Mums' Day Out in Bath

Just returned from a wonderfully relaxing day away from the children with a great group of friends in Bath.

I had not been to Bath for years, in fact the last time I think I was there was pre children when we decided to cycle the 17 miles from Bristol along the old tram-line.  It goes without saying that it took longer to get back to Bristol as the bikes kept colliding with numerous pubs for some reason......

Anyway, back to Bath.  I had explained to the children that I was going to be away for the day and Carys thought it very funny that a load of Mummys' were going to have a bath together.  This actually strengthened in imagery as my mobile calendar entry stated "In bath with school Mums" which Rhys found particularly amusing.

The bus journey was extremely civilised with a Danish pastry and glass of Buck's Fizz to start the day (however, being the Year 2/Reception massive, we hogged the back seats and also topped up our own supplies care of another sneaky bottle.)

Bath is a lovely city and I love the way you appear to be going nowhere off the M4 and then suddenly shoot down the hill into the lovely Bathstone clad architecture. I always have visions of being transported into a Jane Austen novel, where I have decided to take a social season away from London and take in the Bath spa....not that anyone particularly bothered to wash much then, but I'm sure I would have been different!

So - to the shops.  On arrival we (an expedition group of 7) quickly made a mental note of the mulled wine pit-stops and then headed off to grab some caffeine before finding somewhere we could book lunch.  We considered several places but some restaurants were already booked out by 11am so we headed towards a trusty Pizza Express which turned out to contain the rudest staff member this and that side of the Severn bridge (both of them incidentally).  The restaurant was closed but a member of staff had seen us and approached the main door as if to enquire as how they could help, when as nonchalantly as you like, turned on his heel and retreated into the dark recess of empty tables and chairs.  "How rude" and "Stuff them" were choice responses and instead we booked a delightful non-chain restaurant called Raphael, who again, unlocked their door, but this time took our booking and were most helpful.  Raphael Restaurant

Amazingly, by 12.30pm not one of us had coughed up any money relating to Christmas or otherwise and we proceeded to have a relaxed and lovely set-course lunch menu at Raphael Restaurant with friendly ambience.
To start, I had a smoked Chicken Caesar salad, with slow roasted plum tomato, croutons and shaved Parmesan and then went on to the Fish of the Day special, which was Pan-fried Hake with a creamy tarragon sauce, set upon a Leek and Chive mashed potato....superb and all for £11.95!!    Naturally we all felt the need for some liquid refreshment and with a few extra bottles of wine added, the venue made for a fantastic lunch experience.

We headed off for mulled wine shortly after and took in the early Christmas spirit (bustling crowds, prams - I mean "who goes shopping amongst 1000's of shoppers with a bulbous 3-wheeler cross-country pram?...oh yes....I must remember, I am in Bath) and the happy clappers singing their joy to the world!  Twas quite nice but I was really rather enjoying my aromatic mulled wine to take much notice of the Christmas thing going on around me.

One of the best things I saw however was a young man playing on his Didgeridoo. Sounds a bit dodgy but he was very entertaining and when presented with a donation, even managed to squeak a "thank-you" through the tube. I was not able to actually capture "that" moment but have my posse to vouch that it was possible!

I called to check that the children had behaved for Daddy and upon receiving a good report, proceeded to purchase two of the largest caramel apples I have seen for some time, that were laden with white chocolate chips and marshmallows and a lifetimes quota of sugar...  Oh the irony!

We decided it would be rude not to have a little tipple on the way home, so good old Marks and Spencer's came up trumps with a French stick, some cheese, crisps and a lovely bottle of port.  A very chilled trip back to Cardiff followed with little left-over, I think just a few crisps and four mince pies.  I think I will need to have a little jog tomorrow though to feel better about my ability to eat, when everyone else has the will-power to say NO.

Thoroughly enjoyed the intoxication of "non-children day" but having said that, walked quickly home to see them before they crashed out for bed.  The icing on the cake was snuggling down to watch Strictly Come Dancing whilst Rhys completed the finishing touches to the Waitrose meal Deal!!   In the words of Gregg Wallace.... "Heaven doesn't come much closer than this!".