Photo of the Day - Saturday 12th May 2012

I went to a vintage tea party today - it was a surprise party for a friend in celebration of her upcoming 30th birthday. What a fabulous day - her sister and family had gone to so much effort to make everything look amazing. Delicious cupcakes, lots of different teas to choose from, black & white photographs - it was simply perfect. :)

Photo of the Day - Friday 11th May 2012

After almost a month of non-stop rain, the weather finally broke today and we were treated to sunshine and beautiful blue skies. Glorious!

Photo of the Day - Thursday 10th May 2012

My Cape Town BFF and I started a great gift exchange project last year. Every few months we post each other a package of goodies, along with a letter explaining the reason for each of the items we are sending. It's super good fun and let's face it, who doesn't enjoy receiving gifts in the post? Her birthday is coming up later this month, so I posted a parcel off to her today, in the hope that it reaches her in time for her happy day! :)

Captain Corelli’s Mandolin (Louis de Bernieres)

I’ve been making headway through my list of 100 must read books; however, I am a bit behind on the reviews! Think I had better get busy - so here’s my thoughts on my latest read; Captain Corelli's Mandolin:

What it’s About:

The book is set on the beautiful Greek Island  of Cephallonia and follows the story of the young and humorous Italian officer, Captain Antonio Corelli, who is posted to the island as part of the occupying forces. He soon falls head over heels in love with the local doctor’s spirited daughter. Their blossoming relationship initially survives against the odds, but will it endure the years during a war so brutal?

Why Read It:

This multimillion-copy bestseller is an extraordinarily well written book and its masterful storyline will sweep you through the pages where you will encounter laughter, war, faith, loss, courage, integrity and love. Have the tissues handy though because the charismatic characters will draw you in and you’ll find yourself laughing and crying with them every step of the way.

Favourite Quotes:

“When you fall in love, it is a temporary madness. It erupts like an earthquake, and then it subsides. And when it subsides, you have to make a decision. You have to work out whether your roots are become so entwined together that it is inconceivable that you should ever part. Because this is what love is. Love is not breathlessness, it is not excitement, it is not the desire to mate every second of the day. It is not lying awake at night imagining that he is kissing every part of your body. No... don't blush. I am telling you some truths. For that is just being in love; which any of us can convince ourselves we are. Love itself is what is left over, when being in love has burned away. Doesn't sound very exciting, does it? But it is!”

“Did you know that childhood is the only time in our lives when insanity is not only permitted to us, but expected?”

“Inside, the doctor filled an eyedropper with goat milk and began to drip it into the back of the marten's throat. It filled him with immense medical satisfaction when eventually it urinated on the knee of his trousers. This indicated healthy renal functioning.”

Word of the Week

Elucidate

To make clear or plain, especially by explanation

Synonyms: explain, clarify, illuminate, illustrate, expound

"work that will help to elucidate this matter"; "they would not elucidate further".

 

image from dreamstime

Photo of the Day - Wednesday 9th May 2012

Rain, rain go away.....

England is really living up to its reputation of being a rainy little island as we have had three weeks of pretty much non-stop rain. I have a 10k race to train for darn it! And look at the poor dog after going for a wet walk - even she has had enough!

Photo of the Day - Tuesday 8th May 2012

Oh dear - Winnie returned to work today and opened his tin of surprise fruit! Unfortunately it was less surprise and more mouldy - oops! Can you even identify the strawberry anymore? And have a closer look at the biscuit. Understandably he wasn't too impressed! ;)

This month I'm loving...

So much to discover, so little time! These are my current favourites:

1. Pick a Pot & Paint It - I recently went here with the girlie gang for a ladies' night and it's enormous fun, not to mention a great idea for a gift with a personalised touch. I shall definitely be visiting again!

2. Frampton - This beautiful village just south of Gloucester is a great place for walks. It is surrounded by breathtaking lakes and also has its own yachting club. There are also some great pubs in the village for a spot of lunch after a lovely long walk.

3. Next's  shoes - Next's range of Summer platforms is awesome. I have already bought two pairs this season and I still want more!

4. Canoeing - I have a slight obsession with wanting to go canoeing at the moment. Sadly the weather has been too rainy the last few weeks to do so, but as soon as it brightens up I plan to canoe my way down the picturesque River Wye and fight off the vicious swans!

5. Salmon Fishing in the Yemen - I recently watched this movie with a friend and thought it was brilliant. I suspect the book would make for a glorious read too.

6. Wuthering Heights - This dark novel from Emily Bronte is my current read and a very enjoyable one at that.

7. Tunnocks Wafers & Teacakes - my current chocolate addictions... Must. Stop. Eating. Chocolate.

8. Red Nail Polish - I particularly like Rimmel's Long Lasting Finish in Double Decker Red.

9. Teekanne Opuncia Green Tea - this is a long-standing addiction of mine. I don't think you can buy this tea in the UK so a friend posts it to me from Poland. I've really been enjoying drinking a relaxing cup of this tea before bed recently.

10. The Killing TV Series - A colleague at work lent me season 1 of the original Danish version of this series and I thought it was brilliant. So much so that I watched the entire season in 3 days!

What are your perfect little pleasures right now?

Photo of the Day - Monday 7th May 2012

Earlier in the week I asked my friend B what she was up to over the long weekend. As well as helping a friend move house, she was also going foraging for mushrooms with her friend Sparky. This made me giggle as it's such a random thing to do! However, they came back with loads of mushrooms (today's pic is the leftovers) so maybe they are onto a good idea here...

Photo of the Day - Sunday 6th May 2012

Today felt like a bit of a blast from the past! I had an all day training session for the volunteer work I have signed up for and it was held at a school in Chelteham. The last time I was in a school was over 10 years ago (oh gawd)! Today's pic is from inside the school, looking out into the gardens.

Photo of the Day - Saturday 5th May 2012

I started the day with a quick run this morning (while the weather was dry - it has still been raining every day this week) and then whizzed over to my friend Elena's. We spent the day at the Bull Ring shopping centre in Birmingham. You'd never guess there was a recession as it was swarming with shoppers! I bought loads of goodies. This bull in today's pic is in Selfridges and is made of sweets!

Photo of the Day - Friday 4th May 2012

I came across this church in Cheltenham this evening. It's funny because it's down a road I have been on many times but I'd never noticed this church before!

Photo of the Day - Thursday 3rd May 2012

Winnie's tin of exotic fruits with faces is almost complete! He gets back from holiday this weekend so will have these tasty morsels of slightly rotting fruit to look forward to on his return to work next Tuesday (the tin PONGS when you open it ah ha ha ha!)

Photo of the Day - Wednesday 2nd May 2012

Oh dear, I know I am in my 3rd decade on this earth but I admit I am still a little juvenile at heart! So tonight, when my friend used a willy straw in her drink I couldn't help but giggle and take a picture for photo of the day (or perhaps I'm just running out of photo ideas now... hmm!)

Photo of the Day - Tuesday 1st May 2012

At last!  The fab mugs that we painted for our ladies' night last week were ready for collection from the shop today. We've agreed we all want to go again soon, although perhaps I may drink a little less wine beforehand this time! (Mine is the one with the beach huts on it, that looks like it was painted by a five year-old!)