Christmas Holidays in London

As many of you might know by now I love London, perhaps because I'm a city girl at heart! 

Last weekend we had a fabulous time in the city as we decided to stay and embrace what the big smoke has to offer around this time of year. I thought I'd share with you the places we visited should you be in the area and might like to check them out. 

Marie had given us a fabulous and very generous Christmas present, tickets to see the Nutcracker Ballet at London's Colosseum ! And what a visual feast it was ! So magical and Christmassy! 

The next day it was a beautiful crisp and sunny Sunday morning, so we made our way to  London's Borough Market where we had brunch in a local cafeteria whilst surrounded by the markets culinary delights for this time of year; Mulled Wine, Mince pies, Cakes, Cheeses and much more. 

The South Bank was our last stop for a lunch date with great friends that had come over from New York! This is one of my favorite area of the city where you have all the cultural centers in one hub. The Tate Modern, London Film Theatre, Hayward Gallery and more by the river Thames . Here  you can sit and sip some wine whilst absorbing the city atmosphere and views, people watch with the  Jazz sounds in the background coming from a street performer, total bliss !!  

At this time of year the Christmas German market occupies most of the river front which is packed with  a great variety of craft & food stalls, great for this time of year. I hope I have given you a little glimpse of what London can be like if you live on the other side of the world. What is your place like at this time of year?  

I hope you all have had a great Christmas time with lots of quality time with friends and loved ones ;-)

My Sunday Movie

Now that I'm back here I'll tell you about my Sunday movie. I usually write about it on a Monday following my Sunday Afternoon tradition. I know this post is a day late but we can pretend I wrote it yesterday  ;-)

A few months ago whilst having coffee with my good friend Jane, she handed me over a book and said 'you should read this as I think you will love it as much as I did.' - and I did !! Since then we have got into a habit of exchanging and recommending each other books. I have to tell you The Help is one of those books that I'll never forget and currently is at my number one rank of my favorite books of all time!!

When I saw that it had turned up into a movie I was a little bit apprehensive to go and see it. I didn't want it to destroy all those perfect images I had created in my mind of this wonderful story that is so beautifully narrated by the author Kathryn Stockett.

Last weekend my mom had come to visit and on Sunday we decided to give the movie a try. What can I say?? I LOVED IT !! It filled all my expectations of what a movie turned from a book should be. The characters, the setting, the dialogue...Everything was as I had pictured it! I was so thrilled! Emma Stone is outstanding so are the other actors. If you haven't read the book or seen the movie I very much recommend it.

Here is the book description by Amazon(sorry I'm just been lazy):

    

Enter a vanished and unjust world: Jackson, Mississippi, 1962. Where black maids raise white children, but aren't trusted not to steal the silver...

There's Aibileen, raising her seventeenth white child and nursing the hurt caused by her own son's tragic death; Minny, whose cooking is nearly as sassy as her tongue; and white Miss Skeeter, home from College, who wants to know why her beloved maid has disappeared.

Skeeter, Aibileen and Minny. No one would believe they'd be friends; fewer still would tolerate it. But as each woman finds the courage to cross boundaries, they come to depend and rely upon one another. Each is in a search of a truth. And together they have an extraordinary story to tell...

Thank you Jane XX

Back on Track...

 Time flies and thinking about it I haven't been here for a long time! As I mentioned before I had a major operation ,  so I've had to spend a sometime healing.  I'm glad to say I'm feeling much better.

So much has happened in the last couple of months. I've visited some fabulous exhibitions including an amazing Photography exhibition-Paris Photo! -A surprise birthday present from Matt !It was just what the 'doctor ordered' - a few amazing days in my beloved city -Paris !! Later on this week when I find five minutes I shall tell you more about the exhibitions and Paris.

Also there are new projects in the processes for the start of 2012 involving rebranding all my work which shall share more with you when is all completed.

In the meantime I'm very busy in the studio producing Christmas orders and creating private commissions. All back to normal at last ! ( and dreaming of Paris, the quintessential cafes and all the charm that this amazing city has to offer )