Rich and I don't get many opportunities to go on dates.

We are both working (what feels like) all the time at the moment, I'm buzzing here there and everywhere on freelance jobs and he is pushing hard to agree the packaging for the tea company, we hope to launch very soon.

We also have absolutely no family locally we can call on for babysitting so little dates are a rare, but lovely occurrence.

In the past Rich has sent bouquets of flowers to my office, we've spent a small fortune on presents but over the last few years we've realised the more thoughtful, less expensive presents are actually more important.

Both boys are in school and pre school on a Friday and as Rich and I both work from home, we decided to make the most of a child free couple of hours and headed to a village near us over lunch time.

Winscombe is a sweet village with more than your average village high street. It has a brilliant charity shop at the top of the hill, a bustling village pub and lots of little independent shops in-between. 

We stopped at The Pantry, owned by a lovely couple who have 3 young children at the local school and grabbed a sandwich whilst we sheltered from the blinding rain. We somehow got chatting and within a few minutes were discussing their plans for the future, website and food photography. Umm hello! ;)

We then ran up the high street into the RSPCA shop and had a rummage around, Rich found the record section and I headed to the bric-a-brac. I spied a handmade ceramic lemon squeezer which will make a great photo prop and look lovely in the kitchen on the window ledge. 

I walked around the corner to the children's section and couldn't believe my eyes.

Something I have been searching for for weeks! Top of Yasmin lu's wish list for a christening/first birthday present is a rocking horse. But they really would love a plain white one to match her delicate pink, grey and white bedroom decoration.

So my challenge for the coming weeks is to strip, sand and paint! It's big enough for both the boys to ride it!

£10 - what a bargain. I'll show you a photo of the finished horse as soon as I have got him back to his former glory.

We ended our date with a quick visit to Eden, a sweet independent florist. We picked out a few blooms and for the same price as the rocking horse, came away with a beautiful bouquet.

It just goes to show that if you shop local there are some treasures to be found.

We ended our Valentines evening with a double dinner date over Skype! Us with a noodle box from the local Noodle Bar, Tokyo Wok (I adore that it comes in American style cardboard boxes & is the cheapest take away you can buy) and my sister and brother in law with an M&S dine in for £10 meal deal.

It was perfect.

Linking up with #MagpieMonday, #MagicMoments and #whatsthestory

I adore these sorts of posts when I read them on other people's blogs.

I love joining in with link ups which collate photos of your weeks, or little things you've discovered and loved lately.

It gives you a snapshot into someone's days and week and let's you a little bit more into their world.

I am very conscious that my blog has become a place for pretty pictures, perfectly placed crumbs in food shots and whilst the photos I post are absolutely a reflection of me, life isn't always so staged.

So I am starting a new feature dear readers!

As well as a few photos in these round up posts, I am going to record a Podcast that you can listen to here or download and listen to later.

Life Lately.

I hope it will feel as though we are sat together, having a cup of tea or glass of wine (Depending on when you might listen to it!) chatting together and catching up on the week's news and events.

I will have a little library on iTunes so if you miss the early ones, you will be able to go back and find them.

Whilst I get all the internet bits sorted, was there anything you wanted to ask me? Anything you want to know?! 

I would like to include any questions in the Podcast so speak now! Any photography issues you are having or is there a burning blog question, or something totally random? Ask away!

For now.... here's my week in photos...

Life has been full of rushing around! A trip to London to photograph school dinners, a gallery evening date with my sister, sweet cakes, sweethearts, muddy walks, helping a friend and her nail business and birthdays. And new hair eek!

How was your week?

Something fun for St Valentine's day!

A few photos from my shoot with The Little Wedding Helper, a few little questions and a few of my answers :)

Q 1 - When was your first kiss?

A - I can vividly remember mine was with a boy called Robert at a school disco in the last year of primary school. It was the Christmas Disco and Cliff Richard's Mistletoe and Wine was playing! Oh the romance!

Q 2 - What's the most romantic story you have ever read?

A - Pride and Prejudice, but my cousin's wedding version. My cousin Simon roped in about 10 of their best friends and filmed a real life version of his bride's favourite book. It was unbelievably romantic and for some one who doesn't usually like being centre of attention, you could see how much he loved her from the effort he had put in to something totally magical. He even dived in a lake. Legend.

Q 3 - What was the most romantic gift you have ever been given? 

A - It may sound silly but I went to a boy's secondary school. At the time I was there for my A Levels there were only girls in the upper and lower sixth. This meant there were Year 7 boys desperate to carry your books and open doors for you. I was a school prefect (yes total goody goody at school) and had to monitor and mentor 24, 11 year old boys each lunch break.

I was "bundled" several times, helpless under a heap of pre-pubescent boys but it was all just fun. They absolutely did respect me and one took a real shine. On the day I left school he bought me the Spice Girls CD Goodbye, it was such a sweet and romantic gesture. I'd never really been someone's crush before. I won't say who, as I am still friends with his brother on Facebook!

Q 4 - Do you keep love letters?

A - Oh yes - I am a terrible hoarder! I have the letters and cards my grandparents sent each other and I have kept every single card and letter Rich and I sent each other through 4 years at separate universities. One day I hope my grandchildren will treasure them like I do.

Q 5 - What was your proposal story? 

A - Rich and I have been together 15 years next month. 15 YEARS!!! We had been together 7 years when he proposed, out of the blue! The trouble with being together for a while is everyone hints and is almost waiting for it to happen. On the day we bought our beautiful house in Weston (that we've just sold aaah) it was a day of high tension. Frantic calls between solicitors, me trying to not bite everyone's heads off at work and Rich racing up and back to Bristol.

I stood at the front door, in the hallway of an empty house, ready to be filled with memories and babies and he pulled up on the drive. I held the door open and watched this sweaty, huffing and puffing mess walk across the front garden. He looked a wreck, all flustered and nervous with his hand behind his back. He walked up to the front door and bent down on one knee, blurting out will you marry me?! A few seconds later after he placed a bit of M&S bling on my finger he said "Oh god, sorry I had a big speech planned but I just couldn't get it all out!"

I love that it wasn't a perfectly prepared and rehearsed speech, that it felt like an enormous thing to do, not just the next thing to do!

Q 6 - If you could kiss anyone who would it be?

A - Forgive me for being totally shallow and choosing a celebrity actor, but it would have to be the actor Jon Hamm aka Don Draper from Mad Men, I mean man oh man yes please! I think I would be totally powerless to resist his charms!

Q 7 - Who is the love of your life?

A - The greatest loves of our lives are our boys. They drive us crazy, they break things, they don't listen, quite often shout that we are horrible and not their best friend's (even Ollie who has picked up that nice phrase from his brother) and yet we love them unconditionally.

They will always be the most incredible gift, babies are not a guaranteed blessing, that we need to be grateful for every day.

Our boys - the loves and light of our lives.

I'd love to hear your answers..... answers on a blog post please! 

Much love to you dear readers.

Cookie Lips - Opulence Cakes
Florals - Daisy Lane Floral Design
Styling - Kirsten, The Little Wedding Helper