All things bright and beautiful....

It is no secret that I am a magpie. Anything pretty and sparkly will always catch my eye and this can be quite problematic as I am sure you can imagine.

Current fascination (obsession) is this fabulous bangle which is from the Carat range, as stocked by Tombland Jewellers , the only stockists of Carat in East Anglia!

Its the spitting image of a stunning diamond bangle which I have been seriously lusting after for a long time, but as Carat's stones are "laboratory grown diamond simulants" it is a fraction of the price.  Carat's aim is to create stunning pieces that people will wear and enjoy - to not have to keep hidden in the safe under lock and key.  I have my eyes on several pieces currently... The magpis is relishing!
 

For obvious reasons Carat won't share their magic secret, quite frankly, who cares... If it looks this good!!!

Jubilee Fun...

As the country united to celebrate the Queens Diamond Jubilee, I found myself at Blickling Hall for a wee jaunt around the house and gardens with some very special friends.  Of course, being England, we were graced with lots of lovly rain and dark, grey skies, but that was not to mess with our jovial spirits, especially with the promise of a good old fashioned Sunday Roast and lovely red wine at the Wiveton Bell.

Here is a peek of our day....

Oooooooops!

Oh dear. 

I am rapidly turning into the worst "blogger" of all time!!! (although I don't actually class myself as a blogger at all)  Firstly, there is the small matter of never updating said blog, and secondly, my blog's "identity crisis"... which quite frankly, is nearing catostrophic disaster levels... Perhaps thats slightly melodramatic of me, and I'm sure if I stopped neglecting it so much it might just bounce back to life!

In Cape Town the upkeep was quite easy.  There were pretty pictures to take, stories to tell, mostly everything was still novel and my days weren't as governed by routine... Although routine is good - routine pays the bills!  My routine is especially good as I work with great friends and get to play with pretty jewellery all day long. It is great for the magpie within.

Its a hard job, but someone has to do it...!!! Carat Ring, stocked at Tombland Jewellers.. 

Life continues to plod along in sleepy Norwich. Worryingly, I have only been back for 2 months, yet it feels a lot longer.  Days are spent working, daydreaming, pondering, seeing friends and playing with the exploding population of babies I find myself surrounded by. Thank goodness for my friends who all decided it was time to grow up - I get to relish in the nice parts of the baby boom.

There are a lot of decisions to be made.. Some are glaringly obvious, some are a little more fuzzy. Taking a giant leap of faith into the unknown is never an easy task, especially for one who ponders and wonders "what if..." as frequently as I.  As the adventure unfolds I will endeavour to become decisive and assertive, and of course, share the results.

Exploring The Winelands...

Long overdue once again, but finally, here is the tale of my last adventure in Cape Town before returning home to the good old land of blighty...

I managed to persuade The Boy to take me to Franschhoek - one of the few places I had yet to discover. The sun was finally shining again, and there was a spring in our step as we ventured out of Cape Town to head deep into the winelands. Nestled amongst the mountains, Franshhoek translated, quite literally means "French Quarter". Famous for its fabulous wines, gourmet feasts, stunning views and it's pretty town centre, I was most excited about the day ahead.  It was also a good distraction from being sad about leaving.

By sheer chance we drove past a wine farm that I had been desperately trying to remember the name of, one which caught my eye when I first arrived to Cape Town, but I typically misplaced the piece of paper on which I had jotted the address down!!!  Deciding it was too early for lunch, we popped into the centre of Franschhoek itself... It lived up to it's reputation of being a pretty, bustling town, full of weekend markets, cafes and all things lovely. After a quick stroll, I couldn't contain my excitement and wanted to get back to what I was sure was going to be a pretty special wine farm... and it didn't disappoint.

Maison is a boutique vineyard, with it's first crops being produced in 2008. Mainly producing Chenin Blanc and Shiraz, they also have small quantities of Chardonnay (which was surprisingly good, as a non-chardonnay drinker!),  Viognier, Port, Straw Wine (Dessert wine) and Cap Classique. Their Shiraz is possibly one of the nicest wines I have ever drank, and I could happily have bought a case or two if I were not returning home!!!  The farm exudes style, minimalistic chic and comfort - and so it should with Chris Weylandt at the helm, famous in SA for his furniture store Weylandts.

Inside Maison...

We decided to explore a couple of other wine farms Backsberg, which sadly was closed for a wedding, and Vrede en Lust, where we managed to have lunch outside after admiring the wonderful views.  As you can see, they were pretty spectacular, and it was a great second last day in Cape Town.  Whilst it distracted me temporarily from my impending departure, it gave me a heavy heart knowing I soon would no longer have al this on my doorstep...

Backsberg & Vrede en Lust.. Pretty Pretty!!!

Holy Moly!!!

Long time, no see... I seem to have neglected my blog for far too long now, but I have had an excuse!

Unbeknown to my family back in the UK, I decided after a lot of consideration to come home.  Afterall, I had a newborn niece yet to meet, I urgently needed to start working after a rather expensive trip home in March, Cape Town was starting to get a little too nippy for me (inside, that is!) and The Boy needs to concentrate on his empire, and I am quite a distraction (low boredom threshold!) so with mixed emotions, it seemed like the best thing to do. 

So, all my news to write about was that I was coming home, and I could hardly declare it on here when my darling, wannabe, Inspector Detective Mother and her daily question time reads it. Of course, it is all conducted with love, but when you are trying to keep a secret, she is not the easiest person to hide from. I have been likened to a Jack Russell in the past - I now know where I get it from.

I had a gorgeous last weekend in Cape Town - that will be a seperate post - and all too soon it was time to leave once again. Quite the gypsy I have become of late., bloody boys!  Naturally the day I left the country, Cape Town had a week of glorious weather.

Whilst it is fabulous to be home, to be around my wonderful friends & family and to have home comforts such as central heating, it is also quite a strange transitional period again. I find myself somewhat bedless and sofa surfing seems to be the way forward for now. My back is so thrilled!!!  Who knows what this summer will bring and where I will be at the end of the year. I have a summer to figure out where and what I want to do and to be proactive in getting there, and whilst doing all of that, I intend on enjoying every minute of it with those I love.

Friday Frolics...

Friday afternoon saw us visit one of my favourite spots in Cape Town - Camps Bay. The sun was shining, we had the urge for pizza with a view, so what better excuse?!

Nestled under the Twelve Apostles with perfect views of Lions Head, Camps Bay is affluent and chic, trendy and buzzing, but perhaps most importantly for me - it's sheltered. None of that pesky wind which howls on our part of the west coast!!!

I love going to Camps Bay. I could sit and people watch for hours, or gaze wistfully into estate agent windows, dreaming of a day that I too may own a stunning white house in the cliffs.

Pretty girls and models, tanned and taut males, families, tourists and locals - everyone adorns the wide and sandy beaches or fills the street cafes, bars and restaurants relaxed and happy, basking in that wonderful Camps Bay feeling.  It is a must visit if your ever in the Western Cape and if your local, but haven't been for a while, I urge you to get back down there. Its marvellous for the soul! 

Catching The Last of Summer...

Here in Cape Town, Autumn has finally set it. For those of you who don't know, myself and the weather in Cape Town has what I would decidedly call a Love / Hate relationship!!!

The wind continues to blow, but now it's a little fresher, the sun still shines, but it's rays don't warm as deep as they used to.  Being a typical English Girl, I am quite the sun-seeker, so as soon as I see the sun and can't hear the wind, I race to the beach and drag the boy along with me. 

Here is a little peek into our Monday walk on the beach. The boy doesn't like having his picture taken - so getting this was quite a feat!!!

Big Bay, Blouberg, Cape Town