Weekend in East Yorkshire - Day 1

On the 24th of March Lee and I headed to East Yorkshire for a weekend away. I had booked us three nights at Withernsea Sands caravan park, which is a Parkdean Resort. We've been to a few of those before and I really rate them - they're pretty cheap and the caravans are really nice and well appointed, and the parks are always clean and nice. People get sniffy about static caravans but I really rate them. We decided to go in March and booked it way back last year some time when there was a sale on. We visited Withernsea back in 2019 so I knew it was nice enough. It turned out to be a lovely relaxing weekend and just what we needed! 

Lee booked the Friday and Monday off so we could have a proper break. We set off quite early and went to The Deep in Hull. I've been before but it was about ten years ago, and Lee's never been. I had pre booked us online which they like you to do. When we went in there was a small queue so we stood in it and when we got to the cashier she saw my walking stick and told us that in future I could go to the front of the queue instead of waiting, and she also offered me the use of a mobility scooter on the way round. This is really useful accessbility information, and I liked that she just offered it to me instead of me having to ask for it. It shows their staff are well trained and I was grateful for the info, even though I didn't need the scooter. The venue is pretty accessible if you are disabled as it's nearly all ramps and there are quite a few seats on the way round. 

We got the lift up to the third floor where the cafe is and also where the exhibits start. We got some lunch first - the menu is very basic but it was basically fine. We then set off round the exhibitiopn. I loved the sharks and the loggerhead turtles the most, but it is all very good and very educational. We finished about 2.30 and set off towards Withernsea. We stopped at Sainsburys on the way to get some food for the weekend. In Withernsea we went for an ice cream and then got soaked as the skies absolutely opened on us walking back to the car!

We checked into the caravan and unpacked a bit before going swimming at 5pm. I had prebooked this online which is really easy and useful to do. The pool was lovely and warm and we had a really nice time just floating about and chilling out. Afterwards I had a shower back at the van and then we had some tea and watched some TV and a film. It was a lovely first day, we were both really glad Lee had taken off the Friday so we could have it as the first day. 

When we were about to set off

My nail polish was this Nails Inc champagne colour, it is really nice! My nails are in really good condition at the moment, I've been using OPI Nail Envy on them and I think you can really tell

I will let my pictures in The Deep just speak for themselves

This rainbow appeared over the sea at Withernsea

And inside the caravan! It was quite cosy once we got the heating on

I snuck this photo of the pool just as we were getting in, it was nice!

And I took this photo of the stars at around 10.30pm

Food Out with Sam in Slaithwaite

On the 22nd of March I went to Slaithwaite to meet Sam for tea. We went to Destination Indian, which I had seen recommended and which has a lot of vegetarian and vegan choices so I was keen to try it. I met Sam in Slaithwaite at about 4.15 and we had a drink in The Commercial first before going across to Destination at 5pm. It's much bigger than it looks from the outside. I liked the decor inside but in the photos there's a huge blue hue on everything, so my food photos didn't come out very well. 

We shared poppadums and dips to start off with, and then I had samosa chaat which I love, and then a paneer curry with a sauce made from cashew nut and fenugreek. It was all incredibly delicious and the plating was really lovely. A few more people came in so there was a nice atmosphere too. I would say the food was really good and would definitely recommend the restaurant if you're in the area. There's plenty of vegetarian and vegan choices - two pages full! We also had a mango lassi each which was delicious. 

Afterwards I drove Sam to the train station as it's up a big hill, and then I drove home listening to You're Wrong About, which is about the only podcast I listen to but I really love it! I was wearing this new flamingo skirt that I bought from Interrobang Art when it was on sale. It's an XXL in the midi length. The size is good on me, it would go much bigger and is very generous. The length is lovely on me too. I wore my Pits and Perverts t shirt which I love. You can't see them but I was wearing my hot pink Snag tights and my Dr Marten boots. Oh and the cardigan is new - it's from Very. I wanted a basic black cardigan and this is perfect - it's not too thick but it is really cosy, I've been wearing it a lot. 

My outfit before I set off. I swear the skirt is flamingos up close!

The decor in Destination before anyone else arrived

This is the second room - it is a big place!

Poppadums and dips - you can see the blue hue on the food so I won't bother showing you anything else

And me and Sam! She had also recently cut her hair like I had, it looks lovely on her!

Afternoon in York with Jacqui

On the 20th of March I went to York to see my friend Jacqui. We had planned to meet for tea but then we decided to meet a bit earlier. I set off after craft club and parked near the bottom of the Shambles which was fine for me. We met at the bottom of the Shambles - although I did take a picture of Whip-Ma-Whop-Ma-Gate on the way there - and then went through Shambles Market to the Portal bookshop. It's an LGBTQ+ bookshop and my mum had mentioned it to me so I wanted to go in. They've got tons of stuff including a lot of sci fi, YA, and fantasy, and a decent amount of crime. I bought two books and a present for Lee which was a pink keyring shaped like a Playstation controller. It's cute!

Then Jac and I joined the queue for the York Ghost Merchant shop. I have two of the ghosts already that I got back in 2021, and I wanted a couple more for myself. I also thought my stepcousin Nirosha would like one for her birthday. So we joined the queue. It was busy for a random Monday afternoon. We queued for around half an hour before we got in. I chose a pale pink and white ghost for Niri and then a mini blue ghost for myself. I paid, and then one of the employees told me to look in some of the cupboards and curios against one wall. I found the white and black ghosts in one cupboard and liked the black ones so much that I had to buy one! Jac bought two too. We weren't in there too long. Then I got some fudge from next door for Nirosha too. 

We walked along then towards the minster. I was considering going in some other shops but didn't. We did walk down Mad Alice lane and through a couple more of the little snickleways that York is full of. We had a cup of coffee and walked a bit further, spotting the back of Pho. I of course love the chain and Jac had never been so we decided to go for tea. We had said we would have an early tea so we headed there. I had summer rolls with peanut sauce and tofu curry, which is what I always get - it's just so delicious that I really like it! 

After tea we walked back to my car together so Jac could get her pottery stuff that I had picked up a few weeks before. I gave her a lift home and actually driving round the inner ring road wasn't too bad. I got to go past York St John where I did my undergrad degree, which I always like to look at. I left Jac's about 6pm and was home 45 minutes later. It was a lovely afternoon and nice to chat to Jac as always!

The entire street is supposedly one of the shortest ever

This is also supposedly one of the oldest buildings in York. It used to be a pub I think but it sells York Gin now. I'll have to go one time!

While queueing on the Shambles for the ghost shop. It used to be the meat market and the buildings really are that close

My blue mini ghost and Nirosha's one in the little photobooth. The whole shop is such a gimmick, but it's also so cute that I can't even be cross about it

Here's the cupboard of black and white ones that look like they're crying. I love them! I chose the little black one just behind the sign at the bottom

Formerly Mad Alice Lane. I'd love to know the story behind this one!

Summer rolls and that peanut sauce which I could literally drink. I wish they sold it

Tofu curry - I love it

Me and Jac - you can see I'm wearing my Lizzo t-shirt

I love the pattern on this wee ghostie

And I LOVE this one, he is so cute!

Mother's Day 2023

I generally do something with my mum on Mother's Day, although I think she was away last year and Lee and I went out with my aunt and grandma instead. I asked her and my stepdad over to ours this year, and then I asked Lee's mam if she and his stepdad would like to come down. We don't often see them so I thought it would be nice. She agreed and they actually went to Harrogate for the night the night before to make a bit of a weekend of it, which was nice for them. 

I tried to get somewhere to do afternoon tea for us but couldn't find anyone to do it - several businesses just didn't even bother getting back to me which I found frustrating. So I decided to order sandwiches from Morrisons for us to pick up on the Sunday morning, and then I ordered cake boxes from a place in Crofton near Wakefield which turned out to be utterly gorgeous. The place is called Betsy's and I would really recommend them if you're close by! 

In Morrisons I also picked up some scones and clotted cream and jam. We got back and finished tidying up to make the house a standard Lee's mam would approve of (I am only joking, but we had tidied up!) just before she and Gary arrived. Then Bev cut my hair! I am suffering from anaemia currently and my hair was getting terrible because of it, so I knew it needed cutting off but I havent had the werewithal to go to the hairdresser to get it done. Lee's mam is a trained hairdresser so she did it for me and it already looks way better! I love it! 

I got changed into my leopard print Boohoo dress that I first wore a few weeks ago. I do really like it! My mum and stepdad arrived and we had some drinks and then lunch. I had ordered a sandwich platter, a vegetarian sandwich platter, some pork sausage rolls and some cheese and onion rolls, and a cheese platter. Then there were the scones and then the beautiful cakes! I had a cupcake which was lovely. It was all nice and everyone agreed, so I'm glad that's what we did. 

Bev and Gary left about 3pm because Gary was working on the Sunday evening, but my mum and stepdad stayed for a while longer and we finished the wine. It was a really nice afternoon and nice for Lee and I to see both our mums!

I had painted my nails using a Mavala polish in Smoky Blue, but it flooded my cuticles terribly and it just wasn't great. Plus it got pillow marks in it two nights in a row which was annoying! But it is a nice colour

My hair before - you can see how thin it was towards the ends 

And here's after! Much better!

The cake boxes from Betsy's - these were £12.50 each which I think is really fair!

There's two cupcakes, a shortbread with icing on, a brownie, a Bakewell tart type thing, and a cupcake with icing on too 

Here's the whole spread! It was well enough for all of us with stuff to take home too. I was using this gorgeous dinner service which I've inherited from my grandma. Caroline and I had split it to begin with but then they got a service from Neil's mum so I ended up with all of this one which I'm pleased about. I have always really liked it

Finally here's my outfit - I do love this dress!