Sheffield ready!

On Sunday we had to walk through the cultural quarter of the city. We noticed lots of activity. The 2 main theatres sit side by side - the Lyceum on the left here, and the Crucible on the right.

I love the beautiful old fashioned Lyceum, but I also love the iconic Crucible just as much.

I always photograph them from the front, but as we were crossing the road behind, I took a photograph of the Lyceum from the back.
And Ive never photographed the statue of Mercury from this angle either..

... and was fairly surprised when I viewed the photo. Don't look Ethel!!!!
The crucible has just had a complete refit, and today was being prepared for the enormous sporting event that is...... (no, not the blummin Olympics), but of course....
The snooker.
I'm not a huge fan of it myself, but I love the buzz that it brings to the city. We will be going for a wander round when it is in full swing to see who we can spot!

Chav World

On Saturday evening hubby and I went with friends to see The Everly Pregnant Brothers at Sheffield City Hall. Lisa asked where they got their name and I have to say that I can only hazard a guess and say that the majority of them have big bellies and could look "Heavily Pregnant"! Having said that at least 2 of them are on weightwatchers diets!

The city hall is a gorgeous building. It has a large concert room at the front, a smaller venue around the back, and a ballroom in the basement. There is usually something fab on offer.

Photography is usually banned, but the brothers (not real brothers) had managed to get the restrictions for photography lifted, so I managed to get a great shot of the wonderful ceiling in the main hall. It reminds me slightly of the one that everyone went crashing through in The Poseidon Adventure - or the Titanic!
The hall was refurbished recently and it is a lovely place for a concert - its nowhere near as big and impersonal as an Arena. It has seating on ground floor level and 2 balconies. Ive seen a fair few bands here in my time.
The brothers were great. The songs that they sing would mainly appeal to Northern audiences I think, and for some, you really need to know Sheffield , but one of my favourites that could be understood by most is Chav World - click on the link to enjoy (but note there are swear words.)

The Book or the Film?

Or both and for free!!!!

Hubby and I went to see the film "Salmon Fishing in the Yemen" this morning for free - courtesy of See Film First via Martin Lewis's Money Saving Expert website. I was thrilled when we got to the cinema to discover that we also received the book of the film for free too! Brilliant!

The film (due for release on the 20th April in the UK) is wonderful - go see it, you will just love it. Its sort of a romantic comedy with a totally feel good factor attached. All the actors play brilliant parts, the styling and scenery is draw dropping and Ewan McGregor is just divine. Kristin Scott Thomas is my new role model! I aim to look like her by Christmas!

The audience loved it too - there were a lot of laugh out loud moments. I'll be letting you know how the book compares.

The screening was at 10.30am, and so afterwards we decided to treat ourselves to brunch.
One of my fave little cafes is 22a on Norfolk Row in Sheffield. Hubby chose the Potato Rosti topped with bacon, cheese, mushrooms and tomatoes, whilst I picked the cheese and onion toastie with a cup of home made potato and leek soup - both delish.
I savoured my cheese toastie as I am starting a "diet" of sorts tomorrow for 2 weeks (i'll be telling you but not boring you - dieters are the dullest people on the planet!) and there is no wheat or dairy on it.

The Girls Can't Help It!

Hubby and I ventured to the right end of town today - Ecclesall Road/Sharrow Road. I've mentioned before that this end of town still boasts lots of lovely independent shops, cafes, restaurants etc (although some of the chains are starting to pop up here now sadly). We had a special mission, but firstly, where should we eat?

There are so many really lovely cafes around here, its hard to choose.

I have to say, that this is one of my favourites and on this occasion it won again!!
I could eat the Grilled Haloumi Pitta Wrap every day - it is so tasty!
After lunch, we headed across to Pete Mckee's "Month of Sundays" Gallery to the opening of his new exhibition "The Girls Can't Help It". Once again the originals and prints are fabulous. I urge you strongly to head down and take a look if you can.
Pete had kindly laid on cup cakes (by the Fancie team - totally delish!). Each depicted one of the paintings. This was my hubby's fave . A Sheffield Wednesday fan has discovered that his girlfriend is a Sheffield United supporter!
A fabulous way to spend a cold rainy Saturday ! x

Keeping the language alive

One 6th form college in our area is looking to ban Yorkshire words and language in an attempt to equip its students for the future. We discussed this in our office tea break and the three of us - all with deepest darkest Barnsley roots decided we were having none of it, and resolutely agreed to re instate some words we had almost forgotten, back into our every day conversations. I encourage you to join in. I'll start with 2 words that had us in hysterics. Firstly:

"FRAME" - meaning "shape up". In discussions, my colleague said her Mum once used this in conversation about a woman on their road who had lost her husband and wasn't coping at all well. Before counselling was invented, the best advice she received from caring friends and neighbours (poor woman) was that she needed "to frame her sen"!!!!

"SIDE" - meaning to put away. In Yorkshire, when we have finished dinner or tea etc, we "side " the pots. My colleague reminded me of a dreaded phrase that my mother often used when referring to the state of my teenage bedroom - we needed to have a "BIG SIDEATION"

We are now using these 2 words as often as possible in our office - and making ourselves chuckle (alot) in the process.

The Everly Pregnant Brothers

We are looking forward to seeing local Sheffield Eukele band The Everly Pregnant Brothers as they perform at their biggest concert yet this weekend at Sheffield City Hall. You may need a translation if youve never been this far north,






and for those of you who didn't know Sheffield in the 60's and 70's, the Oyl in't royd was actually The hole in the road - seen at the start of the Full Monty - a stunning piece of architecture that sadly became not a nice place to walk because of neglect, but should never have been gotten rid of - Great pictures of it here. I'll be teaching you a few northern phrases later on, Enjoy the tune.

Shepherds Wheel

On our walk through the woods on Sunday, we happened upon the Shepherds Wheel on the Porter Brook which has recently been restored by volunteers and enthusiasts.

The wheel was working.
Inside, a volunteer told us all about the work that the men would have undertaken in this little hamlet. They used to grind knives and blades of all kinds. The contraption below is called a mule and the man would sit on it in the saddle and the grinding stone in front would have been turning really fast.

The wheels were wurring away really fast, but apparently they would have been going 3 times faster in the olden days.

It had turned fairly cold outside, and the roaring fire inside was hard to leave!