Showing off

My Aunty and Uncle came to stay with me last week.  They now live in Holland, and when they visit "back home" they like to see the hills and rolling English countryside.  They had been staying down south, and had not had very good weather so far for their stay, but they came north and we switched on the sun, and showed off.

 Monsal Dale had never looked lovelier.

 Its a little piece of heaven on earth.

The gardens at Chatsworth House......

.... were a very nice place to be yesterday in the lovely sunshine.

Eighteen

So my baby has turned Eighteen - where do the years go! He has turned from a teeny tiny little munchkin....

 ...  into a lovely 6 foot 5 inch (and still growing)  lovely, kind, handsome (if not a bit lazy!)young man.

 The girl who made his cake did herself proud.  She said it was the hardest cake she has ever made!!  The story is that when we were in the Nike shop on the Champs Elysee, he saw this fabulous pair of "Air Jordans" (basketball shoes) and he desperately wanted them.  He pestered and pestered, but they were well above £100 and I don't usually cave in, but we were in Paris and I caved.  But he was crushed when the shop assistant told him they were not for sale - they could be ordered, but not bought.  Earlier this year, he went to New York with his girlfriend and found the much desired shoes but at a much reduced price - he was over the moon.  So I decided that they would make a fab subject for a cake.  He loves it.

We are having a very small family gathering later on, and a party at a venue next week for his pals. Times feel like they are a changing around here. xxx

A nice bit of culture

I was very excited when I heard that Baz Luhrmann was re making The Great Gatsby.  I love the book and the previous films, and I had seen some of the trailers for it and was just giddy! I have loved all Baz's previous films - I like the way he seems to not have to stick to a  budget, but just produces a fabulous extravaganza.  So with the Great Gatsby, I was surprised he stuck very much to the book - I didn't expect him to do this, the costumes were fantastic, the actors were great too.  The settings were lush, but I wasn't too keen on the "computer generated images" so much.  The only thing I felt let it down was the soundtrack.  Now, the soundtrack is really really great and a really brave choice, but the music didn't feature as much in the film as I thought it would - which was a shame.   My daughter said she wanted to feel as if she was at the party - and I know what she meant.  And I didn't see the point in it being 3D either.  I want to watch it again in 2D.  My son thought it was hilarious when I tried to sum up my slight disappointment by saying it wasn't "Baz Luhrmanny enough".

 My other cultural outing was to the Lyceum in Sheffield to see Matthew Bournes Sleeping Beauty.   Again, Matthew Bourne can do no wrong in my eyes.  The production is simply stunning.  The costumes, the dancing, the sets - all totally spot on, and with Matthew Bourne twist in it.  Fabulous.

* All photos from Google images

Changing perceptions

I decided to treat hubby to brunch as he had been on a night shift - and he had to go back to work at 5pm so we couldn't do much with the day.  "I know, we'll pop up to Manor Lodge" says I.  "Great" he said with more than a hint of sarcasm.  "You'll love it" I said - he rolled his eyes at me (as he does).

It was a really lovely day, and they also had a history fair on too.

It was really interesting to look around.

He loved reading the old newspapers, and noted that in 1966 his football team were struggling! We often comment that in history, nothing really changes!

The views over the industrial part of the city on this fine day were very clear - the hill below is Wincobank Hill fort and again to my shame, even though I pass this millions of times, I have never stopped for a look.  I shall endeavour to remedy this.

We ate at the Rhubarb Shed Cafe which I have to say is becoming a favourite.  They grow a lot of the produce themselves here, and everything is cooked fresh.  It is all at Sheffield prices too !   Hubby had to admit that I had been totally right about this place (when am I ever wrong!) and he cannot wait to go back and see what else is on offer here.

Even though you are slap bang in the middle of a very busy city, the place is so peaceful and you feel as if you are on a farm in the middle of no where.  The cafe is open every day from 8am-3pm, the history bits are open on Fridays and Saturdays.

I loved the bug hotel made out of recycled bits.  It was good to change hubby's mind about somewhere that he has negative experiences of.  He also commented how really lovely everybody was that was either working there or visiting.

It is my newest favourite place to visit.

Stainless Steel City

And so we crossed the road and ended up in Victoria Quays by the canal - an area of the city that is  very under used and could be so fabulous.

 The buildings have been restored and some used for flats whilst others are used as offices.  There is also a hotel but the bars and canal side in general are never busy.

 We decided to eat at the cafe to help support the cause.  It was lovely and sunny and it really is a nice place to sit.  I understand that once the market is demolished, the council plan to improve access to the Quays to try and make it more popular - I hope it does.

 Hubby noticed the massive Carp swimming about - they are absolutely enormous and there are hundreds of them! One lady who lived on a barge said that they must be able to read as they hung about near the "no fishing " sign.

 We then walked into Sheffield over Park Square, where the tram runs.

 People of a certain age may remember the "Hole in the Road" that was demolished to make way for the tram.  I used to love the Hole in the Road (or "oil int ruuard") but it got very run down and uncared for and ended up a bit of a no go area.  It's a huge shame as it was iconic and very unique.

 I was headed in the direction of the Howard Pub near the railway station as the street artist Faunagraphic has just finished her most recent piece.

 This is Harry Brearley who invented Stainless Steel.  I think its really good.  I love the way we have several of these pieces of street art dotted around now - they really brighten the city up.

 And I was delighted to discover that the butter spreader I found when we cleared out my father in laws house seems to be a Brearley Stainless piece.  My little piece of Sheffield treasure.