Dear August...

Dear August,

Thank you for a wonderful month, you are already missed. I have to go back to work on Monday and I'm not ready to have to wake up at 7.15am every day after you spoilt me with lie ins and late nights chatting with friends.

You started off brilliantly with a holiday away in Scotland. A week away from home with my family in a different environment was lovely. A week away from my laptop is always welcome, sometimes I feel like I spend too much time staring at the screen instead of doing something a lot more useful with my time.

What followed on was two consecutive weekends away, one in London and one in Bristol. London brought it's usual delights...a catch up with friends and fellow vloggers and bloggers, great food, aching feet. I helped to organise a meet up which I always enjoy to do and it's great to be able to take pictures of your food and not be questioned because they're all doing it too.

The following weekend, I went to Bristol to see my brother and visit the south west. Whilst down there, we took the trip to Bath, a place which I always enjoy visiting because it's just like stepping into a Jane Austen novel...shame my Mr Darcy was busy that day.

You ended all too quickly August, finishing faster than you started and I'm sad that you have gone but I'll always have the memories thanks to taking part in Vlogust. Although it was stressful at times and it only brought me to tears once or twice in the whole time I did it, I'm proud that I completed the challenge and can't wait to daily vlog again in October.

Thank you August for everything, see you next year.

Love,

Clare

xxx

6 Books for Summer

Hey there,

School is nearly over for the summer holidays and that means that I will soon have a lot more time to fill up with activities and ideas. But it also means that I'll have have a lot of time sitting around trying not to be bored. So I've decided to set myself a little challenge...before I go back to work in September I am going to try and read six books.

I've bought a few books recently that I'd like to read plus I've got a few that I've had a while and haven't read yet.... Meet my six books for summer.

The six books in question are the ones under the pig, just in case you were wondering. Let's start with the one I know you have all spotted Grey by E.L James. Yes that's right I bought it. I've read all three of the Fifty Shades books and yes I have no shame in saying I'm interested to read this too. It's not a crime.

Up next, Paper Towns by John Green. Like most people, I read The Fault in Our Stars before the film came out and I'm planning to do the same before Paper Towns comes out. Obviously I've got a little bit of time because I probably won't watch the film before it comes out on DVD as I never go to the cinema anymore.

Three of the remaining books are by authors of books I already love. Giovanna Fletcher, the wife of Tom Fletcher of McBusted has already published two books, Billy and Me and You're the One that I Want and I loved both of them. I can't wait to read Dream a Little Dream soon.

Meg Cabot is the lady behind the original Princess Diaries series of ten books. I read all of them in my teenage years and have also read some of her "adult" books too. She recently published Princess Diaries book number 11 and my teenage self screamed when I saw it was coming out. SOOOOOOO EXCITED to read it.

The final author I've read before is Freya North, in fact you can see my Freya North collection in the background. I love her style of writing and the characters she puts forward. I often get completely invested in any book she writes.

The last book of the six is Us by David Nicholls. He is the author of One Day, a book I have had in my bookcase for a year at least but I haven't read... I've seen the film though. I picked up Us a few months ago so I thought it'd be a good idea to add this to my six so I actually read it.

What do you think of this challenge? Have you read any of these books?

Lots of Love,

Clare

SPRH Visits.... Berrington Hall

Hello there,

Everyone enjoys a day trip and I'm no different. I often take pictures on our trips out so I thought I'd start a new series on this blog, where I share with you where I've been. This might even give you a idea of places to go yourselves.

This week I visited Berrington Hall, which is in Herefordshire near Leominster. The Hall is owned by the National Trust and it is an 18th century house and gardens.

I went with my parents last Wednesday as I had a day off work and I was excited to see that the Jane Austen costume exhibit was still there. I'm a big fan of all things Austen, there's something about the characters and the love stories that just can't be beat.

In the house itself was around nine costumes including Hugh Grant and Emma Thompson's costumes from Sense and Sensibility as well as Billie Piper's costume from Mansfield Park and a Anne Hathaway costume from Becoming Jane. They worked so well in the house and was just like the actors could have sat in the rooms and done scenes from the stories.

The Second picture was taken in the walled gardens, which was so beautiful and perfect to just sit in admiring the views and colours that the garden had to offer.

I had a lovely day out strolling around the grounds with the dog and visiting the house. If you want to see the Austen costumes, you need to be quick as they're only there until 30th June but the Hall itself is definitely worth a visit too.

Lots of Love,

Clare

xxx