Holiday lust...

It has suddenly all become too much in our household - everyone's a little tired, ill and weary (I count myself, my husband, Boo and the cat in this; Boo 2 is absolutely full of beans). I am starting to think alot (umm, as in all the time) about our next family holiday. We are going to Portugal in the summer; our annual pilgrimage to the Algarve, the southern-most part, for some time in the sun. I have such fondness for this place, having been time after time, both without children and with. Its quite rustic, full of locals, not much to do...

At present, without the prospect of a holiday, we would be starting to unravel, not unlike a ball of string...

I need to get on a beach, feel the hot sand on my toes, take a dip in the Atlantic...

Sit and watch the fishing boats come in, a cold beer in hand, with that scrubbed, been-in-the-heat feeling you get after a day at the beach...

Enjoy simple pleasures...Boo 2 trying to escape the laws of gravity and put a hat full of water on his head...endless fun...

Collecting shells...

To just look out to sea, empty our minds of the day-to-day...

Sunny afternoons strolling around little towns...

One year we left the children with grandparents and went to Lisbon, the capital city and stayed in this magnificent palace. This was our view, I love how the sun is setting ready for a night in a balmy city, cobbled streets, dinner out, glasses of wine...

Eating ice cream whenever as 'holiday rules' apply...this is my husband's invention of applying absolutely no parental logic and reason for the entire time...anything goes...

 Wearing floppy hats...like this one from Plumo...

Bare shoulders...oh roll on holiday!

Things of beauty...a distraction

Ouch. I am trying to take my mind off tooth ache...another visit to the dentist today...another procedure...now the numbness has worn off I have the insistent throb back. Grrrr. From the sublime to the ridiculous, I also had a gorgeous, lovely, utterly relaxing two hour massage/reflexology combo this morning! It feels like that was a lifetime ago but while it lasted...it was divine.

So some things of beauty to look at. A random selection today to match my head space.

I love this image - so decadent, of course I lounge around like this all the time! This is what I should have done today after my massage...

A Portuguese door...how I love them. We will go in August for three weeks!! Counting the days until some proper relaxation.

 I have shoe envy...and a June wedding for which I need to find footwear...

'Mother and Daughter' by Jessie Wilcox Smith. My daughter Boo has been an utter sweetheart today, helping with chores as I have a bad tooth.

Love Lady's Mantle...the green sprig...

Kate Moss with plaits...how I wish I could create this sort of do...

Likewise this french plait...I just can't do them! Let alone to tie in ribbons...

I fell in love with these whilst passing through Copenhagen airport - great shops - they are Stelton special edition with Paul Smith. They are a Danish icon - normally they have a black handle, so this is positively avant-garde!

White picket fence Danish-style...this house is on the lake where my Aunt and Uncle live. I hope the owners don't mind that I 'borrowed' a photo...

I took this photo yesterday when I took the children to West Dean, a beautiful place near here where they had this spring display. So, so pretty...

Things of beauty...

Happy Friday! I have a weekend planned full of nothing much which is just the way I like it. It feels like every morning as I open my eyes I am thinking 'is it a work day?', 'school day?', 'what's happening with the Boos?', 'have I sent that email?'. Every thought is 'I must sort x, y, z out...'.

So some soothing images to make me happy today in readiness for a soothing weekend of chilling out.

I am loving Orla Kiely's home collection...


A Georg Jensen 'Carnival' ring...


I was reminded this week how terribly important it is we all support Breast Cancer awareness...I had a scare last year and it stays with me always as a reminder to be grateful for every day...good health is everything.

If only this were my boudoir...I said I was enjoying Selina Lake styling...she did this...

Adirondack chairs...always a favourite...


I adore this 1950's vintage hat...

And these petal Louboutins...

A ruffle dress - I think this will appeal to some...I think its divine.

We have booked our lovely, long summer holiday to Portugal - hurrah - an Algarvian door...

Uma Thurman...up close...

For my best friend D...who starts her new life in the Netherlands this week...these are for you :-)

Sunday morning, things of beauty...

Its a rainy Sunday...what to do? We had planned to take a long walk at West Dean but now, maybe not...

It'll be a stay inside day I suspect...

Might actually have been better to stay in bed...

My sister in law N gave me this lovely french fancy last night...its porcelain scented with rose oil. Just love grosgrain ribbons...

Still thinking of summer (isn't everyone?), and this pretty Portuguese door and steps makes me yearn for white-washed summer towns...

What a perfect lion's face door knocker...also Portuguese...

More ribbons...

Really I should do some baking with the kids...


But instead I am thinking of shoes (these are Kate Bosworth's...)