Enough time today to tackle my photograph mountain. While trawling through all the colour I realised I had all sorts of beautiful natural tones and textures which deserve a little appreciation all on their own.
A roof at Great Dixter, and all these lovely images from inside the barn.
An amazing wall in Rye…
Luxurious textiles at Sheffield Park…
And a shell encrusted anchor on the sea front of Hastings.
Now I know that you will look at this and say that anyone who wears pink crocs has no taste anyway, but really….
…I dragged Tim and Thomas and Celia round most of Rouen looking for a dog bed that was aesthetically pleasing. Turning down brown paw prints and zebra stripes, pink nylon and cartoon doggies and finally getting these rather smart checks for a smart little dog. Three sleepless nights later, Tim, Higgins and I are in ‘Pets At Home’ looking for a water bowl into which Higgins couldn’t put all his bedding at three in the morning. Tim called Higgins and me over to the bedding display. “I know you don’t like them but…” and held out a sqidgy, soft, baby blue, fur fabric, Paris Hilton inspired (probably), overpriced dog bed . I showed it to Higgins who crawled out my arms and into the bed, heaved a big sigh and went straight to sleep. I had to walk round the store carrying him on the bed like a page with a glass slipper until we got to the check out where the assistant asked where to look for the bar code.
And he’s been there, mostly, ever since. Probably getting his strength up for tonight’s yodelling recital. He was far to tired to go for a walk down the garden…
Although he was sorry about that.
So, another day has passed, and still no opportunity to fill my blog with colour and erudite observations. If I have another sleepless night I will only manage gibberish…But, just to keep my spirits up, here are some of the flowers Higgins hasn’t eaten, yet.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m soooo tired!
I was always quite good at those ‘the dog ate my homework’ excuses when I was at school – my mother will vouch for that! But for quite sometime I have been without a four legged friend at which to point the finger. Not any more! So now, without further ado, I will introduce the reason why an exciting, colourful and in depth post about Great Dixter has not yet been forth coming… 
A teeny tiny spot on the landscape, called Higgins.
He’s very sweet…
…in fact completely adorable. It’s a shame about the noise like a crateful of seagulls when put to bed at night! So we’re working on that, and the five am starts!
He’s keeping very busy…
…and helping me with my diary, so I’m sure we’ll be back in the swing of things very soon.
Our usual trips to visit the French branch of the family involve driving along featureless motorways packed with cars as we head towards the Channel Tunnel. This time we decided it would be nice to actually see some of the south coast of England on the way and so booked a few nights in Hastings at Cavalier House.
Tim had left me with the Country Living Guide book so I had drawn up a short list of interesting places to go, only thirty four of them!
Once we had left the nightmare that is the M25 we headed south on real roads, with scenery. I have really fallen for East Sussex, a bit hilly, a bit windy (as in winding, not blowing) and lots of leafy green tunnels. Very picturesque villages, roadside farm shops full of fruit, and then as we approached Hastings, glimpses of the sea. Our B & B located, we unloaded the luggage and set off into Hasting Old Town to explore. Just a few steps from Cavalier House was George Street, hung with bunting and with the tables and chairs of small bars and restaurants spilling out on to the pedestrianised street. Very European, very inviting!
We filled in the time before an evening meal with a spot of window shopping…
I would have quite liked to have taken this vintage sign home, along with this tea set…
If I couldn’t have the tea set, I did have a wonderful pot of fresh mint tea at the end of our meal at Latham’s Brasserie, and, to the music of the seagulls(?) we wandered back for a good nights sleep. My plan for the following day? Top of that list of thirty four places of interest was Great Dixter…but that’s for another post.
So there I was, looking at the blogs I like, then looking at the blogs that the blogger whose blogs I like, likes and then finding that those blogs have links to other blogs….well, I’m sure you get the picture. Anyway, I have twice found blogs I really like, and have wanted to follow, and got distracted, and ..lost it. I’ve gone back through the history, but … So that’s why I can’t give you a link to the site where I found this delicious and incredibly easy biscotti recipe. I do feel duty bound however to pass on something so yummy and simple to make so I think Planet Penny needs a recipe page…Hmm, resident geek is away, can I do this all alone….?
Well, we didn’t expect to meet HIM on a Norwich street! I know nothing about him, who he is or where he came from, but it’s a really good way to top a bollard! We were ‘up the ci’y’ today combining hair cuts with a Louise Richardson and Andy Campbell exhibition. (It’s Thursday again!)
Our hairdresser is situated in the Royal Arcade in Norwich, which is a pretty good place to start to the day. While Kit was in the chair, I went off to the market where the nice lady on the wool stall was, as usual, able to supply exactly what I needed.
In this case, the wherewithall for portable holiday knitting, and a start on Christmas presents for nearest and dearest!
Our intended destination was the King of Hearts, to see an exhibition by Louise Richardson and Andrew Campbell. It was a really inspiring exhibition. Although their work is very different in execution, the overall effect in an exhibition situation blends beautifully, and the space at the King of Hearts works very well.
Gotto Collection
Some of the pieces were displayed behind glass, making it difficult to do them justice with a photograph,but I do have some particular favourites. These by Louise…
and these by Andrew…
As well as an exhibition space, The King of Hearts has a music room for lunchtime concerts…
I would point out that the wonkiness is due, not to a faulty camera or even a liquid lunch, but to Tudor builders! A shop full of beautiful craftsman (craftswoman, craftsperson?) made pieces…
And a sunny courtyard..
Where we ate lunch.
Refreshed, both in body and spirit, we headed up Magdalen Street in search of the Park and Ride bus, but were distracted by a bargain set of curtains in the Oxfam shop anda wonderful Emporium of vintageness in the old Looses building…
At this point I would have been grateful to find a pair of Louise Richardson’s shoes to take me home, rather than a bus!
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