The word on - Grosvenor Rd allotments

Very crunchy apples ripe for eating and baking grown on Grosvenor Road allotments

and the juciest of plums

Having been away from home for some time I returned and went down to our allotment to see how high the weeds had grown and if the frogs, flies and birds had eaten the fruits of our labour (though more labour does need to be commited).

Wow, the trees were laden with plums and apples, they were everywhere. I had to call in reinforcements to gather the goodies. It was a bit like Christmas, I got that giddy feeling whilst choosing the fruits that looked the plumpest and juiciest (yes I do that to presents under the tree - have a good old squeeze and shake even if they don't have my name on).

The allotments are a great place to relax, I wiled away 3 hours without noticing on Sunday. People are so friendly. I have made a friend of the chap in the allotment next to us and chit chat as I'm filling up my watering can. A lovely lady gave me a few strawberry plants a few months back when I thought I didn't have any on our plot (it turned out that I just couldn't recognise a strawberry plant and I actually had a whole patch full).

This weekend I have managed to share the goodies with a few neighbours and friends. I'll be having a baking day tomorrow with my son so I think I may post the results in a day or two.

I would highly recommend getting an allotment for all sorts of reasons. They do need a lot of care, far more than we are managing at the moment but when I realise the benefits of having some land to care for (I have no garden at home) I'm determined not to let my enthusiasm wane.

The waiting list is long, can be up to 2 years so if you fancy getting a bit green fingered and feeling more self sufficient then now would be a good time to get your name on that list.

There are a variety of activities that go on over the year including a halloween party so it's possible to get more involved in the allotment community if that's what you like. There is a trading hut for your growing necessities, talks on a variety of subjects and a very good website to keep up to date with what's going on.

If anyone needs details of how to get their name on the list just let us know.

A rating of 10w for such a well organised and lovely place to be.

Oh, and anyone got any good recipes for apples and plums?

THE WORD ON......Cheap fuel or just cheap service

Sorry but I feel the need for a rant! I needed fuel earlier for the car. Naughty me had let the guage fall into the red so I was desperate!

I stopped at the Tesco filling station on Manor Avenue. Diesel is 118.9p per litre, so not the cheapest but not the dearest. I put £20 in (more days than cash til pay day!) and went in to pay.

I was directed (by sign) to the 'express til for fuel only' - only to find that everyone queues for the next free cashout. The lad at the til grunted 'do you 'ave a clubcard?' so I gave him my clubcard, put my payment card in the machine, did the PIN bit, and waited.

Maybe I shouldn't be surprised but I thought THE CUSTOMER IS IMPORTANT...... the lad shouted to his manager 'can I go on me break? I'm here for ages yet and not 'ad one'. Without hesitation or thought for ME - THE CUSTOMER the manager shouts back (from somewhere behind) 'yeah go now if you like'. Without a bye your leave, do you want a receipt or thank you, the lad who apparently was serving me, picked up a bundle of baskets and left. (presumably for a pasty and a fag out the back!!)


So the moral behind my tale ------ if you're desperate for fuel nip into Tesco Manor Ave, put enough in to get you to Shell on Cross Street and get some better service for a similar price!!!

Thanks guys, I feel much better for a rant!

W RATING: just because the fuel isn't too badly priced. Didn't have a look round but the Tesco Express seemed to be well enough stocked too for quick snacks. I'll RATE it 2W.


What's your WORD ON cheap fuel or cheap service?
Where's the cheapest fuel in Sale?
Where's the best service station?

Have you been to Tesco Manor Avenue - did I just pick a bad day??

The Word on Faking it in Sale

I fake baked it last night - for those of you who don't know what a 'Fake Bake' is (I'm sure there are not many who don't) it's a fake tan.
At LA Fitness, Sale, they now have a beauty salon and one of the treatments is this fake tan. I'm off on my hols and as I'm pretty luminous on the beaches abroad I thought I'd treat myself to some colour.
Appointment made I spent an hour being exfoliated, buffed (sorry that word always makes me laugh) and smoothed down with a tanning cream. After the music of the spin class had subsided I was relaxed and enjoying a good old chat with Andrea who explained every step of the process between our natter. She asked how dark I wanted to go, maybe as if i'd been away for a few days - sounded good to me.
I came home slightly fearing i'd gone too dark and would look obviously 'fake tanned' but my son commented 'you don't look any different', my husband, on the other hand, had to lift his jaw off the floor (was that 'cos I looked like a goddess or because I did indeed look very different?). He said it was 'very dark' and I took it that it was much different to my pastey white self.
In the morning I showered off as instructed and just as Andrea had promised I looked as though i'd been away for a few days abroad. To be honest I only ever go this dark after two weeks solid leathering it on a beach with no interruptions beside a food break mid-day and having to turn over. But I'm very happy with the result and I think I'd recommend getting a Fake Bake, especially if you do 'glow' like me on the beaches abroad. I remember when I was 17 years old holidaying in France with my sister, glowing white on a beach when a lovely French chap passed us and started singing "L'anglais en vacances sont blanc" - we giggled until we realised he was taking the Michael! I've never forgotten that and that is why i'm now a lovely shade of brown as I go on my holiday. I may be the only person to come back whiter than when I went away s it wears off over the week!! Hey ho I'm happy!

LA Fitness beauty salon rating - gotta get an 8W
Fake Bake - same I think, 8W

Tried out the Beauty salon at LA Fitness yet? Any comments or ratings of your own?

The Word on Oca, Waterside, Sale

Oca was one of our favourite restaurants for a number of years and we (Husband, Son and I) particularly enjoyed it as was child friendly. We were a little put off a year or so ago when we thought the service was getting a little rough around the edges, meals forgotten, orders mistaken, incorrect billing. We found another similar restaurant in Chorlton and we were lured away. Tonight at 6pm, however, we returned. The food was good, lots of families which our son was very happy about, the service was quick and efficient and the staff friendly. I had a glass of wine to relax and ordered a Pinot Grigio as I remember the house wine being a bit less than ok. The Pinot i'm afraid was, I am fairly sure, not a pinot. Now I'm no connoisseur but a Pinot Grigio is pretty much the only white wine I'll happily drink. This one was either not a Pinot, sat for too long in the fridge or was watered down, it had no bite at all. I didn't complain as I feel it spoils my evening if I do, so I drank it. The only other thing that bothered me was the volume of the music, loud to be exact. I realised how loud when I was raising my voice and mouthing words to my husband across the table and when my son asked my husband if he 'fancied a dance'!!!!

I did fancy a dance as the music was great.

I'll go back for another visit as the food is lovely and the service was good, maybe at a different time and without child just to see if time of the evening makes a difference.

I'd give this visit a 6W and hope that my next visit gets a higher rating.

Been to Oca recently? What experience did you have?

the WORD ON Worthington Park, Sale

the WORD ON: WORTHINGTON PARK, SALE
(photo is towards the lodge at Worthington Park)

Spent a smashing couple of hours at Worthington Park today with hubby and our daughter. Played on the 'toys'- yes the swings are even big enough for me to go on!! Roller bladed round the paths (well the little one did!), shot some hoops in the ball tube. Slid down the skate-board ramp. Footie on the field and had an ice-cream. Superb!!!

Another great park in Sale. My daughter says it's the best one cos there's more toys and it's bigger.

I'd give it 9W rating (always some improvement to be made!) Sadly there was some broken glass on the path and the grafitti needs cleaning up although it's not as bad as it could be).

Anyhow over to you.............what's YOUR WORD ON WORTHINGTON PARK? Give it a W rating (1 being rubbish...10 being Fandabbydozy)

YOUR WORD ON ASHTON PARK

So what's the WORD ON Ashton Park, Ashton on Mersey?

How often do you go? What do you think? Rate out of 10W (1W being rubbish 10 W being Fandabbydozy)

What do your kids think?

Fun for all at Ashton Park

ASHTON PARK, FUN FOR ALL
Just had a great time at Ashton Park with my 7 year old and her 2 best chums. The sun was shining, loads going on. Kids played on the 'baby park' - for under 5s but the slightly bigger still love the roundabout! They played on the 'big park'. Enjoyed the climbing wall, the rocket rocker, the swings. Then we met up with some other friends and the kids all joined in a game of football using cricket stumps for posts. Great fun had by all.

Ashton Park, on Glebelands Road / Grosvenor Road in Ashton on Mersey, is a great place. Things for all to do there. As well as the stuff discussed above, there are tennis courts, bowling greens, football pitches. Some of the ground is uneven - great slopes for kids to roll or somersault down in summer, or sledge down in the snow! However there are loads of flat paths suitable for prams, wheelchairs and bikes.

We always have a great time at Ashton Park and have done since we first discovered it when my daughter was toddling.

I'd give Ashton Park a rating of 8W out of 10. It's local, loads of different to do - even if you just want to walk round and collect nature things, and it's well used.

My 7 year old said 'It's well good!'