Crafty Friday

Enjoyed our small but select class using Basic Grey Kioshi papers and 'pocket' cards

Derby Festival

The eventual winner of the 3.30pm

What a difference a day makes - Derby Day on the mound at Tattenham Corner

A very quiet Oaks Day

It's hard to believe that 40 years ago we got married on the Oaks Day (moved to a Saturday that year). The Downs was so packed and the traffic very heavy that I had a police escort to get me to the church on time. As I drove across the Downs, 2 police motorbikes appeared on either side and got me there safely. I felt like the Queen, giving a wave to all the well-wishers around Tattenham Corner!

This year the traffic was very sparse and, although it was a beautiful sunny day, the crowds were much reduced. What a difference a day makes - Derby Day dawned with an influx of hospitality tents and bookies stands and the open top buses lined the rails. The recession seems to have had some impact as it was a very tame day compared to the huge crowds and party atmosphere of years gone by.

Ruby Anniversary (6th June)

The way we were - Saturday, June 6th 1970

Got a beautiful bunch of flowers from Clive and some lovely jewelry (Bath Glass)
I'm getting quite good at making paper roses now as you can see from the card I sent him.

Back again

The Island Escape

Barcelona Harbour. Teaming with people and very warm. Thousands of boats and ideal sailing conditions for all enthusiasts. Explored the city including Olympic satadium, Sagrada and Spanish Village

Sagrada - an amazing unfinished cathedral.

Barcelona has many stunning buildings including this one and the whole place is an architechs dream.

Strelitzias growing wild in the south of France

Had a fabulous holiday cruising around the western Mediterranean. the weather was mainly hot and sunny with a couple of cloudier mornings. Two nights the sea was very rough but I slept through all the pitching and rolling and even managed a full English the next morning unlike many of the other passengers!
French Riviera. The pretty hillside village of Bormes les Mimosas (shame they bloom in December) The whole place had a rich perfume and you can see why this is the centre of the perfume industry. Mimosa, roses, jasmin, lavender ..... the list goes on

Grand Hotel - must have been wonderful in it's heyday. Still a very nice place to spend time away from the hustle and bustle.

Bormes les Mimos
near Toulon . No place for cars so lots of walking through cobbled streets with tiny cafes at every turn

ready to sail from Naples to Ajaccio. This bar in the 12th deck was a favourite viewing place and watering hole. Worked my way down the extensive list of cocktails throughout the week

Isle of Capri - Make a wish when you go through this hole in the rocks

Perfumerie on Capri. All the perfumes are made from locally grown flowers

Lemons anyone?

Looking towards Naples and Sorrento from Capri

Palma Harbour, Majorca

Flew to Palma, Majorca then on to Palermo, Sicily - Naples (and Capri, Italy) - Ajassio, Corsica - Toulon, French Riviera, and Barcelona before sailing back to Palma for the flight home.

Time to pack!

Been making a few more card samples for various classes this week before jetting off to Palma, Majorca to join a cruise ship for our Ruby Wedding treat in a couple of days time.

Summer's here at last

Had a brilliant day walking round the Isabella Plantation in Richmond Park and enjoyed a picnic lunch in warm sunshine and stunning surroundings. Still a few bluebells left and the perfume of the azaleas was amazing. Tokk loads of pictures and here are just a few

Bank Holiday Monday

More bluebells. Although the Woodland Walk at Nymans was beautiful, I still think the ones nearer to home in Banstead Wood are more spectacular than these!




After some lovely hot sunny days, Bank Holiday Monday was a typical cold, windy and damp day. We managed to dodge the showers and had a nice walk round Nymans Gardens and Sheffield Park in Sussex.