I’m just loving all the little white bungalows here in Auckland. They’re pristinely kept and have delicate details, they but don’t feel fussy. I think it’s because the corrugated roofs add an element of austerity, while the subtropical plants lend a bit of chaos. I’d love to see what they’re like on the inside.
I’m staying out in the village of Devonport, across the harbour from Auckland centre. In addition to a completely charming high street, Devonport has two mini volcanic cones that make make for a lovely morning walk and terrific views. Mount Victoria had the best views of the city and the nearby neighbourhoods. North Head looked […]
I made it! The flights went smoothly and confirmed the value of paying for the extra legroom seats. When you’re spending 23 hours in a plane (7 to Dubai, then 16 to Auckland) it’s a glorious thing to be able to stretch out and/or stand up as much as you want. I went directly from […]
Christmas in London was absolutely lovely and I’ve got more to share on that, but at the moment this is what’s happening: As of this morning I had packed nothing and planned nothing more than my airfare, a car, and a place to stay the first few nights. After Justin left this morning I went […]
While I was managing the flower emergency, Justin was landing at Heathrow. And because all Americans now enjoy the streamlined border control, he was out and on my doorstep practically before I knew it (certainly before I was fully ready!) First order of business was lunch at The Grind, a New Zealand cafe to give […]
So. Those flowers I got last weekend so that they would be in full bloom by the time Justin got here for Christmas? Well, by Saturday they were looking glorious. But by Sunday morning… Wilting! DISASTER!! It wasn’t due to a lack of water, so I hypothesised that the stems weren’t pulling water, and that […]
My favourite part of doing Christmas in London is going to the Columbia Road Flower Market and loading up on festive flowers. Everything about it is just the best: the early morning trek to East London, the hunt through the stalls for the best deal on berries, the delicious feeling of resisting temptation, the struggle […]
The choice was room service in the hotel room by myself or Christmas-market food with friends. Clearly there was only one right answer…
Sometimes you just have to schedule Monday morning meetings that require you to fly in the night before and enjoy the Christmas market. I took a tasting menu approach to dinner: first a bratwurst with sauerkraut . . . . . . then some raclette over potatoes . . . . . . with a […]
Remember all the potter friends I made at the ceramics fair in Oxford? Well the ones with studios in London had open studios this weekend, where they let you come in and see their work spaces and also buy whatever they have on hand. I started out in Greenwich with Maze Hill Pottery, which is […]
A More Gentlemanlike Manner 