Brunch in Todmorden

On the 8th of July I went to Todmorden to meet up with Jade and Ava. I don't think I've mentioned it but I started working for a network of freelance accountants etc last summer. My friend Jade invited me to join and it's meant that I've got more work and more money which is obviously great. Ava mentioned wanting to meet me; she lives in Todmorden so that's about an hour's drive from my house. Jade texted and said they were coming up for the weekend so I thought it would be a good chance for us all to get together. I don't know Jade very well but it was nice to hang out a bit more, and it was lovely to meet Ava for the first time! 

I picked Jade up at 10am and we drove to Ava's and then went to Mr Bean's near Todmorden park. I don't think I've been to Todmorden ever before in my life. The weather was muggy and a bit sunny, so we sat outside at the takeaway bit of the cafe. There were quite a few vegetarian choices, so I went for a veggie breakfast which also came with toast. It was really nice! 

We sat chatting and had another drink, and then went back to Ava's for a bit. I left around 2.30 I think, and my satnav took me a really weird way back (not via Hebden Bridge) but I finally got on the M62 and got home. I was wearing my Star Wars Bohemian Rhapsody t shirt and this black and white checked skirt that I got from the clothes swap in June. I think it's from Asos originally. It's not my usual thing at all but I really like the outfit. 

My breakfast

Ava, Jade, and me, sitting outside 

And here I am when I got home, in my monochrome outfit for the day!

Day Trip to Leeds

The day after Lee and I got back from the Lake District we decided to go to Leeds for the day. As I think I said previously, we had talked about extending the holiday but couldn't find anything cheap enough, so we didn't. But Lee had already booked the day off, so we chatted about it and decided we would go to Leeds for the day, have some lunch and go in a few shops and have a good day together as if we were being tourists still! Lee suggested Leeds and I was fine with that.

I slept in so we didn't set off until gone eleven. We parked in Trinity car park and walked into Trinity and decided to have lunch in the Kitchen there. It's good for us because it meant we could have different things. Lee went for a chicken tikka naanwich and I had a vegan kebab which was SO good. On our way out we went in the photobooth that is in the kitchen and took some photos, I love them so much! 

We walked through Trinity a bit and then outside to Waterstones, and Lee went to Crash Records while I sat on a bench in the sunshine. We went in a few shops and then went to an Italian restaurant for pudding and a drink. It was nice but the service was rubbish (for one, we had to ask for water three times). They brought Lee's ice cream like ten minutes before my pudding so he had to eat it as it was melting rapidly; I wish they had brought them together. I had tiramisu though and it was nice. I also had a negroni sbagliato, which was delicious! 

Lee and I had bought matching haemetite rings in Ambleside and we were both wearing them that day. They're cute, they weren't expensive at all. I am slowly getting Lee into wearing more jewellery! After pudding we came home before we got stuck in rush hour traffic, and relaxed for the rest of the day. I'm glad we bothered to make something of the day, though! 

My view from Trinity Kitchen at lunch time

My vegan kebab, I would really recommend the food truck it came from

The photobooth 

Here's our photos, aren't they cute? 

Walking through Trinity

Matching rings

It's not often you can sit outside in the UK so I was happy to enjoy it while I could

My negroni sbagliato - it was supposedly a 'mistake' by a bartender but if it's wrong I don't want to be right!

And finally my tiramisu

Holiday in the Lake District - Day 7

We weren't sure what we wanted to do on the last day of our holiday, so we didn't get up early and mooched around for a bit. Then Lee suggested we went to Ambleside, which was about half an hour's drive from where we were in Braithwaite. We got there about midday and went in a few shops before going into a pub for lunch. It was two courses for about £12 so the food wasn't amazing but it did taste nice! I had garlic mushrooms and then... I can't remember! And I don't think I've taken a picture of it either! 

We went in quite a few shops and I bought some fancy cheese. We got back in the car about 2pm and drove up Kirkstone Pass, which I can remember going up before. It's a really high pass with lots of lovely views of the hills. We stopped at the top to take photos and to look down on Windermere. I'm glad we bothered to drive up it even if it did take us a bit out of our way. 

We drove back to Keswick via Ullswater, which was again very beautiful. We parked n Keswick and had ice cream from the sweet shop on the main street. We hadn't had any ice cream all week and it was lovely to sit in the sun and eat some! I had strawberry and vanilla. We drove down to the marinas near Keswick which are on the side of Derwent Water just to have a look, before heading back to the cottage. 

We went swimming for the last time. I do like having a pool on holiday and I'm glad we used ti so much. We stayed in in the evening and packed most of our stuff. We honestly had such a nice week, I just wish the weather had been nicer and I wish I had had chance to go paddling or swimming in one of the lakes. We did a lot and I genuinely needed to rest when we got home! On the Thursday we got home about 12.30 and were really glad to get home to see the kittens! 

The stream in Ambleside

The other way

This building now belongs to the National Trust. It is an art gallery apparently, but it wasn't open when we went

Further up the stream, to where there was a shop selling rocks and gemstones that I spent some money in 

Looking up one of the main streets

And another

This poster shows good pub walking routes through the Lake District and I thought it was very cute

The National Trust building on the way back - I bet it was a toll house at some point

Lee and I 

Driving up Kirkstone Pass

They were resurfacing the road so there were more people on it than there might otherwise be

Looking down on Brothers Water I think

It was so beautiful

Lee took some of these photos

Eating ice cream in Keswick

I love taking pictures of boats at marinas

This was my photo

And this was Lee's!

I was wearing this lovely dress which I bought for my cousin's wedding last summer - it's really nice to wear and I love the colours

Bye bye swimming pool!

And last thing at night, after 10pm, which the hills were still light but we were heading to bed

Holiday in the Lake District - Day 6

On the Tuesday of our holiday we had booked to go to a spa! We had discussed doing it but I couldn't find anything cheap enough, but then Lee had a look and found an afternoon "thermal journey" at Lodore Falls. So we booked that for the Tuesday afternoon and decided that before that we got to Keswick for brunch and to look at the shops that we hadn't had chance to look in on the previous Friday when we were there. I had a look and found Merienda, which had plenty of vegetarian options for brunch, so we parked and walked to there.

It was great, I had smashed avocado and halloumi on toast, with two poached eggs and some hummus. It was delicious, I really enjoyed it. There was a new girl working there and she made our hot chocolates which turned out to be lovely, so she was pleased when we said that. We went in quite a few shops, including Ye Olde Friar's chocolate shop (there's also one in Ambleside) where I bought some delicious chocolate. We also went in a couple of record and vintage shops. 

We drove to Lodore Falls at about 12.30. It is absolutely stunning! It also has a gorgeous view out on to Derwentwater. We went into the spa and got changed. Inside there are a number of different rooms, ranging in heat, and a number of showers. Outside there's a hydrotherapy pool, heated to 36 degrees, and which has a number of different jets in it. It also has an infinity edge, looking out on to the beautiful gardens. We had two hours, and we also got a free drink in that. We spent most of the time in the pool because it was just so gorgeous, even though the weather was a bit rubbish. I did go in the hot rooms inside, and Lee just relaxed while I did that. I'm so glad I've turned him on to spas because it's so nice and relaxing for both of us. 

We left at about 3.30 after a shower and headed back to the flat, where we just relaxed for the rest of the evening. It was such a lovely and luxurious day! 

Gorgeous hot chocolate in Merienda

And my brunch, which was so good

Walking up to the spa - the infinity pool edge is above that white wall there. I would love to stay in one of these hotel rooms!

This brook runs through the hotel grounds

Isn't it gorgeous?

The pool just before we got in it

This is the older part of the hotel, whereas the spa is all new, I think it only opened this year

The infinity edge of the pool

Free glass of rose prosecco, thank you!

While we were sitting having a drink

As you can see the weather wasn't great, but it didn't matter because the pool was so warm. You can see some of the jets here, too

Lee took this one - on the right is the sauna that was outside, but we didn't go in there

And here's me in the pool

And again!

This was the inside with the saunas and steam rooms

Back outside, Lee's photo

Me with my drink. The robe was a pretty decent size on me

Lee took this of the steam room too, as I was working my way round

And finally, just before we had to get out

I was wearing this Yours dress (thanks it has pockets!) and this Joe Brown's cardigan, both of which I really like

Lee made a roast kind of dinner for tea - we bought Yorkshire puddings but then he roasted potatoes and carrots, and stuffing for me (he had chicken)

Here are all the books I bought in the Lake District - the tope four were from charity shops and the bottom one was from a shop in Pooley Bridge