A weekend in Leeds

We were all up and ready and left the house at 8.50 to drive to Ely for the train.

Heather, Jon and I all got the same train but Jon and I got off in Peterborough and Heather continued to Nottingham to meet up with her friend before they went on to Stoke to stay with Sami.

We had a twenty minute wait for our next train and then spent a very relaxing time up to Leeds. It was a lovely, clear sunny day but very cold. the views across the Fens were lovely but I am glad I don't live there.

We arrived on time and then walked to our hotel which took about 15 minutes.

Our room wasn't ready so we went into TGI Friday for lunch and, for us, we ate a lot and I felt full for the rest of the day so much so we didn't eat anything else till breakfast on Sunday!

We spent the afternoon in our room and read and watched TV as it had started to rain and wasn't very pleasant to be walking around.

We left to go to the Arena and decided to get a taxi as the rain was very heavy.

The arena is quite new and very big and we were very happy with our seats but we were there far too early. We had intended to get something to eat but were still full from lunch.

The show was amazing and passed very quickly and ended with a Christmas sing song, balloons and snow. I have to say though, I have never seen so many walking sticks and wheelchairs at a concert!!!!

We got outside and it had stopped raining which was just as well as the streets were packed with cars and people, total gridlock. I managed to find our way back to the hotel without getting lost something that Jon would not have been able to do.

We had an early night for us on a Saturday and not a drop of alcohol!

Sunday
We both slept really well and woke at 8.00 in order to make out 9.00 booking for breakfast. Our train was not till 5.45 so we had a lot of time to kill.

As luck would have it breakfast, which was served in TGI Friday, was very efficient and we didn't have to wait like we did in Nottingham, just when we could do with slowing things down.

We didn't need to check out till 12.00 so we went back to the room and watched a bit of TV before checking out at 11.00.

We walked to the station to leave our bags in left luggage at a cost of sixteen pound!

We then set off to see the Christmas market but first we went for a coffee.

We saw the Leeds Museum near the market and so went in and had a look at the history of Leeds and various other displays and that passed quite a time.

When we came out it was raining so not very pleasant to walk around the market but we did. The stalls were pretty much the same as Nottingham and London with only Haslemere being different and probably the best.

From there we went into one of the many shopping arcades and we saw a Christmas cinema had been set up and was showing films  and you could just walk in and watch. Jack Frost was just about to start so we went in. They had sofas and bean bags around and we found a sofa and sat down and really enjoyed the film. I cried of course!

Back outside we then walked around the shops and Jon bought a cap. The arcades are really lovely and they have re developed old buildings and made them into lovely places to shop. You walk across the street and into the next one, very nice indeed.

It was nearly four o'clock so we stopped for lunch at Giraffe which was very good but we were careful not to eat too much.

We then walked to the station and collected our luggage and walked to the notice boards to check our train, so relaxing going by train.

Jon had upgraded us to First Class for the return as it was only five pounds more. On our way to the platform I saw the First Class lounge so we asked if we could use it (as we hadn't paid full price I was not sure if we could). The lady said yes and we went in. Comfy seats, TV, toilets and a coffee/tea/chocolate machine to help yourself. A very nice surprise.

The lounge was closing and the lady said we should head over for our train as it was leaving from Platform 11 and it would take us time to get there. We panicked then by the sound of her voice and set off at a very fast walk. We needn't have worried as it wasn't that far.

Our train came in and we boarded and left on time. Drinks were brought round and then a choice of sandwiches, crisps, and muffins were given out. I took a sandwich to take home for my tea as I wouldn't need more having just had lunch.

The journey was good and we changed in Peterborough and arrived in Ely at 8.15. We had to wait for Heather who was due in at 8.30.

Heather arrived and had ordered a pizza so we drove to Newmarket to pick it up and then home.

I made Jon an omelette and I ate the sandwich and we watched X Factor. I really wanted Fleur to win but I like Ben, too so all good.

Went to bed very tired and sore legs from all the walking. We really liked Leeds, such friendly people.

WEATHER
Very cold on Saturday warmer and wet on Sunday