So far..

I've been embroidering away while sitting in the sunny shade, listening to the birds and taking breaks to stroke the cats and of course lots of chat with The Big One and each of his parents - I shall blog-christen them Patch and Tache. they'll like that...I think!

I am sleeping for about 10 hours a night, an immense luxury!  The space here to go for a wander or sit in one of many nooks combined with the bird song dappled silence is proving incredibly calming to me.

“Boredom is the feeling that everything is a waste of time; serenity, that nothing is.”

-Thomas S. Szasz

Today I liked...

“A vocabulary of truth and simplicity will be of service throughout your life”
- Winston Churchill

Mes Vacances hipstamatique

A handful of pretty images to share after our first week here... all taken in and around Le Jardin de Cure (The Big One's parent's home).

One week in and I can feel the tiredness slowly slipping away and the peace setting in.

“Everything's fine today, that is our illusion.”

- Voltaire

Time

While we're here, on holiday (hooray!), I have a couple of projects I brought with me to start on. One is the embroidered firescreen! Urban Cross Stitch sent me my fantastic customised design (complete with canvas, pattern and all the threads I will need) a little while ago but I was busy finishing some knitted commissions so put it to one side to bring with me. And if I'm honest I wanted to be able to at least start it using my full and undivided attention.

I can't wait to begin it but am aware it will be an enormous project! The pattern does strike some fear into me (I'm an embroidery beginner) but Phil from UCS has assured me he is on email happy to help with any pickles I may get myself into.  Plus The Big One's mum is a much celebrated patchwork quilt artist so I'm sure she'll be of invaluable help.

My plan this holiday is to simply relax and absorb. I want to return to London with a clearer head, shake off this fatigue which has been muddling me and return to form.

It's been an intense couple of months and I look forward to just stitching and reading, digesting everything in my own time.

“Learn everything you can, anytime you can, from anyone you can - there will always come a time when you will be grateful you did.”

- Sarah Caldwell

Bonjour Tout Le Monde!

Me and The Big One are now, officially on holiday! We're very lucky as his parents live in mid south France and we get to eat, swim, read and sleep in the most beautiful place!

They bought 2 large barns nearly 10 years ago and converted them into a lovely home and 2 fantastic gites which they rent out as holiday homes.

Soon after we arrived we were given a tour of the garden (they know I've gone all green fingered at home and planted a mini herb garden for us when they came to stay) and their allotment area which is bursting with tomatoes, pumpkins, aubergines, courgettes - you name  it, they're growing it!

Wilfred was a silent but playful tour guide - look at the size of that marrow!

 

 

 

 

 

 

The tour had a distinct 'pick and taste' theme and we happily munched our way through blackberries, raspberries, cherry and large tomatoes - all were sun ripened and delicious!

We headed back to the patio to a game of scrabble (I came a very close 2nd), a lovely dinner, a spot of holiday vino and a lot of catching up on the news.

Tomorrow I shall visit the chickens and if I'm up in time, collect any eggs.

We are so lucky to have such a beautiful, big and peaceful escape from London life - we both really need a holiday so we are determined to 'savour' every minute!

"I have had a holiday, and I'd like to take it up professionally."

- Kylie Minogue

I'm Game if You Are

Saw this today in my local corner shop, it does double up as a Deli but this was a whole new edible suggestion to me!
 

Obviously I have tried rice pudding and semolina once I think but creamed macaroni!? It's there so I have to try it, just to see what it's like. 

I'll let you know!

“Don't think. Thinking is the enemy of creativity. It's self-conscious, and anything self-conscious is lousy. You can't try to do things. You simply must do things.”

- Ray Bradbury