'You can tell me I have a pretty cover but I only date men who read.' (Lauren Eden) This week has been quite quiet by my standards; on Wednesday I met up with the girls for a couple of drinks at Carluccio's in Hale as we hadn't had chance to give Hannah her birthday present. It was a welcome mid-week catch-up to break up working, and I had their lemon prosecco spritz again, which is tasty. My track for this week is an oldie that came up on shuffle on my iPod a while ago, and I have been playing it most days since. It never fails to give me goosebumps, and I love when the beat kicks in right at the beginning, such a fab uptempo record.
On Thursday I went on a first date with someone who 'super-liked' me on Tinder (that's a new thing since I've been back on it, and to be honest I still don't entirely get the concept). I wasn't going to stick with the app in the UK after coming back from Magaluf (one failed two year Tinder relationship is quite enough for me), but everything deserves a second chance right? With this one (let's go with F) we had been chatting for a while but with my birthday and being in Barcelona we hadn't had chance to meet up. He was better than I expected, more attractive than his photos, cracking banter, and considering I kept him hanging around in town by himself for nearly 2 hours because I finished work late he was good company, and we seemed to have a lot of random kooky things in common, which is a plus for me! We started in Kosmonaut for a few drinks, and then moved onto Cottonopolis at about 10pm which I hadn't been to before. It's rather swanky in there, all exposed brick, moody lighting and copper pipes, and I had a lovely margarita before scuttling off to catch the last train home. F was an ideal combo of gracious enough to let me do lots of talking, but bold enough to take control now and again, including making the first move to kiss me, which I definitely didn't complain at!
On Saturday my friend Claire came to visit from London, and we took Ferryn to Styal Mill for a little walk before heading home for some slow cooked beef casserole made by yours truly, and to get doled up for my birthday night out on the town. Amanda had come over from Paris for the weekend, and Timna popped out for a couple, as well as a few of the girls who came to celebrate with me as well.
We started in Epernay champagne bar near The Great Northern, which has a gorgeous little terrace overlooking the square for sunny days, and does loads of different champagnes and other fizz by the glass for really decent prices. We managed to get through 4 bottles (whoops!) before heading over to a new bar called Impossible, where I was kindly bought an industrial strength zombie cocktail made in a conical flask, by Amanda. We finished the night in The Liar's Club, but to be honest the music was shite, so we didn't stay long - old school hip hop is one thing, but monotonous rap is kind of difficult to dance to!
The following day Claire and I had a lie in and then after breakfast went into Didsbury to And The Dish Ran Away With The Spoon, one of my favourite cakeries. I had a snickers brownie with a chai latte, and we went for a walk around the Maker's Market that happened to be on. It was a successful shopping day! I got a beautiful vintage 9ct gold ring with topaz and diamonds in with some of my birthday money, and found a cute poster of some sheet music with an S drawn over it for 3 quid to add to my hallway wall in the flat. I nipped to Mum's afterwards for a cuppa and to collect the dog, and gave Claire a lift to the airport before coming home, and posting a new poem up on Instagram, read it here. I am now firmly stationed on the sofa with champagne truffles (cheers Claire!) for Love Island, which I am getting right into!
Fish, Steak Pizza & Prosecco! On Monday Mo came to mine and cooked a really nice bit of salmon with veg and potatoes for tea, makes a change for it to be so healthy! Tuesday I had fish again, but at the Country Club, this time it was sea bass with crab and cauliflower salad and asparagus and was amazing as per usual. On Wednesday Tasha came to mine and I made a spaghetti bolognese and we booked the hotel for our holiday - so excited! I babysat on Thursday and then on Friday went out to Manchester for a meal and drinks (see previous post). Yesterday I got up early and drove Mum and I to Leeds to see Jasmine as a belated Mother's Day present. We bought her a ticket to the theatre to see Pygmalion, and went to Ask in Headingley for lunch beforehand. We got the mixed Panzerottini (filled dough balls) and a sharing platter of meat, cheese and bread as a starter, and then for main I had the most amazing pizza type thing that was a rosemary and sea salt flat bread topped with steak, rocket, tomatoes and grana pardano. It was absolutely huge, and tasted phenomenal, the waitress recommended it and I'm glad I trusted her judgement!
We were really full, and pushed for time afterwards so skipped dessert and went straight to watch the play, which was really good (see next week's post), and then I drove back home and quickly got ready for a night out! Emily and Natasha came to mine for predrinks, and then we met my friend Amanda in Manchester and went to Neighbourhood. It was a really fun night, we were on the prosecco and the music was awesome, we stayed so late and got free shots! Today I felt pretty ropey, I'd stayed at my parents so was in bed until lunchtime, then had a bacon and egg sandwich and was given a lift home. Mo came round and we've just had a much needed Chinese, though it took nearly an hour and a half to arrive, not the best on a hangover!
Byron Burger, Manchester Last night a group of us wanted to go out somewhere for dinner and a couple of drinks, so I suggested Byron Burger, on Deansgate in Manchester. It is always rammed when I walk past, and has a sort of 50s vibe going on, so after looking at the menu (pretty cheap) I thought it was a good choice. We booked a table for 8 people with no problem, and ordered some drinks whilst perusing the menu. It is quite limited, but I like this as it shows that in theory, what they make should be top notch. I have been to a few burger places recently and if truth be told, I'm not even a huge fan of them (hell knows why I chose the restaurant!) so I decided to be different and went for the veggie burger. It had a huge portabello mushroom, pepper, tomato, spinach, red onion and aioli on, and was supposed to be goats cheese, but I swapped it for some Monterey Jack instead. I really enjoyed it, and got the skin-on fries as a side, which were really tasty. We shared a bottle of wine and all the guys had beers, so we just split the bill for ease, with a tip it came to just over £20 each, which I thought was decent for what we had. Afterwards we went to a new cocktail bar with a similar vibe to Alchemist called Elixir on Deansgate for a couple of drinks, before moving on to Liars Club, a last minute decision as I missed the last train, so thought I might as well stay out late if I was forking out £25 for a taxi home! It was a really fun night, a good distraction from the monotonies of life!
Shopping, Pizza Hut & Bank Holiday Drinking! This was my first of two weeks off, beginning with me returning from Paris on Monday, and not doing much all day except unpacking and having Mo round for tea in the evening. On Tuesday I went into Manchester with Abi shopping, and I had the microdermal on my navel redone, which hurt! We went for lunch afterwards at a cute place in the Northern Quarter called Teacup on Thomas Street, although we both just opted for cake in the end. I had a pistachio sponge which had green icing with white polka dots down the side and a cute flower in the top, while Abi chose the multicoloured Battenburg, which was amazing to look at, even if it was far to sickly to finish a whole piece! Afterwards we wandered around the shops, and I tried on a few potential dresses for Laura's wedding, although I bought nothing except for some makeup sponges - very boring. At least it saves my money though! We had some wine at Selfridges as a bit of a break at 3pm, and came home quite late at 7pm. That evening Mo came round again and we had this nice chicken in cheese and leek sauce for tea and just collapsed in front of the TV, so nice having a free house!
On Wednesday I did my full triathlon cycle in an hour which I was really chuffed with, and then in the evening I went to Pizza Hut for tea with Emily, Smeed, MC and Mo. I shared a bottle of wine and had a barbecue chicken and bacon pizza, and all mains now come with a free salad buffet, so I properly gorged out! On Thursday a group of us went to Liverpool for a night out (see previous post) and on the Friday Mo brought us home from the station mid afternoon. Jasmine came back from uni for Easter (after a very traumatic experience when the car her and Laura were driving in broke down on the fast lane of the motorway!) and Lydia popped round for a catch up, so it was a sociable day! That evening Mo and I went into town to meet Lydia and her friends Lisa and Connor at Dukes 92. I love the place, and we had a few drinks before moving onto Liars Club, where the night got very hazy! Saturday was spent in various degrees of hungover, and when I finally got up at 6pm (!) I had some food, got ready and went out for a couple of drinks at Bloom with Tasha, Abi and Lyd. I drove as was not in the mood to drink again, and had a cocktail without the alcohol which was really nice, and made a change from drinking coke. Today Jas and I found our Easter eggs hidden in the garage, so had lots of chocolate and chilled out chatting until 4pm when Mo came round and we went for a walk in Dunham. It was a bit chilly, but nice to get out of the house, and when we got back we made a nice buffet tea for the three of us and watched The Other Guys, which was pretty funny. The week has gone far too quickly, but at least I've packed quite a lot in.
This week has been another good one! On Monday the pub was dead so I finished at 9pm which was appreciated as I was really tired after the weekend. On Tuesday I went to the gym and for a swim in the evening, and got some gorgeous sushi for tea at the country club - king crab and asparagus roll with scallop cerviche and caviar. I had a chilled one that night and on Wednesday did Body Pump and tried hot yoga for the first time. It was good, but was a lot faster than any yoga I've done before so not sure I benefited as much. Also the heat made me feel a little woozy, so not my favourite class! That evening I went out for drinks in town with Phil which was nice, although I completely bailed at one point - rather embarrassing... (pretty funny though!) On Thursday I did Bokwa again, though I was disappointed to learn that it is being cancelled due to unpopularity which is a shame, it's one of the only quasi dance classes that I am coordinated enough to do! In the evening I went out with Abi and her sister Anna (see previous post). On Friday I did a Body Combat class that was ridiculously draining, but at least I felt like I had properly worked out. In the evening Mo came round and I made us some nachos and fajitas which was tasty, and then we got drunk! It was cool just to chat and have a few bevvies without spending loads by going out.
On Saturday evening I got ready and got a lift to Emily and Smeed's with Tasha and we had a few drinks before going into town for a night out. We were going to go back to Revolucion de Cuba, but the queue was huge so we went to Liars Club instead. Tasha and I scored a £30 bucket cocktail for £20 because someone had changed their order, and luckily it was delicious. It was meant for upto six people so lasted us the entire night, and got us pretty hammered, and the music being played was a proper blend, so we all had a really fun night. We headed home at 2.30am falling asleep in the taxi! Annoyingly I caught one of my bellybutton microdermal piercings when I was getting into bed, and it half came out, luckily it didn't hurt though. The following day once I was up and ready I went into Manchester to try and get my piercing sorted. Unfortunately they were fully booked up for the day, and also said I would have to have it removed and re-pierced, so that's £40 wasted! In an attempt to make my journey more worthwhile/ cheer myself up, I stopped in Costa Coffee for a lemonade and to read my book, and then met up with Mo for a hot chocolate as he was working in town. Afterwards I drove home and had a quiet evening with an early-ish night as I was knackered!
This week was my second of two weeks off, and I've had a really nice time. On Monday I went on a shopping trip to Chester with Tasha, Hana and Charlotte which was fun. The weather was lovely, and we had a pub lunch at a place called The Boathouse that was tasty. I had hunter's chicken with chips and peas - was so stuffed afterwards! I got a few bargains whilst shopping; a pair of shorts from Topshop for £12, and a gorgeous French Connection dress reduced from £285 to £71, both in the sales. The dress is peach coloured with sequins all over, and is strapless with a boned top and an amazing full skirt - I can't wait to have an occasion to wear it for! I also got the standard few essentials from Primark before we drove home at 4pm. That evening I went for a few drinks with Michael in the Revs in Fallowfield - on a Monday it is 50% off, gutted I always work on a Monday eve! On Tuesday I had a majorly lazy day, and then went for a few drinks with the girls at Hale Bar and Grill in the evening. Hannah and Srishti came, who I don't see very often, so it was great to catch up with their lives. On Wednesday I went to the gym and for a swim,which is much needed after all the excessive drinking and eating that seems to go hand in hand with time off work! In the evening I watched The Virgin Suicides which was really good, and then went to a friend's for the night. On Thursday I set off fairly early for Oxford to visit a couple of friends there. It was a pretty packed couple of days, so I've done a post just on my trip there (see previous). When I got back on Friday I quickly changed and went for a few drinks in Hale. I bumped into an old school friend which was lovely, we had quite a chinwag! I had work the next day, so we left at 11.30pm.
After work on Saturday I went out in Manchester with a few friends. We went to a place called The Liars Club, which was amazing. It was decorated like a Tiki bar and they did loads of cocktails that they set on fire. We had group shared one, first a strawberry daiquiri, then two flaming zombies that looked immense! I went to a friend's house afterwards for an 'afterparty', though there were only four of us. After all I'd had out, plus the bottle of Cava I'd predrunk, I then had quite a lot of Disaronno, so today was a complete and utter write-off, I was still drunk at 7pm! It is always the sign of a good night though, and it was a good end to a fab two weeks off. Shame it's back to work tomorrow!
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