Ciao Roma!

My whirlwind 2 days in Rome last week was amazing, there is something about Rome that keeps pulling me back. I have known many people to either hate Rome or love Rome. I my self love it!
I don't know if its the culture, the food or the fact that when walking down the street there are ruins from centuries ago in a park next to someones home....??
Whatever is - Roma I will be back!

The twelve apostles

You should all know this one!

Mario Testino exhibition

Todo o Nada

"I like strong independent women. Women who despite their strength never loose their femininity and who do not use their beauty as a tool. Women with personality who can reflect their own desires and ours"

Food...

Piazza Di Spagna

The cupcake? Or was it the wedding cake?

Tourist!!

More food...

My favourite Piazza

Piazza del Popolo

hmmm more food...

for a picnic in the Borghese gardens

and why are most of my pictures of food ??

The mighty move

One week of being in our new home! Such a nice feeling. Its nice to have a place to call our own and to finally unpack! Well, kind of unpack, not having furniture doesn't help but at least it gives me an opportunity to start my search for the best second hand furniture available in London - ahhh heaven!

It will still continue to take some time to work out the important things when moving, like getting working out the night buses, sussing out our local pubs and finding the best eating joints. But these things take time and we have a whole year to do so.

While I was working my parents snuffed from the hoof of Napoleon's horse

Don't let the strange title confuse you or make you think differently of my parents, you see on Saturday while I was stuck working my parents were being shown a great time on their last day in London.
Being connected, as such to the army makes for a great heading, as stories were being thrown out at dinner that my parents snuffed from Napoleon's horse's hoof.
The story of the hoof goes way back to the Battle of Waterloo where Napoleon's horse Marengo was captured by the British army. Marengo then died aged 38 and his body was preserved and put on display at the National Army Museum minus his hoof , which was given to the officers of the brigade of guards as a snuff box. A tradition of 'snuffing' from the hoof happens at lunches put on by the guards in which my parents got to participate.

Being told about this over a lovely dinner at OXO made up for the fact that I didn't get to snuff any hoof!

I felt really sorry for the person who had to clean the backlog of glass wear

Ye ol Cotswolds

My parents were here for a recent visit and headed to the countryside scouting for castles, quiet B&B's and churches. One free weekend we decided to meet up with them in Stow on the Wold.
Stow on the Wold welcomed us with open arms as friendly locals pointed us in the direction of the must see sights and the place to visit - One place being The Slaughters.
Lower Slaughter and Upper Slaughter could be reached by foot (through a sheep paddock!) and offered quaint towns with beautiful homes. Upper Slaughter also offered us a fete! Now not just any fete, this was a fete raffling off wine and beer, sold jam and pimms and had duck racing!

On this weekend away we also realised just how similar my dad is to Chevy Chase in National Lampoons! Love ya Dad...

I want my wedding here! Upper Slaughter!

See - duck racing...

Go duck, Go!

A country fete

Gloucestershire dancers

Last days of AM

The last days of AM fastly approached and the realisation that my friend, my rock was soon to disappear. One to always feel sentimental I hoped to try and savor any moment I could (although having to work a million hours that week!) and spend it doing what she would want. AM was always quite organised marking down on a whiteboard in her room what she would like to do while in London. On that list was Smith's of Smithfield.
So as any great friend would do I accompanied her and took off on London's hottest day to try out their breakfast.
I must say I do enjoy breakfast, I actually enjoy breakfast any time of the day. My standards are high and Smith's delivered. London, well British breakfasts are normally quite basic, filled with bubble and squeak and can often be bland (well not all ok) but my oh my did my french toast deliver! Soft, sweet and fulfilling. You might be thinking how can someone be so passionate over breakfast let alone french toast? - you see the small things can really satisfy someone!

SOS - Smith's on Smithfield

French toast delight!

So hot!!

Why not?