Christmas baking...

A little bit of last minute festive shortbread baking to make some small gifts for my work colleagues, and to take to lunch on Wednesday...

 

Wishing you all a very merry Christmas and a lovely festive season.

 

The Twelve Days of Christmas...

Image via

 

On Wednesday evening I attended the annual Christmas carol service held by the charity that supports the hospitals for whom I work. It was as lovely as usual, but also as per usual it included a full rendition of The Twelve Days of Christmas.

Midway through verse 10, I was reminded of these amusing thank you notes from Emily to Edward in response to his generous gift giving.

The Twelve Thank You Notes of Christmas

I hope you find them as gently amusing as I do...

 

Istanbul...

View from the breakfast terrace at our hotel

Last week I spent 5 days in Istanbul with my friend L. L was returning from a work trip via Istanbul so it was the perfect opportunity for me to visit a city that I had long wanted to explore and spend time with a very good friend at the same time.

I very happily relinquished decision-making responsibility and let L lead us around all of the treasures of the city (starting with her most excellent choice of hotel in Sultanahment, where most of the sights were within walking distance or an easy tram ride away). Never before have I encountered a city where you are so surrounded by evidence of three distinct empires - Byzantine, Roman and Ottoman. It has inspired me to brush up on my history - fortunately my return to London has co-incided with the broadcast of a 3-part documentary on Istanbul.

We visited bazaars (Grand Bazaar, the spice bazaar and Arresta Bazaar)...

The beauty of Aya Sofya...

one for my mother

and the Blue Mosque...

The gorgeous painted tiles at the Topaki Palace...

The haunting beauty of the Basilica Cistern...

We also had a very early start one day in order to travel to Gallipoli and tour the battlegrounds. Our guide was excellent, presenting a balanced view of the conflict from both the ANZAC and Turkish perspectives...

We tried virtually every type of traditional Turkish food - kebab, kofti, borek, and the local fast food speciality (a fish sandwich) by the side of the Bosphoros...

...and I took great delight in trying baklava from all of the recommended patisseries in the guide book...even a final day purchase to enjoy at the airport while waiting for my flight...

...I fear I am still having withdrawals from my daily hit of sugar, pastry, pistachio nuts and honey...

Istanbul was fabulous - I'd highly recommend it (and thanks L for being such a wonderful 'tour leader' and helping to put the world to rights over our Turkish wine...)

Sew Over It and the 1940's wrap dress...

I have spent the most enjoyable last two Sundays at Sew Over It in North Clapham. Sew Over It is described as a sewing cafe and they provide a range of classes ranging from introductory level through to quite advanced dressmaking techniques. They offer classes on both weekends and evenings. I had booked to attend a class on making a 1940's wrap dress back in the summer, but due to the popularity, I had to wait until the next round of classes in November for a slot.

So on a cold and grey Sunday last week I ventured to North Clapham. The shop/cafe is only a short walk from the tube station...and what a lovely space in which to spend a day...

Surrounded by fabrics, plied with tea and the most gorgeous cake, myself and three other students embarked on our wrap dress project. The quality of the teaching was superb (the lovely Julie has spent her career originally working as a costumier and then in bridal design), and she was so patient in answering all of my questions on the slightly tricky/finishing/fitting techniques that have hampered my sewing in the past.

Given that we are now in winter, I chose a lovely teal wool crepe from Stone Fabrics. I was continuing my attempt to add some colour to my wardrobe and I'm so pleased I did. The colour is lovely and it was so beautiful to sew with.

And on to the finished product...

I'm already looking forward to wearing it...and considering what other fabrics/variations I may use on the pattern in future...as well as considering what other classes in which to enrol (the Coco jacket is a definite!)

 

Marblehead and Concord, MA....

When I knew that my scholarship trip was going to take me to Boston in the autumn, I immediately determined to extend my trip for a few extra days so that I could enjoy a few days holiday in New England. The opportunity to experience the beauty of the fall foliage and the lovely historical villages was too good to pass up.

I based myself at the Harbour Light Inn in Marblehead - a lovely, seaport town dating from the 1600's only 45 mins North of Boston. I loved Marblehead - I think I could have taken a photograph of every clapboard house in the village! I also had the good fortune to enjoy some lovely sunny days, although it was very cold!

On one of my days, I drove west to Concord - another very historic town in Massachussets. Concord was the site of the first battle in what was to become the American Revolution. My purpose in visiting was a little more literary. Concord was home to some eminent names in literary and social development circles (Emerson and Thoreau). Their near neighbour was Amos Alcott - father of Louisa May Alcott, author of Little Women (and many other titles).

I have always loved the story of Jo and her sisters, so visiting the house where Alcott both wrote the book, but that also served as the setting for her story was something I was keen to do.

Orchard House

Concord itself is also a lovely village - and was my final opportunity to enjoy the magnificent colours...

And now I'm back to the normal daily routine - but in my absence London has donned it's winter cloak and the Christmas lights are already twinkling - so it is good to be home...

Connecting over tea...

Yesterday afternoon, I had the lovely opportunity to attend my first blogger event. On a cold and damp London afternoon, tucked away in Covent Garden, twenty UK/European based blogger's met for that most perfect way to while away several hours....afternoon tea.

Brilliantly organised by Selena of Oh, the places we will go, we met in the Mercer Hotel in the Seven Dials area of Covent Garden. It was such a lovely time to put faces to several names/blogs that I have followed for a while, and also to meet so many other lovely blog authors. The hours flew by...appropriately accompanied by bubbles, sandwiches and baked goods.

Although I've now had this blog for a few years, it was the first chance I'd had to connect with this community in a real sense - and one I hope to repeat in the future.

It was lovely to meet you all...

Selena from Oh, the place we will go!

Gina from Sweet Serenity

Mandy from Emm in London

Erin from Erin Out and About

Sarah from The Experience Collection Project

Sarah from The Wanderblogger

Bonnie from A Compass Rose

Tina from Girl Meets Globe

Jacintha from Urban Pixxels

Anna from Eat, See, Do 

Emma from Adventures of a London Kiwi

Janelle from The Halfpenny Diaries

Jaklien from Passport and Toothbrush

Kara from Pen Plus Passport

Sarah from The Secret Life of an Unknown Housewife

Shobha from NYLon Living

Kelly from Around the World in 80 Pairs of Shoes

Melanie from Melanie Fontaine

Samantha from To the Days Like This

I hope you all enjoyed the afternoon as much as I did - and thanks again to Selena for organising such a wonderful event!