This is what we've been up to .......
May
In May we went on the annual TVR trip to France, this time to Rennes - in the middle of the fuel strike in France so our gallivanting was somewhat curtailed but that didn't spoil our enjoyment.
We stopped off in Dinan for lunch (beautiful and well worth a visit if you haven't been) ans I spotted these lovely pastel coloured pumice stones - who know pumice could be so pretty?!
We did a bit of sightseeing (old Rennes below) and a bit of shopping - I love a French market!
June
In June we went to Dubrovnik - fabulous place! We were only there 4 nights but we packed a lot in, even managed a boat trip to Cavtat. |
I love a pillar - or two!
View over the terracotta rooftops - walking the walls of the old town
Cavtat
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| Peacock on Lokrum Island |
July
July saw us with paintbrushes in hand redecorating the dining room (more on that in a future post), hosting a family party and visiting a few more National Trust houses and gardens.
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| Finished Dining Room |
Afternoon tea - the macarons remind me of those pumice stones!
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| The garden was looking lovely, even if I do say so myself! |
Wakehurst Place, Sheffield Park and Sheffiled Park Station
I hope these are really old cases - I'd love to know where they've been!
August
In August we went with friends to The Hamble (found a sweet jug in a little shop!) and went to a couple more National Trust houses.......... |
| My little purchase from The Blue Bijou at The Hamble |
Great Chalfield Manor
Spur of the moment to Hinton Ampner - totally inappropriate footwear for traipsing across fields and over styles!
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| We also celebrated my sister's 50th birthday |
September
In September we celebrated our 30th Wedding Anniversary and went on the trip of a lifetime to Tanzania and Zanzibar - an unforgettable experience! Well, we thought it would be the trip of a lifetime but we're really hoping we can go back - maybe next year .........Tarangire National Park
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| I saw more sunrises in one week than I've seen in the rest of my life! |
The light was amazing
Serengeti National Park
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| Where they have lizards in my favourite colours! |
Migration - the most amazing thing I've ever seen ........
Ngorongoro Crater
Zanzibar
This was a revelation to me - starfish in so many colours!
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| Spice Tour ! |
Beautiful old carved doors in Stone Town
Zanzibar chest
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| This was in a hotel we walked through - it was so peaceful, especially after the manic markets! |
Freddie Mercury's house
October
We had a weekend in Rye and ticked off a few more National Trust houses. I had hoped we could go to The Red House but it was too far north. We did, however, go to Chartwell - which was lovely, but no photos were permitted inside the house.
Chartwell
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| Quebec House |
Rye - so pretty!
Two sweet little fireplaces at Lamb House in Rye (home to the writer Henry James).
Bodian Castle - complete with moat.
Batemans - home to Rudyard Kipling.
We also squeezed in a visit to The Vyne, just up the road for an autumnal walk through the woods.
We also celebrated my mum's 80th birthday but unfortunately I didn't take any photos - my bad!
November
In November we went to Winkworth Arboretum - the colours were spectacular!
Inside the boathouse - I love old books!
Loads of berries this autumn and winter - and amazingly there was one rhododendron bush still in flower!
Bonfire Night !
Leamington Spa
Quite comfy by the fire - and sitting in a tray (why wouldn't you?!)
December
Not much to report for December - it was dominated by the main event obviously! We had a few frosty mornings though which produced some quite nice photos!
That's me up to date! From now on, I'll try and keep it to just interiors related topics!
Thanks for stopping by!
