Breakneck Comedy, Blue Lamp, Aberdeen

We were lucky enough to receive a Breakneck Comedy gift card as a wedding present.  We go as often as we can.  It's a fantastic gift to receive and will be renewing the card when it expires, although we have no idea when that is, sometime soon I would think.  It's a bargain, £99 for a years worth of laughs for two folk.  £50 each.  The shows usually cost £10 per person so you only really need to go  five times, as a couple, within a year, to make this card worthwhile.  It's a steal.

Waaaay better than the rip off Cineworld card we used to have!

A Cineworld Unlimited Card is £208.80 per person per year so £417.60 for two people.  Please correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't this mean that you would have to visit the cinema roughly twenty times each to make it worthwhile?  There's no way Alan and I would agree twenty times per year on which films are worth going to see.  It just wasn't worth it for us, but I'm sure it works for loads of people.  I'm sure it doesn't help that we live outside of the city.

Anyway, back to business...

We love our Breakneck Comedy gift card.  It gives us a great opportunity to perhaps organise a date night, or to just get off of the sofa and into a more sociable atmosphere, as well as giving us the chance to see some fantastically hilarious people.

Headlining at the Blue Lamp last night was Dana Alexander, and she was great, She lit up the stage as soon as she came on and made one lady, sitting behind us, fall off her chair laughing.  I really loved the way she dealt with a woman near the front who kept speaking over her - there's always one!

However, there was a young chap who was on stage prior to Dana, a guy called Andrew Sim, who really did it for me.  Both Alan and I agreed that he was our favourite of the night.  He's a local lad, apparently from Lumphanan, who has a fondness for NECR, so he immediately won a place in my heart as I am also a fan of this top quality radio show.  (Honestly, they should be paying me here.)  He took them off to a tee and really the only thing he missed was a mention of the 'Lamb Bank', a regular feature on  the station around this time of year.  If his career in stand up doesn't work out, I have no doubt they will gladly take him on as a presenter!  I really hope we see more of him at Breakneck nights.

Aberdeen Country Fair, Belmont Street, Aberdeen

I've been wanting to try Little Squares of Heaven for ages.  This a a local, family run business based in Aberdeen and they make brownies using almond flour, which I am led to believe is the best flour for the job!  Today I picked some up at the Belmont Street Market.

"One of each flavour please...oh wait, can we have two of the caramely ones please?"

They are delicious!  It's awesome that they can send them to you by post too!  Look, LOOK, LOOK!

Next to their stall was Keith Brewery.  The chap selling the goods pushed the hard sale on me,
"Can I tempt you with some beer to go with your br-"

"Aye, of course!"

Poor guy.  I've not actually tried it yet, it's on my to-do list for today.  What a tough Sunday eh?

Pitmedden Gardens

I was invited for a cup of tea at Pitmedden Gardens by Mother Hubbard and Monster in Law.

It was lovely.  Although it was a sunny day, it was not really pleasant enough to go for a walk in the gardens, especially at a cost of £6.50 each, as it was quite windy.

We enjoyed our tea though, although in my case, it was a hot chocolate...

The Victoria sponge I had was delicious, definitely homemade.  The Mothers has scones and seemed to enjoy them.

The cafe itself was smaller than I expected and full of ladies of a certain age who 'do tea'.  The staff were friendly and I couldn't have faulted the service.  It was quite expensive, but this was to be expected of a National Trust Cafe.

I'd happily go back.

Melt, Aberdeen

I finally got to try Melt today after months of lusting after their cheesalicious Instagram pics.

It was everything I had imagined and more.  

The shop is little and works on a takeaway format.  There are a couple of wee coffee tables at the window, but they seem to be used as a seated queuing area, but could be used as a place to eat if the shop were a little quieter.

Geometric orange wallpaper adorns the walls of the wee shop.  Vintage pin up style paintings are hung upon those walls.  There is a formica cabinet filled with the sort of crockery that my granny might have had in her cupboard, nothing particularly fancy but a little nicer than the everyday stuff she used, and the sort that would only be taken out when other folk were there for supper.

The menu is great.  They clearly know what they're good at and have stuck with it, much to my delight.  It's great to see a new business flourish on their strengths.  

I opted for the 'Classic Melt', a blend of three cheeses, costing £4.20.  Alan opted for a 'Hag and Melt', consisting of  haggis, bacon, cheese and rocket, costing £5.00 - anything with haggis in and he's sold!

We waited for not much longer than five minutes and were presented with our wee bag of goodies and toddled back to the car.

My toastie was delicious!  The cheese was melted perfectly.  It was stringy.  It was gooey.  It was tasty.  It was filled to the edges of the perfectly toasted bread.  Alan had no complaints about his either.  I asked if he wanted a bit of mine, hoping he would offer me a bite of his.  He didn't want a bite of mine, knowing my game.  We're married now though - what's mine is mine and what's his is ours.  I sneaked a bite when he was too busy cooing over a passing shar pei.  His was fantastic too.  I might even have that one next time.  Although there's a chocolate one I had eyed up too.  I might have both!

I'm so glad there's a place like Melt in Aberdeen - it's just what the place needs - more small independent businesses to take it into line with other Scottish cities.  

I can hardly wait to go back for another cheesefest.

Cue BBQ, Aberdeen

Today Alan and I went shopping in Aberdeen.  We don't often go, but there were a few good sales on and I wanted bargains!  

As non-breakfasters, we were both hungry by the time we were organised and ready to traipse around the streets, so we decided to nip into Cue BBQ which I had wanted to try for a wee while, after seeing their delicious looking posts on Facebook and Instagram.  (I should really get rid of all social media, it's costing me too much in food bills!)  One particular post stuck in my mind - the offer of smokey brisket stovies - difficult to resist!

We arrived at the restaurant and were able to choose our own seats, since we were the only customers there.  We chose a table for two by the window and were given menus by our friendly waitress.

To drink, Alan opted for a Pop Tart milkshake, and I asked for a banana one.  Unfortunately, there were no Pop Tarts and therefore no Pop Tart milkshakes, so he chose a chocolate fudge brownie one instead.  They were expensive at £5 each, but totally worth it!  We both found them quite filling though, so in hindsight we should have waited to have one towards the end of our meal.

Alan was eyeing up The Cue Overload, which is a tasty sounding challenge for those with massive appetites.  This is something which he would have definitely given a go six months ago, but he's getting on a bit now and his appetite isn't what it used to be.  He even asked our waitress about it, but decided against it when she admitted that it is massive.  One guy did it in 15 minutes according to their Wall of Fame!  We agreed to have a plate of stovies and a Cue Meat Platter to share between us.  Their extensive menu is on their website.  

As we sat in the empty restaurant, we were both impressed by the overall atmosphere of the place.  It didn't feel empty.  I was pleased to see the members of staff chatting and, at times, dancing behind the bar.  The playlist added greatly to the whole American barbecue theme, with Chuck Berry, Bruce Springsteen and Guns 'n' Roses playing - this was right up our street!  The decor added nicely to the experience, with a lot of exposed wood.

We soon started to notice other tables around us filling up.  By the time we left, we did find it quite noisy at times - I think this is just because there was nothing to 'absorb' the noise (no carpets, cushioned chairs, partitions etc) and there seemed to be a rather excited group of friends holding a reunion in one corner.  We didn't mind this at all but others, particularly those like my dad who is hard of hearing in one ear, may find this a difficult space to converse in. 

Our food arrived after about half an hour.  I'll admit the impatient side of me had started to wonder why it wasn't in my rumbling belly already, but then I saw it coming...

I think the photos speak for themselves.

Everything tasted as good as it looked, perhaps even better.  

The only thing I didn't particularly care for was the darker sausage - I'm unsure which kind this was since there were three different kinds on our vast, meaty platter - but then again, I'm not a huge sausage fan. (...I know, I know..)

Even Alan was defeated.  I hate leaving food on a plate, but we had no option as I really couldn't cart around three sausages, some chips, two onion rings and a dollop of homemade coleslaw in my handbag throughout a whole day of shopping, in fear if it all falling out and creating a sausagey scene.  The waiter did ask if we wanted to wrap any of it up to take home, if we had been heading home then I absolutely would have taken it.

Next time I will know not to be so greedy.  This place is excellent, not too expensive and possibly now my favourite place to eat in Aberdeen.  

Meldrum House Hotel, Oldmeldrum

I am very local to Oldmeldrum, having lived here for eight years.  I previously lived only three miles outside of Meldrum, in Hattoncrook, where I was brought up.

So I have a confession to make...

Although I often have a wee wander up there with the dog, I had never set foot inside Meldrum House until last summer, when a friend chose to get married there.  It's just not the sort of place I would thought to have gone, given that it's rather fancy and I'm not very fancy at all!  It is beautiful inside though, and when I heard that they had recently extended their lovely 'Cave Bar', I saw it as an excuse to pop in for a drink.


It was a Saturday night, we had just come home from walking the dog through some very long and very wet grass up at the quarry, and we decided we needed a little treat.  We got changed in to more suitable attire (ie. not soaking jeans and wellies) and Alan drove us the very short distance between our house in the centre of Oldmeldrum to Meldrum House, with the intention of walking home and collecting the car in the morning.  The distance is just over a mile, with much of that being the entrance driveway to Meldrum House.

When we arrived, we were pleased to spot the addition of an external door, allowing us to gain access to the bar without having to go in through the main doors, via reception.  I was pleasantly surprised when we entered, it was bright and cosy with many tables, including two booths built into turrets.  The original cave bar, although beautiful and quirky was very small (to the point where you could feel like everyone in the room could hear your hushed conversation) and lacking in natural light.  The original room where the bar was is now a corridor with many small tables, allowing access to the reception area from the room where the new bar is.  It is decorated traditionally with classic portraits of goodness-knows-who and a fantastic antler chandelier.  I particularly like anything tartan so I was pleased to see some tartan wallpaper and a tartan carpet in the turrets, which complimented the bare 'cave' walls beautifully.

Upon questioning the barman, we were told that this room was previously a bedroom, often used as a dressing room for brides when weddings were taking place.  With the addition of the new extension, this bedroom would not be so well utilised as the large function room is at the other side of the building, and is likely well catered for.



We ordered a bottle of Prosecco to celebrate our one month anniversary.  Alan also clocked the cocktail list and succumbed to a Mojito.  I resisted, which is surprising given that they are my favourite.  One of the turret booths was already taken by a party of four who seemed to be having a great time, we sat in the other one.   Our Prosecco was brought to us in an ice bucket and poured by a very attentive young chap who never let our glasses drain.  Alan's Mojito was delicious (I only had a sip!).

The bar was kept steady by guests from the wedding going on at the other side of the building - we enjoyed seeing everyone toddle in dressed in their finery.  The turret was a lovely place to sit and people watch.  My only complaint is that the table should be slightly higher.  I think many women, myself included, like so sit with their legs crossed but the table was too low down to allow for this.  Alan mentioned it too, but then he does have great long legs and massive knees!

By the time we had finished our drinks it was way past bedtime and we had a lovely stroll home, speaking about how we should come back again for more drinks.


Perhaps Mr Kammer might treat me to a meal some time?

Hint hint...

The Bay / Aunty Bettys, Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire

 Alan and I are faithful regulars to both of these places - not as regular as we might like what with it being an almost two hour round trip - but as regular as possible.

I believe that both The Bay and Aunty Bettys are second to none.  Whilst I may not be the sort of lass who does cartwheels over either fish and chips or ice cream, I would never, ever pass up either from these lovely places.  

When we visited this time, we were on our way back from the Scottish Game Fair at Scone Palace and were really meant to have been home mid-afternoon, however we ended up being much later than we had thought and popped into Stonehaven o the way home at around 7.30ish, knowing we had a lack of food in the house and a chip supper was likely anyway.  Our local chip chop in Oldmeldrum is okay.  But just okay.

What I like  about The Bay, amongst a whole load of other things, is the traceability of their products.  The whole menu is set out so that you can see where the fish was caught and by which boat.  It's lovely to see something so local on your wee wooden chip fork.  

I waited in the car with the dug whilst I sent 'him outdoors' to obtain the goods.  I was waiting for a long time.  It was the first Sunday evening of the school holidays though, so I was prepared for a long wait.  The views from the car were super though, I watched four beautiful golden retrievers playing on the beach with their owners.

Alan finally appeared.  I had the 'special' which was a seafood platter.  I have previously had this - it seems to be on the special board a lot, but I don't mind because it's delicious and often has a wee tweak here or there.  It consists of a portion of chips and three small portions of different types of fish.  As I expected, Alan had a haddock supper - he's very predictable!  We polished off our suppers in no time and were quickly eyeing up goodies from the shop next door.  Alan had said to me as we drove into Stonehaven that he wasn't going to have an ice cream.

We both knew that he was kidding himself.

We left the doggy in the car (Don't panic!  We were only gone for five minutes, it was not hot and all the windows were down at least a few inches.) and ventured into Aunty Bettys.  It's an Aladdin's cave of all things sweet.  It's really quite beautiful.  The only complaint I have to make is that the shop is not big enough.  It can be a little difficult to see what you want or reach one of the many, many sweeties without getting up close and personal with a fellow customer.  But it's a petty complaint compared to how many good things have come out of this shop.  

I had a two scoop tub.  One scoop of bramble and the other or raspberry ripple.  Alan had a two scoop cone.  One of mint choc chip and the other of sticky toffee.  The trademark sweeties were added to the ice cream - something they have gained a reputation for in an almost brand like way.  It's great to have something so simple make an experience just a wee bit different.  

Of course, we couldn't forget about our wee pooch in the car.  We got her her first ever doggy cone.  This is a small cone with vanilla ice cream and doggy biscuits instead of sweeties adorning the top.  I only discovered the ice cream was vanilla after I got just a little too curious ad tasted it.  I avoided the dog biscuits although the smell of them made the ice cream taste a bit dog biscuity.  Not something I would ever choose in an ice cream.  

But Fara loved her cone, possibly even more than we loved ours!