Spring-like weather...

We have had the most beautifully sunny weekend here in London - it certainly feels as if Spring is on its way.


My friend R was across from Dublin as we were attending a friend's birthday celebration on Saturday evening...but before then, we happily whiled away a few hours enjoying the sunshine in Richmond Park.

Followed by a lovely alfresco lunch on the terrace at Pembroke Lodge...

...such a lovely way to spend a few hours...

On film...

Over the weekend I saw a film called Third Star, which was released here on DVD in the UK late last year.

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The film follows the journey of James, a 29 year old with terminal cancer, and his three closest friends as they embark on a camping trip to Barafundle Bay on the Pembrokeshire Coast. What follows is a journey that tests their strength, their friendship, and their belief in what makes life worth living.


As you'd anticipate, the film invokes a range of emotions as the events unfold. But the sense of approaching loss is balanced not just by the humour, genuine caring and comradeship between the four friends, but also the simply beautiful surroundings of the Welsh coast. 

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It is not a film that is overly sentimental or wallows in melancholy - yet for anyone who has experienced the devastation and deterioration of someone to whom they are close as a result of cancer, there is a resonance...not least in terms of how does one chose to live the final stages of their life and their efforts to retain a sense of identity and dignity, and what does that mean for the people around them.

The story telling is simple and beautiful, and I've found myself recalling parts of this film quite regularly over the past days...

Personalising gifts...

It was my mother's birthday while I was in Sydney, and we had planned to spend the day revisiting an old childhood adventure of going to Manly on the ferry - alas, the perpetual rain put paid to that plan (we decided to delay it until I get back to Sydney in early April, in the hope of a sunny day on Sydney Harbour). Instead we spent the day up in Blackheath at the very top of the Blue Mountains...it was still raining, but the mist and cold was much more suited to the environs!


For my mother's birthday gift I decided to get her a nice cardigan in one of her favourite shades (it is actually a greeny-turquoise, even though it appears more blue in the photograph). As my mother taught me to embroider I decided to personalise it with a little bit of embroidery for her...

...some simple bullion roses and lazy-daisy's and the job was done. All in all it probably took me no more than 20 minutes to complete the embroidery, but it served to turn the gift into something special and unique for a very special person in my life...

Because it's Valentine's....

Image via Library of Design

It is Valentine's Day and the blog world is full of posts with gorgeous images and sentiments. So much so that I am not even going to try and emulate them. Instead, I am simply going to suggest that you head to Library of Design and see Janelle's post about Paris. I wrote a post a few weeks ago about receiving one of Janelle's books about Paris as a birthday gift. For those of you who have yet to discover her blog and beautiful photography you won't be disappointed with a visit. I'm sure you will be equally as enthralled as I was with the beauitful images - Paris and pink...what is there not to love about that?

Goodbye Rain...Hello Snow...

Image via

Image via

Well, it is hard to believe that three weeks have passed so quickly. Tomorrow I reboard the plane for the 23 hour return flight to London, after spending a lovely and relaxing few weeks with my family.

Image via SMH

Yes, it has rained most days that I have been in Sydney...including torrentially at times. My little home suburb had over 10cm of rain in 24 hours this week resulting in localised flooding - but thankfully, we weren't affected. But, the rain did not dampen the enjoyment that comes from spending time with people we are close to - particularly when one only sees them once a year.

And from all reports, I am about to fly into a very cold and snowy London...between recent reports from my airline about grounding of aircraft due to engineering problems, and reports from UK news that Heathrow cancelled 50% of flights last weekend as a result of the snow, it remains to be seen as to whether I will actually land as planned early on Monday morning...but all seems to be going to plan at present. All that is left is to re-pack the suitcase, have a farewell dinner with my family, and psych myself up for the 23 hours of tedium that is to come...oh, well.... 

...and I'll be flying back in 6 weeks for my university graduation, so it is not a long goodbye this time...

Sydney showers...

When one books a holiday to Sydney in the middle of what should be 'summer', one doesn't expect to be met by days on end of overcast skies and rain showers. Particularly when one grew up in this city and has memories of endless hot and sunny days.

However, this trip has failed to deliver on the weather front. For the past two days it has rained fairly constantly - at least the forthcoming weekend brings a return to intermittent showers. But, given that I am here to spend time with family and friends, the weather is really only a secondary concern (and at least it is warmer here than in London at present).

With my fair complexion, I've never been one for sitting on the beach (the outcome of which has only ever been sunburn and more freckles) - so I've been using my time to visit some favourite corners of Sydney. Last Friday I ventured to the inner city suburbs for just such an experience.

First stop - Surry Hills and Tessuti's.

An absolute treasure trove of dress fabric - and most impressively, many were 30% off in their sale.

There were some particular fabric loves among these beaded beauties. But, in the end I came home with this lovely black lace.

I feel that there is a a lace overlay cocktail dress somewhere in my future...and at $24 per metre, I was equally delighted by the price.

From there we moved to our second stop - Woollahra, and more specifically, Donna Hay's General Store...

I love Donna Hay cookbooks (as much for her gorgeous food styling as the recipies), and her general store located in a beautiful old terrace house did not disappoint. I would have taken many more photos but I have still yet to get over the embarrassment of whipping out my camera in the middle of a store and asking permission to take pictures...so this lovely window display had to satisfy instead. From there, a short wander up to Queen St for a coffee at a street side cafe watching the world go past was the perfect end to the morning's adventures...