Surrey

Before my mind melts before all these papers I’ve saved with such vigour and enthusiasm, let me stop a moment and talk about Surrey. Well, not about Surrey as such, more about spending time with my cousins, auntie and uncle and my darling 3 year old second cousin April.

I came across this painting of Surrey and it sums up Surrey for me. http://www.nonakedwalls.co.uk

I arrived on Saturday afternoon and spent the evening and night at my cousins house in Woking. Woking is a lovely place, just half an hour out of London and filled with forests. I remember my awe seeing my aunt’s house for the first time when I was still young, fascinated by the ‘forest’ in her garden! Of course, greenery and large trees were a rare occurrence for me in Malta. I still find myself fascinated by large spaces, which is why I find myself transfixed while travelling my coach through fields and fields of grass, and sheep.

I digress, my cousin has a typical English house with a little porch and cute window pane on presentation. There is something Enid Blyton about these houses, which continue to fill me with childhood pleasure, almost imagining a goblin to pop out from behind a pot.

It was an evening that reminded me of home – good red wine, spicy rice cooked by Wayne, my cousin-in-law, and entertaining the princess of the hour with bed time stories and cuddles.

Sunday was pub dinner day and boy was I impressed! We went to the Red Lion Pub in Woking and I took my first ever Veggie burger. I was tres impressed with my mushroom, roasted red peppers, halloumi cheese flavour mix! The chips were also grand, especially after a starter of baked Camembert. Food always makes me happy as you can see J

On Mondays, my aunt and I were in charge of the princess. We decided to take her to feed the ducks, and in the process take me to see the ducks on the river. The ducks weren’t having it though. They just wouldn’t show up. To be fair, I was more disappointed than April as she was content to nibble on the bread meant for them!

It is so nice to spend time with people you love, allowing yourself to be treated to tea, food and most of all family love!

Celebrating one month in Cardiff

Waterloo tea complete with cake, scones, truffles , sandwiches and individuals pots of tea!

I spent the end of my first month in Cardiff in the best way possible – a day of great lectures with fabulous course mates, followed by plans to meet up in the evening for Sophie’s Birthday at the Pen and Wig. I went home then to cook some yummy food, enjoying the relaxation cooking brings, and cleared my room (not the best part of the day I will admit!). Switching on my computer to talk to my father and sisters, and then to spend a couple of hours with Emanuel, I could feel back at home in an instant.

Back from the great night out, I sat waiting for my mum to arrive in Cardiff for the first time. I knew that this would be followed the next week by Emanuel. What more could I want?

Both weekends were different and equally fantastic. I bought raisin and coconut bread for my Mum and went to Waterloo tea gardens for afternoon tea. This place is definitely recommended by my mum, my auntie (who joined from Surrey) and I. We were treated like princesses and the scones were by far the best I’ve tasted.

On Sunday we went to Cardiff Bay (I did this the following week with Emanuel). Once again, food is always sought after and Fabulous Welsh Cakes are true to their name. So much so, that Emanuel had to buy another packet of welsh cakes to take to my mum as my sisters had gobbled them up! Compared to the ones Emanuel and I ate at Cardiff Market they were scales of goodness above! With Emanuel we ate dinner at Cardiff Bay in a steakhouse called Miller and Carter. The steak was divine and was served with a delicious homemade onion loaf and a lettuce wedge (very fresh!) with a dressing of our choice. Considering the size of the rib-eye and the condiments that came with it, not forgetting the wine, we figured that for the same thing in Malta we would have paid at least twenty pounds more! That makes the wine taste sweeter when you’re a student 😉

I spent Monday morning with my Mum shopping in the massive St. David Mall.  As you can imagine we were exhausted by the end of it!  I then treated her to some lovely pizza from the Pizza Express chain restaurants! My Mum was impressed and that is saying something considering that her homemade pizzas are the best!

I was so happy to see both my mum and Emanuel, and missed my sisters and my dad – they would have loved it. It is nice to know that they have a bearing now on where I am staying and they can gauge how happy I am in this beautiful city. Emanuel also got the chance to meet some of my roommates and my friends which is even better, since now he knows them beyond Facebook!