Saturday 29th May: Lindfield giraffes

London may have elephants all over the city, but our village of Lindfield has giraffes!

Friday 28th May: Sex and the City 2

Having watched the whole Sex and the City series and the film several times, I couldn't wait to see the second film. And courtesy of Warner Brothers, we got a private screening in their cinema on Friday night.

I was looking forward to the film, but not the two-and-a-half-hours sat down. But it actually flew by, in fact, I wished it had been longer!

The film has been panned, as expected, but usually by those who don't know their Manolo Blahniks from their Barratts!

It was two-and-a-half-hours of pure indulgence, and for me, pure relaxation, a relief from the daily stress of life: no thinking, no worrying, just watching.

As Carrie would say, it was "just fabulous".

Thursday 27th May: Sale shopping

25% off during House of Fraser's brand event, who can resist?

Wednesday 26th May: Mark's birthday

A piccie of Mark allowing himself some time off from work this evening to play on his new Wii game - and he's dancin', like reeaaallly dancin'!

Every time we play the Wii (ie, not very often) we have to change the batteries as we haven't used it in so long. But we had to have a Wii, of course, we'd play it all the time, we said ...

Hmmm.

Tuesday 25th May: Pendulum in Brighton

Went to see Pendulum in Brighton for Mark's birthday. My ears are still ringing ... the things you have to do for love, eh?!

Monday 24th May: Flip flop 'Scream'

Edvard Munch-esque flip flops and feet thanks to the slow shutter speed of the iPhone - makes for more interesting photos though!

Sunday 23rd May: Bumming in Brighton

After a long Saturday at a first birthday party and then a 40th party in the evening, a day bumming in Brighton was just what was needed.

Catching up with some old friends and their two little girls gives you the chance to see the latest toy inventions too. The youngest, three-year-old Emily, was riding a bike with no pedals (or brakes), she just sits on the saddle and uses her legs to go forward. Apparently this helps develop their balance so they can move straight on to a bike and avoid stablisers, genius!

Saturday 22nd May: Bracken's first birthday

Celebrating our neighbour's little boy's first birthday - this was before the water fight started ...

Friday 21st May: Curry night at Le Taj

After working from home all day, a 4 mile run and a walk in to town, there was only one thing for it - curry!

Two hours later and after a lengthy chat with the waiters about Bangladesh (let's just say I wasn't the one doing the talking), we finally headed home and crashed to bed.

How people manage to stay out after midnight on a Friday is beyond me, I'm exhausted from the week and just want to sleep. Boring, I know, but until someone (anyone?) adds more hours to the day, I can't see it changing!

Thursday 20th May: Puppets for Bracken

I bought these puppets today in John Lewis for our next door neighbour's one-year-old boy, Bracken.

We're going to his first birthday on Saturday - what on earth do you buy a one-year-old? There soft and cuddly so I'm sure they'll do ...

Wednesday 19th May: Shadow equals sunshine!

At last! It feels like Summer may well be upon us. Sunshine means shadows, so I just had to take a picture of myself as you can't take a picture of the sun, or at least something that looks like the sun, on an iPhone.

'May' it last!

Tuesday 18th May: Stylist

This week's Stylist magazine, a freebie in London every Wednesday morning (although they start handing them out Tuesday nights so there's never any left Weds morning).

A good read for a free mag and something that really makes me feel I'm in London, in a good way.

Monday 17th May: Back to the daily grind

Thought this picture really showed how I felt today as I left the weekend behind and headed back to work. Sat on board a train, it's like the world whizzes past and before I know it I'll be 80!

I need to take stock and have a think about what I'd love to do if I could do anything instead of having the Sunday-night-before-work feeling ...

Depressing post today, how very droll.

Sunday 16th May: Jack and Jill hill

We're really lucky where we live to have some lovely walks. One of our favourites (especially when the heads are hurting), is the Jack and Jill windmill walk.

The area is so exposed to the wind (you can see from the trees above that the wind has permanently left them leaning to the left), that it was perfect for blowing away the hangovers!

Drinking is NOT good for you. And I'm aching from all the stupid dancing too. Boohoo :)

Saturday 15th May: Discomania!

I'm not someone who needs a lot of music in my life (or perhaps I just don't know it ?), so it's rare that I ever want to crank up the complex stereo system in the lounge and just chill out.

But last night, after a bit of a pub crawl in Lindfield and a discussion about what our first song would be (if we can ever be bothered to hop on the good foot and do the bad thing), we headed back to play some potentials.

Three hours later, CDs everywhere and after some reeeeeally bad dancing, I think we made up our mind. But more importantly for me, I've discovered 'my music' (don't get me wrong, first dances and weddings are fine, but they're a bit scary aren't they?!).

There's a specific 'beat' that I like (if a song didn't have that beat, it wasn't allowed to be played - very drunk = very bossy in my book), so, here's a selection of 'my beat':

Gonzalez - I haven't stopped dancing yet
You to me are everything - The Real Thing
Rock your baby - George McRae
When you're in love with a beautiful woman - Dr Hook
Atomic - Blondie
Feels like I'm in love - Kelli Marie
Dancing in the city - Marshall Hain
Imagination - Just an illusion
Tavares - More than a woman
Never can say goodbye - Gloria Gaynor
Knock on wood - Amii Stewart

We ended up having our own little wedding party, and it wasn't too scary, it was actually a lot of fun (partly because of the bad dance moves).

So, I now know my music and I now know how to work the stereo. But I think Mark wishes I didn't ... poor sod.

Friday 14th May: A day in Southampton

It was that time of the year again when Debenhams has a 'megaday' sale and all staff have to help out either in store or, as is the case with the online team, in Southampton, where in the bowels of the store is the beauty warehouse.

There we either have to pick items for orders, pack orders, or unpack boxes to sustain demand. I end up coming home exhausted at having to spend just 4-5 hours on my feet.

How pathetic.

Btw, the picture is a small docking bay heading in to Southampton!

Thursday 13th May: Battersea power station

I go past Battersea power station every day on the way to/from work. It's such an amazing building and I'm always in awe of what it once was.

Today with the blue sky and atmospheric clouds, I thought I'd take a photo and promised myself to find out what plans there were for its future.

Not the most reliable of sources I know, but trusted Wikipedia filled me in with the following:

On 30 November 2006, it was announced that Real Estate Opportunities (REO), led by Irish businessmen Richard Barrett and Johnny Ronan of Treasury Holdings, had purchased Battersea Power Station and the surrounding land for €532 million (£400 million).

Apparently REO want to reuse part of the station building as a power station, fueled bybiomass and waste. The station's existing chimneys would be utilised for venting steam. The former turbine halls would be converted to shopping spaces, and the roofless boiler house used as a park. An energy museum would also be housed inside the former station building. The restoration of the power station building would cost £150 million.

A plastic built "eco-dome" is also to be built to the east of the power station. This building was originally planned to have a large 300 metres (980 ft) chimney, but this has now been abandoned in favour of a series of smaller towers. The eco-dome would house offices, and aim to reduce energy consumption in the buildings by 67% compared to conventional office buildings, by using the towers to draw cool air through the building. 3,200 new homes would also be built on the site to house 7,000 people.

In June 2008 a consultation process was launched, which revealed that 66% of the general public were in favour of the plans. At an event at the station on 23 March 2009, it was announced that REO were to submit the planning application for their proposal to Wandsworth Council. REO hope for construction to begin in 2011, with completion of the project by 2020.

So there you have it.

Wednesday 12th May: Elephants in the city

There are around 250 model elephants scattered around London at the moment in a huge public art exhibition to raise money for elephants throughout the world.

The model elephants in London are part of the Elephant Parade, organised by the Elephant Family charity that have set up similar events throughout the world in an effort to raise awareness of the plight that faces many of our big-eared friends.

I love them, it makes a change from looking at miserable Londoners every day.

Tuesday 11th May: Cameron is the new PM

After 5 days of negotiations between the Tories and Lib Dems (and the Lib Dems and Labour), we knew the former had finally reached a deal when Gordon Brown announced he was resigning as PM.

It all kicked off quite late in the day, as you can seen from the picture, Cameron didn't meet the Queen until around 8pm.

We've yet to learn what the deal is that's been reached, several cabinet posts have been revealed, such as George Osborne as Chancellor, which had to happen, despite him not being the most popular MP in the country, but it's the liberal seats which will be key.

But it's now official, the country is being governed by a coalition government, but just how long will it last?

Monday 10th May: Pigeon at The Cowdray

I ate pigeon breast for the first time tonight when we went out for dinner with Mark's old boss, Helen. Followed by lamb and then cheesecake, it was just divine. Yum!

Sunday 9th May: Webber wins in Spain

Saturday 8th May: Playing board games

We spent a really lovely day with friends in Woking (Tracey and Stephen) and after lunch got out the board games. It was just like Christmas (to be fair the weather was as cold as December) and really refreshing after usually playing on the Wii.

I know what I'm going to asking for this Christmas, not a new Wii game, but a board game!

Friday 7th May: A hung parliament

The Tories and Liberal Democrats start talking about a coalition after the Conservatives fail to win a majority (despite having the my votes, by some margin ...)

Conservatives: 307 seats
Labour: 258
Liberal Democrats: 57
Other: 28

Thursday 6th May: Polling day

I just love elections! The build up, the night itself, and the results. Polls suggest we're going to have a hung parliament, and that the Liberal Democrats are going to have a fantastic evening.

What I love most of all, is the whole pomp and ceremony once the leader has been elected. The Prime Minister heads to the Queen to resign, the new PM then goes to the Queen and then gets welcomed into Downing Street.

Whether my favoured party gets in or not, I'm always quite uplifted. I love fresh starts, it makes me walking taller and feel generally more optimistic.

I don't think this is going to happen this time round, what an anti-climax it's going to be ...

Wednesday 5th May: Leaving drinks

A night out with the work girls for someone's leaving drinks. Fortunately for me, it didn't get too messy. Poor Jo got home at 4am and couldn't remember anything from 8pm onwards!

Monday 3rd May: Blades of Glory

Monday night DVD - Blades of Glory. I haven't laughed as hard for ages. If you like slapstick, you'll love this film, hilarious.

Tuesday 4th May: What happened to the summer?

It's freezing! Tonight not only did we have to put the heating on, I went to bed in tracksuit bottoms and my heated blue teddy (courtesy of Lisa one Christmas - thank you!x)

Sunday 2nd May: Sheffield Park

A leisurely stroll around Trading Boundaries in Sheffield Park ... I love their room sets with most items coming from Africa and Asia, no duplicates (unlike Ikea!).

Saturday 1st May: A park bench with a story

I'm quite a romantic at heart, providing the romance isn't directed towards me (God forbid), and I love to read the messages inscribed on park benches. Each has a story behind it, and one that you're never going to know.

So, I was rather disappointed when I came across this bench in Tunbridge Wells. I guess they have to advertise somehow ... but where's the romance in that?!

Typically, the Americans do inscriptions very well:

"To my knight in shining armour; the love of my life, Mouse"

“Michelle, will you marry me? Love, John.”

“I love you very much and look forward to marrying you ... but if we have a fight you can always sleep here."

Check out some stock images here.

I'd love, if I had time, to go around park benches and take pictures of all the messages - but perhaps that's what my blog will be about in 2011 ...

Friday 30th April: A night with the swimming girls

How nice it was to have a conversation with my swimming mates fully clothed and not hanging on the side of a pool, gasping for breath.

We all still stank of chlorine, though ...

Thursday 29th April: And more cake

Just as yesterday I said that alcohol was appearing in this blog far too often, so too is cake! But this slice, from Selfridges, was just divine. Could have done with some single cream to pour over it, but alas, there wasn't any in the work fridge.

If anyone has any cake recommendations, please post a comment and let me know. I'm quite a cake master, though, so it'd better be good.

Wednesday 28th April: A fine whine

I've realised that quite a few of my posts contain alcohol, but really, I don't care. Tonight I had a much-needed drink with him indoors at the local, and yes, I felt significantly better for it: less whining, more wining.

Tuesday 27th April: Cherry blossom

Apparently, this year has seen the best display of cherry blossom for years. Because of the really cold winter we had, the temperature improved the quality of the blooms and now the lack of frost has made the conditions perfect for flowering. The flowers are also supposed to last a few days longer than usual too.

I also love the fact that everywhere looks like it's just had a wedding with the fallen blossom looking just like confetti. Happy days.

Monday 26th April: Suits and flip flops

It's always a source of amusement when our friend Martin turns up to swimming in his suit ... and flip flops. So, in order to never forget, this pic had to make it into the blog.

And to be honest, it was the most interesting thing that happened to me this Monday, which says far too much about my rock 'n' roll life I know.