this week.

1. The three day week - I don't know if I could do it all the time as I actually quite like working and having a routine, but it was very good having a three day week due to the mega bank holiday weekends.
2. Having a tidy flat - we've had a bit of a spring clean and the flat is looking really great. I love it when everything looks fresh and tidy and there isn't any clutter.
3. Kick Ass - we finally got this on DVD (and I got IDed in the process - rather embarrassing!) and we were not disappointed. Hit Girl is my new hero. Cardy bought me the graphic novel for Christmas so it's my current bedtime reading.
4. My friend's roller derby blog - she's working on a book and has started a blog telling the story of her trials and tribulations as a trainee roller girl. Well worth a read!
5. Fire and Stone in Covent Garden - Peking duck pizza, need I say more?

this week.

1. Spring flowers - colour seems have to exploded all over London over the last week. I'm lucky to work over the road from a gated garden and the daffodils are amazing. The flower beds on the way to the supermarket are awash with colour too. Glorious!
2. New arrivals - one of my friends has just had her first baby girl. I'm so happy for her, it feels like she's been pregnant forever! She's gone for a Space Invaders themed nursery - that's all kinds of awesome.
3. My spring coat - I've put my winter coat away for the time being and have broken out my spring coat, complete with gingham and embroidered flowers.
4. Waking up to sunshine - it definitely makes the mornings easier!
5. Cardy, for buying the Nintendo 3DS - perhaps the best moment this week. When I got home on Friday Cardy came into the living room with a HMV bag and I couldn't help but do a happy dance. Not only did he get it in Aqua Blue (which is gorgeous!) but he also bought the version of Nintendogs that I'd been eyeing up.

this week.

1. Hearing survival stories from Friday's earthquake in Japan - I'd been nervously waiting to hear whether people I know via the internet were safe and it sounds like everyone is accounted for. I still can't get over how terrible it all is. My thoughts are with all those people who have been affected.
2. Pancakes for breakfast - we decided to use the last of our eggs and made pancakes for lunch today. Pancakes + lemon juice + sugar = amazing.
3. Later sunsets - it's such a treat to be able to leave work and it still be light outside.
4. My new shortcut to work - not only does it take me past some very beautiful houses but it also shaves at least five minutes off my journey.
5. Homemade soup - we've been cooking up huge batches of vegetable soup to go in the freezer. Gorgeous with some hot buttery toast.

tourist.

On Friday I had a wander round central London with my camera. It was the first time I've had the chance just to walk, without wanting to go into shops and without feeling guilty about holding friends up while I pause to snap a scene. It was a glorious day - the sun was shining and it was warm, but not too warm.

I always forget just how much I love Trafalgar Square. I love watching the tourists' faces - they have this expression of wonder. I like to go there in the summer and sit downwind of the fountains. The spray is so soothing.

The set can be found on my Flickr.

spring.

The clocks went forward today signalling the beginning of a long awaited spring. There is a tree across the road from our flat that is sporting a fresh new blanket of soft pink blossom. When I turn the lights off as I leave the office at the end of the day I'm not longer plunged into darkness.

Life is most certainly sweet.

I'm loving living in London. I'm loving living with Cardy. I'm loving our flat and my job and lounging around at the weekends.

The light in our living room is astonishing - I'm looking forward to getting snap happy over the impending Easter holiday. I love the creamy tones in this photo of Svetlana. I never thought I would be able to take such good photos of my beauty white girls.

fresh.

I’ve decided that today is the first day of spring. It’s been the first day in a while that has not been accompanied by drizzle and a biting wind. The sky is a bright tapestry of white cotton wool clouds and a marigold sun. The heady scent of pollen is on the breeze, making me dizzy with delight.

Today was an Astrid flavoured day.


Her lime hair and apricot lips have a real kick. She’s like eating tangy sorbet on a warm day.