The Time Bubble

This is a very special blog entry today. I was delighted to receive an email from Confused.com today, regarding my blog. Now I am used to receiving automated messages from companies all the time, but this was different. It seems they have not only been reading my blog, but they have also commented on my last entry. It's so nice to receive some personal feedback from a company. Not only that, but they've also invited me to submit an entry for their blogging competition. In 350 words or less, I am to describe ways to save money with the kids at half term. So here is what I have submitted. A free mini-break in Pembrokeshire awaits the winner! Seems school has hardly started, yet half-term will soon be upon us, and the kids will need entertaining. How does one do this on a budget? Well first – here’s what not to do. I recommend against going away on holiday. As I am sure you know, these weeks are very popular, and consequently very expensive compared to term time weeks – bo...

How I love the word which is the title of this blog entry - so much more romantic than "Meat". Like most of the French language to be fair. I can really see the appeal of living in France. My sister has a house there - surprisingly I have never been but there always seemed to be too many other things going on, either work or children related. Anyway - you've had the hors d'ouevre as to what we got up to on our first day in Paris, so now here is the rest. After a good night's sleep (not actually - my pillows kept sliding down the back of the bed) we headed off out for a days sightseeing, armed with an assortment of maps and guides and such like, looking like typical tourists no doubt. Nice little breakfast up at the square at the end of the street where Edgar Quinet Metro station was located (puerily nicknamed "Edgar Quim" by me on the first day). Got to say all the Croissants and bread we had in France were top notch - the Pain Au Chocolat were to die ...

Previously on Bicester Blogger... Jason finds himself caught on camera outside a sex shop in Soho, cooks a 12oz fillet steak on a volcanic slab and buys some tourist tat on Oxford Street. And now...the conclusion! So, up with the lark on a pleasant Saturday morning, no time for arseing about today so breakfast at the hotel, a rather steep £15.50 for the breakfast buffet. This of course necessitated eating as much as possible without setting off an excessive cycle of bowel movements (don't want to get caught short at the Tower). So on my way to the execution block at aforesaid Tower it can be said that the condemened man ate a hearty breakfast. Being a buffet this meant a large pile of dead pig surrounded by sundry other high cholesterol items, topped off with a small bowl of fruit and yoghurt to keep the do-gooders happy. And copious amounts of coffee. So with 9am on the clock we were out of the door and walking up to St John's tube station, a few simple and short hops ...