Fairs, Fetes & Farmers Markets

Saturday night wasn't the warmest or driest of nights however we didn't let it dampen our spirits as Neil and I headed down to check out the Peddler Night Market. It's the first time we've been and what a little gem of a market it is! Part of Arundel Street is closed off for the event and filled with some of the areas finest food and drink vendors.

'If you're looking for a sign, this is it!'

By far my favourite stall had to be 'The Hop Box' not only because it served a fantastic Porter 'Beavertown Smog Rocket' but due to the fact it's a converted horse trailer! Such a creative idea, and quirky use of space something you'd expect to see on the 'George Clark's Amazing Spaces' show.

The market itself had a very youthful arty feel and the inside seating area housed local print makers works up for sale. Perfect chilled out atmosphere with everyone just there to enjoy great food and drink. Neil and I decided to go for the Nether Edge Pizza Company's Meaty Pizza made to order and cooked in their wood fired oven, which we wolfed down!

After a few drinks the cold got the better of us and we decided to head home. 

What I thought & bought:

Atmosphere - Arty & Youthful

Food - Meaty Pizza (Nether Edge Pizza Company)

Drink - Beavertown Smog Rocket Porter (The Hop Box)

Favourite Stall - The Hop Box

(Please excuse the photo quality on this post it was pretty dark at times and I only had my iPhone to hand.)

xx

Save Sharrow's Streetlights

Today's post is taking a different view from the normal food photos, fairs I've visited and the lovely day to day things I get up to, and instead is being dedicated to lampposts! Now I know that doesn't sound very thrilling, but these aren't just any lampposts they are the 83 Victorian Lampposts around Sharrow Vale (my home) which are in a few days reported to be ripped out by the council and sold for scrap, replaced with modern LED ones.

I'm sure you are all aware of my passion for the past and my obsession with anything quaint and vintage so this destruction of history seems totally absurd to me. Wouldn't you agree?

Campaigners in my local area have set up a petition for the public to sign, expressing their wishes to keep the existing posts and simply modify them. I have signed this petition and urge anyone who hasn't to please get down to the Newsagents on Sharrow Vale Road and sign to save our quirky lampposts! They are something that makes our community unique and stand out from the ordinary, and are definitely worth preserving.

I believe heritage and tradition is worth fighting for, I know that we all need change to move forward but I'm a strong believer in preservation and recycling, so I see no reason why these Streetlights could not be fixed up and reused.

Please help, and sign the petition!

SOS - Save Our Streetlights

xx

Fairs, Fetes & Farmers Markets

Hello everyone! With yesterday spent wandering endless stalls piled with mouth watering food and will power testing goodies it's time for another 'Fairs, Fetes and Farmers Markets'.

My house is situated on a street just off Sharrow Vale Road so I'm in prime location for the Sharrow Vale Market. Each month this quaint road plays host to many local makers and bakers selling artisan goods direct to the public; a great opportunity particularly for businesses who may not necessarily own a shop. Meeting up with Charlotte we shuffled our way through the crowds, our tactic being down the street looking at all the stalls on the left hand side, then back up on the right! We're pros when it comes to markets and are both small luckily so perfect for sneaking though gaps of people!

Hydrangea's are one of my favourite plants and I was really tempted by these!

Don't blame that Lab one bit, that bread looks incredible!

Popped into the Vintage Tableware Company shop, its such a pretty place and it's always nice to see Staffordshire Pottery away from home!

  

The Broadfield were at it again! Another gorgeous stall!

We spent the day drooling over the food stalls and lusting after handmade items, giving in occasionally we both came away with a few sweet things each and I treated myself to some lovely little earrings in the shape of tiny sewing scissors.  

If you've never been to Sharrow Vale Market its one you should really check it out, just make sure you go with an empty bag and an empty stomach!

xx 

Breakfasts & Brunches

A Breakfast Fit for a Sailor!

Breakfast is 100% my favourite meal of the day, its the time where its acceptable to give into your sweet tooth opting for a stack of pancakes drizzled with maple syrup or feed the meat eater in you with a hearty fry up; literally anything goes! With working during the week I normally have a quick bowl of natural yogurt topped with fruit, honey and granola so on the weekends I like to treat myself with a Full English, especially when brunching out. 

Charlotte and I are both morning people and love to get out and about early so a breakfast date is perfect for us. We've decided to visit different Sheffield cafes each time we meet, starting up a collaborative breakfast series. Our first port of call is a little cafe called The Rude Shipyard down on Abbeydale Road.

Well its safe to say we found some buried treasure! This cafe is just perfect, so homely and relaxing I honestly felt completely at ease there. The vintage choice of decor and music just fits so well and there where three very eye catching paintings of a fisherman, I was visualising where these would hang in my imaginary future home!

We chose a table by the window and didn't realise until afterwards it was actually an old foot powered singer sewing machine base! The breakfast was fantastic, good quality free range produce and all freshly made to order, I particularly enjoyed the potato cakes which were a nice change from hash browns.

 Everything from the wooden floors to the rustic nic naks just felt warm and welcoming, like you were at an old friend's house, you could just hang out there all day chatting over cups of tea. Charlotte and I caught up on a few things, we hadn't seen each other for a couple of weeks so there was plenty to chat about, we also discussed our next stop (watch this space).

So all hands on deck! Get yourselves down to The Rude Shipyard for a hearty breakfast and a first mate's welcome!

The Rude Shipyard

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Head over to Charlotte on Salt Deep to check out her side of the story!

xx

Laughs, Loves & Little Things

Well it's time for the second installment of my laughs, loves and little things and I’ve plenty to share with you; the weathers picked up slightly and so have my adventures. The lighter nights make it easier to fit things in after work and the sunshine even paired with the cold breeze still seems to make everyone a lot happier; the realisation has finally hit that Spring has started!

1. First up is my super spag bol packed with tonnes of veg to fight of the first signs of a cold, and touch wood its worked so far! - Get yourself some good quality mince from the butchers, a large can of chopped tomatoes, two cloves of garlic and any veg of your choice the more the better, I went for courgette, aubergine, red pepper, chili and red onion. Season well with salt, pepper, basil, oregano and to finish some Henderson's Relish! This relish is local to Sheffield and tops most sauces and gravy based meals off perfectly.

2. I went for a spot of breakfast with Charlotte to Marmadukes in the city center I of course had the Full English and Charlotte went for the pancakes. I have to say the homemade baked beans were a real treat and if you're looking for a high quality breakfast I would really recommend this cafe!

We spent the majority of the day together blogging and chatting away about different ideas.

3. Had a little wander round the florists, I love a fresh bunch of beautifully coloured flowers in the house - I should buy flowers more often.

4. I made a really tasty Chicken and Cashew Nut Stir Fry in my cute little wok for one whilst Neil was away in Newcastle. Wow this really is turning into a food diary rather than a round up of my week, its probably due to working full time and then coming home to cook - this is my down time and I enjoy being in the kitchen. 

5. Sundays are definitely breakfast in bed days and last Sunday was no exception, I made myself some French Toast topped with fresh fruit, syrup and icing sugar! It was also market day check out my previous post on the Nether Edge Farmers Market if you haven't already.  

6. Enjoyed some of the sunshine sat in the Botanical Gardens in Sheffield, the flowers were out, as was the ice cream man, and for the first time this year I went out in shoes without socks on!!!

7. Neil headed back from Newcastle with his dad and we spent the evening together drinking some real ale in my favourite place on Ecclesall Road, The Beer House Micro Pub.

8. Meet Charlie! My Birthday present from Neil! I'd been promised this gift but had been told it needed to be collected from Newcastle, and once I opened it I understood why... a taxidermy fox head! Neil always buys me great gifts and he has really out done himself this time! I don't think there's many women who would like a fox head from their boyfriend but for me its the perfect present.
I'll be sure to let you all know how Charlie is settling in!

xx