Blogtober Day 25 :: Wednesday
A very pretty start to my day, I was out walking with J at 7am just as the sky was starting to get light.
Two hours later, Little B was off to school and I was sitting in the café with Little Lady drinking coffee and chit chatting about this and that. We'd talked yesterday about maybe the two of us going on the train to Leeds sometime, and all of a sudden we decided that today would be the day - why not?! So while we drank our coffee we checked out the train times, booked our tickets on our phones and that was that - a plan in place and a day out to look forward to.
Leeds is our closest big city - it's 28 miles away by road, but it's very easy to get there by train and only takes 40 minutes. Little Lady is very familiar with it as it's somewhere she often goes with friends. Shopping for clothes, delicious lunches, countless nights out drinking and clubbing, celebrations, bottomless brunches, cocktails. The city centre is wonderful, full of incredible architecture, great shopping streets and loooooooads of places to eat, drink and be merry.
Little Lady is a very considered shopper and whenever we go to Leeds she has one or two very specific things in mind that she wants to look for. I am not a good clothes shopper at all, I'm dreadful actually as I'm indecisive and get easily overwhelmed in shops. I'm happy to tag along with her and give my opinion when needed, but I'm really the passive support network and bag holder in any clothes shopping scenario. Today she found almost everything that she wanted - a cosy, oversized fluffy grey jumper and a pair of wide leg jeans. The long skirt that she had in mind wasn't to be found, but she did find a very cute little pleated skirt with hidden shorts built in (a skort). My goodness the girl has a stunning pair of legs (the skort is ShOrT).
All in all a success, and she was so happy with her new clothes. We wandered through the old arcades afterwards, really just to absorb their amazingness. I adore the mosaic floors....
....and the whole feeling of vintage opulence is breath taking.
Onwards into the newest Victoria Gate arcade which was completed in 2016. It has the same feeling of opulence and luxury as the old Victorian arcades, with a classy modern twist. The biggest store here is John Lewis, and it always feels like a treat to visit. I LOVE department stores, absolutely love them since being a small child.
We didn't really have a need of anything in J-L, it was more a case of just wanting to feel excited and soak in some of that multi-floor, big store, escalator magic.
Oh, we were in for a treat because Christmas had arrived on the third floor!! It was completely mind blowing in this department, and so full of colour that all I wanted to do was run around and squeal with excitement.
I mean, just LOOOOOOK at it!!!!!!!
So over the top and full to bursting with all manner of wild and wonderful decorations, everything themed and colour co-ordinated and shiny and bright.
I adored it, honestly, I just stood there and twirled around and felt an insane amount of joy just from the exuberant colours and crazy madness of it all.
I hadn't intended to buy anything, but something from the above photo jumped into my hand and demanded to come home with me to the Attic. I'll take a photo of it tomorrow when there's daylight so you can see. Six pound well spent, I can't wait to show you.
After all the excitement of Christmassyness and escalators and something colourful landing in my bag, I declared it was time for refreshment and recovery. I put the choice in Little Lady's hands and she walked us to this very pretty place tucked away in a secluded paved square.
This is The Botnanist - a place I've certainly heard about but never had the opportunity to visit. It's a chain of bar/restaurants (I think there are over twenty of them up and down the country) with a very unique style, "a secret garden of food and drink"....
.....it's eclectic, arty, relaxed and fun. We weren't there to eat (although Little Lady has had meals here and says the food is excellent) - no, we were there purely for the liquid refreshment. The Botanist is known for it's cocktails, and after a lengthy discussion over the drinks menu we settled on the signature drink simply called The Botanist.
I ordered at the bar and watched the very skilled bartender work his magic and craft these drinks for us...honestly, I was so impressed. Would you like to know what this cocktail is? Well, it's a signature serve of high end vodka, white rum, elderflower liqueur, jasmine syrup, mint and red amaranth (those are the leafy bits) all mixed/shaken (with a lot of performance) and poured over crushed ice and finished with lemonade. Oh. My. Goodness. It was absolutely lush, such beautiful, fresh flavours, my taste buds were dancing with delight.
So decadent to be drinking cocktails at 4pm on an average Wednesday, it felt naughty and indulgent and so, so nice - haha! Wonderful for me to relax a bit and spend precious time with my girl while I still have the chance, she starts a new job in a few weeks time, so weekdays for her will soon be completely different.
I've really enjoyed my day, it felt carefree and fun, a little slice of escapism. We all need that once in a while I think.
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All I am going to say is wow to the decorations. Oh plus trying to guess which one you bought. Had a choice of 3 so let’s see if I’m right tomorrow. 😜
Posted by: Jackie Farrow | October 30, 2023 at 01:36 AM
Talk about The Great Escape! Super.
Posted by: Susan | October 27, 2023 at 09:31 AM
The old arcade looks very similar to the Queen Victoria Building here in Sydney, Australia.
Looking forward to their Christmas display. There was nothing there when I was there a few weeks ago. Another month and the tree should be up.
Good see that you are home and at peace.
It is supposed to be Spring here, but I am rugged up in a woollen crochet blanket with a cat on top to keep me warm. It has been raining and is cold and I just washed my winter vest and jackets, ready to put in storage, thinking that I wouldn't need them until next year.
Posted by: Patricia A | October 27, 2023 at 05:55 AM
What a happy day you two had! Good on you for listening to your inner voice telling you to just go for it. And why not?! I think I know which string of colour came home with you. I'll be eagerly awaiting tomorrow's missive to see (as if I need any more reason to come visit!) ;)
Posted by: Debbi Robertson | October 26, 2023 at 08:57 PM
I'm always surprised when you write about how close cities are to your town. I drive a total of 43.2 miles a day, just for work. I have to drive 14 miles to make it to the closest grocery store or restaurant. I wish America had such a dedicated transit system- and that folks would open cafes and restaurants near me, like the way they are in your town!
Posted by: Autumn | October 26, 2023 at 04:28 PM
I was in that John Lewis last Friday lucy and was inspired by the felty garland! Popped myself over to Scrap in Farsley at Sunnybank mills and managed to a) find a cheeky fabric sale going on and b) get two lovely rolls of coloured felt for £5! And a bag of scraps for £3. So now I’m cutting out stars which is fun. Can highly highly reccomend - not sure if Farsley has a station and you’d be into Leeds and then out again to visit on the train, but I think you’d love sunnybank mills. It’s all textile and there’s a wool shop and an art gallery and an amazing mill bakery. They do HEAVENLY foccaia and it’s my favouite place.
Posted by: Tsophies | October 26, 2023 at 08:36 AM
What a fabulous day! I love when that spontaneous, "Let's do it," thing happens. We do the same thing and go to Durham which is equally beautiful. Have you ever been? xx
Posted by: Laura Miller | October 26, 2023 at 07:45 AM
I bet it was the stars! They're just lovely. So glad you had a good day with your girl, Lucy xx
Posted by: Jools | October 26, 2023 at 06:56 AM
Aww impromptu decisions are the best and omg I am swooning over those decoration pictures and omg those cocktails.
Lovely mosaics .....
Posted by: Jacqui | October 26, 2023 at 06:26 AM
Fabulous time Lucy and I reckon those colourful stars are it. I want lol
Posted by: Wendy | October 26, 2023 at 03:30 AM
Lucy, I love reading your blog, and especially enjoy Blogtober! My two little girls love shopping days with my mom and I - I really hope they still do when they are grown! This looked like such a fun day. I am in Maine, (US) and really hope to visit England someday. I am betting that you took home the colorful stars?!
Posted by: Jessica | October 26, 2023 at 01:33 AM
Hi Lucy! So glad you had a delightful day! That Christmas department is perfect! I could spend so much time in there! Can’t wait to see what you bought — I know I would pick the star garland for sure!! So, I did a thing today after work. I bought myself a beautiful bouquet of fresh cut flowers to arrange on my table in a vase. It was a Lucy inspired moment and made me so happy! Well, I’m off to work on my starbright stripes :))
Posted by: Brandy | October 26, 2023 at 12:55 AM
What a fun day!! Beautiful mosaics. My guess is that you got the star garland. That’s what caught my eye. Stars and hearts are what I’m drawn to. Enjoy every moment with your daughter.
Posted by: Linda from Boston | October 25, 2023 at 11:15 PM
Lovely to see Leeds - I lived and worked there through most of the 90s when it was starting to be developed more, and enjoyed the best of both city life and the beautiful Yorkshire countryside.
I’m an Aussie and an utter Anglophile - loved living in both Leeds and later in Bristol and Bath - back in Oz now, but I still miss UK life, shops, pubs, theatre and proper beer (!) so much…
Posted by: Jen | October 25, 2023 at 11:02 PM
What a contrast...your amazing peaceful walk to start the day, ending up with afternoon cocktails in Leeds! Like you, I'm not good at clothes shopping. The last time I went to Birmingham, with a list of things to buy, I lasted about 45 minutes, before thinking 'All these people!! Get me out of here' - and leaping on the next train home. Mind you, all the colour in JL is amazing! Did you buy the rainbow baubles? They would be my choice! Cx
Posted by: Charlotte | October 25, 2023 at 10:46 PM
Ha! We nearly walked into Leeds today but decided to walk more locally in Headingley. I’m pleased you had a fabulous day. I❤️Leeds
Posted by: Patricia | October 25, 2023 at 10:19 PM
A lovely trip to do on impulse! That drink looked super and sooo alcoholic!!! Haha. Glad you enjoyed it! Shalllook forward to seeing a photo of your purchase!
Posted by: Sally Spragg | October 25, 2023 at 10:13 PM
Sounds like just my sort of shopping trip. I’m not a clothes shopper either but my daughter is and seems to look good in anything she throws together. Does that have alot to do with youth? I love walking through the Victoria arcade, it’s so beautiful and feels luxurious though not been for a while. I miss the more regular visits there when my daughter was at uni in Headingley. I’m hoping the mosaic floor is inspiring you to come with a crochet pattern - it really is beautiful. So pleased you had this trip with your daughter. Times to treasure xxx
Posted by: Sue | October 25, 2023 at 10:11 PM
That sounds like a wonderful sort of day and I'm sl glad you got to enjoy it - but seriously, Christmas shopping in October?! (Says she, who may have bought an Advent calendar already ... 🤣) xx
Posted by: Winwick Mum | October 25, 2023 at 10:03 PM