All Things New...And 22 Sleeps To Go

It's been a busy weekend and as a result it's gotten to Sunday afternoon before I've had the opportunity to be tap-tap-tapping away in my front window.  But it's been a weekend of some new experiences which I want to share with you.

The first happened yesterday afternoon when I went to have my very own studio photo shoot at insspire in Clapham.  Prompted by a couldn't-resist deal on living social (and the fact that since I've had my hair cut short again, I do not have a lot of photos that actually look like me), I'd booked my session several weeks ago and so yesterday found me strolling up Lavender Hill in the afternoon sunshine feeling excited and just a tad nervous.

Taken in hand by the lovely (and official Master of Photography) Monika, first it was into make-up.  I don't wear very much of this on a day-to-day basis so it felt rather Hollywood to have someone else doing the primping and preening for me - although it was a little disconcerting to have that same someone peering at my face wondering what she could 'do' with it.

Half an hour later it was back downstairs to the studio to start shooting.  What can I say except that it was fun and very, very weird.  There was lots of standing, sitting, leaning, lying and draping - and yes, that was all me!  Monika spent an hour coaxing me into different poses and faces: there were lighting changes, set changes, costume changes (well, just one - I changed my top) and even a camera change!

I left feeling a little tired, a little emotional, a little curious to see how the pics come out (viewing is not until the 19th July so stay tuned!) and a lot exhilarated.  Let's just say that the small top-up Sainsbury's shop I stopped to do in Wimbledon on the way home took a little longer than it usually does.

The second new thing for this weekend is that I have continued my foray into the The Great Bake-Off with a new challenge.  We are off to Kew the Music at Kew Gardens tonight and part of the deal is that we all bring stuff along to share.  A-down-the-hill let me know yesterday that there was marinated chicken, frittata, olives and snacky things and chocolate whoopie pies already on the menu so this morning I was whipping up a batch of Raspberry and Coconut Cakes (a variation on the Apple and Raspberry Squares I'd done previously).

But this is not the new thing.  Oh no!  I baked TWO things today - yes two! 

So I am enormously proud to present to you the latest addition to The Great Bake-Off family:

TAH DAAAAAAAH!!!!!!!!!!!!

Walnut and Rosemary Bread

I want to take this little beauty intact to tonight's festivities so there's a huge risk posed by the fact I have not conducted my usual taste test - but it looks completely wicked right?

Time is a-ticking so I best be off to pack my baked goods and other essentials for tonight's summer of fun (picnic blanket, folding chair, paper plates, plastic wine glasses, umbrella - yes sadly, showers are forecast).  In the meantime, keep your fingers crossed for a dry evening and some tasty bread!

ps...you've had a few days respite from the countdown but with only 22 sleeps to go before the good ship 41 goes into dry dock, I thought it would be very helpful of me to give you a little nudge.  Best not stand next to the ship's railing peeps - the nudging gets more persistent the closer we get and I wouldn't want you to end up in 'the drink'.  Or would I?

Bus-blogging...of sorts

It has been a gloriously sunny weekend here in SW London and I was out and about on the bus (the No. 65 if you must know) yesterday capturing those blue sky moments lest they disappear.

It all started when I got inspired by the view of Ham Common bathed in sunshine....

...and I've always wanted to snap The Original Maids of Honour in Kew...

...and down by the river in Richmond is worthy of a pic anytime.

Did you see the crocuses coming up in the Richmond pic? And I walked past my first daffodils for this year (well they were in someone else's front garden, but there they were, all hopeful and happy.) 

Spring may have really sprung!

19 Sleeps To Go...Under The Stars With The Gipsy Kings

I picked up a bit of last minute temping this week so my perfectly planned week of gym-going, blogging and washing all the bedding went out the window (it's going to be one helluva shock to go back to working full-time again). But one thing that did not go 'out the window' (at 21 sleeps to go but I was too tired to wax lyrical yesterday) was seeing the Gipsy Kings live at Kew Gardens!

I've not ever been majorly into these guys, having only really heard their big hit, Bamboleo, back when they were A LOT younger. But I love Spanish/Latin music and J's quite a Gipsy Kings fan so I got us some tix about 4 months ago...and after work on Friday we met in Richmond, me laden down with some divine picnic nibbles from Waitrose and J with our two folding deck chairs and strolled over to Kew Gardens...and had such a great night!

The support act, Motimba, started at 7.30 and warmed up the crowds for about an hour with a cruise-y Cuban mix of tunes, great background for us to enjoy our nibbles and a lovely bottle of Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc. Then after a short 'wee break' (for us, not them!), the Gipsy Kings strummed their way into everyone's hearts (and a fair few hips that were wiggling about!) with their passionate Latin melodies. Their passion for the music is just so inspiring and it took me right back to travelling in Spain in 2002 - where I bought a CD from a local Granada-ian band who entertained us at dinner one night and thought that the flamenco in Seville was one of the breath-takingly sexiest things I had ever seen.

There was nothing for it but for us to open a lovely bottle of South African Shiraz to accompany all this passion and fire...and speaking of fire, at 10.15 this was all topped off by some spectacular fireworks...

So I spent my '21 sleeps to go' under the stars with great music, and fireworks, with my lovely man - now THAT's what I call a date night!