beautiful bath and other bits of the west country

Did I tell you we have friends who have moved to Bath to open a B& B? Last weekend we visited and from the minute we got there, literally, we were on the move. We had a whirlwind tour of that part of the west country in 4 days! our favourites were Bradford on Avon and Wells with numerous little villages thrown in for good measure. Tetbury was very pretty but the rain was unrelenting so no snaps, oh but there was champagne in a lovely hotel the Hare and Hounds nearby. Will go back next time to visit all the antique shops. Oh and Laycock where Cranford was filmed........ was just like a, well.....like a film set really. Except a coach load of American's had just arrived so it was impossible to get a great picture. Fantastic short break with some very generous people. they will make excellent hosts.

Back at chez nous we are in the grip of exam angst here in the small town......life in general for youngest is not going too well so I am doing lots of positive speak, cooking up a storm of comfort food(Jamie's steak and cheese pie was a massive hit, try it if you haven't yet).

Good news was all my tests came back good and apart from the recurring 'lose weight and exercise more' , the Dr's mantra, all good. Just need to sort the teen out.......oh if it were only that easy.

how will she manage down under.........

Saturday night we went to London to stay with good friends. A veritable feast was laid on by L as always and we had a very lovely evening, consuming lots of delicious wine and cheese (always my favourite part-don't tell the doctor) until we wore ourselves out chatting and retired to bed.

My mobile starts its merry tune waking me from my alcoholic slumber......its youngest child, near hysterical . There's been a power cut, street lights and all and she can't see a thing. What should she do? As I am 40 miles away and not in a fit state to drive I cannot rush to her aid, as is my first instinct. Instead I direct her to a candle then on to the matches under the sink..all the time praying that whoever used them last actually put them back. Her panic is rising now, I think it's worse now she has a little bit of light. (not helped I think by the fact she was watching something unpleasant when the lights went.)

I stay on the phone while she gets to her bedroom and gets in bed. I try and calm her, whilst Herb is muttering about how she is 17 etc etc!

She is in bed and I reluctantly say goodnight......I settle down with my phone in my hand just in case.

Next day she is quite traumatised and got a friend to stay on the phone for over an hour providing company in the darkness.

What, I want to know is, how will she manage when she's on the other side of the world ?.......

Its been a while...........

but I couldn't stay away any longer especially when I had such a lovely comment from Diane .

Eldest child has been home now for 5 weeks from uni. Its been lovely having her home, the only downside being the fake tan on the white towels and the once more squalid state of her bedroom, but that's not that bad is it? Tonight she is cooking us all a lovely meal with 'come dine with me recipes' and its all looking highly professional so far. Back tomorrow.

We picked her up from York before Easter and stayed overnight which was a real treat. The three of us had a real lovely afternoon walking round the city before a slap up meal and then back to the hotel ( I love staying in a hotel, mainly because of the laundered sheets!)..........next morning early Herb and I did the city walls and he showed me his old school which is now St Johns uni.




However the real high of the past few weeks was the Yorkshire sculpture park.....it was an amazing day out and I don't believe it would have to be just a love of modern sculpture for this to be a real treat. We were a mixed group, 6 to 60 and we all really enjoyed the day. True the weather was glorious, like summer, which helps any day out along but also the sculpture was fab (my favourite was definitely the wonderful Sophie Ryder and Henry Moore pieces). The 'bunny 'pieces as my niece called them are really amazing, made I think from galvanised wire and the kneeling sculpture stands probably 25 feet. Wonderful.



the park, views, exhibitions all a real treat....and its free to get in (£4 to park) how much better could it be. We took a picnic but there is a cafe. ....As you can tell, I'm a real fan of the place...please go if you're near Wakefield you wont be disappointed.


The low of the past month is that I've not felt great and am awaiting the results of a whole range of tests. It really brought me down, so much so that creativity has gone out of the window unusually for me. I've started and abandoned lots of projects(except this little experiment which is now with the other half started pieces dumped behind the sofa). However I am a lot more positive now and am sure all will be ok. Those few words D made a difference...thank you

what next......

Having failed to get onto any degree course for fine art, youngest has a new plan. Can you guess? something that maybe would cause a shiver in the heart of any parents of a 17 year old...........yes you guessed....she wants to go travelling to Australia!

This is a girl who when she was about to miss the train returning from York recently, kept texting in a frenzy for a solution to getting home because she couldn't think of one herself!..she is the most adorable, loving, fun kid.....but maybe not particularly street wise (or is that just a mother talking?)......AUSTRALIA!

I managed a weak smile, Herb never looked up from the paper. ''yes of course I've always wanted you to do the travelling I didn't....lets talk about it later''...I said as I hurried to the computer and dashed off several emails for foundation courses in art.

I have a very dear friend...........

whom I love very much. He is a wonderful man, who I have know for over 20 years and who is really the best friend any woman could want.

We have shared the best of times and the very worst of times in those twenty years. I can talk to him about nearly everything, he is a wonderful cook, we love to talk about hopes and dreams for our families, we share problems, he is the life and soul of every party (which I am definitely not) and his version of 'Amore', is a must at any event.

He is the snappiest dresser ever( its the Italian in him) and I can't imagine not having him in my life. On top of all that I am very close friends with his wife, godparent to one of his children and we share all occasions. We even went to Italy together several years ago, with the blessing of our spouses and had a wonderful time eating our way through Tuscany.

Today my friend is 50 and we are off tonight to celebrate with him and the family. They have had a very tough decade and my wish is that the next 10 years will be kinder in every way.

Well, what do you buy this man as a present.......these which I know he will adore, he's a sucker for a label. Happy birthday dearest friend.

o

Thank you.....

for all the kind thoughts and words. Of course she got back safe and sound, floating through the door at 1 am declaring it the best night of her life! One of the band had held her hand , gazed into her eyes and sang just to her! Ah.......should I spoil the moment, telling her how worried I had been all night, rant and rave about how stupid she had been to get in the car with an inexperienced driver in those conditions.............No of course I didn't, after listening to all and I mean all the details, I casually mentioned that maybe it hadn't been the best of ideas, she paused, 'that's why I didn't tell you she said'.....before floating up the stairs, leaving me to wait for the effects of the strong coffee to wear off and calm down..........who'd be a parent.................we would!!!!

am hopping mad..........

and more than a little bit scared. Arrived home late after visiting an old friend after work, the motorway was treacherous with driving rain , the usual maniacs that drive lorries and the 4 x 4's that don't have their beam on but might just as well have as they are blinding you being that much higher up(I have a small car!) ....only to find that youngest has gone to her JLS concert in London, which I knew about, not in the friends car, that I thought ( she been driving for 18 months-which is worrying enough).....oh no, they have gone down the motorway in these filthy weather conditions, with a friend who passed her test 3 weeks ago and has never driven on a motorway in the day never mind tonight...........I am trying to be calm, but just want her to walk through the door! am sat here pulling at my hair as it turns white.