Beach Clean

When doing the weekly roundup I realised I hadn't done a post I had planned about the beach clean up!

 

So a week ago last Saturday, I went on a beach clean up. It was organised by some friends I have who are members of the SAS (Surfers Against Sewage). I have to say, when I heard it was planned for three hours I thought 'there is NOT enough rubbish on the beach for this to last for three hours'.

I was wrong.

Just because the rubbish there isn't huge and right in your face, it doesn't mean it isn't there. If you were to stand still and just look around you, I reckon you would see at least 15 pieces of rubbish that you could gather. Kaylah also talks about collecting rubbish at the beach (although she finds much cooler things than we found). I think it's such a shame that people don't know, because it means we do have to put on such big events to get things a little more sorted. So next time you're at the beach, please just do a little bit and pick up a few things.

The next thing I'd like to ask of you, is to sign this petition that the SAS have at the moment. Why??? I hear you cry.. well here's a bit from the SAS.

WHY PROTECT WAVES?

British surfing waves are under threat from a growing number of activities around our coastline that can hamper or have long term devastating impacts on some of our most prized surfing beaches. This includes coastal developments, pollution, and restricted access.

• Waves are under threat from 3 sources: new structures and developments, pollution including sewage and litter, and restricted access.
• Multiple surf breaks around the UK are currently under extreme threat with many more subject to lesser, but escalating, degrees of threat.
• No specific laws exist in the UK to protect surf spots.
• According to the water industry itself, the number of Combined Sewer Overflow (CSOs) around the UK is around 31,000. Many of these are completely unregulated.
• In the 10 weeks since the 2012 bathing season started this year SAS have issued over 30,000 text messages warning water users about the 416 individual raw sewage discharges across just 62 beaches as part of the Sewage Alert Service.
• The UK's world-class south coast surf spot Broad Bench is off limits for up to 228 days a year.
• The amount of marine litter found on UK beaches has increased almost two-fold in the last fifteen years.
• A plastic bottle may persist in the marine environment for more than 450 years if left on a beach.'

If you do feel like you could sign the petition, then please please do :)

Source

River Cottage Canteen and Deli

On Saturday the 30th of March, dad and I went to Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall's River Cottage Canteen and Deli for lunch. We made reservations which was a great decision because it was packed when we got there and others had been turned away. We were sat very quickly and provided with water.

As you can see from the menu it says '30th March, Lunch'. This is because the dishes change literally day to day. Not week to week, but day to day. I looked at a menu from the Tuesday of the same week (trying to plan what I was going to have) but the menu had changed (luckily to something better)! 

I was kind of expecting more of a canteen lay out - long tables with benches rather than chairs, but I thought the decor was nice anyways. I liked the miss-matched chairs and door-tables. In the right photo is the deli - lots of local cheeses, homemade pastry picnic foods and local produce.

The kitchen was right on the front and you could see all of the dishes being prepared, made and organised whilst you waited. I thought that was a good touch because I'm quite a nosey foodie anyways! Our waitress was the loveliest girl ever. She was very busy but also very attentive and so polite - when I took the tea bags out of our teapot and popped them on the side of my saucer, she noticed within two seconds and offered to take the plate and give me a new one. We also didn't have to sit with our dirty plates in front of us for more than two minutes. 

Onto the food! 

We both opted for the Braised beef brisket with wild garlic mash, buttered greens and a red wine sauce. 

It was absolutely delicious. Although the mash is green, the garlic wasn't over powering. The beef was incredibly soft, moist and flavourful and the red wine sauce really packed a punch. I would definitely eat this again and if you go, I definitely recommend it to you, it was delicious! 

As it was for lunch we didn't opt for anything else - and I was full for a rather long time following this! I would certainly return to Hugh's canteen to try some of the other dishes out, you're definitely spoiled for choice! My only downfall would be on the price of drinks - wine was £4 a glass and over. I wasn't drinking but I'd be put off if I wanted one. Have you ever been? What did you have?

it was a lovely day too, so we went for a walk. Such a good location for the restaurant.