Around Otley

The last time I shared photos of Otley was in 2012? Boy time flies. I do love those photos of me with my besties though - they're still on our pinboard in the kitchen :) Who knew that in 3 years time things would be so exciting for us all!

I took these as we wandered around with Thomas's parents - I really love that first photo - even if I do say so myself haha.

Camera: Canon EOS 750
Film: Agfa Vista 200
Location: Otley, Yorkshire

Cockpit Farm Tea Rooms

The other weekend we did a mini tour of Yorkshire with Thomas's parents - starting in Otley and driving along the moors to Ilkley afterwards (photos to follow of course!) and along the way between Otley and Ilkley we stopped at the Cockpit Tea Rooms which Thomas found on Tripadvisor and it was amazing! I had the afternoon tea - where you got a sandwich followed by a scone with lots of tea. I love tea (being English and all) so I was in Darjeeling heaven haha.

I'm a little sad that I caught the beginning of the film with this last photo as all the pots on the wall looked adorable so I've put it on here anyway.

If you're ever heading to Otley or Ilkley definitely check the Cockpit Tea Rooms!

Camera: Zenit E & Canon EOS 750
Film: Agfa Vista 200
Location: Cockpit Tea Rooms, Yorkshire

A new camera

I wrote a post in April about fancying a new camera and its only now that I've actually impulsively bought one. A Zenit E. To be fair this was probably too impulsive - I spent more than I should - I'm not entirely sure the selenium meter works and without the selenium meter, this camera is pretty much my Zenit B. One saving grace is that the people I bought it from were so excited that I was actually going to use the camera... so I'm glad I made their day haha.

I was pretty bummed that I had bought a camera without a working light meter until I got the photos back and then I started to feel a bit better. It is like my Zenit B as I mentioned, but its like my Zenit B without the weird sticky shutter situation I randomly have and I didn't have any problems with exposure with my test roll - admittedly its just one roll so far but I think I'm going to be using this camera a fair bit if it proves to be reliable with more rolls of film.

I haven't picked up my Zenit B in a while as the shutter has been worrying me and I have had a lot of problems with the exposure whilst using it over the past two years (though I'm now starting to wonder if that was the camera more than user error...) so I'm hoping that this camera can replace my Zenit B but we'll see how it goes.

The real redeeming feature of both my Zenit B and E cameras is the Helios 44 lens - look at the depth of field in this photo above! Oh gosh, its beautiful! It's the reason I loved my Zenit B so much and I'm super glad that I get another shot at using the lens with my Zenit E now. Let's hope this camera is going to prove reliable!

Camera: Zenit E (not B)
Film: Agfa Vista 200
Location: Our garden haha

30 AFTER 30

Today is my 30th birthday! Happy birthday me! :)

(Photo from last night rounding off my twenties with cocktails! So much fun!)

(Photo from last night rounding off my twenties with cocktails! So much fun!)

I always see those 30 before 30 posts around but if there is one thing I've learnt in my last 29 years its that I'm not disciplined or organised for before lists hahaha. I always admire people who look like they have their sh*t together though . So I decided to write an 'after' 30 list... in the pretence that one day I might get my sh*t together too haha. Though I guess its really more of a bucket list.

Here goes:

  1. Go on the longest zipline in the UK. I don't know anyone who would go with me but its definitely number 1 on the list ha. And why not bump it up to the longest zip lines in the world - amazing!!

  2. Visit the Grand Canyon. Not a small goal I know, but as its a bucket list, I might as well go big or go home!

  3. Do something radical with my hair - I have no idea what - maybe a pixie cut or rainbow hair dye haha, but something a bit different that's really not playing it safe. I'll probably hate it. Update: I cut it short, I love it.

  4. Donate my hair. Now that I don't dye my hair this is something I've been thinking about doing and if I grow it really long and cut it short - thats pretty radical right ;)

  5. Figure out my personal style. My Dad bought a book for himself on Gentleman's style last year and although I giggled a bit, I actually thought it was great that he wanted to present himself how he wants. I've put together secret boards on Pinterest of clothes I like on other people, but when I look at them and think "would I actually wear that?" the answer is usually no. Any tips for short, hourglass shapes who likes layers and not showing much flesh would be very much appreciated!

  6. Look at the stars in Northumberland at Dark Skies Park. I love stars.

  7. Oh thinking about it - I need to see the stars in the Southern Hemisphere somewhere too! I'll look the best place for that one up!

  8. Road trip around the UK. The more I travel around the UK the more I realise I haven't seen much of it at all. I suppose I need to learn to drive first...

  9. Learn to drive :)

    In fact there's so much I want to learn, so here's a quick list of things to learn:

  10. Learn how to make croissants (who doesn't love pastry?)

  11. Learn how to make a really good sauce.

  12. Learn how to sing (our neighbours are going to love me singing in the shower even more!)

  13. Learn how to knit (I'm on with this one but I'm excited about it!) Update: Still not as great as I would like but I’m made quite a few things now.

  14. Learn how to sew and actually use my sewing machine.

  15. Learn to play an instrument - but what instrument?

  16. Do 3 random courses on Coursera and learn about things I don't know about. Update: I did a degree and a diploma on Lighting and Building Services, so this one is being crossed off!

  17. Get a tattoo. Another thing I never expected to want to do - especially after one of my aunts freaked me out by trying to convince me to get one on my boob when I was a teenager ha. But one day, I think it will be the right time and for the right reason. I'm quite taken with constellation tattoos at the moment - I do love stars.

  18. #yogaeverydamnday - I would love to be one of those people who does yoga everyday - but seriously - where do people find the time? I know... you make the time... but where?! I'll figure it out at some point. I'm determined.

  19. Start and complete a photography project. I always have ideas of things but I never find one that really sticks. I'll keep thinking over this one. Update: I did a 366 project in 2016 and thinking of doing more every leap year!

  20. Go all out at the Edinburgh Fringe. See as many things as we can, eat in the nicest places, stay at a lovely hotel.... like I said before. Go big or go home ha.

  21. Watch a thunderstorm in Italy. I'm one of those weird people who loves storms and the UK is pretty rubbish for them, so to see a spectacular one in another country would be amazing. I wouldn't go as far as chasing storms though don't worry.

  22. Volunteer for The Dog's Trust (or any dogs home really - maybe even foster some dogs?).

  23. Walk the Three Peaks. And do more walking challenges. Getting my Fitbit was one of the best decisions I ever made and I know now that I really love walking. I would also love a walking holiday around the Lake District.

  24. Eat at at least ten places featured on Diners, Drives Ins and Dives or You Gotta Eat Here. Oh boy it all looks so good! These TV shows are so dangerous ha.

  25. Make my own clothes - either by sewing, crochet or knitting - hopefully even all three!

  26. Successfully plant and manage a garden (when we finally buy a house). I'd love to have a lovely garden that I've created and can maintain.

  27. Go away for a weekend on my own - Thomas isn't going to like this one ha. But since dealing with depression and recovering from it slowly every day, I realise how much I want to have time to myself, to heal, to grow, to like spending time with myself and I'd love to be brave enough to just do it and enjoy it.

  28. Do something completely random that no one would expect and love it. I know this is a bit vague but I always feel like I play life so safe, I want to so something new and say yes to an experience that I never thought I'd have - I think I'll wait to say yes to it rather than decide on what exactly that is. Hear that Universe - I'm ready when you are. Update: Got completely into Tarot. Didn’t expect it, absolutely love it. I’m totally open to more new experiences though Universe :D

  29. Try a vegan diet for a month. Update: Tried it but after cutting out gluten as well, it made me feel quite ill. I’m sad about that, but gluten free vegan is crazy hard, not suited to me and impractical for me too unfortunately.

  30. And finally, anyone who knows this won't be surprised... get a puppy. Or ten. Part of me is still heartbroken that I don't have one at 30 - I thought it would be the one thing I'd definitely do by this age but as Thomas keeps reminding me 'one day' and one day its going to be amazing!

What do you think? Have I missed anything that particularly screams "do this in my 30's" ? I'm pretty excited about it on the whole - I hope I actually do get my sh*z together and actually do them too :)