A pretty cool week.

I got to spend another fun day in London last week, researching and doing interviews for the final two features I had to write for the magazine I've been working on.
On Thursday morning I went to Notting Hill to meet the very talented Nikki Tibbles, founder of floral empire Wild At Heart. Her first shop was at the so-called Turquoise Island on Westbourne Grove, and is little more than a shed-sized building attached to a toilet block. Westbourne Grove has certainly come up in the world since I lived in west London and it was at once alarming and nice to see how much things have changed. Once again I couldn't help noticing the total lack of West Indian people, replaced by those in barbours, oversized sunglasses and expensive cars. While I was waiting for Nikki's photoshoot to finish, I spotted an actress and a model popping in for flowers. Nikki invited me back to her house to do the interview which I was really thrilled about as it meant I got to have a massive perve around her huge house. Her house is like ours - a 4-storey Georgian townhouse - with the slight difference that hers is in Notting Hill, walking distance from Portobello Road and Ladbroke Grove, whereas mine is...well, you know. Anyhoo, the house didn't disappoint, filled with incredible art, furniture and her spectaculat vase collection. Nikki's mantra is that if a vase isn't beautiful enough to stand alone then it has no business having flowers in it. But then she also advocates using jam jars and buckets, so there you go. Once we'd finished our interview and, curiously a pot of rice pudding each, I left her home and wandered through the streets, down to Bayswater where I got the tube to St Pancras. I hadn't visited since the huge renovation turned a rather grim train station into a hotel and home for the Eurostar trains.  There's an incredible glass roof, an oyster bar, some fancy shops and a huge, hideous sculpture of a couple embracing. I must admit I was really disappointed, expecting something more like Madrid's super cool Atocha station that keeps the trains outside and the people and the trees inside. On then to Clerkenwell for a stroll before my second interview with a bloke whose job is advising residential developers on how to incorporate art and culture into the finished project which was really interesting.
We'd been watching all the Sport Relief stuff on telly all week, including the documentary on the extraordinary efforts of my old Manchester Poly mate, comedian John Bishop. His week of hell involved cycling from Paris to Calais in under 24 hours, then rowing across the channel, then running a marathon every day for 3 days until he reached London.
On Sunday Scarlett and I got dressed in our US Halloween costumes for our, admittedly much smaller effort , running The Mile for Sport Relief.  I was really impressed with Scarlett, running much faster and harder than I did. She now wants to do the 5km Race for Life in July and is already talking about doing the 6 mile run for Sport Relief next year.  She raised 272 quid in the end, which I think is pretty good for an 8 year old.

The weather was amazing again yesterday so we walked down to the new Jerwood Gallery on the seafront and met Janice and Roger for lunch on the sun-drenched balcony overlooking the fishing boats. It was pretty perfect.

Florence is 5. Hooray.

 That's my Florence, with her huge brown eyes, impossibly long lashes and happy demeanor. She's our  dancer, our smiling ball of sunshine, our loves-a-cuddle queen. After a hard day of smiling, jumping, dancing and laughing, she likes nothing more than curling up on a lap, like a big cat, thumb in mouth and reaching up behind her to stroke the neck of the lap owner. I can't believe it's 5 years since she burst into our lives. Here she is, enjoying her big day. We started out with the big present opening in bed, in which she kissed each present as she opened it. We spent the morning at the cinema watching the new Muppet movie, followed by a bouncy castle party with 10 mates from school, and then a family dinner at Pizza Express. Happy birthday sweetheart.

Oh I do like to be beside a nuclear power station...

It might sound weird, but Scarlett, Flo and I had a brilliant afternoon at Dungeness, the small spit of land a few miles along the coast from Hastings, that is actually in Kent. Weird because, as well as being home to an eclectic assortment of  beach houses and shacks (including Derek Jarman's, below), a scattering of fishing boats, two lighthouses and a miniature steam railway, it is also the site of Dungeness Nuclear power station.  This monolithic building dominates the flat landscape and provides the backdrop to every view, but there's something really rather beautiful about the desolation and loneliness of the place, that I loved. The sun was shining, the beach was littered with fishermen and we walked and played on the beach, perved at some of the more stylish beach houses and then drove home via Camber Sands for a 99.

Spring!!!!

In the last few weeks spring appeared to arrive, then retreat, but it's back with a vengeance. I dug two new garden beds this week for Scarlett and Flo. Yesterday they planted sunflower and cornflower seeds and I started off my seed potatoes in two sacks on the deck. Flo has been ill for over a week and after a whisper of 'mumps' in the playground, I took her to the doctor on Wednesday with swollen glands and a temperature. Diagnosis - ear infection. Since she's started taking the antibiotics she has improved hugely and is back to her old self. Unfortunately my Dad's chest infection led him to a two night hospital stay, as any small illness sends his blood sugar levels crazy and he feels very unwell.  He is now home and feeling a little better, but is still not the 101% he likes to be.
My writing work on this magazine project is drawing to a close. I now only have four more stories left to write and then I'll help out with the editing. Fortunately, one is on London's luxury spas and on Tuesday I am going to the Chuan Spa at the fabulous Langham Hotel to review a treatment called Indoceane. It lasts two hours and promises to take me on 'the ultimate luxury of a journey to distant continents for total relaxation. To Egypt to bathe in the veil of the precious milk bath. Then to India to release tensions with an energising balm and luxurious massage. In the Chinese step, the entire body is wrapped in sublime silk." Not bad for 180 quid.

Lastly, here's a shot of Flo in school last week when the fuzz came for a visit. All the kids got to dress up in police uniforms and sit in the police car with the lights flashing.

Happy 8th birthday Scarlett

There's my big girl. My first born. The blonde, blue-eyed one who looks like me as a kid, but whose temperament is more like Rob. Whose textbook delivery fooled me into thinking I could go again. She's the one who loves to read, read, read, and write lists and notes and messages and who adores pens, paper and all other office accessories as much as I do. She's the one who can't sit still, can't stop talking, won't stop asking. She makes friends easily, loves school but loves being at home more. She can be old beyond her years, but still needs cuddles when she can get them. Scarlett turned 8 this week, which astonished us just as much as last year and the years before. Her height chart, recorded each year on her birthday, shows she has grown almost 3 inches. She has gone up a shoe size and needs longer trousers, but she's still as lithe, slim and supple as ever. Here she is in her annual jeans and t-shirt shot and a few more pics to show how we celebrated the anniversary of the birth of our darling girl.

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.

Headteachers and home.

Another busy week. I worked all week again, but took time out on Tuesday morning for Rob and I to attend the senior's screening of Contagion at the cinema. Included in the (heavily subsidised for OAPs) ticket price is a raffle ticket and a cup of tea.  We both love Steven Soderbergh films and this was just as good as his usual high standard. A thrilling depiction of how a deadly disease could grip the planet. Most alarming was not being asked to prove our advanced ages to the bloke selling the tickets. The weekend started with Florence receiving a Headteacher's Award at school for all her hard work in class. It's such a great event. The names of the children who get one are read out, they have to stand at the front and then the whole school claps and cheers them.  Scarlett was also thrilled to receive a copy of the book a poem she wrote has been publsihed in. Only 19 children from the whole school were included in this book of poetry written by children across Sussex. A copy will sit in the British Library. Proud.

After school on Friday we drove north to Dad's for the night. It is always such a tonic to go home. Dad always cooks a great dinner, the kids colour and draw before bed and then we settle in for a jaw before a bit of telly. By Saturday morning it had turned very cold and it almost felt like snow was on the way - grey skies and a chilly breeze didn't stop us piling on the layers and the wellies for a walk down to the church where we were married. We love walking around the churchyard looking for the headstones of old friends and noting any new ones. Then we walked on down to Kettle Bridge for a game of Pooh sticks. Talking of poo, hilarity, not seen since the last Carry On film, ensued when Rob and the girls maturely took turns pretending to be responsible for the massive pile of horse manure in the middle of the field.

At lunchtime we drove to the gorgeous village of West Peckham, to a brilliant pub with roaring fires for a lovely lunch. I'd like to go back in the summer when the cricket pitch out the front has a game going. It's another cold but sunny one today, so we're off for a walk along the seafront to lunch at a friend's house. I love it when I don't have to do the cooking for a change.