A perfect Organic Farmshop / Lifestyle shop

That is how I would describe Daylesford Oraganic Farmshop in Gloucestershire UK.

In fact, it is almost too perfect if you understand what I mean! Country life isn't really like this every day. The vegetables are all neatly laid out, the bakery is wonderful, there is a delicatessen area, a cold room for cheeses, a wine shop, a garden room, a Spa area, hideously expensive but dreamy clothes to touch (well, I can only touch - who actually buys them I wonder?) and a fabulous and yummy cafe! Phew......

Anyway, after that introduction I will leave you to meander through the photos with not too much more from me. Suffice to say I had a wonderful afternoon there yesterday. Hours spent wandering and pretending I lived in this perfect world (and surreptitiously looking out for the celebrities who use this place as their local supermarket - Stella McCartney, Jude Law etc. - that's when they are down in their homes in the countryside!) Didn't see any celebs there but have to add that my friend who accompanied me saw Stella M later on that afternoon in her village about 15 mins away!

See - a perfect specimen!!

Cheese room above (temperature controlled).

Entrance to the garden area.

Next few photos show the homewares available....

WANT those 1,2,3,4 bowls SO much.

My basket was empty at this point!

Off for some lunch..

Pigeon and beetroot salad for me.

Tomato and basil soup for my friend Ms G.

Just one little bag came back with me... Some lovely liquid hand wash and hand lotion and a pot of delicious chutney. Fairly restrained I feel!

LOVE the wire sculpture dog.

All in all a great afternoon.

For more information : http://www.daylesfordorganic.com/

Away to the country for a little celebration

Last July I posted about this new book of mine... And how much I was enjoying luxuriating in the images of the black and white interiors and especially this kitchen here below ....

I still absolutely love it and GUESS WHAT?

Tomorrow I am going to see this kitchen in the flesh so to speak. The kitchen belongs to a little house in the countryside of Victoria about an hour or so from Melbourne. Mr SE has booked a night and two days there at the little cottage to celebrate my birthday tomorrow... Its going to be ours, all ours for this time. I am so excited!

I promise many photographs at the end of the week. Now, I must go and decide what I will pack for our little visit.......

Au revoir.

Visiting some vineyards

As Monday was a holiday BN and I struck out of the city of Melbourne for a 'tripette' with my sister and her partner Steve... To the beautiful Yarra Valley - Melbourne's wine growing region. Mr SE and Mr Melbs (BN's other half) declined the invitation to vineyards. Mr Melbs had some work to finish but I think Mr SE just wanted a peaceful day watching the cricket. Anyway, no matter... He missed the tasting special of 4 types of sparkling wine at the first vineyard (top photo) and the cheese platter too...delicious.

Above. My sister (BN's Ma) at the vineyard.

BN was the designated driver so we let her get stuck in to the cheese platter whilst we concentrated more on the wines! Only fair.

Gorgeous views.

Second vineyard... love these trees.

And above a view over the lake at the third vineyard we stopped at.

Here we opted for vanilla ice cream (for the girls) - sister's partner Steve enjoyed tasting some more red wines though.

Such a good day just before I went back to work.
A great way to begin 2011.

September day in the English countryside

Thank you for all your lovely comments on my previous post about my parents' move.


They were very touched....... All is progressing well and whilst I did not come back to UK from Oz specifically for their move - (am here to settle dearest daughter into University in a week's time) I am extremely glad to be here whilst their move is happening. Contracts were exchanged yesterday and it will all happen in six days. In fact I am writing this post from their house after another day helping out. Mr SE has turned his hand to disconnecting dishwashers, washing machines etc. and taking down shelves too. However, Mr SE leaves early tomorrow morning back to Australia (via the Grand Prix in Singapore)..... Phew! On to our day yesterday in the sunshine. Mr SE's mother came to visit and we went out for lunch to a lovely pub in the countryside - photo above.

The food arrived on boards. Mine photographed below and the MIL's above... however, the MIL did not like the fact that it arrived "on a bread board" and declared it to be unhygienic. We told her it was known as "presentation".

Mine were freshly grilled sardines on toast with a green olive tapenade.

Photos above and below of the garden at the pub.

Afterwards we went for a walk alongside the canal.

The canal climbs a steep gradient and a series of locks were completed in 1810. An AMAZING engineering feat which fascinated Mr SE no end.

Each lock is numbered.... love the old fashioned numbering.

Looking back at the at the 21 locks up the hill....

Gorgeous old brick bridge over the canal....

We saw this barge (or narrow boat as they are sometimes called) navigate through a lock....

At the end of the day the MIL returned on the train. All in all a lovely day in the sunshine.

Vineyard Visit on a Sunday

Yesterday was one of those glorious, crisp and sunny Winter's days that makes you feel happy to be alive and also promises that Spring is not too far away. So, in order to celebrate this Mr SE and I struck out of the City of Melbourne into the countryside on a mini road trip. We drove for around an hour and a half or so towards the Bunyip State Park and early afternoon I spied a sign saying turn off next left for Vineyard! We bumped down a track for around 8 kms and then came to this very welcoming and promising notice! Wine - tick. Wood fired pizza - tick. Art gallery - tick.

This was were we had come. Jinks Creek Winery. Seems to me that we had stumbled across quite a find. The car park (such as it was - just a rather rough field) was full and when we opened the door to the rustic barn in the photo below it was

loud; packed full of people either standing up chatting or sitting down together in large parties laughing and drinking and eating and having fun! What a find..... Only problem seemed would they be able to fit us in - I am sure they are booked up well in advance... Whilst we were waiting I had a quick look in the Art gallery just off the main room/dining room.

A gorgeous room full of light with dark wooden floors and white walls.

This was the view behind the counter - love all those stacked plates in subtle, muted colours. Perfection.

A view of the busy dining room.... It is difficult to describe just how much I LOVED this place. It was slightly chaotic, unpretentious and the furniture was worn and painted - all my kind of favourite things. I am still smiling to myself as I am writing this remembering yesterday. I think the man in the blue shirt standing in the middle of the photo is the owner.

See what I mean? Just look at this lovely table. The cutlery was kept in the boxes on the table.

Open fires....
And this was where they found a little spot to put us. On a squishy leather sofa next to the fire sitting at a low table. We did not mind and quickly ordered. A glass of Pinot Noir for me and water for us both (sorry, Mr SE you were the designated driver!).

Our delicious food. Simple but fantastic. Woodfired Margarita pizza and a salad of rocket and toasted pine nuts.... Yummy.

Afterwards we went for a stroll around the outside. See all the vines behind Mr SE - looking rather bare at the moment (the vines not him!) - not long before Spring though.

Then I can imagine coming back to this place and sitting outside on the deck and having lunch at this GORGEOUS, scrumptious table. What a view.

It was hard to leave the Vineyard but we went on through the Bunyip State Park seeing views like the one below at every corner we turned.

Through the forest....

And then a quick look at the reservoir which serves the City of Melbourne. Thank goodness water levels have risen over the last 6 months. At one point Melbourne's water supply was dwindling fast such was the lack of rain in the state.

Then home again. I did have a little sleep on the way back I have to admit. Must have been that glass of red !

A perfect day!

P.S. More excitement. I have just checked the website (see the link above) and they also do Bed and Breakfast - now how wonderful would that be ? We are DEFINITELY going back.