Day Out in Penistone

On the 7th of June I had plans with Sam in Penistone. I had seen that there was a special screening of Cabaret which we love, so we had booked that ages ago. Then it turned out that The Salt Path was out at the same time and screening earlier in the day. Some of my book club were going, so I arranged to meet them for lunch first and then meet Sam at the cinema. 

About nine of us went to The Loft for lunch. I've been before but it was a really long time ago. I had cheese on toast with Henderson's Relish. It was very cheesy! I also had a huge latte. By the time we had finished there, it was close to 2pm so I hotfooted it down to the cinema to meet Sam. We went in and got our seats. 

We read the book for book club a couple of years ago (my review here) so a few of us were intrigued to see the film. I got quite a lot out of it having read the book - there were times when I knew what would happen and so on. It looked stunning, the scenery of the south west is gorgeous, and it was nice to see places I've been like in Minehead and Porlock Weir. Jason Isaacs and Gillian Anderson both looked great and I thought the wardrobe and make up were great. The sound was annoying at times because of the wind and they mumbled a lot. Gillian's accent left a lot to be desired, but over all I liked the film. But Sam hasn't read the book and she didn't get as much out of the film as me. But we were both glad to have seen it. 

We walked up to The Vault where Sam had booked us a table for food. I had focaccia with oil and vinegar, Brie bites with chilli dip, and fries with parmesan and truffle oil. I had a Hugo cocktail to start off with. Then I had an espresso martini with my pudding, which was a brownie with ice cream. When we had finished that we still had some time before Cabaret so we popped downstairs to the bar down there, which is sold as a speakeasy. I'm not really sure it has that vibe, but it is cute. I had a pornstar martini. 

We went back down to the cinema for 7.30. It was much less busy than The Salt Path, but still a good number. I love Cabaret but hadn't seen it in forever so there was loads of it I had forgotten. It was nice to see it on the big screen. It finished about 10pm and there wasn't a train for Sam until after 11pm so I didn't want to leave her in Penistone just yet, so we walked up to the Spreadeagle for a drink. I've never been in but it's nice inside. There was a boxing match on (with a lad that is from Barnsley apparently so clearly the locals were invested) so we ended up watching some of that. Lee picked me up about ten to eleven and we got home and went to bed!

What a lovely day - I'm not sure I've ever done two cinema screenings in one day before but it was fun to see both films. Penistone Paramount is a really cute little cinema, really old school style like the one we had in Wakefield when I was little. They have an intermission in the middle of the film which is cute too. 

Pride flags in full flight outside the cinema

Hugo cocktail, it was really nice

Focaccia and oil, I didn't get a photo of the rest of my food, oops!

My espresso martini and Sam's pornstar martini 

Dessert

This cute sign was in the loo

Cocktails downstairs in the speakeasy. They do a bottomless brunch so Sam and Jac and I will have to go down there one day

The intermission in Cabaret, so cute

And the poster up in the hallway. I don't know why it says Cabaret was the 50th anniversary screening when it wasn't - the film was released in 1972! But never mind eh

Lunch and Cinema with Sam and Jodie

On the 6th of April I headed over to Huddersfield to meet up with Sam and Jodie. We had seen that there was a showing of a recording of the musical SIX, which we all love, so we booked tickets. Then we decided to get lunch first, so we met at midday at Harvey's. 

I've been to the one in Holmfirth but hadn't been to Huddersfield since this one opened, so it was nice to go. They have a few veggie options but I went for a bhaji burger with hand cut chips. I also got a mocktail called The Pink One which was all frozen and strawberry flavoured and sweet and very delicious. The food arrived quickly and it was nice, I liked it. The chips were really good. 

After we had eaten we got in my car and went down to Dixon's. They make milk ice which is sugary and cold and lovely, and I love it. I hadn't had it in ages though so had asked if we could go. I had a medium tub with raspberry sauce and wafers. They do do other flavours of ice cream but honestly why would you bother? The plain one is so good. 

We went down to the cinema and easily parked. We got into the cinema and had about fifteen minutes to wait before the screening was open so we sat and chatted for a bit before going in. Then we went in, got our seats, and waited for the show! 

It started with a very cute little interview with each of the original six queens. They had reunited in 2022 to play their parts again at a special show at Hampton Court Palace and that's what the recording was from. It was SO good. I listen to the music a lot so I'm really familiar with that, but I forgot all the bits in between the songs and it was really fun to get close ups on them. I had a great time.

It finished just before 4pm so after that I just drove home. I was wearing my rainbow sparkly sequin Converse because it's officially spring and I don't need to be wearing boots anymore. I was wearing a t shirt that says 'weekend' on it, it was from Simply Be ages ago and it's really soft and comfortable to wear. With that I was wearing one of my flamingo skirts. 

Bhaji burger and hand cut chips

Waiting in the shop on Leeds Road. They have one in Lockwood too which I should go to with Lee soon

Ice cream! Well, milk ice. Delicious and cold

We all had exactly the same thing

Cream t shirt and flamingo skirt

Rainbow and silver sparkly Converse, worn with pink footless tights from Snag

Penistone Cinema with Sam

I have to start this post by saying that we have a new cat! After Jasmine died in August we decided we would like another black cat, so when we got back from our holidays we started looking. We had a couple of setbacks and I found it really stressful so handed it over to Lee. On the morning of the 9th of November he said 'do you want to go and meet a cat?'. He had applied for her the night before so we went to see her and were accepted to adopt her! We picked her up the very next day! 

Her name is Katniss. We didn't call her that but it's nice that she fits in with our plant theme! (Katniss is a plant as well as from the Hunger Games...). We put her in our bedroom and spent a lot of time with her over the next week. She was very skittish at first but soon built up some trust in us. We introduced her carefully to Poppy and Kiki and everything was fine! They all got on! I actually can't believe how easy it was. She's been here nearly two weeks now and she's exploring and getting really brave. I thought I would just share some photos of her. 

Anyway, on the 12th of November I had organised to see Sam and Jacqui. Jacqui couldn't make it then because of work, so Sam and I met up anyway. We decided to go to Penistone and have some tea together before going to the cinema there to see Paddington 3. I've never been to the cinema but everyone raves about it. Sam has been earlier in the year, and I actually put it on my 'forty one things to do before I turn forty one' list. 

We met at the New Inn which I have been to before but not since it changed hands and menus. They have more vegetarian choice than before and it is nicer inside too. I went for a vegan burger. We were at the cinema before it even opened and stood for a little bit in the cold before the doors opened. Inside it's like a theatre, or a proper old school cinema. We used to have one like that in Wakefield and I really wanted a box of Fruit Pastilles to complete the nostalgia trip! 

The film was pretty good and in the middle there was an interval too! I had a cup of coffee and some biscuits at the beginning and had brought some sweeties with me too. Sam had a couple of drinks. She unfortunately had to leave about five minutes before the end of the film otherwise she would have had to wait too long for the last train home. She had seen most of the story though. It's a cute enough film, not as good as the others but still good. I got home and most likely got straight into bed to read!

Here's Katniss just as she arrived in our bedroom. She hid for a bit on the windowsill but gradually came around to exploring first the bedroom and then the whole house. She's an affectionate little thing

Here she is showing all the white on her belly

Vegan burger and chips for tea with Sam 

Outside the cinema, it's so nice this is still here and used

The poster outside with handwritten times on it

And inside the cinema, isn't it just so cute?

Lunch with Chloe and Laura at Meadowhall

On the 8th of November I headed to Meadowhall to meet up with Chloe and Laura. Chloe wanted to go to Kenji which is why we had decided on Meadowhall. We met at Costa at 10.30 and had a drink each before heading to a few shops. I got some nighties in Yours that my mum is going to give me for Christmas because I need some new ones. I got some Christmas candles in Yankee Candles which smell lovely. We went into Tiger where I got some Christmas stickers. I'm sure we went into other places too, but I can't remember.

We had already decided we would eat at the Real Greek place that hasn't been open in Meadowhall for very long. Chloe and I went there a few months ago and liked it, so we were both happy to go again. It was quite busy for a random Friday afternoon. In fact the whole centre was busy - maybe people had started their Christmas shopping already? I had a halloumi gyros which has fries in it, with a Greek salad alongside. It was delicious! I'm glad I got it. Then I had a piece of chocolate mousse cake for dessert which was really nice too. 

We wandered through the malls a little bit more. The Christmas decorations were already up which was really nice to see. I love Christmas. Chloe went into Kenji and I went across to Waterstones but I didn't actually buy anything. Then we said goodbye and I headed home while Chloe and Laura both went to Marks and Spencer's before they went home. 

I was wearing my Topsy Curvy rainbow tartan dress and on top I was wearing a new jumper I got from Simply Be recently. It is this gorgeous pastel rainbow stripe and it's really cosy and comfy so I think I'll be wearing it a lot over the winter! 

I was wearing these very cute new earrings that I got on the previous Saturday from Berry Cute Crafts, I love them, they're so OTT 

I am so glad it's tights and boots season again! I think this was the time I wore my Dr Marten boots that I've had for a couple of years now, I got them off Vinted and they're so comfy. My tights are such a gorgeous colour, they came from Snag obviously, maybe secondhand

Lunch, which was delicious

Chocolate mousse cake, I would definitely order this again

The three of us sitting at lunch

One of the malls all decorated for Christmas

And here's my outfit when I got home

Food and Cinema in Huddersfield

On the 7th of May I first of all went to work and had a lot to sort out, but I got a lot done and still managed to come home at a reasonable time. I was wearing these new cornflower blue shoes from Vinted. They're from Cotton Traders originally, andI  actually saw some really similar in a charity shop in Skipton when we went, but they were £12 which was a bit steep for the condition they were in. So I checked Vinted and this pair were there, for just £5 plus postage! They were brand new, too, so I'm glad I looked. I absolutely love the colour and I think I'll wear these a lot this summer because they let the air in while still being covered shoes. 

I sat at home for a bit and then set off to Huddersfield to meet Sam and Jodie. We had booked tickets to see Nye at the cinema. It was one of those streaming shows of a theatre performance, and I had heard that it was really good, and I really wanted to see it. So we had booked it ages ago and decided to meet up for tea first.

We went to Indian House on King Street. Way back pre pandemic it was called Mandalay and it was a Burmese restaurant. I went one time, perhaps twice. Then it became a place called Bambukat which I went to a couple of times last year and really liked. Now it's rebranded but it's basically the same food as Bambukat and it's still nice. 

They have Indian street food and thalis and curries and rice. I decided to go for street food. I had onion bhajis, aloo tikki chat, and an egg dosa. I liked them all - the bhajis were spicy and delicious, the chat was absolutely amazing and I would like it again right now, and the dosa was alright - I wouldn't get it again but I am glad I tried it. Sam and Jodie had a starter and a thali each; I was quite jealous of the thalis but I'm glad I had something different as that's what I usually get. 

After food we headed down to the cinema and got our seats. Michael Sheen was playing Aneurin Bevan, who was instrumental in setting up the NHS in the late 1940s. In the play, he's had an operation and is dying, and hallucinates his way through his whole life, showing us the type of person his was, his politics, and all of that. It was really good. Michael Sheen is always great. I would recommend it if you can see it! 

Gorgeous cornflower shoes - are they blue or purple? A little bit of both!

Onion bhajis

My chat - I wish I could learn to make this at home!

And my dosa, with different sauces

Lunch with a Friend and Cinema with Lee

On the 19th of April I had a busy day. I first of all went to the White Rose Centre to meet up with my friend Charlotte and her baby. Actually our mums are friends and it's forever since we hung out, but it was Charlotte's grandma's funeral I had been to the week before and as Charlotte is currently on maternity leave I thought she might appreciate meeting up with someone during the week. I know a lot of my friends have been lonely during maternity leave and as I usually have some free time in the week I can meet up. So I messaged Charlotte and she readily agreed to meet up which was lovely! Her baby was about fourteen weeks old and absolutely precious - such a squidge!

I went to the White Rose a bit early and on my way there the car flipped over to 27,000 miles so I stopped to take a picture of it since it's the first major milestone in the few weeks we've had it. It hasn't done many miles for its age which is good! Maybe it was a lockdown casualty and just didn't get driven very much. I parked at the White Rose and went in, and got a chai latte from a little stall in the food area. I had my book with me so I sat reading that for a bit. I then waited for Charlotte but she was running a bit late so I popped downstairs to The Works to have a nose around. I ended up buying two books and a craft kit, so it was well spent! When I went back up Charlotte arrived not soon after.

Most of the restaurants in the White Rose are ones I like and which I know have decent veggie options, so I let Charlotte choose. She suggested the Lounge, which was fine by me. They're a chain and we have one in Barnsley and I like their vegetarian choices. We went in and got seated - they were really good with the pram and accessibility which was good. I usually get the big veggie breakfast when I go to the Lounge but I wasn't too hungry, so I decided to have the Miami brunch instead. 

It was like a mole of kidney beans and corn in a spicy sauce, with poached eggs, avocado salsa, sweetcorn fritters, and feta and coriander sprinkled over. It was delicious! I'm really glad I got it. 

I also had a pink lemonade. We sat for a bit longer and ordered pudding - I had warm chocolate brownie with ice cream. Charlotte's arrived just as the baby was eating, so I ate mine and once he was finished I took the baby and he fell asleep because he was full of milk! He was very happy in my arms and he is extremely cute; I was really glad to see them both! 

We said goodbye about 3pm and I drove home and got changed into my pyjamas for a bit and did some crafting before getting dressed again and heading out with Lee. He wanted to see the new Ghostbusters film, so we had decided to go to the new Cineworld in Barnsley. It hasn't been open very long. We went into Nando's first so that Lee could have some food, and I had a glass of wine. We headed over to the cinema and into our screen. I really enjoyed the film, but I liked the last one in this too, I like the kids and I like Paul Rudd. It is a lot of fun!

It finished about 10pm so we just drove home and got into bed! I was wearing this really bright dress from Yours again that I got from Debz. I like the oversized look to it - it ends up really comfy on me and I love the bright colour, too 

Showing the car had gone over to 27,000 miles

Pink lemonade - I have had this before and it's really nice

Miami brunch. This is something I would definitely eat again!

Brownie and ice cream

My dress and cardigan when we got home

And here's what we saw!

Tea and Cinema with Sam and Jodie

On the 17th of April I went to Huddersfield to meet up with Sam and Jodie for tea and to go to the cinema. Jodie was supposed to be meeting up with a different friend but they cancelled so she came along with us, which was of course fine. I headed to Huddersfield at about 3.30 and parked quite near to TJ Thai where we had arranged to eat at 4.30. I have been before, but absolutely forever ago, but I like Thai food so suggested we went there. 

I went for vegetable tempura and veg and tofu pad cashewnut. I probably would have had sushi but I had had sushi for lunch (just a pack from the supermarket) and we were also in somewhat of a rush so I wasn't sure if it would take too long as it said it was prepared fresh. But I really enjoyed what I did have, it was delicious.

We quickly drove down to the cinema and parked, and got in just as the trailers were on. We had gone to see the new Amy Winehouse biopic, Back to Black. I wanted to see it and I'm glad I have, but I wouldn't rush to see it again and I didn't think it was brilliant. 

It's weird to see events depicted on screen when you clearly remember them happening almost twenty years ago. It feels like not enough time has passed, but then I know there were films that I liked in the mid to late nineties which depicted the seventies. Maybe my mum felt the same way I did about those, given that she had grown up in the seventies? I found this happened too when I watched the last series of the Crown and watched William go to uni and meet Kate, which was the exact time that I was at university myself. In fact my friend Ailsa was at St Andrews at the same time William was and once sat an exam in the same hall as him! I find it odd.

I also think this is a really sanitised version of Amy's life, even though it does have its gritty points. I believe Mitch Winehouse has had some input into it and I think it shows him as always benevolent and never in opposition to Amy, which I just don't believe was true. 

It got me thinking about sad girls, too, and how they (we) are just never allowed to be sad girls. Amy and I were the same age and school year (she would have been forty last September and I turned forty in January) so I've always just been extremely saddened about her death. I'm thinking about Britney and other young women like her who have just been scrutinised their entire lives. I'm sad Amy is no longer with us. 

So, I saw it, and I have thoughts. It finished about 8pm and I drove home. Lee was about to get in the bath so I sat in bed eating biscuits and watching Friends while he did that! 

Vegetable tempura

Pad cashewnut - I love cashews! This was nicely spicy which I appreciate too

Took this outside the cinema at about 8pm when we were leaving - which shows me that it was still light at that time!

Penultimate Weekend in March

I was really busy the pentultimate weekend in March, the one before Easter, but I thought I'd combine everything into one post! It was a lovely but busy weekend, I'm not really sure how everything ended up happening at the same time!

On the Friday night Sam and I had tickets to go see Gaslight Anthem in Manchester. They're one of our favourite bands and we first saw them together in February 2009! I haven't seen them as often as she has, but I fancied seeing them again so we got tickets. It was at Manchester Apollo which is terrible for parking and for getting food nearby, so Lee and I had a bigger lunch and then I set off over the A628 at about 4pm.

However! I was just in Hollingworth, just before where the Glossop road joins and which is one of the busiest roads in England probably, when the car broke down at some lights and refused to start again. A man drove past me and told me I was in the way - like yeah! No shit Sherlock! I am not actually just stopped here for the fun of it! However then a different man pushed me on to a side road so at least I was safer and the traffic could move properly. I rang Lee who set off in my car, and then a local shopkeeper told me to go in if I needed anything, which was nice. And THEN a different man helped get my car on to the pavement so it was safer. I am glad for these strangers!

Lee arrived about 5.30 and we phoned the breakdown people and then I set off in my car to Manchester. Fortunately I managed to park just across from the Apollo and met Sam, and we went into the nearby pub for a drink. We ended up sitting outside but it wasn't too bad, and then we joined the queue to get in and got in very soon after doors opened. We had seats upstairs so headed up there. Emily Wolfe was the support act and she was pretty good, I've seen worse support bands. Then Gaslight Anthem were excellent! I really enjoyed myself and I'm glad I managed to make it! Lee got taken home and our car was left outside our local garage to be looked at!

On Saturday morning I had a very big lie in, and then Lee and I headed to Rotherham to buy a new sofa. We had been looking for one a few weeks before when we were also looking for a new mattress, but nowhere in Barnsley really sells sofas, hence heading over to Rotherham. There's a Sofology there but there are also about a zillion other sofa places! We had a look round a few and then went to German Doner Kitchen for lunch. I wasn't sure if they had anything vegetarian but they did, and it was actually really nice. We also went to Morrisons to buy Easter eggs for each other. We went into DFS where we saw a sofa we both really liked and which means we will actually get rid of both of ours! We got done quite quickly and got home about 3pm I think.

I did some cross stitching for a bit and then I got ready to go out with my mum, my friend Katie, and her mum Kath. Katie and I see each other quite often but it's ages since our mums got together so we thought it would be nice if we did. I booked a table at Qubana which is one of my favourite places in Wakefield to eat, and we arrived there about 5.45 for a drink first. 

Our table was ready at 6.30ish so we sat down there. My mum, Katie and I shared a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc which was really nice. We all had tapas - my mum and I shared hummus and bread and patatas bravas, and I had manchego cheese and she had pork tenderloin. Qubana has upped their vegetarian choices recently which is really good. We had dessert too, I had vegan chocolate fudge cake which was lovely. The only thing was that the service was a bit rubbish; we would definitely have had another drink if we had been offered!

Katie's dad picked us up at about 9.15 and took us back to my mum's house, which was really nice of him. I had a couple of glasses of wine with my mum and stepdad and Lee came to pick me up before we went home. It was a nice civilised night out! I was wearing my new Hell Bunny dress which I bought off Georgina recently, but I didn't get a picture of it. I did like my make up, though!

On Sunday morning Lee and I tidied the bedroom and the stairs ready for the new mattress to come on the Monday morning, and then I had a shower and had lunch, and then set off to Huddersfield. I had tickets to see The Motive and The Cue which is a National Theatre recording of a play starring Johnny Flynn, Mark Gatiss, and Tuppence Middleton. Johnny Flynn is playing Richard Burton, being directed by John Gielgud, to play Hamlet. It's really good and I really enjoyed it. Because it's the play it's quite long and has an interval, so we had the most delicious brownies in the middle. 

I got home about 6pm and relaxed for the evening because I had been so busy! 

Here's a ton of photos:

I love it when the band name is on the venue outside

Here we are sat having a drink outside the pub

Emily Wolfe! 

And Gaslight Anthem! Or maybe Aslight Anthem, as I couldn't see the G from my seat!

They played two of my favourite songs so I was happy

Here I am ready to go out on Saturday evening. My lipstick was a Body Shop one and it's really moisturising so I really liked it

Here we are in our booth in Qubana! It is a nice place, I recommend it if you're in the area!

Manchego cheese and hummus. The hummus was lush, there just wasn't a lot of it

Fudge cake and ice cream

Not a great photo of Katie and I due to the low lighting, but still nice to get a photo of us! I do love her, she's funny and fun and we've been friends since 2002 when we met at uni!

Here's my brownie in the cinema on the Sunday, it was so nice!

And here I am when I got home - a leopard print dress that I do love wearing, teal footless tights from Snag, and my zebra print cardigan!