Yes my friends, it’s time for another departure lounge blog, this time from inside the actual executive lounge because for once my flight isn’t in the middle of the night. Pretty decent chicken tikka masala in here BTW. Now I’m having a pint.

I’ve crammed a lot into my visit to my home city of Leeds again, as usual.

It’s usually led heavily by all the foods I miss. My Mum ordered me the obligatory Cheese and Onion pasties from the supermarket, to be consumed with brown sauce of course, plus Dandelion and Burdock because I’m apparently part of the Victorian Temperance Movement.

Then, fish and chips, curry sauce, a soft buttered bread-cake, and a Ben Shaws Shandy. Yes please! A lamb Rogan Josh with garlic rice, naan bread, and mushroom pakoras the next day. With proper raita, and proper mango bloody chutney! I chatted the new owners up so much that I got the full pickle tray, popadoms, and a 1 litre bottle of coke for free, and I may have convinced them to come and open a restaurant near Limoges…. Then Thai Street food, bao buns, chicken toast, ooh and nearly forgot, amazing Huevos Rancheros, so spicy I got top lip sweat. We went to my favourite haunts, starting with the Northern Monk refectory, for Rocket Lolly and ice cream flavoured IPAs, through to Mojos, and my absolute favourite The Mean Eyed Cat. I chatted bollocks in too loud a voice with my friends, drank drinks that bartenders set fire to and generally had an epic time. If you follow my insta stories, the obligatory drunk phone karaoke as per usual. If you know you know.

My Sister had her 60th birthday party, where we somehow managed to prepare a paella for 30 people (and no-one died). I nearly broke a hip doing Just Dance with my friends daughter at 1.00am while she shouted such words of encouragement as “you’re too slow”, “you’re on the wrong side”, and “can’t you go any faster”. I’m unsure if my hip or my self esteem was the most damaged.

Also, fitted in a new tattoo, alongside my sister who got her first one as a present from me for her 60th birthday, which I think is pretty damned cool!

Also of course found some time to hang out with my mum and be outraged that no-one ever seems to get prosecuted at the end of Police Interceptors. I also shared with her all the parodies of Ina Garten on Youtube, and she thought they were hilarious.

Took the Nephew to go and see the Flash last night too, first time at the cinema in forever, and actually thoroughly enjoyed it. Although how bloody expensive is it these days?! Who remembers going into Wakefield on a Saturday to see a film for £1? Although I seem to remember the last film I saw there was Bigfoot and the Hendersons, so I’m deffo showing my age….. Seriously though, two cinema tickets, a popcorn, a nachos and 2 drinks, not much left out of £50. Who can afford to do that with a full family, it’s insane!

My husband has been able to track my movements via our joint bank account, and has (I won’t use the word enjoyed here) been “mildly amused” at my random expenditures in various bars and food purveying establishments. I shall be consuming gruel for the foreseeable.

I need to go home for a lie-down.

Although back to reality with a bump as our freezer broke a few days ago, so we get to spend a date day In Darty in Limoges shopping for new and ludicrously expensive white goods. Ah well. I’m sure the deliveries will all come when they are supposed to and nothing will be fraught at all. Right? Ah France you delicious and yet infuriating devil.

And with that, I think it’s time to frequent the complimentary bar once more, as I am here way too early for my flight, but when you’re from Yorkshire, you do like to get your moneys worth.

Until next time Leeds. Si thee. xx

TTFN xx