Cake and fun for Nanny's 65th

A year on it was so simply gorgeous to see Patty celebrating her 65th birthday, looking radiant, surrounded by all her wonderful friends on a beautiful June day.  George was strangely amused by all nanny's friend's and had been asking us for days to list their names much to his delighted giggles. Kids. So lovely but sometmes so strange!  He also cracked each egg into the cake and covered me and the kitchen in cake mixture -  (HAD to be chocolate cake down to Georgie's demands and his current fetish).

Beautiful

Mum and Son

Loving at the allotment

I hate goodbyes

I'm generally OKish after the "goodbye" part. But actually saying goodbye. I hate that. This week I said bye to my to my job of the last 7 years as Marketing Manager at HSBC Private Bank.  A great job, a good boss, lovely collegues and so many fab memories.  Highlights of that job include 3 crazy days in Valencia involving far too much alcohol and swaying seas but beautiful yachts, 4 'jolly' days in Barbados, all the pre George, post work drinks and fun, Chelsea Flower Shows, meeting interesting, inspiring and not so interesting people with far too much cash, and runs along the river to our home in Earlsfield.  The consistently scheduled Thursday night drinks evening - and Friday morning hangovers.  The job wasn't half bad too.  I will miss that buzz in your tummy after a successful day at work.  But I miss my boy more. And I have to be home now with all my new adventures and the hope of a second baby for our family.  My destiny I pray.

I also said goodbye to my neighbour, friend and comfort Lucy.  Just knowing on a bad day that someone who cares is only 50 feet away from you, even if you want to be alone, can be so warming.  And watching our boys of the same age play together is just so lovely.  But we look forward to Skype, trips to Copenhagen and having the Moores back in 3 years time.

The "bye bye" chocolate cake I made (complete with tears)

George has discovered a love all all things chocolate lately

3 boys who I am sure will grow up to be great mates

Camping trial

The last time hubby and I camped was on our 1 year wedding anniversary when we rocked up to a camp site in the new forest with a borrowed brownie camp out style tent, our convertible 3 series Beemer and 2 bottles of wine. Talk about looking out of place! We put the tent up, had a drink, went to the pub, had a drink and I don't remember much else(!) except that it was fun, romantic and cosy.  The time before that was at a festival with much the same agenda with a few groovy tunes and dance shapes thrown in.  My main memory camping is the gorgeous feeling of being all wrapped up in the sleeping bag and thinking of the stars above.  So this year we have 2 camping trips planned and last night was our trial run.  Not too much on the sleep side but such good fun :-)

Set up in the garden

Salmon steaks on the gas stove

George insisted that we ate inside the tent

My extremely gorgeous boy who was far too excited !

"ONE more (Peppa Pig) please mummy"

You're not fooling anyone!  Most of the night was spent in my Buzz and Woody bed but it had to begin and end with lovely mummy cuddles :-)

Allotment Goodies

Our first strawberries and freshly harvested Spinach and Gruyere Tart :-)

First bodgey attempt at trying to recreate pic in photoshop!

Is there anything more beautiful than new life?

We have blue tits (or Blue Tips) as George likes to call them nesting in our bird box. I am so delighted. Watching mum and dad chase around getting them food and hearing their little tweets really brightens my day. I'll miss once they fledge. George has a real passion for birds and feeding them is a highlight in our house right now.

 Gutted I only had my iphone to capture George feeding these very tame Mandarin ducks. George loves identifying the different birds and especially the "Mangarins!!"

Rather stylish nest Mrs Moorhen.