Day trip to Brighton

Rich in history and heritage, the royal Pavilion is one of the most exotic palaces I have seen. Too bad I was not able to take pictures inside. This palace with it's ornate Chinese interior was completed for George, Prince Regent in 1820. Later Queen Victoria, not thinking it was big enough for her family, sold it to the town of Brighton.





The main reason for our trip to Brighton was to enjoy a little sunshine at the beach! We strolled along the seafront, explored the Brighton Pier and enjoyed a traditional lunch of fish and chips.





At the heart of the city are Brighton's historic Lanes, once a fishing village now full of winding alleyways, antique and jewelry shops, pubs and restaurants. In one of the windows I spotted a Royal Air Force pilot wings pin, a treasure I could not resist!


and for the train ride back to London....a treat of red velvet cupcakes!

March 19, 1989

You came into this world like "Haley's" Comet!
A birthday is just the first day of another three hundred sixty-five day journey around the sun...enjoy the trip Honey!






Wish we could be there to celebrate with you!
Happy 20th Birthday Haley!!!!
Hugs 'n' kisses

I saw a Leprechaun!

The St. Patrick's Day parade in London was Sunday so we cleaned the cobwebs off the bicycles and found a spot along the parade route. Rick used his new camera and I think he got some great shots...enjoy the parade and Happy St. Patty's Day to ya!






Bands, dancers, firetrucks, local politicians and local "celebrities", all decked out in green, white, and orange...and all having a good 'o' time!








It could not be official without St. Patrick himself!






...and we had to stop for a hearty bowl of Irish Stew and a pint for lunch!

Southall - Bus 607

You won't find this trip in any guide book!
We took the District line to Ealing Broadway - the end of the line - and then hopped on Bus number 607 toward Uxbridge for a 15 minute ride. That is where you will find the captivating Indian neighborhood of Southall.





Many of the shops along the walk carried beautiful scarves and colorful silk fabric along with flamboyant jewelry, shoes and sweet things to eat. Some of the stores displayed "ready made" saris in every color combination imaginable. My favorite shop had the wedding dresses....traditional red with elaborate and intricate embroidery.








We ate lunch at a great restaurant, Roshni, where we shared some favorite dishes...Chicken Korma, Tikka Masala, Butter Chicken, and of course rice and Naan. One of the Naan breads was sweet with raisins and it tasted more like dessert. It was all delicious and the total bill was @ £45 for 8 of us....we need to get out of the city more often!


The last stop was the food market, Gulab. They stock everything from fresh fruits and vegetables to huge bags of rice and heavy copper bowls. Most of us ended up with large bags of almonds and cashews, and on the train ride home I shared the sugar coated fennel. It tasted like "Good & Plenty" - remember those?

Come on in.....

......and see the improvement! The renovation is complete.


One of things we really wanted was more storage space so this built in wet bar with frig drawers and a wine cooler is perfect in the new dining room and will be nice when the weather warms up and we spend more time on the patio. With the addition of a pantry, I haven't actually filled all the drawers in the kitchen..but I will!





It seems all we do is eat, whether it is with family or friends so the addition of two new eating areas has been wonderful for entertaining. Don't you love the dining room drapes? They are a soft silk plaid of gold, cream, and black.






The sun room off the kitchen has transformed from the dining area to a sitting room with a red leather ottoman and swivel chairs to take in the river view or a kitchen conversation.







The curtains arrived and "my handsome handyman with his assistant" managed to hang them without too many extra holes in the wall.
A (Pottery Barn) natural basket filled with a collection of seashells, and two giant clocks to show London time and Boston time filled in some empty space.
Tucker is a big help and has already claimed his couch!



The whole renovation came together and is perfect! It's now our comfortable, cozy, New England bungalow on the river. And now, with all the snow and ice the "nor-easters" have dumped on the south shore, the next project is to replace the front porch and steps ...... it never ends! But that is another blog!

A side trip to Pensacola

The Colonel had to have surgery and as it turned out, Miss Jane had the flu so I flew into Birmingham and my sister, brother-law, and I took a little side trip to the Veteran's Hospital in Pensacola, Florida. This week I've had a little warm balmy breeze, including a few "Bushwackers" and returned to a foot of fresh snow and 20 degree weather in Boston.




If you are ever driving through Pensacola be sure to visit the downtown area...Seville Square, Rosie O'Grady's, Joe Patty's Seafood Market.....and a new place we found!
The name of the shop is "DUH!" but really it should be "OOH-AHH!" because it is full of unique and beautiful furnishings...everything from pottery to chandeliers. It was just what my sister and I needed to distract us between hospital visits. I can't believe my family has been making this trip to Pensacola for years and we have never stopped in to see this place. It will be on the agenda for our beach trip this August along with a lunch of Ya-Ya Cheese Grits with Grilled Shrimp at the Fish House!