Afternoon Tea with Roslyn

At the end of July Lee had a busy weekend - I think he played a gig one day and went to a festival the other - so I was left alone all weekend. Which was fine! But I decided to make plans and asked my friend Roslyn if she wanted to meet up for lunch. I went to school with Roslyn although she's older than me, but we've known each other for nearly thirty years now! As I didn't have the big car I didn't have the satnav so I suggested going to Wentworth Garden Centre for afternoon tea as I can drive there by myself. Roslyn had never been so that was nice too.

We met about 1pm I think. It was HOT. We walked through the centre into The Bothy. It's pretty new but I went there for lunch on my birthday and I've also had afternoon tea there before, with Philippa. We got seated and ordered our drinks, including tap water. The coffee and tea arrived and the afternoon tea arrived. The water did not. We ended up having to ask FOUR TIMES for water and that was only because the fourth time I actually walked over to the bar until they gave me a glass. I needed to take my meds! The crazy thing was that the receipt we were given had THREE jugs of water itemised on it (free, of course) and not ONE of them had arrived at our table. It was annoying but also just hilarious becaust WHAT HAPPENED to the water???

Ros and I are both vegetarian so we had asked for the vegetarian afternoon tea of course. It was delicious! The sandwiches were egg mayo, cheese, tomato and pesto, and vegetable and hummus I think. Then there was also a vegetable roll type thing - we reckoned it was butternut squash inside it. And a mini piece of quiche! It was good.

The scones were still warm and there was plenty of cream but not much jam - but still good. The cakes were brownie, salted caramel tart, a meringue type thing and a lemon and elderflower drizzle cake thing. Neither of us could eat all the cakes so we ended up bringing boxes home.

We paid and went for a wander round the shops. I got a present for someone and a couple of other bits. There was a fruit and veg van in the car park as there usually is, so I got some strawberries. We snapped this photo of us just before we said goodbye. It was HOT and I was melting by this point. I had been wearing the dress that my mother made for me out of a duvet cover.

I came home and definitely laid down in front of the air conditioner for a while and let myself rest! Fibromyalgia has absolutely kicked my ass this summer as it's been so hot. Usually I like the heat as it makes my joints feel better, but it was just SO hot which affected me more. I'm glad it's cooled down a bit now 

Our lovely afternoon tea trays. Don't get me wrong, we had a great time, I just really don't know what happened with the water!

Ros and I. Yes she is a lot taller than me!

Day Out in Holmfirth

On the 18th of July Lee and I had a weekend free so we decided to go to Holmfirth. I love the place but parking is a pain, but since I got my blue badge I knew it would be easier as there are disabled spaces right in the middle. So I said we should go. We parked by the bus station to begin with and wandered into a few shops and charity shops. Holmfirth Pride was the weekend after so there were already lots of rainbow flags and so on up, so that was nice to see. We went in to the Fair Trade shop where I don't think I've ever been before, and I bought some bath salts as I find them really useful for my joints. I need to have more baths actually, I haven't had one in a while! 

We also went into the crystal shop where I have also never been. It is HUGE and has SO many HUGE crystals. You could literally spend thousands of pounds in there. I bought a piece of amethyst made into an incense holder as I lost my incense holder in the move and I haven't found it since. I could have bought more though! They also have jewellery making you can do there so next time I go I would really like to do that because it looked so cute. 

We weren't sure where to eat but settled on Bloc, which was near the crystal shop and which does brunch. We sat outside; it wasn't quite as hot as it had been in the weeks previous, but it was still pretty warm. I had smashed avocado and poached eggs on toast which were really good! I think Lee had beans on toast with a poached egg too. 

Then we walked to Dixon's Ice Cream. It's where Lick used to be so I am a bit sad that Lick had gone because that was all vegan which was amazing! But I guess it just didn't make that much money so Dixon's has come in instead. They have other branches in Huddersfield and Lockwood. They make milk ice which is not exactly ice cream but it is really sweet and delicious. They had different flavours but I went for the original with raspberry sauce which is exactly how it should be eaten. Lee had chocolate I think. 

We then went into a few more shops including the Oxfam bookshop where I bought a book, and the cheese shop where we bought butter and cheese, and the bakery, and the charity shop next to the bakery where I picked up some fabric for cross stitching. Then we went into a bar opposite the bakery, I can't remember what it was called. It obviously used to be a bank. I had an elderflower spritz. It was so nice to just sit for a bit together. 

Lee had had to move the car so we were parked just outside the bar, which was just as well as it was busy! So we came home. I had been wearing this Joe Browns dress which is heavy because it's lined, and it's lovely! I love the colour of it.

 

Pride bunting outside the library, I think

And on display in the Fair Trade shop. I could have spent a fortune in there, they had a lot of lovely gifts and a yarn shop upstairs!

My brunch. I bloody love brunch

And my ice cream! So yummy!

Elderflower spritz

And here's Lee and I

And my dress when we got home

What I bought, excluding the amthyst incense holder!

Little Trip to Hebden Bridge

On the 18th of June I went to Hebden Bridge to look catsit for my friend Janet's cat Missy. I met Janet through blogging like fifteen years ago and we've met a few times. She had asked for a catsitter and I fancied a night or two in Hebden Bridge so said yes. I had work and then a visit to the dentist on the Thursday, and then I ate tea with Lee before I set off. Missy miaowed at me so I fed her as soon as I arrived and then sat down to chill. I watched some Poirot on Netflix and did some of my cross stitch and otherwise just hung out with myself.

Janet's spare room is very comfortable so I slept well except for Missy screaming for food. I fed her about 7am and went back to sleep for a bit, haha. In the morning I rested for a bit and then drove into the town centre and parked. I walked hither and thither looking in all the shops. I had arranged to meet my friend Ava for lunch but she had something to do first so I had time to wait. I had a coffee and bought a book in one of the charity shops but otherwise didn't buy much.

I went to Leila's Kitchen to wait for Ava as I had had it recommended as good for veggie food, and as Ava is vegan that worked out for both of us. I read my book while I was waiting, and when she arrived we ordered. I had hummus and falafel and a thing that was like Persian tzatziki (that's what the menu said!) and lots of bread. It was really good. I then had a piece of coffee and walnut cake. It was really hot in the cafe but it was in the beginning of the heatwave so it wasn't surprising. 

When we'd eaten I took Ava back to Todmorden where she lives and then went back to Janet's. I watched some more TV and read my book, but wasn't sure what to do for my tea. I could have ordered something but I wasn't enamoured by any of the offerings on Just Eat. I've heard that Woody's Pizza is really good so I got back in the car and drove down to it. It was SO busy so I placed my order but had about forty minutes to wait so I went round to a cocktail bar and had a drink while I was waiting. 

The pizza was just mushroom but it was delicious! I enjoyed it. I hung out with Missy some more and watched more Poirot. (It's on Netflix! Go watch!) I wasn't late to bed which Missy was glad about it. It had been a lovely day though!

In the morning I had a shower and then went into the centre for one last time to get an ice cream. I would have had one the day before but I was full after lunch so didn't. I ate it sitting in the car before driving home. My mum and stepdad were at mine when I got there because my stepdad was helping Lee build the catio for our cats. It looks so good and they are loving it! 

Looking down into the river off the bridge in the town centre

The graffiti of Sylvia Plath, as is tradition. I also love the little Moomin next to her

Looking at the bridge

My lunch

And my cake

The book I was reading, which was good

And my ice cream on Saturday morning

Day Trip in Sheffield

On the Sunday when Lucinda was visiting I had thought we could go to Sheffield for lunch and a wander about, so we decided to do that. But I also knew that the UK Aids quilt was in Wakefield and was leaving that day, so I suggested that we went to see that first. It was a bit stupid to drive north to Wakefield and then south to Sheffield but it was worth it. 

The quilt was amazing to see, it was so emotional. I took photos of the panels that were about famous people, but otherwise didn't. I also took a photo of a panel that was covered at the request of the family, which shows that even now there is a stigma about dying of Aids. I also liked the panel dedicate to South Asian victims. I'm really glad we bothered to go. 

We (me, Lee and Lucinda) got in the car and headed to Sheffield. We parked near City Hall because there are several disabled spaces there and they're really central. We walked through to the Cambridge Collective because by this point it was lunchtime. It was a good idea to go there because it meant we could each have what we wanted. Lee had a jerk chicken burger and Lucinda had Pad Thai. I had pumpkin katsu loaded fries, and a bao bun which was basically the same thing, which I hadn't realised in the descriptions, so I got a takeaway box and took the bao bun home to eat the next day. I also had a Pimms which was lovely, so summery!

We went for a walk round the shops near Cambridge St, and ended up going as far as the Devonshire Green although not much was open round there. Lucinda was hoping to find a piercing place that was open and I probably would have got another ear piercing alongside her, but we couldn't find one. 

We went into the Chocolate Bar for hot chocolate and cake. I think I had mint flavoured but I can't remember now. We left Lucinda not long after that so she could walk down to the train station and we could get home as I was very tired from the day before and needed to rest. Lucinda and I had used the photo booth in Cambridge Collective - it's near the Korean food booth and the photos are so cute. I have of course put them up on the mirror in my craft room alongside a bunch of other photos of me and my friends! 

Some info on the way in

A panel for Freddie Mercury

And another one

The covered up panel

A panel for Mark Ashton. By the way did you know that the Reform council in Durham refused to give money to Durham Pride for their event, so the miners donated like £10,000 to them. A perfect example of why we all need to stand together (and a reflection of what happened in 1984 between LGSM and the miners). It made my heart happy to read

And a panel for Keith Haring

My delicious lunch. The fries were much more filling than I anticipated

Caramel shortbread that I had alongside my hot chocolate

And finally the very cute photobooth photos

As always, I'll be waiting in the photobooth at the underground station...

Day Trip in York

On the 6th of June I went to York to meet my friend Lucinda. She lives in Edinburgh now but wanted to see our new house so we found a weekend for her to come down and we decided to meet in York. Lucinda wanted to see Operation Mincemeat at the theatre there so we booked tickets ages ago. We decided to meet at 11 so I set off after a shower. I got there in good time and parked in a disabled space outside Cliffords Tower which had no time limit on it so it was ideal. I sat there as Lucinda arrived by train and then walked round because she wanted to put her bag in my car. 

We walked through Coppergate and up the Shambles. We of course ignored the Harry Potter shops (no transphobia for us, thanks!) and then went into the Shrine of St Margaret Clitherow. It's one of my favourite places in York and I love her story, but last time I was in York it was locked so I couldn't have a look! So I was glad to visit her briefly. Her mummified hand is in the convent on Blossom Street and I believe you can see it, although you have to make an appointment. Maybe one day I'll do that.

The queue for York Ghost Merchants was already soooo long so I was glad we weren't going there! We went into the Portal Bookshop which is the queer bookshop in York. I bought one book, one by Alex Gino that I hadn't yet read, so I was very reserved. We went upstairs and had a hot drink in the cafe, which was lovely but a bit cold. 

Lucinda had found that there was a ghost craft fair on at St Sampsons so we had a wander in there. There were tons of stalls and a lot of ghosts of different types. It was a really cut fair! I bought a couple of birthday presents for Sam and some handmade fudge. I'm glad Cinders found this because it was really cute!

She wanted to go in the Gay Shop so we headed to Parliament St. I was a bit tired by this time so sat outside the shop. I could have gone and joined Lucinda but then I would probably have spent more money so it wasn't terrible that I didn't. I think she bought some badges but I'm not sure what. 

By this time it was lunchtime so we had dithered a bit on where to go but eventually settled on Oscar's. It is one of my favourite places in York and has been for nearly twenty five years! It has moved since I first knew about it, but it's still great. I had nachos with veggie chilli and it was great! 

We weren't sure what to do after lunch but then I suggested we go to the York Chocolate Story. I've been past it a zillion times but have never been in. Jacqui has and she said it was cool, so we thought we would go. It is a tiny bit expensive for what you get but I guess that is the York premium, so it's fine. There are tours every half an hour and we had just missed one so we sat for a bit to wait for the next. There's a cool shop which we looked round but didn't buy anything before the tour. 

The tour is really cool and accessible and I think they did so well at making it so. There's a lift up and in each room of the tour there's a bench or other seating, so I sat down quite a bit. There's stuff about the history of chocolate itself and the history of chocolate in York - Frys, Terrys, Rowntrees, etc. I knew some of the info already just because I lived there for three years but it didn't detract from the tour. For instance, I used to live near the Nestle factory - it always smelt of chunky kitkats - and I know that the swimming pool near there was built specifically to give the workers somewhere to exercise. 

In each room there is something to try, and as Lucinda is lactose intolerant the tour guide provided something different for her each time. So that was good! At the end you can decorate a lollipop and I was really impressed her. The tour guide asked if I wanted a seat, and I did, so she moved a chair over to the lollipop area for me. There were two girls in hijabs on our tour so she asked them if they needed halal toppings for their lollipops, which they did. And of course there were lactose free things for Lucinda - her lollipop was dark chocolate whereas mine was white. 

At the very end there's a demo of someone making chocolates and he made caramels and we could try some that he had made earlier. There were some left over from the previous tour - and only seven of us - so there was loads left over and the man encouraged us to take some. So I did! I also bought some goodies in the shop to share with Lee.

We sat in the square outside for a while watching a street performer there, and then we weren't sure what to do. It was about 5pm and the theatre didn't open until 7pm so we decided to go to Caffe Nero. Lucinda wanted something else to eat - her lunch wasn't very big, unlike mine - but I just had a coffee. We sat there until about 7pm and then walked over to the theatre. 

The musical was great! I knew what the general story was but not too closely, so I was happy to learn. It was done so well and was really clever. I would definitely see it again. 

When it was done we walked back to the car and came home. I gave Lucinda a quick tour of the house before bed! 

The shrine of St Margaret Clitherow on the Shambles

Hot chocolate in Portal

Outside This Shop Is So Gay, I love it. I spent quite a bit in there the last time I was in York!

Nachos for lunch!

With our lollipops after the Chocolate Story tour

Rainbow umbrellas on Coppergate, as we were on the way into Caffe Nero

And at the theatre before the show started

Farmer Copley's with Becky

On the 24th of April I went to Farmer Copley's near Pontefract to meet up with Becky and see the tulip festival. She had visited the pumpkin festival last autumn and was told about the tulip festival so she had asked on Insta if anyone wanted to go with her, and I did! I've heard of the place a ton - a lot of my friends with kids take their kids - but have never been myself. I wasn't even sure where it was! But I followed my satnav and got there just about the same time as Becky.

There's a farm shop and a cafe further down in the space, but for the tulips we were up at the top and we went through a barn and then out into the fields. There are tulips as far as the eye can see! On the right hand side were a bunch of food trucks and tables and so on. On the left are ....tulips. So many tulips. Of all colours. Of all kinds. I didn't even know there were different kinds of tulips! But some are frilly and dainty and look more like peonies!

We frollicked in the tulips, took a ton of photos of ourselves and each other and offered to take pictures of other visitors too. There were some men and families around but mostly there were duos of women like me and Becky, living their best lives and enjoying themselves! It was joyful!

We went and got some lunch about 12.15. Becky went for a jacket potato but I wasn't sure what I wanted. I went off towards a Chai tent, thinking I might get a chai latte, and realised that there they had homemade curry, samosas, and chaat. I love chaat so I of course got that, and it was glorious! Really spicy and delicious. When we had eaten we got a milkshake each too, from Milk From the Hills which is actually really close to me in Penistone and which I've had before.

We went back through the rest of the fields, taking photos of with all the props. The sun was shining and it was actually quite warm - gorgeous! It really added to the day and the whole time was just lovely. Before we left I got some fairground donuts and ate them in the car on my drive home! When I got home Poppy wanted to go into the garden so I let her, and then took some photos of the flowers that have sprung up in my garden too. Not sure what they are, but they are pretty. I got a picture of Poppy in the garden with a dandelion, too. And Becky and I had both bought some tulips at the farm so there's some photos of when they came out, too. 

My dress is from Shein originally but I got it on Vinted. It isn't quite a good fit so I'm not sure if I'll keep it, but I did like it on this day! Here's a thousand photos, they're not in the right order but as there's so many of them I can't be bothered to organise them, sorry!