We popped in to Beaulieu (a village in the New Forest) before driving back to the big smoke. The Beaulieu Camera Group was holding a photographic competition so we had a look and registered our votes, then we had a wander around The Learning Garden - an allotment style garden where people can learn how to grow their own. It was abundant with fruit, vegetables and herbs - putting my meagre back garden crops to shame. I tried to cosy up to the gardener to see if he would tell me his secrets - but his lips were sealed.

Labels: seeing_doing, travel

Two glorious weekends in a row were spent camping in the New Forest this summer. The first week I forgot my camera, but here are some pics from the second week.

Both times we stayed on a fantastic campsite called Long Meadow, between Brockenhurst and Lyndhurst. It is a temporary site that is put back to pasture after the season ends for minimum impact on the environment. The portacabin shower and toilet facilities were excellent. As an added bonus a herd of about 150 deer hang out in the field next to the site and regularly come into the site itself when everyone is asleep to munch on the grass. We saw them one night when we left the tent where we had been chatting to go to the toilet before bed - they were right in amongst everyone, and later they kept us awake with their mumching and breathing right outside!

From the site you can walk directly into the forest and it is so beautiful - an enchanted place, full of interesting flora and fauna - a world away from work. I came back each time feeling truly relaxed.

The second week we made a fire by collecting wood from the forest. I was always camp cook.

Labels: seeing_doing, travel

And in the blink of an eye summer is gone... well, maybe we'll get a few more sunny days. Fingers crossed. We had such a busy one though, I am really craving some down time.

For Dom's birthday at the end of July I took him on a microlight flight over the Medway and arranged a picnic at Bewl Water. Late in the day we hired bikes and rode round the reservoir. It was fab. Next time we go we will arrange to do some water sports.

Labels: seeing_doing

My friend Nicola and her hubby Martin came to stay with us for the weekend. After serving up a three course meal on Friday night (including the heavy heavy chocolate tart), we spent Saturday in London.

First Greenwich where we ate sarnies in the park, then took shelter from a sudden shower in the market (only to realise that the market was full of seriously yummy foodstuffs that we could have eaten for lunch - doh!).

We took a Thames Clipper to Bankside. What a fab way to travel: fast, smart and air-conditioned inside and just enough standing space outside for the tourists on a sunny day. By now it was sunny, so we walked along the south bank, eating ice cream then cooled off with a couple of pints of lager in the Princess of Wales.

At Trafalgar Square there was a big party going on for Gay Pride, so we joined the crowd for more beer and a bit of music, then it was home on the train for a slap up BBQ with fresh sirloins from our favourite butchers.

As the sun set we walked down to the river that had served us so well and took some great photos. Happy days!

Labels: seeing_doing

The rain may have held off for The Killers, but it hit us with avengeance yesterday while we were out running. The thunder was already rumbling ominously before we left, but we thought we'd take it on, and see if we could get back before the rain came. Of course, we were exactly half way when the heavens opened and it wasn't just rain we were pelted with but oversized hailstones. We took what shelter we could find, but we were already soaked to the skin so we decided we might as well run through the storm, and when the stones turned to water and the road became a river a passing car kindly whacked me in the face with a bucketful of road water, half of which I swallowed!

Still, it was good fun. I love storms - the power of nature and all that jazz.

Labels: running, seeing_doing

The Killers totally rocked Hyde Park last night. The rain held off, it was a lovely sunny evening and the crowd loved every minute.

Labels: seeing_doing

As I lay staring at the tiled floor, my head firmly planted in a towel-lined hole, I thought it would make a good opening vista for a film. Vulnerable, alone in a darkened room, and at the mercy of a complete stranger, anything could happen - a brutal murder perhaps? Happily there was nothing of the sort. I was at the Utopia Spa in Rowhill Grange, enjoying a full body massage.

We are in serious need of some time out so we are having a long weekend. Yesterday we sat in the garden and made life plans and in the afternoon we browsed around quiet shops and buzzed at the thought of another three days of freedom.

Today we are treating ourselves to a spa day. After a morning in the pool, and lunch in our dressing gowns, we had massages then facials. Relaxing, yes, but I couldn't help but feel I had fallen into a classic "I saw you coming" trap. The kind to which the ladies wot lunch are happy to succumb, but at which I might roll my eyes. That's not to say that I didn't enjoy having a creamy banana-smelling substance painted on my face, but I'm far too cynical to believe that these things will do my face any real good. More water, less sun and plenty of fruit and veg maybe. It was a nice bit of fun self-indulgence - nothing more, nothing less.

Labels: seeing_doing

Congratulations to the gorgeous Mr and Mrs Kinsey who were married yesterday at Alexander House. It was perfect weather for a perfect day!

Labels: seeing_doing

If you like meat, especially barbecued meat, you must visit a Bodeans BBQ Smoke House. When we parked up in Brixton before the Counting Crows on Monday we needed to find somewhere to eat and when we realised that we weren't that far away from Clapham High Street, where I used to live, and our favourite eatery there we took a walk over to experience the taste sensation once again.

God I love that place. I had baby back ribs, Dom had a 1/2 chicken combo. If we had big enough stomachs to eat everything on the menu we would have.

There are Bodeans diners in Clapham, Fulham, Westbourne, Soho and Tower Hill - so go if you can!

We love their chipotle mayo, it's great as a dip, but disgustingly bad for you. There are lots of recipes on the net for chipotle mayo using chopped fresh chillies, but we replicate the Bodeans one with very lazy ingredients: mix 5 parts mayo to 1 part HP Spicy Woodsmoked BBQ Sauce and add a pinch of chilli powder or more if desired to give you the desired level of heat and dip away to your heart's content (or to heart failure, depending on how you look at it!).

Labels: seeing_doing

Finally, after waiting over five years for UK dates, having had the concert we'd booked at Wembley Arena last year cancelled, and after postponing the original date of this gig last week, we saw the Counting Crows last night at Brixton Academy.

They are Dom's favourite band from his teen years (although The Killers are now proving stiff competition), and I'm now a fan too, but I didn't download their latest album, so I was a bit out of touch. My fave album is August and Everything After, and they played a few of the songs from it like Round Here, Mr Jones, and Rain King (which really got the crowd going) so I was well chuffed. They also sang Mrs Potter's Lullaby, Colorblind (which was brilliant), Hard Candy and a kind of medley with a few different songs combined... not sure I could make out what they were, I think Goodnight Elisabeth was in there.

Adam Duritz seemed a bit crazy on the stage. I almost wanted him to just sit still and sing, but he seemed to like jumping around a lot.

It was the first time I'd been to the Academy and I really liked the venue - good view even from the back of the standing area because of the sloped floor.

Adam's last words before he left the stage were "we'll be back". Don't leave it so long this time, OK!

Labels: seeing_doing

Just got back from a fab day at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. I was very lucky to be in the Hospitality Village, and after meeting the fellow guests, we headed off to view the Courtyard Gardens.

My favourite was the Demelza garden, a cool haven of a seating area, surrounded by plants and sound from the pendulum water feature and tubular gongs with their deep echoing chime. It was a Silver Gilt Flora Medal winner. I also really liked the Freshly Prepped garden - an outdoor kitchen with all your fresh ingredients close at hand - imagine!

Of the thirteen Show Gardens my favourite was probably what would be considered the most traditional - the HESCO Garden - bursting with colour. I also liked the Cancer Research UK garden, but wasn't all that struck on the Best Show Garden sponsored by The Daily Telegraph, nor the Gold Medal winning Laurent-Perrier garden.

After champagne, canapes, and a four course lunch we headed back out to look round the Great Pavillion and the Urban Gardens. The Plants of Special Interest Nursery Garden was spectacular to my mind - really bright and striking. It won a Silver. James May's Paradise in Plasticine was 'non-compliant' but still fun and impressive.

The air in the Pavillion was heavy with pollen from all of the species displays. The perfume from the David Austin roses was gorgeous. I enjoyed seeing some of the more unusual plants like the carnivorous species, and seeing the diversity of species such as the begonias.

We didn't get round everything, and I could have easily spent another day there. It gave me great inspiration for our own garden, but I will have to restrain myself as we must focus on finishing the house!

Labels: gardening, seeing_doing

No, I haven't misspelled the name. I went out for a delicious meal with work tonight at the unpronounceable Pantechnicon Rooms. We had a smart private dining room, great wine and a faultless menu. I had goats curd salad to start, followed by a luscious beef fillet, then pana cotta with caramel strawberries and pink peppercorns. If you get the opportunity to go I'd highly recommend it.

Labels: seeing_doing

Our friend Kevin turned thirty on Friday, and to celebrate he invited a group of friends to spend a weekend with him and his wife, Caroline in a cottage near Stow-on-the-Wold in the Cotswolds.

The Old School House was in the small hamlet of Lower Swell, with nothing but a well and a pub to its name, the Golden Ball Inn, where we all met late on Friday night for drinks and introductions.

Next day we set off for a bracing 3 1/2 hour round walk from Lowe Swell to Condicote and back via Stow. Some of us mistakenly read the directions as 3 1/2 miles, not hours, but there was no turning back! The weather stayed bright for most of the hike, but we did all get soaked in a heavy shower and as unprepared townies we set off without food or drink, so two hours in, I began pining for a pint of lager.

My thirst was finally quenched in the Queens Head Inn where I closed down two pints and refuelled on the most gorgeous steak and kidney pudding EVER! Highly recommended.

In the evening Kevin cooked us a chilli, and we amused ourselves until the early hours with an old fashioned game of wink murder (instructions below) followed by a rude version of charades. It was great!

Happy Birthday Kev!

How to Play Wink Murder

This game can be played as an evening party game or as a background game e.g., over dinner. Take enough cards from a pack for each player. Include in these cards one King, one Queen and one Ace. Shuffle and deal the cards to each player. The player with the King is the Cop, the player with the Ace is the Killer, and the player with the Queen is the Bitch. Each player keeps their cards and identity secret. The Killer has to try and kill the other players by discreetly winking at them. The other players feign death (dramatic style is good) and turn their cards face up to reveal their identity. The Bitch can bring the dead back to life by blowing a discreet kiss at the dead player. The Cop has to watch what is going on then take his guess and arrest the Killer. The game is over when either the Killer has won by killing all the other players without being caught or the Cop has won by correctly guessing who the Killer is. The Bitch adds an extra dimension to the game by making the Killer's task more difficult. The Killer would help himself to kill the Bitch and stopping her from bringing people back to life.

There are other ways of playing this game, but this worked for us. Enjoy!

Labels: seeing_doing

That's because I'm not, but I soon will be!

What a great night last night. The venue was fantastic, the food was lovely, everyone sang really loudly and really badly! Perfect.

Dom gave me the biggest surprise by showing a video he had made of my life up to now, there were so many funny moments, and clips from friends and relatives who couldn't make it. I was blown away and very emotional. I really do have the most amazing husband. Thank you Dom!

Labels: seeing_doing

Woo hoo! It's my birthday today. I am 30 years old - that is OLD!

Yesterday I took my mum, dad and Dom to my admissions ceremony to celebrate me finally qualifying as a solicitor in November last year. There was a presentation and a photo op and some nice tea and scones.

Later we had the lamb shanks that I had put in the slow cooker before leaving. They were lovely and tender, but a little bland. I used this recipe and I think it needs some improvement. I served the panna cotta I made on Thursday night for dessert and they were delicious, but could have done with a little less galatin I think - another thing to work on.

I have already been having a lovely birthday, I got some lovely presents and at lunch today we had a lemon birthday cake baked by my mum. Yum yum!

Tonight we are off to Imperial China for a meal with friends and a private karaoke session. I can't wait!


UPDATE: As if all this wasn't enough, I have found out that I won the Envirosax giveaway on LJCFYI! Hooray! What a wicked birthday.

Labels: seeing_doing

I got a call from our neighbour today to say that our fence had been hit by a car. Sure enough, when I got back, a good 18ft of our front fence had been smashed to pieces. I remembered just how much work we put into erecting this fence over the first summer we moved in, and to see it in splinters was really quite sad.

I reported it to the police, as it was technically a hit and run, although some of the neighbours had seen a young lad changing his tire next to the fence not long after some other neighbours had heard the crash, but nobody actually saw it happen.

Later that night a nervous teen knocked on our door and apologised for what, he explained, had been a genuine accident. The poor soul. He could barely get his words out. I was so pleased that he had come to face the music. Bless.

Labels: d.i.y., seeing_doing

What a wicked day. Gorgeous sun again, blue skies, three times down Saint Jacques, giant hot chocolate, one more run then lunch.

After, up the Varet bubble, then the Aguille Rouge lift to check out the amazing view across the alps from 3226m and marvel at the crazy skiiers plummeting over the edge.

Dom and I went out again after that to savour the last possible hours of skiing. I did Saint Jacques another three times and Dom did the Cascades. One more day and I reckon I would have been able to tackle that too.

I am sad to be leaving. I might not have the skills or the confidence but I've definitely got the bug. Au revoir Les Arcs!

Labels: seeing_doing, travel

Hmm indeed. Not quite as into it today as I was yesterday. We tried a longer blue run first thing this morning and it freaked me a little. I think I needed to have practised first on the Saint Jacques runs. I slowly scraped my way down the edge of the run, gritting my teeth and clenching my buttocks so hard that I was in agony.

I forced myself to do another Saint Jacques run before lunch, then Caroline and I did it twice after lunch while the boys headed off on their own.

Back to the chalet for more delicious cake and another day on the piste draws to a close.

It's been lovely and sunny today but if I'm honest I think I'd prefer more snow as it's more forgiving on a cowardly newbie like me.

One more day to go!

Labels: seeing_doing, travel

Today was absolutely fantastic. I love it!

Caroline and I went up to do the Saint Jacques run first thing this morning and I made it down the first steep bit on skiis which was already an improvement on yesterday. Then a guy on a skidoo came up to tell us that they needed to close the run to do controlled avalanches. Well if anything was going to get me down the mountain fast it was the thought of an avalanche, so I was off, at speed, turning like a pro and made it down the mountain in five minutes!

I couldn't believe it! What a difference to yesterday. Again! Again!

We did a different run next time - turning right off the top of the lift - and the boys caught up with us half way down. Then we all did it another time together and twice after lunch. I've still been falling a lot but I have such a difference in confidence and understand the principles that I now feel like anything is possible. Bring on the black runs!

Can't wait to get out there tomorrow. The sun came out at lunch time today and the mountains look beautiful under the blue sky.

It's the chalet host's night off tonight so we are off out for a meal and then off to the Crazy Fox pub for some karaoke!

Labels: seeing_doing, travel

So I woke up yesterday morning and tried to keep my mind off the challenge ahead. We dropped Caroline off at her lesson and then Dom and Jon took me off to the Saint Jacques chairlift.

Jon went in a seat ahead then Dom and I in one behind. We were scooped up and bounced around - not a good sensation. Then came the moment I had been dreading: the end of the lift. It turned out to be nowhere near as bad as I was expecting, but I still fell over and took Dom down with me!

We headed off to the left and my turns were working nicely. Next came a really steep bit which I couldn't manage, then a long fairly steep run which should have taken about five minutes but which took me four falls, as many huffs, much coaching and I finally reached the bottom about an hour later.

It was done, over. Thank God.

The snow really came down in the afternoon and visibility wasn't great which was a good excuse for Caroline and I to head to the pool. The boys went out for ages though. The word is that the powder is awesome (apparently).

The best thing is after a good night's rest I'm dying to get out there and do it again!

Labels: seeing_doing, travel

If I'd mastered the snow plough early on I think I would have made more progress but we moved on too quickly for me and after careering under the pulley rope and landing on my back hitting my head I lost my confidence.

This meant I got left behind the others when they learnt turns and wasn't able to attempt the chairlift this afternoon with the boys. Caroline did but it was too much too soon and now she's spooked.

Feeling positive, just going to pace myself.

Chalet is nice, good bunch of people and food is gorgeous.

Tired but happy!

Labels: seeing_doing, travel

Despite being very proud of where I work and what I do, I made the decision long ago not to use this blog to write about my life at work. Why? Well, I have a healthy fear of being dooced,

dooced: to lose one’s job because of one’s website
                                                 urbandictionary.com

but I'd also like to think there's more to me than my job, and it's that part of me that I want to write about. However, fate, it seems, is not without a sense of irony.

The company I work for has, in the last year, set up an internal company blog, (on its intranet). I like to think that it was influenced by a presentation I made to the MD at an innovation day at the end of 2007 at which I argued the case for the company to utilise the power of the blog.

The blog has proved quite popular. We currently have around 10,000 employees and of those probably around 2,000 have the ability to post. Strangely enough, I was reluctant to do so at first: I wanted what I said to be worth saying.

But now, I don't have a choice, as the MD has just asked me to be a regular guest blogger. So, I find myself in a situation I never expected. I always intended to keep my work life and blogging life separate, but it's work that is now bringing them together.

Now, I have professional obligations, I will actually meet my readers, what I say will be scrutinised and commented on by my colleagues, *shudder*. I wonder, could I be dooced for doing my job? I have been trusted with a fairly free rein and my employer has proved it is not "blogophobic", so hopefully not.

But there's no denying that the pressure is on, and I really need to think of something decent to write, and this is not the time for writers block.

Labels: seeing_doing

He suffered from a degenerative disorder known as melting. It was all quite sudden. He looked weak when we left for work this morning, and was unable to stand up straight. His condition worsened throughout the day and when I found him, he had lost his head. It was too late for a transplant, there was nothing I could do.

R.I.P. Peter. Have fun in the big snow covered garden in the sky.

Labels: seeing_doing

The deepest snow I can ever remember was in 1989 or 1990. I remember it because I was only 11 or 12 years old, a pupil at Coates Endowed Middle School, Ponteland, and the snow on the school field nearly came to the top of my wellies. I remember everyone making snowmen in break times and falling in the snow to make snow angels. Since then, every time snow has been forecast, I have always hoped for it to be as thick as that year, but it has never materialised. Until today.

After nearly twenty years of waiting and hoping, the snow is coming down so thick and heavy that the whole of London has come to a stand still and joy of joys I have been prevented from making it into the office. Dom is stranded too.

That doesn't mean we can't work, because we can work remotely on our laptops, (which, of course, we have been doing very diligently), but it does mean that in our lunch break we have been able to go out and play...

And now, I would like to introduce to you, Peter the Snowman.

Labels: seeing_doing