Whitby

Sunday 16 September 2012
We decided to take the guest to Whitby on Saturday for fish and chips at the Magpie Cafe.  So just to make sure I was really starving and able to quaff a big portion of fish and chips - I started the day with a bacon and egg muffin - yum!  The plan was for a small bowl of cereal but somehow this transformed itself into a bacon and egg muffin.  Amazing!  I have no idea how that happened!

What to wear on a day to Whitby.  After much deliberation, I kept it simple and comfortable - it's a day with kids after all.  Not a day for pretty dresses which get blown up in the wind and for suede boots to get salt stains from the water on the beach.


CDG Play Tee
New Look Straight Jeans Rolled Up
White Converse (still clean)

I have learnt from previous excursions to Whitby - it is usually chilly on the seafront.  So best to layer up and I added a Gap cotton trench which I was grateful for when I arrived.  The white Converse got another outing in the hope that they would once again be "aged" possibly by the sand and small people stepping on my toes.  Somehow they remain white - still.  And though the sun was shining, the wind was blowing enough to warrant keeping the trench on first thing.

Whitby first thing in the morning was lovely and "quietish".

Whitby in the morning.  Before the hoards of tourists (oh! I forgot, I'm one).

Last year was the first time we managed to get in the Magpie Cafe, (previous times, we'd been put off by the long queues) and the fish and chips were so yum scrum, even Ben scoffed every last chip and declared it "the best fish and chips ever".  It has had many excellent write ups and Rick Stein has certainly served to put the place on the map through his Food Heroes series which I have endured many times due to Foodie Grumps.  I'm afraid I am one of those persons where food is a fuel rather than an out and out indulgence - sorry Grumps!

 
I don't know who they are either.  Just showing you the Magpie.

Cheap cups (hee hee).

I thought you had to be left handed to use these cups as they are only printed on one side and if you are right handed, you only get the blank side.  But then the Grumps put me right by saying the print was "facing" out so people opposite you could read the print.  I personally thought it was a bit cheap that they couldn't print all the way round .... what if the drinker had been a left hander?  I think it's good to cover all eventualities.  Strange what thoughts goes through a small mind.

Getting stuck in!

Yes - it was fab.

The fish and chips were to die for.  Look at the golden crispy batter on that fish!  Look at how white and fabulous the flesh is!  Look at those divine chips -  just the right amount of crunch on the outside and fluffy on the inside!  And when the plate was cleared ... no pools of grease left behind which is usually the case with most fish and chips.  Okay, enough is enough ... let's move on.

Out of the Magpie and on to the road and there were lots of strange pirates around raising money today for Whitby's Lifeboat Day.

 
I think the one on the right is the best.

And on to the Amusements.  We'd emptied the change box from the kitchen drawer before we set off - how clever were we?  But we hadn't reckoned with the speed with which 2p's could disappear courtesy of Ben and George.

This badge cost about £5 in 2p's.  Hmm.
And Ben lost his first tooth this week.

It must be hard to be this small.  Aww.

And then down to the beach where George decided to take his first donkey ride.  Ben declined.  I remember when I was small and I was taken to Blackpool and was asked if I wanted a donkey ride. No.  Because all I could think of was getting fleas in my knickers.  I thought the same when faced with a camel ride in Egypt many years ago. More strange thoughts for a small mind.

"Err ... might be having second thoughts, Dad!"

Yes - George does look like he's trying to get away.

White Converse - still white!

Sandy Converse.  He's getting there at least!

And then it all got a bit much for the guest. Children, noise, too much food, too many tourists, too many pirates and we headed home.  We didn't do the Abbey today and we didn't go across the bridge to browse the shops but I did sneak some cinder toffee on the way back.

Mine all mine!

A lovely day ... and surprise surprise ... lovely weather!  And an added bonus! Quiet child on the way home! Must be a reward for all the cleaning I've done this week!

Zzzzz Zzzzz





34 comments

  1. Is that you with George? Such a lovely image of you both wearing your bretons & converse! Your hair is so similar in style/length to mine right now, except I am trying to grow out my fringe (taking forever of course, and then I shall likely shop it again).

    The 'Play' tee is such a perfect fit too.

    Looks like you enjoyed a fabulous day here, and the fish and chips look delicious. I really need to venture out of town soon! x

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    1. Yup - that's bedhead me. I need a haircut which is why I've taken to wearing it up recently. It's really thick and I keep breaking all the little hairbands I use to tie it up with. They overstretch and before you know it - ping! there goes another one! I've always had a fringe - stems back to the school days and hiding behind it hoping the teacher wouldn't look at me.

      Love the Play tee. I love the one with the green heart as well and the mid blue stripe one also. Okay - I love them all.

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  2. What a gorgeous set of photo's! I love your outfit. I'm searching desperately for a tee like that myself and converse never fails to deliver.

    I miss the English fish and chips sooooo much! It's nearly worth a trip to the UK soley for that :)

    I have to say your family photo's are my favourite. What beautiful natural shots of you all just enjoying the day. It's really nice to see.

    I hope you had a great weekend.

    xx Mandi
    www.findeamuse.com

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    1. The fish and chips were seriously good. Usually when I have fish and chips, when I finish I always go "eugh - never again" because they always leave a greasy after taste. Not these ones. If you ever come back to the UK - you need to get yourself to the Magpie.


      Thank you about the family photos - you would not believe how hard it is to take a half decent photo - I usually have one hand with a camera and one hand holding George. I hardly have any pics of me with the boys so every now and then I have to give the Grumps a nudge and say "take a pic".

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  3. Can't beat fish and chips at the seaside! Now I want to go the Magpie! Love your casual look, its so "me" at weekends x

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    1. Not the seaside until you've done fish and chips.

      I love wearing stripes but I can't help feeling I'm overdoing it a bit. Can you over do stripes?

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  4. Really like the casual look! As for the fish & chips ... mmmm, feel hungry just looking at them. Your boys are absolutely gorgeous:)

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    1. Thank you about the boys! By the way, I'm wearing a trench - one of those articles of clothing you're adverse to :o)

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  5. Great post - love the chic outfit...can't beat some nautical for a day by the seaside. As a left hander, I can appreciate your thoughts on the cups..that's exactly the sort of thing that goes through my mind!! Looks like you all had a brilliant day...and the sun shone - what more could you ask? Have a great week Sue, Avril x

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    1. The stripes weren't an intentional nod to the seaside theme but hey if the hat or stripes fit, let's wear them. With regards to the cups - they could have just printed the logo all the way round - would make life so much simpler for all - and give my small brain less to mull over.

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  6. Looks like you had the perfect day out. Love weekends like this one. x

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    1. We did have a good day and we were blessed with the weather. Congratulations on your Liebster!

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  7. Sue, just give me those white Converse trainers for a day. I swear I'll have an extra coating of brown gunk by the end of the day. This is a girl who turned up for an important meeting with my silk Phillip Lim top covered with splattered dots of toothpaste (courtesy of my electric toothpaste when I forgot to press the off button).

    Oooooh.....I've never heard of Whitby. I dragged hubby and Lil L to every fish and chip shop in St Ives and the girl swore she'll never eat another of "that crap". I'd love to try the fash and chaps (kiwi talk) at Magpie Cafe.

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    1. Aaah - the electric toothbrush - the bane of many a housewife when she looks in the bathroom mirror and there are toothpaste splatters yet again ... and she only polished the mirror that morning.

      Your child has been raised on lovely home cooked food and has a discerning palate. Forget the fish and chips - did you have any cream teas down there? I refused to leave until I had my cream scone. It wouldn't have been right.

      Whitby is up my neck of the woods - it's a long way for you to go for a portion of fash and chaps.

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  8. your boys are so adorable and the food looks great.. i love a well-battered fish! i laughed at the comment about your white cons.. i actually had the same problem with mine and they were black, but the white rubber cap toe remained pristine no matter how often i wore them in the first few weeks. i resorted to stomping on them with my doc marts after stepping in the dust a little bit, and ironically now i'm cleaning them because they are a little too dirty!

    steph / absolutely-fuzzy.com

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    1. I will take solace in that it's not just me who's a nutter in wanting to "distress" their Converse a little. I think I will do a bit of feet dancing with George i.e. make him stand on my Converse whilst we waltz around to Wheels on the Bus and see what the Gods or George does to my Converse.

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    2. Such sweet sons you have- they're too cute.

      I love being by the sea- it always makes me feel recharged.

      Love your sense of humor. You make me laugh out loud. You look great and I love the 'Play' tee.

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    3. Aww thank you Lindsay - my sons are great ... from afar. Yes they can be adorable but oh you should hear the bickering between the two! I keep saying, one day when they're a bit older they will be best chums sitting in the pub saying what a mad woman their mother is.

      The Play tee is one that always makes me feel a bit more happening ... still hanging on in there by my teeth.

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  9. Put more pictures of your face Sue!!! You are so beautiful!
    Oh, just reading about Magpie cafe made me hungry, fortunately, our pizzas just came!

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    1. Ekaterina. You made me laugh out loud at that. The face pictures have to be remain few and far between besides I don't have a ready and willing camera man at the helm to shoot me from the best angle. The outtakes which I have of me grimacing in the mirror trying to take a clothes shot are a story in themselves.

      Pizza is good too! Fiorentina for me!

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  10. Sue, coincidentally I am contemplating a CDG tee lately..(no thanks to a korean drama I watched. (say, What is wrong with me??!) and then ta-da, I see you wearing one. :)

    Love the view of Whitby (we don't really get such scenic views in my tiny lil country).

    Adorable boys too :D

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    1. Thank you. Hope you do get a CDG tee and I bet you're going to rock it with some Ferragamos?

      Whitby is sweet. I've been going there for as long as I can remember. Did you know that if you throw pieces of waffle up in the air, the seagulls swoop to catch them? Things I remember from years back. And that donkeys like candy floss.

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    2. SeriOUS on the seagulls? *amused*

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  11. Lovely photos...sounds like you had a fabulous day in Whitby with the family. I love your casual style, you look great!! Hope you are having a good week:)
    ~Anne

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    1. I did have a really nice day actually. We really were blessed with the weather that day as it got almost quite HOT. Casual is my first, middle and last name. Hope you're having a good week too in your neck of the woods :o)

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  12. This place looks gorgeous! Loving your casual style too and now really want some of those delish fish and chip!

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    1. I'm wondering how many people decided to go for a portion of fish and chips after reading this post. I've got a lot to answer for.

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  13. Yay, we get to see your face, so beautiful! A friend was raving about Whitby to me last week I now really want to visit. And of course you have me seriously craving fish and chips, delicious.

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    1. Another craving - give in. You are pregnant after all so you have a valid excuse. Whitby is pretty cool. Place where Dracula is reputed to have landed. Indeed.

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  14. Your kids are so cute and look so well-behaved :)
    The pictures are lovely (that fish & chips made me really hungry actually :). I confess I had to look for Whitby on the map - I've been in this country for 10 years and hardly know anything outside London. Embarrassing :(

    Love your outfit. Perfect for the weekend.

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    1. The kids are not that bad really. I've met some horrors since becoming a mum which have helped put mine in to perspective. Whitby - little place on the East coast near Scarborough - popular destination for hen parties and stag dos surprisingly. Don't worry about not knowing much outside London. I don't even know much about where I live which is quite worrying.

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  15. Love this outfit. Perfect for a day out at the seaside. I am tempted by a pair of white Converse but I know they'll get dirty the moment I step outside the house.

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    1. Hi Heather. Thank you for commenting. I'm actually trying to get my white Converse "dirty" in a gently distressed kind of way. You could get a pair and I'll have you a competition to see whose stay whitest the longest (I'll win hands down - mine are still bordering on perfect white) :o)

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Susie So So