Borde Hill 25 May 2018

Happy birthday to me! The big one too - 60. We had a huge party in 2008 at Ann & Revel's house in Kalk Bay, but you're all still there and I'm here. So, no party. Lots of messages and phone calls and a walk around Borde Hill with Dayne. Dinner that evening - amazing Tapas in Haywards Heath.

The sun was trying to shine. There was colour to be seen but it still felt like quite early in the season. 

The garden was created in the early 1900s and Colonel Robert Stephenson Clarke was the first owner to plant the gardens and woodlands.  Plants were gathered by plant collectors from their travels to China, Burma, the Himalayas, Tasmania and the Andes. Someone must have been to Africa too. The first record of the estate dates back to 1534 and the house was originally constructed by Stephen Borde in 1598.

The Italian Room with its tranquil lily pool and views across the South Park - always a winning combination.

The entrance to the disused potting shed. These two buildings now showcase southern hemisphere plants.

On the other side of the estate are more views of the South Downs...

and in the distance, the Ouse Valley Viaduct.

Birds are difficult to photograph, they just don't stand still long enough to get a decent pic!

Back round to the azalea ring.

To the house and Jay Robin's rose garden, but not a rose to be see. Way too early in the season. Still pretty though.

So that was the gentle introduction to my 60s. Definitely something stronger than tea required after that.

Nopi 6 May 2018

Here's an invitation - if you come to visit, we will take you somewhere nice.

Ann and Andi (my sister and niece) were on the Grand Tour. Not really, just around England. This was their final week in London so we braved the trains - what a schlep! Engineering works between Three Bridges and Gatwick meant long queues and bus trips inbetween, but we persevered. Judy joined us, so it was a family do. I've been hankering to get to an Ottolenghi restaurant and jumped at this opportunity. Nopi (the name comes from 'North of Picadilly') in Soho, in the basement communal dining room so you can keep an eye on the kitchen.

Friendly staff, great service, pleasant companions - what an experience!

Oh, the food. Lots of small plates, shared. Startling depths of flavour, it made dinner for the rest of the week entirely one dimensional.

But dessert, no one shared their dessert - and who can blame them when just one of this dishes looked like this. I didn't even get any pics of the others, too distracted.

Look at this bathroom! People must have been lost for hours, so the need for a sign becomes obvious. 

Such a good way to spend a Sunday - come back soon.