A Modern Saturday out.

We have just got back from what seems to be quite a typical Saturday for many these days. We went round to my Mother in Law's after  stopping off at the tip with all the gardening waste that we have produced since being home rather than leave it rot in the brown bin. We pick MIL up and headed off for a drive out. This involved heading to the coast and specifically Hornsea. Hornsea is probably best known as the once home of the distinctive Hornsea Pottery and of the Mere which is the last lake left in the East Riding after others had been drained of the centuries. There is also the Hornsea Freeport Shopping outlet centre on the site of the old pottery. It is a nice little old fashioned British Holiday resort that still has many arriving every year from the West Riding.

Hornsea sea front.

The reason for our visit was not to paddle on the beach or to sunbathe in a deck chair but to go for our fish and chip dinner at Whiteheads. It seems to be in the middle of an housing estate but it has a great reputation and we have never been disappointed when we have been previously. There is a take away next to the restaurant and both always seem to be busy. The fish is all marine stewardship council as caught from sustainable sources. Plaice, halibut, lemon sole and ray are on the menu along with cod and the normally eaten in this area haddock. Service is quick and portions great, even the light bites are plenty for us. Very good value for money all round. Helen wont eat fish and chips from a take away once we have gone south of Birmingham as she has been so disappointed too often and so needs her 'fix' when we come home and MIL requires no arm twisting to get her along too.

It did make us titter a little to see a defibrillator on the wall in the restaurant!! I wonder if they have had to use it yet?

After our feed we need a little exercise so it was off to the shopping opportunity which seems to be an essential part of a day out these days. No it wasn't to Hornsea Freeport to look round all the shops there, but to Graham's Garden Centre. This is run by friends of Helen's and low and behold it actually was what it said on the sign, a garden centre! You couldn't buy a Yankee candle or polka dot wellington boots, or a Tilley hat and alpen stock walking stick, or any of the other things that seem to fill up 'garden' centres these days. It was full of plants in very good condition and at very good prices and again is well worth a visit if plants are your thing. We spent 90 minutes going up and down the many isles whilst MIL decided what to spend her pocket money on. Her final choice will bring much happiness to her as she looks out of her windows at the colours through the summer I'm sure.

Graham's Garden Centre.

After all that exercise we obviously needed more food to sustain us so it was a little further along the coast road to Mr. Moo's Ice cream Parlour near Skipsea. Mr. Moo's came out of farm diversification in 2003 when they decided to use the milk they produced to add value and make ice cream. It is a lovely ice cream with a lovely texture and creaminess and around 35 flavours available. They make over 100,000 litres a a year and have won many awards for their product too.

They do magnificent sundaes at a very reasonable price and a big one scoop of any flavour ice cream is only £1-90. I had apple cumble flavour and it had loads of fruit etc in it. Helen's favourite is the orange marmalade flavour but they didn't have any today.

Following that it was a nice long drive back down the coats to Aldborough and then back in country to Preston, Hull and Hessle with the A63 taking us alongside the Humber and almost to the Humber Bridge before getting to MIL's place. What better way to round off an almost perfect day out with Mum in Law than a nice cup of tea and a chat over the fence for Helen as this is the house she was brought up in and still have loads of folk around that have remained in the area too.

Simple pleasures on a nice day but enjoyed by all.