Since we last met...

Blimey, has it really been three months since I last wrote anything?  That really is utterly hopeless but goodness me I have been busy.  There has been lots of getting used to our new home, exploring the countryside around us, lots more DIY, a new boiler...the list goes on.

Life nowadays is rather different to our Twickenham existence in almost every way.  The house itself couldn't be more different and it has taken us quite some time to settle in.  For a long while we only lived in 3 rooms, we had about maybe a fifth of the furniture we needed and most days we would look at each other thinking what have we done?!  I now commute to work, our friends are an hour away, I can't hop on a train to London without considerable planning and the most exciting restaurant within 10 miles is Pizza Express!

All that said I am certain that we made the right choice and I love our new life.  We can walk into amazing countryside from our front door, we have an incredible farm shop on our doorstep, and we have space, more space than we really need but who's counting! The best change has been being able to have friends and family to stay and having the room to relax and enjoy without tripping over each other and playing musical chairs every two minutes!

I've got lots to show you, room updates, DIY projects, country walks and I will.  I promise.  In the meantime I'll leave you with a picture of my favourite little man because I know you'll have missed him!

Let it snow...

So it seems that it really snows in the countryside!  I'm working from home today and took Bingo for a quick walk at lunchtime - he loves the snow although it's so deep at the moment that his little legs are struggling somewhat!

I hope that you are all having fun where ever you are!

A weekend in Penzance...

This weekend Mr E and I took ourselves to Penzance for the weekend.  Neither of us had been before and so it was with some excitement that we packed the car up on Friday.  The drive down was rather arduous so I was immensely pleased that the hotel we had booked was so marvellous.

The Abbey Hotel is a 17th Century town house that has been a hotel since the end of the second world war.  In 1979 it was bought by Jean Shrimpton and is now run by her son.  The hotel describes itself as "grandly quirky", it has 8 bedrooms all of which are decorated with wonderfully eclectic style.

Guests are free to enjoy the walled garden and the drawing room.  We sat by the fire with a glass of wine on Friday evening and took afternoon tea on Saturday.  Amazing scones, clotted cream and jam - all home made.

We stayed in room 7, a lovely room at the top of the house.  Light and airy and beautifully clashing with pale blue walls and red toile de jouy fabric. And the best bit...they let you bring your dog.  Bingo enjoyed a weekend away with us and was even treated to his own sausage for breakfast!

photos from hotel website

Bath time...

Now tell me that isn't the cutest Jack Russell you ever did see?!

Sorry...

It has been an absolute age since my last post and I can only apologise.  There are reasons; I have been super busy at work, I have been travelling again for work and I am rather down in the dumps.

First things first:  work.  My show season is approaching and the office is pretty busy right now.  I have an event in Glasgow in three weeks and then another two before the end of November.  I find work at this time of year all consuming and struggle to think about anything else.  The only silver lining is that I love the shows I work on and it is amazing to see them come together.

In preparation for the shows I have been out and about to various meetings.  This week I flew to Glasgow for the day to taste the menu we will be serving at the MasterChef Restaurant we are running at our show.  The food was super yummy and I totally recommend lunch there and a day at the show for anyone who is nearby!  BBC Good Food Scotland at the SECC 21-23rd October if you are interested?!

So, onto feeling blue.  I am usually a positive person, very much a glass half full kind of girl but lately I have been out of sorts.  You see the thing is the husband and I have a plan, and step one of our plan is selling the flat we live in.  We've tidied and cleaned and de-cluttered and had some lovely photos taken and we've had lots of viewings.  But no second viewings and no offers yet.  It has only been two weeks but it has really affected me, much more than I thought.  I love our home and am disheartened that no one else has loved it enough yet.  And we can't move onto step two of our plan until this one is out of the way.

I have my lovely friend from Madrid staying this weekend and we have lots of nice things planned.  I am hoping that this will cheer me along and that normal service will resume shortly.

In the meantime I shall leave you with a photo of Bingo.  He always cheers me up!

Utter devotion...

Need I say more...

A day in the life of...

I have seen this idea on lots of other blogs and had always fancied giving it a try. Essentially the idea is that you blog about what you have done on a particular day.  As I was catching up on my blog reading I saw on Alice's Quaint Living that there was a day in the life date organised so I thought I would give it a go!  I am not sure how interesting it will be but here goes:

Friday 2nd September.
I am lucky enough to start work at a somewhat tardy 9.30 and even more fortunate to be able to walk to work so I generally get up around 8.30.  This morning I tried to prolong the holiday spirit and had a lovely hot shower with one of Petit Marsellais shower creams.

I potter around getting myself ready, applying my various lotions and potions.  I have a myriad of them to chose from and opted today for my Marc Jacobs' Cucumber perfume.

I walk to work through the sunny streets of Teddington, it is a nice walk past the beautiful houses and ending up at the river.  As it is Friday I am slightly more casual than the rest of the week and am in my jeans and ballet pumps.

My morning is taken up with answering emails and some overdue admin.  I tick a lot of jobs off my list and am pleased with a coffee break at 11.00.  My coffee mug at work was a gift from the husband and features Bingo in action.  It is rather twee but I like it never the less.

I continue ticking off jobs and catching up until lunch time.  I am in the process of changing my name; after a year of marriage I thought it was about time!  It is rather more involved than I had initially thought so I wandered down the high street to the bank and am one step closer to becoming Mrs E.

My afternoon was dedicated to floor plans and scale drawings.  There was a welcome interruption when some cupcakes were delivered to my desk.  One of our contractors was celebrating their 10th birthday and had send the cakes out so that we could all join in.  Unfortunately they didn't last long enough to photograph!

I popped into the pub for a quick glass of wine as it was such a lovely evening and a Friday after all! The husband walked down with Bingo and joined me.  We headed home shortly after that to a supper of pasta with crab.  And a little more wine!

We sat on the sofa and watched a horror film, then off to bed.  I don't think I even managed a chapter of my book before falling asleep!

Rainy days and Saturdays...

Well the relentless downpour has put pay to my weekend plans.  No picnic, no gardening and no local fete.  I am however using the time productively; I will finally sort out my mountain of paperwork, I will research the perfect pudding for tomorrow's lunch and I will reorganise my spice cupboard.  Oh the thrills!

To cheer us all up how about a little picture of Bingo?  You know me, any excuse!  This is him & his lady friend Zuki.

I can't wait...

...for the weekend to begin!


This weekend will be my first one off in 2 weeks and I can't wait to get back to doing all the normal things that I actually miss when I am away.  Things like doing the laundry, walking the dog, taking my clothes to the dry cleaners and cleaning the car.  Sometimes the normality of life is what makes it interesting.

Home, Sweet Home...

I returned home yesterday after working away from home for the last two weeks.  I have spent two joyous weeks at the Hilton Metropole at the NEC.  A hotel that in my opinion is indeed Dante's ninth circle of hell.


As I am there for such a long time I need my come comforts around me to make it more bearable.  My packing for this trip involved more non-clothes related items than actual outfits.   Here are my essential items to make even the most dreadful hotel room feel like home...


Photographs of the husband and Bingo:  I bought this leather photo frame in Habitat years ago and it travels with me when the husband cannot.  I like the old fashioned look and it reminds me of an age when travelling light hadn't yet been heard of;  when ladies would set up a dressing table just the same as in their home even if it was just for an evening.

Lavender oil:  I find sleeping on hotels difficult, but a few drops of lavender on my pillow and I am instantly relaxed.

A good book:  I love reading and a good book never fails to settle me and make time fly.  I am currently engrossed in Jilly Cooper's latest, Jump.  And I have to say that it is simply marvellous!

My iPad:  When I am working away it tends to be both antisocial and irregular hours.  I often return to the hotel and am simply too awake to go straight to sleep.  The hotel television offers little entertainment and so my iPad is a godsend.  I can watch films, catch up on blogs, listen to music...the list is endless.

Slippers:  I don't know what it is about slippers but putting them on at the end of the day really makes me feel at home.  I also hate the slightly grubby carpet that you inevitably find in big, corporate hotels and am much happier to have my toes encased in something a little more friendly.

Bubble bath:  Who doesn't love a bubble bath?  No matter how awful the day a long soak in a hot bath makes the world of difference!

Another very English afternoon...

This weekend the husband and I went to the Holyport Village Fair to see my Mother and Father -in-law on the Bric a Brac stall.


The village is already very pretty with a lovely green, a duck pond and local pub and the addition of a traditional English fair and some sunshine only made it prettier.


We watched the dog show, tried the coconut shy, had a glass of Pimms and came away with a brilliant cook book.  Published in 1962, Cooking for Two or Twenty has some amazing recipes, some beautiful illustrations and some helpful advice on issues we all face such as how far apart one should set dinner places!

Gratuitous photo of Bingo

Just because he is super cute.  I don't need another reason!

A walk in the park...

I have found my photos and so here is my missing post!


The weather this weekend has been so glorious that it would be an absolute crime not to be outside enjoying it.  We are very lucky in Teddington and have a marvellous selection of parks to pick from, all on our door step.


This weekend's destination was Radnor Gardens, a mere 10 minute stroll for Mr E, Bingo & me.  The gardens are on the river, just where Teddington meets Twickenham.  The park was once the private gardens of the riverside properties but is now public gardens for all to enjoy.


There is a lovely mix of formal gardens, a bowling green (more about my particular fascination with that to come!) and lovely weeping willows whose fronds trail into the water.  Apparently they are the very first willows to be planted.

 

Introducing Bingo...

Please allow me to introduce you to Bingo, our Jack Russell Terrier.  We have had him for nearly 3 years after rescuing him from a pound in Wales.


He is quite simply brilliant.  For a dog he has an amazing sense of humour and his comic timing is second to none.  He is great company and a loyal friend.  And, he makes the most hilarious noises in his sleep!


I break all the rules for him; I feed him tit-bits from the table, he sits with me on the sofa and worst of all he joins me to listen to The Archers in bed on a Sunday morning!


Ladies & Gentlemen I give you Bingo!