Go Ape

 

My birthday weekend part 2 - yesterday I went to Go Ape with Jo at Delamere Forest to do the Treetop Challenge. It was so fun - love all stuff like this!

We were booked in for the 11:30am group but we were super early so had to wait for the earlier group of people to be harnessed up and practice how to do it. You get a short induction of sorts of how to clip yourself in and what to do then you're just left to it. You clip your self onto the ropes and do different challenges - walking along planks, ropes, Tarzan across a net, zip wire all sorts of different things. On some there was an easy route then there was a more advanced harder and we had to go for the harder one. It wasn't actually any harder just more fun. Might as well try it while you're there.

We couldn't take a bag and because we were wearing gym clothes without pockets we couldn't take our phone with us so didn't get any photos of what the course looked like or us doing any of it. We could have walked back afterwards to get photos but just got too dirty because at the end of each part there is a zip wire that goes into wood chippings and we kept crashing straight into it and getting covered in it. Was all in my shoes and socks - that was the worst bit and only dirty bit really. So good job I wore my old gym trainers I wasn't bothered about getting dirty and got changed after.

It says it takes 2-3 hours but the only reason it took so long was the people in front going round so slow which was slowing us down. We were the first to go in our group and started around 11:45am and finished at 2:15pm. We would have got round pretty quick if there wasn't anyone in front of us as I was just going for it wasn't scared. Jo got a bit scared off some off the zip line and the second big Tarzan swing.

It was really good I enjoyed it and would do it again - they have a few different ones but I think this was the hardest one and the other ones are more suitable for younger kids.

After we went to Cheshire Oaks and had food at Wagamama

Jo got:

Grilled Duck Donburi - Shredded duck in spicy teriyaki sauce, sticky white rice, carrot, mangetout, sweet potato, cucumber, red + spring onions, fried egg, side of kimchi

I got:

Teriyaki Udon (changed the soba noodles to udon) - mangetout, bak choi, red + spring onions, beansprouts, teriyaki sauce, seaame seeds and salmon

Chicken Yakitori - Marinated miso glazed chicken skewers with sesame seeds

We definitely ordered the hoisin pulled duck bun and was sat waiting for it but didn't come so we asked but they said we didn't order it but sure we did so we just left it and this was enough food for us.

Cheshire Oaks was so busy and the Nike shop was definitely the busiest and it wasn't even that good. Like the stuff in there wasn't good and wasn't even that cheap either. It used to be a lot cheaper, things were expensive but I did end up buying 3 t-shirts just for the gym.

Thanks for the day out Jo! Fun filled birthday weekend for the last of my 20s!

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Escape Hunt

The last of my 20s! Scary how fast time is flying right now!

I started off with a gym session with Jo then got back and went to town with Holly for a day out. We went to Tsujiri as it's a bit of a birthday thing where I have a matcha ice cream. Tsujiri is a Japanese matcha dessert house where there serve top grade Japanese matcha way better than the stuff you will get in your usual coffee shop and is pricier.

Got a medium matcha cone and the ice cream was properly filled right down to the bottom tip of the cone! It was so good but was pricey - it was like over £6 but Holly paid for it

It has nice a aesthetic. Very traditional Japanese style but also expensive due to the matcha they use. They do Japanese cheesecakes, mochi, tarts, lattes, frappes, bubble tea and other traditional treats. It's on Hope Street so right in the middle of the uni campus where there are loads of international Asian students staying so is popular. I had my first matcha ice cream from the one in London a good few years ago.

We walked through town and had a look at some shops then headed to the Albert Dock for our escape room.

Escape Hunt Liverpool

We were booked into the 4:30pm slot for Blackbeards Treasure - pirate themed room. We were early so just had to wait till they were ready for us. Holly has done a few before but this was my first time. We had an hour to escape and if we needed help we could ring the bell for some clues. We went in and didn't really know where to start, we just touched everything and anything to see if it was a clue or something we needed to use or it did something. For the first about 15 minutes we were crap we just didn't know what to do and I was just like I can't do this. The game master watching us was just shouting stuff at us cos he must have been watching us like what are these 2 doing. We ended up needing a few clues to help us get out the first room to get into the second. We were definitely better in the second but still needed clues. Once we knew what were doing we were flying. But had a really slow start and could have done so much better. We escaped in 49.14 so had 10 minutes and 46 seconds to spare. I knew we would escape but thought we would do it a lot quicker. Forgot to ask what the fastest time was.

The lighting is so bad in there!

They have 5 different indoor games - The Fourth Samurai (this was the other one we were debating on doing as we left it so last minute there wasn't much choice so we rang them up to see which one they recommended and thought was better and they said the pirate one), Alice in Puzzleland (This has the most reviews on trip advisor so must be good), The Last Vikings and Escape the Wild West. We want to go back and try them all at some point but thinking of doing the Alice in Puzzleland one for Holly's birthday possibly. They also have 3 outdoor ones but not sure how they work - you get like 1 hour 30 - 2 hours to do them. 

Escape rooms were massive a few years ago but definitely died down now and not as popular but there was a few people when we were there and this couple who were doing the outdoor getting briefed but then we ended up being called to ours so didn't get to fully hear what they had to do. It was good I enjoyed it and hopefully next time will be better now I'm more clued up on what you have to do.

We were sat on this deck chair for a while hoping someone walking past was going to offer to take our photo but no-one took the hint so we ended up asking this couple and this guy took so many photos. Stood far then got closer and closer. I thought the guy at the escape room took loads but only took 3!

We hadn't decided where to go for dinner but went to have a look at GPO Food Market at the Met Quarter but it was crap so went to Mei Mei on Berry Street. 

Mei Mei

Top to bottom - Siu Long Baos - Shanghai Soup Dumplings

Chicken Feet

Har Gau - Prawn Dumplings,

Char Siu Baos

Chien Chang Go - Chinese custard layered cake - Never had this before but it's my favourite and will definitely be on my dim sum list to get every time but I don't think everywhere does it though as I've never seen it before unless I just didn't know about it.

Mei Mei dim sum menu is good as they give you a big laminate with the pictures then the name in English and Chinese even though it was wrong as the chicken feet said was in satay sauce which was really weird so I had to check with the waiter if that was right but he said the photo was just wrong. The chicken feet portion was really small though. Certain things on the menu they don't do after 6pm, we got there at about 6:20pm so missed out on the egg tarts and churn fan.

This was meant to be a 3 meat roast - crispy belly pork, duck and char siu but they had sold out of crispy port so ended up just being 2 meat roast - char siu and Holly wanted the duck off the bone

Pak Choi - cooked with garlic

Seafood Udon Noodles - Scallops, king prawns, squid, Chinese mushroom, broccoli and carrot

I found the food really salty as I was so thirsty and was drinking so much Chinese tea. But the seafood udon noodles was a good size with a lot of seafood. Think the scallops had been cut in half though as they weren't that chunky. The main food came quick considering we ordered after we finished our dim sum. Actually even the dim sum came out quick and all at the same time.

We couldn't even finish it all as we were that full but did manage to eat all the meat and seafood. Left some rice, udon noodles, and pak choi which I took home.

I went to the toilet and when I came back the waitress bought this ice cream out and they played the Happy Birthday song through the speakers. It was nice ice cream but proper solid.

Holly obviously getting tips off Jo as this something she would have done!

All this food came to £68.80! The dim sum were £5.20 each

Meat with rice £12

Noodles £14.50

Pak choi - £10.80!! We both nearly fell off our seat when we seen how much this was like surely this is a mistake how you can get an actual meal for near the same price! Not ordering that again.

My ice cream was expensive - £5.50 they charged us for it! I would have appreciated a candle in the custard layer cake more.

The food was good albeit pricey - Holly said this was the best dim sum and food we've had.

Was a nice day out and thanks Holly for it!

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Luca Italian

Went to Luca Italian on Allerton Road for dinner tonight with Jo and Rich as my treat as we didn't go out for either of their birthdays. I came a couple of months ago for breakfast when Kelly was home one weekend and wanted to try it for dinner. You can see what we got here.

It's Italian small plates so we just got a few different things to share between us. We got there for 6:30pm, didn't book and were sat down straight away as they had a cancellation. It was pretty much full with only like 2 empty tables.

Goat's Cheese Bruschetta - Roast plum tomato & aged balsamic - £7

Goat's cheese is usually really strong but it was alright like I'm not a cheese fan and managed to eat it fine.

Orecchiette Rapini - Tuscan sausage, wild broccoli, garlic, chilli, parmesan - £9

This had a kick to it with the chilli and definitely had honey in it as it was sweet. I liked the pasta orecchiette.

Fritto Misto for Two - Salmon, calamari, white bait & king prawns, aioli - £17

I didn't realise the salmon was going to be in batter. I basically ate this to myself as Jo can't eat prawns and Rich doesn't like them and he didn't like the white bait.

Pappadelle al ragu di Osscobuco - 16 hour braised beef shank, pecorino, pangratato - £9

This was basically a spag bol - it was nice but was heavy and rich. I do love a good thick pasta.

Fries - Truffle & parmesan - £5

Couldn't taste any truffle in this just tasted like normal chips!

Pizzette Bianco - Whipped mascarpone, pistachio, truffle honey, mortadella - £8.50

Jo couldn't eat the pizza so was just me and Rich and we liked it - It doesn't look appealing at all but the sweet honey truffle was nice and liked the pistachio nuts on it.

New Potatoes - Hard herbs, sea salt, gremolata - £4.50

These were defo burnt - could taste the salt but nothing else. Bit dry as they were over cooked.

The food came out when it was ready. The food was alright nothing special. Think the pizza was the favourite and the first pasta Orecchiette Rapini minus the kick to it!

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The Old School House

Kelly and Josh are home for the weekend as Kelly was going to see The Book of Mormon this afternoon with her mum. She's in for a treat as I went last week with Holly. The last show tonight in Liverpool before it carries on its UK tour.

We went to The Old School House for brunch on Lark Lane. It used to be called Esteban a tapas restaurant which we went to for my 22nd birthday. I got there just after 11:15am but they were already there from 11am. When we left after 12pm there was a really long queue waiting to come in as they were doing walk ins only.

Matcha Latte - £3.20

Smoked Salmon & cream cheese bagel with red onion and capers - £8.50

I got a matcha latte and smoked salmon bagel. It was nice wasn't too keen on the picked red onion and capers though. Could have done without.

Danielle got:

Branston's Beans on Sourdough Toast with added Mushrooms £6.40 + £2

Josh got:

Full English - Fried egg, hash brown, baked beans, bacon, black pudding, tomatoes and sourdough toast - £10.50

Kelly got:

Poached eggs on grilled sourdough with added mushrooms - £6.40 + £2

We sat outside and there was a nice breeze so wasn't too hot. We were sat opposite the gelato shop and was waiting for it to open. It opened as we finished at 12pm so we popped over to get some gelato which was very much needed for this crazy heat wave we're currently having but not as bad as the one we had last month.

Pistachio - £3

(This was classed as a premium flavour so was an extra 50p)

It was really good and the and the cone was nice and crispy. Thanks for the gelato Kelly!

After me and Danielle did a lap around the lake in Sefton Park. The park was quieter than I thought it was going to be but it might have been too hot for people to be out. Poor Danielle got pooed on by a bird as we walked through a flock of birds but luckily it was only a drop nothing major but was funny. It wasn't too hot but when I got back home I walked to my grandma's and I was drenched when I got to hers. It's just over a 20 minute walk downhill but was so hot.  Writing this post now coming to 9pm I'm sat with a table fan blowing directly at me it's that hot. We are not used to this heat in the UK our houses are not made for this! can't win with the weather - moan when it's too cold, moan when it's raining, moan when it's too hot but this is extreme.

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Hibiki Sushi & Ramen

Before going to see The Book of Mormon we went for dinner at this new Japanese restaurant called Hibiki Sushi and Ramen. We were planning on going to Renshaw Street Food Market but just wasn't feeling it.

It has Sushi, Chinese - Dim Sum, Italian, Mexican, Thai, Turkish, Bar, Bubble Tea and Dessert. The food just wasn't looking appealing and was over priced for the portion sizes. So we had to plan b and look for somewhere else that was close by. We did a Google search and Hibiki sushi came up which was only down the road so went to have a look. The menu looked alright and looked nice so we thought we would give it a try. It opened July last year but had no idea about it. We sat at the bar as they were fully booked.

The sushi chef was in the middle of the bar so you could see him making the food and then you could see into the kitchen where they were making the rest of the food.

Holly got Avocado Maki - £2.80

Chicken Gyoza (6pc) - Hand made chicken dumplings, steamed and pan fried. Served with dipping sauce - £5.80

I got:

Sushi Box - (Top left going down and then across) Salmon Maki, Sweet Shrimp Nigiri, Salmon Nigiri, King Prawn Tempura, Karage Chicken (Japanese style fried chicken, ultra crispy on the outside but insanely juicy on the inside) Takoyaki (Traditional Japanese street food, deep fried rice ball with octopus inside), Edamame Beans, Goma Wakame (Healthy seaweed salad with sesame oil flavour) and Salmon Sashimi - £23

Holly got:

Chashu Pork Ramen - £10.30

Pot of Japanese Tea - £2.50

I didn't know what to get so ended up getting the chef box as it had a bit of everything. On the menu it says you get dessert which I would have happily swapped my edamame beans for as I'm not really a fan. I did ask what you would get and they said it changes every day and today happened to be salmon which is my favourite so it worked well for me. The sushi was good and I liked the karage chicken - the chicken was nice and juicy inside. Wasn't keen on the gyozas though as they looked deep fried. I like them just steamed or steamed and quickly panned fried just to get them brown. We could have done without the gyozas really because I was so full from my box. Holly enjoyed her ramen and said it was flavourful. We were glad that we found this place instead of going to the food market as it was reasonably priced and the food was good. I would go back and recommend!

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