Wednesday, 31 December 2025

Goodbye 2025

As the year draws to an end I like to look back and reflect on places visited and events that have happened. The biggest event was the move. After living in the same house for 40 years I knew the time had come for me to move on. It wasn't an easy decision either emotionally or financially but looking back it was absolutely the right one. I am very happy in my new home. I did not move to an estate for senior citizens but one made up of all types of families, singletons, every creed and every colour. I made the decision very early on to join the residents association committee.  The committee was a new one and so we have had to work together to put on social events and begin to integrate the community. Since joining we have had a quiz night, coffee morning, lighting of the Christmas tree and next week I am leading a monthly walk. I have met so many new, friendly neighbours.



I also joined a lawn bowls club which is based in the local park just a 10min walk away. I have loved learning a new sport and it was perfect for the summer afternoons and evenings. I look forward to the start of the new season in April. Meanwhile a few of us meet up weekly for coffee and a chat. I continue to play table tennis with the u3a as well as leading guided walks in London and country walks in Kent.

I have not done much travelling on my own this year but have been to Amsterdam, Paris and Spain with my daughter and the grandchildren. I also went to the beautiful island of Gozo in the Mediterranean for a walking holiday with friends. Plans to travel to more UK destinations didn't materialise this year but I hope to rectify that in 2026.

With many thanks for your continued interest in my blogs, frequent and kind comments and friendship from afar, I would like to wish all my fellow bloggers a happy and healthy New Year


Saturday, 13 December 2025

Christmas 2025

 

The shops on Bond Street never fail to delight.



















Finally Annabel's club in Berkeley Square was inspired by The Chronicles of Narnia with an open wardrobe spilling out frosted trees, white roses and a porcelain Aslan Lion. This year it is supporting The Caring Family Foundation's food.

Thursday, 11 December 2025

Christmas 2025

 

A day in London with my daughter started off in Rules cocktail bar.

Covent Garden with its festive lego display.
The bells and baubles were not lego.

Fortnum and Mason decorated as an advent calendar.
Saville Row, home to bespoke tailoring.


Burlington Arcade.



A Victorian arcade.

New Bond Street.
More Christmas decorations to follow.

Friday, 28 November 2025

Grayson Perry

 Last month I went to see an exhibition of Grayson Perry's work at the Wallace Collection in London. Perry is a British artist best known for his ceramics and tapestries. He is also a cross dresser with an alto ego called Clare. For this exhibition, Delusions of Grandeur, he had created another alter ego, Shirley Smith. The fictional Smith considers herself the heir to the Wallace Collection. The exhibition is curated by Perry around Shirley's life and artistic obsessions, including family trees and the Wallace Collection itself. I have included Perry's explanations and insights into his work.


Perry dressed as Shirley seated in the Wallace Collection Museum.