Yo! Birthday

Monday was my birthday. Monday is not usually a very exciting day, but by taking the day off work, I managed to indulge in not only a long weekend….but a long weekend with presents!

James and I decided to head over to Leeds. Neither of us had been into the city centre, so we thought it would be good to explore. We could fit in some (gentle) shopping, lunch, and see what’s there.

The shopping area is great. I’m not a fan of ‘clone shopping centres’ where all the chain stores are in a new modern shopping centre, looking much the same in any large town or city. I prefer some lovely architecture and interesting and quirky shops to look at. Leeds has both!

We started with Harvey Nichols, and had lunch in the Yo! Sushi bar. I had only been to a sushi restaurant over 20 years ago (in California!), and James had never eaten sushi, so we thought that might be fun. I love the way all the little dishes come around on a conveyor belt, and you just take off the one(s) that take your fancy and then pay for the appropriate number and colour of bowls at the end. It’s a great concept (I’m surprised that other food/retail establishments haven’t copied this concept) and it’s good food too. We definitely plan on going again.

We then headed into the pedestrian shopping area and found some beautiful Victorian ornate shopping arcades, and also a lively market where I got an unusual new dress for £20.

Ending the day with homemade cake and latte in Debenhams, it was a great way to spend a birthday day off. I think we’ll be heading back to Leeds….maybe after the Christmas rush.

Gliding

I bought my nephew, Benji, a gliding lesson for his 21st birthday in June. Not one to rush things, Benji arranged to go last Sunday, 23rd November. I wanted to come along to watch and take pictures.

However, with the heavy snow the day before, it was touch and go if the flight was going ahead, and how possible it would be for us to drive the back roads through to Pocklington near York. Leaving a very snowy, icy Driffield, the nearer we got, the less it had snowed, and the bluer the sky appeared. When we got to the airfield, it looked perfect for gliding. Benji was given his safety instructions, and strapped into his parachute, and squeezed into the tidy cockpit of the small, lightweight glider, with an experienced co-pilot. They were pulled along by a piece of rope attached to a slightly larger, single engined plane. When up in the air, the rope detached and they were on their own to silently glide above the snowy Yorkshire countryside. How fantastic! I do hope I get to have a go sometime – despite my fear of heights, it really does look like a wonderful experience.
Conveniently, I had reminded Benji about my birthday the next day, so he and Toni, together with Liddi and I headed into York for a bit of lunch followed by some interesting seasonal retail therapy. We had a tasty roast lunch at a Jazz café, with live music, and I opened my presents. This way I get to have 2 birthdays!! Nice.

Winter has arrived

2 weeks ago, James and I dug over my vegetable plot, as I have decided to turf it over for a while. We were having a mild spell, and I ordered the turf to arrive in time for last weekend. However, the 5-day weather forecast said ‘snow’. As if !! I even bet Liddi £1 it wouldn't snow. Saturday morning arrived, and we woke up to find it snowing! I was sure it would be no more than a couple of flakes, and then the usual slush and melting. However, by the end of the day, we had several inches of snow in the garden and all plans to lay turf had been frozen (see what I did there??!).

However, doesn’t snow look lovely?

Off Travelling

My sister, Mia, has been staying with me for 2 months, between returning from a year in Canada, and going off for a year’s travelling in New Zealand. I am deeply envious of her adventures but have been enjoying the experience of Canada mostly through her blog, photos and messages (isn’t technology wonderful?) and look forward to more of the same with New Zealand. Of course, these things don’t just happen by chance! For the past 2 months she has been planning, list making, phoning, checking, re-list making, emailing for visas, flights, insurance, finances, places to stay, things to do, people to see, and most of all, making lists. In fact, if anyone is planning a full military invasion, I think Mia could be the person to organise it!

Before Mia left, she requested a meal out for a proper, traditional English meal. Curry. We have a new restaurant recently opened in Driffield, where Mia, Lydia and I enjoyed a thoroughly delicious variety of yummy, spicy dishes. As always, we ordered far too much, so the ‘doggy bag’ meant we could remind ourselves the next night just how tasty the curry had been. After our meal, we headed into the dizzy heights of Driffield nightlife and sampled the delights of the London Bar. Being mid-week, and with 2 tee-totallers, we had a pleasant (yet subdued) experience.

After Mia had left, my other sister asked whether it was nice to have my house back to myself. Pondering on that question, I realised that while Mia was staying with me – even for 2 months - I didn’t feel that she was invading my space. In fact, it was really nice coming home to find Mia at home (especially if she’d done some cleaning or cooked a meal!). I’m not really used to having many guests, and I must admit when I do, it does usually feel fairly invasive (as well as quite sociable!), and I do like to get back to ‘normal’. I have a good relationship with Mia and I think we understand each other well. We have obviously known each other a long time (all her life), and we do think and do many things the same way. I guess that all makes a difference when living together. Anyway, I enjoyed Mia staying with me, and hearing about all her plans, and having her helping with mine. Mia – have fun travelling and you’re welcome to come and stay any time!