For the food lover...

 

 We returned to the Wilmslow Artisan Market on Sunday. Once again a stunning array of food, craft and other beautiful things. I took some photos this time to satisfy those food lovers out there.

 

Money cannot buy happiness, but you can buy cupcakes and that's kind of the same thing.

 

I did wish to buy a jug but getting it back home was going to cause me much anxiety...and I already have my fair share of that for the plane ride.

 

Baskets of Turkish Delight.

 

The Manchester Tart. I pictured her a little differently. Did you?

 

A happy Cheese maker!

 

 

Sugar and spice and all things nice.

Weekend in the sun!

We enjoyed a very summery weekend. I am kicking myself for not packing more summer clothes. So I am washing daily to keep the couple of t-shirts and shorts I brought clean for everyone. Also I never thought I was going to need sunblock while we were here but hello sun kissed cheeks and arms!!! Anyway we are loving this weather before we come home to winter in NZ. We returned to Tatton Park for the Country Fair this weekend and then also returned to Alderley Edge National Trust Woodland. Lots of fun for all. So spoilt here for places to go for adventures.

 

I adore the English Countryside!

"He stood staring into the wood for a minute, then said: What is it about the English countryside - why is the beauty so much more than visual? Why does it touch one so?"[Dodie Smith]

 

It touches me very much. I really cannot get enough if it. The kids and I enjoyed a glorious day at Teggs Nose Country Park which was once a quarry years ago. We have been blessed with beautiful weather of late upwards of 20 degrees each day. So this day I was organized for once and we enjoyed a picnic overlooking the green pastures. So relaxing and healing for the soul.

 

I love these village and pub signs. In fact I love the villages and the pubs full stop! I have only been into one pub to be honest but they are so gorgeous to look at on the roadside. Their names are so creative and probably rich with a story from the pubs history.

 

Blue Moon Rising...Man City 2014 EPL Champions

 

[Posted by Richard Jefferies]

The end of the premier league season and City find themselves in an almost identical position to the end of their 2012 season, this time against West Ham United ("the hammers").  The 48,000 capacity stadium packed out on a wet-then-dry-then-wet-again Sunday 11th May.  The atmosphere was electric and at times tense - I've experienced nothing like it.

It was City's game to lose, and West Ham were never going to turn into premier league champion beaters, especially in front of an impassioned crowd of Mancunians.  Samir Nasri and defender Vinnie Kompany make it 2-0 to City and put the club in the history books for only the 2nd time in the last 30 plus years.

Pre game in the morning in City Square.

 

One of City's catch cries of 2014 #Together 

 City's defense was suffocating and frustrating.

 

 Throughout the game the announcer over the PA system advised fans to stay off the field at full time.  I don't think they heard him!

Off to Rovers for a pint!

We were blessed this weekend to have my gorgeous cousin Maree stay with us. The kids absolutely adored having her with us. There were lots of cuddles and fun to be had.

 

 

Maree and I had a lovely day out together. We did the Coronation Street Tour which I figured was a must do when staying in Manchester and when this show meant so much to our Nana. We enjoyed a tour through the interior sets including Rovers Return. Then we stepped out into the street as the heavens opened. Once the rain cleared we got to walk down the famous cobbles and join all the others in taking photos from every angle possible of the street. Only took us about 10 goes to get a half decent selfie of the two of us in front of Rovers.

 

Later we went for the afternoon to an outlet and did a tad of shopping and had a delicious Chinese buffet (thanks cuz!) and of course we both bought a bag full if sweets from the market. We both inherited the Kingston sweet tooth!!!

 

Anyway we arrive home to my find my very lovely husband has our Roasted NZ Lamb dinner waiting for us with two glasses of Baileys on ice on the table. A great day! Thanks for sharing it with me Maree. xo

 

 

Lover of the Light

Dear diary... This week I have felt less than

excited about posting about our times here. Sadly there are people in our lives who have been effected by the most heart-breaking circumstances recently. Without going into specifics but these are things that no one should ever have to go through in their lives. So I have the yearning to dedicate this post to these people and send them all of my love and support.

 

 

So a lesson again for me which is so reoccurring in our lives is to live more in the present moment, be grateful and love those around me as much as humanly possible. But then I drift back into unconsciousness and back into my grumpy old ways. BUT I am so much more aware and snap myself out of it much faster. Practise! Practise! Practise! Life is so short.

So my plan is to 'be' more in my life and not in my head. Starting with getting healthy. The Whangamata half marathon will be my first healthy adventure. By publishing it here I am really going have to commit to this. I have started my training and in the evenings while I am running/stumbling I am noticing the light surrounding me. The rays shooting down from the sky, through the trees. My guides I am choosing to believe this light to be. Telling me to keep going. "This is easy girl! Use your very capable body and keep going!" Funny when I trained last for the Sprint Tri last year my chant was 'Run fat bitch run!' I read this on a book. It was the title! Sad huh? But I am changing my ways. Positivity!!! Gratitude!!! GO! GO! GO!

Anyway enough pouring my heart out. Maybe a tad bit vulnerable this post. But like I said life is short. What is the point in fluffing around with less than meaningful stuff all the time?

Be a lover of the light!