Life lately #5

L-R : First Nando's in a year // Teacher's pet // Summer in the UK // Best socks ever!

Wow!  Where has the summer gone?  Since getting back from Mexico, my life has been pretty much non-stop.  I was home for around five days and then started working at a summer camp, which was fun but pretty intense and I finished last week.  It's only now that I've been able to finally catch up on everything.  I've been sad that I've not been able to blog as much recently, hopefully when I get into a routine again I'll be able to devote more time to writing.  

Here's what I have been up to: 

Eating : As I've embarked upon a new healthy lifestyle, I'm eating a lot of delicious low-fat, healthy meals.  I've also enjoyed a lot of fruit since being back home, I've re-discovered my love for blueberries.  I'd probably eat those all day if I could! 

Drinking : As boring as it sounds... water!  Again, in order to complement my new found healthy lifestyle, I'm trying to up my water intake.  This is always one of my new years resolution's and I'm really trying to focus on drinking an extra one or two glasses a day.  

Reading : I haven't had much time to read recently but I have enjoyed Wintergirls (which I will post a review for soon) and I'm currently reading Harper Lee's To Kill A Mockingbird, which I am loving.  It's such a well known, well loved classic, and to be honest, I can't believe I've never read it before. 

Watching : The Great British Bake Off!  Masterchef!  I love the summer months when all my favourite cookery programmes begin.  I love Bake Off and Masterchef so much, I enjoy cookery and always look to them for inspiration... although, they tend to make me so hungry (especially the dessert/cakes).  As for the cinema, I've enjoyed The Dawn of The Planet of The Apes and Jersey Boys.  

Planning : I'm planning my post-summer life.  From September, I'll be working in a primary school and looking to apply for a PGCE if I do not get my very much wanted next job (it's very competitive so I'm not holding out too much hope).  It's going to be a fulfilling year! 

Anticipating : Visiting friends and new parts of the country.  I'm camping in Cornwall at the end of the month and in Cornwall, we are going to watch a Shakespeare play on the cliffs, star gazing, amongst other very exciting things!  It's my first time camping so I'm a little apprehensive but I'm sure I will enjoy it.  

Buying : I didn't actually buy it but received it as a gift, but I have currently started using the famous Liz Earle's cleanse and polish.  My skin already feels softer and clearer but I have to be patient and allow my skin to settle down and get used to a new product.  My skin is so incredibly sensitive that any little change results in a horrible break out but I'm hoping I'll get used it to, because I adore it!

How's your August been?

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Wordless Wednesday : Retro

It's been so long since I've done a Wordless Wednesday that I don't think I can be very wordless!  This week's theme is retro! I've decided to go as retro as possible with my photos this week and they actually come from a family trip to Euro Disney in 1994.  This trip was one of my first to Euro Disney, now Disneyland Paris.  I can't believe it was 20 years ago!

A climb on Big Thunder Mountain.

Mini-me!

A parade in front of the Castle.

I guess this means I'm technically classed as vintage!

°o° 

Come join in the fun!  Click on the button below! 

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Couch to 5K : Week 5

This week, I realised how seriously impressed I am with this programme.  At the end of this week, I ran for a whole, uninterrupted twenty minutes.  To be honest, even now, I can't believe I managed to do it and the run was fairly comfortable.  It seems almost crazy to think that five weeks ago, I struggled for the minute runs!

We knew that this week, we'd be in for some serious runs as there were three different podcasts, one for each session, instead of repeating the same sequence three times in a week.  The walking to running ratio jumped up quite quickly too this week and when Laura announces you'll be running for how ever many minutes, it can be a bit daunting.  However, this week seemed to be more of a mental challenge than a fitness one, and this was reiterated during the podcast.

I think for beginners who run this is a huge part of the battle, it is for me anyhow.  I am so used to be extremely unfit and not used to doing any exercise that I assume I won't be able to do it, before I've even given it a try. However, when I actually start with the runs, I find it easier to continually run instead of stop/starting.  I'm not sure if it helps me focus or I slow down too much during the walking parts that I find it difficult to start again, but I found the twenty minutes more comfortable than the earlier session of two eight minute runs with 5 minutes walking sandwiched in the middle.

I still haven't decided if I want to sign up for the mile run.  I'm at a precarious stage at the moment and I'm concerned that if I don't do it, it will knock my confidence and I will consider myself a failure.  This week, I have committed myself to making the decision; I'm going to measure the distance I cover during this week's session and if it's more than a mile and I complete it with reasonable ease, I will sign up.  I'm still working on the whole mental battle thing and telling myself I can do it, but after the 20 minute run, I'm feeling more confident that I'll be able to push myself to complete the whole 30 minutes or 5K in the final week.  Woohoo!

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Red Rose Chain's Wuthering Heights

Red Rose Company theatre company has been around for many years now and I have always wanted to see one of their productions.  I knew that they put on Shakespeare plays in Rendlesham Forest during the summer and pretty much every year, I have hummed and harred about getting tickets and then before I knew it, it had whizzed through July and August and I had missed the productions.

But not this year, I'm pleased to say!  I managed to pick up tickets from Groupon to see their production of Wuthering Heights at Jimmy's Farm in Ipswich, and I was thoroughly impressed.

I will be honest and say that I have never read the Emily Bronte classic but I was aware that it is a dark, brooding, Gothic tale that centres around one of literature's most famous couples, Heathcliff and Cathy, a story that seems perfect to be reenacted with the sun setting over a forest.

It seems that Red Rose Chain's productions have moved from Rendlesham Forest to Jimmy's Farm and upon arrival at the farm, we knew that we were in for a very special evening.  We arrived at around 6.30pm; parking was effortless and we walked along side the animals to the edge of the forest, all the way guided by extremely helpful, friendly, and polite staff.  The pathway into the 'theatre' snaked through the woodland which was to be lit up with twinkling fairy lights, setting the mood.  You already felt as if you were miles away from the usual humdrum of daily life.  We were told we could sit where ever we liked; there were three stands, and an area for you to bring your own seats in front of the stage.  There was a bar on site and many people were enjoying picnics (such a great idea - wish we had thought of that!).  The cast members were already in costume and character, chatting to audience members, which gave the production a lovely intimate, familiar feel.

The set was very simple, but the backdrop of the forest meant it was stunning and eerie enough for this brooding story.  The actors and actresses were simply phenomenal, it was a very small cast and they were simply outstanding.  I was worried that I would struggle with the dialogue but the story and production was so involving that I could not take my eyes off the stage.  The first act was very, very dark but interestingly, the second act managed to lighten the atmosphere amongst many deaths and other despair (no spoilers!).  As the sun set, the stage and play became even more haunting and this added to making this an unforgettable experience.

Red Rose Chain seriously impressed me with this production.  I am very disappointed that I won't be able to make it to their other production, Shakespeare's Comedy of Errors this summer.  They are an independent company based here in Suffolk and I feel that by setting plays in such unique environments, they are making theatre accessible to all.  Sitting in the forest, surrounded by woodland and the sounds of nature is a million miles away from the sometimes stuffy and very regal theatres that Bronte and Shakespeare would usually be set in.

A wonderful way indeed to spend a summer's evening!  Check out Red Rose Chain's website.

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Couch to 5K : Week 4

Woohoo! Week four done! I felt such a feeling of satisfaction after finishing the last session early Sunday morning. Week four was quite a substantial jump from week three, we went from running 9 minutes a session to 16 minutes. I still maintain that although six minutes doesn't sound like very long, when you are a novice runner, sometimes dragging my lead legs along, those 6 minutes or 360 seconds, really feels like a very long time.

Something that I have also been struggling with a little bit is technique. Our podcast trainer Laura has mentioned one or two tips to help our technique but I really struggle with it all. I can't seem to get my breathing inline with my left foot hitting the ground every four steps, to be honest, I'm more focused on getting through each run within the session.  I was hoping that my technique would just fall into

place as running became more often but nope, I'm still running like Phoebe from Friends. I'm also trying to work on my pace; I'm definitely not hitting any sprinting times but I'd like to develope a steady, even pace throughout the whole session, instead of jogging at a quicker pace for the first couple of minutes and then struggling for the last minute. Any tips? 

Week five is looking like it will get very serious, we have three different podcasts for each day we run. I also spoke to someone else doing the programme who is on week seven... And she told me how long she is running for... I'm panicking! However, I'm actually quite enjoying this plan and how it is benefiting my lifestyle. Here's to week five!

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Couch to 5K : Week three

Another three sessions brings us to the end of week three. This weeks sessions were noticeably a lot harder for me and the last run of each session really required me to focus and push through my desire to give up and walk! I did it though and am quite proud of myself. Two of the three runs this session were double the length of last weeks and it did feel like a pretty big jump, but you really do feel a massive sense of achievement when you get through each one and the shorter runs feel like a breeze! 

The second session this week was probably the hardest one I have done so far; we decided to do a body balance exercise class to compliment our running the night before our second run. As it turned out, the class was pretty intense and difficult for beginners and left us with lots of sore muscles which made it harder to keep on going through the tougher bits. Luckily, we had a couple of days before the final session and had just about recovered before it was time to put on the trainers again. We are planning to carry on the body balance class (exercising four times a week... Unheard of for me!) in the hope it will tone up and strengthen our muscles. 

This week, I've noticed a change in my body too. As well as doing the Couch to 5K plan, I've joined a Slimming World to shift some extra weight after my Mum and Auntie joined and did so well there. They have both inspired me so much that I really want to become healthier. I've lost weight steadily so far and with my exercising, I've also lost inches around my waist and hips. I've got a long way to go, but I feel like I've come so far in just three weeks that I'm feeling quite positive (and very nervous) about next weeks sessions!

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A review : Prime Deception by Carys Jones

I received a free copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review. 

I'm a big fan of crime thrillers, especially those with strong story lines and twists and turns that keep me guessing every step of the way. I would never have thought that crime thriller would blend very well with a romantic story line, but Prime Deception manages to mix the two quite nicely. 

We learn that the Deputy Prime Ministers' lover has supposedly committed suicide, but her twin sister and the Minister himself find that difficult to swallow. We follow the characters trying to unravel the truth, which in turn, slowly reveals each characters intimate thoughts as well as their flaws and shortcomings. 

Jones' writing drives the story along and takes us from one situation to another fluidly and with great ease. I love the way Jones' moves smoothly from one character to another, linked by a thought or an idea. To me, it's almost like a stream of thought on the page; the move from one character or setting flows seamlessly, it doesn't feel forced and still allows the reader an omniscient-like view of the situation. 

The characters were pretty well developed: I felt the main characters were multi-faceted and there seemed to be a sinister side to Charles, the Deputy Prime Minister, which was hinted at but not really developed, and I think it could have been unearthed or maybe built upon a little more. I also had a few issues with some of the minor characters: there seemed to be lots of little characters introduced who then just disappeared. A journalist, for example, who seemed poised to be a major and influential character, but who just turned into a dead end. 

The suspense didn't really build until the very end of the book, but honestly I was okay with that. I'm happy to guess the culprit without big flashing, neon signs pointing to the clues. It isn't a traditional thriller book, but an almost 'softer' thriller; there is more development in the characters feelings and emotions, as opposed to unravelling the mystery bit by bit. 

My major gripe with this book is that my copy was very, very poorly edited. I can forgive one or two mistakes, but the book seemed to be littered with typos. I find books with that many mistakes difficult to read as I become fixated on the errors instead and struggle to see past them. 

Overall, it is a fairly solid book. Jones' writing style is interesting, likeable, and for me, the asset to the novel. The story line is good, not as many twists and turns as my favourite crime books and I did predict the killer, but a fine book to dip in and out of when you fancy an easy read.

You can buy Carys Jones' Prime Deception from Amazon.

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Maleficent (2014) : a mini review.

It's Disney Wednesday again, hurray! The movie of the moment, Maleficent, has been released with mixed reviews. It's proven to be a box office hit; overtaking X-Men for the number one spot in the UK a couple of weekends back.  The critics however, haven't been so kind.

As for little ol' me, I enjoyed it. It's a Disney movie, full of Disney magic and the Disney fan in me was pleased. However, the more critical side of me was left with an overwhelming feeling of "is that it?"

The highlight of the film was Angelina Jolie: she plays Maleficent with the perfect, devastating beauty and evil that I would expect from her. She lifted Maleficent from the animated movie into live action effortlessly. I enjoyed seeing the tale of Sleeping Beauty from her point of view; we were able to understand her motives a little better and the lead up to the curse itself. The scene where she realises she has lost her wings is heartbreakingly sad, Jolie acted beautifully. I also liked seeing the development of her relationship with Diaval the raven/man, he acted as the conscious to Maleficent's evil schemes. 

Aurora herself is played by one of my favourite young actresses, Elle Fanning. Aurora is likeable enough but slightly annoying (was that just me?), Fanning plays the role as the usual wide eyed affability of a Disney princess and the character is given a little more depth than in the animated version. She holds up well against Angelina Jolie's scene stealing performance. 

As for the whole matter of True Love's Kiss, I like the route that newer films and TV shows (Once Upon A Time, Frozen) have taken towards this very important fairy tale tradition. The newer "twist" presents a much more realistic view of true love; it comes from a deeper bond than just the initial attraction of the fairy tale favourite, love at first sight. Some people have argued that it has been overdone recently, but I'm all for shaking up the somewhat antiquated views of real, true love. 

My main problem with this film is that it wasn't sure what it wanted to be. At times, it was dark, but then this darkness wasn't consistent and wimped out of what could have been some disturbing scenes. Sleeping Beauty is a dark story and I would have liked to have seen a return to that in this live action interpretation. 

As I suspected, the film was visually beautiful. Some amazing, sweeping shots of the Fair creatures Moores and impressive, shadowy portraits of Maleficent with her wings in all their glory. However, like with Oz, at times it just wasn't satisfying enough, wasn't dark enough, wasn't impressive enough. 

Have you seen Maleficent? What did you think? 

Four Seasons Mexico DF : a review.

Every now and again you stay in a hotel that can blow you away. The Four Seasons in Mexico City did that to me. The Four Seasons is a luxury hotel chain that commands brilliant locations and often hefty price tags, and sometimes, with other hotels of similar reputation, you can be disappointed. However, not with this hotel located on the central Paseo de la Reforma on the edge of Chapultepec forest in Mexico City.

 

From the moment we arrived, we received five star service. Welcomed with a delicious agua fresca (cold water flavoured with mint tea and lemon) and impeccable service from the bellboy and reception staff, we knew that we would have a fantastic stay. 

The room was spacious and lovely, with all the necessities and more. The beds are incredible, the toiletries L'Occitane, and luxurious extras such as bath robes and interactive televisions come as standard in this hotel. The housekeeping was also flawless; with a turn down service as well as the standard housekeeping.

The other areas of the hotel are also kept immaculately clean and tidy and every member of staff goes out of their way to make you feel welcome and assured that every need is catered to, without being overbearing or interfering. 

The food was also very good and reasonably priced for a hotel of this calibre, for example, the breakfast buffet served in the bar was $300 (around £15) and the extensive menu during the day and evening offer a wide range of food and drinks.

We enjoyed the hotel's outdoor swimming pool and whirlpool, it was so lovely to be in an outside swimming pool during the rain and we were provided with towels and bottled water upon going in the deliciously warm whirlpool with water jets. It's small touches like these that make this hotel stand out.  The spa also looked very inviting with a range of massage and other beauty treatments. 

This hotel was an oasis of calm and tranquility in the huge metropolis of Mexico City and gave us the perfect opportunity to wind down and contemplate over the past year in my second home, Mexico.