Monday 9 March 2015

There's one thing which turns this grey sky to blue


Saturday was a beautiful day, clear and bright.


Everywhere benefits from blue skies and sunshine, and Sheffield's city centre is no exception.


Kemsley House, built in 1913, was home for many years to Sheffield's newspapers, the Star and the Telegraph. Grade II listed, it now houses a Santander bank.


Sheffield Cathedral. 

There has been a church on this site since the 12th century.

(All the overhead wires are for the tram system.)


The Catholic Cathedral of St Marie, built in 1850.


I love the shape of the Winter Gardens' building; it sits on one side of Tudor Square...


opposite the Crucible theatre...


while the Lyceum theatre, with Mercury on the top, is on another side of the square.

Next stop;


 City Hall.


The foyer has the most ornate ceiling and magnificent arched windows. 

I've seen a lot of musicians play here over the years (Paul Young, Steve Earle, Glen Campbell, Elvis Costello, Robert Palmer and Richard Thompson, to name a few), and by the end of the year I'll be able to add ABC to the list.


I'm excited!


Owen was supposed to be imitating Vulcan's posture (there he is on top of the Town Hall).

It's an interesting exercise, wandering around your home town with a camera, trying to see familiar places with fresh eyes. I found more to admire than I expected. 

 Time for lunch.

She can't help herself; camera+Nina=face-pulling. 


She makes me laugh. So did this;


scrawled on the back of a seat on the bus. Never mind the antisocial defacement of property, look at that inappropriate apostrophe.

(Apologies for the blurry photo - the bus was moving, and I was laughing, and Nina was wailing Muuuuum, don't take a picture, it's rude!)


If Charlie could write, he'd probably pepper the walls in the garden with obscenities; he's that sort of cat.

 
1960s jacket, 1970s St Michael pussy-bow blouse, 1960s tapestry bag, belt and bangles - charity shopped
Gap skirt - found it in my wardrobe, forgot I still had it (it must have been a work skirt from the 1990s)
Boots - retail


I'll take my yellow and black outfit along to Patti's Visible Monday get-together.


Here we go for another week; hope it's a good one!

xxx

48 comments:

Ivy Black said...

You look bloody lush.
I'm very taken with Sheffield. It's a gorgeous city full of life. ABC eh? I saw them years ago and I have to admit I was dragged along as my mate didn't want to go along and I wasn't a fan. However, they bloody rocked and they were such a good turn, I'd see 'em any time. Martin in his gold trews....get in! Have fun.
Bloody hell...if I saw that scrawl, I'd have to correct it and them clean it off!! You should see the calibre of obsenities and rubbish spelling we get on the walls at work. That's just the staff.
Loves ya!
xxxxx

Miss Magpie said...

I very nearly spat coke across my desk at the graffiti!

I love your outfit you just can't go wrong with a good pussy bow.

Anonymous said...

One of my big brothers lives in Sheffield and he loves the place too. I think everyone she take a look at where they live with a fresh set of eyes and you can miss out on so much when you have blinkers on to what is really around you.

thorne garnet said...

Palm trees? You have palm trees? Thanks for the city tour, I love seeing where people live.

Mim said...

Wow, the city hall looks amazing. The North really does have amazing Victorian architecture!

I love your jacket. The way the pussybow hangs against it is perfect.

Anonymous said...

That's so funny you mention Glen Campbell. Yesterday at lunch my daughter tells me she's flying to Galveston Texas....so I whipped out my phone and played her that song he sings. Ah, such memories from the day.
I always like to see you in yellow Curtise!

Patti said...

The bad grammar'd graffiti made me LOL! Love the pics of your town - it seems most every historic building becomes a bank at some point, sigh. Gorgeous you and gorgeous kids - thanks so much for linking up to Vis Monday, xox.

Fiona said...

Ah yes, I thought the title referenced an ABC song but the memory doesn't always serve me well.
Sheffield looks splendid in the sunshine, so many imposing historic buildings amongst the more modern and the one we Brits all know, The Crucible. The ceilings in City Hall are spectacular. There's that beautiful smile of Nina's again and Owen's trendy specs are 'sick'
That graffiti, including the greengrocer's apostrophe is quite amusing....something I've been guilty of myself occasionally, when I'm not thinking or in a hurry and when I spot it in an old blog post I have to go back to correct it. I'm currently reading Eats Shoots and Leaves so let's hope that'll learn me! xx

Sheila said...

I love that yellow jacket - fabulous! The pics of Sheffield are wonderful. So glad you caught that misplaced apostrophe! I'm excited to hear about your concert! I love when they are in unusual venues.

Suzanne said...

Ha ha! that is too funny about the apostrophe. Of course now with texting no one would notice.

You look right proper in yellow and black, but my eyes go right to that fab bag.

bisous
Suzanne

at my dressingtable said...

This is a very classy outfit I love it !!! , wonderful pictures it's so interesting for me to see these wonderful places . Have a good week best wishes x

Mother of Reinvention said...

You look fabulous in this outfit. I love that colour jacket on you. It looks amazing and Spring-like. Sheffield looks really nice. i like the roof in that hall. I bet it has amazing acoustics. Glen Campbell, I am so green. Your kids are lovely, they are the spit of you.. Xxxx

mondoagogo said...

Your outfit looks great, Sheffield looks great, I love the pic with Charlie photobombing you, and that middle photo of Nina cracked me up!

Unknown said...

Very nice, I love that yellow jacket! And the cat photobomb is the best! I think my cat would swear a lot too, he is very territorial! :)

Vix said...

I recognised that ABC line immediately! When they play can I come with you? Please?!!!
Love you in yellow, that pussy bow blouse is sublime and you know how much I adore Sheff.
The Charlie photo bomb is hilarious.
Owen's glasses are cool, he's an Indie kid in the making, he is.
Nina is a natural in front of the camera, that girl needs her own blog soon.
Love you! xxxxx

Connie said...

You just look like the perfect city dweller. I love your yellow jacket with the nifty little notches. Yes. Let's keep our graffiti grammatically correct. What is wrong with hoodlums these days? Sheesh! Sheffield is such a pretty place. I shall have to pay a visit one of these days.

bahnwärterin said...

ha - knew it would work :-)
great look for a day playing tourist in hometown! it´s such a beautiful city! that city hall ceilings - love!
and your adorable kids :-) xxxxx

Kezzie said...

I bloomin love Nina! She is so funny!
Sheffield looks SUCH a nice place,, I would love to visit (esp if the charity shops are so good!). I love Charlie's photobombing and that blouse is rather wonderful!x

Jayne H said...

Your comment about the inappropriate use of an apostrophe made me laugh!
Thanks for the tour of Sheffield xx

Natalia Lialina said...

Your photo tour is a pure delight! Love the mix of magnificent old and whimsical new architecture - it creates such a dynamic, alive feeling. Kudos, as they say, for finding new angles of familiar things, not everyone goes for it - you are such an inquisitive creative mind.

Your yellow jacket and tapestry bag make me smile happily (yellow is so good with black, always a striking combo). Your kids are always delightful to see - I can see you in them, I can see your closeness, and it warms my heart. I think you are just such a wonderful mother, Curtise, because you are not just caring and loving - but also real. xxxx

Katharine A said...

Sheffield looks good. Thanks for the tour. Love the town hall ceilings. Love spotting a bit of bad graffiti. Always think that you get the best lines from graffiti artists who use a biro or pencil!

Kylie said...

ABC!!! Now that takes me back!
Love your yellow jacket, pussy bow, hair(!). So beautifully turned out in this post Curtise. You always look gorgeous though. Sheffield not too shabby either.
Hi Nina xxx

Diane said...

BIG UP Sheffield - Cracking place. You know I love it too, See you at the City Hall then, I'm looking forward to it . PS Spandau Ballet were outstanding at the Arena last Friday too xxxx

Goody said...

Years ago I caught a child no more than ten writing graffiti on an alley garage with some sort of giant paint crayon. I marched him home (it was a small neighbourhood), and told his dad that he should teach him how to spell the obscenities correctly. He spent the weekend cleaning it up. I'd like to think he grew up to be an excellent speller!

You+Yellow=Magnificent.

Funny, I imagine if Charlie could write it would be something like, "I SAID salmon!"

Jazzy Jack said...

You have inspired me! Although we have no old buildings here, as the national capital we do have big institutions. I think I'll have a walk around with the camera!
Love your ladylike black and yellow. Not a common combination, at least in my life.
Looove the smiling photo and the kids making faces!
And the fact that you noticed the spelling on the graffiti :-D
By the way, you rock! xo Jazzy Jack

Shawna McComber said...

This post made me smile and just might contain everything I love about you. The yellow and black outfit is now in my top favourites on you ever! Owen and Nina-oh they are so adorable. A perfect Vulcan and Nina's faces always make me laugh. I love your off kilter halo. That made me laugh too. I think an outing in the city with you, wandering around with the camera would be loads of fun so will you please adopt me? And finally what I love about you most is your noticing of the misplaced apostrophe! xoxoxo

Melanie said...

Watch out - Nina will become one of the great actresses of her time. And Owen cracks me up with his Vulcan imitation.
Sheffield is about the size of Vancouver but we try desperately to paper over our lack of history with mirrored buildings and destroy the ones that over 50 years old.
You're looking very post-work in that former work skirt. Office is the last thing I think of when worn with your vintage bag, blouse, and jacket.

Angels have Red Hair said...

It's refreshing to look at familiar sights with fresh eyes … I have to do it all the time with my photo a day project. If ever I manage to get to Sheffield, I'll feel really at home ;0)
xx

Unknown said...

You always take some wonderful photo's Sheffield looks like a fun place to moouch around. Love the photo's of your children they look so content bless them. I am also loving your yellow and black combination you look gorgeous, have a great week, dee xx

Olga Rani said...

Very elegant outfit! Wearing some yellow, what can be better choice for a sunny day? Thank you for this mini-tour around your town.

Emma Kate at Paint and Style said...

You look lovely! You slightly remind me of Mary Poppins for some reason. You need a magic umbrella though.
Lovely pics of Sheffield in the sun. Long may it last! xxxx

Ulla-Marie said...

So elegant, and redundant information but I really like the picture in which a cat photobombing the Picture.

The Style Crone said...

Yellow is one of my favorite colors and you wear it beautifully. You mirror the beautiful day, clear and bright.

You always amaze with photos of your environment. Sheffield is regal and majestic through your lens. And your children always a delight.

hippyatheart said...

that yellow jacket and the pussy bow blouse are made for you <3

Forest City Fashionista said...

I think everything, and everyone looks better against a blue sky and sunshine!! And speaking of sun, that lovely little yellow jacket fits you beautifully.

I used to take my camera for a walk around my neighbourhood on Sunday afternoons - haven't done that for years though.

I would have taken a photo of the graffiti on the bus seat too. If you're going to deface public property you could at least try to spell properly!

Peaches McGinty said...

Ha! the graffiti! I'm a terrible apostrophe offender though haha!! the smiley face tickled me no end! it's all pot leaves round here, Abby told me off for saying 'I'm having a puff' on my e-cig, apparently means I'm having some weed, haha! Love you in your yellow jacket/pussy bow ensemble, and Nina and Owens' poses are fab! posing fun is the best! yep, Sheffield is a bloody gorgeous City - I'm hoping Martin will be in his gold suit, I'm feeling all nostalgic now x x x

kobieta niewidzialna said...

Nice outfit,I love this jacket. Best :)

Unknown said...

It's after midnight here, but I couldn't pack it in until I dropped a note to tell you how much I love how you look in this jacket. I know, I said it before but it bears repeating . So sleek with the black, and you know I'm a fan of you in that color as well.
Great mugging children. Wonder where they get that life skill? They're growing up so fast! Yikes.
I'm dying of love for the architecture in Sheffield. You get to LIVE amid an entire history of western architecture. You've got every important period represented! We have clapboard shacks, brick ranch-style boring and post-modern public sameness. Sad.
Glad to at least make a start at catching up with you! Always a treat to see what you're up to.

Sue said...

Another magical tour around your part of the world. I agree, the Winter Gardens building is a fabulous shape. What is it like inside?? Nina is brilliant, and so is the scribble on the back of the bus seat.

The Vintage Knitter said...

Apostrophe crime is so annoying - you'd have thought that bus travelling OAPs would have better punctuation than that! Goes with the territory of the silver day tripper I suppose...

Unknown said...

Your "outings" always looks so great , like a perfect travellers guide...
xxx

Mrs Bertimus said...

Love the yellow and black combo and love your jewellery! X

Beth Waltz said...

Thank you, Curtise, for sharing the bright blue skies of Sheffield. It's an amazingly well-maintained city, even if the graffiti does includes an occasional inappropriate apostrophe...no doubt the work of a tourist.

You're the Spirit of Spring in the handsome yellow jacket!

Gracey the Giant said...

Sheffield looks absolutely gorgeous. And so do you; that blouse is everything and you look so lovely in yellow!

Catherine said...

i love that yellow jacket! Sheffield looks wonderful! I've always known about Sheffield because of the Sheffield Sheild- which was a cricket tournament. I dont know if their related but I remember then seeing Sheffield in a book when I was little and assuming they were one in the same! Sydney is always so bloody full of tourists. Even when your just going about your business visiting the tourist areas for lunch, the bar staff and waiters always ask where im from lol

freckleface said...

Alright Sheffield? Looking good. We went there! I'd have loved to have seen you in your OT Manager days, looking all smart and stylish if this skirt is anything to go on. Yellow is great, just right for March. You, O and N obviously had a lovely day out on the town, grafitti and punctuation notwithstanding. ABC! Ah. That takes me back. They did some great songs. You'll be singing your heart out! Xxxx

Melanie said...

I love this outfit, the jacket is so cute.
Kemsley House is glorious! I love the Lyceum too. Actually, all the architecture is rather splendid xxx

Trees said...

I rather like the idea of cats being able to write and filling walls with obscenities - you know if they could, they totally would. Also I love the big smiley fact next to the bus graffiti! I love seeing photos of where blogger friends live, everything I know about Sheffield is either from you or Pulp songs ;) Lovely wee outfit too!