Today's post was brought to you by too much makeup

I'd read the after-care notes and been warned by my facialist but I was still unprepared for the sight that greeted me this morning. "You look like a burn victim," suggested the Animator. "Or like you've gone 10 rounds with Mike Tyson."

Apparently following IPL it can take up to a week for the burnt/bruised/swollen epidermis to flake off. Until then, I will be channelling my inner Essex Girl and wearing more foundation than is appropriate (sadly even that doesn't hide the worst of the scars). I also wasted half an hour changing the way I part my hair in an attempt at strategic disguise; I don't need to tell you how successful that was.

This morning I did an interview for Homestyle Magazine and, despite my convoluted explanation and apology for my appearance, I'm sure the couple's four-year daughter took fright.

If you need me, I shall be hiding in the wardrobe until things return to normal.  

Today's visuals are of the Melrose house, c/o owner Jo Macdonald.

The one where it ends well

The Grumpy Olympics continued apace today - this time interview subjects and editors were among the competitors.

And the poor bird died. It was chirping this morning when I got up and although I tried to hand-feed it (following the sage advice of yesterday's bird woman) by the time I went to check on it later in the morning, it had gone to a better place - or at least a place without bastard cats. And yes, big old sook that I am, I did have a wee cry.  

But the day got better when the sun came out and my friend Rachel came over - it's her birthday tomorrow so I baked a cake and after a walk with His Highness in the town belt we sat in the glorious sunshine and ate and gossiped.

Other good things that happened today: a commission from Taste Magazine to eat and drink my way though the Wairarapa and another for one of my Seoul stories from a Hong Kong-based magazine. Speaking of Honkers, today I finally got around to contacting the airline and tourism body to organise the famil I won as part of the travel journo of the year thingy. Am hoping to also get to Europe on this trip so let the planning commence.      

And I have just returned from my first - and last - IPL session. There's no need to look it up - it basically means 'painful facial treatment that I should never have let my facialist talk me into'.

Am off to lie down with a glass of wine and a cold compress. I may be a while.

Today's visuals c/o Rachel.