Hello!

Can't find original source? If it's yours, let me know!

Hello! Bonjour! Salut! What Up!

I'm back after an unintentional blogging absence. There are a few reasons for this, which I'll run through briefly. There's also just other stuff I'd like to say, so here goes!

Holiday
Stevie and I took went on our holibobs to Rhodes waaaay back in July. It was lovely, we didn't do a great deal more than relax, sunbath, sleep and eat an un-healthy amount of meat and cheese. Heaven. Greece is such a lovely country and I feel so at home there, perhaps I have some greek in me? My skin-tone says no, my big-bum says yes. Who knows.

Unfortunately, my camera cable has decided to go walkies and so I can't share any of the pictures I took just yet. I think its hiding on the top shelf of my wardrobe, and I neither have the inclination or the energy to tackle clearing that out at the moment. Soon my pretties, soon.

Car
My beloved little Corsa broke down just before we went away, and when I say broke down, I mean it literally stopped working. While I was driving round a roundabout. Which was hilarious / mortifying / petrifying in equal measures. A trip to the garage confirmed it was the head gasket and it had blown. After some weighing up, I decided not to get it fixed and to get myself a new car. So I did, and am now the proud owner of a fun-to-drive, petrol-thirsty Mazda MX5. Not the most practical of cars, only having 2 seats and a soft-top, but my god do I love it.

Work
Work is work. Work is work on speed at the moment it seems, I have barely had time to breathe. Whereas in the past I'd bang out a blog post on my lunch break, they have been fairly non-existent over the past 6 weeks or so. Its quietened down now though, so I expect I'll be able to do that again, as well as eat. Aaah, eating.

Homework
I'm not sure if I've mentioned before, but I am currently studying towards my Chartered Institute of Marketing Professional Certificate. I've got an assignment due at the end of August so I've been working on that. I'm still nowhere near finished, and with the next two weekends full to the brim with hen-do's, weddings and christenings, I'm starting to panic about getting it done.
N:B - the course has made me realise that I do in actual fact, hate marketing. I wish I was joking.

Being Healthy
I bought me a bike back in February, it then proceeded to sit in my shed, neglected for a few months, much like my blog. A couple of weeks ago I dusted it off with the intention of getting a bit fitter. Unlike some of my other fitness endeavours, I've actually stuck with this one and in the past week have racked up 60 miles of cycling. Which I'm pretty pleased about? I really enjoy it and its made me realise what a picturesque part of the world I live in. I don't really have time on my cycle to work to take any pictures but on my next weekend jaunt I will definitely take my camera (the one I've NOT lost the cable for) and share some pics.

In other news, I have read so many books recently and I'm planning to share my thoughts on some of them with you over the next few days. I racked up an impressive (for me) 11 read on holiday, some good, some not so good.

So that's it really, I have no other excuses. I have some busy weekends coming up as I said; my little brother is getting married, my best-friends baby is being Christened and Stevie turns 30. I'll really be more organised and plan some posts around these events...promise...because asides from anything, it'll be really nice to document them and look back on in the future!

I hope you're all happy and healthy...back soon. xx

Leaving, on a jet plane.

(from here)

 

As this post goes live, I will be on a plane, on my way to Rhodes.

Geeeee Whizz I am excited. Sun! Sea! Sand! FETA CHEESE!

Have a lovely week all, see you on the flip side :)

TRB - Cornwall #6 - Holywell Bay and Seafood

Our last proper day of holiday was spent at Holywell Bay. It was a bit chillier this day, so I mostly sunbathed wearing a cardigan (not very effective for getting a tan, FYI). The eight of us dug a hole, which was about 7ft deep.

We stopped off for cream teas on the way back to the house which were YUM (cup of tea + scone + jam + cornish clotted cream = cream tea).

Steve and I headed off on our own for a romantic meal at the Boathouse in Newquay that evening, where we gorged on smoked mackerel, crab, mussles (him, not me. They look like bogeys and for that reason I can't eat them) and wine.

TRB - Cornwall #5 - Boat Fetish & Feeder

On Thursday we headed to Falmouth for a wander. Its basically just a harbour where big cruise and transport ships are built and docked. I didn’t take any pictures here as I don’t have a boat fetish (as one of the lads we were with claimed he did). We had a nice lunch then headed back to the ranch for more drinks and hot tub time.

The highlight of the day, and possibly the whole holiday, was going to see Feeder that evening at Lusty Glaze. Lusty Glaze is a cove, and because of its shape and layout, it’s a natural amphitheatre. Lots of bands play here and we were lucky to have timed it with Feeder, who I really like (you all know Buck Rogers right?), so we drank cider, watched the sunset, saw a streaker and rocked out in the sand. Good times were had by all.

Guess who? Yeah, thats me. And Steve. I've never put pics of us on here before...I'm a bit scared.

TRB - Cornwall #4 - Fistral Beach

I will try to keep my poor attempts at surfer speak to a minimum during this post. Dude. Steve and I took a day on our own to go hang ten at Fistral beach. It wasn’t the prettiest beach we visited all week, but the waves were gnarly. Dude.
We hired body boards and wet suits and played in the sea all day like children. I did manage to ride a few waves (they were massive, it was a little bit scary) but mainly wiped out A LOT.

TRB - Cornwall #3 - Wadebridge to Padstow

I cant say I’ve ever been very active on previous holidays. I’m more of a ‘this is my sunbathing spot, I have my book, I don’t intend to move now bring me a cocktail’ kinda gal. So when a bike ride was suggested, I was intrigued. Movement on holiday....really?! Not wanting to be a party-pooper I went along with it and was pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed myself.

We hired bikes in Wadebridge and cycled the 5 and-a-bit miles down to Padstow. I felt so care-free and refreshed with the wind blowing through my hair as I cycled along. We cycled along a disused railway line which had been cemented over, along the river leading to the coast. It was so beautiful and it reignited my love for cycling.  I haven’t been on a bike since taking part in a 100km bike ride a couple of years ago and being put off by the pain from that!

I fell in love with the bike I was riding (similar to this one) and am saving up to buy myself one now. It was such a comfy ride and when I do buy it, Steve and I can go for long countryside rides at the weekends and I can realise my ‘dream’ of cycling to work!

When we got to Padstow (the cycle ride took us 40 mins with a few photo opportunity stops along the way) we stopped off and had fish and chips for lunch, a snoop round the shops and a wander around the harbour. We had a few drinks in the pub and cycled back in the sunset. Aahhhhh heavenly....

TRB - Cornwall #2 - The Eden Project

I'd heard mixed reviews of the Eden Project. As we were only a 30 min drive away, we decided to investigate for ourselves. I loved it, although the rainforest biodome with its heat and humidity was hard going with a hangover! I can highly recommend a visit here if you're in the area and like pretty flowers.

p.s - remember to take a hayfever pill, yeah? I forgot, spent the day sniffling with streaming eyes. Attractive, no?

 

TRB - Cornwall #1 - Crantock Beach

Its high time I shared what we got up to during our week in Cornwall, isn't it?

In the weeks prior to us going, we saw rain of biblical proportions, freezing cold nights, and even hail stones in some parts of the country. I was so worried that our holiday would be a total washout, and it made packing very difficult. There is not one outfit combination I didn't take - from wellies to sandals, bikinis to waterproof jackets and fleeces, I had all outcomes covered.

My pack-a-thon was a  wasted effort though - when we arrived it was a wonderful 28 degrees, and stayed that was the whole week, meaning that I wore in total about a third of what I took with me, mainly pretty dresses and bikinis. It was heaven, and I managed to get a tan. Score.

I think I'll split what we did into several posts. Yes, yes I will do that. I, for once, took a zillion photos, some with my proper camera and some with my i-Phone. So expect the following posts to be rather image heavy, but they are well worth it. Cornwall is literally stunning, I feel so lucky to have been able to enjoy it in the sun, with copious wine.

Day 1:
We headed to Crantock beach on our first day, and sizzled on the sand all day. We paddled in the sea, ate ice creams, and all got a little bit sun burnt. Typical Brits, ey?!

The evening was spent BBQ-ing in our garden (we rented a huge house for the week) and relaxing in the hot tub.

Stay tuned for day 2!

Rachel x