Rubbing shoulders with the posh people.

Tonight we went to an art exhibition in Mayfair (expensive property on the monopoly board). It was the opening night of a new show by John Lowrie Morrison who is an artist from the same area of Scotland as my beloved. The art gallery is in a street opposite the Ritz and they had two burley bouncers on the door who had to check our names against their list before we were let in - I felt right posh.

The paintings are stunning and really show the West Coast of Scotland as the beautiful place it is. We would love one of John's paintings but would need to win the lottery first.

Ken admiring the paintings

It's so civilised to walk around looking at stunning works of art with waiting staff offering glasses of champagne in a lovely gallery.

Lovely chandelier

I did have quite a long chat to a rather eccentric older lady who attended - I think I did a very good job of convincing her that the reason we weren't buying a painting was that we didn't have a big enough room for the one we really liked (I can blag it with the best of them).

Unfortunately the artist, John, was unable to make the opening - it would have been nice to have a chat with him like we have once before - John actually taught Ken's sister art at high school.

I think this next picture was one of my favourites of the exhibition - what a shame it was already sold!

So that was our lovely evening in the posh part of London. Until next time, stay safe, be happy, and do something nice for a stranger.

Pamela and Ken
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P.S: Final shot of the groovy sink in the bathroom.

The delights of Borough Market

Yesterday we went into London for a mooch around Borough Market which is one of the oldest food markets in London, established in the 1700's but there have been food traders in the area since the 11th century. If you're ever in London it's a great place to visit - get off at London Bridge station.

It's one of our favourite places to go as the sights and smells are amazing - it's also really good for people watching. The section of the market which sells hot food was really busy with lots of queues but the rest was okay. There are always tourists taking pictures so I blended right in.

As you can see there were lots of stalls selling sweet treats so of course we had to sample some - well it would be rude not to. I went for a lamington (a little taste of home) and Ken had a blueberry tart.

Whilst we were eating this very trendy man was standing nearby, very much a dude!

We then went into the part of the market which sells meat, veg, fruit, cheese, basically everything the locals might need.

Mushrooms

Meat (with hooves still attached)

Fish selection

Fruit and veg

Bread

Ken stopped at a stall selling Darjeeling tea, tasting different types and getting a history lesson about the tea and it's benefits. He also heard all about the part of India where the tea is grown. As Darjeeling tea is one of his favourites he ended up buying two bags of loose leaf tea.

While Ken was getting his history lesson I stopped at a stall called De Calabria, which sold various products from the Calabrian area of Italy. Among these was honey which the stall holder gave me a taste of and it was amazing - it had the comb in it which took me right back to my childhood in Tasmania as my grandad used to give me bits of honeycomb to chew on. I was going to buy a jar anyway but then I got my own lesson about where the honey was from and I even got to see a picture of the man who makes the honey posing with his bees. To quote the stall holder, he loves his bees like cats!

My honey man with his stall

A few more shots from around the market, giant pans of lovely food, crocodile burgers, and part of a Citroen on the wall of a French stall (guess who made me take that picture).

When we walked out of the market we got a great view of the Shard towering over the older buildings.

Our next stop was Waterloo and the restaurant Wahaca - we'd been to the one at Southbank before. It's Mexican street food and is delicious. Ken had fish tacos and I had a scrummy sweet potato taquito followed by decadent churros with chocolate sauce - yummo!

Gorgeous man

It's a really funky space and the staff are all really good. I especially liked the signs for the toilets (yes I know I'm a bit obsessed) as they are very Mexican.

So that was our latest fun day out - so nice that the sun was shining. Until next time, be good, stay happy, and think about where your food comes from.

Pamela and Ken
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Valentine's Day

Today is that day that some people dread, some people love, and some people go totally over the top. Supposedly the most romantic day of the year it has become very commercialized and often puts too much pressure on couples to do something amazing (and expensive) for each other.

Valentine's day has mixed origins, yes there was a Christian saint Valentine who was a martyr but there was also an ancient Roman festival called the feast of Lupercalia which has been linked to our modern day celebration.

Whatever the background we like to use it as a day to spoil each other in an inexpensive and often silly way - you would probably guess that if you've read many of our posts.

I am very lucky to spend my life with a wonderfully crazy and lovely man who gets me - that's the really important bit.

Lovely man

Earlier this week I gave Ken some medication to take daily to help him through the miserable weather, you could say they were happy pills. Before you panic and think I'm drugging my husband, the pills were chocolates along with a little note to tell him how much he means to me - he had instructions to open one each day.

I got the idea from a great website, www.thedatingdivas.com - do check it out if you want lots of fun ways to celebrate your love.

I always tell Ken not to spend money on me for Valentine's day as I don't want him to be pressured by all the hype. But as always he gave me a beautiful bunch of flowers and he also got me a mini bottle of champagne, some champagne truffles, and a pill box (I think there's a theme here).

Now last year I made my beloved a chocolate bouquet so this year there had to be something equally as silly and chocolatey as my man has a mega sweet tooth. What could I do?? - a chocolate letter!

If you can read it you'll see that some of the words have been replaced by appropriate sweets - inexpensive but heartfelt.

I forgot to mention that when he gave me my gifts my beloved then proceeded to scatter rose petals over me - he's just too gorgeous for words. Here's a picture of where I was sitting.

It was a lovely Valentine's day - but the most important thing to remember is not to keep these things to just one day of the year, be romantic as often as you can.

So until next time, stay safe, be happy, and smile at the next person you see.

Pamela and Ken
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P.S: Final pictures are of Bertie Boo in the cone of shame - so cute.

Quiet week

This week has been one of those where a combination of the weather and life has kept us from any adventures - that's not to say that we haven't had any days of fun. The main reason for fun in our home is our crazy love for each other which includes a very good sense of humour and our three furbies.

Last weekend all three had birthdays - Bertie Boo turned 12 and the brats turned 10. Bertie got a lovely new chew toy and the brats got two new catnip mice - they're so spoiled.

Muffin

Cookie

The drama of the week has been with Bertie as he needed a trip to the vet and he needs an operation which is going to cost an awful lot of money - thank goodness for pet insurance!! He's okay but starting to show his age.

Now before you think we must have been too busy for coffee, then don't be silly, time over a hot drink is very precious to us. Look how pretty they make the drinks look at Harris and Hoole.

That's it for now, until next time be good, stay safe, and take time to think of all the things that you're grateful for today.

Pamela and Ken
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P.S: Final picture - guess who's nose?