Capital, conference and the other 'C' word!!

Last week saw me taking a trip to the capital - kind of a combined work/pleasure thing. The nice thing about going to a work-related conference during your annual leave is that you don't feel too guilty when the sessions look a bit heavy going and a quick nip to Regent Street seems a better idea...!

To be fair, I was quite well-behaved and did go to several interesting talks - learnt a bit, networked a bit, all that stuff... But I also, love going to London...full stop actually...I love being in London! At least, I really love to be there for a few days and then slide off back to Norfolk when it all begins to feel just a bit too crowded and frantic. And, what I was going to say, is that that I particularly love going to London at this time of year - something about the lights and the bustle and the sheer grandeur of the place.

So how kind of the Horseguards to come out for us on our first little 'absconsion' from duty...!!

Granted, this was only day one of a three day conference, but by lunchtime this place was calling...

This is the beautiful staircase at Liberty's (anyone recognise it?!) which is a must as far as I'm concerned on any and every trip to London. Best not to pick up a price tag in there, but lovely for a mooch.

And the Christmas floor is always good for a wander round - rows and rows of colour themed baubles...

And look at these decorations...

And this seemed so much more appealing than conference sandwiches...

Well, ladies that lunch (or take tea, in our case - lunch a little out of our price range!) seemed almost obligatory! (and in case you wondered, lunch was at the rather yummy, and much more manageable Leon off Carnaby Street - delish!)

The buildings in some cities are so beautiful (I am aware its not just London!) - two things about this caught my eye, the clock was striking (Westminster chimes I think, on each quarter hour) which reminded me of a clock my grandparents had years ago, wonder what happened to that...? And also, the contrast of the building and the blue, blue sky. It was really cold but lovely and bright.

We did go back to do a bit more 'learning' but finished the day with a very sociable dinner with friends and then a long walk back from Liverpool Street Station via the South Bank and the Oxo Tower bar (well, had to be done...) where they had these fab trees by the lifts...

Bit blurry, camera phone post rather large and delicious cocktail! All felt like a real treat!

The following evening, we popped over to Winter Wonderland in Hyde park for a wander through the stalls - a mixed bag of lovely traditional German crafts and foods and the usual tacky stuff that comes out at Christmas. But if you can't wallow in a bit of tacky at Christmas...

And the mulled wine was pretty good too...til I threw it down my front!

On the last day of the conference I was feeling a bit jaded - combination of mixed up feelings, not enough sleep and too many big screen presentations, I think. I had the mother of headaches so took myself for a bit of a walk from Westminster. It just happened that timing wise, I caught the sun just going down and the skies looked amazing, so I had to keep stopping to snap as I walked down Embankment across the bridge and back along the Southbank! I wasn't alone taking photos, but I was rather wishing I had got more than just my phone! Have really got out of the habit of having my camera handy - might try to make that a New Years Resolution...

Apologies for the rather excessive number of pictures of 'Westminster at Sunset' but I just love the skies!!

Back home, I felt I must really try to get into the spirit a bit...

Some very kind friends brought me a little tree last year as part of a lovely parcel of goodies when I first moved here (plus wine, glasses, candles and chocolates!) and after New Year I just stuck it outside, still in its pot, where it has remained, thoroughly neglected all year. I'm guessing it survived because we had such an awful wet summer, but it has actually grown a good six inches or so and still looks lovely and healthy. So in the interests of being green and a bit economic, I hauled it back inside, cleaned off the pot and faffed about making it look pretty...

I had a bit of a moment when I realised that a lot of the bits the boys made (you know the thing...odd shaped shiny paper baubles dating from reception...) are not here. How do you keep a share of all those things? Still, the special things are in your head and your heart I guess and that won't change. And in any case, this tree is so wee, the 20 year old paper school offerings probably wouldn't fit!!

I'm as enchanted by the mantelpiece as I was when I first moved here, perfect for pretty Christmas bits...

I am struggling a bit to remain sane just now. It is exactly one year since I moved here and I thought we'd be nearer some sort of resolution and a manageable relationship that made life a bit easier for the boys by now. But it seems we are a way off that. It doesn't feel as though there is going to be much family time this Christmas. Think the boys are much better about it than me - they have a very practical attitude, still family time just a bit different!! Maybe next year things will be better...

In the meantime, and on a completely different note, I'm sure there is a reason this yarn is called smiley stripes...

'Cause you just have to, don't you?!

Hoping you're all feeling the festive joy, til next time...

Sx