short break over long weekend

confusing title but thats what it is - literally.

short break = 2-3 days away from home; long weekend = weekend + bank holiday monday.

last monday was spring bank holiday and we decided to visit Gill who lives in a small village in Hampshire. we've visited gill numerous times in the past and normally its just a pit stop for lunch or dinner but this time we stayed for the whole weekend.

we left home at 9.00am, isi minyak dulu kat tesco (sebab dapat voucher 5p off per litre.. now minyak mahal; can go up to £1.18 per litre but the supermarkets are having petrol price war.. with the voucher it cost £1.11 per litre). by the time we hit the motorway it was about 9.30am. kalau ikut sat nav, should arrive at 12.30 but then with toilet stops, snack break, roadworks, diversion and heavy traffic (sat nav took us on the B road) we arrived at about 2pm.

Gill had already prepared lunch - Thai chicken green curry (she bought halal chicken in london when whe visited her sister weekend before) with green peas and vege & of course dessert - apricot & raspberries in elderflower. lepas makan we went for a walk to the village where her previous house was, then walked on the green field with lots of wild flowers on the way back to her house.

for dinner, we had smoked salmon with roast potatoes & steamed vege.. i like cos it suits my 'eating regime'.. tapi damage sikit when it comes to dessert - home made choc cheesecake with fresh strawberries..

the next morning we went to the carboot sale at Kings Worthy; its Gill's current craze!! with only £15 which kamar gave (he decided to stay in and rest..) i managed to get a lot of stuff for the girls and an old book on wild flowers for me. most of the stuff i bought didnt cost more than £2 per item - adik got a little tikes drum, a wiggles guitar, set of horses while kakak got a set of horses and also horse racing board game from gill. and i bought my sister half dozen of eternal beau coffee mugs to compliment the coffee set (pot, creamer & sugar bowl and dessert plates) i gave her last time which i bought at a carboot sale as well!!. also i bought a set of 6 placemats & coasters for Atie, my sis in law which cost me just £1.50 and they are lovely and in really good condition.

back from 'shopping', we just spent our time in the garden as it was such a nice day, till lunch time.

we had 'east meets west' meal - i brought rendang daging (which kamar's cousin Chah brought from msia) and nasi himpit, gill prepared mixed vege salad and we finished off the leftover choc cheesecake..

lepas lunch we went for a walk at the Park which is next to Gill's house. there's a Hall, Orangery and Dairy house on the green with horses.

back from the park, the kids spent more time at the garden till dinner time - gill made chicken & tomatoes & cheese bake which was simply delicious and aliyah finished a bowl of pasta with tomato/cheese gravy.

through out the weekend, kamar didnt leave the house at all cos he just wanted to rest and enjoy the peace & quiet..the kids love it there too.. adik frowned when i told her we were going home on monday morning. ' i dont want to go home, i like aunty gill's house ..its very nice' ..

thanks Gill for having us!!