4 Deserts - Gozza and Stu (Ultra) Marathon Men

The phenomenal fighters that are Fred Gore-Browne and Stu Peters have embarked upon a self-supported 250km run across Chile’s Atacama Desert alongside 180 other mental but brilliant athletes. All food, sleeping equipment, spare shades must be carried on their person at all times whilst careering up and down sand dunes in 40 degree heat. Blog updates from the boys each evening detail everything from severe dehydration – threatening an end to Fred's race – to fellow competitors vomiting/collapsing/resigning from the task in hand before their very eyes, marathon dreams shattered. But the duo have adopted an attitude that isn't going to allow a case of trenchfoot (Stu's latest hindrance) stand in the way of them and the other side of the Atacama Desert. The boys have now broken the half way mark and most probably, as I type, the 200km barrier as they were due to tackle a 71km challenge today, estimated to take between 16-24 hours. We’re all desperately holding out for the next blog update…

If you would like to donate to their tremendous effort, it's all in the name of BLESMA (British Limbless Ex-Service Men’s Association)

 

http://www.justgiving.com/gozzaandpedroatacama/3

Sienna (+ bump) features as Vogue’s sunny coverstar for the April issue (out 12th March)

Burger & Lobster

Despite a queue of almost 3 hours - you can't book but we were more than happy to go for a drink elsewhere until they phoned us with an available table - Burger & Lobster effortlessly injects fun into eating out. With portions bigger than me and a bib to help shield from wayward claw cracking, it may not be an elegant place to take a date, but it would certainly break the ice. 

Rihanna on Screen

I adored the black and white combo Bajan beauty, Rihanna, sported on Jonathan Ross this weekend - definitely on the lookout for a variation of her outfit... The singer chatted about her new album, Talk That Talk, and her transition from popstar to actress after working on her debut film, Battleship. She kept all boys' (and likely plenty of girls) hopes alive as she expressed her desire for a boyfriend - "Single life is so overrated" - and her live singing performance hosted a generous portion of gyrating and grinding for good measure. It looks as though the world's fascination with Rihanna is only set to continue.

Llama Del Rey

Never has there been someone more entertaining to follow on Twitter than Llama Dey Rey - and with 12,000 followers in 2 months it looks like I'm not the only one Llama's lyrics have tickled...

Spitting in the old barns Walking with my four arms Living for the hay 

You sorted the livestock I grew up on corn crop But you fit me better than my llama-wool sweater

Dolly

Loving my latest discovery of Dolly magazine - Sydney's answer to Sugar - thanks to the Aussie I sit next to in the office. This issue looks like a teenage dream (I might be biased seeing as Mischa Barton is covering it - someone I've always had a serious girl crush on). Dying to get my hands on a copy x

Milan Fashion Week Backstage

Love this backstage picture at Blumarine from MFW tweeted by BackStageConfidential and retweeted by Cara Delevigne

The Fabergé Egg Hunt is underway...

The Big Fabergé Egg Hunt launched last week perking up London's gloomy winter considerably. 200 eggs have been planted all over the capital each individually created by designers and artists, much like the elephants 2 years ago. The Fabergé eggs will raise funds for both Elephant Family and Action for Children.

Below is my first find - 1 of 4 sheltered in Burlington Arcade

Belated but Beautiful

These arrived for me at work last week, making me a very Happy Valentine. Particularly enjoyed it when a friend of mine declared I'd been 'bunched' X

The Smiling Coast of West Africa

Unbelievably, the holiday I optimistically predicted in September last year actually happened! So my new Sunseeker bikini joined me this February for a sunshine fix in Africa...
http://cobwebandpeaseblossom.blogspot.com/2011/09/final-fling-beach-blonde-and-bikinis.html 
...or more specifically, The Gambia: The Smiling Coast of West Africa.



Initially I thought it would simply be a sun-drenched week lying on the beach, but there was so much to see...


Cape Point Beach:

Sunshine's Beach Bar - where we were visited by a beautiful blue bird 

Not quite what you expect when you're told your next door neighbours are wild...3 crocodiles lived in a lagoon adjacent to our hotel

Banjul Ferry Port in South Gambia:

While waiting for a ferry to cross the River Gambia, a cobbler took great delight in a crack in the sole of some of my very old, but very loved, lace-up plimsols. He fixed it beautifully for 100 delasi (about 2 pounds)

 Senegal:

While visiting Senegal, our ranger tracked down a 2 month old male giraffe as we weaved down dirt tracks in the 2000 hectares of Fathala...

...and also took our 4x4 within 3 metres of a 3 tonne white rhino - he was absolutely beautiful

Bakau:

A goat - roaming the streets of our local town Bakau - enterprisingly used a Mercedes as a leg up to lunch 

Bakau fishing port

Me soaking up the rays on our beautiful beach in Cape Point