Okay so Halloween is still a little further down the Autumn path but I think this chocolate mix will be perfect for delicious drinks with a hint of spice. What makes it even better is this chocolate mix can be made as healthy or as decadent as you like. This chocolate mix has undergone a tasting test in this household and has thumbs up all around. It’s quick and easy to make, you can double the suggested quantities to make a huge batch up so it’s always ready for a quick fix, and you can change the ingredients as you see fit to suit your dietary needs. It’s got a gentle spice to it making it a perfect autumn warmer or cooler.
For healthy versions of the chocolate mix use chocolate protein powder, Sweet Freedom choc shot and dark organic cocoa powder. I love hazlenut milk with this chocolate mix. Let me take you through how I created my super chocolate mix.
10 teaspoons chocolate milkshake powder
5 teaspoons dark chocolate powder
8 teaspoons icing sugar
1/2 teaspoons sachet of chocolate orange powder
10 grams milk chocolate chips
10 grams white chocolate chips
1 teaspoon of cinnamon
1 teaspoon of nutmeg
1 pint of milk or dairy substitute
Alternatively you could use gingerbread or pumpkin spice for a bit of a kick. I recommend the My Secret Kitchen chocolate powders as they are amazing. Mix all the dry ingredients in a pot and then warm up the milk or dairy substitute on the hob. Add 8 tablespoons of the mixture and stir. This should simmer for around ten minutes and create a silky smooth mixture. You can drink warm or leave to cool and pour over ice for a delicious milkshake.
Fancy making an adult version for those friday nights to warm up with? Why not add a shot of baileys? The orange chocolate truffle one works perfectly for this mix.
Topping this with whipped cream, toffee sauce or honey and a little segment of Terry’s chocolate orange. Just to make it a little more special. So there it is, my ultimate chocolate powder for Halloween hot chocolate and milkshake mix.
Alesund was the second port we visited on our cruise on the Azura around Norway last month. Alesund is a really pretty town with lots of lovely little shops in the centre and a natural canal running through. It’s full of quaint storefronts and fishing boats and the town is made up over several islands.
We had a lovely time exploring and took advantage of a full day in port by using the Hop On Hop Off bus. The bus took you to several places across the islands and took just over an hour if you were sitting on for the full tour. Once on board you were given some headphones to plug into the information points to listen to the history of the place. The bus stops at ten different points and a bus can be expected at each of these points every 30 minutes when there’s a cruise ship docked.
For unlimited use over 24 hours we paid 275 NOK which is around £27. You can prebook these tickets online though and I think it’s a little cheaper if you pay on a credit or debit card.
The views are stunning.
The bus stops at the following places of interest
Cruise Ship Terminal
Sunnmore Museum
Aksla View Point – Fjellstua
Parken Kulturhus & Shopping district
Tourist Information
The Art Nouveau Centre & Jugendstilsenteret
Ålesund Church
Ålesund Aquarium, Atlanterhavsparken
Hessa Viewpoint
In Norway Museums and Galleries do come at an extra price so it’s worth checking before you enter. Toilets usually reguire 10 kroner to use but a lot I’ve seen require you to pay by credit or debit card.
The Atlanterhavsparken is a great place for families with a few animals and wildlife to see and is actually within walking distance but does take around 40 minutes to get there. We heard the seals on our way into dock.
You can also climb the 400 zig zag steps up the mountain to the Aksla view point for some stunning views as well as seeing the old German bunkers.
Browsing along the shops in the town is a lovely way to relax. There were plenty of markets on when we visited and lots of souvenier shops dotted around the cobbled streets. It’s a very pretty harbour town.
We have had lots of lovely things to celebrate recently which means we’ve been lucky enough to head to some lovely places and have some great family days out. One of which being Mini Kat’s 6th Birthday. I honestly can not believe she is 6 now, it’s gone so fast. She had a fantastic birthday with a party and a trip to Chessington World of Adventures with the family which was so much fun, if a little busy. We are quite lucky that it’s only just over an hour away from us so it didn’t take too long to arrive. Now Evie is getting older I’d love a chance to take her to Thorpe Park. Pink Oddy has a great place on why Thorpe Park is perfect on a hot day.
A group of us headed up with our two for one entry tickets thanks to a lot of Krave cereal over the last few weeks but it was so worth it to get six of us in the park for £138 which is a massive saving. You can, of course, take advantage of the online savings however we weren’t sure if we would make it until the last minute so advance tickets just weren’t an option for us.
We arrived quite late in the morning and parked in the Explorers car park close to the Go Ape field. This is the Tiger Field and a short walk from the Explorers gate. It’s really important to note if you park here you have to leave by this gate. We didn’t know this when it was time to leave as the first time we saw a notice of this was when we left through the main exit and saw a sign in the carpark. It would be really ideal for the ticket gate operators to inform you that you need to leave the way you enter to save a little time at the end of a tiring day.
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Before visiting I really recommend downloading the app which helped us to get around. It includes a digital map and uses GPS to see where you are in the park, really helpful when planning where to go next and to see what’s close to you. The app also has all the show times, animal encounters and queue times which is so handy and a great way to plan throughout the day.
Evie and Nora the Moose at Chessington World of Adventures, enjoying a little rest.
We visited on Friday 2nd September and it was very busy. We hoped we would get on the bubbleworks for one final time but throughout the day the queue was a minimum of 60 minutes. Because of the amount of people there it meant we didn’t really get to go on a lot but we saw the Penguins of Madagascar, Operation Cheezy Dibbles which was a really fun show full of music and dancing. Absolutely great for kids and is one a few times throughout the day.
We missed a lot of the animal shows from being in queues but we did go on the Zufari ride which is completely worth lining up for. It was awesome. It’s very bumpy and you are very likely to get wet on this ride so if you don’t like that then stay away from the end seats. Each row seats five people however the seats are quite small. Luckily you’re only on the ride for about five minutes. You get up close and personal with giraffes, rhino, blesbok, zebra and flamingos and it’s lovely to see them on a safari adventure. Close to the ride is a part of the zoo featuring Gazelle, Meerkats and a whole host of other animals to peek at.
There are plenty of seating, grassy areas and picnic benches throughout the park for those that take picnics with them as well as clean toilets situated in each of the lands with smaller sinks for little people. For those that have smokers in the group like we did there are plenty of designated smoking areas scattered throughout the park however there is no smoking allowed in queues.
We managed to get on the Carosel, Bumper Cars, Hocus Pocus Hall, Rattlesnake, Scorpian Express and SeaStorm throughout our day. We probably could have gone on a few more rides if we had planned better but the crowds did make it hard to get from one end of the park to the other and it is so much bigger than I remember. Seeing the animals in the sea life centre and through the trail of the kings was great and Mini Kat was really intrigued by the Gorillas.
Look how big I am?!
We will visit Chessington again as it’s just ride for Mini Kat’s age and size now however I really would like to go on a quieter day to get around a bit more as well as stay overnight in one of the hotels as I think that helps you get around a lot more. They also have a glamping option available there too.
Have you been to Chessington World of Adventures recently? What did you think?
On our recent cruise along the Norwegian Fjords we visited four ports all with plenty of different things to offer. Our first port of call was Stavanger, a large city with a big harbour for cruise ships like ours was. Stavanger is nicknamed the Oil Capital of Norway because of the boom the country experienced when the Oil Fields in the Norwegian Sea and North Sea were found. Here are a few things you can do whilst in Stavanger to make the most of your time visiting this city. It’s key to note that Norway is really expensive, so if you aren’t cruising like we were and had all our food included, bare this in mind. You’ll need a lot of spending money.
Coming into Stavanger is just beautiful when approaching by boat. Plenty of little islands and mountain backdrops surround the city. It’s completely different to being on the south coast of England which is why we went there in the first place, to experience something completely new.
If you are cruising I really do recommend booking one of the excursions as it is a great way to see much more of Norway than staying in the city centre, however if you would prefer to do it yourself then here are a few things you can book alone.
Visit the Norwegian Petroleum Museum
Visit Stavanger Cathedral
Cruise through the Lysefjord
Visit Swords in Rock
Olre Holmegate – really colourful street in the centre that takes you down to the waterfront
Go on a boat tour
See the pulpit rock
Each of these attractions comes at a cost but really do help to make the most of your trip in Stavanger and will help to keep the kids entertained. A lot of the guides are English speaking or have an option for you to listen to an English speaking guide. If you do want to wonder around the city there are plenty of historical buildings to see. Museums are not free to enter like they are here so bare in mind that you can’t just walk in and visit. Also bare in mind that visiting public toilets requires, typically, 10 Norwegian Kroner. Some may take a Euro. Some however, might not take cash, and will require you to pay for using the facilities by credit card.
Introducing Azura – A larger, family friendly ship
After a week long cruise along the Norwegian fjords and coastline I can say wholeheartedly that Norway is a beautiful country and one I will be returning to in the future. This holiday has been long awaited having booked in June 2015 and when the day finally came to board we were so excited.
We had booked our P&O cruise with Thomas Cook after speaking with a very experienced cruiser who really had enthusiasm for the company and, for the ship Azura, which would be the one we would sail on. Months went by with Adam and I peering through reviews, pictures and deck plans of the ship to help us get familiar before we boarded. However, we had no idea how a cruise would work so we decided to book a mini cruise with P&O to give ourselves a chance to learn procedures. Even though our first cruise was on a different ship we had a much better idea of what to expect and I think it really helped us to prepare for the embarkation and security checks for our longer break this August.
Azura is the third biggest ship in P&O’s fleet behind the current flagship Britannia and my gosh is it large! Getting around on Azura is fairly simple though with plenty of places to dine, drink and dance during your adventure. She regularly sails along the fjords, the med and the Caribbean and for our voyage was captained by Robert Camby who was a fantastic captain, alongside the crew. They lead to us having a fantastic trip filled with beautiful sights. His thoughts of the day were very entertaining.
The choice of food and drink was exquisite and served by friendly waiting staff each evening in the Oriental restaurant. We were part of the 2nd sitting club dining which meant we dined at the same table each night at the same time. The 2nd sitting starts at 8.30 which gives you plenty of time to explore a port, relax and get dressed up for the night. Here are some of my favourite plates throughout the duration of our seven night cruise.
I recommend a visit to the Glass House to try the small plates which come at an extra cost of £5.75 for three. These were delicious and very filling. We snacked and shared with a delicious glass of red.
There are plenty of drinks, cocktails and spirits onboard available in the bars and cabin. Each day a cocktail of the day is recommended alongside a specially selected bottle of red and white wine with the menu. I loved my tropical frozen daiquiri!
Entertainment
There was a great amount of entertainment on board both during the day and evening. We enjoyed seeing both comedians who were really funny in both shows. I love to laugh and it’s a great way to spend an evening with a cool drink after a delicious meal. From what I could read on the Horizon newspaper there were plenty of sports and fun activities for families, children and quizzes for adults. Each night had a different show from musical theatre to singers and bands. The entertainment went on into the early hours of the morning however we didn’t hear a thing when we got back to our cabin and were able to sleep soundly.
Shopping
Not something for us but there was a few shops close to the Atrium which sold a variety of goods including clothing, perfume and alcohol.
Swimming Pool, Spa and Health Club
Features we didn’t use, due to lack of confidence on my part and money on my banks part but there is a gorgeous adults only spa terrace, adults only pool and gym. There are also three further pools and whirlpools for passengers and families to enjoy 24 hours unless under maintenance. All are surrounded by bars with food and drink offered throughout the day, deck chairs, tables and the fabulous sea screen outside cinema which shows around three films per day. You can ask a staff member for a seascreen blanket if it’s particularly cold and the sea screen deck chairs have comfy pads.
Children’s Splash pool
Overall experience
The ship was beautiful with so much to see and do. It was comfortable and tastefully decorated. The staff were friendly and professional and the Horizon newspaper which was delivered nightly to the cabin was incredibly helpful. I have loved my week long holiday on the Azura and sailing through the Norwegian fjords. If you’re interested in the ports I visited you can read all about Stavanger, Alesund, Geiranger & Geirangerfjord and, finally, Bergen.
Azura FAQ’s
Is it suitable for families?
Yes, Azura is a family friendly ship.
Is there a kids club on board Azura?
Yes, the Kids Club is located on deck 17, named The Reef, at the back of the ship. It is open daily and the times are in the Horizon newspaper. The kids club closes at midnight and the night nursery closes at 2am. It is fully staffed with members having an enhanced CRB check.
Are all the restaurants suitable for children on Azura?
I have seen children in the dinner restuarants however I am unsure if there is a catered menu for them. However, Venezia, the buffet restaurant, serves kid-friendly dining options from 5pm, there is Ice cream, pizza and sandwiches available too. I would go with your gut and if you think your children will like the menu there’s no harm in trying them with something new. Everything is cooked to order so you could always ask for plan chicken or salmon with the available side dishes such as vegetables, rice or chips.
What is the dress code on Azura?
During the day you can wear what you like however swimwear is only for the decks. If you enter any of the bars you must be wearing suitable clothing and from 6pm there is a smart casual dress code throughout the ship. Children can wear smart casual dress every night, including black tie, if they do not wish to dress up. You will find out each evening’s dress code the night before from your Horizon paper or by using the interactive TV services which details the buffet theme and dress code. Does Azura have WiFi?
Yes, but the signal is terribly slow and it’s very, very expensive. Check your phone provider to see if you have service in the country you’re visiting or if they have any offers or bolt ons. You should be able to get basic signal at sea for phonecalls but the reception relies on satellite and can incur expensive charges. When in port, you should be able to connect to the local providers and this will be your best chance for internet connections. My advice – when on ship or at sea, switch to plane mode.
Is the Azura a good ship?
Personally, yes, I think it’s a lovely ship with plenty of places to eat, drink, socialise and plenty of entertainment venues. It takes a bit of time to get your bearings but there are plenty of maps around the ship to help you.
Does Azura have a covered pool?
There is no indoor pool on Azura that I could tell however with the few showers we had it didn’t stop people from swimming or using the facilities. The pools are open 24/7 however there is no lifeguard on duty so you must keep an eye on the children if they choose to swim.
How much are the drinks on Azura?
A 250ml of red or white wine is around £5.50-£6 with small glasses being over £4 on average. A pint of Pepsi or Lemonade is £2.50. Filter coffee, tea, hot chocolate and water are all complimentary throughout the day. Juices are available for free at breakfast but cost throughout the day and evening. Cocktails start from around £5.50. The prices are all in pounds making it easy to keep track of your spend. Yes, there are drinks packages on board too available for wine, coffee and soft drinks.
Have you cruised with the Azura? What did you think?
