9 good things.

It is the 9th May today so here are 9 good things that are currently making me happy…just because.

My friends. This was us at the weekend on the first hen do of the year – a slumber party. I may have danced my socks off.

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The prospect of a holiday. We’re not going to Australia until next February but the planning (for me) is as much fun as the actual going. I’m beside myself. I’ve begun looking for inspiring Australian blogs (yes, I know it’s a big place) for an insight. If you can recommend any I’d be very grateful (sneak you in my suitcase?).

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Beth Jeans Houghton. Her voice makes me happy.

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The Make My Dreams Come True Exhibition at Heart Gallery.

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Food glorious food. Crikey. We had a spot of Afternoon tea at the weekend whilst celebrating a friends birthday. Sandwiches cut into triangles are the best. FACT.

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Game of Thrones. The theme tune alone sends me into a frenzy. I love a bit of fantasy/gore.

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Fruit. I have made it a mini-mission to eat more fruit. Fruit and I don’t get on very well. Vegetables I can eat until the cows come home. But fruit? Nah. I would happily go without. However I have been enjoying an apple a day for the past week. Steady as she goes.

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Voting. I don’t like to preach about politics but I do think every person, who has the right to vote, should. I vote in respect, for those who fought for the right to back in the day. Hopefully one day I’ll vote because there is a party I beleive in!

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Positive attitude. May has been a great month so far and I can’t help but feel happy about every aspect of my life. I’m really loving Hebden Bridge too – come on sunshine. But, the paranoid and anxious so and so that is me keeps on wondering when it will end. Must stay positive, must stay positive…

Happy Wednesday!

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Leeds Christmas Market and a fine weekend.

Happy Monday y’all, I hope the sun is shining wherever you may be. We went to the Leeds German Christmas Market this weekend to celebrate the OH’s birthday with his siblings. Sadly, it ended up only being a quick jaunt around the market, as there were ridiculous queues everywhere for mulled wine/beers. It was too cold to hang around so instead we all headed to a  less busy local bar for birthday cocktails – joy! We managed to take in some of the festive cheer though…

The rest of the weekend was made up of Lazy Sunday filter coffee, boiled egg and soldiers, working in the best place in town (and no, I wasn’t paid to say that!), The Burbs (love that film), sampling Hotel Chocolat delights with the OH (more on that later), making a very quick birthday badge for the OH (excuse the poor stitching!), reading blogs (my blogroll needs to be updated!), painting nails a lovely shade of pink and watching Monsters and Taken.

Today I’m spending the day with my lovely boyfriend (his actual birthday!). Happy Birthday Boo and many moooooore!

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Blackpool

Hello! Hello! Hello! So, there we have it. We saw the sea!

We packed my bag full of sandwiches, sherbet lemons, iPod and magazine and set out for Blackpool.

After missing out on the sunshine over the past week (but earning pennies instead) I was confident it would rain. I was wrong, joy!

To be very honest, the first part of the day was delightful. Walks on beach, breathing in the sea air, wins at the amusements (but losing at air hockey…meh) and tasty salad for lunch with fine cider. It was a nice way to spend the last few days of the Indian Summer.
The Afternoon? The novelty had worn off and we were ready to come home. A few wrong turns to get to the train station made us realise we wouldn’t be coming back soon. Not so pretty, my friends. Ah well, I’m happy we got to see the sea. I’ll sleep soundly tonight…

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Haworth, a bag and the winner!

Last week, with family in tow, I popped on over to Haworth, which is on the doorstep of Hebden Bridge, for a day of  fun.

The area surrounding Haworth is known as Brontë country, Haworth being the home of the literary greats The Brontës. It’s no surprise then that my favourite novel is Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë.

Coming back on the bus over the moors, my head was filled with every page of that book. I love this part of the world; the moors, the people, the history. For a dreamer, this place really is inspiring.

Anyhoo, back to our day out!

I came away with so many sweets! I've been buzzing off sherbet and liquorice all week.

As you can see, it really is a pretty village. At Christmas however, Haworth looks beautiful...the place to go for mulled wine!

Rose & Co sits perfectly in Haworth. I could have spent hours in here...alas my purse didn't allow!

I love this photo, a snippet of the landscape surrounding Haworth

My nephew, Dominic. The calm before the storm!

Walking to the bus stop after our lovely day, I stopped in a charity shop, like you do! I picked up a new roast tin for £1, a pair of metallic gold pumps from Dotty P’s for £2 and this cute bag for £1…sweet! And today, I’m using the said bag to pick my blog birthday winner!

Shaky! Shaky!

Yay! Congratulations Siobhan of Siobhan-Claude van Damme, I will be in touch! I’ll try to get pictures of the goodies for you all to see before I post them…ooh parcels!

And thank you for all the entries! I will definitely be doing another giveaway soon, I like to wrap things too much!

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Leeds and the Tiled Hall.

Beer. Beer is what was needed this weekend. So we decided to have a wee trip to Leeds, our old home, and have a day of fun. It started off at North Bar, my favourite bar in Leeds, selling the best boozy wooze around, mmm those fruit beers hit the spot!

North Bar

Leeds Art Gallery

We then headed to Leeds Art Gallery and immediately fell in love with the Tiled Hall cafe. Spacious, light, grand, and makes a mean cappuccino. The tiffin was good too.

Tiled Hall cafe

Swoon!

If you carry on walking through the gallery (top floor) you can access Leeds City Library. I adore this space so was glad to have my camera on me and snap a few pictures! Look at those tiles…

We then made a trip to WHSmith to pick up Mollie Makes and wandered towards the Corn Exchange.

Corn Exchange

Corn Exchange

Then came the charity shops. We walked in the British Heart Foundation, and saw a pretty basket to store magazines in but turned away only to see these bad boys.

I’ve been after some tan wedges but not been able to afford them. These are Clarks and at £4.99, I couldn’t resist. Yes, they’re slightly worn and are a size 6 (I’m a 5) but they fit like a glove. I couldn’t believe my luck! And the boyfriend left with a smile on his face having bought a Kung fu DVD. Result.

 

One more drink? Oh go on then. We went to Calls Landing Stew & Lobster Bar. I drank gin and ate stew. I was quite literally in heaven. Do we have to go home…?

Too true!

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