Exiting T5 at Heathrow a little after 7pm three weeks ago it struck me that I'd been a bit hasty in offloading my llama jumper! It was ridiculously cold and I can't help thinking that I must have looked a little bit ridiculous walking through the airport in flip flops and a little cardigan carrying my enormous floppy sun hat.......
After a welcome home dinner with my Mum and Dad I got back to my flat to find every room filled with flowers and plants thanks to my amazing Mum.
Much like the weeks leading up to my leaving, since getting home I have been on what feels like a never ending 'welcome home do' and that just goes to reaffirm something that I already knew, I have the best friends in the world.......
In the past three weeks I have....
- had a lovely weekend walking in the Cotswolds (I can highly recommend The Old School House B&B)
The lounge in The Old School House - been ever so slightly thrilled at the fact that it's snowed since I've been home, thanks to my Dad I still see snow as being magical and fun, not disruptive and inconvenient
Snow in the Cotswolds - enjoyed an Irish Gin & Tonic served, as Harriet would say, in a 'mahousive' balloon glass with cinnamon & orange at The Port House which has just opened on the Strand, a Gin & Tapas bar - an odd combination that really works
Marc's G&T had Rose petals in it.... yep... - had a hot mulled wine (cleverly disguised as a takeaway coffee - genius) whilst walking round Borough Market with my Mum after visiting Somerset House for the Wool House exhibition
 |
| Somerset House |
- eaten a delicious roast dinner at Hawksmoor Sevendials with my 'Urban Family', thoroughly recommend the restaurant which is renowned for its beef, be warned though, the Chataeubriand is considerably more expensive than the roast much to the surprise of Marc and Elliot, and the amusement of the rest of us!
- come second in a pub quiz at Retro Bar, not a bad result considering how little Marc knew, 'We are OutLate" was pretty much a one man team
A nervous reaction to being asked if he actually
knew anything that might be helpful in a pub quiz - had Libertine cocktails at Red Hook with Pat, it was great to catch up on all the gossip
- eaten Thai with Ad and Ian - so pleased that Ad is coming home for good in a few weeks, after four years in Hong Kong
- sipped Earl Grey tea in The Soho House hotel followed by a lovely supper in Soho with John
- walked in the park in the snow with Jane, I struggle to get my head round the fact that we've known each other for 37 years, but I love that we have
- started my journey to becoming a domestic goddess by baking cupcakes and cooking from scratch....
- Note: to those of you who don't know, I don't cook.... well I didn't cook. Truth be told I thought I couldn't cook and had convinced myself that along with my fear of spiders this was something that I'd inherited from my Mum. But no, it turns out the actual cause was lack of time and not owning a magimix - and at the moment I have both. So please don't be alarmed if you start receiving food parcels from me just accept that it's not possible for me to bake one cup cake at a time.
 |
| I don't know why I feel that I have to evidence this to you.... |
 |
Hot & Sour Soup - Nigella neglected to mention that it would 'blow your head off';
turned out to be the soup equivalent of eating a spoonful of horseradish, mixed with english mustard, sprinkled with wasabi |
 |
| Oh god, too much time on my hands - not only have I started photographing my food I've started gift wrapping it! |
But, as they say all good things must come to an end and from next Monday the 'holiday' is over and so too my career as a 'blogger'. The routine of cycling, running, volunteering, CV writing and job hunting beckons.
It's been great fun writing sporadic updates about where I've been and what I've seen and I'd love to do more - it's so enjoyable taking some time out to reflect and to share the experiences - but I think you'll agree we'd all quickly tire of me writing about finding a handy-man, booking train tickets and my trips to the supermarket!
Thank you all for the blog comments and emails while I was away and for the hugs since I got back.
Lots of love,
Raine x
