Martha Wainwright in Leeds

On the first of June Sam and I had tickets to see Martha Wainwright in Leeds. We absolutely love her and have seen her a number of times over the years, although we couldn't remember exactly the last time we had seen her. It was the 20th anniversary of her debut album, because we are all old as fuck these days, so she was playing the album in its entirety. We bought tickets back in November and it felt like forever away, but now it's June which just seems crackers, we're nearly halfway through the year!

Sam and I decided to meet at Zaap to eat first. It's a Thai restaurant at the bottom of the Grand Arcade and I've been past it a hundred times but have never been in. I know that Sam had been before though and she said it was good. I drove to Leeds and parked just down from Zaap because I know it's a decent car park and would be fine late on too. I was a bit early so I walked up and got us a table in Zaap. Sam arrived not too long afterwards. 

I had a frozen lemonade which was slushy and delicious. To start with we shared vegetable spring rolls and deep fried tofu with chilli sauce. They were both nice but the tofu needed a bit of seasoning on it as it was a bit dull. Then I had tofu paneang curry with rice which was spicy and delicious. So good! I really liked it.

We then walked up to the City Varieties Hall where Martha was playing. It wasn't quite open as we were early, so we went in the pub next door. Then we also had a drink in the theatre itself before we took our seats. Martha came on just after 7.30 and played about half of the album in an hour or so. She always has interesting stories to tell. Her band were good and included her cousin Lily Lanken. After an hour there was an interval. I popped to the loo but we didn't move otherwise. 

Martha came back on by herself at first. She played a new song, which was great, and a cover of a Rufus Wainwright song (her brother, if you didn't know) which was good. Then she played the rest of the album and finished off with Bloody Mother Fucking Asshole (a song about her dad, Loudon Wainwright III). She finished at 9.30 so it was still light when we left the theatre! I was home by 10.10pm which was perfect! 

It was a good night, I enjoyed myself.

Starters

And my amazing curry

And the stage before Martha and her band came on. It was more like a theatre show than a gig because you couldn't really take photos while she was on. We were on the third row, right in the middle, so had a brilliant view

A Gorgeous Dress from a Clothes Swap

On the 28th of May I headed to Sheffield to see Lolly because we had a date at Costco planned! She is a member and I really wanted to go, so we set it up. I set off to Laura's about 10.45 and went in when I got there. Franklin was off because it was half term, and Gary had just come in too, so it was nice to see both of them. Lolly and Franklin and I set off to Costco together. It was busy! I guess because the kids were off. 

I was determined to not buy too much rubbish, but I did also want a blender if there was one. I got one for £30! I also got some rice crackers, wine gums, cat food, a Victoria sponge, some San Pellegrino, and some mango lassi. The cat food wasn't much cheaper than it usually is, but at least we've got a stock of it now. Everything else was cheaper. 

Laura ordered a cheese pizza and a mango smoothie each, and we put everything in the car while the pizza was cooking. Then we headed back to Laura's to eat. The pizza was nice - warm and cheesy and delicious. The smoothie was nice too! We then split the two cakes we had bought so we had half each of chocolate fudge and Victoria sponge, and split some cookies we bought too. Over twenty years ago my dad had a Costco card and we used to buy the fudge cakes and slice them up and freeze them, and when you microwave them from the freezer they're all melted and delicious. We also used to buy cases of fizzy pop which I would take to college. I would have bought some, but they didn't have any caffeine free Pepsi or Coke. But I came in under £90 which was good to be honest!

I sat chatting to Laura for a bit but before I left I got her to take a photo of my dress. I picked it up at the clothes swap in Manchester a couple of weeks previously. It had a label on it that said handmade and I really liked it. I wasn't sure it would fit, but tried it on over the dress I was wearing and it seemed to be fine. I thought it might be a bit low on the neckline, in which case I would have worn a cami underneath it, but it actually isn't.

It is a gorgeous swishy fabric, with a really cute little pattern. It has pockets! It is also a really good length on me and I will wear it without tights over the summer too. I can't believe someone was giving it away but I really love it and am so glad I picked it up!

The pattern is palm trees, surfboards, and little boats. I love it

And here I am in Converse and tights are per usual

My Mum's Birthday 2025

My mum was 67 at the end of May and we went to the Ivy Asia in Leeds to celebrate. She and I ended up there when we went Christmas shopping in Leeds last December, and it was so fancy and nice that she wanted to go back for her birthday. So she booked a table and Lee and I went over with her presents beforehand. She wanted a big suitcase so we had bought one on Barnsley market for her and it was lime green. Hey at least then it's easily visible when you arrive at the airport! I also got her a Ronnie O'Sullivan mug when we were at the snooker because she's a massive fangirl. 

We set off to Leeds in our car and parked near the Ivy Asia and went in. The staff are so welcoming and we were soon seated right at the back of the restaurant. We ordered drinks. My mum and I shared a bottle of French rose wine which was lush. Norman had some red wine. For starter I had avocado and asparagus sushi and for my main I had Keralan chickpea and pepper curry with rice, and on the side I had the cucumber and peanut salad that I had last time. 

The service is lush in there - they refill your wine glasses and water all the time, and there are plenty of members of staff around. It makes it a real occasion and it feels fancy and nice. We decided to share two desserts between us so went for two Samurais which were vanilla ice cream, brownie bites, chocolate mousse and chocolate soil, and it was served on dry ice which gave it a real drama. It was so nice! My mum also got mochi ice cream with a candle in because it was her birthday. She hadn't had it before and she didn't like the outside, but the ice cream was really nice and refreshing. 

Norman got a cherry and lychee cocktail and I got one that was poured over candy floss so it was ridiculously sweet but really delicious. It was so nice! We got back to my mum's not long after 10pm so called it a night. I'm glad we went though as a treat. 

At my mum's after I had put lipstick on. It's a MAC one that I've had forever and I love it and should wear it more

My mum and I in the restaurant

The napkin holders are SO fancy, I love them

The dessert when it arrived with all the dry ice

From the top, it was cute AND delicious

My mum with her mochi ice cream

Grace Petrie in Leeds

On the 24th of May I was going to see Grace Petrie in Leeds with Sam and Jodie. But before that Lee and I had to go into town to buy a suitcase for my mum for her birthday, so we had a wander round too. There was something going on in the town centre which made it quite busy, but we first of all went up the arcade so we could go into Fosters bookshop and the record shop. In the bookshop they had some mystery boxes of books for £8, so I took a chance and bought one. Lee bought a record in the record shop. We needed some lunch but not loads, so we went into a cafe on the arcade. Lee had soup and a sandwich and I had a sandwich which came with crisps and salad and coleslaw. It was good, we've never been in that cafe before but liked it. 

We went into the market and got my mum's suitcase, had a look round a couple of other places, but then headed home because Lee was going out at 2pm. There was an all day gig on in Sheffield that he had tickets for, so he set off out. I chilled out until 4pm when I got dressed and headed to Leeds.

Sam and Jodie and I had planned to eat at Lupe's Cantina so I drove there, but when I got there Sam and Jodie were outside because they didn't have any tables. So that was a bit annoying but maybe we should have booked. We decided to go to My Lahore which isn't too far away so I drove us there. We got in there fine. I've been to the one in Bradford but not the Leeds one before. 

We all had samosa chaat to start with and then I had a vegetable biryani. It was a special one - it had potatoes in too and it had like a paratha baked on top. It was really nice but very filling, so I only ate half of it and brought the rest home. It came with raita too. We also shared a jug of mango lassi. The food was nice, and cheap enough. 

We drove up to the Irish Centre at about 7pm and joined the queue, at the front for accessibility. I haven't been there before and it's a weird place, right off a dual carriageway. But it has a big car park so that was good. We got in and sat on some of the banquettes at the back of the main room. The support act was Jasmine, who is in Grace's band. She's from the area which I hadn't realised, and she was good, we enjoyed her. 

I saw my friend Phoenix, who had also been at Patrick Wolf just ten days before, so it was nice to see him again. Grace took the stage and was brilliant, as always. Then I also realised my friend Ingrid was also there! They were at the bar so I went over to speak to them too. Sam and Jodie had to leave before the end of the gig because they had to get the last train back to Huddersfield, but I stayed and it was a good gig! Grace is a brilliant protest singer and we need more of her, I think. Afterwards, I spoke to Phoenix again briefly and then Ingrid came over too, which was nice. I spoke to Ben, Grace's fiddle player and all round excellent human, and then set off home. 

I got home about 11.30 and got into bed, but Lee wasn't back because there was a gig he had wanted to see who didn't finish until midnight. So he got home closer to 1am and I made sure he was okay but was falling asleep so I told him I would speak to him in the morning and went to sleep! 

It has been nice to see so many gigs in such a short amount of time, and there was one still to come when I wrote this post. I'm not sure why so many people were touring but it was good! 

I was wearing my new Springsteen t shirt that I got at the gig previously, I love it. Someone in the queue at the Grace gig told me they liked it and had been there in Manchester too!

The mystery box I got. The other choice was crime and thriller, which I do also read a lot of... 

This is what I got inside and I am SO impressed. Four of them are hardbacks! They all look so interesting and I will have to get to them soon

Samosa chaat, it was spicy and tangy and delicious

My baked biryani

I got these Converse off Vinted, as usual. For eight quid! I couldn't believe it. I had been wanting to try some of the ones with zips and was happy to get these. The zips and the logo on the inside edge are pink, and the rest of a kind of bluey purple. I like them! And they are easy to get on and off

Sam and Jodie look like perfectly normal human beings and I.... do not

And there's Grace and her band!

Bruce Springsteen in Manchester

So as I said in my last post, Caroline and my mum and my mum's friend Dawn and I had tickets to see Bruce Springsteen in Manchester at Co Op Live. My mum and I went last year AND the year before, and last year Caroline and Dawn were both there but not sitting with us. My mum really wanted to go this year so we all decided to go together. My mum booked the tickets ages ago and I've been paying her off monthly because it isn't cheap! But I knew it would be worth it. 

My mum was getting very stressed about getting there so she booked a ticket in the car park which allayed a lot of her worries. We decided we would eat lunch first and then set off mid afternoon, and take sandwiches and drinks for after the gig. The last time my mum and I saw Bruce in Manchester, back in 2012, we ended up having to sit in the car park for well over an hour, so we wanted to be prepared. There's nothing to do except just deal with it! 

I went to my mum's at about 12, because she wanted me to do some work with her before lunch. Then we went down to the Red Kite which is near her house, and met Dawn there. I had a halloumi skewer with chunky chips and coleslaw. It wasn't that nice so I was a bit disappointed, and the server left a lot of room for improvement. But never mind! 

We set off and got to Manchester in good time. I haven't been to Co Op Live before so didn't know what to expect. We had to park somewhere slightly different because there was a Man City game on just next door at Etihad. But it still wasn't very far to walk to the complex itself. 

Caroline and I bought a t shirt each - in fact the same one - and then we managed to get some seats on the terraced seating by the canal. The queues to go in were huge so we had decided to not bother until later. We got a drink each and sat in the sunshine watching the geese and their goslings on the canalside. It was lovely!

We finally went in about 6.30. It was fine by then, and very clear as to where to go and so on. We got to our seats and Dawn made friends with the peopel next to her and my mum talked to the man next to her! Ridiculous!

Bruce and the E Street Band came on about 7.35 and played for three hours. It was a good set; there were lots I didn't know which means I will have to go and check those songs out that are new to me! I really enjoyed Glory Days and a song called House of A Thousand Guitars. I also really liked Bruce's criticism of Donald Trump and his government. I am glad he is speaking out!

The show finished about a quarter to eleven. We went to the loo on the way out and then made our way back to the car. We ate our sandwiches and chatted, and we were absolutely fine. It actually only took about forty minutes to get out of the car park and we then didn't run into much traffic on the way home. We got back to my mum's at 1am. I had taken all my stuff to stay overnight so we all just went to bed! 

I was wearing earrings I had got off Vinted, they are dinosaurs and glittery and I love them

My mum took this photo of all of us sitting on the terrace

And then someone nicely took this of us

Geese and goslings!

This is what I was drinking and it was nice

The rest of my photos are all of the gig. I didn't take any videos this year but Caroline did so I could see those. I was more concentrating on enjoying myself and not worrying about photos!

The Rocky Horror Show in Manchester

On the 19th of May my aunt Caroline and I headed over to Manchester to see the Rocky Horror Show. We were going to see Bruce Springsteen the day after with my mum and her friend Dawn, so my aunt was already up in Yorkshire. So when I saw that Jason Donovan was playing Frank I asked my mum and Caroline if they wanted to go. My mum didn't, but Caroline said she would. So that was good! Jason Donovan was the first Frank n Furter I ever saw, way back in like 1999 when I was fresh faced and fifteen and my mum took me, so I really wanted to see him again. 

Caroline arrived at my mum's on Sunday so I invited her to craft club with me on Monday morning. She does paper crafts so she brought some stamps and inks to play with. There weren't many of us there, oddly. But it was nice for her to join me. We got back home and had some lunch, then ran some errands before getting changed into our glad rags for Rocky! Caroline had a pretty good Magenta costume but I just wore my peach polka dot dress and some make up. 

We set off just after 3pm because I am always paranoid about traffic going to Manchester. It was actually fine, but we did have to go round a couple of times to get into the car park that we wanted. We parked about twenty to five. I had booked a table at Bundobust which is just next to the theatre, and because I love it. Caroline was happy to go. But we had some time, so we walked up to Central Library to have a look round. There was an exhibition on about HIV and Aids activism in Manchester which was pretty cool. In the sound booths there was a thing about the accents of Manchester and surrounding areas, which was also cool, so I listened to some of that. 

We then walked back to Bundobust. It's all vegetarian Indian street food which is always exciting for me. But I think they have reduced the menu quite a lot which is a bit annoying. But I went for chaat, as usual, but then okra fries, and paneer kadai, which was paneer in a rich sauce and which came with a paratha. It was delicious! Caroline got the pickled cucumber salad, paneer tikka, and gobi manchurian (which I've had before and don't like, but she did). I had a cucumber and lime mocktail which was lovely too. 

By the time we had finished it was past 6pm so we went to the loo and then walked to the theatre. Caroline was asked to film her arriving for some kind of social media thing, which was very cool! We got our seats and then the show started!

I think I've seen it about ten times in my whole life, but I can't remember exactly. I didn't think Riffraff was as good as the one who has played him for years (who was called Kristian), but Brad and Janet were both very good. Jason Donovan as Frank was good, but maybe a bit lacking in energy. But maybe that's just his age now?! His shoes broke too which was very funny and he had to bounce about a bit before he could go offstage and get some other ones. He also corpsed a couple of times, but it adds to the fun and camp. The stand out person though was the narrator, played by Jackie Clune. She was brilliant. 

Caroline and I were back at my house by 11pm which wasn't too bad at all! She then went back to my mum's and I went to bed. I am glad we bothered to go because I did enjoy it, and it was nice to spend the day with my aunt. 

Part of the exhibit in the library

My mocktail

My delicious food, I didn't get a picture of Caroline's 

Outside the theatre as we walked up to it

I took this of Caroline after she had been filmed

And then the security guard took this of both of us

I was wearing these peachy pink fishnet tights and my rainbow Converse

And here's my make up

And the curtain before the show started

Mid May Happenings

I had two lovely days in mid May which aren't really worth posts in themselves so I thought I would combine them. On the 16th of May I met up with my friend Stacey for tea. She was free again as her partner had taken the kids away in the caravan, but she had to work on the Saturday so she couldn't go. We decided to go to La Fortezza at Newmillerdam in Wakefield, which we had talked about going to last time but couldn't get a table. We booked for 6pm so I drove myself, parked, and went in to meet her. 

The food was nice and the service was good. I felt like the drinks were a bit over priced, but everything else wasn't. I would recommend the restaurant if you're in the area! I got home about 8pm I think, but I didn't feel very well so I didn't get a picture of my dress. It was a long cream dress with black spots though, and it's lovely in the summer. 

I was also wearing some make up. I got some foundation and concealer from Il Makiage recently so wanted to try them out because they will exchange them for you if they're not the right shade. I also got an eyeliner and a foundation brush for free. I don't often wear eyeliner but this one is like a pen so I gave it a go and it turned out quite well! I just put a tiny bit of eyeshadow above, and a pink Clinique lipstick. 

I forgot to get a photo of Stacey and I but it was really nice to see her, especially so soon after the last time I saw her!

On the Saturday it was my friend Philippa's birthday party in Ponderosa park. She had invited Lee and I and some other people from 1pm. Lee and I stopped at Sainsbury's on the way and bought goodies to share. We were first there after Philippa so we chatted. Other people turned up - C and one of her kids and her partner and then C and S and C's sister and their two children. C and S are friends of mine too but I haven't seen them in ages so it was nice to see them. I've met C and her children before through Philippa so it was lovely to see them again. 

I was quite happy sitting on the floor so C sat in one of our camping chairs which was helpful for her. We shared some food, the kids played, and we all chatted. It was so sunny and absolutely lush! I borrowed some sun cream. Lee doesn't like sitting in the sun for too long so he had a wander in the shade, too. 

I didn't take many photos. Philippa did but in the interests of privacy I'm not sharing, but I will share the photo she took of her and me. Isn't it lovely? You can't see it but I again put some eyeliner on and some mascara, I think I will try to do this more often because it looks good!

We all said goodbye about 5pm. Lee and I then stopped in Hillsborough park on the way home to get ice creams. It was still so sunny and nice! He wasn't feeling well though so once we got home he had a nap and I laid down for a bit before relaxing for the rest of the night. I was wearing my Cheers Queers t shirt but didn't get a photo of it. I also had rainbows in my ears and round my neck! 

Here I am in La Fortezza, you can see the pattern on my dress and my lovely make up. The earrings were from the clothes swap a couple of weeks previously, I just liked them!

Here I am trying to show off my eyeliner. You can see the rainbow earrings!

Pippa and I, what a lovely photo

And finally my sherbet Mr Whippy in the park later

Trip to Withernsea - Day 2

On the Sunday of our trip - the only full day - we didn't rush to get up as we both needed sleep. I actually went back to sleep and finally got up about 11am. We had decided to go to Hornsea so we set off about 12 I guess and parked. Because it had been VE Day there was a whole little festival on in the park near where we parked, and there were people all over the town, which was really nice. We went in a few shops and then Lee spied a video game cafe!

We went in and got a table. All the cocktails were video game themed which was really cute. I went for an Ocarino of Lime which was basically a mojito. It was nice! We played a few games on the emulator screen on our table. Then we decided to order some food. I got a veggie hotdog with cheese; it was nice but maybe a bit too cheesy. Lee had a chicken burger I think. I had two more cocktails because they were two for £12 so really it would have been rude not to. The second time around I had two Finish Hims, which were nice and cherry flavoured.

While we were in the cafe, there was a VE Day parade outside so that was pretty cool to see too. We left eventually and went in a few more shops and then went through the festival site. There was a band on with a pretty good singer, and there were some craft stalls, and some food stalls (but obvs we were full so we just looked). We bought an acrylic magnet of a cat stretching, it's cute. Lee picked me a daisy and a buttercup - there were so many buttercups! I haven't seen those for ages. 

Then we went to Hornsea seafront where the tide was in so we stood in the splash zone for a bit and got soaked, it was very good fun. We had an ice cream and sat on the beach to eat them. A ton of people were out on the beach which was nice. We played in the amusements for a bit but then headed back to Withernsea to play in that arcade. We won a duck and a keyring that time around. 

We went back to the caravan site and went into the bar to have a drink there too. Their cocktails were two for £14 so I had two peach mojitos and Lee had a hot chocolate (he doesn't drink alcohol). They were nice and it was really quiet in there so nice to just chill. I like those resorts when they're quietest! 

We went back to the van and got into our pyjamas, and watched a couple of films. I was reading my book and Lee was playing on his Steam Deck, as usual. I needed the breather. I went outside and took a photo as the sun was setting, and then later of the stars. 

On the Monday morning we just packed up, checked out, and then went into the restaurant to have breakfast before we left. That way we didn't need much food for the rest of the day. It was a nice veggie breakfast, we both enjoyed it! 

I am so glad the sun was shining all weekend because it just made me feel so much better

I took this photo of myself for a friend as we were setting off, to show off the pattern on my dress, but I didn't get a full photo of it. I also have Care Bear earrings in my ears thanks to Vinted

This is on the pavement outside Hornsea museum. I would have liked to go in but it wasn't open on Sundays. Maybe next time! 

The wall in the video game cafe and the computer we were playing on

All the themed cocktails, so cute haha

Ocarina of Lime

And a Finish Him

Veggie hotdog with chips and cheese

Here we are 

The wall in the toilets

Flowers Lee picked for me

Spray on the sea wall in Hornsea

Another ice cream

Costa del Hornsea

Peach mojitos back at the site

Sun setting, it was lovely

Goodnight!