This blog needs

more cake. Which is why last week I whipped up these delicious gingerbread loaves that we learnt to make at the Country Cooking School a few weeks ago (okay so nil points for appearance, but they taste divine).

 
And this morning I made this mango mascarpone tart as a friend we haven't seen for ages is popping over. We shall sit in the garden which, thank the baby Jesus, is bathed in sunshine, and stuff our faces, drink a cold pinot gris and laugh like drains.

Happy Labour Weekend, y'all.

      

Sunshine

Wellington is currently being held hostage by summer.

It is HOT. And glorious and I never want it to end.

Not that I'm actually able to enjoy it, strapped as I am to the laptop. But it certainly looks nice outside the window.

Actually, that's not strictly true: there have been a couple of doggie walks along the waterfront and earlier this morning, before the sun got too excited, an 8km run with the running group. Hot, sweaty fun.

Once I manage to give this tedious work a kiss and send it on its way, there shall hopefully be time to sit in the sun-drenched garden with a glass of something suitably cold and alcoholic.

Here's someone else who loves the sun. And his ball.

  

Up and Down

I started this yesterday but ran out of puff. So let's make it a Friday/Sat collaborative kind of thing:

UP

• Sunshine, glorious sunshine. You have been gone far too long. I truly heart you.

• Getting stuff done. There's nothing like a deadline to light the fire under one's arse, and knowing that I'm getting on a big silver bird on Thursday has made my fingers race over the keyboard. Result: two interviews, three corporate pieces and a pitch all done and dusted.

• A meeting with the lovely owner of an advertising agency I met while walking the Hound. And a copywriting project that needs doing by Xmas. Bonus: after the meeting we took our respective canines into the Town Belt for a walk and a natter. Sometimes things do fall into place.

•  A long and involved chat with the PR for our Singapore media trip to iron out all the creases in our itinerary. And, joy of joys, we have the same guide I had four years ago; she was so much fun I spent most of my time in the tiny island state shaking with laughter. Not so joyful: having to attend some post-Formula 1 party next Saturday and not having a clue what to wear (this should probably be in the 'Down' column).  

• Freetime spent pouring over the Zara, H&M and Topshop websites in anticipation of next week's shopping spree. Scoff all you like, overseas readers, but here in these small, shaky isles we are bereft of these global behemoths. So while you may believe they represent the seven circles of hell, when you're denied access to them, they become like some kind of glittery prize. Perhaps a trip to one of these places can solve the above bullet.

DOWN

• The usual time/tasks conundrum.

• My friend Lorna and her adorable woofer Dobbie are moving. Yesterday we had a last walk with them, although they're only moving a couple of suburbs away, so hopefully we'll stay in touch.

• Realising a favourite Stella McCartney top (calm down, a sample I bought in China which probably cost about 1/8th of the real thing) has sprung a hole in the side. Cue inept tailoring skills.   

• Not being able to watch the second season of The Newsroom because the Animator had failed to bung it on the hard-drive. And he was, quite inconsiderately, out drinking. I do love me a bit of The Newsroom when I'm home alone.

Because it's the weekend, and I'm in a good mood, today's visual is this wonderful piece of nonsense I came across the other day. Happy weekend, wherever you are...

   

A downer

We've spent the last two days getting stoned on Vitamin D. Today, however, the Weather Gods are clutching their sides with laughter (sorry this blog is becoming so obsessed with meteorological conditions - that's not why y'all come here).

We have plunged back into sub Antarctic conditions and I almost got blown into the path of a bus when I popped out at lunchtime. Am busy being an obedient little copywriter but my heart isn't in it today: all I want to do is go home and retire to bed with my book and lashings of tea. After risking pneumonia in the Town Belt with the Furry Fellow, of course.

Plans are being laid and emails zooming across the seas in preparation of our media trip to Singapore next week.The thought of 30 degree heat, chilli crab and the Orchard Road shops are the only things propping up my world weary soul at the moment...

      (Pic Credit: Google Images)

The highpoint

of today was this strange golden orb in the sky. Which, miraculously, didn't bugger off after five minutes.

Naturally, it necessitated a walk in the town belt with His Highness and my lovely mate Pamela who helped me clarify my thoughts around a job opportunity (for the record, I opted to decline as I'm not ready to give up my very nice freelance/contract existence).

There was another jaunt around the waterfront, ice cream and lashings of work. Am I bitter that I was imprisoned inside whilst others froliced  in the sunshine? That would be a big, fat yes.

     (Pic credit: Google Images)

The last day of winter

was spent wallowing in 30 degree heat.

There was a trip to the Southport shops, lunch, some work (me) and home maintenance (the Animator, as the Parentals prepare to put their house on the market). Later, there was a walk along the river, glorious except for the bit where we were dive-bombed by tetchy magpies.

Have I mentioned how good it was to feel to sun on my skin after so long?