And That Was February Speeding By...

Ok, I admit to being totally freaked out by the fact that I'm writing another monthly review post so soon. It was just Christmas right? How can we be into March already? I feel like I'm living with a mild case of time-induced whiplash.

When I thought I'd better sit down and write this, I imagined I'd be struggling to fill the page without having to resort to  telling you about the month's more mundane lowlights and typing out my daily timesheets to make it prove that stuff actually happened. As it turns, out, it's been quite a busy 28 days and, should you care to spend a few minutes scrolling on downwards, I hope you'll agree that 2014 is continuing in a full-on fashion.

So as is my habit, and in the manner of an easy-reader with big pictures and few words for adults who might also be suffering with brain overload, here is my February...

Mr Apple and I cheekily headed off for a little break at the gorgeous Wellington Arms. Not far away but a hundred miles from the every day. It was a dream and I thoroughly recommend it.

I got completely hooked on the Winter Olympics and admit to getting the kids to pretend they're in the curling final when I want them to sweep the kitchen floor.

I also developed a new obsession - Agatha Christie. I've devoured two Marples already and am onto murder number 3.

Planning continues apace for our April trip to Normandy, using my Grandad's log-books to trace where we should go. Am continually talking Mr Apple down from letting the kids watch the first ten minutes of 'Saving Private Ryan' as holiday prep.

I got over-excited with my camera and new lens. Can't wait for Emily Quinton's Makelight 2 in a few weeks time to learn more.

I wrote over ten thousand words of client copy in February for brochures, websites, articles and more. Can't wait for you to share everything when it's all polished & looking beautiful.

February was a sporty month. Son and I played badminton A LOT, I added another hundred or so miles to my walking log and son became Captain of his school hockey team. Proud.

I survived half-term.

A few very interesting meetings were in the diary for February and a couple of very interesting projects have kicked off. Love the buzz of new things.

I had my recruit interview day for the RAF Reserves and all went really well. Next stop, medical and fitness test and, if all goes to plan, I'll be working with the Media Operations squadron. So excited about this amazing opportunity.

We celebrated the first anniversary of the arrival into our home of our beautiful Labrador.

I made and sent some Valentine's cards to some of my favourite people, just to tell them that I love that they love what they do. How can you fail to be inspired by being around such passionate, creative and committed professionals?

I wrote a couple of blog posts that absolutely seemed to hit the spot - one that was basically a kick in the pants to everyone and one explaining why you shouldn't work in the wedding industry.

I spent time with friends, I baked a lot and kept on with my diary and aims for 2014. Hurrah!

I did not get blown away in the wind or swept away in the floods.. Neither did our fences/trees/house so I am much luckier than thousands of people and I know it.

It was my adored son's 12th birthday. I made cake and indulged my penchant for craft and making all the pretty...

We all got into the party spirit with the photobooth (thanks to Perfect Wedding magazine for the printable prop downloads!)...

I baked more cake (pops) and crafted a bit more (very masculine) pretty...

And the birthday boy loved it!

And That Was January Speeding By...

I'm feeling pretty guilty that it's the evening of Friday 31st January as I type and this little jumble of words is the first blog post of the year that I've managed to put together for me. A shockingly bad state of affairs I think you'll agree but I am a wicked woman and I promise to hang my head in shame, shame I tell you, for at least a few moments.

But, perhaps you'll allow me off of the naughty step when you've read this post because I think that this year has got off to a bit of a flying start. No coughing and spluttering on the drive like an old banger for 2014. Oh no, we've gone flat out, straight into the fast last (or "lane three Tamryn, the limit's the same everywhere" as my ex-cop Dad would no doubt tell me).

So, let's get on with the little review of my month. Ladies and Gentlemen, with the aid of words and pictures, I give you... January...

It rained. It rained a lot. This pleased my dog who liked to divide her time between launching herself into puddles and then huddling under my desk by the radiator drying out. Both of these things made me smile.

Thanks to the dog walking, I'm 10% through my 2014 goal of walking 1,250 miles this year. Go me.

We've booked a week in France for the Easter Holidays - bring on the Normandy Beaches, the food and the wine.

I stuck to my 'friends and family' time resolution. A football match on New Years Day (a last minute equaliser for Reading saved a depressive drive home), bowling, dinners out and after school trips here, there and everywhere. We crammed a lot in.

I have been tinkering with my camera and this shot got a mention in Emily Quinton's Floral Friday. Chuffed does not even begin to cover it.

I was invited to The Wedding Industry Awards and got to hang out with some of my favourite people (above from the left, Victoria Stanton from Fetcham Park, Emma Woodhouse aka The Wedding Reporter/Cloggins, the super talented Eddie Judd and the beautiful Laura Caudery from Fetcham Park.) 

I also treated myself to a night in London after the awards so got some me time wandering around and taking photos of some of the beautiful memorials that mean a lot to me. This one above is, for reasons I'll mention later in the post, very meaningful right now.

This is the powerful Bomber Command Memorial. I'm so pleased I got to see it and was very touched by the tiny poppy that someone had tucked into the back of the airman's boot which you can just make out in this photo.

My beautiful dog continues to be my shadow. She has been the perfect office assistant this month as I've had so much to do - she makes me take a break and I'm all the better for it.

Mr Apple, like the crazy fool he is, has signed up to The Jurassic Coast Marathon in March. I meanwhile, have booked The Hut to stay in whilst he labours up and down the coast path for three days. I think I've won here.

A lovely friend bought me a fabulous gluten-free cook book for Christmas and, miracle of miracles, the pastry recipe is a) easy and b) pretty flipping good. This pecan pie was nothing short of a revelation.

The lovely Eddie Judd (you've met her already in this post) blogged our family photo shoot. Cue more smiles.

Actually, it didn't rain all the time, even if it's felt like it. On a couple of mornings, it was worth getting up super early to at least catch the frost and blue skies before the clouds rolled on in.

Last January I didn't have this beautiful girl. This January, I can't imagine my life without her.

I have written in my 'One Line A Day' diary every day this month. Rain has featured frequently but so have lots of other good bits. I like to be fair.

This is what January should be like. I don't believe I ordered the rain however, I have got through January without a cold, blocked nose or sniffles. Result.

My gluten-free Jam Duffins (doughnut muffin hybrids, keep up) were rather splendid. I love baking and singing badly in the kitchen whilst I do so. Obviously, I save this activity until there's no-one home.

The view from my bedroom window was, on a few occasions this month, spectacular.

Mr Apple and I went to see comedian Miles Jupp at a little venue in Reading. He was great and we laughed a lot. Mr Apple is still repeating some of the lines now but he's not going to be on Mock The Week anytime soon.

I have read A LOT this month. Partly because I love reading and partly because I am loving my historical research at the moment. My subject - the women gun crews of WWII and if you don't know much about these amazing, wonderful, courageous, trailblazing women then you might like to buy an upcoming issue of Pretty Nostalgic where I'll be telling you all about them...

I have also bought my first Agatha Christie novel having developed a slightly worrying addiction to Miss Marple on TV. I have also bought myself Paper To Petal and can't wait for this to arrive either.

And among all this, work has been going pretty damn well too...

14th April - The Week That Was

It's an early Sunday start this morning - the combination of a beautiful light dawn and the promise of a bit of Formula One action has me up and about even earlier than usual. It's been a lovely week here - I took a bit of time out and made the most of the Easter holidays with my son before losing him next week to a cricket coaching course and then we're back in the term-time grind. So, here's my week...

• Taking my son and his friend to play badminton and marveling at how much these boys have changed over the years.
• Baking baking baking - beautiful gluten-free fruit bread, gluten-free doughnut muffins and teaching Mr Apple to make gluten-free focaccia. All very yum.
• Starting Gundog & Girl - the blog of my life with my new dog and being amazed - over 300 page views in the first two days!
• Finding a wonderful dog trainer and booking in for a training session (tomorrow - eek!)
• Adoring Penelope from Tigerlily Weddings more & more - such a dedicated, determined and inspiring person. Love my e-mails from her.
• Two fabulous interviews with brides for features for Love Scarlett
• A wonderful other-worldly walk on Bucklebury Common with my beloved dog.
• Watching the kids eat sushi with so much gusto and wanting to try more and more new things.
• A wet-weather day - board games and old-fashioned fun.
• Time with my Mum and my first writing in the seventy year old family diary
• Looking in my diary for next week and seeing days full of fabulous and interesting things.

7th April - The Week That Was

I hope that wherever you are when you're reading this is as sunny as my kitchen is at the moment. I'm currently curled up into a chair with a morning cup of tea by my side while the sun floods in through the windows. My dog is by my feet and the house is still and quiet. It's quite wonderful! As usual, I'm amazed that another week has flown by - a spinning mix of longer days and a happy hint of warmer weather in the air. Anyway, here's the week that was...

• A great meeting about something really rather special - news coming soon!
• Baking a beautiful gluten-free chocolate cake - converting one of Edd Kimber's recipes and tweeting with him about the successful changes. Next up for conversion - Edd's Cinnamon & Caramel cake.
• Launching our Summer Specials and getting a great response to the first offer - Brilliant Blogs (next offer coming your way on Monday 8th April)
• Exploring the surprisingly lovely grounds at Reading University with the dog. 
• Arranging a meeting with a fabulous someone in the industry about a project. So excited as this is someone who, in my opinion, has really got it. Can't wait!
• Easter egg accompaniment to reading - this week's book is 'Cold Comfort Farm' by Stella Gibbons.
• Getting in contact with my next 'real bride' for Love Scarlett - love 'meeting' new people and talking weddings.
• Booking a couple of holidays and planning planning planning. Much excitement.
• Having a sunny Saturday in the garden, playing badminton with my son (who appears to be better again - hurrah!)
• Blue skies and some sunshine. Enough said.

Son's legs, not mine I hasten to add!

31st March - The Week That Was

It's a slightly belated catch-up this week - following my own advice from last week, I let myself off the 'e-leash' over the Easter weekend and it was great. Quality family time without the incessant beep-beep of phones, mails, messages and other things demanding my attention. So, I'm not sure whether it's that dose of headspace or the beautiful blue sky outside my window that's making me smile this morning but actually, it doesn't matter. So, on with the catch-up...

• Some amazing conversations with my son whilst he was home from school poorly.
• Watching the dog watch over my son - that dog would make a great nurse.
• Starting the 'Woodley & Earley' Clandestine Cake Club & setting the date for our first get-together.
• Writing approximately 15,000 words for various projects & assignments.
• Signing up for the 60km South Downs walk to raise money for Hounds For Heroes.
• The kids breaking up for Easter holidays and planning lots of activities.
• Easter egg hunts, Easter baking and other Easter-ish fun.
• Lots of family visiting for Easter lunch - 6 hours of cooking for a great feast!
• Dog walking through the daffodils.
• Son purchasing a huge Lego set with his saved up pocket money - a great project for cold holiday days.
• Taking two brilliant enquiries for work and getting lost in phone conversations with the people in question.
• An evening reading by the fire - the upset at finishing 'I Capture The Castle' has been somewhat repaired by starting 'Peaches For Monsieur Le Cure'

24th March - The Week That Was

Firstly, I hope you're all warm and snug on this bitingly bitter Sunday. As we skid sideways towards Easter, it's almost impossible to think that next weekend we change the clocks and welcome in 'British Summer Time'. Never before have my thermals been worn quite so regularly! Thank heavens for warm drinks, good food and a roaring log fire every evening otherwise I would be a Tamryn shaped icicle. Anyway, whilst I type one handed (other hand wrapped around a mug of tea), here's the week that was...

• Seeing some hard work pay off in the form of beautiful new brochure proofs for a lovely client.
• Watching son run his annual school cross country race and being blown away by his sense of fair play and friendship.
• Arranging to meet the gorgeous Tiffany Grant-Riley next week (whooop whooop!)
• Booking onto my first Clandestine Cake Club meeting. Can't wait to get baking for that.
• Getting inspired by my step-daughter's school reading project and having a great 'favourite book' debate by the fire.
• Falling more in love with my gorgeous dog and signing up to learn more with Pets in Practise.
• Joining up with a group of incredibly wonderful women to work on a very special new project.
• Having a great telephone coaching conversation with a client in Wales.
• Receiving some really fabulous feedback about our 'Finding Your Voice' series.
• Being interviewed for and accepting the post of Poppy Appeal co-ordinator for my area. Very proud.
• Writing my little piece for the Dambusters 70th Anniversary memorial.
• Having a day at the Waitrose Cookery School with the lovely Adriana Rabinovich teaching us all about gluten-free breads and pastry. I met lots of great people and loved every minute of it.
• Reading the beautiful 'I Capture The Castle' by Dodie Smith and loving my new literary heroine, Cassandra Mortmain.