A wicked weekend .......

 What a busy weekend ......... Hampshire, London, Hampshire.  An early supper at our favourite Mexican restaurant - Cafe Pacifico or Pacifico as it seems to be called now.  We have spent many hours drinking tequila at this fab place pre-children and it hasn't changed a bit over the years.  Now the tequila has given way to the hip happening Mojito ..........

 A drink or two and a delicious meal to give us the courage to take our seats in the Duke of York Theatre.  We were warned when booking to reconsider if any of our party were of a nervous disposition or under 15.  Before the performance even started I had made the audience around us jump - they thought I was part of the cast - I only sneezed!

 Sadly we cannot divulge any secrets of the play only to say it was excellent and very well staged.

 A look at the sights as we drove home ......... shame they were shut ........

 Sunday was spent entertaining friends from down under and their friends ......... the wettest, wettest walk in the forest was followed by the very best Afternoon Tea at the exquisite http://www.limewoodhotel.co.uk/

I hope you all had a great weekend.

The green, green, hues of home ..........

Whilst out Joe Cocker walking the other day I was blinded by all the vivid greens of nature which were glowing on a dull, damp, grey February morning. Green is a favourite colour of mine, and indeed Mabel. We coo and aahh over anything we come across which pings out vivid lime green. So I was very happy tripping through the greens of the New Forest.

And then at home I find I am surrounded with this wonderful colour. Even the ironing basket looks appealing with the perfect towel on top.

Our nails will look a picture.

And how could we possibly light this candle ..............

Wet, wet, wet .......

Where are we - Joe Cocker and I - the Lakes, Scotland, the peat bogs of Ireland? No - our morning walk in the New Forest. The ground is so saturated now that the landscape has changed ................ how can a boy keep his paws clean!

Endless plains of water ...........

And bogs ..............

But a solitary little daisy is putting on a brave face ........... roll on those lazy, hazy days of summer ..........

What a difference ............

What a difference a day makes. Yesterday non-stop rain drops. Wet, wet, wet. Not a day for dog walking ............. but today ........... after the school bus drop off Joe Cocker walking was a joy. Is that really blue sky peeping through .............

And the sun making a much wanted and needed appearance ............

Casting shadows over the soggy fields ...........

The perfect morning for a very long Joe Cocker walk I feel. The birds are singing and all feels well with the world. Hurrah!

Rain, rain go away ..........

After the beautiful day of blue sky, flowers and champagne of yesterday, today brings forth rain, rain and more rain. I have already had one change of clothes after Joe Cocker walking. He wasn't amused at all. He hates to get his paws wet. So lets dream of those balmy days ...... warm, tropical sunsets .....

Deserted beaches ........

And horizons which drift on forever ......

Hearts and celebrations .......

Happy Valentine's Day! Lots of celebrations here - a celebration of hearts and flowers for Valentine's Day and suprises and jollity for Rosie's 19th birthday.

Birthday fairies and Valentine fairies .........

Lots of cerise pink and hot, vivid red ..........

And treats galore ..........

I hope your day is full of happiness, joy and suprises ..........

Breakfast out of the ordinary .....

We had a little unexpected treat yesterday. Darby and Joan ended up out and about early with the whole day ahead ...... eldest daughter had stayed with friends overnight and youngest daughter had to be taken into school for an art workshop with the artist Frances Hatch. So after a very blustery Joe Cocker walk at Old Sarum off for breakfast .......

Fantastic lighting .......

And scrumptious breakfast. Mushrooms on delicious toast - real mushrooms! That actually looked like fresh mushrooms!

And you can never go wrong with an almond croissant.

All the usual coffee chains should take note ..... well done The Boston Tea Party ..... great choice of tea and coffee, delicious food, fab surroundings and lovely attentive staff - all of whom seemed to be from 'down-under' which brought back lots of lovely memories of Christmas.

Then it was home for chores .......

Happy Chinese New Year

As a tribute to the Chinese New Year, a few memories of Hong Kong ....

Such rich, vibrant colours ...

Amongst the concrete ...

And smog ....

But fascinating and an experience.

A little romance .................

A pinch and a punch for the first of the month ......... and it is the start of the Valentine month. Mind you, Valentine's Day takes a back seat in our house as the 14th February is also Rosie's birthday. Nineteen this year - how did that happen! But February is full of hearts, brilliant red and romantic images ......

A pretty gate leading to the country church ....

For the happy couple ....

Give us a kiss!

Happy Valentine's Month. x