Seaside days - Morecambe Bay

For an hour or so, we stopped at Morecambe Bay, a popular holiday destination. Morecambe Bay is a large bay in northwest England. It was originally known as Poulton-le-Sands

Of course this statue of Eric Morecambe was a perfect tourist photo opportunity, and before you ask - Yes, we posed in the same manner: leg and arm in the air.

As we walked away, I asked D had he taken any pictures of a sign stating that we were in Morecambe Bay. His response, this stature of Eric Morecambe says Morecambe.

Eric Morecambe was the stage name of the English comedian John Eric Bartholomew. He took his name from his home town, the seaside resort Morecambe. Together with Ernie Wise, he formed the British award-winning double act Morecambe and Wise. The partnership lasted from 1941 until Morecambe's death of a heart attack in 1984.
Another Morecambe landmark, is the Grade-II listed Victoria Pavilion, better known as Morecambe Winter Gardens.
We walked for a little while along the beach, passing parents taking their little ones to nursery, dog walkers (some responsible, others not)joggers, cyclists and elderly patrons.

Before deciding to nibble on something, we did venture some of the side streets where I picked up some sweets: Jamaican limes, sherbety mulled wine and violet flavours.

We sat by this seagull sculpture; ate some home made Cumin Cauliflower Pasta salad; and watched some birds fly by including some Sandpipers.
D is not a boat man. He just likes the colours set against the misty blue skies,
as well as the ripples in the water.
I was reminded by fellow blogger Plummy Mummy of how a beautiful beach can also turn on you suddenley. Morecambe Bay is notoriously dangerous, with fast rising tides and quicksands.
In 2004, the rising tides of Lancashires Morecambe Bay sadly claimed the lives of 23 migrant Chinese cockle pickers, some of whom were never recovered . The deaths exposed an underground world of cheap labour in the U.K in which vulnerable migrants were exploited by criminal gangs and human traffickers.
Pleasureland...

Seaside days - Blackpool

Over the next few days, I will be sharing with you some photographs with you. Sadly, not many of seasonal cooking, but places, namely seaside resorts that I have had the opportunity to visit in the last few days.

Before arriving at our Destination (Essex, South-East England via Wales), D and me stopped at a couple of seaside resorts, the most famous being Blackpool, Lancashire, England.

For many, the best time to enjoy Blackpool Pleasure Beach is at night when the luminous lights are flickering and dancing before your eyes, hence the popularity of Blackpool Illuminations when almost every kind of blinding light you can imagine is displayed.

D and me were just appreciative of the dry and the bright blue skies. The walk towards Blackpool Tower was so refreshing, in the sense that there was not hustle and bustle of bumping into other tourists. The trams were also not running due to work being carried out on location.

As we walked towards the Tower and the Beach, I admired some of the displays attached to lamp posts.

This peacock was perhaps my favorite.

Fudge and nougat - not that I bourght any, as this place was closed.

Blackpool Tower is inspired by the Eiffel Tower in Paris. It is 518 foot and 9 inches (158 metres) in height. We did not get the opportunity to explore the Tower as it was closed to the public as it is currently undergoing transformation. It will re-open this September as the Blackpool Tower Eye.

Once upon a time, you could win a stuffed Jungle Animal such as a giraffe, tiger, lion or even a cuddly bear - nowadays it meerkats.

Blackpool Promenade.

Laurel and Hardy

Clint Eastwood

The Ferris Wheel

How often do you get the beach to yourself ? and one so famous like Blackpool !

Blackpool Tower and Coral Island.

I picked up some Blackpool rock for my little nephews and nieces.

A Welsh Vegetarian Menu for St David's Day

Dydd Dewi Sant hapus! (Happy St David’s Day!)

Sadly I have no glorious daffodils to share with you. Those growing in my tiny garden plot in the West of Scotland are just starting to push there way through the soil. Instead I share with you some delicate drooping snowdrops that are dotted all over the place. For those of you, who wish to celebrate St David's Day, may I tempt you with some Welsh recipes.

Potato, Leek and chilli soup

Serve with a Red Dragon Chilli Shortbread

If soup doesn't take your fancy, how about some Welsh bites with a South Asian twist - Caerphilly Cheese pakoras aka bhaji's

Welsh Glamorgan pakora bites,

For something more substantial, perhaps some Glamorgan Sausages with Potato and Leek Mash

Or something different - Laverbread Burger - 100% Welsh.

For something a little more elegant, a warm bowl of Rarebit Risotto. And to finish of your meal, you must have some melt in the mouth - soft, delicate Welsh Cakes.

Enjoy!