This is most likely my last post for my holiday in Scotland. We were lucky to have a delicious brew at Brodie Castle. The castle is situated near Forres in Moray this castle was the Clan Brodie ancestral home from 1567 until 1980 when it became owned by The National Trust.

It has been fully restored and can be viewed by taking a tour around the rooms, passageways and towers. There is a Victorian kitchen on display with a tearoom just beyond it with an array of refreshments and very tasty cakes. Look at that big Victorian kettle, the brew you could make with that!!! We visited a little gift shop and had a wonder around the grounds which are renowned for their display of daffodils. World famous apparently. You can hire the castle for events or a wedding if you should feel the need. I could just imagine a groom in a kilt waiting for his bride  to arrive in a horse and carriage, trotting along the long drive, all excited and in anticipation of a new start together, to be bound together in love for eternity. Oh sorry got carried away.......I had a lovely brew and gluten free flapjack, that's about as romantic as I really got. Beautiful surroundings and if you are a little bit too young for the whole marriage and romance thing there is an adventure playground to play on. That seems my kind of style.....what? Who's too old??? Never too old for a zip wire and sand.

We had a lovely visit here and the staff are so friendly. A few miles up the road though we found a shop. A big one with a huge restaurant. Brodie Countryfare is amazing, it has ladies, mens and children's clothes, toys, gifts and cards, handbags, home items, and food. We had lovely meals in the restaurant  I had a jacket potato with cheese and salad, there was a good plateful. I know, all this after cake at the castle but it's the Scottish air, gave me an appetite. The things I do to bring you these reviews!! A great place to shop, take a look at www.brodiecountryfare.com

For my mum's 80th birthday we all went for a ride on the Strathspey Railway. We travelled by steam on a 19 mile journey from Aviemore Station to Boat of Garten and then on to Broomhill, returning back to Aviemore. The scenery was amazing and took in views of the River Spey and the Cairngorm Mountains. Lunch was served on the journey which included soup, either Pea and Ham or Sweet Potato and Chilli (both gluten free) and I was able to get gluten free bread to accompany it too. A nice pot of tea and I was transformed into a relaxed state, feeling quite chilled by the clickety clack of the tracks. Just perfect. The staff were all lovely and very accommodating. Good fun for all the family, dogs are welcome on board and there are different dining experiences, themed trips and even a footplate experience. for more information got to www.strathspeyrailway.co.uk

So there we leave the Highlands, hope you have enjoyed some of my experiences. I truly love it up there and can't wait to visit again. Fancy the Whiskey Trail next time. If you have enjoyed Scotland at some point, let me know....would love to hear about it.

Thanks for reading and I will be back tomorrow for Whatever Wednesday for a bit of, well 'whatever'....... take care for now. 

I just stopped by for a brew at The Loch Ness Centre and Exhibition, just happened to be passing by and they have a very nice cafe with lots of lovely food on offer. Sue had a lovely brew but refrained from having any cake! I know what was wrong with you 'Sue from the Brew' ?? They had gluten free options as well. One needs good nutrition if taking part in a bit of Nessie hunting. 

I've been on my hols and along with my family we took the opportunity to go and visit more family up in Inverness. I have visited this area many times before but it was the first time in Scotland for my boys. I did manage to find Nessie as you can see, he is a bit of a brew guzzler himself so will have to keep an eye on him. Yes, we visited the huge gift shop with everything you can imagine related to the Highlands and The Loch Ness Monster. There is also an exhibition which gives an great insight into the history of Loch Ness and the sightings of the monster which is believed to be living there. It's a mystery and one I don't even think Scooby Doo and the gang could solve but maybe you can spot it?? It is certainly worth a visit if you haven't been before. For more information go to www.lochness.com

We also all went on a bit of a shopping spree to Holm Mills Shopping Village situated just outside of Inverness. they have a lovely cafe here, I broke my tea habit and went over to latte land with a dash of vanilla. I've not gone off my tea, just fancied a coffee brew. It was getting close to Easter and this was actually my sons cupcake I pinched for the photo but I did have a gluten free brownie. They have a wide range of food and cakes available and cater for a gluten free diet. On offer is gluten free bread for sandwiches and toasties so that was fab!.

I did find that menus here tended to include soup and sandwiches or toasted sandwiches. A great combination. I'm just thinking that dipping a toastie in soup is an okay thing to do......oh need to do that! So hungry now. What I did love about this place is that they offer just plain cheese or ham sandwiches, it is so great when a cafe does this because I do have fussy eating teenagers so they are as happy finding these sandwiches as I am when I see gluten free. 

This is a great place and if I lived in Inverness I fear I would practically take up residence as they have good offers on clothes and gifts. They have The Cashmere Shop, Harris Tweed (yes I bought a handbag) Pavers Shoes, Yankee Candles, The Whiskey Shop and artisan Gins and Vodkas made in Scotland. Phew, a lot to get around but absolutely worth it. It is the home of James Pringle Weavers and includes an exhibition about the history of the company and what life used to be like in the Highlands. Everything you need really, shopping, history, a brew and on site is also a Ponden Home Interiors Store, it just gets better! Overall a nice brew and very friendly staff so would definitely return, well when that way again. 

​So meet me back here tomorrow for a Whatever Wednesday.....this week my posts will be mainly about my trip as I had such a lovely time. If you've visited The Highlands let me know your experiences and if your'e thinking about it, think no more, please go, there is so much to do and see. Wonderful people and the scenery is just breath taking. 

Thanks for reading.......

There I said it.....I thought I would tackle the subject as it is tea and it does have a place on our supermarket shelves. Some may say it's not proper tea but it is tea. Freeze dried and very instant, you don't have to wait for it to brew. Just pour boiling water onto 1 teaspoon of granules and you're done, just like that, boom! Tea. I felt like the experience was to much like making instant coffee but you get tea instead....Something just isn't right about it.

It is the kind of tea you would get from a vending machine isn't it? A bit bland, convenient but not freshly brewed like from a bag or loose leaf infusing. There is that satisfaction that when you've waited the three minutes brew time that you have reached the ultimate goal of making the best cuppa that you could possibly make and to your own liking or the liking of your 'partner in brew'. 

My youngest says it isn't instant tea as you've still got to wait for the kettle to boil, smarty! He gets his common sense from me obviously but not sure what the future is as far as instant is concerned, 'pop up' tea maybe? A tea delivery service? Someone could just be going around with a mobile urn, now that is lazy and there may be a wait and that just won't do, not unless they are delivering biscuits as well.

What you should never do is store your jar of instant tea next to your jar of gravy granules. This could lead to a major disaster on a Sunday, with the best roast you have ever cooked on the table in all it's glory, in front of all the family and yep you go and pour a good slug of Tetley Tea all over your leg of lamb or nut roast. It won't be an 'arrrrrhhhh Bisto moment' but a 'tttttrrrrrrragic Tetley trip up. 

It is wet, warm, resembles tea and all the major players seem to produce it such as Tetley, PG and if you go to Whittard of Chelsea, they do really nice flavours in instant teas. So maybe we should just love it a little? Maybe? I don't think I would buy it regularly. I can't actually believe I bought it once but I did and it's there in the cupboard in case I run out of tea bags (never going to happen) or I change my mind and enter into a bit of instant now and again. 

For me I feel drinking instant tea maybe the equivalent to Julie Andrews adding a swear word in the middle of her 'Favourite Things' during the Sound of Music, the Family Von Trapp would look with disgust wouldn't they as if 'what did you say?' in my case 'what the heck are you drinking Sue from the Brew?' 

It's back to the old bag or loose leaf for me but let me know what you think. Leave a comment, don't be shy......go on, there must be a instant fan somewhere? 

I'll leave you for now but catch me tomorrow for a random topic on 'Whatever Wednesday' 

Oooooh I was feeling the need for a brew this morning and a bit of a treat so I headed for the lovely Gilberts in Mickleover, Derby.

This little sanctuary should be on everyone's list of places to go and if you love your brew and and a bite to eat then you are going to love it here as I do.

The staff are so friendly, make you feel very welcome and produce a proper pot of tea as well. The cakes are gorgeous, always a different selection and gluten free options too. They do help with dietary requirements and offer gluten free bread for sandwiches and toast. For someone who requires a special diet it is such a relief to go somewhere where they will cater for you and know their stuff. 

Breakfast is available from 9.00am - 11.30am Mon - Fri and
12.00pm on Saturday some examples of breakfast dishes include;
bowl of porridge, super hearty breakfast (vegetarian option available), toasted muffins, eggs benedict, bacon sandwich, sausage sandwich and smoked salmon and scrambled egg.

Lunch is available from 12.00pm-2.30pm and the menu includes;
toasties, salads, soup, sandwiches including salad and traditional crisps.

They also have a takeaway service and cater for parties too so for more information go to their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/gilberts12

I completely demolished a pot of tea with gluten free chocolate and vanilla cake and it was delicious! My mum who accompanied me this morning will say that this is what she had........

......but please do not feel sorry for her as she did have a lovely big eccles cake with a latte to wash it down with. The food is all presented on quaint vintage cups, saucers and plates, there is also a garden area to soak up the sun in the nice weather making it just a very enjoyable experience all round. As an added bonus  there are flowers and plants available to buy outside all supplied by Derby Florist 'The Greenery' www.greeneryflorist.co.uk so please go along and support these small business's. 

If you are in the Derby area make it your mission to go along. They are situated at 12 Uttoxeter Road, Mickleover, Derby. DE3 0DA.

Thanks for reading, catch me tomorrow for another new feature starting this month...... 'Whatever Wednesday' a random post about anything and everything for mid week to see you up to the weekend, it is in sight I promise!!