Leeds International Beer Festival and Leonard Cohen concert

Our anniversary weekend happened to coincide with the 2nd annual Leeds International Beer Festival at the Town Hall. We love any excuse to go to the Town Hall, and it was a great atmosphere. 

The real ale crowd is mature & classy--they even sold drinks in 1/3 pint measures, so you could try more kinds without getting sloshed.

I love the interior of the Victoria Hall

There were food stalls and another beer hall outside in front of the steps. When we arrived, we saw a wedding party leaving the Town Hall--such a shame that they had the beer festival in their photos!

After the beer festival, we went to Sandinista for one last pint before going home. We got raffle tickets with our drinks and didn't think much of it. About half an hour later, they drew the tickets and called out Richard's name! We were shocked--and we didn't actually know what we'd won. It turned out to be VIP tickets to see Leonard Cohen at the new First Direct Arena nearby. Neither of us really knew Leonard Cohen, but we were well up for it! We finished up our pints and trotted over to the arena quickly, because the concert was starting in about half an hour!

In the VIP suite before the show

Even though it was completely unexpected & surreal, we had a great time

Leonard Cohen put on a great show--he's 78, but he has so much energy and a great sense of humor. The concert went on for about four hours, with no opening act! We recognised a couple of his songs--the classic "Hallelujah" which I love and "I'm Your Man". The other people with us in the VIP suite were superfans, though, and knew every song. Richard and I just looked at each other and laughed! Such a crazy night!

First Anniversary

We started our anniversary celebrations the day before--Richard surprised me with roses and a little celebration cake--he even put the wedding cake topper on it. We had a bottle of Zinfandel wine that we had bought at V. Sattui Winery in Napa Valley on our honeymoon. 

In the morning, I made us French toast for breakfast and we opened our cards and presents. We thought it was hilarious that we had both given each other meerkat cards! Richard's surprise for me was tickets to a Northern Ballet show of "A Midsummer Night's Dream"--opening night happened to land on Sept 6th!

Richard's other surprise was a visit to Oakwell Hall

It was so fun to go back one year later!

We went to T.G.I. Friday's and celebrated with fajitas, Jack Daniels BBQ and sundaes before getting dressed up for the ballet in the evening! It was a lovely anniversary and we're looking forward to many more!

Bank Holiday in Filey & London

On Bank Holiday Monday we went to the seaside at Filey

Donkeys!

They have a lovely promenade

On Tuesday (we had both Mon & Tues off at the university), we went down to London to catch the Propaganda exhibit at the British Library. It's been going on for months, but I hadn't had a chance to get down to London (I haven't been in over 2 years!). It was put together by David Welch, the professor at University of Kent who helped with the Phil Taylor conference.

We took the coach this time, which drops you off at Victoria, and grabbed lunch at a Patisserie Valerie in Chelsea.

It was fun to see the area in real life--it's just like on "Made in Chelsea"...We overheard a ridiculously posh couple at a nearby table who sounded just like the people on the show. I was surprised they would go to a chain cafe instead of the pricier boutique restaurants we saw all around the area.

Sloane Square

St. Pancras

The British Library--I'd never been before, and it was amazing! I've been missing out! Especially considering the fact that it's free and right next door to the train station that I've been to so many times for the Leeds line!

Cookie has taken to sleeping in the bathroom on hot days...

Most of the time she's on a cushion in the living room, though. She's getting quite thin and only eats a little bit at a time. As long as she keeps eating and drinking and doesn't seem like she's in pain, we'll just see what happens. Poor little Cookster!