Seeing Friends in Manchester

On the 12th of April I had plans to go to see my friend Amy in Manchester. We had had to cancel something previously - although we had an hour's video chat which was really lovely - so wanted to get together. I suggested a Saturday so I could take Lee and we could see Amy's husband Mike and her three kids (who are adorable). I had plans for Lee and I to go out for tea afterwards. We arranged to meet at a park not too far from their house at midday, so Lee and I set off in plenty of time because I wasn't sure what the traffic would be like. 

We stopped at Tesco in Hyde for a few things because by this point we had planned to go to Amy's friend Carrie's house for a barbecue! I've met Carrie (and her husband Mark) a bunch of times as we've both known Amy a long time, but I hadn't yet met their little girl, L, who is only two and a half. As the weather was supposed to be nice, Carrie had invited Amy and co over, and nicely then extended that invitation to us. So we bought supplies to eat. 

We got to the park about 11.45 and parked on the street and walked through to the playground. There was a spare picnic table so we snagged it and then Lee went and got us a hot drink each. Amy and co arrived not too long later and the girls ran off to play. Amy and I managed to have a nice chat. She and I and her middle child walked over to the cafe and I got an iced chocolate and some cherry and chocolate cake. It was lovely! Amy's eldest was on her roller boots and she's pretty good! It was also so lovely to just be sitting in the sunshine chatting.

We set off to Carrie's house and we were there before Amy and co because they had had to stop off for supplies. They're all vegan and I'm vegetarian and Lee decided to eat vegetarian for the day with me, then Carrie and Mark eat meat, so it was all very complicated! We had taken our camping chairs which was really good, but Carrie also had a picnic blanket out so I sat on there with Amy and the baby so we could talk more. She was picking my brains professionally for a bit! The baby was very cuddly with me which was a true privilege. Carrie's little girl was adorable, too. 

The food was so good! There was a good mix of stuff for me. We all left around 6pm so Amy could get her kids to bed. Lee and I made it home in good time and then I joined an online craft thing at 8pm. I definitely caught the sun, in April, and it was such a lovely day. I was wearing a pink top that came from Simply Be last year and which I only wore a couple of times last year but can see myself wearing a lot this year. With it I wore my cream flamingo skirt and footless tights from Snag, and it was a good spring outfit! I did take pictures of the kids but won't post them here, but be assured, they're adorable. 

Lee and I in the park when we arrived. I think this is the first time this year I've worn my sunglasses!

These desire paths are now made into official paths. I love desire paths, they're so interesting

My iced chocolate and chocolate and cherry cake. Amy had cake and an iced latte

And here I am in my outfit when we got home

Food Out with Ros

For Christmas Sam bought me vouchers for Temple of Fun in Sheffield. It's a cute restaurant down in Neepsend and it only serves vegan food and drink. It is also decorated with all religious icons and stuff which are cute to look it if nothing else. I would go more often but it only opens at like 5pm, so it's not any good for lunch. But the vouchers were a really good idea of Sam's and a total surprise! I arranged to go with my friend Ros over the Easter holidays while she was off work. 

I didn't book a table and while it was busy there was still room for walk ins. I picked Ros up about 5.30 and we went down to Neepsend and parked easily. We went in and got a table. It was about 5.50 and they said they would need the table back at 7.30, which was fine. 

I ordered an alcohol free strawberry and lime Kopparberg. I've not had the alcohol free version before but I really liked it and would drink it again. For mains, Ros went for "chicken" burger with "bacon" bits etc, and waffle fries. I went for the bang bang "chicken" wings, which are new, and the satay loaded waffle fries. They have "chicken" chunks, satay sauce, and peanuts. I've had them before and they're SO good. I liked the chicken wings too. There were six, which was too many for me with the fries, so I brought three home to eat the following day. 

They do do desserst but we were both full so we decided to have hot chocolates instead. I've had them before and they're really creamy and yummy. By this time it was 7.30 but the servers were able to sit people elsewhere so we didn't have to move. So we just kept chatting and drank our drinks. 

It was a good use of my vouchers! On our way out I saw the photobooth so we went in there and took silly photos, they're so cute! I dropped Ros off and then drove home myself. Lee was in the bath when I got home so I didn't get a picture of my dress but it's my rainbow tartan one from Topsy Curvy that I've had for a couple of years now. With it I wore Guava footless tights from Snag which are such a lovely colour and nice for the spring. I also decided it was time for spring shoes, not my boots, and pulled out these Kickers dolly shoes that I bought on Vinted a couple of years ago. I like them, they're adorable. 

Alcohol free Kopparberg

Satay loaded fries

Chicken wings - they were spicy but not too hot

Here we are in the restaurant

And our hot chocolates

Tights and dolly shoes when I got home

And the photobooth photos!

Lunch and Shopping with my Mum

On the 9th of April I went to Meadowhall with my mum. I was pretty free that week so I asked if she wanted to do something, and she said she wanted to go to Meadowhall. She is still suffering after her mastectomy so hasn't been very far for a long time, but she wanted to do some shopping. So we organised to go on Wednesday. And neither of us realise at the time, but that turned out to be the anniversary of when my dad died, seventeen years ago now. So it was nice for us to be together that day. It's so long ago now that the grief isn't as bad for me, but I am glad I got to spend time with my mum anyway.

She came to my house about 9.30 and I drove us to Meadowhall because she isn't fully back to driving properly. We parked near Boots - where they are doing some works so some of the car park was out of use and there was a lot of noise going on - and went in through there. 

We had a coffee in Costa to begin with because my mum loves it. Then we went in some shops. I wanted to go into TK Maxx but I didn't see anything, but my mum saw a bag she liked. I got some perfume in The Gragrance Shop because I had a voucher to use; it's lovely! We pootled around in a few shops, including Pandora. I have a rose gold ring that Lee bought me for my 40th last year and I wanted a wishbone ring to go with it which you can wear as a stacker or by itself. It was £45 and my mum nicely said she would buy it for me, which was lovely. I really like it! We went into Tiger and then ended up in Marks and Spencer. She found a swimming costume that was asymmetrical and had a place she could put a prosthesis if she wanted, and which felt pretty good to her anyway. Plus it was a really cute fern leaf pattern. Then we looked at a bunch of the post surgery bras and she tried a few on and settled on a pretty pink one. At the til she got the VAT off the post surgery bra as it's a necessity and not a frivolity! So that was good. 

Just after twelve we went to the Oasis for something to eat. I was happy to let my mum choose where we ate, so she said Las Iguanas. However, they had a long waiting time which we were a bit annoyed about, so my mum said The Real Greek instead. We got straight in there! They have a menu for £22 which includes a starter, flatbread, a main, and a side, so we got that and then an extra main for me. It was well enough to share between us. We had hummus and flatbread and then I had spanakopita and my mum had a chicken skewer, and we shared some slaw as a side. It was all so good! She really liked it too and said she would have to take my stepdad soon. 

After lunch we headed back to TK Maxx so she could buy the bag. She treated herself and it was lovely. I bought some donuts for Lee because he'd requested them, and then we went into the Hotel Chocolat cafe. They FINALLY had the chocolate whip topping! Which I was pleased about! My mum got an orange hot chocolate and I got the dark mint. Our whip came in little tubs so I didn't get a picture but we both ate some and put some into our cups too. 

After that we only did a couple more things before coming back to mine. She came in for a bit to see the cats, and then she left about 3.30pm I think! It was a really nice day. I was wearing a Joe Brown's dress but I didn't get a photo of it because I forgot to ask her and Lee works in the office on Wednesdays so wasn't there to ask! 

Here we are in The Real Greek waiting for food

Hummus, it was delicious

Spanakopita which was lovely and just enough

And finally hot chocolates in the lovely cafe 

Lunch and Cinema with Sam and Jodie

On the 6th of April I headed over to Huddersfield to meet up with Sam and Jodie. We had seen that there was a showing of a recording of the musical SIX, which we all love, so we booked tickets. Then we decided to get lunch first, so we met at midday at Harvey's. 

I've been to the one in Holmfirth but hadn't been to Huddersfield since this one opened, so it was nice to go. They have a few veggie options but I went for a bhaji burger with hand cut chips. I also got a mocktail called The Pink One which was all frozen and strawberry flavoured and sweet and very delicious. The food arrived quickly and it was nice, I liked it. The chips were really good. 

After we had eaten we got in my car and went down to Dixon's. They make milk ice which is sugary and cold and lovely, and I love it. I hadn't had it in ages though so had asked if we could go. I had a medium tub with raspberry sauce and wafers. They do do other flavours of ice cream but honestly why would you bother? The plain one is so good. 

We went down to the cinema and easily parked. We got into the cinema and had about fifteen minutes to wait before the screening was open so we sat and chatted for a bit before going in. Then we went in, got our seats, and waited for the show! 

It started with a very cute little interview with each of the original six queens. They had reunited in 2022 to play their parts again at a special show at Hampton Court Palace and that's what the recording was from. It was SO good. I listen to the music a lot so I'm really familiar with that, but I forgot all the bits in between the songs and it was really fun to get close ups on them. I had a great time.

It finished just before 4pm so after that I just drove home. I was wearing my rainbow sparkly sequin Converse because it's officially spring and I don't need to be wearing boots anymore. I was wearing a t shirt that says 'weekend' on it, it was from Simply Be ages ago and it's really soft and comfortable to wear. With that I was wearing one of my flamingo skirts. 

Bhaji burger and hand cut chips

Waiting in the shop on Leeds Road. They have one in Lockwood too which I should go to with Lee soon

Ice cream! Well, milk ice. Delicious and cold

We all had exactly the same thing

Cream t shirt and flamingo skirt

Rainbow and silver sparkly Converse, worn with pink footless tights from Snag

Films of the Month - March

I only saw ten films in March which wasn't many, but I was quite busy and just didn't sit down that often to watch a film. But here's what I did see:

I was still making my way through the Oscar nominations that I wanted to see, so I saw A Complete Unknown. I did like it and thought Timothee was great as Dylan, and he sounded good too

Lee and I watched Men in Black 3 which we've seen the least of the first three I think. I sort of don't like how it resets the first one, but I still love all these films so it's fine

I watched Conclave, which I really loved, it was exactly my kind of thing. All that Pope stuff is just so bizarre and I loved how it was depicted

Then I watched Anora, which I also really liked. I've probably still got some Oscar stuff to watch, but I'm glad I watched these three most of all

Lee and I watched The Silence of the Lambs which I haven't seen in forever and which I really like even though I find it quite scary

Sam and Jac and I watched Scream online together, I love it and it was fun to watch together but separately

Lee and I started The Godfather Part II but only watched about half so we will have to go back and watch the rest of it soon. I remember not really liking it much when I've seen it before, but I liked it better this time around

Oh I lied, I watched A Real Pain which was another Oscar one. I liked Jesse Eisenberg a lot and mostly liked the story but felt it was maybe a bit too understated, and I thought Kieran Culkin was maybe a bit miscast. Still worth seeing, though

I watched Bridget Jones's Baby because I want to see the new one so I have been making my way through the first ones. I think this is the weakest, but I can't really say why 

I was listening to a podcast about Wakefield and rugby league, amongst other things, and it mentioned this film, This Sporting Life, set in Wakefield, about a rugby league player. I didn't hate it, but I didn't love it either. He was proper nasty to the woman he is trying to woo! But it did have some great shots of Wakefield including the building that my dad used to work in, so that was nice to see

Spa Day with Lee

On the 29th of March Lee and I headed off to Harrogate for a spa day. Last summer I lent my car to a friend of mine and she bought me a spa day for two to say thank you. It was at the Majestic Hotel in Harrogate and it was for four hours in the spa, a 50 minute treatment each, and lunch. It was a lovely gift! I booked it for Lee and I and he went for a foot and arm massage and I went for a gel pedicure. We ordered food too, and set off in good time. We stopped at a services for coffee on the way up, and got to Harrogate about noon. 

We signed in at the spa and went to get changed. The locker rooms were nice but the lockers were a bit difficult to use. But then we got into the pool area and we were the only people there for a bit! The pool was lovely - really warm. Because we have paused our gym memberships for a few months while my mum was having cancer treatment it is ages since I've been swimming much, so each time I get into water I really appreciate it. The water was warm so we swam up and down for a bit. 

There is a spa pool in the pool area so we got into that. It wasn't that warm, and unfortunately it had loads of sand in the bottom of it which was annoying. But we liked it. We sat for a bit on lovely loungers too, and then it got a bit busier. There was also an experience shower, a steam room, and a sauna. There's an outdoor hot tub too but it was closed, which was a bit of a shame. Some parts looked like they needed some upkeep, too.

At 2.15 we headed downstairs for treatments. My manicurist was really lovely but the station we were at didn't have all the equipment she needed so she was frustrated. My pedicure didn't turn out perfect but I liked the metallic burgundy colour and it was fine - and it's on my toes so I didn't worry too much. Lee liked his foot massage more than the arm one. We met back upstairs about 3.20 in time for lunch. We got like a cute bento box with salad, couscous, cheese for me and chicken for Lee, and dessert. It was nice, although not tons of food. 

We went back into the pool area and swam a bit more, and then went back into the spa pool which was much warmer than it had been first thing. I had a few minutes in the steam room and then in the sauna while Lee read his book. We left the pool area about 4.30pm and got showered and changed and headed home. 

It was a lovely day, I'm glad Lee and I got to do it because it was a nice relaxing afternoon 

In the pool area when we arrived and as you can see, had it to ourselves

And here I am in it, about to swim

Downstairs in the old cellars for my treatment

The spa pool - you can see all the sand just underneath the hand rail

Here I am in what should be my natural habitat

Lovely view over Harrogate from the area we had lunch in, and you can see the hot tub outside that was empty

And here's my nails later on

Lunch with Chloe and Laura

At the end of March I went to Barnsley to see Chloe and Laura. We meet up every few weeks or so and usually go to either Meadowhall or Sheffield because that's best for Laura, but I had asked if we could meet in Barnsley. It worked out really well for me because I had been unwell all week since getting back from Skegness, so it meant I didn't have to go far. 

Chloe came to my house and talked to my cats while I was still getting ready, and then I drove us both into town. We parked in the Glassworks and walked through to Coffee Boy to meet Laura. I had a caramel milkshake in there, which was pretty nice. Then we headed into some shops. Lee had told me there was a new plus size clothing shop in Barnsley and in fact there's two. One is where Yours used to be and it's like Yours only cheaper and nastier and just weird. In fact they were both weird. There were lots of things we all quite liked, but then they had weird seams or whatever. So none of us bought anything. 

We headed into the market where I wanted to buy a new walking stick. I left mine in Sarah's car which was incredibly stupid of me, and I don't have another. Laura said that anywhere selling bags and luggage would probably have sticks too, and she was right! I chose a pink and silver one which I really like. It was only £17 which was good! we all got some little bits, and then headed upstairs to Market Kitchen. 

The Thai place isn't there anymore which is very annoying although in its place is going to be a Japanese counter I think which is quite exciting, but it wasn't yet open. So I went for Turkish food, as did Laura. Chloe got a pizza. I got the vegetarian mezze platter which was delicious. It came with bread as well and it was really good but I think it was slightly overpriced. 

We had dessert; I had a brownie and some bubblegum ice cream from Dolly's. I didn't eat all the brownie so brought it home and ate it later. We sat for ages chatting before heading to TK Maxx because I needed... something, which I have now forgotten. Oh, a new water bottle to fit in my handbag! We said goodbye and I got Chloe and I back to my house. 

I was wearing one of my Scarlett and Jo skirts that I wear all the time, but with it I was wearing this confetti knitted top that I don't wear often. It came from Primark about ten years ago and it's super cosy and stretchy. I thought it was a cute outfit together. I will have to remember this jumper and wear it more! 

We forgot to get a photo of the three of us which was a fail, but we did have a nice time!

Halloumi, humus, cacik, baba ganoush, and not pictured is the bread 

Bubblegum ice cream which was very delicious

And my outfit, the jumper is so cute up close!