...going to weddings!

A few weekends ago we went to a good friend's wedding. It was a beautiful day full of eating, drinking and celebrating the beginning of an exciting new chapter. There were so many things that I loved about this wedding; the setting, the food, the endless prosecco, the handmade decorations. But what I will remember most are two things-
1. This dress!

(photos are a bit blurring-shows how fun it was!)

2. This poem that the bride's sister read at the ceremony. For me, it is so fitting and really sums up what a happy and lasting marriage is about. I hope you enjoy.

Atlas

There is a kind of love called maintenance
Which stores the WD40 and knows when to use it;

Which checks the insurance, and doesn’t forget
The milkman; which remembers to plant bulbs;

Which answers letters; which knows the way
The money goes; which deals with dentists

And Road Fund Tax and meeting trains,
And postcards to the lonely; which upholds

The permanently rickety elaborate
Structures of living, which is Atlas.

And maintenance is the sensible side of love,
Which knows what time and weather are doing
To my brickwork; insulates my faulty wiring;
Laughs at my dryrotten jokes; remembers
My need for gloss and grouting; which keeps
My suspect edifice upright in air,
As Atlas did the sky.

UA Fanthorpe

Congratulations Kate and Adrian!

Maria x

Weekend fun with The Tickled Pig and Quinns Quinney

After a really stressful week (Ofsted) It was great to forget our woes and eat lots of amazing fresh organic food care of The Tickled Pig restaurant in Wimborne, at their anniversary party at Pamphill Farm. The food was amazing and well worth the entry fee (I can't wait for someone to generously take me for a meal at their restaurant one day) The evening got even better with the arrival of my friends the well known  skifflers of;  Quinns Quinney. The event was lovely and reinforced why I love Dorset so much; kids running around chucking hay and families munching into local food and cider. This is what life is all about! An excellent tonic to a gruelling week!

This was just half of it! 

My friends little boy loved the hay pit! 

 Daisy - I wanted this dog so badly! 

Hope you had a great weekend! 

Get in touch if you know of any other Dorset events 

that just can't be missed! 

Gem x

soaking up the May Bank Holiday Sun!

The May Bank holiday started off with a cold and windy Friday evening, my sister came down that evening, and there seemed little chance of the predicted hot weather. But we were welcomed in to a very sunny Saturday morning, so we flew out of bed and jumped into the car for a road trip to Hengistbury head. I had been there before on an RSPB walk in the dusk, and promised myself that the next weekend I had, I would venture to Mudeford Sandbank and have a good nose at the luxury beach huts (I know what I would buy if I won the lottery) from there we took a boat to Christchurch and had a tasty lunch at Cheese & Alfie's, followed by Quinns Quinney at the Thomas Tripp in Lymington. Sunday was spent on the water paddle boarding (attempting to) followed by an all night secret beach party on Shell Bay nick named Shellbaystonbury. It was amazing, but I think I'm getting to old for 'all nighters' it's taken me a week to recover! The sun rise made it all worth it though, as we peddled onto the 6am Ferry, ready for our beds! The rest of my week has been very restful due to the bad weather and having my tooth pulled out, but I'm looking forward to one more busy sunny weekend before my mind is taken over by work!

I hope you have all been enjoying the sunshine!

Have a great weekend! 

Gem x

......reminiscing about New Year

Happy New Year!  I have now returned safe and sound from the wonderful mountains of Snowdonia. I hope that my year continues to be full of beautiful sites, friends, laughter, silliness, good food and wine and plenty of merriment. I didn't need to be anxious, as soon as we hit Wales I soon relaxed and soaked up the countryside. 

Portmeirion was just as lovely as I remembered it, we were in the Scandinavian looking Toll House again this year but were given one of the best rooms in the house; The 360 degree loft room, it was pretty snug and Tuesday night we thought we were going to get blown away but it was worth it for the view! 

We rented this amazing house and the house next door called battery with a group of friends. We spent New Years eve celebrating by dressing up as the creator of Portmeirion Sir Clough Williams- Ellis. My sister and I ran around Porthmadog Charity shops and managed to pull together some convincing outfits. 

Clough Williams- Ellis

Friends as Clough! 

Clough Shadows - I wonder what the neighbours thought?

Sir William Clough- Ellis - signature yellow socks

When we weren't dressing up as 'Cloughy' we spent our day's walking in the woods and playing Frisbee and watching episodes of the cult series the Prisoner. I love going away for New Year, the end of Christmas can feel a little sad so it feels like a real treat to getaway. 

I am really excited about what this year is going to bring - I am going to have to do some thinking about my New Years resolutions. In the mean time I'm going to curl up in front of the fire with the family and enjoy the last days of freedom before work beckons my brain!

gem x

...wishing you a Happy New Year!

Last night was lots of fun. My sister, brothers and their significant others, and ourselves got together at my parent's house for some good food, cocktails and dad's infamous quiz. There was chicken-so much chicken. And cheese. We saw 2013 in with style. Today has been hard work to say the least. Hope you all had a fun evening!
Happy 2013!
Maria x