Although I do purchase Lush products i've only so far found two products which I love. Well two products and this Ocean Salt that is. I'm a big fan of their Big shampoo and Retread conditioner. The Big shampoo works a treat on my hair which is normally greasy and limp. I figured one of the ingredients within Big (the chunks of sea salt) was mainly to thank for this grease zapping miracle so I wondered if the Ocean Salt facial scrub would have the same effect on my manky greasy skin.
I picked up a 120g tub of Lush Ocean Salt from eBay for the fair price of £3.60 + £1.50 p&p though it can be far more expensive if there's a few bidders fighting it out. The usual price from Lush is £4.95 but there's no Lush shop where I live so it's either eBay or extortionate p&p by ordering for the Lush site for me.
Upon opening the small black tub of Ocean Salt the smell you are greeted with is one of lime which is one of the main ingredients. It's a very pleasant smell and one which is not overpowering. The cream is a lovely thick consistency and visibly contains lots of sea salt, both fine and coarse granules.
Usage is straightforward. Scoop out however much Ocean Salt you want (only a little is required) and gently rub onto your face. Once scrubbed just wash it off. Washing off is harder unless you want the vile taste of salt running into your mouth, bleurgh. What I do is use this in the bath then tilt my head forwards until it's submerged in the water and quickly wash it off whilst hoping nothing goes near my mouth. I've tried using this at the sink but the taste of the water running down my lips made me gag.
The good news is even if the taste is horrible the product really works on my skin. I use it nearly every day and barely get any greasy spots since i've bought it. My skin feels softer, smoother and cleaner for much longer. Other products have been known to give me dry patches around my nose but this one hasn't. Hopefully it'll keep me looking young too due to the skin rehydration and exfoliating action from the salt, the toning and refreshing action of the lime and grapefruit, and the polishing and smoothing effect of the coconut and avocado. Sounds good enough to eat, doesn't it? Well DON'T!
Lush recommend if you've got dry skin you should only use it once a week and sensitive skinned people should stay away completely due to the lime being too harsh for sensitive types. For oily skin, like mine, you can use it every day if you wish.
I do love this product and will continue to look for another cheap pot on eBay. I love the little black tub it comes in. I love the smell. I love the ease of use. I love the great and long lasting effect. The only thing I hate is the taste but barring this one thing I can't think of a single negative.
The pot is available in two sizes though you only really need the small 120g pot as it lasts for ages. If you'd like more info take a look on the Lush site http://www.lush.co.uk
Wednesday, May 31, 2006
Lush Ocean Salt Review
Lush Ocean Salt Review
Although I do purchase Lush products i've only so far found two products which I love. Well two products and this Ocean Salt that is. I'm a big fan of their Big shampoo and Retread conditioner. The Big shampoo works a treat on my hair which is normally greasy and limp. I figured one of the ingredients within Big (the chunks of sea salt) was mainly to thank for this grease zapping miracle so I wondered if the Ocean Salt facial scrub would have the same effect on my manky greasy skin.
I picked up a 120g tub of Lush Ocean Salt from eBay for the fair price of £3.60 + £1.50 p&p though it can be far more expensive if there's a few bidders fighting it out. The usual price from Lush is £4.95 but there's no Lush shop where I live so it's either eBay or extortionate p&p by ordering for the Lush site for me.
Upon opening the small black tub of Ocean Salt the smell you are greeted with is one of lime which is one of the main ingredients. It's a very pleasant smell and one which is not overpowering. The cream is a lovely thick consistency and visibly contains lots of sea salt, both fine and coarse granules.
Usage is straightforward. Scoop out however much Ocean Salt you want (only a little is required) and gently rub onto your face. Once scrubbed just wash it off. Washing off is harder unless you want the vile taste of salt running into your mouth, bleurgh. What I do is use this in the bath then tilt my head forwards until it's submerged in the water and quickly wash it off whilst hoping nothing goes near my mouth. I've tried using this at the sink but the taste of the water running down my lips made me gag.
The good news is even if the taste is horrible the product really works on my skin. I use it nearly every day and barely get any greasy spots since i've bought it. My skin feels softer, smoother and cleaner for much longer. Other products have been known to give me dry patches around my nose but this one hasn't. Hopefully it'll keep me looking young too due to the skin rehydration and exfoliating action from the salt, the toning and refreshing action of the lime and grapefruit, and the polishing and smoothing effect of the coconut and avocado. Sounds good enough to eat, doesn't it? Well DON'T!
Lush recommend if you've got dry skin you should only use it once a week and sensitive skinned people should stay away completely due to the lime being too harsh for sensitive types. For oily skin, like mine, you can use it every day if you wish.
I do love this product and will continue to look for another cheap pot on eBay. I love the little black tub it comes in. I love the smell. I love the ease of use. I love the great and long lasting effect. The only thing I hate is the taste but barring this one thing I can't think of a single negative.
The pot is available in two sizes though you only really need the small 120g pot as it lasts for ages. If you'd like more info take a look on the Lush site http://www.lush.co.uk
Lush Big Shampoo Review
Before I joined review sites i'd never heard of Lush in my life but with the sheer volume of Lush reviews on review sites it's very hard to ignore them. After reading a fair few dozen I swore i'd never become a Lush addict myself as their products seemed waaay too expensive for my tight-arse taste. Well I did manage to stay away from these products for quite a while helped by the fact that Doncaster hasn't got a Lush shop but unfortunately I was gradually drawn towards them and recently spent my entire birthday money at their website and ordered a whole bunch of expensive products. This is very rare for me as I don't tend to splash out on myself. I get more enjoyment from splashing out on Hubby and Son than I could ever get out of buying stuff for me.
BUT I have to admit I was curious about Lush from the start. Not because everyone seems to love them. More like the fact their products have such fantastically original names it kinda made me want to try them out. So amongst a few other purchases I bought the Lush Big Shampoo. The Lush Big Shampoo was the most expensive product I purchased at a cost of £6.95 which is the most expensive shampoo i've ever bought in my life.
My hair is what you'd call dull and limp. It's shoulder length, layered, blonde, and has a tendancy to get very greasy very quickly. If I wash my hair in the morning by the nightime it'll be looking greasy on top and then I either have to wash it again the next day or slap it back in a ponytail. This Big Shampoo claims to be a life affirming shampoo for more shine than you thought possible and turns dull, limp hair into shiny, silky hair with added volume. I was very sceptical I have to say but seem as it was my birthday and I was treating myself I thought i'd give it a go. After all, it couldn't possibly make my hair look any worse.
Firstly the shampoo doesn't come in a bottle like you'd have thought. It comes in a tub approximately 15cm in height and looks fairly posh. I don't claim to be a Lush expert but from what i've read i've gathered they handmake their products, they're all made from natural ingredients, and they are against animal testing.
The tub is at first quite hard to open. If you squeeze it slightly as you turn the lid it makes it much easier. After the first time it's fairly easy to open. Inside the shampoo looks more like frog spawn. It's a creamy white colour and the consistency is like watery jelly. The shampoo contains lots of raw sea salt which you can easily see, it feels lovely as you're rubbing it on your hair. Other ingredients are seaweed and lime juice. I can't say I can smell each of these ingredients seperately. In fact it's very hard to describe the smell but it's very nice, not overpowering, fresh, and long lasting.
The first time I used this shampoo I was a little disappointed that it didn't lather up as I was expecting. I rinsed the first lot out and put another small amount on (small amount is all you need each time) Well imagine my suprise when the second time it lathered up beautifully. It's the same everytime I use it. First wash no lather, second wash lots of lather. I have no idea why this happens but I usually wash my hair twice anyway so it's no big deal.
Unfortunately my hair goes very fly away if I don't use conditioner so at the same time as buying this I bought the Lush Retread Conditioner. I applied this after washing it twice and once dried my hair looked beautiful even if I do say so myself. Where my hair is usually limper than limp this time it actually looked like it had a bit of volume. OK so the volume wasn't huge but it definitely had more volume than normal. At the crown of my head the results were much more noticable. Instead of it lying flat and lifeless it was looking fresh, shiny and healthy.
I spent all day running my fingers through my hair and basking in the softness of it. My hair probably hadn't been this nice since I was a child. This shampoo was amazing. I loved it. But what would my hair look like after a night of sleeping on it?
Well the next morning imagine my shock when I looked in the mirror to find non-greasy hair. This was the first time in years i'd been able to wake up in the morning and not worry about the state of my hair. The volume was still there. The shine was still there. It still looked and smelt as good as if i'd just washed it. I was able to wear my hair down without the need to slap it back in a ponytail or wash it.
I've now used this shampoo about 8 times and every single time the results are fantastic. Although the tub is only a 330g one it does seem to last longer than I would've thought. I'm not even a quarter of the way down yet and i've used 16 lots of it (twice each wash) You only need to wash once with the shampoo but I would recommend you use a tiny amount first and wash it out, then apply a second slightly larger amount and wash. Like I mentioned previously the second lot seems to lather up and if you're a fan of lather like me then give it a try.
Yes it is expensive but I would say it's definitely worth it and i'm not looking forward to running out. As for hair suitability i'd say it's probably suitable for almost every type of hair out there although I would avoid it if you've already got thick hair. Ratings wise i'd have to give this a 5 star as I love it so much. I haven't the heart to dock a star for price and lack of lather for the first wash as they're only minor grumbles and ones I can easily live with. The shampoo does exactly what it says it should do and leaves your hair looking and feeling youthful again.
If you are interested in this or any other Lush products then have a look on their website which features hundreds upon hundreds of items. You'll also find a list of shops so you can check if there's one near you.
http://www.lushdns.co.uk/system/index.html
src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js">
Lush Big Shampoo Review
Before I joined review sites i'd never heard of Lush in my life but with the sheer volume of Lush reviews on review sites it's very hard to ignore them. After reading a fair few dozen I swore i'd never become a Lush addict myself as their products seemed waaay too expensive for my tight-arse taste. Well I did manage to stay away from these products for quite a while helped by the fact that Doncaster hasn't got a Lush shop but unfortunately I was gradually drawn towards them and recently spent my entire birthday money at their website and ordered a whole bunch of expensive products. This is very rare for me as I don't tend to splash out on myself. I get more enjoyment from splashing out on Hubby and Son than I could ever get out of buying stuff for me.
BUT I have to admit I was curious about Lush from the start. Not because everyone seems to love them. More like the fact their products have such fantastically original names it kinda made me want to try them out. So amongst a few other purchases I bought the Lush Big Shampoo. The Lush Big Shampoo was the most expensive product I purchased at a cost of £6.95 which is the most expensive shampoo i've ever bought in my life.
My hair is what you'd call dull and limp. It's shoulder length, layered, blonde, and has a tendancy to get very greasy very quickly. If I wash my hair in the morning by the nightime it'll be looking greasy on top and then I either have to wash it again the next day or slap it back in a ponytail. This Big Shampoo claims to be a life affirming shampoo for more shine than you thought possible and turns dull, limp hair into shiny, silky hair with added volume. I was very sceptical I have to say but seem as it was my birthday and I was treating myself I thought i'd give it a go. After all, it couldn't possibly make my hair look any worse.
Firstly the shampoo doesn't come in a bottle like you'd have thought. It comes in a tub approximately 15cm in height and looks fairly posh. I don't claim to be a Lush expert but from what i've read i've gathered they handmake their products, they're all made from natural ingredients, and they are against animal testing.
The tub is at first quite hard to open. If you squeeze it slightly as you turn the lid it makes it much easier. After the first time it's fairly easy to open. Inside the shampoo looks more like frog spawn. It's a creamy white colour and the consistency is like watery jelly. The shampoo contains lots of raw sea salt which you can easily see, it feels lovely as you're rubbing it on your hair. Other ingredients are seaweed and lime juice. I can't say I can smell each of these ingredients seperately. In fact it's very hard to describe the smell but it's very nice, not overpowering, fresh, and long lasting.
The first time I used this shampoo I was a little disappointed that it didn't lather up as I was expecting. I rinsed the first lot out and put another small amount on (small amount is all you need each time) Well imagine my suprise when the second time it lathered up beautifully. It's the same everytime I use it. First wash no lather, second wash lots of lather. I have no idea why this happens but I usually wash my hair twice anyway so it's no big deal.
Unfortunately my hair goes very fly away if I don't use conditioner so at the same time as buying this I bought the Lush Retread Conditioner. I applied this after washing it twice and once dried my hair looked beautiful even if I do say so myself. Where my hair is usually limper than limp this time it actually looked like it had a bit of volume. OK so the volume wasn't huge but it definitely had more volume than normal. At the crown of my head the results were much more noticable. Instead of it lying flat and lifeless it was looking fresh, shiny and healthy.
I spent all day running my fingers through my hair and basking in the softness of it. My hair probably hadn't been this nice since I was a child. This shampoo was amazing. I loved it. But what would my hair look like after a night of sleeping on it?
Well the next morning imagine my shock when I looked in the mirror to find non-greasy hair. This was the first time in years i'd been able to wake up in the morning and not worry about the state of my hair. The volume was still there. The shine was still there. It still looked and smelt as good as if i'd just washed it. I was able to wear my hair down without the need to slap it back in a ponytail or wash it.
I've now used this shampoo about 8 times and every single time the results are fantastic. Although the tub is only a 330g one it does seem to last longer than I would've thought. I'm not even a quarter of the way down yet and i've used 16 lots of it (twice each wash) You only need to wash once with the shampoo but I would recommend you use a tiny amount first and wash it out, then apply a second slightly larger amount and wash. Like I mentioned previously the second lot seems to lather up and if you're a fan of lather like me then give it a try.
Yes it is expensive but I would say it's definitely worth it and i'm not looking forward to running out. As for hair suitability i'd say it's probably suitable for almost every type of hair out there although I would avoid it if you've already got thick hair. Ratings wise i'd have to give this a 5 star as I love it so much. I haven't the heart to dock a star for price and lack of lather for the first wash as they're only minor grumbles and ones I can easily live with. The shampoo does exactly what it says it should do and leaves your hair looking and feeling youthful again.
If you are interested in this or any other Lush products then have a look on their website which features hundreds upon hundreds of items. You'll also find a list of shops so you can check if there's one near you.
http://www.lushdns.co.uk/system/index.html
src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js">
Tuesday, May 30, 2006
Alton Towers Review
THE DAY BEFORE
I wanted to start this review slightly differently you see I haven't actually been to Alton Towers as of yet. No, but i'm off tomorrow and I can't wait. So I thought i'd give a little introduction and see whether the actual experience matches up to the expectation.
I have always wanted to go to Alton Towers, ever since I was a kid. But as I come from a large family it was out of the question because the ticket prices are astronomical in price and we just couldn't afford it. So my Husband suggested that we go tomorrow seen as our son is on holiday with his Grandparents. There is no way we would take a two year old there, it would be ridiculous spending all that money to get in and not be able to go on the rides.
We have scraped the ticket money together, just, and are fully expecting a whole day filled with thrills and such. I feel like a big kid. I've always wanted to go on the Nemesis and will definately head for that first. I'm sure everyone has heard that Alton Towers has the best rides, well I hope so. I LOVE rides.
One aspect I am fully aware of, and quite worried about to be honest, is the amount of queueing we may have to do. Now I don't mind waiting half an hour or so, but if we have to queue up 2 hours for each ride I will be rather disappointed. After all I want to get our moneys worth out of it, that's my poor Husbands hard earned wage.
So will Alton Towers live up to it's reputation?
Only time will tell!......................
Read on......................
THE DAY AFTER
Phew, I am so happy to be back at home. My body is aching and my feet are killing me, I have never walked so much in my life. I'm glad I went to Alton Towers, but was it worth it? Well lets just say that it wasn't what I expected. There were some aspects that were fabulous and some that were down right annoying. So read on to hear a full review about my day.
GETTING THERE
We set off at 8 in the morning to make sure we arrived for when the park opened at 9.30. As sods law would have it we got stuck in a major traffic jam on the M1 for over an hour, therefore we didn't arrive until nearly 11. We are useless at directions but found that Alton Towers was very easy to find as it was signposted very early on in the journey. Some of the roads closer to the park are fairly old and narrow so be careful if you drive yourself as otherwise you'll find yourself in a ditch.
CAR PARKING
There are two car parks once you arrive. One of those is situated right next to the park and it costs a whopping 6 quid to park there. The other is a little further out and costs 3 quid. I was astounded at this. How dare they charge customers to park there car when they are going to spend loads of money in the park anyway. At least the car park was well organised and set out, with parking attendants directing you on where to go.
GETTING INTO THE PARK
As we chose the cheaper car park to park in we were wondering how to actually get to the entrance of the park itself. I didn't fancy walking a mile. But we were very nicely directed to a Monorail which takes you directly to the entrance. This was the first queue we encountered. It took 15 minutes to wait for our turn and another 5 minutes to travel. I know it's only 20 minutes in total but thats 20 minutes of ride time gone.
PAYING
Once arriving at the payment booths we chose the smallest queue to stand in. I knew this was a bad idea cos everytime I stand in small queues they take the longest time to go down. Sure enough it took another 20 minutes to pay our entrance fees and get in. It only cost us 18 quid each to get in as a very nice la dy gave us a couple of discount vouchers as we were stood talking to her. There are lots of other different pricing options to choose from, too many to go into, but the normal price for a single adult is 26.50. There are family tickets available for just over 70 pounds and if you have a child under 4 it is free.
NAVIGATING THE PARK
Even Christopher Columbus would have difficulty navigating himself around this one. We did try to follow the map but the area that the park covers is just too vast. So we came to the conclusion that it would be best if we just went with our gut instinct and see where it took us.
We were none the wiser at the end of the day as to where each of the rides etc were. It is a very difficult park to get your bearings in when everything is surrounded by trees. Even trying to find the start of a queue for a ride was a chore and a half.
RIDES
Everyone has seen the adverts and heard the hype about Alton Towers having the best rides of all the theme parks. If you want the latest roller coaster or are an adrenalin junkie this is the place to be. So what do I think? Did the Nemesis hit all the right buttons? Is there something for everyone?
There is definitely something for everyone I can say that with assurance. The vast area this theme park covers means that they have been able to cram in much more choice than anywhere I have been before. Whether you are a little kid or a big kid there is bound to be something to satisfy you. The park includes the following:-
Nemesis - Ever since I can remember I have been dying to go on this ride. Everyone I knew had told me how brilliant it was and that you wouldn't experience anything like it anywhere else. All I can say to that is Bull S**t. This was the first ride I went on and I came off it feeling absolutely nauseous to the pit of my stomach. It was just too fast and jerky. I was left fe eling that i'd been tossed around in a tumble dryer and spat out at the end. The ride just went tooooo fast to enjoy it. By the time you realised it had started, it was all over. Very, very much over-rated. A 30 second ride is not my idea of fun!
Oblivion - This is the one that takes you up high into the air and then drops you into a black hole. Again this was a very short ride. It really was just a drop and nothing else. I have to admit that the adrenalin it gave me was excellent, but then it was over. What happened to proper rides that lasted a good couple of minutes?
Air - I had not heard of this one but I was assured it was supposed to be great. Air follows the same principal as Nemesis, but instead of hanging underneath the track and facing forwards, you are tilted so you are lying underneath and facing the ground. I was wary of this after Nemesis but I gave it a go anyway. I was glad I did because it was the best ride I have ever had, if maybe a little short. I felt really safe in the harness as it was made of a flexible rubber material that almost hugs you rather than restraining. Your feet and legs are also secured which really makes you feel totally safe. The track was really smooth and it gave you the impression you were flying. Absolutely fantastic. A must for everyone. I went on it twice.
Duel - This is a haunted house with a difference. Its a bit like a ghost ride crossed with laser quest. As you travel through the haunted house you are met by skulls, zombies and ghosts which you have to shoot with a laser gun. The score for each person is totted up as you go through and at the end you see who has the most points. The laser gun itself is slightly heavy and stiff to use but this is immensely enjoyable. I went on this 3 times I loved it so much. Another plus side is that there was no queues at all for this and it lasted about 2 minutes.
Spinball Whizzer - This is a cross between a bod standard roller coaster and wa ltzers. The cart which takes you round the track actually spins at the same time. I didn't feel totally safe on here I have to say. The only support was a crossbar which wasn't sufficient as it was a very jerky ride. It felt like you were about to fly out of the cart.
Runaway Mine Train - I think everyone has been on a Runaway Train ride at some point. It's not a great ride, but is ok for the smaller kids or Grannies. Pretty bod standard roller coaster really.
Other rides which are also featured include:-
Congo River Rapids
Corkscrew
The Flume
Submission
Enterprise
Skyride
Monorail
The Blade
Ripsaw
Small childrens rides and entertainments are situated throughout the park. The Tweenies are featuring at various times which their little fans will love. Rides for the young include:-
Tea Cup Ride
Gallopers Carousel
Old Macdonalds Tractor Ride
UG Swinger
UG Bugs
One big problem I do have with most of the rides I went on is that as you come out of the exit you go straight into a shop. You literally cannot leave a ride without walking right the way through each shop. Isn't it enough that they charge an extortionate fee for the rides, do they have to make you spend money in shops aswell. Oh and another thing, why do they charge 4.99 per photo after you get off the rides? Why do they take photos of you on EVERY ride? What? How much? Do they think we're all rich or something?
QUEUES
I was expecting the queueing times to be horrendous but they weren't at all bad considering that most schools had broke up for the Easter holidays. The longest we had to queue for any ride was 40 minutes for Air.
I don't know whether we are just thick but my Husband and I did have a little difficulty in finding some of the queues for the rides. You could see the queues alright but it was hard to find out how to join the queue a s the entrances to the rides were not neccessarily next to the rides.
AMUSEMENT ARCADES AND STALLS
Amusement arcades seem to be a common practice in theme parks these days and Alton Towers certainly has it's fair share. There are also many different funfair type stalls where you can win big fluffy toys etc. I'm more sensible than to pay all this money for the entrance fee and then spend loads more on seperate entertainment inside. Sod that!
FOOD AND DRINK
There were various food and drink outlets throughout the park including McDonalds, KFC and Pizza Hut. Unfortunately the price of the meals at these three places was very much inflated from the norm. I know this is because Alton Towers charges these companies massive ground rents so I can't blame it on them, but I can blame it on Alton Towers. Alton Towers seems out to grab any money it can from any source it can and we consumers suffer from it. Surely they make enough money from other ventures to be able to charge normal rent to KFC and the rest.
DISABLED ACCESS
People who are disabled but would still like to go on the rides are able to. There is a seperate entrance at the start of the rides for them to take. Staff then help them onto the rides if help is required.
Although I did see quite a number of people in wheelchairs here i really wouldn't advice it. This is because of the number of hills you have to climb on your travels. Alton Towers isn't the most wheelchair friendly place as it cannot be described as anything near flat. I felt really sorry for the ones that had to push the wheelchairs of the disabled people because they looked knackered.
TOILETS
Some parks I have been to really scrimp on the toilet facilities and you find yourself nearly wetting your pants looking for them. But at Alton To wers there are toilet blocks dotted all over the place and I never had to queue once. They were all fairly clean and (miracle of miracles) had loo roll in the ladies bogs.
SHOPS
As I said previously a lot of the shops are located at the exit of the rides so you have to walk through them so you can't fail to at least take a look at what they have to offer, even if you don't buy anything. They sell everything from clothes, toys, sweets, nik naks etc. The prices vary quite a lot and somethings are quite good value. If you like souvenior shopping my advice would be to look around a few of the shops as some of them have real bargains, whilst others just rip you off.
UPKEEP OF THE PARK
Considering the vast expanse of land it covers the park is very well kept. I didn't see much litter lying about on the paths. The grass was well kept and the toilets were cleaned regularly. I think they must employ quite a few handicapped people to do these kind of chores as I saw a couple whilst I was there. This is a really good idea.
You won't be searching for a bin to dispose of your litter because you will literally fall over one. They pop up all over the place. I counted 5 placed right in the middle of the queues to Air. There's nothing quite like saying 'don't drop litter' by putting bins right in your path.
EXITING THE PARK
I was gearing myself up for a long queue to get out of the car park. I know what these places can be like. But no, the car park seemed to empty really quickly and was very organised. Hey so maybe paying for this car park thing isn't so bad after all! What did grate on me was the queue for the monorail which had to take us back to the car park. The last thing you want at the end of a busy day is to wait for 15 minutes in another queue just to get back to your car.
MY CONCLUSION
Overall I did have a good day even if it does not sound like it. I wouldn't say that Alton Towers has lived up to my expectations and I think a lot of people exagerate the greatness of it. I don't look at it through rose tinted glasses like some people. Yes, some of the rides were good but the only ride that I thought was truly any better than other cheaper theme parks was Air. It is certainly not worth paying the extra money Alton Towers costs for one good ride.
I really wasn't expecting a ten mile hike to get from A to B and I found that this dampened my excitement for the rides somewhat. Knackering yourself out to get to the ride, to wait half an hour in a queue, for the ride to be over in 30 seconds, it doesn't really add up in my book.
I really do believe less is more when it comes to rides. An enjoyable ride that lasts 2 minutes is much better value for money than a 'extreme' ride that lasts 30 seconds.
ALTON TOWERS TAKE NOTE!!!
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Alton Towers Review
THE DAY BEFORE
I wanted to start this review slightly differently you see I haven't actually been to Alton Towers as of yet. No, but i'm off tomorrow and I can't wait. So I thought i'd give a little introduction and see whether the actual experience matches up to the expectation.
I have always wanted to go to Alton Towers, ever since I was a kid. But as I come from a large family it was out of the question because the ticket prices are astronomical in price and we just couldn't afford it. So my Husband suggested that we go tomorrow seen as our son is on holiday with his Grandparents. There is no way we would take a two year old there, it would be ridiculous spending all that money to get in and not be able to go on the rides.
We have scraped the ticket money together, just, and are fully expecting a whole day filled with thrills and such. I feel like a big kid. I've always wanted to go on the Nemesis and will definately head for that first. I'm sure everyone has heard that Alton Towers has the best rides, well I hope so. I LOVE rides.
One aspect I am fully aware of, and quite worried about to be honest, is the amount of queueing we may have to do. Now I don't mind waiting half an hour or so, but if we have to queue up 2 hours for each ride I will be rather disappointed. After all I want to get our moneys worth out of it, that's my poor Husbands hard earned wage.
So will Alton Towers live up to it's reputation?
Only time will tell!......................
Read on......................
THE DAY AFTER
Phew, I am so happy to be back at home. My body is aching and my feet are killing me, I have never walked so much in my life. I'm glad I went to Alton Towers, but was it worth it? Well lets just say that it wasn't what I expected. There were some aspects that were fabulous and some that were down right annoying. So read on to hear a full review about my day.
GETTING THERE
We set off at 8 in the morning to make sure we arrived for when the park opened at 9.30. As sods law would have it we got stuck in a major traffic jam on the M1 for over an hour, therefore we didn't arrive until nearly 11. We are useless at directions but found that Alton Towers was very easy to find as it was signposted very early on in the journey. Some of the roads closer to the park are fairly old and narrow so be careful if you drive yourself as otherwise you'll find yourself in a ditch.
CAR PARKING
There are two car parks once you arrive. One of those is situated right next to the park and it costs a whopping 6 quid to park there. The other is a little further out and costs 3 quid. I was astounded at this. How dare they charge customers to park there car when they are going to spend loads of money in the park anyway. At least the car park was well organised and set out, with parking attendants directing you on where to go.
GETTING INTO THE PARK
As we chose the cheaper car park to park in we were wondering how to actually get to the entrance of the park itself. I didn't fancy walking a mile. But we were very nicely directed to a Monorail which takes you directly to the entrance. This was the first queue we encountered. It took 15 minutes to wait for our turn and another 5 minutes to travel. I know it's only 20 minutes in total but thats 20 minutes of ride time gone.
PAYING
Once arriving at the payment booths we chose the smallest queue to stand in. I knew this was a bad idea cos everytime I stand in small queues they take the longest time to go down. Sure enough it took another 20 minutes to pay our entrance fees and get in. It only cost us 18 quid each to get in as a very nice la dy gave us a couple of discount vouchers as we were stood talking to her. There are lots of other different pricing options to choose from, too many to go into, but the normal price for a single adult is 26.50. There are family tickets available for just over 70 pounds and if you have a child under 4 it is free.
NAVIGATING THE PARK
Even Christopher Columbus would have difficulty navigating himself around this one. We did try to follow the map but the area that the park covers is just too vast. So we came to the conclusion that it would be best if we just went with our gut instinct and see where it took us.
We were none the wiser at the end of the day as to where each of the rides etc were. It is a very difficult park to get your bearings in when everything is surrounded by trees. Even trying to find the start of a queue for a ride was a chore and a half.
RIDES
Everyone has seen the adverts and heard the hype about Alton Towers having the best rides of all the theme parks. If you want the latest roller coaster or are an adrenalin junkie this is the place to be. So what do I think? Did the Nemesis hit all the right buttons? Is there something for everyone?
There is definitely something for everyone I can say that with assurance. The vast area this theme park covers means that they have been able to cram in much more choice than anywhere I have been before. Whether you are a little kid or a big kid there is bound to be something to satisfy you. The park includes the following:-
Nemesis - Ever since I can remember I have been dying to go on this ride. Everyone I knew had told me how brilliant it was and that you wouldn't experience anything like it anywhere else. All I can say to that is Bull S**t. This was the first ride I went on and I came off it feeling absolutely nauseous to the pit of my stomach. It was just too fast and jerky. I was left fe eling that i'd been tossed around in a tumble dryer and spat out at the end. The ride just went tooooo fast to enjoy it. By the time you realised it had started, it was all over. Very, very much over-rated. A 30 second ride is not my idea of fun!
Oblivion - This is the one that takes you up high into the air and then drops you into a black hole. Again this was a very short ride. It really was just a drop and nothing else. I have to admit that the adrenalin it gave me was excellent, but then it was over. What happened to proper rides that lasted a good couple of minutes?
Air - I had not heard of this one but I was assured it was supposed to be great. Air follows the same principal as Nemesis, but instead of hanging underneath the track and facing forwards, you are tilted so you are lying underneath and facing the ground. I was wary of this after Nemesis but I gave it a go anyway. I was glad I did because it was the best ride I have ever had, if maybe a little short. I felt really safe in the harness as it was made of a flexible rubber material that almost hugs you rather than restraining. Your feet and legs are also secured which really makes you feel totally safe. The track was really smooth and it gave you the impression you were flying. Absolutely fantastic. A must for everyone. I went on it twice.
Duel - This is a haunted house with a difference. Its a bit like a ghost ride crossed with laser quest. As you travel through the haunted house you are met by skulls, zombies and ghosts which you have to shoot with a laser gun. The score for each person is totted up as you go through and at the end you see who has the most points. The laser gun itself is slightly heavy and stiff to use but this is immensely enjoyable. I went on this 3 times I loved it so much. Another plus side is that there was no queues at all for this and it lasted about 2 minutes.
Spinball Whizzer - This is a cross between a bod standard roller coaster and wa ltzers. The cart which takes you round the track actually spins at the same time. I didn't feel totally safe on here I have to say. The only support was a crossbar which wasn't sufficient as it was a very jerky ride. It felt like you were about to fly out of the cart.
Runaway Mine Train - I think everyone has been on a Runaway Train ride at some point. It's not a great ride, but is ok for the smaller kids or Grannies. Pretty bod standard roller coaster really.
Other rides which are also featured include:-
Congo River Rapids
Corkscrew
The Flume
Submission
Enterprise
Skyride
Monorail
The Blade
Ripsaw
Small childrens rides and entertainments are situated throughout the park. The Tweenies are featuring at various times which their little fans will love. Rides for the young include:-
Tea Cup Ride
Gallopers Carousel
Old Macdonalds Tractor Ride
UG Swinger
UG Bugs
One big problem I do have with most of the rides I went on is that as you come out of the exit you go straight into a shop. You literally cannot leave a ride without walking right the way through each shop. Isn't it enough that they charge an extortionate fee for the rides, do they have to make you spend money in shops aswell. Oh and another thing, why do they charge 4.99 per photo after you get off the rides? Why do they take photos of you on EVERY ride? What? How much? Do they think we're all rich or something?
QUEUES
I was expecting the queueing times to be horrendous but they weren't at all bad considering that most schools had broke up for the Easter holidays. The longest we had to queue for any ride was 40 minutes for Air.
I don't know whether we are just thick but my Husband and I did have a little difficulty in finding some of the queues for the rides. You could see the queues alright but it was hard to find out how to join the queue a s the entrances to the rides were not neccessarily next to the rides.
AMUSEMENT ARCADES AND STALLS
Amusement arcades seem to be a common practice in theme parks these days and Alton Towers certainly has it's fair share. There are also many different funfair type stalls where you can win big fluffy toys etc. I'm more sensible than to pay all this money for the entrance fee and then spend loads more on seperate entertainment inside. Sod that!
FOOD AND DRINK
There were various food and drink outlets throughout the park including McDonalds, KFC and Pizza Hut. Unfortunately the price of the meals at these three places was very much inflated from the norm. I know this is because Alton Towers charges these companies massive ground rents so I can't blame it on them, but I can blame it on Alton Towers. Alton Towers seems out to grab any money it can from any source it can and we consumers suffer from it. Surely they make enough money from other ventures to be able to charge normal rent to KFC and the rest.
DISABLED ACCESS
People who are disabled but would still like to go on the rides are able to. There is a seperate entrance at the start of the rides for them to take. Staff then help them onto the rides if help is required.
Although I did see quite a number of people in wheelchairs here i really wouldn't advice it. This is because of the number of hills you have to climb on your travels. Alton Towers isn't the most wheelchair friendly place as it cannot be described as anything near flat. I felt really sorry for the ones that had to push the wheelchairs of the disabled people because they looked knackered.
TOILETS
Some parks I have been to really scrimp on the toilet facilities and you find yourself nearly wetting your pants looking for them. But at Alton To wers there are toilet blocks dotted all over the place and I never had to queue once. They were all fairly clean and (miracle of miracles) had loo roll in the ladies bogs.
SHOPS
As I said previously a lot of the shops are located at the exit of the rides so you have to walk through them so you can't fail to at least take a look at what they have to offer, even if you don't buy anything. They sell everything from clothes, toys, sweets, nik naks etc. The prices vary quite a lot and somethings are quite good value. If you like souvenior shopping my advice would be to look around a few of the shops as some of them have real bargains, whilst others just rip you off.
UPKEEP OF THE PARK
Considering the vast expanse of land it covers the park is very well kept. I didn't see much litter lying about on the paths. The grass was well kept and the toilets were cleaned regularly. I think they must employ quite a few handicapped people to do these kind of chores as I saw a couple whilst I was there. This is a really good idea.
You won't be searching for a bin to dispose of your litter because you will literally fall over one. They pop up all over the place. I counted 5 placed right in the middle of the queues to Air. There's nothing quite like saying 'don't drop litter' by putting bins right in your path.
EXITING THE PARK
I was gearing myself up for a long queue to get out of the car park. I know what these places can be like. But no, the car park seemed to empty really quickly and was very organised. Hey so maybe paying for this car park thing isn't so bad after all! What did grate on me was the queue for the monorail which had to take us back to the car park. The last thing you want at the end of a busy day is to wait for 15 minutes in another queue just to get back to your car.
MY CONCLUSION
Overall I did have a good day even if it does not sound like it. I wouldn't say that Alton Towers has lived up to my expectations and I think a lot of people exagerate the greatness of it. I don't look at it through rose tinted glasses like some people. Yes, some of the rides were good but the only ride that I thought was truly any better than other cheaper theme parks was Air. It is certainly not worth paying the extra money Alton Towers costs for one good ride.
I really wasn't expecting a ten mile hike to get from A to B and I found that this dampened my excitement for the rides somewhat. Knackering yourself out to get to the ride, to wait half an hour in a queue, for the ride to be over in 30 seconds, it doesn't really add up in my book.
I really do believe less is more when it comes to rides. An enjoyable ride that lasts 2 minutes is much better value for money than a 'extreme' ride that lasts 30 seconds.
ALTON TOWERS TAKE NOTE!!!
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Tuesday, May 23, 2006
Quest For The Perfect Burger
I recall there was only one burger, you could specify the toppings or have it "all-the-way". Ones with mayonnaise were called "sissy burgers". The buns were toasted, and these guys had no fries or onion rings... all you could get were bags of Frito's and some other chips. You could also buy a jalapeno pepper in a wax paper bag that was stapled to a poster-board sitting by the cash register. If they had soda pop, I don't recall ever having one because I always got a chocolate malt. It was a real treat going out for one of these burgers, not because we didn't have good burgers at home..... but because it was a grand experience for a seven year old. And also because of those malts.
Because burgers start off, for the most part, as kind of a plain sandwich, it's not uncommon to see many varieties of them, however..... mostly the differences are focused on different toppings. You know the drill. Some places have signature burgers with names like the Wild West, or The Hawaiian. Other places let you add your own toppings from a list of 8 or 10 items. Then there are the franchise burger places that have a nationwide menu which might include double and triple patties, bacon strips and extra cheese. Sheesh, these are worse than a pizza with eleven different toppings. Only in America right? The last steer out of the gate in the burger rodeo are the burger bars or "burger bistro's" that are opening up in trendy neighborhoods. Here you can get a $30+ gourmet burger and choose from fifty kinds of beer to wash it down with. Good? I would hope so. Are these for me? No way...
So, the quest for the perfect burger begins. What am I looking for? Good texture, beefy flavor, even doneness and lot's of moisture would be a good place to start. Once I achieve that, the addition of a few fresh toppings, and of course a bun and I'm good to go.
THE BEEF
For starters, it's all in the beef, everything else compliments the beef. If the beef is not good, the burger won't be good. There is all kinds of beef out there, but I'm going to break it down into two main categories. Store ground and home ground. If you can grind it at home, do so.
REGULAR GROUND BEEF
This is the standard in the supermarket. It comes from pieces of meat that can't be sold as something else and from trimmings from a variety of cuts. About your only choice with regular ground beef is the fat content. It will be marked 70/30, 80/20, 90/10 or something along those lines. The first number represents the amount of lean meat, the second number represents the amount of fat.
SPECIAL GROUND BEEF
The next step up on the ground beef ladder is meat ground from a particular muscle or muscle group. Ground round, ground sirloin, ground chuck all come from a particular area of a beef. These choices are common in the meat case or at your butcher shop. You can also grind these at home.
CUSTOM GROUND BEEF BLEND
This is a high end choice. You won't find these "blend" options in the meat case, and it will be special order for the butcher shop. Unless they are doing something like this for a restaurant customer, you will have to supply the ratios. But just like the special grind, it's really easy for you to grind this at home. I'm going to give you some recipes to get you started. Don't be afraid to experiment.
1. 50% brisket - 50% sirloin
2. 50% chuck - 50% sirloin
3. 33% brisket - 33% chuck - 33% sirloin
4. 40% chuck - 40% boneless short ribs - 20% brisket
5. 50% sirloin - 25% chuck - 25% brisket
One thing to consider is supplementing some flank steak for brisket. For example #1 calls for 50% brisket and 50% sirloin. You could make that 25% brisket, 25% flank, and 50% sirloin.
BUFFALO & BISON BURGER
Well, it's the same thing. It's technically bison, and of course there are some varieties like beef-a-lo, but for the most part bison is buffalo and buffalo is bison. It's a wonderful option to have because it's lower in fat than most beef burger and has just a hint of wild flavor. I live in the heart of buffalo country and can honestly say buffalo burger is an excellent value. I enjoy buffalo burger as much as other upscale cuts like steaks or tenderloin roasts. Sometimes I use it in sandwiches, but usually I make a hamburger steak with it.
Seasonings are about the same as ground beef, it's best not to season heavily as you risk hiding the natural buffalo flavor. Because of it's lower fat content, I also recommend cooking it medium rare to keep it as moist as possible. In fact I like to add a little water or beer to the ground meat (I do the same thing to sausage). Some finely chopped onion blended into the meat will add some moisture and flavor.
LAMB BURGERS
These could be one of the most under burgers there are, a real sleeper. Lamb has a unique flavor, and it will take a variety of seasonings. Garlic, onion and rosemary are good choices, but don't be afraid to add in some heat from chilies or peppers. Beer or water are good liquids to mix into the meat before forming patties. Finely chopping the onion will work fine, but for some reason I like a coarser chop for lamb burgers.
PORK BURGERS.
Ground pork from the shoulder (butt, Boston butt) is an outstanding ground meat to season with salt and pepper and cook on the grill. In addition to being flavorful and moist it combines well with melted cheese and grilled onions. A pork patty-melt is wonderful. All-in-all pork burgers are a nice change-up from beef hamburgers. We often see ground pork made into sausage, which is fine... Sausage sandwiches are great. In fact when I make my link sausage I will reserve a few pounds and package it in bulk just for sausage burgers. My favorite seasoning recipe for pork burgers is the "Farm Sausage" on my sausage page. It's mild enough that it can be complimented with a slice of onion and some mustard on a hamburger bun.
WILD GAME BURGER.
I guess venison is the most popular game meat around, but in my neck of the woods we also have pronghorn (antelope), elk and moose. When your animal is processed it's common to wind up with quite a bit of ground meat. Not everyone is partial to wild game so some hunters I know play a game called "hide the wild flavor". In other words, they use that burger in spaghetti sauce, chili or in summer sausage. The best advice is to not overcook or over season wild game burgers, and tell folks up front you are serving wild game. Sausage is a great way to utilize your ground wild meat. I will often mix 60% wild game to 40% pork to improve the fat content and add moisture.
HOW TO COOK A BURGER
I guess the two main choices are pan fried or grilled. Both have advantages and as long as the grill or pan is not too hot either one is a good choice. I do like to brush or spray a light coating of oil on the pattie before cooking to insure against sticking. Be sure and let the pattie firm up before the first flip, then turn as needed to balance color and doneness.
If I want some smoky flavor, I'll start my burgers off with a raised direct or an indirect set-up, then finish closer to the coals. Otherwise, a medium-high bed of coals works fine.
A shake or two of Worcestershire sauce toward the end of cooking is a nice flavor bump. Any cheese should be added 3 or 4 minutes before the burger is done, and I'm not just talking about a slice of cheese.... try some blue cheese crumbles. Rest your burger just like you would a good steak.
Quest For The Perfect Burger
I recall there was only one burger, you could specify the toppings or have it "all-the-way". Ones with mayonnaise were called "sissy burgers". The buns were toasted, and these guys had no fries or onion rings... all you could get were bags of Frito's and some other chips. You could also buy a jalapeno pepper in a wax paper bag that was stapled to a poster-board sitting by the cash register. If they had soda pop, I don't recall ever having one because I always got a chocolate malt. It was a real treat going out for one of these burgers, not because we didn't have good burgers at home..... but because it was a grand experience for a seven year old. And also because of those malts.
Because burgers start off, for the most part, as kind of a plain sandwich, it's not uncommon to see many varieties of them, however..... mostly the differences are focused on different toppings. You know the drill. Some places have signature burgers with names like the Wild West, or The Hawaiian. Other places let you add your own toppings from a list of 8 or 10 items. Then there are the franchise burger places that have a nationwide menu which might include double and triple patties, bacon strips and extra cheese. Sheesh, these are worse than a pizza with eleven different toppings. Only in America right? The last steer out of the gate in the burger rodeo are the burger bars or "burger bistro's" that are opening up in trendy neighborhoods. Here you can get a $30+ gourmet burger and choose from fifty kinds of beer to wash it down with. Good? I would hope so. Are these for me? No way...
So, the quest for the perfect burger begins. What am I looking for? Good texture, beefy flavor, even doneness and lot's of moisture would be a good place to start. Once I achieve that, the addition of a few fresh toppings, and of course a bun and I'm good to go.
THE BEEF
For starters, it's all in the beef, everything else compliments the beef. If the beef is not good, the burger won't be good. There is all kinds of beef out there, but I'm going to break it down into two main categories. Store ground and home ground. If you can grind it at home, do so.
REGULAR GROUND BEEF
This is the standard in the supermarket. It comes from pieces of meat that can't be sold as something else and from trimmings from a variety of cuts. About your only choice with regular ground beef is the fat content. It will be marked 70/30, 80/20, 90/10 or something along those lines. The first number represents the amount of lean meat, the second number represents the amount of fat.
SPECIAL GROUND BEEF
The next step up on the ground beef ladder is meat ground from a particular muscle or muscle group. Ground round, ground sirloin, ground chuck all come from a particular area of a beef. These choices are common in the meat case or at your butcher shop. You can also grind these at home.
CUSTOM GROUND BEEF BLEND
This is a high end choice. You won't find these "blend" options in the meat case, and it will be special order for the butcher shop. Unless they are doing something like this for a restaurant customer, you will have to supply the ratios. But just like the special grind, it's really easy for you to grind this at home. I'm going to give you some recipes to get you started. Don't be afraid to experiment.
1. 50% brisket - 50% sirloin
2. 50% chuck - 50% sirloin
3. 33% brisket - 33% chuck - 33% sirloin
4. 40% chuck - 40% boneless short ribs - 20% brisket
5. 50% sirloin - 25% chuck - 25% brisket
One thing to consider is supplementing some flank steak for brisket. For example #1 calls for 50% brisket and 50% sirloin. You could make that 25% brisket, 25% flank, and 50% sirloin.
BUFFALO & BISON BURGER
Well, it's the same thing. It's technically bison, and of course there are some varieties like beef-a-lo, but for the most part bison is buffalo and buffalo is bison. It's a wonderful option to have because it's lower in fat than most beef burger and has just a hint of wild flavor. I live in the heart of buffalo country and can honestly say buffalo burger is an excellent value. I enjoy buffalo burger as much as other upscale cuts like steaks or tenderloin roasts. Sometimes I use it in sandwiches, but usually I make a hamburger steak with it.
Seasonings are about the same as ground beef, it's best not to season heavily as you risk hiding the natural buffalo flavor. Because of it's lower fat content, I also recommend cooking it medium rare to keep it as moist as possible. In fact I like to add a little water or beer to the ground meat (I do the same thing to sausage). Some finely chopped onion blended into the meat will add some moisture and flavor.
LAMB BURGERS
These could be one of the most under burgers there are, a real sleeper. Lamb has a unique flavor, and it will take a variety of seasonings. Garlic, onion and rosemary are good choices, but don't be afraid to add in some heat from chilies or peppers. Beer or water are good liquids to mix into the meat before forming patties. Finely chopping the onion will work fine, but for some reason I like a coarser chop for lamb burgers.
PORK BURGERS.
Ground pork from the shoulder (butt, Boston butt) is an outstanding ground meat to season with salt and pepper and cook on the grill. In addition to being flavorful and moist it combines well with melted cheese and grilled onions. A pork patty-melt is wonderful. All-in-all pork burgers are a nice change-up from beef hamburgers. We often see ground pork made into sausage, which is fine... Sausage sandwiches are great. In fact when I make my link sausage I will reserve a few pounds and package it in bulk just for sausage burgers. My favorite seasoning recipe for pork burgers is the "Farm Sausage" on my sausage page. It's mild enough that it can be complimented with a slice of onion and some mustard on a hamburger bun.
WILD GAME BURGER.
I guess venison is the most popular game meat around, but in my neck of the woods we also have pronghorn (antelope), elk and moose. When your animal is processed it's common to wind up with quite a bit of ground meat. Not everyone is partial to wild game so some hunters I know play a game called "hide the wild flavor". In other words, they use that burger in spaghetti sauce, chili or in summer sausage. The best advice is to not overcook or over season wild game burgers, and tell folks up front you are serving wild game. Sausage is a great way to utilize your ground wild meat. I will often mix 60% wild game to 40% pork to improve the fat content and add moisture.
HOW TO COOK A BURGER
I guess the two main choices are pan fried or grilled. Both have advantages and as long as the grill or pan is not too hot either one is a good choice. I do like to brush or spray a light coating of oil on the pattie before cooking to insure against sticking. Be sure and let the pattie firm up before the first flip, then turn as needed to balance color and doneness.
If I want some smoky flavor, I'll start my burgers off with a raised direct or an indirect set-up, then finish closer to the coals. Otherwise, a medium-high bed of coals works fine.
A shake or two of Worcestershire sauce toward the end of cooking is a nice flavor bump. Any cheese should be added 3 or 4 minutes before the burger is done, and I'm not just talking about a slice of cheese.... try some blue cheese crumbles. Rest your burger just like you would a good steak.