Photo of the Day - Saturday 30th June 2012

As you may be able to guess from today's picture, it's been a rather dull day! I was meant to go to Longleat with a friend but the rubbish weather put a stop to that. So instead, I had a rare quiet day at home. I'm currently looking for some nice new teas to drink and these are some of the ones I will be trying. Bored yet? Me too!

Photo of the Day - Friday 29th June 2012

In keeping with this week's 'exploration' theme, today's lunchtime walk was a new route yet again! We walked through the grounds of the Royal Agricultural College, discovered the local caravan/ camping site and Cirencester's park's tennis courts. These photographs are a few of the things we saw along the way.

Word of the Week

Ineffable

Too great or extreme to be expressed or described in words: "ineffable beauty".

Too sacred to be uttered.

Synonyms:

unspeakable - inexpressible - unutterable - nameless

Examples:

1. The ineffable humiliation of his defeat led to his withdrawal from politics.

2. Morrel listened to catch the last sound of her dress brushing the branches, and of her footstep on the path, then raised his eyes with an ineffable smile of thankfulness to heaven for being permitted to be thus loved, and then also disappeared .... (Taken from The Count of Monte Cristo)

Photo of the Day - Thursday 28th June 2012

Despite the fact that I have worked in marketing for some years now, I've never actually been to the Data Marketing Show until today for the first time. The show is held annually at the Olympia Grand Hall in London. It gave me a chance to meet in person so many agencies and suppliers that I work with on a daily basis but only ever speak to over the phone! I also blagged lots of freebies - after all that's what shows are for!

Sizzling Summer Selections

Yes, this Summer is proving to be a wash out! Fortunately I have these current perfect little pleasures bringing joy to my life:

1. The 1st season of the awesome US TV series Revenge has finally arrived on the windswept shores of the UK. It's bursting at the seams with sexy Southampton socialites and is gloriously dark. I simply can't get enough of it right now!

2. Time out in London - I've had a few business trips to London this month and have used the opportunity to visit friends in the area and generally have a mooch around this amazing city. If you are planning a trip to London soon and need a little inspiration, have a look at Visit London's website for some ideas.

3. All things Jubilee - June got off to a great start with a double Bank Holiday weekend in celebration of the Queen's Jubilee. I am loving the current patriotic feeling in the air!

4. The English countryside - The long Summer days make for the perfect opportunity to enjoy time in the countryside running or hiking. In fact I ran my first 10k this month at the beautiful Westonbirt Arboretum!

5. Skinny jeans - I have finally succumbed to the skinny jeans craze - although I am only brave enough to rock the look with long tops or cardigans. Lots more squats needed before I will have my ass on display in a pair of supertight skinnies!

6. Volunteering - I spent most of my spare time in May & June on a training course for volunteer work I signed up for recently. The hard work has paid off as I have completed the training and will be starting volunteering very soon. Go me! :)

7. Curls, as flaunted above by Olivia Palermo - I'm loving curls right now! If, like me, you struggle to get the perfect curls with your straighteners, then hop over to the GHD website and watch their video tutorial on how to achieve the look.

8. L'oreal Sublime Bronze spray tan - This is definitely one of the best spray tans I have used. It's super easy to apply (just spray on and try not to inhale!), doesn't streak, looks natural and smells nice. Perfect for when you spontaneously decide to wear a skirt!

9. Mondovino crackers served with a selection of Waitrose dips - mmm, enough said!!

What are your perfect little pleasures right now?

Photo of the Day - Wednesday 27th June 2012

In keeping with what appears to be this week's theme of getting out and about to explore the outdoors,  the Lanky Lads and I decided to venture off to the Roman Ampitheatre today. It was an hilarious adventure that involved scaling a couple of fences, negotiating our way through waist-length grass, finding our way through the woods, re-enacting a scene from the Gladiators in the Ampitheatre and then eventually finding our way back to work via Cirencester Hospital's car park! Fun times :)

Photo of the Day - Tuesday 26th June 2012

Cirencester is a dinky little town, but it is amazing how many fabulous shops are hidden amongst its beautiful streets! My latest discovery (courtesy of a work colleague) is the Woolmarket, which houses a collection of independent (albeit expensive!) shops, including a children's toy shop and clothing shop as well as a cafe bursting with tasty varieties of ice creams! I found a gorgeous organic cotton dress for my cousin's daughter's 1st birthday in Happy Hens. I shall definitely be visiting the Woolmarket more often now! :)

Photo of the Day - Monday 25th June 2012

After a week of far too much eating, I have decided to get out for lunchtime walks this week instead! Today, the Lanky Lads and I took a stroll through the park to look at Cirencester's equivalent of 'the hatch' from the TV series Lost! There's an ancient underground pathway that leads from the Abbey Grounds park through to Cirencester's church and today's picture is of the old entranceway (although this has now been sealed up).

Photo of the Day - Sunday 24th June 2012

The sun was shining in England again today so I took full advantage of it, firstly by going for a 5.5 mile run this morning with a friend, and then this afternoon by heading over to Frampton for a walk around the lakes. I also got to see my cousin's new little kitten (it's gorgeous!) and as a result, really struggled to pick a photo today! So in the end I have decided to go for two photos taken on my walk. England was looking particularly resplendent today :)

Photo of the Day - Saturday 23rd June 2012

It was my cousin's daughter's 1st birthday today and she held a party for her at her lovely home in Frampton. It was a fab day, with a magician, lots of happy children, lots of food (I avoided cake today but couldn't resist the scones!). Today's pic is of the personalised photo cake that granny arranged for the birthday girl. :)

Photo of the Day - Friday 22nd June 2012

Oh dear! In keeping with the general food/ piggy theme of the week, today's photograph is food orientated too. This is the collection of junk food we have in our office (between four of us!). No wonder I have no willpower!

Photo of the Day - Thursday 21st June 2012

It's been another awesome day of food! I went for a fantastic lunch at Jacks with a friend that I volunteer with (had an awesome puy lentil and feta salad) and then this evening I went for a delicious meal at the Gumstool Inn at Calcot Manor in Tetbury (pictured above). Had the asparagus & mint soup to start, followed by Moroccan lamb with couscous. Think I need a diet now!

Photo of the Day - Wednesday 20th June 2012

Sometimes it just has to be done - getting a mid-week enormous steak & ale pasty from the best pie shop in town. Even better as one of my colleagues fetched it for me on their lunch break, saving me having to even get out of my chair today. Oink! (I had this AFTER eating lunch - I was so full afterwards that I had to go out for a run when I got in from work!)

Photo of the Day - Tuesday 19th June 2012

It was road trip day to sunny Surrey for a client meeting this afternoon. After having the pleasure of being driven there at Mach 1, we found we arrived with sufficient time to have a Costa coffee and cake break. I opted for banana bread - yummy!

Photo of the Day - Monday 18th June 2012

The sun has made a rare appearance today which meant one thing only - getting out for a lunchtime walk! This is the view from the Cirencester Abbey Grounds, with the church in the distance. I live in such a pretty town! :)

Photo of the Day - Sunday 17th June 2012

For anyone that ever doubted it - here is proof that I am an outstanding citizen! My CRB check came through in the post today, giving me the all clear to start the volunteer work that I have been training for over the last two months :)

Photo of the Day - Saturday 16th June 2012

My housemate has the most amazing cake-baking skills - check out this Octonauts cake she made this weekend!!

Photo of the Day - Friday 15th June 2012

Two photos today - the first one is of the industrial sized teabags that arrived in the office - initially I thought it was a bag of compost haha! The second is of the defaced brochure of Northleach that's up in the kitchen at work - scandalous - now who could have done that...?

Photo of the Day - Thursday 14th June 2012

It's been a busy day today and as a result, the first time I sat down was when I got into bed tonight! So today's photo is of my teddy Bolt!

Photo of the Day - Wednesday 13th June 2012

Here's Maggie looking all clean and fluffy after her visit to the pooch-parlour. In the background is the hole she's dug in the garden!

Photo of the Day - Tuesday 12th June 2012

This is the 'prize' every race completer was awarded for finishing the Westonbirt Arboretum 10k. It made running in all that mud all the more worthwhile!

Photo of the Day - Monday 11th June 2012

I ran my first 10k today at the beautiful Westonbirt Arboretum. Too bad it chucked down with rain all day and was a bit of a mud bath! Really proud of myself for completing the run in 57 mins.

Photo of the Day - Sunday 10th June 2012

I visited the family for Sunday lunch today and afterwards we went for a walk up Painswick Beacon. It's one of my favourite spots in Gloucestershire for walking as it is so very pretty.

Photo of the Day - Saturday 9th June 2012

I had a fabulous day with my friend in London today, but unfortunately my camera battery died so I couldn't take any photographs. So today's picture was taken this evening on my return home and is of the new (and frighteningly expensive) hair straighteners I bought myself in House of Fraser yesterday. The sales lady certainly saw me coming!

Photo of the Day - Friday 8th June 2012

I was in central London today for a meeting with a client - Oxford Street was looking fabulously patriotic with all the Union Jack flags still up from the Jubilee weekend. And to round off the 3 day working week I am staying over at a friend's in London tonight for some drinkies - roll on 5.30pm!

Photo of the Day - Thursday 7th June 2012

One of my work colleagues printed off a personalised day of birth card for me today.I thought it was pretty cool, hence it featuring as today's photo, although I'm slightly less keen to realise just how many days old I am!

Photo of the Day - Wednesday 6th June 2012

Back to work today with a thud after 4 glorious days off - boo! :( At least my day was brightened by the arrival of a gift in the post from my friend in Italy. It was a handmade gift bag and hand painted frame containing a photograph of her lovely baby girl in celebration of her christening. Awesome! :)

Photo of the Day - Tuesday 5th June 2012

To make the most of the Bank Holiday, I went to the beautiful Bowood Estate in Calne today, and despite the iffy weather, I really enjoyed walking around the grounds. It's a beautiful location, bursting with flowers, trees, waterfalls, lakes etc - a very romantic setting!

Photo of the Day - Monday 4th June 2012

After a week of patriotic photographs I am actually relieved to be able to go back to the usual 'anything will do' approach! I went to a family bbq today for my cousin's birthday and took this photo - a self portait of two of my cousins and I. The sun actually shone for a few hours too, which was a bonus!

Photo of the Day - Sunday 3rd June 2012

Partying central round 2 today for a friend's Jubilee themed housewarming party! There were tons of photos to pick from but I elected to go for one of the more 'presentable' ones of my friend's patriotic shoes!

Photo of the Day - Saturday 2nd June 2012

Okay I feel bad - I couldn't come up with a good Jubilee photograph for today - I blame it on the fact that I was hungover after having a great night on the town last night! And I admit, I got slightly distracted when I went shopping today - so today's offering is a photograph of the totally unpatriotic but completely gorgeous sundress that I bought this morning. Hmm... if only the weather would brighten up now so that I can actually wear it this year!

Photo of the Day - Friday 1st June 2012

I was struggling to find another Jubilee inspired photograph for today but luckily when I was playing squash this evening, my friend pointed out that our racquets were patriotic! So that's today done and dusted - phew!