My Week on Instagram

A lot has been going on recently. I have moved into my new flat and so have spent quite a lot of time decorating, painting, putting together new furniture and  experimenting with food. This is my little post on life lately through my Instagram page. 

You can follow my actual Instagram account by clicking here

Ahhh I love this cereal

Trying to be healthy...Avocado and bacon on Brown bread

At my Cousins Wedding with Megan and Jack. It was the most gorgeous day and we got to run round the grounds during the Champagne reception and enjoy the glorious sunshine.

Cookie Monster cookies. I didn't have one but the children at the Wedding did. 

Our first picnic in the Meadow by the new Flat.

Look what we found....yes found!! I love Vintage things. You would not believe how intricate the detail is on this, it is beautiful. 

Sitting with my new furniture delivery. 

Me at Go Ape, up in the tress. And yes that is war paint on my cheek, not dirt.

First dinner in the Flat...Pasta Bolognese and of course, a glass of wine. 

What have you been up to this week?

Leave your instagram details in the comments and I'll give you a follow. 

Go Ape

Sometimes when things get a bit much, it's good to let go.

Literally...let go. 

So this weekend some friends and I planned a little tree Top Adventure to 'Go Ape'

We got to challenge ourselves by climbing tress, swinging from Tarzan ropes and zip wiring out of tress, 30ft in the air. 

You really got to release your inner child again. Although I'm not sure if my 7 year old self would have enjoyed that kind of adrenalin rush.

We laughed endlessly about how the safety harness we had to wear was anything but flattering and how everyone looked like they had a rather uncomfortable situation going on in their trouser region. 

But once we'd whizzed through the safety course we were finally let loose. 

To the tree tops we went.

Landing the zip wires was not as easy as you might think but I managed to capture Ian landing one. In what looks like a Superman pose?

But now back to the trees. 

The best bit about this picture is that it looks like my friend is floating in mid air. Can you see it?

Tip right hand corner. 

The course consisted of 4-5 different sections and each ending in a zip wire back down to the ground. 

You had to crawl through tunnels made of wool, swing from a Tarzan rope and shimmy along rather narrow crossings. 

Remembering how to safely hook yourself onto each bit of equipment was probably the scariest bit of the adventure but once you got used to trusting yourself, it became almost natural to be dangling in mind air on a very thin looking bit of wire. 

There are 28 Go Ape Adventures around the country (UK) so no matter where you live, I'm sure you'll find one nearby. You can check their website out here

It costs about £35 per person and it takes about 2-3 hours to go round the course. 

It's honestly one of the best mornings I've had and a great way to get all your friends together. 

Even if you are scared of heights, the rush of adrenalin that you get when your flying along the zip wires is worth every penny. 

Like most things in life, Go Ape is even better if you share it. So grab your friends, work colleagues and head over as a tribe to one of their venues and get in touch with your inner Tarzan. 

Holiday Inspiration

Summer is looming.

The weather is improving and it won’t be long before flip flops, shorts and the smell of summer fills the air.

I love this time of year.  The smell of freshly cut grass, picnics on the lawn and drinking that first pimms of the year really is a sign that summer is finally here.

Which stirs the question……where should you go on holiday?

I’ve been doing my research and I have a few places in mind but I thought I’d let you have a peak at where my top places to go this summer might be.

I want to go somewhere I haven't been before so I have tried to explore new countries in the pictures below.

            Morrocco

I have wanted to go to Morocco for quite some time now. I long to wander through the souks, taste the local Moroccan cooking and maybe even ride a camel. Not to mention the shopping looks really good too. 

I've heard that you should try and stay in a Riad if you plan to go to Marrakesh. It's a unique experience but one I believe you won't forget.

The name 'riad' comes from the Arab word 'ryad' - meaning garden. 

A traditional riad doesn't usually have large windows facing the outside, instead the rooms will over look the inner courtyard or garden. 

A typical courtyard in a riad would have a fountain in the centre, surrounded by orange trees - some even have small swimming pools. 

Riad's are know for their incredible food, individual and exquisitely decorated rooms and the peace and tranquility they provide from the craziness of the outside world. 

And what trip would be complete without a ride through the desert on a camel?

Croatia

I've heard a lot of good things about Croatia recently but if I'm honest, I don't know too much about it. 

Apart from the fact that Dubrovnik is home to Kings Landing (Game of Thrones for those of you who are not familiar with the TV series) I didn't know much about this place.

 I couldn't quite believe how exquisite it looked.

Greece - Corfu

I've been to a few Greek Islands and I was keen to try something completely different this year but looking at these pictures has tempted me back to Greece.

Greece - Paros

This next place has been on my list for quite some time and I'm desperate to make a trip there by the end of the year. No holiday list would be complete without........

THAILAND

Above is Krabi, a town on the west coast of Southern Thailand and it is a MUST on my lisit of places to visit in Thailand.
Apart from the usual tourist hot spots you might want to visit, Krabi (I've heard) is beautiful and hasn't been spoilt yet by westerners seeking the crazy nightlife that Koh Phangan has to offer.
You can visit the Tiger caves, go kayaking or elephant trekking. Have a traditional Thai cooking lesson or visit the night market.
The list seems to be endless. Not just for Krabi but for the rest of Thailand as well.

The Lanna people of northern Thailand use 'floating lanterns' year round for celebrations and other special occasions. One very important festival is the Lanna Yi Peng Festival which is held on the full moon of the 2nd Month of the Lanna Calendar. 

Now tell me you don't want to be sitting there right now. Go on, imagine it. 

Sorry there isn't much content but when you have pictures like that.....do we really need words?

Have you been to any of these places? Where else should I think about visiting?

I could go on and on.....but I won't. Instead I'll leave you with this. 

My Week on Instagram

Duncan and Nick cycled from the South of France, through 9 countries for Depression Alliance. They raised over £6,500 which is the largest unrestricted amount of money the charity has ever received. 

This is the moment, they came into London. Shame about the weather but what a huge achievement.

A little Birthday Present......the most amazing pair of shoes. 

I saw my friend Alice this week for a catch up. I loved the way she wrapped my Birthday present. 

My oldest school friends, Emma and Lucy, having a catch up at Emma's new house. 

Socks...who doesn't love sheep socks!

Crushberry Blast smoothie from Crush

My friend Hayley got married on Friday and this was her beautiful cake.

We finally picked a colour for the Lounge. 

Painting the new flat. 

And this is only half of the paint samples we bought!

What did you get up to this week?

What are you reading?

I'm always on the look out for a good book or something I haven't read before and lately I seem to have read quite a lot.

I'm currently reading the Game of Thrones books but I thought I'd share with you what I've been enjoying recently, in case any of you are looking for something new. 

To Kill a Mockingbird:

Seen through the eyes of a child, it follows the journey one family faces when their father is appointed to defend Tom Robinson, a black man who has been accused of raping a white woman. 

It's a quick and enjoyable read and if you didn't study it at school, then it's definitely worth a read.

I know I'm probably really late in jumping on this band wagon but I never read this book at school and especially as it's classed an American classic, I had to read it.

Gone Girl:

I cannot STOP talking about this book. I haven't read something in a while that I literally could not put down. Honestly, I took this book everywhere with me for about a week. 

It's brilliant (In my opinion) and is definitely worth a read. 

It's a contemporary thriller, written by Gillian Flynn and it even made the New York Times Best Seller List.

This book is gripping. It will have you hooked from day one. I'm not sure how keen I was on the ending but you can let me know what you think.
The story begins on the morning of Nick and Amy's wedding anniversary, when Amy goes missing.
Told in diary format, it follows both of their stories. Nick: After her disappearance and Amy: The years before she vanishes. But what really happened to Amy, as their stories of their relationship are very different.
What else have you read by Gillian Flynn?

You had me at Hello:
Firstly, can I point out that this is one of my favourite sayings.
Ok, now on to the book.
This book is a modern love story. Funny, heartbreaking, witting and everything in between.
It's not one of the classics of course but it is a good read. I would class it as a good summer book. If you're looking for something to read by the pool, on the beach etc, then give this a go.

The Secret Keeper:

Heartbreaking, Clever, Enchanting. 

This is one of those books that you could and probably should read twice. Once before you know and once after you know - 'know what', well that would be telling. 

It's set in 3 different time periods where the story moves back and forth, becoming more intricate at it unfolds. It has so many twists and turns and definitely keeps the reader guessing. 

If you like any of JoJo Moyes books, then I guarantee you will enjoy this. 

Have you read any of Kate Morton's other books? Let me know, I'd be interested to read one of her other books.

The Husband's Secret:
Is the only book in the list that I haven't read but I've very excited to start this next.
'Mother of three and wife of John-Paul, Cecilia discovers an old envelope in the attic. Written in her husband's hand, it says: to be opened only in the event of my death.
Curios, she opens it - and time stops'.
Now tell me that you're just as intrigued as I am.

This is just a brief breakdown of some of the books I've read that I think you'll enjoy.
Let me know if you'd prefer a longer post on each book. 

Know your limits

Ever wondered how far you can push yourself?

I did. 

I was curious to find out if what we think our bodies and minds can handle is really, in truth, the extent of what they can achieve. Or whether you can push yourself further than you ever thought. 

Last year I applied for the London Marathon but I didn't get a place. Maybe this was a blessing in disguise but I decided to run a half marathon instead and so signed up for the Bath Half. 

I'd been training since October, saving my longer runs for the weekends. I even manged to fit in a 10k race as part of my training.

Race day seemed to be upon me before I knew it. 

I knew I felt prepared. As prepared as I could be for something I had never done before. But I was nervous, worried about how my body would cope and conscious about running it in a good time. 

In the end, it didn't really matter. I completed it!! My time I can improve on and I've learnt a lot of things that I can take with me to future races/marathons (once I've recovered from this one). 

Main things I learnt:

Train more: You really need to get those hours/minutes under your belt

Wear gloves: God it was so cold. I know not all races will be the same but I've learnt to at least start the race in gloves. You can loose them half way through if you get warm.

My official race time was 2 hours and 44 minutes.

So often do people think, 'I could never do that' but really when push comes to shove and you have no other choice but to handle it, it's amazing how you can find a way through it. 

(I don't have a bath at home and I'd heard the best way to get rid of aching muscles is to have an ice bath.....so I had no choice but to ice each part of my body in this!).

It's interesting to think that many of us continue on that path until a curve ball throws us off balance or something in our routine questions our purpose and happiness. How many of us change our lives before we are forced to move outside our comfort zone?

I'm not suggesting that everyone should go out and run a half marathon or physically push them self to the limit without due practice. But next time you wonder whether you can or can't do something.....have a go, try it. Even if it doesn't work out the way you had planned, I guarantee you will learn a lot about yourself.

I like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has sponsored me, supported me and cheered me on. I ran for my Auntie Renee who we sadly lost to Dementia last year, who is sorely missed.
And a huge thank you to the person who was there every step of the way...you know who you are.

You will never know your limits until you push yourself to them.