Oh so English

There is nothing so English as a visit to a National Trust property! My mum and I always try to go somewhere nice when she visits, and this holiday we went to Mottisfont Abbey. The rose garden was heavenly, we went on a beautiful riverside walk and saw some extremely old and wonderful trees. Top that off with a slice of cake and an elderflower presse and you have a thoroughly English day.

(Photos by Dy Swindlehurst)

The woods

Apologies for the hiatus, but the super sunny weather has meant we've been spending much time outside. Yesterday the heat got so unbearable that we rushed to the shelter of the woods. We had such a wonderful afternoon in the shade of some beautiful trees. E actually walked a really long way and mostly in the direction that we asked him to! He was lovely and well behaved, exploring sticks and moss and old leaves, and all things natural. The bluebells were nearly over, but here's a photograph from a couple of years back. The woods lift my spirit and refresh me