There are a million things we could all do with some extra time. Indulge in some of life’s little pleasures.
Here are Closer’s top time treats…
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Roman Bath
- For an evening treat we’d definitely recommend going to Bath to enjoy the summer special, Roman Baths by Torchlight. Every summer the vast Roman ruins are open until late so you can enjoy their beauty in the dark, guided by flickering torches. It all sounds rather romantic!
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Cheat the credit crunch
- Christmas might be the last thing on your mind in mid July, but think smart ladies - the sales are on and it’s the perfect time to stock up on cheap goodies for that expensive festive period. Stocking-fillers, wrapping paper and reduced clothes are all great buys, especially as high street shops are slashing prices like nobody’s business before the new season stock arrives.
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Make your own ice-cream
- The calendar tells us it’s summer, even if we’ve no meteorological evidence of that, and summer means ice-cream! But don’t cheat…make your own! Here’s our quickie recipe.
Method
1. Halve two vanilla pods lengthways and scrape out the seeds. Add the pods to 500ml of double cream and bring to the boil. Add 70g of sugar and stir to dissolve it.
2. Whisk 3 egg yolks in a large bowl then strain the cream onto them, stirring constantly.
3. Pour the ice cream into another bowl through a fine sieve and whisk in the vanilla seeds. Pour into an ice cream maker or large freezer proof dish. Freeze until set. It normally takes around 2 hours.
Delia Smith eat your heart out!
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Re-create school sports day
- For a traditional way to entertain your kids try re-creating an old school sports day in your own back garden. You could include the egg & spoon race, sack race, wheelbarrow relay, hula-hoop marathons and any other classics you can think of. Top it off with summer cocktails for the adults and music and you’ve got yourself the most talked about party of the year.
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Mamma Mia!
- Our favourite film treat this month has to be Mamma Mia! It’s got great songs, dancing, and most importantly Colin Firth, so there’s really no excuse to miss this family-friendly bonanza! The rave reviews have surprised even the most cynical cinema-goers out there and the famous tunes will have you all dancing in the aisles.
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Summer fair
- Take a look in your local paper for any village fairs happening in your town and drag your mates along to them. It might sound silly but they’re a really cheap and fun day out with stacks of homemade cakes, old-fashioned games (we love a bit of coconut shy action), chances to win all kinds of prizes and even the off thrill ride. You’ll also be giving something back to your community, which is always great.
