Lee's Birthday

It was Lee's birthday on the 21st of August and he, as usual, had the day off. We decided to go to Barnsley Metrodome for a fun swim, and we asked along my friend Roslyn and her kids too. We all met at about 10am and headed down. Unfortunately the wave machine wasn't working, but we did otherwise have a lot of fun. The eldest kid went on a bunch of big slides, I was impressed!

We said goodbye at about midday and then Lee and I headed off to Meadowhall. Lee decided he wanted to eat at Pizza Express so we went there. I had goat's cheese and caramelised onion and it was such a good pizza! Then we went to Hotel Chocolat where Lee had a sundae and I had a mint milkshake I think.

We wandered round Meadowhall a bit. I got a Kenny Rogers vinyl in the music shop in The Lanes. I'm not sure if Lee got anything or not. We headed home and relaxed for the rest of the day, which Lee was happy to do. We watched a couple of films and just chilled out.

On Saturday we had a party! I had been wanting to throw a housewarming type party so I combined it with Lee's birthday and we invited a few people. We had a barbecue which meant that we had a BUY a barbecue but it's really cool and will last a while. I went to Costco with Lolly on the Thursday evening to get supplies for it and I was wandering around aimlessly as I don't eat meat so wasn't sure what to buy! I got some good stuff though. People started arriving about twelve I guess and we got the barbecue going. Lee's mam and stepdad were staying at Cubley Hall which is only like four minutes away from us so they went to get checked in. 

We had vegetarian stuff cooking first so that was good. Then my cousin K did the meat. Everyone enjoyed themselves I think! My mum and I were on the prosecco. My aunt, cousin, and baby T came (he's three, he's not a baby... but also, he is...) and my friend Stacey with her youngest, so they were keeping us amused. Our friends Ceri and Martin came which was lovely - they live in Penistone and Ceri takes credit for us living in Penistone now as I'm in her book club which meets here. Ceri took this lovely photo of me and Lee before they left.

Everyone had gone by about 8pm except my mum and stepdad, Lee's mam and stepdad, and my cousin K, so we decided to go up to Cubley Hall for a couple of drinks there. We left Lee's mam and stepdad there about 11pm I guess, as the rest of us were staying here!

On Sunday Lee headed off to band practice and my mum and stepdad went home eventually, but my cousin K stayed all day as we had plans to watch some films and do some lino cutting together. Lee came home with this ridiculous guitar that his bass player had found in a charity shop but said Lee could have for the same price. They don't think it's ever been used. It's gross but Lee likes it! 

My cousin stayed over again and came to craft club with me the next day where Catherine taught her how to crochet. I'm glad we had the party though, it was a lot of fun! 

Pizza on Lee's birthday

Birthday boy with his chocolate sundae

I recently got this Libertines t shirt off their website and I love it, I've been wearing it loads. It's very soft and I of course love the pink colour! I also wear this skirt a lot, it's good to wear for work

Kenny Rogers vinyl that I got for a few quid

The dining table all set up for the party. We got the dining table recently off Facebook marketplace - it hadn't been used previously. It's way more comfortable that the old one - which we gave away free - although I'm hoping to get some chairs for each end of it

And the kitchen island set up too. One of the upgrades our vendor paid for when she bought the house - before it was even built - was the kitchen island, and I'm so glad, as we absolutely love it and use it a lot. It's so useful when you have a lot of people around!

Lovely photo that Ceri took of us. The weather was better than it looks in this photo, which I was glad about. This dress was from Simply Be I think originally, but I got it off Vinted

And finally Lee's very wanky new guitar!

Family Wedding in Oxford

In the middle of August we headed to Oxford to go to a family wedding! We were invited along with my mum, stepdad, and my aunt and uncle. Lee and I probably would have gone there and back in the same day but my mum wanted us to stay over so we did. So she and my stepdad picked us up about teatime on the Friday night and we headed south. 

We stopped at Leicester Forest services for tea and that's where we were when the nationwide alert went off warning about wild fires, so we heard a LOT of phones go off at the same time! We got to Oxford about 9.30pm and while it was a bit difficult to find the hotel we eventually managed it and got checked in and everything. We went in the bar for a couple of drinks before bed. 

On Saturday morning we got up and had a hearty breakfast as we weren't sure what time or what we were going to eat. We got in our finery and then we walked to the registry office for just before noon. We weren't staying very far away from it. My aunt and uncle were already there and my uncle was taking a ton of photos as usual. 

It was my mum's first cousin getting married; he and Allie have been together for around eighteen years and decided to make it official! The ceremony was very nice and made very cute by a little ring bearer who had held on to the ring box very well! The music was good too. Outside there were photos and then we set off to the grass where there was to be champagne and canapes. My stepdad and I were among those who couldn't walk as far as it was, so we got into the bridal car to be taken there! It was a gorgeous vintage car with a push down roof so I felt very fancy as we set off!

We stopped by the grass but it turned out there were building works on it so it wasn't as big as it might have been but obviously Gary and Allie didn't know. Never mind, there was plenty of champagne and nibbles to eat, so it was nice. Neil took a lovely photo of me in the trees. 

We got back into the car and went round to a dock where everyone got on a boat. We went down the river through a lock and past all kinds of things, including the Winklevoss boat house! There was an open bar and sandwiches and things, so we had quite a few drinks and some things to eat. My mum ended up getting a lot of it as I couldn't move well on a moving boat, and Lee gets very seasick so he wanted to stay very still. Bless her! 

We got off the boat about 5pm after a band had played and we had got back to the dock. We got a taxi with my aunt and uncle to Gary and Allie's house where family had been invited after the wedding. There were a lot of people crammed in! We talked to some relatives and had some food, and then we left about 8pm I'm guessing. We had a couple more drinks in the hotel before bed. 

On the Sunday morning we had arranged to meet up with my aunt and uncle, who were staying elsewhere, for lunch. We had booked a table at Dishoom, which I bloody love and was very excited about going to. Me, Lee, my mum and stepdad walked round the city centre for a bit first, looking in fancy shops and stuff. We bought some pastels de nata which were so delicious, I would definitely buy some again. 

We got into Dishoom and had the nicest server, she was lovely. I ordered some chai, which is bottomless, so I had chocolate chai to start off with. It was spicy and delicious! I would definitely get that again. Caroline and Neil arrived and we ordered a range of things, mostly to share. Lee had chicken tikka and kept his to himself - he isn't keen on tapas style food haha. My aunt and I shared the black dahl which is always SO good. Everyone really enjoyed their food and my mum was glad we had gone there.

After that we said goodbye to my aunt and uncle and headed back to the car, going through the shopping centre to get there. We drove home and then thankfully I could rest for the rest of the day! It was a lovely wedding though and nice to see family. 

Here I am in the back of the bridal car just outside the reigstry office

On the boat

My mum and I on the boat

Going through a lock

And a ton of interesting weeds in the river at one point

My aunt and I on the boat, although we didn't get a lot of chance to speak to my aunt and uncle as they were in a different bit and it was very busy

This was my dress back in the hotel. I bought it years ago and took it on our first cruise, but I don't think I've worn it since. It was good for a summer wedding!

Oh when we get back to the hotel on Saturday night we had some desserts in the restaurant. Lee hadn't had much to eat so he was more hungry than the rest of us

Chocolate chai in Dishoom on Sunday

All of us in Dishoom before we got food

And finally here's Neil's photo of me on Saturday

Barnsley Zine Fair Summer 2026

The second Saturday of August saw the next Barnsley Zine Fair! I was pleased to have a table but I was still very tired from my quick trip to Brighton. But Jacqui came with me to hang out! Obviously Lee would have stayed all day with me but Jac and I hadn't seen each other in ages so she said she would come and hang out with me. Lee dropped me off and helped me get inside, and then he went to the record shop and had a look round the zine fair before going home. 

Jac arrived and we just sat chatting! It was actually really nice to not have anything else to do. The fair was busy as usual and I had my new prints and stickers for sale so that was good. Chloe was near to me so I got to talk to her too. The 01226 Collective were doing temporary tattoos so I had to get one, of course!

Jac went out to get lunch for both of us which is such a helpful thing for a tabler at a zine fair. I sat on Chloe's table for a bit so she could get some lunch. I traded a bunch of zines - I was really proactive at asking people to trade and bought some too of course. Jac isn't that into zines but she did buy some art. 

We got everything packed up and then cross the road to the main plaza in Barnsley. We decided to go to the Market Kitchen for food. I think Jac got Japanese food but I went for a mushroom pizza from Nero's I think. I got some kind of strawberry cocktail too which was delicious!

Jac got on the train home and Lee came and picked me and all my zine stuff up. I just chilled for the rest of the night but of course took a photo of everything I bought or traded for posterity, too. I also traded with the writer of Bat Makes and they sent me a letter about my zines a couple of weeks later!

My table all set up. Someone dropped out so Jason moved someone to a full table and then I got a full table too! It's really good when people can expand to fill gaps

My temporary tattoo, haha

Drinking a strawberry cocktail after the fair

And here's everything I got

Flying Trip to Brighton

In the first week of August I went to Brighton overnight. I am on someone's PhD steering group and we have two in person meetings per academic year. In February we met up in Birmingham and this time went to Brighton, where the PhD person and three other people in the group also live, so that was useful. I have never been to Brighton so I was excited to go! 

I knew I couldn't drive that far by myself so I had booked train tickets. Lee took me to Penistone station at about 10am, and I got to Sheffield a bit late but managed to get on the London train with only about thirty seconds to spare. It wasn't very busy at all so I had two seats to myself and did some reading and some cross stitching. I got into St Pancras and got changed to the Brighton train. It was quite a slow one but it wasn't too busy and I got to see lots of London suburbs etc. I got into Brighton about 2.30, went to the loo, bought some more water because it was right in the middle of the heatwave, and then got a taxi to the Premier Inn.

My mum and stepdad and aunt and uncle had been to Brighton earlier in the year and had stayed in the same hotel! It was very central. I had a little lie down and then I wandered into the Lanes to meet my colleague Jade. They live in Brighton too and know Laurel, from the PhD, a bit. They had suggested we meet at Knoops for iced chocolate so I headed there. I chose a 60% dark orange iced chocolate and I sat outside and waited for Jade. They turned up not too long after and we chatted for about an hour. It was lovely to be able to see them too!

I went back to the hotel to meet some of the others and four of us headed to Shelter Hall which is right on the seafront and which is one of those places with several different food vendors under one roof, which was ideal for us with different dietary requirements. I went for mushroom tacos and tortilla chips with a dip, which were both really yummy. A few more people turned up and it was really fun to just chat again with people. The more often we meet the more friendly we become!

I headed back with some of the others at about 8.30 I think. I was tired and in pain so wanted to rest. I was reading Everyone Is Lying to You which I really liked, so I definitely read some of that before sleep. 

On Friday morning I got up early and realised I had forgotten to bring any deodorant, so I went downstairs to the Co op next to the hotel to buy some. I went back up for breakfast and met some of the others who had stayed over too. We were all downstairs by 9.30 to get in taxis to take us to the university. Laurel was already there and had the meeting all set up. 

We met until 1pm with fruit and snacks. I think it went well. Laurel's PhD is actually so interesting and I'm enjoying being a part of it and getting to be professionally fat again. I got a taxi back to the station with someone else, but my return trains weren't until after 5pm as that had been much cheaper, so I had some time to kill. The Brighton natives had advised me on where to go so I set off into the North Lanes where there are tons of kooky little shops. 

I had made sure to only take my backpack with me so I had that, and it wasn't too heavy, but it was a bit cumbersome. I was probably a bit slow, but I took my time. I found somewhere called the Vegetarian Cafe to have my lunch in. It reminded me so much of The Blue Moon cafe in Sheffield which I loved but which has sadly closed now. You chose a main and then a side and then salad. I got enchiladas with potato wedges and then aioli and hummus too. It was so good!

I bought a record for Lee in a secondhand shop, and a couple of other bits. I stopped for an iced coffee and a vegan caramel shortbread and a sit down. It was cool being in Brighton, I enjoyed people watching a lot. I sat for a while near a park where Trans Pride had been the previous week, so it was cool to see some of the flyers for that etc. I got a taxi back to the station because it was quite a walk back, and uphill, and I knew I wouldn't manage it. 

I finally got back on the train to St Pancras and then nearly missed the train to Sheffield because I had to go to the loo and then there wasn't a platform for ages. But I managed to get it - and it was SO full. There were no seats and I can't stand in the vestibules and find it hard to stand on moving trains anyway. I did in fact fully fall into a person when we set off. Finally someone offered me his seat which was good. It was busy nearly all the way back to Sheffield. Fortunately Lee picked me up there because I was very tired by this point and needed to be home! 

The roof at St Pancras

On the Brighton train on London Bridge

Iced chocolate from Knoops. I'm so glad a lot of places have started doing this because I really like it! But I get that Knoops is like the OG, I will have to go to another one some day!

Here's Jade and me outside Knoops

A cute little map of the area near to the hotel

The book I was reading, which was far better than Yesteryear

Tacos! I feel like I rarely get good Mexican food and this was fabulous

And chips and dip too

I had to go take the touristy photo of the burnt out pier which looked gorgeous with the sunset behind it, too

This very cool sculpture was just outside our meeting room at Sussex University

It was made by the traveller community and I really liked it

Starting my wander around the Lanes

The vegetarian lunch I had, I could eat it again right now

And the vegan caramel shortbread I had later!

Scunthorpe Zine Fest 2026

At the very beginning of August Lee and I headed over to Scunthorpe for the zine fest. I've applied for it a couple of years but never got a table before, so I was thrilled to finally get one! I don't think I've ever been to Scunthorpe before. We set off really early because I thought the fest started earlier than it did, but oh well. We got set up and were next to some lovely people. Phoebe was the artist and seller, but her mum was there as well and she and I got talking and eventually followed each other on Instagram, so it was nice to make a new friend!

There were quite a few zinesters I hadn't met before, so that was good too. I bought a bunch of zines and traded a couple too. Lee went out and got us some lunch and we had coffee and cake from the cafe itself. Lee's friend George lives in Scunthorpe so he and another friend came along and talked to Lee for a while. It was a cool venue too. 

We packed up and set off home. We had considered getting tea in Scunthorpe but had decided to come back to Penistone and go for curry there. We have two curry houses in Penistone and we hadn't tried this one before. While we were in there we bumped into the people we bought our house from last year so we talked to them a bit especially about how much we love the house! 

We relaxed for the rest of the day. Zine fests always really take it out of me because I have to be switched on. I did some sewing. I have a new cross stitch of the William Morris Strawberry Thief pattern that I want to start soon and I wanted a project bag to keep it in. So I bought a piece of matching fabric on eBay and sewed a very simple bag with a zip. As I've said before, I'm not a great seamstress by any stretch of the imagination, but I do enjoy it. And the end result is good enough! 

My half table all set up

There was great graffiti in the loos

Here was everything I bought or traded. There was someone with a zine vending machine there which was very cool!

The project bag when it was finished

And a close up of the zip because my mother, who really can sew, wanted to see it. She thought I had done well!