I'm a tesco girl, have been since I started uni, and it's rewarded me over the years. Whenever I get my clubcard points through I use the boost system and convert them into restaurant vouchers, and this time I managed to redeem £30 worth for Zizzi. Not bad I say!

So, me and L headed out for a dinner date, chuffed in the knowledge that the bill would be pretty much on Tesco.






We asked for our favourite table, the one by the window (because we're both nosey), and perused the menus.

It had been ages since we'd been to Zizzi and I was thoroughly craving their delicious offerings.



For drinks, L ordered the Passion Fruit Punch, and I the Sicilian still lemonade, as always.











After much deliberation from L, and little from me (I may or may not have already looked at the menu beforehand and chosen what I wanted...keeno), we placed our orders.

We opted for a starter and a main instead of a main and pudding, and were not disappointed with our choice.

I felt like something different, something other than my old faithful bruscetta, and opted for the fonduta formaggi, which consists of 'a melting pot of gorgonzola, gruyere and pecorino cheese with 'little soul' bread for dipping'.









I was equal parts delighted and horrified at how much bread came with it. Delighted because I am a unashamed bread fiend, but horrified for my waistline.

It was delicious and I completely devoured the bread, leaving a little cheese and instead using the last 'little soul' to mop up a dreamy mix of extra virgin olive oil and balsamic. Though I have to admit I kept offering up bits of bread to L to try and quell my bread-overdose guilt.

L went much healthier and decided on the calamari.



After we'd greedily polished off our starters, our mains arrived.

I chose the superfood salad, swapping the goats cheese for mozzarella, and adding a side of tuscan potatoes.






It tasted just as good as it looks. Though note the additions of MORE little soul bread - I simply felt obliged to leave these as I kind of felt that 6 rolls of bread was ever so slightly excessive, even by my standards.

Hilariously, due to his last minute decision-making on his main and being flustered by the waitress suddenly springing upon him, L mis-read the main dish he ordered.



Expecting a dish of baked pasta to arrive, he was very shocked to see the most ginormous calzone plumped in front of him. Especially as he'd never had calzone before and was bemused to what exactly it was that had been given to him for a minute or two.

Nevertheless, he thoroughly enjoyed the beast of a dish, and astonishingly managed to polish off the lot! I was impressed, and I think he was too - noting that it should have been an eating challenge it was that monstrously big!

We left feeling incredibly full and satisfied, got back home and immediately threw ourselves into bed, falling asleep in no time, knocked out in food comas.

Thanks Zizzi, and thanks Tesco!

This August bank holiday, around 2,000 re-enactors have flooded to Chester in order to perform a re-enactment of the historic Battle of Rowton Moor, which was the last major battle of the English Civil War.

Although the original battle, which took place on September 24, 1645, was actually fought around 2 miles away from the city, the re-enactment's make-shift battle ground is Chester Racecourse.

I actually had no idea this event was taking place until around lunch time today, when I was sitting eating my lunch and watching YouTube videos and all of a sudden started hearing booming drums in the distance outside. I popped my head out of the window and saw the great hoard of re-enactors marching in formation across the bridge from Handbridge to Chester, making their way to the racecourse. I ummed and ahhed for a few minutes as to whether I should venture outside and see what was happening, and eventually decided that I couldn't miss it.

A little known fact about me is that I actually did exactly this type of re-enactment, same time period and everything, from basically birth until I was around 10, and so seeing so many re-enactors brought memories flooding back and filled me with nostalgia.

I raced down to the racecourse (sorry, had to be done), settled down in a prime viewing grassy spot and watched the battle unfold. This is a pretty picture heavy post, so brace yourself!

The troops marched onto the field...








 As the Royalist forces took position, the Parliamentary forces began to march onto the battleground.

This weekend just gone I spent some time at home with my family and we decided to have a day out on the Sunday. The weather didn't seem too promising so we opted for an indoor activity and settled on Penrhyn Castle, located in Bangor, Wales, which I'd never visited before.

Penrhyn Castle is a 19th century National Trust property that was originally a medieval fortified manor house. So basically, a stately home type thing. You can walk around the property, as well as explore the vast surrounding grounds, but due to the weather we just stuck to exploring the incredible rooms inside.

You might want to grab a cup of tea for this one, it's a long 'un!...






























In the entrance hall there were some incredible metal grid decorations in the floor which, if you look really closely, you can see that people have used them like wishing wells and have thrown money in!





 The great hall had stained glass windows that were filled with horoscope zodiac signs.