Busy Weekend

I had a busy weekend in mid June which necessitated three trips across Woodhead Pass, fortunately before it was closed because of the wildfires, which as I'm writing this still aren't quite under control. It's a faff to go over the M62 from my new house, plus I really hate that motorway and much prefer Woodhead.

On the Friday Sam and I had tickets to see Jesse Malin. We've seen him a bunch of times and really enjoyed him, so we wanted to go again. In 2023 he had a spinal stroke which has paralysed his bottom half, so we weren't sure if he would ever tour in the UK again. He has had a lot of rehab and he can now stand up thanks to some braces on his lower legs. Even though he can't feel them! It's madness. So we were excited to see him again. 

We met at about 4pm at a coffee place and had a drink and then went over to Viet Shack for food. There was tons of veggie choices but I went for fake chicken loaded fries with a peanut type sauce. It was nice. I think we shared some veggie spring rolls, too. And I had a delicious mocktail, I can't remember what was in it but it was good. 

We walked over to the venue and Sam queued up for us. She had emailed for access but no one had replied and in fact access was really rubbish and I ended up complaining to the venue about it. But we got in eventually and were about six rows back from the front which gave us a great view. Jesse was great - he stood up for about four songs and sat down for the rest which is fine of course. He played a ton of his own songs, and a cover of The Pogues and a cover of The Clash like he usually does. He was enthusiastic and told all his stories. It was a lot of fun. 

I got home and to bed, and then got up quite early the next morning to go with Lee to Stockport Zine Fair. We went last year and had a great time so I was pleased to get a table again this year. We arrived in good time and got set up but it turned out we had forgotten the new badges and stickers I had got made so that was a bit annoying. My prints sold well though, which was good! 

I bought some zines and traded a bunch too. I also bought these Lord of the Rings cat stickers, I love them so much. We decided to not stay in Stockport for tea but we did get some donuts from a stall outside before we set off home. We just chilled out when we got home because zine fests are tiring!

On Sunday I had a quiet morning before setting off for Glossop to meet my friend Amy. She couldn't meet until 2pm so I went a bit earlier and had a sandwich in About Thyme by myself, reading my book, before she arrived. We got cake and coffee when she arrived and sat chatting until about 3pm, when About Thyme closes. So we went round to The Lounge and sat outside on the patio which was lovely as it was nice and sunny. I just had a drink as I wasn't hungry, but Amy had some chips. We left about 5pm, it wasn't enough time with one of my oldest and best friends! 

Mocktail in Viet Shack

And my loaded fries

Jesse's first song, as he was standing

And later on, when he was sitting down. His backing musicians sounded great too

It was a really good night

The book I was reading. It's really good, it's about an Irish woman with an abusive and manipulative husband, and about how she leaves him. I really recommend it

My table all set up in Stockport

Very cute cat stickers

Donuts with ice cream and chocolate sauce, I bloody love donuts

All the zines I bought or traded

Coffee cake in About Thyme - it's a really cute cafe in Glossop and I've been a couple of times

Amy and I just before we said goodbye on Sunday afternoon

Day Trip in Sheffield

On the Sunday when Lucinda was visiting I had thought we could go to Sheffield for lunch and a wander about, so we decided to do that. But I also knew that the UK Aids quilt was in Wakefield and was leaving that day, so I suggested that we went to see that first. It was a bit stupid to drive north to Wakefield and then south to Sheffield but it was worth it. 

The quilt was amazing to see, it was so emotional. I took photos of the panels that were about famous people, but otherwise didn't. I also took a photo of a panel that was covered at the request of the family, which shows that even now there is a stigma about dying of Aids. I also liked the panel dedicate to South Asian victims. I'm really glad we bothered to go. 

We (me, Lee and Lucinda) got in the car and headed to Sheffield. We parked near City Hall because there are several disabled spaces there and they're really central. We walked through to the Cambridge Collective because by this point it was lunchtime. It was a good idea to go there because it meant we could each have what we wanted. Lee had a jerk chicken burger and Lucinda had Pad Thai. I had pumpkin katsu loaded fries, and a bao bun which was basically the same thing, which I hadn't realised in the descriptions, so I got a takeaway box and took the bao bun home to eat the next day. I also had a Pimms which was lovely, so summery!

We went for a walk round the shops near Cambridge St, and ended up going as far as the Devonshire Green although not much was open round there. Lucinda was hoping to find a piercing place that was open and I probably would have got another ear piercing alongside her, but we couldn't find one. 

We went into the Chocolate Bar for hot chocolate and cake. I think I had mint flavoured but I can't remember now. We left Lucinda not long after that so she could walk down to the train station and we could get home as I was very tired from the day before and needed to rest. Lucinda and I had used the photo booth in Cambridge Collective - it's near the Korean food booth and the photos are so cute. I have of course put them up on the mirror in my craft room alongside a bunch of other photos of me and my friends! 

Some info on the way in

A panel for Freddie Mercury

And another one

The covered up panel

A panel for Mark Ashton. By the way did you know that the Reform council in Durham refused to give money to Durham Pride for their event, so the miners donated like £10,000 to them. A perfect example of why we all need to stand together (and a reflection of what happened in 1984 between LGSM and the miners). It made my heart happy to read

And a panel for Keith Haring

My delicious lunch. The fries were much more filling than I anticipated

Caramel shortbread that I had alongside my hot chocolate

And finally the very cute photobooth photos

As always, I'll be waiting in the photobooth at the underground station...

Day Trip in York

On the 6th of June I went to York to meet my friend Lucinda. She lives in Edinburgh now but wanted to see our new house so we found a weekend for her to come down and we decided to meet in York. Lucinda wanted to see Operation Mincemeat at the theatre there so we booked tickets ages ago. We decided to meet at 11 so I set off after a shower. I got there in good time and parked in a disabled space outside Cliffords Tower which had no time limit on it so it was ideal. I sat there as Lucinda arrived by train and then walked round because she wanted to put her bag in my car. 

We walked through Coppergate and up the Shambles. We of course ignored the Harry Potter shops (no transphobia for us, thanks!) and then went into the Shrine of St Margaret Clitherow. It's one of my favourite places in York and I love her story, but last time I was in York it was locked so I couldn't have a look! So I was glad to visit her briefly. Her mummified hand is in the convent on Blossom Street and I believe you can see it, although you have to make an appointment. Maybe one day I'll do that.

The queue for York Ghost Merchants was already soooo long so I was glad we weren't going there! We went into the Portal Bookshop which is the queer bookshop in York. I bought one book, one by Alex Gino that I hadn't yet read, so I was very reserved. We went upstairs and had a hot drink in the cafe, which was lovely but a bit cold. 

Lucinda had found that there was a ghost craft fair on at St Sampsons so we had a wander in there. There were tons of stalls and a lot of ghosts of different types. It was a really cut fair! I bought a couple of birthday presents for Sam and some handmade fudge. I'm glad Cinders found this because it was really cute!

She wanted to go in the Gay Shop so we headed to Parliament St. I was a bit tired by this time so sat outside the shop. I could have gone and joined Lucinda but then I would probably have spent more money so it wasn't terrible that I didn't. I think she bought some badges but I'm not sure what. 

By this time it was lunchtime so we had dithered a bit on where to go but eventually settled on Oscar's. It is one of my favourite places in York and has been for nearly twenty five years! It has moved since I first knew about it, but it's still great. I had nachos with veggie chilli and it was great! 

We weren't sure what to do after lunch but then I suggested we go to the York Chocolate Story. I've been past it a zillion times but have never been in. Jacqui has and she said it was cool, so we thought we would go. It is a tiny bit expensive for what you get but I guess that is the York premium, so it's fine. There are tours every half an hour and we had just missed one so we sat for a bit to wait for the next. There's a cool shop which we looked round but didn't buy anything before the tour. 

The tour is really cool and accessible and I think they did so well at making it so. There's a lift up and in each room of the tour there's a bench or other seating, so I sat down quite a bit. There's stuff about the history of chocolate itself and the history of chocolate in York - Frys, Terrys, Rowntrees, etc. I knew some of the info already just because I lived there for three years but it didn't detract from the tour. For instance, I used to live near the Nestle factory - it always smelt of chunky kitkats - and I know that the swimming pool near there was built specifically to give the workers somewhere to exercise. 

In each room there is something to try, and as Lucinda is lactose intolerant the tour guide provided something different for her each time. So that was good! At the end you can decorate a lollipop and I was really impressed her. The tour guide asked if I wanted a seat, and I did, so she moved a chair over to the lollipop area for me. There were two girls in hijabs on our tour so she asked them if they needed halal toppings for their lollipops, which they did. And of course there were lactose free things for Lucinda - her lollipop was dark chocolate whereas mine was white. 

At the very end there's a demo of someone making chocolates and he made caramels and we could try some that he had made earlier. There were some left over from the previous tour - and only seven of us - so there was loads left over and the man encouraged us to take some. So I did! I also bought some goodies in the shop to share with Lee.

We sat in the square outside for a while watching a street performer there, and then we weren't sure what to do. It was about 5pm and the theatre didn't open until 7pm so we decided to go to Caffe Nero. Lucinda wanted something else to eat - her lunch wasn't very big, unlike mine - but I just had a coffee. We sat there until about 7pm and then walked over to the theatre. 

The musical was great! I knew what the general story was but not too closely, so I was happy to learn. It was done so well and was really clever. I would definitely see it again. 

When it was done we walked back to the car and came home. I gave Lucinda a quick tour of the house before bed! 

The shrine of St Margaret Clitherow on the Shambles

Hot chocolate in Portal

Outside This Shop Is So Gay, I love it. I spent quite a bit in there the last time I was in York!

Nachos for lunch!

With our lollipops after the Chocolate Story tour

Rainbow umbrellas on Coppergate, as we were on the way into Caffe Nero

And at the theatre before the show started

Beginning of June

A few things from the beginning of June which don't warrant their own post but which I'll write about briefly. Actually, on the 30th of May Lee and I headed out ...somewhere. I can't remember where and I haven't written it down in my diary. I think we probably went into Barnsley but I don't know. But I did wear this new dress that I got on Vinted. It's similar to the Topsy Curvy and Carolina Dress Room ones but it doesn't have a label in it. I LOVE the leopard print pattern and it's just so cute. I wore it with handmade earrings from Loud Mary which are also leopard print and loud and which I love a lot too. I have worn this dress a lot already! 

On the 3rd of June I went into Barnsley to see Chloe and Laura. It was a while since we had been to Barnsley and it was better for me as it meant I didn't have to travel far. We met for coffee then had a quick walk round some shops. I bought three books in The Works but not sure I bought anything else. We went for lunch in the Market Kitchen. I had a halloumi kebab and chips from the Greek place in there I think. We then just sat for ages chatting at a table. It wasn't busy so we weren't taking up space. We finally said goodbye about 3pm probably. 

On the Thursday I went to Sheffield to meet my friend Philippa for lunch. She had suggested Mandala Cafe down on Chesterfield so after I had been working in the morning I set off to meet her. I've been working loads recently - I have a big new client which is great because I am earning lots of money - but it has meant that I have been working a lot more. It's been tiring!

I had the thali with Pippa because I can rarely resist a thali - I just love having little bits of all kinds of things to eat. It was all tasty. I also had a brownie for pudding. Pippa and I chatted until around 3.30 I think, and then I had to go to Barnsley for an x ray on my wrist. I've been having problems with it for months and had seen the physio about it and he wanted me to have an x ray on it. My appointment was at 5.05 but I was worried about being late due to Sheffield and Barnsley traffic, and Lee couldn't take me as he also had to go to the hospital at about 4.30. I actually wasn't at the hospital - my appointment was at one of those NHS centres in town and city centres so I was actually in the middle of Barnsley at the Glass Works. This worked out way better for me as I could park more easily. 

I was there really early and had my book with me, fully prepared to sit and wait, but no sooner had I checked in than they were calling me through. There were two x ray technicians and they joked that they had been bored for a bit so were glad I was there earlier. It was great because it meant I was home before 5pm and could wait for Lee.

We headed off to Sheffield again - do keep up, it was a busy day - for Lee to play his first gig with his new band, Lax. His old band, This Is Not A Drill, split up because the drummer has moved to York, so Lee has formed a new band with his bass player, Brian, Leah, who he was in a band with ten years ago, and their friend Joel who they've all known forever. Leah is singing which she hasn't done before so she was nervous. We got to the Lughole and I sat reading my book and talking to Brian's partner Lisa. And drinking Hooch. I was a little bit young to drink Hooch in the late 90s but my mum loved it! And I have to say I like it too. 

Lee's band sounded great, I enjoyed it. We talked to a bunch of other people and stayed for the other bands too. We left at about 10pm I guess. We stopped at Burger King on the way home to get tea for both of us. It was fun! I was wearing my 'Sometimes antisocial, always antifascist' t shirt and these 'nope' earrings. I don't remember where they came from but I was loving wearing them! 

Brunch with Lee I think in Barnsley? I think it was in the Lounge but I'm really not sure now

Ridiculous leopard print dress! I love it so much. It's so soft to wear, too

Handmade earrings

Halloumi kebab in the Market Kitchen with Chloe and Lolly

All three of us shortly before we said goodbye

The books I bought in The Works

Oh and in among all of this I managed to finish cataloguing my zines! I started this before we moved house but ran out of time so chucked a bunch more in a box and have then been working on getting them all sorted. This is what over a thousand zines looks like! I got rid of lots and got them all nicely sorted into sizes. This area in our house is on the middle landing in a bit of a random area. On the other side is a bookshelf filled with my crafting magazines, and above these zines are a bunch of my ornaments and crystals on display. It's a nice use of an area that would otherwise be a bit forgotten. It's just outside Lee's office/one of the spare rooms

Thali I had with Philippa. Part of it on the right was like a deconstructed onion bhaji and it was the best bit I think

Brownie, I do love a brownie

My NOPE earrings, haha

Hooch in the Lughole later on

And finally Lee's band on 'stage' - Lee is on the left there to the right of the speaker stack

Holiday in Morocco - Day 8

On the last day of our holiday we weren't being picked up for our transport to the airport until 3pm, so we had plenty of time to hang around beforehand. We perhaps could have gone in the pool and then got showered somewhere in the hotel afterwards, but we couldn't be bothered. Instead we checked out, left our suitcases in the hotel, and set off out to explore the shops near the hotel. We had spied them before but hadn't looked. But they weren't very interesting so we didn't buy anything. We were a bit unsure what to do - and maybe all a bit fed up of being together - so eventually decided to sit in a cafe that was nearby. It was a nice bar and it had shade on the terrace so we went there and sat. 

We had drinks and then ordered some lunch. I had a prawn and avocado salad which was lush, I would eat it again right now. We sat there for about three hours all in, I reckon. Eventually we headed back to the hotel and sat in the foyer for a little while and then got the transfer bus back to the airport. 

It's a small airport so we got through security really quickly and then sat in a cafe there. It had decaf coffee which was very exciting to me as I hadn't had any all week. I think we shared some crisps. You could see the tan on my arm which was exciting because I didn't think I had tanned that much!

We eventually went to the gate and waited a bit and then finally got on the plane. I think it was a bit late setting off. Sam and Jac both dozed again so I read and listened to music. I finished my second book of the week and had to start something else. We finally landed about 11pm and then had to wait for a bus to take us to the terminal and then had to wait for bags etc. I said goodbye to Sam and Jac who were staying over at the airport. I had a nightmare getting back to my car, the less said about that the better. I was wound up as I was driving home so even when I got home at 1am it was 3am before I calmed down enough to go to sleep! So it had been a long day but I was finally home and happy to see Lee and the cats of course. 

The next day I did very little except unpack. My last photo is of what I bought at the argan oil factory. I did also buy a bracelet in the market - it is silver with diamantes so very bling!

Here we are in the airport with drinks and crisps

Tan line from where I had been wearing my hotel band all week

The airport as we were walking to the plane

Agadir behind us as we were taking off

View out of the window as the sun was setting

And another

And here are my souvenirs - two lots of argan oil, some almond butter, and three perfumes which are so nice and strongly scented. Oh I brought presents for everyone too, but not pictured. I bought Lee some saffron in the market, for one!

Holiday in Morocco - Day 7

The 27th of May was our last full day in Morocco. It was also my mum's birthday but I had got permission to be away on her birthday so it was alright. We wanted to get down on the beach in good time to make sure we got sun loungers, so we were all awake quite early. I was really sore and achey though, so I laid in bed for an extra half an hour when Sam and Jac went down to the beach, and that meant I could just take my time to get ready. I was down on the beach by about 10.15. 

It was warm but not boiling, which was perfect. We got talking to a family next to us so asked them to look after our phones and bags etc so that we could all go in the water together. We didn't go too deep because the lifeguards kept whistling, but we managed to swim which was lovely. There were a few clouds but it was fine. And there were people walking their camels along the beach which was cute to see. 

We eventually went back into the hotel and had a drink or two in the bar that was nearest the beach. I can't remember if we had lunch although I'm pretty sure we did as we hadn't had any breakfast. We tried to sit somewhere else in the hotel but it turned out to be for higher up quests than we were. No matter! We sat round the big pool and all went in again, for the last time. Waah!

When we headed back to the room we found a black cat that someone had fed, so I spoke to it of course. Then on our patio a cute grey and white cat had made itself at home on one of our chairs! We got showered and mostly packed to leave before tea, and then headed to the restaurant and the bar. The food still hadn't been great for me but it was fine, I managed. We wandered down to the beach to watch the sunset which was gorgeous - I'm glad we managed to catch it eventually. 

We had a couple of drinks in the bar before bed! 

A man walking his came down the beach

Looking out at the sea. Because it was the Atlantic it was quite rough but not too bad to swim in

Looking towards the casbah on the top of the hill

The little black cat that was busy eating some biscuits

And then the one that had made itself at home on our drying laundry!

Sam took this of me in the big pool last thing and I love it - in one of my most natural habitats in a pool

The big pool as we walked through after tea, it looked so pretty

Watching the sunset

It looked so good

I'm pretty sure we did get a picture of the three of us together, but I only have this one of me. It's cute though

The hill and its writing once again

And another sun picture just before it went below the horizon