*The Holly and the Ivy* and the You Know What 2013 Chatter Thread.

FeistyFidget

What she said ^^

Ruth_honey

Own_My_Own wrote: »

I think I am have found a hotel to stay at, on our trip away this summer. I am not taking the camper as I want a proper break. Building a folding camper and walking to a shower block every morning isn't getting me excited this year. ( I only build the camper once )
Staying in a hotel for a week is obviously going to be more expensive than a camp site, but I have been saving for over a year as we had a staycation last year.

The only problem I have, is everyone else having a opinion about the destination. Everyone goes :eek: when I say we are going to London. Nobody can understand why I want to go there. Because we were all born there, and its only an hour down the road, everyone laughs at me.

BUT - dd has never lived there. And it is our countries capital. People from all over the world visit there, so why shouldn't we. There is so much to see there, so much history, art and culture.

So anyway back to my hotel. It is St Georgio in Ilford. Every room has a fridge, so we can still take food for lunch's with us.( Buying lunches in London everyday can really blow a budget, if you can't find a small supermarket). It is only a couple minutes walk from the tube station, that takes us to the city in 20 minutes.

So do I go for it and book at twin room ? I just hate booking hotels. I um and ah for ages. And yes, unfortunately it will be the twin room not a suite.

http://www.booking.com/hotel/gb/st-georgio.en-gb.html?aid=303948;label=romford-aireborough-KlCdY%2ABzkHJ2NomPdraBHgS8395462941%3Apl%3Ata%3Ap15%3Ap2%3Aac500181%3Aap1t1%3Aneg;sid=fe5ba37374ef5508d68105a3da75fdda;dcid=1

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g580420-d758283-Reviews-or10-St_Georgio_Hotel-Ilford_Essex_England.html#REVIEWS

Ps Ds is staying here with his best friend.:)

Also don't think the noise will bother us, we will be to tired to care.

That's about 10 minutes walk from where I live! There is a nightclub below, which I'm guessing you already know. The tube is VERY close (almost fall out of bed and roll onto tube) and Cakes & Shakes across the road has great ice cream & waffles. There's a travelodge not far from there, though. Maybe you could get a good deal there? Harvester would be next door and tube still walking distance...

Oh and Valentines park & mansion is slightly further away than 'adjacent to the hotel'! The mansion is a short bus ride or a bit of a walk away. Ok if decent weather, though.

There's a Tesco metro & Sainsbury local on Gants Hill as well as an Iceland and bagel bakery. Oh, and a chip shop. And Westfield Stratford shopping centre is 5 tube stops away. And there's a 24 hour bus that runs into Ilford & onto Romford if needed.

Ruth_honey

Nanamia wrote: »

Yeh proper returned like uk like u kno ! Ha ha Linky I'm back I've missed you all xxx

Welcome home! :T

Own_My_Own

Ruth_honey wrote: »

That's about 10 minutes walk from where I live! There is a nightclub below, which I'm guessing you already know. The tube is VERY close (almost fall out of bed and roll onto tube) and Cakes & Shakes across the road has great ice cream & waffles. There's a travelodge not far from there, though. Maybe you could get a good deal there? Harvester would be next door and tube still walking distance...

Oh and Valentines park & mansion is slightly further away than 'adjacent to the hotel'! The mansion is a short bus ride or a bit of a walk away. Ok if decent weather, though.

There's a Tesco metro & Sainsbury local on Gants Hill as well as an Iceland and bagel bakery. Oh, and a chip shop. And Westfield Stratford shopping centre is 5 tube stops away. And there's a 24 hour bus that runs into Ilford & onto Romford if needed.

Thank You.

I have looked at the Travelodge, but they tend to get mixed reviews, and I wouldn't really feel save leaving my stuff there all week.
We stayed in one the other year and a man walked in at about 10. It had been his room, and he had booked it for another night. But wires got crossed and his things were packed up and moved without him knowing.

I think Cakes and Shakes being opposite has won it for us. DD loves icecream and waffles.

Knowing there are Metros etc close by is useful, as we will be taking lunch in with us each day.

I may keep the Westfields bit quiet, or that will be one day lost before we start. :rotfl:

It's funny, but going Westfields has never interested me. I think because I know my way round Lakeside so well, I don't want to go somewhere new and start again. The thought of spending all day looking at a map just doesn't appeal. Also at Lakeside I feel save letting DD and her friends going off on their own.
May I will feel differently once I have been there.

freespirit66

NANAMIA You is back innit!!!!:rotfl::T:j:beer:
Ha that really made me laugh 'Ive returned big' that is the funniest thing i have seen, like OMO i thought omg she has come back a chav :rotfl:Welcome Back!

OMO YES YES YES YES BOOK IT!!! I am like that i hate booking hotels, spend hours and hours online looking at hotels but never book anything, it looks lovely.

FEISTY that wedding paper cut is beautiful, so pretty, and what a price!

Well i managed something major today (dont all laugh, major for me anyway) i actually took our dog for a walk on my own!!
I used to walk everywhere but since we moved to this village 13 years ago i became a recluse virtually, too scared to walk on my own (social anxiety) in case i have to speak to someone, but today was so nice and my DDs are both away for a few days and i didnt want him to not go out, so i took the plunge.:T

Own_My_Own

Well done freespirit66

All marathons start with one step.

And you have just taken yours. :T

Ruth_honey

Own_My_Own wrote: »

Thank You.

I have looked at the Travelodge, but they tend to get mixed reviews, and I wouldn't really feel save leaving my stuff there all week.
We stayed in one the other year and a man walked in at about 10. It had been his room, and he had booked it for another night. But wires got crossed and his things were packed up and moved without him knowing.

I think Cakes and Shakes being opposite has won it for us. DD loves icecream and waffles.

Knowing there are Metros etc close by is useful, as we will be taking lunch in with us each day.

I may keep the Westfields bit quiet, or that will be one day lost before we start. :rotfl:

It's funny, but going Westfields has never interested me. I think because I know my way round Lakeside so well, I don't want to go somewhere new and start again. The thought of spending all day looking at a map just doesn't appeal. Also at Lakeside I feel save letting DD and her friends going off on their own.
May I will feel differently once I have been there.

Wish I could be more help with hotels, but only had family stay in the travelodge for one night and no-one I know has stayed at the other hotel. My air bed suits them(and saves them money!).

Cakes & Shakes is ALWAYS busy when we pass, so very popular. Abigail's cafe (7 mins walk away from the tube station) is reasonable for food too. Tesco is pretty much next door & opens 7-11pm, I think. Couple of cash points by tube (tesco & Lloyds)

Not bothered about Westfield myself, either. Been a couple of times since it opened, but huge shopping centres get me stressed out when they're busy. Give me a shout if there's anything else I can help with.

freespirit66

Own_My_Own wrote: »

Well done freespirit66

All marathons start with one step.

And you have just taken yours. :T

Thankyou OMO

moneysavingmumofone

Nanamiaaaaa-Oh how we have missed you so. Glad you had a safe trip home. xxx

FeistyFidget-The papercut is beautiful!! Sorry to sound a bit dim lol but can you cut any shapes? I need to rack my brains to think of a nice saying, I so want a papercut made by you as they are truly stunning!

freespirit66-Well done!! Hopefully the first of many a lovely walk. xxx

OMO-I dont think its strange to want to go to London, as you say its our capital and its so full of history and interesting things to see! I was actually driving around central London near enough yesterday actually, that story to come in a minute haha! Booooook it!


Well yesterday was a NIGHTMARE!!! I bought a print from America and the sizing is different to our frames so looked on ebay and found another print in the right sized frame. It was 45 mins away in Surrey but I won it for £1.57 so didnt mind the petrol cost on top so much. Anyway we got a bit lost on the way there (had written down directions but took a few wrong turns!) but after asking at Waitrose we found out we were nearly there and got there a few minutes later! Then the problems came! We had absolutely no idea where we were going on the way back, normally we get back ok but this time we got so confused and ended up driving around London with OH getting v.angry as he hates driving in London let alone getting totally lost without a sat nav and of course it was all my fault for wanting to pick it up... We got home nearly SIX hours after we left! We put in £20 of petrol the day before plus had to put another £20 in on the way home! I NEED a sat nav and smartphone! :rotfl:My phone was useless as any route planner that came up on google wouldnt load on my ancient phone. Argh! Thats not the best bit though......the frame is too small. Couldnt make it up!!

FeistyFidget

freespirit that is awesome! Well done

moneysavingmumofone, yes I can pretty much cut any shape! Only limit is my design skills So sorry you had such frame saga's I have a terrible sense of direction, so can definitely sympathise. A few years ago DH ended up in hospital in Southampton, I had passed my test 6 months before and had only driven there once. I got so lost trying to go from the hospital to my hotel that I got pulled over by the police for suspicious driving Queue panic attack and tears, the next day I went straight to Halfords and bought a cheap sat nav - have never driven anywhere 'new' without it.