Light

This weekend we got our house in order. I cleaned and rearranged and tidied. Mr B hung up our new framed photos.



I bought some herbs for my kitchen. They smell so fragrant.



The clocks turned forwards and we celebrated with an evening meal in the evening light. I'd been waiting for that moment for months. Mr B cooked this Jamie Oliver chicken recipe and it was heerlijk.

Meisha became her normal sun-junkie self and followed the warmth round our house.

Benji grazed, ate broccoli and bathed in the dappled light.



It was light, bright and airy.

PS I managed to buy a gorgeous DVF dress 80% off!!
PPS Mr B alluded to the fact that he might be planning on buying me an awesome digital SLR for my birthday!!! Roll on 28th June!

The Secret Seven and other loves

The lovely Shorty has bestowed this award on me - big thanks Shorty! If you haven't already, go and check out her blog. Now I must list seven things that I love, then pass this award on to seven bloggers that bring me tons of joy!

Aside from my obvious loves (my husband, our family, Meisha & Benji, photography, Jack Bauer and creme eggs) here is my more obscure list...

#1. I love my new elephant teapot. Mr B bought it for me in Lincoln at the weekend. It may be my favourite possession of all-time. My wedding ring just isn't quite cutting it any longer, ha!



#2. I love bare minerals makeup. You may remember that I bought the starter kit a few months ago. It's taken me a while to get the technique and the look I want down to a 't', but now that I have it's completely worth it. It feels so light but gives really even, natural looking coverage.

#3. I love these green tote bags by Maegan & the awareness she is creating through her blogs (oh, and I wouldn't mind having just 1% of her wardrobe either!)

#4. I love Enid Blyton's books... The Faraway Tree, The Famous Five, The Secret Seven, The Five Find-Outers I could go on and on. I devoured them when I was a child. I wanted more than anything to have adventures like the children in those books. The excitement, the exploits, the travels... it sounded incredibly thrilling.

#5. I love my husband's unique sense of humour. I walked upstairs to find him laughing so much I thought he would explode. He was looking at a photo on our computer. It was this...



I don't find it that funny. More scary. How has our cute cat managed such a terrifying photo? Another true ninja for you Rambler!

#6. I love the feeling of getting into bed when the sheets have been washed and starched. Mmmm, crisp and cool.

#7. I love getting my hairwashed at the hairdressers. Why is it so nice when someone else does it? I could have a kip right then and there. It's heavenly. I have finally got an appointment to get the locks chopped next week. It can't come round soon enough, believe me.

I am going to give this award to Summer, Courtney, April, Erica, Jill, The Rambler & Gwen. You ladies always brighten up my day!

Six.Five

This weekend Mr B and I drove up north for a surprise. My father-in-law and nephew were celebrating their birthdays. Mr B snr. had no idea all his children and their families were going to be with him to celebrate and turn his weekend topsy-turvy.

Mr B sr. played golf with his sons and we all enjoyed lunch outside for the first time this year.



Once the boys headed off for the next 9 holes the rest of us relaxed. Birthday boy jr. drove.







My niece was a most efficient ball-girl.





That evening we all enjoyed a meal together. There were presents, balloons, confetti, cake and champagne. It was marvellous.



The following day Mr B and I began our journey home. We spontaneously stopped for a look round Lincoln. Steep streets, unique shops, a magnificent cathedral and lunch in a tearoom made this a most pleasant pitstop.













I had a fantastic weekend. I loved every minute. Can I share a secret with you all? I even loved coming home.

Dating tip # 1 from Mr B

Ask your chosen girl out in a really memorable way. I did it with some finesse when I asked Saskia out. I had planned my tactics down to the last t. I had, with steath, found out where she was going to go out on that auspicious evening. I made sure I was there. I made doubly sure I was sober. Sure enough, a couple of hours after I had got there, she walked up to the bar. Here was my chance! I walked up to her and said hi. She smiled and replied hi. It was a great start! I helped her get a space at the heaving bar and made sure she got served quickly. We chit-chatted and then I plucked up the courage and said

“Right. I have two questions to ask you and if you answer “no” to either question I will be devastated.” (Maybe I didn’t say “devastated” - I can’t quite remember any longer, but it sounds wonderfully dramatic.) Ok she answered, looking slightly fearful.

“Firstly, do you have a boyfriend and secondly would you like to go out with me sometime?”

She answered “No. And Yes." She seemed puzzled and said “but I answered one of the questions with no…”

My chat up technique is smooth, let me tell you.

*Mr B cannot be persuaded to write a guest post, so unfortunately this post is told from the ever-so-slightly-biased viewpoint. I did make sure I got his permission to write about his suave romancing style. I'm not sure he quite understood what he was letting himself in for!

I say al-yoo-min-i-um

Last week the lovely Shorty asked me a most interesting question. One that deserved it’s very own post as its answer. Shorty wondered if there are things I read about from American bloggers that I’m unfamiliar with. There are, surprisingly, loads of things that were, and sometimes still are, unfamiliar to me. Vocabulary differences for instance:

bachelorette party = hen party
zucchini = courgette
apartment = flat
what’s a condo?
elevator = lift
zit = spot
liquor store = off license
fall = autumn
truck = lorry
closet = cupboard
pants = trousers
highway = motorway
bangs = fringe
cookie = biscuits
sweater = jumper
TJ Maxx = TK Maxx
mom = mum
soccer = football
zip code = postcode

There are words that are “British English” but that we hardly ever use, for example ‘lame’, ‘covet’, saying something is ‘super –nice/cute/sassy’ etc.

Moving on from language there are things that we don’t have at all, for example escort cards, baby showers, peanut butter m&ms, american football, baseball, J-Crew, Anthropologie, drive-thru Starbucks, chick fil a, thanksgiving, Old Navy, Pottery Barn, sororities, Twibsession (twighlight obsession, ha) and so many more that I can’t remember at the moment.

British clothing and shoe sizes and weights are different too. The one thing that still confuses me is that we write our dates differently to you… I’d write 18/03/2009 for today’s date!

I have a car with a bonnet and boot, I stick plasters on cuts, Swedes, aubergines and coriander are healthy greens, I hoover my carpets, Mr B and I often go on holiday for a fortnight and we push trolleys round the supermarket and of course I say al-yoo-min-i-um.

Toodle-oo!

Last week I asked you for your questions. Here are my answers...

Bama Belle asked If I were to come visit you, what would we do? Where would we go?
Ooh, how fabulous it would be to meet you! If you came to the UK we would definitely go into London. A Yeoman Warder would be our guide at the Tower of London and we’d gaze at the crown jewels. We would shop and lunch in Selfridges (with bottomless purses of course). Maybe we would take a look in the National Gallery or Hamleys or perhaps we would take the tube to Greenwich Market for crepes and lots of amazing handmade finds. We would walk through Covent Garden and watch the daring entertainers. As the night starts drawing in we would fly on the London Eye and then we’d walk to Soho for food at Ed’s and drinks at Ronnie Scotts. That’s just day 1! The rest of your trip we would be much more leisurely… how about a visit to Windsor, a walk in the Great Park and a day trip to Bath? What do you think?

Aside from being a fabulous blogger, what's your day job?
Thank you for the compliment! I work as a Recruitment & Marketing Administrator at the moment. It’s certainly not my dream job. In any way. But in this environment of uncertainly I am very thankful to have a job. I have nice colleagues, plenty of time to blog and I have a short commute. I really would like to be doing something a lot more creative and challenging but the job market here at the moment is stagnant. I will be sticking it out here for a bit longer, while practicing and dreaming of my future job as a photographer!

If you could only shop at 1 store for the rest of your life (not including food, obviously) where would it be and why?
Selfridges - I love it! Clothes, makeup, handbags, shoes, lingerie, stationery, jewellery, home furnishings, restaurants… unfortunately everything is designer and I would be broke!

Courtney asked If you could have one meal for the rest of your life what would it be? My mother’s macaroni cheese. Whenever I was ill I would ask her to make it for me. It’s my ultimate comfort food.

What is your most prized possession? My wedding ring. I haven’t yet, and hopefully never will, take it off.

If you could only wear one accessory (necklace, earrings, bracelet, ring-other than THE ring, broach, etc.)...What would it be? Earrings. I wear earring almost every day and I like how different styles can really change how you look. I normally wear studs for work, but now and again in the evenings or at weekends I wear some nice hoops or dangly statement earrings with my hair up and they really add some razzamatazz.

The Rambler asked When did you look at one of your photos and know how AMAZING you were at it? Firsty, thank you for the compliment! I'm glad you're enjoying my photos. I didn’t have a sudden realization, it’s something that’s crept up on me slowly! I always knew how to take a good photo (thanks to my father who taught me) and even when I was small I never missed out the tops of heads or feet!
Last year Mr B arranged our honeymoon. It was a complete secret and I had no idea where we were going. I knew that it should be beautiful though and I hopefully took a long my trusty Minolta and lots of rolls of film. We honeymooned in Bali and it was magical. I took lots of photos and when I had my films developed I fell in love with some of the pictures. I’m sure that you don’t need much skill to take beautiful photos in such a beautiful setting! Nevertheless my snap-happy honeymoon has reawakened my love of photography.

Puri Saren Palace, Ubud, Bali




The Reality of Happily Ever After asked If you were a character in a movie, who would you be?
I would like to be Snow White and yes this is the answer I would have given aged 4! Who wouldn’t want a pretty dress, prince charming, some kindly dwarves and most importantly rabbits, deer and little birds dancing up to you in the forest? It was (and is) my dream for a little sparrow to hop onto my finger and sing to me. Ha!

Erica asked Where would you travel to if money and time were not issues?
I would go back to Bali and this time I’d make sure I take a boat across to the neighbouring island of Lombok. I would stay in the Oberoi hotels on both islands and I wouldn’t come home ever (honestly)!

Dusk at the Oberoi in Bali


Thank you so much for your questions! I had such fun answering them. Shorty, I haven't forgotten you! Your questions proved so interesting that I'm saving my long answers for a post of their own!

If you ask me...

I have felt so lazy this week and not in a good way. I am dreaming of my comfy bed all day, from the minute I get up in the morning. I'm ashamed to say I might scramble into my pjs as soon as I get in the door tonight!

Could it be my lack of yoga practice last week? Or is my record-breaking consumption of creme eggs to blame? Or maybe it's just that I need spring to get arrive after this extremely depressing winter... I'm fed up with the dark and the cold. Winter 09-10 I will hibernate. I cannot take this annual gloom any longer.

My lazy lull has even extended to post ideas so I thought I'd leave my blog-door open for all your questions...

Go on, leave me a comment with your burning question! I'm already looking forward to sharing with you.



PS the lazing is contagious... this is my active cat and the duvetted mound is my lively husband, ha!

Going for It

When I was small, really small, my father had a beautiful camera. This camera lived in a smart brown leather case and had an external light meter. I used to play with the light meter and badger my father to let me have a go shooting. He usually, sensibly, didn’t give in to my demands. When I was 6 years old, I received a free Supasnaps Snapit camera and one windy day I took my first proper photos as my father, godfather and I flew my kite on the Downs.

For my big 1.6. my parents asked me what I would like for my birthday. I told them I wanted a camera. They bought me this 1973 Minolta SRT303. It’s heavy. It’s clunky. It’s manual. It’s pick-pocket-proof. It’s fantastic. From then on I was experimenting. And enjoying.



Last week I decided to go for it, to make my photography more than just my hobby. Why not? My 36 year old Minolta and I get along famously so I don’t need an excuse to practice a lot more. This year I’m going to buy a digital SLR and a large aperture lens (I don’t do flash), learn photoshop and practice. Lots.

There, I’ve told you all now, so there’s no going back. It’s my dream job and I’ll never know if I can do it unless I try.

Essence

PPMS has tagged me with the question what is your signature scent?

I don’t have a single signature scent. My two favourites are Chanel Coco Mademoiselle & Dior Miss Cherie. Both are feminine & floral – Coco Mademoiselle is elegant while Miss Cherie is more modern somehow. These are my everyday perfumes, though during the winter I tend towards Coco Mademoiselle more. There's something so summery about Miss Cherie!

For my wedding I wanted something lovely, new and a little different. A scent that would become associated with only wonderful memories. I wore Viktor & Rolf’s Flowerbomb. It's a wonderful, unusual and long-lasting perfume.



I'd like to tag Lulu, Kate, Shorty & Erica.

This and That

I received flowers. At work. With a little card pinned to the sellophane. I think my colleagues were envious. I was a cheshire cat with burning cheeks. They were from Mr B on 3rd March.



I have made a decision to go for it. It is photography. I will post about this in more detail soon.

I have been dreaming of our holiday this year. We hope to go to one of the Greek islands, maybe Santorini or Mykonos. It will be blissful.

Who is more evil Ben Linus or Charles Widmore? Who is more omniscient? (PS what episode has just shown in the US? I know the UK is behind, but I’m not sure how far behind. PPS I love John.)

Mr B and I high-five each other a lot, especially during 24 or Lost when one of us preempts the story line or something cool happens. Can you high-five too much?

I hate going to work when Mr B is at home. He gets a ridiculous amount of holiday and he’s off work this week to golf, lounge and generally waltz about merrily. I do not receive the aforementioned generous holiday allowance and I am despondently gleefully working all week.

The cupboard was bare this week so we went to the chippie and bought fish & chips mmmm.

I have been spoilt by my blog-friend… I have been given two awards by Erica. Thank you so much lovely lady!

The cute blog award



and this award, which acknowledges the values that every blogger shows in his/her effort to transmit cultural, ethical, literary and personal values every day.



Thank you for thinking of me!

To my Husband

5 years ago today we were in a whirlwind of excitement. Doesn't it seem like a lifetime ago and yet how quickly have the last 5 years gone? You had planned a surprise for me. I was desperate to know what you had planned. We took a slam-door train into London. Then you took me for dinner at Clos Maggoire. Wow, you really know how to impress a girl! Then off you whisked me to watch the Lion King. I was enraptured by the show and by the wonderful guy next to me. Our first date was a knock-out...

2 years ago today you were also planning a surprise. We went into London and saw Chicago. You had a ring in your pocket. I had no idea. You kept making me walk on the ringless side of you so I wouldn't feel the box. We had cocktails and watched the barmen flare. Once again we ate in Clos Maggoire. Oh you did spoil me! On the way home, on the Jubilee Bridge in the moonlight, you got down on one knee and asked me The Question.

The 3rd March will always be such a special day for me, filled with the most wonderful memories.

I love you.

After

I hope you all had nice weekends.

We worked like busy bees. We got up early on Saturday, bought paint and equipment, cleared out our bedroom and painted.



We managed to get the whole room done in one day. All that's left to do is get a few pretty photos framed & hung on the wall above our bed.



I love how it looks now, really fresh. The photos do not represent the walls properly, but these quick snaps will have to do for now!



What do you think?