Saskia's Spot

Wauw...

2012-01-22T16:21:00.002Z

It's been too long... way too long since writing here.

Lots has happened. There have been ups and downs but Mr B and I, while not completely unscathed, are ok.

Life ebbs and flows, and some things that are right for a time in your life somehow aren't as important as at other times.

Spending less time with my hands hovering over the keyboard made me feel relieved.
I had saved myself lots of time and energy.

But now I realise that I miss this. I miss the connections I made with you - the lovely people that looked at my photos, read my words and shared with me.

I miss being creative.

Normal service will resume, if not shortly then at some point, but in the meantime I'm lazily posting here...

www.saskiaberesford.wordpress.com

Picture heavy

2010-08-13T15:50:00.003+01:00

Holland.

That's where I've been.

That's where part of me comes from.

I feel like I fit in there.

Mostly.

I feel like I fit in in England too.

But not quite.

I went from one home to my other,

saw my family,

read,

cycled,

drank lots of coffee

and were sad to say tot ziens.

...Now on to my favourite part.

Birthday medley

2010-06-29T18:07:00.000+01:00

May the rest of my 28th year be as nice.

And may Holland get to the World Cup Final.

Mr B is praising my Dutch roots

that have given him a fall back option!

a play

2010-06-07T10:16:00.001+01:00

This weekend Mr B and I went to

It is

Hidden in the leaves,

Shielded from the park.

But not from the weather.

If you ever get the chance, go.
But take your brolly.
You will probably get rained on.

We did.

But that's what makes it extra special.

We saw The Crucible.
It was awesome.
Thought provoking.

It made me grateful
that I'm believed,
that I don't have to proove anything to anyone.

Short straw

2010-05-24T21:31:00.003+01:00

something's not quite right...

23.05.2008

2010-05-23T08:51:00.002+01:00

I became Mrs B.

The happiest day.

Full of love and promise.

Our beginning.

Chasing light

2010-05-19T12:15:00.003+01:00

A typical Wednesday morning in the Green.

For the Meesh,

Not for me.

Unfortunately.

It was nothing...

2010-05-18T14:19:00.002+01:00

that exciting I'm afraid

Taken just over 2 years ago. Seminyak.

I'm most certainly not expecting
any new arrivals
(well, apart from some goodies from MAC that I ordered last week!)

a few of you guessed correctly
I'm taking accutane
it's great
well, it's working
my skin is clearing up
thank goodness
it's tough
worth it but tough

I'll be glad to finish the course
so long as my skin is a-ok of course

A little quiz

2010-05-12T10:00:00.001+01:00

Leicester Square. April 2010.

I am off alchol. Completely.

I have chapped lips. Really chapped.

I am tired.

I have an unquenchable thirst.

I can't sunbathe.

Or take any vitamin a.

I have to have blood tests.

I may be toxic!

I had to sign a waiver form...

Have you guessed what's going on yet?

I know it's time

2010-05-11T16:33:00.003+01:00

to post something

to share my news

when my parents (all 4 of them)

let me know

they come over here and

they don't see anything new.

I think I'm disappointing them.

And you.

And I don't like it.

Mr B and I this weekend at a happy wedding.

We've been working too hard. We've had to talk about balance in our lives. We don't spend much time at home. We don't see much of each other. And we hate that.

One day we'll get it right.

It just might take some time.

Spring renews

2010-04-19T09:47:00.004+01:00

Windsor Great Park, April 2010

Spring is life
Spring is hope
So is love and
happiness.
Spring renews.
Without spring,
life is forlorn.
Spring is nostalgia
after bitter storm.
Put spring in your heart

~ Archie Greenidge

I said I would...

2010-04-12T10:00:00.002+01:00

What have I been up to these past few weeks?

2010-04-03T14:10:00.000+01:00

Well lots of work for one thing.

And

reading the twilight series, finally

getting my hair cut, short for me

eating creme eggs, annually

cleaning & tidying & painting, purposefully

putting our little house on the market, scarily

looking at bigger houses in another town, excitingly,

trying to get rid of horrid adult acne that took over my face, horribly

researching and buying new skin products, hopefully

having this photo shown at the Royal Academy of Arts,

I'm not kidding!!!!

I'm off to see it tomorrow, and I'm bursting!

I will take a photo of my photo.

Is that sad?!

Happy Easter everyone.

Normal service has resumed

2010-03-17T19:16:00.002Z

I'm back on my spot on the web and it's good.

This past month all I've done is work and recover.

I've been in need of some 'me' time and some quality time with the Meesh

who has been feeling a little lonely.

She has had the sunshine for company

And boy she does love his company.

How have you all been? Please fill me in with your news!

I think I'm gonna like it here

2010-02-09T12:13:00.000Z

Being away from home has certainly made me appreciate what I have...

I've missed you all.

I've missed my camera.

I've missed writing down my thoughts.

I've missed the Meesh.

I've missed my bed.

And a madebyMrB cup of tea.

I've missed sky plus.

I've missed home cooked meals.

I've missed walking through my front door each day.

But above all,

I've missed my husband.

I've been immersed in my new job.

And I'm enjoying it a lot.

I've travelled by car, train and plane,

worked some 14 hour days

and I've met some really cool people.

And while there are a lot of things I'm missing

I've not missed my old job, not one bit!

Celebrations

2010-01-22T13:33:00.000Z

This week there have been lots of celebrations...

Our friend turning 30

The snow disappearing

And my final day in my current job today!!

I've been here for over 3 years now, so it will feel

quite strange

to walk out of the office door tonight

never to return.

But it will feel good too.

This weekend we are celebrating my little end of an era with

dinner tonight with friends

dinner tomorrow night just the two of us watching this guy

oh my word I'm excited!

and dinner on Sunday with friends followed by Avatar at the IMAX

We like dinner.

I hope you all do some celebrating this weekend...

just because.

PS if you have a minute, check out this amazing proposal!

This week I'm loving

2010-01-15T09:00:00.000Z

This photo, taken by my father in Leiden almost 3 weeks ago.

Mr B, obviously. On Wednesday I even gave him a dressing gown as a present.
Now, hopefully he will stop using mine...

My friend Emma's blog! She's a very talented writer. We went to university together so I should know! Please go on over and say hi.

Investing in stemless wine glasses. No more will my innocent arm sweeps topple over glasses of wine!

This cleanser from Liz Earle

Counting down the days until I leave my job... only 5 more to go!!

And this performance by the Gaga...

Have a marvellous weekend everyone!

This time two weeks ago

2010-01-14T12:07:00.002Z

I was in Holland. And having a marvellous time.

Mr B and I fit a lot into our 5 days there. We took in Leiden, Amsterdam and Haarlem. We saw friends, made new ones, saw family, went to 2 parties, walked a lot, drank beer and coffee, {Dutch coffee is the nicest in all the world} ate our favourite Dutch treats we can't get in the UK, spent an obscene amount of money on clothes {Dutch clothes are the nicest in all the world, well for my figure they are!}, Mr B got beaten in a game of chess by my father and

of course

I took lots of photos.

Would you like to take a look?

Leiden our home for the week

Orange tiles. I love the orange tiles.

My Oma's house had orange tiles.

Steep steps down from de Burcht.

On our way to eat pancakes!
We had to sprinkle our days outside with frequent stops in cafe and restaurants.
Not just for the hunger and thirst

But to regain the feeling in our fingers and toes.
Man it was cold.

One day I'll live in a house with big windows and steep stairs.

I should have learned to skate using a chair... instead I grab onto Mr B and hope he stifles his urge to let me go and watch me fall. I am terrible at skating.

Amsterdam not surprisingly one of my favourite cities in all the world

Every time we visit Amsterdam I plead and beg Mr B if we can go here
To Lanskroon
The most fantastic bakery in all the world.
This time they were making the Dutch New Year delicacy of oliebollen

{literally translated as oil balls}
Did you know that the reason the Dutch cycle everywhere is to stay slim after eating oliebollen?
It's true...

A tiny side street, somewhere near the Waag

Another of our most frequented places in the city is Cafe de Dokter.
I think this might be my favourite pub in all the world!
It's tiny, old fashioned, dark, jazzy and super.

Haarlem home of my super family, a super shop where I buy a year's worth of clothes each time I visit and a rather super church

The Sint Bavokerk
As seen from the warmth of the cafe next door.

NYE Helena, my little cousin, was woken up at 11:55pm in time for the fireworks.

No need to be in a big city or to pay to attend a professional firework display just go outside your house and you'll see the most fantastic fireworks in all the world!

They lasted for an hour! Everyone just let fireworks of on the pavements & in the street.

Safe, probably not, but wow it was awesome!

My mum loves sparklers. Who doesn't?

On the day we flew home there was a big party...

Not to celebrate our leaving but for two very special girls' birthdays...

Jacomijn turned 4

and Helena turned 9.

Mr B, please can we book our flights to go back again soon, really soon?

Did you know that Mr B and I are always late?

2010-01-12T12:24:00.003Z

Life for the bees has been hectic...

Snow is causing every journey, even a 5 minute one, to be quite a feat of exploration!

Every morning I get into the car with ~

a bag of extra warm clothes

wearing socks over my boots so they won't slip

a spade

food

water

a fully charged phone

and my fingers firmly crossed.

I've had to push our car!

Mr B has had to push our car!

And over the last week a total of 7 neighbours have pushed our car!

{some of whom we had not ever even met before}

It's been sort of nice.

In a cold and sort of hellish way.

Work has, now that I'm writing handover documents, got busy!

Actually working at work has been a rather novel experience.

And has not left me time

for my little spot here on the web.

A very belated recap of my very Dutch New Year will follow soon...

promise.

I'm stuck at home today

2010-01-07T12:52:00.000Z

and this is the reason why!!

My home has turned into a winter wonderland!

And our car is just not up to the job of taking me into work today!

I can't say I'm too upset to be here,

with the Meesh cuddled up tight next to me

...listening to Eminem's Stan

...giving my blog a new year make over

...and giving myself a face mask

I could get used to this!

What Christmas brought to me

2010-01-06T13:18:00.001Z

Remembering what's important
Reaffirming
Getting my feet back on the ground

Taking time
Enjoying little things
Smiles
Laughter
Games
Sharing

Stories

Clinking glasses

Reading

Lie-ins

Love

And of course a new pair of slippers.

This Christmas

2009-12-24T11:34:00.003Z

I wish you all

I'll be back in 2010!!!

Just look at what I received...

2009-12-23T16:57:00.000Z

From my photoswap partner Marisa!

Aren't these photos wonderful?

It's almost as if Marisa knew how much I love

the silhouettes of bare winter trees!

But I hadn't told her that before...

The last few days I've been living in a winter wonderland

2009-12-22T13:33:00.004Z

Snow and ice.

Freezing cold.

Hats and gloves and scarves and red noses.

Taking photos from inside the frozen car.

We had to wait a while for it to thaw.

Cards.

Candles and electric heaters.

Hot water bottles.

Miracle of 34th Street.

Parcels. Presents. Sellotape. Stamps.

Christmassy google.

Well wishes from strangers.

Counting down...

to seeing family, to hugs and laughter

to flying to Holland!!

I think Christmas is almost here!!
Can you feel it?

One thing I hate about the winter is

2009-12-14T16:44:00.002Z

It's cold.

It's dark.

Like night time.

Bleurgh.

But damn you can get some cool photos.

I have some news...

2009-12-11T17:17:00.001Z

My photoswap partner Marisa

~by the way, go over and check out her blog,
it's fabulous!

she's fabulous!

you won't regret it!~

had my photos

taken with my plastic fantastic holga

developed.

Here is my favourite photo that she posted

and the only photo not taken by me

~Mr B is a great pupil~

I realise that I've been m.i.a lately.

But I've had good reason.

I've been busy

Preparing

Practising

Breathing deeply

Thinking positively

and have been offered a

shiny

brand new

challenging

exciting

and I couldn't be happier!

Because we all need something to laugh about on a Monday...

2009-12-07T12:01:00.001Z

A fool proof way to get in the christmas spirit

2009-12-02T15:27:00.002Z

Being thankful

2009-11-26T14:48:00.002Z

We don't celebrate thanksgiving in the UK. I think it's a little bit of a shame.

We could all do with a day celebrating all the things we are thankful for.

Some days it's harder than others to see just how lucky we all are.

Days when our frustrations and gloom take over.

Some days it's so easy! We are buoyed up by our happiness and gratitude.

Let's make the buoyant days happen every day. Let's be thankful every day.

I am thankful for being in love.

I am thankful for the pleasure of reading.

I am thankful for parcels.

I am thankful for friends who make me laugh and brighten my day.

I am thankful for coffee.

I am thankful for Meisha, even though she stratched my hand to shreds last night the little monster.

I am thankful for people who care.

I am thankful for flying.
We will be spending NYE in Amsterdam!

I am thankful for internet shopping.

and I am thankful for my eyes, even though they're not perfect.

Oma

2009-11-24T17:18:00.000Z

I remember walking across the pebbley tiled footpath through the neatly tended garden
to the house with the octagonal window. Through the green door and across multiple doormats, one soft, one made of wire and bristles, one inside the door. Your shoes can never be too clean you know.

Warm and cosy, never changing.

I remember the kettle sat on the gas hob, the kettle that must have had the loudest whistle in all the world. My mother hated it. I remember the little nook only I could squeeze into, sat on an orange topped stool overlooked by a woolen clown picture I had stitched. It hung proudly bright.
I remember the itchy stiff green sofa with covers clothing the arms where I sat watching the fabeltjeskrant before going to bed. I remember the jade and white stone coaster from my father's trip to India which sat in the middle of the round wooden table. I remember the little china box where pieces of dark diabetic chocolate were hidden. I used to take pieces when no one was looking. I remember the dining room table covered with what seemed to me to be carpet.

Everything always in it's place, but if I messed it all up it didn't matter at all.

I remember the steep steep stairs, they had black plastic edges. A tall brass stand iced with a lacey top greeted me at the top. I remember the wedding photo next to the bed the slanted ceiling overhanging.

I remember her warm hands praying over mine as she put me to bed. She used to say she was my kacheltje {little oven}.

I wish I could go back there again, to Ringalee 95, to her.

I have some making up to do...

2009-11-20T14:31:00.000Z

with Mr B.

Apparantely I am a duvet-stealing fiend.

And he is not impressed with this particular skill of mine.

I am sort of impressed with my success. I take getting cold in bed very seriously indeed. And it's nice to win something. I'm not normally the winner in competitions with my husband.

He wins board games. He wins anything involving strength, speed & hand eye coordination. He wins go-karting. He wins tickling matches. He is the better driver. And the better cook (for now!).

But he can not get that duvet from me!!

Meesh. On the sofa. 19/11/09

You can't have it all hey hunny?!

{I will make up for keeping you in the cold, I promise.}

Look at the stars

2009-11-20T14:04:00.000Z

see how they shine for you

The lovely toothfairy tagged me to photograph a few of my yellow items. I love yellow and was really surprised how little yellow I own. I would have been fine with red! I blame the season... if I'd been tagged in summer I would have had some lovely yellow clothes that are sadly packed away for the next few months.

So here are some yellows from my home:

Layer Cake dvd - watch this if you haven't already. Great British ganster flick.

Dusters.

Books on my shelf.

Frames hanging in my living room.

and finally

yum yum yum marmite on toast is unbeatable.

I'd like to tag Donna, Summer, Red Boots and Court with green!

Sorting

2009-11-19T13:49:00.000Z

through my photos and I came across this one which I love

and I don't think I ever shared with you all...

Introducing U2 at Wembley Stadium, taken with my phone

Over and out.

Let's kick it

2009-11-18T13:31:00.002Z

off!

LOVE THIS!!!

A winter fog has settled around me

2009-11-16T12:24:00.002Z

and I'm finding it hard to shift. I'm getting nowhere, nothing's getting done. Where is all my time going?

Last week was cold and bright. I spent too much time out of the house. I had a phone interview. It wasn't successful. I met with friends. My new pixie boots arrived and now I have a raw heel from wearing them solidly. I love them.

At the end of the week the weather changed. Roads flooded, leaves blew inside every time you opened the front door. Meisha loved playing with the cracked leaves and spent a lot of the weekend skidding and batting. I'm still finding leaves now.

I met my father in London. We breakfasted here. We should all use the word breakfasted a lot more often. We battled the wind and rain and saw our favourite and not so favourite paintings at the National Gallery and I saw my namesake.

This weekend I had my weekly dose of dancing, I got hooked on Lady Gaga's new video, Mr B proved he's quite the chef and we watched Public Enemy.

This week I'm going to be better, I'm going to be more motivated and

get. things. done.

I don't like this lazy me.

Did you know? pt. II

2009-11-12T15:52:00.000Z

The lovely KS at While we're waiting has bestowed the sugar doll award on me!! Thank you so much!

Now I must share ten things about me.

Did you know?

1. Mr B asked my father's permission to marry me.

He was nervous.
My father was happy to give his permission and Mr B was relieved.
But then my father added that now Mr B had to do the hard part and get me to say yes.
His nerves quickly returned.

2. I am an only child. But I have married into a big family. I now have 3 brothers, 4 sisters

and 7 nieces and nephews.

3. I don't like getting into an unmade bed.

4. Mr B bought me these pillows that I've been lusting after for months.

pillowcases from Lush Designs

5. I used to have a pair of little red pixie boots when I was a child. They had warm fuzzy lining and were slouchy and very 80s. I loved them. I wore them even when my feet couldn't really fit into them any more. I was inconsolable when my mum finally got rid of them.

6. I've bought myself some new slouchy boots! Only these ones are black.

And hopefully I shouldn't grow out of this pair.

7. Mr B and I are going to visit NYC next year!!!

Dates and exact plans to be confirmed.

8. Often, mid-sentance, I'll forget what I'm saying. Completely forget.

9. I believe yoga, mediation and breathing properly can help us more than we realise.

10.

Me in Sharm el Sheikh by Mr B and the Holga

We went to the original Boston

2009-11-10T13:37:00.001Z

to celebrate my brother in law's big four oh

It was peaceful, sunny and full of laughter and bubbly.

We wanted to see the seals that apparantely lurk along the Lincolnshire coastline in early November but the only furry creatures we saw were sheep. Not quite as exciting.

We walked.

I snapped.

Others danced.

Molly, my niece, wrapped up warm.

On Saturday evening there were poems, short stories, songs and games.

And Mr B and I lit some sparklers in the midnight air after everyone else had gone to bed. Magical.

Please can we all go back for another weekend away soon?

Weekly wrap up

2009-11-06T13:01:00.006Z

Remember, remember the Fifth of November,

The Gunpowder Treason and Plot,

I know of no reason Why the Gunpowder Treason

Should ever be forgot.

This week has been full of bangs, crackles, pops, bright flashes and poor scared animals at home. It was Guy Fawkes night last night. The Meesh and I hunkered down and watched the fireworks from the warmth of the upstairs windows.

This week Mr B has been revising and doing exams for work. It's not been fun. I was demoted and a thick text book and pencil took my place. Needless to say he rocked those exams. And has a few extras letters after his name too.

This week I've been meaning to start An Ordinary Man, but haven't. On that note, please watch Hotel Rwanda if you get the chance.

This week, thanks to Maegan, I've been watching these makeup tutorials and I've splashed out on my favourite MAC lipstick {hug me} and {underage} lipglass.

This week this news article made me cry.......

This weekend we're off to a lovely little cottage by the sea!

I promise lots of photos!

{and I'm taking my Holga containing Marisa's roll of film!!}

Did you know?

2009-11-04T10:55:00.004Z

Mr B is one of my most loyal readers.
I get spots, even now, 14 years after I officially became a teenager.
Mr B is horrified I've never even tried a chip butty.
I need to wear glasses or contact lenses to see anything at all.
Mr B used to be the captain of the university football team.
I am always cold.
Mr B always takes my place in bed when I've got up.
I get seriously grouchy when I'm hungry. Mr B will vouch for this one.
When I was little I used to listen to stories on cassette as I was falling asleep.
One of my favourite stories was The Flying Trunk.

Mr B and I. Royal Ascot. June 2007.

You should watch Seven Pounds... what an amazing film.

D.A.N.C.E

2009-11-03T10:28:00.002Z

I. Love. This.

Enjoy!

Better late than never...

2009-11-01T17:12:00.001Z

My weekly wrap up

Yes, I'm wearing an apron.

I didn't tell you that in Egypt I got a stinking cold. I was sunbathing next to the pool in one hundred degree heat clutching tissues and ibuprofen. I thought I'd got all my autumn illness out of the way but this week the stinking cold returned. Except this time it was much worse.

So, this week I've~

Been sleeping. Blowing my nose. Coughing. And sneezing. A lot.

Drunk a lot of water.

Cried sad and happy tears over Water for Elephants... if you've not read this book, do, it's amazing.

Started this book.

Been listening to a lot of disco classics.

Watched this strong, inspirational lady and watched my favourite winter show.

Had my hair cut shorter than it's ever been before. Mr B isn't keen. My work colleagues like it a lot. What do you think?

Received some faraway post from Court. The Meesh loves my card too!!

27.10

2009-10-27T13:24:00.002Z

Wrap Up

2009-10-23T16:15:00.000+01:00

This week I've

had a late breakfast of a big latte and even bigger almond croissant
loved London more than I ever have before
travelled over 300 miles for work
been inspired by this lady to try harder with my makeup
decided I don't love London at all anymore
{it took me two and a half hours to drive 15 miles}
started Water for Elephants
watched the West Wing
found out Mr B has a mini man crush on Sam Seaborn
almost finished my giveaway parcel

it's been hectic.

What have you all been up to this week? I'm counting down the minutes until I can nip home, pour myself a glass of wine, paint my fingernails and change into my pjs. Have a lovely weekend everybody!

Visitors

2009-10-20T15:50:00.003+01:00

This weekend the original Mr and Mrs B came to stay. We don't get to see them often so it was highly anticipated and looked forward to. It didn't disappoint.

We introduced them to Thai food... it was a great success. I ate delicious chicken satay and missed Bali. We visited Hampton Court, the home of Henry VIII, ate meat pie, wondered at the amazing gardens, visited my parents and had afternoon tea at the Grosvenor and paid £30 for the privilege of parking there, oh I do love London prices!!

It was over far too soon.

A different balloon story

2009-10-19T15:28:00.004+01:00

Here is something to make you smile this blustery Monday

It's your lucky day

2009-10-16T10:25:00.001+01:00

Seminyak Beach. June 2008.

Paulina

You're my giveaway winner!

Thank you so much to everyone for taking part.

Happy Friday!!!

Looking up

2009-10-13T13:35:00.000+01:00

I didn't get the job I went for last week. I was upset. I felt knocked.

But then another opportunity came along. I was interviewed. I liked it there. I'm waiting for the outcome.

A successful person is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks that others throw at him or her

Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy

photos of the Muhammad Ali Mosque at the Saladin Citadel, Cairo

Drum roll please

2009-10-09T13:30:00.000+01:00

As a big thank you to all of you

for making this last year on my blog so

engaging, fun and utterly wonderful

I'd like to giveaway a few of my favourite things!

No, not snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes

~though that would be really very lovely~

but...

Getting the girl by Markus Zuzak, unusal and stunning pearl earrings from classic designs, english tea, dr feelgood balm by Benefit and a print of one of my photos (to be chosen by the lucky winner).

While the leaves blow

2009-10-07T16:00:00.000+01:00

Thank you so much Shorty!

I've signed up...

2009-10-07T12:54:00.005+01:00

will you?

You either take a roll of film, or buy a disposable camera ~it has to be something that you have to develop~ and take photos just for your swap partner. When the camera or film is finished, send it to your swap partner. You will receive your partner's film or camera to develop, and post the photos on your blog for everyone to see of course!

Click on the button above to go over to Rhianne's blog and sign up. I can't wait!

There is a house in New Orleans

2009-10-02T13:11:00.000+01:00

Inspired by Nicole's touching lovestory series I thought I'd ask my father to tell me his lovestory. These are his words.

I met your mother in early January 1965 at Sonnenberg House in Germany. Sonnenberg House is an international conference centre set high in the Harz mountains in central Germany above the village of St Andreasberg. It was the second Sonnenberg conference I had attended; I had attended my first one the previous winter when I was in the upper sixth form at grammar school. This time, like then, I had stayed with a host family in Hamburg during the week before the conference after which I took the train from Hamburg to Bad Harzburg (the nearest railway station to Sonnenberg) in time for the start of the conference on 6th January.

It was there outside Bad Harzburg station where we – some of the British group – were waiting for the Sonnenberg bus, that I first encountered the Dutch group who were also travelling to the conference centre. Hearing Dutch being spoken in such a confined space as the shuttle bus and so close at hand and with such vivacity and enthusiasm by the teacher-training students from Arnhem, was an unforgettable experience! What a strange sounding tongue; how do these folk survive without developing serious throat problems later in life? But, strange tongues aside, there was one student among them that I had already noticed…

She was tall and slender, with curves in all the right places and great legs… but above all it was her vivacity, openness and graceful ease of manner that really caught my attention.

The conference itself was most enjoyable. The majority of the participants were German, largely final year gymnasium students from the Hamburg area. There were Dutch and British in about equal numbers and a smattering of Austrians and Swiss. In all there were about a hundred participants, but notably none from Eastern Europe.

The theme of the study conference was ‘The Contribution Europe can make to the Development of Tomorrow’s World’. Most lectures were given by eminent German professors and academics (simultaneous translations via headphones were always available) with the occasional lecture delivered in English. One lecture I do remember was given by Dr Jef Last of the University of Amsterdam on ‘Russia and the West’.

There was ample free time between lectures to talk, make friends and to explore the local area. I was able to hire skis to ‘langlauf’ through the local hills and forest and down to the village sometimes. Sonnenberg was deep in snow and the landscape was at its most beautiful then. There were also organized visits to local sights and places of interest including the charming and historic town of Goslar and the not-so-charming Iron Curtain which cut through the Harz mountains just a few kilometres to the east of Sonnenberg.

I first spoke to your mother in the little library at Sonnenberg; I was leafing through a German world atlas in which on one map the pre-war frontiers of Germany were given and pondering the unusual and sometimes funny German spellings of geographical names – Miland for Milan for instance. We talked but not so very much –your mother’s English was very good but unpractised and I as usual was quietly reserved. But there was something; something happened… I felt her presence, her proximity beguiling: I was intrigued and excited by the encounter. Perhaps I did not know then how auspicious that meeting would prove to be. We found ourselves in the same discussion group later in the conference which gave your mother more opportunity to practise her much-easier-on-the-throat foreign languages - and for me to check out those legs again. (And you must realize too, of course, that any girl who can divert my attention away from looking at maps has to be very special indeed!)

Sonnenberg conferences always include an International Evening – usually towards the end - when everyone is expected to put on a performance or take part in an entertainment of some kind. I remember doing a sketch which was a telephone conversation with an imaginary German friend in which I tried to explain to him the game of cricket. I think it was quite funny and it went down well. Hans, one of the Dutch students, wearing a black leotard, black top and black bowler hat, performed a very clever and masterful mime act. Richard, my grammar school colleague, who was doing a third year in the sixth form in order to take the Oxbridge entrance examinations, sang The House of the Rising Sun by The Animals to his own guitar and wearing a blue sailor’s cap which he had purchased in Hamburg. It’s funny the things you remember… and it’s funny the things you don’t remember: I don’t remember what the Dutch group’s contribution was exactly, except that it was loud (ie involved a lot of singing and dancing) and was, in true Dutch fashion, ‘in your face’… I think I must have been concentrating on one particular female participant rather than enjoying the wider performance.

It was a special conference and a special time. The atmosphere was warm, friendly and good natured. The centre itself was bright, warm and comfortable. The lectures and discussions were stimulating and challenging. It was so good to have the opportunity to meet students from other countries. The deep snow seemed to isolate us from the rest of the world and help us focus our thoughts on the business of the conference.

I recall little about the journey home; it remains hazy, perhaps because I didn’t really want things to end then. I know that I and a number of the British party travelled together with the Dutch group by bus and then by train as far as Hanover where our paths finally separated, those returning to Britain having to catch a later boat train to the Hook of Holland.

I knew then as I returned to my undergraduate studies in Cardiff that my student grant would in future have to support the regular purchase of stamps by the dozen and writing paper by the ream.

I had fallen in love.

Eventful

2009-10-01T15:37:00.000+01:00

So far this week has been eventful. I've spent most of it feeling sick with nerves of one sort or another.

It's been good my first job interview for over 3 years was a roaring success! And that night Mr B took me to the pub for drinks and dinner and chat! Second stage is on Monday - please keep your fingers crossed for me.

and bad some very unwanted and sinister attention from a creepy neighbour resulted in Mr B calling the old bill. Mr B also presented me with a personal alarm. If I ever have to use it you all will hear it I'm sure. Even in the US.

and there have been changes in my current place of work. I'm now even more keen for this new job to work out.

Oh and one of my headlight bulbs has blown.

The Pyramid of Khafre, Giza, taken with my Holga, just because I can't have naked posts

One word only

2009-09-25T17:04:00.000+01:00

The lovely Red Boots tagged me to answer the following questions using only one word. I'm a descriptive kind of girl and found it a lot more difficult than I expected!

The Mosque of Muhammad Ali Pasha in the Citadel in Cairo taken with my Holga

1. Where is your cell phone? desk
2. Your hair? unbrushed
3. Your mother? positive
4. Your father? intelligent
5. Your favorite food? spinach
6. Your dream last night? forgotten
7. Your favorite drink? tea
8. Your dream/goal? happiness
9. What room are you in? office
10. Your hobby? yoga
11. Your fear? loneliness
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? motherhood
13. Where were you last night? yoga
14. Something that you aren’t? unhappy
15. Muffins? blueberry
16. Wish list item? TVstand
17. Where did you grow up? bedfordshire
18. Last thing you did? typed
19. What are you wearing? earrings
20. Your TV? overused
21. Your pets? furry
22. Friends? awesome
23. Your life? unbeatable
24. Your mood? impatient
25. Missing someone? yes
26. Vehicle? mazda mx5
27. Something you’re not wearing? skirt
28. Your favorite store? selfridges
29. Your favorite color? blue
30. When was the last time you laughed? today
31. Last time you cried? recently
32. Your best friend? far
33. One place that I go to over and over? postoffice
34. One person who emails me regularly? court
35. Favorite place to eat? ed's

I'm going to tag someone who has recently watched Matilda chase squirrels, someone who is currently in Tuscany, someone who's missing the provo canyon fall leaves and someone who has just arrived in the UK from Singapore

Happy weekend!!

Sharm el Sheikh

2009-09-23T18:40:00.001+01:00

Saw our hotel, the Red Sea, Gordons Reef

Our view every morning

Read when a crocodile eats the sun, I am the messenger, getting the girl

Jetty to the coral reef at our hotel

Ate Italian, Chinese, Indian, Egyptian, Mexican

Watched sun setting over Tiran island & the Red Sea every evening, children playing by the pool, our tans develop, one day test matches on tv while we got dressed for dinner, other hotel guests ~Mr B and I imagined up some quite elaborate and glamourous lives for some of them, sparrows picking up crumbs under the breakfast tables, geckos

Sunset over Tiran Island

Listened deep slow breaths through my snorkel pipe, waves, live music every night, spraying of hawaiian tropic, slapping of flip flops round the pool

Did swimming with a reef shark, a little photography, yoga every morning and not much else.

Heavenly.

I've been busy

2009-09-22T16:56:00.000+01:00

Putting new stock in my etsy shop!

Go and check it out!

To my darling Mr B,

2009-09-21T15:34:00.003+01:00

Happy Birthday!

Tonight we are meeting in London town and I will surprise you with tickets to see this!
I can't wait!

I hope you will be as happy as this vegetable man!!

All my love, Saskia xxx

Winner of the 1st prize vegetable man competition at our local village royal show

Cairo

2009-09-18T13:53:00.001+01:00

Watched The Hangover & Angels & Demons on the plane on the way over, live Ramadan footage from Mecca

Listened Car horns, friendly greetings, our tour guide Tariq, a market stall holder calling Mr B Mr Lucky, one of the breakfast waiters calling me my lady. I could get used to that!

Cairo flyover

Ate Delicious Indian food at The Moghul Room at the Mena House Oberoi

Inside the Mena House Oberoi

Read Egypt Eyewitness travel guide, Three Cups of Tea, Nineteen Minutes

Saw The River Nile every morning over breakfast, the Great Pyramids at Giza, a papyrus ‘museum’ that actually was a shop, camels, the Great Sphinx, the stepped pyramid & mastaba of Ti at Saqqara, Memphis, lots of hieroglyphs, 9 rows of cars driving where 4 should be, donkeys, shishas, the most wonderful chandelier in the mosque at the Citadel, the busy busy Khan el-Khalili market

Entrance to the Mastaba of Ti

Hieroglyphs at Memphis

Camel rides at the Great Pyramids

Mr B and the Colossus of Ramesses II at Memphis

Blushed Tipped my full teacup far too early, over myself, instead of into my mouth. Mr B almost choked with laughter.

Used Hotel dry cleaning service

Loved every minute of it

It's a lovestory... Mr B and me

2009-09-17T14:12:00.004+01:00

Our lovestory has been featured on Nicole's super duper blog!!

And just because my posts feel naked without at least one photo here's my lovely lovely husband shying away from my camera in Egypt.

Two weeks ago today

2009-09-16T16:19:00.001+01:00

I visited one of the most awesome places in the world. The Great Pyramids.

Visiting the pyramids was the first thing we did in Cairo. We climbed a little way up the Great Pyramid and just sat and gazed. We needed time to take it all in.

After I told my lovely friend Courtney about seeing the pyramids she replied:

To think people were able to build these massive beautiful structures so long ago with a fraction of the 'technology' we have now. It blows my mind. We have so many tools and machines to help us now and the things we build look like my childhood lego/building block in comparison. It's sad.

The Great Pyramid was completed in 2560 BC

It was the tallest man-made structure in the world in the world for over 3,800 years

And the wheel hadn't even been invented yet!

It was a privilege to be there.

Ta ta for now

2009-08-31T15:54:00.009+01:00

I'm off exploring

photo credit
See you in a couple of weeks!

Seven

2009-08-26T17:04:00.004+01:00

My new friend Rhianne has bestowed the kreativ blogger award on me. Thank you so much!

*To my father,

Please don't judge my spelling of 'kreativ'. That's how the blog award is spelt. I did check. So please don't store that spelling mistake up for the next time that you see me. Thank you and love you, Saskia xx PS When are you going to get broadband?

The award requires me to write seven random things about myself.

So here you are:

#1 I give blood 3 times a year. I am proud of this.
#2 I ♥ The Wire . It is my favourite tv programme of all time. It's so, so well written.
#3 I often eat the whole week's worth of biscuits and chocolate before Mr B even feels like a snack
#4 I would love to sky dive one day
#5 I am very bad at managing money
#6 I have travelled to 20 countries
#7 I learnt ballet for 14 years

I'd love to know something random about you, that I don't already know!

Love yellow?

2009-08-25T16:57:00.005+01:00

You will after this.

Nina just posted a little giveaway on her blog and to enter you need to leave a comment linking to images of your favourite wedding.

Obviously my wedding is my real favourite, but I don't think I'm very objective about my very own wedding so instead I chose this one. Isn't it just gorgeous?

As was the wedding we attended on Saturday. Full of love, happiness, friends and laughter. Perfect!

Last month I took my Holga out for the day

2009-08-21T14:32:00.002+01:00

and this is what I got...

Rest Assured...

2009-08-20T12:21:00.005+01:00

...they were purchased with my own money from my very own bank account Mr B!

All that hard work done by you to make our house even lovelier needs some adornment don't you think? And I couldn't possibly pass up a print like this.

from etsy store dazeychic

Ammunition

2009-08-19T14:19:00.003+01:00

photo credit

I am getting prepared for our upcoming jaunt to Egypt.

So far I've purchased

~ Jungle formula extra strength

~Anthisan antihistamine cream. Have I ever told you about my fame in the mosquito world? No? They come from miles around just for me! It's wonderful and very flattering.

~ Various medicines used for changes in diet in hot countries. I think that's a pleasant way of putting it.

~Four different bottles of Piz Buin. Best sun cream in the world.

~ Two sets of snorkel fins

~ Two clear snorkel masks. My snorkel mask will be the one item I wear almost constantly on holiday. Even when we visit the pyramids.

~ One snorkel pipe for Mr B. He is apparently going to practice breathing through the pipe in the bath. I don't like using a snorkel pipe. I never save enough breath to blow the water out of it and end up choking.

~ Some new sandals.

~ And a new sundress.

~ 2 prints from Etsy for my house. These are ever so important for our holiday.

~ Tonight I'm getting my tangled birds nest hair cut so that I have at least a slim chance of managing to comb through it after hours in the Red Sea.

~ I still need to purchase a disposable underwater camera to capture all those nemos.

What else do I need?

Just look where I was

2009-08-17T14:35:00.003+01:00

On Saturday night...

Mr B, our friends and 88,000 other people.
Wembley Stadium.
Beer.
Jumping.
Lasers.
Singing.
Lights.
The Claw.

and U2.

Completely, utterly awesome!!!

Rhyming Barack

2009-08-11T13:54:00.003+01:00

My rhyming slang word this week is Barack.

Obama = charmer of course.

Postcards

2009-08-11T11:51:00.005+01:00

I absolutely love receiving proper post... handwritten letters and cards from friends and family brighten my day. If you fancy receiving postcard surprises from around the world then visit Postcards from my Hometown! I've signed up, will you?

When I was little

2009-08-08T13:45:00.005+01:00

I used to love spinning round and round

and round

and round and round

until I felt dizzy

and slightly sick.

Rose Red has featured more of my when I was little quirks on her lovely blog - check it out!

Oh how I wish I was a cat

2009-08-06T17:05:00.004+01:00

Normally I feed the Meesh after I've had a shower and have been awake long enough to use my hands, open my eyes and hopefully know what day of the week it is. This normally takes me quite a while. Until I give her breakfast she is impossible. She trips me up by skipping about under my feet, she mieows so loudly and continuously that I have considered using my F1 earplugs and of course she has perfected the big-I'm-the-cat-from-Shrek-look which I always give in to.

This morning Mr B fed Meisha before I woke up. What a heavenly morning I had! No cat to trip over! No shrill shreeky mieows! No big eyes making me feel guilty!

But Meisha had an even better morning. After eating her fill at 6:15am she was sprawled out, sound asleep by 7am.

Now that's the life I'd like.

If I was in a band

2009-08-06T16:53:00.005+01:00

this would be our album cover!

Here are the rules:

1 - Go to "wikipedia.com" Select “random article”or click http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Random The first random wikipedia article you get is the name of your band.
2 - Go to "Random quotations"or click http://www.quotationspage.com/random.php3 The last four or five words of the very last quote of the page is the title of your first album.
3 - Go to flickr and click on “explore the last seven days”or click http://www.flickr.com/explore/interesting/7days The third picture, no matter what it is, will be your album cover art.
4 - Use photoshop or similar to put it all together. I used Picnik (http://www.picnik.com/)
5- Tag some friends to join in

Gaia tagged me with this... thanks lady! Isn't the album photo wonderful? I tag anyone who wants to join in with this!

If you haven't already checked out Gaia's blog, then do! She is stylish, lovely, shares fantastic finds and photos of her life in Italy.

The home of Saskia and Mr B {and Meisha of course}

2009-08-05T17:24:00.003+01:00

has had a makeover

And boy has it been improved!

We decided on the green-grey colour for the walls and it's wonderfully peaceful.

Goodbye horrid stuffy cheap 1970s door, hello wide, open archway!

Goodbye nasty blue carpet and stiletto-marked lino, hello smooth and light wooden floor!

Are you as impressed by Mr B's handiwork as I am?

I wish I had inherited my dad's poetry skills

2009-08-03T16:00:00.004+01:00

Clearing out can be therapeutic.

But the best thing about clearing out is that sometimes you can unearth things you have completely forgotten about.

Like when I cleared away our recipe books, something fell out of this one

It was a present tag from my father to Mr B.

Neglectful

2009-07-31T14:08:00.003+01:00

I have become increasingly neglectful. I've neglected blogging, my cameras, my garden, my larder, my car, my washing basket, my husband, my yoga practice, a birthday, taking time, my oven, and even my friends.

Instead I've been spending my time frazzled, irritable and most definitely not inspired. My priorities have been cleaning, moving furniture, moving belongings, perusing takeaway menus, online shopping, breaking my phone, more cleaning, more moving of items, sticking felt pads to all furniture, spray painting and superglueing. I superglued my finger to the superglue bottle last night. Part of the label had to be filed off the tip of my finger. I'm talented like that.

All in all I think I need to get my priorities straight. I feel off-kilter and am desperately excited about the weekend. The weekend where I will get my balance back again. And get my first Holga film sent off to be developed.

Normal service will resume shortly.

I hope you all have wonderful weekends!

Weekly Word

2009-07-30T14:34:00.006+01:00

My colleague and I are obviously not kept interested enough at work. We have started the cockney-rhyming-slang-word-of-the-week. Every week we will pick a word-gem of rhyming slang and we will substitute it in every time we want to say the 'proper' word. I thought I would post these words each week for you!

This week's word is

Rosy

As in Rosy Lee = cup of tea

Right. I'm off to make a nice cup of rosy now!

Toodle-oo.

Because we all need a little romance at the weekend...

2009-07-25T12:41:00.001+01:00

Feathers & Roses

2009-07-22T15:21:00.003+01:00

Mr B and I are attending a wedding in one month's time.

I didn't want to buy a new outfit.

So I bought this from VieModerne

Mr B thinks it's weird, but I don't care...

it will cheer up my boring black dress beautifully.

PS What do you think of the new layout??

In other news

2009-07-21T14:57:00.003+01:00

Yes we are still diy-ing
By "we" I obviously mean my good husband

I haven't just sat around doing nothing though... I have acted as a weight, I've carried, made tea, and made coffee, provided lots of witty comments, stuck felt pads onto our furniture and I even cut a piece of underlay. I'm extraordinarily helpful.

In other news
~ I was very very sad to have finished one of the best books I've ever read.
~ I watched Lolita. Jeremy Irons is absolutely compelling even as Humbert.

~ England won the second Ashes test match at Lords! And I was there! Fantastic!
~ Mr B had to do an intensive cricket-refresher-session with me over the weekend to prepare for Lords. I now know what a Michelle is {Michelle Pfeiffer is cockney rhyming slang for "five for"!}
~ I fell from a 17.3 hand chesnut beauty called Rowan in the Great Park! I have a blue elbow and blue knee! Really could have done without that, especially when called upon to co-lift heavy furniture.
~ I met up with friends, had breakfast out, got a little sunshine on my arms and took my new toy out for a play
~ We've decided to go for the green/grey colour!! It didn't come up well in the photo below - in reality it's lovely, neutral and fresh.

Coming soon
More photos (of course) and the results of our home revamp!! I can't wait!

Slight chaos

2009-07-14T22:16:00.004+01:00

Sleepy Saturday

2009-07-11T18:45:00.002+01:00

~ A couple of photos of the new archway we've had put in downstairs! It is such an improvement! I can't wait to get the walls painted.

And the wooden floor put down.

And the doors and doorframes put in upstairs.

And so on.

And so on.

And one day we'll live in a dust free home.

It will be wonderful.

Bored? Already?

2009-07-09T16:30:00.003+01:00

photo credit: danette marie

I have made an impromptu bargain purchase!

I've bought one of these from Ebay and I'm as excited as can be to receive it through the post! I will be able to take dreamy, random photos like this one! Isn't it wonderful?

This does not mean that I am, in any way, bored by my life-changing Canon 40d already.

It may mean that I have a very slight obsession with all things photography. And a considerable lack of willpower where online shopping is concerned.

Neighbours

2009-07-07T14:57:00.001+01:00

I think we may have the best neighbours in the world. Not only have we never had to cut our front lawn ~our neighbour Bob cuts it for us~ we have never had to put our dustbin out for the binmen ~Bob does this for us too!

Bob is currently on holiday and left us specific instructions to put out the bins last night. When Mr B went outside to move the bins round to the front, no bins were there ~another neighbour had moved our bin, and Bob’s bin round to the front already!

I never want to move…

28.06.09

2009-07-03T14:48:00.000+01:00

Sunday was a most lovely day. We went into London and saw Romeo & Juliet at the Globe. It was absolutely fantastic. I was 14 when Baz Luhrmann's R&J was released so am understandably familiar with most of Shakespeare's script. I must have watched that film 57,923 times! Oh the fish tank scene! Leonardo di Caprio - the 1996 version! Claire Danes' angel outfit! The soundtrack! The stylisation! The stolen first kiss!

Anyway, back to my birthday... after seeing the awesome production we walked in the balmy air through the city to find somewhere nice for dinner.

London was full of happy, colourful people that only ever seem to appear when the sun shines.

I ♥ London

I also ♥ carousels, but I didn't get to ride on this one. We sadly had no change at all.

We're going back into town tomorrow. I will make sure I have £2 with me this time!

Have a wonderful 4th July, all my American readers!

My TV debut, ofviously

2009-07-01T11:09:00.004+01:00

Two weeks ago, when I drove over 900 miles, I attended an event for work. While I was at the event I was interviewed by the BBC! I was filmed! I was on camera! I was asked my valuable opinion of the unemployment situation!

I am not all that comfortable in front of a camera, especially a video camera. I move! And that voice that comes out of the person that I recognise as me! Urgh, do I really sound like that in real life? How does Mr B listen to that voice every day?

So I thought I was bound to be edited out.

And even if I wasn't edited out I would not watch the programme. Then I'd never know if I made it in or not and I could pretend the whole sorry episode never happened.

Until a work colleague sent me a message saying "Saskia, you were on the blah-blah show!!"

Marvellous.

Then I made the biggest mistake of all, I told Mr B.

He spent hours last night searching for my tv debut online. And he found it. And watched over and over and over again.

I could hardly bring myself to watch, but out of morbid curiosity I did.

Apparantely I could do with wearing a lot more makeup, especially lipstick, and I say "obviously" too often and very strangely (friends & family, why did you never tell me this?) and I may be booking in for rhinoplasty very soon.

Never again.

So I ate birthday cake for breakfast to help alleviate the stress. It's sort of worked.

Yesterday I turned 27...

2009-06-29T17:20:00.003+01:00

and we enjoyed ourselves in probably our most favourite place in all the world
I'll tell you all about it soon, I promise!

27

2009-06-28T06:00:00.000+01:00

Happy birthday to me!

Summer Tag

2009-06-26T16:24:00.010+01:00

Summer tagged me to tell you ten things about me you may not know... what a fantastic way to spend the last hour in the office on a Friday!

1. I ♥ Missy Elliot
2. As Summer wants to go on SYTYCD, I dream about going on Strictly Come Dancing. But I'd have to be famous first...
3. It's my birthday on Sunday!!!!!
4. I went to an all girls private school. It was not similar to Malory Towers, much to my dismay.
5. I would love to do a parachute jump one day
6. I am an only child (I'm not sure if you guys know that already!)
7. I let ~~beg~~ Mr B cook almost every night
8. I have never ever taken drugs or smoked a cigarette
9. I watch 90210. Mr B is embarrassed on my behalf.
10. I ♥ Elie Saab

Stripes

2009-06-25T13:41:00.003+01:00

This lovely lady has inspired me to purchase something for our holiday in Egypt later this year....

I just couldn't resist!

Neeouw. Neeouw. Neeee-ouuwwwww.

2009-06-24T14:41:00.001+01:00

That's all we heard, all weekend, through the earplugs wedged firmly into our ears. Neeeouuwwwww. My goodness those f1 cars are fast. Faster in real life than they seem on tv (and on tv they seem pretty darn fast)! We ate sausage buttys and fish&chips from the chippie, we enjoyed the fresh air, we invented a funny sign language while wearing our earplugs and Mr B taught me all there is to know about formula 1.

Well... almost!

The coolest man there! Sorry Mr B, but he just pipped you to the title.

The Red Arrows. They were spectacular. Don't tell anyone, but they were my favourite part of the weekend!

There's Lewis Hamilton! And he's waving and smiling right at me!

I hope he gets the best car there is next year...

Impatient

2009-06-19T19:12:00.002+01:00

The Meesh and I wait impatiently each evening for Mr B to return home. Her concentration never falters as she watches from her spot on the sil. I think you can see how much she sits there from the delightful moist-noise-smears on the window.

She waits in this spot for me to return home too. As I turn into our driveway I always spy her little face watching me.

This week I've been here there and everywhere for work. I've driven over 900 miles. While I was in Bristol I saw Banksy versus Bristol Museum. He is cynical. He is clever. He is awesome.

I was thrilled to come home tonight ~to a fresh cappucino (our machine is all fixed now!!) ~to lounging in comfy tracksuit bottoms snuggled up to my union jack cushion ~to brand new feather pillows for our bed ~to not having to go into the office until Monday ~to going to Silverstone this weekend to see the Grand Prix!! Oh my word it's going to be loud!

Oh my gosh...

2009-06-16T18:50:00.004+01:00

it's warm here!!

Mr B and I have been spending every minute that we can spare outside, in the sun.
This weekend I watched Shakespeare under the stars. This weekend I lay by the canal chatting with my mother {oooh, by the way Mama, when are you going to write another installment of your story? My readers and I are missing you!} This weekend I went horseriding ~fast~ through meadows and woods. This weekend I enjoyed an authentic South African braai with best friends and this little fellow

I'm counting down until the next one... let's hope this gorgeous weather stays!

Changes are afoot

2009-06-09T15:42:00.002+01:00

Does coming home from a holiday cause anyone else to make changes? Since coming home from Venice I've

cleared out drawers and cupboards
worked in our garden
wanted to start the day with a wonderful italian cappucino but our coffee machine decided to scupper my plan and broke down
read more
watched tv less
stopped using dermalogica and
started using dr hauscha

As you can see I've made a few little changes here on my blog too. I thought that this simpler design would help highlight my photos more. What do you think?

And last night I forced myself through my nauseous nerves and attended a photographic society meeting. I was terrified beforehand. I hate going into a group of people I don't know. But I'm so glad I made myself attend! The society had organised a speaker... this gentleman... the most well-known press photographer in the UK! He was a wonderfully interesting man and I enjoyed over 2 hours of his anecdotes about Frank Sinatra, the Queen, Princess Di and John Wayne among others and got to see some incredibly iconic photos. It was ever so inspiring. And the people were friendly too!

Make a change and try something new this week... I highly recommend it!

2009-06-03T13:11:00.005+01:00

Last week my parents celebrated 40 years of married life together. They took Mr B and I to Venice, to really celebrate in style! My parents have visited Venice before but it was the first time for my husband and I. It was amazing. We walked and walked and walked. I snapped and snapped and snapped some more. The weather was hot and sunny, the coffee was strong and creamy, the ice cream was to die for and the views were out of this world.

I'll let my photos do the talking...

It was hard coming back into work on Monday let me tell you... Venice I miss you!

My birthday came early

2009-06-02T15:26:00.000+01:00

35 whole days early

On our first anniversary Mr B surprised me with my birthday present, so that I could use it in Venice!

This is what he gave me

This is also how I looked for the entire holiday last week!

I have married the most wonderful man in all the world

2009-06-01T19:42:00.000+01:00

This is where Mr B took me for our anniversary...

What a surprise it was!

We were treated like royalty and I was so overcome when the concierge left us in our suite (yes, I just wrote SUITE, aaaahhhh!!) that I cried! My husband spoils me far too much!! Our room was furnished with the most wonderous art deco pieces I'd ever seen!

That evening we ate downstairs in the famous restaurant...

We were even shown round the kitchen! We enjoyed coffee and petit fours after our meal, listening to jazz being played in the foyer. Full and bubbly from our champagne we went back to our room to look over our wedding album and relive the memories of our day one year before.

What a perfect anniversary... it was almost as good as our wedding day!!

And the surprises didn't quite end there.... stay tuned for part two!

See you next weekend!!

2009-05-25T08:23:00.005+01:00

We had the most wonderful anniversary weekend...

Mr B took me to stay here

It was incredible!!!!! I'll tell you all about it in 5 days time! I hope you are all enjoying the lovely long weekend!

1

2009-05-23T06:00:00.000+01:00

I've been Featured!

2009-05-22T12:48:00.004+01:00

The refreshing and lovely Anna from The Reality of Happily Ever After has featured my etsy shop on her blog today!!!! I am so thrilled that she is helping me promote my photos. Anna is a wonderful blogger, she's honest, open and inspirational. I'm sure we'd get on famously if we ever met! She always poses interesting topics in her Tuesday Talk slots and her four-legged friend is the most adorable puppy I have ever seen! Go and check out her blog, I promise you won't regret it!

Tig (just for you Mr B)

2009-05-21T16:14:00.000+01:00

While all the children in the playground at my school (and in most other playgrounds I believe) played tag, Mr B played tig. Yup, the kids in his playground were 'tigged' not 'tagged'. How weird is that? Is he the only person in the world who played tig? I think he might be!

Well, I've been tigged!! Twice!!

Wonderful Ms.Salti has passed on the Adorable Award and lovely Summer has passed me the awe-summ award!!
the awe-summ rules are:
*list 7 things that make you awe-summm! *pass it on to 7 bloggers who are awe-summm! *be sure to tag your awe-summm bloggers to let them know! *then link back to the lady that tagged you.

the 7 things that make me awe-summm are:

1. i am caring

2. i am strong

3. i can speak two languages

4. my husband & my family

5. i can mix
6. i play the piano
7. i have taken photos like this with my antique camera

I am tigging these awesome pals...

Courtney
Shorty
Naturally Caffeinated Family
Jill
Gwen
Christy
Bama Belle

This made me happy today

2009-05-20T13:52:00.000+01:00