the a-z of me

let's play {a - z}

A. Age: 35 (and a half)

B. Bed size: Double (dreaming of a King)

C. Chore that you hate: Ironing (ugh!)

D. Dogs: Mr P would like a Boxer called Kevin or Steve!

E. Essential start to your day: Time to potter and wake up slowly ... at the weekends a nice cup of tea in bed and time to catch up on blog reading

F. Favourite colour: Blue and green

G. Gold or Silver: Silver

H. Height: 5"9

I. Instruments you play: None (sadly)

J. Job title: Teacher (in my head domestic goddess!)

K. Kids: None (yet ...)

L. Live: In a seaside village (at the ends of the earth according to Mr P who hails from the Big Smoke)

M. Mother’s name: Jennie

N. Nicknames: George or GeeDub

O. Overnight hospital stays: Eye op in my teens

P. Pet peeves: Things not being put away 

Q. Quote from a movie: "Tempting ... but no."

R. Right or left handed: Right.

S. Siblings: 1 younger brother

T. Time you wake up: Around 6.00am

U. Underwear: Yes thanks ;)  

V. Vegetable you hate: Cabbage

W. What makes you run late: Changing my mind about my outfit (among other things)

X. X-Rays you’ve had: toe, after dropping a chair on it at work

Y. Yummy food that you make: Peanut butter and chocolate chip cookies, Rockie Road and Fudge ... all mmm 

Z. Zoo animal: love the elephants : ) 

via faith hope & a whole lotta love 

❤

National Treasures

Isn't it amazing ... when you live close to a place of interest, you don't visit it.

Why is that? 

You listen to others extolling its virtues, ohhing and ahhing over its history/size/architecture/beauty and think 'That sounds good, I really must visit it myself one day, after all it's only down the road'

but somehow never find the time. 

Indeed, I'm far more likely to get into the car, drive 40 miles and visit another counties place of interest!! Hmmmmmm.

So last weekend when the Fairtrade and Ethics Fair was hosted at Arundel Castle

and having lived just 10 minutes away for the past thirty years,

I thought this really is too good an opportunity to miss and visited for the first time!

(And bonus, because it was in a castle, Mr P was inclined to come along too).

Impressive huh!

The seat of The Dukes of Norfolk and set in 40 acres of sweeping grounds and gardens, Arundel Castle has been open to visitors seasonally for nearly 200 years. It is one of the great treasure houses of England, each having its own unique place in history and is home to priceless works of art. Come and see paintings and furniture, tapestries and stained glass, china and clocks, sculpture and carving, heraldry and armour in stunning room settings.

Sounds good doesn't it?  I bet many of you have driven miles to see this beauty and I merely glance at it as I drive over the hill and around the by-pass on route to some other national treasure.

Anyhoo, I can now say I have visited.  And yes I loved it, and yes I wondered why I hadn't made the time before and yes I will visit again ... properly.

As for the fair - it was far too busy, in too small a space with too many deadends.   What a grump I sound!
But I did enjoy the bag of Toffee Crumble, from the traditional sweet shop in town, afterwards - mmmmmmm.

Blowing away the cobwebs ...

Woke up late today (9.45am!!) and felt out of sorts all morning.  Getting up late definitely doesn't agree with me and I end up feeling very lazy and grouchy.  So Mr P was in for a great day - poor man. 
However, I was persuaded to step out and take the air which proved to be the perfect tonic.  We drove up to The Dover and ambled through the woods for 2 hours.  Me taking photos at every turn (50 to be precise) and Mr P hunting for chesnuts, which we are going to roast later on this evening and enjoy with a warmed glass of red wine - mmmmmmmm. 
I even agreed to have my photo taken, which if you know me you will know is nothing short of a minor miracle!!
I thoroughly enjoyed blowing the cobwebs away today.

Out and About

The last couple of days have been very pleasant indeed.

Yesterday I visited an old college friend

who ran away to join the circus when we were 18. 

She became a lion/tiger tamer ---

makes me feel very boring indeed!! 

After 15 years with 'The Great British Circus',

which she co-owned,

she has joined Zippos Circus

and this means she gets to tour around the South Coast

and we get to catch up. 

Arundel Art Trail

It is well worth taking an afternoon out

to mooch around this beautiful town

and visit the numerous artists

who are exhibiting here this week. 

So many talented people in one spot ---

I wish I had the wall space

(and the funds)

to justify hanging more art :(

Anyway ---

London had elephants,

Bristol had gorillas,

Edinburgh had cows

and Arundel had rhinos!!!

Aren't they gorgeous --- mini versions available too!

Mini Breakers

Last week Mr P and I journeyed to the beautiful town of Rye in East Sussex. 

We spent our first night away together in Rye two years ago but didn't see much of the place as it was a boys' RC weekend spent at the Brooklands track. 

So this time it was to be two 'George Days' on the trot ... visiting, exploring, marvelling and adoring ...YIPPEE!!

Our first stop was a lovely little place called Middle Farm, just outside of Lewes. 

Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous gift shop (purchased an iron key hook with hearts) and a delightful farm shop full of delicious, tempting goodies ... cheese scone anyone?

Then back on the road with a detour to the De La Warr Pavillion in Bexhill.  I've seen this building on TV and had an urge to visit.  Don't know what I was expecting but came away feeling disappointed -- a lovely building but lots of construction going on, which equalled noise and mess. 
So only a couple of pics taken from the rooftop to show we was here!!

Summer Walk #3

Dover carpark up to the Trig Point

7.30am

This morning I took 54 photos --- WOW I love my camera :)

This afternoon I have considered, pondered, ummmmed and ahhhhed and have picked my favourites. 

And isn't Picasa a wonderful application??
I can while away many many many hours ...

Summer Walk #2

Summer Walk #1

South Downs Way 

Washington - Burphan 

7.15 am start 

Hot and humid

Indulge me please ...

I have a new camera and I'm not afraid to use it.

A Canon PowerShot A2200 - and I'm lovin' it, lovin' it, lovin' it!!

Here are a few pics that I have been playing around with using Picasa 3. 

Worth downloading (it's free) but be warned, you can waste hours faffing around, adding this, changing that, doodling here, shading there ...

Birthday Girl

I have a new camera - Yay! 

Battery on charge.

 Memory card inserted. 

Patience being demonstrated ...

Feeling Techie

Since recently discovering the joyful world of blogging I have admired the photo collages that other bloggers post and have pondered how I could achieve something similar. 
Well, a little research, a smidgin of patience and Hey Presto ...

Feeling proud :0)  Can you believe it Mr P?!?!

Boost my mood

Recently, when reading the lovely Andrea's blog (Apples and Pears) I came upon a recommendation.  'The Feel Good Factor' by Patrick Holford - 10 proven ways to boost your mood and motivate yourself.  Now I don't see myself as particularly down in the dumps, but sometimes I think I could do with a little extra oomph and I have been feeling rather lethargic and lacking in 'get up and go' recently.  The title sounded so positive and proactive that I immediately purchased said book on Amazon and upon delivery devoured the first two chapters - 'The anatomy of feeling good'  and 'My top ten mood-boosting secrets'.  

The conclusion thus far is that I need to banish my 'sugar blues', which in turn should also help my concentration levels and memory (which are questionable at the best of times). The answer, it seems, is a cocktail of supplements on a daily basis. Cod Liver Oil capsules for healthy brain function (as well as oiling the joints).  Chromium tablets to decrease sugar cravings, adjust my blood sugar levels and to make me feel generally perkier.  And a high-potency multivitamin to cover all bases.

When I have read Chapter 3 and have got my head around 'Good Mood Foods', I'll be all singing all dancing and full to brim with va-va-voom!!

This moment

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savour and remember.

An Easter weekend "ta-dah" moment

How clever are we?!?!

Over the Easter weekend we became the proud owners (and more importantly, builders) of a gorgeous cornflower blue shed.  It sits perfectly at the side of the house and amazingly tidies everything up.  I refer to it as our "french quarter" now and even bought plants to coordinate with it!!

The deal is the shed is for Mr P but because it is so close to the house and can be seen from the french doors, I got to choose the colour.  Tricky .... do you know how many lovely colours and shades there are?!?!  I set out with Cornflower Blue in mind but when I was faced with a choice I began to dither.  Willow? Sage? Bluebell? Country house Cream?  Thankfully Mr P was on hand to speed things up and we came away with my first choice.  Excellent decision ...... I LOVE IT.

If you go down to the woods today, you're in for a big surprise

 "Are you sure that's where you want to go?!?!"

Truth, rumour, myth, local folklore ....

call it what you may;
but whatever it is, it has made a walk in Clapham Woods one to think twice about.

Spring Observations

The path of mossy ground nestled
In between maternal hedgerows,
That overgrew atop, dimming out
The brilliance of the day.
Embosomed, a calm-cool vision –
Abstract takes of nature, in
Leaf-spattered green shades;
Stem-speckled brown hues;
Shards of sunlight percolating
Through the random flaws to
Up glittering sprites upon the leaves.

Mark R Slaughter

Yippee!!

Yesterday morning I could barely contain my excitment as I ripped open a very unprepossessing envelope 

to  reveal 2 tickets for the Country Living Spring Fair in London ....

cue beaming smile and happy mood!!!

A day spent in the big smoke soaking up the gloriousness that is Country Living style: admiring, wanting, idolising and dreaming. There will be ooohhhhhing and arghhhhing - Should I or shouldn't I? - That one or that one? - I won't tell if you won't?  In fact, it will probably be easier to identify what I don't like rather than what I do!!!! The only problem will be getting everything home and inbedded before Mr P finds out just how carried away I can get when let loose at such an event ... And my partner in crime will of course be my mother, egging me on and holding me back in equal measure I'm sure.

What a perfect start to what turned out to be a wonderously glorious day.  The sun shone so gardening was done, two lots of washing dried on the line and tea taken outside in the warmth, with rosey cheeks achieved.

Dreams of holidays, warmth, sun, sea and summer are suddenly not so hard to imagine.

Happy days to all xx

Whiling away the hours!

This weekend has been a quiet one.  The sunshine has been very welcome and encouraged me to venture out into the garden where I have found some wonderful and reassuring bursts of cheerful colour. 

It puts a smile on the face and lifts the spirits to see the first signs of Spring ... 

new life popping up to say "how do"!!

And love is in the air ....

Yesterday I took myself off for a walk through the village and down to the sea. Not much was happening: a few people titivating their gardens, washing their cars and enjoying the unusual and short lived sunshine.  I think the warmth of the day and the suggestion of Spring put everyone in a good mood as there were many "hellos" and nods of greeting as I passed by.  The beach however, was near deserted, apart from the odd dog walker in the distance.  Very peaceful.

And now for some pumpkin soup.  It may not look like much, but boy is it delicious!!!
Hope you've all had a super-duper weekend too xx

Happy Thoughts!

Welcome to my world!!

I have had a super half term ... catching up with friends, gossip, day trips, laughter and fun.

Here are some of the things I have done ...

Made a yummy carrot cake

Thanks Mum for the recipe ... it went down really well (the buttercream frosting especially)

and as you can see, not much left!!