Since the beginning of this year, I have been counting down the days til my holidays. By holidays I mean my week in Scarborough with my two best pals, not by any means exotic, but staying in a place I love, with two people I adore is my idea of an awesome time.
Well last week the time finally came and after months of being apart, me and my bestests, Hannah & Jade finally got to catch up when we went to stay with Jade in her house in Scarborough for a week. For days before I'd spent my time cursing the weather for unleashing its torrential rain right before I was due to go to the coast, however as I left for the train station, the sun was beaming and I was beyond excited!
I got on the train in Leeds where I met 'our' Hannah and after some confusion about our seat reservations we just slouched in any old random seat and caught up on each others lives since we left Huddersfield. Our resident barbie, Jade, picked us both up from the station and drove us to her lovely little seaside home. Gotta admit though, it was so weird seeing Jade drive, but she's a right little cruiser really! As for her lovely little seaside home...it was adorable! So homely and just as predicted her room is fit for a princess - pretty, pink and cosy.
As I'm already a lover of Scarbados, I knew what the place was like but as Hannah hadn't visited before, the first thing we did was go on a little walk down the seafront to show her what she'd been missing out on. Anybody would think that as Jade lived in Scarborough, she would be fed up of the tourists and holiday-makers, but she was in fact quite the opposite, and relished the opportunity to show us the sights and souvenirs of her home town. We began our day by embarking on the exciting adventure that was a journey on an open-top bus - a first for me! The sun was shining and the beach was full of families, so we took the opportunity to visit some shops.
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| Me & Jadey on the open-top bus on the way into Scarborough |
With all the excitement, me and the girls were exhausted and melting from the heat, so we decided to cool down with an ice-cream from the infamous Harbour Bar. And lets face it, its just impossible for me to visit Scarborough and not have my favourite - a lemon-top ice-cream.
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| One of the best things about the Yorkshire Coast - lemon-top ice-creams! | |
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After we'd stuffed our faces, we visited some more souvenir shops. This is one of my favourite things about the sea-side - the utter rubbish you can spend your money on. The bracelets/key-rings and personalised mugs, depicting how much you <3 Scarborough, are a complete waste of money in hindsight, but a great way to remember your visit in years to come. With that in mind, we bought a bracelet each, in different colours, 'friendship bracelets' if you like, because to be frank, we're sad like that!
After an exhausting but lovely day in the sun, we headed back to the open-top bus and went back to Jade's abode. We were all aching and tired out from the sea-air but it was nice to be back, watching Coronation Street and feeding on a feast of pizza fingers and smilies, courtesy of Jade's dad, who works for McCains and therefore, they have an endless supply of treats.
On Tuesday we had a nice little lie in and then went back into Scarborough, for the compulsory sea-side dinner at the Harbour View cafe (Jade's boyfriends family cafe.) And, I have to say, it was the best chippy dinner, I have ever had, without a doubt. We met Jade's boyfriends family, who were really welcoming and friendly, I will definitely be re-visiting for another epic dinner!
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| Best fish and chips, you'll ever eat! |
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We then burned off the massive 'scran' (a Hannah term) by walking the long way down the beach to the Sea-life centre. The beach was packed and it was our first opportunity to get on the sands and paddle in the sea. However, it slightly put a dampner on events, when I thought I was extremely clever and marched down the beach steps into a pool of seaweed - which at first glance looked like a few weeds, nothing to be bothered about...
....That was until I stepped into it and went in above my knees...meaning I had to walk to rest of the beach with soggy shoes stinking of seaweed. Not my brightest hour! With that aside, we carried on down the beach and enjoyed the sun and sand.
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| Colourful chalets defining Scarborough beach |
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| I sincerely want a turtle... |
We arrived at the Sea-life centre, extremely excited and spent the rest of the afternoon looking at the sea creatures before returning to Jade's and enjoying a gorgeous curry cooked by Jadey herself.
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| Jade being a pro-chef |
On our final day in Scarborough, Jade drove us into York. York is a really beautiful place, even more so when visited with your two best friends. We spent the day shopping and taking in the beautiful sights such as The Shambles and the petite and quirky boutiques that adorn the centre of York. I was in a bit of a huff as I was due to get paid two days later and therefore couldn't spend much money, but I didn't let it put a downer on the day.
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| The Shambles |
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| John Bull sweet-shop |
The one thing I did purchase was something I'd been looking for, for ages, a vintage army jacket - much like the ones being abused by fashion lovers at the minute. However mine wasn't a £48 TopShop special - it was the real thing, complete with patches and badges and perfect for customising - for, wait for it........£5! Hannah persuaded the market-trader to let me have it for peanuts and my day was made! We saw Jamie Oliver's restaurant and visited the Disney store, where Jade was in her element and then headed to Wetherspoons for some food and the essential when visiting any 'Spoons - a chocolate fudge cake!
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| If I could marry a cake... |
Later that night, we got dolled up, had our usual half a bottle of cider or Lambrini (ever so classy). And Jade showed us the night-life of Scarborough. It wasn't particularly busy but it was nice to be on a night out together again, skanking to Sean Paul and chanting Blue Moon - the three musketeers were back on top form! But as we headed home, the blues were kicking in over the fact we were leaving tomorrow.
The next day, we got up and had dinner, before dropping Hannah off at the train station as her train back to Manchester was before mine. We said our goodbyes and then me and Jade went back to hers to chill for a while before my train. That was until I got out my train ticket half an hour before I was due to set off, only to realise I'd got the wrong tickets and accidentally got my return for the day after instead. Panic set in as Jade was due to go to work later that afternoon and I had to be back in Wakefield for work the next day. Luckily Jade was nice enough to let me stay at her house while she went to work, and I arranged to get a coach back to Castleford the next day at 7AM. I spent the day relaxing and even took the chance to have the best bubble bath I've ever encountered in Jade's posh bath (which she still brings up now...). When Jade got home from work we went to sleep ready for our early start the next morning.
When I got on the coach the next morning I was upset to leave but found solace in the fact that it wouldn't be long before we were back in Huddersfield living life to the fullest (or knitting and watching Coronation Street at least!). It was one of the best weeks I've had and can't wait to do the same next year (hint hint Jade!). Holidays with your friends are the best kind....even if it is only North Yorkshire! Viva Scarbados!
(Photos courtesy of Hannah Hutton & Jade Wrigglesworth)
