Wednesday, April 25, 2018

Saturday 14 April – True fan



Current location: Penzance

11.11am, In the gym. Vinny had his induction today so I went up with Pip and him to do a bit of a workout and help him with some of the machines. Before that I watched the MOST EPIC GAME OF NETBALL EVER (yes, so epic it deserves capitals). Oh my goodness. It was the semi-finals of the Commonwealth Games netball, and England were playing Jamaica for a historic place in the final (England have never made a final before). The game started at 6am (on a Saturday!) as it was being held in Australia, damn time difference, and I was so full of coffee watching the game. Oh my goodness. Jamaica were leading most of the way, but England just wouldn’t back down. They chipped away at the lead kept cool heads and WON BY 1 GOAL IN THE FINAL SECOND. They were crying, Jamaica were crying, I was crying (obviously)… Woah it was intense, and amazing. In the afternoon, I watched Andy play football (I must have used up all my cheering luck, as they lost 13-1, eek!) and then we watched the Grand National (again, both our horses pulled up so no wins there) and then I stayed in, read my book and caught up on blogging. Wild Saturday night, but I’d had enough adrenaline pumping for one day! Plus I’m getting up at 4am tomorrow to watch the final. 

Friday 13 April – Banana woman




Current location: Penzance

11.11am, Watching Rugby Sevens. I am love love loving the Commonwealth Games, especially the netball and rugby sevens, and trying to get my fix wherever I can! In the afternoon I went to Molly’s house to meet her and Ruth, then in the eve I made a banana cake. Big news for me, as I am not a very good baker. It turned out OK (yum but weird texture), and I was proud! 

Wednesday 11 April – Vinny is 11


Current location: Penzance

11.11am, At work, while Andy went go-karting with my nephew and his friends. Today, Vinny is 11. It’s crazy that 11 years ago and one day ago, I wasn’t an auntie, my parents weren’t grandparents, none of my sisters were mothers. And now there are 8 amazing children to love! I did what all aunties would love to do on their nephew’s 11th birthday - went to his house for Dominoes, Fanta and cake! (And then attempted to play netball.)
NB: This picture of Bea is the only one I took today!

Tuesday 10 April – Shoot day!






Current location: Caerhays

11.11am, On a wedding shoot for Wed magazine. It was a bit drizzly but we managed to get outside and get some really stunning shots, courtesy of a great team of a make-up artist, photographer and hairstylist, plus a really fab model. I love shoot days; the creativity and the results, and the break fro the norm. So fun!

Monday 9 April – Two years on












Current location: Penzance

11.11pm, Staying up too late watching Netflix, probably. I can’t really remember, but this evening Andy and I went for a beautiful walk from Marazion to Perranuthnoe and back, to celebrate our second Aussie-versary. Andy bought me a beautiful necklace (I bought him soap!) and then we had a wine in a beer garden overlooking St Michael’s Mount. Lovely husband, I am lucky. 

Sunday 8 April – Sunshine in my pocket









Current location: Brixham

11.11am, Having a few last chats with Em and Bro. We drove back to Penzance, where Kate and her two kids Ella and Jake were down visiting, and had a play in Penlee Park, which was super muddy. Then we all decamped back to Pippa’s house, and sat in the sunshine painting our nails, going on the trampoline and catching up. In the eve, Mum, Kate, Pip and I went for a wine at the Cinema Bar in Newlyn; I love it there!

Saturday 7 April – The English Riviera















Current location: Brixham

11.11am, Eating breakfast. We were deciding what to do with our day, over pain au chocolat and coffee (and I was trying to make everyone watch the Commonwealth Games netball). We caught a ferry over to Torquay, which was a bit grey so we went for a coffee/hot choc/smoothie, while we waited for the sun to come out. It obliged, so we had a walk and then had a gorgeous lunch outside in the sunshine, pretending we were in the Med. After a long liquid lunch, we went to the arcade (of course) and then had to sprint back to the ferry before it left. Back in Brixham, the boys went to watch football and the girls watched Ru Paul, then we all met for an epic fish dinner at Rockfish, then went home, drank wine and told ghost stories. As you do. 

Sunday, April 15, 2018

Friday 6 April – Wales to Gloucestershire to Devon


















Current location: Brixham
11.11pm, Sitting on Emma's couch, having a drink and a chat with her, Brodie, Tom, Cat and Andy. Let me start this blog post by showing some appreciation for the fact we have so many people to love in our lives. We are so very very lucky - today we got to see so many of our favourite people, including my newest niece Megan!
We started the day at Pat and Den's in Skewen, Wales, where we had Den's Special Cooked Breakfast (I think it's a tradition now!) and caught up with my cousin's wife Karen (I saw my other cousin Caron last night - same name, and they are both married to an Andrew!).
We left Pat and Den's and drove to Claire's where we were met by Claire, Louis, Anna, and baby Megan! Ahhhh she's so sweet and gorgeous! We had such a fun afternoon with them, going to the park, playing, having some dinner, giving them a bath and reading a story or two. I love this family, living on a hill in gorgeous Nailsworth.
After we left them, we drove for a couple of hours and got to Emma's house, where we were spending the rest of the weekend. It was pretty late, and everyone was keen to just chill and chat, which we stayed up too late doing. What a lovely load of soul-happiness today was.