August kicked off with the long-awaited Prudential RideLondon-Surrey 100, the 100 mile bike race along the closed roads of Surrey and London, which I enjoyed so much I entered the 2014 ballot the morning it opened. The weather was good (I mean really good for England; it already seems like a distant memory), so the month was filled with lunches on the grass, cycling everywhere, sunglasses permanently on, fresh salads, chilled rosé and al fresco dining at night (and the obligatory insect bites that promises) with a day of Pimms, champagne and losing money at Goodwood races, a trip to Normandy to explore the countryside and ancient Rouen (more on that later) and a weekend in the Yorkshire Dales.
1. my treasured BMC bike 2. celebratory Pol Roger 3. Kat Maconies in the sunshine 4. staying amid the orchard trees in Normandy 5. forgoing my beloved eyeliner for Bare Minerals' khaki green Scenic Route eyeshadow 6. beautiful Rouen 7. St Pancras roof 8. Ilkley in bloom 9. Max Factor's Tiffany blue-esque Cool Jade nail varnish
1. black fringed boots 2. at the Ride100 finish line with my Daddy 3. poppy fields in Normandy 4. dinner at Ponti's 5. Le Clos des Fontaines pool 6. a day at the races 7. the Wharfe 8. on the York carousel 9. gorgeous new watch courtesy of Daniel Wellington
