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

Weekend in Durham - Day 1

On the 21st of March we headed off to Durham for the weekend. It's where Lee is from originally so we do go and visit his family there, but we hadn't been into the city centre for literally twenty years. Maybe longer! Then I read Cuddy by Benjamin Myers for my book club in January which is about St Cuthbert and Durham cathedral and I wanted to visit the cathedral and his shrine, so we made plans to go. 

We set off from home around 10am and easily made it up the A1 to Belmont Park and Ride. We got on the bus which only takes a few minutes into the city centre, and got off by the market place. There was an outdoor market on as well as the indoor one, so we looked at that before heading into the indoor market. I had read that there's a queer bookshop there so I obviously had to buy some books from there, and then we looked at everything else. There's a ton of cute stalls! There's a record stall and a really cool place selling upcycled jewellery - I bought some earrings. We went back outside and got an ice cream from a van in the market place. The sun was out so although it was a bit cool, it was lovely to be in the sunshine.

We walked up Saddler Street and up the very very steep bit to where the cathedral and castle are. We looked at the castle but had decided to not go in, so we just headed to the cathedral. We looked round that, which you can do for free, and which includes St Cuthbert's shrine behind the altar. That's really cool, but you can also see his treasures in the museum, which is £7.50 each which I felt was reasonable. The person who sold us the ticket told us that the cathedral was closing at 3pm for a service at 4pm so we looked round it first and then went up to the museum. 

By the time we had finished it was about 3.30 and we had walked a long way and were tired, so we decided to go for a drink in a place called Tango on Saddler Street. I had a peach melba cocktail which was nice, and Lee had a hot chocolate. 

When we had finished that we went across to Turkish Kitchen where we had decided to eat. Turkish food is always good for vegetarian so I was happy to go there. I had cheese filled filo pastry things, and then falafel with hummus, and Kir Royale. It was all so good and arrived in double quick time so we were done by about 5pm! We walked back to the bus stop and got back to the car and then went to Lee's dad's house where we were staying for the night.

Lee's dad was in but his stepmam was out, she had been in Sunderland at the theatre, so Lee's dad went to pick her up. Everyone was back by 8pm so we just sat and chatted which was nice! 

I walked bloody miles and up really steep hills too, so I was impressed with myself. Here's ten thousand photos: 

Sitting in the sunshine in the market place while Lee went to get ice creams

Lee has a sundae but I had a traditional cornet

And here we are, aren't we cute

We went into a pop up museum thing and there was an old sign, which I love

And some information about Cuthbert

And a scale model of the cathedral! 

And Durham bricks

This sign was on The People's Bookshop which was also a really cool bookshop, although I didn't buy anything in there

And then, the cathedral! Looking stunning in the sunshine

Looking towards the castle

This is a replica of the sanctuary knocker which is really old, it was cool to see this one anyway! But then the original turned out to be in the Treasures of St Cuthbert exhibit which was amazing to see

One of the shrines, I liked the sculpture

And there was info about the Venerable Bede too. His head is in St Cuthbert's shrine, because of course it is

Looking up into the tower

And I thought this embroidered hanging of the gospel writers was cool too 

The rose window, which is amazing but hard to photograph 

The shrine of St Cuthbert himself! I loved seeing this

I also loved this rainbow window, of course

And I can never resist a mining banner...

And loved this memorial to the miners, which had a book full of miners names, too 

Looking out on to the cathedral lawn 

And out over the River Wear

This is the St Cuthbert exhibit, the first part was in what had been the monks' dormitory and is now a library. It had a lot on the history of Durham which was interesting too

This is an effigy of Cuthbert himself

Love a bit of bookkeeping

We went downstairs into a special archival airlocked room which has what is left of Cuthbert's coffin, and his necklace which is a cross of gold with garnets in, which was so cool to see. But you can't take photos in there, so I didn't

This embroidery was SO cool though, made by a local artist. It was amazing in person! 

Back out now on the cathedral green

Drinks in Tango

And a Kir Royale, which was delicious

My food

And here are the books I bought in the queer bookshop!

A Diagnosis and a Trip to York

On the 5th of March I went to York to see friends, but first of all I need to talk about a hospital visit a couple of says beforehand. 

I've been suffering with massive and chronic fatigue for years now but it flared up wildly last autumn and I was really unwell. I saw a fabulous GP who took me really seriously and referred me to rheumatology. We both suspected I have fibromyalgia, but I have some high infection markers that are consistently high (since August 2020 at least) so the GP wanted to check that I didn't have anything more sinister than fibro going on, like rheumatoid arthritis or similar. I eventually got an appointment on the 3rd of March so I went off to the hospital before work to check. (I work in an office on Tuesdays). The doctor I saw was really helpful and thorough but agreed that it is most probably fibromyalgia so she discharged me back to the GP. 

The GP had given me some painkillers for night time back in January I think. They mostly work and help me to stay asleep so that's really helpful. So for now that, plus graded exercise and rest, is the only treatment available to me. I just have to pace myself, and take things slowly. I am really used to doing that anyway, so that helps. But it is useful and helpful and a relief to actually have a diagnosis and not just be fobbed off as lazy, overreacting, or similar. Lee is relieved too. 

So that was Tuesday. On Thursday I drove myself to York and parked at Rawcliffe Bar Park and Ride. I'd never been there before but it was really good and I would park there again. The bus into town took barely any time at all! I got off at the theatre and walked up High Petergate towards the Minster. I considered going in the Minster and probably would have had enough time, but I wasn't sure. I took a photo of Precentor's Court because I watch the TV show Patience and that's where she lives. I sat for a while outside the Minster because the sun was lovely. I bought some fudge and some chocolate then came back to the Minster as I wasn't sure where Leanne was.

We caught up with each other and went into Ask for lunch. She had suggested it because it is in the old Assembly Rooms which are absolutely gorgeous inside. I had a cherry blossom mocktail, bruschetta, and lentil ragu pasta, all of which were really nice! We chatted for a long time but finally left. We walked round to Card Factory and then I was thinking what else we could do, so suggested going to the shrine of St Margaret Clitherow on the Shambles. I've been before and so had Leanne, but not for a long time. We walked through and then arrived at York Ghost Merchants, of course. 

Leanne collects the ghosts and has around thirty, including a bunch of rare ones. I only have a few, but I do love them. The queue can be humongous but it wasn't on this day, so we thought we might both like a new ghost and joined the queue. We were only third, so had to wait around fifteen minutes before we got in the shop. 

I considered a few ghosts but eventually went for a small one that is red with black and white markings. I love it! Leanne bought a big one and we left the shop and headed just a few shops away to the shrine, only to find it closed! It was locked up and everything! We were upset! Not to worry, really, as we had bought the ghosts instead. Leanne and I then said goodbye and she headed off to the train station. I walked through to King's Square and basked in the sunshine there a bit too. There was a busker playing and he was really good, so it was nice to listen to. I gave him some money. 

I went through to Parliament Street. I had arranged to meet Jacqui for coffee and cake at around 4pm, and it was 3pm by this point. There's a shop on Parliament St called This Shop Is So Gay so after I had rested for a bit I went in. It's really fun, it has lots of fun and funny things for all your queer friends. I bought myself some badges which are cute. I was considering going to Betty's for a cup of coffee when Jac messaged me and said she was done with work so would come and meet me. I asked if she minded going to Betty's and she said no, so that was good because I really fancied it. It's such a York institution! 

There was a tiny queue there so I joined it but I was very soon sitting at a table, and no sooner had I ordered a drink than Jacqui arrived. We both ordered the small patisserie plate which was lush, just enough for me, and then I had a coffee too. We sat there talking until it was nearly 5.30 when Betty's shuts. We walked round to the bus together and I got back on the park and ride bus. I left the car park about 6pm and got home about 7pm! 

In all it was a lovely day and I walked absolutely miles, a really long way! It was so nice to see Leanne and Jac and play tourist in York a little bit. I put my new little ghostie on the shelf above my desk, of course. 

Outside the city walls, I took this photo

Amd this picture of this very old building on High Petergate

Looking up at the Minster

And down at this little model of the Minster and surrounding area just in front of it

This is the street where Patience lives in the eponymous TV show, which I really like

Another view of the Minster from near St Michael le Belfry which is one of my favourite churches in York although it's all covered in scaffolding at the moment

Inside Ask, I had bruschetta to start with

Then took this photo of the beautiful rooms

And this one

Lentil ragu

I took this photo outside Margaret's shrine but I was disappointed we couldn't go in!

The queer shop on Parliament St - do visit it if you're in the area, and Portal Bookshop which is near the Shambles, which is a queer bookshop

My new badges and my new little ghostie!

Tiny patisserie plate in Betty's

And finally, my new ghost among its friends on my shelf