very little to report...

.. this week from the Duthies. I wrote an article every day this week, probably more than I have ever written. Surprisingly, for me, I am finding my writing confidence has returned in spades. Those that know me will recall that, despite a 20 odd year career in journalism, it is the actual writing that has always left me feeling that I have no place in this industry. This in spite of years of successful columns and published stories. I always feel my gift is as the editor of others. My new job allows me to receive daily compliments on my work which has been hugely satisfying.

Scarlett received her second Headteacher's Award on Friday, which thrilled her to bits, as did the fact that her best friend from school (also called Scarlett) was coming for lunch today, alongwith  her parents and younger sister.  Unfortunately, the Duthies awoke this morning to the high-pitched screaming of Florence, who was in agony with an earache. Flo, as you know, is usually the most pleasant and happy of children, so I was taxed indeed to have to witness her pain and my inability to comfort her. We were at the GPs' surgery at 8am, me mindful of the fact that his perscription would have little effect on her pain for at least 24 hours. I had to give her a piggyback home, so excruciating was her pain. She slept fitfully on and off for an hour or so before delivering an astonishing display of vomiting not seen since The Exorcist was in full dress rehearsal and the director decided it was too much. My poor lamb spent the rest of the day between vomiting and sleeping, sipping water and vomiting, nibbling on a custard cream and vomiting, until 5pm when she emerged, butterfly-like, from her sick-bed chrysalis, as is nothing had ever happened. Aren't viruses weird like that? Anyhoo, no photos as a result. I was too nervous to produce the camera, in case Flo vomited over it.
We REALLY need both kids to be well tomorrow. Our plan for the day is to drop them off at school before rushing to our friend Tina's house ( she has Sky) to watch the Oscars, recorded overnight. Of particular interest to us is our friend Brett (Scarlett's Godfather) who is actually going to be there as PR to one of the designers who has dressed a certain movie star. All very hush hush.

Home and away - a brilliant half term

 A few photos to explain our excellent half term. First a visit from Moira and Lily, all the way from Scotland, accompanied by her brother Neil, his wife Lorna and their kids Archie and Eve. Love, larks and games, as always.  

Then to West Sussex for a visit to the extraordinary Petworth House, on the way to the Halfway Bridge gastropub, where we spent the night in a converted barn, after an exceptional meal. Flo made us laugh by referring to the B&B as the BFF. 

On then to Dorset and Corfe Castle, a unique castle ruin perched on top of a steep hill, looking down over a picture-perfect, film set village below. Simply magnificent.

Onwards to Bournemouth for a tremendous night with our old friends from Sydney, Phillipa and Paul. We hadn't seen Paul since Scarlett's christening, 8 years ago, when their children Finn and twins Molly and Annabel were 5 and 3. We are all a little older and greyer (Paul) and their kids are thriving in Bournemouth. 

We spent the next morning on a big walk through a local forest with the Grahams, before heading to Winchester. I hadn't visited this gorgeous walled city since I was in my late teens, visiting a school friend who was studying there. It is just as beautiful as I remembered, with a fine cathedral, famous college and a lovely town centre.

In the evening we drove to Rob and Sue's house nearby. They were also friends from Sydney and moved back to the UK 4 years ago with 3 sons and 1 on the way. While Rob and I were looking forward to seeing them, I doubted the girls would enjoy the company of 4 boys aged  between 12 and 4, but they had a ball. Rob and Sue's house is huge, brilliantly laid out and full of boy toys. Another great night of laughs and catch ups over lots of wine and great food. Before we drove home on Saturday, we all walked up St Catherine's Hill to explore the woods and rope swing, the ancient maze and to see the lovely views back towards Winchester.

The Big Chill

The very cold weather continued this week. School was late opening on Monday while pathways to classrooms were cleared and we had a laugh going into school every day chucking snowballs. However as the snow turned to ice it became less fun. On Thursday I went to London to research two stories I'm writing. One is on Greenwich, and allowed me  several happy hours strolling around the streets, the market and across the park up the hill to the observatory and planetarium. I walked back down to the river and got a Thames Clipper all the way back to Embankment, which was a blast, albeit a cold one. I love seeing places from the water, there's always something you can't spot from land. Back in the west end, I walked along the Strand to The Savoy to check out its recent renovation and to have a drink in the American Bar. I  had a lovely hour sipping a Cosmo and reading the paper. From there I did a diagonal route through Soho and Chinatown to Oxford Circus where I met my friend Ed for a couple of liveners - it really was very cold - before catching the (wrong) bus to Bloomsbury to David and Andrew's, my base for the night. They live in a gorgeous mews house, moments from Russell Square and the British Museum and I was made to feel very welcome and comfortable in their lovely guest room. We walked out to a local French restaurant, (spotting actor Clive Owen at the next table) and had a wonderful meal, topped off by walking home in falling snow. On Friday, I jumped on the tube to Warwick Anue to begin the research for the second feature on London walks. I spent the next 4 hours walking to Camden Lock and back via Primrose Hill. The canal was frozen, the trees heavy with icing sugar snow and I passed only 5 other people on the whole walk. At Camden Lock I met Richard Jinman, an old colleague from my Sydney Morning Herald days, who has recently moved back to London after 23 years in Sydney. We had a great coffee (I know, that's what I said) before we said our goodbyes, vowing to meet up again soon. The walk through Primrose Hill in the snow was perfect and I made a mental note to move to one of the gorgeous Georgian terraces that line the street near the park when I win the lottery. I walked to the top of Primrose Hill for a spectacular view across a white London before heading back through St John's Wood and Maida Vale to Little Venice where I began. I loved my little trip away but it was nice to return home to Hastings to the fire roaring and the warmth of Rob, Scarlett and Flo. This morning we have had another heavy snowfall and as it's now half term week, we're hoping there will be more to come and more tobogganing larks.

This is only the 3rd time the girls have seen snow so...

...a few more pics.

Better late than never

A bitterly cold week where we spent several days with the heating on around the clock and the fire roaring from the morning onwards. I was in London again on Thursday for two meetings. A bit of a drag as the travel time to and from them was 5 hours, while the meetings themselves lasted just 3. Things got a lot more exciting at the weekend because we have had a delicious load of snow. It happened overnight which is my favourite. You can't beat waking up to snow you didn't know had fallen in the night. Rob and I woke at 6am and did a quiet happy dance on the landing so as not to wake the girls. Half an hour later I heard the sort energetic footfall coming from Flo's bedroom overhead that could only mean one thing - she had seen the snow too. I managed to keep both the girls inside for an hour or so but by 8.30am the temptation was too much and they were out in the garden in snow boots, jackets, hats and scarves making snow angels and chucking snow about. Brilliant. We'll be wrapped up warm all day today and having Maria and Lol over for roast lamb. 

Also, Scarlett is a big fan of the books by Jacqueline Wilson, who has a prolific turnout of work, writing two a year. As well as writing children's books, she started as a teen journalist on the newly launched Jackie magazine, in the 1960s, which was named after her. She happened to be speaking and signing books at the De la Warr Pavilion in nearby Bexhill, so I got tickets for the two of us and we had a lovely girls' afternoon listening to Ms Wilson reflect on her enormous success.