What is in a name ....

I change the blog name recently from Life as Amy sees it to Absurd Certainty.

He ran into a burning ring of Fire

The original name came at a time when I was posting a photo a day on facebook as a challenge set by a friend who did it the previous year. 

(Celebratory drinks) 

The thing about taking a photo a day is that it is a snapshot of a day. There were days where trying to find a picture to take was a struggle and others where editing it down to one image felt impossible. 

(Present stockpiling for friends) 

I also found that everyone felt like they knew exactly what was going on in my life when in fact they only got an image and life is so much more than that. 

It was about that time that I started blogging sharing more of the things I saw and enjoyed in life than could be captured in an image. 

(A heron in Isabella plantations)

However I found that the name no longer truely fits the way I feel that the blog is heading. So I have renamed it. 

(View out of a tuk tuk in Chaing Mai when the road became a river)

Absurd Certainty is a concept stolen from one of my favourite quotes by Voltaire. There is more than one translation but the essence is this "doubt is not a pleasant condition, but certainty is absurd."

(Snowman in granary wharf) 

Whilst I will continue writing about the things I get up to and enjoy I wanted to write more about issues and topics that take my interest and I am hoping that the name change will encourage that. 

(Whizzing through London to make the train)

By the way the photos featured are from my year of photo a day to give you a glimpse as to the inspiration behind the blog. 

(German Christmas Market)

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My Leeds Address Book part 2

Just to make things clear I do not just go out for drinks. I also eat out a lot with friends.

There are so many options to choose from so these are the places where I gather with friends and I will do a dinner date follow up. 

Pancakes:

Perfect for meeting up with a friend to deconstruct the night before, pancakes at Mrs Atha's are served with maple syrup, blueberries and pomegranate so you can fool yourself into believing that you are being healthy. 

Fry up:

Sometimes a fry up is all you need and Riveresque on Bridge Street is accustom to serving the hungover of Leeds. I love the fact that they are more than willing to make my patent pending veggie sausage and hash brown sandwich without raising an eyebrow. A special note for meat eaters I am told that the Greedy Pig on North Street does the best fry up but be warned it's not open on a Sunday. 

Brunch: 

The Belgrave Music Hall and Canteen regularly plays host to Sunday Brunches organised by Laynes Expresso and Greedy Pig. Each is different and a must for the foodies out there. They run from 11 until 3 and the bar is open to those wanting to add a tipple to the proceedings. You need to keep an eye out on their facebook pages rather than the main websites to be in the know. Ps it is telling that there is no photo as the food is too good to waste time on a picture. 

Hot Dogs: 

Primo in the Corn Exchange has brought the deluxe hot dog to Leeds shores. They even cater for the veggies out there with The Garden State tofu chili hotdog which comes with three topping of your choice. Loaded these beasts are dining at its most impolite but boy is it worth it. As a side note if you've ever thought to host an American party this is the only place in England that I have discovered that sells the plastic cups you see in all Amercan High School movies. 

Tapas: 

For me Ambiente Tapas Bar and Resturaunt beats all the other tapas places in Leeds. I have previously posted about it. The food is exiting and there is a good mix if traditional (Manchago cheese with Quince jam and patas bravas) with unusual (risotto balls, black bean burgers). The only aspect that I don't really understand is that servings are for 3 people. 

Cheeseboard: 

My idea of heaven is a glass of red wine and cheese board for a lazy catch up with friends. I can not decide between Mrs Atha's and Friends of Ham as both boast impressive selections, served with crackers an bread and a chutney or two.

Sushi:

L loves sushi so heading to Yo Sushi has become one of our things. My top tips are to head to Blue Mondays when it's £2.50 for selected dishes or Sundays at the Harvey Nicks branch for 10 plates for £20. 

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Bank Holiday in shots

I really meant to take lots of photos last weekend and share my adventures but I had too much fun and sort of forgot my camera in the process.  So instead I thought I would share the very edited pictures that did manage to be taken.

My friend Jane moved to Durham in September and I have been promising to catch up with her so I headed on the train on the Bank holiday Saturday to see her new home.

Jane is truley inspirational and the reason that she is in Durham is that has started on the process of training to become a vicar. 

I am fairly familar with Durham as I exploited the law library near Castle when researching my dissertation. That said it has been sometime since I was last there and I was exited to catch up and explore the city again. 

Built on seven hills Durham's architecture is pierced by the River Wear upon which it's 11th century castle and Norman cathedral reside above. 

Scenic and dripping in history and acedemia the town and surrounding area is littered with university buildings. True to form this weekend I took one photo of the architecture. 

We headed to Leonard's coffee house for brunch and flat whites, meandered through the town looking in on the cathedral before heading to Jane's for tea and popcorn. 

Sunday started with a trip to Primo in the Corn Exchange for Hotdogs having arrived too late for pancakes. 

Chores followed as I was hosting a girls wine and face pack night. Road testing these creations from Boots whilst eating Krispy Kremes, popcorn and Oreo's. 

Monday involved a short journey across to York which resulted in a lot more food as we ate leftover doughnuts in the museum gardens. 

A wonder round the minster followed by drinks on the river

A perambulate down the shambles with a naughty pie shop

Before grabbing lunch and heading back to Leeds. 

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Skincare: The Body Prescription

There are so many articles out there about facial skincare and then come bikini season a plethora of prep for the beach articles focused on tanning and flip flop ready feet. 

But day to day bodycare is often forgotten. My aim is to make my routine as simple as possible whilst obtaining the maximum results.

Handcare

I am obsessed with L'occitane Shea butter hand creams and I pretty much have one in every bag as long as a huge tube by the sink. By carrying tubes of handcream around with me I am able to slap it one whenever my hands feel dry. 

I also use the L'occitane Shea butter liquid soap (£19.00) at home which has a soft sweet scent without being too girly or flowery but still moisturising. 

I also carry a cuticle oil pen either from Nails inc or Sally Hansen with me got some specialist care as needed. Although I confess I'm rather bad at using it day to day. 

Bath and Shower

With dry skin I have two prongs of attack; exfoliate and moisturise. On the exfoliating front my favourite product is Cliniques sparkle Skin Body Exfoliator (£18.50 for 200ml) which is a  gritty minty zingy feast. But is on the pricy treat so I use it once a week and rely upon exfoliating gloves on a day to day basis that can be worn whilst soaping up in the shower. 

R who always heads to my clinque stash when She stays at mine swears by apricot body scrub which is a fraction of the cost. 

As for body wash I favour L'occitane Almond shower oil (£17.50) which is a body wash, shaving oil and moisturiser all in one. A little goes a very long way and is a thick silky oil that turns beautifully milky when added to water. It works equally well in the shower and bath despite being marketed as a shower oil.

So mild it is suitable for even the most sensitive of skins and the scent is equally appealing to men and women. On the occasion that friends have stayed they have often commented upon the unusualness of this product and how much they like the scent. Best of all L'occitane do a Eco refill so you can top up your bottle at a reduced cost. 

Lotions and potions

Ok so although I try and keep the routine simply this is where I fall down a little. If my skin is especially dry aka those months when my legs and arms have no idea what sunlight is, I spray myself with body oil before exiting the shower and then slather on body lotion once I'm dry. Oddly I find the body oil actually helps my skin dry quicker as one of the effects is to encourage water to run off the skin. Currently I have been using Garnier Body Ultimate Beauty Oil but if money is tight put Johnstone baby oil in a spray bottle. In the past I've tried neutrogena body oil but the smell didn't work for me and I felt like a walking sesame bun. 

I also indulge in Clinique Deep Comfort Body Lotion (£28.00 for 400ml) which is suitably thick and moisturising but sinks in easily with the added benefit of being practically fragrance free. 

For days where I want to feel extra special have a tub of the scented Body Creme from Jo Malone in Peony & Blush, the same fragrance as my purfume. At £50 a tub it is not for everyday use. 

Plus a spray bottle of Vaseline spray and go moisturiser for lazy days when my skin requires less attention or I need to run out in a hurry and don't have time for a product to sink in. 

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My Leeds Address Book part 1

I thought I would share some if my secret and not so secret addresses for all things Leeds bases.

This week I am running through the best drinks in Leeds from wholesome hot chocolate to less wholesome cocktails.

Magarita: I do love a margarita and the froozen margarita at the burrito stand in Trinity Kitchen has become a bit of an obsession. 

Coffee: When a coffee shop owner tells you that somewhere serves the best coffee in town you should pay attention, which is exactly how I found this place.  Laynes Expresso is the smoothest most beautiful cup of Joe going. 

Cocktail: over the years I have done a lot of studying of cocktails and Pretty Pink at Roast + counch is my current favourite. Made with chocolate gin, rose syrup, raspberries, Prosecco and an edible flower it lives up to it's name. 

Gin and Tonic: head to the Gin Garden at the New Ellington for the largest selection of gins and tonics. (Picture of a different gin cocktail)

Hot Chocolate: Roast + conch comes top again but since it is a resturaunt and bar by the people behind Hotel Chocolat what do you expect?  They do more than just your ordinary hot chocolate and I recommend the chili version for extra spice. 

Wine: Decanter on Park Row is a new addition to the Leeds Bar Scene specialising in Wine this place wins due to the easy atmospher and the fact that you can still find a seat to plonk down in. 

Beer Etc: I only very occasional decide upon a beer but when I do it's usually a very girlie Cherry Beer. For Beer, Ale and Lager lovers North Bar has the largest selection in the city centre. 

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