Petticoats and Penguins

 Last week brought glorious sunshine. Even the North Yorkshire Coast gave the impression that summer was on the way, paving the way for a fun filled week. 

On Thursday I was in London. It was a work trip, and as much as I do enjoy an odd trip to the London office, I do find it exhausting. Early in my career I used to spend a lot of time in London, but I never found it as draining as I do now. I did also live a few 100 miles closer to it, which is probably a factor.

Anyway, it was lovely to be in the office and catch up with so many of my London colleagues. I’d been saved a desk with a view out over the City skyline and at lunchtime a few of us went for a wander. Someone who obviously knows their way around led the expedition and within 10 minutes we were standing in the middle of the crowds on Petticoat Lane market. I’ve never been here before and was awestruck. There were Indian and African fabric shops and lots of street food stalls selling cuisine from every corner of the globe. We all split up to get our respective cuisines. I had Jerk Chicken and rice and at £7 for a large portion, it was no more expensive than I pay for similar in York. We all perched together on a wall in the sun to eat our lunches and mine, was delicious.

It was a long day. I wasn’t home until after 10 having left before 8am, and I’d enjoyed both the event I’d travelled down to attend, and catching up with people who I don’t always get to see. 

A parrot at the zoo

Saturday morning started off grey, and we thought our plans to go to the zoo at nearby Sewerby Hall were going to be scuppered by the weather. Thankfully, the sun managed to break through the clouds in the afternoon so we stuck to our original plan.

Puppucino in the cafe

After a snack in the cafe, we went to the zoo. It’s a small zoo with exotic birds, goats and other farm type animals and little Misses favourite, Penguins.

We were just in time for feeding at the Humbolt penguin enclosure and little Miss was over joyed. She asked lots of questions. We took lots of photos (I’m yet to download the ones from her camera), and she decided she’d really like a pet penguin.

After the zoo we took Thelma for a walk around the wonderfully picturesque gardens, alive with squirrels and birds. As the sunset, it was time to make our way home. 

Yes, I have used a filter 

Sunday I was off to York to meet the chap. He met me from the train, and first stop was some lunch. Then, I had a bit of a spending spree at Hotel Chocolat. In my defence, it wasn’t all for me, in fact most of it was Easter eggs for other people, including little Miss and the chap! Any visit to hotel Chocolat is always a good excuse to treat myself to some champagne truffles though.

Afterwards, we walked through York to the cinema. The chap had bought us tickets for Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man. We’re both big Peaky Blinders fans, so we were very excited.

The Everyman is probably one of our favourite cinemas, and the chap treated me to one of their delicious ice cream sundaes and a glass of red wine, to enjoy with the film.

Blurry photos in the cinema 

We really enjoyed the film. No spoilers, but there were definite differences between the style of the series and the film, but there kind of had to be because of the time period and the events. We enjoyed it, and I’m so glad I got to see it on the big screen.

The Everyman Cinema 

Soon enough I was heading back home on the train, ready to start another working week after a very busy few days. Fear not though, the customary grey skies we’re so familiar with have returned. Let’s hope it’s just a blip!