Winter Warmer

As the temperature outside plummets, theres nothing like a bowl full of french onion soup topped with a generous slice of homemade garlic and cheese bread to warm my bones. Whats your winter warmer?

Summer Recap

As we move well into autumn, knocking on winters door, its time for a summer recap to warm  my bones.

We had an early summer this year with temperatures reaching the mid 20's as early as April. My favourite memory of that month was a week long trip to Tuscany. We went with friends to a picturesque little village called Poppi. My enduring memories of that trip was a tastefully furnished villa with spectacular views of a medieval castle, rolling hills and vineyards. Our hosts Franseca, her mother and our chef Mamma. Learning how to stuff a quail, roll fresh pasta and make stuffed tortellini. Finishing several bottles of fantastic wine. Spending most mornings in the heated pool even though the temperature was sub optimal. 

A room with a view.

This March our friends G & S had a gorgeous baby girl and asked us to be her fairy parents. She is a feisty little poppet, keeping her parents on their toes and bringing much joy to all who spend time with her.

Mandarin ducks at the Isabella Planatation

The best bits of summer was my week off in London. I spent a day trekking through Richmond park and exploring Isabella plantation with a friend. I started training for a 5k with my friend A and my sil A. I discovered my love for running, who would have known! A day spent with both the A's exploring portobello street walking into random pubs and then changing in S's office and continuing our 5 k training that evening around Lincoln Inns field ruing the fruli 's we had consumed. I entered and ran the Adidas 5k and finished it in 35 minutes and 8 seconds. I tried to get S to run but he seems to prefer spending time at the cricket nets in regents park with the boys.

My quota of luck this summer was pretty decent as well. I won 80 quid on the lottery. I got centre court tickets at Wimbledon this year. I discovered a beautiful lavender field close to my old apartment and enjoyed it till summer ended and we moved. I got to watch a bit of village cricket in Torquay.

Cockington Cricket Pavillion

Lavender fields

I have also realised S and I have developed a yearly routine of events. We always catch some cricket and tennis every summer. We explored Taste of London with my sil and enjoyed every morsel. S used his BFI membership to catch some interesting movies, unfortunately this year we will be in Bombay during the festival. We have trekked through Dorset for 4 years in a row and this year was no different. We always catch an interesting musical act at the Royal Albert Hall and this year it was Shankar Ehsaan Loy. We always get a large quota of Ethiopian/ Eritrean and Korean food into our system.

Durdle Door

Dolsot Bimbim Bap

I also made the biggest purchase of my life. S and I bought a house. We spent the best part of a year hunting for an apartment and fell in love with a house. We moved a month ago and are slowly trying to make this 80 year old house into our home. I am sure there will be many more stories from our new house but I will leave that for another post.

All in all its been a fabulous summer and I would not change a day. Hope your summer was just as memorable.

Bhaag

I have moved from being able to run 1 minute only to running 40 minutes. It started with trying to complete the C25K before a vacation in the hope I could squeeze into my swimsuit. A friend and I met for evening runs around the common and Richmond park. The vacation came and went, but the running stayed with me. I'm exhausted and everything hurts at the end of 40 minutes but I love it. I've signed up for a 5k this September with my sil and we hope to finish it in good time. I am using the run to raise some money for a cause close to my heart. Its not a huge distance in the grand scheme of running, but the numbers will get bigger and the times shorter ( I hope!).

I think I have got the bug, Bhaag!

Snow !

This is becoming a yearly phenomenon in London. Snow!! I love it. I stay in Greater London so suburbia with all its greenery looks even better with a bit of snow dust. I had a long trek into Barnes today for a course that was cancelled thanks to the snow. The south western trains were a mess and after 4 hours of travelling, like a sardine packed into a tin, I was all wound up. So, I spent the chance day off by walking down the lane I live in and taking pictures. I look at this every day as I drive into work and I kept telling myself, I need to take some pictures. Its a lovely tree lined road and when it gets dusted with snow, it just starts looking a wee bit magical.

Santa and his baubles!

So christmas came and went. Mine was white, food filled as always and perfect. 2009 wraps to an end and when I look back at this year, I will think of it as filled to the brim. I did a lot this year and I hope 2010 continues in this trend.
I hope the new year brings you what you seek, and on that note I leave you with santa and his baubles!