Farewell 2012!

The wind is howling, the rain is pouring, and I've got a masquerade ball themed wedding reception to get ready for. So that must mean it's time to wrap up 2012 on my blog! Initially I didn't think I had anything to say, but on reflection a lot has happened in the past twelve months:

2012 was a good year for:

Babies - Seven babies have been born this year to friends, six girls and one boy. Some of the births were tough, others more straightforward, but thankfully each baby is thriving. I have met four of these babies and they are such treasures, each with their own beautiful personality. I have a very special soft spot for my best friend's daughter, who was born in June, and who I finally got to meet at the beginning of December. We don't live close, which I find difficult as I want to be there to help and support my friend whenever I can, especially now that she has a child. The weekend I spent with them was just wonderful. I definitely have a new friend in her gorgeous little girl, who in less than an hour was crawling from her mummy onto my lap and giggling and smiling at me.

Sport - The Olympics and the Paralympics 2012! These two events were fantastic, and it is true that they inspired (most of) the nation. Initially my husband and I had no interest, even ignoring the revered torch's passage through our own hometown. But it was impossible not to become caught up in Olympic fever, particularly as Team GB began to win an ever impressive haul of medals. We found ourselves scouring the website for tickets and ended up going to see the Men's Freestyle Wrestling at the ExCel Centre in London.
We found ourselves back there again in September for the Paralympics to watch the Women's Sitting Volleyball medal matches! Both were a great experience. We didn't get to cheer on Team GB at either event, but the atmosphere was such that you could root for anyone.
Memories have definitely been made. From being caught up in the euphoria at Hyde Park as Mo Farah won his second gold 2012, in the Men's 5000m, to sitting on the edge of my chair in the work tea room as my colleagues and I watched the Brownlee brothers achieve gold and bronze in the Men's Triathlon, to sitting at home catching up on the Gymnastics on iPlayer, and cheering Beth Tweddle on for winning bronze in the Women's Uneven Bars, to watching in awe the outstanding achievements of the Paralympians.
Will I feel the same about Rio 2016? I hope so, and seeing as Brazil has a piece of my heart, I think that I will definitely want to engage in the Games again.

But it's not just been the Olympics and Paralympics that we've enjoyed in the sporting world. My husband has taken up running more seriously than ever, and he ran in his first ever half-marathon in November. We both joined the gym in September, and are both enjoying our improved fitness. I have developed a special fondness for the rowing machine, but I am not convinced that I will be the next Helen Glover or Heather Stanning, as much as I admire them!

Photography - My photography has only marginally improved, despite having complete ownership of one the cameras now. My husband has both the patience and the technical understanding to have mastered the art much better than I. His wildlife photos are brilliant, and he captured the fireworks on Bonfire Night beautifully. He's become so good that he was commissioned to take the official photos for our friends' wedding in Switzerland, and the results are fantastic. He's definitely got a gift there, to add to his long list of other talents!

Travel - Our holiday to Paris and Amsterdam in October was a brilliant break for us both. We had a great time, learnt a lot, and ate lots of different foods. I found using public transport in another country to be less scary than I thought it would be, and my husband found the same to be true of attempting to speak another language. We then went on a day-trip to Switzerland for our friends' wedding in December - crazy but totally worth it! We haven't gone far or wide, but three countries in one year isn't bad!

Academia - Both of my brothers had their graduation ceremonies this year. Brother 1 graduated with a Distinction in MSc Environmental Management with GIS in February, and Brother 2 graduated with a First in BA (Hons) Creative Writing with English Literature in October. I was lucky enough to be present at both ceremonies, and really enjoyed celebrating with my family. My husband completed his MSc in Clinical Biochemistry in June, and finally received his breakdown of results in November, achieving a very well earned Merit overall. His graduation ceremony will probably be in the summer next year, when we will undoubtedly celebrate in style.


2012 was a bad year for:

Weather - 2012 has now been declared the wettest year on record in England, and I definitely believe it! Much of the country has had bad floods, some places through the summer, but many more this winter. The rain and wind have been prevalent through so much of the year, and in 2012 Blighty has lived up to its rainy reputation more than ever.

Garden - Of course, the aforementioned bad weather has had a negative impact on the garden. Every food item we've tried to grow has failed, except for our strawberries, which grew surprisingly well. It was also a bad year for orchards, and my parents' pear trees yielded hardly any fruit so there was no perry brewing for us this year. The only plant that has done well, apart from wretched weeds, is the dark pink cyclamen that we thought we had killed last year. It's a little speck of brightly coloured joy in our otherwise grey and gloomy (and weedy) garden.

Colds - I mean, seriously, three in the space of two months? Not to mention the rest throughout the year. Come on immune system, buck up!

From left column to right - windmill in Amsterdam, USA vs China Women's Sitting Volleyball , Christmas gingerbread cookies for family and friends, fireworks at Newick Bonfire Night, Humboldt penguin at Drusilla's Zoo, Poppy Half Marathon at Bexhill-on-Sea, our exciting badges for our tour of Dover Castle's secret nuclear war tunnel network, birdwatching in late May, flower in the park on our 2nd wedding anniversary.

What will 2013 hold?

Weddings - My brother-in-law is getting married in March, and my husband will be his best man. It will be very much a family affair with quite a small number of guests. The bride gave me sneak-peek at the dress, and the reception venue looks beautiful, so I think it will be very lovely indeed. One of my best friends has recently got engaged, two of my cousins were engaged this year, and a family friend got engaged at Christmas last year, so there are potentially more weddings for 2013, or maybe 2014 - lots to look forward to in any case!

Running - My husband is running in the Brighton Half-Marathon in February, and the Beachy Head Marathon (the alleged hardest in the UK) in October. I will not be joining him, but I will be his most avid supporter. I will undoubtedly be running for the train every so often though...

Writing - I am now one of the official writers for the new church magazine, but more importantly I strongly hope that I can continue my fiction in 2013. I am missing it very much, and I know I need to make more time to write regularly.

I am sure there will be many more adventures, lots of stories, plenty of stress, intriguing developments, and an awful lot of tea drunk in 2013!

I wish you and yours a very blessed and Happy New Year!

Christmas Cheer

I cannot believe it is Christmas Eve already! I have just done a half day at work, met up for lunch with one of my best friends, and am now home about to get on with some chores before some friends come to dinner, we go to the pub for another friend's birthday drinks, and then onto Midnight Communion when Christmas Day will begin!

Getting into the Christmas spirit has been a little difficult, which it always seems to be for me nowadays. One of the main culprits for this is the weather - gale force winds and heavy rain. We're always dreaming of a white Christmas here, but we usually never get one. Tomorrow will be as bleak as today most likely,.perhaps with a few sunny spells if we're lucky.

The other culprit was being ill at the beginning of the month. My husband had a horrible cold that kept him off work for the best part of a week, and a few days later I was struck with the same. In my case it has lingered and lingered and lingered. I'm still stuffed up and coughing now, but at least my voice has almost returned to normal and I can finally sing carols again, hooray!

Yesterday we had the beautiful carol service at church. Afterwards we went out carol singing around town with the youth group. It was a real joy to be out and about spreading cheer, despite the rain and the chilly wind.

The rest of the weekend my husband and I have been busy making gingerbread cookies, chocolate Yule logs, and chocolate truffles, as well as wrapping presents and doing some other last minute prep. All in all that has led to us feeling a lot more festive.

I learnt long ago not to expect too much from Christmas, and to focus particularly on the message of Advent and the birth of Christ. As a result, and as I've grown closer to God, I always eventually reach that point where the magic begins to seep in again. The excitement of my childhood returns, and I begin to feel the joy. I love the truth of the Christmas message, but I also love the time spent with family and friends and all the preparations that lead into that.

I hope and pray that every Christmas my focus will always be on the arrival of God as Man and what that means for my life, and I am thankful that right now I am able to enjoy the festive spirit.

A very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all!

This is my county's carol and a family favourite. Enjoy :)

Photo my own.

Paris & Amsterdam Trip 2012 Day 4: A New Favourite Develops

I am getting a little behind with blogging, mostly because that cold I mentioned turned into a proper nasty sore throat, chesty cough, croaky voice, and blocked sinuses thing that has left me a bit out of action of late. I am still recovering, and although I am feeling much better, this is one of those things that has chosen to linger. But enough of that. Christmas is just round the corner, and I want to get back to blogging!

So here is Day 4 of our holiday - exploring Amsterdam!

We woke to a gorgeous morning - clear blue sky and sunshine, at last! We decided to get out and enjoy it straightaway, by walking down the pleasant cobbled streets alongside the canals in search of breakfast. So many people in Amsterdam cycle and there were far fewer cars than any other city I've ever been to. The only issue as a pedestrian was to ensure that you didn't get in the way of any cyclists, but that proved to be a lot easier than dodging cars and mopeds had been in Paris!

The morning was truly stunning, and we kept pausing to admire the views and take photos.

We soon found ourselves in the Western Canal Ring where we stumbled across a perfect little cafe for breakfast called Pancakes! which does what it says on the tin - pancakes! I ordered a Dutch pancake with chocolate, and my husband went for a deluxe Dutch pancake with chocolate and banana. They were scrumptious, as we had anticipated, as well as huge! The waitress was lovely and friendly so my husband took the opportunity practise some more Dutch by saying, "Heerlijk!" when she came to clear our table and asked us if we'd enjoyed our pancakes, which means "Delicious!" She was delighted and gave us a few other phrases to practise during our stay. She also gave us a little clog keyring with our receipt, which is now attached to my camera bag.

Such an indulgent breakfast meant that a long walk was on order, so we headed over to the Vondelpark. As soon as we walked through the park's gates we were greeted with the vibrant colours of autumn, the trees ablaze with oranges and reds. We meandered around the lakes, where my husband was delayed for several minutes taking pictures of a very photogenic heron. We continued along woodland paths, through flower gardens, over bridges, past lively fountains, and sat for awhile by a stage area that is presumably is abuzz with outdoor theatre on summer evenings. It was blissful, and the air felt so fresh.

Feeling thoroughly chilled we made our way back into the centre of the city, soon surrounded by the hustle and bustle of tourists. We were so busy admiring the beautiful buildings, many of which are old warehouses that have been converted into homes and businesses, that we hadn't realised we had reached the Medieval District, otherwise known as the Red Light District. We were soon affronted by the site of other Brits out in loud, rowdy groups on stag and hen parties, and groups of nervous but excited teenage boys looking for 'coffee shops' and possibly something else. I have to admit that I was more intimidated by the crowds than by anything else. It was a bit like a Saturday night out back at home gone slightly wrong and at odds with the very picturesque setting.

It probably didn't help that I was getting hungry again. It was with considerable relief that we found a bakery just on the outskirts of the district, where we bought some sandwiches for lunch. We found a bench to stop and eat, and to consult the map.

We decided to go back across to the Western Canal Ring and see Anne Frank Huis. It didn't take long for the morning's calmness to return as we made our way back along the canals to join a long queue waiting to get into the house, but thankfully we didn't have to wait too long to get inside the museum.

The original house is now contained inside another building which forms the start and finish of the museum tour. Almost immediately you walk into a room designed to emulate the warehouse that Otto Frank had worked in, and there are quotes from Anne's diary on the wall. This instantly changed the atmosphere from the entrance - which has a very classy, contemporary feel - to pulling you right back to the Amsterdam of the early 1940s. With each step the atmosphere became stronger, and before long you are in the offices, and then through the door into the Secret Annexe where the Franks lived with the Van Daans and Mr Van Dassel for two years, before they were discovered by the Nazis in 1944.

I can't really put into words how it felt walking through those rooms. They are unfurnished and have not been made into replicas of how they were once laid out, as Otto Frank requested that they remain empty. Even so, there was something tangible about the place, a strong sense that people had really lived there, more so than in many of the other historical buildings I've visited - and as you know, I've been to several. This had been their reality, and there was something about the space that made that hit home for me, more than the excellent TV dramatisations of Anne Frank's diary had done. It really helped to imagine what it must have been like living in that cramped space for so long, not being able to go outside at all, especially in the case of Anne, her sister Margot, and Peter Van Daan, growing up in there.

The last part of the exhibition within the old house was the most emotional. Firstly there were information panels on what had become of the Franks and Jews like them after they had been sent to the concentration and death camps. This was information I knew well from school, yet it still had the power to shock and anger me when I was confronted with it again. Then there was a video on repeat of Otto Frank talking about his daughter and the discovery of her diary that his old assistant, Miep, had kept just in case, and how he had not been able to read it immediately. I just could not imagine the grief Otto Frank must have gone through upon escaping the war alive but finding that none of the rest of his family had done.

Finally there was the diary itself. Again, it is strange to see something like that behind a glass case, but I still felt able to picture Anne writing in it. I remembered myself at 14 and thought how I would have coped in the same situation. The only thing I can say for sure is that I would have written too but I am not so sure I could have faced it so bravely or so philosophically.

There is a legacy in a place like the Anne Frank Huis that forces you to think about what oppression really means, how it can lead into some of the most devastating and evil acts in history, and that is why we must keep learning from the past and never give up on hope.

We were both in a particularly pensive mood after that, and quietly wandered back to our hotel to rest for a bit before deciding where to go for dinner.

We chose the easy option of the steak house down the street, called Piet de Leeuw. It was packed when we arrived, filled predominantly with Dutch people in large and small groups, their voices rising to the ceiling. We absorbed the jovial atmosphere as we sat and waited for the owner of the restaurant found a way to squeeze us in. We were seated at a large round table that was already occupied by an older American couple, who greeted us briskly and then continued their conversation. Nervously we looked at the menu and picked out our steaks - I went for one with extra mushrooms, and my husband chose one with extra onion. It was only then that we realised that we had been given the French menu! Both pleased and amused that we had been mistaken for French we couldn't believe how we hadn't noticed that it wasn't written in English or Dutch. We had just sat there and made our choices without giving it a second thought - obviously our brains were still a bit stuck in Paris mode!

The steaks were fantastic, as was the ice cream that followed. The menu was simple, with not too much choice, but it was obvious that the place is very popular with the locals, which was sign enough for us that it was somewhere worth eating at, and we were glad not to have been proven wrong.

We went for a brief walk around the nearest canal before heading back to the hotel and promptly falling asleep. As I closed my eyes I smiled at the thought that Amsterdam had already worked its way into my top three cities, just behind Rome and London.

What Do I Blog About When I'm Ill?

That's right - fun facts about me! Chelsie from Miss to Mrs has very kindly nominated for my second Liebster Award!

Firstly, thank you Chelsie! Secondly, I am currently out of facts about myself due to similar posts I've written in the past. I also have no one to nominate, as my first Liebster award wasn't that long ago.

But - as I am currently full of cold and my throat feels like I have swallowed a cactus - I thought it would be fun to respond to Chelsie's questions, so voila!

1. What is your favourite movie of all time?
It is quite hard for me to choose, but I would have to say the Lord of the Rings trilogy - I can't just pick one of the three. I love the acting, the cinematography, the soundtrack, the hope that the story inspires in me. Everything about it is just fantastic. It's also a big family favourite, so I am very fond of it.

2. What season do you like to dress for the most?
Autumn, as I love accessorising with brightly coloured tights and scarves, and I prefer wearing boots to any other kind of shoe. I also don't have to wrap up as much as I do in the winter.

3. Coffee or tea?
Definitely tea! There is absolutely no competition.

4. What is the most exciting thing that you have ever done?
Probably going on mission to Brazil. It was a big step for me, as it was something I'd always dreamed of doing but never believed I would ever have the courage to actually do. That trip definitely changed my life, and God richly blessed my experience out there, even though it was only for two weeks. It taught me a lot about stepping outside of my comfort zone and taking a leap of faith. That has altered how I look at things and I believe it has influenced other life decisions, stopping me from staying 'safe' and closed from the world.

5. Fashion trend that you hate?
There are many, I'm afraid. How do I pick one? At the moment I'm really not digging the whole skulls and crucifix print clothes in high street shops. It's just not my thing. But a trend that I really hate? Playsuits! Always have done, always will. I guess because I would look like a total idiot in one, but I don't really admire them on others either. Sorry to those of you who love playsuits!

6. What is the one thing that you cannot live without?
Mmm...oxygen? Hehe, I don't know, probably more things that I care to admit to being attached to.

7. Do you have any pets?
Sadly not, but I do hope to have a cat again one day.

8. What is your biggest phobia?
Tough call between thunder & lightning storms and spiders. Both leave me physically sick and trembling. Thinking about either also increases my heart rate. Not good.

9. Any hidden talents?
I don't think so. I mentioned in my response to my Liebster Award from Kayleigh of A Million Little Somethings that I inadvertently do allegedly uncanny impressions of other people. Does that count as a hidden talent?

10. Favourite indulgence?
If we're talking about food, then definitely chocolate. Cheese is a close second. However, my favourite indulgent activity is spending an entire afternoon reading a good book, with a steady supply of tea, and utter peace and quiet. I only get to do that every so often so it's a real treat.

11. What did you want to be when you were little?
The first job I remember ever wanting was to be a ballerina. I then wanted to be a nurse, then a teacher, and then settled on becoming writer, something which hasn't changed since the age of 4 or 5.

Hope you enjoyed more fun facts, and thanks again Chelsie for a welcome distraction to my cold :)

Paris & Amsterdam Trip 2012 Day 3: From Paris to Amsterdam

Day 1 and Day 2 of the adventure can be found here and here.

The following morning we packed our bags and checked out of the hotel. We took the Metro to Anvers in Montmartre.

The place was heaving with tourists, backpackers, and traders. Traffic was zooming about everywhere. Our confidence of the previous night evaporated as we walked about in bewilderment, first searching for the Sacre Couer to orientate ourselves, and then looking for somewhere to buy some breakfast.

Eventually we found a small but inviting patisserie nestled amidst the madness. As we were both loaded up with bags we decided it was best if only one of us went into the shop, and as the one with the better French I had to step up to the challenge. My husband's only request was that I got him the creamiest, most ludicrous looking pastry I could find. The array of sweet treats in the patisserie was dazzling, and much of it looked excessively creamy. I was spoilt for choice. Eventually my eyes settled on a chocolate eclair, which I deemed good enough for me, and then I spotted the perfect pastry for my husband - a large choux bun with a smaller one on top of it, covered in chocolate sauce, purporting to be a religieuse. I ordered these in my broken French, along with two coffees, and then proceeded out of the shop clutching the two little cardboard cups, several sachets of sugar (the woman behind the counter obviously thought we must have a sweet tooth), and the paper bag containing our breakfast, my heavy rucksack wobbling on my back, my camera swinging around my neck. I couldn't have looked any more touristy if I'd tried! Well, maybe I could have worn a 'Paris' baseball cap on my head, but thankfully that's not my style!

My husband was delighted at the sight of the religieuse, and was even more pleased when he bit into it and rich chocolate cream oozed out of the middle. My eclair was equally tasty. I'm amazed we didn't spend the rest of the day with chocolate smeared all round our faces. Perhaps the rain washed it all off, for as on the previous days, the miserable drizzle continued to linger.

We considered taking the vernacular railway up to the Sacre Couer, but the queues were long and we hadn't bought Metro tickets that would cover the cost, so we chose to walk up the stairs of the Rue Foyatier. It was hard work with our luggage, but I suppose it was a good way to burn off those cream calories!

The Sacre Couer sits at the highest point in Paris. On a clear day the view must be fantastic, but fog once again sat like a veil over the city and we were unable to drink in much at that point in time, so we turned our attention to the basilica itself.

Like Notre Dame on the previous day, there were tourists absolutely everywhere, although there was much less of a queue to get in. There was also a bit more space to move around inside. There was a mass taking place, which you could join, or otherwise you were free to wander around as long as you didn't take photos or make noise. Of course we respected this, but I did see some excellent photo opportunities that I was disappointed that we had to miss. The art and architecture were simply breathtaking. The fact there was a mass taking place added to the very peaceful and solemn atmosphere. There was some beautiful singing, and I felt my mind instantly ease from the busyness of the city outside. It was also less stressful to wander around than Notre Dame had been as people were much less tightly packed together.

For a few euros you can buy a joint ticket to go up the tower and into the crypt, or just an individual ticket for one or the other. Although we would have loved to have seen the view from the tower, considering both the limited visibility outside and the weight of our bags, we thought it best not to go clambering up spiral stairs and instead opted just to go inside the crypt. This was even more tranquil, especially in the inner chapel, as very few tourists seemed to bother with this element.

Once we were back in the outside world, the fog had cleared enough for us to admire the view. The top of the Eiffel Tower was still hidden, and you couldn't see as far as you can on a clear day (I assume), but we stayed for several minutes gazing at the hundreds of rooftops, and pointing out famous landmarks that we recognised. It seemed to a fine way to finish off our stay in the city.

We then made our way towards the Gare du Nord for our journey north-east, stopping in a boulangerie to buy a couple of scrumptious filled baguettes for our lunch.

Before long we were settling into our comfortable red and purple seats on the Thalys train to Amsterdam. We spent the journey doing puzzles, practising snippets of Dutch from the phrase book we had, looking up places to go in our Lonely Planet guide, and admiring the view as the train zipped through the French countryside and on into Belgium where the sun was shining brightly. I inwardly shook my fist at it for its marked absence in Paris.

It was twilight by the time our train pulled into Amsterdam Centraal, but the sun had clearly been shining all day in Holland too. I hoped it would stay, at least for the next day. Although you don't really need good weather on a city break I have to admit that I was growing desperate for a little sunshine!

Stepping out of the station onto the cobbled pavement, people milling here and there, trams rumbling past, we both felt a little more relaxed. Amsterdam was definitely busy but it just seemed less frantic and more chilled than Paris had been.

We took a tram to the Southern Canal Ring in search of our hotel, which thankfully was very easy to find down a quiet side street off of Vijzelgracht. We walked up to the desk where we were met by a friendly woman. I took a deep breath and said, "Ik heb een reservatie," to which she replied in an explosion of Dutch, grinning broadly. I mumbled my name, hoping that's what she had asked for, and then I started to laugh and quickly explained that I actually knew very little Dutch. She laughed too and immediately switched to impeccable English. Amsterdam is often referred to as a bilingual city, so we knew that speaking in English wouldn't be a problem, but as with attempting to speak French in Paris, we wanted to have a go at Dutch in Amsterdam! We would later discover that if you spoke a bit of Dutch the assumption would be that you could speak a lot of Dutch, which led to some interesting conversations in restaurants!

Our room was on the top floor. It was lovely and spacious, set in the eaves of the roof, with a shuttered dormer window. The decor was an array of bright greens, purples, and pinks, and the inviting large double bed was covered in soft white linen with little sweets on each pillow. The room in Paris had been adequate for our needs, but we were both pleased to now be staying somewhere that felt a little more vibrant and luxurious - and it was the same price for three nights that the room in Paris had been for two nights!

We unpacked and freshened up before heading to the nearby Utrechtestraat in search of one of the Lonely Planet Guide's recommended Indonesian restaurants, Tujuh Maret, where we were lucky enough to nab a table as another couple were leaving. We went for the rijstaffel - 'rice table' or Indonesian Banquet. A selection of tiny bowls was laid out across two food warmers, with the dishes organised in order of hotness. We started eating at the milder end, making our way to the hottest, by which time our taste buds had become accustomed to more spice! There was also lots of rice and some delicious side dishes that unfortunately I can't remember the names of. The meal was very tasty. We'd never tried Indonesian cuisine before but were eager to as Indonesian restaurants to the Dutch are what Indian restaurants are to the British! It was also another type of cuisine for my husband to tick off of his foodie list!

After dinner we took a slow walk back to our hotel via the canals. The arches of the bridges were lit up beautifully, and whilst my husband stopped to take some fancy photography I lent on one of the railings breathing in the still night air, and watching as a barge sailed past. This was relaxation. Paris had been great, but I had a feeling that I was going to like Amsterdam that little bit more.

Photo my own.

November Without NaNoWriMo

In case the title of this post isn't obvious enough, I am not doing NaNoWriMo this year.

Last year was the first time I had ever taken part in it, having thought it about for years but never having the courage to give it a go. And so it was that on 30th November 2011 I submitted 50,000+ words of my comedic fantasy adventure. I was really proud of my achievement. I have the best part of a novel that I have slowly been editing ever since. It's taking much longer than I hoped to complete it,but I am determined to finish it in the foreseeable future. Without the motivation of NaNoWriMo I would never have gotten so far with a novel. I spend a lot more time thinking about writing, than actually writing. And I discovered that having only thirty days to write 50,000 words is an excellent way to get your butt into gear!

I genuinely thought that I could do NaNoWriMo this year, until I was sitting at work during my lunch break at the end of October, my pen hovering over my notebook, open at the vague story plan I'd scribbled out the evening before. I stared at it, realisation slowly dawning on me - there was no way I could possibly write it in a month. Not this year anyway.

Firstly, the subject I had chosen required a significant amount of research before I could begin. Even if I had started writing it on 1st November I would have quickly become frustrated at my lack of knowledge in certain key areas. Unlike my fantasy novel of the previous year, where I felt I could have as much artistic license as I pleased, a hypothetical event in a historical context would need proper research.

Secondly, it dawned on me that it was the end of October. How had that happened? It had only been August the day before! Or so it had felt. I then thought ahead to November itself - two Bonfire Nights, First Aid training, a Fairtrade Fayre, other various church activities, a full-time job in an ever-changing environment, manic domestic and social commitments... Writing 50,000 words in those thirty days was beginning to look impossible. I know some people manage to write their novels despite all the busyness in their lives, but right now I am not capable of handling that pressure.

My SAD seems to be worse, I've had two colds already this autumn, and there is a lot going on that I need to think and pray about. Rather than looking forward to the escape of writing a novel, NaNoWriMo 2012 was suddenly looming over me like another stressful burden.

NaNoWriMo 2012 was not to be for me. But I am still writing. I am taking my notebook to work for when inspiration strikes so I can write during my lunch breaks. I'm working on a short story as a Christmas present to my in-laws. I have also officially become a regular writer for the church magazine. My writing continues, even if I am doing it less than I would like.

I miss those two days a week that I had to write at home, and I would love to have them back, but right now I am finding ways to fit my passion around the rest of my life without that luxury, like the majority of writers have to.

I also now have plenty of time, come what may, to prepare myself for NaNoWriMo 2013!

All the very best to those of you who are doing NaNoWriMo this year. You can do it!

Paris & Amsterdam Trip 2012 Day 2: Exploring the "Most Romantic City in the World"

Part 1 can be found here.

We woke up to another dreary day but we didn't let it dampen our spirits as we headed out to explore the city.

Our hotel was in the Opera District, and after my husband had consulted a map we made our way through a warren of streets towards the Seine, admiring the different shops and cafes dotted around. There was even a man sitting outside one of the cafes, wearing a beret and drinking a glass of red wine. At 9am in the morning. No, I am not joking.

We found a boulangerie near the Louvre where we purchased croissants and coffee for breakfast and went down to the banks of the river to eat them, admiring the view and trying to pretend that it wasn't raining. We then made our way across the Pont des Arts, a footbridge adorned with padlocks, down the road on the other side of the river, and across the Ile de la Cite until we reached Notre Dame. (Aargh, how do you add accents to letters on Blogger? Can't find a feature for it anywhere!)

The cathedral looked just as impressive as it had done when I was 13. With school we had only sailed past it on a boat trip down the Seine so this time I was determined to go inside and look around it properly. However the place was absolutely teeming with tourists. I guess like any major city in the world every season is peak season in Paris, so we shouldn't have been surprised! We joined the queue and eventually we were under the shelter of the grand stone walls. It was crammed with people inside, with more and more continuing to pour in, so that it was impossible to get close enough to anything, so we just strolled around gazing upwards. I often find in historical church buildings that my eyes are automatically drawn upwards anyway, and the ceilings and stained glass windows that you can see are usually the most impressive aspect, masterpieces of architecture and art that they are. Notre Dame is no exception to this rule. It is incredibly beautiful, and the windows, so full of vibrant colour, are of the most wonderful that I have ever seen. It was with some reluctance that we found ourselves back outside but neither of us are terribly at ease with large crowds. I would love to know a quieter time to go and visit it again in the future.

Outside there were even more tourists clamouring around the entrance, so we swiftly headed away towards the comparative tranquillity of the nearby Shakespeare & Company bookshop, a must-see recommended by a friend. It is in a fabulous old building, packed floor to ceiling with books. Downstairs was mostly full of brand new volumes sitting smartly on shelves and tables, from bestselling novels to various academic fodder with intriguing titles. Upstairs felt more olde worlde with ancient books mixed in with more recent publications. Crumbling chairs and softs sofas are scattered about, some tucked in alcoves, all surrounded by books, where you are free to sit and read for minutes or hours as long as you put your chosen book back where you found it. Had I ever studied in Paris this would have easily become a favourite haunt of mine. I would have loved to have stayed all day, but with the equivalent of one full day only left in Paris I had to tear my eyes away from the enticing dusty tomes and continue exploring the city.

The rain had stopped so we kept walking through a mix of quiet, narrow streets and busy main roads teeming with terrifyingly fast cars. They say Britain has the safest roads in the world, which I never believe until I am abroad and crossing the road becomes a game of luck more than a something you should expect to be able to do safely. We soon found ourselves in what appeared to be a university district, judging by a massive bookshop and the little places selling cool geeky merchandise from Studio Ghibli accessories to busts of Star Wars characters. I was tempted to start my Christmas shopping but then remembered that our bags were already bursting to capacity, and that travelling to Amsterdam the next day with extra would be something of a nuisance. So instead we found a little cafe for a croque monsieur. Glorified cheese and ham toastie it may be but I've always wanted to try one, and very tasty it was too.

Then it was more walking. We walked and walked. Along main roads, down passageways, by the river, through parkland. The Eiffel Tower was slowly becoming more and more visible as the morning's fog continued to lift, and it made from some very nice photo opportunities.

By this point we had reached a land of subterranean intrigue that my husband was eager to explore - the Musee des Egouts de Paris - the Parisian Sewers. I know, we're in the alleged most romantic city in the world, and he takes me on a tour of the sewers. Well, we are nothing if not adventurous! And I have to admit that, smelly as they were, I learnt quite a lot down there. Not about poo - ewww! - but about the history of Paris because there is a very good exhibition of how the city was formed and expanded over the centuries, and consequently how the water and sanitation systems have developed with technological advances from Roman rule through to modern times. I even learnt about the Great Flood of Paris in 1910, something I hadn't known about before. I should probably add that although this museum is above the modern sewer system, you are not actually having to wade through anything, or touch anything nasty. It's all clean and safe but it is a bit stinky in places!

After this we decided to continue our underground adventures by braving the Metro! The map was pretty easy to understand as each line had a number. Each line also has a colour, but a few of the colours are annoyingly similar, and without the numbers I would have got confused. The trains themselves were fine but I didn't like that we had to open the doors ourselves by bashing the handle. I prefer the automatic ones on the tube in London. It's like anything I suppose, you know what you're used to, and when you're faced with something different it always seems more intimidating than it actually is!

Anyway, we successfully made our way to Montparnasse where we intended to see the Catacombs. Unfortunately they were closed due to a ventilation problem, so we decided to go for a little walk. This was somewhat hindered by a very loud Confederation Generale du Travail (General Confederation of Labour) protest march taking place. There was music, shouting, and people bearing bright yellow and red banners for miles down the road. We eventually found some sanctuary in the cemetery. Had it been snowing, and had the nearby protest not been taking place, it would have been highly reminiscent of the cemetery scene in Phantom of the Opera. There were a vast number of mauseolea and elegant looking tombs packed closely together, bunches of flowers laid at various spots in memory of loved ones, a little spot of tranquillity away from the hustle and bustle of the city outside.

We took the Metro back across the city as the daylight was beginning to fade, and walked more, stopping to admire churches and grand buildings, window shopping, and people watching. Before too long it was time for dinner. We made our way back to Shakespeare & Company, as round the corner was a little restaurant called Le Ribouldingue, serving traditional French cuisine. My husband had chosen it thanks to an avid search on his mobile for Parisian restaurants serving offal.

The restaurant was small and cosy with a lovely intimate feel, although the very "Frenchness" of the place made us both a little scared. The waitress was incredibly helpful, explaining the menu to us in good English, although I think she was nervous that we may not have entirely understood what the 'specials' were referring to and that we could be in for a shock.

In the end I settled for the butternut squash soup, followed by the duck confit, followed by a chocolate and coffee pudding. My husband is the one who went for the offal, starting with lamb's testicles, followed by veal brain, but finishing with cheese. We also ordered a carafe of wine. Once we had chosen and sat back in our seats both we and the waitress began to relax. We might have been British tourists with a minimal knowledge of French, but we had gone to the restaurant with intention. And once my husband and I were both comfortable with our food choices and had taken a few sips of wine, we didn't feel so odd in the surroundings anymore.

The meal itself was absolutely delicious. I thoroughly enjoyed all of it, and the duck confit knocked the one from the previous evening out of the water. This was French cooking at it's finest (in my limited experience, although the restaurant does have very good reviews online). My husband also enjoyed his and assured me that it was exquisite. I tried the cheese but I was not brave enough to try the offal. He, on the other hand, is a self-proclaimed foodie, and therefore this was apparently an important step in his tasting adventures that he must take, and thankfully he liked it!

After so fine a dinner, feeling merry with wine, we happily walked back to our hotel in the now torrential rain. I was on map reading duty and I am very pleased to say that despite my tipsyness I did not get us lost, hurrah!

We collapsed into bed, feeling as though we had now conquered the city. We were much less scared of everything, felt like we knew which direction was what, and were content that we had seen and tasted some very interesting things!

Photos my own.

Keeping It Up

The weather was gorgeous on Sunday as I sat on Bexhill seafront cheering for my husband as he competed in his first ever race - the Poppy Half Marathon in support of the Royal British Legion. The sky was a clear blue, the sun was shining, and the sea was calm but there was just enough of a nip in the air to remind you that it was definitely autumn.

My husband is now the proud owner of his first medal, a strong sense of achievement, and the motivation to enter more races in the future. I think he's a little bit crazy, but mostly I admire and support him for finding something he enjoys and wants to work at.

I wish I could run well. I wish I could run far. But the only "running" I ever do is "sprinting" through town because I am late for the train/bus/church/doctor's appointment. And I don't exactly relish those unladylike and mildly horrific moments in my life, which render me barely able to breathe or stand. Running is not for me.

Yesterday as I sat my desk at work, I watched the beautiful downland view become distorted by grey clouds and heavy rain. As it grew darker, and the office seemed to grow colder, I thought just how much I did not want to go the gym that evening. If only the weather had been more like it was in sunny Bexhill, I thought to myself. Maybe then I would be up for some exercise. Even though the gym is an artificially lit, uninspiring room full of mechanical machines and bodybuilders and svelte nymphs. What possible bearing can the weather have on that?

It was then that I knew that I had to go. That I had to brave walking in the freezing, lashing rain to get to the leisure centre. That I had to change out of my warm clothes into my gym gear and brace that initial blast of cold from the air con. That I had to work out between strangers who were fitter and more sprightly than me, whatever their age. If I didn't, just because of the weather, then I would risk falling into the trap of not going to the gym all winter. It would be a waste of money, and it would also mean that I'd given up too easily. And I am sick of my SAD enticing me to give up on everything all through the winter. Even though I generally keep going with all the things I've committed to, some things do suffer, and I knew that my gym sessions could easily become the first victim of 2012's Winter Blues onslaught.

No SAD, you have not won...yet. And I am determined that you won't. I will keep going to the gym. I may not run any marathons like my amazing husband, but I will keep up the cross trainer, the bike, the rower, and the weights, while I turn up the volume on my favourite music.

The gym isn't just a workout for my body, but for my brain. I get lots of thinking time in the gym so that when I leave my not only do I feel physically invigorated, but my head is clearer and I tend to sleep better, helping me to be a little more prepared for what the Winter Blues throw at me next.

My husband and his fellow competitors were blessed with a beautiful day for the Poppy Half. But had the weather been like it was the following day, they would have still run out, whether for personal achievement or just because they love running. If they can do that, I can keep going to the gym, come rain or shine, for personal achievement and just because I love the space it gives me in my head.

The above video is by Keane for 'Sovereign Light Cafe', filmed on Bexhill seafront. We got our pre-race teas from the cafe itself :) It's also a nice feel good tune, so thought I would share it.

Paris & Amsterdam Trip Day 1: Newhaven to Paris

Last month, courtesy of a generous tax refund, my husband and I took a short holiday to Paris and Amsterdam. We've both needed a holiday for a little while, and as we don't currently have a car we set our sights on Europe for this year's adventure seeing as public transport over there seems to be altogether cheaper and better connected.

So because it was a fab little adventure, I wanted to share it on my blog over a selection of posts starting, of course, at the beginning:

We woke bright and early to get the train down to Newhaven where we hopped on the ferry to Dieppe. The sky was grey and gloomy and it was drizzling miserably. Just the send off one needs for a trip abroad, although we left under the knowledge that this kind of weather front would most likely be dominating northern France and Holland as well. That's what you get for holidaying in October.

Feeling bleurgh

Anyway despite the fact it was somewhat breezy the sea was only slightly choppy. I enjoy travelling by ferry, and I've sailed in very stormy conditions before and never once been ill so I knew I would be fine. Except this time I wasn't. I felt incredibly nauseous for the entire four hour journey. I tried everything from standing out on deck in the chilly wind and rain to sucking on sweets to wearing those stupid travel bands - nothing worked.

Although I wasn't actually sick at any point it was a great relief to finally arrive in Dieppe where the rain was coming down in buckets. Thankfully my sea sickness faded as we battled through the hostile weather under the shelter of my new umbrella that the wind kept trying to steal, to the town centre in search of a cafe to hide in, as we still had a couple of hours before the next leg of our journey.

Despite the foul weather we were still able to admire Dieppe's picturesque historical buildings. The town was lovely and quiet and we were able to let the remaining elements of tension disappear because we were finally on holiday, and come rain or shine we were going to enjoy it!

We were innocently wandering across the road at a pedestrian crossing when a musical yet alarming sound screeched into our ears. Both unsure of French crossings we thought that the traffic lights were emitting some strange alert but then we turned to see a fire engine bombing up the road towards us. We quickly got to the other side and watched, bemused, as this vaguely farcical yet serious sight tunefully zoomed past us. Because I work for the emergency services these bizarre sirens became a fascination of mine for the remainder of our trip, as we heard them frequently in Paris. My favourite comedian, Bill Bailey, describes it so well. We were in fits re-watching this when we returned home:

Anyway, after locating the station we found a nearby cafe and dived in for a coffee.* I nervously tried out my GCSE level French and realised that I remembered more than I thought, and that I could speak it correctly enough to be understood, huzzah!

Shortly after this we went back to the station to catch our train to Rouen, a rumbling monster complete with 80s style curtains at the window, and a slightly odd conductor who, whilst very jolly, would make loud train noises at random intervals throughout the journey. We sat back to admire the beautiful Normandy countryside. Stretches of fields, and numerous large farmhouses with shuttered windows flashed before us, making me nostalgic for my school French Exchange trips. I thought of Marie, who I had exchanged with, and the mildly terrifying but fascinating introduction to French life her family had given me. It was actually on one of these exchanges, when I was 13, that I first went on a trip to Paris, and I remember that I was distinctly unimpressed with this alleged "most romantic city in the world." I had found it grey and dull. And it was this that had made me want to return as an adult, convinced that I would appreciate it so much more through mature eyes and without being forced to visit the places my school teachers deemed the most interesting (translate: boring). This desire for me, combined with my husband's new interest in French cookery, helped us select Paris as one of our destinations for this holiday.

By the time we boarded our train from Rouen to Paris it was getting dark so there was far less to see but it wasn't too long before the bright lights of the capital city were before us and we alighted at St Lazare.

By this point we were both tired and hungry, and although we were glad to have finally arrived in Paris, we were a little overwhelmed by how busy the pavements and roads were. In essence it was just like London, but cars were driving on the other side of the road and we didn't know exactly where we were in relation to our hotel.

Clinging to each other, we got our bearings, and made our way through the busy streets. Even though all the shops were now closed there were still people milling about everywhere. It was with great relief that we found our hotel, a small place tucked away down a side street. My husband, who had been building up to this moment having never spoken French before, burst through the doors and bellowed, "J'ai une reservation!" causing the man seated behind the desk to leap up in surprise.

I nudged him for forgetting to say, "Bonsoir" first, but the man didn't seem to mind, and handed us our key card with a polite smile.

Our room was small but clean, comfy, and just right for what we needed. We quickly offloaded our luggage, freshened up, and then made our way back onto the busy streets in search of a restaurant.

We walked along a street of eateries, determined to find somewhere French, not somewhere British or American or Italian - there were a considerable number of recognisable chains, although as we were in a capital city I guess we shouldn't really have been surprised.

We eventually found a reasonable looking place that was busy enough to show it wasn't terrible yet quiet enough to hear ourselves think. We were able to practise more of our broken French, and let our brains stop whirring so we could plan our next day's excursions. After our delicious meals - duck confit for me, and steak tartare for him - we went for a wander along the streets, feeling much calmer once again and ready to face the rest of our trip.

We slept well that night ready for a big day of exploring ahead of us.

*I know I frequently blabber on about not being able to drink coffee. As a general rule this is true, but to be perfectly frank, the rest of Europe just has no idea how to make good tea, so when in Rome...

When a Diamond is a Girl's Best Friend

A couple of days before we set off on holiday we celebrated my mum's 60th birthday. My dad and I had planned a surprise dinner party at a posh restaurant, involving close family and friends. The evening was a success - my mum had been suspicious that something would be happening, but she did not expect to have a group of people gathered to celebrate with her - my brother and his girlfriend had managed to come down from university, my dad's sister and his partner had come down from Birmingham, and one of my mum's sisters had secretly come to stay with my husband and I, so my mum had no idea that any of them were down in Sussex for the occasion until she walked through the door of the restaurant to all our "Happy Birthday!" cheers.

I had opted for a diamond theme, as like the Queen celebrated 60 years of her reign this year in Diamond Jubilee, so this was my mum's diamond year. She had never made much fuss about her previous big birthdays, doing nothing special for her 40th or 50th like many people do, so it was only right that we made sure that this birthday would be marked appropriately.

But I didn't only choose diamonds because it was her 60th, but because she is a diamond herself. A diamond that we wanted the opportunity to surprise, to show how much we love her by being there, by surprising her, and by treating her. My mum loves gifts - she's always been a great gift-giver herself, always finding special little things for the people she cares about - but she also loves being surrounded by those dearest to her, and we knew that this dinner party would be the best way to do this.

My present to my mum, with valuable contributions from others, was a memory book - tracing her life from birth through to this special birthday - filled with photos, loving notes, and happy and silly memories. It was a pleasure to do. I've always loved hearing my parents talk about their life before I was born - their childhoods, their wilder days, their best friends, their work, their meeting each other and their getting married, so I loved going through that material for my mum. And when I got to the pretty pink page for the year 1984, the page for my entry into their world, their first baby, I was able to admire once again the cute pictures, think back to the fond tales my mum has told me of my birth, my learning to crawl and then walk, my first word, my first snow, and my two-year-old's joy at the arrival of my brother in 1986.

Mum giving me a doll on my first birthday

And then of course, come my own memories. My mum was the first person I ever set eyes on - apparently I didn't even look at the midwife, it was my mum who I looked at first. She has been an unswerving pillar of strength for me throughout my life. She is a great mum, and I thank God for her. We do not always get on, and she frequently annoys me in a way that only a mother can, but I would not be the same without her. She has always cared for me, always looks out for me, and still remains the one person I want around whenever I am sick. She still likes to mother me, even though I am more than two years married and have lived away from her since university. She's very good at coming round and tidying bits and pieces up, maybe taking away a bag of laundry, and fussing over things. I always feel guilty, but at the same time I like that she helps me out, because I'm pretty useless at this housewife thing, and I think that she still likes to be my mum like that.

I love to meet her for tea and cake, to go and see a girly film together, to go clothes shopping with her, but mostly to talk to her about anything and everything. Despite many ups and downs, I've always been able to share things with her.

She's always been a sparkling diamond in my life. A best friend unlike any other of my best friends.

She's the kind of person who has low self-esteem, who doesn't think very much of herself. But from the input of friends and family to both her memory book and the dinner party it is clear that she has been a diamond as a sister and friend too. My dad, brothers, and I will testify that as a wife and mother she has made a positive impact on all of our lives. Whilst we're family and we will always gripe and disagree with one another, we are who we are together and because of our pasts with each other, and this special birthday was the perfect way to celebrate my mum's irreplaceable role in our lives.

A Change is as Good as a Rest

Yesterday evening my husband and I arrived home from a short holiday in Paris and Amsterdam. We've been feeling the need for a holiday for some time, what with my husband completing his MSc, my change in job, and the other hectic happenings of twenty-somethings who struggle to say "no" to stuff!

Last Monday morning we set off with full rucksacks to the station where we took a train to Newhaven. There we hopped on the ferry to Dieppe where we took a train to Paris, changing briefly at Rouen. We arrived in the evening, and after a slightly overwhelming walk through busy streets in the pouring rain from St Lazare Station we eventually found the side street that housed our hotel.

We stayed in Paris for two nights, and on Wednesday morning we set off with our rucksacks again to hang out at Montmartre until it was time to get our train from the Gare du Nord to Amsterdam. The fast train took us speeding through French and Belgian countryside and on into Holland in just under three hours, and worked out cheaper for us both than peak tickets from our hometown to London (which takes just over an hour)! We then stayed in Amsterdam for three nights, before flying home yesterday evening.

So, we did lots of exploring, lots of walking, lots of eating, and lots of attempting to dodge the autumnal rain. We are both feeling the need to rest again, but in truth a change from the norm has definitely been what we needed. We haven't had to wake up early each day. We haven't had to travel to work and put up with the daily stresses. We haven't had to cook dinner for six days. We have had the opportunity to sit back and watch the world go by. We've been able to enjoy being somewhere different, to wander around with little pressure for time, and no demand for our attention or domestic responsibilities to concern us.

It's been great to have a rest of sorts, and now we both feel refreshed (if full of cold, sadly), and ready to go again. And I hope to write a little more about our adventures in the next couple of weeks.

If You Want to Know A Little More About Me...

Back in July the lovely Kayleigh of A Million Little Somethings gave me a Liebster Award on her blog. Unfortunately it's taken me longer than I would like to, to respond. But here I am feeling bleurgh with a cold, and it seemed like a good time to finally respond! So thank you Kayleigh for awarding it to me. It is an honour :)

I've posted the award rules at the end.

11 Facts About Me

• September is my birthday month - a few days ago I turned 28, eep!
• I didn't go shopping for my wedding dress. I have no idea why, but the thought of trawling through bridal wear shops filled me with dread. I had very specific ideas about what I wanted, and I found the perfect dress online, had it made to my measurements, and then refitted by a local seamstress once I had it in my possession. To this day I still don't regret not going shopping and trying on gazillions of meringue-esque dresses in advance of finding "the one". You can read my testimonial of my dress (and see a picture) on the Conscious Elegance website. My review is about half way down the page - I wore the Tabitha design.
• I'm quite good at doing impressions of other people, but usually only when I don't realise I'm doing it - such as when reliving a situation on behalf of others. I can't do such impressions under pressure, like when people say "I want to hear your whatshisname impression!" Argh! I especially have to watch this 'characteristic' of mine when at work.
• I love polar bears. 
• I hate leaving the house without a bottle of water. Even if I'm not thirsty while I'm out, I will instantly become so if I realise I've forgotten to bring any water with me.
• Because I think a lot, and like to remember happy times a lot, I am prone to random fits of laughter in inappropriate places, like walking along the street or sitting on the train, when other people will slowly move away from me as though I am a crazy person.
• Speaking of laughing, the gym keeps making me laugh. Whether it's the ludicrous scene of rows of people exhausting themselves on machines, or the muscly men admiring their bulges in the giant mirrors, I often get the giggles when I should be concentrating on my own workout.
• My town is within the South Downs National Park, and I really love the South Downs, from admiring the view on my train journey to work, to going on long walks on them with my husband, they will always be special to me wherever else I may end up going in the world.
• I would genuinely struggle to get through each day without tea.
• I am surprisingly good at baking. Since housewifely duties generally don't come to me naturally, I'm pretty chuffed about my successful cakes!
• In my first year at university I slummed it true student style in a hideous breeze-block hall of residence that resembled a prison/cheap holiday apartments/hospital. This was more than made up for by a massive room between two turrets in this gorgeous building for my third year:

The beautiful Founders Building at Royal Holloway

Kayleigh's Questions

1. Do you use pinterest? If so, what is one pin that you wish you could just *poof* make real?

I mainly use Pinterest to find projects for the house or garden that I can actually attempt to do, as I know I would be stuck on there for too many hours than is healthy if I look at all the beautiful things that I would love to have. But, I do have a couple of boards for things that I like, but may never have or be able to make. The one thing from these that I would love to just appear from that would be this amazing Totoro cake. It's just incredible! I would love to make one for someone like my brother's girlfriend, but my sugar craft and general (lack of) artistic ability are just not up to scratch.

Look how epic it is!

2. When you choose to follow a blog, what kind of things are you looking for?

I read quite a variety of blogs, so it could be anything really. I like to follow other Christian blogs because I like to have my faith challenged, and I also value the support I've received from meeting other Christians online. Other than that I mostly enjoy humour and geeky blogs because they appeal to my sense of fun, and they're just so well written that I love reading them.

I also follow some blogs of friends, which vary from being based at their home-run craft business to their cooking adventures. Because so many of my friends live all over the place, their blogs can be a more informative way of keeping up with their news than Facebook.

3. What is your all-time favorite coffee drink?

I don't really drink coffee, mainly because it gives me a tummy ache. Also, although I love the smell I'm not big on the taste unless I add lots of sugar, so it's not very good for my teeth. Having said that, the best coffee by far that I have ever drunk was when I was in Brazil six years ago. We had fresh coffee every morning, and with a small squirt of this sweetening syrup that they had, it was really delicious. And it did not give me a tummy ache, so I was able to drink it the whole time I was there, which was a nice treat. But usually, no, I can't drink it.

I drink lots of tea though...

4. What is your dream job?

To be a full-time writer. This has always been my dream job, and I don't think it will ever change. I'm half way there, but I think I'll hit the 'dream' target when I've got something published, with a view to publishing more in the future.

5. Besides working, what do you spend the most time doing in a typical week?

Quite a lot of things, really. There's all the usual things like cooking dinner, chores, wasting time on the computer, and lots of church related stuff. It's difficult to say which of these takes up the most time because I guess it varies from week to week, and season to season. I guess if I made a spreadsheet and tried to figure it out then the winner would probably be spending time on the computer - Facestalking, catching up on blogs, playing computer games, and watching TV. I hate to admit to spending so much time in front of a screen. Thank goodness I no longer play World of Warcraft or it would be even worse!

6. What are you MOST thankful for right now?

My husband. He is my best friend, and my rock, and he is also looking after me whilst I am ill :)

7. Why did you choose to start a blog and what keeps you going?

I started a blog of sorts about seven years ago on Bebo, because I liked sharing amusing tales of happenings in my life. I decided to start a blog after I'd read a few that people had started at university, and realised that I was basically blogging already only I was using Bebo and Facebook to do it.

I love to write, which keeps me going. It's not always easy, and often my blog doesn't feel like 'real writing', but even then I find it is a good place to get the creative juices flowing if I'm struggling with my fiction. Usually sharing the story of an exciting adventure gets my brain whirring enough to kick start my other writing. Also, I've realised over the past few months how much feedback means to me, so receiving comments is great, That, and I really enjoy reading other people's blogs and meeting people that way. I guess all of that keeps me motivated to blog.

8. If you could choose, what view would be outside of the window you look through most often?

To be honest, my view out of the study window where I sit to write is really very good, and quite inspirational when I remember to look at it!

Despite that, I do still dream of living in a country house where my view is of unspoilt countryside – open fields flanked by forests and hills.

9. Besides your blog, what is your favorite social networking site to spend time on?

I guess it would have to be Facebook, which I have a bit of a love/hate relationship. I've wasted so much time on that wretched website, and yet it still remains one of the best ways to keep in touch with friends. I love using it to share photos, and it is also very popular for people to send out invitations to events via that and no other means.

10. What is your favorite childhood memory?

It's just not possible for me to answer this question, as there are far too many wonderful memories that could be classed as my favourite. Most of my special childhood memories involve my family, but I also loved primary school when I was little, so there's probably some there too. I can't even decide which one to give as an example, there are too many good ones! I'll have to get back to you on that.

11. If you could be a character in any book or movie, who would you be?

I think I would like to be Eowyn from Lord of the Rings. When I was a teenager and in my early twenties I wanted to be an actress, and Eowyn was all the things I wanted in a female character – interesting and emotional story, long flowing hair, stunning dresses, kick-ass with a sword!

I nominate the lovely ladies of these blogs, that I really enjoy reading:
Lozzz123 at Science, Spouses and Silliness
Jeanine at Wayfaring Girl on a Mission
Emily at Love Woke Me Up This Morning
Kirsti at A Quick Succession of Busy Nothings
Sara at For When Thinking Isn't Enough

Nominees, you don't have to respond to this if you don't want as I know they go round and round a lot, but if you fancy responding to any of the questions on your blogs or in the comments I would be honoured :)

My Questions

1. If you could befriend any Disney villain and help them mend their ways, who would you choose and why?

2. You've been invited to a fairy tale themed fancy dress party. Who or what do you dress as? (I need inspiration for attending such a party myself!)

3. If you could choose any activity to be made an official Olympics sport, what would you pick?

4. Where in the world would you most like to go that you haven't already been to?

5. What is your ultimate karaoke song? If you don't ever do karaoke, what would it be if you were forced to sing?

6. If you could have any famous historical figure over for dinner, who would you invite?

7. If you went to Hogwarts, which house do you think the Sorting Hat would place you in?

8. What was the best science experiment you did, or saw your teacher do, at school?

9. What's your favourite way to spend a hot summer's day?

10. What's your favourite way to spend a freezing cold winter's day?
11. If you could dye your hair any colour you wanted just for fun, which colour would you choose?

These are the rules linked to the award:

1. Thank your Liebster Blog Award Presenter on your blog.

2. Link back to the blogger who awarded you.

3. Copy and Paste the award to your blog.

4. Nominate at least 5 blogs (up to 11) to receive the award.

5. Inform them of their nomination by leaving a comment on their blog.

6. Include 11 random facts about yourself in your post.

7. Answer the 11 questions the person that has nominated asked you and create 11 new questions for the people you have nominated.

Totoro Cake from imgfave and also on my Pinterest page - please message me if you would like to 'follow' my Pinterest boards
Founders Building from the Royal Holloway, University of London website

Bye Bye Summer

It's always funny when the youth at church ask me how my summer was. They've just had a couple of months of glorious freedom and they think that everybody else has had the same. Bless their cottons. At least they've all got a few more years of education until reality bites in the future. Oh how I miss those long summer holidays.

Summer has been just like any other time of year for us, only slightly, and I mean slightly, better weather. Life has actually been so busy the past couple of months that I haven't had much time to sit and write down stuff or even time to think vaguely about potential blog posts, so I thought it was time for an update on my 'hectic' life:

Jobs 
Work has been dominating my life somewhat recently. It is a very long story, so here is the short version: I am going back into full-time work next week. I will still be working for the same organisation in the same department, but I will be in a different team and based in a different office.

It was my last day in my other role on Wednesday and it was lovely. I provided lots of yummy cakes of course, and the team presented me with a gorgeous bunch of flowers and some great presents, including framed song lyrics - a variation on Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds - based on my time there. It was awesome, and I was incredibly touched.

I am glad to still be part of the same department as I will still get to work with these guys, but it won't be quite the same. I will definitely miss them, and I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to be part of such a great team after the misery of my previous job.

Writing
Going back to full-time work does not mean I will be neglecting my writing, but I will miss having those two days a week at home. However I have learnt a lot about myself, about my technique, my working style, and my discipline, by having the opportunity to work at home. I still believe wholeheartedly that I am meant to be a writer, but I understand much better now that for me, writing a novel is a long process, and that isn't a bad thing. I am also more determined than ever to complete it, and to continue with future projects, because I know that I have what it takes.

In non-fiction news I have been commissioned to write two articles for a new magazine that our church is producing for older members of the congregation, especially those who are not always able to attend services and may feel out of the loop. Having already seen the work our associate minister has put into the design etc, I am really excited to be contributing to it.

Health
My husband and I have just joined the gym. My husband has been going running several times a week, and has really benefitted from it. He wanted me to join him but I hate running. However, I knew I had to do something. I have a tendency to put on weight around my tummy, and therefore well-meaning people have been making assumptions that I am pregnant when I am most definitely not. It makes me feel really rubbish to be honest.

We eat a pretty healthy diet (low carbs, lots of fruit & veg, very little processed food etc), but it's not enough. So we've joined the gym and have both had successful inductions with our assigned personal trainers. I am hoping to improve my overall fitness and tone up a bit, and will also be visiting the pool as I I really enjoy swimming. Currently my upper arms are sore thanks to the chest press, but no pain no gain right?

Social Life
Who doesn't like having a social life? I love having lots of events to go to, and spending quality time with friends and family, but on top of that there are the preparations for upcoming social events such as my mum's 60th birthday in October. My dad and I are throwing a surprise dinner party for her with a diamond theme. I'm really enjoying planning it, and have been busy making reservations and invitations.

Throughout the summer we made the most of any weekends when the sun was shining to go on adventures. We've had several long walks in the countryside, been paddling in the sea, and have even managed to catch some rays in yet another disappointing British summer weather wise.

Clockwise from top left: Delicious strawberries from our garden served with posh vanilla ice-cream; Mum & family friends in the Cancer Research Race for Life in Brighton; pretty roadside flowers on a long countryside walk; Pevensey Castle; monster footprints in the sand at Rye Beach; hubby braving the icy waters of the English Channel; Cuckmere Haven

So life has been, and continues to be, busy, busy, busy, but it's all good. The work situation is a lot less stressful now something's been sorted, I'm already feeling physically better from the gym (though it'll take a while for that belly to decrease), and autumn looks set to be a good season, hooray!