Silver Linings

 It’s been a while since my last post. I applied for a new job, so I’ve been spending some time preparing for interviews, which I’m please to say paid off and I got the job. 

In amongst the preparation, I still found some time for crafting. I finally finished a cushion which the chap’s sister had asked me to help out with. Such beautiful fabric she’d chosen, and it looks lovely.

 

I’ve also been teaching little miss to cross stitch, and of course reading. I finished my book about Nancy Astor. I was excited to read about Lady Astor, the first ever female Member of Parliament with a sharp mind and an even sharper wit. Having finished the book though, I’m not entirely sure how I feel about her. I admire her strong will and stoicism which allowed her to progress to great success despite some early set backs, but she did seem quite uncaring to her children and doting husband, sometimes pig headed and so extreme in her followings of Christian Science as to jeopardise the life of those around her to meet with her beliefs. Anyway, enough history. 

Something else I’ve been indulging in (and trust me, indulging is the right word), is some retail therapy. It all started with a fairly inconspicuous make up purchase from Dior. 

I used to love buying makeup from luxury brands when I was a bright young thing, newly employed with my whole career ahead of me. Nowadays, not so much. I tend to buy what’s readily available in Boots or Superdrug, and whilst I am wise enough not to trust any of the fake promises and dream lifestyles that these brands try to trick you into buying, there’s still something special about receiving a beautifully packaged and equally beautiful makeup item from a luxury brand. So this was a treat that I really enjoyed. 

Then there was the Dr Marten’s sale. I’m really bad in that I’ll spend lots of money on boots, and lots of money on going out shoes (for my imaginary life where I’m out partying every weekend), but when it comes to summer shoes, I am really tight. I think it’s a resentment about the sheer lack of sunshine we get in this country. So, I decided to treat myself to these gorgeous Dr. Marten sandals in the sale, and I cannot wait for summer to arrive to try them out. 

Having ended the week on a high of getting a new job and agreeing a start date, I was excited to welcome a weekend of socialising and celebrating in. Saturday afternoon, I popped into town for a wander with Mum. 

After a delicious coffee, and cheese and tomato croissant at local cafe, Greensmith and Thackeray, we had a peruse of the shops. There were a few things mum needed, and I was keeping my eyes peeled for a top to wear out in the evening with the new faux leather silver skirt I’d stumbled on in the M&S sale the week before (I know, it’s becoming a problem). Thankfully I did, and after finishing up our shopping it was home for me to get ready, and head down to York to meet with the chap and our good friends S & S. 

The chap met me from the train, and we walked across town to Mumbai lounge to meet up. Having not seen each other in a really long time, there was absolutely loads to catch up on. 

The conversation flowed, and by the time the food arrived we had all worked up an appetite with all of that talking. I had a delicious Vegetable Karahi which was absolutely gorgeous. 

Afterwards, we walked back across town, ending up in Ye Olde Starr Inne, which is one of the oldest pubs in York. I’ve never been in before, but it’s lovely and cosy and feels like a real pub with dark wooden seating and a warm feel. It was packed, but we got a table to sit at and continue catching up until it was time for me to head off for the last train home. 

Boots - Joe Browns (Christmas gift from Mum in 2023), Silver Skirt - M&S, Silver clutch bag - WHSmith (because it’s not actually a clutch bag, it’s a travel wallet), Top - TKMaxx, Faux fur coat that I wear every time I go out at night - Primark 

End of the night in Ye Olde Starr Inne

We’d had so much fun, and it was exactly the sort of fun night out I needed. I still don’t drink much, so I woke up delightfully hangover free this morning and spent the morning making pancakes and doing sequin art with little miss. In the afternoon though, we went for a wander around some local shops, which seems to be dangerous in my current frame of mind. I came back with a gorgeous new bed spread. 

I shall be putting my debit card under lock and key for the rest of the month, but I’ve bought some lovely things. 

A Slow Start

 It’s been a wonderfully slow and relaxed start to January. It was the first full week back at work, and while it’s been full on from the start, I’ve remained calm and focussed. 

The days have been freezing, which helps keep things relaxed, to be honest. It’s not like I have any FOMO when it’s -3 outside. As far as I ventured was a lunchtime visit to the local charity shops. I was tempted by a handbag, but did well at sticking to my pledge not to buy any handbags this year, and walked away with only a book I've been wanting to read. 

The Snowman, by Jo Nesbo. It is just week one though, so let's see how long it actually takes me to cave and add yet another bag to my collection. 

Wednesday evening the chap came over in what was a welcome spot of midweek socialising. He rolled up with some beautiful flowers, bringing thoughts of the Spring and warmer days to the home. After taking my outside Christmas lights down for me (he's a good egg), we went across to a local pub, The Tunny Catch, for dinner with Mum, little miss and Thelma. I didn’t get any photographs. Isn’t it nice sometimes just to not get any photographs? 

After a delicious veggie chilli, followed by bannoffee tart and coffee it was back home to watch a 1960s episode of Lost in Space, before the chap headed off for home and little miss headed off to bed. The rest of the week followed the same quiet rhythm until the weekend. Saturday me and Mum decided to go down to the cinema at York to see Nosferatu. 

As a lifelong horror fan, and regular viewer of the original, Mum had wanted to see it since its release. It didn’t disappoint. Dark, menacing and gripping it was a really excellent remake, and I’d definitely recommend it. 

Sunday, I took little miss to a party, washed my makeup brushes and treated myself to a posh online purchase, but you’ll have to wait until next week to see what it is. I’m not sure next week will be quite as calm, but hopefully it’ll be warming up too. 

Hello 2025

It's hard to believe that we're almost a week into 2025 already. Where does it go? I wasn’t feeling very in the New Year mood this year. There’s something about New Year that it always ends up being a bit of an anti-climax. There’s so much hype, that all of a sudden when the clock strikes midnight on 31st December, it will hard reset the whole world and we’ll all wake up on 1st January thinner, richer and without any of the trials and tribulations of the previous year. I couldn’t be bothered with it.

Much of New Year’s Eve, like much of the rest of the Christmas break was spent quietly pottering around the house. Me and little Miss decided to make a start on the sequin art that her god-parents bought her for Christmas.

I have to say, it’s quite addictive, the repetitive prodding of sequins into the picture, and I think it’s going to be quite lovely once it’s done. 

We didn’t have a dinner as such, more a collection of snacks and nibbles. One of my Christmas gifts from Mum was a Madhur Jaffrey cookery book, and I was dying to try out cooking the onion bhajias. I’ve never tried anything like this before, and truth be told, despite being a pretty good cook (if I do say so myself) my curry’s always fall short, so I’m really keen to learn this year, hence the book. 

I digress. I followed the recipe to the letter, and what I ended up with were the most delicious onion bhajias. My final achievement of 2025. We spent a quiet evening watching old films, and comforting Thelma from the fireworks going off, only turning back to the TV to see Big Ben chime in 2025. Then it was off to bed. 

New Year’s Day, the sun was shining and it was clear blue skies. Me and little miss started the day with more sequin art, but I knew I couldn’t let such a pleasant day pass me by. We got ready and took Thelma for a walk on the beach, and it looked like lots of other people had the same idea. It was almost as bustling as a summer’s day. We walked along the sand, and breathed in the sea air and felt the sun on our faces. It was a fabulous start to the year. 

Struggling to find somewhere we could get into for a coffee, we ended up in the cocktail bar, Geo’s. It’s a lovely place, and was just as bustling with New Year revellers as everywhere else, but we managed to find a quiet corner. While I was ordering our coffees, I spotted the most beautiful looking cocktail being mixed up further along the bar, and asked what it was. A Black Forest gateau. I decided to get one, and shared it with Mum as our New Year treat, and it was indeed delicious. 

After grabbing some chips, and letting little Miss have a play in the arcades. It was time to head back for the car. The weather was changing, it felt like a storm was drawing in and the sea was starting to get wild. A good time to return to the warmth of home. 

The following day, I was dragged from my slumber at 7am by my alarm. It was my first day back at work. 20 years of being a cog in the corporate machine has conditioned me for early mornings, but I still find them difficult. I know some people bounce out of bed at 6.30am, but that’s definitely not me. Maybe I should hit snooze less, or go to bed earlier! 

It wasn’t too bad a return to work, since a lot of people were still on leave. Friday, I decided to pay a visit to the office. I was up for an early train with my coffee and my book (another winning Christmas gift from Mum), and actually, I quite enjoyed my peaceful journey and catching glimpses of the sun rising over the frost fields whenever I raised my head from my book. 

The streets of York were very quiet, far quieter than I’ve ever seen them, which was really lovely. The light was beautiful, and it’s so rare to see the beauty of York without crowds of people lining the streets.

After work I met up with the chap. For Christmas, our friends had bought us a generous voucher for ASK Italian, and a Friday night date night seemed like the perfect opportunity to use it. I’d booked us a table.

I’ve never been to ASK in York before, but it’s beautiful. Such a grand building which was once a guildhall. It was fairly busy, but not too bad, and because it’s such a spacious venue there’s plenty of room. 

We enjoyed a delicious feast of pasta, and decadent desserts and had an altogether lovely first date of the year. After dinner, we walked up the ‘The Dubliner’ a new Irish bar on route back to the train station. I’d been keen to check it out ever since reading about it opening shortly before Christmas. They had live music on, and there was a great vibe. 

We spent a bit of time there soaking up the atmosphere before the chap walked me back to the station for my train. All in all, it’s been quite a nice start to 2025. 

A Boxing Day Break in Harrogate

 

The cafe in Valley Gardens

At quite short notice (like the week before Christmas), the chap and I decided that, what we really needed was a couple of days away. Just a relaxed break to potter, eat nice food and relax in eachother’s company. With illness, and the usual pre-Christmas socialising and planning, it’s all felt a bit hectic. So, we booked a night away at the Harrogate Inn, right in the centre of Harrogate. Funnily enough, we didn’t realise at the time of booking that it was part of the same group as the Black Swan, where we’d enjoyed our lovely Christmas meal a couple of week’s back. 

I picked the chap up mid-morning, after battling my way through the thickest pea-soup fog that seemed to be enveloping most of the country. Thankfully, traffic wasn’t too bad in the direction we were heading in, and by lunchtime we were sitting in the car in Harrogate, eating the chicken, stuffing and cranberry batches that I’d made before leaving the house. While I was organising the snacks, the chap whipped out another gift for me (as if I hadn’t been spoiled enough), a gorgeous Pandora ring. I don’t know how he did it, but he managed to get exactly the right size, and it stacks perfectly with my other rings. 

I love Harrogate. When I first moved to Yorkshire, I lived in the Dales and Harrogate was a regular haunt for shopping trips. 

We enjoyed a relaxing peruse of the shops that were open, spotting the odd little sale buy. I noticed Lush, had their sale. I queued to get in. I never queue for shops (not since that time I queued for the Anya Hindmarch shopper all those years ago), but I decided that it would be rude not to. I was pretty restrained, and most of what I came away with was bath bombs for little miss. 

After a coffee and cake break, and picking up a few more bargains we wandered back to the car. A little photo stop by the obelisk, to show off the new coat and bag that the chap had bought me for Christmas (and the new hat off my Mum), and it was time to hop in the car and check into our hotel. 

My new River Island coat, Nightmare before Christmas bag, and French Connection Beanie

The hotel was beautiful inside. Welcoming, warm and beautifully decorated. The restaurant was bustling when we checked in. It was later when we came back down for dinner though that we realised that the hotel was a SERIOUSLY dog friendly place. We’d left Thelma with Mum, but there were dogs everywhere. Big dogs, small dogs, quiet dogs, loud dogs. As serious dog lovers, we struggled to keep in our seats all evening. 

The Harrogate Inn

We settled into a booth, and the chap set off to buy the drinks. Very naughty of him, buying me Prosecco when I’ve been alcohol free since I did Sober October. I drank it though, it was our Christmas celebration and it was rather lovely. 

We feasted on three courses, for me, Soup, Seafood Pasta and all finished off with a Sticky Toffee Sundae. My appetite still hasn’t fully returned, and I had to leave some of my main and my dessert, but I did enjoy it all. The chap thoroughly enjoyed his Venison burger, washed down with Guinness, too. Then, we spent the evening playing Viz Top Trumps, which was very funny. 

The chap diving straight in

Cheeky Bathroom Selfie - Shoes - Poetic License, Dress - City Chic, Kimono - One Hundred Stars, and the new bag again :)

It had been an altogether lovely way to spend the day and evening, and we were looking forward to what day 2 would bring. 

Friday morning, we were up bright and early and after a buffet breakfast and check out, we wandered up to the Valley Gardens for a morning stroll. 

The affluent Victorians used to visit the spa town of Harrogate to take the waters. The waters, filled with a multitude of minerals, but primarily sulphur come to the town by way of hundreds of springs and wells, which are dotted all around. Many of them on the Stray, but also a fair number of them in the valley gardens. 

The mixture of sulphur, magnesium and other minerals flowing from the springs is what gives the stream running through the gardens its unusual colour and murky appearance. After our wander it was back into town for more shopping. It was much busier than the previous day, and I was pleased to see many of the charity shops open.

We perused, although the charity shops were pretty fruitless, and stopped for a break at the Winter Gardens. A beautiful Weatherspoons, which was very festive. 

It was onwards to the vintage shop, space, before heading onto the high street. Most of the things I bought were for little miss, but I did manage to bag myself a nice pair of jeans in the Next sale. I was a bit disappointed that I didn’t find any charity shop gems, but the lady working in the Cats Protection league shop was absolutely in awe of my new coat, so that was nice. 

Artwork at Space

The thick fog started drawing in, so after a coffee we decided to start home. The mixture of thick fog, nightfall and heavy traffic made it a long drive home. We’d had such a lovely break though, the perfect balance of shopping and pottering together.