So I popped across the road and took some photos of some beautiful daffodils nestled in a bed of lavender.
Best Wishes today to all my Welsh friends.
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| These will be lovely in a day or two |
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| And a Mad March Hare! |
Thursday, 1 March 2012
Happy St David's Day!
I bought some lovely daffodils this morning, especially for St David's Day, but of course they are still closed up.
So I popped across the road and took some photos of some beautiful daffodils nestled in a bed of lavender.
Best Wishes today to all my Welsh friends.
So I popped across the road and took some photos of some beautiful daffodils nestled in a bed of lavender.
Best Wishes today to all my Welsh friends.
Saturday, 18 February 2012
A Wonderful Country Break: Combe House Hotel, Devon
What a fantastic week we have just had.
My husband was celebrating his birthday, and as a special treat we booked a few days away in a sumptuous country house hotel, Combe House Hotel, Honiton, Devon. You can find the website here, and its full of useful information.
I highly recommend it.
As you know I am a keen cook, but it was heavenly not to set foot in my kitchen for 3 days. The food at the hotel was divine. We ate beautiful breakfasts of fruit and yoghurt, followed by delicious traditional English cooked breakfasts, such as kippers, poached eggs and smoked salmon, and of course, eggs, bacon, sausage, tomatoes and mushrooms. All scrumptious, served with coffee, home made bread or toast, and homemade marmalades and jams. What a wonderful start to the day!
We spent the two days there exploring the Devon countryside. Inspiring Dartmoor, and pretty seaside towns, just lovely.
In the evening we ate more fantastic food. The menus are on line, if you follow the links above. And as we were there on Valentine's Day we had the bonus of a Tasting Menu, which was amazing, with the addition of a wine list planned to accompany the meal.
The service was flawless. Our little girl was the only child there, and was treated with such kind consideration. She had her supper early, and was happy to stay in our room, while we ate. (My husband and I took it in turns to pop up and check her between each course.)
The three nights away were a great tonic, we slept well, and we were really relaxed. If you are looking for a wonderful treat, then do have a look at this delightful place.
My husband was celebrating his birthday, and as a special treat we booked a few days away in a sumptuous country house hotel, Combe House Hotel, Honiton, Devon. You can find the website here, and its full of useful information.
I highly recommend it.
As you know I am a keen cook, but it was heavenly not to set foot in my kitchen for 3 days. The food at the hotel was divine. We ate beautiful breakfasts of fruit and yoghurt, followed by delicious traditional English cooked breakfasts, such as kippers, poached eggs and smoked salmon, and of course, eggs, bacon, sausage, tomatoes and mushrooms. All scrumptious, served with coffee, home made bread or toast, and homemade marmalades and jams. What a wonderful start to the day!
We spent the two days there exploring the Devon countryside. Inspiring Dartmoor, and pretty seaside towns, just lovely.
In the evening we ate more fantastic food. The menus are on line, if you follow the links above. And as we were there on Valentine's Day we had the bonus of a Tasting Menu, which was amazing, with the addition of a wine list planned to accompany the meal.
The service was flawless. Our little girl was the only child there, and was treated with such kind consideration. She had her supper early, and was happy to stay in our room, while we ate. (My husband and I took it in turns to pop up and check her between each course.)
The three nights away were a great tonic, we slept well, and we were really relaxed. If you are looking for a wonderful treat, then do have a look at this delightful place.
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| The building dates back to Tudor times |
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| Set beautifully on a hill |
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| Lovely stone |
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| The front door |
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| Looking into the restaurant |
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| A view from our room |
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| And another |
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| Horses grazing in the fields |
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| Our room was very comfortable |
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| Our little girl had this perfect sofa bed, she was delighted with it! |
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| Beautiful vistas |
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| The bathroom |
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| Portraits of past residents |
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| Are all around the hotel |
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| Along with lovely prints |
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| The radio was tuned into Radio 3, very relaxing |
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| Morning coffee break, with home baked biscuits |
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| Lovely lighting in the evening |
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| A Romantic atmosphere |
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| He used to wander the moor! |
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| So very comfortable |
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| Perfect lighting |
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| This old Georgian kitchen is wonderful |
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| It can be rented for parties |
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| The vegetable garden was just waking up from the winter |
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| Old, established trees |
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| And of course lovely little snow drops. |
Monday, 6 February 2012
A Walk in the Snow
I know everyone will be posting similar pictures, but wasn't it delightful?
A perfect Snow Day!
A Sunday, cold and crunchy underfoot, and then on Monday morning, all cleared up and gone, so safe to get on with household chores and the school run.
A perfect Snow Day!
A Sunday, cold and crunchy underfoot, and then on Monday morning, all cleared up and gone, so safe to get on with household chores and the school run.
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| Even though he's old, he doesn't like to wear his coat! |
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| The snow began to melt in the midday warmth |
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| Lots of dogs and people out and about |
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| We looked and look for bird prints, not too sure I think they could be a cat or even a fox |
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| I love branches weighed down with snow |
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| This could be Narnia |
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| A little wooden kingdom |
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| A huge snowball |
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| And now it's gone |
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| Everything smells so much more interesting in the snow |
Wednesday, 25 January 2012
Coach Bags - Great Service
I do love a good handbag.
I discovered Coach bags when they had an outlet in Harrods, pre Millennium, and bought a couple of lovely bags and purses (still in use) during the sales. I was very disappointed when they closed their concession, and Coach bags were no longer available in England.
Coach bags became a real treat for me, to be bought by my husband when on business trips to the States. About 5 years ago I went on one such trip to California with him and he bought me a very beautiful, simple tan bag from the Legacy range. I was delighted with it, and it quickly became my favourite bag, so you can imagine my horror when, just two years later, I brushed against some (unlabelled) wet paint, and the front of the bag was ruined.
I looked up the instructions that had come with the bag and they seemed to say not to use anything on the very traditional leather. So I sadly put the bag away.
Last year Coach opened two shops in London, the flagship store being in Bond Street. Now I love to go to Bond Street, and when I had to go to do some important shopping (teabags from Fortnum and Mason) I thought I would dig out my poor old bag and take it along to Coach. They might just be able to recommend something.
The staff in the shop were so helpful and kind. They whisked the bag away and said they would see what they could do about it. I left them contact details.
A few weeks passed and I received a phone call. The bag was back and ..... the paint had gone!
I went up to London to collect it, and as you can see from the before and after photographs it's now as good as new.
I am completely delighted with the bag, and with the service from this shop. I had no receipt, from the original purchase, but all Coach bags have indentifying features and numbers, so the company knew it was one of their bags. The problem was not in the manufacturing of the bag, but they still dealt with the paint, and there was no charge.
Sometimes it is worth spending a little more money on a bag, as in this case I think you are also paying for superb after care.
Thank you Coach for such wonderful service.
If you haven't discovered Coach bags, do have a look on line. I am saving my pennies (and pounds) to buy a new bag in the summer.
Just in case anyone wonders, this is my own experience and I have not received anything (apart from First Class Service) from Coach.
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| My beautiful Coach handbag |
I discovered Coach bags when they had an outlet in Harrods, pre Millennium, and bought a couple of lovely bags and purses (still in use) during the sales. I was very disappointed when they closed their concession, and Coach bags were no longer available in England.
Coach bags became a real treat for me, to be bought by my husband when on business trips to the States. About 5 years ago I went on one such trip to California with him and he bought me a very beautiful, simple tan bag from the Legacy range. I was delighted with it, and it quickly became my favourite bag, so you can imagine my horror when, just two years later, I brushed against some (unlabelled) wet paint, and the front of the bag was ruined.
I looked up the instructions that had come with the bag and they seemed to say not to use anything on the very traditional leather. So I sadly put the bag away.
Last year Coach opened two shops in London, the flagship store being in Bond Street. Now I love to go to Bond Street, and when I had to go to do some important shopping (teabags from Fortnum and Mason) I thought I would dig out my poor old bag and take it along to Coach. They might just be able to recommend something.
The staff in the shop were so helpful and kind. They whisked the bag away and said they would see what they could do about it. I left them contact details.
A few weeks passed and I received a phone call. The bag was back and ..... the paint had gone!
I went up to London to collect it, and as you can see from the before and after photographs it's now as good as new.
I am completely delighted with the bag, and with the service from this shop. I had no receipt, from the original purchase, but all Coach bags have indentifying features and numbers, so the company knew it was one of their bags. The problem was not in the manufacturing of the bag, but they still dealt with the paint, and there was no charge.
Sometimes it is worth spending a little more money on a bag, as in this case I think you are also paying for superb after care.
Thank you Coach for such wonderful service.
If you haven't discovered Coach bags, do have a look on line. I am saving my pennies (and pounds) to buy a new bag in the summer.
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| My poor bag, with dreadful white paint on it |
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| And it couldn't have been in a worse place on the bag |
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| The bag when I collected it from Coach |
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| It is perfect, I am really delighted |
Just in case anyone wonders, this is my own experience and I have not received anything (apart from First Class Service) from Coach.
Wednesday, 18 January 2012
Dog (and Cats) in France
A Very belated Happy New Year!
I can't believe how busy the first half of January has been and I am feeling terribly guilty that I haven't posted on this blog since last year!
I have, of course, found time to look at other blogs though and my short post today was inspired by a post in Diane's lovely blog Pilgrim and Pie, here. She featured a lovely photograph of her cat, which had been taken for Racheal McKenna's delightful book The French Cat. I thought the book looked so lovely that I have ordered a copy for a friend, whom I know will love the combination of beautiful France and cats, the animal she really adores.
Now I myself am not a cat person but I do adore and love my dog, a twelve year old rescued Greyhound. So I thought I would post a couple of photos of him at his holiday home in Brittany.
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Sun bathing in the garden |
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Outside the boat shed (he has now dug a huge hole here!) |
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On the beach Christmas holidays 2011/12 |
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