Sheffield 2017: Autumn Part II

November 2017

On another of my weekend trips, I popped to Nottingham, not because I knew anything about the place, but because I grew up reading about the Sheriff of Nottingham, Sherwood Forest and Robin Hood. How could I not visit!?

It wasn't all that different from Sheffield really, having the same feeling that cities in the north have. It's known for sport and its transport systems, neither of which interested me in the slightest. What did interest me was that it was once known (and is noted down in the Domesday book) as 'Snotingham' after a Saxon chief called Snot. Man I bet they still haven't lived that down!

And of course, a visit to an english city wouldn't be complete without a trip to a pub for a pint, the older the pub the better!

 Another November adventure was the advent of Christmas markets! This European phenomenon makes me incredibly happy. Myself and Joy's little family took a visit to the Manchester Christmas markets, which were incredibly busy but incredibly pretty. The mulled wine was better at the one in Annecy though!

For some reason I've never been very fond of Mancherster, though it does have pretty areas (also look at all the people!)

 My favourite trip of this month however was to Llangollen, a gorgeous town in Wales, for a girls weekend just Joy, Harvey and I. Situated on the river Dee and surrounded by countryside, it's ridiculously picturesque.

We took a stroll along the river, enjoying the changing of the leaves before winter left them bare. Harvey threw his favourite train in the river and then couldn't understand why he no longer had it, this was clearly devastating and made no sense to him. Joy briefly considered trying to retrieve said train, but upon remembering being told a similar situation with my brother, a kiwi toy, and my uncle suffering horrible injuries on rocks trying to get it back, I swiftly talked her out of it. This is how children learn! Or something.

Llangollen (and isn't Welsh just wonderful?) takes its name from 'llan' meaning a religious settlement as the church was founded in the 6th century. Nowadays, this town is a popular tourist destination, because it's just so darn cute. 

And did I mention picturesque? It bears repeating. There is also a steam train you can take if you're feeling extra touristy - which I was, but unfortunately we had just missed it for the day. One day I will get my steam train experience!! Next up, Christmas, my favourite time of the year!