What a civilised way to pass the weekend

I had a fantastic weekend of Jazz, rugby and fashion

Elmbridge fashion show started on 13 and ended on 15 March.
African fashion accessories and ethical clothing from Ethnic Supplies were included and showcased on 14th


We got a fab review from the audience but what I had not anticipated was being asked to be one of the models for Ethnic Supplies. The best thing about this show was local people from all walks of life regardless of age size or colour were given the chance to walk the Catwalk and show case fashion from local Shops.I will post the photos as soon as I get them


Rugby, well what can I say, I don't think the Welsh deserved to win and felt sorry for the Italians who tried so hard.The English/French game, was amazing too, although I found the first part rather dull. The English team looked like a born again team. I have not seen them play so well or certainly score that many points against the French team.

After the Rugby it was time to hit the road to Riverhouse in Walton on Thames where I caught up with Ulla from Denmark and the others for an evening of live jazz. On stage was this man http://www.tonywoods.org/ with his band.

I never thought I would ever enjoy modern jazz as I did. Tony is so talented, he switched between the Sax to the flute to sometthing that looked like a hollowed out bamboo stick and something else that looked like a hollowed out squash.

Really fabulous stuff from these guys and if you can catch them please do. Milo Fell was superb on the drums too, he too had several implements whose names I don't know
but they served to improve the sound.

There had to a downside to this though, and it was the people who came to listen to the jazz but decided to talk amongst themselves for
the duration of the second half, ruining it all for everyone.

I always wondered what these sorts of people have to say to each other that either can't wait of that could not have been said before the show. They irriated Ulla no end and at one point I thought she was going to say something to them

In all all a thoroughly enjoyable weekend

How was your weekend?

Walking off a Danish pastry on esher common

I don't know when or how, but at some point in the last year I gave up any form of physical exercise and became unfit in the process. At the end of last year I was losing so many days to colds and coughs that I vowed to do something about it

I signed up to my local gym, and having completed my induction, my "gym routine started this week in earnest and I managed to pack in 3 sessions. I couldn't get to gym on Monday but got there on Tuesday and Wednesday, by Thursday morning everywhere hurt so I stayed way and instead went for a 15 minute walk, before returning on Friday morning.

I had a coffee and a Danish on Saturday before joining the local walking group for a 2 hour hike on Esher common and here are some pics of the landscape along the route we walked.

I have had another 30 minute walk today as i could not face being in the gym. I am not sure how I will fare next week, but I must say I have had a good start

What a civilised way to end the week

The new year is well and truly here and the "really" hard work starts tomorrow. I am not sure how I will cope with that as I can't seem to get anywhere on time at the moment.

This is worrying for me as I have always been particular about time keeping. Have you heard about an expression "African Time"? Having avoided the label of being late all the time and therefore keeping African time, it seems to have caught up with me.

I had planned to join an organised walk on the Polesden Lacey Estate in Effingham Surrey, I looked up the route last night and it transpired that it is one I have done before and therefore if I set off at 10ish I should be on time. I didn't factor in having to scrape the car. I am not sure why as we have had frost the best part of 7 days..

I had a feeling I would be so late that the group I was due to join would have set off without me by the time I got to the meeting place. I considered turning around but didn't on the off chance that I may be able to catch up with them.

I got to the meeting place 8 minutes late and everyone was long gone. I devised my own route, I didn't catch up with the group but instead enjoyed a 45 minute brisk walk.

Here are some pics from my walk














Having done that walk I was so frozen that I needed thawing out!!!, I decided to buy leeks and cream so I could make a potato and leek soup when I got. I popped into Garson's farm shop in Esher and this is the scene that greeted me.




I bought a wheat, egg, and gluten free cake for afternoon coffee with friends who popped in to inspect my DIY skills, LOL..


The soup is made and it is time to sample it..