A Mother's Dream: A breakfast for champions.

A Mother's Dream blog circle:  'A Breakfast for champions', by Fleur Davies.

Have you heard of the Harvester pub restaurant chain?  I bet you have.  But have you tried their breakfasts?  Well, if you haven't - get a move on.  I first discovered the wonder of their morning time menu a few months back with my son when we had a Mummy and Son date.  We wanted to try somewhere new.  

We'd been to the Derby Pool in New Brighton a few times as a family over the years for dinner and have frequently visited for a drink and crisps on a warm summer evening.  But breakfast was a new venture.

Basically, for me, it's breakfast heaven!  With any 'all you can eat' cooked breakfast ordered (and this also goes for the kids) you get free access to the continental buffet offerings too.  AND the option of unlimited coffee.  Can I get an "Amen"?!  All this for around £8 per adult and £3 per child aged 10 and under.  Of which we have three - with hefty appetites.  Bargain and a half.  

Now I'm obviously very excited about this, and I'm sure I have friends who will be dragging their bacon, sausage and egg loving backsides and offspring down to their nearest Harvester asap.  And why not?  You get to stuff your face like some sort of gorging animal with no need to eat again for like a week.  If you are familiar with the Friends TV show, refer your memories to the scene where Joey is left alone at the restaurant dinner table while everyone's meals arrive and he says to the waiting on staff:  "You boys are about to see something really special."  That's kind of how I approach a buffet style meal...  #sorrynotsorry

We had this breakfast in the diary for a week or so.  It's half term right now on The Wirral and keeping the kids occupied and alive is a must.  Breakfast is always a winner for us as we talk the kids into a lie in, bribing them with tablet time for half an hour or so.  Then we head out at about brunch time.  Knowing that we're in no rush and can take our time.  I always make a note to explain this to the kids.  I don't know why but for some reason it's like a survival skill in our household that eating as quickly as possible is standard practice.  

I knew I wanted to document our morning that day.  I was excited about it.  It's been a little while since I purposely took my camera out to document a whole event.  And I got everyone in on this one.  My hubs took some photos.  AND my middle kid did too.  She has a great eye and surprisingly strong arms to hold up the decent sized camera body and lens I took with us.

So here you go.  Our family brunch together.  This Mother's Dream - not only for spending some quality time with my nearest and dearest, but also unlimited bacon.... mmmmm bacon....

Thanks for viewing peeps.

Fleur xx

And once you've had a peruse through my set of images, you can follow the rest of this month's A Mother's Dream blog circle here: Its by the lovely Julie Grant Photography. 

(As always, click into the images to see them at full resolution.  Cheers loves!)

Photo by Carl

Photo by Carl

Photo by Carl

Photo by Poppi

Photo by Poppi

Photo by Carl

Photo by Carl

Photo by Carl

Toast at Marino Lounge...

A long over-due Mummy and Daughter date!

I documented our morning at the lovely Marino Lounge in New Brighton.  We love this place.  We were the only ones there for around half an hour, so getting my camera out was a must.  Best toast and marmalade around according to my date.  Lovely staff, relaxed atmosphere and surroundings.  And with some beautiful views too.  

Thank you for looking. ~ Fleur x

(PS - the trick to seeing better quality versions of the images is to click on them... Cheers loves!)

Pencils, babychinos and toast: a documentary with my younger daughter...

It only seemed fair to document this.  A previous post shows some stolen (and preserved) moments with my eldest daughter while she enjoyed toast and jam at one of our favourite places to eat.  So when Poppi asked for a date morning with me, requesting breakfast out, I thought it was a great way to continue this series.

Poppi has always been content with me taking her picture.  And I've always told her that she should act like I'm not - "just be yourself sweetness."  And she has.  So much so that the photographer at my brother's wedding last autumn remarked on how he thought she didn't like the camera because she wouldn't look at him.  I had to correct him that she's fine with it - just not used to looking down the lens and more used to Mummy being the one at the other end.  He then knew to just ask for her attention if he wanted it.

But these are the moments I love.  I know many will argue that there needs to be connection - the eyes give that, but I like to observe - people watching is something I enjoy.  So naturally for me I lean towards shooting for the details of the moment, especially when it's my own kids and they are so used to it.  It's like a warm blanket.  It's comforting.  And the outcome is something we can treasure forever together and they can show to their children too.  "This is how Mummy sees me."  "Mummy wanted to remember these moments." "This is me being me."

And Poppi being her is so delicate.  She's a pocket rocket and will give everything and anything a go with full force and gumption when she's ready.  But she is equally reserved and quiet in her mannerisms and movements.  Particularly dextrous for her age and has always had a flair towards working things out slowly before diving in.  This is shown to me in the way she holds her cup at the edges - fingers outstretched, dainty, not clumsy.  And how she takes small bites from her carefully marmaladed (word?) toast, surveying where to take the next bite from....

So I give you:  Pencils, babychinos and  Marmalade toast:

A documentary with my younger daughter.

Please note:  I am having a breakfast date with my son soon - expect the last part of this series in due course!

Thanks for looking ~ Fleur x
www.fleurlouisephotography.co.uk