I can't believe it has been 2 months since my last post!  I am going to lay the blame for this firmly at the door of the day job.  So this post is going to be a mega update (using the word mega makes even the most mundane of words sound interesting!).

M and I are still looking for flats, we have even had some viewings but only one has caught our eye and sadly someone beat us to it.  We have decided that due to the current renting market we can't be too fussy so a garden is now a bonus, as is ground floor.
We are being realistic and we don't think we will move before Christmas, so in the mean time I am trying desperately to de-clutter to make extra space.  I have reluctantly given lots of my books to the charity shop, there is only so long a book can remain on the shelf with the vain hope that one day I will read it.
I hope to start concentrating on enjoying the cooler seasons, I want to make soups on a regular basis and I am watching River Cottage to get inspiration for winter comfort food.  
I have been ill recently and I had to change my diet to plain food (not easy for me) so cooking has not been as enjoyable as it usually is.

M and I went on a short break to Edinburgh. The first time I had been on a plane in 11 years, the last time being a family holiday to Spain when I was 18.
Yesterday we went to Comicon, it was a great day out and we even dressed up.  M went as Christopher Eccleston's Doctor Who and I went as Amy Pond (this did involve me colouring my hair red).  We saw all manor of costumes, most of which I had no idea who they were but it was an experience.

I am still reading Reaper Man and enjoying it.  I have been getting back into Bjork again and the Velvet Underground.
Well hopefully it will not be another 2 months before I write again.

Reading update

I finished The Last Continent and now I am reading Reaper Man. After this I have been advised by M to read Mort. I have discovered that I am reading the Death series backward. Sounds about right for me!

The search for a new home continues, September is nearly upon us so Autumn is not far away.

Long summer nights

Since my last post we have had a heat wave, which has some what made up for the long winter we had.  Despite my resolution to get out and enjoy the sunshine this year and try to get some of the tan back that I had when I was younger, the heat has proved to be just too much for me.  My tan was progressing nicely but I then developed prickly heat which has been a real pain in the neck.  This has been worse at night and on one occasion I was forced to sleep with an ice pack on my arm, the very same ice pack that is used to keep my lunch box cool!  

M and I are starting the long and stressful process of looking for a new home.  As much as we love our flat, it is just too small for us.  Plus we would also love a garden, outside space is something that I really long for. 

What am I listening to at the moment: Loreena Mckennit, the Mirror and the Mask album.

What am I reading: Terry Pratchett's The Last Continent.

What have I been watching: BBC documentary, Indian Ocean with Simon Reeve. 

Video of the day

Kate Bush, The Hounds of Love

Fire up the retros!

For over a year now I have being following the Youtube channel of Cherry Doll Face, an alternative module. She is very keen on retro styles from the 40's and 50's and even 60's. She makes a lot of hair and make up tutorials and she has recently started her own cosmetic line with an American company called Bomber Betty. I am very interested in these looks and I hope to recreate these on myself one day.
Here are some examples of her videos:

http://www.youtube.com/user/Thecherrydollface

On this same topic I recently came across a line of cosmetic called Art Deco. They are being sold at Debenhams. They caught my eye firstly because of the name, Art Deco has always been a style that I have been interested in. Secondly their 'poster girl' was Dita Von Teese. Both proved to be irresistible combination. Of course with a name like that they are not your everyday cosmetic like Rimmel, to be honest looking at the price they aren't even going to be your every month cosmetic! But I think that any money that I am lucky enough to receive for my next birthday will be used to purchase some thing from their line. It will be my 30th so......I think I should splash out a bit!

Here is a link to the Art Deco site

http://artdeco.org.uk/

This month I have been......

Listening to: Coldplay's latest album
Watching: Springwatch 2013
Reading: Soul Music by Terry Pratchett

I am very proud of the roast dinner that I cooked for M's parents. I saw Star Trek: Into Darkness (very good film). I have been to the pub twice (which is more than I usually manage in 6 months). And bought most of my summer clothes (although judging by all the rain and the fact that this week I have gone back to wearing my winter coat, that may not have been such a good idea).

Well so has been the month of May 2013.

This month I am mostly reading.....

Apologises for the unimaginative title, as boring as 'does exactly what it says on the tin' is, it can be helpful.  Well I finished Terry Pratchett's Hogfather and now to continue my exploration of Susan I am reading Soul Music (no I don't read books in order, I don't like the idea that something as great as reading has to be so regimented). I am really enjoying it, Susan's discovery of her heritage is a brilliant mixture of logical thought fighting against ingrained instinct and memory, I am not too sure where the musician storyline is heading but I looking forward to finding out.
A large amount of my reading takes place on the bus on the way to work, I am still having trouble reading at home during the day or early evening, but I have managed to focus and read in bed so that's an improvement.