GLEEK

Caught up on Glee today. If you haven't seen Gwyneth's Adele cover, then here you go... Let me know what you think? I loved it! xo

CAMBRIDGE CHARM

I've yet to see Oxford, but I'm pretty sure Cambridge has my heart in the long age Oxford/Cambridge rivalry. The moment we parked along the Backs (so-called from being the backs of the colleges) I felt sucked back into time. The lonely planet wrote "the Backs is a photographers dream." I agree. Some places you can't capture the beauty on film but I took a few pictures on my phone and indeed I captured the essence of this quintessential town. 

The entire time I was in Cambridge I kept thinking that it had everything- in my mind- a romantic city should. I found it bewitching. There were bicycles humming around or lined along any free spot, the bridges and punting along the river Cam reminded me of Venice and for good reason (The Bridge Of Sighs). Cambridge is dreamlike green, beautiful gardens and hundreds of horse chestnut trees line the river Cam. Impressively, it was graduation day, seeing  the cap and gowns walking around really brought out the seriousness of the city. I wondered if students took the beauty for granted while caught up in studies? 

If you are not scared of falling in the river, hire a punt otherwise get a chauffeur hired one like we did, you won't regret it. The magical landscape of the colleges ( Kings, Trinity, St John's and Queens' ) gardens and bridges were radiant especially on a warm sunny day. They tell you a wee bit of history although I'm not sure how factual it is. ;)

STORM IN A TEACUP

BRILLIANT

I watched and enjoyed every moment of the royal wedding and must admit, I did get misty eyed. Katherine's dress was beautiful and reminded me straight away of Grace Kelly. We texted back and forth with Steve's Mom discussing the extraordinary event.  After the much awaited kiss, we took a nose around the city and enjoyed a celebratory lunch overlooking the Clifton suspension bridge.

 As much as I enjoyed watching it from the comfort of my own home I did have a slight tinge of envy for the brave people who travelled to London to catch a glimpse of the real thing. It was pretty quiet in Bristol, which boasted of having the second largest street closures next to London. I think everyone enjoyed a good knees up the night before!  

Thank you Will & Kate for another brilliant extended long weekend. xoxo

ROYAL WEDDING DAY SCHEDULE

Clarence House has released an official schedule for the wedding of Prince William to Catherine Middleton.

Between 8.15am and 9.45am: The general congregation will arrive at the Great North Door of Westminster Abbey.
From 9.50am: Governors-general and prime ministers of realm countries, the diplomatic corps and other distinguished guests arrive at the Abbey.
10.10am: The bridegroom and best man Prince Harry leave Clarence House for Westminster Abbey. They arrive at the Abbey at 10.15am – three quarters of an hour before the bride.
10.20am: Members of foreign royal families arrive at the Abbey from Buckingham Palace.
10.20am: Carole Middleton and son James leave the Goring Hotel for Westminster Abbey. They arrive at the Abbey at 10.27am.
10.25am: Members of the Royal Family (except those listed below) leave Buckingham Palace for Westminster Abbey. They arrive at the Abbey at 10.30am.
10.35am: The following members of the Royal Family leave Buckingham Palace for Westminster Abbey. They arrive at the Abbey at 10.40am:
The Duke of York
Princess Beatrice of York
Princess Eugenie of York
The Earl and Countess of Wessex
The Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Timothy Laurence
10.38am: The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall leave Clarence House for Westminster Abbey. They arrive at the Abbey at 10.42am.
10.40am: The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh leave Buckingham Palace for Westminster Abbey. They arrive at the Abbey at 10.45am.
10.48am: The bridesmaids and pages leave the Goring Hotel for Westminster Abbey. They arrive at the Abbey at 10.55am.
10.51am: Kate Middleton, accompanied by her father, Michael, leaves the Goring Hotel for Westminster Abbey.
11.00am: The marriage service begins. It will be relayed by loudspeakers along the route.
12.15pm: The carriage procession of the bride and groom with a captain’s escort of the Household Cavalry, followed by the Queen’s procession with a sovereign’s escort of the Household Cavalry, leaves Westminster Abbey for Buckingham Palace.
12.30pm: The bride’s carriage procession arrives at Buckingham Palace.
12.40pm: Members of the Royal Family and members of foreign royal families arrive at Buckingham Palace.
From 12.40pm: Other guests for the reception arrive at Buckingham Palace.
1.25pm: The Queen and the bride and groom, together with their families, appear on the balcony.
1.30pm: Fly past by the Royal Air Force and Battle of Britain memorial flight.

KNITTING ROYALS

 That's right, you can knit your own royal wedding party! One more sleep. I plan on getting up very early and not missing anything. I would love to have been in London but will skip the chaos and watch it here in Bristol.  I took this picture at pod one of my favorite shops in Clifton for finding fun prezzies. Pod has the most imaginative gifts. It's the perfect place to shop for someone who has everything.

ROYAL MAIL CALLING

 Lovely little treats arrived in the post yesterday. Thank you L! I'm excited and inspired by the pictures.The Pashmina will be a perfect accessory for Friday's Royal Wedding.. xoxo

H's B-DAY

Today is Heather's birthday. 

Heather is ridiculously loyal, thoughtful and a whizz at anything she puts her mind to. 

I hope you have a wonderful birthday H see you in a few weeks... xoxox

I can't believe it's been a year since I wrote this Happy Birthday Hez !

ROYAL WEDDING

Steve came home from work today and gave me my first official royal wedding loot! I know what I'll be drinking my breakfast tea out of this Friday. I've been catching up on everything Will & Kate today. Only two more sleeps until the BIG day. Eeek!

WEEKEND FUN

I'm sure many of you spent your  Easter weekend enjoying family dinners, decorating eggs and taking part in Easter treat hunts.   Maybe you just relaxed on a much needed long weekend?

We enjoyed the extra few days with Steve after our vacation, and had some great family time with C all over Bristol. I took a few pictures of the hard boiled eggs Connor died for  Easter breakfast and also a few of him on his hunt in the back garden.

Spring is definitely in the air! We've spotted lambs frolicking in the fields , ducklings swimming behind their mums  and even came across a swan sitting on her eggs this weekend along the quay.

Here in England we are gearing up for another long weekend thanks to Will & Kate. We are booked to go to Cambridge on Saturday night for some Spring shopping at the US base. Steve's running low on Skippy peanut butter and I like picking up a few different flavors of  salad dressing that I can't find in the UK.

What are your plans for the royal wedding weekend?

 Connor wanted this villian Harry Potter wand so badly. He was shocked and spent the rest of the weekend casting spells on us. " freeze and eat slugs!" It was lovely! xoxo 

WW

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