Au revoir!

We're off to Paris next week, via a stopover at Euro Disney...shudder...and I'm not stepping one foot on the train to come home until I have been to a french flea market!!!

After 20 months (or more) living in England and a few trips to France up my sleeve...I still haven't managed a shopping trip (or even just a peek) at one of the famous flea markets.

So hopefully I am going to find some fantastic bargains, absolutely unique merchandise...all just sitting there waiting for me...

Perhaps there will be grain sacks...

or french paperbacks...

maybe some comics...

pretty french pics...

I could add some 'arithmetique' boards to my collection...

and there is definitely always room for more monograms...

Anything really...just not getting on that train till I've found a treasure...s'il vous plait!

A flower and a cake!

I haven't done a Friday Flower for a while, and I nearly didn't this week...because although 'Cam' and I are getting on just fine, the new software is going to take a bit of getting use to. However, finally, after screaming at my husband much persistence I managed to upload some photos...

For 'Janet the Panet'...

and also because she's such a cool sister, a very special cake...

Happy Friday!

Defining my blog.

Today Sarah at Modern Country Style is hosting a link party called 'Define your blog'...so I thought I would try to describe mine in a nutshell snapshot.

Isn't he cute...I chose the Robin for the obvious reason that it is my name. But coincidentally the Robin has become a bit of a focus for me, living here in England. I had never seen an English Robin until I moved here...I only had an insight into these cheeky birds via the movie "The Secret Garden" and the funny thing is that the first day I arrived here I heard a Robin singing and instantly recognised it's call from that movie.

This little fellow here was photographed in Devon. He actually sat there quietly allowing us to snap away...

I was delighted to find that we had a pair nesting in our garden last spring. The male, I later found out, will stay in his territory all year...as a result this cheeky boy was still hopping around when the snow fell at Christmas. Click here for more cute Robins.

My blog however, is not just about Robins, as cute as they are. I find myself snapping away at the most mundane things...that are really very English...Click here to see my post 'Red'.

Living in an English village is a wonderful opportunity for a family of Aussies... throw in some snow and we're as happy as 'pigs in mud'! Click here for a snowy post.

More often than not, I end up prattling on about vintage finds...after all England is full of  great 'old stuff'! Click here for more old stuff.

Exploring my new country is great fun, and I like nothing better than to head into London with my camera taking shots of streets and buildings, as well as shop windows and of course the interiors where possible. Click here for a tour of Chelsea.

When we get the opportunity the family and I will head over to Europe and there is never-ending photo opportunities there...here for more magnificent scenery.


Well that's it for now...I hope you enjoyed my 'snapshot'...if you would like to see more click on the box and join the party...

Walking with my new friend.

I took him for a walk yesterday...'Cam'...that's my nickname for my new camera. I needed to play around a bit with him...you know..try and work him out...

and it was a glorious day in Ole Blighty...warm and sunny and nearly green.

It may be dull and grey here in Winter, and perhaps at times in Spring, Summer and Autumn...but when the sun comes out and the sky is blue the English countryside is magnificent.

Even the bare trees were looking good...I did say England was 'nearly' green...

and if you look closely enough even the lichen is colourful.

The daffs are still in flower...growing wild in the woods...

and red tulips are starting to make an appearance.

All in all, Cam and I had a lovely walk.

Fifty.

Somebody told me today that 50 is the new 40. Well if that's the case I have turned 40 today!

I actually disagreed with him and suggested that 50 is the new 30...however, I think I'm pushing my luck on that one seeing as some mornings I'm convinced that 50 is the new 60!!

Anyway, after I raised my 50 year old head off the pillow this morning my husband and youngest son presented me with this....

A new wiz bang Canon digital SLR (and that's all I know about it) camera!! I was thrilled as I'm keen to improve my photographic skills and this should do it for me...if I can learn how to work it that is...Hubby has been charged with reading the instruction book from cover to cover so that he can 'give it to me in a nutshell'! No seriously, I'm considering doing a short photography course as I will undoubtedly  need lots of help. So stay tuned my blogs are going to blow your mind...any day soon...



I've already blown out my candle, via skype. My silly sister (you know the one that's frightened of sheep) set up a table at her place in Melbourne with a cake, a candle and glasses of champas to toast. She then made me blow out the candle, and although my husband thinks I'm full of a lot of hot air...I did actually need some help achieving that, through the computer screen. Luckily she spat blew all over the cake and managed to put it out for me!

I also had my daughter on the phone, so we were all having a very disconnected three way conversation...very much like being at home really... and as we were all talking over each other to each other....

....my husband walked through the door with a huge parcel. Along with my son, the three of them had sent my pressie to Paul, earlier in the week, so it could be plonked on my lap as we spoke.

And it was full of surprises...from my favourite shop in Melbourne.

Wrapped beautifully (by my girlfriend in Melbourne) with old french tape, metal numbers and topped with a page from a french architectural book...

was an old french ledger..

with tiny perfect numbers and script...

these calico sacks...

and a roll of french tickets and french labels...

But there was more...a beautiful monogrammed french sheet and a pair of cushions made from old damask (something that Cote Provence does really well)....

Of course the minute hubby took off to work I couldn't wait to play...and dress the bed...

Look at the monogram...'P & R' for Paul and Robynne!

An old pair of monogrammed pillowcases that I purchased in Melbourne, years ago, finally found a home...

So I can sell you a french ticket and you can take a number if you want to see my lovely new bedding.

Now all I need is an antique french bed....a new bedside table for hubby's side....

30 Years!

Hello, today is my 30th wedding anniversary!

At 4.00pm on April 4th, 1981, this cute couple became man and wife....

Here we are on our wedding day, younger, skinnier, more hair (for some)....

My dress was simple lace...which dated very quickly that year 

with the advent of 'taffeta' courtesy of Lady Di's wedding in the July.

30 years later, here we are, living on the other side of the world, with the seasons all topsy turvy and two of our children back home in Australia.

And I was thinking...boy we have accumulated a lot of stuff in that time....

lets see...

4 houses (4 mortgages...not all at once)

7 cats
2 rabbits
2 dogs
2 hermit crabs
1 snake
4 or more mice
guinea pigs...can't remember how many
sea monkeys
...obviously some of  most of the pets have gone to god!

numerous friends (now scattered all over Australia and Europe)
thousands of family photos

oh and I nearly forgot.... our greatest achievements.....3 kids...

The Princess...

The Snow Angel...

and My Baby...trying his first legal, beer in Germany.

Not bad for 30 years!

Happy Anniversary honey!

I know you'll be checking this blog out today, to see which embarrassing photos I've posted.

H & M Soft Furnishings.

I recently came across a great collection in the home department of  H&M.

It consists of a range of cushions, napery and bedding in washed linen and 

organic cotton and is very reasonably priced...

I've had this one for a while...it's a long lumbar style cushion, 

which I have squished a pillow into.

It's pure washed linen with a faded block print of an imitation 

wheat sack. Great value at 12 pounds.

With a slightly stronger print, this cushion makes a

great statement...again in pure washed linen the cover cost.. 7 pounds.

The most recent addition to this little collection is these linen place mats...

with some very interesting detail....

it's a pocket...how clever...and only 2.99 each.

Of course, the minute I got home I had to have a play...

and tried to decide which I liked best...

In the end I think this one was the winner.

Time to plan a dinner party!!

H&M online