Wandering Curiosities • A Yorkshire Based Lifestyle Blog

November 23, 2018

Bodysgallen Hall and Spa: A National Trust Hotel

Staying in a National Trust Historic House Hotel is something that I would have thought my parents would love. Not so much myself. It didn’t feel like the first a place a 28 year old would like to stay. Especially someone who apparently falls into the millennial bracket of ultra modern or nordic simplicity.

Bodysgallen Hall and Spa

A 17th Century House that has been restored in Llandudno, Wales. It has been a National Trust Property for 10 years now. It is a hotel that has fallen though space and time, but in a really good way. Bodysgallen Hall may have not been decked out in all the mod cons but the service was beyond exceptional.

There is something special about National Trust properties. They are naturally steeped in history and we love exploring them and there grounds. (For Christmas last year we were bought year long passes for the national trust) Bodysgallen Hall is no exception, the grounds and building are beautiful. There are 31 beautifully decorated bedrooms over the main house and outlying cottages.

The furniture was antique which lead honestly not for the comfiest night sleep I’ve ever had but it was worth it to just stay in such a beautiful setting! There was a fresh bottle of water (not in plastic) and some home made shortbread waiting for us in the room too. No tea and coffee tray but if you give reception a call they’ll bring up a fresh brewed pot free of charge.

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Bodysgallen Hall also, as it names states has a Spa. I didn’t have any treatments but I did try out the pool, sauna and of course jacuzzi. We went at 3pm on a Saturday and the pool was empty! Perfection. Greeted by friendly staff with towels on hand. The ladies changing room had hair dryers and straighteners as well, making for easy changing if you weren’t going back to your room to freshen up for dinner.

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The next morning we had a lovely breakfast cooked for us in the restaurant. The staff even remembered my request from the pervious evening of dairy free and brought out a tub of ‘dairy free’ butter. Just them touches that are special. Check out was 11am, so we didn’t feel rushed after breakfast. We went and packed our bags, then went to explore Llandudno.

Now Bodysgallen Hall and Spa isn’t the cheapest place to stay but it was worth it for a special occasion.

Bodysgallen Hall and Spa
THE ROYAL WELSH WAY, LLANDUDNO, NORTH WALES LL30 1RS

November 1, 2018

The Hepworth Wakefield: Christmas Parties are not all equal

So it’s only just November so please don’t cry at me but it’s almost that time to start thinking about Christmas (runs and hides in a corner) but hear me out.

You know that awkward think of trying to book a Christmas party? The one where you have to try and make everyone happy? Where to go? Will the food be good?

So the Hepworth in Wakefield have your problem solved. A series of Christmas party nights. I love the Hepworth and it was already on my radar as a foodie hangout. It’s not somewhere that you would think of for a Christmas Do. But as you know I love the cafe hidden in an art gallery.

So forget about your last second scrabble to Weatherspoons on mad Friday, for your gammon and egg with pitcher of Cheeky V. We all know that it happens and that you can’t please everyone. Yet you can give it a good go, so decent food is an excellent starting point and after that everything else will just kinda flow together. So get your glad rags on and start looking at the menu before someone else’s office party bags your preferred date.

Oh and for £45 a person you don’t have to be scrooge or just well Yorkshire, it’s not bad value at all!

Celebratory drink upon arrival
– Four course festive dinner
– DJ entertainment
– Chill out lounge

Available dates
– Friday 7 December
– Saturday 8 December
– Friday 14 December
– Saturday 15 December

How to book
Contact the Hepworth:
hire@hepworthwakefield.org
01924 247362

* The first image is from Blog Up North
** In full openness this post is in return for an evenings Christmas entertainment at The Hepworth but all Yorkshire bias and opinions are my own.

September 25, 2018

Things I wish I knew before dying my hair blue

Lets start of by saying 18 year old Michelle would be very proud of 28 year old Michelles life choices of late. In the last couple years I have found a confidence that seemed to be missing in my early 20s. From confidently saying no to things I didn’t really want to do, to dying my hair blue.

I am sure you’ve seen THAT post where I got my kit off on the Internet? If you haven’t that you can find it here. Well I could not of imagined posting that a few years ago.

Now I have blue hair. A colour choice that apparently I was thinking about 8 years ago. *according to my timehop. I asked twitter if I should dye my hair blue. And no one got back to me. Oh the shame

But I love it!

What has having blue hair taught me?

Well. Thats a very good question dear reader isn’t it. So what has having blue hair taught me?

For the majority of time people are lovely. Old ladies at work tell me its a beautiful colour. One old man gave me hug after telling me his Mum had blue hair in the 70’s and she caused havoc and he hoped I was doing that too. Along with a life is too short to me normal.

There is a confidence that comes with colourful hair. One that you don’t know you have until it is on your head. People stare, I counted a more then half a dozen people looked directly at me then quickly adverted there gaze once I looked at them (not even as a blonde have I had this) in less than a minute.

Everything I own is slightly blue. My hands, my towels, my soul? Maybe not my soul. But you get the gist. EVERYTHING.

You can not go out in the rain. Your hair will run. I mean drippy blue water running down you face kinda run. It ain’t pretty and it stains like a bugger! *insert me doing an emergency brolly purchase in Primark.

Not all responses will be positive. I mean 99% are. So far I have only had 1 that was negative. A lady told me my hair was unacceptable for work and how could I possibly have a job in a profession environment looking like that?! I smiled and nodded politely.

*The colour is Blue Velvet by Special Effects. And these pictures are all taken maybe 2 washes in. The only place I could find it online was at haircrazy.com **not a plug

September 9, 2018

A Morning Body Confidence Chat

It’s a late morning on a Sunday and I have been putting off taking pictures for this blog post for long enough. Drum roll why? Because it includes me in some underwear. Of sorts. Well a pair of fancy satin shorts from the new Pamela for Hunkemoller* collection. But hear me out.

Oh Michelle. Get a grip I hear people cry. A size 8 shouldn’t feel fat. Well this gal isn’t the most confident when it comes to getting her gut out for the Internet. Or just been in front of the camera. We’re talking 100 images to get 1 I liked, for a professional headshot.

Body Confidence for the Petite

There has been a lot of talk recently about body confidence and how we should all love our bodies no matter what size we are.

Teaching young girls that been petite is amazing. You don’t have to be 6ft model. 5ft 4in and under is amazing.

A size 8 is also amazing. Small boobs are amazing. You are Amazing.

Rolling up your jeans, because you bought a 28 inch leg and it’s still too long is ok. Standing next to your tall friends and been the shortest is ok. (It means you can buy stuff in the kids section and it’s cheaper! Honestly Doc Martens in the youth bit are so much cheaper).

Am I Confident?

And yes I do love my body but am I super confident? Nope.

I have scars from surgery, I bruise like a peach and guess what … I used most of a tin of dry shampoo in my hair. Because I am human. I am a woman. I am 5 foot 2 inch and a little bit and I am still learning to ignore the internet. A size 8 still has tummy rolls, they still have cellulite and bits they don’t want to get out.

I am relatively healthy, swim at least once a week, eat my greens and try not drink every night of the week. Oh sweet Gin I have not forgotten you. Oo chocolate, I haven’t forgotten about you either. Yet I try and balance all the good things with all the healthy things.

Maybe I should take a leaf out of my own book and try to be more confident? Well these pictures are kind of a way of doing that. They’re unedited minus a little tweak of the lighting but no photoshopping appeared here. Just me, my spare room a 50mm lens, tea and toast.

Hunkemoller shorts size 8 body confidence breakfast in bed

*The shorts were gifted to me by Hunkemoller. They are very very pretty, very comfy and you’ll be finding me lounging about the house in them on a weekend. I chose a medium for that extra bit of comfort but they do make me feel extra cute and importantly confident without been all ‘hello boys’ sexy!

September 5, 2018

Feed Leeds

Dare to travel out of central Leeds to what are locally known as the fancy suburbs aka Pudsey and you will find Feed. An all day bar and restaurant that won me over rather quickly because at its helm is the creators of xo supper club < Remember them? The awesome pop up in Leeds? Well you should and if you don’t. Shame on you.

Ok I am a little biased because hello giant pink neon on the wall. No Im kidding. Or am I? I suppose the food was rather good too. I had the avocado poached eggs on toast, because why wouldn’t you on a bank holiday Monday?! Also a hot chocolate with Almond milk, as there were autumn feels that day. It was good. Really good. I’ve eaten a lot of avocado on toast. But this was fresh and a little change to the norm.

I had high expectations for Feed and it met them. Yeah they can joke how they’ll be serving hipster food and coffee to all the millennial hipsters but you know what. They maybe just doing that but it’s bloody good. Not only is the food great, I rather love the decor. Neons, velvet and all the Scandi vibes.

I was welcomed on my lonesome, a table for 1 please, well me plus my book sat on a table where I could watch the world pass by but not feel in the way.

Even better. There is parking. Because this gal doesn’t particularly like public transport and if she can listen to country music without been judged loudly then she will. Good Vibes Only.

Bonus Photo*

*That’ll be all of 5 foot 2 inch me on my very tip toes next to the man who I never realised was that tall Jono. Mr Chef and man behind the ideas.

Feed Leeds

163 Richardshaw Lane

Leeds
LS28 6AA

August 29, 2018

Unfriending someone in the 21st Century

What happens in 2018, 2019, 2020 even, when you want to unfriend someone in real life? Its bloody difficult. 21st Century Unfriending. Urgh.

So.Much.Drama.

Firstly, unfriending? Is this even a real word? Or a word that has come around because of Facebook? Anyway there are 100’s if not 1000’s of posts out there on the big wide internet looking at the psychology behind it.

Is it immature? Probably not. Is it a sign of growth. Probably.

Are you just been that persons ‘friend’ so you can snoop on them online. More than likely.

Stop it. Now. Its just not good for you. In fact, I have come to realise it is pretty damn unhealthy.

Where do you even start to unfriend someone? Facebook? Twitter? Instagram? Pintrest? (Insert any other social media network)

Or in real life? DUN DUN DUNNNNNN? I live by the rule if you wouldn’t say it to someones face then don’t fucking put it online.

There are times when you need to step back from a keyboard and have a long hard think about yourself. Are you really genuinely bothered about what is going on in the life of someone else? Or are you using your snooping to hide the fact that your life is crumbling around you and this is the only thing you can control?

Is this making you uncomfortable? Well if it is. Maybe, just maybe you need to start the Unfriending movement.

If you don’t feel like jumping in feet first, mute that person on Facebook.

Stop caring just a little bit.

Put that energy into something positive. You can’t control others, you have to be you. No one else, unfortunately you will be judged on the choices you make. Positive as well as negative.

If I leave you with one thing, just suck it up buttercup. Unfriend that person. Start a fresh. Tomorrow is a new day.

August 28, 2018

Leeds Indie Food – Eat North

By eck ladies and gents. There is an eatery that is back on the scene at North Brewing. Eat North. A line up of local food trucks in a brewery. What more could you ask for? The sunshine? Well you know what … Paul the Weather Man* delivered on his promise.

So is Eat North worth the trek out of central Leeds? Yes. Yes it is! I mean food trucks in there natural habitat (controversially not in a shopping centre) meaning they’re not over priced or hidden big brands under the food truck label. Actual real life local people selling amazing local food.

Shanty Town – Eat North

Shanty Town serve creole influenced seafood and barbecue and you know what I’ve never had food from a street food cart that actually tasted like restaurant quality food. I had the Coconut Prawn Supper and it was the dogs bollocks. I mean I couldn’t stop talking about how fresh it tasted. A huge portion of prawns finished with apple slaw and garlic butter. What is not to love!

Vegan Junk Food – Eat North

Now I am not a Vegan by any stretch of of the imagination but a kebab I can’t say no too. Even a vegan one seems appealing after a pint or 2. This one was spicy and rather tasty and I even managed the dreaded herb that is coriander (cilantro for my American friends).

Copper Spoon Cakery – Eat North

Tucked away inside the brewery was Copper Spoon Cakery and there awesome selection of sweet treats. I mean S’mores Brownies. I unceremoniously ate one. And I am very glad no one took a picture of me doing so. Lets say these ain’t for the faint hearted. They are amazingly gooey and delicious and you need both hands and a bib.

So there is the round up guys and gals. The next event will be 1st September and the gods have decided I have to work but you should go along and eat all the best food. There are new food trucks every week and Leeds Indie Food will tell you whats up next and when on Facebook.

*Paul the Weather Man – BBC Look Norths long standing Weather Man who is obviously the best weather man ever!

**Thanks to I Like Press for treating me to the all the foods

August 1, 2018

3 ways I went Plastic Free in July

There are a few things that I am a little passionate and mildly obsessive about and one of them is reducing my use of plastic. Plastic free July was the perfect cause for me to get on aboard with.

A reusable cup. They’re everywhere. I have various ones for a while now. I am currently using a Boden one that I was kindly given at a Giff Gaff saves event. It comes with me to work, in the car, well pretty much everywhere. I am even planning to take it on my next flight as getting a brew in a polystyrene cup is not fun. I wrote post about cute cups for earth day.

Lunch Boxes. In a money saving attempt, I am also inadvertently reducing my plastic use. Making an extra portion at tea time is an easiest way to not only save money but also stop on the single use plastic. (If not I’ve tried to eat in at the work canteen and this eliminates the plastic and you get to be civilised with a plate, knife and folk)

Straws. These are my biggest bug bare. There is no excuse to use a plastic straw. Get a bloody paper one. A fancy metal one or even a bamboo one? Whatever you fancy, just no plastic straws please. If you have them in you cupboard use them up and when you come to rebuy go for a eco-friendly option.

There are ways I can still improve; I will be looking at alternative or plastic free bin liners and rubbish bags and I will be trying to remember to take a clean reusable bag when I go clothes shopping. No one wants to pop your new dress in with your weekly shop.

What I have learnt is not to feel guilty about my plastic use. Yes there are ways I can improve but someone please tell me why everything from the supermarket is wrapped in plastic?!

Plastic Free July Resources

Plastic Free July

Surfers Against Sewage: “Plastic pollution is the ‘new sewage’ is a good place to start.

My Plastic Free Life

June 14, 2018

Styling a New Build House Bedroom Edition

If your looking at buying or renting a house and you are thinking about a new build. I’d say go for it. They’re a blank canvas. Ok they don’t have period features or a sense of history. But what they do have is space for you to make it your own.

One of the things I did just after moving in was paint our bed room wall a navy blue. I’ve had a pinterest board since the moment we first decide we wanted to move house. Our last house the bedroom was black and cream. I new I didn’t want to replicate it, I liked it but we had that colour scheme for almost 7 years.

The new build life has given me endless white walls. For that I am grateful they are not bloody beige. Its crisp clean and means we can really do what ever we want.

I managed to find a home for my portable record player, I mean there was always going to be a record player upstairs. And our bedroom was the perfect spot. It just happens to be the perfect colour to match the wall. Listening too music while getting ready in the morning really sets the day up right. *featuring the Footloose soundtrack

I also purchased a humidifier then I love. Currently there is Lavender oil filling the air. It really helped to get rid of the new build pain smell when we first moved in. Now I love it as it’s relaxing and fills the air.

Other little things in this room that I love is my little gold heart dish that I bought in Target on a trip to Texas. It holds jewellery as well as hair grips and another loose items I have on my bedside table.

So there you have it. Between the real life piles of clothes on the floor and the dirty mirror you have how I style a room that was just 4 white walls with no feelings of home. There is still a few more things I’d like to add, some nice art work and a few pictures maybe. I’m excited to see how this room evolves. Oh and wireless charging you’re my beau.

June 2, 2018

Evolution by surprise

What happens when you find your blog is evolving and it takes you by surprise?

Thats a very good question.

And one I am not sure on the answer just yet.

When I started writing on this little spot on the internet I was unsure on what direction it would take me. It was always going to be a place where my ramblings would be documented.

The direction was always all about Leeds and then a little hint of what was going on in my world.

As it happened people seemed to enjoy reading and I felt comfortable writing that.

There was a pressure to create new content, one that I mainly put on myself. To post once or twice a week. And for a while I was doing that. I kept up with events in Leeds as well as writing new content for myself.

I felt burnt out at a year of doing this (big ups to the folk that have been doing this for years on end). In that year there has been some pretty big changes in my life. I’ve moved house, had major surgery and thrown myself into work. Life seemed to start to move at a million miles an hour, I almost couldn’t keep up.

Now we are here, with a weird sense of guilt for not regularly posting. Along with the fact that the content I want to post isn’t the same as it was in June 2017.

So yeah, alright folks. Lets get ready, for potentially a little change around here.

My blog is evolving and I am trying to keep up with it.