Derbyshire

 We have just returned from a few days in Derbyshire which is a three and a half hour motorway drive from London. I had never actually been to Derbyshire before and as part of our getting to know England again, we added this trip to our list and I am so glad we did as it is so truly beautiful.  It is currently the May Day bank holiday so there is definitely a spring feeling in the air and as soon as we arrived we were met with the beautiful sounds of lambs calling for their mothers. There were lambs every, basking in the sun, running after each other, it was idyllic and straight out of a James Herriot book. The countryside didn't disappoint, wild garlic everywhere, primroses and blossom on every tree. We were also lucky enough to be staying right next door to Chatsworth House - a truly beautiful stately home set in about 1,000 acres of parkland where fallow deer, sheep and cattle roam free. We had such a wonderful few days just exploring and marvelling at the beautiful views of the peak district and we have decided we are going to go back and again and stay for longer. 

April showers

 I thought Sydney had a lot of rain but wow, England has a lot of rain! I am waiting for the rain to clear and spring to happen but every day I get caught in some sort of downpour and a lot of people seem to talk about the weather. The evenings are light now until 8pm which is wonderful and I am loving watching the seasons as I walk Max daily. 

I decided to make it my goal to do one cultural thing a week when we got here and seven months in I have managed to keep that going. Last night we went to the theatre and saw the most brilliant play - The hills of California - it was truly fantastic, great acting and great storyline and we were mesmerised. Today I am going to Hogarth House and will report back at a later date.

I have just started reading Rural Hours by Harriet Baker which is a wonderful story about life in the country based on the diaries of Virginia Woolf, Rosamond Lehman and Sylvia Townsend Warner. 

I am always trying to find a beige tv show to watch, one that is well done and just lets me drift off to sleep afterwards without thinking about all the violence and murder and Foyles War is doing the trick at the moment, really easy watching with a good plot and good acting.

I am now into my fourth month without alcohol and I am really enjoying the end results as my sleep is so much better as is my skin and I don't wake up with those awful fears at four. I am not going to become very pious and say I will never drink again but I would like to think that I don't need to drink. I find it is also very empowering and the trick is to not say "I have given up alcohol" but instead say "stopped" as giving up implies quitting is a form of punishment which will feel pointless and depressing. Anyone out there doing the same? would love your thoughts.

I have been playing around with flowers again on my kitchen table as I have a few more tulips in the garden from those I planted but after that, there are no more flowers in our rented place but I am continuing to make my kitchen table a daily homage to nature!

Tulips from my garden

Cherry blossom everywhere 

Bluebells everywhere

Thats it for now, tell me what you have been up to.

Lately

How are your Easter plans going? here it was the first day of spring this week and we had a wonderful sunny day to celebrate. All the blossoms are out and they create these beautiful carpets as the petals fall in the wind. I keep thinking how great the petals would be for a wedding but I don't know anyone getting married and I'm sure in this constant world of woke someone will complain. talking of flowers,  I planted tulips in our rental garden when we arrived and this is the first one out! I'm very excited and each day I try and have a lovely spring reminder on my kitchen table.

I picked these tulips and daffodils this morning.

I also went to a fascinating talk this week at the Victoria and Albert museum on Tulips given by Polly Nicholson to launch her beautiful new book. I wish I had a huge garden that I could fill with historic tulips like she does, but sadly I will have to wait. Here in London the councils run allotments for residents, I got very excited and applied but was told the waiting list is currently 7 years and there is a list of 400 already on it! I don't think I will be getting an allotment any time soon.