Lunching Ladies Away Day!!

Every Tuesday I go to my friends for lunch.  It started with the 3 of us and it's now grown into a group that we've called Lunching Ladies!!  

As it was my 40th last April they decided they wanted to do something special to mark it, they knew that I was desperate to go to Cardiff Bay so they organised a day trip for us all (Sadly one of the group couldn't make it as her husband was in hospital).

So off we went on the train, now what you have to understand is chaos appears to follow us and it seemed that on this trip it was sitting next to us!!  Everything was fine until we got close to Cardiff station.  Suddenly we're sat outside the train station and an announcement comes over the PA saying 'We're sorry for the delay but due to an animal incident there is a bit of congestion at the station, as soon as it's clear we'll be moving and arriving at Cardiff Central'.  It turned out there was a cow on the rails!!!!  Only us lot could get stopped by a cow on the tracks!

Once we arrived at the station after a bit of 'debating' we decided it was easier to get a taxi to the bay.  We found a lovely taxi driver, well a slightly mad taxi driver!  Kirsty asked him for his number so we could call him back, now I did say he was mad. His reply was I'm sorry I can't give you my number, my wife doesn't like all the calls and text!!!!!  OMG! We all fell about laughing! He was joking but only Kirsty could ask for a cab number and get accused of propositioning someone!  

Norwegian Church

Once we got to the bay I knew instantly I'd made the right choice.  Every one was so happy and friendly and I could geek out without any one minding!!  For those that don't know Dr Who and Torchwood were filmed in the area.  Torchwood's base was under the water tower with and entrance by the water.  One thing I vividly remembered was the Norwegian church, it was often shown in the background in Torchwood and it was the first thing I saw when I got there. We sat down and had a drink then decide what to do.  

Lunching Ladies!

First thing was to eat!  We were all hungry and really looking forward to going to Signor Valetino.  Laura had been there before and recommended it.  I'm so glad she did because I'd never had Italian food like it.  Honestly it's heaven!  I ate things I'd never normally eat and the food was of such high quality it was unbelievable.  The staff were so nice too and there was no rushing us out, it was so relaxing.  We ate starters and mains and decided we were stuffed, then the waitress brought over the dessert menu!  It all sounded so good there was no way we could not try them!  Consequently we all left feeling very very stuffed but it was worth it! 

Sadly one of us had to get home so she went to get the train back after lunch.  The rest of us stuck around and went for a wander round so I could take my photos!  



I was looking for Ianto Jones Memorial, I found it on Google maps and I could see where it should be (by the waterfront)  but I couldn't figure out how to get down there!  So we walked along to the water tower so I could get photos.  I was a little disappointed that they where doing work by it so I couldn't stand on the Torchwood back entrance stone but I could get close enough to take pics so I was happy!  The Millennium Centre was even bigger than I though it was.  It's huge!  It's a seriously impressive.  I'm so glad I got to see it in person.

We then walked back to the pub we started at and right underneath the seat we had our first drinks at there it was!! Ianto Jones memorial!!  I couldn't believe it! We'd started right where I'd wanted to be! I leant over the bars and got some photos rather than take the long walk round to it!

After I'd got my photos we found another pub and had a few more drinks before we headed home.

All in all it was an amazing day.  I loved every minute of it.  The food, location, the drinks but most of all the company was brilliant.

I just want to say a huge thank you to the Lunching Ladies!  You made my life let alone year etc!!!