AU - REVOIR SOUTH OF FRANCE!

We've just returned from our holiday in the South of France. We were so pleased to get there, after Michael's injury to his leg, we half expected to have to cancel.

I think that's why we enjoyed it so much, we certainly have returned home, batteries recharged!

We took our car - I drove all the way and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Before we set off I made just one request.

I told Michael he was NOT to fiddle with the sat nav or the radio. Nor was he to empty the glove box due to boredom. Even more importantly he was NOT to criticise my driving.

AND he didn't, even when I was driving through Nice doing about 10 miles an hour and thinking "OMG!"

We stayed in a little hotel in Villefranche sur Mer. We thought it was a very nice place.

 Plenty of time was spent relaxing by the pool with a book or two and  the pool was lovely and refreshing.

It certainly helped Michael with his convalescence.

We did spend a morning at Villa Ephrussi & gardens, not too far from our hotel. This house was built for Beatrice Ephrussi de Rothschild at the beginning of the 1900's.

A very quiet place where you could stroll quite easily for a couple of hours. 

We did have a couple of rainy days while we were away so, one day we decided to take a drive up to Vence to visit the Foundation Maeght. A famous gallery, so it said in my guide book.

Mmmm, we went in and we tried but over lunch in a litle picturesque village perched high in the hills called Carros (above) we both came to the same conclusion - we didn't get it!

Unlike the Franchement Art exhibition in the citadelle in Villefranche sur Mer

this was a free exhibition displaying lots of different kinds of artwork. 

Some of it was really beautiful.

An artist whose work did catch my eye was Gigi Lopez.

I loved the textures and her ideas and spent some time chatting to her.

It's thanks to my cousin Miriam and my friend Diane who probably without realising it have encouraged me to actually look at art, whether painting or textiles rather than glance at it as I pass by.

You should check out Gigi's website  www. gigilopez.com - I have!

IS IT ALWAYS THAT IMPORTANT TO FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS?

I'm so pleased with these dahlias in my garden. They started their lives in those awful dried out packets that hang on stands in DIY stores. 3 for the price of 2, you know the ones I mean.

My first attempt at growing dahlias, I brought them home and eventually put them into pots.

Some weeks later I watched Monty Don on BBC Gardeners World, show how to pot up dahlias and grabbing my instructions that I hadn't looked at before, the next morning I was out in my garden retrieving my plants from the bottom of their pots and having another try.  

I had been wondering why they hadn't been growing but thankfully I got it right in the end.

I suppose it's a bit like my Mum who years ago was baking a cake but realised when she'd put it in the oven, that she hadn't put the eggs in it. 

Never mind, easily remedied, out it came, eggs were added, then put back into the oven. What's the problem with that?

Mind you, not so good when on another occasion she was rather heavy handed with the eggs and added the whole thing. Finding bits of shell in your dundee cake, was not the best, but certainly didn't do us any harm.

My mum is actually a really good cook, her father was a chef. Perhaps Charlotte takes after that side of the family.

She made this delicious apple crumble on Wednesday. We cut up the apples together and weighed out the ingredients for the crumble. I left her in the kitchen, rubbing the butter into the flour while I kept an eye on her sister . When I got back she'd got the consistency perfect, had added the sugar and spread the lot over the apples. All we had to do was pop it in the oven.
I must get her trained in the art of clearing up now!

MORE FINGERLESS GLOVES!

I'm getting into my stride knitting these fingerless gloves now, shame the same can't be said for my photography!

I do wonder if the green haze is a result of the reflection of the sun on my new kitchen worktops?

or is it that I'm being lazy and clicking with my iphone which is always on hand and not the camera which is always somewhere where I am not?

Anyway, I'm really pleased with the gloves, they're both the same size and fit a treat. 

Going through my knitting bag I've got so many odds and ends of Debbie Bliss baby wool that I thought I'd use them up and knit some squares. Eventually they'll get sewn together for a small blanket either for me to put over my feet in the winter while watching tv or for Charlotte & Jessica for their dolls, It all depends on how big or small it turns out.

MAGNOLIA

I promised a picture of my magnolia in bloom and here it is, the last one from the three buds that appeared this year. 

Life this week has been busy, busy, busy!

Though it didn't start out with that intention.

Monday saw me enjoying a leisurely visit to the Docklands Museum in London with friends to visit the pirates exhibition being held there.

After our swashbuckling adventure we chilled out in limited sunshine for a very nice relaxed lunch.

Tuesday came and so also should have the kitchen fitters!

Well, that didn't happen!

Wednesday - Granny day. Swimming, playing in the park, pom pom making and lunch courtesy of their Grandad, in the Lock Tiptree Jam Tearoom.
 Perfect?
Not quite. Kitchen fitters in as well who tried to remedy our water leak and advised us that we are going to have to have two new cupboards. So for now, the  kitchen is just semi-finished.

On Thursday I took on the task of filling the kitchen cupboards that can be used. I certainly think I lost a few pounds carrying it all down the stairs. I've been storing most of the stuff in a spare bedroom and when it was put in there originally I had a husband who wasn't on crutches!

Today, Friday we have the painter in. The kitchen is now looking and working as a kitchen should.
I'm looking forward later to cooking a proper meal, drinking a small glass on wine, putting my feet up and grabbing for my knitting!
Bliss!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHARLOTTE!

Happy Birthday to our little grand daughter Charlotte, I can't believe she's 5 today, time has just flown by.

As you can see, I did manage to make her a cake in my unfinished kitchen. Thankfully I now have a cooker to use, a sink to look at and worktops. Here's hoping during the coming week there will be usable cupboards and more importantly running water.

If only you could have seen Michael and I on Tuesday, we decided to connect the old sink, something under normal conditions he could have done easily. However, with his leg in plaster it was not so easy.

Between us we managed to connect the u bend, though no cold water at all, we did somehow manage to get hot water out of the cold tap. Result!

We also had a spectacular looking design feature which we've never had before, the taps could turn 360 degrees. Amazing!

This  weekend we are again waterless but there's plenty falling outside to compensate.

Michael's now had his op to reconnect his achilles tendon. Everything went well and hopefully he'll be wearing an air boot instead of the plaster after next weekend. Fingers crossed!

 Mind you, he seems to be getting used to being at home now which could be worrying!

I picked these vegetables first thing this morning from my garden. We're looking forward to having them for dinner later with some baked mackerel from good old Marks and Sparks!

I think the BBQ is a definite no-no this weekend.

Still apparently we need the rain so in good old british tradition, we've got it!

HELLO, MY NAME IS PETER!

This little chap is a new addition to our family!

Rob popped in on his way home, after collecting the little puppy. As yet he has only his kennel name, Peter.

Now as that is Kate's partner's name, I don't think that's very appropriate. Can you imagine, every time we ask "another beer Pete?"

 the poor dog will think it's for him.

I'm sure between Jo, Rob and the children they will come up with a more suitable name.

In the meantime more importantly, he knows that I'm Granny and I've already made clear to him one of my ground rules and told him he's not to dig up my garden.

We will get on famously, I'm sure!

Do you like my pumpkin flowers?

I think they're really bright and colourful. At least they've brightened up my garage wall. I'm not expecting the pumpkins to grow, I just like the flowers! 

Michael's leg is still plastered, as you would expect but we're hoping that an operation he's having this week will help with his recovery, fingers crossed! What with Michael not being able to get around and the kitchen fitters not doing what they're supposed to be doing, life this past week has been hectic and frustrating.

Hopefully on Monday, the kitchen company will endeavour to figure out a plan to rectify the issues but if not,  I'll still be using my washing machine as an island in the middle of my kitchen and not an appliance to wash clothes in.

If this is the case, when I write my blog next weekend, I will be naming and shaming the kitchen company involved.

The simple question for them is -  how far can you stretch the patience of a woman?

FINGERLESS GLOVES

The fingerless gloves are both now finished. I'm quite pleased with my first attempt, would have liked them to have been the same size but one can't always have everything your own way. Well, that's what my parents used to tell me when I was a child and an only one at that.

I'm hoping that through some slight stretching and let's face in when I start wearing them later in the year, my hands should mould them into shape, they will fit perfectly!

I'm that impressed, I've already started another pair, a different pattern, wool and design but here goes!