Europe may be in the midst of a cold snap but sunny, welcoming Madrid is in a world of its own. And I’m very happy to be there enjoying its delicious charms.

Seven days turning sleepy, snowy Norway into the new girly holiday destination. We didn’t mean to have that much fun, we just couldn’t stop ourselves…

Highlights: the friendly’n'funny people we met, finding the arctic equivalent of Pizza Hut, dog sledding & snow planting, the Northern Lights (photos coming soon I hope) and finding after 48 hours that we no longer cared that beer was eight quid a pint.

Second proper mountain bike ride. There was mud, snot, frost, snot, frost, mud and some pedalling :)

A last minute roadtrip down to the glorious Cornish coast.

Miles & miles of open, pretty ‘a’ roads, great cliff views and heaps of interesting clouds…

The perfect weekend set up: discount card for the bar, student & local crowd, free wifi, greasy fish’n'chips down the road.

Messy surf, breezy walks, a cracking Chilean pinot, and sunburn.

Yeeeoow :)

I’ve stretched my legs a few times around the Merstham Lakes now. Each time I’ve found new parts to explore and there are still more intriguing footpaths and options that I haven’t taken. I’m really pleased that this area has been paid attention – the conservation and the accessibility – because it’s really pretty and valued a lot by the locals.

My first proper episode on MTB.

Lots of jiggery, scrambly, muddy action through bushes & forest and up & down hills, hills, hills, hills!

Don’t tell the other bikes, but this is a lot of fun isn’t it…

Six perfect days at Lake Annecy with my little giselle.
Doing all our favourite things but attempting them at a gentle, relaxed pace.
Breathing the amazing air, drinking (pore-ously and pot-ably) the delicious water, baking in the gorgeous sunshine and then, unfortunately getting soaked in full on mountain rainfalls.
Et après…
Two days in Paris with lovely Kate, doing, er, not a lot but loving every second.

I love trail running, I really do. Whenever it was that I first started and then carried on, I’m really happy that that happened. Since leaving Australia I haven’t done heaps of sport and last week in Switzerland was my first run in absolutely ages so I was slow off the blocks with this one, it took me until 2 o’clock to leave the house!
la location
I’m in Annecy, which is South East France, near the Swiss border. It’s absolutely stunning here, Lake Annecy is milky blue, the hills …

Big shadow of fair weather cumulus cloud on the Eastern hills of beautiful Lake Annecy.

A week in the tiny and incredibly lovely village Nuglar in Switzerland.
Visiting family (it’s been too long!), hanging out, absorbing clean Swiss air and tidy Swiss vibes.
Throwing in some running, bike riding, swimming, yoga and a very soggy walk.
Being amaze-balled at the beauty of the countryside and the charm of the towns.