Tour de France

I know many people have written about the Tour de France but I've not seen or read much about where we were so here's how our weekend went. As you might expect the caravan played a large part and we were lucky enough to get it on a site up Littondale before Arncliffe. (If you follow Lucy at Attic 24 it's the same site she had her van on last year)

An ideal spot with gorgeous views all round

As we had arrived Thursday teatime we had all Friday to do something, that meant a trip into Skipton - how I love that place! Here are just some of the pictures we took

A diversion into Taste meant we were soon filling our shopping bag with goodies

There was some amazing embroidery in Fat Faces window

and yarn bombing at Wild Oats Cafe

I even managed a visit to Purl and Jane to look at all their wool

All that and then coffee and cake at Coopers Cafe Bar

sitting in my favourite corner

Seeing that Skipton was starting to get busy, we went back to the van and avoided the traffic. We were entertained during the afternoon by the wildlife on the site 

The rabbit was one of a family of 5 who were just playing around the caravans, running under them when people walked passed. The hedgehog just seem to appear and walked across the internal road in front of our van.

We had an early start on Saturday in order to pack a picnic and walk down from the site to where we were going to watch the race. By this time we had been joined by C and A who were staying further up the dale at a local pub. It was already quite busy when we arrived at our chosen spot

so we got ourselves sorted and put up the bunting

We realised that we could see well into the distance 

If you look carefully right in the middle of the picture you can see part of the entourage coming down the road. There was a big shout as the 'caravane' was spotted, here is just a taste of it

I loved the wine and Miffy!
After a long wait a helicopter was seen, it got nearer and with it the first cycles in the distance, shortly they were with us

 and then gone! - but what an event to be part of.
The sun continued to shine as we made our way back to the site

where we felt that a little celebration was in order so Prosecco and homemade elderflower cordial cocktails were made and dually consumed - a fitting end to the day.

Sunday morning David and I went on the hunt for a paper in Kettlewell. The tour had passed through after they left us, and the village had certainly made itself look pretty. 

We did manage to get a paper in the village shop

I loved all the tins on the top shelf and then the old baking utensils and bottles underneath!

On returning to the van we had a belated breakfast

 which set us up nicely for our walk up the dale to Litton where the Queens Arms was waiting. Now the Queens Arm and ourselves go back a long way in fact to the late 70's when we, C and A and our other friends B and J used to go and camp May Day weekends in the field opposite. It's quite comforting going back as in many ways it's not changed too much and the corner table where Fizz, Buzz was regularly played is still there.

We had another gorgeous evening ending in this sunset

 Have to say that was the calm before the storm as although Monday started fine, the heavens opened as we were packing up and poor David was soaked to the skin! It did delay us but I managed to arrive at work with 5 minutes to spare. 

But now I need to say bye as I have to finish a 'Crispy Greek-style pie' for tea, pictures and recipe next time if it works out. Till then enjoy the rest of Wednesday, Anne x

Hagglers Corner

 'dog sitting' Oskar with a 'k' for a week has seen us out and about, taking the opportunity to go to places we either haven't visited or haven't visited for a long time. Hagglers Corner is the former.

I passed this place every day on my way into work and it always intrigued me. It's on the edge of the Antiques Quarter in Sheffield and is number 1 on the map, and under the 'cafe, bars and artisan food suppliers'. I could see there was something interesting through the arch but had never stopped to investigate. As we needed to go into Sheffield I decided that we could combine the trip with a coffee stop at Hagglers Corner and then a walk in Endcliffe Park with Oskar.  As we walked through the arch this is what we saw

a delightful courtyard, partly under cover 

and an area in the corner for young children

The painting on the wall is of an ice-cream shop which is at the bottom of the Sheffield Parkway. 

Inside didn't disappoint either ( well not us anyway), miss-matched tables and chairs with comfy saggy sofas

It's owned by Sarah and Dave. We spent a long time talking to Sarah about how the cafe started and their plans for the future making a mental note to go back for one of their live music evenings. 

They have a licence and a glass of wine would go very nicely with some of the lovely food that is on offer. Unfortunately we were only there for coffee but that was GOOD and so was the minted chocolate brownie that I had. It was very much the kind of place David and I like to go to, it is what it is - not all shiny tables, spotless and modern decor but comfy and welcoming where people take time to talk to you. Do give it a go if you're nearby you'll find it here