The Lily Allen Effect

The Lily Allen Effect

Sometimes you need to channel Lily Allen, this day happened to be one of those days.

This particular evening, I was making the trip to Surrey for dinner and drinks. I decided to get dressed up for no reason whatsoever, sometimes no reason, is the absolute best reason. I have been on the hunt for a pair of trainers for a while and couldn't quite bring myself to cave and get the Nike Free Runs, instead I decided on a pair of Adidas Sambas (mens - the women's selection just didn't cut the mustard..). The whole outfit selection, including a hipster half bun, felt very 2006 and I loved it.

The night consisted of steak, great company, good music and cider tasting (a bit like wine tasting but if you spit the cider out, people pelt you with apples - don't waste cider kids...). I know it's August so it is actually meant to be warm, but I am still amazed when I can sit outside at 11pm sans a coat / blanket / duvet. The only thing making me want to relocate indoors was the apple tree, that kept dropping apples uncomfortably close to my head - I survived, but only because I was supporting apple kind with my choice of booze...

Until next time :)

Dress - HM, Trainers - Adidas

Rowdy Ramblers

Rowdy Ramblers

One sunny, delightful Saturday in July - I went on a ramble and it was rowdy, the 'rowdy rambler' title can live on. A lovely lady has been organising these rather fantastic rambles for years, this was my first, it was splendid.

It was quite an achievement to add to my list making it to Victoria station on time - we were all meeting at 10.30 am, I woke up at 9.30 am, hungover. I arrived lagging behind my pal, iced coffee, headache tablets and a Pret tuna baguette in hand. Hurdle number one had been tackled. We were starting the walk / hike / ramble in Hassocks before making the 11 mile walk to Lewes to travel back.

As you have probably grasped by now, the place / places were beaut. There is something magical about escaping the city for the day, wandering through fields and getting a big hit of fresh air. The meandering paths turned rather frequently into uphill paths, my bum muscles complained the next day, I however, did not. Half way through, we stopped at one of the most wondrous pubs I have ever stumbled across for a refuel with food and cider to help us on our way. The pub had an abundance of charm, local ciders and a bow of free tampons in the ladies (what a bloody nice touch eh?).

So, a run down of the day - hangover, iced coffee, train, fields, sun, merchandised hats, a mirage ice cream van, fields, hikers with walking sticks, cider, fields, greeness, air, sheep, pub lunch, cider, fields, forest, views, fields, road, laughter, 'banter', rowdiness, cider, pub, train, tube, walk, dirty burger, bed.

All in a days work, as they say... If you have any brill suggestions for new rambling destinations, do leave me a comment - I have caught the 'rambling' bug it seems. Speak soon x

Lambeth Country Fair

Lambeth Country Fair

I am now back from jaunting around the French Riviera, I have a ton of posts and a few videos to post, just to cling to the sun and sense of freedom a tad longer - but before we get into sun, sea and sand I wanted to show you the Lambeth Country Fair.

The Lambeth Country Fair is one of my favourite events that South London has to offer. I mean, it's hard not to get excited by a day that is based around cider, tasty food and reggae music. The day actually got off to a sunny start, that was until the England decided to be the ultimate cliche and rain / thunderstorm / apocalypse... but you will see that for yourself later. So, it started sunny and I went with it - watermelon skirt, sandals and wearing ALL of the colours.

The fair itself is just lovely, even the trees decided to dress up for the occasion. Fuelling up on tasty food before the cider consumption and dancing begins is always the number one priority. I had discovered 'Anna Mae's Mac 'n' Cheese' at the fair last year and I had been craving the cheesy goodness ever since. I went for the 'Kanye Western' because cheese, bacon and hotdogs is a pretty mouthwatering, heart stopping combination.

Skirt & Sandals - Primark, Jumper & Necklace - Topshop, Satchel - Urban Outfitters

We wandered around, taking in the atmosphere before settling on a stage to dance, drink and be merry. That lasted around an hour before the skies began to cry, we then spent a good hour stood under a tree (wet) with umbrellas hoping that the sun would show itself again. The fair was over but our spirits were still high, we danced through the mud all the way to a reggae bar. Everyone was full of mud and wet but that actually added to a pretty great atmosphere.

All round great day.

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Tropical Pale

Tropical Pale

Do you not just love how close Brighton is to London? You can almost smell the salt and you can most definitely hear the shrill squawk of the seagulls.

We arrived at Blackfriars station early one Saturday morning armed with train snacks and a hunger to see the sea. There were around 5 of us, allowing us to 'group save' - I thought this would give us a quid off, but no, it's actually awesome - we all got a day return for £6! That is cheaper than a glass of wine in London. £6 for a day of sun, sea and sand. Ok it was too cold for the sea and the sun only flashed its face, but you get the jist - it's cheap and extremely cheerful.

Vintage shopping is one of my favourite things to do... until it goes wrong, then it is just heartbreaking. I found the most beautiful vintage dress I have ever seen, I stripped mid-shop before quickly realising it just didn't fit. Ruined. It wasn't even just a little small, you know the kind of small you could vow to lose weight for. I almost wanted to buy it just to hang on my wall, but that would have been too sad. Anyway, if you want the most beautiful dress in the world and you are slightly smaller than me - get to 'Smugglers Paradise' in Brighton, now.

I decided that all white (yes legs included) with a hint of the tropics was the best direction to go with for a slightly overcast day at the beach - good choice? I was browsing the always ever tempting aisles of Primark and set eyes on the pineapple socks from across the store. I mean, come on!

We spent the rest of the day drinking and visiting Brighton's eateries, before settling down with a can on the beach to watch the sun set on another day in Brighton.

Look at it, just look at it...

Oh Brighton, you beauty - until next time.

Lambeth Country Show

Lambeth Country Show.

It has been a busy few months - I have a new job and I have moved to London full time, more on that later. BUT this also means I have a mammoth back log of summer pictures, which are going to start going sour as Autumn sneaks up.

So here we go, first up - Lambeth Country Show.

For the 39th year, Brockwell Park opens up its gate yearly to host the show and to make my first visit pretty ace. There is everything from gourmet food trucks, flowery creations, craft tents, live sheep shearing, vegetable competitions and all topped off by a bit of reggae music in the sun.

As a cider enthusiast, I was rather excited to see some homemade brew going around - and at £9 per gallon... who can argue. We spent most of the day sat on the grass, dog spotting, bobbing along to reggae and drinking cider. As summer days go, this one was pretty awesome.

Even when the Lambeth Country Show packs up and leaves town for the year, Brockwell still stands in all its prettiness, offering weekly food markets, parks and Brockwell Lido. Turns out South London is the one.

Bag - Vintage, Dress - H&M, Top - Topshop, Brogues - Clarkes

It doesn't get any better than mac & cheese, washed down by homemade cider.

I like this guy and I love the decision to wear a Top hat minus a shirt