A Flower for Lesley.

Here it is Leso, a Friday flower for you...

cause you're always as fresh as a daisy...

especially after a night on the champas!

Have a great new year and give Marko and Nemo a big kiss for me!

The Remains of the Day.

Well Christmas is over and a long bleak January stretches ahead. I'm finding myself in my usual post Christmas mode wanting to put away all the Chrissy decorations, spring clean and create something new and fantastic in the way of decor...which means of course shopping. I haven't hit an antique shop/show for ages and am champing at the bit to go prowling for some junk!

So in the meantime I've popped some shots on of our very snowy Christmas...

Tobogganing...

Getting ready....

Off she goes!

A little snow angel!

Even I had a go!

I had to wear my ear muffs.

Of course when you are a 15 year old boy you have to go 'head first'!

Around the house the snow and ice made itself known...

with amazing icicles...

Inside, looking out was a delight...

And all around us the village was magical...

And before I put them all away here are some shots of some new baubles for the Christmas tree which I am collecting here in Europe....

From Oxford.

Waddesdon Manor.

Liberty of London.

Rothenburg, Germany.

Can't quite remember...

Merry Christmas!

Hi to everyone 'downunder'. Our Christmas morning has dawned with blue sky, white snow on the ground and a predicted top of minus 4 degrees...and it looks beautiful!

Very soon we will be heading off for an Italian Christmas dinner at our favourite restaurant, run by some really nice people from Naples....can't wait to consume my 6000 calories (apparently the typical intake during Christmas dinner!).

And yes she did make it...

Aren't we a handsome lot, squinting in the snow! Just missing middle son..he is home alone...with his Aunt and Grandma!


Happy Christmas to all, including my new 'virtual' friends out there in 'blogland'...it's been great fun, more than I could have imagined.

She's on her way!

My daughter is winging her way to me as I write this post. We've been crossing our fingers and toes all week that Heathrow would get it's act together as she is due in on Christmas Eve...not a lot of wiggle room if she is to share Christmas dinner with us.

Last year she dressed up for her Aunt and Grandma on Christmas day and all I got was a photograph, but this year I get the real thing!

However, I don't think she is planning to turn up at the airport in this 'get up' and apparently she is now a brunette!!

So, this time tomorrow her and I will be ensconced on the couch with a bottle of champas and a couple of dozen pigs in a blanket!

Waddesdon Manor.

On Saturday I braved the snow and set off with a friend to visit Waddesdon Manor. In the weeks leading up to Christmas and for a week after, a small number of rooms are opened up and decorated with a Christmas theme.

Waddesdon Manor was primarily built to house the vast collection of art belonging to Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild. Built between 1874 and 1889, it was designed by a French architect in the style of a 16th century French Renaissance chateau and is now managed by the National Trust.

Although I had visited this time last year and also through the summer when more rooms are open, I was really excited to tour the house this Christmas as Waddensdon has embraced it's French heritage and decorated in true "Parisienne" style!

Upon entering the foyer we were greeted by a mossy Eiffel Tower!

The hallways were richly decorated with the walls displaying

some rather 'weighty' art works.

The detail was amazing...with garlic to keep the vampires away!

A dining room set up for a Christmas banquet.

A close up of an impressive collection of silverware.

More decorating detail in the dining room.

Red berries...lots of them.

There were Christmas trees in every room.

I asked if I could take these home....

This amazing light fixture made from broken china looked very dramatic

suspended above a dining table in a dimly lit room.

Close up of table setting...love the monogrammed glassware.

Another beautiful fireplace...the head belongs to a tourist.

We then proceeded along a corridor to the restaurant so that we could

polish off a three course lunch with champagne of course...

and we found ourselves in a French street, passing bicycles with baguettes...

and couples having a romantic dinner...

As we dined we looked outside at the lovely grounds....with the snow falling....

and it got heavier...

and heavier...

and the photo ops got more difficult...

time to leave before we can't get home...

on the snowy roads...

we nearly made it unaided...

thank god for the lovely man who towed us when we got stuck!

and although it took us two hours to get home we did enjoy the scenery.

  

Commemorative China.

During my many forays through antique emporiums and fairs here in sunny England I came across examples of  commemorative china. I was initially attracted to the colours but also love the crowns and crests.

Because this china is now not as 'collectible' as it once was, I have managed to assemble a small collection for very little money...some pieces have only cost a couple of quid!

Look at the colours on this mug...I love the dashes of red, especially in the crown.

This is my absolute favourite and was sent to me from Australia by a very good friend.

This one commemorated the end of  World War I, and I am on the lookout for more of these.

Although this is not china I do include it with my collection as it fits in nicely. I especially love the blue box.