Weekend with Sam and Jac and Others

On the Sunday morning when Sam and Jac were at mine, we went to Holme Coffee House in Penistone for brunch with Jodie. I love Holme Coffee House, the food is great and they have plenty of vegetarian options. They're currently in a small space and you can't book tables, but in February they are moving across the road to somewhere much bigger. I really recommend them if you're in the area! We didn't know if we would have to wait for a table but Jodie got there about 10.35 and got a table for us. The rest of us joined only a bit later. 

I had a cappucino I think and then a sandwich with a vegan sausage, eggs, and avocado, with mushrooms on the side. It was delicious! Then I had a piece of tiffin and maybe another coffee. Jodie and Jac and Sam got the train from Penistone at about 12.20 I think, and I headed home. 

I had my Greenhead Girls over for food and a get together! We went to Greenhead College together a million years ago and four of us are still pretty close. We try to get together each Christmas to celebrate and swap gifts, and I said I would host in 2025 because we had moved and Amy and Michelle hadn't yet seen the new house.

Gillian and E arrived first as Gillian had kindly offered to help me get set up. Amy and her family are vegan so we had got a bunch of vegan goodies and everyone brought things too. Michelle came with little B; her elder child and husband were at a birthday party. Amy and Mike came with their three kids, so all the older ones took off around the house. Katniss hissed at them which they came to tell me about. I explained how she doesn't really like people a lot (although she is getting a lot better with adults). 

We had all the vegan food and mulled wine and Gillian's husband Tom came with their eldest, L, and we just chatted. It was a really good time! These women mean so much to me and I'm glad for their continued presences in my life. We swapped presents, I gave R a big cuddle, and I was sad to see everyone go. I was exhausted by the time they had gone. Gillian kindly did a lot of tidying up; she was so generous with her time. When she went, though, I went and laid down for a bit and Katniss came and laid on me, as she likes to do. 

I was wearing a sequin and mesh skirt that came from Simply Be forever and a day ago. I only really wear it at Christmas but I love it. I'm pretty sure R thought I was a princess because of it. My t shirt is a Judi Love one that I got from Vinted, I really like it and it's comfy. The cardigan came from George also forever ago but I've been wearing it a lot too. 

Festive cappucino in the coffee house

My brunch

Me and Jodie and Sam and Jac, just about, in Holme Coffee House

My festively cute tiffin

A bunch of us girls celebrating in the afternoon, except E, who didn't want to be in the photo

Here's my outfit in full

And here's Katniss when she was lying on me

Boxing Day 2023

I usually enjoy Boxing Day a whole lot because it's really relaxed and fun. However, I slept really badly on Christmas Day night and felt awful in the morning on Boxing Day. I think my brain just broke a bit. I've had a lot going on and I think my adrenaline had just gone. I struggled to get up and showered, so it was nearly midday before I was dressed and downstairs. It didn't matter, really, but I did feel like I had wasted half the day! 

We had Christmas dinner leftovers for lunch at about 1.30. It was delicious, as usual. We listened to some of the records Lee and I had got for Christmas, and played some games. However, I still felt terrible. I had a very brief nap at about 4.30pm, and when I woke up literally about fifteen minutes later, I felt way better. I came round a bit! 

I hadn't taken any photos until this point, but then my mum gave my cats some treats and Poppy was being so cute asking for them that I took a couple of photos of her. We played cards which I always enjoy, and we had some Christmas cake later on in the evening. My stepdad and I had it with Wensleydale which is traditional in parts of Britain and it's delicious! 

I was wearing this Judi Love at Very dress which I love so much and it's perfect for a special occasion. It's black, with sheer sleeves and gold stars dotted on it. I wore starry tights from Snag too but you can't see them in the photo. 

The other photos are of a couple of presents - a poster from Lee and the hamper that his brother and sister in law put together for us. It's amazing, full of so many delicious things! Plus there's a couple of things in it that Lee doesn't like so I'll have to eat them myself, like the brandy snaps! 

We went to bed and I threw up - so maybe the problem all day was just that I felt under the weather? I'm not sure but I did feel way better once I'd actually been sick which often happens to me! I was happy to get to bed though. 

Look at Poppy's little feet stretching up to my mum for a treat. She's been overgrooming herself and has bald bits down both sides of her body. We've had her back and forth to the vet and can't find anything much wrong with her. It's the first week in January as I am writing this though and she's been diagnosed with allergies and we have to give her a tablet a day. It is growing back and she seems less stressed, just a bit bald!

She is too cute though. Jasmine was nearby too, don't worry!

This was what I got in The Broke and the Bookish's swap, which I've done for a few years now. The books are all off my wishlist and I'm excited to read all of them! I got some lovely things alongside, too, including treats for the cats which is a really lovely thought, and some handmade things which are beautiful

This was Gwen and Janet's swap and my partner was Kathryn, who you may remember from blogging back in the day. She and I have really similar taste in books so I am really intrigued by these books and will have to get to them soon

Lee bought me this poster and it's going straight on the wall, believe me

Judi Love dress in my mum's kitchen

Christmas cake and cheese, delish!

And finally here's the hamper Chris and Gemma gave us

What I Wore November 13th

On Monday November the 13th I went to craft club as I usually do on a Monday morning, but I wore a new top as I did it so I thought I would post about it. As you know, I really like the clothes I've got from the Judi Love range at Very - I wear the dress and cardigan I have a lot and was keeping an eye on the range on the Very website. This top and another one went on sale back in like March or something, so I bought them but I've been saving them for when the weather turned colder. And finally, it was time! 

This top has sheer sleeves which I like, but they're also long and fit well, which is nice too. There's a sheer layer over the front, too, adding to the ruffle effect. I wore my long sleeved black cardigan over the top because the room where my craft club is can be cold! 

I wore it with one of my Scarlett & Jo skirts - this blue one is lovely but sort of formal so I don't wear it all the time. But I think these two looked nice together!

Weekend in Sheffield with Friends

In the middle of April I had a weekend planned in Sheffield with Sam, Jac, Sarah, Lucinda and Von. We hadn't all been together at once since January 2020 so we thought it was well overdue. I had booked a lovely apartment on Abbeydale Road but that got cancelled, so I had to book something else quickly so we ended up in Upperthorpe I guess, between the city centre and Hillsborough. The apartment wasn't great but we weren't there very long so it was basically fine! 

Lee took Sam and I there on Friday afternoon and we got checked in. Jacqui arrived at about 5pm so the three of us made tea and did some chilling out with some wine. It is always nice to talk shit with those two so I enjoyed it. Lucinda and Von were coming from London so they arrived about 11.15, we said hi and then headed to bed.

I woke up early on Saturday and eventually got into the shower and got ready. Sarah arrived about 10am - she would have stayed over but didn't want to leave her little girl, which was of course fine - I'm glad she joined us during the day though! We swapped some presents and stuff and got made up glam, and then we set off about midday down to the tram stop. I was really anxious about it because I didn't know if I could walk so far, but we took it gently as we weren't in any particular rush, and I made it! It was downhill which is clearly better than uphill, but still, Sheffield hills are steep! We got on the tram and got off at City Hall and walked across to Leopold Square. I've been there before as it's where Pho is, so I knew it wasn't far from the tram. Sarah had booked us a table at Cubana which does tapas so we headed in there.

I've never been in but I would thoroughly recommend it, the tapas was so good. I have cheese croquettes, garlic mushrooms, tomato and mozzarella salad, and patatas mansas. I had a strawberry cocktail and we shared some sangria too. We then headed next door to The Botanist and had some drinks in there - mine was strawberry and elderflower I think. Next we headed to Turtle Bay where we sat outside - it wasn't that warm but we were fine, and at least it wasn't raining. We had a few drinks there. Jac left about 4pm as she wasn't feeling well and wanted to go home. But it was nice to see her! 

We got a taxi back to the flat about 5.15pm and chilled out for the rest of the night. We had some snacks for tea and then Sarah left at about 8pm. The rest of us watched rubbish TV before heading to bed at 11pm. It was such a nice day out! I had been wearing my star print Judi Love dress - it's so easy to wear but looks really special. My lipstick is from Revlon and I love the bright pink colour. 

Von suggested that we went out for brunch before she and Lucinda set off south, so when Lee picked us up we headed to Loung 418 on Ecclesall Road. It was so nice - really funky inside and the food was brilliant. I had the full veggie breakfast which as you can see was big and lovely! We said goodbye after brunch and Lee and I headed home.

I was in such a lot of pain because I walked what was for me a really long way. I'm proud of myself and I knew the pain would pass, but jeez living with chronic pain and then adding extra on is no fun. I will take it easy for a few days now!

My nails were an Illamasqua black polish with some glitter as accent nails

Cupcakes I ordered for us

Weren't they so cute?

Me on Saturday morning ready to go out

We each had temporary tattoos because we're grown ups

Cute though!

Me and Jac in Cubana

Me and Von

Sam and Lucinda

Sarah and Lucinda

Jac and Sarah

Von and Sam and Lucinda

All of us! Thank you to the kind waiter who took this

Sarah was very happy with her mojito

Strawberry cocktail

My food which was all gorgeous - there were a lot of veggie and vegan options which pleased me and Lucinda

Sarah and I looking very glam in the toilets

This mad light fitting was in The Botanist

This was one of my drinks in Turtle Bay

And and Sarah and Lucinda as we waited for Sam and Von before getting a taxi

Showing off my dress back in the flat

Sunday morning in Lounge 418

And finally my gorgeous brunch

Lunch and Cinema in Sheffield

On the 18th of March Lee and I headed to Sheffield to meet my cousin Rob and his wife Beth for lunch. We had been meaning to meet up for a while and decided to go to Saigon 68 on London Road which is a fab Vietnamese cafe that we like going to. I went last summer with my friend Lucinda but Lee hadn't been since before the pandemic I don't think. We all arrived at the same time and easily got a table.

I went for vegetarian chicken satay skewers and then a veggie chicken Vietnamese stir fried noodle dish, both of which I've had before and both of which I like. Lee had salt and pepper tofu which was both also love. 

After lunch we popped into the European supermarket across the road from Saigon 68 where I bought some snacks and some pop that you generally can't get in the UK. Then Lee and I went to the cinema! We went to see Scream VI, we're big fans of the whole Scream franchise so I'm glad we decided to go to the cinema to see this one. I really enjoyed it, I think it had a really good story and the main two actors were really good. 

We got home around 6pm and just chilled out for the rest of the day. I was wearing a new Judi Love top that I got recently from Very - it was in the sale and I really like it and the material it is made of. I was wearing it with my Scarlett & Jo net skirt that I've had for years but don't wear very often. I wore my grey Snag tights with pink and yellow hearts on them, they're very cute. 

Then I had a new-to-me pair of Dr Marten shoes. I saw them on Vinted in March for just £25 plus postage, and I still had birthday money to spend so I bought them. Part of one of the buckles is damaged - it still functions but the end doesn't tuck in. It doesn't affect the wearing of the shoe and I think I'll be able to use something else. It made them an absolute bargain and I love them!

Tights and Dr Marten patent double bucked shoes, taken just as we were getting ready to go out 

Our starters

And my main

And here's my outfit!

Birthday Trip Day 3

On the Saturday of our weekend in Helmsley, Sarah and Tom were up early with Robyn but Lee and I managed to sleep in for a bit. We relaxed in the morning - I was cross stitching - and Robyn played. Then she went for a nap about midday so Lee and I headed out to look at some of the shops in Helmsley we had missed the previous day. We got a few things in those shops. We then went to Cornercopia cafe to wait for Sarah and Tom and Robyn, who came after Robyn's nap. I haven't been in that cafe before but it was really nice, I would go again. I had falafel and cucumber and tzatziki on sourdough, and it was lovely. 

As we had headed out it was really foggy, but the sun started to break through. We had decided to go to the castle as Tom likes castles and Robyn likes running about. I've never been, but it's English Heritage so it costs a little bit to go in but I felt it was worth it. I probably wouldn't go again as it's not going to change much, but I did enjoy it. 

The people on the desk on the way in told us to go up the left hand path to get in as it's a shallower path which is obviously better for me and for a pushchair, so I was glad she had said that. The sun was breaking through and leaving some lovely effects on the ruins, so we all took photos and Robyn ran all over the place. It wasn't far to go so that was good. The path down the right hand side was much steeper and a bit icy in parts, but I managed it with Lee. 

Lee and I walked back into the market square and had a hot drink in Cafe Crema which was lovely. We all met back at the cottage. Lee went for a lie down again around 5pm and the rest of us cooked tea which was fajitas - chicken for the non vegetarians and halloumi for me. Robyn had some too! She had a bath and bed again and she fell asleep quite quickly so the rest of us managed to play a game and watch rubbish music channels on Sky. It was a lovely day! 

As Lee and I went into the square at about midday, there was proper fog going on! 

Hot chocolate in Cornercopia

Me and Sarah

My lunch, which was really nice

The sun just starting to poke through as we walked towards the castle

A plan of what the castle would have looked like before its destruction

I love the light in this one

As this one, as we walked up towards the entrance

This is one of the entrances

The bronze sculptures are pretty cool

One of the old entrances

Lots of ruins

Inside the keep

Me standing in a doorway like I like to

Our shadows

Sarah and Tom and Robyn

Looking down into the moat

Looking at Helmsley from the castle

The beck as Lee and I walked over it - it was far fuller than it usually is

And looking the other way - I always take these pictures in Helmsley

And finally my outfit - my Judi Love top and a Scarlett & Jo skirt, pretty typical outfit for me!