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The ramblings of Miss Perry in a constant readable stream essentially.

11th February 2013

I’ve just got back from SUCH a great weekend. It was my Mums birthday, and Mothers Day around the corner…so a double celebration was in order.. hotel stay and dinner, yep, that’s what I planned.

After looking around a bit, I decided Malmasion was the way to go and booked up a stay at their Reading branch..

Let me set the scene: RAIN. LOADS OF RAIN. COLD. GREY. RAIN. MORE RAIN.
And what better sight to see when you walk through the doors of the old train hotel? Open fire, warm rich dark colours and a WELCOME MISS PERRY. Cup of tea?

Um.. yes please. (Please notice fabulous shoe. Thanks.)

I’ve always been a fan of the Hotel Du Vin/Malmaison chain.. there’s a really warm feel to the hotels, and often showcases how you would love your own house to look..if only you knew what to do and how to afford it! Exposed brick, rich velvets, open fires, nice big wine glasses. Strong look.

After a trip to the cinema and an hours conversation about ‘Who cast Russell Crowe in that role?’ we descended on the hotels brasserie for dinner.

As a wheat-and-dairy-afraid-diner, I’m usually whittled down to ham, egg and chips in most places, but leapt onto the chargirlled squid followed by steak frites option. Really really nice, and for a change, almost too much to eat.. definitely get your moneys worth and more.

We then sat by the fire, talked until the bar shut and headed up to the haven of tranquility on the 3rd floor.

I like their play on words too. The bill is known as ‘The Damage’ and if you simply don’t want to be disturbed you simply hang this outside your room and kick back.

All in all, lovely stay, will definitely be visiting again… there’s a reason why we have chains sometimes – it’s becuase they were good in the first place.

23rd April 2012

BEAULIEU MOTOR MUSEUM!

So, what do you do when you have a holiday day booked off from work, it’s pissing it down and you’re with your other half who adores classic cars? GO TO BEAULIEU NATIONAL MOTOR MUSEUM!

Haven’t been there since I was a kid, but we went and gazed longingly at E-Types, Capris and some gorgeous old classics… At the moment they’ve got a James Bond exhibition, showing all the original Bond Cars, the DB9s, the bikes…everything you’d expect… and there’s a Top Gear exhibition too which shows all the muddled and cobbled together experiments from some of the best episodes…my favourite being the Jag-Caravan-Train – see below..had me in stitches that episode!

Anyway, it’s great..GO if you’re on the South Coast..some pics below too…
Ps..if anyone would like to donate be an E-Type, that would be most kind.
Ha! Miss Perry xxx

16th April 2012

HAPPY THAI NEW YEAR!!

It was the start of Thai New Year – also known as the Songkran festival which means astrological passage on Friday 13th April. Thailand celebrates New Year in a very traditional way from 13th April to 15th April, every year..and I was approached by Chaophraya restaurant in Birmingham to come and eat with them to celebrate.

Not only is the restuarant overlooking my favourite view in the City – the infamous Bullring and the Church – it was also warm inside the restaurant; busy but not crowded, and full of smiling, happy people. On top of that the food was incredible – Duck wrapped in pandan leaves; chicken satay; weeping tiger (sirloin steak!) and the biggest grilled prawns! SO tasty! They also have a handsome looking cocktail list but after a very long week I was happy to sink just a couple of G&Ts before heading home feeling beautifully fed and watered.

Almost forgot! The pudding! We tried a thai pancake which had a custard filling and was flavoured with the same Pandan leaves..stunning..as was the service and presentation. I spotted a diner being served up some incredible looking lamb shank dish as we were leaving…might have been on the other side of the menu!! But I’m definitely coming back for a bit more of that.

In short, I was in my own Thailand for a short while… and I’m leaps closer to booking that flight to Koh Phi Phi. Happy New Year to all at Chaophraya in Birmingham, and thank you to Poy and his team.

If you want to go, take a look here>> http://www.chaophraya.co.uk/

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20th December 2011
So for the past few weeks I’ve been popping into Transform Birmingham to try IPL. It’s hair removal, not a sexy thing..but the results could be! So definitely worth a go…

Such a nice team down there, and although the first treament HURT…it’s no worse that you would imagine..and hopefully on the course to never have to do it again. Which would also turn out to be a sexy outcome.

I resume after New Year, so I’ll let you know how it’s going!

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