Sunday 25th April: The London Marathon

I watched the start of the London marathon from the comfort of my bed, but I actually wish I'd been running it. I entered the ballot last year, but no luck. Maybe, just maybe, I'll be on the start line next year. The ballot opens on 4th May - wish me luck!

Saturday 24th April: Meeting an old friend

It was really great to meet up with old friend Zoe yesterday. She's probably my oldest friend having met at our local swimming club when we were about eight years old. As is always the case, though, your lives move in different directions and you end up not seeing friends as much as you'd want to.

But you always know when you've got a good friend: you can pick up where you left off and you never have to try.

Lovely to see you Zed, and your little bump! x

Friday 23rd April: Downtown Haywards Heath

Parked up on the Haywards Heath highway waiting for my fish and chips.

Thursday 22nd April: The leaders' debate

It wouldn't be right if I didn't document the leaders' debate at least once in my 2010 blog. It is, after all, the first time the three leaders have had a televised debate, and the first time that the Liberal Democrats are now leading in the polls!

Of course, it's all about seats and not about votes, so it's not likely that Nick Clegg will have to pack up his things any time soon. But it has made things very interesting and we're all set for a hung parliament. But will it be Gordon or Dave at the helm?

Wednesday 21st April: The lifts

I struggled for a picture today ('No, really?' I hear you say ... ), so I took a photo of one of our four lifts at work. It's hard to tell from the picture, but they really are actually quite beautiful. They hark back to the days of grandeur and prestige and I always feel quite regal in them.

Tuesday 20th April: Japenese meal with Kadray

Mark's work colleague from Canada has been stranded in London due to the volcanic ash from Iceland so we took him out for a Japanese meal off Regent's Street. You can always tell when you've found a good place when it's filled by 'locals', and so it was.

Monday 19th April: What people are wearing

The one thing I really love on my walk to work is looking at what everyone is wearing. I don't know about you, but it can take me an absolute age to put an outfit together, and I change my mind too often to be able to put something together the night before. I always wake up and sigh: 'What WAS I thinking?' as I throw everything out on the bed and start again.

The girl in the picture was clearly going for the red accessories to brighten her Monday morning, and you can't go wrong if you're also carrying a yellow Selfridges bag. I can't even remember what I wore, which shows just how boring it probably was. Next Monday, I'm going to add a bit of red and see how it goes, you never know, someone might take a picture of my for their blog!

Sunday 18th April: Flowers in bloom

Our little bit of colour in our little garden, in our little house, in the middle of our little street.

Saturday 17th April: Daytripping in Bournemouth

Visiting Mark's parents in Bournemouth ...

Friday 16th April: Impromptu night out

I absolutely LOVE IT when a 'nothing-special-night' turns into a really great evening. Here we are in Silka in London Bridge, an amazing curry house, although the staff should brush up on their photography skills going by this photo!

A few drinks after work with friends we only usually see in the swimming pool, turned into a great night with curry: a perfect combination!

Thursday 15th April: Cupcake heaven

Are these the best cupcakes in the world, ever? Usually when it's someone's birthday in the office, they bring in tubs of two for £4 M&S delights. Not our Sian. No, she has to go to Selfridges and get The Best Cupcakes In The World, Ever.

We'd expect nothing less from our Sian! x

Wednesday 14th April: The Princess' birthday

There is not a chance in hell that I would have been able to post a picture other than Sarah 'The Princess' Sian today. In fact, to ensure I don't get in trouble, there will be another birthday-themed image for tomorrow too, to get her 'cup cakes' in ...

Happy birthday hun, you're our Princess and we love ya! x

Tuesday 13th April: Election weariness

Photo credit: mirror.co.uk

I'm soooo over this election already!

Monday 12th April: Penile pencils

It's always the old ones that make you laugh ... here's someone's chalk effort, a very long penis pencilled on the pavement. It brought a smile to my face anyway.

Sunday 11th April: The daffodils of Southwater, inspired by Wordsworth

"Daffodils" (1804)

I WANDER'D lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the Milky Way,
They stretch'd in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

The waves beside them danced; but they
Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:
A poet could not but be gay,
In such a jocund company:
I gazed -- and gazed -- but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought:
For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.

By William Wordsworth (1770-1850).

Saturday 10th April: The sun shines on Brighton

Catching up on posts this week so piccies only ...

Friday 9th April: Still in love

I was on the train home late last night and this old (oldish, they must have been in their 50s), had fallen asleep on each other, hand in hand.

It was so lovely to see. Such outward signs of affection are usually displayed by teenagers who slob over each other and seemingly compete over who can pull out the other's lunch with their tongue.

Nice then, that sometimes there's such enduring love to observe, with no tongues, just a shoulder to rest your head on and a warm hand to link into yours.

How perfect.

Thursday 8th April: Something in the sky

People smiling, coats slung over arms, laughter, it can only mean one thing ... the sun has come out!

Even Oxford Street looks ok with the rays on it, and that's saying something.

Let's hope this isn't our summer.

Wednesday 7th April: Baggage

Today I said farewell to my beloved blue Mulberry Mabel handbag. I haven't thrown it out (God forbid I throw out a Mulberry!), I've just had to put it away for a while.

The thing is, it's faded, it looks tired, it isn't what it used to be, and it's a bit limp. And to be absolutely honest, it was like looking in a mirror.

So this week, as well as buying a new bag (see picture - a fraction of the price of a Mulberry btw!), I've had a haircut, I've had more than the usual 5-6 hours sleep a night, and put a bit of fake tan on.

I now feel less like a lacklustre blue Mulberry, and more like a tanned, crispy new bag of potential.

Sometimes you just need to get rid of the baggage.

Tuesday 6th April: Cooking

This is quite something for me - all hobs in use! It's usually just the microwave ;-)

Monday 5th April: Going over the viaduct - I'm home!

Sunday 4th April: Balcombe viaduct

Playing around with my new camera in Balcombe, West Sussex. I travel over the viaduct every morning on my way to work and, on the way back from London, it's the point at which I know I'm definitely out of the city and nearly home. Bliss.

Saturday 3rd April: Montacute House

Day 2 on the National Trust trail ... My Mum was in full flow after yesterday's trip to Lytes Cary, so we took in Montacute House, about 5 miles from my folks' home. It is most recently renowned for its filming of the 1995 film adaptation Sense and Sensibility.

With three stories to take in, though, it takes real effort to maintain interest ... the gallery on the top floor is quite something: 53 metres in length and pictures from the National Portrait Gallery. But by then we were both jaded and had had enough of old houses.

Time for a cup of tea and some sponge - how quaint!

Friday 2nd April: Lytes Cary with Mum

Is that really ... no it can't be ... is that The Sun? As the rain cleared and the clouds opened, me and my Mum quickly jumped in the car and went to our local National Trust house - Lytes Cary - for a nose.

You see I bought my Mum National Trust membership for Christmas, so whenever she comes and visits us in Sussex, or she goes anywhere, she just has to take in every house in the area - 'well you need to get your money's worth don't you?' she doesn't say, but I know she thinks.

And it was actually really lovely. My parents have lived just a few miles up the road from this house for nearly 25 years, and I've never been there before. Yet I have been to a few places all around the world for a lot more money and a lot more hassle.

Sometimes you shouldn't ignore what's under your nose, it might just surprise you.

Thursday 1st April: Cadbury's chicks

Couldn't resist these cute Cadbury's chicks to give my staff for Easter. Surely they'll save them rather than eat them; how could you decapitate one of these?!

Wednesday 31st March: Lunch at Waitrose, again

I know I've written about this before, but whenever I return to the office with lunch in a John Lewis/Waitrose bag, you get the looks and comments along the lines of: 'Ooooh, someone earns a lot of money', or 'That's a bit posh innit?'

I happen to go there because you can get a large, yes large, salad bowl (I'm not talking rabbit leaves here, rather Greek salad, potato salad, pasta, pulses etc) for £3.25. Now that's cheaper than most Pret sandwiches and the same price as a Big Bold soup from Eat (the Chicken Laksa is gorgeous btw).

So no, I'm not rich and I ain't posh - I just like a good lunch that isn't expensive and Waitrose, despite your preconceptions, is one of the best, and cheapest, in the area. So there.

Tuesday 30th March: Ted Baker

Loving the shoes and colours in Ted Baker. If you bought all your clothes from there, your wardrobe certainly wouldn't look like this. Bring colour back into your life, you just might need to save up a bit first!