Happy July! Hot enough for ya?
This Fortnightly Focus is, for the most part, Link Love, but with a bit of Social Shindiggery and Wondrous Walkage thrown in for good measure, so I shall start with that:
This fortnight, I have been mostly ...
Walking for Cake 👣🎂
(Look how straight and simple this was! Can I call this a cakewalk ... ?)
The purpose?
a) to train, obvs, for the ever imminent Wye Valley Challenge, coming at ya like Cleopatra in just over a month's time (40 days from now, I'm told; egads);
b) to meet my lovelies, Natalie and Gaby, and eat much, much cake.
We met at the gorgeous Lamingtons in Bletchingley; and me being me, I was in the village some 40 minutes early:
so I wandered around the churchyard. Which is very pretty and peaceful, for the record.
 |
| {Spot the plane} |
then established myself (in the traditional sense, Natalie) in the tearoom itself where we stayed.
For about three blissful hours.
 |
| {More tea, vicar?} |
It was divine. The girls and I had a much needed catch-up over delicious quiche and panini goodness (Gaby and me) before the three chosen slabs, and I mean slabs, of cake were brought to us. (Chocolate fudge, lemon drizzle and apple and cinnamon, should you be wondering.)
 |
| {Our choices ... All of the above, please.} |
 |
| {Apple and cinnamon; a bit of fruit to balance things out. Right?} |
Oh. My. Goodness.
If I ever take a spouse, it'll be that slice of chocolate fudge cake. It was supreme.
With thanks to Natalie (and the nice young man at Lamingtons) for the tearoom photos!
 |
| {💗} |
Walking to Lakes 👣💧🌞
I meant to walk to Mercers Lake, really I did.
But there was a very sad accident there last Monday, so when I saw a sign that suggested the surrounding area may be closed (although I may just have found the wrong entrance), I accepted that risk and went off-course a bit, though this did mean I discovered a rather gorgeous route alongside the man-made lakes just outside Merstham by the Watercolour estate.
Keen eyed folk will notice that the offset follows a very similar route to the one I took on Bank Holiday Monday.
What can I say? I'm a little challenged for walkable routes round here, alas.
 |
| {In the top right corner is the lake I was heading for. I didn't quite get there.} |
 |
| {Obligatory yomp selfie, by way of evidence that I was Out Out} |
Before I go any further, let me explain the little kerchief about my neck there. That's a cooling towel, the latest in yomp technology. You wash it a few times, then when you're off walking, soak it, and wear it round your neck. Where it keeps you cool. Which is cool.
Of course, in 26 degree heat it has a tendency to dry out but I'm working on how to avoid this happening.
 |
| {Ooh, you're such a tease-l} |
 |
| {These are pretty, whatever they are. What are they?} |
 |
| {Sad bicycle.} |
I could try to explain to you how epic our night out at the Back to the 80s event at the Forum, Tunbridge Wells, was, but instead, I shall just let this little montage, in the manner of all good 80s films, tell the story of our night.
Albeit probably slightly out of chronological order.
And with little indication bar our decreasing hairlines (as we pinned it up and pinned it up) as to how flamin' hot it was in there. Mind you, I was wearing a fairly layered peplum (from eBay, which may, to its credit be authentic 80s!) so, next time, slightly less clothing is required, I think.
Oh! And props to all the people who rocked up dressed up. Especially the men. Who also got very into the dancing. Impressive.
I shall also leave this little treat here, inspired by Jackie annuals of yore:
With massive thanks to Natalie for most of the photographs and gifs in the video. Love oo! And yes, you can now use the annual cover however you like!
Link Love 🔗💓
Serious 😐
This a cappella cover of This is Me by Malinda Kathleen Reese (and friends) is pure. Just, pure.
Does school choir matter? | on YouTube | via John Rutter on Facebook | Yes, yes it does.
Trigger warning: this is a supremely sensitive post, but it's very interesting, and thought-provoking:
- Positivity can’t cure cancer – and neither can fighting talk | Sali Hughes for The Pool
Also a tough one:
- Everyday steps women take that would shock men | on News.com.au | via Evie
I'm going to put a little side note in here (not that I'm making it AAM*) that in recent months and years, I've become increasingly more angry at the approach that local police authorities (including my local authority) have taken when wording their safety campaigns.
The onus is consistently on women to make themselves safe from attack, not on attackers to reconsider attacking. I suppose it's because the authorities know they're able to appeal to the individuals with the most power to control their behaviour – that is, women, who can control where they choose to walk, rather than the attackers who are clearly beyond moral reasoning and behaviour modification.
I'm not saying this is right, at all. It's pre-emptive victim blaming.
(*all about me)
Silly 🤡
- Five creative ways to make someone else's life event all about you | satire | or is it? | on the Daily Mash
- Malinda Kathleen Reese has done it again | Google Translate Sings ... One Day I'll Fly Away {Moulin Rouge} | on YouTube
- This educative interpretation of Les Miserables by Sesame Street tickled my (French) Fancy aussi {see what I did there?} | also on YouTube
The Friends opening sequence with sound instead of music | yet again on YouTube
Well, that's it. Oh, except to say that the next time you hear from me I shall be an old wretch of the age of 40.
So no doubt I shall be poised, mature, well put-together ...
Ah, who am I kidding? I shall probably just be wearing (more) purple.
qb xx
No comments:
Post a Comment