Afternoon Tea with Lolly in Sheffield

One of the things on my 40 Before 40 list was to go for afternoon tea somewhere. I had mentioned this to Lolly absolutely forever ago and she had agreed to go with me, so I had done some research about where was good in Sheffield and Brown's was coming up as highly recommended. We booked it, but then had to cancel because Lolly had Covid! But we booked it again for the 29th of November and we made it! I drove to Sheffield and parked in the Q Park which I could see was close, and then I walked through to Brown's. It was really close and I would definitely park there again if I was heading towards that side of town. 

The Christmas market was all set up and it looked absolutely beautiful so I was really excited as I was visiting it the following week with my mum. I headed into Brown's where I got a warm welcome and was seated in the downstairs bit. The restaurant is lovely inside but as we were by the big window and it was cold outside, it was also pretty cold inside. That's basically my only complaint though!

Lolly arrived and we ordered decaf coffee each - the hot drinks are included and seemed to be unlimited, which I appreciate in an afternoon tea. We had booked afternoon tea and I had made a note that one was vegetarian, and the staff already knew that, which was good. The tea tray arrived soon afterwards and it looked absolutely stunning. Really fancy! 

We had three sandwiches and two mini brioche things each. Mine were brie and cranberry, cream cheese and cucumber, and egg mayo. They were lovely! Then there were two mini scones, with a ton of clotted cream, and blackberry jam, and strawberry jam. We tried our best but couldn't eat all of that between us! 

Then the cakes were a mini caramel eclair, a slice of Victoria sponge, a passionfruit cake, and a mince pie. There was such a lot but they were all amazing! We sat chatting for ages before saying goodbye about 5.30pm. I headed home and made it home just before Lee needed to go out for band practice which was good as it meant he could taken an outfit photo of me! I was wearing this Joe Brown's dress that always feels very festive. My mum took it in for me a bit because it was too big and it's not really stretchy, but it does still feel a bit big. I may try a belt and see if that helps.

I was wearing my half white half black tights from Snag, and my red pair of dolly shoes that are from Vinted but are from Topshop originally. I liked the look!

Sheffield looking absolutely stunning on a very cold day 

Gorgeous cappucino, I then had a latte too

Our afternoon tea on this gorgeous stand

Here's Lolly and me!

The "cheese grater" car park

I do love the pattern and colour of this dress - it's like plants up close, with red on

And my tights and shoes

Lunch out with Lee

On the 26th of November I booked a table for Lee and I at Prashad near Leeds. It's a totally vegetarian Indian restaurant and I love it; I've been a few times over the years but not for about two years. I put going on my 40 before 40 list and wanted to go with Lee as he's only been once before and it was years ago. So I booked us a table and we decided to go Christmas shopping first. We went to Junction 27 to the shopping park there. First of all we went into the Range because I needed some little bits for a few people, and then we went in TK Maxx because there was something specific I wanted from there for my book club. By this time it was about 12 o'clock and the table wasn't booked until 1pm, so we went into Caffe Nero for a drink. I rarely go in there so am not used to their coffees. Lee had a luxury hot chocolate which was like cocoa, and delicious, and I had the luxury caramelatte which was also really nice.

It was nice to just sit for a bit! We were only a few minutes away from Prashad so we made it in good time. We were about the only people in there when we arrived but I wasn't sure so I'm glad I booked a table anyway. We had poppadums and a pickle tray to begin with, which were all nice. Prashad is a little bit more expensive than a lot of Indian restaurants, but it is worth it, and the experience is worth it too. But that's why I put it on my list because I know it's a little bit of a splurge! 

But because it is a little bit expensive we decided to not have a starter each but share one instead. We had sakham tikki which was mashed and spiced potato and mushroom and deep fried, served with a green chutney. They were so good and I'm glad I tried them! For my main I had paneer biryani. I've had the biryani before but didn't like it too much, but I'm so glad I gave it another go because it was absolutely delicious! I really enjoyed it. Lee had the naan bhaji which is a thick vegetable curry with garlic naan, and it was also really good! We both really enjoyed our food and I'm really glad we made this happen this side of Christmas. It was also really nice to spend time with Lee. 

I didn't get a full photo of my dress but it's my red leopard print dress from Very and it's really comfortable to wear. I kept my black cardigan on because it wasn't too warm in Prashad and it was freezing outside!

Lee and I at the table

I also had a lovely glass of red

Our starter - I'm really glad I tasted this and would have it again

Lee had fresh orange juice

Lee's naan bhaji. He had some masala fries too

My biryani and the curry alongside

Metal Stamping Workshop in Wakefield

On the 30th of October I went to a metal stamping workshop in Leeds with my friend Chloe. Doing a workshop with her, taught by her friend Kim who I know online and have done other workshops with, was on my list of 'forty things before forty' to do. We chose and booked this one absolutely ages ago, and Chloe very nicely paid for me as a present for my birthday, which was lovely of her! We arranged to meet for tea beforehand too. 

I had been to craft club in the morning and had done a workshop in that too. A few of us made these gingerbread men and Christmas tree decorations. I finished the gingerbread man in craft club and then finished the other one later on in the week. They're cute aren't they! 

I left the house about 4pm and drove to Ossett where Chloe and I met at Silkwood Farm. It's a Greene King pub I think, I've been before and the food isn't wildly exciting for vegetarians but it's fine. I actually went for a vegan burger which tasted really nice actually - it had cheese on and was nice and melty. Chloe had a burger too. We chatted for a bit and then went in my car together to A Touch of Craft which is a bit further down in Ossett. We got there about 6pm, just as Kim was arriving, so we sat in the car for a bit so we didn't disturb her setting up. However, we did go in a bit earlier than the start time of 6.30, which was nice because we got to chat to Kim and had a cup of coffee.

My friend Michelle was also there! I had only seen her the day before! She had messaged me a few weeks previously and asked if I was interested in the workshop and I was like, I'm already going! So it was nice to see her too. 

Metal stamping is a lot of fun! There were nine of us all together and you have to bash the stamps quite heavily so there was quite a bit of noise. I was a bit hesitant at first so was glad there was a lot of time to practice on scrap metal before going for the real thing. There were a few different fonts to choose from so I tried a few too. Then we moved on to the real thing! It was mildly terrifying! However, I made quite a few things as you can see. I'll explain them as I go down! 

I was wearing my final pair of bat tights, still because it was near Halloween. They're a sort of blue purple colour with black bats. They go really well with the purplish Scarlett & Jo skirt which I wore with my Alanis Morrisette t shirt that my aunt bought me for last Christmas. I wore the same outfit for work the next day, too. 

Blurple tights as I was on my way out

Here's Chloe and I in A Touch of Craft just before the workshop started

And here's Michelle and I ready to whack things with hammers

The top ones are stuff I practiced. You hit with a hammer and a stamp and then you use an enamel pen to colour in the words, and then wipe it off. You can see where I hadn't totally wiped it off where it says 'Poppy'

This is everything I made! I love them all, I'll have to make some into bracelets and stuff. Kim did have stuff to do this with her but because I have jewellery making stuff at home I decided to just concentrate on the metal stamping itself

Here's my outfit when I got home, I like these two together

Three keyrings I made. The one on the left is for Lee; "This Is Not A Drill" is the name of his band. The next one will be a Christmas present for my friend Lucinda, it says 'gin in teacups' which is a Libertines lyric. The final one is for me, it says 'Libertines'. I really liked this font!

The top one is a bangle which I will wear, it says "Live it's all you can do" which is a Flogging Molly lyric that I really like and which reminds me to stay alive 

The next one says 'read every day' on a bangle, but I put a hole in the end and I'm going to make it into a bookmark with a charm on it instead of making it into a bangle. I made a mistake on this one - the A in day I accidentally stamped as a V, but I stamped over it with the A and I don't think you can tell!

The third one says 'Poppy & Jasmine' and I will make this into a bracelet

Finally I made these tags for bootlaces that say 'Absolute Gobshite'. I think I might make that the name of my next zine!

Pottery Painting with Sam and Jacqui

On the 11th of February me and Sam and Jacqui met up to do some pottery painting. I've wanted to do it for ages and I put it on my list of forty things that I want to do before I turn forty in January 2024. I will try to blog things on this list as and when they happen, but I've already missed writing about a couple - like get another tattoo was on the list, and I did that just before this day. I'm going to write a zine about the forty things, because it's me and that's what I do! So anyway Sam and Jac said they would do it with me. We looked around at plenty of places but decided to go for Crafty Owls in Ossett, near Wakefield. 

We decided to go for some lunch first, so booked a table at Bistro 42. I've been before, but it was ages ago, for my mum's birthday at one point. I remembered it being nice though, and it is. Jac and I shared some nachos and then I had a halloumi burger and chunky chips. They were both nice. Sam and Jac enjoyed their food too. They also had two cocktails each, which I tasted and which were delicious. 

We got to Crafty Owls early but we were able to sit down. They have lots of clay things for you to choose from to paint, although the person in charge said their choices were a bit down because they had been so busy. There was still ample choice though! I went for a big bauble and a cat. I am not, it turns out, a natural painter. I enjoyed making the patterns on the bauble, though, and I just sort of tried my best with the cat. It's orange, reddish, and black. My own cats are black, and black and white, but that seemed like it would be boring to paint so I went for more of a calico. Sam painted a bowl and a cup, doing patterns and stuff. Jac did a Belle! She was beautiful and will look stunning I am sure! It took her ages but she did manage to also paint Stede Bonnet (if you know you know) on to a teabag holder.

We were there about two hours in all. Crafty Owls has some drinks and sweet things, so we got a drink each. We paid and I arranged that I would go back to collect our stuff once it had been glazed and fired. It was really good fun to just sit and paint and chat - so much so that Jacqui asked if we can go to the place in York near Christmas and paint some stuff then! I am so glad this was on my list and that we crossed it off!

I had painted my nails - Barry M Spearmint - so took this photo while I was waiting for Sam at the station

Nachos to share!

Halloumi burger and chunky chips

I love ghost writing on old buildings like this!

My cat and bauble before painting

All the different paints we had to choose from - we each had a tile to use as a paint palette which showed what each colour looks like when fired

Sam and Jac!

And all three of us - there were other people in the place, on and off

My bauble

Jac's Belle - just so good!

My little cat - I'm excited to see what this will look like too

And finally my plate

Jac took this of everything we had made!