Ahh the freedom of being able to go out without a small person in tow.

For example, when I went to Wisley:

I didn't have to visit the alpine greenhouses to look for the cat 

that likes to lie in the sun.

Nobody needed my help in the adventure playground.

Nobody needed my hand for balance as they walked on walls.

 

I didn't have to explain that although they are included in the 

children's lunchbox selection display, jellybeans are not a fruit 

so choose something different please! 

I didn't have to visit the soft play area.

I didn't feed the ducks.

I didn't have a pretend tea party in the summerhouse.

Nobody nagged me for an icecream.

Oh how I missed her!

I'm inclined to agree

I didn't watch the TV series but when I saw The Hairy Dieters book in the display of new stock at our library, I thought I'd take a look.  

It has plenty of photos of inviting looking food and many tips on how to slightly adjust your behaviour and tastes so that you can quietly lose weight without feeling you are on a rigid diet.  All well and good!  

The Chewy Cranberry and Apricot Bites looked tasty and the cake tin needed refilling.  The ingredients included a delicious sounding mix of almonds, coconut, dried apricots, dried cranberries, sultanas, maple syrup, apple juice and porridge oats.  

Well, the recipe did say that it would become "thick and porridgy" and it was not wrong!  Oh dear, oh dear.  

My husband's verdict:  "I will never eat that ever again."

The book has been returned to the library!

Another London at Tate Britain

I only went to see Another London because entry was being offered at a discounted rate when bought with a ticket to the Pre-Raphaelites exhibition, my real reason for visiting (more on that later!). For me, it was by far the most enjoyable of the two displays.  

Waiting for the bus 1954 Marc Riboud

It is a collection of black and white photographs taken between 1930 and 1980 by foreigners either living or visiting London.  The smog, the Pearly Kings, the hats, the tailored outfits, the gloves, the east end, the west end, the lack of traffic, the punks, the cassette recorder.... Oh, it was just fabulous! 

Pearly King collecting money for the Empire Day 1935  Dora Maar

I'm far too nervous of taking photos of strangers but I am going to make an effort from now on to see the world with a visitor's eye.  What might look mundane today may well look fascinating in the future.

This exhibition ends on 16 September so be quick.

I blinked

In the days when I was pushing a pram, it was almost impossible to walk up the road without a middle-aged or elderly lady stopping to peer in to see who lay amongst the blankets.  All would tell me to enjoy these days, how quickly they would pass, like the blinking of an eye.  Sleep-deprived me couldn't wait for the days to tick by.

Now, nearly five years on, my little girl has started school.  I've passed her on to the education system and most of her waking hours will now be spent in the classroom rather than with me.  

There was no hoped for fourth, third, second or even one more baby to take out in that pram and I have now turned in to one of those women who stops to peer.  "Enjoy these days" I tell the new mums "they're gone in the blink of an eye." 

More Cornwall

A few more images from our week in Cornwall.  Despite many, many visits to the county over the years, I've never been to St Michael's Mount so this time I was determined to go.  

This was the route in and

this was the route out.  (I took the boat!) 

Eating a Cornish crab sandwich in the fishing village of Polperro, looking out over the roof tops and debating which we'd chose to live in. 

And down on Perranporth beach, near Newquay.

Cornish Blue

A holiday to Cornwall, where, for once, it hardly rained at all!

Bexhill-on-Sea circa 1969

Wow, 1969 really is alive and kicking in Bexhill-on-Sea!

Our reason to go there was to visit the De La Warr Pavilion, a beautiful 1930s Modernist building by the sea, to see the fabulous Richard Wilson roof installation - the precariously balancing coach from The Italian Job.

We then went for a wander around the shops which were a real blast from the past.  You can get yourself a lovely new nightie at Elizabeth's, get your hair done by Marilyn, then on to Wells and Sons for sensible shoes.  There's even a launderette still doing a brisk trade. 

But the biggest throwback to the 60s that Wednesday had to be the fact that many of the shops were closed for the afternoon!

Oliver & S Lazy Days Skirt

After the success of the Ice Cream Dress, I went straight on to make a Lazy Days Skirt.  A really quick and very satisfying project. 

I used another piece of fabric bought in Japan, 30's Collection by Atsuko Matsuyama.  For the ribbon trim, I picked up on the turquoise blue.  I thought finding something to wear it with amongst my daughter's wardrobe was going to be tricky but luckily the green t-shirt seems just right. 

Best of all, my daughter loves this skirt and is constantly choosing it as her outfit for the day. 

Oliver & S Ice Cream Dress

I'm ashamed to say it has taken me more than a year to make this dress. It was on my To Do list for the Spring Kids Clothing Week Challenge back in 2011!

It lay around, all cut out, for quite some time.  I eventually started work on it but, as the most complicated bits - the neckline and pockets - are tackled straight off, I got a bit disheartened.  I felt they weren't done well enough and that the dress was going to look very obviously homemade. So it lay in pieces for a few months more.

Once I picked it up again, I sailed through and was kicking myself for having waited so long.  Of course, my little girl has been growing taller in all that time and the finished dress only just fits! It's fine with white leggings so she should get some wear out of it for a little longer.

I absolutely love it and, because the Oliver and S patterns are so well thought-out and explained, I like to think that the finished article, at least from a distance, isn't too obviously made by mum! 

The fabrics were bought during a visit to Japan.  I didn't have enough of the orange to make the top sleeve section so used it just for the lining.  During wear, the font v folds over a little and I like the way the orange fabric just peeps out, giving a bit more interest. 

I want to make another version, this time in View B, with four bands of plain fabric.  No doubt it will be various grades of pink if the small person has any involvement! Next time I'll try to get those points and curves to look rather more precise. 

Wisley's Flavoursome Fridays

 

 

Apples and tomatoes were laid out to sample at this week's Flavoursome Friday at Wisley.  

Unfortunately, as we have had far more rain than sunshine these past few weeks, this first crop of apples were low on sugar and very wince-making. Luckily my sunglasses hid my winking left eye!

London Olympics 2012 - Sailing at Weymouth

As we were spending a few days on the south coast, we decided to make a little side trip to Weymouth.  The sailing was taking place at Portland, just around the corner from Weymouth beach and so just out of sight but I'd read that TV screens were set up on the beach to follow the action.  

I'd imagined that the screens would be visible to the whole beach and that I could glance up from my ice-cream to check the latest whilst my little girl enjoyed the sand and sea.  

Instead, there was a ringed enclosure at one end of the beach, with portaloos, plastic matting walkways, lots of grey metal fencing and people corralled in and sitting in the sand.  It was grim, like an airport when all the planes have been delayed! Bit of a shame.  

The beach was much more fun!

London Olympics 2012 - Men's Cycling Road Race

We watched the test for this one last year so had to go to see the real thing too.

The traffic lights at the junction in the photos and all the sleeping policeman in the road ahead had all been removed in preparation.

Lots of waiting, lots of yelling, cheering and flag waving and then back home to watch it on tv to see just what exactly was going on! 

Sadly, no GB medal this time but the women's road race is taking place as I type and then there are the time trails on Wednesday, so you never know!

London Olympics 2012 - The Torch

It's on its way.  Won't be long.

Here it comes!

Mate!  You've ruined my .... ahh no, there it is!

And there it goes................