alisonb's Qype profile

On a sejourne ici 3 nuits, pour un aniversaire. On a reserve des chambres via laterooms.com donc on ne savait rien de l'hotel avant ca. On est arrives ici et on a ete acceuilli par Wendy et Brian, ils sont tres sympas, on a bien discute et ils nous ont montre notre chambre. La chambre etait de bonne taille avec suite. La chambre avait legerement besoin d'un peu d'amour mais c'etait vraiment propre et tout y etait bien. Il y avait l'equipement habituel des chambres d'hotel, the, cafe etc... aussi connection Internet sans fil. L'hotel en lui-meme etait calme et dans un quartier calme et sans ennuis. Mais si vous avez deja sejourne a Bournemouth vous saurez que dans certains coins c'est difficile de dormir la nuit. Le petit dejeuner, cuisine par Brian, est tres bon et vous pouvez choisir parmis une liste de produits que vous aimez, ce qui est pratique pour les vegetariens. Il y a aussi les produits habituels comme jus frais, cereales, yahourt. On a passe un bon sejour et on y retournerait bien.

All three of my kids have attended Stantonbury Campus. The campus is a non uniform secondary school where pupils and teachers are on first name terms and I love this. I have never been a fan of uniforms so this was a good thing. The school is over subscribed and many are trying to get into this school. You can attend if you are in catchment or you can apply as an arts student, go for an interview and you may get lucky!

We live within catchment but I would have chosen this school as a preference anyway. My kids did really well here all three attending 6th form and going on to further education.

I like the teaching style where young people are encouraged to be themselves and take an active part in their learning process.

There is also a large music centre on site where kids take their musical instrument lessons. Music plays a large part of the campus life. There is also a resident rock school which runs weekly sessions and also a 'three days of rock’ event during holidays.

The campus is made up of the school, leisure centre and shops. This is a large campus!

A few quotes from their ofsted report.

“The school has a strong supportive ethos, valuing each student and member of staff equally.”

“Stantonbury Campus enables students to make good progress in a caring, supportive environment”

”...students’ achievements are well above those in schools with similar intakes”

My 3 children attended this school. It is housed in the old building that used to be New Bradwell Boys School, it has been added to over the years and is a combined school which houses a nursery building, primaries and juniors and a sure start section.
I found that the teachers that my children had were really good, I found them supportive and most importantly my children got on well with them.

My children started in the Nursery, which is a lovely place, with experienced teachers and a fun outlook. Lots of toys, play items and a good outdoor play area which is enclosed.
The school gives the kids a good level of education, where a parent, school, child relationship is encouraged.
There is an opportunity for the older children to go on school trips including a barge trip, st brevialls (spelling?) castle, Matlock, wales, cornwall amongst others.
There is also the annual carnival which starts out with floats which the children decorate which tours around New Bradwell with the silver band, majorettes and others, and ends with the fete on the school field.

I liked the local feel of this school and was happy to send my kids there.

Recently Mr White has been replaced with a new headteacher Mr Webster.

This old pub has seen a few changes over the years. You may remember at one time there was a 'Trekkie’ pub in Milton Keynes, well this was it! Lots of sci fi and trekkie items around the place.
Well it has returned to its old name of The Plough now and has returned from its sci fi adventures unscathed.
This has two bars, one of which I have only been in when there is a band on so not sure what it normally looks like. When bands are playing there is no sitting room at all, in fact think sardines!
They also normally have a fireworks do which is well attended and good fun. Pretty much all of their events are free to attend which is always a bonus.
The other bar is usual dark wood tables and chairs. The bar staff are friendly and the whole pub has a friendly feel about it. Not sure what range of beers they do as I am a juice drinker (always designated driver).
There is a small car park at the rear which gets rather packed when an event is on.

This is a large co op store in a small shopping precinct. It has a much larger stock base because of its extra space. It has a few different areas, including the cuisine de france range. Yummy pecan slices.

They do good offers on their co op own brand goods, and generally the prices here are cheaper than at some other co op foodstores.

They do lots of alcoholic drinks here, wines, spirits, real ales and beers.

It is a little bit tired looking and could do with a refit, but still clean and bright.

Parking is outside in marked bays. It gets pretty busy here.

This Chinese restaurant is amazing. Imagine all the foods that you can buy in a usual Chinese restaurant done veggie style. This is a must visit for all veggies and vegans! The food is delicious and the service is friendly and helpful. You can eat in or take away. I would recommend the chicken satay skewers but I can never stop at one portion of them. They also do fresh crushed pineapple which is really moreish but it is on the expensive side.
Parking is on street outside the restaurant and it has never once been a problem to find parking as all other shops in the area are closed.

Lush were the first to make the world famous bath bombs which are now made by many. Their products really are delicious. They make products that are as natural as possible and mark products that are vegan.

The packaging on the products is a great as the products themselves and the packaging on the ready wrapped gift items is amazing!
I have found the staff friendly and helpful, they have good knowledge of the products. You can also request small testers of soaps etc… so if you have sensitive skin you can try before you buy. You can always tell when you are approaching a Lush shop as you can smell it! Yum!

I like this boots as you don’t have to go into the main CMK shopping centre and face the crowds!
It does not do the same selection as the larger stores but does most things that you need.
I go here for my homeopathic remedies as the shop is smaller and you don’t have to go around a large store for a couple of small items.
The parking is good, and has disabled and parent and child parking right outside the door.
It has a boots points machine instore to check the latest offers, but also join there online newsletter and you will receive offers for money off and special offers available in store as well as online. Also toilets and baby change facilities which is useful.

As others have said this is a great shop for stocking fillers, wooden toys etc… but don’t forget party bags as well, lots of unusual small items that you won’t always find elsewhere. Even though my kids are older they still insist on a Christmas stocking, this is the perfect place for them as they have lots of unusual stuff that older kids like.
Staff are helpful and friendly and prices are reasonable especially when compared to other gadgety and trinket shops in the area. It is down one of the side walks in CMK down the middleton hall end.

How nice does the big apple above the door look! Typical Apple store, layout as usual.
Upstairs (the glass stairs look lovely but eek! feel too weird to go up them) there is the genius bar where you can talk to someone who knows their stuff. If you log onto the apple website you can book a session with a genius there.
I recently had to have my macbook repaired as the dvd drive had failed. I was booked in to see a genius within a day, I took it in at 10 in the morning. I was told it would take around 5-6 days to do but had a call the next day to say I could collect it. And here is the good bit, it was fixed!