Chocolate of choice (today anyway)...

I think eating seriously good chocolate is one of the great joys in life....if I'm going to eat it, it's got to be worth the calorie intake! These gorgeous boxes contain my current indulgence...not only is the chocolate inside delectable but the boxes are little works of art....what more could you want?
I also keep a few of these in my 'present store' - they are perfect as hostess gifts (or just to make someone happy!) These are my special favourites at the moment - coffee & cardomom wafers and in the be-ribboned drum (actually called 'Gusto Italiano'), olives toscano (chocolate covered almonds) and chicchi di caffe (solid chocolate coffee beans).

You can see their complete range here (www.rococochocolates.com) Enjoy....

Friends & flowers...

Some of my favourite flowers are a bit like some of my favourite friends - they don't fade away along with the sunny carefree days of summer, but stick around to brighten the dark days of winter....I don't usually like blue flowers of any description but I will make an exception for these: Alliums appear in Spring, their graceful necks towering over all the other foliage and with their complex structure and dramatic silhouette, really steal the show....



Once they have finished flowering, they can be cut on their long stems and stored carefully ready to be sprayed and make another grand entrance either on the Christmas tree or as part of a larger arrangement......

Hydrangeas are like true friends - they stick around through thick and thin...flowering all summer long in the garden (and all the way through autumn into December if there are no early frosts), then into the house for a last glow of stored up summer sunshine....

and finally, to re-appear (hopefully!) looking like this: It's not difficult to make a wreath either to hang on the door or even to put on a table, filling the centre with candles.....just buy a wire frame from any good florist or garden centre, florists wire to secure the stems onto the frame, and the only thing holding you back is your imagination!

This image is from Sarah Raven's 'Complete Christmas', the ultimate accessory for planning food and flowers for the festive season.....well worth a spot on your bookshelf......

Hope you have some faithful floral friends in your house or garden this weekend......s

Bath bling..

Last night was the big switch on of the Christmas lights in Bath. I was so happy to see they had taken note of my suggestions - white lights only please, with a 'candleabra' in the centre of each one:





A Christmas tree in front of the Abbey would be nice:

And, many Bath ladies of my acquaintance would be mighty appreciative if you could get this guy to switch them on:

The nice man at the Council said he would call Nic's agent right away and wanted only to make the ladies of Bath very happy (it is the season of goodwill after all).....

So...a very merry and bright night was had by all.........s

It's time....

to break out the sloe gin!


When we stayed with friends in England (before moving here) during Christmas and over winter, invariably we were offered either as an aperitif or a post-supper liqueur, some of their home made sloe gin...it was delicious...amber-red nectar, neither too sweet nor too sour and a completely different animal from the mass-produced variety...
So, when I saw these little black beauties lining the canal path in the autumn I returned quick-smart with my basket to make sure I could make plenty & store it away (with a housewifely glow) ready for winter...
The sloe is the fruit of the blackthorn bush and looks a bit like a very small plum or damson (you can use damsons if you can't get your hands on sloes..) It's so easy to make - the hardest part is negotiating the thorns (remember blackTHORN bush!) but once you have gathered your sloe harvest it's simple:
For a 750 ml bottle you need:
About 450g sloes (or damsons)
700 ml gin (any old gin will do as you will be adding sugar)
250g caster sugar
Handful of roasted almonds
First, pick your sloes - don't wash them! Prick each one with a skewer or similar (or put in the freezer overnight & the skins will split - you want the flavour and colour to be released);
Put the sloes into a clean jar, add the gin, sugar & almonds. Seal the jar and put in a dark place for 2 - 3 months, turning the jar when you remember to dissolve the sugar.
Strain the liquid, discard the sloes and check for sweetness - if it's not sweet enough for your taste add more and shake to dissolve. I strained it through muslin to make sure it was clear...
One word of warning, if you go down the skewer route, don't do as I did and wear a white top I couldn't replace..(the sloes are black and they colour the gin red...you get the idea...)
Enjoy.....s!

Stourhead..

I arranged to meet a girlfriend here yesterday for lunch - Stourhead consists of a 1720's Palladian mansion which was the home of the Hoare family, owners of Britain's only surviving independent Bank. The magnificent interior includes an outstanding regency library, extensive art collection and furniture by Chippendale. The star of the show though and often referred to as the finest in the UK, is the landscape garden, constructed between 1741 and 1780. There are classical temples including the Pantheon and Temple of Apollo (used as the location for Darcy's futile proposal to Lizzy in the 2005 Pride and Prejudice with Keira Knightly) set around a central lake and a series of vistas which change as the visitor moves around the paths and through the magnificent mature woodland which houses an extensive collection of exotic trees. There are also two iron age hill forts in the grounds of the estate. It is breathtaking in every season and a wonderful place for a long (or short!) walk.

There is classical statuary in abundance......

A mansion to satisfy the most discerning......








and fortunately for us, a lovely pub right next door!



Our plan was to have a 'pub lunch' and then walk it off in the glorious grounds....I wish I could say that's indeed how it turned out but, I cannot tell a lie.....we arrived at midday and left at 9.15 p.m. (YES 9.15!!!!!) When we went to pay the bill, there was the evidence...coffee, lunch, afternoon tea & dinner!! Oh my, how time flies when you're having fun .....s

White Stuff at the Weekend...

and it wasn't snow! Just torrential rain and grey drizzle....(see, I told you people in England are obsessed with the weather...) There were a few bright interludes though...this orchid has been in full bloom and looking gorgeous for weeks (maybe that's because it's cool in the corner of the hall it occupies). Every time I walk past it gives me pleasure - pure white and perfect...
In Bath yesterday, some of the windows caught my eye as they were dressed beautifully in my favourite non-colour.....how about these belles ready for the ball?



and this little fur trimmed jacket would have been perfect for keeping out the 'neck-chill'.....

By the time I'd finished inspecting all the window displays, my half an hour trip had turned into all afternoon and I was ready for a lie-down with lacy legs and her sister...

who although not clad in white did get me thinking about those lacy tights...but that's another story....happy week everyone!

Two more things I miss...

Gardenias and frangipani are scenting pathways and back gardens all across Sydney right now - their fragrance heady and sweet....

but, after hearing that the maximum temperature forecast for Sunday is 41, I shall be content to look at them like this.....hope you ladies in the S.H find a cool spot this weekend......s