Half-term part 3

You will be pleased to hear I am in a much better frame of mind today.

No one wants to come and read a grumpy post do they?

Lunch last Friday, goats cheese with red onion marmalade

I can't say exactly what it was that made me so fed-up but it lasted for days and I stayed away from my blog during that time but cake, coffee and cuddles off Lucy have made me feel lots better.

Friday was the last day of my half term and I had decided to stay at home and make marmalade......little did I realise it would take so long to make!

The recipe is one of Delia's and is here.

I have always wanted to have a go at making marmalade....it was on my list (see tab at the top of my blog) but I am not sure I found the right recipe for a first attempt.

Put it this way I had to finish it on Saturday!

It is very sticky and chunky and treacle like but rather nice.

Saturday as well as making marmalade I did boring things like getting ready for work on Monday and washing, ironing etc.

On Sunday we went to a Christening.

On Monday after work I had to go to my bank in Rochdale and I couldn't go to Rochdale without popping into Touchstones.

There are lovely knitted flowers in an exhibition called Bloom there at the moment.

and we made our own blooms in class 2 on Wednesday.

We made lots of paper bluebells for a bluebell woodland display

We have had a return of lovely weather these past few days here.

I stopped to take a few photos yesterday on the way home.

As I got back into the car these sheep popped up over the wall of a garden......escapees!

The same fields looked wonderful this morning covered in a heavy frost but if I'd of stopped to take some photos I would of been late for work.

Half Term Week part 2

So we are back for part 2.
My computer is playing up so I might not get this done today.
Today was grey and dull and I woke up in a bad mood and I have not got much done at all except watch marmalade bubble on the hob.

Rode Hall Snowdrop Theatre

Wednesday was a very, very cold day. Grey after the winter sun we had at the beginning of the week.
I drove over to my mums house and picked her up for a day out.

Italian Garden in the ruin of the Old Tenants Hall

We drove south to Rode Hall in Cheshire to see the snowdrops.

After a lovely warming late lunch in the cafe we drove home.
On Thursday I got the train to Manchester to meet up with two friends. It was another very cold grey day.

First stop was the Craft and Design Centre.
Then onto the Manchester City Art Gallery.

The out side of which was beautifully decorated with spring flowers.

The theme carried on inside too.

Have you noticed we found lots of indoors things to do?

After eating late we rushed back to the station for the train home. It was trying to snow.

Come back soon for the final part of my half term round up. I might be in a better mood too!

Half-term week part 1

Halifax Piece Hall

And in a flash the half term has gone, Friday already and the only day I have been at home all day.

 I do tend to pack a lot into my time off work out and about, and then I wish I had spent more time at home....there is no pleasing some people!

On Monday the sun was shining again and so I decided to pop to Halifax.

 The first stop, the Piece Hall.

Things are changing at the Piece Hall. 

Built in 1779 as a 'Cloth Hall' to sell pieces of cloth, the Grade 1 listed building is due a face  lift. I do hope they don't change it too much.

There is a PDF here all about the Piece Hall if you want to read more about it.

I also did a post about it in August 2010 here.

Then a look around the market.

and a cup of coffee

Halifax has some wonderful buildings.

I bought a book from a delightful independent book shop, I didn't even know it was there.

If you look above the modern shop fronts the buildings are neglected.

The Old Theatre Royal is boarded up and for sale.
Not all the buildings are loved.

Next time I go to Halifax I want to have a closer look at the Minster.

I called in at Bankfield but it is closed on a Monday

So I went home.

I unpacked my goods bought at the market that day.

On Tuesday I had a hair appointment then lunch with a friend.

 It was a gorgeous morning as I left home I had to stop to take some photos.

Indulge me while I show you lots of photos of the frost and the winter sun.

It's a field I have photographed many times before.

And then on the way home in the afternoon it looked like this, with the moon out in a bright blue sky.

So that was Monday and Tuesday. The last of the winter sun.