Location Location Location// Eden Project

Have I already warned you that this is the most photo heavy post in town? Well consider that your warning. So sue me, Sunae convinced me to man-up and practice shooting in manual and I pretty much ran with it. My photography knowledge now stretches to 'moving the dial-ly thing' but hey, I'm getting there! If you haven't yet gagged over my 'ode to Sunae', take a little read here and come on back for some plant photos, a couple of funny looking birds and mostly a little tour around a must-see attraction in Cornwall (and one of the only ones still open in the winter months!)

I've been to the Eden Project a few times now; more-so for charity related goodness or a little browse before seeing a band or two, it's somewhere that I totally overlook and take for granted, living so near by. The great thing about going there though is that so much is indoors (a rarity for a Cornish attraction) and meant that it didn't really matter what the weather was like, Sunae and I could visit and warm the o'l cockles whilst taking our time snapping and nattering. Starting in the education centre, she educated me more on the microbiology more than the exhibition did- I'm sure we had a small group even listening in at one stage. The 'seed' pictured above is an incredible instillation with the most amusing acoustics (when you're stomping around pretending to be dinosaurs like we were, you need great acoustics!)

Beautiful tiles in the Mediterranean biome. I'm not actually a penguin by the way, my TOMS just make me look like one. Can you spot the bird?

David Attenborough eat your heart out. 

Cacti and succulents galore!

I'd just like to remind you (again) that I am using the manual mode on my camera finally and for first attempts I'm pretty proud as punch (even if Sunae and I probably took hours longer seeing everything!) After a spot of lunch (which was super tasty, if incredibly overpriced-it's a tourist attraction so you kind of expect it!) we headed over to the rainforest biome for what became a LOT of humidity that made us go a little crazy...

I spent a good while hunting for these little birds name plaque (like the ones you get with all the plants) only for Sunae to highlight to me that 'birds move around Sophie, there probably isn't one!' I think I dubbed thee, punk chickens.

A lot of craziness later, and deciding as evening descended so much so that it got rather dark, that we were in-fact in Jurassic World, we started hiding from dinosaurs. As you do.

Finally we made it to the end, after being a little convinced that it had actually closed and we were going to spend the entire night trapped in dino-land. *wipes brow*

To wrap up, Eden Project is a great day out for a visitor to Cornwall in winter because it's mainly inside. It isn't cheap but they do offer a locals' pass which is great value for money and gives you access during all the exciting times of year. It's been almost two months since my little dinosaur queen was here and I totally miss her every day. Sorting and commentating these photos has filled me with joy and reminiscence. I'm suddenly back to planning moving my life to Australia again.

Miss you Sunae.

Over & Out

Sophie

Thankful Thursday // All The Things.

It's been a while. Too long really. *Waves at screen!* I've had many a draft sitting there since I disappeared at the end of January; too tired to switch on and write, too tired to feel guilty for doing so. To be honest, the start of this year has been quite testing, I've lost myself a little and it's only really now I'm coming together again. I wanted to take some time to come back, read some books (so many books!) Watch some Netflix and spend some time resting. The cold evenings and even colder mornings have driven me to the comforts of hot baths, snuggles under blankets and pyjama attire whenever I'm not outside. A couple of days have been spent hands in the earth, making sense of the overgrown mess that my garden has become over the winter months. It's been good for me. Thinking about what the future holds for the rest of the year and with a little perspective under my belt, here's some things about myself that I'm thankful for...and totally unapologetic for being so...

• Being Strong: When shit gets tough, I'm like a rock. Yes I may cry whilst watching an episode of DIY SOS but when the proper grown up, horrible shit happens, I seem to grow 10ft tall. I'm proud of myself for that.
• Being Sensitive: In the totally opposite way, I'm starting to realise to stop apologising for being sensitive about the 'small things'. It's something I've been judged for before and I think we as women, feel we have to apologise for that sometimes? Well fuck that from now on, I'm sensitive because I care, I've got a great big heart and I hug like a unicorn, so there's that settled.
• Curiosity: If I could learn something about everything then I'd be happy. My Netflix binge has been a mis-match of documentaries, from art fraud, bees (obviously), to cane toads and space. It's been amazing.
• My Ass for Looking Amazing in my Wedding Dress: Because I'm not the greatest fan of my body but it looks pretty. fucking. great.
• Wisdom: Someone recently said to me that wisdom is something that only comes with age. I've thought about this a lot and I agree... to an extent. I know plenty of people older than me that are quite simply naive and I personally think wisdom is something that comes from life experience, how long you've been alive doesn't make you wise.

That's about enough self gratification for today I think. I've missed you all. How is everyone? I currently have over 650 missed posts to catch up on reading so expect a little comment spam! In the mean time, please go ahead and pop recent posts in the comments and I'll get to nattering with you even sooner!

Over & Out

Sophie

P.s. I don't actually steal forks, but Curb Your Enthusiasm is one of the best programmes ever made. WATCH IT!

Sunae Goes Euro

There's a lady right over on the other side of the world who's captured my heart. In our little community we were all living through Sunae over seven weeks as she bravely, inspirationally and amusingly traipsed herself around Europe. If you haven't followed, head over to Instagram and look under #sunaegoeseuro (which she reminded me that I actually thought of!) and get yourself up to speed with this little Aussie treasure. You may already know her as Little Foal, or maybe you've come across more recently, her midwifery themed blog, Life En Caul. It blows my mind how through writing in this little space on the internet, you can come across real life people who actually are just as great as you hope and think they will be! Ignoring the few who muted 'but what if she's actually a murderer?' I was overjoyed when she told me she'd pay me a little visit in Cornwall-land. 

The best thing about Sunae (and trust me, there's loads- she's a total babe) is that we're pretty much exactly the same. Though she only stayed for three nights, it honestly felt like a lifetime that we'd known each other. Possibly something to do with the fact that we barely breathed for air from talking  so much, possibly because we could not say a word and be thinking exactly the same thing. We squeezed in as much as you can in Cornwall during winter (I'm sure she didn't realise quite how much I meant Cornwall shuts down for winter but discovered this when she couldn't get food past 3pm or cake in the evening!) Still, a few long walks, a trip to Eden Project (which needs a separate post because it's one heck of a photo heavy day!) and cosiness galore, we lapped our time together and when it came to waving her off at the train station like some 50's film noir, I sobbed all the way home (and some!) because it felt like a little part of me had left.

There were only a couple of things Sunae wanted from her time in Cornwall; a couple of new places to take pretty photos of (and ended up teaching me in our own language how to use my camera's manual settings!) The other, to try some traditional Cornish foods. The obvious choice being a delicious and PROPER Cornish cream tea (Jam to cream ratio and layering is important stuff ya'll!) and a proper pasty (which I didn't get a photo of because I blinked and she'd devoured it.) 

There's something really rather special about being so comfortable with a friend who you've only known online,  in real life, after less than 12 hours together, being able to look at each other and say 'Yep, you're in my life for good now.' Making plans for the future together, talking about the past and generally learning those little things that cement a friendship, I could honestly talk about her for days and days (and will most certainly be doing so!) So stay tuned for more Sunae adventures and love letters addressed only to her. 

Over & Out

Sophie.

Oh and if you'd like to know a little more about the super places photo'd above, check out Lanhydrock here and Charlestown here.

Stalky Sophie: Return of The Stalk.

Illustration courtesy of Ooh Deer!

So here we are. Another month coming to an end and another list of people that I'm sure you already stalk as much as me because they're all just really rather splendid. On a side note, how great is the illustration above?

Lets get down to the stalk...

• Sarah at Daydreams of Summertime has opened a shop! It is filled with beautiful things! Go see right now (and then come back and finish reading this...)

• Charlotte over at The Tea Drinking Rose is in her third trimester and has less than four weeks to go! Send her lots of love and good luck! 

• The ever fabulous Chelsea at Love In Modern Life posted the most adorable photos of Monty that made me squeal out loud on a crowded train. It's not secret that I long to have a long haired dachshund called Bernard one day.

• I feel as though Michelle speaks to my soul when she writes. Over on Life Outside London, she takes about not being able to do everything. As someone who laughs a hearty 'ha' at that (it rings so true you see!) I just love everything about her other than being on the wrong side of the 'correct etiquette for a cream tea' Devonshire way. *hiss*

• Shelby's bridal photos were just incredible. I gawped at every single one. She of course looked beautiful and that setting is like something out of a painting! Gawp for yourself at A Day In The Life.

• Mark of That Gent Mark has been getting all festive and his photos look so cosy that I want to stalk wherever he goes in real life (getting to a whole other level of stalk now...)

• Lisette's bedside table is a thing of dreams. It's like every Pinterest lovers perfect collection of beautifully curated items. (I have glanced over to my own, shoddy table that's filled with tablets, half melted candles and many a note in shame). Marvel at it's beauty at Lisette Loves.

• Rosie from A Rosie Outlook has revolutionised my bath times. Hold the goodamn door. Yes I really said that. As someone who is a total yoga novice but enjoys the attempt at it, travelling for three extra hours a day has left me feeling without the motivation time to actually get my mat and stretch myself into calmness. I also am a total bath fiend. The two combined have blown.my.mind. 

So that should keep you busy for a little while! I'd love to hear of anyone else you think I'd like to meet! 

Love Sophie Xx

Thankful Thursday// June

I may be all a bit out of sync. I knew that June would be a bit of a topsy turvy month; It's Grandpa's anniversary and my main holiday for the year all in one month! Talk about mixed emotions! It's nice to look back and think about it all together. There's so much to be thankful for in the last month, I'm sure to miss loads out...

• One year until we get married passed. Of course I'm thankful for this awesome milestone!
• The two books I read pictured above. 'The Versions of Us' is a great concept, how one choice can impact the course of a whole lifetime. I loved that about this read and am sending it on to Chelsea this week so I'm sure she'll give you a proper review of it! The other book; 'Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend.' Was leant to me by Leona and I read it in an entire day. She knew I'd love it as we discussed 'Curious Incident of a Dog in the Nighttime' and 'Room' (both two great reads.) It was just one of the best books I've read in ages and I'd thoroughly recommend it.
• Speaking of which, I'm pretty thankful for catching up with my gal Leona- wedding planning and conspiracy theory Game of Thrones chats over Wagamamas is a pretty sure way to my heart.
• Working in the prettiest of places. Just look how nice that harbour is above. You're all a bit jealous aren't you? Does it make you feel better that I spend 98% of my day inside?
• The kind words of you all when I was going through my Grandpa funk. It's this little corner of the world that really helps me get through it. I'm feeling better. Thank you.
• Batman making friends. Since we re-potted our parrot plant, Batman's taken to snuggling down next to his friend Piggy in an evening and it really makes me smile.
• Eva & Davis fragrance is my new favourite scent ever. It's pretty hard to find their website though so I'm not entirely sure how to stock up!?
• A dinosaur sticker on the platform floor. Because who doesn't want to see a dinosaur on the floor the morning after watching Jurassic World and dreaming of t-rex's? 
• Toasting marshmallows and putting the world to rights with one of my favourite ladies in the entire land. I always feel so much more centred and positive after time with her and recently we enjoyed the most delicious tapas followed by a sugar coma inducing dessert! 
• A charity golfing event that I helped to organise raised over £1500 for Cornwall Hospice Care. I'm really thankful to everyone who helped support the event!
• Quality time talking about the future and laughing at the past with Harps. Almost eleven months to go!

What are you all thankful for at the moment? Sunshine I'm sure! Thanks Lisette for inspiring me to be more thankful with your beautiful soul (and face!)

Love Sophie XX