West Yorkshire

[Sundae]

Seriously, you're walking down the street and just happen to bump into Obi Wan.


Then he just insists on having his picture taken with you.


As does Boba Fett.


But Darth is more into a staring out pugs mood.
Hey, that's cool. Not every single man in the Galactic Empire has to fancy you, right?


I'm not actually that deluded. They didn't really fancy me.
Except Obi Wan Kenobi, who cheekily grabbed my butt.

[limey]

What fun! (Lovely cardigan!)

[DanaC]

I think I know that Obi Wan guy - he looks really familiar. Maybe he's from Leeds uni.

Isn't there a new Star Wars film about to release?

[Undertoad]

In Britain's Star Wars the Stormtroopers are outfitted with whistles instead of blasters.

fanboi punchline: they get the same hit ratio.

[Sundae]

Originally Posted by limey

Lovely cardigan!

I know! And the odd thing is, I don't even remember buying it. It's like it appeared magically one day, like The Shopkeeper.

Originally Posted by DanaC

Isn't there a new Star Wars film about to release?

You may have seen old Ben Kenobi somewhere.
Like in a film.
Or any old man in a dressing gown

Thing is, they weren't doing any kind of active promotion.
They were just walking about together, posing for photos (and occasionally copping a feel.)

Not complaining about having SW come to life on the streets of Leeds.
And even the hand on the butt was possibly an accident, not a '70s era squeeze.

Originally Posted by Undertoad

In Britain's Star Wars the Stormtroopers are outfitted with whistles instead of blasters.

fanboi punchline: they get the same hit ratio.

The lads had big weapons. I didn't ask them about their accuracy. See above re '70s era naughtiness.
(I did LOL, UT)

[limey]

I protest! I only made the remark about the cardigan!


Sent by thought transference

[Sundae]

Back in October last year I took a trip to Ilkley and never got round to writing it up.
It's only just up the road, but more expensive and chi-chi - it's a Victorian spa town and it's really rather beautiful.
It's butted right up against the moors, and flood water pours into it every time it rains (according to what I've been told - I've never seen it in full flood.) Apparently the best fun of all is when there is overnight rainfall then a freeze, turning all the main streets into skating rinks and demolition derbies.

Anyway. This was a sunny late-October day and I did enjoy myself.
I don't really do the town justice, but I'm an individual, not a tourist blogger, so what you see is what you get.

The Winter Gardens (theatre).
I'd love to see something there, but it would probably have to be a matinee as I'm not sure how late the buses run. I shall make that my 2016 resolution.



Just round the corner is what I assume is the Theatre Bar.
I just liked the old advert on the side really.

[Sundae]

Various shop windows:

Funny looking men in this town.
(Note, still in flip-flops)


Foxes in boxes!


Ilkley isn't cheap.
This is considered their special deal. £5 is $7.28 according to my converter. That is coffee and cake, not a meal.


A bacon sarnie & a cup of tea would be half this price on Leeds market.


I didn't eat out. I went to Greggs (cheap bakery chain) and then sat in my flipflops on a bench, in watery sunshine, having a lovely time.

[Sundae]

The good thing about this part of the world, is that although travelling is always more fun if you're not on a tight budget, there is still an awful lot of pleasure to be had from just walking and looking. That applies to most places I've been, it's just that I've done more walking and looking here than elsewhere.

Very Victorian...


Quite literally in this case.



Pretty details everywhere.

[Sundae]

My other 2016 resolution is to sting my lovely brother with a trip to Bettys (as I did with Mum in Harrogate - but that was her choice)


Don't worry - I will tell him exactly that. I love him dearly, and I think he will enjoy the experience. And I don't see him often enough, so it will add to the sense of occasion. Also he won't mind spending the money on tea and cakes - my family are just happy that I'm not in the pub (or drunk in a gutter, or in hospital etc etc)

I'd like to think I could take him to this shop for me to choose a gift for myself too. But despite painting myself in a greedy grasping light, I'd rather look at pretty things than own them. And in fact some of these are vulgar, dahling.


There's an unofficial Yorkshire anthem - On Ilkla Moor Baht 'at - which effectively details going for a little stroll on the moors above Ilkley in inclement weather, without your hat on, and then dying from the cold.

So this had to happen.


But it doesn't happen in a cheap way.
"T'worms'll come an' eyt thee up", but you'll pay through your hat for it. As it were. Actually, for Ilkley it looked very reasonably priced - there are Micheline starred restaurants here you know.

[Sundae]

Back to Ilkley yesterday.
I've left this thread abandoned like a red-headed stepchild.
I've remembered it now (see why I'm not allowed to have children?)

Ilkley Film Festival. Many films on, some quite arthouse, but I went to see Dad's Army. Well, it was a heck of a lot cheaper than going to a real cinema, and as it turned out, it was the perfect place to see a film set in the '40s because it felt so very British.

King's Hall (theatre)
There was a teeny tiny bar as you walked in, but it wasn't staffed. What was staffed was a much bigger table selling tea and coffee and cakes.

Foyer:

[Sundae]

The film was sold out. People who turned up on the off-chance were being turned away disappointed.

The photo I took of the assembled film-goers was about 30 minutes before it started.

[Sundae]

Also: invasion!
My local store now has an end of aisle section devoted to Merkin food.

Please send Sainsbury's vouchers so I can sample all of it

[glatt]

Butterfingers are the best thing in that picture. Followed by Tootsie Rolls.

Edit: Actually, I missed the Reeses, which appear to be empty. Those are good too, if they are the regular or mini sized cup.

[Sundae]

Peanut butter is the devil's favourite food.
I don't care how the agents of Satan dress it up.