Snowdrop time....again....and a new mantra....

I just cannot believe I haven't spoken to you all for so long...the snowdrops are up, the first early daffodils are making a timid appearance (hopefully there won't be an avalanche of snow any day now crushing their fragile yellow heads, as so often happens to these delicate little spring blossoms)....the garden is a carpet of white with the promise of Spring on the way...Meanwhile, up in my prison cell, I mean study, work continues apace...





I tell myself this every day - as I struggle to find a few hundred more words to complete another essay:

Even though it's been tough on the grey matter (getting it working again, that is!!) there's also a great sense of satisfaction....my GG is still here from Sydney - I was hoping for some essay writing tips but she doesn't seem too keen to help....Strange......She keeps telling me that she has her own essays to write when she gets back to Aus in a couple of weeks...I think it's more about the little 'affaire de la coeur' she has embarked upon while she's been here myself..... Ah well, you're only 21 once and if you can't embrace youth, life and love now, when can you?

The newlyweds are not so newlywed and my little grandson celebrated his third birthday last weekend complete with a smartie chocolate cake and a village hall full of his friends.....All in all, a busy start to the year...

Half term next week seems very appealing - 'normal' life may return for a fleeting visit before I glance in horror at the assessment deadline calendar once more..

Meanwhile, I plan to join a friend for a trip to Cardiff, the shopping capital of Wales tomorrow to remind myself that there is life beyond the keyboard!

Look forward to catching up with you all & do hope all is well in your world............s

December already!!!!!

How can it be possible that it's December tomorrow???? The year has come full circle....just wanted to say hi...I haven't been neglecting you all - have been regularly checking in to see what you've all been up to! I'm sitting at the computer and WAY behind on an essay due in at the end of the week so.......as I'm struggling for inspiration thought I would say hello to all you inspirational lovely blogging buddies instead....What a rollercoaster it's been since I saw you all last....the course is 'full on' as they would say in Aus and in addition, we are on placement all the way up to Christmas. The life of this particular student is well and truly full! I truly cannot believe that the end of the year is in sight and once again, the logs are stacked and the woodburner lit...where does the time go???

At this time of year I'm usually in 'Christmas prep' mode but this year, things are a little different! I think I will be lucky to even get a tree organised! The closest I've come to even thinking about the festive season is ticking the turkey or fish box on the office Christmas lunch menu.... My GG will be arriving from Sydney next week and her 'to do' list is filling up fast! First thing on the list is 'assist Mum with essay writing' - never again will I tell her that being a uni student is an easy life!

We did fit in a little frivolity last weekend with a flying visit to London, a macaron-fest at Laduree and a whistle stop tour of all our favourite places. Then, it was back to reality....and to the keyboard...

I can't quite get the taste of those magnificent macarons out of my mind - the rose and ginger or the salted caramel? Mmmmm.....will have to go back just so I can decide for sure..

Now about that essay.....HOW many words??? Oh dear, back to work I go....happy, happy December to you all.........s

Autumn morning...

I can't quite believe it's half-term here in the UK next week! There's been a lot happening in the English countryside lately...the tractors have been out in force ploughing after the harvest and making the local landscape a patchwork of colour.....

I love the look of a newly ploughed field - I can't drive past one without remarking on it's loveliness (I'm sure anyone who drives with me regularly thinks I'm completely mad). It seems to me to signify a rebirth, a renewal...no matter if the harvest was good or bad, the soil is deeply dug, turned over and shows a new face to the world, virginal and ready to begin a new cycle of life. Maybe it's also a reminder that nothing stays the same, seasons come and go, sowing and harvesting according to the weather and in rotation...sunshine and showers working in harmony with the soil and next year there will be wheat instead of corn. Maybe it also makes me think of our own sowing and harvesting, choices and decisions, results and consequences....

Bare soil offers all sorts of possibilities - seeds sown, nurtured under ground until the weather warms up again and a new season's crop comes to fruition.

As I drove through the countryside this morning, en route to the final day of my course placement, the bare fields were glistening with frost, leaves swirling gently to the ground alongside the car window and Nigel Kennedy was playing Vivaldi's Autumn from the Four Seasons on the radio.....perfection....hope your week is perfect too........s

An end....and a beginning....

We returned home from France on Friday to a distinct chill in the air...a definite feeling of autumn and an end to the carefree days of summer, children back at school...families back from holidays near and far getting organised for the new school year. I thought I would post a few holiday snaps - we based ourselves this time near Uzes, just over the border from Provence in the Gard departement. We stumbled across this beautiful little town last year when we were travelling in the area and wanted to become more familiar with it. We had a lovely week enjoying great food...






Interesting architecture - I'm just in love with French shutters....

Fabulous markets - the LAB is in serious trouble as I had picked out the perfect bag at this stall..he persuaded me that I didn't need to buy it there and then & maybe would find one I preferred later...needless to say I didn't find another I wanted to buy and we weren't there long enough for the bag seller to make another appearance!

Gorgeous & picturesque town squares with bubbling fountains...

And charming places to stay....

I'm not sure when we shall have the opportunity for another sojourn in the sun as tomorrow I begin a new venture...a three year commitment to a Bachelor of Science degree...am I completely crazy I ask myself? It all seems a bit 'other worldly' as I sit here on a lazy Sunday afternoon (don't think there will be too many of those for the forseeable future!) Anyway, I shall keep you posted - wish me luck & I hope to find the time to come over and catch up with all your news soon...not sure how much time I shall have so if you're wondering where I've gone, it's just to a comfy sofa with a pile of reading material! Whatever your plans for the autumn (or Spring if you're in the southern hemisphere) enjoy!.........s

A visit to Granny's house......

I thought I was exhausted when my GG returned to uni in Sydney...I thought I couldn't be any more tired - wrong! This week my son and daughter in law have been visiting with my two gorgeous grandchildren....I think I have forgotten just how exhausting small children are....early starts and full days...I am full of admiration for my D I L - she copes admirably with a very lively two and a half year old and extremely mobile ten month old...meanwhile, the LAB and I are barely managing to conceal our tiredness....our 'normal' lives are on hold whilst we marvel at the way these two devote themselves to their two gorgeous babies. Nothing we do in the course of a day seems remotely taxing in comparison....









Outings are a military operation complete with snacks, lunch, drinks, potties, clean clothes, clean shoes etc. A walk up the lane becomes an adventure...the smallest diversion in the day is a memory to be treasured and talked about for a long time....these small people are a constant reminder to stop, look and listen - life is all about the here and now - smell the roses and celebrate the everyday.
After a last walk to pick blackberries and feed ducks on the canal, we have waved them off wedged into the car between bags of nappies, travelling highchairs & travel cots.....having enjoyed their visit immensely but secretly thanking our lucky stars that we are off to France tomorrow a deux with no necessity to take along any other parapheranlia apart from our own clothes, shoes, reading materials and a camera......ah yes, the joys of (grand)motherhood........s

Surprises at West Wittering..

Dash - you were on the money & gilliecoco - well done, you spotted that we were at West Wittering on the West Sussex coast...on the southern side of Chichester Harbour. I grew up close by but strangely, don't recall going there! I know that as a small girl our family picnic'd regularly here but like many things in my 'pre Australia' life, I wasn't paying attention...








We nestled into the sandy dunes and watched yachts racing in the harbour with Spinnaker Tower glistening in the background and far reaching views beyond to the Isle of Wight...

As the afternoon became early evening, we made our way back along the sandy path to the car, marvelling at the diversity on this small island. When we moved here from Australia, I was determined not to take anything for granted and really look at my surroundings, appreciating the seasonal changes and history which oozes from every nook and cranny....something I don't think I ever did when I lived here before.

We wound up the day stopping at http://www.thefishhouse.co.uk/ for oysters and champagne...a perfect end to a perfect day........s

Birthday at the beach...

As it was my birthday on Monday, the LAB and I decided to make a weekend of it after the wedding celebrations. After a wonderful brunch cooked by my son and new daughter-in-law we headed for Uppark in the South Downs of West Sussex - more on that later. The day was glorious, even though autumn is waiting in the wings.... I was craving salty air and sand between my toes (basically our Sydney life!) Teaser for Thursday - at which exotic beach destination do you think I took this? (We didn't get on any planes & don't forget we live in England!)





White powdery sand, sun drenched beach grasses and bleached to pale gorgeousness beach huts.......answer tomorrow!..........s