Lunch with Chloe and Laura

At the end of March I went to Barnsley to see Chloe and Laura. We meet up every few weeks or so and usually go to either Meadowhall or Sheffield because that's best for Laura, but I had asked if we could meet in Barnsley. It worked out really well for me because I had been unwell all week since getting back from Skegness, so it meant I didn't have to go far. 

Chloe came to my house and talked to my cats while I was still getting ready, and then I drove us both into town. We parked in the Glassworks and walked through to Coffee Boy to meet Laura. I had a caramel milkshake in there, which was pretty nice. Then we headed into some shops. Lee had told me there was a new plus size clothing shop in Barnsley and in fact there's two. One is where Yours used to be and it's like Yours only cheaper and nastier and just weird. In fact they were both weird. There were lots of things we all quite liked, but then they had weird seams or whatever. So none of us bought anything. 

We headed into the market where I wanted to buy a new walking stick. I left mine in Sarah's car which was incredibly stupid of me, and I don't have another. Laura said that anywhere selling bags and luggage would probably have sticks too, and she was right! I chose a pink and silver one which I really like. It was only £17 which was good! we all got some little bits, and then headed upstairs to Market Kitchen. 

The Thai place isn't there anymore which is very annoying although in its place is going to be a Japanese counter I think which is quite exciting, but it wasn't yet open. So I went for Turkish food, as did Laura. Chloe got a pizza. I got the vegetarian mezze platter which was delicious. It came with bread as well and it was really good but I think it was slightly overpriced. 

We had dessert; I had a brownie and some bubblegum ice cream from Dolly's. I didn't eat all the brownie so brought it home and ate it later. We sat for ages chatting before heading to TK Maxx because I needed... something, which I have now forgotten. Oh, a new water bottle to fit in my handbag! We said goodbye and I got Chloe and I back to my house. 

I was wearing one of my Scarlett and Jo skirts that I wear all the time, but with it I was wearing this confetti knitted top that I don't wear often. It came from Primark about ten years ago and it's super cosy and stretchy. I thought it was a cute outfit together. I will have to remember this jumper and wear it more! 

We forgot to get a photo of the three of us which was a fail, but we did have a nice time!

Halloumi, humus, cacik, baba ganoush, and not pictured is the bread 

Bubblegum ice cream which was very delicious

And my outfit, the jumper is so cute up close!

Weekend in Skegness - Day 3

On the Saturday of our trip, we first of all went swimming. We had been very briefly on the Friday afternoon, but the pool was closing so we only swam for a few minutes. So we decided to get to the pool just as it opened on the Saturday, at 10am. R loves swimming and is very good at it, so she spent a happy hour jumping off the steps and swimming. It is ages since I'd been swimming as we paused the gym because of my mum's cancer, so it was so lovely to be back in the water. I did a few lengths but I also chatted to Sarah of course. The pool was nice and warm and although busy, not too busy.

We stayed in for about an hour, went to the shop on the way out, and then went back to the chalet. I had a shower and so did Sarah. We ate lunch. Then we set off out about 1pm. R needed a bit of a nap so we drove a bit of a long way round and parked near the RNLI station and waited for her to wake up. Then we went to the aquarium! We had booked tickets online which made them slightly cheaper.

I love an aquarium so I did like it, but it isn't huge. But there were black tipped sharks, jellyfish, a pregnant seahorse, and plenty of other cute things to see. Then outside there's a dinosaur area! It's got a load of animatronic dinosaurs which I could take or leave, but it did have a big sandpit where you could excavate 'bones' so Sarah and R did that for a bit and I sat and watched. It had cool dinosaur facts, too. 

After that we got ice cream and donuts from a stall near the aquarium. Mine had hot choc sauce on it which hardened on the ice cream which was a bit weird but nice enough. It started to rain so we decided we would just go back to the chalet, but I wanted to buy some postcards so we headed over to a shop. Then we saw that the RNLI station was open and you could see inside it! There was a huge tractor and a lifeboat loaded up on the back of it, and there was a viewing station. It was really cool to see! The lifeboats are way bigger than I thought! 

I bought postcards and we headed back to the chalet. I had been wearing my leopard and rose Topsy Curvy dress that I got off Georgina and which was perfect for the weather. But before long we all had our pyjamas on. Sarah had a bath - she said the longest one since R was born - so R and I just sat and chatted. She's good company! 

We had another chilled night. On the Sunday morning we just got up, got packed up, and headed back to Sarah's. My last photo is of the chalet which I would really recommend! 

Post swimming selfie as I was getting dry (ish, as I was going straight in the shower)

This terrifying thing was flying over the car park

Many many fishes. You know what fishes are 

One of the weird dinosaurs, it was kind of cool just not really my thing

Sarah and R excavating bones

Donuts and ice cream, delish!

The lifeboat tractor thing

And the lifeboat itself behind it

My outfit of the day. I forgot the other two days

And finally the chalet just as we were leaving on the Sunday morning

Weekend in Skegness - Day 2

On the Friday of our trip we were all up early. We had breakfast (I had bought some chocolate spread so I had that on toast which was a real treat) and then we drove to the beach. Sarah had considered going swimming but due to the crash between two ships just a couple of weeks before, there was a load of plastic crap on the seashore so swimming wasn't on the cards. So we walked in the sand for a bit and then we walked on to the pier. We went into the arcade and played a few machines - I did quite well on the 2p machine! We left the arcade and walked past the funfair, which was closed for the winter, and past some gardens. We got a bucket and spade for Robyn and then had some lunch on the prom. We were sitting outside but undercover, and it was gorgeous! It was nicely warm and just lovely. Lunch was nice too. 

We went back on to the beach so that R could build some sandcastles. I sat and just basked in the sunshine. I felt like I was unfurling in the spring like a new leaf. It was so lovely. 

We walked back to the car, getting some donuts on the way which were delicious. Back at the chalet we just relaxed and watched bizarre children's TV. I love Bluey but some of that stuff is just incredibly weird! Around 4pm I went in the bath. I chucked in a Snow Fairy bath bomb and made it lovely and hot. I lounged for about 45 minutes before getting out. I would really love to have a big bath like that! 

As I was getting dry Sarah gave me a glass of prosecco which was very good. I put my pyjamas on and read again. R went to bed and Sarah and I had snacks for tea. 

Sarah and R on the beach, looking towards the pier

A bit of a panorama of the beach

Selfie on the beach, looking very windswept

Looking from the pier to the funfair, I probably took this exact photo when I was in Skegness last April with Sam and Jacqui

Sarah and R in the heart on the pier, how cute

Playing on the 2p machines

Expanse of beach after lunch

That is Sarah and R building sandcastles becase that's where R wanted to build them. She was eventually persuaded to come closer to where I was sitting

Proof: here's Sarah and I sitting on the prom with our feet on the beach while R ran about and made sand angels

Yes, it is!

I love seaside donuts more than almost anything else

Bath when I had chucked the bomb into it

And finally my getting dry prosecco. I highly recommend it!

Weekend in Skegness - Day 1

On the 20th of March I went away to Skegness for three nights with my friend Sarah and her almost four year old daughter, R. Sarah's husband Tom died very suddenly in December 2023 so obviously they are both still navigating through life without him. Since he died Sarah and I have been talking about going away for the weekend, and we finally booked it last November. We decided to go to Skegness for three nights. R is at nursery on Thursdays, so we decided to go after that. It worked out really well!

I did some work in the morning and then set off to Sarah's not long after 11am. From hers we went to Asda to buy provisions and lunch. We went back to hers, ate lunch, and got the last few things together. I left my car at Sarah's and then we went to pick up R. She ran out of nursery really happy because she had some Haribo! 

We got to Skegness about 5pm after a really decent journey. We were booked into Southivew Holiday Park, which, it turned out, was a Parkdean Resort. Lee and I have stayed on a bunch of those over the past few years and I really rate them for accomadation and amenities. We had booked a two bedroom chalet and it was absolutely gorgeous! There was a big living/dining/kitchen area, then two double bedrooms. One had an ensuite shower room and the other bathroom had a huge bath. We knew we would share the bathrooms as R needs a bath, and I prefer a shower, so I didn't really care which bedroom I had. We let R choose! She chose the room with the ensuite for her and Sarah, so I took the other one. 

We unpacked and everything, and R had a bath. I had taken some bath bombs along for everyone and she loved the one for her! It turned the bath water green! She had some tea and watched TV and we had pasta and sauce and garlic bread. Oh and wine! 

It took a while for R to go to sleep as she had had a long nap on the way over, but while Sarah was seeing to her I just relaxed/ I watched crap TV, I read some of my book, and I drank wine. It was lush. It's been a long time since I was able to do that, so I was glad to. 

This was my new bag that I had got just before we went. I've been really struggling with pain in my back and shoulders, so I thought I would try a backpack to distribute the weight more evenly. This one isn't huge but it fits loads in. I don't love it, but it's fine for now and was worth the try 

My room in the chalet, it was a comfy bed

Looking down the corridor with Sarah's room at the end, mine on the left, and the bathroom on the right

The living and dining areas. The kitchen was off to the left

And finally some stars - I stepped outside just after 8pm and took a photo of the sky

Day Out in Leeds and a Gig

On the 16th of March Sam and I had booked to see the Mary Wallopers in Leeds. I had heard the band a bit and thought they were good so I invited her along with me. Then Jac said she was free in the afternoon so we arranged to have an afternoon out together first. I had gift vouchers from Sam for The Bookish Type, the queer bookshop in Leeds, so I wanted to go there. I haven't been since it moved to its new location so I was excited to do that. Then we had plans to go to the museum and then for tea, before Jacqui went home and Sam and I went to the Academy for the gig. 

I drove into Leeds but had to park in the St John's centre, which was kind of fine but I wasn't sure about what happened later at night. So I parked and then walked through to The Light to meet Sam and Jac, who had been to the cinema beforehand. We sat for a bit and then we walked down to The Bookish Type. There were plenty of books that looked amazing but I settled on three, two of which I got with the vouchers. 

Then we walked up to Leeds City Museum which I've been past a thousand times but have never actually looked round. It's Miffy's 70th birthday and there was a special exhibition of her, which I wanted to see, so we headed up to that first. It wasn't huge but it was fun and we got some cute photos. Then we headed into the ancient world part, which had cool stuff about the Romans and the Greeks and the Egyptians. They have a real Egyptian mummy! He is a priest called Nesyamun and it was SO cool to see. I tried to be respectful because he is after all a real human, a real dead human. The museum is basically his gravesite now. I appreciated seeing it. 

There's also a bit about the history of Leeds and stuff but I wanted to get back to the car before the shopping centre shut. I needed to leave my books and also swap my bag for one that was better allowed into the gig with not a load of stuff in it. I walked back down through the shopping centre and asked a man about how to get back to the car after the gig and he was really helpful. Yay for helpful staff!

Then I walked back to The Light (it was a lot of walking) where Sam and Jac were already in Turtle Bay. I had vegan jerk "chicken" with rice and beans and dumplings. It tasted really nice but I would have liked a bit more gravy. Jac had to go and then Sam and I sat for a bit longer. I had some pudding and she had a drink. 

By the time we walked up to the Academy it was almost 7pm. I hadn't booked access for the gig but Leeds Academy is usually pretty good at letting me get in quickly and getting the lift so that I can get a seat in the balcony. That is exactly what happened and it was absolutely fine. Sam and I were seated right at the back of the balcony by 7.10pm! 

The support act was a group called Sexy Tadhg and they were REALLY bizarre but SO good. It wasn't like a band but more like an experience! It was fun. I liked them, I would see them again. Then the Mary Wallopers came on about 9pm. They were SO good. Like just a lot of fun and very politically engaged (they had a Palestine flag on stage with them) and they chatted a bunch of funny stuff. They played a lot of lovely songs and I really enjoyed it. I would see them again next time they tour, definitely. 

They finished about 10.45 I guess and we walked out. Sam hotfooted it down to the station and I walked back to the car. I can't even tell you how much the nine hours of parking cost me!

But it was worth it, it was such a lovely day.

Various things in the Miffy exhibition. I love the one of her friend on roller skates!

Here I am in Miffy's chair

How amazing is this fella 

The three of us in Turtle Bay

Vegan jerk chicken

And a salted caramel brownie

Mary Wallopers!

They are very talented

I will definitely see them again

And here are the three books I bought and Sam's one (bottom right) that I brought home for her so she didn't have to carry it