Alo Nemo!

Have you been to Egypt? You should really go to Egypt!

OK.. so ive not really been to "Egypt" Egypt, only snorkel central Sharm-el-Sheikh.

Unfortunately, as wallet arousing as it seemed, the fly by excursion to Cairo was proving more costly than the whole damn trip. :(

The alternative coach via brain melting desert option, isnt even worth thinking about.

Anyhow, I highly doubt the Pyramids would be quite so impressive, as my calorific, frozen desert interpretation. :)

So although there wasnt any light lunches with King Tut, nor afternoon teas with the Great Sphinx, it was a truly amazing holibobs and quite the relaxing break I needed.

(Well, lets translate that into the Raphy idea of relaxing, which computes....Quad bikes, Camels Windsurfing, Mosques, Water-parks, National-parks, Night markets and more.)

But after a week of dates with clown fish, Lion fish, Stingrays and a million-tude of other skittle coloured sea life friends. It occurred to me, mid strawberry daiquiri, that I think I would like an apprentership in marine biology. Preferably stationed in Figi, although the Philippines would be fine. They don't have to pay me ill just live in a shack (complete with mosquito net) and eat fried sea weed.

Things to avoid in Sharm el Sheikh?... Everything?

Or perhaps you could just do the sensible thing and take your jabs like the rest of civilisation.

(But in my defence, this cunning mind of mine, was far to occupied planning bandaged body mummy surprises. So much so, I forgot travel insurance too!...mega eek!)

Providentially, Mr.Maleria was too busy plaguing some other fresh westernised meat, and the Great-Whites clearly weren't digging my Pis-buin seasoning. 

Although, I did have a nasty run-in with the sea bed whilst trying to escape the encapturement of 12 jelly fish...needless to say the dagger-like coral championed.

(I may have had just a little fun, picking this hearty scab all week :D

Im so delighted to be welcomed back home with such glorious sunshine. 

Even if I am tied to the studio for most of infinities foreseeable shoots, these honey sun rises, and butternut squash sunsets, soothe the soul of my rail travel life.

I do pray this 25degree delirium sticks around till ladies day! 

Of course Im the most disorganised attendee. Im having an absolute nightmare finding the perfect 'unique' ensemble, and please dont get me started on the whole hat/fascinator bolocks. You seriously wanna read the rules of attire pamphlet. Im so over it, I think I'll just settle for a burka and a sombrero. 

At least id be certain not to be clashing with the queen.

......Anyway I have quite a lot of promised blogging to adhere to, so here a selection of several silvery shots from spring 2012.

Copyright: James Davidson

Copyright: Damien Lovegrove

Copyright: Dinah 

Copyright: Mika

Copyright: Johan Verhulst

Copyright: MacRV

Weather your sipping pina's in your hammocks or shooting on the sand-dunes, have a simply fabulous weekend.

Withlove Raphaella x

Sweet Cherry Pie

Today is Friday!  And, I've got some good news and bad news...let's just start with the bad and get it over with.

The bad news is:

That theres a twist in my spine, a bleed in my abdominals and ligament damage to my shoulder. "YUK! OUCH! CRAP!" 
Plus Ive received a whopping 30day Facebook suspension, for posting this wholesome blue nude..... (I so knew it was a bad idea!)

But ive got a unshakable feeling, I know who's reported me..... & when I die, I will haunt them for the rest of eternity. hehehe!! *evil-laughs.

The good news is:

After months of exasperating messing around, my partners 21st birthday celebrations are finally settled! So the stout black cloud of doom, can finally go find refuge on someone else's teeny-tiny shoulders.

That said, planning Saturdays nights treasure hunt from home complete with Pyramid ice cream cakes and little me dressed as a mummie is proving rather tricky....(any guesses where we are going?)

1.Today is a good day because...  Ive received first glimpses of my soon to be brother!

(Isn't that just the cutest thing you've ever seen?)

2.The best thing I did all week was... get out of hospital. (OK that was a lame answer, but ive had a lame week...You all know how I get with my achievement anxieties.)

3. The current weather is sunny and it makes me feel... rejuvenated and energised, motivated and galvanised. And all those other positive "ated's" and "ised" wordings.

4. A person who made me smile this week was...   the super sweet 16 year old at my local tuck shop who spent ever so long helping me pick out all the yellow coloured confectionaries that will adorn my Pyramids."Thank-you, young cute stuff!"

5. The most delicious thing I ate all week was... Sainsbury's seasoned fishcakes...OK I never thought I would say that phrase... maybe I should get my temperature checked. But Its seriously my food crush of the month!

...And in typically delicious style, heres the latest sweet dish of flaxen hair and high-tops, Norwegian endeavours, with the awesome-as-always Ashley Cameron.

Now bring on the joys of packing my handleless, one wheeler suitcase.

Have a fabulous Thursday.

Withlove Raphaella x

There's no place like home...

Todays short post coming to you from bed 17, of a very noisy, surgery-assessment ward. 

I'm currently, feeling a wee worse for wear, so ixnay on the natter and more snappys from the studio

...where I of course would much rather be!

Hope you've all had a lovely bankholiday.

Raphaella Withlove x

Quixotically patterned projections.

Oh when, oh when will my summer arrive?

Im pretty much dragged kicking and screaming through the first four months of the year, so this unnecessary prolonged wash-out is just taking the bourbon biscuit. 

We're usually well into bouncy castle, buntings and home made burgers on the barby, season by now.

Sometimes I wish I could just join thumper and the gang, and hibernate my goose-pimpled soul, from Guy-forks night right thru to Easter sunday.

Im just really unable to compute how some 'humans' don't enjoy a hotter climate? My father being the prime example, unceasingly grumbling about the 85degrees this and 95degrees that, he's subject too.... lunatic

All I can say is, hurry up global warming, so I can get on my rusting cali cruiser and have a pic-nic a tree! ....... 

(Well as long as we can find somewhere nice to put the polars and the pingu's)

Now we all know how much I love writing my lists and making my organisational trees, so ive started to scribble down a few bits and bobs that should keep the old ying & yang firmly en-sync through the next sweaty months.

 Waste a day, reading a stack of retro 70's Cosmos

 Drink cocktails (complete with flamingos and/or umbrellas) & listen to Elbow

Jamaica 2011

 Take an outdoor yoga class

 Purchase an inflatable paddling pool, lie in it & take some not-so self conscious, self-portraits

 Take a doggy for a walk (I don’t actually own one, but I'll cross that bridge when I get to it.)

 Buy a hula-hoop &  work that butt.

 Quit the coffee, even if it does come in pretty pink pots.

 Stock up on those hippy leather bracelets at flea markets

 Go to a rooftop party...or two.

 Learn some words in an exotic language

 Buy a fabulous "diva coming through" sun-hat

 Hack up an old pair of jeans into short-shorts

 Go to the beach & die of relaxation

 Carry a small water gun in my purse.

Teehee!!

Now in true weather permitting style, here's some of the fab new images taken by Cambridge based photographer Pierus.

We did have are hearts set on ballet duo in the landscape for the last 6 weeks, but the heavens weren't playing ball. So a morning of Technicolor projection, ass shaking fun it was!

Like what you see, check out the wee impromptu Iphone vid, of the snaps in the making... 

I think it gets real groovy @ 2.12mins!

Have a luscious Thursday everyone.

Withlove Raphaella McNamara 

x