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

Shopping and the Christmas Market in Sheffield with my Mum

As in previous years, my mum and I went Christmas shopping just a couple of weeks before Christmas. We usually have a full day out somewhere and have a lovely time with some wine or something and a nice lunch. This year we decided to go to Sheffield as the Christmas markets were on and we both wanted to see them. We had planned to get the train from my village to Sheffield, but unfortunately the trains were on strike, so my stepdad drove us to Meadowhall where we got on the tram. 

We were going to get off at Cathedral, but then the tram in front of us had broken down or something so we got off at Fitzalan Square and walked up. We wereboth thirsty by this point so we went in Caffe Nero for a drink to start off with, and we also shared a vegan sausage roll which was delicious! We went in M&S then, and bought absolutely loads in there, before heading in lots more shops. I had taken my gym rucksack with me so I could put most things in there which is easier on my body to carry than stuff hanging off my hands. We were looking for some boots for me from my mother for Christmas so we went in lots of shoe shops along the way!

Around 12pm we were near the Alpine Lodge in Barkers Pool so we decided to go for a drink in there. My mum had a glass of rose and I had the caramelised spiced hot rum, which was unusual but absolutely delicious, I really enjoyed it. We managed to get a seat inside the lodge so it was lovely and cosy and I'm really glad we did it! Afterwards we walked down through more of the market stalls, and ended up at the Moor, where we were still looking for presents and boots. 

We started to want some lunch so we looked all over but couldn't find much down that end. We looked in the Light but the only thing in there now is a Nandos which we didn't want. We ended up in the Moor Market, where there are a bunch of cafes. It's not fancy but it is delicious! I ended up getting tofu kraprao from a Thai street food place, which was one of the spiciest things I've ever eaten in my life. I did like it but I needed a lot of water to go with it! My mum had cheesy chips. 

We went in a few more shops and eventually found me some boots in Deichmann which I don't think I've ever been in ever before! By this time we were really knackered and had walked a really long way already! So we decided to go to Browns for a drink. I had been just the week previously, with Lolly, and said it was nice. I wasn't sure if we would get a table but I think most people were in parties so there were a few tables just for two. We shared a bottle of the most delicious Sauvignon Blanc and had a pudding each. I had brownie which came in a very cute little skillet. By the time we had finished there it was about 5pm. We wandered back through the market and then got the tram from City Hall to Middlewood. We would have gone back to Meadowhall but there was an event on at the arena so we knew the traffic would be bad there. Lee came to pick us up from Middlewood and then we took my mum home! We ended up having tea with my mum and stepdad which was a really lovely end to the day. 

I had walked absolutely miles! I was okay though. I'm finding walking a lot easier at the moment than I have previously. I was still really sad over my friend's husband so my head was a bit all over the place and I didn't manage to get all the presents that I really could have. But we had a lovely day together and it was so nice to sit and share a bottle of wine and talk for a bit. It was just the day I needed. 

This police box stands near Barkers Pool and is the last surviving one of forty in the city, apparently! Someone I follow had taken a very similar picture recently so I was keeping an eye out

Hot spiced rum and a glass of rose

Here we are both in the lodge, it's very cute!

My mum took this photo from her vantage point

I wanted to go on the big wheel but my mum doesn't like heights so we didn't. One of these days I will though!

Tofu kraprao and rice

Inside the cafe area in the market. There's a few here I would like to try

Here's my view up the very festive stairs in Browns

Here we both are, thank you to the very nice member of staff who took this! 

My very cute brownie in a little skillet thing

My mum took this of the place too

Then she took this of me as we walked back through the markets to the tram

And then a nice stranger took a photo of both of us! This little neon sign is so cute!

And finally a better look at the stuff around Barkers Pool. It was really pretty and well done, and showed Sheffield off nicely!

Films of the Month - November

I watched nine films in November which wasn't a bad number I don't think. I was reading back through some old journals and I only used to watch about six films a month which has made me feel better about how many I've watched in 2023. I will see how 2024 goes! 

Here's what I saw in November: 

First of all I watched God's Own Country which is one of my favourite films and which I felt like watching on a rainy afternoon

Lee and I watched Rocky together. I saw it about ten years ago when we were on holiday, but that's the only time I've ever seen it. I do like it, but I don't think it's great

I finally got round to Louis Tomlinson's film about his life after One Direction, All of Those Voices. It's really good! I enjoyed a lot of the biographical stuff and I liked seeing members of Louis' family talking about him, and of course little Freddie making an appearance! I'm glad I got round to it

Lee wanted to watch The Terminator, so we did. I actually prefer the second one, but it's a really long time since I saw either of them. We'll try to watch the second one soon!

Lee and I also watched Lilo and Stitch which is one of my favourite Disney films, I just love it so much

I watched the Barbie film again -  I saw it at the cinema back in July and really liked it, and I liked it just as much on rewatch

I watched Romeo + Juliet because I had been meaning to forever. I did see it back in the day, probably actually in the actual nineties, and then maybe once again, but I hadn't seen it in forever. I really enjoyed it

Legend was on the BBC so I watched it because I like Tom Hardy and I like gangster films. I've seen it before but not for a while

Then when I was reading the imdb page about Legend I read that Tom Hardy played Charles Bronson in a film so I found that to watch too, as I had never seen it. It's pretty good as films about extremely odd people go, but I probably wouldn't watch it again

December 2nd

So, this is probably going to be a bit of a weird post, but it's a very weird time, and I do use this blog as a diary so I want to write this. 

On the first weekend of December I had planned to see Sam and Jac in York, where Jac lives. We had a few things planned. It had to be that weekend because Sam was going to Malaysia just a little while afterwards. I think I mentioned that her mum died in September; well she and her dad were going to see her mum's family in Malaysia to scatter her mum's ashes. So it had to be that weekend. We had decided to do some pottery painting in York in the morning as we enjoyed it way back in February, and then we were going to chill out at Jac's, and on the Sunday we were going to do some other festive stuff in the city centre and have some lunch before saying goodbye to each other. However, Jac was then poorly, so we decided to just do the pottery painting and then have some lunch before we each went home so she could rest and feel better. So that's what we did.

I parked near Jac's and got the bus into town with her. We walked across York and met up with Sam on the way. I fell over and really shook myself up and banged my hands and knees but fortunately I wasn't more hurt. I thought that would be the worst thing that happened that day, too. We went to Bish Bash Pot for 11 o'clock. It's a cute little place with plenty of pieces to choose to paint. We decided we would paint one piece for each other as Christmas presents. I chose a Christmas tree for Jacqui and a lighthouse for Sam. I also painted a little house for myself. 

I had a hot chocolate and a really amazing triple chocolate brownie while we were painting. It took longer than we thought and by 1.15 I sort of finished the house for me in a total rush - I am certain it will look rubbish! We had to rush because we had booked a table for lunch in basically the next building along. It's called Khao San and it's Thai tapas! Sam went along while Jac and I were finishing up, and then we went along too. We ordered a bunch of dishes and shared them, and they were all delicious. 

I was wearing one of my old Scarlett & Jo prom dresses - I think it might actually be one of my original ones and I've had it about ten years. I wore sparkly tights and this new zebra print cardigan that I got recently from Simply Be. It was so cold so I needed a lot of layers!

Jac and I said goodbye to Sam around 3pm and Jac and I waited for a bus back to hers. However, thanks for York Christmas traffic it took forty minutes to come, by which time we were absolutely frozen and I was in pain as I had walked a long way and I had fallen over and then I had been standing for ages waiting for the bus. But I was okay, and I got into my car around 4.30pm. I drove home and when I got home I got undressed and got into bed for a bit because I was still cold and wanted to lie down. Lee was lying with me and we were talking, and it was all good. 

Then Sarah texted me to tell me that her husband Tom had collapsed. And then just a bit later, she texted to tell me that he had actually died. I couldn't believe it, and four days later, I still can't believe it. Tom was one of the nicest people I had ever met, and he loved Sarah and their little girl so much. I won't say more, but it was completely unexpected, which totally blindsides people. I am really grateful for all the time I got to spend with Tom and I am so glad that Sarah had him in her life. 

I just totally went into shock. This often happens when I am actually shocked - my body starts to shake, my teeth chatter, and I drop really cold. I rang my mum and asked her and my stepdad to come over, which fortunately they were able to do. They stayed until around 9pm which really helped me. I spoke to Sarah briefly. I have lived a lot of grief and I know she has a tough road ahead of her - but I also know I'll be behind her every step of the way to support her. 

It is absolutely shit in the meantime, though. 

Here's my photos from before the day went sideways, though. 

Waiting at the bus stop in the morning - sparkly tights, ridiculous frilly socks, and my Dr Martens boots that I find really comfortable to walk in 

Down Little Stonegate in York which is one of my favourite streets in York. I went to York St John University way back when 

The street near Betty's, where there was already a big queue even though it was only about 10.30!

The Castle Museum - it was so cold and foggy! It was cold at home but sunnier there!

Sam took this photo of the pottery painting place

While we were painting

The brownie was amazing!

Here's me and Sam and the mug she was painting

My stuff painted just as we were leaving - the black on the house was not great but also I don't care!

Inside the Khao San restaurant, Sam took this

And she took this of the three of us too

The back dish was broccoli something and the front was battered aubergine, which were both so good

Tofu at the back and pad Thai at the front - the dish you can sort of see was mushrooms. I would go again here

And finally here's my dress and cardigan as soon as I got home

Wreath Making in Penistone

On the 30th of November I went to a wreath making workshop in Penistone with two people from book club. One of them had mentioned it and I fancied making a wreath for our door, so I signed up! It was from 7pm so I drove to Penistone and parked and then went in. It was held in the church and they were really organised - they led me to a table with two other people on it so I could wait for Ceri and Jane. In all I bet there were at least 70 people there! Our ticket price got us a drink and a mince pie each, which was a nice way to start off. Then the church curate gave a bit of a demonstration, and then we got to work!

There were big bags of moss on each table and first of all we had to attach big bunches of moss to the wreath blank, with wire. People kept coming round to help us, and it was nice to talk to Ceri and Jane. Then we had to make like bunches with greenery like conifers, eucalyptus leaves, holly, ivy, and so on, held together at the bottom with wire. These were attached to the moss with more wire. The idea was to make enough to cover the whole wreath, but it took longer than we expected so I decided to just do about three quarters of the wreath and then leave a gap for some other decorations. I went for a candy cane, some baubles, and some dried fruit slices. It may look a bit over the top but I really don't care because I like it!

There was a lovely little area to take photos so I posed for one by myself and with Ceri and Jane too. It was about 9.30 by this time so Ceri and I walked back to our cars together to go home. It was a really nice workshop, it felt really lovely to be doing it! We still have two hooks on our door from a couple of years ago when I bought a wreath, so Lee and I put it up straight away. It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Mulled wine! So delicious

In the middle of working on our wreaths

Me with mine at the end - I was wearing this star print top that I think came from Simply Be originally. It's not specifically Christmassy but I think it's festive

Mine when I was finished. I'm not certain that all the bits will actually last all the way until Christmas but it did look good!

And here it is in place on the door

Afternoon Tea with Lolly in Sheffield

One of the things on my 40 Before 40 list was to go for afternoon tea somewhere. I had mentioned this to Lolly absolutely forever ago and she had agreed to go with me, so I had done some research about where was good in Sheffield and Brown's was coming up as highly recommended. We booked it, but then had to cancel because Lolly had Covid! But we booked it again for the 29th of November and we made it! I drove to Sheffield and parked in the Q Park which I could see was close, and then I walked through to Brown's. It was really close and I would definitely park there again if I was heading towards that side of town. 

The Christmas market was all set up and it looked absolutely beautiful so I was really excited as I was visiting it the following week with my mum. I headed into Brown's where I got a warm welcome and was seated in the downstairs bit. The restaurant is lovely inside but as we were by the big window and it was cold outside, it was also pretty cold inside. That's basically my only complaint though!

Lolly arrived and we ordered decaf coffee each - the hot drinks are included and seemed to be unlimited, which I appreciate in an afternoon tea. We had booked afternoon tea and I had made a note that one was vegetarian, and the staff already knew that, which was good. The tea tray arrived soon afterwards and it looked absolutely stunning. Really fancy! 

We had three sandwiches and two mini brioche things each. Mine were brie and cranberry, cream cheese and cucumber, and egg mayo. They were lovely! Then there were two mini scones, with a ton of clotted cream, and blackberry jam, and strawberry jam. We tried our best but couldn't eat all of that between us! 

Then the cakes were a mini caramel eclair, a slice of Victoria sponge, a passionfruit cake, and a mince pie. There was such a lot but they were all amazing! We sat chatting for ages before saying goodbye about 5.30pm. I headed home and made it home just before Lee needed to go out for band practice which was good as it meant he could taken an outfit photo of me! I was wearing this Joe Brown's dress that always feels very festive. My mum took it in for me a bit because it was too big and it's not really stretchy, but it does still feel a bit big. I may try a belt and see if that helps.

I was wearing my half white half black tights from Snag, and my red pair of dolly shoes that are from Vinted but are from Topshop originally. I liked the look!

Sheffield looking absolutely stunning on a very cold day 

Gorgeous cappucino, I then had a latte too

Our afternoon tea on this gorgeous stand

Here's Lolly and me!

The "cheese grater" car park

I do love the pattern and colour of this dress - it's like plants up close, with red on

And my tights and shoes