Six in Leeds

On the 12th of July I went to Leeds to see Six with my mum, Sam, Jodie, and Mel. We have had the tickets since last August or something ridiculous like that. I have obviously seen it before but my mum hadn't, and wanted to. We had originally booked to go with Jac, but then she wasn't able to make it, so Jodie asked her friend Mel instead. I had met her once before but not for long, so it was nice to see her again.

Lee and I went to my mum's first and we had some lunch with her and my stepdad, and then she drove us to Leeds. We parked close to the theatre and walked up the Grand arcade. It was when the weather was stupidly hot so we were already sticky and sweaty, but never mind. Sam and Jodie were in the Cosy Club having some lunch, so my mum and I walked down there. I've never been in before but I quite liked it. My mum and I had a drink as we had eaten. Mel arrived and had a drink too. Then, just before 4pm, we headed to the theatre. It was stupid hot in there, old buildings suffer in the heat!

They had two showings of Six that day, as it's only short, and we had booked to see the earlier one. The place was absolutely rammed and as my mother said, mostly with women. And young women, too! The show was really good, as it always is. The Anne Boleyn appeared to be from Huddersfield or somewhere close which made her accent absolutely hilarious. I enjoyed it, and when it finished, my mum said 'Absolutely fabulous!'. So that was good, I was glad. She would see it again!

We had finished a bit earlier than we thought so we were early to Zan Asian where we had booked to eat. It didn't matter because it wans't very busy, so we got a table upstairs. It was SO hot in there and the air conditioner was like snowing? And not working great. Never mind! I ordered a blue cocktail - love me some blue shit - and we ordered food. I had Penang style grilled tofu which came with veg and peanuts on, and was yummy. The whole restaurant is Malaysian and I would like to go back and try more dishes. I wasn't sure what to get for mains but ended up going for Rojak Mee, which was tofu in a peanut sauce with noodles. It was nice but the noodles were a bit soggy for my liking. Still, it was good to try

After we had eaten we all just said goodbye and my mum drove us back to hers. Lee came to pick me up a bit later and then it was home time! 

This was a peach and pineapple something cocktail, it was pretty good

And this was a special, can't remember what, but also good

In the theatre before the show started. We were on Row N I think, and had a really good view

At the end, when you're encouraged to stand up and take photos

And another

A picture of the post outside

My blue cocktail

Tofu starter

And tofu main... fortunately I like tofu!

Leeds with Lolly

On the Saturday after we got back from our holiday, I went to Leeds to meet up with Lolly. We had planned to meet up with Becky and Georgina too but they had both had to cancel. Lolly still wanted to go to Bundobust so we decided to go anyway! So I got the train from Barnsley and when I arrived I headed to the Hotel Chocolat cafe where we had planned to meet. Lolly was running a bit late but it didn't matter because I had my book. It was really hot so I had a dark mint milkshake with cocoa whip. Delicious!

Lolly came in and we sat and chatted for a while. The cafe wasn't busy so we didn't feel like we were taking up space. We walked round to Bundobust at about 12.30 I think. We got a table but then decided to move outside. It was a bit cooler out there but not much! We ordered a cocktail each and some food. I can't remember what my drink was but it was nice. 

For food I went for one of the specials, which was mini chaat puffs, and Lolly went for the bhaji burger because she had enjoyed that before. Then we also ordered paneer tikka, onion bhajis, and poppadums, all of which we shared. It was all so nice! It always is in Bundobust, I can never complain. I went to the loo before we went and was pleased to see the pro trans graffiti and sticker in there!

We went into Trinity because Lolly wanted to look for some skincare in Boots. We considered getting dessert but we were full and it was really hot and bothered so we decided to go back into Hotel Chocolat for another drink. I think Lolly had some cake too, but I went for another milkshake with cocoa whip. Orange this time, I think! 

On the way out of the station I had noticed that there was a summer fair on in City Square which had Thor's Tipi in it so I suggested we went there for a drink. It was blazing sunshine outside so we sat inside but near one of the tent flaps. It was still stupidly hot though. We shared a pitcher of something sweet and yummy but I absolutely can't remember what it was now. After that we went back into the station to get the train home. It was a nice afternoon out!

I did forget to get a photo of both of us and a photo of my outfit, though! Honestly what kind of a blogger am I?

Mint milkshake - I could really go for one of those right now to be honest

Cocktail in Bundobust

Our delicious food - it was a good idea to share bits. The mini chaat puffs were really delicious

Very good graffiti

And finally our shared pitcher in the tipi

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!

Day Out in Leeds and a Gig

On the 16th of March Sam and I had booked to see the Mary Wallopers in Leeds. I had heard the band a bit and thought they were good so I invited her along with me. Then Jac said she was free in the afternoon so we arranged to have an afternoon out together first. I had gift vouchers from Sam for The Bookish Type, the queer bookshop in Leeds, so I wanted to go there. I haven't been since it moved to its new location so I was excited to do that. Then we had plans to go to the museum and then for tea, before Jacqui went home and Sam and I went to the Academy for the gig. 

I drove into Leeds but had to park in the St John's centre, which was kind of fine but I wasn't sure about what happened later at night. So I parked and then walked through to The Light to meet Sam and Jac, who had been to the cinema beforehand. We sat for a bit and then we walked down to The Bookish Type. There were plenty of books that looked amazing but I settled on three, two of which I got with the vouchers. 

Then we walked up to Leeds City Museum which I've been past a thousand times but have never actually looked round. It's Miffy's 70th birthday and there was a special exhibition of her, which I wanted to see, so we headed up to that first. It wasn't huge but it was fun and we got some cute photos. Then we headed into the ancient world part, which had cool stuff about the Romans and the Greeks and the Egyptians. They have a real Egyptian mummy! He is a priest called Nesyamun and it was SO cool to see. I tried to be respectful because he is after all a real human, a real dead human. The museum is basically his gravesite now. I appreciated seeing it. 

There's also a bit about the history of Leeds and stuff but I wanted to get back to the car before the shopping centre shut. I needed to leave my books and also swap my bag for one that was better allowed into the gig with not a load of stuff in it. I walked back down through the shopping centre and asked a man about how to get back to the car after the gig and he was really helpful. Yay for helpful staff!

Then I walked back to The Light (it was a lot of walking) where Sam and Jac were already in Turtle Bay. I had vegan jerk "chicken" with rice and beans and dumplings. It tasted really nice but I would have liked a bit more gravy. Jac had to go and then Sam and I sat for a bit longer. I had some pudding and she had a drink. 

By the time we walked up to the Academy it was almost 7pm. I hadn't booked access for the gig but Leeds Academy is usually pretty good at letting me get in quickly and getting the lift so that I can get a seat in the balcony. That is exactly what happened and it was absolutely fine. Sam and I were seated right at the back of the balcony by 7.10pm! 

The support act was a group called Sexy Tadhg and they were REALLY bizarre but SO good. It wasn't like a band but more like an experience! It was fun. I liked them, I would see them again. Then the Mary Wallopers came on about 9pm. They were SO good. Like just a lot of fun and very politically engaged (they had a Palestine flag on stage with them) and they chatted a bunch of funny stuff. They played a lot of lovely songs and I really enjoyed it. I would see them again next time they tour, definitely. 

They finished about 10.45 I guess and we walked out. Sam hotfooted it down to the station and I walked back to the car. I can't even tell you how much the nine hours of parking cost me!

But it was worth it, it was such a lovely day.

Various things in the Miffy exhibition. I love the one of her friend on roller skates!

Here I am in Miffy's chair

How amazing is this fella 

The three of us in Turtle Bay

Vegan jerk chicken

And a salted caramel brownie

Mary Wallopers!

They are very talented

I will definitely see them again

And here are the three books I bought and Sam's one (bottom right) that I brought home for her so she didn't have to carry it

Christmas Shopping in Leeds

On the 5th of December I went to Leeds to go Christmas shopping with my mum. We like to do this every year and always make a special day of it. Last year we went to Sheffield but this year we decided to go to Leeds. I got on the train in Barnsley and met my mum on the other side of the barriers in Leeds after she had got a different train from Wakefield. We had read that the Christmas markets were on in City Square just outside the station and in Millennium Square, so we decided to go there first.

However, because it was so early not much was open, and the stalls in Millennium Square didn't seem to be open at all - they were barred still. So we went into the museum cafe for a coffee hoping some other things would open, but when they wouldn't we went to the Merrion Centre instead. 

We had a nice time in there, we went into some clothes shops and a fab vintage shop that it in there, and we bought cards and some presents and stuff. We walked out of there and across the Headrow and into some more shops, and then walked down Swan Street where we went into a crystal shop, and then down County Arcade because my mum wanted to go as far down as the Victoria Centre as she's never been in. We went across to where The Ivy is because it was getting on to lunchtime and we thought it would be nice. But the vegetarian options at the moment were pretty poor, so I didn't fancy it. We walked out on to Vicar Lane and realised that The Ivy Asia is upstairs from The Ivy and has plenty of veggie options! We went in and got a table. 

It is so fancy in there and really nice. The staff are all lovely. We had a glass of prosecco each and then shared a bottle of white wine. For food my mum went for duck pancakes and then teriyaki salmon with rice. I went for an avocado and chilli salad which was SO good, and vegetable gyoza (which were really spicy!), vegetable tempura, and a cucumber and peanut salad. It was all SO nice and it felt really lovely and definitely spoiling ourselves. 

After that we walked down into the Victoria Centre and into John Lewis where we bought a few things. All the shops in there are expensive though! It was lovely and festive though, so nice to walk around. We then got really wet walking towards Trinity and into Lush where I got some things. We went into Trinity and got some more presents. We were properly flagging by this point though, unsurprisingly! So we went out the side of Trinity and back towards City Square where more of the market stalls were open this time. 

We went into the bar and had a drink each - spiced rum for me. My mum went across and bought some churros for us to share, and we had another drink too. But the heavens absolutely opened - it was bouncing off the street. We had another drink and then decided to make our way back to Wakefield Westgate for Lee to pick us up there.

We got into the station and went to one platform, only then the announcement came through that that train wasn't stopping at Westgate. So we walked ages to go to a different platform... where the same thing happened. Apparently there were cables down due to the stormy weather. So we ended up having to go to Platform 17 where we got on a train to Kirkgate. We eventually made it there, and Lee picked us up. By that time I had walked over 12,000 steps and I was KNACKERED. We went back to my mum's and Lee and my stepdad had some tea while my mum and I just sat and relaxed! It was a really lovely day though, we went all over! 

My mum in the Merrion Centre

And me, too. I was wearing this skirt that used to be a dress that my friend gave me. It's so wintry, I love it. I got three compliments on it!

In County Arcade, I think, I get them all confused

In The Ivy, you can see the Springsteen t shirt I was wearing too 

The ceiling in The Ivy, with a bunch of beautiful baubles for Christmas

Avocado and chilli salad which was cold and really yummy

Vegetable tempura

Gyoza - these were lovely too

Some kind stranger took our picture outside the Victoria Centre

Tree inside, isn't it pretty

This was the tree in Trinity

Took a picture of myself to show just how wet I was walking back to Trinity

Prosecco for my mum and spiced rum for me

This was when the rain was really bad, you can't see it well in the photo but the video I took is insane!

Churros that we shared

And finally here's the total number of steps I walked all day........ a lot!