Hastening to Hastings

We had a splendid time by the sea in Sussex, oh, ever so long ago now. In between torrential squalls of rain, I took a few snaps of it's loveliness. Early July is already such a distant memory ...

Fourth of July - Rye, Sussex

Family get together in Sussex, in beautiful Rye. Lots of cobble stones and old houses drenched in roses and wisteria, sudden vistas of the marshes at the end of ancient narrow streets, smugglers' inns and fantastic handmade pork pies.

I strongly recommend a visit - and I'm in good company. The splendid Rob Ryan also has a soft spot for Rye.

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Salamanca is

We've spent a splendid long weekend in Spain for the "boda" of a dear friend.

To me, Salamanca is:

An intensely romantic castle to stay in and celebrate in

Tapas in the Placa Mayor with friends-of-friends, who just became friends

A happy bride dancing to "You're The One That I Want" in red Converse

Churros y chocolate for the morning after the night before

Some serious Gothic architecture

And some rather less serious surprises!

We loved it! Felicidades a B y J - muchas gracias para invitarnos, fue un privilegio.

Northumbria holiday in pictures

We've been to the North-East for a little holiday at The Boy's mum's house.

We exercised our inner junkaholic, scrutinising car boot finds and doing a little antique-ing ourselves.

We found this sweet vintage camera in a thrift shop - and searched in vain online for a UK source of Kodak 126 film.

We looked up in Newcastle - isn't it great what you notice when you look up?

We admired art - on walls ...

and in these beautiful surroundings at Belsay Hall - a ruined castle ...

and a quarry garden!

We were startled and fascinated in equal measure by Mat Collishaw's 'The Garden of Unearthly Delights' zoetrope of creepy cupids smashing robins' eggs and spearing snails.

We ate a lot. From tapas to curry to birthday cake.

We chilled out, and enjoyed the last of summer.

(Thanks Carol!)

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Daytripping

This week, I have been a daytripper.

First, to the sea: craving sea air and the sound of gulls, we took the train to Whitstable on the Kent coast, for shingle beaches, weathered tongue and groove beach huts, oyster shells galore, and old fashioned pubs.

Oh, and icecream and chips, of course.

It was good for the soul.

Don't you love those blues and pinks? The colour palette is very satisfying:

Then to something more bucolic. A picnic at the Red House in Bexleyheath, where dizzy bees swam lazily among heavy apple tress.

The Red House was the home of William Morris, and is in the process of being restored (I think, there was certainly a lot of hammering going on): the mellow red stone is just beautiful, and the gardens homey and interesting. 

Love that "dusty grey" colour - shame about the prosaic name!

The house holds some real treasures, stained glass by Edward Burne-Jones, enormous faux medieval furniture by Philip Webb and embroidered tapestries by Janey Morris, but was overall a little disappointing - we had expected it to have more furniture, displayed in the usual National Trust style as if the family had just left the room.  And the William Morris Gallery in Walthamstow has much much more on Morris, Marshall, Faulkner & Co. despite Morris having lived at the Red House during its inception.

However, the building and grounds were just gorgeous, and a cuppa at nearby Danson House set us up no end.

Holidays rock!

Holiday Breakfast - Tuesday 27th July

Mmmm, eggy bread - really channelling my roots this morning (Northern half, not Caribbean, obviously...)

Holiday Breakfast - Sunday 25th July

Delight of delights: late breakfast in the garden. Homemade thyme bread and scrambled eggs on toast. Not a million miles from my daydream earlier this week...

Holiday Breakfast - Saturday 24th July

So, after a month of craziness at work, I am on vacation for a whole week!

The best thing about holidays and weekends, and other high days, is having time for a leisurely breakfast.

Today it's Greek yoghurt, with stewed gooseberries from the Abel and Cole veg box, and a handful of seeds. On the side, organic shortbread from the Eat 17 deli in the poshest Spar in the world, and a cup of fresh coffee.Mmmm. Dig in!