Barnsley Alternative Makers Fair

On the 10th of August Barnsley Alternative Makers Fair happened in Barnsley. After the success of Barnsley Zine Fair in February Jason decided to do a bigger fair with zinesters and other makers, in the main room of the Civic. In all there were over forty makers which was really amazing! My friend Tukru had got a stall and had asked to stay with us, which was of course fine. So Tukru, Lee and I set off to go just a few minutes down the road into town to get set up. 

My stall was next to Chloe's, which was really nice as it meant I could catch up with her. My friend Lou who does Lincoln Zine Fest had a stall, so she was there with her fiance Si. There were some other people I knew, too, as well as a bunch of new people to meet! 

Lee went for a wander round town and my friend Gemma came. She had been borrowing my car for a bit and needed to give it back, so she came to the fair to chat to me for a bit. It was nice to see her! She brought me a chocolate orange brownie from Dolly's Desserts. The fair was sponsored by The Old Ivy Cheesecakery which is in town but which I've never been into. They had vegan sausage rolls and cupcakes, among other things, so I had one of each of those for lunch. 

Bettie and Jen arrived at about 3pm which was really nice because I haven't seen them in forever. I went into the Graphic Novel Reading Room which was visiting and which was really cute to see. Chloe's books were there in the LGBTQ+ section which was lovely to see. 

The fair packed up at 4pm and Lee, Tukru and I went home straight after. Lee cooked cacio e pepe pasta for tea and we watched a film and I did some crafting as we did. 

For the fair I had been wearing a peach Simply Be dress which is lovely, and was cool in the building. I also was wearing grey Snag footless tights, and my red Saltwater sandals. They seem to have stretched a little bit after their dip in the sea in Norfolk, which has actually made them more comfortable! 

The last pictures are of everything we got at the fair, including zines and an art postcard of Blackbeard in Our Flag Means Death. 

My stall all set up and ready to go. That crochet bunting was one of the first things I ever crocheted and it is still so cute!

Chloe's books next to Heartstopper, which is so good!

Red sandals and grey tights

Peach and polka dot dress

Art postcard

And everything else I got

Trip to Hardwick Hall

On Friday the 9th of August I went to Hardwick Hall in Derbyshire to see my friend Jane. It's a while since we met up but as she works in a school she is off during the holidays so she suggested going to the hall. I've never been before but it's only about an hour's drive from my house so I agreed. We met there about 11.45 (there was some traffic on the motorway) and went into the hall. 

The new hall is huge and has a bunch of old tapestries which are shown in two big halls. There's a ton of steps up but they weren't too bad, and it was worth it because the tapestries were really amazing to see. Bess of Hardwick Hall - a friend of Elizabeth I - bought them from somewhere else and they were really interesting and well laid out. The hall is fab, really worth a look. I didn't know much about her so I learnt a lot about her, too. After the main hall we walked across to the old hall, which is just ruins now, and had a little look round there. It wasn't too interesting, but I'm glad we saw it. 

We had both taken a packed lunch so we found a bench to sit on in the garden to eat. We were chatting loads of course, as always. It was so nice to see her. We went into the gift shop next, and then had a hot drink in the cafe. It was really busy! We then had an ice cream, sitting again in the sunshine. I had chocolate and mint choc chip. We looked in the tiny bookshop just before it closed, and then we said goodbye. 

I headed towards Meadowhall then because my friend Tukru was coming to stay and they were coming via Megabus into Meadowhall. They were caught in traffic so I went to Costa nearby for a  bit and read my book until they arrived! 

I was wearing my rainbow tartan dress from Topsy Curvy, and new Snag capri tights which are in a colour called 'Guava' which is totally gorgeous. I had also painted my nails - they were both Christmas polishes actually but I liked the colour and the glitter on top, so why not! 

Hardwick Hall as you wallk up the lawn towards it. It is stunning to look at

One of the tapestries which depicts Penelope

A really beautiful inlay table

This portrait of Queen Elizabeth I is like really old and really important. It's about six feet tall and really stunning

This portrait of Bess of Hardwick is posed next to the one of Elizabeth

These tapestries depict Gideon from the Bible

This is the long hall, full of tapestries, which is the longest Tudor hall still remaining, or something

This was our view from where we ate lunch which was also beautiful

Purplish and glitter nail polishes

Guava capris and my all black Converse

Ice cream! It was nice

Here's Jane and me just before we said goodbye

The drive round Hardwick Hall is one way and really scenic on both the way in and the way out, but kind of slow. I got stuck behind a tractor and took this photo of sheep just hanging out on the road

And here I am in my rainbow tartan dress when I got home

Mother's Day 2024

My mum and stepdad had been away in Gran Canaria for a week, but got back on the 9th of March, just in time for Mother's Day. I had had a bit of a busy week and on the Saturday Lee and I went and bought a new mattress which was thrilling as you can imagine, and then I went to my friend Sarah's in the evening to hang out with her. Lee booked for the four of us to go to Fox House Inn near Holmfirth on Mother's Day. Lee and I went just before Christmas and it's really nice homecooked food so we thought it would be nice for all of us. 

On Sunday morning I had a shower and scrubbed and shaved myself too, it was about time and I really needed it. Then we sorted some stuff out in the bedroom and got it nice and tidy before we set off. We arrived about 1.20 and my mum and stepdad weren't far behind us. 

My stepdad said he would drive them home so my mum and I ordered a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc to share, which was lovely. We had also already decided that we would share a starter and a pudding because the portions are big and my mum and I couldn't have managed all those courses. So we shared garlic mushrooms, Lee and my stepdad had Yorkshire puddings (which are worth the trip to the pub by themselves). Then I had veggie carvery which was just the vegetables and Yorkshire pudding, and delicious, but not TOO much! My mum had the seniors carvery which was similar in size to mine and likewise it was a good amount of food for her. My stepdad had meat and potato ale pie and Lee had garlic chicken supreme. It is all homecooked and delicious food and just so nice. 

Lee had chocolate sponge for pudding, my stepdad didn't have one, and my mum and I shared some ice cream. It was honestly so nice, it's such a nice pub and feels like a bit of a luxury but the prices aren't stupid.

We left about 4pm and my mum and stepdad came back to ours for a couple of hours, so that they could see the cats and stuff because I'm not sure they've seen them since Christmas! My mum and I shared a bottle of English sparkling wine that Lee's mam and stepdad bought me for my birthday. It was really nice!

After they went home I just relaxed for the rest of the night which was nice. I had been wearing a Hell Bunny dress that I bought off Georgina Grogan/She Might Be Loved recently. I love the pattern on it, but I knew it was going to be too low necked on me. But I also knew it would most likely look fine with a tank top underneath. And it does! My mum couldn't tell that it wasn't supposed to have the black bit there. I love the dress and I think I'll be wearing it a lot. 

I was also wearing my teal blue footless tights from Snag, as I love the colour of them and they match the dress, and a pair of Converse that my mum bought me for Christmas. They're off Vinted so didn't cost her very much, and I love the sparkles on them! I haven't worn them before but they're really comfortable so I'll definitely be wearing them again soon!

Here's this lovely dress! Up close it's herons and roses and stuff and is just really lovely. I am so glad I got this from Georgina!

Teal footless tights and second hand Converse with a sparkly bit at the heel

I even put some make up on! Here I am i nthe car when we set off. My necklace says I Am I Am I Am which is from a Sylvia Plath poem. My friend Stacey bought me this for my birthday and this was the first time I had worn it. The lipstick is a Models Own one and I love the coral colour, it really brightens my face. You can also see all my greys in my hair in this photo, which is fine

Garlic mushrooms and brown bread - I would have struggled to eat all this myself but it was nice

Here's all four of us when starters arrived

Lee's Yorkshire puddings, honestly I could eat these right now

My veggie carvery - they did have a nut roast but I honestly thought this was more than aedquate for me. I say this not to judge anyone else's food choices but because I know my personal limits

And finally the English sparkling wine that I had, it was nice!

Barnsley Zine Fair 2024

Saturday the third of February was the first Barnsley Zine Fair and it went brilliantly! I approached the library last year about using some space there for a zine fest, and the person there roped Jason from The Civic in too. Then the library person ended up leaving and Jason really ran with the idea and arranged for it to be at The Civic instead. I didn't have a lot to do with the organising at all, but that was okay because it meant a lot less stress for me. It meant that I could just turn up on the day and have fun! Jason had done brilliantly and advertised it really well, so there were a lot of people there! 

Lee and I got to the Civic just about 9.40. It's only a couple of miles from our house so we didn't need to rush! The space is usually the exhibition space so it's got a few different rooms. I was round a corner and was next to Chloe, who is obviously my friend, so that was nice. I did worry a little bit about the corner, but as it went I think most people made it round to us. If Jason does this again, he will use a different space I think, but this one really did work fine. 

The fair opened at 10.30 and straight away there were quite a few people there! That's always good! I knew some people (and had invited some of them to apply to table when I was at Bradford Zine Fest last September) but there were loads of people who I didn't know, which was great. My mum came for a little bit at about noon, and Lee went to Greggs to buy lunch for us. My friend Ceri from book club turned up with her friend later, too, as Lee had told her about the fair at my birthday party. Now my book club wants to know what a zine is, and wants to read some of mine! They do fascinate a lot of people I think. I genuinely believe that everyone should write at least one zine in their lifetime!

There was a lull of people coming through at around 3pm, but still a few. Someone Lee knew came, and the poet Ian McMillan, who's from Barnsley, came too, and bought two of my zines! There were quite a lot of creatives there who live in Barnsley, including a bunch of LGBTQ+ youth, who I am very keen to support. It was so good to meet some local people! I knew they were hiding in Barnsley!

We packed up about 4pm and Lee and I walked down to The Lounge for something to eat. Lee was going out in the evening to play a gig, so we just had a little bit of time and he didn't want much. I had Bang Bang Cauliflower, though, which was really nice. Lee had a fish finger sandwich. Then we shared a caramel sundae which was lush! We got home not too long after 5pm and Lee left about 5.45 to go to Leeds to play the gig. I laid in bed a bit longer reading Twitter, and then had a nap because I was knackered. I got up about 7pm and just relaxed all night by myself! 

I was wearing some new footless tights from Snag. I had seen them and absolutely loved the colour and I do love the footless tights so I was keen to have them. They're a gorgeous blue colour but it hasn't showed up properly in artificial light. I'll try to get a better photo next time! I was also wearing my Be Gay Solve Crimes t shirt (Robin Stevens related, if you're wondering!), a Scarlett & Jo skirt, and my chenille rainbow cardigan from Simply Be. It was a good outfit for the fest I think!

Chris.printed.this did this gorgeous artwork for the fest - isn't it beautiful? I love it

Here's my stall all ready to do! I had a new zine ready, about forty things I wanted to do before I turned forty

These excellent stickers were in the loo in the gallery space

A small child gave me this cute little tissue paper flower that they had made in the workshop that was going on in the middle of the space

I had this cherry cola cocktail in the Lounge but it wasn't too nice - I'll have to remember next time to order something else!

Bang Bang Cauliflower which was spicy and delicious, I'm glad I ordered it

Caramel and brownie sundae

My outfit when we got home

And my new footless tights and Dr Marten boots

Craft Workshop in Wakefield and What I Wore November 25th

On the 25th of November I went to a craft workshop in Ossett near Wakefield by myself! It's at A Touch of Craft, which I've been to plenty of times now and which I really like and recommend if you're in the area. I had booked myself on to a workshop to make a wax melt advent calendar because I'm an absolute fiend for wax melts and I fancied the idea of making them myself!

The workshop was run by Lianne from Tiny Head Candles and she was really nice and it was a great workshop so I would definitely go to another by her in future! There were six of us all together which was a nice number. Three girls were together, they knew each other, and so did the other two. But I got chatting to people anyway so it was fine. We had a burner each to melt the wax, and there were tons of scents, colours, and glitters to choose from. 

I decided to go for wood sage and sea salt to begin with, and dyed them orange. Then I did tobacco and oak scent and added lots of red. One of the ladies recommended the scent "Christmas Tree" as she's done workshops with Lianne before, so I made tons of those in a green colour. Then I went for plum, clementine and rhubarb I think, and made them lavender. Lastly I made the aqua ones, which are scented with "Christmas Spice". In all I made 61 melts, which was well enough for the 25 needed for my advent calendar and I will be able to give some away as presents for Christmas too! By the end of the workshop I was absolutely covered in glitter and wax but really happy with what I had done!

I stopped at Marks and Spencer's on the way home to get lunch and tea for Lee and I so he didn't have to go out later. I just chilled out for the rest of the day. I was wearing a pair of lilac Snag tights that I've had for ages but haven't worn so far, and I had had the idea for them really early in the morning when I woke up, because I wanted to wear this new cardigan that I got from Simply Be. Lolly showed it to me and I just loved it, and it was an absolute bargain, so I got it. I got two others too, which I'm sure I'll wear and post about soon. I love the purple and green checked design of this cardigan, and the knit is really lovely and soft and almost cottony, too. (I don't like the texture of most wool, it makes me feel sick). I knew the tights would match the cardigan, and I thought that my galaxy dress from Topsy Curvy would look really good alongside them both. The cardigan is also really nice and warm which is good because the temperature really dropped! 

Lilac Snag tights and my Dr Marten boots - I really like how these tights brightened up a winter day!

The workshop just before we got started - I shared the burner with someone else and it was fine

My first melts all done and setting!

Here's everything I made! So many! So much glitter! I can't wait to burn some of these

Finally here's my outfit in total and that cardigan! Isn't it cute? I'm happy to be in a cardigan phase of life haha!

Weekend in the Dales - Day 1

In the middle of November we went to Wensleydale for the weekend with my mum and stepdad. We had booked it in August I think and when it got to it I was really looking forward to it. It felt like the beginning of Christmas because it was nice and cold and festive! It was lovely to spend the time with my mum and stepdad too. 

Lee and I set off at about 1pm I think, I can't remember for sure now actually. I drove there so he could do some work from his phone. We stopped at Skelton just north of Leeds for lunch, and I had an amazing burrito with vegan chilli and plenty of guacamole. Lee had KFC I think. We got to West Burton where we were staying at about 3.20 and were able to check in straight away. We got the heating on because it was freezing! My mum and stepdad arrived not long afterwards. They had been to Bedale to meet some friends for lunch first before coming over. 

Lee was still working so the rest of us sat about for a bit and I did some crochet before we set off about 7pm to the local pub to get food. However, it turned out the kitchen was shut, which was a bit unfortunate. The landlady told us to go to Street Head Inn which was about a mile away. When we got there we weren't sure if we could get in because there was a meeting going on, but they found us a table in the restaurant. The pub is really nice and cosy and I would recommend it. 

We got back to a warmer house and relaxed for the rest of the night! I was wearing my heart print Simply Be dress which is nice and warm so good for the winter. I was also wearing a pair of heart print tights from Snag that I've had for a while but haven't worn often. I paired them with a pair of Kickers shoes that I got from Vinted earlier in the year and haven't worn yet. They're more winter shoes really! They're so cute, I love them. They're sort of a suede effect leather and I love the colour. I bought them for less than fifteen pounds all in, and they're in really good condition! They do have a few scratches on the front but firstly they're not very visible and secondly I will only scratch them myself so I don't really care! They're comfy too.

Heart print tights with nubuck pale Kickers dolly shoes - I do love dolly shoes so much!

Oh I also bought this lemon cheesecake from a deli in our village for us to eat while we were away - it was really nice! Not as good as my mum's but still pretty delicious

My heart print dress last thing at night before I took it off to go to bed!

Finally I took this photo on Friday morning but I'll post it here anyway. This was the cottage we stayed in - it had attached neighbours to the left and behind, but it was nice and private and comfortable anyway. My mum and stepdad got the bigger room, but they both had en suite bathrooms and there was  a downstairs loo too 

Lunch Out with Book Club

At the beginning of November it was the tenth anniversary of my book club. I started going very near the beginning, but then I had to not go for a while because I was doing my MA which had stuff on Wednesday evenings. But then I have been going now for a really long time! I love book club because it makes me read books I wouldn't otherwise choose, and because we have a lot of different life experiences within the group which always makes for interesting discussions. As always, you can find my book reviews here on my book blog. 

Ceri organised for us to go to Kin, which is sort of near Denby Dale. I haven't been before but I've heard it's nice. There were a lot of vegetarian choices on the menu so I wasn't sure what to get. I went for smashed avocado on sourdough toast, with poached eggs, feta, pickled onion, and chilli jam. It was lush! I also had a latte which was nice. We were all sat chatting, and then we all moved round a bit so we could talk to some different people. We ordered coffee and cakes and shared the cakes between us which was nice. I had a little bit of a blondie that had Mars Bar in it, I think, and part of a millionaire's shortbread. 

I set off back when everyone else did and picked Lee up so we could go to the craft fair at Silkstone parish church that happens every year. It was just closing up as we got there which was a shame but we had a quick look round and I bought a couple of baubles. Once I got back I just relaxed for the rest of the night!

I was wearing this old Scarlett & Jo dress which I got on Vinted some time in 2022 and have only worn once before I think. I like the vintage type print to it. I was slightly overdressed for the venue but it felt nice. I was wearing these sparkly star tights from Snag - they're some of my favourites so in winter I wear them a lot! I put my DM boots on as well which was good because it was really rainy. I had put on a smidge of make up to go out in - lipstick, some concealer, and some highlighter on my cheeks.

My face outside just as I arrived. I'm really trying to get into the habit of wearing just a tiny bit of make up if I want to. It's hard because I feel like I should do 'more', but I hate wearing a full face. And actually this looks nice!

My brunch, it was lovely

All eleven of us that were there. There's about fifteen of us in book club but not everyone is always there. I'm happy to be part of it!

This lovely S&J dress when I got home. I really will try to wear it more often!

And sparkly tights! I love them!