Wedding Anniversary Trip

For our wedding anniversary, Stu and I are aiming to go away or have some sort of an adventure every year. This year it wasn't looking great. Stu got promoted (yay!) but it meant he had to switch from weekly to monthly pay, leaving us with just my wages for a whole month (boo!) in the run up to it, which rapidly depleted our savings. With our wedding anniversary only 2 weeks away, it looked like we were about to fail our aim on our second wedding anniversary. Out of nowhere, suddenly my amazing parents suggested we get a cottage and have a week long holiday somewhere in the countryside with them, and my grandparents. It meant the dog could come along with us, and we'd get to spend time with my parents who live a few hours away from us, yay!

Next thing I knew we had a cottage booked in Ellastone and we were on our way! It was a lovely converted barn in the middle of nowhere, with 4 bedrooms, a mini pool table, access to a sauna and gym, and stunning views over the hills. It was set onto a farm with a field of sheep that the owners kept as pets. So cute!

Ashen thoroughly enjoyed himself. He's 10 now, and arthritic, so for him, lounging in the sun with belly rubs from all his favourite people was bliss. Look at that happy face! We did a couple of little trips; on our actual wedding anniversary we headed into Bakewell which turned out to be an error. Monday is market day, and the market is in the only car park, which meant we managed to find a parking spot that gave us half an hour to run and get some Bakewell tarts, fancy cheese and fudge, before we had to head off again. It was a shame but there wasn't actually a whole lot to do so back to the sunshine and gin it was.

This was Ashen eagerly awaiting our return from Bakewell. Look at that snoot. What a cutie.

We had a real shock one night, all of a sudden there was a lot of activity in the fields below us, people running back and for and the sheep being rounded up. One sheep was laid on the floor, not moving. Seemingly from nowhere, there is suddenly a lamb with another sheep in the field. It becomes clear that the sheep that isn't moving is in labour and is in a bad way. We all became so emotionally invested in this sheep. Next thing we knew there was a lamb being swung by it's ankles that the sheep had birthed. It wasn't breathing either. We are watching in total horror as it seems that both this poor sheep and it's newborn lamb haven't made it. The lady who owns the farm is visibly crying and my heart just breaks for her. These sheep are their pets, and this should be a beautiful moment for them. We solemnly return to our drinks, gutted for them.

We sit quietly for a little while, I keep glancing at this poor family, wishing there was something we could do. They turn away from the sheep and tend to the other newborn lamb that was happily running around, leaving just one man, the farmer's son from across the road, with the lamb and it's mother. And all of a sudden, the lamb moves. I'm the only one who sees it. Everyone is convinced that it didn't and that I just reeeeeally wanted it to. I'm convinced. I grab my Dad's SLR camera so I can zoom in on the field below. I wait, and I wait. And that lamb moves again. And then the mother does too. The farmer's son has done it. He managed to save not only the newborn lamb, but it's 12 year old mother too (12 is super old for a sheep apparently!). I literally cry tears of joy. What an incredible thing to witness, and something I'll remember it for the rest of my life.

The next day I couldn't resist going and photographing the sweet little lambs, so lamb spam incoming!

The rest of the holiday is mostly spent chilling out, drinking, eating, and playing Balderdash. I win every single game of Balderdash and somehow manage to make my poor Dad have to say the word 'queef' about 8 times. If you want a good family board game I highly recommend! It was hilarious.

We had a fantastic week with our family and our doggo, and we are already planning for a new adventure for next year. We might just venture a little further afield next time!

Much love,

Kitty xxxx

Colourpop Lips and Eyes : JML Hair Remover

Tattoos and London Adventures!

Last week I travelled down to London for a night and managed to cram so much adventure into one day and an evening!

Wednesday night the first thing I did was meet up with my lovely bridesmaid Roswell Ivory for her birthday! There were brownies, mangoes and many political discussions. I bloody love this gal! So happy I got to see her for her birthday.

I then jumped on the tube and went to meet Stephanie of Nerd About Town who I was staying with. You know when you meet someone and it's like you've known them forever? That's what meeting Steph was like. Hopefully it won't be long before I get to see her again because we totally didn't get enough time together. Plus, her Mum is a bad ass!

This handsome beast is Blue. He had a belly that needed rubs!

EDIT - While the quality of their clothes isn't in doubt, I cannot encourage anyone to buy from Scarlett & Jo or support their business for ethical reasons.

Thursday morning I got up and had a cuppa with Steph's Mum, then ventured across London to Scarlett & Jo's headquarters. I had arranged to meet Lucia of U Can't Wear That and Leighanne of Bump and Beyong Blog. Both are total babes and I am so glad I got to meet them! As an added bonus, Mayah Thomas was also there! I'm a huge fan of hers but I managed to control my fangirling :D I didn't remember to take any selfies because I'm useless. Next time! I also got to sneak a peek at some of Scarlett & Jo's upcoming designs, and even try some on. I'm 5ft 11 and Gifi of S&J was eager to see some of the samples on a much taller than average woman, and I was more than happy to comply! And you guys, oh we are in for a treat, so much awesome is coming. Eep!

After that, I then went over to Jolie Rouge Tattoo Studio for a 6 hour session with Keely Rutherford. I'm determined to get my lower leg moth/butterfly sleeve finished for our wedding next year, so I decided to risk a long session, having only done small ones before. I like to think I was pretty tough, but I have to admit, I was hurting by the end and had to tap out. One more session of about the same length and we should be all done :D

 

Keely worked in sections, starting on the front of my leg, because it's what I see, and therefore where the space bugs me the most!

Keely wanted to add more different colours into the sleeve, and orange was the most awesome idea! She also added in more black and grey with some less detailed butterflies with I think stops it being too crazily coloured.

She also had the brill idea to do some butterflies using negative space, so did some smaller butterfly outlines in orange and purple, and then filled in the background around them. So cute!

Then we moved round to the side, and then a little on the back.

I couldn't handle that last bit of green background needed on the back/side here, but next time I will! Keely is so talented, and it's such a privilege to have her work on me. She's the only person to have tattooed me.

And some close ups! I love the touches of orange, it's like sunset explosions in the butterflies. Lush! I'll take healed photos and share them in another blog in a few weeks, currently it is well moisturised and healing.

I had such a fab time, the folks at Jolie Rouge were all lovely, special thanks to Manny the gorgeous apprentice who helped me figure out the London buses and made sure I knew where I was going!

I can't wait to meet more plus size bloggers at the Curve Fashion Festival in Manchester in September, are you going?

Much love,

Kitty xxxx