Noirmoutier Island & "The Ballet of the Bottoms Up" - Vendee

Wednesday 23rd July 2012
This afternoon we headed to Noirmontier Island, we had a few things we could have done, Oceanile Water Park, Sealife aquarium or simply a stroll around. As we arrived at lunchtime we grabbed a bite to eat first, then, as it was so hot and the kids were flagging, we decided to take the road train to have a look around.  (We gave the kids the option to come back on Friday).   There are 2 train rides, and hour one and a 35 minute one.  We chose the latter and it was very pleasant indeed.

road train :)

Pretty port!

It was a very pituresque little place with lots of quaint little cafes and boutiques - sounds awful to be complaining about the heat now, but we decided to have the obligatory ice cream and head back to the shade of our Siblu home for the week.

We got to the island via the Pont (bridge) so decided to go back via the Gois (causeway). It was amazing to see this track of road with seabed either side - like the sea had literally parted - biblical like! We also noticed lots of people digging around the sea bed - so we decided to stop and have a nosey! Lots of people had crates of shell fish, and the ever so friendly locals showed us how to look for holes in the sand, beneath which we would find the Parlourd (to be googled later)! It was great fun and the kids got stuck in as you can see from the video!

It turned out that they were in fact clams - so the pitiful few that we brought back we BBQ'ed then covered with a sauce made of butter, garlic and wine, to die for! 

Waiting for them to open

Just amazing :)

I've heard that the locals call the clam digging the "ballet of the bottoms up" haha love it! We're going back later in the week - just need to find rakes and buckets! Annie x

Jardin du Vent - Vendee

Wednesday 25th July 2012 

This morning we took a short drive to visit Jardin du Vent at Notre Dame De Monts. Wasn't sure what to expect of the wind gardens but it was a little gem with lots of interactive bits, set around an original windmill.

The idea is to allow visitors to understand the subtleties the wind has to offer, with the purpose being to heighten the relationship between man and the environment.  We certainly learnt a thing or two!

Below are just a few of the things you can do.  Entry is €4 for adults, €2.20 for 6-18 years, and free under 6.  It's a very pleasant way to spend an hour or so!

I can hear Jasper mummy!

 You can whisper your secrets in the Mirror of sounds.  These structures are set in line, some way from each other, but the kids could whisper into it and the other could hear.

The science behind it is that sound travels in a straight line, but when its hits a smooth and not absorbent surface, it is reflected!   The parabolic antennas are designed to direct the sound waves on a precise point :)  Great fun!

The central Windmill

Learning to control the wind

The steam on the left appears every two minutes, following the movements of the wind.
On the right you have to sit one on each seat, move your sail with the wind, to let it carry you.  the kids didn't get it but enjoyed whizzing round, then Chris and I couldn't wait to have a go!


Back in the centre and there is a well stocked shop full of interesting toys and posters, and also a library with a cute little playing area!

Afterwards we headed to Narmoutier for the afternoon.

Time well spent!
Annie x

La Perle des Dieux - Saint Gilles Croux De Vie - Vendee

Tuesday 24th July 2012 

We headed a little South to visit the sardine exhibition "La Sardine est dans la boîte" At La Perle des Dieux they have been fishing sardines since 1887.  


There is a short but detailed slide show in French - followed by a video with English subtitles. It is fascinating to see how they fish, and then back at the factory all the preparation is done by hand - by woman - due to their delicate touch! If they are not good enough they are moved on to another area of the factory. After the film you are invited to taste some of the different flavours - and can purchase individual tins or a set! 


One genius piece of marketing is that on one series - which are labelled by year - they have used local artist Delphine Cossais to decorate them with fabulous pictures - whilst I am looking forward to the sardines - I am also planning to display the tins afterwards!

I love this so much :)

Loved the display, mini tins

For a few Euro it was a really fascinating journey - learning that like fine wine, sardines mature with age - and can be kept for up to 10 years! I cannot wait to try the sardines with goats cheese - and the various salmon and tuna tins we also bought! Luckily if we need more we can order from the Uk and they will arrive in a couple of days! 




Annie x

Atlantic Toboggan Water Park Vendee

Tuesday 24th July 2012

This afternoon we headed to the Atlantic Toboggan Water Park whilst holidaying here at Siblu Vendee.

At over 31 degrees it was a great place to cool down and chill out! It was well laid out with a fab pool for under 10's where Scarlett (4) played for hours! There was also a bigger pool - where diving and jumping in is allowed - another pool set out like a beach - with wave machine - and some longer chutes and rides for the more adventurous - i.e Chris and 8yo Jasper.

We spent half an hour on the swan pedallo, and enjoyed strolling around the pleasant surroundings with a cooling breeze. There was also a playground, but we didn't need it as the pool was such a hit.

Seaside pool with wave machine

We spent 6 hours there and would happily go back. At €19 per adult and €16 for kids 3-12 it's not a cheap day out, but definitely value for money given it was enough to entertain us for a full day!

My kind of pedallo

*and* relax

Annie x

Buggy Pit Stop St Albans

I was recently given the opportunity to try "buggy pit stop", based at The Baby Shop in London Road, St Albans.   It couldn't have come at a better time as I was due to start with 2 new clients, and my double buggy had been sitting in the porch for about a year.  

I was almost too embarrassed to suggest my double, but thought it also a good opportunity to see what they could do.  There was mould on the inside of the hood, the usual food encrusted seats and generally feeling sorry for itself.  I'll be honest with you, I was considering dumping it and trying to find a new one on Ebay?

Beyond dirty

Mould

Inside hood

HOWEVER!!!!!!!!!!!
I was blown away by the results, the attention to details was fantastic, it is IMMACULATE and they even sewed up a little tear in one of the seats.   I have no idea how they have done it, but the buggy is like brand new.   As a childminder you'll understand that this is more like a company vehicle to me, and its important to me that the children are transported in a nice clean pram, I don't think I could hand over my child knowing it was going to be put into the pram shown above!

Immaculate and mould free

Good as new

Sparkly :)

I have since found out that they also clean car seats, so that's next on my list - particularly as the ones I have I'm not confident if I did get the cover off that I would get it back on again!

See here for a full list of charges you won't be disappointed!

Annie x

Disclosure: the service was courtesy of Buggy Pit Stop

Supper Club in St Albans - An Indian Feast :)

A couple of weeks ago I was invited to a Supper Club right here in St Albans.  I'd never heard of a Supper Club before but what a fantastic idea.   You pay a reasonable price to go to someone's house and enjoy a variety of food of your choice.

This one was run by Sheba of Absolute Indian and we were going to be treated with authentic South Indian cuisine.   When we arrived the smells that greeted us were to die for and the hospitality outstanding.  We were greeted with cocktails and got to know the other diners as they arrived.   Considering we were all relative strangers we all got on like a house on fire, and it was a really fun night.  Another couple that we met there had been to numerous other Supper Clubs, mainly in London, and I shall certainly be looking out for some more! 

When we looked at the menu, and realised it went over 2 pages, we were amazed at what was to be served up for us, and it was all done so effortlessly though am sure it wasn't!  I know if I presented anywhere near this kind of menu you'd find me sweating and swearing in a steamy kitchen a bottle of wine down - but then you knew that :)

The closest I can describe the evening to being like was a little Come Dine with Me but with a hostess and menu unsurpassed :)

The menu is below, and my pictures don't really do it justice!  Sheba also offers cookery classes as you can see from her website, that's where I'll be going next :)  The next Supper Club in St Albans is on the 21st July, I urge you to go, you will not be disappointed :)

Appetisers

Welcome cocktail

Parippu Vada (Kerala)
Lentil & shallot fritters served with coconut chutney
Bonda (Kerala)
Spiced potato balls with mustard seeds & curry leaves

Mains
Rogan Josh (Kashmir)
Aromatic lamb slow cooked with cardamom, cloves & fennel seeds

Kozhi Kuruma
Home style chicken cooked with poppy seeds, coconut and cashews

Payar Thoran (Kerala)
Green bean sautéed with a delicate combination of spices

Coconut Rice (Andra Pradesh) tossed with garlic, red chillies 
& cashew nuts

Jeera Rice (Basmati rice with cumin seeds & ghee

Carrot & coriander raita (North India) seasoned with cumin

Dessert
Ethakya Porichathu (Kerala)
Caramelised plantains with lime, nutmeg & coconut milk

Masala Chai
Sweet tea infused with cardamom and cinnamon

I was due to go into hospital the next day, and the lovely Sheba let me take some food home with me, which Chris had the next evening when he was left home alone.  Big thumbs up from him too :)

 Disclosure:  Dinner was compliments of Absolute Indian Cookery

Slow Cooker Nepalese Lamb Curry with Cauliflower and Peas

Kauli Matar Ra Masu

(Lamb Curry with Cauliflower and Peas)

In 2001 Chris and I travelled to Nepal.  It was a fantastic place, we did some great trekking, and throughly enjoyed their local fayre.   Unfortunately our holiday was cut shot by the killing of the Nepalese Royal family.   As the news spread, all the men shaved their heads and we even saw the funeral pyre, as it is custom to burn the bodies immediately.   We basically got the last flight out of the country!   I feel for them as tourism has been majorly effected, but I would definitely be back in a heartbeat!
Whilst there I picked up a Nepalese cookbook.   I hadn't looked at it in years, but decided to have a thumb through recently.  I thought I'd have a go at converting one for the slow cooker, and this is the result :)

Ingredients
Tbsp Oil                                                                                           4 garlic cloves chopped
1 cinnamon stick                                                                               Pinch of black pepper
2 bay leaves                                                                                     150g peas, fresh if possible
4 cardamom pods, bruised                                                                1 tbsp ground coriander
1kg lamb                                                                                         1 tbsp ground cumin
1 tbsp fresh ginger sliced                                                                  1 tsp garam masala
Salt to taste                                                                                     2 red chillies (to taste)
1 tsp turmeric                                                                                  Fresh chopped coriander to garnish
1 small cauliflower

Preheat the slow cooker to low.  Heat oil in a large frying pan, add all the ingredients - APART FROM CAULIFLOWER AND PEAS - and ensure lamb is sealed and coated well in all the other ingredients.   Add to the slow cooker and cook for 6-8 hours.   As you can see from my pic I added the cauliflower from the start too, but although it tasted lovely, it was mush having cooked too long, so I would now add the cauliflower and peas after the 6-8 hrs, stir well to coat, and then cook for a further 45 mins to an hour.

I will also add a further chilli next time - but then I do have a cold so it might have affected my taste buds :)

Enjoy!
Annie x