#he even has experience both with expensive suits and pricey wines

[factual-flittermouse]

I’ve seen a lot of WC x DC crossovers featuring various bats undercover as Neal Caffrey and, while DG makes an excellent Neal, I think an opportunity is being missed… specially, that Tim Drake is canonically an internationally wanted art thief due to his time searching for Bruce. Additionally, he has the background both in suits and in taking on a variety of undercover roles (like Caroline Hill and Alvin Draper) AND has a bit of a rivalry with Ra’s (which fits with the common ‘LOA spies in the FBI’ motive for going undercover). He has the skills (except painting), the style, and the history to pull it off. I’m not saying DG doesn’t make a good Caffrey, I’m just saying that I think the choice from the options is a bit humorous

[fmedici]

give a warm welcome to your resident himbo over here, except he's got some shizzle up his sleeve?!?!?!?

✧ ━━ the courts of switzerland present FRANCESCO DE MEDICI of TUSCANY, the LORD of TUSCANY. the TWENTY-EIGHT year old has been DEVOTED and GIFTED before the break of war but have now become LACKADAISICAL and AVERSE. HE is often remembered by their likeness to JOSH WHITEHOUSE and SCENT OF PRICEY WINE SPILLED OVER THE NIGHTSTAND CARELESSLY ; THE UNPLEASANT TASTE OF SWEAT MIXED WITH PAINT AS HE KISSES ANOTHER'S SKIN; SMOOTH SKIN RUBBING AGAINST ONE ANOTHER, RUBBING AGAINST EXPENSIVE BEDDING. the rumour mills of europe claim that his allegiance lies with THE MEDICI FAMILY and that he is for WAR.

headcanons ;

only a child ; life came without ease to francesco. although born healthy, the babe would not eat properly and could not be put to sleep calmly. only when returned to his twin's side did francesco thrive again, allowing giovanna to thrive alongside him. the two lived their early years that way - a hand to hold, a shoulder to cry on, an ear to listen - and franci could not want it any other way. with no one else did he feel as connected, despite growing closer to his brother giulio by the day. with giovanna he spent most of his days, be it dancing around the halls of the palazzo or bugging their older brother to play with them, and it is with her that he seems himself running out of his time on earth. with a bond inexplicable to anyone else, francesco sees no point in being apart from his sister for an extended period of time, as being apart from her would only make them both ill inside. his childhood was displayed as such: races on long corridors, tutoring on the most vast matters suitable for a young noble, talent and muse blooming at once to inspire a young artist to grow. from as young as ten, francesco knew he wasn't cut out to be a man of the faith. although a believer, he showed passion for humanity more than for the Holy Father, eager to experience the joy of life for himself, and so, with his father's permission, he began apprenticeship with various of the most talented artists of Florence.

from muse to creator ; a true renaissance man at heart, francesco began his relationship with the arts as a muse for many painters and sculptors. a lean but muscular young boy, hair curled like an angel's, franci was the perfect subject for countless works of art, and somehow, his eagerness to pick up the paintbrush himself was yet another reason for the artists to take to him with ease. a personality that was perfectly portrayed on the canvas and an appearance that could hold people's gaze for hours, it came to no surprise that, as he grew closer to the renaissance men throughout the years, their relationships became physical. a true lover of the human body, the young man that had blossomed amongst intellectual and creative minds alike did not stop his urges for a second, choosing to embrace them instead. as particular relationships became deeper and stronger, franci narrowed his mentor list to a few, whose bodily and soulful relations with him only improved with time. finally, a grown man, francesco took to the paintbrush with ease, hand holding the object as naturally as it held giovanna's hand as a child. his work was soft, shades of pastel-like pink and blue filling the canvas with beauty as franci painted nude bodies against intrinsic wall patterns or clear open skies, god-like men with looks beyond compare. with that, francesco found his muse in his own mentors, an appreciation that filled his heart with passion he had never felt before, as well as a carnal need that surpassed the one he'd felt before for countless people - perhaps he would not describe it was love for that seemed unattainable to him, but passion indeed it was.

an artist amongst schemers ; immersed in the renaissance scene in florence, francesco was hesitant to join his family in switzerland at first. making a name for himself as well as enjoying his worldly pleasures seemed to him of bigger importance than taking part in a what he could only describe as an elaborate smoke screen. however, the thought of being away from giovanna (even if bellinzona wasn't world's away from florence) did not seem like the wisest choice to be made, and so he sacrificed to attend the cease fire. amongst countless people from countless lands with countless objectives in their heads, francesco knew he was out of place. being there with the sole purpose of family, he had no interest in attending meets or befriending foreigners for courtesy (although he most certainly doesn't mind giving kind smiles to good looking faces from all over the world). his outspoken personality had to the tamed, for appearance's sake, as well as his casual stance, for the same reason. however at odd he seemed, the situation did present itself to him as inspiration. of course he hadn't travelled almost a fortnight to switzerland empty handed, and so, he took the opportunity of being in contact with strangers as inspiration to create - and so he does. choosing to spend his hours either with giovanna or random one-night lovers, the rest of his day goes to his craft, while still taking time to immerse in the experience - purely for artistic purposes.

plot points ;

an unexpected muse ; when he first arrived in bellinzona, finding a connection to someone whom he could draw specific inspiration from seemed unrealistic. of course, upon realizing the unique opportunity he had been giving in contrast to other painters from florence, francesco began working on the most diverse set of paintings, finding details in the most unexpected of situations to him - tents on fire, lifeless body floating on the river, a german-ottoman wedding ceremony. however, what franci definitely did not see coming was forming a relation, closer than he had intended, with a specific figure, someone he had first noticed strolling by, someone who brings out in him a need to pick up the paintbrush. of unparalleled beauty, franci himself can't tell if he's platonically amused by them or if his desire if carnal, and however that may be, he will do whatever it takes to convince them to become his personal muse.

an unexpected mentor ; he was not built for politics, that had been clear from the start and the hammer had been brought down on the matter the day it was decided that giulio was better suited for the church, leaving francesco to what he was truly born to do. still, the present situation calls for smart decision making, ones that are made in a union of heart and mind, something franci isn't particularly used to doing. in the midst of the mess, somehow, a kind-hearted or an ill-intentioned person approached francesco de medici, hoping to assist the young and instinctive man in his path to becoming more centered, or at least appearing so for the time needed.

[vevivos]

The last time we visited Soar Mill Cove, it was a very different experience for us. Grace was 8 years old and, as a result, we were able to do things a little bit differently. Meals were a bit quieter and we had a little more free rein to do what we wanted.

This time around, we able to look at our stay from a different angle. Taking a small child away isn’t really a holiday. A break from the old routine is though – and the staff and accommodation at Soar Mill Cove, a luxury hotel in Devon, take all of this into account.

Family Friendly Rooms at Soar Mill Cove Hotel 

We were appointed the Makepeace Suite. It felt like quite an honour to have the room which had the name of the proprietors on it. We were impressed by the layout and amount of space we had. As you entered, there was a long hallway which stretched out to your left and directly in front of you was the children’s bedroom which had two single beds and a cotbed in the corner.

As you walked down the hallway, there were two large walk-in cupboards on your right which contained extra pillows and blankets and a safe. The next door on your right was a large bathroom and ahead of you was the main bedroom with a large Queensized bed, a coffee table with a bowl of fruit, sofa (which I believe was also a bed), a dressing table and high unit which had tea and coffee making facilities on the top of it (sensibly out of small fingers reach!). There was also a wall-mounted television and patio doors which took you onto your own private section of the gardens with patio furniture and a couple of loungers.

Take a look at my Facebook Live video to see the layout in full:

Or watch our video to take a full look around the hotel:

Dining with Children at Soar Mill Cove

Despite the fact that Soar Mill Cove have two AA Culinary Excellence rosettes, they are extremely accommodating of families and small children in their restaurant.

You can choose for your children to have high tea in the cafe between 5 and 6pm or children can eat in the restaurant from 6pm and choose 2 courses from the menu if dinner is inclusive.  Children under 14 are not allowed in the restaurant after 8.45pm.

We opted to eat at 6.30pm both evenings. It was a little drawn out for Rex but we managed to keep him going and, because we were out of our normal routine anyway, he didn’t seem to mind.

The Food

I can distinctly recall the food from last time around – because it was so good. They didn’t disappoint this time either. There is a supplement for some items on the menu and, because I wanted to try the scallops, I opted to pay that on the second night.

Here are some of the dishes which we all tried.

Jens Gin gravlax with dill, horseradish cream and baby capers on toasted sourdough

Crab bisque with brandy and tarragon and gruyere toast

Salcombe Scallops Pan roasted with slow cooked pork belly, parsnip puree and parsnip crisps

English Asparagus with Parma Ham and Hollandaise Sauce

Handpicked Salcombe cracked crab claw linguini with chili, parsley and lemon

Cornish hake with parmesan and herb crunch, spring onion creamed potatoes, £23.00 rainbow chard and white wine butter sauce

Braised ox cheek with potato puree, shallots, bacon, honey roasted heritage carrots and red wine jus

Confit leg of Creedy Carver duckling, baby kalettes, gratin dauphinoise, caramelised apple and mixed peppercorn sauce

Fillet of Pork Tenderloin wrapped in Pancetta with Apples, Black Pudding, Peppercorn Sauce and Gratin Dauphinoise

Devonshire sausages with mashed potatoes and gravy (Childrens Menu)

Fish Goujons with chips and peas (Childrens Menu)

Sticky toffee pudding with butterscotch sauce and vanilla bean ice cream

Sharp Lemon Tart with Lemon Meringue Ice Cream

Rich chocolate tart with pistachio ice cream, mascarpone cream and chocolate sauce

Strawberry and raspberry pavlova, first created by the original Mrs Makepeace, a trained pastry Chef, for Audrey Hepburn

I have to admit that I did find all the food quite pricey. It is a 2 rosette AA restaurant but I felt that they could have been a little more thoughtful with the children’s menu where the main courses were £12 each.

Breakfast

Breakfast was a leisurely affair. There were plenty of juices, cereal, toast and warm croissants on offer with homemade marmalade and jam. You could also order a full Devonshire breakfast, a Veggie breakfast, smoked kippers or mackerel as well as a bacon or sausage sandwich and boiled egg and soldiers.

Other Facilities

When we visited, it was sunny on the first day and then a bit overcast on the second and third days. However, there is plenty to do at Soar Mill Cove, whatever the weather.

Firstly there is a games room and play area neatly tucked away at the back of the hotel near the car park. I say play area, there is only a little slide and outdoor playset for children. There is also a hut housing a pool table, box of Duplo bricks and a dartboard. Definitely somewhere to hang out on a rainy day.

There is a great indoor pool for the whole family to use, complete with non-slip mats around the edge. You are provided with towels in your room especially for the pool so no need to use your room or beach towels. Connected to the pool is a Beauty Spa. I was supposed to review some treatments but, alas, this wasn’t to be. Soar Mill Cove sound like they have had their fair share of bad luck with therapists. A new one was due to start just after we left so I do hope it is working out for them.

There is also an outdoor tennis court and small children’s playground adjacent to the hotel as well as plenty of outside space to run around in.

On top of this, there is a lovely large lounge which holds books, magazines, a chess board and a number of other board games.

Extra Touches

There are many little extra touches to be found at Soar Mill Cove. On arrival you are given a voucher for a cream tea which Ross, Grace, Rex and I took in the lounge once we had settled in. It was a very relaxing place to sit and look at the beautiful view. Once we had finished, Grace and Ross had a game of chess whilst I pushed Rex around in his pushchair (hoping he would have a sleep!).

Cream tea with a seaview here at @soarmillcovehotel and already feeling very at home being back here

A post shared by Victoria Welton (UK Blogger) (@vicwelton) on Jun 9, 2018 at 7:48am PDT

If you have a dog (or dogs), they can also holiday at Soar Mill Cove. All you need to do is ask for a dog-friendly room.

There are tea and coffee making facilities in the room but you have access to fresh milk which is put out on reception every evening.

There is a free DVD library with plenty of films available.

Things to Do in the Local Area

Staying at Soar Mill Cove means that you have plenty of activities on your doorstep. Whilst we were there we paid a visit to the National Marine Aquarium which was just an hours drive away in Plymouth.

Attending the shark talk at @nationalmarineaquarium Spot the shark, stingrays and turtle!

A post shared by Victoria Welton (UK Blogger) (@vicwelton) on Jun 10, 2018 at 3:03am PDT

There is also the local seaside town of Salcombe, where you can take the South Sands Ferry and, on arrival at South Sands Beach, you will be met by the famous ‘sea tractor’ which travels out in the water to greet you.

Soar Mill Cove is also situated on the beautiful SW Coast path. It is quite a trek down to the Cove from the hotel so we didn’t do it this time. We highly recommend it though. There are plenty of maps and details about local walks in your room.

If you are going on a day trip, you are also able to order picnics in advance. Starting at £15 per person , we couldn’t really justify the expense – but great if you want to push the boat out (possibly, literally!) for a special occasion.

For more details of what is local then take a look at the Soar Mill Cove website.

Regular Visitors

During our last stay I spoke to a man who was a regular. This time around I did the same with another by the name of John. He and his extended family all arrange regularly to meet up at the Cove. Their last night was our first. We first spoke to him whilst we were having our cream tea in the lounge and he was full of praise for the property and staff.  He and his family also sat next to us at dinner and all of them were clearly enjoying themselves. It is heartening to see that Soar Mill Cove is so loved by so many.

Why Visit?

There is such a sense of ‘family’ when you walk through the door at Soar Mill Cove. They clearly have longevity with their staff which, to me, is always a good sign. It says something when the pot-washer has worked his way up to hotel manager.

The staff are all friendly and welcoming and make sure you feel comfortable. The location is clean and tidy and you never feel that the children should be seen and not heard.

It isn’t easy to balance luxury with family when it comes to hotel stays – but I am pleased to say that I believe Soar Mill Cove have got it just right.

Soar Mill Cove still have rooms available during the summer holidays. For more details, please visit the Soar Mill Cove Hotel website. Soar Mill Cove Hotel are also on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

We were provided with a two-night stay at Soar Mill Cove Hotel in Devon in return for this review. Please note that all words, images and opinions have been formed by the owner of this blog and have not been influenced in any way. Please do not reproduce any of the content or images on this post without prior agreement from Verily Victoria Vocalises.

  A Family Stay at Soar Mill Cove, a Luxury Hotel in Devon The last time we visited Soar Mill Cove, it was a very different experience for us. Grace was 8 years old and, as a result, we were able to do things a little bit differently.