Category: Adventure

  • A rolling stone…

    I’ve been thinking a lot these past few, er, years. But a lot in the past month about the state of my life and where I am and what I want to be doing. And when we last left New Zealand I had an amazing creative job in advertising but I wanted to be with…

  • A mother’s Christmas

    1) My Father’s Glory 2) My Mother’s Castle – both by Marcel Pagnol 3) Navy Haflinger clogs 4) Herve Chapelier nylon shopper 5) Silk flowers by Atelier Abigail Ahern 6) Burleigh hooped tankard jug (I always check to see if they have what I want as a second) 7) Cuisinart ice cream maker 8) Spanish…

  • Remember that last trip to the Cotswolds… ?

    And remember how I said how sad it was driving up past the place we didn’t rent? And I was really upset that we hadn’t moved there? And while we were up there I decided I really did want to move and this time it really was going to work out. I know I said…

  • Putting down some roots

    Now we’ve decided we’re going to stay put for a while, and because I am totally over my failed attempts at having an English Cottage garden, the time has come to plant a New Zealand garden because I know it definitely won’t die. We’ve been going to Columbia Road quite a bit of late. I…

  • That brilliant young lady of Flagon & Satchel

    I do feel quite the sisterhood thing with a clearly talented woman who’s willing to give life a punt without a degree. And I adore people who write slightly eccentrically with a touch of mad enthusiasm in such a lovely English way. You can tell that’s a person with amazing energy, and for that I…

  • Little cottage by Hampstead Heath London NW3 to rent

    The lovely old London cottage we used to live in is available to rent. Just 50 yards from Hampstead Heath and full of character. Freshly painted, pruned and spruced up the cottage would suit a couple or two sharers, or a young family with a small baby. The spiral staircase is very hazardous for toddlers…

  • Nynne Rosenvinge – a Lovely illustrator

    Read more about Nynne and her Etsy shop over on www.LovelyShops.com

  • Following my dream

    I don’t know how many old readers are still here after my three, almost four year departure from blogging after I had Edith. I’ve never actually told her birth story here have I? Things just kind of went a bit quiet really. I tried to keep things limping along, but I’ve had four years of…

  • Thinking of cities

    Last night I was supposed to be doing one thing and I was looking for apartment rentals in Paris. We always do this. Go somewhere for a few days. Then decide we want to live there. But really, we don’t really want to live there – we just had a nice time. Right? Now the…

  • Menerbes

    In July we went away to France. We’d booked it back in January. We were in paradise. Beautiful pool. Divine interior. Walled garden. Happy children. Parents who could relax. Ah. Le Sigh.

  • Angfurten trip

    Back when it was Jubilee weekend I took the family to see my old (host) family in the countryside in Germany. It was hot. And the countryside was beautiful. And of course it was brilliant to introduce everyone to everyone (host family meet family). We sat outside in the late evening sunshine. Norbert and Ingo…

  • Sometimes, I should listen to Kevin

    For example yesterday. Yesterday I woke up at 6.38am with an earache that told me I had to go straight to A&E. I think I might have got some water in it through medical misadventure. I hopped in the car and drove up to South End Green. It was the most stunningly beautiful morning. The…