Packing up

I think I am a fairly good packer but I have been defeated today. I am off tomorrow for a 2 month trip. The first 5 days are going to be spent in Singapore - think tropical temperatures and heat. Darling daughter is joining me there. Then it is off back to UK where it is far from tropical - back into Autumn weather - and I am there for 7 weeks or so. I am getting frustrated as I want to take my new boots (both pairs), lots of pairs of shoes, plenty of jackets, tops, trousers, (funnily enough come to think of it I haven't allocated any skirts) - is it to late to put one in, I ask myself? And I should really stick to a colour scheme as well - it all looks so dull....Oh help! Wish my suitcase resembled the one below rather than the the one above!

In my frustration I 'googled' packing a suitcase and have discovered the advice below from Fodor :

Slim Down Your Suitcase: 9 Tips for Packing Light
Posted in Practical Travel Tips Fodor's Editors
Let's face it, no one ever came back from vacation saying: "I wish my bags had been heavier." A good traveler's goal is to carry the bare essentials and leave the excess at home. How to put your luggage on a diet? Follow these easy tips:
1. Do your homework. Call the hotel, motel, friend's house where you're staying and ask the following: do they have a hairdryer, iron, ironing board, beach towels, bathrobes, sand toys---basically anything that's bulky and that you'd rather leave at home? If the answer is yes, do not under any circumstances bring your own.
2. Check temperatures and events at your destination. Only pack what corresponds---do not bring "just in case" clothes.
3. Choose a central color to pack around. A neutral such as brown, black, or tan is a good place to start, then bring accessories and accent pieces that go with this color palette.
4. The numbers game. A good rule of thumb for trips less than one week is one shirt per day, one layering jacket or sweater, one bottom per every two days (but never less than two pairs of pants), no more than two pairs of shoes (one you wear and one you pack), underwear for every day, and seasonal additions, like a bathing suit.
5. Wash it out. If you're traveling for more than a week, follow the same numbers as above and plan on washing clothes instead of bringing more. If you're in a country with a good exchange rate, or aren't on a tight budget, take advantage of the hotel laundry service or dry cleaning. Otherwise, bring individual packets of Woolite and a travel stain-treatment stick (Tide to Go is the best one).
6. Write it down. Make detailed lists of everything you plan to bring. That way you can easily see if you've allotted six pairs of pants for a four-day trip. Be honest, note everything---including socks and underwear---and then stick to your list when packing.
7. Downsize toiletries. Pick up travel-size versions of your favorite products whenever you see them, not just when you're getting ready to travel. If you can't find miniatures, buy small plastic bottles and decant from larger products.
8. Wear your heaviest shoes, sweater, and jacket. That way, you don't have to pack them.
9. Pack outside your bag. Before you actually pack your suitcase, pile everything you plan to bring on your bed or dresser. This is your opportunity to eye your clothes and cull a few more items. If you pack directly into your suitcase, you'll be tempted to throw in a few extra items (trust us, you will). Once you've made the final edit, pack only what's in front of you. If you've followed our advice, your suitcase should now be a lean, mean, traveling machine: happy travels.

Hmmmm, some fairly good advice there. Ah well, think I had better go back upstairs and take another good hard look at what I intend to take with me on this long trip. One thing I will tell you though is that I am SO EXCITED and I can hardly wait to see my daughter - last time was around 6 months ago and we are going to have such a great time in Singapore before going on back to England. If I can I will post from Singapore but otherwise my next post will be from England.

So farewell from me for a while.....

And a Happy New Year to you too

Although it's only January 2nd 2011, I feel I am a little late in posting my Happy New Year wishes as there are many out there who have been far quicker off the mark. Nonetheless, I'll add mine now and wish everyone a wonderful, happy and healthy 2011 - all my friends and family and also to you my lovely fellow bloggers, followers (and please can I get to 100 soon?!) readers and commentators too - you, as they say, "rock my blogging world" !

Now, I have had a fun filled and busy few last days as on the evening of 30th December this plane below arriving into Melbourne brought.... my dear sister, V and her partner, Steve to Australia for a couple of weeks. Sister V is Beautiful Niece's mother and here they are embracing (photo courtesy of Mr SE) - a happy and emotional reunion for all - they hadn't seen each other since last April. I was, as you can see pretty happy too.

Then onto New Year's Eve.

We had the most wonderful time at BN and LAM's Hawaiian New Year's Eve Party at their apartment on their roof top terrace overlooking the skyline of Melbourne. Just look at that view. It was a great party with a barbeque, plenty to drink (too much as far as I was concerned I have to admit!) and lots of wild dancing too! There were about 40- 50 people there - one of the best New Year's Eves I have had in a very long time. Am sure that my niece will post on her blog about it very soon too.

And just look at the beautiful fireworks over lovely Melbourne city. Stunning.

On New Year's Day Mr SE and I hosted a Christmas dinner (as they were not here on 25th December) for my sister and partner with BN and LAM and presents were duly exchanged around our rather small but sweet Christmas tree.

BN and LAM gave me this lovely ceramic milk bottle container and the rustic iron heart from one of my very favourite places in Melbourne - Capital Kitchen. Love them.

And below, the festive table before we sat down to dinner.... Here I will admit that Mr SE did the lion's share of the cooking due to my very fragile state. All I did was decorate and lay the table, prepare the gravy and make the pudding!! He is a bit of a star at times....

We ate : stuffed and rolled turkey (pinenut and spinach stuffing), roast potatoes (very good and crispy), steamed carrots and asparagus, gravy(!) and for pudding - panetonne bread and butter pudding with vanilla icecream.

And to drink, a bottle of very nice white wine called "Siblings" - highly appropriate for the occasion although I only had a very small glass.

Happy Days.

My favourite little person

Had such a wonderful day yesterday and caught up with my sister - so good to see her again and of course her daughter - my mini niece - photo of her with me above..... Enjoyed every precious moment ....

And one lovely thing about being away is collecting 'ptf's' = "Presents to Follow" !!

This lovely cushion above by Jan Constantine was given to me yesterday - a joint pressie from my dear sisters for my last birthday.... It is absolutely gorgeous. For more info. about Jan Constantine products click HERE - you won't be disappointed.

Dear Janet from The Gardeners Cottage blog has asked me whether I am over here at the moment on a holiday or exactly what I am up to!! Sorry, I should have explained in an earlier post. I am over here for 3 weeks (halfway through now) and whilst it is a holiday from my job in Australia I am here primarily to help prepare and take dearest daughter up to University at the end of this week. We will be driving her to the North of UK where she begins a degree at Durham University soon..... I am also very pleased to be here whilst my parents are moving which has coincided with my visit.

A meeting of sisters on a Sunday

Yesterday I met up with my youngest sister Jo (the one that got married last month - scroll down the blog for the post if you'd like - 'A very English Wedding ') with her daughter Daisy - my mini niece. After much deliberation on where we'd meet up we decided in the end that the best place would be halfway between our houses which happens very conveniently to be our parents' home in the middle of Hampshire.

This of course was a very Good Move on our part as a lovely lunch was served as ever by my parents. The photograph above shows a delicious bottle of New Zealand Sauvignon blanc nicely chilled which went extremely well with the salmon mousse that my father had made. (I have asked him for the recipe to put on the blog later on if he will reveal it!) My parents always lay out their dining tables beautifully even if it is just the two of them! And prepare their breakfast table each night before they go to bed to be ready for the morning! Just one of their rituals that have become so familiar to us their offsping, over the years!

Dad's salmon mousse. (The china is Villeroy and Boch's "Petite Fleur" - quite appropriate for a lovely Spring day).

In the afternoon sister Jo, Daisy and I went for a walk along the high street in their village. It's really beautiful - full of lovely Georgian houses and trees which at the moment are looking their best - full of blossom.

Best foot forward! My sister and Daisy.

My favourite type of architecture again. Georgian.

Couldn't resist a photograph of this magnificent wisteria.

Nor this - pink clematis montana.

And whenever I go to my parents I have to look in the window of this shop. A lovely interiors place in the high street - good in some ways that it was closed! In the window of the right they were showcasing fabrics by Malabar which are a particular favourite of mine. The striped red and cream one at the back is what I have in my sitting room in a roman blind.

French inspired chair in the right hand window.

Lefthand window - very comfortable looking and smart upholstered chair -fun cushions too!

On the 'home- straight' back to Grandma's house (and the promise of a drink and a biscuit!)

Now, where are they? Or, rather -wonder what Grandma has in this drawer?

I had such a lovely day - certainly these are times to treasure especially as I'm returning very soon back again to Australia.

Back again in England - first post

Well, here I am back again at 'The SE Cottage' in England. I had hoped on posting earlier than now but I have rather suffered from jet lag in the form of such an awful headache which came on this morning that it sent me rushing (well, moving gingerly and slowly actually) to the computer to google "severe headache after flying". Apparently, it is not uncommon which made me feel a little better and I do feel a bit more normal now... well, normal enough to blog so I must be on the mend!

I promised photographs of the garden but I have to report that Spring is very slow this year and although there are signs of things coming to life - shoots and small leaves for example on the rose above around the door there is not much to show as yet!

My willow woven chicken standing guard in front of a terracotta pot where there are tulips showing signs of life - good.

Round stepping stone pavers leading to an old well! Apparently in years gone by (before a water supply to every house) each village used to have several wells where the villagers used to come and collect their water. Presume they used to queue up at my cottage for their weekly supply!

The top of the well - if you lift the lid you can still see all the way down and there is water in there too! A bucket would have been lowered down on a chain by turning the handle on the right.

My favourite terracotta chickens (from Whichford Pottery) - UK bloggers and keen gardeners you would LOVE this place... website - www.whichfordpottery.com - do take a look. I bought my chooks over 15 years ago now but I am pretty sure they still make them. They do a wonderful range of pots and other items for the garden.

So, a quick introduction to The SE Garden..... will post more with other photographs when it springs into life a little later on this month or next !

Tomorrow is my sister's wedding and a family gathering. It will be a small affair but all my immediate family will be there. I am the oldest of four - my other three siblings are coming and their families too - I just cannot wait to see everyone again. The reception after the ceremony is being held at a gorgeous English country house hotel and an afternoon tea is being served (with alcohol too I hasten to add! ) Should be such a fun occasion and I will take plenty of photographs too! We (my mother and my other sister and I) will all be wearing "hatty" things - not sure about nieces but we shall see. Sadly, DDD cannot be there as she is in the middle of one of the busiest weeks in France for skiing being Easter Week... But she is coming back to England next week - I am so happy about that having not seen her now for 5 months.