Welcome to a special kind of post, a heartfelt “coffee break” where I step away from the recipes for a moment to share what’s been unfolding in the Kitchen Sanctuary household. It’s been a whirlwind of activity, adventure, and even some news that still has me feeling utterly giddy!

Summer Adventures & Staycation Surprises

As we approach the final week of the Summer holidays, I sense a collective readiness for school to resume, not just from the kids, but perhaps a little from Chris and me too. My usual vision of summer includes idyllic, balmy days, where Chris and I could sneak in a bit of work before unwinding in the garden with a cold drink, watching the kids splash in their paddling pool or cycle joyfully around the street. The reality, however, often paints a very different picture.

Truth be told, that idyllic scene rarely materializes. This summer, in particular, has been incredibly packed. We’ve been so on-the-go that our trusty paddling pool hasn’t even made it out of the shed! On the few days we’ve all been home, Chris and I have been in a frantic race against the clock, trying to keep up with work demands – which might explain why my posting schedule has been a little lighter these past few weeks. Meanwhile, the kids have been recovering, sprawled out on sofas, from whatever exciting trip or event they’d just returned from.

This year, we opted for a ‘staycation’ here in the UK, hoping for a more relaxed and budget-friendly summer. While the idea was sound, the execution proved a little different. Is it just me, or do UK staycations always end up being significantly more expensive than anticipated? Despite the unexpected costs, we certainly made some incredible memories.

Highlights from Our August Adventures

August was brimming with unforgettable moments and discoveries, showcasing the diverse beauty and entertainment available right on our doorstep. Here are some of our family’s top experiences:

Thrills and Spills at Alton Towers

One of our major outings was to Alton Towers. To maximize our rollercoaster time and minimize queuing, we splurged on front-of-line passes – a decision that, while costly, was undoubtedly worth it for the sheer volume of rides we conquered! My brain certainly took a knocking on those thrilling machines. Thirteen quickly became my favourite for its unique storyline and surprise drops. Rita had me screaming until my voice gave out, a testament to its incredible speed and acceleration. And then there was Oblivion; the sheer anticipation and dread of that vertical drop were far more terrifying in my imagination than the actual experience itself, which flew by in a blur of exhilarating freefall. It was an undeniably fun, but utterly exhausting, day for the whole family.

Exploring Historic York

We then enjoyed a few days immersed in the historical charm of York. The ghost walk through the ancient cobbled streets was a definite highlight, weaving eerie tales with fascinating history – perfect for sparking the kids’ imaginations. Walking along the magnificent city walls offered breathtaking panoramic views and a tangible connection to centuries of history:

While the Viking Centre provided interesting insights, we found it a little disappointing given the price and the lengthy queues, but it didn’t detract from our overall enjoyment of this beautiful city.

Sweet Treats and Playtime at Billy Bob’s

During our travels, we made a delightful stop at Billy Bob’s Ice Cream Parlour in Skipton. This place is an absolute gem! Their birthday cake flavour ice cream is, without exaggeration, the best I’ve ever tasted – a truly indulgent treat. Beyond the delicious ice cream, they also boast a fantastic play barn that the kids absolutely adore. And yes, after a little playful persuasion, I even found myself having a go on the rope swings, reliving a bit of my own childhood joy! It’s these unexpected, playful moments that truly define a memorable family holiday.

Stepping Back in Time at Ironbridge Gorge

Despite being only 90 minutes from home, we visited Ironbridge Gorge for the very first time this summer, and we absolutely fell in love with it. A particular highlight was the immersive Victorian Town at Blists Hill. It felt like stepping onto a living, breathing film set.

The attention to detail in the shops and houses was brilliant. We encountered staff dressed in authentic Victorian attire, enthusiastically demonstrating traditional crafts like candle dipping, brick making, and typesetting. We explored charming cottages, enjoyed a lively singalong with a piano player in a traditional pub, and wandered through quaint shops. The opportunity to even swap our modern money for shillings added an extra layer of authenticity to the experience. It was a fascinating and educational journey into the past for all of us.

And I must share a culinary revelation: we had the best chips we’ve ever tasted there, fried traditionally in beef dripping. They were so incredibly good, in fact, that a couple of weeks later, the memory alone compelled us to drive all the way back just for another visit! Naturally, the chip shop was our very first stop – a true testament to our foodie dedication.

We also couldn’t resist the chance to fully immerse ourselves by dressing up in the Victorian clothes available at the Darby Houses. It was a wonderful opportunity for some playful role-playing and truly made us feel part of that bygone era.

Wildlife Encounters at Yorkshire Wildlife Park

On our journey home, we made a highly anticipated stop at the Yorkshire Wildlife Park, and it was truly fantastic. What impressed us most were the incredibly spacious enclosures and the evident happiness of the animals. They looked playful, content, and well cared for. A real highlight was seeing the lions, magnificent creatures who had been rescued from terribly poor conditions in a zoo in Romania and now thrive in a gorgeous seven-acre enclosure. The park has also recently re-homed four brown bears, saving them from cramped conditions in a Japanese museum. It’s truly inspiring to see a facility so dedicated to animal welfare and conservation.

Home Renovations and Family Celebrations

The day after we arrived home from our travels, the kids promptly left for Wales to stay with their grandparents. This provided Chris and me with a golden, albeit exhausting, opportunity to tackle a long-overdue project: redecorating and renovating their bedrooms. We spent four incredibly intense 16-hour days fueled by copious amounts of coffee, tirelessly painting, sanding, plastering, building furniture, and laying new carpet. The satisfaction of transforming their spaces was immense, even if the timing was comically tight; the kids literally walked through the door just four minutes after we finally collapsed onto the sofa to relax!

Here’s a quick glimpse of Lewis’s room, showcasing the dramatic transformation from before to after:

Beyond the renovations, we also celebrated a couple of important family birthdays. Chris turned 36 a few weeks ago, and one of his favourite presents was a joke gift I got him: a SodaStream. I initially thought it would be a fun retro novelty that would quickly find its way to the back of a cupboard. To my surprise, we’ve used it loads, even experimenting with making our own ginger beer for delicious Dark n’ Stormy cocktails!

Gracey also celebrated her birthday, which involved a chaotic but joyful sleepover with five of her friends and a hired hot tub for the occasion. The house was filled with twelve hours of non-stop giggles, creative mocktail mixing, and, inevitably, popcorn absolutely everywhere. To send them home with a lasting memory (and perhaps a gentle nudge towards recovery!), we gifted them these t-shirts – which I felt were perfectly apt for a group of twelve-year-olds running on just a couple of hours of sleep.

The Big Feastival & My Exciting News!

The adventures continued right up to last weekend when we attended The Big Feastival. This year, however, Chris managed to injure his Achilles the week before, making walking incredibly difficult. I tried to convince him to stay home and rest, but he fiercely batted my arguments away with his crutches and hobbled through the entire day with incredible determination. That man truly is something else!

My main reason for being at the festival was a live cook-off on the main stage. It was a thrilling culinary battle between myself, as the first Neff Cookaholic winner, and Jane from The Hedgecombers, who won the previous year. We each presented our unique bread pudding recipes. I created a spiced apple bread pudding with a delectable browned butter crumble and an easy salted caramel sauce, while Jane crafted a dairy-free bread pudding featuring coconut and cardamom. The atmosphere was electric, and the audience had the final say in who would be crowned the winner. And guess what? I won! Though I must admit, Jane’s creation was absolutely delicious, and I think it was a very close call indeed.

It was a fantastically fun day, and I left on an absolute high! The kids loved sitting in the front row, cheering loudly for ‘Mummy to win’ – their support was heartwarming. To top it all off, we even had the incredible opportunity to meet the legendary Gennaro Contaldo!

The Exciting Announcement: A Cookbook Deal!

And now, for the grand finale of our little coffee break – where, let’s be honest, I’ve done most of the talking for the past fifteen minutes! I’m thrilled, beyond words, to announce that I’ve secured a book deal! The amazing team at Page Street Publishing approached me some time ago, and we’ve finally signed the contract. Squeeeee!!

This means I’ll be pouring all my creativity into developing a host of brand-new, delicious recipes exclusively for the book. What makes this even more special, and a huge personal win, is that I’ll also be doing all the photography for the book. This level of creative control means I can ensure the visual storytelling perfectly aligns with the deliciousness of the recipes and my overall vision for the book’s aesthetic. It’s an incredibly exciting opportunity, and the thought of it still makes me break out into little jiggle dances in the most inappropriate places – like coffee queues and supermarket aisles!

I know it’s going to be a monumental amount of work, involving countless hours of recipe testing, writing, and photography. But I’m absolutely not complaining one bit! (Ask me again on my tenth consecutive day of shooting, and I’ll try my best to remain this optimistic!) This is a dream come true, and I’m embracing every challenge with open arms.

I’ll be sharing many more updates on the book’s progress as things develop, so stay tuned for behind-the-scenes peeks and exclusive insights!

Looking Ahead: More Fun Before School

In the meantime, I have a few more precious days before the kids head back to school. We’re planning a lovely picnic at Rudyard Lake this Friday, followed by the thrill of indoor skydiving on Saturday. Who needs sleep, anyway? It’s highly overrated when there are so many adventures to be had!

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