My January Review

January started with many happy hours on the sewing machine, one quilt was started, a bed throw out of old shirts and another bed throw was finished  but as it had to be sent to Bristol in a rush, the photos without daylight did not work out well. But it was well received and will be loved.

 

 A special Sunday brunch was celebrated and the pink bubbly was very well chosen: my next grandchild is going to be a girl!

VIVE LA SAUTERELLE!

Since last week, a lot of things start to happen in the garden. Hopefully there is no more snow coming.

The blackbird starts singing

This Tanacetum never died down despite frost and ice and snow

The camellias in the front garden look good

 Sadly, we lost our oldest cat, Ginger, on December 30th. She adopted us in the very beginning when we moved in here, some 15 years ago. She must have had very bad encounters with humans as it took her years to have confidence in us. She died peacefully in her sleep.
There are still two more cats who followed her example, Minnie only six months later and my wedding gift, RobRoy came in 2009.
In early January, we had the visit of the fox who got our oldest hen - luckily only that one (so far).

Last Thursday, EG had his farewell dinner from his company and we now enter the stage of total freedom.

There might be some territorial fights ahead, as a dear friend warned me: 'be aware when you hear him suddenly entering the house shouting: Honey, I am home! Forever!!!! '

But he has many friends waiting for him in the garages in order to get in good shape again. I must not forget to take pictures of how they look right now and make a post with updates once the serious work on them has started.

So much to look forward to!

In Between

Before 2015 ends, a post is needed - perhaps to try to come back to normal?
What is 'normal'?
A rollercoaster year sees its end and I just hope that 2016 will continue in the way as 2015 ends, on a high.

The blog silence would have been shorter but the poor laptop had a suddendeath provoked by a splash of water. At least, the new PC is 'normal'.

The picture in the header is taken out of a window in Dunster Castle - in the very West of Somerset and it is symbolic for me: England forever.

This year's rocking events have shown us the very direction: it is time to move.

I have lived in Belgium for 36 years now. It was my free choice to come here and it was my free choice to stay. When homesickness tried to knock me down, I always told myself that I am at home as wherever I go to,  I take myself with me. (I adopted this quote from Karl Lagerfeld)
There were many times when I was ready to move on and every time a special circumstance made me stay. I created the saying: Belgian soil sticks (like sh...).

If I took the time to go through my thousands of photographs, I would be able to tell how many times I have been to the UK over this last year. Every time a special highlight, every time made me nearly cry when I had to go back again.
My very first call for Great-Britain started when I visited my penpal, 12 years old, and we spent some precious summer days in rainy and cold Wales. I felt so good then and there! My next very strong call was when the plane took off from Manchester airport in 1996 -it took me back to Belgium but my heart stayed in the UK. And soon after this strong feeling of 'déjà vu' I fell in love with EG and found out that Great-Britain is my vocation.

The next year will show what is possible. I might blog about it.

To end the year, here are some more pictures from our visit at Dunster Castle. I loved every bit of it. It was a dull day in end of October and the gardens were not so inviting.But the castle was.

The historic horse stables

The lover's bridge

the Bristol Channel in the distance

inside the castle

there is such a 'young feeling' to this room

the door knocker

people could dress up here

stunning wall tapestry

this room felt so comfortable

where all important papers were kept

the telephone on the desk was ringing ;-)

I could smell the gunpowder whilst it was behind glass ;-)

initally, this was the grand kitchen but had been transformed into the poolroom

through the conservatory to reach the library

loved the door stopper

in their own mill organic flour is ground

alongside the pathway, the water flows like in an elevated rill 

Dunster village is equally cute than the castle

This last picture is my personal outlook for 2016. Forever England!

To all dear readers, have a nice and peaceful Christmas and may 2016 be kind to you!
With my best wishes,
Anke