The perfect gift for someone like me, a big tea drinker: a glass tea cigar ☕️

It’s mid-May 🤷‍♂️

White chocolate and raspberry fudge traybake.

Welcome to the next chapter of mid-life crisis: Erg Games in Salford 🤣

Caught my editorial assistant dozing on the job.

Archival gold: Ann and William Radcliffe visit Knole House, Kent, 'in the autumn of 1807' (Talfourd) and are asked to sign the Visitors' Book. I can now corroborate the claim and pin down the exact date (Monday 14 September). And just look who was there just a few days before: William Cobbett!

The first hack of the season. Spring flowers in the hedgerows and cascades of birdsong. Bob unusually restrained after a long winter spent working mostly indoors.

Bank-holiday session with my pal Barbara (aka Babs aka Bab’s Cabs)

Some of the official HYROX photos.

The Force Walkers’ Cafè in Ambleside. Beautiful spot for breakfast.

The final few wall balls. Legs on fire, heart rate in the red zone.

Smash 💥 💪 👊

Hyrox! #prayfordale

After months of hard training, Tony and I are on a road trip to HYROX in Cardiff, boyo 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 #hyroxwankers

My favourite breakfast at the moment (I go through phases): oat porridge, topped with grated apple, a sprinkle of cinnamon and a dollop of Manuka honey 🍯 🍎

Lilac; phlox; primula; impatiens ❤️

Dickens has got a severe case of Temporary Ear Misfunction™️ this morning 🤣

Invigorating jumping lesson on Bob this morning, and now to put the finishing touches to a massive book chapter that I’ve been sweating over since December. Today is a good day.

Pansies after an evening shower.

Panforte Bianco, made with orange, almonds, hazelnuts, dried figs, honey, white chocolate and spices. 👌

Late-night baking: a batch of strawberry Jammie Dodgers ™️

Dickens-cat enjoying the lovely spring sunshine.

Last big training session with Jefferson before HYROX in Cardiff next week.

Bumping this up again. Please do repost if you feel so inclined. Preparations are very much afoot, and it promises to be an absolutely brilliant day at St Albans in June: www.stalbanscathedral.org/event/ann-ra...

Your daily dose of tulip 🌷

For this evening’s HROX training we had to get into pairs so I asked the chap next to me if he had a partner and he said thanks but he had a girlfriend and now I need to find another gym.

Morning inspection of the tulips 🌷

Treated myself to some new hand-drawn bookplates. Love them.

Don’t skip! Post you in another country.

Afternoon tea at Peggy Porschen, Belgravia.

Besties enjoying our annual catch-up in London.

Dickens-cat enjoying a good old roll in the garden.

First run outdoors with my new CONTACTS 👀

So vibrant!

Sunday cuddles with Hugo (Boss) @drvil.bsky.social

Peeping Tom 👀

How long does it take to get used to wearing contact lenses? They’re great once in, but I just can’t seem to put them in or take them out without a huge battle. I only intend to use them for the gym. But yikes: the short-circuiting of the blink reflex required is challenging.

My canasta tulips are beautiful 🤩

Tulips and grape hyacinths in my garden.

Fantastic HYROX simulation this morning, with running in the spring sunshine ☀️

Meet Hugo, @drvil.bsky.social 10-week-old Blue Whippet, snuggling with 13-year-old Charlie the Whippet 🥰

And a baked New York-style cheesecake with a sugar-toffee base 👌

Caramelised leg of lamb with orange, honey and cinnamon;roasted butternut squash; sticky, smokey potatoes with onions; creamed spinach. HAPPY EASTER 🐣

My take on a Scandinavian Daim bar tart: three layers of almond meringue sandwiched together with a vanilla buttercream and topped with a chocolate ganache and crushed Daim bars.

Why is cheap Easter egg chocolate so delicious? Why?

Fantastic Hyrox training session at the new EverlastGym, Trafford Centre.

I don’t mean to valet-shame @chazzersmurf.bsky.social but I did just enjoy this.