tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72305837678614513012024-03-12T20:11:13.292-07:00The Money PitUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger78125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7230583767861451301.post-61371142237032727852012-07-31T07:15:00.000-07:002012-07-31T07:17:07.067-07:00The Waiting Game<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We are still awaiting the builders starting the next phase of works for the B&B. In the meantime we are getting on with some of the work we can do in other areas. <br />
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<b>The kid's room</b><br />
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We were aiming to get Kid 1's room completed by the time she was six months, what with the chaos that having your first baby that deadline moved to her being a year. <br />
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We managed to fit the fireplace after much time spent finding the right tiles and we had decorated. We realised that in order to future proof her room for the inevitable day she will, no doubt, want to shut herself away from her parents and listen to her music too loudly, look at inappropriate stuff on the internet, use her hairdryer, create fire hazards by placing scarfs over her lamps 'for atmosphere' and recharge her phone/tablet/communication device that is not yet invented and may run on fresh air for all we know OR study by lamplight into the small hours (!!) then she might need some extra sockets. So another year passed and then we were going to get it finished before Kid 2 turned up so Kid 1 wouldn't feel evicted for the newest member. Kid 2 arrived and the electrics upgrade then became swallowed up in 'the B&B plan' and only now have the electrics been completed.<br />
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It seems that the closer you get to completing a project the longer it takes. Now the electrics are done all we need to do is redecorate the bits disrupted by the electrics, repaint the woodwork, order and fit the carpet and then furnish it but find an hour here or an hour there to do these things when you have a toddler and a baby is a tad challenging. </div>
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My most commonly used phrase at the moment seems to be 'I don't have the time...' and I am questionning if this is really the case. I could get up at 5am and have a least an hour before anyone else wakes up (this assumes that everyone stays asleep and there are not many hours when all my dependents achieve simultaneous sleep) and despite loving early mornings, something about the light at that time of day, that lovely light is going to be hard pressed to get me out of bed when I have been up until midnight with the boy and then awake again at 2 and 4am.</div>
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I could do it in the evenings but I am not at my greatest at that time plus the boy hasn't yet got to grips with bed time and sees evenings as a time to ramp up the rampant feeding. In fact, if feeding was an Olympic sport he would have a fair few medals to his name. Weekends are the only time t'husband and I can discuss the project or look at bathrooms/carpets/website briefs/building specs and then there is fitting in family time where we are not just dragging the kids around various builders merchants/home improvement warehouses. Arguably t'husband could do it while I mind the kids but he works all week and wants to spend his weekends with the kids or sleeping or watching the Tour de France/Grand Prix or seeing friends/family or visiting bike shops or fixing his bike (which he was doing until 2am last night - just saying) or organising bike races (there is a theme developing here) and although after writing that it seems that he does have time after all why would he want to be doing DIY instead of all those things?</div>
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Some might point out that I could be doing it rather than writing this blog but one of the prerequisites of feeding a small baby is to be sat down so I have plentiful time then (assuming I am not trying to simultaneously entertain a todder) to write the blog* (which I must do more now we are going to be using The Money Pit to earn actual money), set up a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ChurchViewGuestHouse" target="_blank">Facebook page,</a> to research building materials, find and compare prices of baths/tiles, find a dresser on eBay but not so much time to paint walls or sand skirting boards. I have yet to perfect the art of feeding whilst doing manual labour but I am sure someone will tell me it is possible. </div>
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Anyhoo, this is a round about a lengthy way to go about explaining why there are no 'after' photos of the Kid's new bedroom. You'll just have to wait for those!</div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">*Saying that this blog has been written in numerous sessions over a number of weeks!</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7230583767861451301.post-58271921153866575792012-05-15T07:27:00.000-07:002012-05-17T12:36:37.621-07:00Planning, planning, planning<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-QXjSqF02uso/T6p_jIiJ7kI/AAAAAAAAA9o/bEjf_d4EGLs/s640/blogger-image-1330142043.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-QXjSqF02uso/T6p_jIiJ7kI/AAAAAAAAA9o/bEjf_d4EGLs/s640/blogger-image-1330142043.jpg" /></a></div>Well although it seems, according to the blog at least or in fact if you look around the house (you'll have to take my word for that one), that not much has been happening in terms of development of the Money Pit there has been a whole lot going on behind the scenes.<br />
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It has always been the plan in order to get The Money Pit to pay for itself, rather than us just throwing our hard earned cash at it, to turn it into a Bed and Breakfast. As this meant a significant injection of cash, it was rather a long term plan which involved selling our other property and then using that money to invest in getting one room ready as a guest room and the dining room floored and decorated for the aforementioned guests use. And then using any money earned to carry on with finishing other rooms. This was fine until we realised getting that the simple phrase 'getting a room ready for B&B guests' involved a new roof complete with improved insulation, a fire alarm system, new wiring, a complete bathroom refit, soundproofing, change of use to guesthouse/residential, new flooring, decorating, kitchen extraction and all manner of other things. Our budget simply didn't stretch that far....so we were a bit stuck and wondered if the B&B would ever become reality. Then, miraculously, a while back we heard about a funding pot that was being made available via the Rural Northwest <a href="http://www.themanchestertouristboard.com/what-we-do/tourism-development/investing-in-rural-accommodation" target="_blank">Tourism Connect project</a>, funded through Defra for independent, small hotels and B&Bs in rural areas to apply for grant funding to support renovation projects.<br />
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It sounded perfect so I contacted them to enquire if, being in Ramsbottom, we qualified. We did and within a week or so of our initial enquiry, we had had a visit from the Tourism Connect Project Manager (hi Sarah) and had been left with a pile of paperwork/guidelines to go through. The application process was quite stringent and required us writing a business plan complete with the first 3 years financial projections, a detailed budget and project plan for the build including getting hold of no less than 3 quotes from different builders for which we required a complete building spec and an application which asked for milestones, risk analysis, forecasted targets, details of the entire project and a document signed by an accountant to say that our business plan and financial projections stood up! All well and good you might say and only what most people would do when looking to start a business. The initial deadline for the funding project to end was April 2013. This was perfect timing as, just to make life a little more complicated, we had also found out we were expecting our second child in June 2012. It meant that we could work on the application in the Spring of 2012, have the baby, get used to the baby, if we got the funding we could start the build in late Summer 2012 and be ready to open the B&B in Spring 2013. <br />
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But things don't turn out like that. We got a phone call early March to say that the funding project was closing early, a year early! If we wanted to apply we need to get the application complete and submitted for review by mid March in order it could be assessed / approved before the end of the month! We had a week...<br />
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Although we had made a start on a number of elements the next 7 days were a blur of researching, writing business plans and building specs, meeting builders, going through figures, meeting with our funding project manager (who is a star) and accountants, checking quotes, refining specs, chasing builders for further quotes as well as still trying to do our day jobs, look after the kid and find time to eat and sleep (the sleeping tended to be the thing that got squeezed!)<br />
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After rather too many late nights, a considerable amount of coffee and 'discussion', some tears and a lot of time at the computer, we finally pressed the send button on Monday 5 March. We had done the best we could and if we didn't get it then at least we gave it a go. We got a call on Thursday to say that the internal review had gone well but there were a few refinements we had to make to the application before the panel meeting the following week. Another late night beckoned as the paperwork had to be with the panel on Friday. On Weds 14 Mar we go the call to say that not only had our application been approved, but it was one of the best business plans they had received! The B&B project was underway....<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7230583767861451301.post-43469398265482377452011-09-19T13:58:00.009-07:002012-03-26T09:08:08.698-07:00The Kitchen ProjectAfter 2 years of not having a kitchen, we at last managed to save up enough cash to get the kitchen done.<br /><br />The husband did a mighty job of getting everything done on a tight budget. If the UN are looking for a keen negotiator then he is your man. This is how the kitchen looked beforehand.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-LdpfUzgibog/ToHPgzeZO9I/AAAAAAAAA9Q/NB6f7e5PVXA/s640/blogger-image--568620438.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-LdpfUzgibog/ToHPgzeZO9I/AAAAAAAAA9Q/NB6f7e5PVXA/s640/blogger-image--568620438.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">We had a rickety sink, a fridge and freezer and tables and chairs that were donated by a lovely colleague, a dishwasher donated by my aunt and windows that were held together with duck tape as they were push your finger through the wood rotten. I insisted before we moved in that I would not now or never be cooking on a camping stove so we <a href="http://dreamhousemoneypit.blogspot.co.uk/2009/03/kitchen-range-cooker-project.html">channelled out the chimney and installed a cooker when we first moved in.</a><br /><br />Below was my inspiration for out kitchen. I loved the light (we are lucky to have a bright kitchen), the tiles, the sink and although I wouldn't be able to achieve the rustic units I loved the long bank of units with a separate island.<br /></div><br /><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-i9PsOd_RlFc/Tnes94VrA7I/AAAAAAAAA84/LpGHqWabL7U/s640/blogger-image--1367236304.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-i9PsOd_RlFc/Tnes94VrA7I/AAAAAAAAA84/LpGHqWabL7U/s640/blogger-image--1367236304.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><br />I also loved this one. Again the tiles, the floor which was similar to ours and was luckily in good shape and the colour of the units. I also loved the mixture of seating around the table.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YBOEQ54p4Nk/T3CKFwvkCaI/AAAAAAAAA9g/9EZpJWODWj4/s1600/Kitchen%2B-%2BF%2526B%2BCharleston%2BGray.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 306px; height: 306px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YBOEQ54p4Nk/T3CKFwvkCaI/AAAAAAAAA9g/9EZpJWODWj4/s400/Kitchen%2B-%2BF%2526B%2BCharleston%2BGray.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724226957976275362" border="0" /></a><br />First step was replacing the rotten windows. Not a big job but quite a costly one.<br /></div><br /><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-HwSErbTB-1U/Tnes-6VoJoI/AAAAAAAAA88/zsb-yGUUMz0/s640/blogger-image-1969010605.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-HwSErbTB-1U/Tnes-6VoJoI/AAAAAAAAA88/zsb-yGUUMz0/s640/blogger-image-1969010605.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><br />There was also a fair bit of re-wiring, plumbing that also had to be done before the units arrived. Choosing the colour was nerve-wracking. I wanted grey and was going for a dark colour (Farrow and Ball Charleston Grey) but the kitchen cabinet maker had done a few kitchens in Farrow and Ball Pavillion Grey and said it was a great colour so I went for it and am glad I did. Although, they look green here...they're not.<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />I would love to give the guys that made and fitted our kitchen a plug but I can't find a website for them. I cannot recommend them highly enough. They were helpful, friendly, knew their stuff, produced a beautiful, handbuilt kitchen at a better price than many an off the shelf option and the lads that came to fit it worked so hard it still amazes me. They left home at 5am to pick up the kitchen, drove to Ramsbottom, arrived at 7am and worked through until midnight and were unfailingly pleasant throughout.<br /><br /></div><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-jAjK5bX6sJs/Tnes8xewcNI/AAAAAAAAA80/n9FYbDNYWH4/s640/blogger-image--1085336994.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-jAjK5bX6sJs/Tnes8xewcNI/AAAAAAAAA80/n9FYbDNYWH4/s640/blogger-image--1085336994.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;">For the lights I was trying to re-create the lighting I had seen in bars on the continent and I think the Metro in Paris. I wanted something that felt a bit industrial. The lights were from <a href="http://www.lightingmatters.co.uk/catalogue_item.php?catID=806&prodID=19524">Original BTC</a>. The photo doesn't really do them justice but I love them plus we managed to get them on sale.<br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-5cFH0nUdJbM/ToHPgeRaIgI/AAAAAAAAA9M/V64EcNWLlU0/s640/blogger-image--892283652.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-5cFH0nUdJbM/ToHPgeRaIgI/AAAAAAAAA9M/V64EcNWLlU0/s640/blogger-image--892283652.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">Worktops were also a sticking point as the husband was stuck on granite and I wanted rustic solid wood. I just wasn't a granite kind of girl. It felt too 'slick'. I am still not sure how he brought me round to his way of thinking, perhaps he mentioned that I would be responsible for oiling the wooden one regularly and then suddenly granite seemed like an easier option.<br /></div><br /><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-wuRyNNwcsgA/ToHPfZexwnI/AAAAAAAAA9E/6rWqQjN6c-4/s640/blogger-image-1653025259.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-wuRyNNwcsgA/ToHPfZexwnI/AAAAAAAAA9E/6rWqQjN6c-4/s640/blogger-image-1653025259.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;">There is are still some bits of joinery to do, we need to get the tiling done and some finishing touches but this is nearly another project we can tick off the list which is a good thing as we have a busy few months coming up.<br /></div><br /><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7230583767861451301.post-38445863777298259042011-09-19T13:21:00.001-07:002011-09-21T06:36:46.600-07:00Stair projectOkay, okay I have been really remiss in not posting any house updates since the kid was born but I am determined to get into it again. Especially as we are about to start on a new phase of works and I need to catch up on what's changed since last July!!<br /><br />Okay between May and November 2010 there was the small matter of a small person that landed in our lives and dropped the bomb of never sleeping for more than two hours at a time. Which sounds a dream during the day and prior to having a baby I thought that wee ones sleep muchly so I would be able to, blissfully, get on with the numerous house projects while my little ray of sunshine slumbered away. Well it didn't exactly pan out like that...although she slept a fair bit in the day her snoozes were filled with me trying to retain some semblance of order and housewifery between THE CONSTANT FEEDING and THE WASHING MOUNTAIN....man they can eat and poo those newborns.<br /><br />Anyhoo, after 6 months of shattered sleep, we eventually started to come out the other side and as an early Christmas present, in a wave of "wow our baby can sleep, let's make sure we put measures in place to never disturb her again" fervour (which included nailing down floorboards, installing black out blinds and oiling doors) t'husband arranged for our stair carpet to be fitted.<br /><br />Looking at this picture, the non-carpeted stairs look quite nice....they weren't! If they had looked anything like this I would have kept them as they were.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-yE_NXbNduX8/TnemOtRdyjI/AAAAAAAAA8k/-7zYEa4D_Tg/s640/blogger-image-1820662158.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-yE_NXbNduX8/TnemOtRdyjI/AAAAAAAAA8k/-7zYEa4D_Tg/s640/blogger-image-1820662158.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">And below is the new carpet....<br /></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-nmrz4fdLWSM/TnemPQ8o6pI/AAAAAAAAA8o/oNfyd9K6wJE/s640/blogger-image--1152579448.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-nmrz4fdLWSM/TnemPQ8o6pI/AAAAAAAAA8o/oNfyd9K6wJE/s640/blogger-image--1152579448.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">Seems like a small project but seeing as we had to decorate the stairs and entire landing before it was fitted, this was the pay off.<br /></div><br /><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-MpZd7YKCnZ0/TnemQBXvSQI/AAAAAAAAA8s/huitZ1wCHG4/s640/blogger-image--1745574959.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-MpZd7YKCnZ0/TnemQBXvSQI/AAAAAAAAA8s/huitZ1wCHG4/s640/blogger-image--1745574959.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Isn't it funny how some twinkly, sparkly lights make everything not only brighter but better!<br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-QtMXIP2LxzM/TnemQjCfgMI/AAAAAAAAA8w/5E1FHnsd8Po/s640/blogger-image-80010608.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-QtMXIP2LxzM/TnemQjCfgMI/AAAAAAAAA8w/5E1FHnsd8Po/s640/blogger-image-80010608.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">An extremely belated Happy Christmas...<br /></div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7230583767861451301.post-18486386856783418722010-07-02T14:38:00.000-07:002010-07-02T14:53:31.014-07:00The reason nothing on the house is getting done...<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/TC5cSU7xGlI/AAAAAAAAA7c/vLgxBEGdHT4/s1600/Maisie+1.jpg"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/TC5cSU7xGlI/AAAAAAAAA7c/vLgxBEGdHT4/s400/Maisie+1.jpg" /></a> </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; BACKGROUND: 0% 50%; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial" border="0" alt="Posted by Picasa" align="middle" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" /></a></div><br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/TC5cfISI22I/AAAAAAAAA7k/ABXo5ba7PkI/s1600/Maisie+4.jpg"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/TC5cfISI22I/AAAAAAAAA7k/ABXo5ba7PkI/s400/Maisie+4.jpg" /></a> </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; BACKGROUND: 0% 50%; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial" border="0" alt="Posted by Picasa" align="middle" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" /></a></div><br /><br /><div style='text-align:center;margin:0px auto 10px;'><a href='http://localhost:3356/0074cd0c88d5d28b9e628982357a8fca/image/8a04bcf3793e39e.jpg'><img src='http://localhost:3356/0074cd0c88d5d28b9e628982357a8fca/image/8a04bcf3793e39e.jpg?size=400' border='0' alt='' /></a> </div><br /><br /><div style='text-align:center;margin:0px auto 10px;'><a href='http://localhost:3356/0d8aae9826f95633d56f355dd706388c/image/55dfd4f7233b7adf.jpg'><img src='http://localhost:3356/0d8aae9826f95633d56f355dd706388c/image/55dfd4f7233b7adf.jpg?size=400' border='0' alt='' /></a> </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7230583767861451301.post-62453613736125341072010-04-23T06:32:00.000-07:002010-04-23T08:09:05.859-07:00The Bedroom ProjectSo we have spent the last few weekends trying to get a few projects completed before the arrival of the baby. Weekends in March and April have largely been overtaken by the Bedroom Project, the Nursery Project and the Downstairs WC Project.<br /><br />Here is the low down on the Bedroom Project. This is it emptied of furniture. The front wall needed to be <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">re plastered</span> as the plaster hadn't been applied properly before and had lifted away from the wall.<br /><br /><p><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/S9GsMMjfDeI/AAAAAAAAA5E/xkyMIGE8tVU/s1600/Bedroom+before.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463337148505591266" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/S9GsMMjfDeI/AAAAAAAAA5E/xkyMIGE8tVU/s400/Bedroom+before.jpg" /></a> The removal of the radiator in order to <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">facilitate</span> the plastering nearly led to the Replacement of the Living Room Ceiling project but luckily we managed to catch that little disaster before it became..well.. too disastrous.</p>Here is the removal of the old plaster and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">t'husband</span> doing what he does best, project managing, which admittedly looks a lot like watching and chatting...<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/S9GsUP_nOLI/AAAAAAAAA5M/dfaSAnaLQl8/s1600/Bedroom+plaster.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463337286867826866" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/S9GsUP_nOLI/AAAAAAAAA5M/dfaSAnaLQl8/s400/Bedroom+plaster.jpg" /></a> And the new plaster in progress. Love a bit of smooth plaster which is good as this wall took forever to dry. A good few weeks....<br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/S9GsUb0kdyI/AAAAAAAAA5U/dUhJxv5AmF4/s1600/Bedroom+plaster+2.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463337290042734370" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/S9GsUb0kdyI/AAAAAAAAA5U/dUhJxv5AmF4/s400/Bedroom+plaster+2.jpg" /></a>Then there was the sanding. Oh sanding how I hate thee...which is why <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">t'husband</span> did it.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/S9GuOBk-_8I/AAAAAAAAA5c/z9c2PZEQAMs/s1600/Bedroom+sanding.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463339378942083010" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/S9GuOBk-_8I/AAAAAAAAA5c/z9c2PZEQAMs/s400/Bedroom+sanding.jpg" /></a> Essential tools of the sanding trade. Paper, mask, ample supply of warm brews accompanied by lots of encouraging words...<br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/S9GuUnMdNNI/AAAAAAAAA5k/4pM-6N4AKxE/s1600/Bedroom+sanding+2.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463339492118967506" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/S9GuUnMdNNI/AAAAAAAAA5k/4pM-6N4AKxE/s400/Bedroom+sanding+2.jpg" /></a> I didn't photograph the next stage but between the sanding and the wiring was the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">wood worming</span>. Apparently, the fumes are not good for a woman in my condition! Then there was the wiring. I am so impressed that I have a husband with all these rad skills.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/S9GubT9chJI/AAAAAAAAA5s/hTPXo1D26sY/s1600/Bedroom+wiring.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463339607214818450" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/S9GubT9chJI/AAAAAAAAA5s/hTPXo1D26sY/s400/Bedroom+wiring.jpg" /></a> Then there was a painting which was something I could help with. However, painting skirting boards at 35 weeks pregnant leads to all sort of contortions.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/S9GwHcMbO-I/AAAAAAAAA50/h4STBCUTIzE/s1600/Bedroom+painting.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463341464851004386" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/S9GwHcMbO-I/AAAAAAAAA50/h4STBCUTIzE/s400/Bedroom+painting.jpg" /></a> And finally there was the fitting of the carpet and the reinstalling of the furniture. So a few days of plastering, a few weeks for plaster to dry, several weekends of sanding, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">wood worming</span>, wiring, painting and carpet shopping and that is our bedroom...DONE!*<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/S9GwOxOK98I/AAAAAAAAA58/6Nu9M2pTWG0/s1600/Bedroom+after.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463341590754555842" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/S9GwOxOK98I/AAAAAAAAA58/6Nu9M2pTWG0/s400/Bedroom+after.jpg" /></a> <span style="font-size:85%;">*With the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">exception</span> of a new light, some bedside tables and putting pictures up.</span></div><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><div>And from looking at this, it's just in time... <div><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/S9G1jm3quRI/AAAAAAAAA6E/StqU87GJFqo/s1600/Bump+39+2.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463347446311205138" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/S9G1jm3quRI/AAAAAAAAA6E/StqU87GJFqo/s400/Bump+39+2.JPG" /></a>And none of this would have been possible without the skills, patience and hard work of a good and loving man. I am indebted to <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">t'husband</span> who promised me all along I would have a bedroom ready for when the baby arrived. You totally rock and I love you....</div></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7230583767861451301.post-31281836702686270932010-01-12T10:49:00.001-08:002010-01-12T11:15:25.503-08:00What Goes Up...<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/S0zEfOoAQLI/AAAAAAAAA1E/OQwVFW7iycU/s1600-h/Lakes-6.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425927691855478962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/S0zEfOoAQLI/AAAAAAAAA1E/OQwVFW7iycU/s400/Lakes-6.jpg" border="0" /></a> To burn off some of the copious amounts of calories consumed over Christmas, our kind friends the O'Neills asked us to come and spend some time with them in the Lakes. They suggested a bit of skiing which I couldn't, unfortunately, take part in due to the passenger I am now carrying that makes these things difficult. So they suggested a nice walk and some fun in the snow with a stop for tea and cake after.<br /><div><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/S0zEe_geaHI/AAAAAAAAA08/OtuX71aXHGo/s1600-h/Lakes-5.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425927687797368946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/S0zEe_geaHI/AAAAAAAAA08/OtuX71aXHGo/s400/Lakes-5.jpg" border="0" /></a> What I didn't realise was that the 'walk' was more akin to a hike. A three hour hike, up a hill, at 25 weeks pregnant with nary a toilet in sight...toileting issues (or lack thereof) aside we had a marvellous day. The weather was amazing...<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/S0zEfHiCTHI/AAAAAAAAA1M/gdvSiDPsa3s/s1600-h/Lakes-7.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425927689951399026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/S0zEfHiCTHI/AAAAAAAAA1M/gdvSiDPsa3s/s400/Lakes-7.jpg" border="0" /></a> The terrain challenging...<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/S0zE_3FfhoI/AAAAAAAAA1U/4wIfuLcHoNc/s1600-h/Lakes-10.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425928252472395394" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/S0zE_3FfhoI/AAAAAAAAA1U/4wIfuLcHoNc/s400/Lakes-10.jpg" border="0" /></a> ...enough to feel a sense of achievement at the top...<br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/S0zEeuqO_0I/AAAAAAAAA00/fHM2bVjW1mU/s1600-h/Lakes-3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425927683274899266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/S0zEeuqO_0I/AAAAAAAAA00/fHM2bVjW1mU/s400/Lakes-3.jpg" border="0" /></a> And the views were immense enough to warrant catalogue style posing...<br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/S0zEeduCqEI/AAAAAAAAA0s/TnpFbwo7JU0/s1600-h/Lakes-2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425927678727465026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/S0zEeduCqEI/AAAAAAAAA0s/TnpFbwo7JU0/s400/Lakes-2.jpg" border="0" /></a> But what goes up must come down and the descent was precarious and hilarious. I ended up deciding it was safer to scooch down on my bum, rather than risk slipping and falling. Anyway, I lifted my heels off the floor at the top for milliseconds and before I knew it was sliding high speed down the peak with no real means of stopping…all I could hear was t'husband screaming from the top of the hill ‘Who let the pregnant woman go first!?’ I eventually managed to anchor myself with a walking pole after sliding about 70 metres. Scare-larious…<br /><br />Due to high jinx above, I was made to follow t'husband down the hill as he slipped and slid in his inadequate for ice, snow and descent shoes. Mrs O'N and I tried hard to contain our giggles at his flailing arms and legs but failed. Was exhausted with laughing by the bottom…<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/S0zJcxNrEXI/AAAAAAAAA1k/CK4OlnxkshQ/s1600-h/Lakes-11.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425933147158810994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/S0zJcxNrEXI/AAAAAAAAA1k/CK4OlnxkshQ/s400/Lakes-11.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />A brilliant day...</div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7230583767861451301.post-516514211346637312010-01-08T05:13:00.001-08:002010-01-08T05:47:30.023-08:00Christmas in Pictures...<strong>There was snow to get us dreaming of a white Christmas... </strong><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/S0cv9PMGFwI/AAAAAAAAAy0/O_5ZsfdVJZ4/s1600-h/Sally-Xmas-2009-005.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424357005286840066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/S0cv9PMGFwI/AAAAAAAAAy0/O_5ZsfdVJZ4/s400/Sally-Xmas-2009-005.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><strong>Gifts!...<br /></strong><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/S0cxfNi4Y9I/AAAAAAAAA0E/_J5jFf-bpB8/s1600-h/Sally-Xmas-2009-048.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424358688472720338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/S0cxfNi4Y9I/AAAAAAAAA0E/_J5jFf-bpB8/s400/Sally-Xmas-2009-048.jpg" border="0" /></a><strong> Decorations...<br /></strong><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/S0cv8-4dTXI/AAAAAAAAAys/uWxHC6G5LlE/s1600-h/Sally-Xmas-2009-074.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424357000909507954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/S0cv8-4dTXI/AAAAAAAAAys/uWxHC6G5LlE/s400/Sally-Xmas-2009-074.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/S0cv8ltFJEI/AAAAAAAAAyk/FYxR2sFno9I/s1600-h/Sally-Xmas-2009-022.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424356994150900802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/S0cv8ltFJEI/AAAAAAAAAyk/FYxR2sFno9I/s400/Sally-Xmas-2009-022.jpg" border="0" /></a><strong> Preparations.</strong><br />Including cooking for the 5,000...<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/S0cv9QPaOyI/AAAAAAAAAzE/5itsAWWBDco/s1600-h/Sally-Xmas-2009-059.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424357005569178402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/S0cv9QPaOyI/AAAAAAAAAzE/5itsAWWBDco/s400/Sally-Xmas-2009-059.jpg" border="0" /></a> Seating the 5,000....<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/S0cv9QsLErI/AAAAAAAAAy8/PDtXRMQA2b8/s1600-h/Sally-Xmas-2009-024.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424357005689819826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/S0cv9QsLErI/AAAAAAAAAy8/PDtXRMQA2b8/s400/Sally-Xmas-2009-024.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><p><strong>Eating....</strong><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/S0cw7BoUvFI/AAAAAAAAAzc/_8gkMoAAFng/s1600-h/Sally-Xmas-2009-054.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424358066799033426" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/S0cw7BoUvFI/AAAAAAAAAzc/_8gkMoAAFng/s400/Sally-Xmas-2009-054.jpg" border="0" /></a> With family (the aforementioned 5,000)...<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/S0cw6tUTSCI/AAAAAAAAAzU/74BAxzL0VCg/s1600-h/Sally-Xmas-2009-036.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424358061346342946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/S0cw6tUTSCI/AAAAAAAAAzU/74BAxzL0VCg/s400/Sally-Xmas-2009-036.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/S0cw6SDRfrI/AAAAAAAAAzM/bVPUpQpKXCw/s1600-h/Sally-Xmas-2009-033.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424358054027165362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/S0cw6SDRfrI/AAAAAAAAAzM/bVPUpQpKXCw/s400/Sally-Xmas-2009-033.jpg" border="0" /></a> <strong>Drinking...<br /></strong>With friends...<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/S0cxemsBfxI/AAAAAAAAAzs/gcwUFtPscN4/s1600-h/Sally-Xmas-2009-064.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424358678042083090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/S0cxemsBfxI/AAAAAAAAAzs/gcwUFtPscN4/s400/Sally-Xmas-2009-064.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/S0cxeijQeSI/AAAAAAAAAz0/iZ1y01W4Xp8/s1600-h/Sally-Xmas-2009-063.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424358676931574050" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/S0cxeijQeSI/AAAAAAAAAz0/iZ1y01W4Xp8/s400/Sally-Xmas-2009-063.jpg" border="0" /></a><strong>Visits...from family....</strong><br />After this young lady below visited... </p><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/S0cw7eyL6wI/AAAAAAAAAzk/wXHRVQU2qq8/s1600-h/Sally-Xmas-2009-055.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424358074625026818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/S0cw7eyL6wI/AAAAAAAAAzk/wXHRVQU2qq8/s400/Sally-Xmas-2009-055.jpg" border="0" /></a> ..and wore an apron so charmingly, helped to not only cook breakfast but also clear away afterwards and paid due attention to the man of the house t'husband decided he wants a girl...!<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/S0c1ySeUo-I/AAAAAAAAA0c/n-YyTQbUSXw/s1600-h/Sally-Xmas-2009-052.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424363414259803106" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/S0c1ySeUo-I/AAAAAAAAA0c/n-YyTQbUSXw/s400/Sally-Xmas-2009-052.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><strong>There were also visits from friends and friends' young families...</strong><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/S0cxewK_-MI/AAAAAAAAAz8/57gauJfllAM/s1600-h/Sally-Xmas-2009-068.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424358680587925698" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/S0cxewK_-MI/AAAAAAAAAz8/57gauJfllAM/s400/Sally-Xmas-2009-068.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><strong>All rounded off with another flurry of snow...</strong><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/S0c0HuqDkHI/AAAAAAAAA0U/X4yhL_TJQ54/s1600-h/Sally-Xmas-2009-085.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424361583579205746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/S0c0HuqDkHI/AAAAAAAAA0U/X4yhL_TJQ54/s400/Sally-Xmas-2009-085.jpg" border="0" /></a>A really, really lovely Christmas and thoughts now turn to what the new year will bring...good times!<br /></div><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/S0c2muIF4VI/AAAAAAAAA0k/ytcmplr1PIg/s1600-h/Sally-Xmas-2009-009.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424364315035951442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/S0c2muIF4VI/AAAAAAAAA0k/ytcmplr1PIg/s400/Sally-Xmas-2009-009.jpg" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7230583767861451301.post-80312599551001125532009-12-23T02:47:00.000-08:002009-12-23T03:33:44.725-08:00Christmas House...<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/SzH1g4FXkpI/AAAAAAAAAx4/FF6m0Q_xQCA/s1600-h/Sally-Dec-2009-001.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418381771862938258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/SzH1g4FXkpI/AAAAAAAAAx4/FF6m0Q_xQCA/s400/Sally-Dec-2009-001.jpg" border="0" /></a> Although, this is not the first time that we have seen The Money Pit blanketed in snow, it is the first time since it has felt like a proper home. The weekend we moved in, back in Feb, it was snowing too. That was a fun weekend! We had spent 3 days packing and shifting our wordly goods, and another week or so making good Eliza, and were leaving our warm, snug little house that we had made home over the last 10 years, for this monster. It was cold, actually it was freezing, empty and <a href="http://dreamhousemoneypit.blogspot.com/2009/03/work-begins.html">the size of the task ahead was a little intimidating</a>. However, by Sunday evening we were in. The bed was made, the fire lit and the first of a few warming whiskies had been drunk and I was able to appreciate why we liked this monster so much.<br /><br />The move would not have happened without a mammoth effort from t'husband and an intrepid bunch of helpers that I am still beyond grateful to, who not only did all of the heavy lifting but also had to prevent t'husband's wife from going into complete meltdown at numerous stages of the move. Thanks Dave, Graham and Rob - you all totally rock.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/SzH1hx0kTrI/AAAAAAAAAyI/GOJhUUuh-b8/s1600-h/Sally-Dec-2009-004.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418381787361726130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/SzH1hx0kTrI/AAAAAAAAAyI/GOJhUUuh-b8/s400/Sally-Dec-2009-004.jpg" border="0" /></a> Just under a year down the line, although the task is still large, the Money Pit (despite living up to its name) , is no longer a monster. Even though we are still in a bit of a pickle, shopping for pretty stuffs (and even some essential stuffs) seems still to be a long way off, we couldn't be happier. I mean how could you not love a place that looks like this... </div><br /><div><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/SzH1hc7w29I/AAAAAAAAAyA/HTkPGwxC2rs/s1600-h/Sally-Dec-2009-003.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418381781754764242" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/SzH1hc7w29I/AAAAAAAAAyA/HTkPGwxC2rs/s400/Sally-Dec-2009-003.jpg" border="0" /></a> I wonder what 2010 will bring for The Money Pit. I suspect the projects may be smaller but will also, in their own way, be significant due to that other project we are also working on. You know the one that looks something like this....<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/SzH-vjnHm9I/AAAAAAAAAyY/vGPLF8gtUNU/s1600-h/Scan+20+weeks+2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418391919670041554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 298px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/SzH-vjnHm9I/AAAAAAAAAyY/vGPLF8gtUNU/s400/Scan+20+weeks+2.jpg" border="0" /></a>Expect a host of nursery pictures in the new year. 2010 is going to be exciting....<br /><div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7230583767861451301.post-50337997856984889212009-12-22T02:57:00.001-08:002009-12-22T03:12:25.209-08:00It's (nearly) Christmas....<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/SzCm0zByI1I/AAAAAAAAAxg/Dw8SBYLQ4GY/s1600-h/Sally-3-Dec-2009.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418013777707803474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/SzCm0zByI1I/AAAAAAAAAxg/Dw8SBYLQ4GY/s400/Sally-3-Dec-2009.jpg" border="0" /></a> What with all the snow, a stack of wood in the cellar for the cold nights, (non-alcoholic) mulled wine ready for mulling and the tree decorated it is feeling very festive at The Money Pit. I am lucky enough to have two trees this year which is an extravaganse in these lean times but we are entertaining a bit over the festive season and I am hoping that pretty trees will detract from the lack of carpets and soft furnishings and the chilliness...<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/SzCm1Bwsz2I/AAAAAAAAAxo/I-jiOoHj7UY/s1600-h/Sally-Dec-2009.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418013781662682978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/SzCm1Bwsz2I/AAAAAAAAAxo/I-jiOoHj7UY/s400/Sally-Dec-2009.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />There's something about the warm glow of of fairy lights that makes a home feel cozy even when it is -5 outside. I was watching Nigella's Christmas last night and she goes fairy light crazy but with a load of fairy lights you need little other adornment. Can't deck my halls with fairy lights, but I am going to buy up a large supply of candles.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/SzCm0nKfGrI/AAAAAAAAAxY/OdwBps8gXxo/s1600-h/Sally-2-Dec-2009.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418013774523079346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/SzCm0nKfGrI/AAAAAAAAAxY/OdwBps8gXxo/s400/Sally-2-Dec-2009.jpg" border="0" /></a> I just hope I can make it home tonight to enjoy it all. It's really coming down out there...<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/SzCoi_Gw_jI/AAAAAAAAAxw/mmdrhZApssY/s1600-h/Sally-Misc-2009-017.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418015670735535666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 344px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/SzCoi_Gw_jI/AAAAAAAAAxw/mmdrhZApssY/s400/Sally-Misc-2009-017.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7230583767861451301.post-13221207694963784842009-11-20T10:29:00.000-08:002009-11-20T10:35:18.078-08:00Festive coveting...<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/SwbgZ7dNW0I/AAAAAAAAAxI/CLyIIj5fSts/s1600/page.0q414s0v251g9k2l.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406255138766412610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/SwbgZ7dNW0I/AAAAAAAAAxI/CLyIIj5fSts/s400/page.0q414s0v251g9k2l.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.coxandcox.co.uk/products/pretty-acorn-decorations/in/festive-season">These...<br /></a><div><a href="http://www.notonthehighstreet.com/penelopetom/product/metal-birds"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406255140478375554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/SwbgaB1X1oI/AAAAAAAAAxQ/6BC3cFgk_OI/s400/page.0q7g28756v9o6c6a.jpg" border="0" /> These...</a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://www.coxandcox.co.uk/products/snowflake-stickers/in/festive-season?utm_source=email&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Christmas_wrapped_up_19.11.09"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406254864405319810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/SwbgJ9YbUII/AAAAAAAAAxA/oFA44PKBieY/s400/page.0q414s0r7j125a60.jpg" border="0" /> These...</a></div><div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7230583767861451301.post-20534716776913221132009-11-04T07:56:00.001-08:002009-11-04T08:26:47.775-08:00Coveting...I have long known about Anthropologie from reading US design and interiors blogs and was sad that they didn't have a store in the UK (although you can order some things online). They have now opened a store in that London (oh please come to Manchester) which seemed a bit of a trek to go shopping even though I was sure that it would be my kind of place...<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/SvGq6HgfPjI/AAAAAAAAAw0/bYrTilWAgsA/s1600-h/anthropologie-london.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400285343618383410" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/SvGq6HgfPjI/AAAAAAAAAw0/bYrTilWAgsA/s400/anthropologie-london.jpg" border="0" /></a>...London here I come!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7230583767861451301.post-42475413084956686352009-11-04T07:50:00.000-08:002009-11-04T07:55:57.412-08:00Walls...<div>A while ago my mum went through her linen closet and gave me some lovely linen sheets as well as a few crochet doily kind of things. Not sure of their name (anyone?) They are very pretty and intricate but I wasn't sure about using them on tables etc as they might look a bit twee.</div><div> </div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/SvGjm-8K_DI/AAAAAAAAAws/0eKXxVi8Y80/s1600-h/rubbishwithoutyouLSHR.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400277318319668274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 268px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/SvGjm-8K_DI/AAAAAAAAAws/0eKXxVi8Y80/s400/rubbishwithoutyouLSHR.jpg" border="0" /></a>I have also been looking for some artwork for our main bathroom (it is a monochromatic scheme) so when I saw this, it gave me the answer to both of these questions. Now I just need to make a trip to Ikea for some inexpensive frames, buy some black paper and I will have some new 'art'. A creative project that is within even my limited capabilities...Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7230583767861451301.post-30902471576846113722009-10-28T10:17:00.000-07:002009-11-02T10:04:05.349-08:00If I wasn't already married...<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/SunKT8sDrsI/AAAAAAAAAwc/FTFeEv-dTvo/s1600-h/home_05.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398068072437493442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 163px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/SunKT8sDrsI/AAAAAAAAAwc/FTFeEv-dTvo/s400/home_05.jpg" border="0" /></a> ...then I would love to live with <a href="http://www.paleandinteresting.com/">these people</a>. They like so many of the same things that I do. I love the framed tea labels, peonies, welsh blankets, vintage caravans, galvanised tubs for planting...<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/Suh9HRoRKuI/AAAAAAAAAwU/llbz96_EwyE/s1600-h/picture-24.png"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397701717348395746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/Suh9HRoRKuI/AAAAAAAAAwU/llbz96_EwyE/s400/picture-24.png" border="0" /></a> Dressers, tea cups, leather chairs and vintage looking linens...<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/Suh9HFgbDUI/AAAAAAAAAwM/-bRu6s9Zs4A/s1600-h/picture-22.png"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397701714094263618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/Suh9HFgbDUI/AAAAAAAAAwM/-bRu6s9Zs4A/s400/picture-22.png" border="0" /></a><br />And I suppose if I was married to <a href="http://www.paleandinteresting.com/">those people</a>, I might have lots of lovely things but I guess I wouldn't have this, the loveliest of things...<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/Su8eUMG_0uI/AAAAAAAAAwk/41wpwiusMtk/s1600-h/Scan+12+weeks+2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399567810437305058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 318px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/Su8eUMG_0uI/AAAAAAAAAwk/41wpwiusMtk/s400/Scan+12+weeks+2.jpg" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7230583767861451301.post-19164653346687884502009-10-08T08:52:00.000-07:002009-10-08T09:43:04.925-07:00How to be a domestic goddess when you haven't a kitchen...<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/Ss4MTk79_DI/AAAAAAAAAt0/ygN1F5eIfos/s1600-h/Kitchen-cupboards.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390259334481312818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/Ss4MTk79_DI/AAAAAAAAAt0/ygN1F5eIfos/s400/Kitchen-cupboards.jpg" border="0" /></a>I have been thinking a fair bit about kitchens. Mainly as ours is more than a little make shift. We have some nice built in cupboards (see above right) and of course a dishwasher (I am officially in love with the dishwasher and do not know how I lived for so long without one in my life) but the remainder of the kitchen is more than a little makeshift. We have a sink unit that was left (uninstalled) by the previous owners mortgage company. I suspect with a nod to making the house 'habitable', a fridge and freezer kindly sold to us at a bargain price by a friend (hi Gem) which is covered with a random piece of worktop which we found in the garage and holds the toaster, microwave and more importantly the coffee machine. We did splash out on the fancy new cooker above (hello handsome) as I refused to cook on a camping stove for many a month. And then the same lovely lady that sold us the fridge and freezer also donated a cupboard and dining table (for free!!) that make up the rest.<br /><br />It's funny really as for years my mum had a mismatch of fitted cupboards, a dresser and a random cupboard unit completed with a dining table and a muddle of chairs so I think I am definitely from my mothers school of kitchen design. Eventually though she managed to get some new doors and smartened it all up with a lick of paint, new handles and a nice worktop and it is lovely and has always been warm and welcoming and sociable. My aunt always talks fondly of dancing in my mum's kitchen on New Year's Eves and I love the thought of that in ours....<br /><br />Anyway, the central heating 'project' gobbled up the kitchen budget as quickly as it gobbles gas. Well according to t'husband it must gobble gas as despite it being a lot cooler now, we are still not allowed the heating on. I have to make do with lighting the fire which is lovely if you don't leave the living room and when I do, I have to carry a hot water bottle with me like a purse. Anyhoo, the lack of any cash for a kitchen only makes me covet them more. Here are a few of my faves.<br /><br />Love the pantry cupboard and that it's not too 'slick'<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/Ss4P9RV-MKI/AAAAAAAAAuc/rswfj98XEpw/s1600-h/Kitchen+armoire.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390263349311058082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 306px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 306px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/Ss4P9RV-MKI/AAAAAAAAAuc/rswfj98XEpw/s400/Kitchen+armoire.bmp" border="0" /></a> Love that the cupboards and the table were obviously something else before they were a kitchen and look well used...oh and the sink and the tiles...<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/Ss4P9FPrgAI/AAAAAAAAAuU/susxQfyx21g/s1600-h/3353507200_6aabf37f2d_o.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390263346063441922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 304px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/Ss4P9FPrgAI/AAAAAAAAAuU/susxQfyx21g/s400/3353507200_6aabf37f2d_o.jpg" border="0" /></a> Love the open shelves (cake stands!) but I think t'husband wants to keep everything low level...<br /><div><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/Ss4P8VFaWRI/AAAAAAAAAuE/iODGnWGL6rM/s1600-h/{812AD6C9-4583-40BD-BB19-55C582E06997}.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390263333135472914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 313px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/Ss4P8VFaWRI/AAAAAAAAAuE/iODGnWGL6rM/s400/%7B812AD6C9-4583-40BD-BB19-55C582E06997%7D.jpg" border="0" /></a>There seems to be 'a look' developing....<br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/Ss4P79mRY0I/AAAAAAAAAt8/ECHHlg-1eMY/s1600-h/{011F5D70-0CEE-4306-9C63-A52D5D2522BE}.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390263326830846786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 313px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/Ss4P79mRY0I/AAAAAAAAAt8/ECHHlg-1eMY/s400/%7B011F5D70-0CEE-4306-9C63-A52D5D2522BE%7D.jpg" border="0" /></a> Love the dresser and the lights and the chairs...<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/Ss4QzuOZq1I/AAAAAAAAAvE/s_YqhyRGjh0/s1600-h/untitled.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390264284776868690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 306px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 306px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/Ss4QzuOZq1I/AAAAAAAAAvE/s_YqhyRGjh0/s400/untitled.bmp" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/Ss4QzC6bgxI/AAAAAAAAAu8/vICqiTHE6Fs/s1600-h/Kitchen+lights.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390264273150378770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/Ss4QzC6bgxI/AAAAAAAAAu8/vICqiTHE6Fs/s400/Kitchen+lights.bmp" border="0" /></a> We have a clock like this so scoorrrre...<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/Ss4QyyV5jYI/AAAAAAAAAu0/s12xouNwUII/s1600-h/Kitchen+island.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390264268702190978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 306px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 306px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/Ss4QyyV5jYI/AAAAAAAAAu0/s12xouNwUII/s400/Kitchen+island.bmp" border="0" /></a> Don't think we'll get the dog but still love it...<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/Ss4QydgGPgI/AAAAAAAAAus/_3TWzPAdaKQ/s1600-h/Kitchen+cupboards.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390264263107821058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 306px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 306px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/Ss4QydgGPgI/AAAAAAAAAus/_3TWzPAdaKQ/s400/Kitchen+cupboards.bmp" border="0" /></a> Lovely table and a muddle of chairs..more nice lights...another great pantry cupboard...<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/Ss4RahvnVwI/AAAAAAAAAvs/RKW3i6ZfNQI/s1600-h/Kitchen+table.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390264951441413890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 306px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 306px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/Ss4RahvnVwI/AAAAAAAAAvs/RKW3i6ZfNQI/s400/Kitchen+table.bmp" border="0" /></a>Seems I am branching as I love grey painted units too (note to self: F&B Charleston Gray) and the work station / free standing counter.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/Ss4RaJrpgAI/AAAAAAAAAvk/bW9fJIPPurY/s1600-h/Kitchen+-+F&B+Charleston+Gray.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390264944982327298" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 306px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 306px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/Ss4RaJrpgAI/AAAAAAAAAvk/bW9fJIPPurY/s400/Kitchen+-+F%26B+Charleston+Gray.bmp" border="0" /></a>Despite the largely monochromatic schemes of the kitchens above am also drawn to the bright colours below. All removable items so I guess I can add these if I feel the need for colour...<br /><br />Oh sinky sink, please be mine...<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/Ss4VhTGobCI/AAAAAAAAAv0/rHrYgaBdkaI/s1600-h/Sink.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390269465817017378" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 306px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 306px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/Ss4VhTGobCI/AAAAAAAAAv0/rHrYgaBdkaI/s400/Sink.bmp" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/Ss4RZ5durcI/AAAAAAAAAvc/j5CxEhsbJdU/s1600-h/untitled.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390264940628979138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 306px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 306px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/Ss4RZ5durcI/AAAAAAAAAvc/j5CxEhsbJdU/s400/untitled.bmp" border="0" /></a> A coffee altar....nuff said and also stainless draws....<br /></div></div></div><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/Ss4RZlL7HEI/AAAAAAAAAvU/gdOx3QNurmo/s1600-h/Chrissie+Probert+Jones+2.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390264935185587266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 306px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 306px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/Ss4RZlL7HEI/AAAAAAAAAvU/gdOx3QNurmo/s400/Chrissie+Probert+Jones+2.bmp" border="0" /></a>Pretty much all pictures from <a href="http://www.livingetc.com/showcase/houses/Modern_rustic_Sussex_cottage_article_289802.html?slide=11&thumbStart=10#gallery">Livingetc<br /></a><br /><div>Next steps. Purchase lottery ticket and/or find (free) cupboards that would suffice and make friends with a carpenter willing to work for free...easy!</div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7230583767861451301.post-42293649403380592462009-10-05T09:10:00.001-07:002009-10-05T09:12:12.099-07:00Why the DIY might not be progressing.....as quickly as it should. We have got caught up in this again a few weekend over the past few weeks.<br /><br /><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=" width="400" height="320" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" server="vimeo.com&show_title=" show_byline="1&show_portrait=" color="&fullscreen=" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed> <p><a href="http://vimeo.com/6782088">Hope Series 2 Lee Quarry - Race 2 - Sept 2009</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/richdrake75">Richard Drake</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.</p><p>But despite helping organise and attend the races we have a few things done at The Moneypit which I hope to blog about soon. Just need to recharge the camera....</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7230583767861451301.post-17338950072119268592009-09-25T10:29:00.001-07:002009-09-25T10:38:00.509-07:00Coveting....<div align="left"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/Srz-CEJGB-I/AAAAAAAAAts/lr0wChko2JQ/s1600-h/Home+Shopping+Spy.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385458565853349858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 248px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/Srz-CEJGB-I/AAAAAAAAAts/lr0wChko2JQ/s400/Home+Shopping+Spy.jpg" border="0" /></a>Found on <a href="http://homeshoppingspy.wordpress.com/">HomeShoppingSpy</a> - where else!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.madebygirl.com/">The person who designed this</a> obviously thinks very much like me! But I think coffee might come first for me. Perhaps I could place it above the aforementioned fireplace. I already have the typewriter (thanks to Aly and Jolly - how are you guys? Long time no see).<br /><br />The teapot (or is it a coffee pot?) is very similar to one that my mum's Thai friend Pom used to use when we would visit her as children and she would make us delicious (and I thought very exotic) Earl Gray tea from leaves not bags. Her house always smelt delicious. And being from abroad and probably not used to the British weather she had wonderful heated, parquee floors which to a chilly individual like myself were amazing and obviously way ahead of their time compared to normal UK houses.<br /><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7230583767861451301.post-31355462012466696612009-09-25T10:08:00.001-07:002009-09-25T10:21:54.061-07:00Fireplaces...<div align="left"><a href="http://www.livingetc.com/"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385454436412665746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/Srz6Rsxtr5I/AAAAAAAAAtc/tB5W0qFdo9o/s400/Fireplace.bmp" border="0" /><span style="font-size:78%;"> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Livingetc</span></span></a></div><p align="left">A fair few <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">fireplaces</span> were taken from Church View when it was repossessed so we are trying to put them back. I am now on the hunt to find something to fill the hole that remains in one of the spare bedrooms. Until we have that in place we can't really move on in here. Here (and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">t'husband</span> take note should you be <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">ebaying</span>) are a few of my faves...<br /></p><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/Srz5w-J5pFI/AAAAAAAAAtM/kY2W9O82DZY/s1600-h/Fireplace2.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385453874141832274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 306px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 306px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/Srz5w-J5pFI/AAAAAAAAAtM/kY2W9O82DZY/s400/Fireplace2.bmp" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a><a href="http://www.livingetc.com/"><span style="font-size:78%;">Also <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Livingetc</span></span><br /></a><br /></p><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/Srz5wSZ7sOI/AAAAAAAAAtE/jzh964iQ7bs/s1600-h/cat-fireplaces.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385453862397915362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/Srz5wSZ7sOI/AAAAAAAAAtE/jzh964iQ7bs/s400/cat-fireplaces.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/Srz5wER7MxI/AAAAAAAAAs8/4ZqJ4A4nrbY/s1600-h/114.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385453858606232338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 313px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/Srz5wER7MxI/AAAAAAAAAs8/4ZqJ4A4nrbY/s400/114.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/Srz5v9TetcI/AAAAAAAAAs0/KHr4-fu3xG8/s1600-h/{471EC519-F599-45F7-8790-83B9AABBE258}.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385453856733705666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 377px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/Srz5v9TetcI/AAAAAAAAAs0/KHr4-fu3xG8/s400/%7B471EC519-F599-45F7-8790-83B9AABBE258%7D.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/Srz631d6BzI/AAAAAAAAAtk/zHFakKFHdA8/s1600-h/mantel.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385455091580536626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 385px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/Srz631d6BzI/AAAAAAAAAtk/zHFakKFHdA8/s400/mantel.jpg" border="0" /></a> I also love the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">bowback</span> chair above...<br /><br /><div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/Srz5xSe0OCI/AAAAAAAAAtU/hPl26oZthd8/s1600-h/cotham_cast_iron_fireplace.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385453879598266402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 355px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 392px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/Srz5xSe0OCI/AAAAAAAAAtU/hPl26oZthd8/s400/cotham_cast_iron_fireplace.jpg" border="0" /></a> Seems with the exception of the last one, all we really need is a mantle, maybe a fire basket and a builder willing to take on the job.<br /><div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7230583767861451301.post-61343115680626303722009-09-23T10:59:00.000-07:002009-09-23T11:01:40.416-07:00Love on a post-it...Just because...<br /><br /><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/TsKghhQ41FM&hl=" fs="1&" width="560" height="340" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always"></embed>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7230583767861451301.post-83665708880780361432009-09-18T10:03:00.000-07:002009-09-18T10:47:51.334-07:00The Cuddleston Wedding Extravaganza - part 2So after a few days relaxing, eating, gently familiarising ourselves with our surroundings, eating and getting to know one another but mainly eating before we knew it it was the night before the wedding. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Abi's</span> brother and dad with the help of some of the other chaps prepared all the food for a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">pre</span>-wedding BBQ. How Italian is this?<br /><br /><p><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/SrO-oBTepkI/AAAAAAAAAsk/Ulw_z_cQUFY/s1600-h/Abi-Wedding-062.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382855574392055362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/SrO-oBTepkI/AAAAAAAAAsk/Ulw_z_cQUFY/s400/Abi-Wedding-062.jpg" border="0" /></a> I was too busy eating to take photos of the food but believe me it was so, so good.. fresh fish, salads of various sorts, meats, and some rather hot roasted chillies <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">t'husband</span> insisted on eating and then regretted all followed by <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">gelato</span> of course. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Anyhoo</span>, here are the lovely couple still looking mighty relaxed the evening before. I think <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Abi</span> looks super happy, mainly, as she has persuaded me to spend the last night as a single women with her and that is a treat for anyone!<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/SrO-ny5k9yI/AAAAAAAAAsc/2TQINNCJ4YA/s1600-h/Abi-Wedding-071.jpg"><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382855570525320994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/SrO-ny5k9yI/AAAAAAAAAsc/2TQINNCJ4YA/s400/Abi-Wedding-071.jpg" border="0" /></a> Anyway, the day of the wedding dawned bright and beautiful with Abs throwing back the shutters and shouting 'It's my wedding day' rather too loudly for the early hour. This declaration of extreme importance was swiftly followed by the equally important 'Is it too early to open the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Haribo</span>?"<br /><br />Matt had taken a more practical (and perhaps sensible) <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">approach</span> to dealing with wedding morning jitters. Instead of calming his nerves with a hit of sugar (!), he decided to wash the wedding car. The sight of something so beautiful clothed in white must have been a trial run for the day ahead...here she is. It makes you misty eyed doesn't it?</p><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/SrO9waAUeeI/AAAAAAAAAqs/wILZxZuvo5U/s1600-h/Abi-Wedding-214.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382854618949908962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/SrO9waAUeeI/AAAAAAAAAqs/wILZxZuvo5U/s400/Abi-Wedding-214.jpg" border="0" /></a> And <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Abi</span> didn't scrub up too badly either! The headgear...<br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/SrO-ZC2_FWI/AAAAAAAAAsU/mbSp-FYzIuA/s1600-h/Abi-Wedding-089.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382855317111379298" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/SrO-ZC2_FWI/AAAAAAAAAsU/mbSp-FYzIuA/s400/Abi-Wedding-089.jpg" border="0" /></a> The flowers....<br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/SrO-YkjlUbI/AAAAAAAAAsM/BJVnKYF1o7c/s1600-h/Abi-Wedding-094.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382855308976935346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/SrO-YkjlUbI/AAAAAAAAAsM/BJVnKYF1o7c/s400/Abi-Wedding-094.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/SrO-XG76D3I/AAAAAAAAAr0/W2MzjQfssQU/s1600-h/Abi-Wedding-135.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382855283846025074" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/SrO-XG76D3I/AAAAAAAAAr0/W2MzjQfssQU/s400/Abi-Wedding-135.jpg" border="0" /></a> The boys in all their handsomeness...anyone else thinking that the Italians aren't the only ones with natty dress sense...<br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/SrO-X8bMuOI/AAAAAAAAAsE/kMHzw6uLSmY/s1600-h/Abi-Wedding-099.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382855298204350690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/SrO-X8bMuOI/AAAAAAAAAsE/kMHzw6uLSmY/s400/Abi-Wedding-099.jpg" border="0" /></a> The calm before the storm....so lovely....(thanks for this one Nick)<br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/SrO9wGAXPPI/AAAAAAAAAqk/iiaz2a7UFDg/s1600-h/Calm-before-the-storm[1].jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382854613581380850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/SrO9wGAXPPI/AAAAAAAAAqk/iiaz2a7UFDg/s400/Calm-before-the-storm%5B1%5D.jpg" border="0" /></a> The proud and also very lovely mum...<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/SrPCdsempFI/AAAAAAAAAss/fa4wW6SgK0Q/s1600-h/Abi-Wedding-095.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382859795049391186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/SrPCdsempFI/AAAAAAAAAss/fa4wW6SgK0Q/s400/Abi-Wedding-095.jpg" border="0" /></a> And then it was off the the ceremony. Twas a bit of a worry as we got separated from the convoy and only had very limited directions and even more limited grasp of the lingo and I am sure Matt could really have done without our <em>'we're lost, please help guide us through the town that you are not much more familiar with than us'</em> type calls but he responded in his usual helpful fashion and we got there just in time. The vows were lovely. The Italians lay out the responsibilities of marriage quite wonderfully. I will try and get a copy...</div><div> </div><div></div><div></div><div>Anyway, despite the ceremony being in Italian (they had a lovely translator) and it being the new Mayor's first wedding all went swimmingly. And after there were the congratulations...<br /><br /><div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/SrO-Gxx20NI/AAAAAAAAArs/6dXm9nGhF3U/s1600-h/Abi-Wedding-146.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382855003288817874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/SrO-Gxx20NI/AAAAAAAAArs/6dXm9nGhF3U/s400/Abi-Wedding-146.jpg" border="0" /></a> The 'just married' photos overlooking the square...<br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/SrO-Go8uuCI/AAAAAAAAArk/8989t2c1_HA/s1600-h/Abi-Wedding-153.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382855000918505506" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 316px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/SrO-Go8uuCI/AAAAAAAAArk/8989t2c1_HA/s400/Abi-Wedding-153.jpg" border="0" /></a> The procession through the streets to find <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">prosecco</span> for some, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">gelato</span> for others...<br /><br /><div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/SrO-F0ww07I/AAAAAAAAArU/a3UGTkWfGOQ/s1600-h/Abi-Wedding-185.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382854986909668274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/SrO-F0ww07I/AAAAAAAAArU/a3UGTkWfGOQ/s400/Abi-Wedding-185.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Then back to the villa for feasting...<br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/SrO9w6LLn9I/AAAAAAAAAq0/xRuGLu66QFw/s1600-h/Abi-Wedding-200.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382854627585400786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/SrO9w6LLn9I/AAAAAAAAAq0/xRuGLu66QFw/s400/Abi-Wedding-200.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />And much love and romance...<br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/SrO-FqM5cUI/AAAAAAAAArM/K3_r6LaB6pk/s1600-h/Abi-Wedding-187.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382854984074883394" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/SrO-FqM5cUI/AAAAAAAAArM/K3_r6LaB6pk/s400/Abi-Wedding-187.jpg" border="0" /></a> Congratulations you guys, it was all so beautiful....<br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/SrO9xlCnbuI/AAAAAAAAArE/VrS5zye481g/s1600-h/Abi-Wedding-188.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382854639092199138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/SrO9xlCnbuI/AAAAAAAAArE/VrS5zye481g/s400/Abi-Wedding-188.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/SrO9xWaZQAI/AAAAAAAAAq8/9nHv4rlZpfY/s1600-h/Abi-Wedding-190.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382854635165401090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/SrO9xWaZQAI/AAAAAAAAAq8/9nHv4rlZpfY/s400/Abi-Wedding-190.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7230583767861451301.post-37714513460791007682009-09-11T06:28:00.000-07:002009-09-11T09:08:54.957-07:00The Cuddleston Wedding Nuptials Extravaganza - part 1You may remember me mentioning on a few occasions that we were off to a wedding in Italy. We were away last week and then this week has been a bit busy so no time for blogging unfortunately but I have meaning to post something about the wedding ever since we returned as it was a truly wonderful, warm and memorable week, full of absolute loveliness in every single respect.<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Abi</span> has wanted to wed for as long as I have known her which is now coming up to 22 years, in fact I think it is 22 years this month and therefore the extent of her wedding celebrations were directly in proportion to the amount of time she has longed for them to happen with a full week long series starting with the Italian leg.<br /><br /><strong>The setting</strong><br />This gorgeous place near Alba about an hour from Turin....<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/SqpRIO_6uwI/AAAAAAAAAp0/l6fQeYM9iFk/s1600-h/Abi-Wedding-040.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380201906754468610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/SqpRIO_6uwI/AAAAAAAAAp0/l6fQeYM9iFk/s400/Abi-Wedding-040.jpg" border="0" /></a> ...surrounded by wonderful rolling countryside....<br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/SqpQzflW3oI/AAAAAAAAAo0/stl0bJAEKVM/s1600-h/Abi-Wedding-003.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380201550429216386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/SqpQzflW3oI/AAAAAAAAAo0/stl0bJAEKVM/s400/Abi-Wedding-003.jpg" border="0" /></a> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380201898350337122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/SqpRHvsN3GI/AAAAAAAAAps/WcjfwuvSecQ/s400/Abi-Wedding-033.jpg" border="0" />Beautiful sunflowers...<br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/SqpRHRbH8rI/AAAAAAAAApk/L-l_Hz76t7g/s1600-h/Abi-Wedding-028.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380201890225582770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/SqpRHRbH8rI/AAAAAAAAApk/L-l_Hz76t7g/s400/Abi-Wedding-028.jpg" border="0" /></a> And a hilltop pool, overlooking the aforementioned rolling countryside...<br /><br /></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380201552488184162" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/SqpQznQQOWI/AAAAAAAAAo8/7D6C5OvuQh8/s400/Abi-Wedding-006.jpg" border="0" /><br /><strong>The guests...</strong></div><div>The beautiful couple. Bonny bride and ..er.. groom. Looking good <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Cullum</span>!<br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/SqpRHLszl3I/AAAAAAAAApc/jc-sdq-D4HE/s1600-h/Abi-Wedding-020.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380201888689133426" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/SqpRHLszl3I/AAAAAAAAApc/jc-sdq-D4HE/s400/Abi-Wedding-020.jpg" border="0" /></a> The Mother of the Bride. Apparently, after the bride the second most important person there and equally beauteous...<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/SqpRqH8-iCI/AAAAAAAAAqc/26g5giipnYI/s1600-h/Abi-Wedding-049.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380202488978638882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/SqpRqH8-iCI/AAAAAAAAAqc/26g5giipnYI/s400/Abi-Wedding-049.jpg" border="0" /></a> And the proud father of the bride and the event 'sponsor' whose generosity knows no bounds. Here he is preparing his speech and delivering it to no one in particular...either that or he has just got the bill!<br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380202473440134226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/SqpRpOETxFI/AAAAAAAAAqE/OXvS2eQTnYE/s400/Abi-Wedding-048.jpg" border="0" /></div><div>Here is the photographer, nose excavator and best man...<br /></div><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380201568743665954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/SqpQ0jz3MSI/AAAAAAAAApM/3dFfkSlxYEc/s400/Abi-Wedding-014.jpg" border="0" />...which I guess makes this the 2<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">nd</span> best man...only <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">kidding</span> Rich...<br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/SqpRptcezWI/AAAAAAAAAqU/KCttSTkBQ6A/s1600-h/Abi-Wedding-055.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380202481863019874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/SqpRptcezWI/AAAAAAAAAqU/KCttSTkBQ6A/s400/Abi-Wedding-055.jpg" border="0" /></a> And this little lady very nearly diverted all the attention away from the bride... (and baby Rosie was a hit too!)<br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/SqpRpRg2qeI/AAAAAAAAAqM/Ml5Pr43i0Ko/s1600-h/Abi-Wedding-051.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380202474365168098" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/SqpRpRg2qeI/AAAAAAAAAqM/Ml5Pr43i0Ko/s400/Abi-Wedding-051.jpg" border="0" /></a>Like with the wedding I might eek out the post-wedding posts over a week so stay tuned for The Dress, The Flowers, The Marriage, The Reception and much, much more...<br /><div><div><div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7230583767861451301.post-80110302133621227582009-08-26T08:34:00.000-07:002009-08-26T08:56:31.699-07:00Walks...Okay not strictly house stuff today but it has been a little mad recently. On top of doing house stuff, socialising, tweeting and blogging for work as well as tweeting and trying to promote the next Series of <a href="http://www.brownbacksracing.co.uk/">this</a>, I have also been trying to get fit. I may have mentioend I have <a href="http://dreamhousemoneypit.blogspot.com/2009/06/cakes-fizz-curry-fizz-and-much-much-fun.html">a wedding</a> to go to and I am a bridesmaid - the only bridesmaid actually!<br /><br />A few weekends ago I tried on the dress to make sure it still fitted me. I was aware that my exercise programme was on 'recovery' rather than 'fat burning' but I seem to have gained a few lbs and the dress, well, it was a little snug. Plus, the wedding is in Italy and we have a pool so there is the bikini wearing thing. So the last few weeks, I have also been trying to get fit. As my knees no longer seem to be up for running and my will power is not up for biking (plus I have a puncture and any excuse is a good one) I am trying to get out and do some walking.<br /><br />To pass the time, I listen to music and recently have been taking my camera as there are all sorts of nice things to photograph. Despite the greyness of the day outside today, I hadn't noticed we seem to have segued into autumn.<br /><br />The walk up the rake and the tower shrouded in the typical North West condition...<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/SpVWgBspVjI/AAAAAAAAAnQ/TwjwHDasjP8/s1600-h/Walks-003.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374296838548051506" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/SpVWgBspVjI/AAAAAAAAAnQ/TwjwHDasjP8/s400/Walks-003.jpg" border="0" /></a> Victoriana...<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/SpVWgpAXZhI/AAAAAAAAAnY/RmOq_WsFv_g/s1600-h/Walks-004.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374296849099744786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/SpVWgpAXZhI/AAAAAAAAAnY/RmOq_WsFv_g/s400/Walks-004.jpg" border="0" /></a>One of th'Mother in Law's favourite houses. She always comments on how sweet it is...<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/SpVWhX-gnzI/AAAAAAAAAno/RHkZfGzxg_c/s1600-h/Walks-009.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374296861708427058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/SpVWhX-gnzI/AAAAAAAAAno/RHkZfGzxg_c/s400/Walks-009.jpg" border="0" /></a> Pink and green...<br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/SpVWrkWRp8I/AAAAAAAAAnw/_PA8DPFJzSk/s1600-h/Walks-013.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374297036828026818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/SpVWrkWRp8I/AAAAAAAAAnw/_PA8DPFJzSk/s400/Walks-013.jpg" border="0" /></a> Berries already...<br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/SpVWg2HULMI/AAAAAAAAAng/LjvhDgo1vC4/s1600-h/Walks-007.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374296852618554562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/SpVWg2HULMI/AAAAAAAAAng/LjvhDgo1vC4/s400/Walks-007.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/SpVWsbV_24I/AAAAAAAAAn4/PKXLhyJtdMI/s1600-h/Walks-024.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374297051590810498" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/SpVWsbV_24I/AAAAAAAAAn4/PKXLhyJtdMI/s400/Walks-024.jpg" border="0" /></a> Hidden gate...<br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/SpVWfxLQk0I/AAAAAAAAAnI/UDRj6UC4WtI/s1600-h/Walks-002.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374296834113049410" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/SpVWfxLQk0I/AAAAAAAAAnI/UDRj6UC4WtI/s400/Walks-002.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Just one question. What happened to summer? Anyone?<br /></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7230583767861451301.post-26385806802766383262009-08-25T02:48:00.000-07:002009-08-25T03:00:35.709-07:00Coveting......union jacks...still. For me, they just don't get old, mainy because I haven't yet got one. But perhaps my desire would be satisfied with <a href="http://www.coxandcox.co.uk/products/union-jack-tea-towel/in/decorative-home">one of these</a>:<br /><br /><p><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/SpOz3NLlvUI/AAAAAAAAAmg/jrBbjzTizlo/s1600-h/Cox+and+Cox+Union+Jack+tea+towel.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373836541395582274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/SpOz3NLlvUI/AAAAAAAAAmg/jrBbjzTizlo/s400/Cox+and+Cox+Union+Jack+tea+towel.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.coxandcox.co.uk/products/union-jack-rug">Or this:</a><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/SpO1RSS8KJI/AAAAAAAAAnA/4eAxT68G-_8/s1600-h/Cox+and+Cox+rug.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373838088956815506" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/SpO1RSS8KJI/AAAAAAAAAnA/4eAxT68G-_8/s400/Cox+and+Cox+rug.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.coxandcox.co.uk/products/union-jack-wall-hanging">This...</a><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/SpO0fnJKpmI/AAAAAAAAAmw/FJJnC-zBjbE/s1600-h/Cox+and+cox+Union+Jack+wall+hanging.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373837235559507554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/SpO0fnJKpmI/AAAAAAAAAmw/FJJnC-zBjbE/s400/Cox+and+cox+Union+Jack+wall+hanging.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.coxandcox.co.uk/products/vintage-fabric-union-jack-cushion">Or even this</a>...<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/SpO0158IRFI/AAAAAAAAAm4/Ly9AtW0R0f0/s1600-h/Cox+and+Cox+cushion.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373837618562221138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/SpO0158IRFI/AAAAAAAAAm4/Ly9AtW0R0f0/s400/Cox+and+Cox+cushion.jpg" border="0" /></a></p>Plus, they are all on sale! It is my birthday in a couple of weeks so if anyone out there (hello family!) who is lacking inspiration about what to buy me you know I would be delighted with the above.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7230583767861451301.post-10243047334912695402009-08-24T03:20:00.000-07:002009-08-25T03:02:22.700-07:00Reunion<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/SpJqM6V9KRI/AAAAAAAAAmA/Ql5XsDIa0tY/s1600-h/Chapel-en-le-Frith-1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373474075458742546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/SpJqM6V9KRI/AAAAAAAAAmA/Ql5XsDIa0tY/s400/Chapel-en-le-Frith-1.jpg" border="0" /></a> This weekend, due the t'husband being away biking, I went to catch up with some lovely people over at a friend's place in Chapel-en-le-Frith. Believe it or not, 'Chapel' is not en France but in the glorious High Peak. As t'husband was taking the car, I decided to take the train. It was a beautiful day and the views on the way over were wonderful. The train station is very sweet with a small cafe and and second hand furniture shop (mental note to visit again) and the walk from the station in Chapel was lovely. A long winding track through lovely countryside.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/SpJqNHxkLyI/AAAAAAAAAmI/mhBTmmaEFKc/s1600-h/Chapel-en-le-Frith-2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373474079064207138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/SpJqNHxkLyI/AAAAAAAAAmI/mhBTmmaEFKc/s400/Chapel-en-le-Frith-2.jpg" border="0" /></a> It felt like you were in the middle of nowhere and as I couldn't see a single house which was beautiful but also slightly worrisome as if I was in the middle on nowhere I was not suitably equipped for a hilly hike having only a wallett, camera and a bunch of these for the wonderful hostess.<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/SpJqNZPSm9I/AAAAAAAAAmQ/6VRFuyOT_9Q/s1600-h/Chapel-en-le-Frith-3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373474083752287186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/SpJqNZPSm9I/AAAAAAAAAmQ/6VRFuyOT_9Q/s400/Chapel-en-le-Frith-3.jpg" border="0" /></a>Our hosts have also spent the last few years renovating a wonderfully grand Victorian house. In the giddiness of seeing friends, some of which I hadn't seen for a while, as well as all their beautiful offpsring [below and <a href="http://dreamhousemoneypit.blogspot.com/2009/08/halfway-to-70.html">here</a>] I forgot to snap photos of their house or of anything else for that matter.<br /><br /><a href="http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-sf2p/v5204/40/85/539646428/n539646428_2596239_8345216.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 604px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 404px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-sf2p/v5204/40/85/539646428/n539646428_2596239_8345216.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The house is lovely and they have some really great furniture. But the thing that made me most envious was the garden. It is perfectly formed for socialising. So much so that it even as a bar (complete with pumps and a dart board) in the old outhouses.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/SpJzNYxzIxI/AAAAAAAAAmY/-5d6IWXpZms/s1600-h/4334_81363973883_538488883_1899486_5812223_n.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373483979233239826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/SpJzNYxzIxI/AAAAAAAAAmY/-5d6IWXpZms/s400/4334_81363973883_538488883_1899486_5812223_n.jpg" border="0" /></a>I wonder if t'husband now has similar plans for the Garden Room!!<br /><br />As the weather was playing ball we spent most of it outside (hence lack of house photos I suspect), drinking cold beer, eating <a href="http://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/beef-recipes/melt-in-your-mouth-shin-stew">the most delicious food</a> and catching up.<br /><br /><br />Thanks for a lovely weekend guys. We miss you all...Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7230583767861451301.post-38294142605514814082009-08-21T08:45:00.001-07:002009-08-21T09:19:54.509-07:00Houses I love....More Friday house inspiration to fire me up for the weekend, despite the fact I am going away to spend time with some great mates. T'husband is away biking in Scotland so I have a free pass too to not do house stuff too!<br /><br />Saying that the plumbers are coming over the weekend to fit a shower tray (fingers crossed it fits and they don't ask me any difficult questions) and connect up the downstairs basin.<br /><br />Anyway, back the the prettiness. I can't remember the name of the person this house belongs to but I heart it. Tis, of course, from <a href="http://www.livingetc.com/houses/">livingetc</a>. Where else?!<br /><br />Loving the built in cupboards, the bright colors against the white walls, the clock and the stove surround / mantle thingy. Wonder if we should get one for our stove? T'husband - what do you think?<br /><br /><p><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/So7BZcdt3vI/AAAAAAAAAl4/_8WrT3DPRK4/s1600-h/untitled.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372444048381304562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 306px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 306px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/So7BZcdt3vI/AAAAAAAAAl4/_8WrT3DPRK4/s400/untitled.bmp" border="0" /></a> Love this stair runner. Apparently, the owner made it by sewing together Ikea rugs...</p><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/So7BYy1FkII/AAAAAAAAAlw/Qi0p-T3HIv8/s1600-h/Chrissie+Probert+Jones+4.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372444037205037186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 306px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 306px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/So7BYy1FkII/AAAAAAAAAlw/Qi0p-T3HIv8/s400/Chrissie+Probert+Jones+4.bmp" border="0" /></a> Love the carpet, the globe, the blanket and that she has similar colour curtains to mine....<br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/So7BYD_6MOI/AAAAAAAAAlo/lnk-BtJvcyA/s1600-h/Chrissie+Probert+Jones+3.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372444024633962722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 306px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 306px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/So7BYD_6MOI/AAAAAAAAAlo/lnk-BtJvcyA/s400/Chrissie+Probert+Jones+3.bmp" border="0" /></a>A shrine to coffee and stainless steel drawers. I am going to start building one of these and I shall worship there every morning.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/So7BXq07NXI/AAAAAAAAAlg/rccyEMqu4iU/s1600-h/Chrissie+Probert+Jones+2.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372444017877005682" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 306px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 306px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/So7BXq07NXI/AAAAAAAAAlg/rccyEMqu4iU/s400/Chrissie+Probert+Jones+2.bmp" border="0" /></a>The kitchen set up generally (another nice mantle), the island, the stools, the aga. All those cupboards must house other stuffs so only the pretty things are on display. Yum...<br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/So7BXbAu4FI/AAAAAAAAAlY/pTGps9puDA8/s1600-h/Chrissie+Probert+Jones+1.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372444013631561810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 306px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 306px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TU8OaGlRMLs/So7BXbAu4FI/AAAAAAAAAlY/pTGps9puDA8/s400/Chrissie+Probert+Jones+1.bmp" border="0" /></a> </div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0