Leeds with Lolly

On the Saturday after we got back from our holiday, I went to Leeds to meet up with Lolly. We had planned to meet up with Becky and Georgina too but they had both had to cancel. Lolly still wanted to go to Bundobust so we decided to go anyway! So I got the train from Barnsley and when I arrived I headed to the Hotel Chocolat cafe where we had planned to meet. Lolly was running a bit late but it didn't matter because I had my book. It was really hot so I had a dark mint milkshake with cocoa whip. Delicious!

Lolly came in and we sat and chatted for a while. The cafe wasn't busy so we didn't feel like we were taking up space. We walked round to Bundobust at about 12.30 I think. We got a table but then decided to move outside. It was a bit cooler out there but not much! We ordered a cocktail each and some food. I can't remember what my drink was but it was nice. 

For food I went for one of the specials, which was mini chaat puffs, and Lolly went for the bhaji burger because she had enjoyed that before. Then we also ordered paneer tikka, onion bhajis, and poppadums, all of which we shared. It was all so nice! It always is in Bundobust, I can never complain. I went to the loo before we went and was pleased to see the pro trans graffiti and sticker in there!

We went into Trinity because Lolly wanted to look for some skincare in Boots. We considered getting dessert but we were full and it was really hot and bothered so we decided to go back into Hotel Chocolat for another drink. I think Lolly had some cake too, but I went for another milkshake with cocoa whip. Orange this time, I think! 

On the way out of the station I had noticed that there was a summer fair on in City Square which had Thor's Tipi in it so I suggested we went there for a drink. It was blazing sunshine outside so we sat inside but near one of the tent flaps. It was still stupidly hot though. We shared a pitcher of something sweet and yummy but I absolutely can't remember what it was now. After that we went back into the station to get the train home. It was a nice afternoon out!

I did forget to get a photo of both of us and a photo of my outfit, though! Honestly what kind of a blogger am I?

Mint milkshake - I could really go for one of those right now to be honest

Cocktail in Bundobust

Our delicious food - it was a good idea to share bits. The mini chaat puffs were really delicious

Very good graffiti

And finally our shared pitcher in the tipi

Anniversary Trip to North Yorkshire - Day 7

Our last day of the holiday was also our wedding anniversary! Yep, we got married twenty years ago in 2005 when I was 21 and just before Lee turned 23. So young! I can't believe it to be honest. But we had a good holiday and on our anniversary I had booked for us to go to a spa in Helmsley. So we got up early, opened the cards from all our parents, and set off to Helmsley. We weren't super close to Helmsley, it was about forty minutes away, but it was so worth it. 

We have been past The Feversham Arms a zillion times when we've stayed in Helmsley, but have never been in, not even into the hotel for a drink or anything. But I knew there was a spa so I had booked it well before. It was a few hours in the spa, plus one course of food and a drink each. As previously, neither Lee nor I are that bothered about any spa treatments, so we didn't both to book one. 

So we turned up about 10 o'clock and got all signed in and everything. The spa is one of the best I've been to and I would highly recommend it, especially for the money we paid for our day. Inside there is a relaxation space, a sauna, foot spas, a steam room, and an experience shower. However, the weather was pretty good so we mainly just stayed outside. Outside there is a terrace, a hot tub which was actually TOO hot, and a heated pool. It was SO warm, it was like bath water and it was gorgeous. I think it might have had salt in it too because it was so nice to float in. Around the pool were chairs and sun loungers. 

So we got changed into our costumes and headed outside. I had a book to finish and another one to start, so I sat and read for a bit. We went into the pool and into the hot tub, although Lee just sat on the side of that. It rained for a little bit but we were in the pool so really what did it matter, we couldn't get wetter. We had a hot drink each by the pool.

We went in to eat at about 12.30. The vegetarian option had something in it that I'm allergic to, so I went for the smoked salmon open sandwich instead. I do occasionally eat fish and it was delicious, so I really didn't mind. I had let them know it was our wedding anniversary so after our main courses they brought out a plate with some chocolates on, which we shared. 

We went into the inside bits in the spa. Lee used the foot spa and I moved around the steam room and ice shower and stuff for a bit. But the weather outside was too good to waste, so we went back there and swam in the warm water and went in the hot tub. It is a gorgeous spa. It was so lovely. So relaxing. Just really what we both needed! We finally left at about 3pm I guess, and drove back to the cottage. 

Once there, we relaxed for a bit, got showered, and headed out to the Wheatsheaf Inn where we had booked a table the previous day. Our table was right by the bar and it was really cosy and cute. For starter I had cheese souffle and for mains I had a prawn and smoked salmon salad with chips, because again the vegetarian options were no good for me. We didn't have dessert so we just headed back to the cottage for our last night. We packed up some things which made it easier in the morning. 

We did head outside last thing to look at the garden. As it was only a few days past the longest day, the sky was so light and beautiful.

In the morning we got everything into the car really quickly and headed home. We managed to get home about 1pm because we did stop for food on the way back. It was a lovely holiday - pretty restful and calm, which we needed. But we did a lot of fun things too, which was good! 

Anniversary cards in the cottage before we set off. That door behind them was the secret staircase where my mum and stepdad's room was

The welcome drink at the spa, I think it was orange and mango

The hot tub - it was so lovely and mostly I had it to myself. There were maybe ten other people around in total throughout the whole day

The heated (warm!) outdoor pool. Beyond that is the hotel, which is fancy!

The novella I was finishing

Coffee outside, that's Lee just beyond. They were very generous with the towels which I like!

And the library book I had brought to start. I liked it, but thought Ellen was a massive snob

Smoked salmon open sandwich for lunch with salad

The very cute chocolates we got

Lee in the foot spa in the inside area of the spa

A sauna I think

And two steam rooms. I went in one of them for a little bit

The terrace - as you can see, it wasn't exactly awash with other guests. I think there were maybe five people on spa days like us, and four people using the pool who were staying at the hotel

The pool again, just a bit later, before we left

In the pub later

Cheese souffle

Smoked salmon and prawn salad, which was actually a starter, but with chips it was a good main

And my last photo... goodnight! We were happy to get home to the cats the next day

Anniversary Trip to North Yorkshire - Day 6

On the Wednesday of our trip, my mum and stepdad left at about 10.30. They had planned to come for five nights which was of course fine, but they obviously didn't have to rush off in the morning because we were still staying there. So we had some breakfast and we helped them load their car, and then they went. 

First of all Lee and I went to Rosedale Abbey which took quite a while to get to, and turned out to not be worth it at all. I am sure that I've been before and found it a really cute village with little shops and stuff, but we could only find Rosedale Glass. It's a working glass factory and their pieces were absolutely gorgeous, but expensive. We couldn't find any other shops so instead, we went off to Goathland. I have been before but it must be thirty years ago and I don't remember it. Having been, I wouldn't say it's worth a special trip. It's tiny, for one thing. For another, the street parking is for twenty minutes only and the car park there is like a fiver for all day which is fine if you want to stay all day but not so fine if you only want to be there an hour or so.

So we stayed twenty minutes. Fine, whatever. There's a row of shops so we went into those. One of them was selling golliw*gs which......... is a choice. There was even a sign that said 'This is not offensive!' I'm not sure that they get to decide if it's offensive or not. The sign also asked you to not take photos, which totally reads to me like they known it's wrong, they just don't want the controversy over it.

So. We didn't spend anything in there. They're all cute gift type shops but we're trying to not spend much money. I did buy some butter tablet for me and for my mum. It turned out to be really nice and I should have bought more. We looked at a tea shop for something to eat but mindful of the parking restrictions outside we decided to just go. 

Goathland is known as the place they filmed Heartbeat, so it's got a lot of that stuff about. The train station was used in Harry Potter, too, so there's a lot of that about too. I took some photos, but forgot to get one of the garage in Heartbeat which operates as a cafe. We ended up going to The Inn on the Moor for lunch. It's a lovely country pub and the staff were all lovely. I had a hummus and falafel wrap which was absolutely delicious. 

We drove to Grosmont and found a junk shop which had all kinds of wonderful things in it. Lee bought some kind of video game something, I can't remember what. I got four books for a pound each! Bargain. We went into the Co op next door which had some frankly weird things in it. We needed a few bits and we got pasties for tea. Then it turned out that the steam train was coming through again, so we decided to stay and watch it. Tons of people were doing the same which was nice. There were a few very excited small children.

We got ice creams from the shop at Grosmont station. We then went over to Egton to book a table for tea the following day. We had had The Wheatsheaf Inn recommended to us so we went. It's a small pub but the menu is good, so we booked a table. We sat and had a hot drink each; Lee's was a ridiculous hot chocolate with marshmallow skewers, and I had a coffee. It was nice to just sit, honestly. We headed back to the cottage after that to relax for the evening. We watched a film and had bits for tea as usual. It was a restful day!

In Goathland, on the one street they have

The shop that is used in Heartbeat, as you can see by the name

Falafel wrap for lunch with chips

Looking across the station

This is the dining train, which I would love to do one day but it is quite expensive... Maybe for our silver wedding anniversary?

My ice cream, strawberry and vanilla

And here's the steam train! So cute to see

Finally, here are the books I bought

Anniversary Trip to North Yorkshire - Day 5

On the Tuesday of our holiday we had booked to go on a heritage train! The railway goes from Pickering to Whitby and we decided to get on at Goathland, meaning we had about an hour on the train. My mum kindly bought Lee and me the tickets as an anniversary present. We decided to get on the train at just after ten. 

We drove to Goathland and parked and got on to the platform to wait for the train to come in. On the way there it was a diesel engine which was still old but not quite as exciting as a steam train. We got on but unfortunately couldn't find seats for all four of us together to begin with, which was a bit annoying. But we managed to move next to each other which was better.

We got into Whitby just past 11am and walked from the station and over the swing bridge. There were some shops we wanted to look in so we did that. Then I wanted to go to the French bar that Lee and I went to in January but it turned out it didn't open until 2pm, so that was a bit annoying. We went in the shops and decided to go to Abbey Wharf for food. I've never been in before but I've walked past a thousand times. My mum and Norman had been, though.

It's up some stairs but once you get up there it's absolutely beautiful. There are views right across the town and the sea. If the weather had been better I would have sat outside but it was raining off and on and since we were eating we didn't want to have to rush inside with our food. So we sat in a lovely bright area inside instead.

They had quite a few vegetarian options but my stepdad and I both went for halloumi burger and chips. Lee had chicken burger I think and my mum had a lasagne. It was very dense and she ate a lot of it and really enjoyed it, which was the main thing!

As we were eating my mother and I both realised that the new Whitby RNLI lifeboat has my grandma's name on it! When she died she left £500 to the RNLI and I kept seeing TV adverts for sponsoring one of their new lifeboats and getting someone's name on the side of it, so that's how we donated it. We were kept up to date about where the boat was, so we knew it was in Whitby. The place we ate was right next to the RNLI station, so we went round! A very helpful man told us that the names are on the sides of the boat, but it lives in the water so we can't see them without, you know, going swimming. So they have put a replica of the names on the dockside, contained within the letters RNLI. They have a database to tell you exactly where each name is, so we were able to locate my grandma's name within the portside R of RNLI. It was so cool to see! Plus the roses are RNLI roses which my grandma would have liked too. I am glad her name is there!

I bought three books for a fiver in a discount bookshop, and a small sodalite tower in the crystal shop in the market. We only had three hours in Whitby because we didn't want to get back too late, so we started to wander back, but we kept stopping of course. My mum and Norman went back to the station before us because they wanted to get hot drinks. Lee and I joined them in a queue for the train. And this time it was a steam engine! It was so cute, I am so glad we got to see it. I know we didn't have very much time in Whitby but really it was about the train, and it was a cute outing.

We all sat together round a table on the way back. My mum and Lee went to get coffees just as we were setting off. We got back to Goathland at about 3.15 and drove back to Glaisdale. For the rest of the night we just relaxed with the same stuff as usual - we had some tea, we relaxed, we did quizzes, we drank. Norman had got a Baby Guiness kit for Christmas so had brought it to share with me. I did really well at pouring them until the last bit. As usual, it's more of a teenage Guinness. No matter, it tasted really nice anyway. 

Goathland station when we arrived

And the other side, it's so old fashioned and cute

On the train

Not sure which station this was

Lee and I on the train - I love all the old compartments

The diesel engine in Whitby when we arrived

Halloumi burger

The sodalite tower I bought, it's only dinky but I liked it

The lifeboat from the dock

And this is where my grandma's name is! The name of the lifeboat is the Lois-Ivan, if you're ever there

The lovely roses

Looking up towards the swing bridge from the lifeboat station

Me and my mum with the R where my grandma's name is. You can see my outfit - hand tie dyed t shirt and a Scarlett and Jo skirt that I wear a lot

The port side of the lifeboat, looking across the estuary

The steam engine just coming in!

And while they were faffing about and putting the engine to the other end of the train 

View on the way back

As we walked over the line at Goathland because that was the disabled way over

The river in Goathland

And the station again (I took a lot of photos this day!)

Baby Guinness later at night

And the three books I bought from the YA section of a bookshop