Snow Day

 It’s hard to believe that only 2 weeks ago I was sat around a fire pit on a warm Bonfire night. By contrast, last week we were well and truly plummeted into winter. I was planning to go to the office on Thursday but the snow and associated chaos it brings made me think better of it. 

School was closed for the day, and the walk to the local shop for a loaf took me twice as long as it usually would. It does make the world look lovely though when it’s covered in a white blanket, even if it does make me retreat to giant boots and fleeces for warmth.

After my Mum encouraged me to watch the 1980 film, Xanadu a couple of weeks ago, me and little miss have become obsessed with the Electric Light Orchestra (all of the music in the film is ELO). I bought a CD to listen to in the car and it’s been on repeat. I’ve really got back into buying records and CDs again because frankly, I find streaming to be a bit shit! Endless adverts and never the song you ACTUALLY want to hear! Saturday afternoon I had a little peruse around the local charity shops and vintage record shop and bought a couple of new LPs too. The Sorcerers Apprentice, much loved by little miss, cost me a mere 50p and how could I possibly leave that cover behind? Bing was from the record shop but was exactly what I was looking for, to listen to over Christmas. Slightly pricier at £5 but still a bargain. Buying and listening to music definitely makes me happy. It did when I was a teenager and it still does!

The rest of Saturday afternoon was a mixture of shopping and relaxation. Grocery shopping, not too exciting. Mum and I did go out o Wilson’s food hall for lunch though, which never fails to brighten up an otherwise standard afternoon.

It’s located in a village just outside of Scarborough, and always has quite a buzz. They have it all done up for Christmas now, and I thought it would be lovely to have a photo in one of the ski chalet set ups. Shame it was sopping wet, and a bigger shame that I discovered that by sitting in it!

The awkward pose of someone who sat on wet blankets

Never mind, it was still lovely. Sunday the weather actually started to brighten, and after having pancakes and playing some pool with little miss, I walked Thelma to the seafront.

I stopped for a cuppa at brewed and enjoyed the scenery, just making it home before the weather turned again.

After a hearty dinner of chicken casserole, we decided to put our tree up. I’ve had to buy a smaller tree this year. Over the course of the year I’ve added more furniture to my home which just makes the giant 6ft tree I’ve had for the past few years unviable.

My old tree

This year’s tree

This cute little white one is adorable though and little Miss loved decorating it! I realise it’s still November and ordinarily I’m a put it up on December 22nd kind of person, but I have a lot planned over coming weekends so it was easier just to do it now. Bing and a Christmas tree, I’m definitely getting in the spirit early this year!

Unveiling: The Dining room/office

 I mentioned a couple of weeks back that I had been painting the woodwork in the multi-use room that’s generally referred to as ‘the work room’. Well this weekend I finally did the wallpapering and finished the room.

I think a lot of people had rooms that became multi-use after COVID. Ever since then I’ve worked 4/5 days at home and so this room serves as my office, our dining room, little Miss’ Lego room and houses Thelma the dog and Jerry the Hamster. It’s all round a busy room.

The picture above the dining table

Being right in the middle of the house it doesn’t get an awful lot of natural light, so while I was adamant that I wanted something dark and bold, I also felt the need to balance it with something light. So I have an off white on the walls, Peacock Blues by B&Q Valspar on the woodwork, and then this gorgeous bold floral wallpaper across one wall.

Above my desk I’m displaying paintings by little Miss, including the one that was on display at the local gallery earlier this year.

I finally got to put up the Indian Toran pelmet that I bought last year in Chester, on the fireplace. 

Night time cosiness

It feels so cosy in this room now, I’m so happy with how it turned out.

C’mon baby light my fire(pit)

 I actually quite like this time of year. I like the quick succession of festive days that make it not seem quite so dark and dreary. Last week of course, it was bonfire night. Poor Thelma had been beside herself for a couple of weeks with all of the fireworks going off, so I definitely don’t add to that anxiety by setting fireworks off too, but I did set up a cosy little fire in my fire pit, and me and little miss toasted marshmallows and lit some sparklers.

It was unseasonably warm, and it was really nice just to sit out there and enjoy the fire and the fireworks that were being set off around the area. 

Little miss loved it, especially toasting the marshmallows.

I was more excited about my Swedish torch than is normal

Thursday I was off to York. I stopped off en route to the office to say hello to my friend S, and lots of people were in the office from London so there was a nice buzz. After work, I met the chap and he treated me to fajitas at Las Iguanas.

Then we walked up to the train station and waited what seemed like an age for my delayed train. It was a long day and I didn’t get home until late. 

York at dusk

Too dark for these photos to work

With Halloween and Bonfire night behind us, it was time to change out of my Pumpkin bag. I opted for my lovely Michael Kors tote bag this time around. It’s not been out of the wardrobe for a while, such is the case when you’re a handbag fanatic. 

I think it’s only a matter of time before little miss starts skimming off my collection anyway so I best get using my good ones! Saturday afternoon we took a trip down to the chap’s house to see Bruno and introduce him to Thelma.

He’s so adorable, I’m not sure Thelma quite knew what to make of him. After a peruse around town, it was time to head home. Another late one indeed.

Sunday was more relaxing. A lazy morning and some grocery shopping, catching up on laundry and general pottering. Then, in the blink of an eye, another week has passed. Where does it go? 

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.