All the Colours

Old pictures, but I am in need of some colour to break up these grey winter days...

Birds Flying High

Wow, what a brilliant weekend! Nothing extraordinary happened, but for some reason it was just lovely, some winter sun certainly helped with the mood. Hard to put in to words really, but here are some classic south coast sun-on-sea pictures, birds flying high, bright blue-green waves, perfection. Oh, to run away and live by the sea...

Long Dark Nights

Lack of recent posts can only be explained by a severe lack of decent photography weather or subjects, this winter seems to be a never-ending cycle of drizzle and coldness, when was the sun last out and about? Here are a few random sights from the last month, but nothing much to report unfortunately, just lots of snuggling up with books, tea and cake. I may have turned into an old lady...

Too much of my life has been taken up with work lately, I'm in need of an adventure, hoping for a trip to London soon, if I can get away with abandoning my project students for a day or two :) Perhaps there is a vague chance that the sun will shine in Dorset this weekend too.

A Few of My Favourite Things

Lately I have been on a bit of a decluttering spree, probably brought on by having to make several car trips to move into my new house, too much effort! I would love to have less STUFF clogging up my life. I am making some progress, and the best thing about remove the crap is being left with only the things that I really love, or need. Here are a few of my 'essentials'.

1. Lovely Teapigs tea. This was a christmas present, and is absolutely the best tea ever, I'll be exploring some more of their range very soon I think!
2. Somewhere for that tea to go: my delightful Whittard's teapot and cup set, an excellent gift from my boyfriend a few years ago. I don't think they have this exact style any more, but they do have lots of sets of tea-for-one like this.
3. Books! I love books. If it came to it I could probably live with just two suitcases of stuff, one for books, one for everything else. Top recent reads include: "In defence of dogs" By John Bradshaw, which has completely changed my perspective on man's best friend, and "Mostly Harmless" by Douglas Adams, number 5 in the hitchhikers guide 'trilogy', and a fabulously surreal end to the bonkers series. The stack on the bottom right contains books that I am reading currently or need to read.
4. My beautiful christmas present from my best friend, handmade by her. Commission something amazing at Eliza Jayne Ceramics, or take a look at her Etsy shop.
5. Not necessarily something I love, but a symbol of it perhaps, here are 4 years' worth of train tickets, I give the rail companies far too much of my money...

Monochrome Commuting

I love snow! For some reason the majority of my countrymen seem to disagree, and the media are practically hysterical after a couple of centimetres, but I love the stuff! It has a transformational effect on even the most mundane view, and manages to make even clone houses look cute and chocolate-boxey. Plus it is fun. So I made the most of the little that we had here in Bath, and very much enjoyed my commute through the woods while it lasted. My bike was very lonely in the racks at work, but I wouldn't of missed it for the world.

I may not always manage it, but I say make the most of every day, instead of just complaining about it :)

Falling, With Style

(Name that film!) Well, getting out of the UK for Christmas is definitely the way to go! I think the perfume adverts were pushing me pretty close to the edge. The whole thing would be infinitely easier to cope with if it only went on for December, but dragging it out from September is just too much, I'd rather it just went away, I could live without it all. Any way, My brothers and I headed to the French alps to see Mum and Sis, it was excellent, just family and good food and beautiful beautiful snowy mountains. Here are a few slope-side snaps, I managed to avoid getting a seriously bruised bum this year! I do need to stop being such a wimp though...

As you can see there were approximately a gazillion other people with the same idea, think i'll try for somewhere a bit quieter to escape next year, perhaps Alaska?!

That's about all the evidence there is of me snowboarding!

Goodbye 2012!

Well it is that time again, we have survived another year and it is time to turn over the calendar. Here is a summary of my year in photos, although possibly not an accurate representation, as it seems to be very sunny in pretty much all of them!

I kicked off the year in the Alps in France, absolutely gorgeous, I love the snow.

Next up, a bit of Welsh snow, and good times with great friends, Ritz are a necessary accessory.

March, spring had sprung, a blizzard of blossoms in Kew Gardens

April, a frequent walk and the sky possibly a prediction of what was to come weather-wise!

May, my home town showing its more attractive qualities, it can be quite appealing if you only see it in the sunshine.

June, some success growing green things!

July, an oft-seen view on the line from Dorchester to Bath

August, a monumental mountainous view, at possibly the most awesome camping spot ever.

September, an excellent day away from the office

October, Oh, how I love the sea

November. Hello London, I miss you!

December. A frosty end, i'll choose to ignore all the torrential downpours that came after.

Happy new year everyone, here's to an excellent 2013!