Not so baby steps

Big day today....BIG DAY.

We've been separated two year so it was time to talk the big D.

I mentioned, he agreed, I said I'd send the papers, he said fine.

It's happening, in the next few months I'll be divorced.

So married before I was 30 and divorce started before I'm 40.

Hey I really do those milestones right?

So it's moving forward, moving on, just moving.

I feel sad and happy and sad and well sad I guess.

Phew big day, big steps.

A few fab things for Christmas

I know its still two months away but sometimes getting in early is the way forward (those of you that know me will find this hard to read...)

Some ideas for what to buy people



personalised 'your top twenty songs' print by milly's cottage | notonthehighstreet.com - £34, what a fab idea for someone who loves their music.




Want yo do your  bit for Bees but a full on bee hive a bit too much of a committment?  Well how about a Bee hotel?

http://www.notonthehighstreet.com/wudwerx/product/small-bee-hotel - £19.95 for one tier, but scroll down for the more delux 2 and 3 tier hotels!



He always needs socks right? So here's an answer to the missing sock dilema - http://www.notonthehighstreet.com/twistedtwee/product/a-pair-and-a-spare-socks - £12




Have a canine friend who is the best thing since sliced bread?  Then this is perfect for £29.50, you can personalise the breed and text  http://www.notonthehighstreet.com/sundaebest/product/personalised-puppy-print



Or a little person who love the doggie? http://www.notonthehighstreet.com/sgtsmith/product/personalised-robot-and-robot-dog-t-shirt £19 for this personalised t-shirt



And for the stylish pooch him (or her) self http://www.notonthehighstreet.com/muttsandhounds/product/audly-hand-quilted-waterproof £45



This personalised family tree is a lovely gift for friends http://www.notonthehighstreet.com/kyleighspapercuts/product/personalised-family-tree-papercut its not cheap at £55 but I think its lovely.



Want something that keeps on giving - look the Cake Slice Club will deliver a slice a cake a month for 3 or 6 months (£18.50 or £36) http://www.notonthehighstreet.com/thecakenest/product/cake-club

An alternative to dundee cake and marmalade for Gran - look at this:



http://www.notonthehighstreet.com/crumb/product/cake-and-mulled-wine-christmas-gift-box for £24 this is a great gift and they have some other fab afternoon tea box sets too.


Right I am off to start my Christmas shopping.  Enjoy!

40th Birthday Afternoon (Gin) Tea

It was London Cocktail week recently and whilst I couldn't get to any of the bar events that week I did manage to go to a Ginstitute with my brother and Helen from the office.

We tottered down to Seven Dials for our 6pm class run by our Gin Instructor Mr Jake F Burger (you can read a bit more about him here (paywall)) and our small class of five settled down to learn more about Gin.  We were served with a lovely fresh Tom Collins made with their very own Portobello Gin (which you could buy on the day to take home).

We learned about the basics - and the need for Gin to be predominantly juniper in flavour then he led us through the various botanicals, spices, peppers and fruits and then a few surprises including a distillate made from Tea.....

We then got to blending our own which was signed off by the Ginstructor and sealed up to take home - the blend is recorded and kept on file (see mine CW004) so you can re-order as and when.

Helen, Jon and I made very different Gins - Helen's was a perfect sophisticated Martini blend - clean with a great kick at the end, whilst Jon's was robust and spicey - a perfect for Christmas Martini's.

Mine is more delicate and makes a lovely refreshing G&T.

If you fancy it then you can find out more here I'll be sharing mine with friends as part of my 40th Birthday celebrations next month.  In the mean time I'm enjoying the Portobello Gin; chin chin x

St Mawes & Portscatho

It's the last day of our jolibobs so we took advice from friends and headed to St Mawes & Portscatho  

We started at the visitor centre and picked up a map, then headed down to the harbour for breakfast.  Himself nipped to the butchers who gave us some fresh bones for Goose for the price of a small donation to the air ambulance.

Whilst sat out eating we saw today's freshly made Cornish pasties being delivered to the bakery, we snaffled two to take home for a late lunch and they had all three of us drooling.

We sauntered up to the castle (a Henry VIII fort), had a chat with the guide there and let Goose have a wander on the small beach.

Then it was back into town and a stop at Olga Polizzi's Hotel Tresanton for ice cream and coffee on the terrace.  The hotel, staff and ice cream were amazing.  It was a balmy 15 degrees so my nose is a little ruby and I have a smattering of freckles.

Afterwards we drove along to Portscatho, then down to the beach to let Goose run around.

Home by 4 tired but happy and then the perfect sunset to end a fabulous week.

Lost Gardens of Heligan

We're on holiday this week - down on the Cornish Coast just outside St Austell.  So far we have walked a bit of the Coastal Path (steep and muddy!) and from Pentewan to Megavissey via the Pentewan path (steep again but beautiful).  Had comfort food (fish and chips, toad in the hole, beef stew and dumplings) and local beer (St Austell brewery - noice).

But today we want to take it a bit easy after being laid up yesterday and full of cold, so we went to the Lost Gardens of Heligan which is between St Austell and Megavissey.

Its a beautiful garden with many different areas from formal ornamental gardens, to a veg patch on a commercial scale, through the New Zealand garden, a jungle and some fantastic sculptures from charcoal and mud.

Dogs are allowed (on leads) from 1st October and through the winter but there are livestock and birds so if yours is excitable you might want to doggy day care.

We finished off back at the shop/tea room for lunch which is made with local and even Heligan grown ingrediants.

Before heading back to the cottage we took Goose to the beach so he could have a run around.....he seems to love it

As both he and himself are fast asleep now I'm guessing it was a good day out!