New Tattoo

What did you do with your Leap Day this year? Anything wild or exciting? Or was it just another day? I love Leap Days - they always feel so full of potential. To try to harness that, I booked a tattoo on the day when my regular tattooist Nini opened her books just before Christmas. It felt like an auspicious day to get tattooed. 

I was considering getting faces of Poppy and Jasmine to match my tattoo of Ivy's face, but the space was a bit small. Then I considered getting silhouettes of Poppy and Jazzy but decided this is something I might do in the future. So I decided to get flowers instead - poppies and jasmine, so that I know they're for my lovely cats but other people might not. I left the design with Nini and she definitely delivered - one poppy surrounded by jasmine. I absolutely loved her concept and then I waffled as to whether to get it coloured in or not. You may know that it turns out I have an allergy to a lot of red/pink/purple inks, and my body makes the tattoo very swollen and itchy and raised, and eventually most of the ink falls out. This was the case for the rainbow on my foot, so I've now had it coloured in with yellow and green and blues, instead. It is entirely fascinating that this happens, but also really, really annoying. I've paid a lot for those tattoos! 

So I decided I would just get Nini to do lines and shading, and if I decide later I want colours, I can always add them. Nini mainly works in black and grey now and she's really good at it. She is based at The Ink Station in Heckmondwike by the way and I love her - she always seems to get what I'm going for. I've also been tattooed by Kimi there and I really like her style too. 

I was thinking this tattoo would be smaller than it's ended up being, but Nini was absolutely right and put it so that it's in a good position however my arm is. That's why she's a tattooist and I am not. It only took about an hour and wasn't too painful - the worst bit actually was having to sit with my arm at an awkward angle for all that time! 

I absolutely love it and I am so glad to have it!

Films of the Month - February

February was an incredibly busy month for me so I didn't have a lot of down time to watch films. But I did manage to watch twelve films and they were a pretty good set, too! Here's what I saw:

I had been seeing hype about Good Grief, Dan Levy's new film, and also a lot of criticism of it too, so I was intrigued enough to watch it. The main cast are all really good, but it isn't brilliant. An odd one

I wanted to watch Heath Ledger so I watched The Dark Knight. I have seen it before but not for ages, so I enjoyed it 

Lee and I watched The Whole Nine Yards, it's one of our favourite ridiculous films and it seemed appropriate since Matthew Perry is no longer with us and Bruce Willis is unwell. It's very funny if you haven't seen it

I finally watched Oppenheimer because I really wanted to see it but I knew it was going to be a lot. And it really was. I watched it in two separate parts which helped I think. Cillian is great. I have read some criticism of it and I think a lot of it is valid. I'm glad I watched it but I'll probably never watch it again

This came up recommended to me on iplayer so I gave it a go. It's from 1949 so one of those classic Hollywood type of films. I liked it, I would recommend it if you like classic old films

Netflix recommend Poms to me - it's about seniors living at a residential community thing who decide they want to be cheerleaders. It's cute, funny, it passed some time for me. Diane Keaton is great

It was a cosy Sunday afternoon so I watched one of my faovurite cosy Sunday afternoon films. I really want to watch the TV show, too - I started it but tailed off so I need to watch it properly from the beginning

I can't remember where I came across this film, but I like Timothy Spall so I gave it a go. It's about a group of people who hate flying and who are undertaking a course to try to get over their fears. They end up stranded in Iceland. It's pretty quirky and fun

Lee and I watched Wayne's World together which is another of the ridiculous films that we both love despite ourselves. I suspect we will watch the second one soon too

I was reading about this film, about Emily Bronte, somewhere, and thought it would be good to watch. I really like Emma Mackay too, she's really good in it. I'm not sure it's the best thing ever written about Emily, but I did like it. Plus of course Haworth always looks beautiful

I've seen the first few series of The Sopranos so I was intrigued by this prequel film, about Tony Soprano's early life. It's really good, I would recommnd it

Finally, on Leap Day, the very last day of February which doesn't usually exist, I watched Crossroads, because it was on Netflix and I like Britney. It isn't the most amazing film in the world but it was cute and funny 

Lunch at Slattery with Amy

On the eleventh of April I headed across to Manchester to meet up at Slattery's Patisserie with my friend Amy. She first took me there over a decade ago and we still love to go, so we booked it. I set off nice and early because I can never be sure of the traffic to Manchester, but then I ended up getting there about 11.30 and I managed to get a space in the tiny car park too. Lee had asked me to take him home some bread and some chocolate fudge cake, so I went into the shop first to get those. I also got a little vanilla sponge cake with icing. They're thirteen pounds each so not super cheap, but I was tempted last time I went so decided to get one this time. I had some for tea and it was delicious! I'm glad I bought it. 

I headed upstairs and sat for a little bit in the waiting area because I was a little bit early. Our table was booked for twelve so I went in for then and Amy arrived not long after me. The food at Slatterys is amazing but they don't have a ton of vegetarian choices, so I end up usually getting the same thing. I had the doorstep rarebit with garlic mushrooms on top, and a hot chocolate which is my fave. I genuinely did waver on what to have for pudding but went with the marshmallow and strawberry dippers. I only ate half so I brought the rest home!

Amy needed to leave at about 2.30 so we said goodbye and then I drove home. I went and came back on the M62 even though I hate it because it was quicker. Our new car is a joy to drive though so that's one thing! I was wearing my rainbow tartan dress because I wanted to wear something bright. I was also wearing teal footless tights from Snag and these gorgeous patent boots. It really wasn't boot weather by then - it was twenty degrees when I was driving back - but they're so pretty that I will eke them out a bit longer!

Amy is currently expecting her third child, due in just a few weeks!

My delicious hot chocolate - it's melted chocolate and hot milk and you have to stir it to make it delicious!

Rarebit with garlic mushrooms - amazing

Here's Amy and I. We have known each other since we were sixteen, when we met at sixth form in Huddersfield! She is one of my favourite people

My amazing chocolate dipper dessert

My tights and boots when I got home

And here's my rainbow dress - it's so comfy but so bright

What I Wore February 19th

Lee wasn't working on February the 19th as it was a freebie day off for him, so I asked him if he wanted to go out for lunch and he chose for us to go to the Toby Carvery near our house. It's not my first choice usually but actually I was in the mood for it so I agreed. First of all I went to craft club in Penistone, as I do every Monday generally. Then I went home and picked Lee up and we went to the carvery. It was really busy! I think some kids were on inset days and they were having staff problems too. 

But there were two courses for £11.49 so we both decided to get that. Now, the carvery does do a few vegetarian choices but I always find they're too much and that actually I would just like the vegetables, potatoes and stuffing etc. They used to advertise this but haven't for a while, but I decided I would just do that anyway. And indeed when I went up to the carvery counter there was absolutely no problem for me to not get any meat. I got everything else instead, including the cabbage, which was delicious, and the mac and cheese. It was delicious! I really enjoyed it and it was nice to spend time with Lee as I had barely seen him all week. We both also had whipped ice cream sundaes for pudding.

I relaxed for the rest of the day but I was glad we had gone out for lunch. I was wearing my Scarlett & Jo skirt which I usually say is purple, but it's almost the same colour as my new Hamilton t shirt... which is definitely blue. So really who knows. They do look good together though! It wasn't freezing cold so I had just put on my huge new strawberry jumper from Snag. It's so cosy!

Deeeeelicious carvery lunch! I like mine with lots of mustard

Outfit with my strawberry jumper on

And here you can see my new t-shirt! It's really soft and lovely, in a 2XL. I really liked the Schuyler sisters so had to have this!

Hamilton with Friends in Manchester

On Friday the 16th of February I went to Manchester to see Hamilton with Sam, Jacqui, and Jodie! I had seen it was coming to Manchester and wanted to go, so they said they would buy me the ticket for my fortieth birthday and pay for us to stay over too. I was excited to see Hamilton and my friend Michelle told me to listen to the music first so I had been doing that for a few weeks beforehand and I think it did really help. I was familiar with some of the songs and I liked some of them already!

So, I took Lucinda to Wakefield to get on the train back to Edinburgh after our gigs, and then I went home where I had a blissful couple of hours by myself to just relax for a little bit. Then Lee took me to our village train station and I got the train to Huddersfield, where I met up with Sam and Jodie. We got the train across to Manchester Piccadilly and then met up with Jac. THEN we walked just down to the aparthotel where we were staying. By this time it was about 4pm so we just chilled out for a bit. Then we got ready for the evening and left the apartment at about 5.30. We had booked to go to Bundobust for tea (my choice, and somewhere I love!) and we thought it was about a fifteen minute walk away. But we went the wrong way and ended up walking for about 35 minutes! We went really round the houses. But thankfully we got to Bundobust at about 6.05 and got our seats.

We ordered a bunch of food and decided to share it all. It was so delicious - we had the chaat which I usually get but it was nice to taste the dhal and some other stuff too. I also had a lemony lemonade which was nice.

About 7pm we walked just next door to the Palace theatre. Jac and I got merch - I got a shot glass, a pin, and a t shirt! I love them all so much. I really enjoyed the show, too. It is really engrossing and every single person was so good. I really liked the backing dancers because they were so good and they moved all the set stuff around really well. I would definitely see it again in a couple of years or so. 

We went back to the apartment (via a much shorter route this time) and then hung out for a bit in our pyjamas before going to bed. I was awake for a bit in the night so I read for a bit then went back to sleep before getting up at 9.20. We left the apartment at about 10am and walked to The Pen and Pencil for brunch. I had a hot chocolate which was delicious, and avocado on sourdough with feta, poached eggs, and sun blushed tomatoes. Sam also gave me one of her vegan sausages and some of her halloumi, which I was only too happy to eat! It was all delicious.

We then said goodbye to Jacqui and me, Sam and Jodie went back to Piccadilly station. Unfortunately there was a rail replacement coach but fortunately it wasn't too full so we got a seat each and barely spoke to each other haha. I was reading and listening to some music and soon we were back in Huddersfield where Lee picked me up. I got home and went to bed for a couple of hours because it had been a hell of a week! Lots of fun, of course, but exhausting for me and my chronic illnesses!

Sam's photo of the wall as you go into Bundobust

Jac and me - you can see I was wearing my galaxy print dress, and Jac looked lovely in this new tartan print dress

Jodie and Sam - Sam's dress was amazing too!

Here's all four of us

Alllll the food, so good!

Outside the theatre

A poster just outside

And one inside too. I liked Eliza Schuyler a lot

Finally we were in the room where it happens!

This was the set just before it started

All of us in the theatre - the woman next to me does not look too happy!

We had ice cream and drinks in the interval which were nice

My hot chocolate for brunch

And my brunch! It didn't look huge but there was a lot of feta!

I took this of all four of us, it was quite hard to get us all in though

Here's all the merch I got. Sam gave us all the tiny badges - mine says "young, scrappy and hungry"

In the evening I opened a bottle of prosecco that I had got for my birthday and enjoyed some of it!

Two Gigs in Leeds

So now to Thursday of my week off! And to the reason why Lucinda was coming down in the first place, before I got a table at Edinburgh Zine Fest - The Libertines! They were playing a series of gigs in tiny venues including The Wardrobe in Leeds, a place I've been a few times and really like as a venue. She was in charge of getting tickets months ago and she had a bit of a nightmare doing so but then we had two tickets confirmed! So when I then got offered a table at the Zine Fest I asked to stay with Cinders and we had it all planned! 

Then just a week or two before the gig, the Libertines announced they were playing an afternoon acoustic show at The Wardrobe. Of course we wanted to go! So I got three tickets and my mum came along, and Sam got herself a ticket too, and I knew other people who would be there too. Lucinda and I were very excited! There are few bands I would see twice in one day but the Libs are at the top of that list!

We set off around 11.45 and headed to Lupe's Cantina which is in the total opposite direction than the Wardrobe but we wanted Mexican food. We had talked about getting it in Edinburgh but then it was Pancake Day so we had pancakes instead. I've heard good things about Lupe's so we parked close by and went in. We shared guacamole and salsa and chips to start with, and then Lucinda had fish tacos and I had quesedillas. They were perfectly nice quesedillas but a bit boring. Oh well! It was cheap which was good.

We drove round to Victoria car park and walked across to The Wardrobe. Peter and his dog were wandering about outside and inside the bar, cute! We met up with Sam and my mum and Rachael and then Rachael went to join the queue. I didn't have a space in the disabled area but I did manage to get in the queue to be let down early so I could get a seat at the other side, so that was really useful! So then Peter and his dog (Gladys) were wandering around downstairs so we went to talk to him! It was really lovely! I've been a fan for nearly two decades and have met the rest of the band but hadn't ever met Peter so it was nice. I told him it was a pleasure and he tipped his hat at me. He also liked my Care Bears t shirt. He had to go quite quickly but it was nice to speak to him.

The afternoon show was pretty sedate as Libertines gigs go but still a bit loopy. My mum and Sam enjoyed themselves and so did I. And Lucinda of course! They played a few songs and finished about 5pm. Lucinda and I sat in the bar and had a couple of drinks and shared some loaded fries, before going back downstairs at 7.30ish. The support bands were nothing to write home about but passed quickly enough, and then the Libertines were great! I really enjoyed myself. Lucinda stood quite close to the front and I joined her towards the end. It was such an intimate show in such a small venue; I loved it.

Afterwards we caught up with some friends before Lucinda drove us home as I was in a lot of pain. As you can see by my final selfie, my hair was all over the place because it was so humid in the Wardrobe. 

Chips and salsa and guacamole! All delicious!

The beautiful Cinders and I

Quesedillas

Fish tacos - these looked amazing!

Sign on the door at the Wardrobe before we went downstairs

Here's me and Peter - he was happier to talk to us than this photo might suggest, I promise

Sam took this of all four of us before the gig started

Not all these photos are mine, but this was definitely the afternoon because Carl is wearing this baker boy cap. Some of the photos are Sam's

Peter on the left there

Carl and John

All of them posing for Gary's camera. Even though it was an 'acoustic' set it was all four of them and still pretty loud

Peter again

And John

And Carl!

This was the evening because Carl is wearing the bowler hat

Here he is singing, just the mic

And later when Carl shed at least some layers... he always wears a lot of layers

From Lucinda's vantage point right at the left of the stage

I was standing here by the end, it was plenty close enough!

Adorable boys taking a bow at the end. The steam was literally rising off Gary

And here I am back at home with incredibly fluffy hair