Of late...in pictures

I had a brilliant time taking my family away for an activity weekend in a little luxury lodge. I worked hard and saved money and paid for it and made sure everyone had a great time. We did horse-riding, archery, fencing and tree-top assault course as well as swimming and have spa treatments. One the sunday we had a huge christmas-style dinner as we knew we werent going to see each other much over the festive month and had presents I gave to everyone and enjoyed table top games, home baked food such as the profiteroles by me and the bagels by my very excellent dad! It was a great weekend and a great time building memories and good times! I'm proud of myself for organising and pulling off what was a great little get-away!

Love this picture of one of the last glorious days of indian summer

Went with my godson for his first ever visit to Santa!....he was more fascinated by the lights than the man himself...!

The nights have gotten colder and everyone is already snuggling up for cosy warmth...including Indy the piggy!

Went out with my girlies for a girly lunch which was brilliant as always especially to catch up with them and consume lots of wonderful food!

I really been enjoying this change in the seasons, especially with my mind set of looking and taking in the small things for what they are and enjoying the beauty they offer. Be it natural beauty...

artificial beauty...

Beauty from the streets...(its a real banksy!)

...and beauty with my loved ones and all the things we do.

I got to meet one of my heroes a few days ago! I'm so happy I got that chance!
I met Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, a British celebrity chef, tv personality, journalist, food writer and campaigner for "real food" and the owner of River Cottage franchise/restaurants. He inspired a lot of my cooking to date, and because of him I now always look and ask where does my food come from, the welfare of animals as after all healthy animals gives good meat and to date he is the sole reason why supermarkets now primarily stock free range chicken and eggs. He knows we cant be organic and vegetarian but he asks us to respect all food and enjoy it at its best. He also for me, inspired seasonal cooking. Why would you cook something pass it's best our of its growing season and we are all so badly out of touch with where and when our food comes to us. Total respect to this man! plus...he loved my hair! (i had a fan-crush and blurted out "I dyed it for you Hugh!" total cringe-fest!)
Made my day, week and month for sure!

Oh...and my bangs are back!

If you are curious of what I'm getting up to and don't see any posts here, you can check out me out on instagram riiiiiight here (click it here man!)

hope you are all well!

Birdie Love to you all
xxx

sunday

Its nice that everyone once in a while, a lazy sunday emerges that is a little different

 I caught a star (starfish) today so make your wish! :)

Happy sunday!

Birdie Love
xxx

a weekend away

Hi!
I'm back!
How are you all? Hope you are well!

I've been away and taking time out amongst other things which has been great to do!

I went away for a girly weekend to celebrate a hen-do! It wasn't your typical, drunken do, it was a very nice affair where we all used the local facilities and did zorbing, tree climbing, swimming and well as par-take in using the spa and treatments!

We had a ball staying in these wonderful little wooden lodges that made us all think of those alpine ski-lodges and pixies working away in santa's grotto so by the time we got in, we all felt so christmassy and cosy!

there's nothing like gathering around a cosy table in a warm room full of girlies in pjamas and sharing wine!

I had to show you the door handles in the place! they are branches!

The view is stunning in the morning, with the lodge and it's balcony so high up into the tree line, we could hear the birds singing and see squirrels rustling along branches overhead. The surrounding lands were ours to explore!

The place is so beautiful and peaceful! its really restorative to myself for being here. we all had a chance to rest and do what we wanted and come together in the evenings for food and enjoyment!

We all did some crazy sports like thee water zorbing! Great fun and its like being in a giant bubble...you cannot stand for the life of you though!

Food there was nice as well as the village we stayed in, so beautiful and so in tune with its natural surroundings!

me with my birdie covered wellies, carrying a bag from the local farm shop full of goodies including locally made sherbet UFO sweeties! Nommers!

yummy locally made cakes for desserts!

don't ask...i was this dude for one night...!

fooooood! I had a whole 12oz steak to myself! rubs belly*

sunday roast was huuuuge! The beef slices alone were massive enough before I even added the vegables and trimmings!

I had the nicest of times dressing to reflect the seasonal change and enjoying the brisk cool air on my walks. I do love autumn!

The farm shop stocked so much local goodies, all so yummy and such a nice treat to buy, take back to the lodge and curl up in the warmth!

The journey home though sucked!
It was nice to take time away and enjoy your own space and reflect, heal and grow.
I had a nice time getting pampered and massaged and came home with lovely painted tootsies and having  some lovely memories of the weekend away.
It was the first time I been away since the accident and it meant alot I could do this and be alright!
go me!


How are you all? Hope you are all well!


Birdie Love!
xxx