Photo of the Day - Monday 30th April 2012

I can't believe it's the last day of April - this year seems to be flying by at an alarmingly quick pace! It finally brightened up today allowing the gang of 6ft-something-lads-and-I to get out for our lunchtime stroll. We went past Henley's, my favourite old-fashioned sweet shop. (Last summer I was shocked to discover that Henley's is actually a chain of shops - I was out for the day in Stratford-upon-Avon and stumbled across another one!)

Photo of the Day - Sunday 29th April 2012

Well readers, I sincerely apologise in advance for today's dreadful picture! Usually I try to photograph things that make me happy (food, alcohol, more food, shopping, partying, alcohol...damn I am so easy to please!) but today I officially give up! Please share in my misery at what feels like the millionth successive, dreadful day of weather in the UK! I took this photograph on the way to my parents' house for Sunday lunch - lunch was super yummy but the weather was bleurghy, icky, yucky, rubbishy! Come back sunshine!

Photo of the Day - Saturday 28th April 2012

More dreadful weather today which was the perfect excuse for a spot of retail therapy! I whizzed over to Swindon Outlet Centre to visit to the Nike shop as I desperately  needed a new pair of running shoes.

I stumbled across these beauties in the shop and even though they were the most expensive pair there (eek!), I couldn't resist! Well, I guess I've got to work hard for something!! ;)

Photo of the Day - Friday 27th April 2012

Don't get too excited dear friends - I'm not getting married! The hand and the beautiful engagement ring belong to my lovely colleague Lisa, who got engaged last weekend. Her ring arrived yesterday after having been re-sized (she has the teeniest fingers in the world!) and it was certainly worth the wait as it's simply gorgeous! Everyone say 'aaaaw' on the count of 3!

Congratulations Lisa :)

Photo of the Day - Thursday 26th April 2012

England is having the windiest and rainiest weather that it has had for some time! After practically getting blown over walking to meet a friend for lunch today, I then ventured out again this evening after work for my weekly game of squash. This is the leisure centre where I play - looking particularly grey this evening!

Photo of the Day - Wednesday 25th April 2012

It was ladies' night tonight - once a month about 6 of the gals get together and get up to something random! Tonight, after a wonderful feast courtesy of the lovely B, we popped over to the local pottery shop and spent the evening painting some rather fabulous mugs whilst drinking plentiful wine! Needless to say I couldn't limit myself to just one photo tonight.... hence including a few!

Photo of the Day - Tuesday 24th April 2012

In keeping with yesterday's theme, today's photo is another offering for my colleague's 'surprise treat' when he returns from annual leave. This is an out of date digestive biscuit with a moose drawn on it, courtesy of the multi-talented Suze.

Photo of the Day - Monday 23rd April 2012

A few years back when I was on annual leave, a rather mischievous colleague of mine (no names mentioned - MATT WINDSOR) put a chicken carcass in my desk drawers at work! Needless to say after two weeks away, the smell wasn't so great when I got back! However, as the expression goes, the wheel turns and now said colleague is currently away in the States for a few weeks. My colleagues and I have therefore embarked on our own project which consists of collecting out of date food, drawing faces on it and putting in in Matt's office. Today's offering was a mushy banana and a crinkly satsuma. Mwa ha ha ha!

Photo of the Day - Sunday 22nd April 2012

I've recently signed up for some volunteer work, so the majority of today was spent indoors for a rather intensive selection day in Cheltenham. This didn't leave me with loads of time to get a good photo today, but this evening when I was walking over to my friend's house for a cuppa and a chat, I went past the local church and thought the light on it was amazing. The sun was setting but was still intensely bright and the sky was a thunderous grey - the contrast was simply breathtaking.

Photo of the Day - Saturday 21st April 2012

This evening, a friend and I went to the cinema to watch Salmon Fishing in the Yemen. What a fantastic movie! It's very funny, uplifting and inspiring. Ewan McGregor is definitely getting fitter by the day too. It's a British movie with typical quirky English humour, which I am proud to say I am finally starting to understand (and enjoy!) after several years living in the UK. Make sure you watch this movie! :)

Photo of the Day - Friday 20th April 2012

It's been a rather busy week so it was probably a good thing that I had a nice quiet night in planned for tonight. I've just started reading Wuthering Heights after a recommendation from a friend, so I tucked myself up in bed bright and early with my book and a cup of green tea (posted all the way from Poland courtesy of my BFF) and I had a fabulous lazy evening at home. TGIF! :)

Photo of the Day - Thursday 19th April 2012

Today is up there with one of the best days of the year so far! My colleague Annie and I ended up going out for an impromptu lunch with the directors at work. However, it turned into an extended 3 hour lunch where we all consumed more alcohol than humanly possible, and with every drop of liquor the conversation degenerated another few levels too! After stumbling back into the office several hours later, I was a little too 'merry' to take the photo of the day so had to pass camera duties onto someone else! Today's picture is Annie and I dozing at our desks after our now infamous liquid lunch!

Photo of the Day - Wednesday 18th April 2012

My day started with a somewhat ambiguous offer, with one of my colleagues asking if I would like to see his big gun. Now, if I worked in any other office in the world, I might have blushed at this, but given that I work with a gang of techie boys, this is standard office banter! The gun in question was a nerf gun, which apparently is very popular with the youngsters, however I'm clearly not down with the kids enough as I'd never heard of one before!

Photo of the Day - Tuesday 17th April 2012

The great thing about the photo of the day challenge is it makes you more aware of how amazing your local surroundings are. I took this picture in the park today - which is a five minute walk from my work.

Photo of the Day - Monday 16th April 2012

I've had my eye on this enormous chocolate egg since early April. It's in my favourite chocolate shop in Cirencester; 'Lick the Spoon.' I was surprised (and happy) to still see it in the window display today despite the fact that Easter is now over for another year. Perhaps, like me, the shop owner is very fond of it and doesn't want to replace it!

Photo of the Day - Sunday 15th April 2012

I ventured over to Frampton today for a lovely walk around the lakes. It's a really beautiful location and it was awesome seieng all the boats out on the water. In fact I got so many beautiful snaps today that I struggled to pick just one!

Photo of the Day - Saturday 14th April 2012

Hangover central today as last night was a late one on the town for a work friend's leaving party. And tonight was a repeat for another friend's housewarming (I couldn't bring myself to drink though!). The party had a retro theme so Suze designed this awesome t-shirt for the occasion - unfortunately she left an 'S' off by accident! (She claims she was sober when she made the shirt....)

Photo of the Day - Friday 13th April 2012

It's meant to be an unlucky day today and for my colleague Scottie it probably was! Someone offered him a sweet but failed to mention it was one of those freaking awful super sour sweets that makes your toes curl. This was his reaction!

Photo of the Day - Thursday 12th April 2012

It's shaped up to be another busy week! My colleague and I drove to Surrey today for our weekly client meeting. The weather was beautiful - this is the view from outside the client's offices.

Photo of the Day - Wednesday 11th April 2012

I'd noticed this week that the plants outside the front of the office are now in bloom and looking rather splendid. It's lovely to see all the signs of Spring gradually appearing.

Photo of the Day - Tuesday 10th April 2012

                                                                    Back to work today after a long weekend - eek! However, it was good fun inspecting the sexy convertible BMW Z4 that my work colleague bought this weekend! It's his 'spare' car and is the perfect purchase for the swiftly approaching summer.... almost time to get the roof down and zoom over to Waitrose for the weekly ice cream run!

Photo of the Day - Monday 9th April 2012

Aside from making some spontaneous egg deliveries on behalf of Mr E. Bunny today, I had quite a lazy day which was fantastic as it meant I got a chance to devour some more pages from the fabulous book I am currently reading - Captain Corelli's Mandolin. Next on the list is 'The Help.'

Photo of the Day - Sunday 8th April 2012

It was Easter Sunday today and I had a wonderful day with the extended family. This evening I met up with some friends for a spot of bowling. There was more nattering than bowling though as we were long overdue a catch up!

Photo of the Day - Saturday 7th April 2012

Had a super fun night out on the town with the lovely gals this evening. We started off with a few drinks at home, which was where I was introduced to Eggburt's reincarnation. The original Eggburt was sadly injured beyond repair at the recent house warming party.

Photo of the Day - Friday 6th April 2012

Okay, so I feel a little guilty about using yet another food photograph today, but heck, it is the Easter weekend after all! After a morning of lots of shopping, I popped over to see my aunt for afternoon tea. She had made delicious lemon scones... nom nom! 

Photo of the Day - Thursday 5th April 2012

Oh dear, today's picture contains yet more food! I fear I may end up getting a reputation for being a porky pig very soon!

We went out for a team lunch today at work and despite being very full after consuming enormous pizzas, it seemed like a great idea to have some desserts too, so that's exactly what we did. The perfect end to a short working week if you ask me.

Happy Easter everyone! :)

Photo of the Day - Wednesday 4th April 2012

It's been hard getting back into the swing of things since returning from holiday, so this evening has provided a much needed escape from reality!

The girls and I descended on Wilberry Manor after work today for a long overdue catch up -this involves plentiful nattering, feasting like savages (wine, chocolates, cheese, biscuits, olives, crisps, tea, more chocolate...) and then we take the mick out of each other. Then we eat more food. Then we complain how ill we feel from eating too much. Then we take the mick out of each other again. Then we drink some more... and then we go home, drunk and happy. Girls' nights rock :)

Photo of the Day - Tuesday 3rd April 2012

I wore my lovely new shoes for the first time today - they were a gift from my fabulous Italian friend. She bought them for me one afternoon when we were out shopping and lunching in Padova. I love pretty shoes and awesome friends! :)

Photo of the Day - Monday 2nd April 2012

Oh how I love England in the summer time! Okay, so it's not summer yet but it was a glorious day today and so at lunch time a few of us took a stroll to the local park to enquire about hiring the tennis courts (that was an interesting experience to say the least...). Whilst we were there we stumbled across some folks playing croquet in the park and weirdly it just made me proud to be (a quarter) British - can't help loving all the quirky things that the Brits get up to! :)

Photo of the Day - Sunday 1st April 2012

Aah, today's photo is a total cop out! :( I was so busy getting organised today for the week ahead that I completely forgot to take a photo! It was only at 11.30pm whilst dozing in bed that I realised the error of my ways. So here is my last minute offering - the goodies I am taking in to work on Monday for my colleagues (it's tradition to bring in tasty snacks after having been on holiday). I feel gutted too as I could have taken a photo of my shiny car that I spent hours washing and hoovering today (a rare occurrence) - ah well, I will remember for next time!