Walking in Sheffield town centre today with our son’s girlfriend, I was surprised to see a couple of very large, spiky green people.
It seems that Sheffield has spiky green people! And they are award-winning spiky green people!
Sheffield Stan, and his friend, Mary the Buffer Girl, are award winning entries in Britain in Bloom, and stand in front of the Town Hall. I think they’re rather charming, and it’s certainly the best use I’ve seen house-leeks put to recently! They celebrate Sheffield’s history as a steel town. Stan represents a crucible worker, pouring molten steel into moulds, and Mary represents the workers who buffed, or finished, the cutlery. Sheffield is famous for cutlery. Yes, people, they make knives!! And do you know what? I didn’t see one knife shop! Isn’t that a disgrace?
Anyway, we met up with OH and our son and together we decided to get some lunch. We looked around for somewhere suitable. and found a little Italian place and thought we’d give it a try.
Trouble was, we weren’t at all sure we could afford to eat there. I mean, if the menu alone costs nearly fifteen quid … ?
As it turned out, it was actually rather nice. It was quiet and elegant, and the service was excellent. The food was good, too, and in the end, it didn’t break the bank.
So all in all, I’d recommend the Cafe Nova on Surrey Street, if you want something light for lunch when you’re out and about in Sheffield and you’re done looking at the green spiky people.
And don’t take any notice of that sign on the marquee. They don’t actually charge for the menu at all!
Those are very unusual topiary. Too bad about the lack of knife shops. (Or is that shoppes? LOL)
I wanted to let you know that I got a Cosequin multivitamin with joint health supplements for Smokey, and he’s tolerating them very well. Thanks for recommending that brand.
Ruth Hull Chatliens last blog post..Consumerism Vs. Sustainability–and Roses
You came to Sheffield and you didn’t tell me? I can’t believe a blogger friend was just down the road and I didn’t know. We could have had a quick coffee together :O)
Babs - beetles last blog post..Diamonds. A girls best friend? - Part 1
If the sign outside accurately represents a fresh delivery of vegetables (by a winged delivery person, no less), then it must be a good cafe.
Sheffield Town Hall doesn’t seem to have withstood the earthquake of ‘08 too well. Urgent structural repairs are obviously needed.
Silverbacks last blog post..When They Work Here, They Work Fast.
That’s fun! Are the people totally covered with house-leeks? They’re really good.
Dragonstars last blog post..Saturday PhotoHunt - Family.
Ruth - They’re great aren’t they?
I’m glad Smokey is tolerating the Cosequin well! I hope it helps him. I’ve tried other brands over the years, but I always come back to this one. It doesn’t make them sick (The Pirate has a delicate stomach these days) and it does seem to help.
Babs - I would have LOVED to arrange to meet you, but this was a really flying visit and we had things to do. I’d booked the dogs into a kennel overnight and only just made it back by the skin of my teeth to pick them up. I got there at two minutes to closing time!
Another day, if we have more time, I’d love to meet up with you!
Silverback - Haha! No, that’s the Interflora sign. You’ll only get fresh flowers from those guys!
Love the comment about the earthquake. Yeah, it does look kinda fractured, doesn’t it? But I’m afraid I did that. *Sniggers quietly*
Dragonstar - Hi there! Yes, the people are metal frames, entirely covered in house-leeks! Good choice, actually, since they’ll cling onto anything at any angle and pick up the smallest amount of moisture, so they don’t need watering.
what special encounters - love these treasuresome days
sandys last blog post..Camera Critters #28 The Sun Bather
Those green spiky people are cool! Reminds me of the Rose Parade in New York at New Year’s, where they make huuuuuge floats out of nothing but roses. I’d be happy with a dozen, personally.
How sweet they look together, Jay. Someone once asked me which I thought was more beautiful? Man-made or natural. To me, it’s like comparing apples and oranges. Yet, inredible the beauty we’re capable of. Thank you for your virtual tour!
p.s. Wanted to thank you for your comment on Columbus Meets… The winners were: A tie for Columbus - Marlon Brando and Antonio Banderas, of course, yours truly (would you believe there were 2 Others?), Peter Lorre as Davy Jones, and Reese Witherspoon as the Teacher. Thank you again, Jay. I hope you enjoy The Good, The Bad, and The Phantom, and have a wonderful weekend! :))
petra michelles last blog post..The Good, The Bad, and the Phantom
You know, I can’t think of Sheffield without thinking of “The Full Monty.” I have to ask; Has Sheffield recovered from the loss of the steel industry there, and what is the primary industry there now? I would love to see some pics of the downtown area now. (Sheffield’s situation was very similar to many cities in upstate NY, and other cities in America’s “Rust Belt.”)
Mr. Nighttimes last blog post..To sleep, perchance?
Do they really book tables already??? Two months before Christmas??? That is what a schedule is…!LOL!!!
I love your spikey people! They remind me of a Jeff Koons project during the Sydney Festival a couple of years ago, he had a huge puppy made from flowers outside the Museum of Contemporary Art . . Amazing! Mmm Italian! Yum!
What are house leeks? Can you make houses from them? And love the menu quip.
Katherines last blog post..The simple life
I forgive you ;O) But your babies wouldn’t have, if you hadn’t picked them up on time!
Babs - beetles last blog post..Diamonds. A girls best friend? - Part 1
Sandy - It’s always lovely to come across these things unexpectedly. Of course, these days, I think ‘Blog post!!’ LOL!
Angi - A dozen roses is always good! The NY rose parade sounds a bit like the Spalding tulip festival, not too far from here. I bet the smell is amazing though, with the roses!
Petra - I rather liked them! And I think you’re right, man-made and natural both have their points.
Mr N - I loved The Full Monty! Has Sheffield recovered? Pretty well, I think. It’s actually a student town now - it has two universities. One of our sons is just finishing his studies up there, though not at the university as it happens - he’s now a sound engineer/video/music/etc techie person. Wants to get into music video production.
Marina - Yes, I’m afraid so. The Christmas menus are well and truly open. We took our son out for a birthday dinner in September and they were advertising Christmas dinner bookings in the restaurant even then!
Baino - I’ve never heard of Jeff Koons, but maybe I should look him up!
Babs - Thank goodness!
I’m such an old softie, I hate leaving them in kennels longer than I need, especially now that the Pirate is so elderly. I gave the kennel a double sheet of instructions, and they were only in there one night! They think I’m quite mad. LOL!
Actually, I just realized something, I think, about Sheffield.
There is a Brit pub here in Rochester called “The Old Toad,” run by Brits, and uses university students as wait staff. Many of them have come from the University of Sheffield, from their Hospitality program. You can check out the Old Toad here:
http://www.theoldtoad.com/index.html
Mr. Nighttimes last blog post..To sleep, perchance?
how fascinating.
meleah rebeccahs last blog post..I Could Use Some Rainbows And Unicorns
damn I hate when my comment gets published before I am finished with it…
anyway…
Posts like this remind me WHY I want to travel so much.
meleah rebeccahs last blog post..I Could Use Some Rainbows And Unicorns
Katharine - House-leeks are small succulent plants. If you click on the blue word ‘house-leek’ in the text, it’ll take you to a page of pictures. They’re called house-leeks because they will grow in the spaces and cracks on a tiled roof - or presumably on any kind of roof or wall where they can cling. They need very little water and they’re tough!
Sorry I didn’t see your comment earlier - it had got into the spam folder!
Mr N - That pub looks great! If I’m ever in Rochester, I may pop in for a meal!
Meleah - I know! I have a ton of photos of similar stuff from my travels to the US and to NZ. I haven’t been many other places, but the oddities in other countries always seem so much more interesting than our own!
Very informative. I learned more about Ladybugs in five minutes then I learned in all the rest of my life. And all this time I thought they were just harmless little bugs. Man, I couldn’t have been more wrong. But the little guys are cute. You gotta say that for them.
Happy trails.
Swubirds last blog post..APOLLO!
Swubird - Most of them ARE harmless little beetles! Not bugs, bugs don’t have wingcases.
And yes, they are cute. Even the big, dangerous, invading Harlequins!
OMG you had me going there for a moment… CHARGING for the menu???
Don’t give them any ideas! We may just see that one day!
Maureens last blog post..Too Many Choices