new arrival

Hello friends - sorry for being a bad blogger of late! I have been training in earnest for my half marathon, which is happening this Sunday! I don't know whether I'm excited or terrified. Most likely both. I'm excified.

Also, Tom and I are delighted to announce a new addition to our household - a healthy, 1lb bundle of joy in the form of a new Canon 450D!

Here's me experimenting on Friday night when we bought it:


Bit blurry, I know, but I'm still working out all the settings!

And here's a panoramic shot of Westminster that we took on our evening walk last night. It's actually three separate photos that Tom "stitched" together. I think it's so cool.



We also had friends around for dinner on Saturday and being the food porn addict that I am, we had to take pictures! I'm particularly pleased with dessert:


I can't wait to learn more about the camera and experiment with all the different settings. I'm already blown away by the clarity of the pictures we've taken so far, compared to our old point-and-shoots. Does anyone else with a Canon 450D have some tips to share?

What else.....

Work has been busy, and I've been doing some freelance copyediting and proofing on the side, which I'm really enjoying and hoping to do more of. I wrote an article for a new magazine my friend is putting out, and she sent me the proofs last week and they look fabulous - I'm so excited, and proud of her! More on that later.

Been reading a lot - I'm currently deep into Zoe Heller's latest, The Believers, and there's a wobbling tower from the library on my nightstand. I've also had the honour of looking over a dear friend's manuscript for her second book, which I was quite blown away by and am still digesting.

Tom and I enjoyed a John Hughes tribute night where we watched The Breakfast Club and Planes, Trains and Automobiles back to back. Did anyone else watch some John Hughes films in tribute last Friday?

Saw an incredible exhibit at the Tate Britain, which I urge any readers in London (or those who can get to London easily!) to see before it shuts on Sunday. It's called Classified, and while the main drawcard for me originally was Damien Hirst's Pharmacy, it was the final exhibit in the collection that had my jaw on the floor - and will most likely see me returning before it shuts. The Chapman Family Collection was everything that art, to me, should be - the more you look at it, the more meaning you'll find. See it if you can!

As for the rest of this week, I'm focusing on the physical. That means, one last 11-miler (!) tonight and then nothing but yoga, walking and maybe a swim, until the big day. The rest of the time I will be thinking positive thoughts.