Outside our bedroom window...

Sunday Run

Today I ran from the village of Bielle to the top of the Col De Marie Blanque, on a 21km loop. It's a beautiful area, and the village is only 20 minutes drive from our house. It feels like Dartmoor, but with snowy mountains in the background. It was lovely to run and watch the sun rise over them.

This is a view of Bielle, and about 2.5 km of road between me and a flask of coffee (and some dry socks)

Here's the stats!

XMAS 2011

We were back in Dorset for xmas. Here are some highlights:

This is The Pig; a small hotel in the New Forest where we held our annual work xmas party. Employees and partners only. We spent a couple of days taking walks, finding nice pubs, and eating splendidly

the Pig was an old hunting lodge near Brockenhurst

With a great restaurant in a lovely conservatory

Mmmmmarmalade

Much of the food is grown in their gardens onsite

The car-park boundary was a good-looking little wildlife haven

We walked to Bucklers Hard: an old shipbuilding village, where many of Nelson's boats
were crafted

Rad

Thanks to Sarah, Tony, Sophie and Bell for the epic kids party

The annual mud day was another great success...

...with no shortage of mud

Wellies on the beach at Branksome

Lucius and Mama sharing lunch at Poppy Mae coffee shop

Lucius has her first 'Babyccino'

Bournemouth Pier under grey skies

Xmas morning! And Santa and Rudolph obviously enjoyed their treats
(On xmas eve, Papa asked "Lucius, should we leave port or whisky along w/ one of Nana's mince pies for Santa?". Lucius replied " Whisky and port!" Her father's daughter.)

We had much delightful unwrapping

Shiny trinkets

And many toys. This is 'Baby Carlos'. She's part of the family that live in Lucius's doll's house. More to follow on that one...

Delicious xmas lunch at Mel and Phil's

Melanie's amazing xmas cake

Park Run with Jamie

Lucius made full use of her first ever digital camera from Aunt Cindy, Uncle Matt, Caleb and Bui

We took the Studland ferry across the Poole Harbour entrance, on our way to Swanage to meet our friends Dave, Vicky and their son Harry, who now live in New Zealand

The boat had this lovely painted monkey's fist knot hanging from the bell

Swanage beach

Tomfoolery

Looking past Swanage Pier towards Old Harry rocks

Who's driving?

Back a bit further... bit further....

Lovely light, towards the Isle of Wight
(and a wave to Alex's parents)

A cosy pint in a very xmassy Corfe

And back home, Lucius models her great new moon jim-jams from Santa also

Happy New Year 2012!

Here's Neil sampling the tradition of taking a bracing dip off the Dorset coast on New Years Day to rinse off the year gone by

Beachy

A nip in the air

A foggy, winter's morning at the farm

We've brought the tasty Futsu squashes in from the garden to protect them from the frost

And the tree is up (a little early as we're all heading off on travels soon)

And of course, the pickle has pride of place

Huddled around the warm, homely glow
(writing her daily email: today's winner is John + Lula)

Lucius's First Figurative Drawing

It's a bird!!!
Obviously we're going to be a little biased, but we think it's pretty amazing

Incroyable

Earth | Time Lapse View from Space, Fly Over | NASA, ISS from Michael König on Vimeo.

Portland

Welcome to Portland

First day salon haircuts with Aunt Anette
(and Lucius's first true haircut)

Our first abode of the trip. A wee cabin at the back of the Japanese restaurant, Yakuza Lounge. We had the run of a lovely garden too which was complete w/ hot tub, plunge pool and
outdoor shower

Lucius riding Bishop's (the owner's son) trike


Lunch at Lovejoy Bakery

A quick dip in the Jameson Square water fountain

And relax

Lunch at The Grilled Cheese Grill
(eating in their London double decker bus!)

Mastering one of many playgrounds

Portland Rose Garden

Fat squirrel


Big Pickle, Little Pickle

The ride

Our second abode at Coast Cabins in Manzanita

The hot tub's on the right

A breezy beach

A hot day at Smugglers Cove (or Short Sands) with Aunt Anette, Uncle Todd, Alex, Alessandra + Carlos the dog

Anette, Todd and Carlos

The walk to the beach is through beautiful ancient woods

A misty Sunday in Manzanita after another yummy lunch at Bread + Ocean

Tickle Pickle

Brunch at Tasty & Sons back in Portland
Tasty * Tasty * Tasty

Beating the drums at Shigezo, a Japanese restaurant

Screeching sugar rush with Rose

Our third abode above the Coalition Brewery, a micro-brewery pub

Fish spotting at the Japanese Garden

Lola, Lucius's first official pet


Getting to try out her new K-Way on Mt. Tabor

A view of Portland from Mt Tabor


Styling
(yes that is an table ironing board)


The long awaited first meeting with Baby Hazel

Mt. Hood