Postscript to a Golden Celebration.

John has now downloaded the photos he took over our truly magical Golden Weekend.  There is nothing really I can add to what has been said before about the trouble that all the family went to to make it such a memorable occasion for us - but I thought a few of our own pictures would complete the record of a very special time for us.

Max was so busy being Photographer in Chief that he missed out being 'taken' himself - so to put that right - here he is at the beginning when we had just arrived and champagne was being dispensed.

Here is Jonathan thinking up dastardly questions for the 'Mr. & Mrs.' session....

..and our Hostess delightfully 'done up' in gold.....

While her sister adjusted her camera .....

By the time Sean arrived so unexpectedly that evening, dear Max had taken a well earned rest,  but John managed to capture Sean for the record .....

(It looks as if we spent all our time in the kitchen, which of course we didn't - the Celebration Lunch being served in the spacious conservatory/dining room - but Kim's pictures have covered that.)

Here we are next morning - after the Lord Mayor's Show - though we did progress from just orange juice to the full English, which Martin effortlessly produced (well, it looked effortless!)

We LOVED the banner that Max and Vicki had so cleverly made, so this is a great picture ...

Here we are, about to do a Knees Up ....

And before we left for home they merrily bedecked our car with as many of the balloons and decorations as they could! ....

.... and I think this picture really sums up the spirit of the occasion ......

HUGELY grateful thanks to all of you - We love you all so much xxxxx
(including the much-missed family in Oz, who not only sent superb hand-crafted cards, little 'models' of the bride and groom (he complete with beard), a lovely wall hanging,and a silver heart charm for my bracelet, but also the promise of a return air-fare to visit them (we shall fight over who has it.... tee... hee..! )  THANK YOU LOTS. xx)

French Fragments from a 'Golden' Honeymoon.

Kim has done a wonderfully comprehensive Blog about the truly fabulous time she and the family gave us over the weekend of our Golden Wedding.    John took all our pictures, and hasn't yet downloaded them from his camera, so I am going to put the 'cart before the horse' and give a flavour of our sojourn in France which followed straight on from the 3-day celebrations, and hope to write up the rest later.

Kim and Martin very kindly loaned us their lovely French farmhouse, La Dancrerie, which is a real 'home from home' - enormously large for just two people, yet so comfortably furnished and welcoming that we really cosied up there, with glowing log fires in the evenings and the most comfortable of beds.  We couldn't have visited at a better time for all around the house spring flowers were out in abundance.   It is such a pity that Kim and the family were not there to see their jardin francais en printemps, so I here are a few pictures to give a flavour ......

Although it was only March, the weather was surprisingly good and we were out and about the whole time.   John was in his element, clicking his camera merrily and taking 'artistic' shots like this one...

I thought I'd give it a try, and attempted to capture the incoming tide at close quarters..... but I don't think I've quite got the knack!

However, I did enjoy studying the artwork of others....

Everywhere we went there seemed to be Mimosa in blossom - something I don't think I've ever seen in England .....

Here we are at Barneville, and you can just about make out the gold tinsel on the trailer hook, and the gold bow on the door handle - when we left Harewood House after the celebrations Golden Wedding Balloons, tinsel, and banners were draped around the car.   We took a bunch of the balloons with us on the ferry to Cherbourg, and got lots of comments and smiles from officials and passengers - and have left them fixed in the salon at La Dancrerie for others to enjoy.
(We decided not, after all, to buy this house delightfully situated on the plage.)

And here are two of our favourite places  -  Carteret where we had coffee (as we do on every visit) at the swanky hotel lit up in the background)....

....... and lovely, lovely Portbail, just a short trip from the farmhouse.....

The sunshine even accompanied us home (quite surprisingly for the time of year, as the sun got warmer we were even able to leave our coats off on our jaunts along the coast)  Here we are passing the Needles off the Isle of Wight - I was surprised how well this picture came out considering it was taken through the lounge-window on the Barfleur.

It was a superb holiday - we ate FAR too much delicious French bread and cheese, and consumed far more French vin and cidre than was good for us, but what a great time we had!    Thank you dearest Lampards for making this all possible (and if the Lampards Snr. read this, then thank you too for a really tasty lunch, and fun company chez 'Freddie's').

Let's hope it's 'au revoir', and not 'goodbye' .   

HAPPY ENDINGS.

Somehow the New Year has begun, and I haven't tucked the old one away properly yet.    So I thought I'd just publish a few pictures to round things off.   For a couple of old biddies, we do seem to lead quite an eventful life,  though much of it goes by unrecorded by our cameras.   However, here are a few glimpses into the final weeks of 2010.

We spent a couple of fun-filled days at Mary and Lewis's cosy cottage just by Marlow Bridge and did so enjoy 18 holes of golf at Lewis's Club in the sunshine on a crisp frosty morning.  John was provided with a buggy on which we all enjoyed cadging lifts, and everyone had their share of 'good holes', though to Mary and my chagrin the boys beat us (for a change!).   Delicious food and drink are always highlights of any visit to Magnolia Cottage, so we try to exercise as much as possible in the vain hope that our waistlines won't suffer.    We took a lovely long walk beside the Thames one sunny afternoon, but it having rained heavily the day before, we found ourselves  slurping through stretches of really muddy footpath in not the most suitable footwear, the result being that I lost both heels of my black leather brogues.  Hey, they were old anyway, so now have taken retirement to become my Gardening Shoes.

John and Sam came to stay for a few days with us later in December.  Jon had driven in glorious sunshine to lunch with Kerry at her home on the Gower, but by the time he and Sam arrived here the temperature was falling, and a day later we awoke to a layer of snow, which by next day had doubled its thickness.    My studio resembled a Swiss chalet - pity we had no sledges on hand to reach it.

We took the opportunity of a gloriously sunny Saturday to walk the Strawberry Line into Winscombe for milk and papers, stopping off for a hot drink at the pub, before making our way back home again through the lovely powdery snow.

A couple of days later we threw caution to the winds and set off in appalling conditions to take Kerry her Christmas presents and to treat her to a Christmas meal.    The M5 and M4 were down to one lane in the falling snow, but we got there in reasonably good time and much enjoyed our afternoon together.    However, on the way back, when the roads were much clearer (but the roadsides piled up with freezing snow) we had a little mishap, ending up astride the crash barrier on the inside lane near Cardiff West Services.  We were so lucky to emerge unharmed , shaken if not a little stirred by our experience, and our trusty old Honda too showed that like her owners, the old ones were made to last.   We spent a night in a Travel Lodge, and next day were rescued by Jon and Sam in their 4 x 4.    Never were we so pleased to see anyone - they sorted the car for us, got us back home, and were endlessly calm, kind and reassuring.   I have to say that both of us shed a tear of relief when we knew they were on their way, and felt ourselves  very blessed to have a family around us who all were immediately in touch and full of loving concern.

Looking out from the Pub on the Pond where we had lunch with Kerry (but the pond was frozen.)

Waiting in our Travelodge room for the arrival of our shining knights.

Christmas then at Harewood House was all the sweeter after our 'near miss', and Kim and Martin and the gorgeous grandkids did everything possible to make it really special.    Kim has written a superb description of the festivities in her blog, so I won't repeat them here, but I thought a few of John's pictures might be illuminating.

                                        Christmas morning - Jon and Sam's presents.

The slaves tackle the washing up after Christmas dinner.

Brotherly Strangle (..  I mean Love)

 Rosie's after-Boxing Day-meal game. ..........  No, James wasn't telling us about his latest catch.

Feet up at the end of Boxing Day.

And what better way to end our stay at Harewood House than one of Kim's superb brunches - don't those new laid eggs just make your mouth water.

THANKYOU ALL FOR EVERYTHING. 

With heartiest and sincerest Good Wishes for a Fantastic New Year.

xxxxx

SNOW WAS FALLING, SNOW ON SNOW ....

What a fabulous pre-Christmas week!    We have had Jon and Sam staying a few days to chill out from their busy City jobs, and with their arrival came lots and lots of snow, which even now is lying 'deep and crisp and even'.    We were all so excited at the spectacular wintry views from our windows, and much enjoyed making our way through soft powdery, deep snow along the Railway Walk to Winscombe yesterday.   The sky was completely blue, and the sun shone which made everywhere look ravishing - yet didn't melt the snow one bit.   How we enjoyed a hot drink at the warm and cosy pub there, before making our way back home again - cheeks glowing and eyes sparkling.     This weather is SUCH fun - as long as you don't have to travel anywhere, and we do feel so sorry for all the poor souls stranded at frozen airports, and presently on the M25 in both directions!       We plan to travel along the M5/M4 to Mumbles tomorrow to take Kerry out for Christmas lunch, and give her all the family presents..... fingers crossed!

I have spent a busy morning baking 6 dozen mince pies - will that be sufficient Kim?   .... and also done a chocolate log to take to Kerry.    (I could bring one of those to Harewood House too Kim, if you like....)

Thought this picture would add a festive note.

NEW BEST FRIENDS.

Christmas has come early for me this year, with the most wonderful and totally unexpected 'presents' (or should I more correctly say 'presence') suddenly appearing in the paddock outside my studio window.  I looked up from wrapping a parcel to see a dark brown creature, with the softest fluffiest coat and the most soulful large dark eyes looking in at me.   My heart missed a beat!

Warm sunshine has taken the place of hard hoare frosts these past few days - though the temperature has remained very low, particularly at night - and this lovely animal was outlined in its golden glow.   I grabbed my camera and dashed outside, to discover that there was yet another little surprise lurking behind the hedge.   A dinky  cappucino-coloured miniature pony, with delightfully trendy unruly hair.  I couldn't believe my eyes.

Then a really nice young woman appeared, whose pets these beautiful creatures obviously were.   She explained that the cuddly brown one was an Exmoor pony, just two years old, which she planned to ride in the spring, and his name is Dragonfly.  The other is in the paddock as a companion for him, horses apparently liking company, and he is called Scrumpy.  They have been brought into 'our' paddock as there is plenty of long grass available, it having been empty since dear old Butch died in the spring.

It seems that both ponies are extremely hardy.  Joy (for that is the lucky owner's name) pointed out that the ponies' tails flowed straight down from their backs, which allowed snow to slide off easily.    So it seems they don't have any cosy stable to return to in the winter weather, but are perfectly happy to be outside all the time.     I find myself peering out of the window when I go to bed on frosty nights to get a glimpse of their dark shapes, and do feel a little sorry for them.   However, it is obvious that Joy loves them to bits, and knows what is best for them.

Perhaps the empty stable might find another use sometime soon!

(question? - why can't I get the text to 'sit in line' when I edit a paragraph? - most irritating!)

ALL GOD'S CREATURES.

Today I am a little melancholy – for I have had  reluctantly to face the fact that summer is well and truly over, and winter is closer than I would have wished.

Our cattle have gone!   I can no longer pretend to myself that I just can’t see them because they happen to be in the one area of their meadow which it isn’t visible from here.    Their pasture looks forlorn and dreary, desolate in the grey November weather, and the tree whose  leafy branches they nibbled on, now bare  leans at an un-natural angle, like an old gravestone – a winter reminder of my summer friends.

           (My boys, a little earlier in the week, on a misty morning.)

However, I am not entirely without creature-company, for the small flock of sheep in the paddock outside my studio window are not only still in residence, but have been joined by a very handsome and well-endowed male. (he was acting coy when I photographed him.)  I was busily occupied on the computer the other day when I looked up to see him making eyes at me through the window – and very sexy dark-ringed eyes he has too!

As you can imagine, this has caused me a great deal of excitement, for perhaps not only will the sheep remain in their paddock, but maybe we shall have the pleasure of little lambs a-frolicking in the New Year.    Certainly Rambo has gone about his business quite assiduously, for several of his girls show very obvious signs of their promiscuous behaviour.    Not only do I find him extremely attractive, but those ladies on whom he has not yet bestowed his charm, follow behind him like a little fan club, as he saunters distainfully around his domain.

One of the girls seems to have been totally overcome with excitement – or perhaps his passion literally left her weak at the knees. 

Anyway, all the goings on just outside my window here have helped to make up for the loss of my bovine chums, who sadly are probably even now on their way to a local butcher.     Goodness, I’ve just realised, we’re having steak and kidney casserole for dinner tomorrow…….  oh dear …. that does seem a little insensitive under the circumstances!

A PLENTIFUL HARVEST

It has been the most wonderfully bountiful autumn this year – not only in the garden but especially within our family circle.    Days of warm golden sunshine have produced a late harvest of fabulously colourful blossoms  in the garden, and have also gilded our youngest daughter Jenny’s visit home from Australia.

Here are a few of the Supporting Acts….

And now for the Main Event….

We were so thrilled  to welcome Jenny back after well over two years away, and were in a great state of excitement when she arrived here with Jonathan late afternoon on the last day of September.     She looked amazingly fresh and bright after her very long trip, and even managed to do justice to the meal I had prepared – which of course included blackberry and apple crumble, as John and I had picked over 5 lbs from the well-laden hedges just a couple of days before.

Shopping was high on Jenny’s list of Must-Do’s and we did plenty of that, both together with her, or dropping her off to have marathon sessions by herself.   She loved being back amongst her favourite stores, with everything seeming – to her- extremely good value.   Not only did Jenny manage to find lots of great stuff for her newly refurbished home, gifts for the family and (with Alasdair’s birthday-money) some lovely clothes for herself (including the inevitable boots!) – she also knocked off a huge number of presents from her Christmas List – AND manaaged to wrap them all, leaving them here for distribution come the Festive Season.

Jenny emerges from my studio with left-over gift-wrap and ribbons.

Amongst a host of other things,  her Daddy and I took her over to Wales to visit Kerry., who was really chuffed to see her ‘little’ sister again and show her round the beautiful Langland Bay, and catch up with all her news.

Though Jenny’s schedule whilst staying with us was packed full, she  somehow  even found time  to catch up on English newspapers and a pile of magazines I’d kept for her; to have brunch in the sunshine out on our balcony; to have her hair done in Wells, and to enjoy her favourite Mummy-meal of eggs-in-cheese-sauce.

We said what we thought were our final goodbyes on leaving her at her sister Kim’s in Hampshire last Thursday – so were truly amazed and thrilled to find ourselves at a dinner party organised by Jon and Sam at their home in Bucks. onFriday evening. They had somehow managed to gather together ALL FIVE of our ‘children’ under one roof, and John and I were just so deliriously happy.   It was just THE most magical evening for us – I just kept looking at all the joyful faces round the table, taking in all the noise and laughter,  hugging it all into my memory.

Jenny will now be back home again with her three littlies, who will have missed their lovely Mummy terribly, but not half as much as her dear man did, and we are so very grateful to him for loaning his precious lady to us for a while.

Thank you Jenny for bringing so much happiness in your wake.  DO come again!