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...

Blogger Meet Up in Sheffield

In the middle ish of April I wentto Sheffield to meet up with some blogging friends. The event was organised by Lolly so of course I wanted to show my support for her. Lee took me to Middlewood to get the tram and I walked to Pho where we were meeting. We got seated and soon enough five of us were seated and ordering drinks and then food. 

I went for summer rolls with peanut sauce and spicy tofu curry with rice - and was also asked if I wanted an egg on top of the rice which I definitely did! I've never been asked that before though. Maybe it's new? I know I had a spicy margharita but not sure what else I had. 

When we had finished there we walked round to the Wetherspoons that is near Barker's Pool. I can't remember what it's called. We managed to get a table even though it was really busy, and then we got a better table against the wall. And we drank, of course! I had some pudding a bit later too, and Yemi did. Becky left as she was meeting up with other people, but the rest of us stayed there until about 6pm I think! It was a lot of fun, chatting nonsense as usual. 

I got a tram back to Middlewood where Lee picked me up and then I came home for a lie down! But before I did I got a picture of my dress. It's navy blue with gold stas on and I LOVE it. This was the first chance I had had to read it. I got it from Vinted, I'm not sure where it's from originally. 

Summer rolls. Lolly and I persuaded everyone else to have peanut sauce too, of course. THey should sell jars of it!

Spicy curry with egg on top of the rice

Becky took this in Pho - there's Becky, Debz, me, Lolly, and Yemi. I hadn't met Yemi before so it was really nice to!

Strawberry somethings in Spoons

Pudding which was quite nice

You know I love some blue shit

And finally here's a slightly too light photo of my dress!

Lunch Out with Philippa

On the 19th of February I went to Sheffield to meet Philippa for lunch. I saw her at the beginning of January so it hadn't been too long, but it was lovely to see her, of course. It was her turn to choose and she chose to go to the Depot Bakery in Hillsborough Park. I've been before but only once, and it's a really cute little place. 

I got there quite early because you sometimes you have to queue for tables, but I managed to walk straight in and get a table. No matter because I had my book with me and I ordered a dark hot chocolate while I read. Philippa arrived soon enough and we sat chatting and eventually ordered food. I went for avocado on toast which had a ton of beetroot on top which I don't like. But I'm a grown up and I did try it to make sure I don't like it. Which I don't! The rest of it was really good. 

We went up to the counter to choose pudding, and I had a salted caramel brownie and a latte, which were both good. We were chatting on and on, like we do. I love Philippa so much, she's one of my favourite people and I'm so glad we're friends!

When we had finished eating we went for a wander in the park, taking it slowly as we're both disabled, so that's okay! We went through the Walled Garden to begin with and saw some plants coming back to life and a lot of friendly birds and squirrels. There was a Little Free Library so I picked up a book from it. Then we walked down by the duck pond and looked at the ducks and geese and so on, and then walked back up to a bench where we sat for a while chatting some more!

We finally said goodbye and I headed back to my car to go home, but I was glad we had had chance to catch up!

Dark chocolate hot chocolate which I always really like, it was nice

Avo on toast, I'm a basic bitch

Brownie and coffee

In the first bit of the park - look at the lovely robin!

A very cute little free library

Signs of spring

And Philippa taking photos of that too. I loved this!

Ducks and swans and geese by the pond - sadly we didn't have anything to feed them

Finally Philippa took this of us, which I love, we're so cute!

Visit to Sheffield Christmas Market

On the 21st of November Lee and I made plans to go to Sheffield Christmas market. We went last year and enjoyed it, so we planned to go again. I had a hair dressers appointment in the morning which actually took forever because I had the ends of my hair bleached and dyed! I've been wanting to do it for ages and finally made an appointment for it at Lady Luck Hair which is at Scallywag tattoos in the middle of Barnsley. I got there at 10.30 and it took until nearly 1.30 before I was done! 

I went for a turquoise teal colour, mostly because I like it but also because I knew it would fade into a minty green colour and not look too terrible between sessions of dye. Now Chloe has done it once, I think Lee will be able to top it up for me until the bleach needs doing again. Chloe's salon is autism friendly so I was the only person there and it's just so much better for me. I didn't really mind how long it took as I took my book with me and was reading that while I was waiting.

I finally got home - it's much further from town now we live in Penistone and I haven't quite recalibrated myself for that - and then we set off to Sheffield. We parked at Lee's office which is just off the Moor which was really useful! We walked through and looked for somewhere to eat and in the end Lee wanted Bella Italia. It would never be my first choice but it is cheap and cheerful so it was fine. I had Christmas vegetable pasta which was quite yummy. 

We walked down the Moor and went into a few shops and then queued to go on the ferris wheel. I love a ferris wheel so was happy Lee agreed to go on it with me. We went into the new Asian grocery store that has opened and bought some presents and snacks. We walked back up to the Peace Gardens and went into one of the bars. I had a mulled wine which was delicious, I love mulled wine so much. It was busy but it wasn't too busy to sit down, which was good. 

After we had had a drink we both wanted dessert so we got different things. I had churros with milk chocolate sauce, and Lee had Dutch pancakes. We walked back through the market to the car park before coming home! 

My hair when Chloe had finished - I just love the colour and I think it suits me!

My pasta - it was nice to have sprouts in as I love them

Looking up at the wheel as we walked towards it. The queue wasn't too long, either, so we didn't have ti wait long

Views from and around the wheel

As we walked up to the bar 

Hot drinks

Here I am at one of the exits to the bar

Churros

Looking down into the Peace Gardens

And finally the snacks that we bought for us. Weirdly the ones of the top right tasted like Sugar Puffs!

Tea Out with Roslyn

Towards the end of October I met up with my friend Ros for tea. She works in a school so half term is the best time to catch her, so we had made plans for the Tuesday evening. I drove to her house and she drove us into Sheffield. She has a blue badge which meant we could park right near City Hall. We had decided to go to Pho because we both like it. So we got there and it wasn't too busy, but it wasn't too empty either, which was nice. 

I had the veggie summer rolls with peanut sauce, and I had the spicy tofu curry for a change instead of the ordinary one. I've had it before and it's sometimes too spicy for me, but this time it was lovely and I really enjoyed it. 

When we had finished it still wasn't very late so I said to Ros that we should go somewhere else for coffee or something, because her kids would still be awake at home and if she went home she would just end up putting them to bed and she was supposed to be having a break. She suggested we went to the Chocolate Bar which is near to Cambridge Street Collective. I've been past it but haven't been in, but I've heard it's great. So we walked over there. It's very cute inside, although it doesn't have a lot of seats. You choose the percentage of chocolate that you want. I think I had 60% and I ordered a humongous slice of chocolate cake too. I only ate half the cake and took the rest of it home for Lee and I to share later. 

We had a good chat and it was nice to spend some time with one of my oldest friends. We went back to hers but by the time we got there it was about 8.50 so I just came home. When I got home Lee was about to get in the bath so I made him take my photo before I got changed. I was wearing my galaxy print dress from Topsy Curvy, with red marl tights that are excellent winter tights, and my purple and green checked cardigan. I pulled out some of my favourite boots for the first time in the season. They're from Pavers or something I think, and they're very comfy. I love the patent black of them and the detailing on the front. 

Summer rolls and peanut sauce, as is tradition. I had some kind of dragonfruit drink, which was delicious

Spicy tofu curry

My slab of chocolate cake, I only ate the bottom third

Ros and I outside the Chocolate Bar 

My galazy print dress and cardigan

And my boots and tights!