Some people are just never happy...

... or really I should say some people are always susceptible to the next shiny new toy and never have enough.  Sadly when I refer to "some people" I mean me.

This year has been amazing!  New beautiful Pashley bicycle, new job, new car, new macbook, new garden, new hair and new puppy.  I think we can all agree a pretty good 8 months?

So why then, three weeks after getting the new pooch am I now lusting after an iPad.  This must stop!  The addiction to always wanting something else has to end...

... I'm just not sure I can.

I like to think it is down to my optimistic personality - however good life is I still believe it could be even better.  Suspect instead though I am in fact just a victim of the "consumer culture" everyone is always talking about.

Any tips, hints, or tips very much appreciated...

.... and while you're here please take a trip to my website I'm working on and tell me what you think...  www.thefloralemporium.com

Polo, Pimms & Murder...

Have had a amazing weekend with the girls from university.  It was our annual reunion and it was heavenly to spend time with such good friends.  

We mysteried and murdered on Friday night (and I was the murderer as Ms Jade, the conniving con woman), we shopped til we dropped at the Farmers Market on Saturday and then rocked up to the royal perfumery in Bourton-on-the-Water.  It was a beautiful day.  

On Saturday night we ate at a marvellous country pub, drank copious amounts of pimms and slept (but not until 5:30).  By Sunday we were feeling a little weary (no longer spring chickens evidently) but gathered ourselves and a picnic together and went to the polo where we were told off for sitting in the wrong place and didn't follow any of the game at all - a great afternoon.  

An utterly beautiful weekend filled with laughter and joy with utterly beautiful people.  

\

In other, unrelated news, I'm working on a website... www.thefloralemporium.com ... what do you think?  

Hattie...

8 weeks old.

A jack shit noodle (!)

Named after Hattie Jacques.

Enjoys eating courgette leaves, fluffy cushions and my fingers.  Dislikes eating anything she's actually allowed to.

This is her...

Smitten.  

The Great British Summer Party...

.... had everything tonight - Pimms, Hog Roasts, family, friends, laughter, puppies, babies, competition, weeping (from all the crying) and a bouncy castle.

A brilliant evening which made me feel lucky to know the people I do.

Hattie came along to meet everyone and was terribly well behaved - a habit she's not managed to maintain since we got home.  Though now she is asleep she looks rather more angelic again.

Settled in for a bit of Robert Downey Jnr and a lovely glass of wine.  A good day.

I'm back...

.... after a shamefully long absence.

So, what's new?  Everything... or at least an awful lot.

New job has begun and am finding it more engaging than the last if not overwhelmingly inspiring.

New bike arrived and is amazing - it is so shiny and red and makes my journey to work considerably more cheery.

New puppy!  She is called Hattie, after Hattie Jacques because she is a chubby comedian.  I am smitten.

What is not new?

Still in Gloucester, still addicted to ice cream and pimms and tea and flowers.

Still wish I had a different and more exciting job - how did this become my life?!?

Lovely party to go to tomorrow but otherwise this weekend is for thinking and sorting out...

The ramblings of a mad woman...maybe...

As I find myself feeling rather distressed by the current state of the six nations game between Ireland and England I thought I would distract myself by thinking and writing.

The new job starts on Monday and I am feeling fairly indifferent.  Not nervous, not excited, just blank.  I suspect this is not a good thing.

Typically in such situations I would go shopping, ideally at the moment for some lovely plants for the garden, but I sadly it is now one week before pay day in a month when I had to pay my road tax so shopping is right off the agenda.

Instead I went theoretical bike shopping.  When I am paid my bonus (on Friday lets hope!) I will be spending some of it on the deposit for a beautiful bright red pashley bicycle.  Now this is something I can get excited about  ... it has a basket at the front and everything!

Today I find myself exhausted by life.  Tomorrow I am determined to find myself passionate, enthused and ready to make changes... watch this space.

Sigh...

... I never was one for diaries - I used to begin a diary at least 4 times a year when I was younger and then give up after about 2 days, returning a few months or years later and cringing in embarrassment.  It would seem that a blog is merely the latest reincarnation of a diary - except prettier and hopefully less embarrassing!

So, in an attempt to restart my future I will begin with cheery thoughts - 3 good things that happened today...

1 ***   I had three nightmares and survived them all!
2 ***   I am learning to control my custard cream obsession - only 4 today
3 ***   For the second day this year I walked to work without needing a coat - truly a happy and momentous occasion.

May your tomorrow be filled with sunshine and lovely thoughts or brighter days and good times with great friends.