I was warned as I travelled to Midland Texas that it is not a vacation place NO ONE comes to Midland on Holiday!

Arriving Downton at the Doubletree hotel I was warmly greeted

There two weeks for work which is a long time in Midland Texas

The girls at the reception were so understanding – They upgraded my booking to a Junior Suite FABULOUS

Very large King Bed Bathroom with a Bath-Tub little kitchen Fridge Microwave Coffee machine sink A sweet living room with a long large sofa and chair -A swing TV _ Massive room

I adore this hotel in Midland my favourite and if I have to come back to Midland will only stay in the Doubletree

Has a great Bar everyone is so sweet – and THEY HAVE BANNED PLASTIC STRAWS! Only WHEAT STRAWS BRAVO!

Nice pool A great Gym

Just overall fabulous 10 STARS

I will return

Cinders x x x

It is really wonderful how much resilience there is in human nature. Let any obstructing cause, no matter what, be removed in any way, even by death, and we fly back to first principles of hope and enjoyment …..

..Wow – what a day Midland Broke all temperature records at 126f = 52.2222 It was so hot – I just stepped out of the Bath! and the Power in the Hotel went – I was stuck! ……….10th-floor Naked! with NO A/C ……….Managed to get dressed in the dark – called down to reception to ask what to do …………..Walk down 10 flights of stairs Mam!!

So you sneak to the POOL for an hour – Surrounded!!! TWO FAG ASH LILS next to me CHAIN SMOKING – A Japanese Chap behind me – on his poolside gaming machine NOT ON SILENT! Pinging and Bonging – in front 2 Russian ladies of negotiable affections with legs wide open forming a queue – A group of drunk Arabs – A German Couple having a violent row! and they say ……………….Go RELAX at the POOL!!! AHEM x x x No Offence to any nations and religions!!!! I just wanted an HOUR! x x x x

Bahrain

 

So there I was on Day two in Bahrain Ron and Andy had gone to Saudi – so thought I’d go for an hour to the pool!

 

Off I trot to be greeted by the Pool Boy.  He gets me two towels as he knows from the day before I really like two towels.  You see when one gets wet from the swim one needs a dry one to lie on and the wet one to drip dry in the sun

 

Anyway

 

He walks me to the bed I was on the previous day – I was an hour earlier than the day before so the sun had not raised his head on the pool.  Sat reading the local paper

 

Pool boy legs it just like John Cleese in Faulty Towers and struts across the pool toward me “Madam Madam Madam “ What? “Follow me.” ooohheerr Ok

 

We strut and I do mean strut across to the other area of the pool.  “SEE Madam the Sun is out.  You sit on this one. I fetch your things.”

 

Struts off, remakes my new sun lounger.  I lie down. Peace and sunshine!

 

40 minutes go by.   I spy said Pool Boy strutting over “Madam Madam Madam” WHAT? “You follow me now!”

 

So we go to a different area – “You sit here.  In 3 MINUTES The Sun will come – You will be so happy”.  Off he struts again fetches all Madams things – sets up my now new sun lounger.  Three minutes later I swear the Sun appears – Yes very happy Madam Thumbs up – Yes very Happy thank you

 

I go for a swim, it is a long pool so do 10 lengths just to get my lungs working

 

I am all alone at the Pool and it really is a nice peaceful area

 

I relax sigh

 

40 Minutes later

 

YES

 

See said pool boy strutting towards me!! OH NOO Think to myself BOTOX

 

He comes again “Madam Madam Madam” WHAT!!!! “You follow me you will be more than happy”

 

Up I get and we strut to …………………….My Original Bed that I had the Day Before – the one I started on!!! “See Madam I did it all for you. Now you can stay all day.”

 

He makes the bed again fetches all my things

 

I look at my WATCH.  Ah, sorry. One is leaving for the Airport. Had to pack my things and run!

 

Come back Benidorm all is forgiven x x x x  Going to send it to  Darren Litten x x x

Jamie’s Restaurant…………………..

There are over 6,000 Restaurants in the Fylde Coast so one does have a lot of choice. I have eaten at quite a few but there is not one in Blackpool as great as Jamie’s.

I have tried Nigel Haworth, Paul Heathcotes, Jason Atherton, Ramsey’s, Corrigan’s Marco’s and most of Lytham and St Annes

Now………………………………. I can actually say, hand on heart, that I have found a true hidden gem

My word…………………..

This restaurant is not just exceedingly good, it is sensational. From greeting to leaving it was perfection – not stuffy or cold, everyone was warm and genuinely friendly. Dan was suburb *********

Friendly, warm welcome and from the start I knew it was going to be delicious just by the ambience and looking at other plates! But it was simply sensational.

When I tasted the food I was so surprised. Power packed flavours and great presentation.

Service begins with stilton bonbons, so yummy I dream about them.

To start we ordered a sharing platter for two. There were 4 of us and we did not manage to finish it but carried on ordering. Simply beautiful.

For Main – Tapas. Pork loin and blackpudding skewers, sea bass, squid, teriyaki beef and prawns. Everything divine, cooked to perfection with so many flavours

OH MY- The whole experience was simply perfection.

I shall return. I want to eat everything so the tasting menu sounds perfect. Jamie’s is my new favourite restaurant. Thank you to all who made our visit so very special

Source: The Good Thing Harvey Washed Away