Brrrrrrrr!!!!

It is such a lovely day outside - the sun is out, the sky is brilliant blue and there isn't a cloud in sight so it is FREEZING!!!! N has been outside all day pottering about making a storage unit for our ridiculously large collection of flower pots and playing with the cats. There are racks of fresh laundry all over the flat (thanks to the idiot who has decided to have a bonfire all day!!). I even made it to Aqua this morning at some strange hour before 10am and felt particularly energised afterwards.
The icing on the cake is an afternoon of crafting. Who knows what. I am having to undo Em's hyggelig - hmmm - it might end up being a Christmas 08 present at this rate!

The cherry on top is dins at our friends - bangers and mash.

Marvellous.

How famous five!

Gosh - what a foggy, old morning. I can't see the end of the garden. I am looking forward to marching through it to get to the station for the daily commute. Just like a scene from the Famous Five books which I adored. They obviously didn't have to commute (well, not until they'd grown up) but they did have to battle through fog on the moors...

To add some colour to the grey suit morning, here are some beautiful flowers that our friends gave us last week and are still going strong.

Right - off to rummage for my hat, gloves and scarf. And maybe a flashlight and some ginger beer.

One cushion completed

I had a crafty hour yesterday afternoon and finally covered the cushion for the chair in the bedroom with the fabric left over from our wall hanging. So simple and easy to do, but I am so pleased with it.
My beloved Bernina started to misbehave and the stitches began to go a little wonky. Thank goodness for the pillow case back so you can't really see it. I need to book it in for a service. It is nearly 30 years old. It was my mother's first electric sewing machine and I love it. The slight musty smell when you pull it out of the case, the sturdiness of it and the gentle hum as it stabs through the fabric. Time to take it to the sewing hospital...

Bonsoir

I'm back. Had such a fantastic time. It was so great to catch up with my sister and be able to offer her the sanctity of a hotel room (and bath!). We walked and talked and ate and drank our way around Lyon 'til our feet hurt and we could eat no more. And boy, did we sleep soundly despite staying in a rather unsavoury area of Lyon (thanks Expedia...so much for the 3 stars).
I do love French architecture. In the same moment the buildings are both majestic and romantic. They ooze history - be it love trysts or the conspiratoral French Resistance of the 40's.
I also love the shops - not necessarily what they sell, but how they sell and how they package everything. It's something that has long disappeared over here. We had breakfast in an adorable patisserie before I left for the airport. Hot chocolate and pain au chocolat. The family had been running it since 1914 and they had the most perfect cakes I've ever seen. We sat there drooling over them for a while before managing to tear ourselves away.
One of my favourite spots in Lyon was the hypnotic low running waterfall along the river. So calming - I would have liked to people watch all day.
And something to giggle at - we went to the silk district to track down a silk workshop. Mission accomplished but we left empty handed. As we made our way back to the Metro, we passed this ...
What you can't see is that behind the posters on the left of the shop front is a grumpy looking poodle waiting his turn. Brilliant.

Bonne nuit.

Lyon here I come

I am so excited - am getting ready to go visit my sister in Lyon. She's out there with university for a year and is, so far, having a rotten old time. She's going to come and crash with me in the hotel so that she can have a little luxury for 2 nights. We haven't seen each other since Christmas - and even then it was short and sweet. Time to spend some quality time together. So looking forward. Have had such a rubbish week that I can't wait to get on that plane.

It wasn't all rotten though. Our friends came round for pancakes yesterday. Us girls sat in the sitting room waiting for the boys to make the goods. British pancakes (thanks Nigella!) to start - savoury with ham, parmesan and salad, followed by American pancakes for the sweet course. Was soooo pancaked out by bedtime.

Will report back about Lyon, totally stuffed from having over-indulged in pain au chocolat and beaujolais, on Sunday.

Forgot to mention that I have somehow managed to 'twist' the re-knit of Em's hyggelig on the needles. All very peculiar. Am cracking on regardless.

February - what did you do with January?

A lovely, busy weekend spent with friends and family. A trip to the local butcher on Saturday saw N lugging a huge chicken home to roast for my parents today. And boy, was it a great roast. Two lots of stuffing (sage, onion and garlic + watercress, apricot and pistachio), vegetables and gravy. Apple and pear crumble pie (half left - hoorah!) and chocolate souffle cake with armanac prunes (thanks Mum!). Couple of piccies before we start the new week...

1. The wedding flowers are still alive despite being thrown around, crushed in the back of the cab and squashed on the Northern Line home.
Bright colours to brighten up the dark mornings before going to work.
2. Cracking bottle of vino from Waitrose. All in the name of charity... (RSPCA)
Just love the illustration and label on the back
I took the instructions quite literally and having enjoyed a glass, popped back to Waitrose yesterday to buy 3 more bottles.

3. We woke on Saturday to find the crocuses had started to peek through the lawn. Spring is a little early. According to the UK Met Office spring starts in March, April and finishes in May. I'm not going to complain though - it's lovely to see the garden turning green, and purple, again.
4. The garden path is finally finished. Well done N! My involvement = coffee making. Marvellous. Time to plan what plants and vegetables we're going to grow.
5. The not-so-nice silver tabby using our veranda roof to check out the bay tree inhabitants.
6. And finally, a sweet potato which I think looks a little bit like a seal...what do you think?
Ta ta for now.