More soon

Lots of life going on at the moment, but just wanted to check in and say hug your loved ones and make sure you tell them how grateful you are for having them in your life. It's so easy to forget to let them know xx

Late winter at Kew

It's a truly miserable day here today; it's raining heavily and very windy, so I reckon it's a good idea to post these pictures from a couple of weeks ago, when we went for our first Kew Gardens visit of the year - and totally lucked out with the weather. I know I say it every time I post pics from there that it's an amazing place, but it's true, it really is. And even though it doesn't feel like it today, warmer and longer days are just around the corner, and I'm seriously looking forward to going back and checking out spring there very soon 💚

Outdoors in the countryside

Got two walks in during our time in the Cotswolds, and here a 46-year old uncle and a 15-year old nephew are racing to the top of a hill as a gentle warm-up. I'm not sure who won, but it was very close...

We always always go for the same walk, which follows a disused railway track, hence the trees growing apart like this.

I love how this guy will always have a go, even though we're turning older and creakier.

It doesn't look it here, but this part is really steep, and there's no graceful way to get down it. This is when good sticks come in handy.

I'd love to print this huuuuuuge. A bit bleak maybe, but so pretty in real life.

My favourite part of this walk are these tall pine trees, where it's dead quiet, apart from the breeze in the treetops, and the sound of us taking pictures, haha.

On our way back the sun came out, and the light was all 😍

On our second day the sun came out, so we brought a frisbee, like you do.

These guys came right up to us and let us stroke them - I have never stroked a cow before! Usually they're so timid, but they stayed close to us for ages. It wasn't until when we're walking away, and they started mooing at the sound of a jeep driving nearer, that we realised that they had mistaken us for their farmers, and that it in fact was their feeding time. Figures.

My little man, even littler. We're all in agreement that we need to go back when it's warmer, and explore more of what's around locally, like big gardens and stately homes and random little museums - and find new walks. We'll be back.

Indoors in the countryside

At half-term a couple of weeks ago, we headed out to the Cotswolds again for a couple of nights away. We went with our sister-in-law and Oomoo's cousins, and here's O waiting for them to arrive.

Oomoo called us outside later in the day to watch these starlings fly around in formation, and even if it wasn't in the usual quantities of a murmuration, it was still really impressive.

One of Oomoo's cousins balancing on an armchair, while we played an evening round of Balderdash. 

The morning view from the kitchen. So pretty.

Breakfast time.

One of my father-in-law's linocuts in the bathroom. We're lucky to have quite a few of his lino and woodcut prints in our place too.

Another round of Balderdash - which is such a fun game. Have you tried it?


On another note I'm relieved the warm weather we had last week has gone. It was really nice to feel the warmth and be outside in the sunshine, but +21c in February is not normal and frankly scary!