Hello again and hope you’re well, and please do excuse the very long and unexplained absence. Six days ago, were suddenly and immediately called to Paris by terribly sad news, landing in the golden and early evening of last Friday to even sadder news, and worse still in the early hours of Tuesday morning, resulting in the extension of our stay here, to Sunday.
IT'S STRAWBERRY SEASON and Wimbledon, which can only mean one thing: strawberries and cream. Have you been watching the tennis? Also, Summer Solstice was just a couple of weeks ago and we said a bittersweet good-bye to the longest day of the year. Here is a little of our lately: homemade gazpacho and June rose; pints on a sunny pub terrace and wildflower meadows; friendly llamas and gin and tonics and so much more...
IT IS ONLY the second week in January, and yet it feels like a lot more time has passed since the holidays. The decorations are still up and we're still turning on the white Christmas lights in the evenings, glittery in their delicate glass globes and strung along the archway of the built-in bookcase in the corner, instantly making things feel festive. For the past two weeks, it's been busy, busy, which is the reason why it feels like so much time has passed.
Used to compose my weekend thoughts and new year‘s messages while out walking our dog, a Dalmatian rescue who was a good listener. Now writing does not come quite as easily, which is why it is one of the things I’ll be working on this year. Last year’s New Year’s Resolutions really seemed to resonate with many of you and I am happy to report that I conquered all of them in 2019, especially reading more and getting better sleep ...
THERE ARE many ways to measure time – by years and by minutes, by months and by days. Perhaps with each falling second, or the small everyday moments as they unfold, or big once-in-a-lifetime events of grand importance. Perhaps time is marked by a first kiss, or the first time you knew you loved someone; or the anniversary of an important milestone, maybe even with that person.
ON A BRIGHT THURSDAY MORNING about two weeks ago, while browsing through our Instagram feed over coffee, happened upon a photo of the Mercado Colón by Giancarlo Giammetti, Valentino‘s longtime partner, and wondered what he was doing in the city.
SEHNSUCHT is a German word that is used to describe a feeling of intense longing or yearning for something that is unattainable or distant. In the context of a love of life, the word describes a longing for experiences, places, or people that are not currently present in one's life but deeply desired.
ONE OF MY VERY FAVOURITE THINGS during the holidays [and there are many] is wandering about Christmas tree yards in search of the perfect tree. Last year, we chose a very full and rather bushy Douglas Fir that was decorated in chartreuse glittery baubles and yards & yards of tartan ribbon. And this year, it is a very tall, thin and elegantly sparse Nordmann Fir, with gold leopard print ornaments and wide lengths of fuchsia satin ribbons . . .
TIME AGAIN for another Life Lately, and these past few days and weeks have felt rather busy, especially following the enforced hibernation of the lockdown years, which are beginning to feel like a million lifetimes ago now. There was an early morning train ride to Edinburgh at the beginning of the month and another to Glasgow the following day; and then all the way to the south, nearly as far as Wales just last week...
I READ SOMETHING recently that stated that the sales of colour cosmetics dropped 33% in 2020, and that sales of cosmetics overall dropped by 15%. While I did buy a few new eyeshadow palettes during that time despite not having anywhere to go (perhaps it was for the odd Instagram selfie), I did actually reduce spending on these items ...