Lunch out with Lee

On the 26th of November I booked a table for Lee and I at Prashad near Leeds. It's a totally vegetarian Indian restaurant and I love it; I've been a few times over the years but not for about two years. I put going on my 40 before 40 list and wanted to go with Lee as he's only been once before and it was years ago. So I booked us a table and we decided to go Christmas shopping first. We went to Junction 27 to the shopping park there. First of all we went into the Range because I needed some little bits for a few people, and then we went in TK Maxx because there was something specific I wanted from there for my book club. By this time it was about 12 o'clock and the table wasn't booked until 1pm, so we went into Caffe Nero for a drink. I rarely go in there so am not used to their coffees. Lee had a luxury hot chocolate which was like cocoa, and delicious, and I had the luxury caramelatte which was also really nice.

It was nice to just sit for a bit! We were only a few minutes away from Prashad so we made it in good time. We were about the only people in there when we arrived but I wasn't sure so I'm glad I booked a table anyway. We had poppadums and a pickle tray to begin with, which were all nice. Prashad is a little bit more expensive than a lot of Indian restaurants, but it is worth it, and the experience is worth it too. But that's why I put it on my list because I know it's a little bit of a splurge! 

But because it is a little bit expensive we decided to not have a starter each but share one instead. We had sakham tikki which was mashed and spiced potato and mushroom and deep fried, served with a green chutney. They were so good and I'm glad I tried them! For my main I had paneer biryani. I've had the biryani before but didn't like it too much, but I'm so glad I gave it another go because it was absolutely delicious! I really enjoyed it. Lee had the naan bhaji which is a thick vegetable curry with garlic naan, and it was also really good! We both really enjoyed our food and I'm really glad we made this happen this side of Christmas. It was also really nice to spend time with Lee. 

I didn't get a full photo of my dress but it's my red leopard print dress from Very and it's really comfortable to wear. I kept my black cardigan on because it wasn't too warm in Prashad and it was freezing outside!

Lee and I at the table

I also had a lovely glass of red

Our starter - I'm really glad I tasted this and would have it again

Lee had fresh orange juice

Lee's naan bhaji. He had some masala fries too

My biryani and the curry alongside

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!

Lunch in Sheffield with Pippa

On the 24th of November I went to Sheffield to meet Pippa for lunch. We weren't sure where to meet until earlier in the week when I suggested Chakra Lounge which does Indian street food. I've never eaten inside it, but when things were just starting to open up again after lockdown Lee and I went to Fred Aldous which is next door and then got takeaway from Chakra Lounge which we then ate in Hillsborough Park. I've been wanting to go back to the restaurant itself so I was glad when Pippa agreed! 

I got the train from my village just before 11am, and then got off in Sheffield at about 11.30. I walked into the foyer because I thought I could buy a tram ticket there. Turns out I couldn't - I could just buy a ticket on the tram, so I had no reason to go into the main concourse. BUT that meant that I saw the brownie stand that is there now, so I bought three brownies for Lee and I to share over the weekend. They were absolutely gorgeous and I would really recommend them if you're in Sheffield! 

I walked back across to the tram and got the tram just one stop to the square that the cafe is on. It is uphill though so I probably couldn't have walked it. It was graduation day from Sheffield Hallam University so the city centre was busy, but there was a table free in Chakra Lounge so I snagged it quickly. Pippa arrived not too long after me and then we ordered food!

She went for a brunch called If Indians Did It" ("It" being breakfast) which looked absolutely immense and which I would definitely eat another time. I went for the chaat, because I absolutely love chaat, and a parantha wrap which was chillied scrambled eggs on a wrap; it was also extremely delicious! I also had a chai latte because I love them, too. 

We sat chatting and ordered dessert and another drink each. I had a chocolate orange brownie and I think Pippa's was chai fudge and also looked great! It is a very cute and vibrant little cafe and I would definitely recommend it to vegetarians and vegans! 

I got the tram back to the station and then the train back home where Lee picked me up! I was absolutely exhausted so I had a little nap until past 6pm!

My chai latte

Pippa's brunch - doesn't it look fab? I will have to try this

I love chaat because of the many textures and flavours

And the eggs on a paratha were so good too - I'm going to have to try this at home!

And finally my brownie

Eddie Izzard in Sheffield with my Mum

On the 22nd of November my mum and I went to Sheffield to see Eddie Izzard at City Hall. I had asked my mum ages ago and bought the tickets, and then I gave my mum some of Eddie's stand up so she could revise before we saw her. I've seen Eddie before, about ten years ago in Manchester, with my friend Von and her brother. I was excited to see her again!

My mum came to mine at about 4pm and I drove us to Sheffield and we parked at Middlewood tram stop and got the tram to City Hall. We walked down to Orchard Square because I need to get a Christmas present for a friend, so we went into TK Maxx. Then we went into Leopold Square for tea at Pho, which my mum does like, but it was more my choice really. But! We're going to Sheffield Christmas shopping in a couple of weeks so my mum can choose where we eat then. 

I had tofu curry and my mum had chicken curry. We still had plenty of time so we decided to have dessert too; I had affagato and my mum had the rich chocolate slice. It was all nice! Then we walked round to City Hall where I took a photo of the Women of Steel statue. I've seen loads of photos of it but had never seen it in person so that was cool! We went into the theatre and were seated by around 7pm but it gave us chance to relax for a bit before the show started at 8.

Eddie (also known as Suzy, but professionally she's Eddie I think) was so funny. The routine harked back to a lot of her earlier stuff, which was really good as I've been a fan for about 25 years now. I laughed throughout the whole thing and I'm really glad we went! Afterwards my mum and I got the tram back to the car and then home. It was a good evening out!

Tofu curry as usual in Pho

And then the affagato - the ice cream is condense milk ice cream and it's SO sweet!

The Women of Steel statue that stands to the left of City Hall 

And the poster for Eddie that was inside. My friend Pippa saw her the next night so we had a nice discussion about that the day after when we met for lunch...

Lunch and Shopping with Roslyn

On the 19th of November I went into Barnsley to meet up with my friend Roslyn. We hadn't been able to get together for ages but I had mentioned the crystal shop at Elsecar and she wanted to go, so she suggested that. But the food is rubbish at Elsecar (especially for vegetarians, as we both are), so we arranged to meet in the centre of Barnsley first for something to eat. We met at 11.30 and went into TKMaxx to start off with as we both wanted a few bits for Christmas. I was able to finish Lee's advent presents which was great! 

We then went into Market Kitchen for lunch. It has about ten cafes to choose from but because it was Sunday only two were open - a Turkish place and a place called Jar Bar which serves Balkan food. Roslyn went for a halloumi gyros from the Balkan place. I'm still struggling with my appetite (I'm still convinced it's my new anti depressants) so wasn't sure what I wanted, so I went for falafel and hummus from the Turkish place, with some fries. I didn't eat all the fries but I really liked the falafel and hummus and bread that it came with. 

After lunch we went into a few of the indie shops that are in the Glassworks now. They have a lot of handmade stuff! I got some wax melts for myself and some gifts. By this time it was about 2pm so we went back to Roslyn's car and she drove us down to Elsecar. She was the first of my friends to learn to drive but she hasn't driven me anywhere in over twenty years, I swear! We went into the antiques centre for a little look round and then it turned out there was a craft fair in the old tram shed where the food festival often is. It had a bunch of nice stuff, I didn't actually buy anything but it was nice to see some different types of crafts represented. 

Then we went in the crystal shop. I bought a piece for myself and some gifts, and Roslyn bought a couple of bits too. By this time I was absolutely knackered and in pain because the day before my mum and stepdad had been to ours and we had done loads of jobs in the house. Lee's chest of drawers needed mending so he and my stepdad did that while my mum and I did a ton of cleaning. So I was in pain and probably not at my best for Roslyn so I told Lee to come and fetch me and bribed him with the record shop that's there. He bought three records! It was 3.30pm by this point so we said goodbye. Lee picked up some hot chocolate for us on the way out. 

I was wearing a dress I posted really recently that I got from Lucia, so I didn't bother to take another photo of it. But my tights were newish - they're another pair of sparkly ones from Snag and they're still shedding glitter so I was leaving a little sparkle in my wake! I was wearing my Dr Marten boots where the black wears off them - they're perfect for winter for me so I am generally wearing them!

When I got home I had to have a lie down and a nap because I was in so much pain and so tired. But it was really nice to see Roslyn.

Sparkly tights and boots

The Christmas tree was in the entrance to Market Kitchen and I think it looked really nice!

Falafel and bread and chips, I will go to the Turkish place again!

I took a couple of photos of the craft fair in full swing

It was really nice to happen upon it

Lunch with a Friend on 15th November

My friend Helen and I met up in the middle of November at Slattery's, in north Manchester, for lunch. She and I don't meet up too often, but this time of year we often do get together. It turned out to be very close to the anniversary of when we had first met in person, seven years ago when her youngest child was very little! We first met on Twitter through mutual friends, so it was nice to meet her in person and it's still always nice to see her. 

We often go to Slattery's because it is just so nice, but you have to book and the booking for a particular date only comes out a month before that date, so you have to watch the website, too! But I managed it, and I made it over to Manchester for about 11.45. I waited for a parking space which didn't take long, and then I headed upstairs to the dining room. Helen arrived not too long after me. 

I had what I always have - a milk hot chocolate, rarebit with garlic mushrooms, and the strawberry and marshmallow dipper. I do sometimes have a different dessert, but I also really like dipping stuff in the melted chocolate, so I can't complain about it. I will say that this time the white chocolate started to solidify in the cup almost straight away, which was weird. I only ate half of the dessert and then I brought the rest home and ate it the next day. 

After we had eaten we went downstairs into the shop where I bought a few gifts for Christmas and some other goodies. Lee had asked for some chocolate fudge cake so I took us both a piece of that home too. 

I got home about 4pm and then went to bed for a bit as I had slept really rubbish for the previous few nights and really needed to rest. Especially because I was going out again to book club! I got dressed again and headed out not long after six o'clock. It was, as always, lovely to see my book club. As I was going out I pulled on this 'new' coat that Lolly gave me months ago but it just hasn't been cold enough to wear it! It's lovely though - really warm and cosy. I'll be wearing it a lot this winter I think!

Hot chocolate - melted chocolate round the sides of the glass and hot milk inside so you mix it all up yourself. I love it!

Rarebit with garlic mushrooms

Here's me and Helen! 

Strawberry and marshmallow dipper pudding - just gorgeous

And finally here's this gorgeous green coat that Lolly gave me. It came from Simply Be originally!

What I Wore November 13th

On Monday November the 13th I went to craft club as I usually do on a Monday morning, but I wore a new top as I did it so I thought I would post about it. As you know, I really like the clothes I've got from the Judi Love range at Very - I wear the dress and cardigan I have a lot and was keeping an eye on the range on the Very website. This top and another one went on sale back in like March or something, so I bought them but I've been saving them for when the weather turned colder. And finally, it was time! 

This top has sheer sleeves which I like, but they're also long and fit well, which is nice too. There's a sheer layer over the front, too, adding to the ruffle effect. I wore my long sleeved black cardigan over the top because the room where my craft club is can be cold! 

I wore it with one of my Scarlett & Jo skirts - this blue one is lovely but sort of formal so I don't wear it all the time. But I think these two looked nice together!