Training

Today was my last big training ride ready for my first ever cycling holiday which starts next Saturday. 

I did around 26 miles(forgot to start my Strava until 5 miles in, bugger!) to the beautiful Dunsop Bridge where a big chocolate cake was waiting, yum. 

It's honestly what keeps me going sometimes!!

On Saturday I shall be setting off for a tour of the Yorkshire Wolds with 13 friends. 

We shall be covering around 25 miles a day with some of the chaps going off to do 80 - 100 miles absolutely.crackers.all.of.them. 

We shall then recover in a nice Hotel, B & B or for 1 of the nights a Youth Hostel. 

Some much needed luxury, but more than the achievement for me, shall be the time spent with good friends sharing, laughing, eating good food and supporting each other through the tough bits when needed.

 I am beyond excited :-)

Of course I will blog when I can as we go along.

Plans for this week include running tomorrow and a last short cycle ride on Wednesday & then .............way to go!!

XX

PJ's On

Ok, worked late - still getting my head round my new role :-) Came home to find this had been opened by my Son - thinking it was a facial scrub!!

Not wanting to waste it I dived into the shower and began to massage - I have had it ages thinking its a straightforward salt scrub.
It is but its the most luxurious salt scrub ever and I shall be dashing out to buy a tub of the stuff *pronto*
As you start to massage the renowned orange scent releases as the scrub turns to a moisturising oil of coconut, jojoba and sweet almond - my skin is so silky smooth & I am now sat in my PJ,s at 7.30pm (a first for me) & smelling beautiful...

£11.25 for 650 grams, available from Sanctuary and Boots, where of course you can get 44 points on your card and currently if you spend over a tenner you get a free gift of the Creme Souffle, bargain I say!

It's Friiiiiiiday - I'm off to chill some more!

XX

Crazy Day

Today was my day off and once again I had a list as long as my arm. But, it has been a thoroughly productive day.

I have tackled the on-line banking, ordered some boots (yes in June!!), booked flights, shopped, bought a present, sent eBay  items I have sold to their new owners, tried a new recipe and baked a cake, whew!

I even had time to meet with 'C' (aka the best friend a girl could wish for) and enjoy a leisurely walk and ginger beer whilst catching up and generally putting the World to rights  ;-)

Below, the new recipe I tried out - fish in breadcrumbs. Cheap, wholesome and tasty using frozen haddock fillets from Aldi, wholemeal bread whizzed into breadcrumbs in the blender and an egg. I also did Nando's PeriPeri sprinkle potato wedges ;-)

Cherry & coconut traybake.

Looked around and most of the kitchen was like this - been like a whirlwind all day!

I bought this lovely slate heart for a friend who is leaving work tomorrow. She loves my gluten free brownies so I put gluten free flour, gluten free chocolate and some pretty bun cases with it and wrapped it in cellophane with a bow. Excuse the surrounding chaos of the picture!

 

I love days where I can tick lots off the 'to do' list!

XX

Owls & Stags!

Finally found a new place for the owl picture I bought in Bridgnorth :-) 

Whilst at it I also hung the Stag's head my Son bought me for Christmas - 

I know, I know - not good! 

But I kept thinking it needed to go on a dark wall - it probably does, but I had no place on a dark wall that I would see it often to admire it. What do you think?

I think I have mentioned before my love of deer & stags - so majestic. 

  

Talking of owl's, when my Son came home from Uni he bought me this lovely little owl box. 

Not wanting to make a fuss but  - *I love it* - I don't often get spontaneous presents - my children are both penniless Students don't you know ;-) so, it will be treasured!!

 Cute!

Back tomorrow to share a project!

XX

Round & About

No words, just pictures from my home, because sometimes words are not needed. 

Enjoy your Sunday!

XX

Pick & Mix

That was the name of the Final Show for Art & Design Students on the course that 'A' will be starting in September.

The awarding body for the course is  UAL (Universities of the Arts London) & last night was great as we got to see the work of so many talented people. 

At last I feel my Daughter is following her heart - she was so at ease in her surroundings, chatting happily with the young designers and artists.

I didn't get as many pictures as I hoped, but hope you like what I chose to feature :-)

 These paper animals were amazing - the young lady who designed them spent weeks - not hours - doing all the cutting and feathering. I don't think the photos do them justice as they were WOW!

Just look closely at the feathers...a.m.a.z.e

  This butterfly installation was everywhere you looked....& so pretty.

 Tattoo Art - now this was something else! The young artist delivered his final piece live!! How talented is he? Who else thinks of  tattoo's as art?

There were three young men with sleeves of tattoos, all different but all equally amazing. I took a number of photographs and wish I could remember whose was whose!!

Recognise anyone?

I love tattoos that are done well, with fine detail, shading, slim outlines and time taken to produce something exquisite and personal, not an elephant that looks like a tracing done with a crayon. 

The young man below is another tattoo artist and I was fascinated and wanted to know why he had taken the decision to have his face tattooed. 

The tattoo is on both sides, like a block beard. He is a walking advertisement for his trade.

He was happy to chat whilst 'A' squirmed saying "Mum! You can't say that!"

Anyway he's a handsome chap who carries it off well ;-)

Paper dresses anyone?

Crazy what you can do with sheet music! 

& this I just loved *sigh*

Blown away...these beautifully decorated women's torso's - I think they are representing pregnancy from the way the hand rests just below the stomach, such delicate work.

 We watched the Fashion Show - I really liked the pieces by the talented designer below, unfortunately I didn't manage to get pictures of the two dresses that completed his capsule. I liked his pieces as they were different but wearable too.

  Fabulous pants :-)

 If I could choose one item for myself it would have to be the torso with the butterflies, it says so much. What would you choose?

 I am so excited for 'A' to experience time in the company of other creative people & hope to share as she goes!

XX