Halloween Tales

We don’t really tend to do a lot for Halloween. On the drive home from the Dales I’d been tempted to stop off at one of the Pick Your Own farms along the way for a pumpkin, but with evening drawing in I’d decided against it. Instead I picked one up with the weekly shop on Wednesday morning and we carved it on Wednesday night.

Little miss had insisted on a wolf and even though I’d taken inspiration from the internet, I was pretty impressed with myself when I freehand drew this wolf on the pumpkin before carving it out. Little Miss was very pleased.

I spent Thursday painting the woodwork in the dining room/office/lego room/animal sanctuary. A project I’d started much earlier in the year, and left half done. If I managed my professional projects the way I manage my personal ones I’d have long since been fired. 

Friday it was Halloween, and we decided to pay a visit to the outlet in York. I gave a nod to the day with my Munsters t-shirt, pumpkin pug brooch and of course, my Halloween backpack. I actually got a fair few compliments on my outfit, and especially my bag which my Mum kept insisting I ‘switch on’ for people.

I was quite restrained, only buying a massive box of Hotel Chocolat chocs to gorge on later (although with half a box still remaining, this was a task even too big for me). Mum did buy my Christmas present though, which I’ll be very excited to get. 

By the time we got home it was late and wet and so windy I couldn’t even get our pumpkin to stay lit. Saturday we had a chilled day. I was keen to see if I could replicate the pancakes that Mum had in Malton last week, for our Saturday brunch. I did and they were a resounding success and promptly added to Little Misses list of favourite breakfasts.

During the evening we went to one of our local cinema’s, the Stephen Joseph Theatre, to watch the original Ghostbusters on the big screen.

I’ve loved this film ever since I was a child, and so does little miss. Given its original release in 1984, I was too young to see it at the pictures the first time around so we were thrilled to see it now. Little miss even got to see some Ghostbusters kit at the end.

We got home to find our pumpkin had been stolen! The things that go missing hey? Never mind. 

Sunday, I took Thelma for a wander to the seafront and I had a luxury hot chocolate at Flamingo Bay. 

Then it was home to finish painting that woodwork! Just the wallpapering to do and then that room will be complete. I’ll share when it’s done.

Towns beginning with ‘M’

 At long last, half term descended on us on Friday, and I must admit, it’s been rather busy ever since. Despite taking lots of photos of our various trips over the past few days, not a single one has me in it! I could simply be making it all up, but you shall have to trust that I’m not.

Saturday morning I mostly spent doing laundry and packing overnight bags for me and little miss for our trip to the Yorkshire Dales. During the afternoon though, I took Mum across to Malton for a wander.

Bistro 46

Luckily, I had let Mum out of the car in the square while I went to find parking because, when I caught up with her again, she’d found a delightful cafe serving the most delicious brunches.

After a feast of pancakes (mum) and eggs Benedict (me) we went for a wander around some shops. I managed to bag this lovely Staffordshire plant pot for a bargain £4 in the charity shop, now home to a plant which the chap’s aunty sent for me. We found some lovely boutiques that we hadn’t passed before, and a massive health shop with the best selection of herbal tea I’ve ever seen.

The afternoon flew by. We finished up with a drink in Pizza on the Square before heading home. I like Malton and last year I was planning to move there, since it’s a little closer to work too. Eventually I changed my mind though since I love my house, and didn’t fancy doubling my mortgage. Scarborough has its faults, like anywhere else, but it also has a lot going for it and I do love it as my home now.

Pizza on the square

Everything has been so busy lately that me and the chap have struggled to see each other, so he popped along on Sunday afternoon and we all went out for a lovely Sunday lunch. The pub we visited is one we used to frequent for Sunday lunches when we used to go out for them more often, and it was absolutely packed. Everyone must have decided they needed someone else to cook the Sunday dinner! 

Monday, we packed up the car and headed West to the Yorkshire Dales. When I first moved to Yorkshire 12 years ago (I can’t believe it’s that long) I lived in the Dales, near Masham. We made some good friends there, who later became little misses God-Parents. We were off to visit them, but unable to check into our cottage until 4, we stopped off in Ripon first.

Ripon is the 5th smallest city in England, but despite that it has a beautiful cathedral. I could only take photographs from outside because they don’t allow dogs inside. 

Before we got to the cathedral though, we stopped at Wilfred’s for a delicious dinner. I had a spiced cauliflower, spinach and lentil pie with chips. It was absolutely delicious, and very good value for money too. That’s something that’s becoming increasingly important to me, the amount of times I’m truly surprised by a bill in a cafe or eatery these days is shocking. 

Then I stumbled on an amazing shop filled with jewellery, incense, crystals, and recycled sari clothing called Karma. I bought a lovely silver Tigers eye ring. I seem quite drawn to Tigers eye at the moment.

As evening started to draw in we headed off to Masham, and once we found our cosy little cottage, settled in with a cuppa. Later in the evening we ventured out again to meet up with our friends in the pub for a very long overdue catch up. It’s been a while.

The cottage was cosy and warm, although a wild wind battered it all night long. We were up and checked out early on Tuesday, maybe a tad too early as many of the cafes in Masham didn’t appear to be open. Even the brewery was closed, so we drove off to Leyburn for a wander.

It was lovely and sunny in Leyburn, and after enjoying breakfast and, most importantly, coffee, in one of the cafes there we had a wander around the shops. I didn’t find anything in the charity shops at all, mostly it was all bric-a-brac. It’s a nice town just to potter around though, and there are some good little viewpoints out onto the Dales too.

View over the Dales 

At lunch time we headed back to Masham, and after a quick stop at the Black Sheep brewery to get a few beers for the chap, it was off to the town hall for a very brief catch up with our friends before settling down to a performance of ‘The Tale of the Loneliest Whale’, which little miss thoroughly enjoyed.

Then it was time to say our good byes, and head back to Scarborough. It was a flying visit but it was lovely to spend some time back in the Dales and seeing little Misses God-Parents. 

Images of Masham

Crafts, cookery and a slow weekend

 Sometimes you just get one of those intentionally slow weekends. Not one enforced by anything but one where you actually make a decision to spend your weekend slowly, and without plans. That’s what this weekend has been like.

I kicked off the weekend on Friday night by changing into my LoungeFly Nightmare Before Christmas bag. I have worn it this time of year for the past 3 years, since the chap bought it for me. What’s more Halloween than a light up pumpkin face on a backpack? 

I won’t use it all winter, heaven forbid I would use a bag for a whole season, but it reminds me of my childhood when we would start hooking reflectors onto our coats and bags so we would be seen on the school run. Also, it’s a bag that brings little Miss such joy, so what’s not to love.

Saturday morning I wanted to return to try some crochet. It’s been a while since I last crocheted, and I really want to get back into it. First though, I needed to sort my knitting and crochet stash. I’d totally forgotten about some of those yarns.

Once it was all neat and organised, I started making granny squares. I’m undecided as to what these will end up being, but I’m pleased with the result so far. They’re a good way of using up my yarn ends too.

Later in the afternoon I had a wander around town and grabbed some groceries before settling down for an evening of curry and TV.

Sunday we had a glorious lie in. When we did emerge, we played some games (snappy shark). Little Miss helped me bake some rather delicious scones, and then we took Thelma for a walk before the weather took a turn for the worst, as it had threatened to do. 

Then we decided to have a potter around some local shops, and grab a coffee. I even found a little Christmas present for the chap (sorry, early for the C word, I know). Back at home I made us a lovely roast chicken dinner, and did some cross stitch while little Miss did some homework. The cross stitch I’m working on should have been the chap’s Valentine’s Day present, but I’m slow so he’s probably going to get it nearer to Christmas. It’s a good job he’s patient.

Sunday evening I watched a fabulous old movie with my Mum. It was an old Bette Davis film, ‘Another Man’s Poison’. It was full of suspense and had so many twists in the plot, well worth watching if you get the chance.

Even a weekend spent slowly rushed by in the blink of an eye. Never mind, it was still a lovely relaxed way to spend it.

Everybody Dance Now

 This weekend was excellent! Just the tonic needed, and it left me feeling happy and energised.

Saturday evening the chap and I had tickets for Vernon Kay’s 90s Dance party at the Scarborough Spa. 90s and dance music, it doesn’t get much better!

I wore yet another dress that’s been languishing in my wardrobe with the label on for too long, and although I needed the jacket for the walk to and from the spa, I most definitely didn’t need it inside.

The venue was already filling up when we got there, and the support DJ was doing a great job of warming up the crowd.

By the time Vernon came on the (massive) main hall was absolutely packed! His set was amazing, over 2 hours of some of my favourite tracks. Me and the chap couldn’t stop dancing and, like the majority of people in the room, quickly became a hot sweaty mess. 

Early in the evening 

When a Prodigy mix came on I was elated, but to be fair pretty much every track had me going. We took some photos but it wasn’t long before I realised I could either dance, or take photos. I opted for the dancing and that in itself took me back to my original clubbing days. We didn’t have smart phones to catalogue every experience, so we were present, and it really made a big difference.

Hot and sweaty at the end of the night 

The moon over South Bay at the end of the night 

It’s probably why Saturday felt so good! Sunday morning we went and had breakfast on the seafront, and then took little Miss and Grandma out for some lunch but the rest of the day was chilled. A perfect end to a fabulous weekend. 

Puppies and Flowers

 No, I haven’t turned into Mariah Carey, demanding puppies and roses everywhere I go. I probably would if I could get away with it though. 

Thursday was my actual birthday and I’d booked the day off work. The sun was out and once I’d done the school run, I took my morning coffee along with Thelma, to South Cliff gardens to enjoy the view over the bay.

Coffee with a view

It’s a luxury I never get to indulge in, usually running home to log on and start work. I was grateful though that I was able to just take some time out and enjoy those views on my birthday.

The day before, a beautiful box of flowers arrived from the chap, which I added to the flowers I’d bought for myself for my birthday in what was a flower explosion. My idea of heaven, apart from in the summer when my allergies prevent such enjoyment.

The rest of Thursday was spent mostly drinking tea and eating copious amounts of cake whilst catching up with various people, until after school when I took little Miss to the fair to meet her school friend and go on some rides.

They have a great time at the fair, and I always love the lights and hubub of the fairground. Alas, they are growing quickly and I suspect that they won’t fit in the kiddies rides so easily next year. We ran into more friends while we were there and enjoyed an impromptu catch up by the tea cups, before grabbing hotdogs at the hotdog van and heading home. It had managed to be a relaxing and yet very busy birthday, and I had a great time.

As Saturday approached we were bracing ourselves for Storm Amy! We didn’t think we would get to do much, but actually by the time it got to Saturday afternoon it was just windy. We were able to take a drive over the Moors to Whitby.

What I wore to Whitby - head to toe black of course

It’s the first time we’d driven over that way since the wild fires in August and it was saddening to see the blackened devastation the fires had left behind. Autumn is usually a beautiful display of browns and purples on the moors, but there were just miles and miles of black charred land. Horrible!

A photo of the moors fire I took from Scarborough in August

Whitby itself was a good choice. We stopped off for tea and scones first, and Thelma even got a sausage in the cafe. Happy Thelma.

Then we spent some time perusing the streets. Bobbing in and out of book shops, herbal shops, Whitby jet jewellers and alternative clothing shops. I bought myself a new suncatcher for my living room window, and little Miss got another book to add to her collection. Many of the shops in Whitby are independent, which means it keeps its bustling and vibrant feel even though many high streets in other towns have died off.

Spot the suncatcher in my window

We finished the day at a regular haunt of ours, Abbey Wharf. Despite being busy, we managed to bag a table with a view over the harbour and Mum treated me to a meal of Fish and Chips, before we wandered back to the car park for the drive home. We’d really enjoyed a lovely day out.

Sunday, I headed off to York. The chap had picked up a new puppy on Friday and I was eager to meet the little scamp.

He’s a Cavalier King Charles spaniel and he’s beautiful, cute and full of mischief. I enjoyed my cuddles with him, he even went to sleep on me.

We popped out to grab some lunch at Prezzo and the chap gave me my birthday presents, including this fabulous Lego campervan that he built for me. The chap’s hobby is Lego, and he is excellent at it. I just need to find a safe spot from this away from the other Lego fanatic in my life. It’s my dream to own the real thing one day.

After more puppy hugs, it was time to head home and get ready for the week ahead.