Afternoon out with My Cousins

As you have probably understood if you've read my blog for any amount of time, I don't have any siblings but I do have two cousins who are a lot younger than me but who are like my brothers; I love them so much and I'm so grateful to have them. The eldest one, Rob, has a wife, Beth, and a son, T, who is nearly two. They wanted to come up and meet our new cats as they didn't see them at Christmas, so we organised for them to come up in mid March. We decided we would meet in Barnsley for lunch and then come back to ours for a bit. This worked out well for me because I had booked an optician's appointment for earlier in the morning. So Lee and I set out early and I went into Specsavers. He went to park and then joined me. I chose two new pairs of glasses as I didn't feel I needed new sunglasses - I often wear my contact lenses on holiday and just ordinary sunglasses and I think the old ones will be fine for a bit longer. The good news is my eyes are getting better as I get older so my prescription is slightly less terrible than it was!

After we had done there we walked round the market for a bit and then we went to a piercers where I had my conches pierced. I wanted some different jewellery for two of my cartilage piercings in my left ear. I know I could have just bought them online but I wasn't sure I could get the CBRs out myself, so I went into the shop instead. I bought two horsehoe rings with spiky ends, and the woman changed them for me. A bargain! 

By this time it was just before twelve o'clock so we went into the Market Kitchen in the market hall. We knew it would be busy so we were both looking for a table and finally I got one. Rob and Beth were just parking so they wouldn't be long. And then they had surprise Peter with them! We weren't expecting that at all! So that was a joyful bonus! 

The good thing about Market Kitchen is that there are about ten different counters where you can get all different types of food, so we could all have something different. Beth went for pie and mash from one of the very typical cafes. Rob went for a thali from the Indian place, which looked amazing and which I'll have to get. Peter went for 'Spudz' which were roast potatoes that he got layered with lasagne and cheese and all kinds of stuff. Lee got a chicken burrito. I was displeased because the Thai counter has gone! Which I always get! I should have got curry but instead I went for a vegetable kebab from the Turkish place. It was fine. 

Then some of us went to Dolly's Desserts for pudding. Baby T was told to hold my hand as we walked over, which he did, very well. I ordered a creme egg brownie and ice cream. T then wanted to hold my hand AND Lee's all the way back to the table. He is such a cutie! 

After we had eaten we went to a couple of stalls in the market and then into a couple of shops. T insisted on trying on some pink Converse which were SO CUTE. We headed back to our house. The kittens were NOT impressed by the small child. Katniss isn't keen on new humans anyway, but she definitely didn't want to meet him. Kiki usually loves people but she was very skittish. Small children are very unpredictable aren't they. T went all over the house exploring and finding cat toys to play with. The rest of us played Mario Kart a bit, two at a time. It was nice to just sit and relax and play with T, actually. 

We had a bit of tea around 6pm. Just bread and some fillings and some crisps. T got into his pyjamas and had some milk so that he would fall asleep in the car. They left about 7pm I think. It had been so nice to see them all! 

I was wearing a Scarlett and Jo dress that I got off Vinted last year or the year before I think. I love the sort of faded pattern of the skirt. It was warm enough as the weather had turned a bit cold again. Plus it looks fancy while still being comfortable. 

I didn't get a picture of all of us which I'm annoyed about, but here's the pictures I did take:

Vegetable kebab with cacik and rice 

And my delicious brownie. The ice cream was a bit odd so I wouldn't get it again

Here's T trying on Converse in Sports Direct

T found the cat toy to play with

And we took some selfies too

T was thrilled that Lee would let him strum the guitars and the ukulele. He was very pleased with himself

And here's my lovely dress just before I got changed at 7!

Food and Alcohol in Barnsley with Sam

On the 6th of July I met up in Barnsley with Sam. Lee was going to York to go to a festival, and I could have gone, or I could have stayed at home by myself, but I decided to see if anyone was free for food and drinks. Sam was, so we made plans to go to The Salt House for bottomless brunch. I have been in there once before, but haven't had bottomless brunch in there before. It's £40 and although the service was a bit slow it seemed like pretty good value. 

We arrived about 12.15 and first of all we were put at a table that wasn't suitable for me. So then we moved upstairs. It was a more comfortable table but I am a bit annoyed that I had to go upstairs. Never mind. The drinks on the brunch menu are pretty good - we went for a rose prosecco to start with, and also had some pornstar martinis and other stuff. You can also choose two dishes off the menu and either fries or rice. The menu is not huge but it's pretty evenly split between vegetarian and not, so there were loads for me to choose from. I went for mac and cheese croquettes and mushroom bao buns, both of which were delicious, and fries. 

As I said, the service wasn't the fastest ever but we still got a good number of drinks before our time was up. We then walked to Wetherspoons. Barnsley's Wetherspoons is not very big and it's generally really full. There was also a football match on later in the afternoon, so I said it would be better to go there first before it got really busy. We ended up being able to get a table near the door and it was fine. Sam has the app so she ordered a bottle of wine to share. 

Then we walked across to Falco Lounge. It was almost empty in there, but the football wasn't on so maybe everyone was trying to find that instead. We had three cocktails in there and also some dessert - I had a caramel brownie sundae. My cocktails were reallly nice, as they always are in there. I like it. By this time we were quite drunk, as you can imagine, so around 6pm we said goodbye. 

I waited for a bus but when it came it went right past me even though I had my hand out, which was annoying. So I decided to wait for a taxi and I eventually got home. I laid down for a bit, hoping to sleep, but couldn't! So I got up, had some leftover mushroom soup, and chilled out before bed. Lee didn't get back until past midnight!

I was wearing this Scarlett and Jo dress that I've had for over a decade now. I absolutely love it and it always feels really nice to wear. I had mostly forgotten about it but rearranged some stuff recently and found it. So I thought I would drag it out again! 

I put some make up on to go out, including this Charlotte Tilbury lipstick that Georgina sent me - isn't it a lovely colour?

It was a bit sunny but it rained too in town, but the fountains in the centre are absolutely lovely when the water cascades down them. When it was sunny there were kids running through them and so on. I really like this part of Barnsley now they've redone it

Rose prosecco! It was really nice

Here we are waiting for our food

Mac and cheese croquettes

Mushroom bao buns - these were perfectly nice but the sauce was a bit too tarragon-y for me

Oh look at the ridiculous parrot earrings I was wearing! I got them off Vinted for literally a couple of quid and I just love them

Drinking white wine in Spoons

My sundae in the Lounge

Mine was a Cherry Bakewell and Sam's was a Lemon Drop

And here I am in this lovely old Scarlett and Jo dress - I just love the colour and pattern of the skirt so much 

Six by Nico in Leeds

On the 2nd of June I went back to Leeds to meet my friend Sally for lunch at Six by Nico on East Parade. She's been before but I never had, but I had been signed up to their mailing list for ages. Basically every six weeks they get a new tasting menu of six courses inspired by somewhere or something new and they do a vegetarian menu alongside a meat one. I've been interested in quite a few of the menus and noticed that Sally had been, and she also mentioned the two of us eating together somewhere fancy to celebrate us both turning forty. Sally and I went to school together but lost touch when I left at sixteen. We became friends on Facebook and have met up a few times since January 2023. It's been really nice to reconnect with her! So I thought going here would be absolutely lovely. 

It isn't cheap - the tasting menu is £42 which isn't bad, but the drinks were a bit expensive and we also asked some savoury churros. But it was really nice for a treat and I liked the ambience of the restaurant. The serving staff were really pleasant and knowledgeable, too. 

So this menu was inspired by Mexico City and as you can see the vegetarian side has had as much thought as the meat one. The different types were really similar to each other which was nice because it meant Sally and I could compare notes. I think my favourite was the tostada which came first - I think I could have eaten about ten of those. I was glad we added the churros, too. We were there two and a half hours, including coffee, which was absolutely lovely. We walked towards The Light together before saying goodbye.

I was wearing this old Scarlett and Jo dress that I've had forever. It's a lovely sheer grey material with polka dots, which was lovely in the weather because it was lovely and sunny in Leeds! I was wearing my teal coloured Snag tights underneath, and red dolly shoes which were originally from Topshop but which I got on Vinted. I also put make up on!

My lipstick was darker than it seemed, but I like it all the same

Let me make this photo a bit bigger in the hopes you will be able to read it

Sally and I both had a guava spritz to drink

Here we are with our drinks!

Tostada - so fresh and delicious

Sweetcorn fritter - this was delicious too 

Goats cheese and parmesan churros - I could have eaten a lot of these, too 

This was an onion with onion chutney and potato crackling for me - but what I really liked best on here was the almond pesto. Sally agreed!

Halloumi on a white bean chilli and served with a spicy broth - this was delicious too 

Plantain in like spring roll pastry, with corn tamales and different gels and stuff. This one didn't wow me

But the cake was worth the wait - pecan cake with tres leches mousse on top and a sorbet type thing which was citrussy - really yummy even though I wouldn't have chosen it

And to be honest the whole thing pushed me out of my comfort zone, which is good!

Red dolly shoes from Topshop, they're so ridiculous

Here I am in my Scarlett and Jo dress. I've had it since at least 2017 cos I wore it to my cousin's wedding then

I sat outside for a little bit about 6.30 with the cats, which was lovely

What I Wore February 19th

Lee wasn't working on February the 19th as it was a freebie day off for him, so I asked him if he wanted to go out for lunch and he chose for us to go to the Toby Carvery near our house. It's not my first choice usually but actually I was in the mood for it so I agreed. First of all I went to craft club in Penistone, as I do every Monday generally. Then I went home and picked Lee up and we went to the carvery. It was really busy! I think some kids were on inset days and they were having staff problems too. 

But there were two courses for £11.49 so we both decided to get that. Now, the carvery does do a few vegetarian choices but I always find they're too much and that actually I would just like the vegetables, potatoes and stuffing etc. They used to advertise this but haven't for a while, but I decided I would just do that anyway. And indeed when I went up to the carvery counter there was absolutely no problem for me to not get any meat. I got everything else instead, including the cabbage, which was delicious, and the mac and cheese. It was delicious! I really enjoyed it and it was nice to spend time with Lee as I had barely seen him all week. We both also had whipped ice cream sundaes for pudding.

I relaxed for the rest of the day but I was glad we had gone out for lunch. I was wearing my Scarlett & Jo skirt which I usually say is purple, but it's almost the same colour as my new Hamilton t shirt... which is definitely blue. So really who knows. They do look good together though! It wasn't freezing cold so I had just put on my huge new strawberry jumper from Snag. It's so cosy!

Deeeeelicious carvery lunch! I like mine with lots of mustard

Outfit with my strawberry jumper on

And here you can see my new t-shirt! It's really soft and lovely, in a 2XL. I really liked the Schuyler sisters so had to have this!

New Year's Eve 2023

For New Year Lee and I went to my aunt's house in Surrey. We weren't sure what we were going to do, but after the bereavement in December I wanted to be with family so I asked if we could go too as my mum and stepdad were already due to go. Lee was playing a gig on the 30th and he didn't want to cancel it, so we set off on New Year's Eve. We got to Caroline's just before 4pm due to some traffic and that we had stopped for lunch. My cousin Peter was there and was staying for the night too! I didn't know! I had asked if he would be there (he lives in Southampton with his wife now, but she was working both days as she works in theatre) but he said he didn't think so, so it was such a lovely thing to have him there!

We swappped presents and then played with the games we had given Neil, which was fun. I got changed into my evening outfit and so did some other people. During the day I was wearing my "We are the weirdos, mister" t shirt which I got from Grin in 2022 in Afflecks Palace in Manchster, and one of my flamingo skirts. This one came from Interrobang Art and I love it - especially because it has pockets! I had also put on my new cowboy boots that my mum bought me for Christmas and I'm happy to say they were really comfortable. 

In the evening I was wearing an old Scarlett and Jo dress which is grey with polka dots on. I've had it ages but don't wear it often, but I can't really explain why because it's really nice. I wore it for my other cousin's wedding but that was way back in 2017! It's nice and sheer so would be great for the summer but it's good for a house party too.

We had pizza and snacks for tea and then played games in the evening before welcoming in the new year at midnight. Lee and I didn't go to bed until well after 1am! I usually don't like new year's eve but this one felt really okay this time. I was honestly glad to see the back of 2023. 

New boots! They have a bit of a heel but I could walk fine in them. My only disappointment is that they don't have clicky heels! 

When we arrived Peter had double decker cats on him - I think they miss him. The grey one is Max and the floofy ginger one is Charlie

Here's my outfit when I arrived

Annual tradition of a photo of me and Peter. My lipstick was an Avon one and it's very Barbie, I love it

I gave Peter this handmade (although not by me) headband that I had got for him. I got a pink one for his wife Beth, too

Playing one of Neil's silly games

It was fun and funny, even to watch

My mum wanted me to take this photo of her to show my stepcousin her earrings, which Niri bought for her. Aren't they cute?

Neil made us all pose for a photo so here we all are saying 'Yeah!' or something like that

And here's my dress later on, I do like it

Birthday Lunch in Wakefield

My stepdad's birthday is the 12th of December but my mum had invited us out for lunch to celebrate on the Sunday before that, as they had plans for his birthday itself. They both like going to La Fortezza, an Italian restaurant near my mum's house in Wakefield, and we had never been, so they invited us there. We decided to go out earlier in the morning to go and get the end of the Christmas presents from Asda and the Range, so we set off not long after I had had a shower. We managed to get loads of stuff which made me feel a lot better. We got to Newmillerdam at about 1pm which was a bit early, so we wandered down the side of the dam for a bit. I grew up near there so never really want to go, but it was nice. The water was absolutely filthy, though. 

We went and sat down and waited for my mum and Norman. I ordered a Godfather cocktail which was absolutely gorgeous! Then we ordered a nice bottle of red when they arrived for me and my stepdad to share, although my mum had a little bit too. I had Caprese salad, which is one of my faves, and then a mushroom pizza and some courgette fries. Lee had breads to start with and then chicken in a white wine and mushroom sauce which he really enjoyed too. The food was gorgeous and I would really recommend it if you're in the area! 

We were too full for pudding but my mum invited us back to their house for a little bit. We sat and had some of the cake she had made as a birthday cake which was red velvet with cream cheese frosting and it was absolutely gorgeous. We didn't stay too late but it was still a really nice afternoon. My stepdad and I had a Baby Guinness each - I bought us some when we were out at Easter and he really liked it so he's been making them ever since! 

I was wearing this ancient Scarlett and Jo dress which I've had for about ten years at least. I don't wear it often and I think maybe the top, stretchy lace bit has seen better days, so I may end up chopping it into a skirt like I have done with so many Scarlett and Jo dresses previously. But I like the black lace! So maybe I could replace it? I don't know, I might ask my mum to help me. 

I actually put some make up on. I really like this Maybelline lipstick/lip gloss, but it really doesn't stay on the lips very well. It does look nice for about ten minutes though!

The actual dam at Newmillerdam. It's a nice area for a walk and an ice cream if you've never been

My Godfather cocktail - I will have to try to make this at home!

And the bottle of red wine we shared

Caprese salad, it was so good

Mushroom pizza and courgette fries. My stepdad had the end of my pizza to take home because he didn't eat all of his so it made sense for him to have it all

My mum's cat Millie; I gave her some treats. Since Ruben died in February she is a very spoilt little girl!

Baby Guinnesses, on my mum's Ronnie O'Sullivan coaster that I bought her at the snooker in April

And finally here I am in this gorgeous red dress