Tea out with Stacey

I didn't have any plans for the 25th of April but then my friend Stacey messaged me earlier in the week to say she was unexpectedly child free, so did I want to get together for tea. I said yes of course as it's absolutely ages since I've seen her. We dithered about where to go and I had suggested La Fortezza at Newmillerdam, but it was fully booked. But Stacey noticed that Capri has opening a new restaurant there so we booked that for 6pm. I've been to the one in Wakefield, near Stacey's house in fact, but not to any of the others. It is a bit spendy but it is also delicious food. 

I got Lee to take me so that I could have a drink. The restaurant is in the old mill at the dam and it's on two levels - so accessibility is possible as there's an entrance on both levels, but if you're disabled be specific about parking/entry - and I was shown down to the bottom level into a lovely booth. The wheel from the mill is there and it's absolutely gorgeous. Plus the decor is really lovely and the tables are all marble etc. 

Stacey arrived not too long after and we ordered drinks and then food. I went for an arancia fizz to drink, which was lovely, and Caprese salad and a salmon pasta. I do occasionally eat fish and I'm so glad I ordered it because it was creamy and delicious. They both were, in fact. 

We only had the table until 7.30 due to a further booking, so we didn't have time for pudding. I then suggested that Stacey take me to my mum's as it's not far from Newmillerdam and Lee could pick me up from there. Plus I knew my mum would want to see her. So we headed there but on the way to the car we saw a heron on the water which was lovely, he's very majestic. My mum and stepdad were watching the snooker, of course. We had a nice chat. Lee turned up and Stacey left about 9pm because she wanted to make the most of having a good sleep and her bed to herself for the night! Lee and I left not too long after that, too. 

I was wearing a dress from Simply Be that I've had forever but usually wear with a cardigan because I don't really like the top of it. But my new (to me) coral top looks really nice over the top of it as it matches the flowers in the dress, so I am glad I put the two together. I will probably wear this again! I also put some make up on including a new lipstick. 

Selfie in the house before I set off, after I'd done my make up 

Arancia fizz 

I took this of the decor and was trying hard to not get people in it - but you can see the water wheel on the left hand side there which is pretty cool

Stacey and I 

Caprese salad - it was immense! 

Can you see the heron camouflaged against the water?

And here I am when I got home in an old summery dress and new coral top which I got off Vinted

Lee's Pre-Birthday

On the 20th of August we went out for pudding and a couple of drinks with my mum and stepdad. The 21st was Lee's birthday but he and I had plans for that, so we agreed to go out with my mum and stepdad the night before. We took Lee's presents so he could open them then too. My mum had also gone in the afternoon to pick up a cake for Lee for me. It was from Violet Boo Bakery and it was SO nice, really chocolatey with tons of chocolate on top too. We gave it to Lee when he and I arrived at my mum's house and then sang happy birthday to him, which he hates but which we always do anyway. 

Then we went into Wakefield to go to Rassams Creamery for pudding. We had all had tea beforehand but Lee loves desserts so the Creamery was ideal. I went for mixed cookie dough and he went for waffles with a piece of chocolate fudge cake on. I couldn't eat all of mine but it was really delicious! I went to the creamery in June with my friend Helen and they have this incredibly irritating robot that plays 1000 Miles by Vanessa Carlton as it's wondering around... 

But anyway. We enjoyed the food. Then we parked on Wood Street and went into Damelio. There weren't tons of places open I guess because it was just a random Tuesday night, but this was a nice enough bar and I had two nice drinks. One was lemony with whiskey and tasted a bit like cough medicine, and the other one was called La Dolce Vita. 

We left about 10pm and took my mum and stepdad home before going home ourselves. Lee liked all his presents - a bunch of vinyl records and two t shirts and other stuff. I was wearing my watercolour dress which came from Asos forever ago and a green shrug that came from Joe Browns. I like how airy it is. I also had on my guava capri tights and my Dr Marten shoes that I got from Vinted a while ago. They rub a little bit but I knew I wouldn't be walking far so could wear them! It was a good outfit all in all. 

Lee's amazing chocolate cake 

Lee's waffle and cake

My cookie dough with lots and lots of chocolate sauce on top

My two yummy cocktails

My watercolour dress

And my tights and shoes before we went out

Art Gallery for the Afternoon

I haven't been to the Hepworth Gallery in Wakefield in probably over a decade, but I drive past it every week on my way to work and I saw a banner for an exhibition of works by Kim Lim absolutely months ago. I don't know when or how I first heard of her, but it turns out there was an exhibition of her works at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park in 1995. I grew up just near there and would have been eleven at that time, so I wonder if I saw her way back when on a school trip or something! I had been meaning to go to the exhibition but didn't get round to it, but I knew it finished on the 2nd of June so I asked my mum to go with me and we agreed on the 28th of May. As I work really close to there, my mum picked me up so that I could leave my car there, and we went round to the Hepworth. 

We got in - my mum got in for free as she's a Wakefield resident - and went upstairs. We started with the Kim Lim stuff. My friend Chloe had told me it was small and while it is, there was still enough to see. I liked learning more about her and her work. Some of her two dimensional work left me a bit cold, but I liked a lot of the sculptures. I also liked when we read the name of it and could see exactly why it was called that. I liked her stuff made of natural stone or marble or wood more than those made of aluminium or acrylic, but I did like seeing it all.

We then went through to the other galleries. Firstly there was an exhibition by Andrew Cranston and we liked a lot of his paintings, especially those painted on hardback books. Then there were some still lifes, which neither of us really liked. And then there is the Barbara Hepworth stuff. She was from Wakefield so my mum and I have grown up with her stuff, but it's always nice to see it. I particularly like the Winger Figure which is absolutely huge - the photo really does not do it justice. 

After we had looked at everything upstairs we headed downstairs to the cafe for a coffee each and a piece of cake. Then we looked at the gift shop and I did buy some postcards too! I'm so glad I made the effort to go and it was nice to see with my mum too. 

Oh you can't really see the writing too well, but it's about her life

This was one of her works made of natural stone

I liked these little forms which were prototypes of the bigger works

We both liked this wooden sculpture a lot

And these prints hanging from the ceiling

Love these free forms of waves and coastline, too

This piece, called Day, lives in the Hepworth's garden anyway, so it was nice to know its context

The hanging works from a different angle

My mum and I liked this one - made of brass - best

We went sure which way it was best from? 

I really liked this spiral piece

This was by Andrew Cranston and was made with bleach and dye on canvas

This piece supposedly has eleven cats in it!

I love old industrial buildings like the mill near the gallery

This is by Barbara Hepworth and I absolutely love it

These cacoa pods were really cool

Another Hepworth

Looking at the river near Chantry Bridge

Look at these geese and goslings!

I love this quote so much

And finally the winged piece, it is probably about twelve feet tall though!

Brunch with Friends

On Friday the 29th of December I went to Wakefield to meet some friends for brunch. We had been due to meet up the week before but Stacey wasn't well so we rescheduled. Stacey and I see each other fairly often, but our friend Gemma (we all went to school together in the 90s!) is working in Ecuador at the moment so she's only home for a few weeks at a time. She's moving soon, though, so we will hopefully be able to see her more. It is nice when we meet up and I'm glad we were able to. 

We arranged to go to Bob and Bert's in Trinity Walk in Wakefield. The place where it is has been a few things over the years but I hadn't been in this one. Still, there were a lot of spaces when we got there so we got a booth. The menu is pretty big and there are quite a few vegetarian options so that was good for me. I went for a vegan breakfast wrap and a candy cane hot chocolate, which were both lovely. 

We were chatting for ages; Stacey's husband and son came in too briefly so it was nice to see them too. We got some pudding and another drink - I went for a mint slice but unfortunately it had coconut in it so I didn't like it very much. 

We said goodbye to Gemma at about 1.30 I think, and then I popped into Lush with Stacey. I had been in the Lush sale before I met her and Gemma and bought a few things, and then Stacey wanted to go too, so I went back in with her and bought a couple more bits. Whoops! I had money from Christmas though and I know this will last me ages. I need to book somewhere with a bath so I can have a long soak or three with the bath bombs! 

I was wearing my Cheers Queers t shirt from The Spark Company, it's pretty new and I only bought it because Stacey sent it to me as she thought I would like it! I love it. I wore it with my purple Scarlett and Jo skirt which I wear really often, sparkly tights, and my new rainbow chenille cardigan. I got it from Simply Be recently and it's really cosy and soft. 

We remembered to get a photo just before we said bye, Gemma took it!

Vegan brunch wrap - it had veggie sausages, avocado, salsa, and spinach, I think. It was really nice

My mint slice which was disappointing

My outfit when I got back

Here's what I got in the sale - three gift sets, each of which had something in that I really wanted, and something I'm willing to try, some Snow Fairy, and some soap! Gorgeous! I got some Snow Fairy from my mother in law too so I'm well set

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

Meal Out with Friends and What I Wore 11th August

On the 11th of August - which is when the weather started really heating up again - I went out for tea in Wakefield with my friends Katie and Sheryl. I know them from university, only Katie, it turned out, was also from Wakefield like me, and Sheryl now lives here too. I haven't seen Sheryl in a while so I was glad Katie invited her along. I suggested we meet at Sofra Grill which is a Turkish restaurant. They don't have tons of veggie choices but enough. 

As I was driving through Wakefield I noticed they were having a Pride event on the 14th of August, and I noticed a new vegan cafe! Wow Wakefield is really in the 21st century there! I will have to check out the cafe. 

I got there first and went in through the lounge area, which is new since last time I went. It's nice - it's got plush furnishings and a nice bar. It was also much cooler in there as there was airconditioning, so when I was offered a table in there I jumped at it. The seats were really comfy. Katie and Sheryl arrived not too long later. 

We found staff a little strange, but we managed to order. I had halloumi to start with, which was really soft and nice, and which came with a little bit of hummus and sweet chilli sauce and salad. Then I had what they called a vegetarian kebab, which was layers of potato, aubergine, courgette and carrot in a tomato sauce with feta on top. It came with rice and salad and was really yummy - I would eat it again. The prices are cheap enough which is good, but I think the place is trying to be a bit more upmarket than it really is. It needs a rethink, I think. But what I ate was really nice, so that's fine!

As it was so hot I had worn the coolest thing I own - my shirred off the shoulder leopard print dress from Yours. It's full length so I didn't have to wear anything underneath it, which made me cooler. Katie said how much she liked it which made me happy! I do love this dress, I like how it feels on! 

Oh yes Sheryl took this lovely picture of all three of us - I can't believe we've known each other for twenty years this September!

Halloumi

Vegetarian kebab - delish!

And here I am in this lovely dress. My bra is new - it's from Brastop and I love the mint green colour!