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Monday 31 December 2012

Goodbye 2012!

Well it is that time again, we have survived another year and it is time to turn over the calendar. Here is a summary of my year in photos, although possibly not an accurate representation, as it seems to be very sunny in pretty much all of them!

I kicked off the year in the Alps in France, absolutely gorgeous, I love the snow.


Next up, a bit of Welsh snow, and good times with great friends, Ritz are a necessary accessory.


March, spring had sprung, a blizzard of blossoms in Kew Gardens

April, a frequent walk and the sky possibly a prediction of what was to come weather-wise!


May, my home town showing its more attractive qualities, it can be quite appealing if you only see it in the sunshine.



June, some success growing green things!


July, an oft-seen view on the line from Dorchester to Bath

August, a monumental mountainous view, at possibly the most awesome camping spot ever.


September, an excellent day away from the office

October, Oh, how I love the sea

November. Hello London, I miss you!

December. A frosty end, i'll choose to ignore all the torrential downpours that came after.







Happy new year everyone, here's to an excellent 2013!

Saturday 22 December 2012

Christmas and all That Jazz

Well I seem to have survived through the avalanche of perfume adverts (just about) so now can get down to the actual business of eating far too much and spending good times with family. I'm off to the Alps this year with my brothers to see my Mum and sister, so should be a good one, SNOW!


Monday 17 December 2012

Corporation Christmas

Some many pretty things to buy..!



You should really buy all this now, come on, what are you waiting for?! you haven't quite got enough stuff yet...


After all, what is Christmas for if not spending money you don't have, filling your house with stuff, and gifting things that will be looked at for 30 seconds before heading right off to landfill in the new year?...

Hmmm

Perhaps I don't need all this crap, just give me some family and some snow. Very happy to be doing a virtually consumption-free christmas this year, apart from consumption of a different kind, hello booze and cheese. I cannot wait to be out of the country, the continuous monotonous loops of perfume ads are doing my head in!


I wish Mr. Smiler was coming though :( 

Wednesday 12 December 2012

Day 30... Iced



Day 30, and blog post number 100! Another gorgeous morning today, with everything coated in a thick layer of frost, super-chilly though!.

Tuesday 11 December 2012

Day 29... Same View Different Different Day



What can I say, it's a good view! And it was a particularly magnificent morning today, loving the frostiness.

Monday 10 December 2012

Day 28... Ugly Duckling



My campus is truly ugly! I love the effort to improve it by having some pretty landscaping and a lake (large pond), the presence of militant seagulls just adds to the delightful effect I think :)

Sunday 9 December 2012

Day 27... Temptations



I wish I could of brought one of these cute little bearded dragons home with me today. Love their little faces! One day I will have a menagerie!

Saturday 8 December 2012

Day 26... Capital Day Out



An excellent day with good friends, even if I do feel a bit like Peter Pan (unfortunately not the flying bit). Busy days make the weekend seem to last forever, although possibly partly because I had the day off on Friday as I had a miserable cold. I vote for a 4 day week!

Friday 7 December 2012

Day 25... Shed Head



Just a tumble-down shed and a tree that looks like something out of Tarzan as it is covered in vine-like plants, at the end of my garden. London tomorrow!

Thursday 6 December 2012

Day 24... Hello Science



Just a little bit of science, had an afternoon of looking at trilobites so thought I would share one. They have really awesome eyes, although the ones on this one were a little mangled.

Tuesday 4 December 2012

Day 22... Stupid O'Clock



Or at least that's what it feels like when I arrive at work just as the sun is getting up. Really noticing the shortening days this year! At least it is nearly the winter solstice, and I don't mind if the sun hangs around for the rest of the day.

Monday 3 December 2012

Day 21... Toy Town



Unfortunately I have had a bit of a busy day, so this picture is a little bit of a cheat as I didn't actually take it today (obviously, too green!), I did however have a good play at editing it, so it will have to do! :)

Sunday 2 December 2012

Day 20... Forty Two



I thought it was about time that I read The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (trilogy of five) as I love the film and the BBC series, and have only heard good things about the actual books. Train journeys are useful for making good reading progress; I am about halfway through number three now, the whole of which is pretty trippy. I am particularly intrigued to learn that "there is an art, or rather, a knack to flying. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss." Brilliant.

Friday 30 November 2012

Thursday 29 November 2012

Thieves' Hot Chocolate

It is potentially a total fluke that this worked at all, but it was so good I had to share! It seems that weirdly one of the essential ingredients may be a stolen 'tall' starbucks mug (it's the least we can do, tax-hogging gits), as this didn't work quite as well in a standard one when I made it again! It was damn beautiful the first time round any way.

Ingredients
70% cocoa chocolate (Green and Blacks) approx 8 chunks
Milk (enough for 2/3 of a mug)
Single cream (couple of tablespoons worth, but depends on you!)
Nutmeg
Cinnamon
Ginger

Melt the chocolate in the microwave in a mug, being very careful not to burn it! Add milk a small amount at time, heat between each addition, mix well. Add a sprinkle of each of the spices, add the cream, heat a little more, stir well. I wish you luck!



Day 17... Look Around You



The gears are knackered on my bike so had to walk up the hill this morning, taking in this glorious view made the slower pace worth it though.

Wednesday 28 November 2012

Day 16... Marvellous Mackerel



I love smoked anything, but mackerel is particularly tasty. This was dinner tonight; peppered smoked mackerel, shredded, with dill and a little cream and lemon juice. Served on sourdough toast with watercress and spinach, so good, and extremely lazy!

Monday 26 November 2012

Day 14... Green Shards of Light Through the Gloom



Found something a little exotic in the greenhouse at Uni today, made me forget the greyness outside for a few minutes. One of the best things about working at Kew Gardens was being able to escape to the beautiful warm tropical greenhouses even in the depths of winter.

Sunday 25 November 2012

Day 13... Sleepy Sunday



The cats have the right idea on a wet Sunday like this. He's been there so long he is covered in dust...

Friday 23 November 2012

Day 11... Trippin'



Ummm, slight lack of interesting pictures today so you'll have to deal with this 'man hit in side of face by platform shelter' mess. Sorry.

Thursday 22 November 2012

Day 10... Gentile Destruction of Perfection



Today I went for afternoon tea (which I am incapable of saying without affecting a silly accent), it was stunning! More cakes than I could eat, which is something of an achievement. We went to the Royal Crescent hotel in Bath, I would definitely recommend for a special occasion, or just if you are feeling a bit posh.

Wednesday 21 November 2012

Day 9... Slackers Club



My brain seems to shut down at about 3pm, this is the inevitable result.

Tuesday 20 November 2012

Day 8... Winter Warmer



It is beginning to look a lot like winter, so time to revive this project, can't wait to have it finished!

Monday 19 November 2012

Day 7... Morning Has Broken



Up at the crack of dawn, literally! The old saying of 'red sky in morning, shepherds' warning' came true as it spent the rest of the day throwing it down...

Sunday 18 November 2012

Day 6... A Strange Sense of Familiarity



The usual Sunday afternoon activities... I have a strange sense of having been to this place before...

Saturday 17 November 2012

Day 5... Mini World



Not really branching out on the photographic subjects as yet but I thought this looked damn cool up close so it is the winner for today!

Thursday 15 November 2012

Day 3... Red Hot Chilli Peppers



Ready to go into a tasty butternut squash and lentil one-pot creation, eaten very messily with tortilla wraps and an excess of coriander.

Wednesday 14 November 2012

Day 2... Mountain or Macro?



Just an abstract shot of some autumnal colour today, I could of gone for leaves but I like that this doesn't necessarily look like what it actually is at first glance.