Lunch in Leeds!

Blogging is a funny old business isn't it? For some people they use it as means to keep in touch with loved ones from afar, for some it's been a lifeline and therapy to be able to voice fears and find support, for some people it's their business and livelihood and for me? Well it's become an opportunity to link up with lovely likeminded people I would never have had the opportunity to meet let alone know they exist. Like Joanna from Poppys Style for instance.

I've met Joanna before in February when there was a gaggle of us all meeting up in London. It was fun and manic but I only managed to spend about 10 minutes chatting to her and I felt I'd missed out somewhere along the way. Then she said she was in the country again and had a day free. What's a girl to do but suggest a get together?

And we agreed to meet in Leeds - yay! And with kids in tow - oh! 

Anyway, a couple of snaps of what I wore before I headed out the door .....

Aubin & Wills Annaside Top, Gap Khaki Mini Skimmers, Primark Sandals, APC Bag

This is my first pic of Joanna outside the agreed meeting place - Harvey Nicks! Where else???

Mrs Poppy (aka Joanna), Ms Poppy and Master Hugh.

And this is what George and I were doing before they arrived. Taking pics of feet on the street!

Me and Master Grinning George Monster

And before that, we had "The Chat". The chat where George was bribed with the possibility of two Kinder eggs if he was on his best behaviour today. And I was rather amused to find that Joanna had had the same chat with her two though what bribes she used, I'm not sure. I was also told by Joanna that in America, Kinder eggs are outlawed but you can have a gun. I'm trying (very hard) to see the sense and logic in that.

We decided to decamp in Giraffe - it looked like somewhere which could cope with our motley crew and we had the most accommodating lovely waitress called Rosie (Hi Rosie, if you're reading! Please get started on writing your blog!) who really looked after us even though we trashed/destroyed/bombsited the place by the time we left (sorry ... really sorry). The children were really well behaved or as well behaved as could be expected for three caged animals for three hours. Enough time for that bottle of white wine to be drunk which Joanna insisted we have.

Little Angels. Ha ha ha.

We chatted and chatted about everything we possibly could in the time we had. We did a lot kid cajoling, we let them eat pancakes, chips and ice cream and gave them everything they could want so we could drink our wine "peacefully". In the same boat - you'd do the same right?

Picture Credit : Poppy

Oh yes, talking about the wine. I was only going to have the one as I'm a bit of a lightweight but Joanna was terribly persuasive about how it's cheaper by the bottle. So one phone call later to a rather bemused Grumps meant that he was driving the car home for me (thank you and I love you!).

Anyway, the day ended far too quickly for us both and not quickly enough for the small people. This is George and Hugh doing the great escape!

You go this way .....

I'll go this way .....

Gotcha!

Thank you Joanna for coming across the Pennines to come and see me. I know you made it back in one piece. And do you know what I saw on the way home on the train as I stared blearily out -  a field of poppies in the distance! What a lovely way to end the day!

Honest - it's a field of poppies!

So when's the next date??