Taking Stock – August 2019

taking stock august 2019

I have to admit as Augusts go the 2019 edition was pretty pawsome. I spent the majority of the month in the motherland, dividing my time between the stunning Thoresby Hall (see above,) the wonderful city of Lincoln and of course, London Town but I must admit it’s good to be back on Aussie terra firma. It’s true what they say, there is no place like home. Before I get stuck in to September, I’m going to take stock of August, the month that was. I’d love it if you joined me!

Battling: Jet lag – both ways – and it’s been brutal!

Revamping: 10 old recipes and making them new again including this old skool Microwave Sponge Pudding. Nom nom!

microwave sponge pudding 3

Using: My pie maker like it’s going out of fashion. These Cheeseburger Pies are our new favourite.

Making: This Shark Birthday Cake for my godson’s birthday!

shark birthday cake

Living: My best life at the Sydney Dog Lovers Show.

Patting: All the dogs at show.

Marvelling: At all the different kinds of dogs and all the amazing things they can do.

Rubbing: Shoulders with the furry famous – such a thrill to meet Buddy from Home and Away.

buddy dog lovers show

Choosing: Our new puppy!

Bookmarking: Everything in my cavoodle handbook.

Learning: Even more about puppies. 

Naming: Our new puppy, it’s Teddy Roosevelt, in case you’re wondering! He’s even got his own instagram account!

Buying: All the puppy paraphernalia.

Counting: Down the days until we can bring Teddy home. 

Missing: Out on the puppy open day with Teddy at Hidden Valley Cavoodles – lucky David got twice the share of puppy cuddles.

Teddy Roosevelt

Admiring: Chelsey – she’s so inspiring!

Getting: My hair did – always such a treat.

Flying: Qantas. My loyalty to the silver kangaroo knows no bounds.

Thinking: That surely the more I fly, the less nervous I should be. Alas, this is not so!

qantaslounge

Enjoying: The privileges of being a Gold Frequent Flyer like sitting on the top deck of the A380 and…

Having: A shower in the Qantas lounge in Singapore – it’s enough to make one feel human again! 

Travelling: By trains, planes and automobiles.

Weekending: With my mum at Thoresby Hall.

thoresby hall

Loving: The historic buildings, I totally felt like I was on the set of Downton Abbey.

Eating: All the English food – roast dinners, hot puddings, fish and chips – you name it, I’ve eaten it. 

Snacking: On English crisps, they’re the best!

Coveting: This recipe for old skool Blackcurrant and Licorice Pudding.

thoresby hall food

Needing: To do lots of exercise to kill off those calories! 

Noticing: The colours in Thoresby Hall’s rose garden! 

thoresby hall rose garden

Shopping: Up a storm in the UK sales.

Wearing: Clothes that I wear in Australian winter for English summer! 

Revisiting: Lady Roses Edwardian Tea Rooms for one of Mr Gearing’s enormoscones.

enormoscones

Realising: That cream before jam or jam before cream is quite a conundrum and a divisive one at that!

Visiting: Daisy Made Farm. I don’t know who was more excited to see all the animals, me or Calvin the Dog! 

Licking: The delicious homemade ice cream at Daisy Made Farm – it’s made fresh on the farm! 

daisy-made-farm

Watching: The Hate U Give – it really brought the book to life. It’s a five stars from me.

Reading: The Light Between Oceans. It’s five stars from me! 

Listening: To the podcast RedhandedIt’s far and away my new favourite! 

Walking: With Calvin the dog, here there and everywhere. Soon he’s going to be a fur uncle!

calvin

Liking: Hellos.

Disliking: Goodbyes. 

Crying: Saying goodbye. What can I say? I have leaky eyes! 

Trying: To play along with Fat Mum Slim’s Photo a Day. I’ve been a bit hit and miss this month!

littlemomentsapp

Scoring: A spot on the Photo a Day’s Fab Four for my favourite recipe. In case you’re wondering, it’s my Nana’s Best Ever Bread Pudding!

Sharing: 13 shows with subtitles that you won’t want to miss.

Remembering: What a delicious time we had at Eat Street Brisbane. Have you seen my beginner’s guide?

Running: At Lincoln parkrun – it’s always such a great vibe.

lincoln park run

Road Testing: The new FMSxAT collection which conicidentally launches today! Woot!

Drinking: Cocktails at Cahoots – a 1940’s London Underground themed bar. So much fun! 

Seeing: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat at the London Palladium – two nights in a row!

joseph

Singing: Along to Joseph songs, I know all the words! 

Fangirling: Over Jason Donovan as he signed my Joseph programme! 

Spending: Quality time with friends and family.

Sailing: Down the Thames with my auntie to belatedly celebrate her 70th birthday.

Thames riverboat

Gifting: Caramello koalas to friends and family in the motherland – they always go down a treat.

Realising: I have no pics of me and my mum. She’s way more camera shy than me!

Feeling: Happy to be home. There really is no place like it. 

Arriving: At Sydney airport at 5am and to find David waiting for me at arrivals. He’s a keeper! (Side note: This is my “I just got off a 24 hour flight” face!)

arrivals

Looking: Forward to bringing Teddy Roosevelt home and making it a September to remember!

Now, that’s quite enough about me, I’m much more interested in you!  Tell me all about your August, I’m all ears! 

* Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. If you click to buy the item, I make a little commission but you don’t pay any extra.

Linking up with Denyse for Life This Week