Before, during, after

Cautionary note:  If wedding pictures aren't your thing, best walk on.

The venue for the special weekend was a north Yorkshire shooting estate. En route we made an emergency stop at a book shop after a last minute idea for a gift of a literary classic for the bride, replicating the one given to me by a vey dear friend on the day I was married.  The homemade cakes (chocolate with a hint of raspberry, tangy lemon, carrot and orange) survived the journey in the back of the mister's car and were handed over with a silent prayer that they'd stand up to the occasion. The
Girlie and her two oldest and best friends were holed up in the bridal
suite with chilled bottles of the fizzy stuff and what looked like most
of the contents of a Benefit makeup counter. The delightful Registrar and his assistant calmed nerves and the official bit was conducted with a perfect mix of seriousness and humour. The rest of the day also passed without hitch.  The seating plans, table decorations and flowers (all mostly made by the Girlie and her friends) looked great. The young photographer worked his socks off with lots (over 500) of candid shots amongst the more usual wedding pictures which capture the atmosphere so very well.  There was a band and dancing until late and the next day, both families and friends breakfasted together before journeying homewards to various parts of the UK.  The newlyweds took off for Cuba and we endured the three day drive to Spain where, once esconced in our little house, we did very little – for me, a bit of knitting (mittens), some DVD watching, a lot of reading accompanied by endless cups of decent-ish coffee courtesy of a new purchase and pre dinner walks with Boo on the campo with views of the lake in the distance.  So here we are in November and those recent knits have come in very, erm, handy.

 

Flying visit

Although I'm back from Spain, this is only a flying visit as I have a couple of work trips to York and Manchester.  Just enough time to empty the large holiday suitcase and pack the small weekend one!  I thoroughly enjoyed the break and did nothing more energetic than lounging, reading (more about what was read coming soon), eating and quaffing some very nice wine.  (The Husband is still in Spain doing some necessary house painting as he gets used to his new status). 

Whilst I was getting ready to go on holiday I found a (forgotten) Christmas present lurking in a drawer – a voucher for a day spa.  So I've a range of pampering treatments to look forward to one day next week, including a "Detoxifying Coffee & Spice Body Glow Scrub".  Wow.

Every picture tells a story

These are a few photographs taken during a recent holiday staying at our house in Spain.

  

Those abandoned sandals were a bit worrying but I think/hope they'd just been left behind rather than being a vital clue in a more sinister story.

   

If at first you don't succeed…..This poor beetle was trying desperately to get his haul up the wall.  Didn't like to point out it would have been quicker to go round it.

 

You see, it's all a bit droopy/heading south and I can't afford a facelift (and yes, if I had the money I'd elbow my way to the front of the queue) so I thought I'd give Eva's workout regime a try.  I did the  exercises for improving "the facial contour" (not recommended for public places, by the way, unless you enjoy being stared at and possibly punched) every day and followed the instructions to improve the  circulation to my face (involves a fair bit of slapping, tapping and stroking) to the letter.  I can honestly say that, at the end of the 10 day holiday, I looked not one jot better/younger/tauter.  Oh well, maybe my expectations were a tad unrealistic. After all, would an ordinary workout have given me a significantly younger looking body in 10 days?  I think not.  So, I'll keep at it and let you know what happens in the longer term.  Fingers crossed. But sitting up straight. Eva says so.

Home from home

Staying in our little house in Spain means different plants to check on

                                

different windows to pass on the stairs

                                  

different snacks to enjoy

                                

in different settings

                                

different favourites to visit

                                  

different treats

                                  

a different town to mooch around

                                  

different views to snap

                                  

Our home away from home.  Not necessarily better.  Just different.

The end of summer

Now that there is a definite autumnal feel (and smell, autumn has a definite smell don’t you think?) in the air, summer is well and truly over and with it, summer holidays.  Ours in Spain was better than ever this year as, choosing to go slightly later than we usually do, the weather was kinder, i.e. cooler, especially for sightseeing in Granada where we spent a couple of days.  This was our first trip to the city and a visit to the Alhambra at the top of our "to do" list.  It was well worth it.

   

And of course one of the best bits about being on holiday was having the time to read these.

And so the end of summer. The yet to be used (and painted) Adirondack garden chair to be stored away, the plant pots to be emptied and refilled with spring flowering bulbs, the charity Christmas catalogues,which arrived in August, to be pored over, the annual post holiday diet to be started.  And best of all?  Polo neck sweaters, long boots and winter coats to be reacquainted with.  Yeh!!