Relaxing in Brittany

There is something so comfortable about coming here for all our holidays.  Actually I hardly dare use the word 'holiday' as we are here for the whole of my daughter's school holidays which this summer amount to six and a bit weeks.

We arrived on Saturday very late, and the first thing I did was make some bread.  I'm not mad keen on bread machine bread, but arriving at 9.30 in the evening it's the one time I find it a life saver.  (I bought a very basic 'eco' model a few years ago, and we now have fresh bread for breakfast on our first morning here, winter, spring and summer.)

On Sunday my husband was busy getting his boat ready for launching the next day, so I pottered around, and managed a quick shop for basics at the local supermarket.  I also had a look around the garden, as the weather has been very similar to England I was not surprised to find that the plants were doing well, indeed the herbs are slightly overgrown!

The Hortensia are stunning this year

The very basic bread machine

Water, flour, salt and yeast

The bread in the machine

The loaf is a little sad looking, but makes good toast
for our first morning here

This Rosemary was one tiny two inch high plant a few
years ago

The Chives

And Thyme

Lots of Mint

More lovely hydrangas

I love getting things ready in the garden
I bought this old lobster pot from the
Co-operative Maritime, during our first holiday here

The Olympic Rings in Richmond Park

I don't know if you've seen a photograph of the  Olympic Rings in Richmond Park, but they have been mown into the grass  and should be visible to aeroplane passengers who are about to land at Heathrow.

I saw a photograph the other day and thought they looked superb.  My daughter had finished school for the summer holiday at lunchtime today, and the picnic we had gone to came to a hasty halt after a torrential rain shower.  I had two of her friends for a play date and so thought that rather then heading straight home we would drive to the park to see the rings.

Fortunately the sun began to shine again, and when we found the rings I was delighted to see that two of the  Shire Horses were out trimming the grass.

I parked the car, checked the sky and we walked up to the rings.  We paused  to look at the horses and the gentlemen who are working with them very kindly stopped and allowed the girls a chance to pet the horses.

It was lovely to see these little people patting those huge, gentle, majestic creatures, and I was so impressed with their tolerance and placidness.  They are amazingly beautiful and strong beasts, and I for one now have two new loves in my life, these horses are wonderful.

Once again please accept my apologies for less then perfect photographs, I did have three 6 year olds, and had to keep an eye on them, I didn't want them getting under the feet of these handsome chaps!  And the light was tricky, so the fact that I managed to get any photographs taken at all  is amazing.

Aren't they handsome?
Their blinkers have a Royal Parks emblem
so these really are  Royal Shire Horses

Despite their huge size, they were the gentlest of creatures
when I compare them to the  ponies that my
daughter rides

Just to give an idea of their vast size

Watching them working in the distance

Calmly mowing the grass

The rings are wide, the girls had a lovely time
running around them

You can  see them stretching out into the distance

The curves are perfect and edges so neat

A perfect afternoon

All four of us were delighted to have met these fantastic
horses

Here's a link to an article in the local paper, which will give you more background to the rings, as well as an ariel photograph,  and if you're coming from abroad for the sports do remember to get a window seat!

Some summer days are sunny

In between  the rainy days,  we have had one or two days with glimpses of sunshine.  I managed to gather some more Elderflowers on my last sunny walk and make a further batch of Elderflower Cordial.

It's such a wonderful drink, perfect as a squash with water, or as a Presse with sparkling water.  And it's a great mixer for a summer cocktail or refreshing spritzer with white wine.  There are still a few Elderflowers about, so if you get the chance gather about 30 flower heads, and mix with lemons and a sugar based syrup.  You will not regret it.

Elderflowers and lemons

Beautiful wild roses

Lovely scents

Some of the elderflowers are fading

Getting foraging now!

Preparing Cordial

You will need the zest of the lemons

And the juice

Leave to steep for over 24 hours.

The Urban Jungle

I know this phrase is usually used to describe the horror of some inner city living, but I thought it applied here too.

The woodpecker you can see in my neighbour's tree had just chased off a parakeet.  A spectacular and vivid battle.  NO BIRD WAS HURT!

The Garden of Reason - Ham House

The weather over the Jubilee and following Half Term has been changeable to say the least!  The thought of going to central London, with the combination of huge crowds and dreadful weather did not  appeal, so this break my little girl and I have stayed with local activities.  We have had a play date at home, we have been to a Pottery Cafe to do some painting, and we visited Ham House.

Our local National Trust property is Ham House, and at present it is hosting a modern art garden based exhibition: The Garden of Reason.

We chose an afternoon when the weather was not quite so bad, and popped along, we decided to visit the garden and miss the house (we have visited it many times before).

We loved the art installations, particularly the  interactive ones.  We'll be returning again before the exhibition  closes.  If you live in London or Surrey, or are visiting for a few days, do make your way to Ham and visit the house, it's wonderful,  the gardens are superb.  You could combine it with a lunch at Petersham Nurseries, a walk in Richmond Park and maybe even take in a Polo match at Ham Polo Club.

Ham House (with some modern art)

Ham always seems so rural with so many horses and riders

A place of contemplation?

I'm never sure about modern sculpture

But this we loved

Look through the lens and it turns everything upsidedown

The Compass is marvellous

Climb one of the ladders and what do you see?

The House

And the Garden from a different perspective

I loved this old and new

And these are such great fun

Just Fab!

My daughter loved this, there is a recorded conversation
coming from various speakers

And even after the exhibition is finished there are
fantastic herbs

And the Kitchen garden

Looks delicious and enticing

When my sons were little we used to have fun playing in
these "little houses" - perfect for hide and seek

Now there some interactive descriptions for this part
of the garden, The Wilderness

We are going to bring my husband to turn the handle for us
next time!

When I write about Ham, and post photos, I am always reminded  how fortunate I am  to live in such a pretty and green part of London.  I hope you get a chance to visit sometime, and do get in touch if you do.