Players only love you when they're playing

When I took a trip back home to The Wirral last weekend we decided to head out in the other direction to our usual wanderings around Liverpool. Back when I was a little un, Chester was always our choice of destination for weekend afternoons and usually involved some sort of farcical mayhem of me getting changed out of my gymnastics kit in the back seat of the car on the way (no idea why I didn't just get changed in the sports centre like a normal child, I think I just liked a challenge). 

Anyway, Chester is one of the prettiest cities going. I've always taken it for granted a little and tend not to look up at the gorgeous buildings or pay too much attention to what you can see from the walls around the city. We stopped coming to Chester as often when Liverpool became incredible for shopping (Mama T always liked the novelty of visiting Debenham's in Chester before Liverpool thought it would be a good idea to get one too), but really they're absolutely poles apart as far as what they have to offer outside the shops goes. Liverpool is king in elaborate buildings built upon the city's shipping wealth, a vibrant waterfront and a Beatles reference at almost every turn. Chester meanwhile is full of wonky medieval buildings, a huge Roman wall wrapped around the whole city and a sleepy little waterfront complete with pedalos and rowing boats. Both cities are packed full of charm, but couldn't be any more different from each other if they tried (although they do both have a Debenham's...).

Dreams- Fleetwood Mac

Smiles of the week: Take me dancing in the wild

This week started off on a fairly unpleasant note. I shuffled sleepily into the bathroom this morning and in an attempt to grab all of my toiletries off the shelf in one go for my shower I just about managed to open my eyes enough to watch my razor tumble into the toilet. Cue a good five minutes spent trying to play hook a duck with the toilet brush whilst my razor taunted me from the bottom of the toilet bowl. Sometimes my life is too glamorous for words. This is why posts like this are necessary on a Monday (although the start of this post would make a pretty good attempt at a Mundane Midweek post a la Charlotte's Web), I love reminding myself of the little moments that have happened over the last seven days to make me remember that life isn't all as traumatic as this morning was. Hope you enjoy reading this week's little list of highlights from the last couple of days.

There's been a lot of chocolate cake involved in the last seven days. Firstly, Charlie's birthday cake, closely followed by cakes I made for work (we had a pack of eggs left over from our baking sessions at work so I was cajoled into using them up and feeding the office in the process). Then it was all topped off with a cake from Zuger's- literally the best chocolate cupcakes EVER. If you're ever on The Wirral or in Chester then visit one of their cafes or you'll regret it forever. 

Making said birthday cake and laughing LOADS at our ridiculous attempts to create a twin for the easiest pig character we'd spent about 10 seconds putting together. It suddenly became impossible to make another so after about 50 attempts we went for what was technically a far more complicated option and got it right first time.

Meeting up with two of my old best friends from school and hearing about all of the exciting grown up things that are happening in their lives. Meanwhile, I chose that day to strongly resemble that picture you can see of my five year old self with a pinafore and my big plastic Ray Bans. I may not be getting a mortgage and may look like an overgrown reception child but I'm very, very happy with my little lot. I'll happily watch my friends grow up around me but for now I'm perfectly content to stay just the way I am.

Finally reaching a point where I no longer felt absolutely stuffed from my meal out on Tuesday (three days later...) and enjoying a good gossip over a bowl of nachos and a bottle or two of wine with another of my besties from school. 

Playing scrabble with my Mum and Dad. I even helped my Dad by pointing out how he could make his three letter word add up to 42 points just by moving it one space to the left (and as a result lost the game...). 

Going to a charity Afternoon Tea party at my Mum's friend's house. Despite it being so windy we felt like we were battling a tornado to reach the scones it was really lovely to be sat out in the garden surrounded by people drinking tea (well, I had a lemonade) from vintage china under a canopy of pretty bunting. 

I'd love to hear what's happened in your world over the last week, here's to this one being a good 'un :)

Torso of the week- Everything Everything