Farmer Copley's with Becky

On the 24th of April I went to Farmer Copley's near Pontefract to meet up with Becky and see the tulip festival. She had visited the pumpkin festival last autumn and was told about the tulip festival so she had asked on Insta if anyone wanted to go with her, and I did! I've heard of the place a ton - a lot of my friends with kids take their kids - but have never been myself. I wasn't even sure where it was! But I followed my satnav and got there just about the same time as Becky.

There's a farm shop and a cafe further down in the space, but for the tulips we were up at the top and we went through a barn and then out into the fields. There are tulips as far as the eye can see! On the right hand side were a bunch of food trucks and tables and so on. On the left are ....tulips. So many tulips. Of all colours. Of all kinds. I didn't even know there were different kinds of tulips! But some are frilly and dainty and look more like peonies!

We frollicked in the tulips, took a ton of photos of ourselves and each other and offered to take pictures of other visitors too. There were some men and families around but mostly there were duos of women like me and Becky, living their best lives and enjoying themselves! It was joyful!

We went and got some lunch about 12.15. Becky went for a jacket potato but I wasn't sure what I wanted. I went off towards a Chai tent, thinking I might get a chai latte, and realised that there they had homemade curry, samosas, and chaat. I love chaat so I of course got that, and it was glorious! Really spicy and delicious. When we had eaten we got a milkshake each too, from Milk From the Hills which is actually really close to me in Penistone and which I've had before.

We went back through the rest of the fields, taking photos of with all the props. The sun was shining and it was actually quite warm - gorgeous! It really added to the day and the whole time was just lovely. Before we left I got some fairground donuts and ate them in the car on my drive home! When I got home Poppy wanted to go into the garden so I let her, and then took some photos of the flowers that have sprung up in my garden too. Not sure what they are, but they are pretty. I got a picture of Poppy in the garden with a dandelion, too. And Becky and I had both bought some tulips at the farm so there's some photos of when they came out, too. 

My dress is from Shein originally but I got it on Vinted. It isn't quite a good fit so I'm not sure if I'll keep it, but I did like it on this day! Here's a thousand photos, they're not in the right order but as there's so many of them I can't be bothered to organise them, sorry! 

Blogger Meet Up in Sheffield

In the middle ish of April I wentto Sheffield to meet up with some blogging friends. The event was organised by Lolly so of course I wanted to show my support for her. Lee took me to Middlewood to get the tram and I walked to Pho where we were meeting. We got seated and soon enough five of us were seated and ordering drinks and then food. 

I went for summer rolls with peanut sauce and spicy tofu curry with rice - and was also asked if I wanted an egg on top of the rice which I definitely did! I've never been asked that before though. Maybe it's new? I know I had a spicy margharita but not sure what else I had. 

When we had finished there we walked round to the Wetherspoons that is near Barker's Pool. I can't remember what it's called. We managed to get a table even though it was really busy, and then we got a better table against the wall. And we drank, of course! I had some pudding a bit later too, and Yemi did. Becky left as she was meeting up with other people, but the rest of us stayed there until about 6pm I think! It was a lot of fun, chatting nonsense as usual. 

I got a tram back to Middlewood where Lee picked me up and then I came home for a lie down! But before I did I got a picture of my dress. It's navy blue with gold stas on and I LOVE it. This was the first chance I had had to read it. I got it from Vinted, I'm not sure where it's from originally. 

Summer rolls. Lolly and I persuaded everyone else to have peanut sauce too, of course. THey should sell jars of it!

Spicy curry with egg on top of the rice

Becky took this in Pho - there's Becky, Debz, me, Lolly, and Yemi. I hadn't met Yemi before so it was really nice to!

Strawberry somethings in Spoons

Pudding which was quite nice

You know I love some blue shit

And finally here's a slightly too light photo of my dress!

Meeting A Friend in Skipton

On the 15th of April I headed to Skipton to meet up with my friend Nathaniel. I've known him online for years and we have met up before but not for ages, so it was beyond time to! We decided on Skipton which I like as a place to go out for the day and which Nathaniel had visited only a couple of weeks before.

I set off in good time but my satnav took me through Bradford where traffic was crawling, so it took me 90 minutes to get there. I would go to Skipton via north Leeds, so that was annoying, but anyway. I got there. Then I couldn't find a parking space, disabled or otherwise, so I ended up parking on double yellow lines which absolutely feels illegal but it is allowed. I was near someone else disabled which made me feel better about it!

Nathaniel and I went into a few shops including the crystal shop in the arcade that I've been in before and really like. I bought a few crystals but nothing outlandish. Then we had lunch in a pancake cafe! I love pancakes so it was very much my jam. I had a savoury crepe with creamy cheesy leeks, which was delicious. I think I had an iced coffee, too - I'm very into them at the moment. 

After lunch we walked up to the museum to have a look around. They have a first folio of Shakespeare's so that was really cool to see. We went in a few more shops and then it was getting on towards 2pm so I needed to go as my parking was running out. We had bought scones from a stall on the market, but I went into a bakery and bought some delicious things to take home too. Then as we were standing outside a woman asked us to hold her bike for a moment while she went in. It was a big, heavy thing so we of course obliged. Then Nathaniel walked me to my car and we said goodbye.

I went home a more sensible way and it didn't take me as long that time, thankfully. I was tired when I got home though! But I had bought a pair of Dr Martens off Nathaniel and couldn't resist trying them on! I will have to wear them in the winter. I had a lie down for a bit before I went out again for book club! 

Leek crepe, delicious

The first folio - they didn't realise it was genuine until not that long ago

Nathaniel and me outside the bakery I think. Skipton has a lot of cute, independent shops and I would really recommend it

And the Dr Martens when I got home!

Tori Amos and Belle & Sebastian

On the 8th of April I went to see Tori Amos in Sheffield with my friend Janet. And then four days later I went to see Belle and Sebastian in Manchester with my friend Sam. So here's a quick post about that week. 

I'm not the world's biggest Tori Amos fan but I like what I've heard by her so when Janet posted asking for someone to go to Tori's Sheffield gig with her, I jumped at the chance. We booked tickets forever ago but all too soon it came round. Janet came to mine first because she wanted to see the new house, so I showed her round and then we set off to Sheffield. We parked at Middlewood and got the tram to City Hall. We went into Pho for food and I had something different to what I normally have! I had veggie spring rolls and tofu rice bowl I think. They were nice but as nice as what I usually have - so lesson learned. 

We walked round to City Hall and easily got in and up to our seats which were right on the left side of the balcony, with such a good view! My friend Stacey was also there so she came to speak to us briefly. The support guy was ....fine. I've heard worse support bands but he wasn't thrilling either.

But Tori was great! I knew she was going to be good but I was blown away. She played two pianos at several points, playing different things on each one. What a talent! She had some backing singers who sounded great too. It was just such a beautiful time, listening to her play and letting the music wash over me. I loved it.

We had a bit of a problem getting back because the trams were stopped, so we got a taxi back to Middlewood, but it was fine. I got back in good time and went to bed! 

That was Wednesday, and on the Friday morning my mum came over to mine. It was the eighteenth anniversary of my dad's death so we had decided to go out for brunch near me. As I went to meet her I realised my blue badge had arrived! It has already made a massive difference to my life which I'll explain in further posts, and I am so glad to have it. We went up into Penistone and did a few errands before we went into Holme Coffee House for food. I had shakshuka which was nice. It was nice to see her and I'm glad we did it. 

The day after, the 11th, we were planning to stay in, but then I realised I needed a new suitcase to go on holiday as both our bigger ones are broken. So I suggested to Lee that we went to Fox Valley to buy a new suitcase from The Range. It's really close to our new house - much easier than going into Barnsley - so we've been going there much more. We got what we wanted in The Range and then walked round to The Old George coffee house for brunch. I do love a brunch! I had vegetarian eggs benedict which came with hash browns on top which were really good. I think I had an iced coffee, too. 

On Sunday I relaxed for most of the day before setting out about 5.30 to Manchester, to meet Sam. We both like Belle & Sebastian and have seen them a few times, although not for ages. They were playing their first two albums in full, one night after the other. Same wanted to go to both but I couldn't afford that, so I said I'd go on Sunday. Jacqui went with her on the Saturday night and they had had a good time too. 

I parked in a disabled space which was only a few yards away from the venue which was great! I met Sam and after not too long we were allowed in as we had access. We were taken up to the balcony in the lift and shown to reserved seats. They had a runner to go to the bar for us which was great too - she was really useful! B&S were absolutely great - really joyful and fun as they always are. I had such a nice time and I'm glad I went even though it had been a really busy few days! 

My food in Pho with Janet

Tori's stage before she came on

Here she is playing two pianos, such talent! 

Taking a bow at the end

Shakshuka in Penistone on Friday

And vegetarian eggs benedict at Fox Valley on Saturday

Belle & Sebastian's video before they came on

And plenty of photos of them playing. It was, like Tori, just joyful to sit and listen to them