eggs Florentine

Colazione Magnifica

What I'm Wearing: Vintage Fur Hat & Gillet, Zadig & Voltaire Sweater, Levi's Jeans & Hunter Wellies.

Isn't it funny how we travel far and wide to see the beautiful architecture of the world; the Notre Dame in Paris, the Basilica Cattedrale Patriarcale di San Marco, but we forget the beauties that we have right on our door step. St Albans Abbey is one of the largest Cathedrals in the country and dates all the way back to the Norman's. Already a glorious building  and with the addition of a light dusting of snow, doesn't it just look beautiful.

Christmas in Cornwall: Day Two

First full day in Cornwall and a huge day of walking an exploring ahead of us. After getting suited and booted and eating copious slices of pâté on toast we were all ready to set off on the coastal path to Mousehole.

So when you hear "coastal path", you would assume a nice smooth track suitable for all the oldies who love a good ramble, but this was on a whole new level. For most of the way if we were to step slightly too far to the right we would end up 50meters down in the ferocious waters below. 

So with the adrenaline pumping, with the knowledge that we could be near to death at the next strong wind, we marched on trying not to look down.

Thankfully the Hunter Boots came to my aid in all the rather deep puddles along the treacherous route.

So on these crazy walks, we are kind of open for anything. Blistering winds, torrential rain, but when some fellow walkers warned us of the 'babbling brook' ahead, it was certainly not a full on waterfall that we were expecting. 

We were told that this "brook" was "passable". 

Passable my ass. This was a joke. Each rock more slippery than the next, with the fear that you could be head over heels and zooming down to the sea with the next wrong footing. But after some moaning and cautious footing we all made it across absolutely soaking dry as a bone. 

Our walks are certainly not any form of fashion show. I'm wearing Jack Wills hat & men's gillet, vintage sweater, Zara leggings, Hunter metallic boots & fleece welly socks (boots on sale over on Net-a-Porter click here get over there fast). 

Jesse and Rachael managed to take half of Cornwall with them on their boots. 

Finally made it to Mousehole and we couldn't resist stopping at Pam's Pantry for a good ol'Cornish Cream Tea. Whilst in Cornwall, I take every single opportunity I can to have a cream tea. Scones are seriously the way to my heart and I can never ever have enough clotted cream, like ever (you might already know this if you've read my Betty's Tea Room post - click here).

Full to the brim with scones and tea, we set foot back on the road and headed back to our little Lamorna Cove to get all dolled up and ready for dinner.

The Turk's Head in Penzance was our choice for the evening, and being one of the oldest pubs in the whole of Cornwall, with an underground tunnel leading from the pub straight out to the harbour which pirates used to smuggle their bounty, we couldn't wait to check it out. 

Who doesnt want to eat in the same place that smugglers and pirates once used some 750 years ago?

Ahoy matey!

Moules Mariner

Breadcrumbed garlic mushrooms

Grilled tiger prawns in a chilli butter

6oz Steak Burger

10oz Rump Steak

Trio of  fish in a mussel & tiger prawn sauce

The food was fantastic and with a brilliant warm ambiance throughout the whole pub. The very few people that seem to be in Cornwall, well, all seemed to be in the pub. Whether eating, drinking or just there for the festive tunes, the whole pub was alive. If you're ever planning a trim down to Penzance then be sure to check out The Turks Head to fulfil all your Pirate dreams.

Christmas in Cornwall: Day One

After a 6 hour drive, a dozen Starbucks breaks and way too many Christmas songs on the radio we finally made it to our cosy cottage in the beautiful Lamorna Cove. A stroll though the small harbour with the sun setting behind the hills, the gorgeous view did make up for the complete lack of cell service. 

After a quick unpack and turn around, we headed into the little village of Mousehole for dinner at The Cornish Range. Mousehole is one of Cornwall's most picturesque hamlets, teenie little streets of sweet granite houses all huddled around the inside of the harbour. 

The Cornish Range is a gorgeous little seafood restaurant who prise themselves on using the freshest local ingredients from the nearby town of Newyln. 

When by the sea I always have to have fish. Its just something about eating the local produce that just makes it so much tastier.

French onion soup with goats cheese crouton

Cornish crab and tiger prawn linguine

Cornish crab chowder

Fish pie

Roast hake with seafood butter and lemon potato crush

Grilled lemon sole in caper and lime butter

Trio of sorbets

Chocolate cupcake with vanilla ice cream

Sticky toffee pudding

Following our delicious dinner we went for a walk around the harbour to look at some of Mousehole's infamous lights. Every year the locals of the tiny little hamlet collect donations to make the whole harbour glow in the neon fluorescence of Christmas lights. 

And boy oh boy they do really go all out, Loch Ness in the harbour waters, sails boats, and even a Holywood style 'Happy New Year' up in the hills.

After a huge day of travelling, we were all more than ready to leap into bed and snuggle under the duvet. 

Well, we've got a big day of waking waiting for us in the morning. Can't wait to whip out the Hunter's!