Solo Trip Day 2

On the Friday of my solo trip I had a nice lie in and then a shower, and then I watched a film and eventually I thought about leaving the house. I had found a place in Uppermill called Weaver and Wilde which had some amazing brunch options so I decided to go there and then across to the museum which was literally just across the road. I had the Weaver's veggie breakfast which was SO good, and two coffees which were also brilliant. I was again reading my book, and also the Airbnb owner was in there when I got there having a coffee with her friend! 

I went across to the museum and paid £3 to get in. It isn't huge but it had some nice enough exhibits and I did learn some stuff about the area and I enjoyed the stuff about weaving in the area. After I left the museum I would have walked through the village going in some shops but it was throwing it down so I decided not to. I drove around for a bit looking at the views, and then I ended up at a cafe called the Limekiln, near Uppermill. I had a drink and a piece of cake and read some more of my book. 

I then tried to find a shop as I wanted to buy something for my tea, but I couldn't find one. I even tried a farm shop, but it had nothing vegetarian except cheese, and it didn't have any bread or I would've bought both of those and made myself a sandwich. By this time I was dying for the loo so I headed back to the Airbnb. It was about 4pm so I decided to stay there for a while watching TV, doing some writing and some crafting. I set off back out about 6pm and found a Co-op, where I bought some tea. Once I got back it was pyjama time! I had asked the owner to set the fire going again for me which she did, and I managed to keep it going a lot longer that time, meaning it was around 9.30pm by the time it went out, so the place stayed warm a lot longer. 

On Saturday morning I was a bit worried about getting everything tidy and packed, but I took it slowly, trying to be methodical about it. I actually ended up leaving at 9.30am, earlier than my 10am check out. It was SO foggy on the tops while I was driving, but I took it nice and slow and still ended up getting home at 10.30! Lee couldn't believe how early I was. It meant I got a nice long time to relax on the Saturday.

I did miss Lee! I appreciated being able to do what I wanted, but I did miss him. It was an interesting experiment and I would definitely do it again! 

Coffee in Weaver and Wilde which I thoroughly recommend if you're in the area

What I was reading - it's one of the Marple challenge books that I'm reading this year

My gorgeous brunch - that is vegan black pudding behind the toast!

Interesting stuff in the museum. The banner above is just gorgeous, handmade to celebrate the area of Saddleworth. 

This boat was on the canal next to the museum

Some views on my drive

Cake!

This view was gorgeous too, up at the Ram's Head, which is close to the M62 junction. I could have gone on the motorway but I hate the M62 and preferred the drive across from my house to Denshaw via Thongsbridge

It was very blowy up on the tops! 

This was the annexe I was staying in (on the ground floor, I think it was a bedroom above me but didn't disturb me)

Finally here's the fog on Saturday morning!

Solo Trip Day 1

So one of the tihngs on my list of forty things to do before I turn forty next January was to go away by myself for a couple of nights. I have rarely been away by myself as I've been with Lee forever and if I don't go away with him I go away with friends. When I had been by myself it's been to go to a gig or a conference or something, so I wanted a couple of nights with nothing to do except please myself. I booked two nights in Denshaw, which is one of the villages in Saddleworth, just over the border in Lancashire. I was booked into an annexe to someone's house which looked very cute and cosy. It was basically a studio with a living area, kitchen and dining area, a bed hidden behind some Ikea Kallaxes, and a separate bathroom. I didn't spend very much as I didn't want to, and I also didn't book too far from home as I didn't want to drive too far. 

I am rarely by myself these days as Lee works from home 24/7. I'm sometimes alone if he goes out to brand practice, and briefly alone when he goes to the supermarket, but otherwise, I'm only alone when I drive myself places. I miss being at home by myself but as Lee's company is based in Bratislava he works remotely all the time. So I wanted to be by myself for a bit too. It was an interesting experiment and one I was looking forward to!

A couple of days before I set off I started looking on Tripadvisor for places nearby with decent vegetarian options. I found about three pubs that had at least something I wanted to eat (no thank you to vegetarian moussaka) and I found a place for brunch on the Friday, but that's in the next post. I also looked at 'things to do' on Tripadvisor and discovered that Saddleworth Museum would be open, and also that a theatre in Shaw turned out to be showing Meet Me in St Louis on the Thursday afternoon! I love that film and I didn't watch it last Christmas like I usually do, so I thought I might go. The tickets were five pounds! Five quid! What a bargain! That meant I had to leave home at about 11.30 on the Thursday, so I did.

I got to Shaw about 12.30 and went into Asda to buy some lunch, which I inhaled before going across to the theatre. There was a screen pulled down above the stage and the film was projected on to that. Halfway through there was an interval, and the volunteers of the theatre had cake and coffee to eat. This is absolutely adorable and I wish I lived closer to the theatre because I would go and see these films more! The film finished at about 3.15 and I then drove to Denshaw. 

I couldn't find the Airbnb so had to ring the owner but she was really lovely - one of the nicest Airbnb owners I have met! She had set the woodburner going for me so I got settled and cosy and sat watching TV for a few hours. 

About 7pm I headed out to the Junction Inn and got a table and a glass of wine. I had feta and spinach rolls to start with and then a vegan burger which was only okay, but it was fine. I had my tablet with me so I could read, and I had a nice time. I was enjoying my experiment so far! I went back to the cottage and watched a film and did some writing before bed. 

I slept really well! I'm often a bit scared of the dark and it was very dark, but it wasn't too bad and I slept fine. Here's photos from my first day:

In the theatre waiting for the film to start. The stage was set up for The Good Life, haha

Just as it started

Outside afterwards

Do visit if you're in the area

I was staying really close to this beautiful view

The bed area, with patio doors

I loved this artwork on the wall!

The seating area

The kitchen and dining area - the woodburner was to the left of this. I tried my hardest to keep it going but failed - I'm not used to actual fires - so it was quite cold when I went to bed as this was the only source of heat. I slept with a few layers on which helped

Gorgeous lavendar on the table

Cheers!

And finally my food!

Trip to Blackpool - Day 3

On the Saturday of our weekend away we had some breakfast and then I went for another bath in the huge bath. I chucked a Lush bath bomb in, but it must have been quite old because it didn't fizz, it just disintegrated straight away. No matter, because it made the water nice and blue anyway, and it had a ton of glitter in it, so I liked it. I wallowed there for a while, then we got ready and went into Blackpool to the Cosy Jazz Cafe for lunch.

I had been googling vegetarian options in Blackpool and came across this, which is a vegan cafe. It was empty when we arrived but got busier. It has the cutest decor, with lots of jazz records, books, and board games available. We played dominoes while we waited for our food. The menu isn't huge, but I went for jerk chick'n rice, and Lee went for a Jimmy Armfield burger (he played for Blackpool, if you're wondering like I was). I had a chai latte too, I love them! The food was so good, we shared it. I didn't eat all my rice so took it with me for later. I would recommend the cafe for vegans and vegetarians in the area! 

We then went on to Blackpool sea front and went on the big wheel at the funfair. I've seen it a few times and wanted to go on, but I didn't know if Lee would or not. But he did, so we bought tickets and hopped on. It was a lot of fun! I took some videos but can't post them here, but I took lots of pictures too. 

We played in some amusements but we weren't having much luck with either air hockey tables or 2p machines so we didn't stay. I got some donuts and Lee got an ice cream and we sat on the front looking at the beach. 

Then, quite honestly, we were both tired. We had had a long day the day before and we wanted to relax. We decided to drive up to Cleveleys to look at the beach there and then go back to the cottage to just relax and chill out for the evening. We are both chronically ill and recognise our limits, and the cottage was comfortable and nice to relax in, so that's what we did. Lee had a bath and I sat and did some cross stitching. We had bits for tea (including leftovers from lunch), and played table football. We stepped outside a bit later to look at the stars and I took the last photo just with my phone, you can see lots of stars in it!

On the Sunday morning we packed up and came home, back to the cats who were very happy to see us!

Blue bath!

Proof I was in it

The Cosy Jazz Cafe

And again

Jerk chick'n and rice

Lee's burger

These horse drawn carriages act as taxis all up and down the front, they're so cute, I'd love to go in one day!

Going up in the big wheel

Looking at the sea

And the pier

Lee on the wheel

And me, very windswept

The Tower 

The wheel from underneath

I took this on the pier of the shadow of the wheel and the Tower

Lee and I on the pier

Lee took this one when we were a little further away

Blackpool beach

Fresh donuts! One of the purest pleasures in life

Cleveleys beach, we thought this sculpture looked like a shell

Looking the other way

I don't drink much anymore but I enjoyed this tiny bottle of wine

Table football - I won, I'm good at table football thanks to a misspent youth on holiday in French bars

And finally stars!