canoedling

Today my favourite boy turned 33 and I surprised him by hiring a canoe and taking a little trip down the river.

We paddled upstream, through lush farmland, towards the very source of the Thames. The river was so peaceful we honestly didn't see a single other boat or person for the whole afternoon. We found a secluded mooring spot to tie up the canoe and sheltered under the willows from the light rain with a very special birthday picnic.

Paddling back was much easier as we had the current to help us, which was just as well as we were feeling rather full and lazy after our feast. After a few collisions with branches and a near miss with a swan, my tummy muscles were also aching from laughing so much.

I want our own canoe more badly than ever- I am totally hooked!

e one

Thank you for all your anniversary wishes- 10 years feels like a super-special milestone, even though it's flown by. I know I am exceptionally lucky to have found such a handsome, thoughtful, kind life partner and I will be clinging on to him for many more years to come.

We celebrated our first decade of marriage with uncharacteristic extravagance, staying overnight at Shoreditch House, a stunning refurbished warehouse in London's East End. Our evening was passed on huge stripey deckchairs, sipping champagne cocktails by the rooftop pool, overlooking the city lights (unfortunately the strict house rules dictated no cameras in the members' area). Then today, after a very rare lie-in and the most beautiful plate of sunny yellow eggs benedict, we have been exploring Brick Lane, shopping until we dropped. Amongst my purchases was a woollen cardigan and a leather bag from vintage department store Blitz; a pretty summer top from independent designer boutique Laden; and I ordered the acrylic name necklace I've been coveting forever from creative jewellers Tatty Devine's flagship store (shame I'll have to wait a couple of weeks for it to arrive!) 

It's been an incredible weekend of food, adventure, laughter, and throwing caution to the wind. We couldn't have planned a more perfect treat.

love birds tea towel

Last night, Steve and I went to a wedding reception in a beautiful country hotel- it was lovely to have an excuse to put on our glad rags and have a night out without the girls. Not knowing the couple very well (the bride was a colleague of Steve's) I was a bit stuck as to what to do for a gift.

So I figured if Wills and Kate can have a commemorative tea towel, why couldn't they?

Pattern available on Etsy here.