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Whitby - Riverside Apartments
Posted by Webby at May 31, 2009 09:38 PM | Comments (0)Jilly, Evelyn and I enjoyed an absolutely glorious weekend in Whitby this weekend. Jilly was e-mailed with an offer of what turned out to be a beautiful apartmenton the River Esk in Whitby. The accommodation was excellent and the weather fantastic...
Thursday 28/05/2009
Hoping to arrive in Whitby by lunch-time, we left Huddersfield at 10:30 this morning. Unfortunately, we were forced to take a detour via Helmsley - on the way past York - as the A64 was extremely busy near Flaxton road works. We had a wander around Helmsley (where I bought a couple of very good pork pies) then continued on to Whitby via Pickering.
We arrived in Whitby at 14:30 and were able to get straight into the accommodation which was lovely, (the Riverside Apartment) and is just a twenty minute walk along the river Esk from Whitby. After a quick cup of tea, Evelyn badgered us into leaving the flat so that she could go outside and practice her skipping in the sunshine. Typically, that didn't last long, as Evie soon discovered that there is a lovely children's playground just outside the flat.
Eventually, we managed to tear Evelyn away from the playground and walked into Whitby via 'The Middle Earth Tavern'. A little disappointed NOT to be served by a surly hobbit, I ordered a very refreshing (and well deserved - given the drive I'd just endured) pint of Black Sheep Best (with a pint of lager shandy for Jilly - she couldn't be convinced of the virtues of the cider shandy) and a 'pink drink' for Evelyn. As always, when we got into the town centre, 'The Magpie' was heaving, so we ate at 'The Quayside' restaurant, (practically) next door, where the food was lovely. Evelyn was shattered when we'd eaten, so I (struggled, as I) carried her home on my shoulders.
Jilly and I plan to weigh her on our return home, as she most have grown loads recently...
Friday 29/05/2009
As we were confident that the east coast was going to bask in glorious sunshine today, Jilly, Evelyn and I made our way to the beach at 10:30. Jilly talked me into hiring deckchairs (even though we had the beach tent and carpet), and it was money well spent. We spent over five hours on the beach (something Jilly tells me is a record) and, during that time, Evelyn made friends with a beautiful little girl called 'Phoebe'. We had a dinner in another of Whitby's many fish and chip restaurants as the Italian of choice (Moutrey's) was fully booked all night.
Of course, after a busy day on the beach, Evie's little legs soon became very tired on the walk home, so I was roped into carrying her again. My shoulders seem to be getting used to the extra burden now...but don't tell Evie.
Watching the weather forecast for Saturday, we're expecting more sunshire and temperatures of around 16 degrees C tomorrow.
Saturday 30/05/2009
As Evelyn is becoming more and more reliant upon me carrying her home from Whitby (it is quite a long way, and she does have little legs!), we drove to Whitby's 'West Beach', today, via the Coop (for extra provisions) where I was almost tempted to buy a £25.00 red and black shorty wet-suit - size XXL. Before making our way to the beach, Evelyn had a dip in the paddling pool where she, very quickly, becmae friends with another little girl - Maddie - who just so happened to have the biggest inflatable 'otter' (in fact, it was a seal!) imaginable. We all enjoyed another lovely day on the beach. As 'Deckchair Dad', I relaxed nicely with my book, while Jilly and Evelyn hunted for fossils, as they discussed the young "gifelaurds" (all of whom, incidentally, were young men!).
Tonight we managed to get a table at Moutrey's where I enjoyed the seafoodiest seafood pizza EVER which included five tiny octopii (Jilly was visibly disturbed by the tenticles, and the waitress claimed that the seafood pizzas are regularly sent back as customers aren't prepared for the variety of seafood in the topping and couldn't bring themselves to eat octopus.
Sunday 31/05/2009
We were all VERY upset to be leaving Whitby, this morning, after such a lovely break...Evelyn especially. We left the flat at 10:00 as required, and as Evie started boo-ing. We drove up to Saltburn, where we parked at the top of the hill and rode the tram lift down to the beach. We had another beautiful day on the beach in astonishing May sunshine (though, without Deckchairs, today!). Fantastically, Evie made another friend, with whom she played all day. We left Saltburn at 14.10, stopped at the roadside for some lunch, and still managed to get home for 16:15, as we drove via the A19 and A1(M).
Brilliant!
Tooth Fairy
Posted by Webby at May 26, 2009 01:13 PM | Comments (0)Evelyn has announced (with disturbing pride), that she has a wobbly tooth. Trying to wobble her tooth (with some ferocity), Evelyn explained that she was, "...doeing to dell Niamh" (going to tell Niamh) after the half-term holiday. In the same breath, though, Evelyn also explained that she thought the Tooth Fairy was probably on her way - tonight - to collect the tooth!
I think her attitude may well change when the pain and bleeding start. Watch this space...
Morrissey's 50th birthday gig - Manchester Apollo
Posted by Webby at May 22, 2009 11:59 PM | Comments (0)Jilly and I drove to the Manchester Apollo tonight to join Morrissey in celebration of his 50th birthday. Well...I say join him in the celebration of his birthday; in fact, the gig was simply the one that happened to fall on Morrisey's birthday and we were fortunate enough to have a very good friend in Jim who had the presence of mind to buy tickets within 15 minutes of them going on sale.
Morrissey was supported by a band called Doll and the Kicks, an unsigned four piece rock band with a female vocalist who sang a little like a cross between Kate Bush and Gwen Stefani. Unfortunately, arriving a little late, we only saw their final two or three tracks.
Morrissey was on top form and interacted with the audience from the very beginning. As I know I couldn't do Morrissey's set justice by writing about it here, I've posted this link to a review of the gig in the BBC (I've printed it to .pdf format). Only after I'd uploaded the BBC article, did I find the following article (and set list) from the NME.
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Morrissey celebrates 50th birthday with hometown show
Singer rolls out Smiths classics for star studded performance
Morrissey celebrated his 50th birthday yesterday (May 22) with the first of two hometown shows
The Urmston born singer came onstage at the Manchester Apollo to a huge and prolonged standing ovation, before he said "50 gruesome years" and swiftly opened with The Smiths classic 'This Charming Man'.
Featuring a set which included a whole host of singles from Moz's solo career and his Smiths era, the singer seemed in high spirits and was constantly joking with the crowd and shaking hands.
A surprised 'Happy Birthday' song preceded the start of 'Girlfriend In A Coma', with guitarist Boz Boorer leading the way and the crowd more than willing to join in.
Shortly after, Morrissey quipped: "I'm not 50, I'm forty ten," before adding: "Did you rehearse that? It sounds like you did."
The crowd, which included comedians Alan Carr and Jo Brand, actors from Shameless and Emmerdale, radio DJ Marc Riley and music journalist John Robb, was full of quiffs and fans of all ages.
Still finding time to take a stab at the music industry, Morrissey introduced 'The World Is Full Of Crashing Bores' by saying: "I've been waiting for a time when someone says no to a Brit Award, says no to the phoney Mercury Music Prize and until that day the world is full of crashing bores."
But the night was one of celebration and closing the show with fan favourite 'First Of the Gang To Die', there was still time for one more standing ovation before Morrissey and his band left the stage.
Fan footage of the final song can be found below.
Morrissey played
'This Charming Man'
'Irish Blood, English Heart'
'Black Cloud'
'How Soon Is Now?'
'All You Need Is Me'
'How Can Anybody Possibly Know How I Feel?'
'Girlfriend In A Coma'
'I'm Throwing My Arms Around Paris'
'Let Me Kiss You'
'Ask'
'Something Is Squeezing My Skull'
'One Day Goodbye Will Be Farewell'
'Why Don't You Find Out For Yourself?'
'The World Is Full Of Crashing Bores'
'I Keep Mine Hidden'
'When Last Time I Spoke To Carol'
'Best Friend On The Payroll'
'Sorry Doesn't Help'
'Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others'
'The Loop'
'I'm OK By Myself'
'First Of The Gang To Die'
http://www.nme.com/news/morrissey/44867
Evelyn's spelling!
Posted by Webby at May 17, 2009 08:15 PM | Comments (0)Jilly, Evelyn and I visited Kirkstall Abbey today, where we had a lovely picnic (between showers). We ate lunch, before having a wander around the abbey itself. After seeing the abbey, we took in the sights of the abbey museum, but Evelyn (and I) soon tired of that (I'm ashamed to say!).
During the time in the museum, Evelyn told Jilly that she needed to go to the toilet. According to Jilly, they were in the toilets as Evelyn announced (quite out-of-the-blue!),
"SH...I...T spells shit, doesn't it Mummy?"
"Yes...yes...yes it does, Evelyn. But please don't say that again, as it's a rude word!"
So there's nothing wrong with Evelyn's developing spelling either, then, eh?
Evelyn's reading!
Posted by Webby at May 17, 2009 07:49 PM | Comments (0)I have been unforgiveably remiss in not reporting anything about Evelyn's reading since she started school, so I'm hoping to start making amends for it now.
I've sat with Evelyn, this evening, as she read the whole of Jelly and Bean to me. While Evie seemed to take it in her stride, I was thrilled as Evelyn read every word almost without help. Quite brilliant! And, as Evelyn really is constantly reminding me, "I know what 'quite' means, Daddy; it means 'very'!"
Bikini madness
Posted by Webby at May 17, 2009 09:56 AM | Comments (0)Perhaps buying the bikini was not such a good idea :)!
Evelyn got up this morning, put on her new bikini and 'high heels' (in truth they're practically flat, purple plastic 'play glamour' shoes) and is currently parading around our bedroom doin' 'sexy lady dancing'. I think I'm going to have to put a stop to her watching 'High School Musical'; Mr Tumble could never be accused of behaving like that on the telly-box!
Evelyn's first bikini
Posted by Webby at May 16, 2009 09:30 PM | Comments (0)In the run up to the Summer holidays (we'll be 'jetting off' to Cornwall again this summer!), Jilly and I agreed that Evelyn needed a new swimming costume (she's outgrown most of her exising ones).
We took Evelyn shopping for a costume this morning and, instead of the usual 'Little Mermaid' swimming costume, Evelyn was adamant that she wanted a bikini (gulp!). Fortunately, left to choose her own bikini with very little influence from Jilly or I, Evelyn chose a lovely white outfit with red polka dots, and a skirt on the bikini bottoms. She looks absolutely lovely in it.
I only hope that her taste in swimming costumes remains this conservative as she grows up. Well? I am her dad, aren't I!
Updated 21:16 - 21 May 2009
For the benefit of one of my readers, I've had to add inverted commas around the expression 'jetting off'. Naively, Jim believed that we were planning to jet off to Cornwall literally...we will, of course, be driving down to Cornwall (I say 'we', but I'll be the only one doing any actual driving!). And we'll be beginning our drive at about 4.00am. We know how to live the high life, alright!
Mamma Mia!
Posted by Webby at May 16, 2009 09:09 PM | Comments (0)Kieran bought the DVD of 'Mamma Mia!' for Jilly on Mother's Day this year and, so far, Evelyn has watched it about a dozen times (with Jilly on just two occasions!). What's all that about, then, eh?
At bedtime, after her bath, Evelyn often prefers to watch a little 'Mamma Mia!' instead of her cartoons or Hannah Montana disks. Fantastic! Of course, we still read to Evelyn and endure enjoy four five [she is five, now, afterall!] nursery rhymes as we settle Evie to sleep.
In truth, of course, I never discourage Evelyn as I enjoy watching the movie myself!
The Wonder Stuff
Posted by Webby at May 15, 2009 11:50 PM | Comments (0)
Leaving Jilly to look after Evelyn, Dominic and Matilda at the Harriseseses (bless 'er), I joined the Wassocks (Jim and Helen), Andrew Bradbury and John Sharpe (from work) at the O2 Academy in Leeds to see The Wonder Stuff on their 20th Anniversary 'Eight Legged Groove Machine' tour.
The gig was fantastic and, quite surprisingly, the lyrics of every track off the album came flooding back to me as I joined the rest of the audience in jumping around like a twenty-year-old lunatic. John (an ardent Wonder Stuff fan) was first to join the throng, and I couldn't resist joining him. The band played for well over an hour, and I managed to dance for the whole period (though I was feeling a little weary when I'd finished)
Hopefully, someone will post a track listing, shortly, and there's even a suggestion that one of the guys at work might be able to get his hands on a bootleg of the actual concert. Fingers crossed!
Updated - 22 May 2009 - The Yorkshire Post Review
MIDWAY through the set, Miles Hunt makes the frank admission that he was best known for his tartan suits rather than any musical talent.
That may be true to any casual observer of the music charts in the early 1990s, but The Wonder Stuff were always much more than just a novelty band who covered Tommy Roe's Dizzy.
And for the dedicated fan, the band's current tour is manna from musADVERTISEMENTical heaven.
It is the chance to see the Stuffies rattle off the whole of their first album, The Eight Legged Groove Machine, live to mark the 21st anniversary of its release, while throwing in a host of rarities and B-sides into the set.
His tartan suits and long hair may be long gone and the adolescent spots replaced by a widening middle age girth, but Hunt remains as charismatic and cuttingly humorous as he ever was.
While the only other member of the original band who is in the line-up is guitarist Malc Treece, the songs are just as fresh as they were back in 1988.
Like any young band, The Wonder Stuff started out hoping to secure the riches of pop stardom – the gleeful It's Your Money I'm After, Baby and Give, Give, Give, Me More, More, More are testament to that.
But these songs also show the band were displaying a knack for the killer tune even on their first album, along with other blasts from the past such as A Wish Away and the ever infectious Unbearable.
While Hunt steers clear of a reprise of the Dizzy cover, The Wonder Stuff's "other" hit to many, The Size of a Cow, does feature towards the end of the frantic 90-minute set. It's an inevitable crowd pleaser but the gig had already done its job, reacquainting the crowd with a forgotten indie classic of the late 1980s and proving The Wonder Stuff were always more than just a one-hit wonder.
By Paul Jeeves - http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/music/Review-The-Wonder-Stuff-.5293909.jp
Monsters vs Aliens
Posted by Webby at May 10, 2009 04:59 PM | Comments (0)As a(nother), belated, birthday treat, Jilly and I took Evelyn to the cinema to see Monsters vs Aliens this afternoon.
OK, you're absolutely right; I had to drag Jilly and Evelyn, as they kicked and screamed, in the cinema so that I could see the movie. Though I'm pleased to say we all enjoyed it immensely. And, as I've been 'blessed' with an absolutely abysmal memory, I can look forward to seeing the film again on DVD...er...when I've bought it for Evelyn, that is!
Evelyn's Birthday Weekend and Party
Posted by Webby at May 4, 2009 08:35 PM | Comments (0)
Evelyn (or rather we) are very lucky in that Evelyn's birthday falls on (or around) the May-day bank holiday. In celebration of Evelyn's birthday, Jilly and I took Evelyn for a short caravan break in Barmston, near Bridlington (Evelyn is lovin' caravans!).
Jilly, Evelyn and I spent Saturday in Bridlington, where Evelyn rode on just about every ride she was tall enough to get on. As she always enjoys the 'nightscene' on our caravan breaks, Jilly and I took Evie to the 'club' in the evening. Before the night's stage entertainment began, we were treated to six games of bingo (we know how to live, alright). Before we began, Jilly noticed that the bingo cards were for 'Bernard Bingo'! Now, you can call it co-incidence if you like (for that's, essentially, what it was), but I was immediately convinced that, with an omen like that, we were bound to win...and we did! HUZZAH! A quarter share of £117...not too shabby!
Nanna and Poppee joined us on Sunday for a pre-celebration...er...celebration of Evie's birthday on Monday. We drove to Hornsea for the morning (where we ate possibly the worst fish and chips ever in one of the town's few guesthouses), before returning to the caravan for Evie to open her presnts from Jean and Ben.
We all woke early, this morning, and sat together as Evelyn excitedly opened the presents that we'd brought with us. Sadly (and rather stupidly!) I forgot to bring the ring that I bought for Jilly in Skipton...D'OH!. Evelyn was obviously very pleased with her presents and never even hinted at there not being a new 'Hannah Montana' bicycle amongst them (as she had expressly asked for one). We had to be out of the caravan by 10:00am, so we soon got packed up and returned home for Evelyn's birthday party.
As soon as we had retuned home, I rushed upstairs and brought Evie's new bike downstairs. She was thrilled when she saw it. Now all we need to do is teach her to ride (oh my word!).
Many of Evelyn's friends from school were able to attend her party at 'The Fun Factory' in Linthwaite, as well as Dominic and Eloise, and Evie's cousins, Jacob and Lily. Evelyn had a lovely party, and we'd definitely recommend the play gym to anyone; the staff were great and helped to make the occasion really special for Evelyn.
