Although rain is meant to be a bad thing, I can't help but feel secretly smug.....there is just something so alluring about dark, wild, atmospheric weather compared to it's beaming, simple sunny rival. Inspired by the weather and countryside around me, I doodled away for an afternoon. This was the result.....

Ah I just want to walk into this world; hear the birds sing, the branches swaying in the wind while I settle down and hide amongst the  toadstools.....

Inspiration - the colours, the shapes, the mood.

Where I like to sit and ponder.

I then started playing around in my sketchbook, I discovered I could use the join to create a 3D effect which helps convey more atmosphere and gives my drawings a bit more life.....

Letters are lovely. 


If I had my way I would ban email. You can't beat the feel of the paper and the personality and individuality of hand writing. It just feels so, well, lovely. Today I received a great letter from Zak back in London, pretty much made my day! It's definitely got me all inspired to start sending more.

Ah rather miss this.

Time to get over the holiday blues. Time to bake and draw!


Lulu's Birthdayyy.....cake, champagne and countryside.

Birthday Girl.

Eating afternoon tea is literally my favourite past time.

For the all important Birthday cake I made Lucy a good old lemon drizzle, I love this recipe as it makes a wonderfully soft, squidgy sponge with an irresistible crunchy top. The secret to the crispy finish and squidgy middle? Just make a simple lemon syrup - pour it straight over the freshly baked cake and Bob's your uncle.

100 ml Water
50g Caster Sugar
Juice and zest of 1 Lemon


Boil until you have a lovely think syrup consistency.


P.s. In a moment of culinary madness I tried out the same syrupy finish on my Mum's blueberry birthday cake, and I tell you what it was worth the risk!

'Let them eat cake.'

As I am now back in the countryside, when I have any idol moments I tend to doodle up random little, well, things? Definitely not worthy of actually being called stories, more occupations of my sunday afternoons.

This was the result of one of those rainy, cold and dark JUNE afternoons.....

'The small, sad story of Steve Sparrow.'

Steve was definitely not a normal sparrow. Ever since his birth he's been a dark outsider of the sparrow community. With green tinged feathers, the eyes of a mad - man and definite personality and depression problems he is labelled a 'bad egg' from beak to deranged claw.

In order to find happiness from his dark and lonely situation he attempted to fit into different societies. His logic was , seeing as he couldn't be a good sparrow, he might be a better something else?

First he thought 'Ah the Red Indians!' as they love feathers and don't seem to be at all fussy about the colours they wear either!

However, they tried to eat him. Steve thought it best to leave.

He then tried to be a proper English gentleman.  But, the croquet bats were  far too heavy and the cigars and drinks went straight to his head.

Defeated and deflated, lost of all hope Steve decided to end the pain. The next day he leapt off his tree and didn't fly.

The end.

Obviously really busy and spending my time really wisely ;) 

After a beautiful 10 days in the Caribbean, I've arrived back to a bustling London where everyone has gone slightly Jubilee crazy and feeling the love for the royals - bunting, flags and street parties galore. Golly it feels good to be British.

Unfortunately, for the boat pageant it was rather rainy.....but in true British fashion we didn't let that dampen our spirits!

Stumbled upon a street party in Soho.

https://twitter.com/amykitch/status/209619358941585409/photo/1

Celebrating in style with a 'Fizzy Lizzy' earlier today in Clapham with Amy and Lucy. 

I hope everyone has had a cracking Jubilee weekend. Toodle pip!

I'm a Granny. Not only do I love Earl Grey tea and knitting I have already had operations on both my knees from years of hammering them at ice skating.  A couple of days ago however I had my first lesson back on the ice with the great James Young aka Jimmy to anyone in British Ice Dance! It was such a nice lesson, and it really felt good doing the good old dances such as the Tango Romantica - I could almost forget the odd twinges in my granny knees.....

About to skate the Rumba in last year's Championships before my second knee operation.

However, after such an energetic morning, I was aching all over so decided to go back to my comfort zone - a pleasant little wander around the V&A.

Busy bee - man on the information desk who never stopped , just constantly helping.

This woman in the foyer caught my eye  as she  must have only been  about 5'2 yet she had this coat draped over her, completely weighing her down. Alongside the comical size aspect it was bright green and checked. The image of her hurriedly, scuttling across the entrance while trying to manage this tent of a coat needed to be recorded in my little book.

P.s.

If you're scratching you're head for something to do in this gloomy spring weather check out 'Goodbye, First Love.' It's a charming french film from director Mia Hansen-Love following the trials and tribulations of relationships, and how we change, grow and our perspectives can change over time. Basically, if - like me - you enjoy films where you can connect with the characters without clichés or cheesy commercial guff, then next time it's raining outside - probably tomorrow - go see it! 

For my Birthday I got a rather swanky cocktail shaker - yesterday me and my friends gave it a whirl. 

After a team effort of myself and Fanny, the first home made cocktail was ready for shaking .