Inspired

What an experience! I'm just back from Blogtacular, a fantastic conference for bloggers held at the  wondrous Royal Institution, off Piccadilly in London, by the very able Kat Molseworth & Kat Goldin.

I'm a bit naive about this side of blogging and had no real idea blogging events even existed or about the whole business side, so wasn't sure what to expect. In this part of the world blogging isn't the phenomenal community thing it is in places like Bristol or Brighton, or at least it seems. Any North Staffs/Peak District bloggers out there?

There was tons of interest at Blogtacular for very kind of blogger from workshops on styling, branding, how to use social media with intention and interviews with real life bloggers who've made it really big.

For me the highlight was undoubtedly the photo walk with the truly lovely and hugely inspiring Xanthe Berkeley. These are my snaps of our stroll around Mayfair, Piccadilly and Berkeley Square with a bunch of great people, colourful balloons and lots of enthusiasm.

And of course meeting other bloggers. It was brilliant to hang out with the ever so lovely Nina who I've blogged with for a long time and other smashing people including Gemma and Laura. 

I've come home with a head full of ideas but the intention to keep my blog focused on what I love; capturing those precious family moments, our seasonal adventures, my growing garden and celebrating this little corner of England that I love so much. 

Thanks for all your comments and following me over the seven years I've been blogging. I can't see me ever doing anything else and it's lovely having you along for the ride. Xxx

P.S you can see lots more on the conference and amazing shots from the photo walk by following #blogtacular & #blogtacularphotowalk on Instagram and Twitter.

Away to the Sea

Well the sun may have disappeared as we travelled and the cloud descended, but our little day trip to North Wales was smashing all the same. In a way, the greyness set off the colours and textures of Llanddudno so well. The seafront is ever so elegant; lovely Georgian terraced hotels painted in subtle shades of cream, white and grey.

We wandered along the pier, me taking photos and the boys spending pocket money on toys and trinkets. The pier is truly beautiful. Everything from the bleached planks, wrought iron railings and the wooden huts filled with paintings, stained glass and tea shops were just perfect.

Afterwards we took a little boat trip around the bay and admired the view of brooding Snowdonia rising above the town. The wind was a bit keen though so we abandoned our plans for a beachy afternoon and headed a little up the coast to one of my most favourite places.

If you gave me a toothbrush I think I could actually move into Conwy Castle. Every time I visit I get tingles up my spine. Medieval history is something I find completely fascinating, ever since I became obsessed with Robin of Sherwood (classic 80s tv!) as a child. 

Conwy is a fabulous place, what one of my uni history friends calls "a climby castle" and I know exactly what she means. There are turret stairs you simply have to climb, wall walks, rooms inside the walls and great towers where you can still see enormous fireplaces where our ancestors warmed themselves, maybe alongside their king.

There are great reconstruction drawings around the site that do such a great job putting the ruins all back together for you, and a kids trail that our boys really enjoyed. We climbed the highest towers that are pretty scary but reward you with stupendous views across the bay, the walled town and the mountains. 

Back home my university books are out again and I'll be lost in medieval England for a while. Back soon :)

Working Our Way to 11 & 3/4

It was just my smallest boy and me today messing about in the woods. His big brother is a bit under the weather so stayed at home with his dad while he worked.

So before the rain came Archie and I headed to a lovely woodland opposite my childhood home and it brought back some brilliant memories. I was so pleased to see it's now a designated nature reserve and is really well looked after with a friends society too. There are a couple of lovely trails, a wetland area, bat boxes, heathland and some fabulous broadleaf trees including black poplars. I hadn't realised it used to be a tree nursery in Victorian times and there are still some great specimens. 

He just loves to run about this boy of mine and seeing him climb and clamber over everything was a joy. When I was little this was The Enchanted Wood for me and I think maybe now it is for him too, which feels lovely.

Archie's working his way through the National Trust's 50 Things To Do Before You're 11 & 3/4 list and really enjoying it. Lots of the things on there we've maybe already done but looking forward to doing again this summer. A kid with a list is a summer of fun I reckon. 

Happy Easter

                        

                       

It's not Easter without fresh flowers in the house. I love to have a little posy by my bedside. In the summer there are endless bunches of heady sweet peas but spring needs something a bit more delicate. Narcissi, wallflowers and forget-me-nots are perfect.

And why not a few for the boy's cake too? A last couple of primroses, spirea "Bridal Wreath", violets and a few more forget-me-nots. A pretty, floral Easter x

All of a Hurry

There's not a lot of artistry to my pictures this week; snapshots of fun times we've had as we whizz about are all I've had time to capture.

Last Sunday Woody and his best friend ran and finished their first ever marathon - the London Marathon. It was an epic and emotional day and I'm still overcome with pride. They raised thousands for the Childhood Eye Cancer Trust too, a cause very close to our hearts. 

So things have been a little busy and now here's Easter. I've had a couple of days at home catching up with my boys. They seem to be so busy too, what with school, new interests and their friends, so I've made sure too snatch some precious time back with them.

In the sunshine on Good Friday I helped Arch to plant his peas. He's rather a pea addict so we've gone for shoots and seedlings to maximise one of his favourite tastes.

  

Today's been much cloudier and very chilly. We were up at the cricket club at the top of the road just after breakfast watching him in his very first match. He loved it; now he thinks he's Flintoff.

Then later it was Barney time. He's been asking for ages to make a cake so I stood back today and he made a smashing lemon drizzle for tomorrow's Easter lunch with the family at mum and dad's. He did the lot with me hovering a little nervously, but he did brilliantly.

Tomorrow I'm looking forward to taking some time to stop, eat some cake and enjoy the holiday. Hope you're enjoying yours. Happy Easter x

A Week of Flowers

In Grandma's garden, on my run and on the patio they're here. 

A host of golden daffodils - at last! X

Visiting the Past

 

 

 

 

 

 

As a little girl I lived in the past in my head. I wanted to live in a castle with a moat, use a longbow and ride in tournaments. Whenever we visited somewhere, usually with our mum and dad's trusty National Trust card, I was completely transported, off on an adventure in another world.

Little Moreton Hall isn't all that far from us but I've not been back for years and thought we'd take the boys for an explore. It really is astonishing and shouldn't still be standing up. There are sloping floors, wonky walls, twisty staircases and hidden hidey holes. I love it.

NT activities are brilliant for kids and our two spent absolutely ages writing stories with quills. Outside the knot garden and moat are great to explore and I think there'll be another visit with a picnic, on a warm sunny day, sometime soon.