Sticky Toffee Pudding, Part II: Delicious, but messy, recipe and (a new necessity?) the English Pudding Basin

 

Despite the mess and a few miscalculations, our pudding was tasty!

The three words that we love to hear:  sticky toffee pudding. 

Now we can add another three words we may need to become more familiar with: English pudding basin.

As noted in our last blog, "Sticky Toffee Pudding, Part I", we were introduced to this tantalizing toffee concoction during our trip to the UK in October.   Once a curiosity, now a passion, we wanted to create some of this sweet, syrupy sensation at home.  While perusing recipes on-line, a couple of familiar names popped up:  Darren McCrady, The Royal Chef and Kate Middleton. The former provides the recipes and, as for the latter, we learned, via The Royal Chef, that sticky toffee pudding is Kate's favorite holiday dessert.

With the Royal Chef in 2013

Great recipes in Eating Royally

I've met Darren McGrady, interviewing him when he came to Michigan back in 2013, and I have his first cookbook, Eating Royally. Unfortunately, the toffee pudding recipe is in a subsequent tome not in my possession, but, most conveniently, different versions are replicated in numerous places on-line. I chose one that had the less exotic ingredients (e.g.,dark brown sugar instead of Muscovado sugar) and looked the least complicated  (Sticky Toffee Pudding, Darren McCrady, via PureWow).

Setting out ingredients, swapping dark brown sugar for Muscovado

That is until I read the instructions to put a portion of the sauce into an English pudding basin. 

Our kitchen is fairly well outfitted with various-sized pans and baking dishes (my husband, Chris, is the gourmet cook in the family), but it is void of any pudding basin, English or otherwise. The recommended substitute was a one-quart casserole. But was something lost in English-to-American pudding containers? The dish we had on hand seemed a bit small for the task (and, I do recall Chris saying - you can't go wrong going with a size up), but against all intuition and consultation, I chose the one-quart casserole.

Committing to the tiny dish

Is this mixture in need of a pudding basin?

I poured the sauce, into the "replacement basin", reserving some for the final topping.

Then I made the pudding - mixing up the remaining ingredients, ladling it all into the small casserole dish and covering the dish with parchment paper and aluminum foil. I set the oven to 350 degrees, my timer to thirty minutes and took a break.

Ready for the oven, but neither parchment nor foil could contain the pudding

After that half hour interval, I learned, to paraphrase the famous quote from the movie, "Jaws", that I was going to need a bigger bowl.

Much of the pudding batter had spilled out into the oven and, aside from the mess, it took another half hour of baking before I could stick a knife in the middle and bring it out clean. 

Aside from the excessive spillage and the need to overcook the pudding, it didn't turn out bad at all. While it was still warm, I scooped a few cups into a bowl, and topped with remaining sauce and homemade whipped cream (which I executed flawlessly, may I add!).

Pouring sauce over pudding

Messy and overcooked, but still "yum"

See our video on YouTube to see the final results:  Sticky Toffee Pudding! - YouTube

Sticky Toffee Pudding Post Mortem:

Since this baking challenge, I have found a few items to aid in my defense of not quite" sticking the landing" of my first sticky toffee pudding.

From the BBC Travel article, "The contentious origins of England's famous pudding", it informs us that, "perfecting the recipe isn't something you pick up overnight".

Comforting words to repeat while scrubbing out a layer of baked-on pudding from the bottom of the oven.

And, what about the English pudding basin? Is there more to that story? Or, more precisely, more to the English pudding basin?

According to Cooks Info,  I offer the following evidence to support my case:

"Pudding basins have caused something of a problem with regard to their size - a bit of confusion that needs to be unravelled. . .if puddings, savoury or sweet, are something you plan on adding to your bag of cooking tricks, it can be useful to have a few sizes."

Well, perhaps that's not the "smoking gun" to explain the "sticky pudding knife", but it is a cautionary tale for those who of us who plan to add more puddings to our "cooking tricks".  

To continue our sticky toffee pudding endeavors, we agree, practice makes perfect. But whether to use a casserole dish or basin is still up for debate. In any event, one thing we are most certain of, the proof will be in the pudding!

For more on Barb's Tea Service tea talks and other events, see:  Barb's Tea Service (barbsteaservice.com)

Sticky Toffee Pudding, Part I: Delicious, but messy, history - served with cream and controversy!

Sticky toffee pudding, our first in Edinburgh, served with cream and controversy.

Sticky toffee pudding comes served with cream and controversy!

Our first introduction to sticky toffee pudding came last month while we were visiting northern England, and Scotland. Along with husband, Chris, and travel companions, (our favorite NY couple), Matt and Jenna, we were in for a foodies' fest, sampling local cuisine along the way and always saving room for dessert.  

Enter: sticky toffee pudding. We found it on almost every menu during our stay, and, after our first taste, we were smitten. Our own version of "Field of Dreams": Bake it and we will come. . .

Second night in Edinburgh, more toffee treats!

At Jenna's suggestion to try the scrumptious sweet, we embarked on a sampling throughout our gourmet getaway.  Once home, I wanted to not only learn more about this dessert but create some in my own kitchen.  An article from BBC Travel, "The contentious origins of England's famous pudding" helped me with the former, and The Royal Chef assisted me with the latter.

First, the history:  controversy, surprises and missed opportunities

Specifics on where and when sticky toffee pudding started are a bit murky, but most agree, it is a more modern creation dating back only some fifty years ago (which dashed my images of it being around when "figgy pudding" was being requested in song) and in part, at least, in England.  And, while there are a number of inns throughout Britain that promote themselves as the home of sticky toffee pudding, there's another country that asserts its claim to the recipe as well:  our northern neighbor, Canada.

While the Canada/England toffee debate is, well, sticky, there are some who believe it was a collaboration between citizens of both countries. There are tales that connect English innkeepers with members of the Canadian Airforce, united in service as well as blending baked pudding with maple syrup.

Enjoying sticky toffee pudding in Scotland, having just left Cartmel

Wherever it began, there's one place that boasts, while it may not have invented sticky toffee pudding, it has "championed it, embraced it and pushed it forward more than anyone else". That bold statement comes from the owner of Cartmel Sticky Toffee Pudding, in Cartmel, England. They've been baking up the confection since 1984, selling over ten million "puds". Credit for their sweet success is given to high quality ingredients, most sourced locally.

And, that very locale, my friends, is the source of my grand missed opportunity. 

Long before I knew what sticky pudding was, our travel group of four had booked an evening's dinner in Cartmel, at the Michelin 3-star restaurant, L'Enclume (And, just last week, it was named a number one restaurant in the world by La Liste, as noted in Forbes, November, 2023 - sharing it with only six other venues globally).

Dining at L'Enclume in Cartmel

A Michelin 3-star restaurant and top in the world

For convenience and comfort, we stayed overnight in a charming hotel, a two minute walk from L'Enclume, and right in the heart of Cartmel. I had NO idea, it was also the home to Cartmel Sticky Toffee Pudding company, the head cheerleader and tour de force behind this grand dessert!  We didn't start our toffee tasting until we arrived in Edinburgh the next evening, not realizing, we had bypassed another great culinary delight in Cartmel.

Our Cartmel inn, so close to fancy dining AND toffee pudding.

But, no sad endings here. The sticky toffee puddings we had at two restaurants in Edinburgh were amazing. Warm, syrupy and topped with cream - a new passion had emerged.

Scotland hotel lounge - could there be. . .

sticky toffee pudding on lounge menu!

Suddenly, I was seeing sticky toffee pudding everywhere, including the lounge menu in our chain hotel in St. Andrews.  Something so wonderful just couldn't end once back from our trip across the pond. So, I took to creating some of my own. 

The results were as checkered and messy as the pudding's history, but also, just as incredibly sweet and delicious. For the Sticky Toffee Pudding preparation in the BTS test kitchen, stay tuned to Sticky Toffee Pudding, Part II.

For more on Barb's Tea Service tea talks and other events, see:  Barb's Tea Service (barbsteaservice.com)

Becoming Jane, Part II: Walking miles in the country like Lizzy Bennet and (being) Mr. Wickham on the BBC!

Blog writing with pen and ink, no autocorrect available.

Part II:  Becoming Jane, Beyond Bath

Last month, our journey to "Becoming Jane" (our favorite author, Miss Austen) began, as noted in "Becoming Jane, Part I", with three days in Bath, England, staying in the Austen home, taking tea where Jane did and even meeting her up-close and personal at her eponymous museum on Gay Street. 

We didn't realize at the time, however, that once we left Bath our Jane Austen adventure wasn't quite at its conclusion. We still had some Regency-style travel ahead and, while we were becoming Jane, we had a serendipitous encounter with someone who was "being Mr. Wickham". 

After we left the yellow buttercream glow of the multitude of townhomes and shops in Bath, we traveled north to Derbyshire.  Here, we stayed a few nights at a lovely country home with a working sheep farm. The walk to the village (and dinner) was a little over a mile. Not typically a distance that would break a sweat, however, as alluded to in Part I, the trail through the estate was a small footpath with several paddock gates to climb over. We came upon a few random wooly friends as well as a dozen muddy puddles, all made more challenging after sunset.

Country estate in Derbyshire, residents are less judgy than the Bingley sisters.

These outdoor treks were favored by Jane, and, in turn, by many of her literary ladies. So, we lit a "candle" (our iPhone flashlight) and neither cursed the darkness nor our obstacle course in the country. 

Path to town filled with muddy puddles. . .

and wooly friends.

The hems of my garments were as dirty as Lizzy Bennet's stockings upon her three mile walk to Netherfield, but, upon our return to our country home, our hosts, unlike the Bingley sisters, did not hold contempt for anyone in our party. While my soiled attire was unbecoming, it was all part of becoming Jane.

Narrow path, in parts, bordered by stone walls. . .

made more challenging at night!

I was now more "Jane" than "Jeanne" than ever before. 

Hems of my attire a muddy mess, but not met with contempt by our hosts

Believing now, we had surely come to the end of our time in "Austen-land", a bit of our treasured "serendipi-tea" unfolded, giving us one more Austen nugget. At our pentultimate UK stop, before our grande finale in London, we stayed at one last charming inn in Yorkshire. Before heading down to the breakfast portion of our B & B, I turned on the television in our room to see a familiar face chatting with great ease and amusement on a British morning show. It was Mr. Wickham! 

Mr. Wickham on BBC morning show

Older, but still, the face of the P & P cad

Full disclosure, it was, Adrian Lukis, the actor who played George Wickham in the 1995 BBC version of "Pride and Prejudice". And, while he had, of course, aged a bit, he was still undeniably, the same scoundrel who ran off with young and "silly" Lydia. 

Mr. Wickham gives a better first impression to Lizzy Bennet

Remarkably, Mr. Lukis is still making a career out of being Mr. Wickham. He co-wrote and stars in  "Being Wickham", an hour-long epilogue of the Pride and Prejudice cad, which includes what became of his young bride.  It took me a trip to England, sadly, to find out that this comedy/drama already performed in New York this past June. (If it comes to NY again, I hope my inner Jane can attend!). 

There's still more to the story, as told in "Being Wickham".

Alas, like being Wickham, becoming Jane was only temporary. I am once again, Barbara Jeanne. But, when the clock struck midnight, I came home from the Jane Austen ball with more in my reticule than when I left.  I'm grateful for the opportunity to dip back into the Regency period, feel a deeper connection to Jane Austen, and a very much renewed appreciation for modern sensibilities where a woman can proudly put her name to her books and, on a damp, dark evening, find comfort in a modern day iPhone lantern.

For more on Barb's Tea Service tea talks and other events, see:  Barb's Tea Service (barbsteaservice.com)

Becoming Jane, Part I: Taking tea, living in the Austen home and meeting Mr. Darcy in Bath

 

Face-to-face with Jane in Bath. Even in wax form, Miss Austen was having a better hair day than me.

My full name is Barbara Jeanne Gulley, but, for a fortnight in England, my middle name was replaced. I became Barbara Jane as I followed the path of my favorite author, Jane Austen. I lived in one of her homes, took tea where she did and, like a headstrong, obstinate character in one of Austen's novels, walked a few miles in the country through narrow gated-paths and muddy lanes when a phaeton (or uber) was unavailable. (That last endeavor found the hems of my garments as dirty as Elizabeth Bennet's when she arrived at Netherfield).   So much felicity experienced in - and so much approbation given to - my Austen-immersion and surprisingly, but most suitably, it concluded with a BBC update on Mr. Wickham (Lydia, too!).

No. 4 Sydney Place, now an Airbnb

First Austen home in Bath, close to tea and gardens

With every journey across the pond over the past twenty years, we find some Austen excursion to take part in. Our first, was a brief stop in Bath and a run through the Pump Room, Other times brought us to Chawton and Winchester to more of Jane's homes, as well a sojourn to the original Twinings shop in London where the Austen family purchased their tea. Every trip brought a little more insight into Jane and her novels and, most assuredly, a lot more tea.

But this year, we kicked it up a notch, devoting three full days in Bath and not only visiting the Austen family's first residence in the city, but actually staying in it. It is now an Airbnb. I must readily inform, however, that only the lower level is open for guests. When the Austens lived there, the space was a service area that once housed a large kitchen and butler's pantry. Today, it makes a rather large and bright garden apartment with lots of windows and two small, but pretty, outside patios.

The Pump Room, Jane had tea and observed

We came to for tea and to be seen

And, while it's not quite the completely authentic experience of a Regency-style holiday home, I must be allowed to say how much I ardently admire and love the luxuriously retro-fitted bathroom, complete with daily running water.

That's not to say one can't go back in time with Jane. There were some great advantages to staying at No.4 Sydney Place, as the Austens did back in 1801.  One can view the park across the street where Jane would stroll  (though not as much to her liking as the long walks she enjoyed in her country home in Steventon). This townhouse location is also a short distance to the Pump Room - a place to see and be seen - where Jane took tea and observed the local residents. 

We, too, went for tea and to be seen at the Pump Room (although, I can confirm, no one was looking).

Mr. Darcy, was his first impression of this blog writer to be saved or lost forever?

After tea, to advance our study in "becoming Jane", we took a quick jaunt up to Gay Street, where we actually came face-to-face with Miss Austen - to clarify, one real face to one wax face. To further clarify, I was the real face and Jane's was wax, although, even in that state, she was having a better hair day than your humble blogger.

Real or faux visages, the encounter took place at the Jane Austen Center, a museum devoted to the Regency-era author. Here, I scribed with feather pen and ink and sidled up to Mr. Darcy (he, too, was wax, so I do not know if his good opinion of me was saved or lost forever).

Leaving Bath, but not our "Becoming Jane" journey. See Part II in next BTS blog!

Although our stay in Bath was substantial to our Jane Austen immersion, it was not the end. Our literal and figural journey continued to the Peak District.  Stay tuned for "Becoming Jane, Part II" this week!

For more on Barb's Tea Service tea talks and other events, see:  Barb's Tea Service (barbsteaservice.com)

Princess Di Tartan: Shopping for new plaids in Edinburgh (but are any that old?) Are you Tartan Clan Fan or a Tartanry Believer?

Wearing my new Princess Diana Tartan. I'm a Tartan Clan Fan

On our most recent trip to Scotland with family (husband, Chris, and fav NY couple, Matt and Jenna), I treated myself to a lovely pink and blue tartan scarf - the pattern named in honor of the late Princess Diana. A relatively new plaid, it was created in 1997 by Lochcarron, the world's leading manufacturer of tartan. With this pattern only a few decades old, it's evident that tartan weaves are not static. But, based on the amount of Scottish textile shops that line Edinburgh's Royal Mile with shopkeepers eager to help you find your clan's "historic" tartan, I wondered -  how far back does the custom of Scot's wearing plaid go? 

Well, it depends if one looks to its humble beginnings as heavy cloth made to suit its local environs (at least a couple millennium) or to its more modern evolution of bold patterns that roll up to one's family identity (a mere two hundred years).   

Kilts and scarf brought back to the family in 2018.

And, that can also determine where you land on the Tartan scale:  are you a Tartan Clan Fan or a believer in Tartanry?

A little history before you commit:

Tartan's origins go back centuries to the Highlands, where strong material, made by local weavers, was worn to suit the colder climates of Scotland and, with that, regional differences in the style emerged. The unique designs could be attributed to how the color dyes were employed, but the craftsmanship of the local weaver is believed to be what really called out the clan brand. As noted in the Smithsonian Magazine (November, 2015), certain patterns would be identified with certain areas, "[similar to] how people today wear baseball caps from their hometown teams".

Chris in Edinburgh, 2018, with first plaid cap.

Aside from pragmatic reasons, Tartan served other uses as it made its way through the centuries. Some patterns were designed for military use and others as a display of wealth. For the latter, if the tartan contained red it was typically worn by the gentry. The dye source was imported and therefore more expensive.  (Should one want to keep up with the Jones', or the Camerons).

However, credit for tartan becoming a modern day-symbol of Scotland goes to both King George IV and Sir Walter Scott. In 1822, King George IV visited Edinburgh in full Highland dress in an attempt to demonstrate unity. Sir Walter urged his fellow country folk to meet the king wearing their "true clan tartan". Many had no idea what that "true tartan" was and ran to "Wilsons of Bannockburn", a large weaving firm of the time, to seek out their heritage whether it existed or needed to be created. (National Geographic March 29, 2023)

Jenna and Chris with new caps (Chris' looking much like his old one)

Many popular tartans today were launched in that period, an era that come critics believe "sowed the seeds of 'tartanry', the excessive, kitchy use to represent an overly romanticized picture of the country". (Collector's Weekly, November 15, 2017).

Matt, 2023, new tartan jacket

Matt sporting the kilt, 2018

We fall into "Tartan Clan Fan", even with its somewhat fabricated history (or, should we say, "fabric-aided"?).  We've been supporters for years. Well, more specifically, for five years. In 2018, Chris and I, also walked the Royal Mile and walked away with tartan kilts for our family, red for Rachel, blue/green for Rob and Matt and even a tiny tartan scarf for our dog, Baylee. (The red no longer commands a higher price 😉). Chris had also purchased a jaunty, plaid cap, but, sadly, misplaced its whereabouts shortly after our return home. 

Jenna, shopper extraordinaire, and Matt, owner of new tartan

But, there's a happy ending. Last month, we all treated ourselves to plaid:  Jenna, a shawl, Matt, a jacket, and Chris, a new cap, almost identical to the one he lost. I, as you already know, came home with a lovely, pastel scarf.

And, we're not done yet. We're keeping the tartan spirit going for the holidays. We'll be hanging plaid wooly ornaments and showcasing our tartan tablescape.  

Tartan for the holidays!

If this be tartanry, we embrace it wholeheartedly!

For our tartan tea time video, see our latest on  YouTube:  Tartan tea time with Princess Diana scarf. Tartan Clan Fan or Tartanry Believer? - YouTube

For more on Barb's Tea Service tea talks and other events, see:  Barb's Tea Service (barbsteaservice.com)

Special thanks to both Pam, for the tartan tipoff, and Jenna, for  being a shopping escort extraordinaire, making sure I obtained my scarf under some crazy parking challenges in Edinburgh.

Serendipi-tea in Yorkshire: A visit planned to explore family ties and royalty brings us to Robert Thompson (the "mouseman") and his sought after furniture

Bringing back a bit of Mouseman serendipi-tea

Last month, as part of our 1,400-mile road trip throughout England and Scotland, my husband, Chris, and I had selected the town of Kilburn for a two-night stay. We chose this location in Yorkshire as it was a good "home base" for our varying pursuits:  Chris was looking for a connection to his ancestors, who were recorded in family accounts as living in this area a few centuries ago, and I was set on seeing the one-time home of Princess Mary, Harewood House.  One criteria we didn't factor into our Kilburn inn choice, however, was its close proximity to the  Mouseman's Cottage, home to Robert Thompson's finely crafted furniture.  We hadn't even heard of him before. But, with travel bonuses of unexpected adventures, we had stumbled on an incredible artist community, and we were so grateful for the meet-up.  Or as we like to call it here at BTS, a bit of "serendipi-tea".

Inn in Yorkshire, chosen for family and royal research/ The Mouseman - an added bonus!

Although many of the places we stayed at in our two weeks-plus visit to the UK were pre-planned and pre-booked, we allowed ourselves a few extra days here and there for "wiggle room". This allowed us to leave one location early or stretch out a visit, should we decide we wanted to move on or explore more. Our visit to Yorkshire fell into the "wiggle room" category, and although it was a desired stop, we hadn't reserved our room until the night before. While still in St. Andrews, Scotland, Chris found the Forresters Arms on-line - a full service B & B, complete with evening dining, a tearoom, a pub and all within a half hour's drive to the neighboring villages we had on our agenda. What more could one ask for?  How about a rendez-vous with the Mouseman!

Mouse-shaped tea biscuits in honor of the Inn's neighbor, the Robert Thompson enterprise

Our first indication of the Robert Thompson legacy was the parking area adjacent to our inn. There were three prime spaces for "Robert Thompson customers only". Well, okay, the public parking lot was just a few steps more. Who or what this business was, we hadn't a clue.

Then, up in our room, a welcoming tea and coffee tray was set out and, along with the earthenware mugs and electric kettle, there were also mouse-shaped biscuits under a glass dome. At the time, I wasn't positive they were biscuits, so I asked the innkeeper when we came down for dinner. She confirmed they were, indeed, tea cookies, and made in the shape of a mouse to pay homage to Robert Thompson. The mouseman plot thickens. . . 

Approaching Brafferton, home to ancestors and fans of the Mouseman

The next day, we headed out to the small village of Brafferton - a twenty minute drive from Kilburn. Our goal was to check out the cemeteries and churches for any evidence of the Clifford clan, ancestors of Chris' who had long ago immigrated to Canada. While we lumbered through the uneven terrain of the graveyard next to one of the town's churches, we found no recognizable surnames. In fact, some of the tombstones were so old, there was barely any legible inscriptions.  After a walk through the church, we turned our heels in the direction of town, though not exactly sure what we were looking for.

Touring the church before heading to town

No visible family ties, but this town had more to share

It was then, we came upon an elderly couple tending to their very British patio garden in front of their very vintage, but very posh, country home. We nodded "hello" and seeing they appeared somewhat friendly, Chris asked if they were familiar with the town's history. Without hesitation, the gentleman stated he was - and quite a bit, at that.

While, he provided us with an interesting account of Brafferton's origins as a mixed Viking and Anglo-Saxon development, he was not acquainted with any of the family we were researching. However, once he learned we were staying at Kilburn, he exclaimed, "the home of the Mouseman!" and he was off and running.

Our inn had daily tea!

The Mouseman site expanded across the street

On this subject, the gentleman was as knowledgeable as the history of his hometown. He told us of the renowned artist and the extreme value and collectability of some of Thompson's original pieces. He told us to "hold on one minute" as he collected his Robert Thompson barometer, a cherished item that now, in addition to decorating his home, also commands a hefty price tag. The gentleman also had possession of a Robert Thompson dining room table that had the wavy top, common to many of the mouseman's furniture. Incredibly, even with all the curves of the undulating surface, he assured us, you can set a glass or cup on top without fear of anything falling over. 

So, this sealed it. We must walk the few steps from our inn, after tea and scones (as the Robert Thompson tearoom was currently closed) and investigate this most conveniently located furniture mecca.

Chris in front of the Thompson Gallery, our inn is right next door

The Mouseman Cottage is now a show room/retail space - the only Robert Thompson building that was open on their craftsman campus during our stay. (Along with the tearoom, there is a museum, a gallery and a garden area).  The Cottage is a restored 16th century abode and one-time home of Robert Thompson. He lived in Kilburn all his life (1876 to 1955) and followed his father's trade of crafting furniture but, literally "carved out" a unique brand for himself. Robert Thompson specialized in creating items based on 17th century designs, having taught himself how to use the traditional tools used by medieval craftsman.

The Mouseman Cottage, now a showroom/retail space

The Robert Thompson company still continues today, using the techniques of their founder. The craftsmanship and quality is still stunning (and expensive). Not surprisingly, pieces from Robert Thompson's lifetime are especially sought after (and even more pricey).

The cottage has original Robert Thompson carvings, including the fireplace mantel.

So, where did the "mouseman" moniker come from? The explanation comes from a story told by Robert Thompson himself. While laboring at a local church, one of his craftsmen stated that they were all "poor as mice". Upon hearing that, Thompson carved a mouse on the roof rafter he was working on. While that particular mouse has never been found, the diminutive creature was carved on all furniture after that seminal moment, becoming the symbol of the great artist and his furniture. 

The signature wavy surface remarkably keeps serving ware level

With all this serendipi-tea, one may wonder what I brought home from the Robert Thompson cottage? Well, it was, of course, tea-related.  I was fortunate in that the one item I could afford to pack in the suitcase - and, truly, what I could afford, period - was the teapot stand.  With prices reaching as high as 15,000 pounds, my teapot stand was a bargain at just under 100 pounds. 

The showroom has many modern pieces for sale.

So, while planning a journey does includes reserving hotels and restaurants in advance, we've found leaving a little wiggle room, can lead to some amazing serindipi-tea. Before last month, I had never heard of the Mouseman, and now I'm an avid collector.

Check out our most recent "Mouseman reveal" video on our YouTube channel:  Mouseman: Serendipi-tea in Yorkshire! - YouTube

For more information on the Mouseman, aka, Robert Thompson, see the link: robertthompsons.co.uk