Tag: france

The Photo Gallery: Walks

| March 27, 2013

We adore walking and exploring the outdoors. Hubby and I have spent our 10 years together walking everywhere we can. We’ve been lucky enough to explore France, New Zealand, Spain, Portugal, Croatia, Denmark, Ireland, Scotland, England and Switzerland.

We had grand plans to continue walking and discovering the countryside when our baby arrived in 2011. We continued to get out and about and when she was a baby and we explored countryside lanes and forests with her strapped to one of us in the baby carrier.

When Imogen and I were in New Zealand at the beginning of this year we were absolutely spoilt for choice with beautiful walks in the bush at Kaitoke Regional Park, through Wellington’s Botanical Garden and along the Kapiti Coast.

Walking in the Suffolk countryside with Imogen in her baby carrier.

walks

Exploring the coastal path along the town of Orford in Suffolk.

walks

Some of our favourite walks are along the coast in Brittany.

walks

In our local park in London.

walking

Reflecting on the Year Gone By

| February 22, 2013

Tomorrow I’ll be turning 30 something! I always find myself reflecting on the eve of my Birthday, looking back over the year and reviewing all that has been.

The past year has certainly had it’s fair share of ups and downs as life has thrown work, health and various other challenges at us which have been hard to deal with at times.

Some of these challenges are still with us and are completely out of our control. It’s these that I find the hardest to manage as we don’t have the ability to change things. But despite everything, we always strive to make the most of every day and to love and appreciate what we have in life.

Some of the memorable events since my last Birthday:

  • My beautiful baby stopped breastfeeding
  • I went back to work… and later decided it was too soon to be away from my baby
  • Imogen started walking
  • We visited our renovation project in France and continued to dream of our future
  • Imogen and I travelled to New Zealand to spend time with family and friends
  • I’ve learnt more about parenting than I ever imagined was possible!
  • Imogen started talking
  • I treasure how much I love being a Mummy

My wonderful friends and family are always so supportive and I’m forever thankful for them. Here’s to a brilliant year ahead, living life to the full and enjoying every day.

Birthday

Enjoying a pre-Birthday drink in Wellington

Outside Garden

| January 21, 2013

I can’t stop Imogen from venturing into the garden and I don’t want to, although she would be out at all hours if she had the chance and was allowed to stay up throughout the night.

It’s absolutely wonderful she has green fingers at such a young age. Hubby and I are keen nature lovers and Imogen’s been watching. She’s heard us talk about birds, flowers, fauna, insects and wildlife since she was a tiny baby and we had our first family holiday in Orford.

Outside Garden

Outside Garden

Every morning as soon as she wakes we look outside and assess the weather with Imogen giving me the lowdown. Windy trees, misty, sun, rain or fuffa for cloudy. And then it’s shouts of Outside Garden. This is what Imogen’s named my parent’s garden in New Zealand. It’s not an inside garden is it?

I love being outside and in the garden. My dreams are to landscape our 2.5 acres of land in Brittany, France. It’s in a state at present given that we can’t be there enough to keep on top of the weeding, manage the brambles or prune the trees. But when we are there it’s all hands to the deck and what we achieve is nothing short of a miracle in such a short time.

Outside Garden

Whilst we’re not working on our garden in France I love to use any spare time I have learning about gardening online. There are some amazing resources and very inspiring gardeners who give me lots of ideas and helpful hints for the near future.

Two of my favourite Gardening Blogs are The Enduring Gardener with all sorts of helpful tips and facts on gardening whilst being a thoroughly great read and My Tiny Plot a blog about vegetable gardening, seasonal cooking and family life in Portland Oregon.

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And if you’re after some quick and purse friendly recipes then head over to Love and Olive Oil which is one of my favourite food blogs. When my vegetables are growing in my garden this blog will provide me with the inspiration for some delicious family meals.

What’s your best gardening tip?