End of June/Beginning of July

The 26th of June was our wedding anniversary! 21 years! Yes our parents really did let some children get married, how terrible of them! We didn't have massive plans but Lee ordered a record he wanted and I asked for another watch. I have a fancy Olivia Burton watch that Lee's dad and stepmam bought me for my 40th, but I wanted another one as well. I was looking on Next and liked these RSPB ones so Lee went for the one with kingfishers on it. He ended up ordering it to our old house so had to go back there to get it! He did get to speak to the neighbours though.

I met up with Gillian for brunch on that day; we went to Holme Coffee House in Penistone which I love. I had veggie sausage, avocado, cheese and egg in a sandwich which isn't exactly on their menu (it's two sandwiches squashed together) but I've had it a few times. I'm sure we had cake as well but I'm not sure what we had. 

It was so hot so Lee and I decided to go to the cinema. He wanted Nandos so we went there first. I had a mushroom wrap I think. Then we headed across to the cinema to watch Toy Story 5. It was so cool in there it was amazing! We both really liked the film, too. 

On Saturday we went to my mum's. Her little part of her street has a 'festival' every year and this year Lee and I went. First of all we were all at Mike's house and he did a barbecue so we had veggie burgers. Then my mum's favourite local band The Broken Amps came to play a little set on some spare grass that there is. They were really good. Then we all went to Richard's where he did curry or gyros so we ate well there as well! The England match was on so some people were watching that but I was just chatting to my cousin K and my mum and stepdad. I didn't get any photos that I'm happy posting, sorry! 

The following week I had a normal busy week including a trip to the hospital for an x ray on my painful wrist which turns out not to be broken but is still painful at times. I worked - I have a big new client and I was working a lot in June and July to get things done for me - and then on Friday I went to Glossop to meet up with my friend Helen.

It's about halfway between the two of us and it's a nice drive from mine so I set off nice and early. I parked on the street and went into a couple of shops. Helen arrived just after me and we went into the outdoor market where there were some nice stalls including a fruit and veg stall where we both bought delicious strawberries. We went into the market hall which is now run as a food kitchen, and we got an iced coffee each. We sat outside to eat it - still so hot - and then decided to order food and keep sitting there. We didn't really owe anyone anything! I went for a mezze platter which was delicious. We chatted until about 2pm when Helen needed to go and make sure she could pick up her youngest in time. We got a picture just before we said goodbye!

The watch Lee bought me for our anniversary, I've worn it every day since I think!

My sandwich at Holme Coffee House. Now they've moved they have aircon upstairs but even that couldn't really cope with the heat

Lee and I in Nandos on our anniversary

My mezze platter in Glossop

And finally Helen and I! 

Little Trip to Hebden Bridge

On the 18th of June I went to Hebden Bridge to look catsit for my friend Janet's cat Missy. I met Janet through blogging like fifteen years ago and we've met a few times. She had asked for a catsitter and I fancied a night or two in Hebden Bridge so said yes. I had work and then a visit to the dentist on the Thursday, and then I ate tea with Lee before I set off. Missy miaowed at me so I fed her as soon as I arrived and then sat down to chill. I watched some Poirot on Netflix and did some of my cross stitch and otherwise just hung out with myself.

Janet's spare room is very comfortable so I slept well except for Missy screaming for food. I fed her about 7am and went back to sleep for a bit, haha. In the morning I rested for a bit and then drove into the town centre and parked. I walked hither and thither looking in all the shops. I had arranged to meet my friend Ava for lunch but she had something to do first so I had time to wait. I had a coffee and bought a book in one of the charity shops but otherwise didn't buy much.

I went to Leila's Kitchen to wait for Ava as I had had it recommended as good for veggie food, and as Ava is vegan that worked out for both of us. I read my book while I was waiting, and when she arrived we ordered. I had hummus and falafel and a thing that was like Persian tzatziki (that's what the menu said!) and lots of bread. It was really good. I then had a piece of coffee and walnut cake. It was really hot in the cafe but it was in the beginning of the heatwave so it wasn't surprising. 

When we'd eaten I took Ava back to Todmorden where she lives and then went back to Janet's. I watched some more TV and read my book, but wasn't sure what to do for my tea. I could have ordered something but I wasn't enamoured by any of the offerings on Just Eat. I've heard that Woody's Pizza is really good so I got back in the car and drove down to it. It was SO busy so I placed my order but had about forty minutes to wait so I went round to a cocktail bar and had a drink while I was waiting. 

The pizza was just mushroom but it was delicious! I enjoyed it. I hung out with Missy some more and watched more Poirot. (It's on Netflix! Go watch!) I wasn't late to bed which Missy was glad about it. It had been a lovely day though!

In the morning I had a shower and then went into the centre for one last time to get an ice cream. I would have had one the day before but I was full after lunch so didn't. I ate it sitting in the car before driving home. My mum and stepdad were at mine when I got there because my stepdad was helping Lee build the catio for our cats. It looks so good and they are loving it! 

Looking down into the river off the bridge in the town centre

The graffiti of Sylvia Plath, as is tradition. I also love the little Moomin next to her

Looking at the bridge

My lunch

And my cake

The book I was reading, which was good

And my ice cream on Saturday morning

Busy Weekend

I had a busy weekend in mid June which necessitated three trips across Woodhead Pass, fortunately before it was closed because of the wildfires, which as I'm writing this still aren't quite under control. It's a faff to go over the M62 from my new house, plus I really hate that motorway and much prefer Woodhead.

On the Friday Sam and I had tickets to see Jesse Malin. We've seen him a bunch of times and really enjoyed him, so we wanted to go again. In 2023 he had a spinal stroke which has paralysed his bottom half, so we weren't sure if he would ever tour in the UK again. He has had a lot of rehab and he can now stand up thanks to some braces on his lower legs. Even though he can't feel them! It's madness. So we were excited to see him again. 

We met at about 4pm at a coffee place and had a drink and then went over to Viet Shack for food. There was tons of veggie choices but I went for fake chicken loaded fries with a peanut type sauce. It was nice. I think we shared some veggie spring rolls, too. And I had a delicious mocktail, I can't remember what was in it but it was good. 

We walked over to the venue and Sam queued up for us. She had emailed for access but no one had replied and in fact access was really rubbish and I ended up complaining to the venue about it. But we got in eventually and were about six rows back from the front which gave us a great view. Jesse was great - he stood up for about four songs and sat down for the rest which is fine of course. He played a ton of his own songs, and a cover of The Pogues and a cover of The Clash like he usually does. He was enthusiastic and told all his stories. It was a lot of fun. 

I got home and to bed, and then got up quite early the next morning to go with Lee to Stockport Zine Fair. We went last year and had a great time so I was pleased to get a table again this year. We arrived in good time and got set up but it turned out we had forgotten the new badges and stickers I had got made so that was a bit annoying. My prints sold well though, which was good! 

I bought some zines and traded a bunch too. I also bought these Lord of the Rings cat stickers, I love them so much. We decided to not stay in Stockport for tea but we did get some donuts from a stall outside before we set off home. We just chilled out when we got home because zine fests are tiring!

On Sunday I had a quiet morning before setting off for Glossop to meet my friend Amy. She couldn't meet until 2pm so I went a bit earlier and had a sandwich in About Thyme by myself, reading my book, before she arrived. We got cake and coffee when she arrived and sat chatting until about 3pm, when About Thyme closes. So we went round to The Lounge and sat outside on the patio which was lovely as it was nice and sunny. I just had a drink as I wasn't hungry, but Amy had some chips. We left about 5pm, it wasn't enough time with one of my oldest and best friends! 

Mocktail in Viet Shack

And my loaded fries

Jesse's first song, as he was standing

And later on, when he was sitting down. His backing musicians sounded great too

It was a really good night

The book I was reading. It's really good, it's about an Irish woman with an abusive and manipulative husband, and about how she leaves him. I really recommend it

My table all set up in Stockport

Very cute cat stickers

Donuts with ice cream and chocolate sauce, I bloody love donuts

All the zines I bought or traded

Coffee cake in About Thyme - it's a really cute cafe in Glossop and I've been a couple of times

Amy and I just before we said goodbye on Sunday afternoon

Day Trip in Sheffield

On the Sunday when Lucinda was visiting I had thought we could go to Sheffield for lunch and a wander about, so we decided to do that. But I also knew that the UK Aids quilt was in Wakefield and was leaving that day, so I suggested that we went to see that first. It was a bit stupid to drive north to Wakefield and then south to Sheffield but it was worth it. 

The quilt was amazing to see, it was so emotional. I took photos of the panels that were about famous people, but otherwise didn't. I also took a photo of a panel that was covered at the request of the family, which shows that even now there is a stigma about dying of Aids. I also liked the panel dedicate to South Asian victims. I'm really glad we bothered to go. 

We (me, Lee and Lucinda) got in the car and headed to Sheffield. We parked near City Hall because there are several disabled spaces there and they're really central. We walked through to the Cambridge Collective because by this point it was lunchtime. It was a good idea to go there because it meant we could each have what we wanted. Lee had a jerk chicken burger and Lucinda had Pad Thai. I had pumpkin katsu loaded fries, and a bao bun which was basically the same thing, which I hadn't realised in the descriptions, so I got a takeaway box and took the bao bun home to eat the next day. I also had a Pimms which was lovely, so summery!

We went for a walk round the shops near Cambridge St, and ended up going as far as the Devonshire Green although not much was open round there. Lucinda was hoping to find a piercing place that was open and I probably would have got another ear piercing alongside her, but we couldn't find one. 

We went into the Chocolate Bar for hot chocolate and cake. I think I had mint flavoured but I can't remember now. We left Lucinda not long after that so she could walk down to the train station and we could get home as I was very tired from the day before and needed to rest. Lucinda and I had used the photo booth in Cambridge Collective - it's near the Korean food booth and the photos are so cute. I have of course put them up on the mirror in my craft room alongside a bunch of other photos of me and my friends! 

Some info on the way in

A panel for Freddie Mercury

And another one

The covered up panel

A panel for Mark Ashton. By the way did you know that the Reform council in Durham refused to give money to Durham Pride for their event, so the miners donated like £10,000 to them. A perfect example of why we all need to stand together (and a reflection of what happened in 1984 between LGSM and the miners). It made my heart happy to read

And a panel for Keith Haring

My delicious lunch. The fries were much more filling than I anticipated

Caramel shortbread that I had alongside my hot chocolate

And finally the very cute photobooth photos

As always, I'll be waiting in the photobooth at the underground station...

Day Trip in York

On the 6th of June I went to York to meet my friend Lucinda. She lives in Edinburgh now but wanted to see our new house so we found a weekend for her to come down and we decided to meet in York. Lucinda wanted to see Operation Mincemeat at the theatre there so we booked tickets ages ago. We decided to meet at 11 so I set off after a shower. I got there in good time and parked in a disabled space outside Cliffords Tower which had no time limit on it so it was ideal. I sat there as Lucinda arrived by train and then walked round because she wanted to put her bag in my car. 

We walked through Coppergate and up the Shambles. We of course ignored the Harry Potter shops (no transphobia for us, thanks!) and then went into the Shrine of St Margaret Clitherow. It's one of my favourite places in York and I love her story, but last time I was in York it was locked so I couldn't have a look! So I was glad to visit her briefly. Her mummified hand is in the convent on Blossom Street and I believe you can see it, although you have to make an appointment. Maybe one day I'll do that.

The queue for York Ghost Merchants was already soooo long so I was glad we weren't going there! We went into the Portal Bookshop which is the queer bookshop in York. I bought one book, one by Alex Gino that I hadn't yet read, so I was very reserved. We went upstairs and had a hot drink in the cafe, which was lovely but a bit cold. 

Lucinda had found that there was a ghost craft fair on at St Sampsons so we had a wander in there. There were tons of stalls and a lot of ghosts of different types. It was a really cut fair! I bought a couple of birthday presents for Sam and some handmade fudge. I'm glad Cinders found this because it was really cute!

She wanted to go in the Gay Shop so we headed to Parliament St. I was a bit tired by this time so sat outside the shop. I could have gone and joined Lucinda but then I would probably have spent more money so it wasn't terrible that I didn't. I think she bought some badges but I'm not sure what. 

By this time it was lunchtime so we had dithered a bit on where to go but eventually settled on Oscar's. It is one of my favourite places in York and has been for nearly twenty five years! It has moved since I first knew about it, but it's still great. I had nachos with veggie chilli and it was great! 

We weren't sure what to do after lunch but then I suggested we go to the York Chocolate Story. I've been past it a zillion times but have never been in. Jacqui has and she said it was cool, so we thought we would go. It is a tiny bit expensive for what you get but I guess that is the York premium, so it's fine. There are tours every half an hour and we had just missed one so we sat for a bit to wait for the next. There's a cool shop which we looked round but didn't buy anything before the tour. 

The tour is really cool and accessible and I think they did so well at making it so. There's a lift up and in each room of the tour there's a bench or other seating, so I sat down quite a bit. There's stuff about the history of chocolate itself and the history of chocolate in York - Frys, Terrys, Rowntrees, etc. I knew some of the info already just because I lived there for three years but it didn't detract from the tour. For instance, I used to live near the Nestle factory - it always smelt of chunky kitkats - and I know that the swimming pool near there was built specifically to give the workers somewhere to exercise. 

In each room there is something to try, and as Lucinda is lactose intolerant the tour guide provided something different for her each time. So that was good! At the end you can decorate a lollipop and I was really impressed her. The tour guide asked if I wanted a seat, and I did, so she moved a chair over to the lollipop area for me. There were two girls in hijabs on our tour so she asked them if they needed halal toppings for their lollipops, which they did. And of course there were lactose free things for Lucinda - her lollipop was dark chocolate whereas mine was white. 

At the very end there's a demo of someone making chocolates and he made caramels and we could try some that he had made earlier. There were some left over from the previous tour - and only seven of us - so there was loads left over and the man encouraged us to take some. So I did! I also bought some goodies in the shop to share with Lee.

We sat in the square outside for a while watching a street performer there, and then we weren't sure what to do. It was about 5pm and the theatre didn't open until 7pm so we decided to go to Caffe Nero. Lucinda wanted something else to eat - her lunch wasn't very big, unlike mine - but I just had a coffee. We sat there until about 7pm and then walked over to the theatre. 

The musical was great! I knew what the general story was but not too closely, so I was happy to learn. It was done so well and was really clever. I would definitely see it again. 

When it was done we walked back to the car and came home. I gave Lucinda a quick tour of the house before bed! 

The shrine of St Margaret Clitherow on the Shambles

Hot chocolate in Portal

Outside This Shop Is So Gay, I love it. I spent quite a bit in there the last time I was in York!

Nachos for lunch!

With our lollipops after the Chocolate Story tour

Rainbow umbrellas on Coppergate, as we were on the way into Caffe Nero

And at the theatre before the show started

Beginning of June

A few things from the beginning of June which don't warrant their own post but which I'll write about briefly. Actually, on the 30th of May Lee and I headed out ...somewhere. I can't remember where and I haven't written it down in my diary. I think we probably went into Barnsley but I don't know. But I did wear this new dress that I got on Vinted. It's similar to the Topsy Curvy and Carolina Dress Room ones but it doesn't have a label in it. I LOVE the leopard print pattern and it's just so cute. I wore it with handmade earrings from Loud Mary which are also leopard print and loud and which I love a lot too. I have worn this dress a lot already! 

On the 3rd of June I went into Barnsley to see Chloe and Laura. It was a while since we had been to Barnsley and it was better for me as it meant I didn't have to travel far. We met for coffee then had a quick walk round some shops. I bought three books in The Works but not sure I bought anything else. We went for lunch in the Market Kitchen. I had a halloumi kebab and chips from the Greek place in there I think. We then just sat for ages chatting at a table. It wasn't busy so we weren't taking up space. We finally said goodbye about 3pm probably. 

On the Thursday I went to Sheffield to meet my friend Philippa for lunch. She had suggested Mandala Cafe down on Chesterfield so after I had been working in the morning I set off to meet her. I've been working loads recently - I have a big new client which is great because I am earning lots of money - but it has meant that I have been working a lot more. It's been tiring!

I had the thali with Pippa because I can rarely resist a thali - I just love having little bits of all kinds of things to eat. It was all tasty. I also had a brownie for pudding. Pippa and I chatted until around 3.30 I think, and then I had to go to Barnsley for an x ray on my wrist. I've been having problems with it for months and had seen the physio about it and he wanted me to have an x ray on it. My appointment was at 5.05 but I was worried about being late due to Sheffield and Barnsley traffic, and Lee couldn't take me as he also had to go to the hospital at about 4.30. I actually wasn't at the hospital - my appointment was at one of those NHS centres in town and city centres so I was actually in the middle of Barnsley at the Glass Works. This worked out way better for me as I could park more easily. 

I was there really early and had my book with me, fully prepared to sit and wait, but no sooner had I checked in than they were calling me through. There were two x ray technicians and they joked that they had been bored for a bit so were glad I was there earlier. It was great because it meant I was home before 5pm and could wait for Lee.

We headed off to Sheffield again - do keep up, it was a busy day - for Lee to play his first gig with his new band, Lax. His old band, This Is Not A Drill, split up because the drummer has moved to York, so Lee has formed a new band with his bass player, Brian, Leah, who he was in a band with ten years ago, and their friend Joel who they've all known forever. Leah is singing which she hasn't done before so she was nervous. We got to the Lughole and I sat reading my book and talking to Brian's partner Lisa. And drinking Hooch. I was a little bit young to drink Hooch in the late 90s but my mum loved it! And I have to say I like it too. 

Lee's band sounded great, I enjoyed it. We talked to a bunch of other people and stayed for the other bands too. We left at about 10pm I guess. We stopped at Burger King on the way home to get tea for both of us. It was fun! I was wearing my 'Sometimes antisocial, always antifascist' t shirt and these 'nope' earrings. I don't remember where they came from but I was loving wearing them! 

Brunch with Lee I think in Barnsley? I think it was in the Lounge but I'm really not sure now

Ridiculous leopard print dress! I love it so much. It's so soft to wear, too

Handmade earrings

Halloumi kebab in the Market Kitchen with Chloe and Lolly

All three of us shortly before we said goodbye

The books I bought in The Works

Oh and in among all of this I managed to finish cataloguing my zines! I started this before we moved house but ran out of time so chucked a bunch more in a box and have then been working on getting them all sorted. This is what over a thousand zines looks like! I got rid of lots and got them all nicely sorted into sizes. This area in our house is on the middle landing in a bit of a random area. On the other side is a bookshelf filled with my crafting magazines, and above these zines are a bunch of my ornaments and crystals on display. It's a nice use of an area that would otherwise be a bit forgotten. It's just outside Lee's office/one of the spare rooms

Thali I had with Philippa. Part of it on the right was like a deconstructed onion bhaji and it was the best bit I think

Brownie, I do love a brownie

My NOPE earrings, haha

Hooch in the Lughole later on

And finally Lee's band on 'stage' - Lee is on the left there to the right of the speaker stack