OK so normally I'm a relatively calm and easy going person but today I'm having a rant. Why? Because nipping out this lunchtime to run a couple of errands and grab some lunch has today been a royal pain in the derriere! The office I work in is based in the very centre of the town right near shops and amenities. Very handy for catching up on all those itty bitty things you need to do on a daily basis. But working in a seaside resort, in summer, when it is sunny, often it turns out to be more trouble than it's worth running these errands. Take today for example:
1. A trip to Boots Opticians to pick up contact lenses ordered by the optician after my appointment on Friday. Firstly, um hello its lunchtime staff might be good? After waiting nearly 10 minutes before being acknowledged the most unhelpful assistant simply said that today's order had come in but until someone sorts it out she can't help me. And should she ring me later. Seeing as these lenses should have arrived yesterday this is poor. So when I said no as I can't just nip out to pick things up I do work for a living could I have a couple more lenses as I'd run out of the new prescription you'd think I'd asked to scale Mount Everest. So yet another 5 minute wait later she finally came back with the replacements and said "thanks then" turned on her heels and left. Terrific customer service, not. Time to start seeking out a new opticians I think!! Oh and another thing, what has happened to Boots stocking sandwiches?? They used to be the go to place for good value sarnies, and didn't the invent the lunchtime "meal deal"? Not any longer a focus for our local store clearly as there is never anything left by 1pm!
2. Tesco's queues and lack of staff - um yep still lunchtime! What is it with the big stores today and thinking that no one would be shopping at lunchtime?? 2 tills open I mean sheesh. This was of course complicated by the extremely large number of doddery OAP's getting confused by the till system!
3. Cash machine's and using EVERY single card to see if I have any money people. While I can understand using a cash machine and not having any money (well the post shopping bug can strike anytime!) I really don't understand people who have 3 or more cards they need to check at the same time. I mean who has more than 2 current accounts??
However my lunchtime trip was cheered up by the sigh of a beautiful blue convertible sports car zooming down the hill. A lovely sunny day, Bournemouth Square - what's the first tune that comes to mind when cruising your car? Oh of course, N-Dubz. And people say Weymouth is chavvy I mean really?
Lx
Wednesday, 25 May 2011
Sunday, 22 May 2011
Three's a dream...well it is when it comes to being organised the Loulou way
So as you may have noticed I have a bit of a Filofax fixation. Have I mentioned this? Anyway my systems have recently had a bit of a revision and I'm now running 3 planners!! This may seem mad to some people BUT read on and you'll see how it works for me!!
First up, my lovely A5 Aqua Chameleon that was the result of the Philofaxy meet up in London:
Having already fallen in love with the look and feel of the Raspberry Chameleon that I have in the personal size when I was on the look out for a new A5 Filofax for work (fancied a change from my Bronze Domino Snake) and saw the Aqua I thought it could be a winner. But after seeing the original photographs from the catalogue I wasn't that keen. Which just goes to show that the actual colours are sometimes very different when you physically see them.
In the A5 I run the week on one page with notes format. I use this in all my filos. It works so well for me being able to list appointments and key to dos all in one place. The important thing for me in my work planner is being able to use it for To Dos and Notes as well as the agenda/calendar side of things and that is where the extra room in the A5 comes in so handy (although I am thinking potentially the new Flex product could be a work suitable winner!!)
Anyway, you will see I have lots of coloured tabs for my different sections whether that is Team Stuff, notes from meetings with my boss or our consultant or magazine specific notes. This means I always have the latest notes and minutes to hand wherever I am in the building. Invaluable!
My second Filofax is the gorgeous Crimson Malden. This is a recent bargain purchase courtesy of the fantastic City Organiser site. This is my personal Catch All planner where Everything gets listed and recorded. And is big enough to write copious amounts of lists in - for example with Isle of Wight and Glastonbury festivals coming up I've got shopping lists, packing lists, must see lists and remember lists coming out of my ears!! These lists make using my Pocket Deco at the moment just a little too small for me.
In here I use the standard Tabs with the addition of 2 clear Filofax dividers to highlight quickly my key notes areas for Festivals and Day Planner sheets. I've got inspirational tear outs from magazines of things I want to read/look up/buy and items that are almost like a mobile mood board for say the redesign of the garden we are currently doing at the moment. Well my pictures focus on furniture and plans for my pots but you get the idea!!
I have to say the Malden is just so yummy. Te soft leather feels so delicious, the handy notepad pocket at the rear is AWESOME so I can use my ruled yellow pad - so much easier for quick note taking and I love the cute little zip pocket at the front. Adorable. For some reason I wasn't drawn to the Malden in the Vintage Rose although when I saw the original pictures I thought it looked gorgeous but in a reversal to the Aqua Chameleon I didn't like it in person. But I keep seeing photos including some with it next to the Crimson and I wonder if I was too quick to dismiss it. I think when I'm in London next I'll have to have a quick run by the store and check again (hehe)
Last but definitely not least the Pocket Deco is my Date Book. All social engagements are in here so that when running around time on a weekend I can have my planner and note space in the smaller format with me at all times! When not in my handbag it lives on the sideboard so it is always ready to be updated with potential things to remember or do.
I love the Deco. It feels decadent and the clasp is just beautiful. But the Pocket size while perfect for quieter weeks or times when I just need my diary when out and about it is just that fraction too small for the scale sometimes of note taking that I need.
So that brings me onto the Flex. I've been thinking for a while that if I could find the right notebook and planner combo potentially my Malden could become a combined work/social planner and a separate notebook would be the way ahead....only one way to tell I guess!!!
As you can tell I am in no rush to promise to not buy any more planners!! (cue evil laughter) So what do you think about my system? Mad or does it make sense....?
Lx
 |
| My Tri-Filo System |
So as you may have noticed I have a bit of a Filofax fixation. Have I mentioned this? Anyway my systems have recently had a bit of a revision and I'm now running 3 planners!! This may seem mad to some people BUT read on and you'll see how it works for me!!
First up, my lovely A5 Aqua Chameleon that was the result of the Philofaxy meet up in London:
 |
| Isn't she pretty? |
In the A5 I run the week on one page with notes format. I use this in all my filos. It works so well for me being able to list appointments and key to dos all in one place. The important thing for me in my work planner is being able to use it for To Dos and Notes as well as the agenda/calendar side of things and that is where the extra room in the A5 comes in so handy (although I am thinking potentially the new Flex product could be a work suitable winner!!)
 |
| A typical week |
Anyway, you will see I have lots of coloured tabs for my different sections whether that is Team Stuff, notes from meetings with my boss or our consultant or magazine specific notes. This means I always have the latest notes and minutes to hand wherever I am in the building. Invaluable!
 |
| Spangly tabs |
My second Filofax is the gorgeous Crimson Malden. This is a recent bargain purchase courtesy of the fantastic City Organiser site. This is my personal Catch All planner where Everything gets listed and recorded. And is big enough to write copious amounts of lists in - for example with Isle of Wight and Glastonbury festivals coming up I've got shopping lists, packing lists, must see lists and remember lists coming out of my ears!! These lists make using my Pocket Deco at the moment just a little too small for me.
 |
| Ooh it's the Malden |
In here I use the standard Tabs with the addition of 2 clear Filofax dividers to highlight quickly my key notes areas for Festivals and Day Planner sheets. I've got inspirational tear outs from magazines of things I want to read/look up/buy and items that are almost like a mobile mood board for say the redesign of the garden we are currently doing at the moment. Well my pictures focus on furniture and plans for my pots but you get the idea!!
 |
| Just inside the Malden |
I have to say the Malden is just so yummy. Te soft leather feels so delicious, the handy notepad pocket at the rear is AWESOME so I can use my ruled yellow pad - so much easier for quick note taking and I love the cute little zip pocket at the front. Adorable. For some reason I wasn't drawn to the Malden in the Vintage Rose although when I saw the original pictures I thought it looked gorgeous but in a reversal to the Aqua Chameleon I didn't like it in person. But I keep seeing photos including some with it next to the Crimson and I wonder if I was too quick to dismiss it. I think when I'm in London next I'll have to have a quick run by the store and check again (hehe)
 |
| Another typical week Malden style |
 |
| I LOVE the notebook pocket |
Last but definitely not least the Pocket Deco is my Date Book. All social engagements are in here so that when running around time on a weekend I can have my planner and note space in the smaller format with me at all times! When not in my handbag it lives on the sideboard so it is always ready to be updated with potential things to remember or do.
 |
| The Perfect Pocket Deco |
I love the Deco. It feels decadent and the clasp is just beautiful. But the Pocket size while perfect for quieter weeks or times when I just need my diary when out and about it is just that fraction too small for the scale sometimes of note taking that I need.
 |
| Example of yet another typical week |
So that brings me onto the Flex. I've been thinking for a while that if I could find the right notebook and planner combo potentially my Malden could become a combined work/social planner and a separate notebook would be the way ahead....only one way to tell I guess!!!
As you can tell I am in no rush to promise to not buy any more planners!! (cue evil laughter) So what do you think about my system? Mad or does it make sense....?
Lx
 |
| And here is another "arty" shot of my 3! |
Wednesday, 18 May 2011
Typical Lou lou behaviour.....
I'm obsessing about a handbag. Well it makes a change from the Amethyst Deco Filofax! I'm obsessing over the Modalu Bristol handbag in Shark. Why am I obsessed with this bag so much? Because it's out of stock EVERYWHERE!
Which makes half of me think eesh why would I want one anyway? But the other half of me sees it as a challenge to track one down and make it mine.
And the reason this particular bag from this relatively low key brand has sold out everywhere? Because it is the tote bag that Pippa Middleton, the Royal bridesmaid who has recently been catapulted into the limelight after that wedding. Now it's not because Pippa has the bag that I want it, I saw it a few weeks ago while perusing the John Lewis bag department and did that classic "ooh you're lovely but I don't need you, especially for £149" so I was good, put the bag down and walked away. But of course it has been playing on my mind so I went to have a lookysee thinking that by now I'd have changed my mind (I'm quite a fickle sort sometimes) and that is when I found I couldn't buy one even if I did want one. Which of course meant I had to see if I could find one on a different site. But 2 hours of searching later and it really is true that the damn thing is sold out everywhere and I am now wondering how on earth I can cope without it in my life. I hate being told I can't do or have something it makes me all the more determined to make it mine (cue evil queen laugh).
But the big question is WHY???? Surely this is not the normal behaviour of a sane, ahem 30 something woman? In most areas of my life I'm organised and methodical but when it comes to accessories (bags, Filofaxes, scarves, earrings......) I have a real week spot. Perhaps because you can never have a fat day with your handbag!!
Anyway as much as I am currently lusting over this bag and despite phoning around several John Lewis stores I am not going to pre order this bag because I can imagine when it finally reappears in August no doubt I'll have moved my affections onto some other item or other....now if I can just hold my resolve and avoid online shopping. Wish me luck
Lx
Which makes half of me think eesh why would I want one anyway? But the other half of me sees it as a challenge to track one down and make it mine.
And the reason this particular bag from this relatively low key brand has sold out everywhere? Because it is the tote bag that Pippa Middleton, the Royal bridesmaid who has recently been catapulted into the limelight after that wedding. Now it's not because Pippa has the bag that I want it, I saw it a few weeks ago while perusing the John Lewis bag department and did that classic "ooh you're lovely but I don't need you, especially for £149" so I was good, put the bag down and walked away. But of course it has been playing on my mind so I went to have a lookysee thinking that by now I'd have changed my mind (I'm quite a fickle sort sometimes) and that is when I found I couldn't buy one even if I did want one. Which of course meant I had to see if I could find one on a different site. But 2 hours of searching later and it really is true that the damn thing is sold out everywhere and I am now wondering how on earth I can cope without it in my life. I hate being told I can't do or have something it makes me all the more determined to make it mine (cue evil queen laugh).
But the big question is WHY???? Surely this is not the normal behaviour of a sane, ahem 30 something woman? In most areas of my life I'm organised and methodical but when it comes to accessories (bags, Filofaxes, scarves, earrings......) I have a real week spot. Perhaps because you can never have a fat day with your handbag!!
Anyway as much as I am currently lusting over this bag and despite phoning around several John Lewis stores I am not going to pre order this bag because I can imagine when it finally reappears in August no doubt I'll have moved my affections onto some other item or other....now if I can just hold my resolve and avoid online shopping. Wish me luck
Lx
Sunday, 15 May 2011
Swopping Paris for Patios....
It's been a very productive weekend here at Splucy's but not the sort of weekend I had in mind a few weeks ago, as this weekend just gone had been earmarked for a jaunt over to gay Paris. The idea of a weekend away was thought up in our "list of things to do when Mr P felt better" and back in March we'd flagged this weekend as a potential gap in the diary when we could make the trip (no school holidays, no gigs for his band, no weddings/birthday do's etc etc) And of course me being the planner that I am this was entered in my Filofax with glee.
The booking of said Paris trip however didn't run so smoothly. Where have the weeks gone since March? I honestly have no idea what happened to April and now here we are halfway through May! I'm scared to blink in case I suddenly realise it's Christmas and I'll have missed Wimbledon, The Apprentice Final and possibly even X Factor (although now Dannii has been replaced by the chick from N Dubz I don't think I'm the target demographic for it anymore). Anyway I digress (is there one of my blog posts where I don't say that? I doubt it! If you can find one there may be a prize!)
We struck some issues with the Paris trip when investigating the costs/logistics etc. With Mr P horrified at the prices - to be fair I'm sure our all inclusive 10 night stay in luxury in Egypt cost less that some of these "bargain breaks" on the Eurostar website - and me horrified at the prospect of travelling at the crack of dawn and staying outside the city just so I'd have enough Euros leftover to purchase coffee, croissant (and Chanel)
And then, as I mentioned earlier we wake up and it's only blooming May!!! No chance of an early bird booking now.
Now 2 weeks ago (I'll help you out here, Royal Wedding, 4 day weekend with the May Bank holiday, nice weather mostly) Mr P's most lovely family came up for the weekend on a mission to rid his garden of a fence so rickety it was more wobbly on it's feet than I am after a Chardonnay or 6 and a shed that was so old and useless it made Bruce Forsythe appear to be in the first flush of youth. A very productive weekend was spent pulling down said fence and shed and digging out concrete footers. Followed by concreting in new (straight and solid) fence posts. All ready for garden makeover part 2 when the new fence panels could be put up at a later date.
Well after 2 weeks of frosty air between us and our neighbour across the now open plan garden (I believe she was unhappy at the collateral damage of one dead potato plant who was caught in the cross fire of concrete and fence post removal) this weekend was the weekend. The one where we were to get our privacy back with a shiny new fence going up.
Mr P's family returned, with Mr P's ickle brother Mr K Junior who along with his dad, Mr K Senior, are experts in the gardening/building/fencing area. Along with the two Mr K's in the van was Mr P's lovely Mum and our brand new fence plus a fabulous new gate!! My role I always feel in these proceedings is to make sure of the following:
1) The kettle is always primed and ready for tea making duty
2) That along with the tea there should always be an ample supply of biscuits, flapjacks and chocolate covered items
3) Meals should be large and hearty
4) That the kettle is put back on again for more tea
I am a big believer in the feed the work force well to get maximum returns theory ;0)
So it was rails up, gate added and all the planks in place. How does our garden look now? Only absolutely blooming amazing! It is larger, brighter, airier and as a huge bonus our nosy neighbour next door can't see over as it's 6 foot tall (well the fence itself is only 5 foot but with a bottom riser as we are panning a patio I haven't got a hope in hell of seeing over it so neither does she!)
And this is how I swapped Paris for (almost) patios. As while a weekend in Paris can happen anytime, wonderful relatives that will renovate your garden are far more fun to spend time with.
So stage 2 of the garden makeover is complete. Stage 3 involves Mr P redesigning the patio layout (again) so that when the Cornish contingent are able to visit once more we can make even more progress towards our dreamed of patio/BBQ/cocktail area.
I have to be honest, I would love to get to a point where Mr P's family are able to come and visit without him making them work so hard so who knows maybe once we are all patio'd up we can have a BBQ to celebrate where we can all kick back and watch Mr P do the hard work and cook. Although on second thoughts maybe we should treat them to the lush Sunday carvery at the pub nearby? After all I'd hate to see our new fence end up as cinders from an incendiary sausage......
Lx
The booking of said Paris trip however didn't run so smoothly. Where have the weeks gone since March? I honestly have no idea what happened to April and now here we are halfway through May! I'm scared to blink in case I suddenly realise it's Christmas and I'll have missed Wimbledon, The Apprentice Final and possibly even X Factor (although now Dannii has been replaced by the chick from N Dubz I don't think I'm the target demographic for it anymore). Anyway I digress (is there one of my blog posts where I don't say that? I doubt it! If you can find one there may be a prize!)
We struck some issues with the Paris trip when investigating the costs/logistics etc. With Mr P horrified at the prices - to be fair I'm sure our all inclusive 10 night stay in luxury in Egypt cost less that some of these "bargain breaks" on the Eurostar website - and me horrified at the prospect of travelling at the crack of dawn and staying outside the city just so I'd have enough Euros leftover to purchase coffee, croissant (and Chanel)
And then, as I mentioned earlier we wake up and it's only blooming May!!! No chance of an early bird booking now.
Now 2 weeks ago (I'll help you out here, Royal Wedding, 4 day weekend with the May Bank holiday, nice weather mostly) Mr P's most lovely family came up for the weekend on a mission to rid his garden of a fence so rickety it was more wobbly on it's feet than I am after a Chardonnay or 6 and a shed that was so old and useless it made Bruce Forsythe appear to be in the first flush of youth. A very productive weekend was spent pulling down said fence and shed and digging out concrete footers. Followed by concreting in new (straight and solid) fence posts. All ready for garden makeover part 2 when the new fence panels could be put up at a later date.
 |
| Goodbye rickety, spider filled shed & wobbly fence |
Well after 2 weeks of frosty air between us and our neighbour across the now open plan garden (I believe she was unhappy at the collateral damage of one dead potato plant who was caught in the cross fire of concrete and fence post removal) this weekend was the weekend. The one where we were to get our privacy back with a shiny new fence going up.
Mr P's family returned, with Mr P's ickle brother Mr K Junior who along with his dad, Mr K Senior, are experts in the gardening/building/fencing area. Along with the two Mr K's in the van was Mr P's lovely Mum and our brand new fence plus a fabulous new gate!! My role I always feel in these proceedings is to make sure of the following:
1) The kettle is always primed and ready for tea making duty
2) That along with the tea there should always be an ample supply of biscuits, flapjacks and chocolate covered items
3) Meals should be large and hearty
4) That the kettle is put back on again for more tea
I am a big believer in the feed the work force well to get maximum returns theory ;0)
So it was rails up, gate added and all the planks in place. How does our garden look now? Only absolutely blooming amazing! It is larger, brighter, airier and as a huge bonus our nosy neighbour next door can't see over as it's 6 foot tall (well the fence itself is only 5 foot but with a bottom riser as we are panning a patio I haven't got a hope in hell of seeing over it so neither does she!)
 |
| Hello beautiful large garden! |
And this is how I swapped Paris for (almost) patios. As while a weekend in Paris can happen anytime, wonderful relatives that will renovate your garden are far more fun to spend time with.
So stage 2 of the garden makeover is complete. Stage 3 involves Mr P redesigning the patio layout (again) so that when the Cornish contingent are able to visit once more we can make even more progress towards our dreamed of patio/BBQ/cocktail area.
I have to be honest, I would love to get to a point where Mr P's family are able to come and visit without him making them work so hard so who knows maybe once we are all patio'd up we can have a BBQ to celebrate where we can all kick back and watch Mr P do the hard work and cook. Although on second thoughts maybe we should treat them to the lush Sunday carvery at the pub nearby? After all I'd hate to see our new fence end up as cinders from an incendiary sausage......
Lx
Monday, 25 April 2011
Super Lovely Easter-ness
So here in the UK is has been Easter weekend, a lovely long weekend where we get Friday and Monday off work and it usually rains. A lot. However something very strange happened this year - it has been (and still is) SUNNY. And warm. Glorious in fact.
And while this lovely weather is happening Mr P and I have been quite the active pair (for a change!)
To celebrate the start of the long weekend on Thursday night the fabulous Hybrid (of which Mr P is the bass player) played in a local Battle of the Bands final. They won this competition last year so this time it was more for fun. They didn't win but the band that did were fab and it was a great start to the weekend as lots of friends were there for gossip, dancing and drinkies.
Friday Finds
On Friday to get out and enjoy the sunshine we did a Treasure Trail in Dorchester which we have had in the cupboard for nearly a year. If you've not done one of these I highly recommend them. Ours was a Murder Mystery so you have a list of suspects and murder weapons and the Trail pack guides you around your chosen town to find clues (imagine Cluedo crossed with Treasure Hunt). These could be dates on fountains, plaques on buildings etc etc. But the genius part is you get to see lots of parts of the area you would never normally see and explore the history. It is a great family thing to do I imagine although Mr P and I enjoy the clue solving (admittedly it can be frustrating when you can't seem to find the answers and we get a tad competitive over who has solved the most but that's healthy right?) Trails last around 2 to 3 hours usually from what I can see, although our first attempt last year in Weymouth took about 5 hours desperately trying to find one clue to realise that someone had painted over the sign!!!
That evening Mr P had another gig, this time a private party, which means smoked salmon pasta in creme fraiche (how lush is that, a first time effort thanks to the wonderful blog The Goddess's Kitchen. I love this blog, all the recipes are yummy and simple to follow and I find lots of new and gorgeous things to think about baking/cooking.
Spectacular Saturday
Saturday was a lovely lazy morning and then we hopped in the motor and drive over to Lyme Regis. A little seaside town about 45 minutes away from Weymouth (yep it is sunny therefore Weymouth is crazy busy so we leave and go to someone else's town!!!) We enjoyed a lovely walk along the front, a saunter through the town and a nose in some of the shops and then stopped for a late lunch at the Cobb Inn for mussels and curly fries sat in the sunshine. Super lush. I also spent the day trying in vain to shift some strap marks I'd caught in the briefest of moments sat outside a coffee shop the weekend before. Why is it that when you want to catch the sun you can spend all day in it and not a whiff of colour appears but other times you can dash out and in milliseconds have singed certain areas? V bizarre.
Saturday was another gig (can you tell Mr P is making up for lost time?) This time at the Sailors Return in Weymouth. A small but perfectly formed pub right on the harbourside. My evening started off with drinkies at lovely Laura's and then a quick cab ride into town to the pub and a couple (far too many) vodkas later dancing like a loon to the band. Laura did at one point of the evening try to teach us all how to take self portrait photos from above which makes you look younger (I'm all for this especially after a voddy or 6 but I'm not sure I can quite get the hang of it?
Thankfully I was the only one taking photos so as you can imagine if this is the best shot (!) some of the others were hilarious but not for viewing without a safety warning!!
Super Sunday
While out on Thursday at the Battle of the Bands our friends Chris and Carmen suggested having a BBQ on Sunday. Fabulous ideas we thought. I have been known after a white wine spritzer or two to plan an impromptu BBQ and invite everyone from the pub before actually mentioning it to Mr P. This is not a good plan as I get told off, we then have to clean the entire house, weed the garden etc etc. Once we hopefully sort out our garden this year (bye bye shed that sits in our sun spot and hello patio - I am dreaming of al fresco coffee drinking and blogging at weekends while sat on my super cute patio set like this one from John Lewis
But alas our garden is more wasteland than paradise land - fingers crossed we can get it sorted soon!!) Anyhoo I digress, Chris and Carmen thankfully still felt like having us over for a BBQ (they have a very lovely garden: patios, fruit trees, greenhouses and yards and yards of neat lawn - when we are growed up I hope I have something as lovely) so I spent the morning baking (flapjacks from Goddess again, cupcakes and chocolate muffins from the Hummingbird Bakery cookbook) to take over with us.
And a lovely afternoon/evening it was too. Yummy food especially the kebabs - even if Lucy the puppy (not moi) did manage to steal one before they hit the BBQ bless her. You really can't beat sunshine, good food, chilled rose and chatting away with good friends. A really lovely Sunday. We even walked home from theirs which is only about 30 minutes walk (for Mr P probably only 15 hehe) which I'm sure burnt off the cupcakes/flapjacks etc....
Most Lovely Monday
And so here we are on the morning of Easter Monday. Once again the sun is shining, and once again I'm drinking my coffee in the kitchen with the patio doors open wishing I had a patio but instead of gardening today I will be hot footing it up to Kent in preparation for a strategy day tomorrow. Thankfully I am visiting our super lovely consultant and family so this evening should be vino'o'clock before lots of coffee and deep thinking tomorrow!
How have you all spent your weekends? Lots of fun in the sun I hope?
Lx
 |
| Lovely Lyme |
And while this lovely weather is happening Mr P and I have been quite the active pair (for a change!)
To celebrate the start of the long weekend on Thursday night the fabulous Hybrid (of which Mr P is the bass player) played in a local Battle of the Bands final. They won this competition last year so this time it was more for fun. They didn't win but the band that did were fab and it was a great start to the weekend as lots of friends were there for gossip, dancing and drinkies.
Friday Finds
On Friday to get out and enjoy the sunshine we did a Treasure Trail in Dorchester which we have had in the cupboard for nearly a year. If you've not done one of these I highly recommend them. Ours was a Murder Mystery so you have a list of suspects and murder weapons and the Trail pack guides you around your chosen town to find clues (imagine Cluedo crossed with Treasure Hunt). These could be dates on fountains, plaques on buildings etc etc. But the genius part is you get to see lots of parts of the area you would never normally see and explore the history. It is a great family thing to do I imagine although Mr P and I enjoy the clue solving (admittedly it can be frustrating when you can't seem to find the answers and we get a tad competitive over who has solved the most but that's healthy right?) Trails last around 2 to 3 hours usually from what I can see, although our first attempt last year in Weymouth took about 5 hours desperately trying to find one clue to realise that someone had painted over the sign!!!
That evening Mr P had another gig, this time a private party, which means smoked salmon pasta in creme fraiche (how lush is that, a first time effort thanks to the wonderful blog The Goddess's Kitchen. I love this blog, all the recipes are yummy and simple to follow and I find lots of new and gorgeous things to think about baking/cooking.
Spectacular Saturday
Saturday was a lovely lazy morning and then we hopped in the motor and drive over to Lyme Regis. A little seaside town about 45 minutes away from Weymouth (yep it is sunny therefore Weymouth is crazy busy so we leave and go to someone else's town!!!) We enjoyed a lovely walk along the front, a saunter through the town and a nose in some of the shops and then stopped for a late lunch at the Cobb Inn for mussels and curly fries sat in the sunshine. Super lush. I also spent the day trying in vain to shift some strap marks I'd caught in the briefest of moments sat outside a coffee shop the weekend before. Why is it that when you want to catch the sun you can spend all day in it and not a whiff of colour appears but other times you can dash out and in milliseconds have singed certain areas? V bizarre.
 |
| Mmmmmmussles |
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| The "what were you attempting to do" photo |
Super Sunday
While out on Thursday at the Battle of the Bands our friends Chris and Carmen suggested having a BBQ on Sunday. Fabulous ideas we thought. I have been known after a white wine spritzer or two to plan an impromptu BBQ and invite everyone from the pub before actually mentioning it to Mr P. This is not a good plan as I get told off, we then have to clean the entire house, weed the garden etc etc. Once we hopefully sort out our garden this year (bye bye shed that sits in our sun spot and hello patio - I am dreaming of al fresco coffee drinking and blogging at weekends while sat on my super cute patio set like this one from John Lewis
But alas our garden is more wasteland than paradise land - fingers crossed we can get it sorted soon!!) Anyhoo I digress, Chris and Carmen thankfully still felt like having us over for a BBQ (they have a very lovely garden: patios, fruit trees, greenhouses and yards and yards of neat lawn - when we are growed up I hope I have something as lovely) so I spent the morning baking (flapjacks from Goddess again, cupcakes and chocolate muffins from the Hummingbird Bakery cookbook) to take over with us.
And a lovely afternoon/evening it was too. Yummy food especially the kebabs - even if Lucy the puppy (not moi) did manage to steal one before they hit the BBQ bless her. You really can't beat sunshine, good food, chilled rose and chatting away with good friends. A really lovely Sunday. We even walked home from theirs which is only about 30 minutes walk (for Mr P probably only 15 hehe) which I'm sure burnt off the cupcakes/flapjacks etc....
Most Lovely Monday
And so here we are on the morning of Easter Monday. Once again the sun is shining, and once again I'm drinking my coffee in the kitchen with the patio doors open wishing I had a patio but instead of gardening today I will be hot footing it up to Kent in preparation for a strategy day tomorrow. Thankfully I am visiting our super lovely consultant and family so this evening should be vino'o'clock before lots of coffee and deep thinking tomorrow!
How have you all spent your weekends? Lots of fun in the sun I hope?
Lx
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| Mr P and I in Lyme - look at his hair it's a returning!! |
Wednesday, 13 April 2011
Magazine Addiction....
My life is dominated by magazines. I work for a magazine publisher, my mother publishes a magazine and I avidly read pretty much every women's monthly (actually to Mr P's disgust I pretty much subscribe to every women's monthly magazine - well it is so much cheaper!)
Each magazine represents a different side of the person I think I either am or aspire to be...
For example Grazia this is my guilty fashion pleasure. Jam packed full of clothes and bags and shoes I would love to be able to afford. It is also an upmarket "gossip" magazine so I can indulge my curiosity of how the celebs live without resorting to Heat style reporting of hiding in toilets with a camera phone (or at least that's how it looks sometimes).
Then there is Red which represents the me I want to become when I'm a grown up. Chic, professional and sleek. No wayward fashion choices or hair that isn't perfectly coiffed. Should I ever want to become a yummy mummy this is the bible to live by.
Next up is In Style again purely for the fashion lust it is a simple post work flick through that doesn't involve any serious thinking.
Of course this line up wouldn't be complete without Marie Claire now this magazine includes the De rigour aspirational fashion spreads (well the advertising has to come from somewhere) but also very well written in depth interviews and social comment pieces so you feel you are actually reading something worthwhile in between lusting after shoes.
She is the final in my glossy line up - and probably my favourite. I like the sometimes random mix of articles and fashion. This is the magazine that probably most reflects me at the moment (bar the children section) as the emphasis is on career and life balance something I think any woman with or without kids is acutely aware of trying to balance. Recent favourites have been some really good articles on how to get started with running (I've extracted all the articles and read them fully even if I haven't actually started the running part!) and the what to wear to work feature with proper clothes that don't either require a pop star budget or size 0 frame.
On top of this somewhat excessive amount of magazines I also subscribe to Wired I love the mix of techie articles with the clean graphics. And I learn something new every issue that is so irrelevant but compelling I canfascinate bore my friends stupid. The cover of the magazine also feels strange in a good way too!
I have the BBC Good Food magazine every month as I try to 1) gauge what the marketing team are up to for inspiration and 2) try and start cooking slightly more adventurously.
Then there is BBC Focus which again I get to compare with our title but also because the articles and images are so fascinating and indulges my inner scifi nerd with the space sections.
Then there is Slimming World magazine and BBC Knowledge and of course I love our own titles especially SciFiNow and How It Works...
Eek I think I'd better stop counting, is anyone else out there a magazine whore or is it just me?
Lx
Each magazine represents a different side of the person I think I either am or aspire to be...
For example Grazia this is my guilty fashion pleasure. Jam packed full of clothes and bags and shoes I would love to be able to afford. It is also an upmarket "gossip" magazine so I can indulge my curiosity of how the celebs live without resorting to Heat style reporting of hiding in toilets with a camera phone (or at least that's how it looks sometimes).
Then there is Red which represents the me I want to become when I'm a grown up. Chic, professional and sleek. No wayward fashion choices or hair that isn't perfectly coiffed. Should I ever want to become a yummy mummy this is the bible to live by.
Next up is In Style again purely for the fashion lust it is a simple post work flick through that doesn't involve any serious thinking.
Of course this line up wouldn't be complete without Marie Claire now this magazine includes the De rigour aspirational fashion spreads (well the advertising has to come from somewhere) but also very well written in depth interviews and social comment pieces so you feel you are actually reading something worthwhile in between lusting after shoes.
She is the final in my glossy line up - and probably my favourite. I like the sometimes random mix of articles and fashion. This is the magazine that probably most reflects me at the moment (bar the children section) as the emphasis is on career and life balance something I think any woman with or without kids is acutely aware of trying to balance. Recent favourites have been some really good articles on how to get started with running (I've extracted all the articles and read them fully even if I haven't actually started the running part!) and the what to wear to work feature with proper clothes that don't either require a pop star budget or size 0 frame.
On top of this somewhat excessive amount of magazines I also subscribe to Wired I love the mix of techie articles with the clean graphics. And I learn something new every issue that is so irrelevant but compelling I can
I have the BBC Good Food magazine every month as I try to 1) gauge what the marketing team are up to for inspiration and 2) try and start cooking slightly more adventurously.
Then there is BBC Focus which again I get to compare with our title but also because the articles and images are so fascinating and indulges my inner scifi nerd with the space sections.
Then there is Slimming World magazine and BBC Knowledge and of course I love our own titles especially SciFiNow and How It Works...
Eek I think I'd better stop counting, is anyone else out there a magazine whore or is it just me?
Lx
Tuesday, 12 April 2011
20 Questions......
One of my very favourite bloggers Caribbean Princess has tagged me for 20 Questions. So here goes!!
The Flexible quiz rules
Rule 1- The tagged person must write their answers on their blog and replace any questions they dislike with one formulated by themselves.
Rule 2- Tag 4 people to do this quiz. They cannot refuse (although there is nothing to stop them refusing). The tag-ee must state who tagged them.
Ok so let's get started.
1. Name 3 things you are looking forward to
To eradicate Cancer from the planet. I've lost my Dad, Aunt, Grandparents to this evil disease and having watch my lovely Mr P battle it recently I think it is time remove this stain from the earth.
3. What would you do with a billion dollars?
Ooh now I would make sure that all my family and friends were ok and then I'd like to travel for a while, buy a penthouse in New York and spend time mentoring young people to achieving their dreams. Then I'd retire by the sea running my own little cake, handbag and Filofax shop. Bliss
4. What helps to pull you out of a bad mood?
Listening to very loud music, talking to my friends, blogging out my rage and Mr P as he can always make me laugh. Thankfully my dark moods don't last long as I think generally I'm the luckiest person I know to have my health, a good job, friends and of course my Filofax family (oh and Mr P of course hehe)
5. What is your bedtime routine?
7pm arrive home from work
7-8pm cook and eat dinner
8-10pm watch TV, blog reading, magazine reading, gossiping on the phone
10-11pm if not asleep on sofa (it's just so comfy) I out my ablutions and zzzzzzzzzzz
6. If you are currently in a relationship, how did you meet your significant other?
Through a dating website that a friend of mine put me on in an attempt to find a good man for me. She succeeded. He was my first and only date from the website and was pretty much the perfect match (if only I could convince him to use a Filofax that is)
7. What kinds of books do you read?
Crime novels (like Girl Who Played With Fire) Autobiographies (Alan Sugar and Michael J Fox particular faves) and Chick Lit for a bit of escapism romance
8. How do you see yourself in 10 years?
Hopefully still happily with Mr P (maybe even becoming Mrs P if I'm lucky), I'll still living by the seaside
9. What's your fear?
Other than loosing those close to me, my biggest fear has to be spiders, and I'm not keen on flying (how do the planes stay in the air????)
10. Would you give up all junk food for the rest of your life for the opportunity to see outer space?
Absolutely. I would LOVE to go into space. When I was a child I wanted to join Starfleet and serve aboard the Enterprise...
11. What's the first thing you do when you wake up?
Snooze my alarm at least 3 times (sorry Mr P!)
12. If you could change one thing about your significant other what would it be?
The only thing I can think to change on my darling man is his utterly annoying ability to be able to repeat parrot fashion back to me what I've just said when I know full well he isn't really listening. Infuriating is not the world!!!
13. If you could pick a new name for yourself what would it be?
As I'm named after a Beatles song I don't think my name can be beat, even if it does seem to be a very popular name for Puppy Dogs recently, so with that in mind maybe I'd choose the name Lily. Love the name, although if I were called Lily it would rule out taking Mr P's name - Lily Putt (Lilliput) I mean really?
14. If you could choose between 6 months of sun or 6 months of rain, what would you choose?
Um is this a trick question that I don't get? Absolutely the sunshine! Can you imagine 6 whole months, in the UK? Standpipes and hosepipe bans at the ready!
15. If you could only eat one thing for the next 6 months what would it be?
Pasta (assuming I could have different sauces with it...)
16. What do you enjoy about blogging the most?
When people comment, I still can't believe anyone actually spends precious minutes reading my ramblings.
17. Do you prefer salty or sweet foods?
Probably salty as I'd find it harder to give up crisps than chocolate...or then again. Um. I love all food!
18. What items are in your handbag right now?
Ooh ok tardis alert - mobile phone, Filofax, purse, pencil case, earphones for iPhone, keys, lipbalm, 3 lip glosses, make up bag, tissues, ibuprofen, cold and flu tablets,
19. If you had to choose between vacationing on a beach or on mountains, which would you choose?
Normally the beach but my next "big" holiday is to be skiing hopefully so that is more mountains based I guess...
20. What do you watch on television that you know you shouldn't?
Any crime dramas - as they give me nightmares I'm such a wimp!
Ok so here are the 4 blogs I am tagging as I am totally addicted to them:
Lx
The Flexible quiz rules
Rule 1- The tagged person must write their answers on their blog and replace any questions they dislike with one formulated by themselves.
Rule 2- Tag 4 people to do this quiz. They cannot refuse (although there is nothing to stop them refusing). The tag-ee must state who tagged them.
Ok so let's get started.
1. Name 3 things you are looking forward to
- Hearing Mr P's consultant say "All Clear" fingers crossed that one comes soon
- My summer festival season - Isle of Wight and Glastonbury here I come
- Having a London mini break with my lovely Mother to see Take That at Wembley Stadium (and have afternoon tea somewhere posh too hopefully)
To eradicate Cancer from the planet. I've lost my Dad, Aunt, Grandparents to this evil disease and having watch my lovely Mr P battle it recently I think it is time remove this stain from the earth.
3. What would you do with a billion dollars?
Ooh now I would make sure that all my family and friends were ok and then I'd like to travel for a while, buy a penthouse in New York and spend time mentoring young people to achieving their dreams. Then I'd retire by the sea running my own little cake, handbag and Filofax shop. Bliss
4. What helps to pull you out of a bad mood?
Listening to very loud music, talking to my friends, blogging out my rage and Mr P as he can always make me laugh. Thankfully my dark moods don't last long as I think generally I'm the luckiest person I know to have my health, a good job, friends and of course my Filofax family (oh and Mr P of course hehe)
5. What is your bedtime routine?
7pm arrive home from work
7-8pm cook and eat dinner
8-10pm watch TV, blog reading, magazine reading, gossiping on the phone
10-11pm if not asleep on sofa (it's just so comfy) I out my ablutions and zzzzzzzzzzz
6. If you are currently in a relationship, how did you meet your significant other?
Through a dating website that a friend of mine put me on in an attempt to find a good man for me. She succeeded. He was my first and only date from the website and was pretty much the perfect match (if only I could convince him to use a Filofax that is)
7. What kinds of books do you read?
Crime novels (like Girl Who Played With Fire) Autobiographies (Alan Sugar and Michael J Fox particular faves) and Chick Lit for a bit of escapism romance
8. How do you see yourself in 10 years?
Hopefully still happily with Mr P (maybe even becoming Mrs P if I'm lucky), I'll still living by the seaside
9. What's your fear?
Other than loosing those close to me, my biggest fear has to be spiders, and I'm not keen on flying (how do the planes stay in the air????)
10. Would you give up all junk food for the rest of your life for the opportunity to see outer space?
Absolutely. I would LOVE to go into space. When I was a child I wanted to join Starfleet and serve aboard the Enterprise...
11. What's the first thing you do when you wake up?
Snooze my alarm at least 3 times (sorry Mr P!)
12. If you could change one thing about your significant other what would it be?
The only thing I can think to change on my darling man is his utterly annoying ability to be able to repeat parrot fashion back to me what I've just said when I know full well he isn't really listening. Infuriating is not the world!!!
13. If you could pick a new name for yourself what would it be?
As I'm named after a Beatles song I don't think my name can be beat, even if it does seem to be a very popular name for Puppy Dogs recently, so with that in mind maybe I'd choose the name Lily. Love the name, although if I were called Lily it would rule out taking Mr P's name - Lily Putt (Lilliput) I mean really?
14. If you could choose between 6 months of sun or 6 months of rain, what would you choose?
Um is this a trick question that I don't get? Absolutely the sunshine! Can you imagine 6 whole months, in the UK? Standpipes and hosepipe bans at the ready!
15. If you could only eat one thing for the next 6 months what would it be?
Pasta (assuming I could have different sauces with it...)
16. What do you enjoy about blogging the most?
When people comment, I still can't believe anyone actually spends precious minutes reading my ramblings.
17. Do you prefer salty or sweet foods?
Probably salty as I'd find it harder to give up crisps than chocolate...or then again. Um. I love all food!
18. What items are in your handbag right now?
Ooh ok tardis alert - mobile phone, Filofax, purse, pencil case, earphones for iPhone, keys, lipbalm, 3 lip glosses, make up bag, tissues, ibuprofen, cold and flu tablets,
19. If you had to choose between vacationing on a beach or on mountains, which would you choose?
Normally the beach but my next "big" holiday is to be skiing hopefully so that is more mountains based I guess...
20. What do you watch on television that you know you shouldn't?
Any crime dramas - as they give me nightmares I'm such a wimp!
Ok so here are the 4 blogs I am tagging as I am totally addicted to them:
- Shopaholly who worked out she wanted to try a new life and saved up (hello savings what are those?) to be able to finance it through clever thrifting, inspirational blog and so well written
- Lulu's LaLa Life the often tea spittingly funny but brutally honest blog of a yummy mummy
- Lauren Loves a wonderful hotchpotch of fashion, make up and hard hitting posts. Always makes me smile (oh and want to shop to)
- Sputtster's Ramblings ok so this is Mr P's blog but even though he is new to blogging he writes so well about things that he hasn't mentioned before that I love reading his posts as I find out even more about him
Lx
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