The Christmas Season

The Christmas season is upon us.

Their is a hustle and bustle in the air as

shoppers set their mark. 

Yet, on this night..

A 

winter 

breeze 

 drifts thru 

my windowsill,

snowflakes dance.

A Nordmann Fir

awaits our eager touch.

Christmas music lifts me up, 

scented candles gleam in the moonlight

all the while, a mighty army of Nutcrackers 

stand and stare. I have my list and I am checking 

it twice. I have to step out for a wee while...to Australia 

and back. I will be returning with the best present of all,

my son. Then we will be six...at least for a little while.

The Christmas season is upon us.

The best season of all.

Image: V&A

Museum

A little Christmas Spirit

here

Colin Firth and The King's Speech

My kids will say...
'Oh, no here she goes again with Mr. Darcy'
but how can I not?

I just watched the trailer to
The King's Speech.
It is the story of King George VI
and his struggle to deal with a speech impediment.

Colin Firth and Australian actor, Geoffrey Rush

are in it along with Helena Bonham Carter.

The King's Speech will be released in the UK on 7 January 2011 . 

It looks brilliant!

Geoffrey Rush always has a twinkle in his eye
and doesn't Colin look fab :)

You Tube
Images: 1&2, 3

Jo Malone and Blue Agava and Cacao

Dear Friends,

I need your help. 

I am working on my Christmas list. 

I have checked it once and checked it twice. 

At the top, is my favourite Jo Malone fragrance. 

I want to be sure that Mr. H fully 

appreciates my passion

for this fragrance....

Do you think this will work?

Dear Mr H, 

Spray me once, spray me twice

 as all I want for Christmas 

is especially sweet and nice.

Jo Malone 

Blue Agava and Cacao 

Cologne

They say it dances on the skin,

they say it is passion inspired 

by the rhythm of Latin music.
La musica del amor...

Scented with fresh lime, 
zesty grapefruit, 

 the heart of the rare, 

blue agava flower. 

And...

every woman's dream, 

deep dark chocolate 

with the creamy 

vanilla spice note 

of the Cacao Bean.

Spray me once, spray me twice 

and if you are feeling

especially nice...

a cologne, a cream, a bath oil

and little drops of chocolate for el bano.

Aribba, Aribba!

Dear Readers, 

PS...do you think

 the whole collection

is a bit of a stretch?? 

Hmmm..perhaps, but

how about the chocolate?

Lindt, yum!

:) :)

Images: 

1, 3 & 4

2, 5

Annie Tempest and The Totterings

One sunny afternoon in September, 

I met a friend for lunch in Kent at the The Royal Oak in Edenbridge.  

It was there that I came across the work of Annie Tempest.

As I was leaving the pub I noticed a framed picture on the wall. 

I had a quick glance and smiled all the way home. 

 I did my usual frenzied google search and discovered

 that the answer to my question was at The O'Shea Gallery in London.

I could not have been more pleased when I walked thru the doors of the gallery. 

Not only was I greeted with a warm smile..I was in Tottering heaven. 

Everything relating to Annie Tempest can be found in this wonderful gallery. 

I eagerly stepped up to the desk and mentioned my crazy story about a pub, 

a picture of a bed, a dog and a TV.  The woman looked quizzical at first 

and then smiled.  She knew exactly what I was talking about and took me right to it.

'I don't think the bed scenes are very realistic..."

There is something about the casualness of it all..the dogs, the socks, the paper, 

the TV at the foot of the bed, the wine and I imagine a box of chocolates somewhere 

that I couldn't resist. This is not the sort of scene you imagine in a bed of such grandeur.  

I like the way the artist thinks and wonder what they would have said 

whilst watching Downton Abbey :)

Who are the Totterings? 

Lord and Lady Tottering reside at their ancestral home, Tottering Hall 

in the fictional county of North Pimmshire. They are known to each other 

and amongst their friends as Dicky and Daffy. They have a daughter, Serena 

and two grandchildren, Freddy and Daisy. The artist, Annie Tempest gives us amusing 

little insights into their lives. I have discovered that you do not have to be English 

to appreciate the delight of Dicky and Daffy. No matter what your nationality you 

are bound to find something that strikes a chord. 

They are endearing :)

"I know I said I was only going to look but it's a woman's

prerogative to change her mind, darling..."

"Darling, it's Hello! Magazine on the phone-they'd 

like to photography us in our gracious home..."

I was also endeared by this image of Annie Tempest 

and wanted to know more.

Annie started her career in 1993 with a cartoon strip 'Tottering-by- Gently' 

for Country Life Magazine. Her talent has taken her far as you can now find her 

delightful cartoons executed on china, stationary, textiles and more....you name it, she's got it. 

You can find it all and more at O'Shea Gallery and on her website. In fact, you can probably 

find it at a store near you. Annie has a strong international following and her work now 

reaches the far corners of the world. I am thinking that Annie's work would make 

great Christmas presents for those friends with a little twinkle in their eye, just like Daffy :)

 You can find O'Shea Gallery 

 4 St. James's St.

London SW1A 1EF

Images from www.tottering.com

and postcards purchased at O'Shea Gallery

Jeanne 

A Royal Wedding

A wedding, how exciting! Prince William and Kate Middleton 

have finally made an announcement. They are engaged. 

The word around town is that they will marry next spring or summer, 

giving Britain its biggest royal wedding since Prince Charles married Diana in 1981.

Do you remember when Diana and Charles married?

Better yet, did you watch it and do you recall where you were when you did?

For me, it was the wee hours of the morning in the USA.

What an event and my how times have changed.

It still brings a tear...

Images 1, 2, 3
You Tube

An Afternoon on the Seine

I was told to be sure to take the boat ride along the Seine when we arrived in Paris. 

Here I sit, 10 days later, looking thru a few of my photos and the first thought 

that comes to mind is to thank the person who suggested the trip. 

If you haven't been and you have plans to go to Paris someday....

be sure to take a boat ride along the Seine.

Life happens at its own pace and for the most part it happens slowly. 

I think it was one of the things I enjoyed most.

It was a late Thursday afternoon in October and the sun was kissing the day goodbye.

Whether by boat, bridge or  land you feel compelled to stop and take it all in.

We easily fell into step with everyone else.

Everywhere we looked autumn leaves were alight.

Every little detail was beautiful.

Shadows were just as happy in their stance as the person standing 

or sitting next to them.

The big guns then came tumbling along...

Notre Dame

The Eiffel Tower

and for me, I was equally happy with birds in flight,

a perfect end to a late afternoon trip along the Seine.

 images~me

Raindrops on London and Fragonard

One of the things I love about London is the rain.

There is just something about it. 

What probably makes it easier is that I have learned how to dress for rain. 

You have to be prepared. Light rain coat, umbrella, the right shoes, 

rain hat and a plastic bag to hold it all when needed. 

You have that and you can handle anything.

I love that even in with the darkest skies you can find something special.

I decided to take a little wander thru the Wallace Collection today.

It is a national museum within an historic London town house.

It contains 25 galleries of 18th century paintings, furniture, porcelain

and wonderful Old Master paintings along with armoury 

that my 10 year old son would love. 

Best of all is the beautiful courtyard with a cafe and brasserie.

Honestly, it is a gem and such a surprise when you open the door 

and see it nestled in the center of the building. 

image

If you ever need to get away from it all, rain or shine, 

go see the Wallace Collection. 

This was my second visit and I know it won't be my last.

Today, my favourite painting...

The Swing by Jean-Honore Fragonard (1767).

Pure delight!

images~me with exception of

Fragonard painting

Just to add to the fun...

read here

Taking in the Sunshine on Pimlico Road

This little fellow was just to sweet to pass up. 

Taking in the sunshine in a shop window

along Pimlico Road. 

Image ~ me

French, Italian, English...decisions, decisions

I am not sure which I enjoyed more, window shopping in Paris for women's or men's clothes.

 My daughter and I had fun looking at the Franck Namani windows on the rue de Castiglione. 

We both thought Mr. H could do with a little pick me up after checking out the windows here.

I have to say, after travelling to Rome, I thought Italian men had it all, no contest.

I had never seen so many handsome and immaculately dressed men in one place.

Now that I have lived in England for a while, I have started to think that English men 

have got the right idea.  After last weekend, I am just plain confused.

In Paris you find one store after another filled with beautiful men's clothes.
Can you say beautiful when you refer to men's clothes?
I have serious male envy at the moment.
I think I could create a day just around men's fashions
and be perfectly content ;)

and for women...

 Franck Namani

2 rue de Castiglione 

Paris 1er

How about you?

Do you have a preference when it comes to fashion?

English, Italian, French, another??

More on window shopping in Paris here

images~me