Films of the Month - September

I watched fourteen films in September which wasn't bad to say that I was away for a week of it. Here's what I saw: 

Sam and Jac and I watched 24 Hour Party People together which was my choice, I love it and it was fun to watch together

I watched Dial M for Murder on the BBC; I haven't seen a lot of Hitchcock films but I've heard of this one of course and probably seen a zillion parodies of it, so I thought I should watch it. I really enjoyed it. I ought to watch more old films, really 

Netflix recommended this to me and as I like Anne Hathaway I took a chance on it. I didn't love it but I did like it; I'm glad I've seen it but I probably won't watch it again

I dunno why I fancied watching Mary Poppins Returned again, but I did, so I did. I think it's an okay sequel. I still don't like Ben Whishaw

I've been watching the new series of the Famous Five on the BBC and I think they're really good remakes, I've thoroughly enjoyed them and think they're really good for kids. The last one in the series was really cute

I watched the second Kingsman film because I'm absolutely just making my way through them again. It's not as good as the first one but it is still fun

I listened to the audiobook of this book over several weeks while commuting, and when I saw there was a film I wanted to see it, especially as it stars Philippa Soo, because I like her. I don't think it stood up to the book, but it was okay 

Lee and I saw the beginning of Just Married while in our cabin on the cruise, and I thought it was quite fun so I watched it. I love Brittany but the film overall is just a bit forced and flat 

As we were on Mykonos my mum and I were talking about Shirley Valentine. I'd never seen it so I thought I would. I really liked it, it's a classic for a reason! 

Netflix recommend this to me too, and as I like Natasha Lyonne I decided to give it a go. It's a bit harrowing, and moving, and very understarted. I would recommend it if you like that type of film

I watched the second Addams Family animated film because it was on the BBC. I've seen it before but didn't remember much about it. It is cute

I've never seen Drop Dead Fred but I really like Rik Mayall so I thought I would take a chance on it. It's a cute film, I didn't like the lead woman though

I watched the Broadway recording of Hamilton just because I love it and the songs. It is so good, I just love it

Finally, Sam and I saw this in the cinema and it was just so good - I really recommend it. Kate Winslet is brilliant

Lunch and Cinema with Sam

At the very end of September, Sam and I met up on the Sunday for lunch and the cinema. We were dithering all week about where to go and what to see, but we eventually decided to go to Everyman Cinema in Leeds to see Lee, which is about the photographer Lee Miller. She is played in the film by Kate Winslet, who I really like, and Josh O'Connor plays her son, so that was nice too. I'd really recommend the film - Lee ended up photographing some concentration camps just after liberation, and her photos are iconic. I thoroughly enjoyed the film. 

I went to the Lindt shop first as I wanted to get some presents, and I ended up being given a huge box of chocolates for free because I spent over £25. Al lot of them are praline but I'll eat them eventually. Then I went upstairs to meet Sam at Everyman and we went into the screen. I had a lemonade and really enjoyed the squishy sofas to sit on. 

After the film we walked through to Trinity Kitchen and looked round all the food trucks before deciding what to eat. We both went for poutine - mine was cauliflower wings and corn relish on fries with cheese curds and gravy, and it was really delicious, but I'm not sure it was quite worth the money. 

We sat chatting for a while then walked through to Doh Hut to buy donuts to take home as we were full. I knew Lee would appreciate it and he did! I was wearing my rainbow dress again that I had worn on the previous Friday, so I didn't bother taking another photo of it. 

Poutine! I liked the addition of sour cream on the top

The film we saw - definitely see it

And finally the box of chocolates I got for free!

Lunch in Sheffield with Lolly

At the end of September I went to Sheffield to meet Lolly for lunch. Chloe wasn't available so the two of us organised to meet up for lunch and go to Pho. Which isn't unusual to be honest! I parked at Middlewood and got the tram to City Hall, and then walked through to Pho in Leopold Square where Lolly was already outside. We sat where we always sit, haha, and I had what I always have. It's not my fault, it's just so delicious! I had summer rolls with peanut sauce, and tofu and vegetable curry. It was lovely as always. 

Afterwards we walked into Orchard Square because we wanted to look at the Halloween stuff in TK Maxx. I got a candle which is Candy Apple scented and it's been really nice to burn. A bargain at £8.99! We went into Waterstones but I didn't buy anything. Then we went into Costa and got a coffee and sat there for ages just chatting. It was nice! 

I got home about 4.30 I think. I had been wearing my rainbow Topsy Curvy dress because it's just so much fun and sunny. One of the baristas in Costa complimented it! I realised I forgot to get a picture of Lolly and I which was annoying, but it was as nice as always to see her.

Summer rolls and peanut sauce

Tofu and veg curry

Rainbow dress, it's so sparkly and lovely

And this lovely candle that I bought

Lunch with Jacqui

On the 22nd of September Jacqui came to Barnsley to see me for lunch. It was way too long since we had hung out so we made a date! We have a few options in Barnsley now so I suggested the Salt House which is on the new plaza. I have been before but hadn't ever been on a Sunday so I didn't realise it didn't open until twelve. I was there a bit before so I had to sit outside and wait for Jac, and it was sort of drizzly and miserable. I also really struggle with the seats in the Salt House and when I say that, the staff really make me feel awkward. Sorry about my disabilities I guess!

But anyway, we went. On Sundays they have a Sunay lunch menu which is reduced but still has a few choices, which is great of course. I went for bruschetta to start with and then nut roast Sunday dinner which came with roast potatoes, Yorkshire pudding, and roast vegetables. I also ordered a side of cauliflower cheese. It was really nice food. We had a couple of cocktails alongside, too. 

Then we went into the Lounge and had some pudding and a couple of drinks there too. We were just chatting stuff as usual. It was so nice to hang out! Lee came to pick me up about 3.30. I had to have a nap when I got home because I was under the weather and needed to rest! I was wearing my new lemon print dress though that I had also taken on holiday. But it's colder in England so I was wearing my new to me hoodie. It's a Joe Brown's one and my friend Chloe pointed it out to me on Vinted. It was about £10 including postage and it's lovely. I love the colour and the pattern and it's in good condition!

They have redone and reopened the old facade of Barnsley Civic and it was absolutely lovely to see it, doesn't it look so good?

Bruschetta for starter, it was fresh and lovely!

I don't even know what this cocktail was now as it's quite a long time after we met!

Nut roast Sunday dinner (or lunch, call it what you like...)

Cauliflower cheese! I offered to share it with Jac but she doesn't like it!

Dessert in the Lounge

Here's Jac and I, aren't we just so cute

And here's my outfit when I got home, showing off the new hoodie really!

Aegean Cruise - Day 8

And so to the end of our lovely holiday, and it was a slightly rubbish end - but the previous days were so good that they made up for it. If I went on a cruise again I would choose earlier flights because our flight didn't leave Turkey until 8.30pm which made for a VERY long day. We didn't get off the ship until 5.30pm but we didn't have all our luggage so we couldn't do swimming or do much of anything else, really. But as I said I can't complain too much and we did have a nice enough day anyway. 

We had to be out of our cabins by 9am which meant we had to be early getting up and out. We had breakfast in the buffet bar but my mum was starting to feel unwell so she didn't eat much. She ended up sleeping on a sunbed for most of the day.

Lee and I paddled in the little pool but it was a shame we couldn't go swimming. We got sandwiches for lunch and we went into the cafe again and played a card game while having a drink. I sat on a sunbed for a bit and read - I ended up reading 75% of a 500 page book that day because I didn't have much else to do! 

We finally got off the boat at 5.30, got our cases and got on the coach back to Dalaman. The drive was pretty nice with some nice bits to look at, but Turkey honestly looks like a whole load of nothing. I was reading and listening to music which was nice. By the time we got to Dalaman it was dark. The airport isn't huge but the disability access was rubbish and I was just beyond myself at that point and just wanted to get home. We got a couple of sandwiches and drinks which ended up costing the best part of £50, which was annoying. But I did get a cute bag in the shop which was only twenty euros. I had been hoping to buy a bag in Santorini so I was glad I still had a chance to! 

We finally got on the plane and then had a faff about with seats which was a bit stressful. I sat next to Lee but we rarely spoke to each other as we were both listening to stuff. My mum slept a lot and I think my stepdad did too. We had a drink. We finally landed at about 11.45 UK time. We had to faff about again getting back through the airport, and then I banged my head badly while waiting for the cases. Argh! 

We got back to our house about 2am I think and my mum and stepdad got back to theirs not long after. Then I had to get up early the next morning for work! 

But! It's fine, I just wish we had travelled earlier in the day even though that would have meant an earlier start the previous Monday. I'll know for next time! 

This picture gives the impression that Marmaris is not a very busy port, but the other side of the boat proved it is!

They put these flags out while we were in port and we couldn't really figure out why, unless it was to welcome the new week's passengers on to the ship

My last iced decaf vanilla latte

The yellow llama just outside the cafe 

Looking down into the atrium again and I realised that this blingy thing on the far wall was actually a pattern. So odd!

Lee and I paddling in the pool. We could - and maybe should - have gone swimming and then had a shower (you could have a complimentary cabin for 20 minutes, which would've been long enough). Again, next time!

Lee padlding while I was sitting on the side. I really liked the pool set up, it was really nice to have a shallow part too

Sitting with my mum for a bit too

Not a lot of people were left on ship by this time and I guess new people hadn't arrived yet, so it was practically empty

Lee and I while sitting. I was glad to get some last sun!

The moon over the hills on the way back to the airport

Finally here are the souvenirs I got, including these two bags from Patmos...

A ton of postcards and some tacky magnets...

And the stuff I got in the aiport!

Aegean Cruise - Day 7

So as I said in my previous post, we ended up in Patmos and not in Santorini which was where the boat was supposed to go. We decided to get off and have a wander around anyway, so we got the tender boat at about eleven o'clock to Patmos Town. Apparently the island is where St John the Evangelist was exiled so there are a lot of things to do with that, and a lot of churches, and a lot of religious tat. We just wandered around the town, though, which was really pretty. We made friends with some cats and we bought some souvenirs. It was really hot. 

The four of us sat down in a cafe at about half past twelve and had cold drinks and pudding as we had had a big breakfast and didn't really need or want lunch. I had profiteroles filled with ice cream, which were delicious. We wandered a bit more and then got the tender back to the boat. We got back about 2pm. I had been wearing my Sprinkle of Glitter polka dot dress which as I've said before I absolutely love, but I think it might have seen its last summer. It's going a bit funny and has a hole in the neck which isn't really seen but is there. I've asked my mum to draft a pattern from it because I love the shape so much and really don't want to let it go! 

We went and sunbathed and swam for the rest of the day. It was the last swim so we made the best of it! It was lovely. Again we showered and changed and then went up on the Deck 10 to watch the boat sail out of Patmos. Someone took a lovely photo of the four of us but we are squinting in the sunshine! I took some photos of the pool deck from Deck 10 too which give a better view of the place. 

About 7pm we went down to the Glass House for tea. We had had drinks in there previously and had seen the food, so thought we would chance it for our last night. We shared some tapas and then had pizzas; I had vegetarian calzone which was really nice. We could see the sunset from the Glass House which was a real treat, just lovely. 

After we'd eaten we had another wander around the ship. The pool deck was really lovely by night, and the bar was open a bit later I think, so we had another drink out there. We also went through the Atrium again because there was stuff going on, but it was really loud and we didn't stay there. But it had been a really pleasant day, if a little different from what we had thought as we had been booked on a trip in Santorini!

In the evening I was wearing a Yours dress and old crop top jumper from New Look which is one of my favourite summer outfits. 

On the tender boat about 11am

It really was so beautiful

Wandering through town

I loved these bikes just hanging out

And this was one of the many cats we met

I liked this near one of the churches

Religious tat in a shop

Delicious profiteroles in a lovely cafe

I really liked this moped and had half a mind to steal it

Another of the cats we met!

In my Sprinkle of Glitter dress back in the cabin

The pool in the afternoon

Just as we sailed out of Patmos

The four of us on the sun deck just before we went to eat

This was on Deck 10, too

And this is looking down on to the pool area, isn't it so lovely?

The sunset from the Glass House

I think this was later on after we had eaten. I love the sea and being on it for a week is exactly my idea of fun

Back out on the pool deck at night

It was still so warm and lovely to be outside

There was a film showing on the pool deck again

And lastly, looking down into the Atrium while a whole load of things were going on!