My Dad's 70th Birthday

On the 23rd of January my dad would have turned 70 years old. He died nearly fifteen years ago and it's impossible to imagine him at 70. I miss him a lot, I always will I think. My mum and I decided to go out and celebrate his birthday by going on a pub crawl round Wakefield to pubs he used to go to with my mum. Then we thought we would have curry in a place we went to once (in a really funny way) with Lee and my stepdad in the evening. It was a really nice afternoon with my mum and especially considering what happened a couple of days later, I'm glad we got to do it. 

Lee and I picked my mum up at around 1pm and he took us into town before going home to work. My mum and I went into Marmlade on the Square for lunch, where I had halloumi and smashed avocado on sourdough toast, it was nice. Then we started the pub crawl in the Strafford Arms, where my mum and I went about ten years ago, but I can't remember why. 

We carried on into the Black Rock, which was a proper old man pub and was playing some fantastic dad rock which my dad would have loved. (I did actually make a playlist of songs that reminded me of him when it was the tenth anniversary of his death; I periodically add to it when I think of a song). We were the only women in there but it didn't feel unsafe. We then walked to the Inns of Court, where I swear I have never been before even though I used to drink in a pub a couple of doors down, which was called Players back in the day. I was very underage and we had some brilliant nights in there haha. 

Finally we walked down to a pub that is now called the New Union, but which used to be called The Spaniard and was also a Slug and Lettuce at one point. Lee and my stepdad arrived at the restaurant while we were finishing our drinks, and we realised that it only took cash and also doesn't have an alcohol licence, so my mum went off to get cash and a bottle of wine, and I walked down the restaurant and we all met there. It's called Syhiba and it is a really nice Indian with really friendly staff. 

I had mushroom pakora and then paneer and mushroom balti, which was delicious. I shared some lassi with my stepdad, he had never had it before but Lee said he would probably like it. After we had eaten we went back to my mum's house for a bit. It was a really nice day and I think we commemorated my dad really well! I hope he had a good heavenly birthday. 

Halloumi and avocado on toast for lunch

Drinks in the first pub - I mixed my drinks but my mum just had different lagers with lime which she always used to drink back in the day

The second pub had this old fashioned mirror

And he we are in there - I don't know why my mum had her glasses off though!

The third pub had this lovely stained glass in between the booths

And here we are in there - we sent this picture to my godmother who also raised a glass to my dad that day

The toilets in there were pretty gross but did have this life affirming graffiti in them 

This is where Players used to be. You went downstairs into the bar where there were pool tables and a small stage too

As we went down to the New Union there was a spectacular sunset looking down Westgate

My gin in the New Union

Mushroom pakora - they were quite spicy!

And my balti and some rice!

Birthday Trip Day 4

On the Sunday of my birthday trip to Helmsley we had to leave the cottage, but not until 11am, which gave us a good long time to get everything packed up and loaded into the cars. Then I had booked brunch at La Trattoria for all five of us. When Lee and I went to Helmsley with my mum and stepdad we ended up in La Trattoria for breakfast just before we left, so I already knew it was nice and obviously invited Sarah and Tom and Robyn along. Lee and I took photos of each other but I promise Sarah and co were there too!

You can build your own breakfast in the Italian, so I had scrambled eggs, mushroom, avocado, hash browns, and French toast. Plus a lovely hot chocolate! It was a nice breakfast. We all set off home around noon, saying goodbye. It was really lovely to spend so much time with Sarah and Tom and of course Robyn. 

I was wearing my red Joe Browns dress with navy flowers on it, and my navy Sprinkle of Glitter cardigan, and navy Snag tights. It's a nice winter outfit I think! 

Delicious hot chocolate 

Lee!

And me looking slightly odd because of the light behind me in the window

Breakfast! It was yummy

And finally my outfit once we got home

Birthday Trip Day 3

On the Saturday of our weekend in Helmsley, Sarah and Tom were up early with Robyn but Lee and I managed to sleep in for a bit. We relaxed in the morning - I was cross stitching - and Robyn played. Then she went for a nap about midday so Lee and I headed out to look at some of the shops in Helmsley we had missed the previous day. We got a few things in those shops. We then went to Cornercopia cafe to wait for Sarah and Tom and Robyn, who came after Robyn's nap. I haven't been in that cafe before but it was really nice, I would go again. I had falafel and cucumber and tzatziki on sourdough, and it was lovely. 

As we had headed out it was really foggy, but the sun started to break through. We had decided to go to the castle as Tom likes castles and Robyn likes running about. I've never been, but it's English Heritage so it costs a little bit to go in but I felt it was worth it. I probably wouldn't go again as it's not going to change much, but I did enjoy it. 

The people on the desk on the way in told us to go up the left hand path to get in as it's a shallower path which is obviously better for me and for a pushchair, so I was glad she had said that. The sun was breaking through and leaving some lovely effects on the ruins, so we all took photos and Robyn ran all over the place. It wasn't far to go so that was good. The path down the right hand side was much steeper and a bit icy in parts, but I managed it with Lee. 

Lee and I walked back into the market square and had a hot drink in Cafe Crema which was lovely. We all met back at the cottage. Lee went for a lie down again around 5pm and the rest of us cooked tea which was fajitas - chicken for the non vegetarians and halloumi for me. Robyn had some too! She had a bath and bed again and she fell asleep quite quickly so the rest of us managed to play a game and watch rubbish music channels on Sky. It was a lovely day! 

As Lee and I went into the square at about midday, there was proper fog going on! 

Hot chocolate in Cornercopia

Me and Sarah

My lunch, which was really nice

The sun just starting to poke through as we walked towards the castle

A plan of what the castle would have looked like before its destruction

I love the light in this one

As this one, as we walked up towards the entrance

This is one of the entrances

The bronze sculptures are pretty cool

One of the old entrances

Lots of ruins

Inside the keep

Me standing in a doorway like I like to

Our shadows

Sarah and Tom and Robyn

Looking down into the moat

Looking at Helmsley from the castle

The beck as Lee and I walked over it - it was far fuller than it usually is

And looking the other way - I always take these pictures in Helmsley

And finally my outfit - my Judi Love top and a Scarlett & Jo skirt, pretty typical outfit for me!

Birthday Trip Day 2

On Friday the 20th of January my mum and stepdad were in Helmsley with us, so we got up and had some breakfast and then set out into Helmsley at maybe 11am. There's lots of nice little shops so we went into loads of them. One of my favourite places is the deli right on the square, where I spent some of my Christmas money on some delicious treats from the plethora of amazing things they have upstairs. 

We went in to the charity shop which was kind of parallel to the cottage where we were staying, and I managed to find a planter shelf which I had been wanting for ages, so I was pleased with that. We then ended up at Barker's for lunch; I like Cafe Crema but was willing to try somewhere new, especially as the sign outside said it had a large vegan menu. They weren't kidding, there was plenty of vegetarian and vegan choices. I went for chickpeas with mayo and red onion and I also had a lovely hot chocolate too. 

By the time we had finished lunch Sarah and Robyn had arrived in Helmsley. We helped Sarah unload the car and then got Robyn all set up with snacks. She was a little bit shy with everyone but basically fine. My mum and stepdad left for home not long after that. Lee went for a lie down as he was very tired, so Sarah and I had a good chat and walked over to La Trattoria in the square to order some pizzas for tea. Robyn had her tea and then a bath and then Tom arrived about 7pm, just as the pizzas were ready. Lee picked them up and they were so delicious. 

We just relaxed for the rest of the night as Sarah was putting Robyn to bed. 

I was wearing my Sprinkle of Glitter outfit, all from quite a few years ago now. The dress is lovely but maybe a tiny bit short on me, but I've decided to not worry about it. Under that I was wearing the striped pink and white top from the range too, I love this top and often wear it with other stuff. Finally I was wearing the wrap cardigan from the range - it has a full wrap that goes round and makes the cardigan really comfortable and warm to wear. I will have to wear this dress more I think! I was also wearing purple Snag Tights

View of the frosty rooftops out of our bedroom window first thing in the morning

This was our cottage from the front

This is the deli that I love, it has a whole floor upstairs full of lovely things. Opposite this, behind me at this time, is a really good bookshop too - I didn't buy anything this time though!

Gorgeous Belgian chocolate hot chocolate

Chickpea, vegan mayo, and red onion sandwich in Barker's

Sarah brought me a unicorn cake! It was so good

Here's Robyn watching TV at this point I think

Sarah also bought me this ridiculous thing which will live on the bed I think

My outfit with the cardigan on - the cottage was quite cold so I was glad to have the cardigan on too

And here's the outfit without the cardigan, showing the striped top!