AMSTERDAM/ PART ONE.

Finally I am sharing my photos from Amsterdam! Almost a year ago whilst I was visiting Jeni, we had a chat about exploring a new city in Europe for a long weekend. It's so easy to not take the time for short trips like this but it's also almost as easy to do it as well and I'm so glad we did. It was a perfect end to the summer. Despite a delayed flight and too many mosquito bites (they always get me!) we had a wonderful time. I took a lot of photos and have found it so hard to cut them down...so I'm sharing three posts with you.

These are from the first 24hours where we explored the city by foot and by boat, tried some local food and basically just took it all in.  

 THE VIEW FROM OUR APARTMENT THE NIGHT WE ARRIVED.

 FIRST ON THE AGENDA, BOAT RIDE WHERE I REALISED THAT HARDLY ANY OF THE BUILDINGS ARE STRAIGHT! 

SIDE NOTE: A fact we learnt was that historically, owners were taxed dependant on the width of their houses which is why so many are so skinny! Crazy, I love a good fact.

 THE VIEW FROM THE CANAL CRUISE.

 SUCH PRETTY ARCHITECTURE.

EXPLORING SIDE STREETS.

 ONE OF MANY CHEESE SHOPS WHERE WE PUSHED OUR LUCK WITH THE FREE SAMPLES..

 TINY CHILLIES, TOMATOES AND PUMPKINS.

THIS WAS THE EXTENT OF THE TULIPS IN THE FLOWER MARKET UNFORTUNATELY.

BITTENBALLEN (VERY TASTY) AND BEER (HAVEN'T MADE MY MIND UP YET). CONFESSION - THIS WAS RIGHT NEXT TO ANNE FRANK'S HOUSE AND WE DID NOT GO IN... MAYBE NEXT TIME.

WE STUMBLED UPON A BIG CHURCH IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CITY. IT WAS GORGEOUS AND SUCH A CONTRAST TO BE IN A HUGE, OPEN AND QUIET SPACE AFTER THE WINDING STREETS AND BUSY TOURISTS.

Day one done. Check back later this week for more if you fancy it!

x

TODAY.

Here we are again, a little of what I've been up to today. 

I took a little trip for an overdue visit to see a friend in her and her husband's (!) new home.

SUCH A GOOD BREAKFAST TO START OFF THE DAY. 

 A VIEW OF LEEDS FROM THE TRAIN TRACKS.

WE TOOK A WALK INTO THE TOWN CENTRE, ADORABLE.

After a wonderful but busy summer I'm excited to get back into a routine (-ish... work means this never fully happens) and for this next season! 

I'm working my way through the many photos I took in Amsterdam last weekend so they will be coming your way pretty soon I hope. Here's to a wonderful week..

xx

BRITTANY.

Today I'm sharing some photos from just under a week in France with my family. 

We've spent quite a few summers in France and this year was no different. We were staying more north than usual but the week was still filled with reading, pool volleyball, board games, good food, (some) sunshine and not much else. Below are some photos from when we ventured out a few times - the countryside around the house, a trip out to a nearby town and the beach.

EVERYWHERE WAS LITTERED WITH HYDRANGEAS IN THE PRETTIEST PINKS.

PONT-L-'ABBE

THE SEASIDE!

THANKFUL THURSDAY/ AUGUST.

Oops! It's September and it's not thursday...I've been away and just getting back into routines so please excuse the lateness. Once again here is what I have been thankful for this month.

one. Family time! Always thankful for this but I've been lucky enough to have a lot this month.
two. Travel.
three. Shift work, working out pretty well for me right now.
four. Hospitality.
five. Free time...
six. ...and appreciation of routine that comes with it.
seven. Food! So many tasty meals this month.
eight. Opportunities to soak up the last of this season.
nine. Seasons.