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!

Trip to Withernsea - Day 1

As you may know from previously, Lee and I have stayed on a few Parkdean resorts before and I really rate them for amenities, cleanliness, and the standard of the caravans. I'm signed up to the mailing list so I can see when they've got last minute deals, and a few weeks before, I had seen the weekend for £129. Lee had a gig on the Friday night so we didn't go then, but we did set off bright and early on the Saturday morning to Withernsea. We've been to that one before, a couple of years ago, and I liked it. Withernsea is a cute little seaside village really, there's not much there at all but it's cute. 

We packed up and I drove to Withernsea because Lee has been suffering with his knee and he's been struggling to drive a long way. So I was fine to drive. We got there just before 1pm. We had early check in so we checked in, went to the caravan, and ate some lunch very quickly. It was a three bedroomed caravan and pretty new. It was very clean too! 

Then we went back to the leisure complex to go swimming at 2pm. We hadn't been able to book but there was room enough for us. It's a nice pool and it wasn't too busy. We got out just before 3pm and went back to the caravan to go in the shower. Then we went into Withernsea itself. We looked at the sea and we had ice creams in a cafe that we've been in before, and then we went into the amusement arcade. We played pool and then I played on the 2p machines for a bit. 

We then found a very dodgy pub where we had a drink in the conservatory. I read my book and Lee played on his Steam Deck. I think one of the only things wrong with Withernsea is that it doesn't have any lovely pubs on the sea front and it could do with at least one. I did see a micro brewery bar near the sea front on the Sunday which I wish I had seen the day before, but never mind. We had a nice drink and then went to the Bengal Lancer for food. 

Again, there isn't a ton of different food options in Withernsea, but Indian always has good veggie options so I was fine with it. We hadn't booked but it was about 6.30, and they told us as long as they had the table back by 7.45 it was fine. That worked fine for us! We decided to not have starters, but poppadums and pickles, and then main courses. 

I had vegetable paneer and although it was medium heat it wasn't very hot at all. It was nice, but maybe a bit too cheesy. I had it with rice and a paratha, which I'm really into recently. Lee had a karahi chicken dish that the owner recommended, and he really enjoyed it. 

After we'd eaten we headed back to the caravan and put our pyjamas on. Lee found a TV channel that had loads of old sitcoms on, so we watched some of those, they don't all stand up to time but some of them do! At 11pm I went outside to see if I could see some stars, which I could. The moon was nearly full, and very beautiful, too. 

Oh, my Stitch t shirt came from the clothes swap I had attended in Manchester. It's from George at Asda and it still had its tags on! I think it's a men's one but it fits me well and I love it, so I'm going to wear it. It says 'hangry' on it but when it's tucked in you can't see that bit. 

It was a lovely, if busy day. 

Stitch t shirt and a Scarlett and Jo skirt - Lee took this while we were waiting to go in the pool

The pool after, when everyone had got out

Lee and his ice cream

Me and mine - I had mine with bubblegum sauce

2p machines, I did very well and played on it for ages

Look how beautiful the beach was. The tide was in and it was quite rough, but it was very beautiful

My curry in the Indian. I had a mango lassi too

Our caravan - we had an empty space next to us

I tried to take a picture of the moon but didn't succeed

But the stars were more successful

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. 

Neon and matching with Het in the swap

Green drinks in Sips and Dips

Me and Amy as we waited for food

And finally my very delicious platter

The Pogues in Leeds

For Christmas Lee bought me tickets for the Pogues in Leeds. I know it's not the same band as Shane is dead, but it is four of them, and with Spider Stacy on vocals, so I was excited to go. Lee and I so rarely go to gigs together that it's nice to every now and then. We both love the Pogues so much that we were excited to see them. 

We set off for Leeds at just after 5pm. It was the very hot Mayday but we made it to Leeds in good time and parked in The Light. I had booked a table at Tamatanga for 6.30. I've been before but Lee hadn't and I knew he would like it. As we were a bit early we went into the new amusement arcade in the Light first. I haven't seen it before but it's got a bunch of things inside. We played air hockey where Lee won and Mario Kart where I won! I think it's nice to have an arcade in there, I would go again. 

Then we headed down to Tamatanga. We were early but there weren't many people in so it was fine. It was also nice and cool in there with strong aircon! I ordered two Peachy Blinder cocktails as they're on 2 for 1 before 7pm, so I had to! Then for food Lee had Punjabi butter chicken with naan, and some tama chips alongside. The chips were really spicy and delicious. I went for chaat bombs and black butter lentils, with rice. I probably had both exactly those last time, but never mind! They're both delicious.

We sat there for a while just chatting which was nice as Lee's new job is really full on and we haven't had a lot of time to chat about it. We eventually left Tamatanga, put my bag in the boot of the car because I don't think it would have been allowed in the venue, and headed up to the Academy. It was about 8pm and there were so many people around because the weather was nice. We didn't want to go in yet because we had standing tickets and didn't want to stand for too long as neither of us would have been able to. We finally got in about 8.30. I haven't stood downstairs at the Academy since it was the Town and Country Club back in the late 90s! Hah. We were right at the back where there are actually several banquettes for seating. I managed to get a seat! I couldn't see the band from where I was sitting, but it meant I could have a rest. If I leaned on the sofa too I could see, so it was fine. So good for me! 

The band came on about 8.50 and played for nearly two hours. They are so good live, really proficient and melodic. They played a ton of stuff that I wanted to hear including I'm A Man You Don't Meet Every Day which we had at our wedding and at our vow renewal. It was so beautiful! They did two encores which was fun. It was just a really good atmosphere and we both enjoyed ourselves. 

We got home about a quarter to midnight and unsurprisingly headed straight to bed! 

Lee in Tamatanga

And here's me

Peachy Blinder cocktails, what a ridiculous name haha

Chaat bombs, they are so good

Black butter lentils and pilau rice

Lee took this photo as mine didn't come out very well. I actually didn't take many photos but I did ring my mum so she could hear a couple of songs, and send a couple of voice notes to my friend Cinders. Including A Rainy Night in Soho which was SO beautiful live!