tj_rowe | St. Nicolas Fayre

I really need to teach myself that just about everywhere worthwhile in town can be reached through Swinegate - last week (or whenever it was that my bike needed fixing) I found that on the corner of it is a cut-through to Barley Hall - and I used that cut-through today, but then I wandered for another hour or so trying to find Goodramgate. I did do the thing of leaving Barley Hall onto Stonegate, and then going 'High Petergate? Low Petergate? One of these goes to Goodramgate! But which?' and then deciding to go back to the market and walk until I found it. (Turns out I wanted to walk down Low Petergate) In the meantime, however, I found Fudge Kitchen and got a free sample.

When I finally got to Boyes, it was shut. And then I was cold and tired, so instead of going to Clifford Street, working out which stop I wanted and getting the 4, which I already had a return for, and then riding my bike home from Uni, I walked not-nearly-as-far and got a new ticket on the 10. While I was stood by the Red Lion a lady turned up and said 'I was waiting for the 4 on Clifford Street for 20 minutes! *angry sigh* Apparently there's some sort of hold up, so I've come here to get the 44 instead!' Take that, First.

I got roasted chestnuts before going for the bus, though. Om nom nom - I never seem to manage actually eating the damn things while I'm still in town. I don't have anywhere to put the shells (which don't come off properly anyroad), I drop bits, always manage to find the uncooked one first, have too many gloves, &c.

A key thing in missing Boyes (I wanted more black fleece, and some black velcro to attach the black fleece with, and maybe some black shiny ribbon just because) was that I stopped by the market and purchased a hat (black) from the Black Yak stall. Just tried it on with my helmet (I specifically got one with no bobble or similar for this purpose) and it works, so it looks like I get a warm head on Sunday, if nothing else! I lost my purple woolly charity-shop hat at some point while rushing about trying to find a printer and get my probQs handed in today. This may have been fate's way of saying 'buy a hat while you're in town, one that covers your ears this time'. Hopefully fate will return it on Monday, I like that hat. Even if cycling in it results in cold ears.

I saw many things at the market that would have made lovely christmas prezzies, however, I find them far too expensive. Also, they would mostly have made lovely christmas prezzies for me, so. Dragon that breathes smoke! (Powered by burning incense) Want so much. However, I don't currently have my own house, and when I do have my own house I shall be sharing it with an asthmatic, so pretty incense burners are probably not in my future. OTOH, housemate on the other side of my room from smoker-housemate seems to have jumped on the 'we're allowed fire?!' bandwagon and burns her incense (it smells spicy and is nice, but not at the same time as smoker-housemate leaves her door open), so I might give in and join her.

House of Freya weren't in Barley Hall! Does anyone know what's happened to them? The Runesmith was there, though, and though he does have the occasional really nice bit of jewellery, and the tankards, there seems to be even more of the plastic-gem and 'look, fairies!' type stuff than last year. I guess fairies are the new dragons. *sad* I shall have to have a look at the crafty stuff tomorrow when his wife is there.

I did get a prezzie for my mum, though. Now it's just my sister, my dad, Steve's parents and Steve's sister left on the 'must get something' list. And Steve's parents don't mind getting lumped together. I did see something my aunt would like, but again, expensive. Actually, I think I got my sister some earrings months ago...

Does anyone know if anywhere is selling Brandy Butter yet? It might give me more motivation to actually work out pastry if I had something to eat the resulting crappy mince-pies with. Last year I used mix and then brought them to the tree-party (where I got introduced to Brandy Butter).

Also, I'm in my house and my feet are freezing in tights, socks and boots. I'm also wearing a fleece jacket, my new warm thing made of alpapa wool, and frequently my new hat as well. I just ate curry. Why aren't I warm? I may have to go to my room, where there is no internet but there can be music and sewing. And there is a RADIATOR.

LARP on Sunday! I'll be wrapped up in two layers of fleece, my armour and hat&helmet when I'm IC, at least. Possibly also a scarf. At least, I think that my fleecy jacket will go over the shoulders... I'm not taking it off to check right now, though. *shiver*

ETA: Have put the fire on. An awesome thing about living with postgrads is having all the benefits of being a student while also being trusted with a gas fire in the living room. And the gardening.