Spas and Tiny Houses

 You know those people who are always proclaiming how busy they are? Oh I’m just so busy I haven’t even had time to check my messages this week! I’m so busy I’ve not even been able to do the weekly shop! I find them incredibly boring and yet, here I am, becoming one! Don’t get me wrong, some of what I’ve been doing has been great fun, I’ve just not had a chance to write about it. A mixture of doing fun things, work, and trying to get all of my assignments in on time for a Leadership and Management course that is drawing to a close has kept me away from anything remotely resembling a hobby. 

I’m not lying when I say some of it has been super exciting. Every now and then I make a little purchase of some raffle tickets from a website. They are cheap, and with better odds than the lottery, an odd £1 spent here or there is a gamble I’m willing to take. Last week, a text popped up on my phone suggesting I’d won one of the draws. I thought it was a scam, so I checked my emails. It was there too, so I logged into the site and lo and behold I’d won an incredibly expensive professional coffee machine.

Anyone who knows me knows how much I love coffee, so this was amazing. A few days later I was trying master caramel lattes, oat milk flat whites and everything else I can get in a coffee shop. Honestly, this has been a revelation, I have barely bought a coffee out since it arrived. 

The Saturday of that week, it was gloriously hot and sunny, so we decided to revisit Bondeville Model Village at Sewerby. There were very few people there, which was excellent.

Little miss and Thelma were able to really enjoy the attraction without being rushed. This model village is amazing, I think we’ll probably visit every year for as long as little Miss is interested.

At the moment she loves to take her favourite toy dog and set up little scenarios on the models. It’s so innocent and wonderful. Moments to hold on to.

Afterwards, we had a little saunter around the gardens at Sewerby hall, before heading home having enjoyed a very full day.

The following day I went to the spa with the chap.

I’ve been craving a spa day. Just being able to swim some lengths and sit peacefully in the sauna was exactly what I needed. 

I think if I had an abundance of money and a big garden I’d buy a home sauna, such is my enjoyment of them. Since I have neither, I will just continue to enjoy spa days whenever the opportunity arises.

We both got treatments too, which just made us both feel much better. To be honest, I do prefer a spa break because after you’ve done all that relaxing, it’s nice just to be waited on with a nice dinner and then fall into bed. It’s not always possible though, so a spa day fills a nice gap.

Aside from that we’ve been making the most of the heatwave with trips to the seafront, and I’ve even unpacked my summer clothes, which is probably why the heatwave went away. 

Time for (afternoon) Tea

 The weekend just passed was my Mums birthday. Unlike me, Mum doesn’t like to plan things too far in advance, so by mid-week she’d decided she’d quite like to go for afternoon tea at Mama Doreen’s in York to celebrate once more round the sun.

Afternoon tea outfit- shoes - Jimmy Choo, Dress - Tu, kimono - One Hundred Stars

Thankfully, I was still able to get us booked in, and we headed down on Saturday afternoon. It was packed in there. I think there are quite a few birthdays at this time of year, but there were also a few hen parties too.

I find the idea of having afternoon tea for a Hen Party a bit odd. When I had mine years ago, I hired a limo, crammed it with some friends and we went to the nightclub and got very drunk. Those were the days of those horrible shooters that were bright blue and tasted like mouthwash. It was fun at the time. I digress.

Anyway, Saturday was lovely. We had a nice table and Mum got thoroughly spoiled with a posh new handbag from me and some Pandora charms for her bracelet from the chap. We ate lots of cake and even had cocktails too. 

Mum said she’d had a wonderful birthday, which of course was the whole point. Afterwards, we had a little wander around the shops, where I succumbed to the most amazing lamp in TK Maxx.

All in all, a rather excellent Saturday.

Half Term Fun

Bank holiday and annual leave meant that the first half of my week was luxuriously free from work, to enjoy some half term adventure with little miss. Unfortunately the North hasn’t quite yet managed to make the transition into summer, and so in typical British bank holiday style, it rained all day Monday. The quiet time did at least allow me to finish my latest book, The Essex Serpent, which I absolutely loved. Then we broke the monotony of the day with a trip to the local garden centre for tea and cake. It was packed, evidently everyone had the same idea.

Tuesday wasn’t a great deal better, so agreeing we needed an indoor day out, we opted for a trip to the shopping outlet. Of course, I went with the intention of just window shopping and snacking, but there were bargains to be had, so I did come away with a new top from Joules and this leather wristlet/pouch from Kate Spade.

To be fair, I think I look at these every time I go and always walk away without one. Little Miss managed to talk me into a Puppycorn surprise in Clare’s accessories, and so everyone went home happy.

North Bay with Scarborough Castle on the headland

Wednesday the weather decided to cheer up. I decided we’d take Thelma for a lovely long walk at North Bay.

I couldn’t wait to wear the Joules top I’d bought the day before. I’m a bit obsessed with all things nautical at the moment, and turns out this top is perfect for those warm but breezy seaside days.

Joules Mariners top worn with Jeans, Dr Martens boots and Barbour jacket and hat, perfect beach walking outfit

The weather was very kind, the tide was out and little Miss was thrilled to check out all of the rock pools. She managed to find some booty in the form of some rocks and an uninhabited crab shell.

We finished up with an iced coffee (me) ice cream (little miss) and cheesy chips before heading home. Thelma slept for the rest of the day.

That’s one hell of an iced coffee

Thursday was the end of my adventures. I was back at work, but Friday I decided to go to the office. Unsurprisingly it was extremely quiet! After work though the chap came to meet me for Friday night dinner at the Pitcher and Piano.

It was also 2-4-1 cocktails so I enjoyed not 1, but 2 espresso Martinis. Definitely the way to start the weekend. Later on, we parked ourselves in Costa to people watch. Something I’ve noticed about York in recent years is that people seem to be a little more eccentric. There seem to be more Alt. Types, as well as the nonchalant bohemians wandering through with flowing layers, and of course the downright odd sorts dancing to their own tunes (literally) as the world wanders by.

We finished up with another beautiful walk along the river before I caught the train home. 

Saturday morning I was up early, and decided to take advantage of the good weather by doing a spot of gardening. Later in the day, I took a trip into town. I was dropping off some bits to the charity shop, and the charity shop fairies definitely smiled on me afterwards. I found 2 lovely summer tops.

The lavender one is River Island, and the other one is a brand called Anise, and still had the labels on. Not bad given both together cost me less than £7. It gets better though because I then found this trunk at the second hand furniture shop.

It wasn’t until I got home and googled it that I found out it’s still for sale at an expensive furniture retailer for almost £400 more than I paid for it. That’s what I call a bargain!

Today has been a relaxed day of playing Guess Who, watching Shrek and Hotel Transylvania and grocery shopping. Back to normality tomorrow.