{a walk in wye}

Last Friday we were attending a fancy dinner in Cambridge (post here). For the Bank Holiday weekend, we also went for a long walk in Wye, where the beautiful rape fields shone bright yellow in the sunlight:

{my cousin, the map reader}

 Then we came home for Pimm's & croquet:

 On the Bank Holiday Monday, we drove to lovely little Frinton-on-Sea and looked at a funky vintage shop:

 then we walked to Walton on the Naze to look for fossilized sharks' teeth etc...:

Lovely times!
xo
L

{quotable thursdays}

{via zsa zsa bellagio}

I start work next week. I have to admit I'm a bit nervous. I want to do well, succeed and meet my own expectations and the expectations that others have of me. But when nothing is sure everything is possible. I'm going to bring along the work ethic my parents instilled in me--work hard, try hard & succeed. Of course, we make mistakes along the way & the important thing is to learn from your mistakes. fingers crossed for an easy transition.

{looking at slides}

{work work work}

{a little apprehension is also good}

But I'll..

{via professor tumblr}

xo

L

{black tie college dinner in Cambridge}

This past Bank Holiday weekend we did a number of fantastic things, but it all started off with a fancy black tie college dinner in Cambridge.

My formal wear is all in boxes, so my Dad's cousin's wife let me borrow one of her gowns from the 80s, that actually looked beautifully vintage! My Dad's other cousin's son (third cousin? cousin thrice removed?) is at Darwin College pursuing a PhD and invited us to be his guests at the dinner. Darwin College was home to yes, the Darwins of Charles Darwin fame and has been transformed into a post-graduate college.

{the dress}

{pre-dinner champagne; notice the gorgeous William Morris wall paper!}

{Seating plan}

{the 6 course menu}

{& the meal begins...}

{the meal ends with madeira & coffee}

{my room with a view}

{the college's grounds}

{my cousin takes us punting on one of the college's punts}

{past the Bridge of Sighs}

{views of colleges from the river}

{a Pimm's punt!}

{a pub from the water}

{the pub from within}

{a refreshing shandy}

 We then walked to Grantchester, home to a gorgeous orchard, where famed men and women have long sipped tea (Rupert Brooke, Virginia Woolf etc...known as the Grantchester Group) . If you click on the link, you'll find a wealth of historical info as well as some great historical photos. We joined their legacy and sat down and enjoyed cream tea at just about 3 o'clock, mimicking the famous poem by Rupert Brooke:
"Yet, Stands the Church clock at ten to three?
And is there honey still for tea? "

Indeed, a fantastic start to a fantastic weekend. More pictures & stories to come!
xo
L

{flat planning}

Now that I've found a flat, I'm starting to plan out the lounge space (living room). My flat has a fireplace at the centre of the room & bay windows. It has original wood floors, that are stunning & original black & white tile down the hall...
I need to accommodate a work space in the lounge, so I've got to figure out how to have an efficient work space without cluttering up my living/entertaining space. I had mused about work spaces in my musings from the little red book...
But here are some images I'm gathering for inspiration:

{use of a bay window with couch}

{ love this pink sofa with funky pictures above}

{thick floors & white palette}

{couch in window with feature fireplace}

{black & white tiled hall}

{patterns tastefully done}

{fireplace}

{fireplace ideas from at home in love}

can't wait to move in!

xo

L

{quotable thursdays}

"To sit in the shade on a fine day and look upon verdure is the most perfect refreshment."

Jane Austen

Since I am in the land of Austen, and my new flat has a lovely English garden, I think this quote is perfect for today. Now England, you just need to bring some warm weather!

{amidst the blossoms}

{lovely picnic!}

{old fashioned camping}

{lovely!}

{picnicking a la Austen}

We are off to a 9 course black tie dinner in Cambridge tomorrow so many pics to come!
oxo
L

{an english welcome}

Hello from merry ol'! It has been a very busy week, but I'm so happy to say that I found a lovely flat!
I saw some AWFUL terrible horrible places...& was in a state of despair, when I walked into my new home, & just knew it was *home.* It'll be a few weeks until I move in, so pictures to follow. Before I moved, I was reading tips from apartment therapy on apartment-finding...when I read them, I was excited & the (mis)interpretation of the details of a flat (things like stickered-looking-wood vs real hardwood floors; a tiny room with an oven & some floor space vs. an open plan kitchen & lounge etc...) seemed funny at the time. But when you're in the middle of it, and you call flats that just got advertised that morning but now aren't available any more really can be depressing. One letting agent told me that the landlord only wanted a married couple (!) another said not to worry, the guy next store was being put in jail (!!)... I felt a bit like I was in the middle of a Bridget Jones film.

But I persevered and now have a wonderful 1 bedroom Victorian conversion flat with original wood floors & tiles & a lovely private garden. Can't wait to decorate & post photos!
...Here are some great pictures from my first week in the UK:

{flying over England's pastures' green}

{welcome sign by my cousin Choo}

{choo welcoming me with Union Jacks!}

{right off a red eye... Rule Britannia!}

{lovely gardens at Groombridge Place}

{spring flowers}

{a swing}

{walking amidst the blue bells}

{in a field of rape}

{I just love these sorts of details on English cottages--the way they decorate with the plaster}

This weekend I'm off to a fancy dress dinner at Cambridge...pics & more to follow...
xo
L