HELLO DECEMBER



Chapter 12 

Cosy days, festive lights, gingerbread lattes, decorations, Christmas shopping, magical moments, Christmas songs everywhere, candles, robin redbreasts in the garden, snowflakes, Christmas food, baking, new pyjamas, mulled wine, sparkly clothes, cinnamon spice, yuletide cheer, pine trees, carols, excitement, family time, slow down!   

 

FABULOUS THINGS THAT HAPPENED LAST MONTH 

1. ‘Wicked For Good’ 

2. A gorgeous evening at Titanic Spa  

3. Early Christmas preparations 

4. A gorgeous 2 days in The Cotswolds 

5. Starting Reformer Pilates at Rise Wellness, Skelmanthorpe, Huddersfield 

6. Going to watch ‘Book of Mormon’ musical with my brother in Liverpool 

7. Taking my mum & Isabelle to watch ‘Moulin Rough’ the musical in Manchester 

8. Taking my 2 nephews to The Warner brothers studio tour of ‘Harry Potter’  

 

LIFESTYLE, LEISURE, PLACES & HOME 

A mini break in The Cotswolds! 

When I first visited the Cotswolds 4 years ago, I completely fell in love with its English charm & tranquillity.  It really is quintessential English countryside, and it truly is one of my happy places.  

Downton Abbey is a huge passion of mine. I visited Highclere a couple of years ago & on this recent trip with my husband Tony, our first stop was Bampton, the village where many of the outdoor scenes were filmed. We spent a perfect couple of hours looking at the church where Mary & Matthew’s wedding was filmed, Isabel Crawley's house, & the cottage hospital which is actually the local library and also a Downton visitors centre. The two ladies working there were lovely and very informative about filming days in the village. After Bampton, on our drive to the hotel we stumbled upon Burford Garden Company, the most beautiful garden centre i think I’ve ever seen. If you’re ever in the area i can’t recommend it highly enough, just glorious.  

We stayed at the De Vere Cotswold Water Park hotel in Cirencester. A lovely hotel with lakeside views & The Boathouse restaurant served a delicious Sunday roast.  

The next day we had a tour of some of the beautiful Cotswold villages, Bourton on the Water, Broadway, Chipping Campden & Chipping Norton. Picturesque & thatched cottages, honey-coloured stone, an abundance of places to eat and drink & independent shops surrounded by rolling countryside and areas of natural beauty. Many villages are around 20 minutes away from each other so it’s quite easy to visit a few places in one day, parking & traffic permitting.     

Before our journey back to West Yorkshire we stopped off at one of my favourite places, Daylesford Organic. It’s a very pricey farm shop but simply beautiful and we had a lovely lunch at The Old Spot restaurant.  

Another glorious Cotswold trip & just the change of scenery & mini breakaway we needed. Until the next time! 

www.daylesford.com 

www.burford.co.uk 

 

BEAUTY, HEALTH & STYLE 

Support Local! 

Having been extremely lucky to receive lots of vouchers for my birthday in October for places I frequent regularly, this month is a shout out to local businesses in Huddersfield.  

www.manorhouselindley.co.uk  

www.titanicspa.com  

www.alexandrahouse.org.uk 

www.3acres.com 

www.315barandrestaurant.co.uk  

@lucy’sbeautystudio25  

www.risewellnessclub.co.uk  

 

RESTAURANT OF THE MONTH 

Flat Iron – Manchester 

On a recent trip to Manchester with my mum & Isabelle to watch Moulin Rouge the musical, we booked to have dinner at the newly opened Flat Iron in Manchester. 

Located in Deansgate, just a 15-minute walk from the Palace theatre, it’s a perfect venue for a pre theatre dinner & we loved it. 

It is extremely reasonably priced, but they definitely don’t scrimp on quality. The menu is led by the ‘signature steak’ which was tender and flavourful, cut from the feather blade. Sides include beef dripping chips, creamed spinach, truffled macaroni cheese & crispy bone marrow garlic mash.   

Lovely touches included complimentary popcorn with your drinks to start & then all diners are given a small ‘meat cleaver’ token which can be redeemed for a free & absolutely delicious vanilla ice cream!  

The service & atmosphere were excellent & I will definitely return. Delicious food and such good value. I highly recommend this great find!  

There is also a Flat Iron in Leeds which I can’t wait to visit.  

www.flatironsteak.co.uk 

 

IN THE SPOTLIGHT - PRODUCT OF THE MONTH 

Chloe Eau de Parfum 

I love Chloe fragrance & so I treat myself to a new bottle last week. 

The signature scent, a classic floral bouquet with a rose theme! Classic!  

 

FILM/TV SHOW OF THE MONTH 

Celebrity Traitors 

Oh my goodness! What a programme! 

I was a little late to the party with The Traitors as I haven’t watched the first two series. However, when I saw the celebrity line up, I knew I had to watch the series........ and I was hooked!!!! 

Such an incredible concept, a brilliant series, Alan Carr was an exceptional winner & I adore Celia Imrie even more than i already did!!!  

 

 

BOOK OF THE MONTH 

Happy Days - Natalie Cassidy 

I’ve always liked Natalie Cassidy when she’s been on talk shows, reality tv & I liked her as an actress when I used to watch Eastenders many years ago. She’s fun, happy go lucky, very personable and friendly so I thought her book would be a light-hearted happy read & I wasn’t wrong. Will it change my life, absolutely not but as an Audible book in my car during a particularly rubbish week, it was just what i needed.   

 

THIS MONTH I'M LOVING 

Starting to feel festive! 

 

THIS MONTH I'M NOT LOVING 

Rain rain & more rain!!!! 

 

THIS MONTHS FAVOURITES 

1. Lydia Elise Millen’s YouTube videos 

2. Moulin Rouge the musical 

3. Book of Mormon musical 

4.  Audible. My favourite app as I’m driving so much for work these days  

5. ‘Strictly’!  

6. ‘Wicked for good’ 

7. I’m a Celebrity get me out of here!  

 

THOUGHT FOR THE MONTH 

With age comes a lot of wisdom and I’m more confident now than I’ve ever been!  

 

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