Writing, fatshion, me: Clothes Swap and a Trip to Manchester

On the 3rd of May I headed across to Manchester to go to a clothes swap! Levy Masked Clothes Swap is run by Kirsty and Het, both of whom used to live in Leeds. Kirsty used to run clothes swaps there before I did some, and Het always used to come. We have hung out a bunch in Yorkshire but I haven't seen either of them in ages and I had been meaning to make it across to Manchester for a swap. It's only about an hour's drive from my house and it's a gorgeous drive across the moors, and was this time in bright sunshine, so I loaded up a podcast and set off.

Before hand we had actually been swimming at the gym. Due to my mum's cancer we had paused our gym memberships since Christmas, so we hadn't been in so long and we had really missed it. She wanted to go before she headed off to Menorca for a week, so we agreed to meet early and we had a lovely swim. I had a shower at the gym, dropped Lee at home, and headed off to Manchester. I had invited my friend Amy as she hasn't been to a swap before and I thought it would be nice to hang out together, which it was!

I didn't find the venue at first so had to come back on myself, but then found street parking. Amy was pulling up just as I was so we went in together. It's a masked swap but they had plenty of spares so we both masked up, paid our entrance fee, and got stuck in. It was still early so there wasn't loads of stuff but we had a look round. We sat outside to chat to Het and Kirsty and some people I hadn't met before, which was nice, as it was sunny and pleasant outside. Some more people came so we went back in to look again. I actually came away with some real finds, some stuff that I took a chance on and will re swap if I don't like them, and even a handmade dress which I am very excited to wear this summer.

Het also found a lime green shirt which she put on over her other stuff, and then a hot pink blazer which then meant she matched me in my Topsy Curvy dress, so we got a picture together looking matchy matchy, I actually love it. I'm only a bit sad that she got the blazer and I didn't.

Amy and I left about 3pm and went to Sips and Dips. It's in Levenshulme too, close to where we were, and Amy has been before and wanted me to go. I hadn't had much food so I was in the market for a full plate, whereas Amy wasn't overly hungry. Sips and Dips serves Persian food so Amy went for a smokey aubergine dip and Turkish bread, and I went for a platter for one. It was SO good. It had a cheese pasty type thing, a falafel, hummus, labneh, the smokey aubergine stuff, pickles, and tabouleh. It was exactly the right choice for me! I loved it. To drink I had a frozen lemon and lime drink which also had orange blossom in it. It was delicious! I would thoroughly recommend the place if you're in the area. I got a piece of chocolate fudge cake to take home.

We said goodbye around 4.30pm and I popped into Tesco to get a few bits. I set off home and got here just before 6pm. Lee was in but about to go out to a gig, so I sat with him for a bit and we shared the cake before he went out. He was happy I was back because it meant he could go in the big better car rather than the other one (which is technically "my" car but he drives it way more often than me these days). He went out to Sheffield to see some friends bands and I relaxed.

I am really glad I bothered to go over to the swap. It was nice to connect with my fat community in that way. It was nice to introduce Amy to swaps and everything they're about. It was lovely to see Het and Kirsty. It was SO nice to hang out with Amy in such an understated way and it was less than a month since we had last seen each other which is some kind of record!

I would still organise swaps in Sheffield if I could find somewhere to host them. Or indeed Barnsley, too. I will have to try and find a place.