Books and Films of the Month - June

I'm so far ahead in scheduling that this post is going to be posted right at the end of August, when it's the 3rd of July as I write this. It doesn't bother me, I know there'll be times when I've got less to say, but this year has been really busy so far which results in me having a lot to write about!

As every other month in 2017, my book reviews are all over here on my book blog. I read some excellent books in June, including The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas and Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe.

As for films, here's what I watched in June:

The Damned United - I'd never seen this and it was on iPlayer. I liked it and Michael Sheen was really good

The Little Prince - I didn't even finish this as I didn't like it much. It looks good, though

See No Evil - The Moors Murders. Not the most cheerful of films, obviously, but it is superbly acted by all involved

Into Thin Air - Death on Everest. I'm morbidly fascinated with people who climb Everest and the fact that so many people die while doing it. This is a bad film but interesting

I'd never seen Flashdance so I decided to, I like films about dancing but lord this was bad

T2: Trainspotting - Sam and I watched this at the same time and emailed each other as we did. I love the original film and I felt this was a good sequel. Really kitsch and very tongue in cheek in parts. I really liked it!

Matilda - I was browsing Netflix and came across this. I've seen it before but not for years, it isn't as good as the book but I liked it. 

And finally, I watched this film about Johnny Cash which was on YouTube and was a good look at his life. 

Weekend Trip - Day 2

We woke up to no rain, and just a bit of cloud, which was good. We had breakfast in the hotel which was fair for what it was, and then we checked out and went to Lytham pier, where there was an amusement arcade.

We walked on the beach for a bit first, walking under the pier. The sea was still pretty far away, but the weather was nice. Then we walked down the pier right to the end. Then we played in the amusements. It was early so the games were all free so we played on loads of them, including loads of ones I've not played on before. We won loads of tickets and swapped them for stickers and sweeties like ten year olds. It was a decent cute amusement arcade if you're ever round that way.

Under the boardwalk//down by the sea!

Panorama view

The pier

Very cute mini golf, Lee would've played it if he'd been there!

Lytham beach

Me and Jacqui playing air hockey

Trainer pals

Selfie on the end of the pier

Then we drove up from Lytham to Blackpool. We drove alllll the way up the prom almost all the way to Fleetwood, and stopped on the front there to look at the sea a bit. The sun was properly coming out by now. 

I know these were cement blocks but they look like dead AT-AT Walkers to me!

Sunshine selfie, obviously. Did I show you my new sunglasses? I'm in love with them

Sam and Jacqui sitting on the prom

We drove back into Blackpool itself and decided to go up the tower. None of us had ever been (I've only been to Blackpool a couple of times ever) and if we booked online it was only £10.50 each. We parked just behind the tower and walked through the shopping centre to get to it. 

The first part of the visit is a 3D cinema experience. I really struggled with 3D because of my glasses, but this didn't last too long and was pretty fun. Then we went in a big lift and right up the tower! There's an extra part that you can walk up to, but as I'm pretty scared of heights I didn't do that. Sam and Jac did, though. There's a view all the way round the tower which is pretty cool. 

In the cinema waiting for the show to start

Jacqui and Sam on the glass floor which I, in no way shape or form, wanted to walk on. I stood very close to the edge but not on it

Looking down at the ground from the very top

Looking out to the sea

This was a whole load of comedy sayings like 'suits you sir' on the ground, it was pretty cool

Looking up the coast towards Fleetwood

Out across Blackpool

Down the coast towards Lytham

Just out the back of the tower. My car is in this picture! The winter gardens are in the middle back, I've been to the punk festival Rebellion in there a couple of times

Better view of the winter gardens

Once we'd been up the tower and in the gift shop we went back outside where it was really warm, and decided it was nearly lunch time. I love this photo looking up at the tower. 

We saw this heritage tram which was just gorgeous. 

All along the seafront were these horses and carriages that you could hire, I kind of liked them

They've done loads of work on Blackpool prom over the past decade and it really shows, it looks good and really pedestrian friendly

We bought fish and chips and sat on the prom eating them in the sunshine

Unfortunately I managed to drop half of mine and the seagulls descended, honestly it was like The Birds. We moved

Then we decided to get on the heritage tram and go up and down the prom. It was really cute! 

Selfie with Sam's phone on the tram

The ferris wheel and the tower in the same shot from the front window of the tram

After the tram we went into Coral Island which is a huge amusement arcade, it was packed. We played a bunch more games and got more prizes. So much fun!

Then we got ice creams and ate them on the prom. They were huge! 

Sam's photo

By this time it was about 4pm so we decided to head home. We had had such a good day. We drove home with the windows wide, playing rubbish 00s pop music loudly!

Bye bye tBlackpool, until next time!

Weekend Trip - Day 1

My friend Sam was 30 in June but it was while I was on holiday so I hadn't had chance to celebrate with her. So Jacqui and I planned a surprise for her - we decided we would pick her up from work at 4pm on Saturday, drive to Lytham St Annes, spend the evening there, and then go to Blackpool on the Sunday. Jacqui planned it and booked everything - I just showed up to drive!

We set off and got to Lytham at about 6pm, where it was lashing it down with rain. We were staying in the Carlton, right on the promenade, so checked in and chilled out in there for a bit. I had bought and made Sam thirty necklaces - she's big on necklaces - so she had all those to unwrap. She liked them all! Then we got changed and headed out in the rain to Greek Flame Taverna. It was really busy, but cosy. The food was really yummy, and there was loads of it. The service wasn't great, though. It just seemed to take a while. We had shared starters and a main each, and then we got the bill and headed back to the hotel for wine and cupcakes.

We went down the front and couldn't see the sea, but I wanted to get out of the car and prove we'd been on the beach. It was raining though so we didn't stay long. We got into our pyjamas in the hotel and watched rubbish TV until bedtime!

What thirty necklaces wrapped up looks like (and a copy of And she Was by Talking Heads on vinyl)

Sam surrounded by packages

Halfway through, she's getting there

Mirror selfie in the hotel on our way out

Jac and me in the restaurant - this is Sam's photo

The beach... The sea is there somewhere...

Beach selfie just before we called it a day!

Thrifty Gift Swap - Summer Edition!

You might remember that Janet runs a Christmas gift swap where the aim is to be pretty thrifty and to send secondhand or handmade gifts. Well, I had a hankering to do a swap so I asked her if we could do a summer edition of the thrifty swap. I had the idea then pretty much left Janet to organise so thank you very much for doing that, love. I think we had around fifteen participants including some new people, which is lovely!

I sent my parcel to Natasha and in it I included some Matalan goodies for the summer, a copy of one of my favourite books, and one of my zines. I received a parcel from Gemma, and I thought I'd post about my lovely gifts. I really like doing swaps like this - what I sent was about £15 including postage, so it's an inexpensive way to get a surprise in the post and maybe make a new friend!

My parcel arrived containing these gorgeous presents, aren't they nicely wrapped?

And here's what I got: a handmade glittery R, a notebook for my goals which I'm excited about using, a photo hangin kit, a mini stationery set, and then this gorgeous blue stone necklace that Gemma made. The stones are irridescent and a bit sparkly, I really like them. I'm looking forward to wearing this necklace!

If you'd like to join in the thrifty swap at Christmas, follow me on Twitter @cheaprhyme or Janet @jbistheinitial for more info closer to the time! 

What I Wore June 27th

I went to Huddersfield on the 27th of June to do a batik painting workshop at S2R. It was run by my friend Kim so it was nice to see her. I really enjoyed getting the chance to do batik painting, it was really relaxing too!

Anyway I chucked on this top with my plain black skirt. I had forgotten about this top I think, and I'd definitely forgotten that it had sleeves. Then it came up in Timehop that I wore it in 2013 on holiday, so I thought I'd put it on.The front is really silky and has this gorgeous print on it, while the back is stretchy and plain grey, making this a top that feels really fancy but is super comfortable to wear. I'll definitely wear it more, especially when the sun shines!