6 Favourite Christmas Films, All Hollywood Musicals I Can Watch On Repeat, Great For Anyone Who Loves To Watch A Musical Or Loves a Song and Dance Number

Stuck on a desert Island these are the flicks I Take With Me

Amanda Moss

2025-12-20T15:35:00.0000000 2025-12-20T17:40:57.1830000

Christmas would not be Christmas without watching old musicals, some of which many would consider as children’s films, on repeat. I don’t have access to the internet never mind AI right now so everything in this snoop is from memory. You are not going to get dates and directors and even most cast members may be a struggle but genuine highlights and specific scenes I of course will include.

1. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

I’ve probably watched it over 50 times. Caractacus Potts and Truly Scrumptious, Dick Van Dyke at his absolute best with Mary Poppins coming in a close second and Sally Anne Howes as his Beautiful heroine and love interest Truly. And children Jemima and Jeremy, grandpa played beautifully by Lionel Jeffries.

Favourite Scenes, have to be the breakfast making machine at the beginning of the film and sweet factory number, when Caracatacus takes his “Toot Sweet” invention to factory owner and Truly Scrumptious father for investment. And when the toys come to life at the Barons birthday party.

Scariest scene, when the Childcatcher finds Jeremy and Jermina in the toy makers workshop (Played by Benny Hill) and takes them off to the castle of the Baron and Baroness.

Funniest bits include the hair cut at the fairground when Barbara Windsors husband Arthur Mullard (The Big Man) gets his hair cut using Caractus Potts hair cutting invention and when Grandpa Potts gets captured in his shed mistaken for his inventor son’s workshop. Everyone is after the secret to Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, the mysterious magical floating, flying car.

2. Mary Poppins

The academy award winning 1964 production, also starring Dick Van Dyke as Chimney sweep Bert and Julie Andrews as Mary, Jane and Michael Banks nanny in the lead roles. Glynis Johns plays the children’s mother Winifred Banks, the stuffy banker Dad played by David Tomlinson.

Favourite scenes, when the children write the advertisement for their father outlining the qualities they’d like in the person to fill the vacancy. The dance number on the rooftops of London when Bert shows Mary Poppins what life as a chimney sweep is like, I think the number is The Old Bamboo and the Votes for Women number in the Banks home when Mrs Banks show her feminist views which somewhat contradict her role in the Edwardian household at the time.

Scariest or saddest scene definitely at the end when the wind changes and Mary must pack up her things in her carpet bag and head off.

Funniest bits are when everyone goes to tea and Mary Poppins tries to control Bert and the children, and bring them back down to earth except their laughter keeps them all floating on the ceiling and Mary Poppins gets very exasperated and when Mary insisting the nursery needs tidying up decides to let a helping hand ending up with Mary measuring up the children using her own magic measuring stick, deeming herself Practically Perfect in Every Way.

3. My Fair Lady,

The film adaptation of George Bernard Shaws classic tale Pygmalion where a London flower girl is the subject of a bet between two gentlemen, the wager, whether the professor can teach her to speak so well she can be passed off as a royal princess at a grand ball. Wilfred Hyde Whyte as Colonel Hugh Pickering and Rex Harrison as Professor Higgins set about the endeavour with Eliza Doolittle played by Audrey Hepburn who despite not being nominated for her role in the film, the film scooped 8 Oscar’s and Hepburn presented the award to her co star Rex Harrison for best actor.

Favourite scenes include the opening in the flower market in Covent Garden, a massive number that begins early morning when the market is all but deserted and transforms into a hive of activity. When Eliza returns from the grand ball, high on life and performs I should have danced all night, alone in Professor Higgins house. When we meet Eliza’s father trying to scam the professor and colonel Pickering out of money for the use of his daughter for the speech experiment and his subsequent wedding nuptials and “Get me to the church on time’ big song and dance number in the pub is absolutely magic.

Scariest Saddest Bits, probably when Eliza realises her love interest Freddie wouldn’t be interested in her if he knew the truth and she is forced to end things.

Funniest bit, when Eliza attends royal ascot as a practise outing preceding the big test ball in award winning and memorable black and white costume by Norman Hartnell and despite her attempts to maintain her decorum doesn’t quite manage to hold it together, shouting at her horse “Dover move your blooming arse’ to the horror of the gentile folk assembled.

4. White Christmas

The holiday film starring Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney and Vera Ellen where a famous night club duo Bob Wallace and Phil Davis offer to help out an old army general save his struggling Vermont hotel, along the way connecting up with the Haynes sisters, Betty, Clooney and Judy, Ellen for Danny Kaye to create a secret love interest diversion for Bing Crosby. It’s super cute and very funny with some incredible dance numbers, namely Kaye and Ellen performing “The best things happen while you’re dancing” and Clooney and Ellen performing sisters, which is then taken off by Wallace and Davis to cover for the sisters as they make a fast escape from the nightclub where they are working.

Favourite Scenes are definitely at the end of the film when the four stars get together to put on the big show at the Vermont Inn with numbers “What can you do with a general” and “Gee I wish I was back in the army”

Funniest bit, probably the housekeeper in the Vermont Inn Emma, played famously well by Mary Wickes who makes me laugh the minute she walks into a scene.

5. Funny Girl

I absolutely love love love two Barbra Streisand films, well truth is I love all Barbra Streisand films but two particularly, The Way We Were with Robert Redford and Funny Girl, the Christmas classic, with Omar Shariff.

I have watched Funny Girl at least 50 times over the years, am pretty much word perfect on the exploits of clumsy struggling song and dance comedian Fanny Brice and her transformation into huge broadway star along side the complete collapse of her love life with philanderer, drinker, gambler and all round ner do well Nick Arnstein.

Rain on my parade is probably my favourite musical number of all time, Streisand performs with gusto as she runs for the train, electing not to be taken down by the man she loves’ poor treatment of her. Any one who needs a good track to lift you on a road race or when tackling a marathon or long distance run, I recommend this for the ultimate up lift keep going number. There’s a scene in the brilliant award winning film American Beauty where Annette Benning uses the track to inspire herself as she struggles in her real estate career, again with a marriage that’s failing apart. In this particular rendition as Carolyn Burnham, Benning is absolutely hilarious.

There are too many favourite scenes in Funny Girl to mention them all but one in particular near the beginning of the film where Streisand perform her first audition is standout for me.

The saddest moment in the film is when it ends. Fanny all grown up, a star, rich, famous, a mother with everything she dreamed of except the man she couldn’t change or control. The lesson for everyone.

6. Singing In The Rain

It was hard to choose number six, because there are so many musical films I absolutely love, On the Town, Carousel, Guys and Dolls, High Society, Chicago, West Side Story, Hans Christian Anderson, The Slipper and The Rose, Top Hat, Ziegfeld Follies, Finnians Rainbow, Billy Elliot That’s Entertainment, Sweet Charity, A Chorus Line, Follies, Stepping Out, The Epic Sound Of Music and Cabernet which I auditioned for myself, got the part, and like Lina Lamont got demoted from star to Chorus line because my voice wasn’t good enough so am pretty much word perfect on the score.

Singing in the Rain about silent film stars Don Lockwood Gene Kelly and Jean Haen as Lina Lamont in 1927 Hollywood, as they transition to "talkies," but Lina's awful singing and speaking voice threatens their stardom; Don falls for talented chorus girl Kathy Selden, played by Debbie Reynolds who secretly dubs Lina's voice, leading to romantic chaos, comedic mishaps, and ultimately, Kathy becoming the star, not Lina, much to everyone's surprise.

Favourite scenes Donald O’Connors song and dance number with Gene Kelly and Debbie Reynolds Good Morning and his super challenging comedic solo Make Em Laugh but it is the iconic Gene Kelly number music by Nacio Herb Brown and lyrics by Arthur Freed, written in 1929, the title track of the film we come back for over and over again. Kelly’s syncopation, exquisite timing and technical expertise as a dancer make this solo one of the best known and widely recognised in musical history.

Singing In the Rain doesn’t have any lump in the throat sad or scary moments, there are a lot of laughs though out but the driest moments are Lina Lamonts screechy voice and the attempts by Don Kelly and Cosmo Oconnor to correct her eloquotion in the Moses Supposes number. It doesn’t work. The stunning dream, film within a film dance number The Broadway Melody with the iconic Cyd Charisse if you have never seen it, is reason to watch.

Naked Juice Rainbow Machine Super Smoothies 60 Percent Off At Morrisons

Morrisons axing 140 stores but still offering the best discounts

Amanda Moss

2025-11-11T10:24:00.0000000 2025-11-11T16:09:32.7470000

Just found this delicious Naked juice on offer in Morrisons, not somewhere I often frequent as I work for one of the main competitors but there is something about Morrisons, like the coop the staff are always particularly friendly, genuinely so too and the prices for equivalent quality food are brilliant and the offers I think are better than anywhere.

Take this large 750ml Naked juice. Normally £4.50, the small ones, lunch size are regularly £2.95 I picked up on offer for only £2.00.

The equivalent one I normally buy, Innocent smoothie was sitting right beside Naked on the shelf at £3.95, so quite a significant saving.

It was the first time we’ve tried The naked Rainbow machine  super smoothie, mango, kiwi, apple and blackberry and the primary tastes are apple and blackberry. Couldn’t really taste the mango which for me is a good thing as it’s not my number one smoothie flavour. 

The texture is not as thick as the innocent smoothies, more juice like which would probably mean all things being equal on price I’d probably go back to Innocent next time, that said a super deal at £2.00 and definitely worth swapping over while the Rainbow Machine is on offer at Morrisons, especially if you drink as many fruit smoothies as us. It is a luxury item than can get quite expensive.

Very sad news to read about the cafe in Morrisons in Horsforth Leeds set to close alongside 147 other small Morrisons, pharmacies, cafes and florists. My mother lived in Horsforth and it’s somewhere we went regularly on our visits. These places are more than just a supermarket cafe. For many older people especially they are a lifeline and connection to the community. Let’s  hope all the lovely staff get sorted. Not the best time to lose your job, just before Christmas.

Strictly Come Dancing Show Goes Off Air After 20 Years

Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly aren’t the only ones abandoning ship at Strictly

Amanda Moss

2025-11-02T12:21:00.0000000 2025-11-02T14:33:29.8000000

A professional dancer (from the current Strictly line-up, the previso) is ineligible to compete as a celebrity contestant within the same format, as "it would undermine the fundamental premise of the competition", which is "the journey" of a novice celebrity learning to dance with a professional partner.

Before I start I have to say footballer Karen Carney and her professional partner Carlos Gu's tribute to Birmingham in their Argentine Tango performed to the Peaky Blinders theme tune was everything Strictly Come Dancing is about for me. A professional competitor, never danced before trained up by an expert, putting the hours in and Cor Blimey look what can be achieved and yet they didn't top the leader board for the Strictly Halloween Special 2025. Head scratch, the epitome of everything the show format professes to be about. Karen could be the first female sports personality to ever win strictly. As of last night she has my vote and I don't even like football.

Lewis Cope gets the first 40 of the strictly come dancing series 2025 except when I watched the tap section on top of the piano it reminded me how many hours of practise I had to put in to master a wing, a three beat step where simultaneously each foot slides out to the side and returns with two beats whilst jumping in the air. 

I thought it was a dancing competition for non dancers and whilst I appreciate the boundaries have been stretched in the past, Debbie Magee, an ex White Lodge Ballet student competing in strictly aged 60 plus, Ashley Roberts, 2018 strictly ex pussycat doll with a dance background and 2023 year star of the west end Layton Williams performing with Nikita I think when the celebrity looks better than the pro, in this case the Lewis Cope and Katya Jones partnership the show has lost the plot.

Don’t get me wrong I loved loved loved the Halloween number performed by Cope and Jones, a couples choice to Creep by Radiohead. Katya Jones is an outstanding dancer and choreographer and been my favourite professional for years. Not a stranger to show controversy which may be the reason (still surprising to me) she has only lifted the glitter ball once in 2017 with celebrity partner Joe McFadden. Lewis and Katya's routine is the best number by a mile I have ever seen on the show and as a die hard fan I’ve watched pretty religiously since the show began 23 years ago. However when I am seeing steps as a dancer I know aren’t mastered in a few weeks working solidly with a pro I have to question the authenticity of the format.

The show have capitalised on Lewis Cope’s story, (the real life Billy Elliott) growing up in Hartlepool, in the North East, one of 14 children with a passion and overwhelming desire to dance, pulling at the heart strings whilst delivering incredible numbers, all the while forgetting to mention his dance background, and being a front runner with his dance group Ruff Diamond on two prime time shows, Britains Got Talent where they reached the semi finals and Sky’s Dance competition show Got To Dance, 2013 where they were runners up.

These are two massive achievements and could not be achieved without years of training and practise in the dance discipline. To my mind whilst currently acting on Emmerdale, Lewis Cope is a professional dancer.

When strictly come dancing are actually casting professional dancers, Amber Davies, partnered this year with Nikita Kuzmin has been strongly criticised in the press because of her dance expertise and training, she’s clearly trained, it’s no longer credible as the Saturday night BBC flagship family entertainment show.

The idea is supposed to be about “the journey” non dancers take with the help of professional teachers, not up and coming stars of stage screen, TV reality and movies getting a leg up with the massive profile hike a show like Strictly delivers for three months a year.

With Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, the shows female presenting lineup since 2013 already stepping down from the show, the real reason for which we’ll probably never discover and this year’s cast being too professional really to make the show actually authentic and credible, it may be the end of the road for me as a loyal fan when the curtain comes down on 2025.

I already gave up watching it takes two, the strictly spin off show during the week when Rylan was replaced by presenters Fleur East and Janette Manrara.

I used to rush home from work to catch it, and I have to say I don’t miss it so like any habit when the reward and enjoyment is no longer such because you feel it’s all a bit of a con, giving up is not so tough.

I’ve watched the brilliance of the Lewis Cope Katya Jones number about 10 times now. Of course it deserved a forty, but if ex judge and star of the Royal Ballet Darcy Bussell was introduced as a celebrity competitor next year (not that she’d ever do it, it would be ridiculous) would we, could we buy in? I fear not and for me the casting is so close, too close to the line even in 2025.

It’s a shame, in the desire to produce spectacular content, for me producers and casting directors have lost sight of the whole point of the show.

I picked Katya and Lewis to win without any background information from watching them pair up on the very first show. Just from witnessing a few steps, they stood out, the talent jumped off the screen. Now I understand why, and why despite the enormous talent of the Jones Cope partnership, I believe it's unlikely the public will never select them as the winners. How could they?

You Won't Believe Sky Broadband and Phone Customer Service Or Maybe You Will

12 Year VIP Customer Paying £46 per month For Broadband; No Joke What Actually Happened When I...

Amanda Moss

2025-10-05T10:26:00.0000000 2025-10-06T09:44:50.7830000

I had to share an unbelievable conversation with Ben at Sky yesterday which began by him thanking me for 12 years loyal patronage and explaining because of this I am a Sky VIP customer.

I told him the purpose of my call, to see if I could get my bill down as I had just seen an advert for sky online offering Sky Broadband for £25. It's an offer Sky are running throughout October to attract new amazing customers like me.

He went through a bunch of security questions and then began to take a look at what Sky could offer us. He told me the Sky Q equipment we have is well out of date but then added even though we were out of contract there were no offers, or better deals available for us.

I mentioned the £25 broadband deal and he told me it was very normal to reward new customers with a good deal but not to offer that to loyal longstanding existing customers. So I asked him would he then recommend we leave Sky for better deal else where as a new customer. Ben didn't quite know what to say.

He then began to move into his selling questionnaire, except it back fired a bit because we never use our landline, "what never?" he asked, I repeated NEVER. Then he asked me about TV subscriptions and packages, when I told him we occasionally watched something on Amazon Prime, he went into a Sky TV upgrade pitch to get us hooked up to 120 channels. I repeated I was calling to get the bill down not add more services.

This didn't deter him. He asked me how many TV's we had in the house and when that didn't give him what he needed he moved on to asking about who our mobile phone services were provided by.

At this point I had had enough of a sales representative reading from a script on complete auto pilot not listening to word I was saying.

When I finally managed to wake him up, repeating again I was looking for a better deal as a long standing VIP customer he told me there was absolutely nothing he could do, except to give me the customer service retention team phone number 0333 7591018.

These are the people you call I believe when you are sick of Sky and want to leave in the hope of being offered a slightly better deal in exchange for a contract.

I haven't called the number yet. I am not sure I want to be trapped in a contract with a company who clearly aren't interested in loyalty.

It does make me a bit sick I am paying so much more for service and outdated equipment than a new customer would be. Maybe I need to leave Sky, go elsewhere for a better deal for a bit and then come back.

Is that what everyone else is doing? Enduring the aggravation of keep changing their provider in order to take advantage of marketing schemes and competitive price incentives.

There must be another company out there that can do better than this. Please comment and let me know who deserves my business and my loyalty and isn't just going to give me lip service on the rare occasion I reach out to them and then instead of listening, try to up sell me.

Doesn't exactly give me the warm and fuzzies when I think about Sky and all the business I have given them over the last 12 years. Although I do feel better having a rant on here. If you are thinking of joining Sky bear in mind you might need to swap providers again as soon as your contract is up to make sure you don't get stuck paying over the odds like me.

Money Saving expert, Martin Lewis suggests "Haggle with Sky and you could save £100s on your broadband, phone and TV. With our guide learn how you could get a better offer as an existing customer."

Good Lord, how cheesy is that. It makes me think about the Sky tagline "Believe in better" What the hell.

Exploring the Pros and Cons of Digital Identity Cards in the UK: A Delicate Balance Between Security and Civil Liberties

Balancing Security and Privacy: The Debate Over Digital Identity Cards in the UK

Amanda Moss

2025-09-26T07:22:00.0000000 2025-10-05T10:26:27.7870000

The Debate Over Digital Identity Cards in the UK: Balancing Civil Liberties and Immigration Control

Are Digital Identity Cards in the UK a breach of our civil liberty?

In recent years, the concept of digital identity cards has gained traction across various European nations as a means to streamline government services and bolster security measures. However, the UK has historically been hesitant about adopting such systems. Now, under Prime Minister Keir Starmer, the idea is being revisited, sparking a heated debate about the implications for civil liberties and its potential role in curbing illegal immigration and human trafficking.

Arguments For Digital Identity Cards

Proponents of digital identity cards argue that they offer a robust solution to several pressing issues, including illegal immigration. By implementing a system that requires all residents to have an authorized form of identification for employment, healthcare, and other government services, the UK could significantly diminish the "grey" market. This market often employs individuals who lack the legal right to work in the country, inadvertently supporting illegal immigration.

Digital ID cards could also play a crucial role in dismantling the operations of small boat trafficking gangs. These groups frequently exploit lax identification systems to smuggle individuals across borders. A more stringent ID requirement would make it harder for these gangs to operate within the UK, potentially reducing the number of dangerous crossings made each year.

Moreover, digital IDs can increase efficiency in accessing public services, reduce fraud, and enhance national security. They provide a secure way of verifying an individual's identity, thereby protecting personal data against theft and misuse.

Arguments Against Digital Identity Cards

Despite these benefits, there are significant concerns regarding the impact of digital identity cards on civil liberties. Critics argue that such a system could lead to increased surveillance and control over individuals, infringing on the right to privacy. There is also the fear that it could be misused for profiling or monitoring specific groups disproportionately.

Small business operators, such as hairdressers, nail technicians, and massage therapists, might find themselves disproportionately affected. These professionals often rely on informal employment practices that could be upended by stringent ID checks. There's a real risk that many small businesses, which form the backbone of the local economy and community, could face undue pressure or even closure if their clients or employees are found without proper documentation.

Another concern is the potential for exclusion. Vulnerable groups, such as the homeless or refugees who might struggle to obtain such IDs, could be barred from accessing essential services. This could lead to increased marginalization of already vulnerable populations.

I am an accountant. I was born and educated in the UK. I have a UK driving license and a UK passport. I have been asked to show ID maybe twice in my life, after being stopped driving by the police, once randomly which I found very weird and once for a dodgy headlight which of course was perfectly legitimate. I don’t want to live in a country where I cannot leave my home without a document proving who I am. And worse still being required to show it as part of my daily life. That does breach my civil liberty and I don’t believe making that concession as a society will curb or stop illegal immigration. It will just cause problems for people migrants already here, established and integrated into our society working hard and in the most part providing good services from other places, like my acupuncture doctor from China, (I don’t know his legal status) to our neighbourhoods.

Let’s really think about this and the things that make Britain great.

Chanel Poudre Universelle Libre solves three problems in the summer

Eliminates Shine, redness and wrinkles

Amanda Moss

2025-06-26T07:30:00.0000000 2025-06-26T08:08:23.9130000

It’s called a Natural finish loose powder and that sums this summer product up for me, ultra lightweight and airy finish. By the way it’s not just a summer product. I just use it more during the summer season when I struggle with make up in the heat.

In the summer I don’t really like to wear foundation but too old now to wear nothing and the name of this powder from Chanel is completely says what it is on the tin. Freedom for everyone is how I translate.

It looks like nothing when on but completely arrests any shine when foundation would either be melting in the heat or your forehead would ordinarily be dripping in sweat.

I have lighter skin and a few broken capillaries probably from a few too many wines in the past not terrible however I do like to dampen down the red even when I am going for a bare summer face and this natural finish loose powder does the job for me.

I don’t need it so much in the winter as a do tend to wear foundation from September onwards but on holiday and throughout the summer a dusting of this after my cleanse, moisturise, conceal and I am ready to go.

It serves three purposes for me keeps the shine completely at bay, invisibly fills a few laughter lines and dampens down the red tone in my skin without actually noticing I am wearing anything.

A feeling I like when it’s hot and sticky outside.

Another plus the pot is massive and even using everyday throughout the summer I’ve had it for a couple of years. It’s marketed as long wearing and I think this is the key for me, it’s actually true, one application in the morning does last all day so worth the £50 investment for me.

The only one negative it’s not cruelty free.

Signature De Chanel Stylo Eyeliner Pen Gets the Boot

I can see why make up companies are always bringing out something new

Amanda Moss

2025-06-19T10:00:00.0000000 2025-06-19T13:31:30.1470000

I am not one brand loyal when it comes to my make up but I also stick with what I like so it’s unusual for me to be steered away from something I love in this case the Dior On stage eyeliner in favour of something else.

That said I do like browsing the Chanel make up counter in John Lewis in York. I have used the Chanel blush in rouge profound for about a decade or the versions of it, the latest to be released, Chanel Joues Contraste Powder Blush which I do like.

I was shopping with a couple of friends about 3 months ago in need of a new eyeliner and instead of sticking to what I like I allowed myself to be talked into the Chanel equivalent signature de Chanel stylo eyeliner eyeliner pen noir. The sales lady had us engaged and having fun and my friend ended up buying one as well at £37.

The next time I saw her about two weeks later she asked me what I thought about it. I wear my eyeliner a couple of times a week, my friend everyday so she had already had a good go with it and wasn’t happy, so much so she gave me hers and said she was buying something else.

I persevered with mine but in three to four months both are either empty or dried up. Not sure which.

When I went to investigate the name and info about the eyeliner on line I noticed another new eyeliner offering from Chanel Le liner de Chanel, high visibility high precision long wearing and water proof eyeliner again at £37.

You don’t have to be a genius to figure out with every make up company competing for every 3-6 month purchase, brands cannot rely on brand and product loyalty because unless they manage to come up with something significantly better when every customer likes different things or the customer is completely closed off to anything else, like I supposedly was about Dior Elite on Stage Liner, the one I am going back to, they always have to be showing us something “New” and “exciting” to keep us shopping and trying, which 9 times out of 10 isn’t new and exciting at all.

The things that let down the Chanel Signature stylo Eyeliner for me, the brush was too thick and the flow not consistent so you cannot get a line in one sweep, and when it gets stuck you cannot pick up continue without either the line ending up too thick or uneven. The flow of product makes this eyeliner a no for me and the brush end, thicker than the Dior On stage liner equivalent just didn’t work as easily for me.

If I hadn’t tried the other one and used for a few years I probably wouldn’t have been so disappointed as the Chanel signature eye liner is perfectly adequate and does the job, just for me not so good and dried up too quickly for the investment as I only put on my eyeliner 2-3 times a week when I have meetings.

Cuppa Char Peppermint Tea Versus Yorkshire Tea

On race days we drink Fortnum and Mason Mint Tea

Amanda Moss

2025-06-12T06:58:00.0000000 2025-06-12T12:50:36.9030000

Racing this Friday and Saturday at York race course, 13th and 14th June, 2025. I’m a patron and we love a flutter all part of the fun.

Everyone has things they do. Going to York races I take the day off. Tomorrow 13th June is Mid summer race day and then on Saturday 14th is a big annual event we always try to support the 54th MacMillan Charity Race day.

Two county stand tickets with pre ordered Prosecco (gives you a 10% discount if you pre order) costs £140, £35 pounds each to get in and then £35 each for the drinks which lasts us all day. That said you can enjoy the day out for as little as £8 if opt for the clock tower enclosure, but I don’t think you can pre book this. The grandstand and paddock you can access for £23 per person or £19 if you have a group of six or more and it is a great day out. This Saturday the MacMillan’s Charity day is always really fun a good way to network with other women for business and everyone dresses up.

On race days we start the day with a cup of Fortums refreshing mint tea, it’s icy and fresh, an infusion from Morgan black heritage peppermint grown on the Malshanger Estate, in Hampshire. Also absolutely lovely served cold with a sprig of mint from my garden. Although I don’t know what variety I don’t think it’s Mitchum black heritage peppermint but could be.

It’s a truly refreshing English Tea available at Fortnum & Mason online for £18.95, you only get 30 silk bags in the tin for a bit pricy, 62p per cup. A treat for special occasions.

I do like a peppermint tea, the every day option is usually Twinnings, easy to source at Asda where 80 teabags will cost you a fiver. At 6p per cup 10 times cheaper than the Fortnum alternative.

And when you just fancy a cup of builders tea, a few of my friends wouldn’t be seen dead drinking mint tea it’s Yorkshire Tea for us all the way.

If you like tea you can stand your spoon up in Taylor’s of Harrogate Yorkshire Tea is the way to go. A super strong traditional black tea, boasting 100% carbon neutral credentials. It a Black, everyday tea in bags. Great quality. Tastes lovely. And kind to people and planet. Just like folks in Yorkshire to be fair.

I can put one bag in a pot for four people and don’t even need a bag for the pot and the tea comes out strong strong strong.

And at £5.98 again in Asda for 240 this one works out at less than a couple of pennies a cup even if you do a bag a cup which you honestly don’t need. If you are a Tetley tea or PG Tips drinker a suggest you give Yorkshire Tea a go. It’ll definitely perk you up in the morning and set you on your way. And my top tip use your used Yorkshire tea bags to clean your oven, burnt on baking trays or your loo. They will honestly lift grime off anything.

I buy all my tea at Asda except for the Fortnums and Mason bags of course which you can find on their website.

One peppermint tea you might want to try if you can actually get your hands on it is Tescos finest Peppermint Tea silky pouches. You get 15 pyramid teabags in one box and they are better than anything I have tried but out of stock everywhere so perhaps they have been discontinued.

Chanel Noir Allure all in one mascara

Was really sold on this mascara and I wanted to love it

Amanda Moss

2025-06-03T07:16:00.0000000 2025-06-04T18:10:28.9730000

Did you know Chanel make up is not cruelty free. I didn’t. Apparently according to Chanel make up brands sold in China have to comply with the legal requirements there and they say Markets like China requires product testing on animals. Although there is a contradiction as China in 2021 reduced their requirement of animal testing in make up products and a lot of brands including Chanel have been slow to adapt their products and manufacturing accordingly.

Whilst some products in the Chanel range are cruelty free I don’t know if this mascara is one of them.

The allure noir all in one mascara alledges to offer all in one go curl, length, volume and definition.

And even though it was £40 I was excited to try it. My lashes are OK, not brilliant although I have only ever had lash extensions once, once was enough as the glue did pull out a lot of my own lashes, fortunately they grew back eventually. And false lashes for me are more drag queen than glamour at 35 plus so I tend to avoid those too.

I like a couple of sweeps on top lashes only after using a good old fashioned eyelash curler and as I told the sales lady I wanted easy, stays on, no clumps and a bit of extra length.

Noir allure Mascara she assured me would deliver.

Blarney.

I found there is absolutely nothing special about this mascara except the brush is very small and you don’t get clumps and loads of product build up. When my friend told me to try a much cheaper Revlon mascara, Revlon Volumazing Mascara 901 Blackest Black she had bought for less than £10 I actually think hers was better.

The Chanel one does come in a sleek black case with a quite cool pop up mechanism which may look a bit fancier if you get your mascara out in public but aside from that I’d say the Chanel Noir Allure mascara is not worth the investment.

It’s not terrible as such just no real difference when compared to something cheaper.

It doesn’t build even with two or three top ups and for me it dried up to nothing in a matter of months.

Chanel Testers are No More

We are just not getting them my lady at John Lewis tells me

Amanda Moss

2025-05-17T11:31:00.0000000 2025-05-17T12:02:48.2870000

When a friend of mine told me she returned a make up product online and the brand came back and said you must also return the testers, samples to get your refund I said What????

Testers and samples have long been a given when you spend at an expensive make up counter like Chanel. 3 or 4 years ago it was not unusual to receive a few things to try when you restocked your favourite blush or foundation product.

Luxury skincare is so expensive I would never buy it without trying first and the Sublimage samples from Chanel did convert me to a customer of the very expensive Sublimage La Creme.

At £372 for a 50g pot I truly doubt anyone would invest without trying it first. I tried the testers fell in love and I got a pot for my birthday, an expensive luxury and a massive treat. SUBLIMAGE La Crème Texture Fine is an exceptional complete skincare product enriched with Vanilla Planifolia. “Ultime regeneraztion de la peau” or Ultimate skin regeneration.

Today the only place to find these tester sized products is on second hand sites. Times are tough when the free product testers brands used to give as a thank you to good loyal customers are being resold at quite a high premium online, I’ve seen the Sublimage La Creme testers going for as much as £15-£20 online.

I can see brands thinking WTF when customers instead of appreciating the added value and supporting in gratitude are using the giveaways to make a market for themselves.

For a few months now, actually since before Christmas I have delayed purchasing at John Lewis in York the things I need because the Chanel ladies haven’t got the testers. When I ask they say we are just not getting them anymore.

In the past when they didn’t have a tester available and I wanted to try something, they’d put a bit of product in a pot to try, not anymore. This is no longer allowed, apparently.

Do you remember when Lancôme or Ester Lauder or Clarins would offer a free gift with a two product purchase often worth £100 or more. A great incentive to treat ourselves to the products we love but cannot always justify.

I haven’t seen one for years.

It may just be a sign of the times, or the few have just ruined it for the many. I will have to breakdown and buy eventually although maybe I’ll try and find the things I love elsewhere, capitalise on someone’s mistake instead of remaining loyal to the brands I love.

Does getting a tester, sample, little free gift from your make up lady make the difference to your shopping experience?

For me I am so used to receiving the extra goodies when I spend, when I don’t get that it does put me off.

Art Auction Houses and Harvey Edwards Posters and Prints

Fame Movie: You've got big dreams, you want fame. Well fame costs, and right here is where you...

Amanda Moss

2025-04-24T06:30:00.0000000 2025-04-24T07:05:43.3130000

There isn’t a dancer or lay person for that matter born in the 50s or 60s or 70s who doesn’t remember Harvey Edwards leg warmers poster from 1979 featured in movies like Fame, Sixteen Candles, Annie and later tv shows Will and Grace and Sex and the City. Almost as famous as the Tennis girl scratching her bottom. Leg Warmers was in the changing room of my dance studio growing up hanging on a whitewashed brick wall so I saw it every day pretty much from age 5 to 18.

So I’ve been wanting to buy one for a while. They come up from time to time on auction sites like Heritage, Bonhams, Qart in California, Invaluable and Worthpoint as well as keeping a close eye on EBay. If anyone’s got one out there let me know.

Bruce Marks a principal dancer with the American Ballet theatre was the cousin of Harvey Edwards and it was his tenacity and work ethic that intrigued and inspired Edwards to create some of the most iconic dance photography of the 20th century.

It cannot be understated how omnipresent the poster of Harvey Edwards legwarmers was in the 1980s. Every teenage girls bedroom or college dorm had a picture of it on the wall. The poster sold a staggering 3.2 million copies in 86 countries and and appeared in over 256 movies commercials thumbprint media

The close-up of the dancer’s legs in plié fifth position is actually not a girl, a female ballerina but a male dancer Bruce Wurl who performed with the Los Angeles chamber ballet and toured Europe throughout the 1980s. He died in 1987 following complications from the AIDS virus.

In the 1980s Dance photographer Harvey Edwards worked with the circle Gallery on a limited series of special prints, limited edition cyber chrome prints. Initially it was planned there would be 299 prints in the end only 50 were printed.

49. Excuse me 48 were sold off at the time number 50 was kept by the Harvey Edwards family and number 49 came up for auction somewhat recently at the Heritage auction house in march 2023. Since 2012 the record price for this artist at auction is 3,000 USD for Leg Warmers, sold at Heritage Auctions, Dallas in 2023.

Leg warmers, the last remaining unique chromogenic print actually printed later, personal, and from the collection of the Edwards family signed on ink and pencil on the mount hitherto the only versions of this image were in print form, carried an estimate of between 18,000 - 22,000 at Bonham in NYC on 9th April, 2021. The negatives of the image were destroyed by fire. I don’t know what the final selling price was the proceeds donated to St Jude’s Children’s research hospital at the request of the family.

Honi I am Home Poke Zero Waste Restaurant Yorkshire

Honi Poke taste of Hawaii Comes North to Leeds

Amanda Moss

2025-04-16T13:17:00.0000000 2025-09-16T15:30:10.5470000

There are loads more delicious healthy food to go options in London than where I live up North. If I told you you can now get Hawaiian food in Yorkshire I bet you won’t believe me. Honi I’m Home Poke Bowls that began life as a street food truck concept after the success of Poke Bowls in Los Angeles and New York City. Founders Vladimir Martynov and Kosta Varesko thought they could translate the Poke bowl, a Hawaiian dish that has its roots deeply rooted in Japanese cuisine. “Poke” means “cut into pieces” and the name refers to the slices or cubes of raw fish that are served in a bowl along with rice, dressing, vegetables and seasonings, for a UK audience and palette. They opened their first bricks and mortar restaurant in 2017 in Dean st in Soho.

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Who’d have imagined in 7 short years they would have 22 locations open across London, and 3 others across the UK, one in Manchester, one in Bristol and now one in Leeds. I live in York but I am in Leeds all the time at our head office so it’s been a real treat to have Honi Poke here.

_

At Honi Poke you choose a base of white rice, brown rice or for the hardcore health fanatics there’s raw slaw which I like the best as it gives real texture and crunch to your bowl.

It’s basically a load of different vegetables, edamame beans, sandfire, onions, chillis, carrots and then you add your protein whether that’s chicken, fish or my preference avocado and mango.

I am not a vegan but I don’t eat meat and try to avoid fish and diary when I can.

The avocado and mango bowl I like costs £9.95 I think if you get chicken or fish it’s about a £1 more.

The Leeds branch is on Albion St next to and I absolutely love it that Honi Poke prides itself on being a 0% waste restaurant due to everything being served fresh.

I am delighted this gorgeous brand has come North. The Leeds store opened 21 May, 2024. Stephanie Smith lifestyle editor at the Yorkshire evening post wrote an amazing piece and welcome.

I think they are fabulous. One problem, every time I go in there it seems pretty dead. I only hope they get enough support and don’t end up closing like so many that make it past Sheffield because the food and service is fabulous.

And if the sustainably credentials need a boost all the packaging Honi

poke use is 100% recycled and 100% compostable. The containers are made from fibres of plant origin and by using natural materials which are both abundant and renewable the impact of Honi Poke on our environment is reduced.

I support Honi Poke and I hope you will seek them out and support them too. Loads more locations down south and in London.

Why I Gave Up On Costa Coffee

the bait then switch brand

Amanda Moss

2025-03-31T09:23:00.0000000 2025-03-31T09:52:32.4930000

We used to be a nation of shopkeepers now it feels more like we are a nation of coffee shop keepers.

And our high streets that used to be punctuated with a whole host of independent individual businesses, oh now are all identical With a Starbucks a Costa Coffee a café Nero and a Pret A Manger our only options. I am the only one this winds up? You go somewhere new, take a drive out; check somewhere you’ve never been before out and it looks the same, all the same brands and businesses as home.

I gave up drinking £3.50 plus cups of barista style coffee a few years ago. I knew a regular habit like this, the cost adds up. Then the pandemic and working from home I saved even more money with a change in my habits. I decided I’d stop the small every day purchases I really didn’t need once I returned to work.

Perrier water and clever TV advertising got my mother in the 1970s and then Evian and San Peligrino got me paying over the odds for water in the 1990s and 2000 so now I don’t succumb to daily consuming I have personally rebranded as rip off habits.

I know there are millions of you saying I am not giving up my coffee. Pret A Manger even have a £5 month loyalty membership, yes you heard that right, you pay them an extra £5 per month as well as shopping with them to get your coffee fix a bit cheaper. I’ve researched the program and it works out you have to be ordering at least 3 cups of Pret coffee per day to make it worthwhile and who does that except maybe TV and film set runners.

I don’t like Costa the brand owned by Whitbread the brewery until 2019 when Coca Cola swooped in and bought the chain for a whopping £3.9 billion. The snack offering isn’t remotely healthy and even though they do give calorie count which I think is good, nearly £4 for a processed muffin I think is daylight robbery.

Coca Cola the perfect new owner for a business relying on the consumer effectively becoming addicted to the product.

In 2021 I was ecstatic to read the announcement with the help of a Finnebrogue partnership Costa were introducing a vegan bacon bap to it’s snack offering.

Costa are just there, like Starbucks because they can afford to take retail units on high streets too expensive for small independents which I find depressing when I want to see something different exciting and passionate not grim, windowless and the same.

So the arrival of the Costa vegan sandwich on their menu was truly welcomed. I did try the sandwich a while ago, I was encouraged as it is a good lunch option for me when I am on the road and the plant based choices are limited. Unfortunately I haven’t actually found a Costa where I can buy it. My friend likes to stop at the Costa drive through for a cup of decaf so I’ve asked myself about the vegan bacon sandwich which is NEVER available, in the end I stopped asking.

The naked without the oink vegan plant based sandwich is £3 if you get your hands on it. It’s not actually too bad if you need a quick plant based lunch option. I’ve eaten one, probably tried to buy it 15 times.

I stopped for the not bacon sandwich on the motorway, I was on business, late and hadn’t had breakfast. Why I had to have a lemon muffin instead.

Dress Cheshire Consignment Store

A grand day out in Prestbury

Amanda Moss

2025-03-21T11:47:00.0000000 2025-03-23T11:17:29.0470000

I've had this little shop on my radar for quiet a while. We go to the races at York and when Sarah Coggles comes up short a few of the girls I know go and see Christine at Dress Cheshire. I'd actually never been before myself then last week, it was so beautiful. I found myself at a clients in Derby, finished early and decided I'd head back through the peak district and take a diversion back to Yorkshire through Macclesfield.

Spread out over two floors with a front and back room and a spacious upstairs, I went up there first to look at the shoes, it's a super shop, packed to the brim with not overly expensive other peoples treasure. Christine Colbert is the curator and the shop established over 10 years ago offers destination luxury shopping and recycling to the ladies of Cheshire and surrounding areas.

I loved the shop. I spied a pair of Chanel espadrilles I loved but couldn't afford and a self portrait top for under £100 I couldn't resist.

For anyone looking to make a day of it. The shop is in a gorgeous village with lots of options for lunch and dinner. I popped into the Bridge for a delicious bite to eat before heading home.

Hermes Les Jardins Perfume Series

Amanda Moss

2025-02-02T10:25:00.0000000 2025-02-02T10:59:34.0630000

This set of fragrances from Hermes really float my boat, all different yet all the same, I know that doesn’t make sense. When I say all the same I mean all to my taste. Which makes it hard when deciding which to choose.

The fragrances in the series are, Le Jardin de Monsieur Li, Un Jardins sur le nil, (inspired by Egypt and the river Nile) un Jardin sur le toit (based on the famous roof garden at the Hermes store in Paris) Un Jardin en Mediterranee, Un Jardin a Cythere and Un Jardin sur la Lagune.

The only two I haven’t bought are La Lagune (browny red bottle) and the un Jardin a cythere, in a yellow bottle but I’ve tried them and would wear them. I actually love them all which at £118 for 100ml makes it all the more difficult to choose.

I think if I was forced to choose my favourite it would be Un Jardin sur le toit, closely followed by Un Jardin sur le nil and Un Jardin en mediterranee. All are beautiful, wearable and the simple bottle design from Fred Rawler inspired from the original lanterns found on early horse drawn carriages make them impossible to throw away long after the last squirt of fresh stylish fragrant drops evaporate.

Perfume is difficult to gift as it’s so personal. However I think you could give anyone of these Unique scents to any woman for every day and she’d be delighted. Not as flowery as say Jo Malone, or Floris, and not as overpowering as Creed or Van Cleef these Hermes classics sit right in the middle of absolute universal enduring good taste.

They are the type of fragrances that whisper rather than shout. They are exotic but weirdly comforting and basic. They combine the sensibility of every day with the most arousing and stimulating natural fragrance combination. The skill of the mixologist the perfumer the nose enduring and passed down for centuries of women.

Strictly Come Dancing Final

“It does not have to be perfect to be a success”

Amanda Moss

2024-12-15T10:01:00.0000000 2024-12-22T10:46:37.9730000

Before I begin there was a moment all in white at the beginning of Chris and Diane’s first routine standing up high on a podium when I thought I am going to need a picture for Poopsnoop but I missed it, I was in so the image credit goes to @diannebuswell.

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There are a few things I really look forward to every year and the strictly come dancing final is one of them. As you all know my couple for this year was Wynne and Katya eliminated Blackpool week. My sister in law picked Chris and Diane to win so she took the 2024 pot in our house.

Congratulations to Chris McCausland and Diane Buswell, Strictly come Dancing Champions 2024. And congratulations also to Tasha Ghouri and Aljaz Škorjanec, Vito Coppola and Sara Hadland and J.B Gill and Lauren Oakley.

It was a wonderful show preceded by Wallace and Gromit “The Wrong Trousers” so all was well in Yorkshire. Although the BBC gave us a show that ran 2 hours and 40 minutes I did find myself wishing they’d just get on with it as the VT’s seemed to go on and on and on and on.

I think everyone knew really Chris and Diane had the trophy in the bag before the show began, a bit like Vito and Ellie last year.

I guess the point at the end of the three months hard fought and at times quite brutal competition (it’s show business, air time, front row, scratch your eyes out along the way) everyone hugs and it’s not the winning but the taking part that matters……The Strictly Family.

The truth; it’s the number one rated BBC show attracting a global audience of over 13 million for the strictly final in 2020 although 2024 saw flagging ratings at the start of the season when only 5.5 million tuned in for the opening show back in September.

My guess is the machine, has become too exposed for even the most sheep like of viewer. It’s very true people don’t like change, I looked forward to the final as I did last year and the year before.

However things like Vito and Ellie winning when Leyton and Nikita were better on the night I remember with a sort of ICK feeling.

I didn’t get that same ICK feeling on Saturday as I think the Chris and Diane victory whilst so well deserved was expected, certainly in our house. We are not voters.

To sum up a fantastic finale I loved. Thank you to all the creatives and back stage professionals who put the extravaganza together.

_

Next year personally I’d love to see more dancing, less heartstring VT’s and to the BBC we can see what you are doing, we know what the driving force is, which is fine, just bring back Giovanni and Graziano except this time say you are sorry and please someone address “the emperors got no clothes on” why on the happiest family Saturday night show; top presenter Tess is now slimmer than Claudia.

Let’s remember anyone who gets cast in this show is fortunate. It is a wonderful career launcher and leads to many more opportunities so ladies and gents if you sign up and your pro partner picks on you (it’s their job to push you and get the most out of you) stand up for yourself to their face. I have found at work a simple “hands off you dirty git” or “put your shirt/pants on no one wants to see that” works a charm and no need to get HR involved.

EE Phone Insurance

Something you’ll all find helpful

Amanda Moss

2024-11-26T13:11:00.0000000 2024-11-26T14:58:32.8230000

Could I have been anymore unlucky?

Five years ago pretty much to the day I signed a contract with EE for a new phone and the sales agent talked me into paying an additional £8 approx per month to protect my phone in case I dropped it, it was lost or stolen.

I am not really into technology so much. I am not impressed by the latest phone so long as it works so I kept my original android phone and continued using it happily, choosing actually preferring not to keep upgrading. The idea of throwing loads of handsets to landfill I don’t like when there is nothing wrong with them. I continued as a loyal customer paying my contract and paying my insurance.

I know, I can hear you all saying WHY? Like I said I am not into technology and bought into the idea should anything happen to my phone I could easily get another without down time and interruption.

I lost my phone coincidentally on the 5 year anniversary of my purchase having paid almost £500 in premiums. And this is where the fun begins. What is the definition of mis sold to you?

I have a busy senior job and this peace of mind is more important to me than anything.

Until I phone up to report my phone lost stolen and try to make a claim against my insurance which wait for it is a 60 month policy rendered invalid after that.

So just to recap if you have phone insurance with EE it is expiring after 60 months whether you have paid all the premiums or not.

I said to the insurance agent when he told me “is that legal?”

About 10 years ago BT behaved so poorly over my broadband service I went to Talk Talk and swore I would never do business with them again. In 2022 EE was bought out by British Telecom.

I am interested to hear from anyone who also bought phone insurance with EE and if they were made aware after 60 months the contract was invalid.

Pete Wicks

How one dance with the media changed me 180 degrees

Amanda Moss

2024-10-29T16:58:00.0000000 2024-10-30T18:19:42.5700000

I was dancer, still am and always a dancer really so watching strictly for me was a given when the show started. I got into the third or fourth season and have watched pretty loyally since.

This year before the season started I picked Wynne and Katya to win, something we do as a family every year. Even before we’ve seen anyone dance.

When the series began I thought they were the front runners, Katya’s choreography and Russian work ethic and Wynne’s musicality and popularity with the UK viewers would mean I’d take the pot, or so I thought.

Looks like my daughter, may have the winner in Pete Wicks after Saturday night.

Not a fan initially myself I never really saw the point of reality shows like The Only Way is Essex and I guess judged or misjudged the people as a collective in that show.

Why I am writing these musings, my overnight change of position (with the help of the media) first leading me to believe Pete and Jowita, someone I admire, were having a relationship and then Wynne suddenly had inappropriately touched up Katya Jones.

When the joker stepped out onto the floor, I didn’t actually recognise it was Pete Wickes, I was thinking what is Joaquin Phoenix doing on Strictly.

I was in, enthralled as I watched Arthur Fleck transverse around the floor with Lee Quinzel, Lady Gaga’s character in Joker Folie a Deux.

Pete Wicks and Jowita Pryzstal completely embodied the characters. The style was off the charts. The improvement for a non dancer was staggering. This Viennese waltz was my dance of the night.

My change of allegiance got me thinking how the press, the narrative that runs alongside a show like strictly, influences the way we think.

The Pete Wickes romance and then the Wynne Evans faux pas, true or not influenced me.

Pete’s spectacular characterization of Arther Fleck revealed to me a deep deep connection to his story and personal difficulties and he drew me in without saying a word.

It made me look a little deeper into his love of animals and how he has used his profile to spotlight animals and animal welfare, something I also relate to and am passionate about.

Going forward I have my eye on Pete Wicks as a dancer, and I will be remembering we don’t ever really know who people are.

I formed a picture of who Pete was based on nothing really and then when I discovered similarities to me I changed my opinion. When I discovered something through the media that didn’t align for me, I changed my opinion of Wynne, true or not, fair or not.

So unless we don’t prejudge, and judge based on the dancing alone Strictly becomes a popularity contest driven by the media and not a dancing competition driven by the talent, hard work, brilliant teaching and sheer determination.

All qualities every dancer admires.

The year before last I picked Jowita and Hamza and last year I picked Ellie and Vito. 2 for 2

My sweepstake is still Katya and Wynne however we would all love to see this Viennese Waltz again in the strictly final.

Pret A Manger sandwich chain

A job done well

Amanda Moss

2024-09-12T13:57:00.0000000 2024-10-13T13:58:31.1170000

I am an accountant for a large supermarket chain I won’t mention as I am not a big fan of the food, too over processed in the most part for me so when I am at the office I sneak out every day to Pret to get my lunch I try to stay pretty incognito on here so I can say what I actually think without reprisal or worse still getting fired.

The thing I like the most about this brand, I haven’t put this to the test but the CEO says his office is open, how many CEOs can you call these days and expect them to pick up, certainly not ours.

I like the avocado with tomato and olive tapenade in a baguette but the wraps are tasty too. I usually get a sandwich, a fresh pressed juice or smoothie and a piece of fruit which comes out around £10

They do have a members club type thing where if you buy in they track your purchases and you get quite a big saving but I don’t like to be followed around and understand what those member corporate schemes are all about so I choose to opt out of the programs that give discounts.

All that said I am very impressed with Prets program to train and offer jobs to marginalised people, homeless and ex prisoners offenders to ensure a more positive and productive society and I have to say I don’t think you’ll get friendlier more consistent service from any business anywhere.

The last time I was in there I got my sandwich complimentary because of a small issue the store was having. I honestly haven’t got a bad word to say about this business.👨‍💼

Heacham Hotel and Boutique Spa

Not a spa hotel

Amanda Moss

2024-08-01T07:01:00.0000000 2024-08-01T11:02:03.0100000

I must say I had no idea about the 5 star Serles Leisure Resort when I visited the Heacham Manor and Boutique Spa. When you read the information on the website it sounds like this is the place to go for the 5 star spa experience, their sister property in Hunstanton.

It is not what I understand to be a 5 star leisure resort, as it is a static caravan park, and when I now read the word “Boutique” it takes on a whole new meaning.

Well technically yes they do have a jacuzzi, you might expect the same type in your neighbours back garden won on a TV game show, they have a sauna and steam room but imagine the changing room at your local gym and that pretty much sums up the facility in a portacabin type structure adjacent to the main hotel.

We didn’t stay at the hotel, we were looking for a day spa to experience for 3 hours relaxing and unwinding after a day at the beach and this wasn’t it. It was more like a corridor with a sauna and stream you’d find in someone’s house. Very limited facilities no water, no nice calming music, no aromatherapy and no relaxation area or loungers and no robes or slippers. More a small gym with a changing room. They did have some dark treatment rooms but nothing going on.

A changing room where the lockers don’t lock, one coin on reception because they hadn’t ordered any replacements: we had to cram all our stuff in one locker.

It wasn’t expensive but then again it couldn’t be, £10 entrance fee and £3 each for a towel not much bigger than a hand towel and to be honest we felt like we’d been ripped off.

It didn’t go down very well with the three members of staff on reception none of whom took charge of our visit when we arrived. When we first asked for our money back we were told we had to go to the main hotel to make that happen, in their defence by the time we got dressed and came out they had sorted out the refund.

The problem here was expectation. Having been to a lot of different spas and spa hotels around the world the spa facilities at this hotel are basic, no frills and for anyone used to good service, the staff are young, casual and borderline lazy.

I did speak to Jane on reception before arriving and mentioned we were looking to use the spa after a day at the beach for relaxation and unwinding from 4.30pm to 8pm. She was very pleasant and did tell me there would be a charge and the “spa” closed at 8pm. However on arrival we couldn’t believe she didn’t say “I am not sure what you are going to do in there for 3.5 hours”