Day trippin'

We took a lovely drive down to the Kent/Sussex borders yesterday to visit the wonderfully preserved Bodiam Castle. Just Mimi, Dr Green and I, as Cakes is at Cub Camp, enjoyed a sunny day climbing castle walls and picnicing by a river bank. Next stop was a quick visit to Rye and then on to Hastings and St Leonards by the sea for a little foray onto the beach.

Enjoyed the obligatory cream tea at Battle on the way home. Can't wait to get to Dorset now for a whole week of this.

Her ladyship

Relaxing in her Molton Brown bath bubbles.

Christmas gifts

No, I haven't gone completely bonkers. Whilst the kids were happily watching Harry Potter (just to clarify, we had been out for a walk, been to the library, baked cakes and played in the garden) I cracked on with making a make-up bag and accessory roll. Hope to give this to one of my mates for Christmas. Am loving this Michael Miller fabric. It's one I picked up in Brighton.

I love my chooks

Here's a photo of the chooks enjoying the garden. They love scratching around in the flower beds and dust bathing in this heat. They're such good company when I'm pottering around outside..... wouldn't be without them.

Oh I do like to be beside the seaside

Took the Wednesday Club on tour last Friday and ventured off to a very sunny Brighton! Had a great big fry up en route, ready for a day mooching around the lanes and all of the other glorious shops Brighton has to offer. We refuelled around 3 for a cream tea - very naughty but we needed the sugar boost - and continued our shop fest in the North Lanes.

Claire treated herself to a Pandora bracelet and a couple of charms, she was quite restrained really as there were sooooo many gorgeous charm temptations. Lorraine took home a Ollie and Nic bag and purse which was a late birthday treat. Lynda bought a couple of funky housie bits and Sarah purchased a tea towel! Julie informed us half way through the day that she doesn't really do shopping....... can't say the same for me. Finally bought the Cath Kidston satchel that I've been drooling over, purchased some Molton Brown goodies and found a wonderful fabric shop - Ditto - to add some American fabrics to my stash.

Finished off with dinner at Carluccios and a walk along the beach. I highly recommend it!

Can I go to bed yet?

This is turning out to be yet ANOTHER manically busy week. The Clifton family is just about holding it together and limping through to the school hols.

On the plus side, Mimi has been offered a modelling contract for a fab and funky kids' agency who have lots of big name clients. She's extremely excited. I've sold some handmade goodies this week so have some extra cash to spend in Brighton with the girls on Friday. I'm off to see a friend of mine tread the boards on Thursday evening in a production of Absent Friends (my second trip to the theatre in 2 weeks, yippee!!).

Tomorrow is a mad one - school trip for Cakes, Mimi has a musicial production, play dates and finally both kids are at Cubs. I'll enjoy that glass of wine at Ugo's with Dr Green whilst they are both down at the Coal Hole.

Dr Green is looking forward to a day of golf on Friday whilst I'm swanning around in Brighton. Just hope he remembers to collect the kids from school. YIKES!!

As the World Cup draws to an end, the Clifton sweepstake is hotting up. Jake has Germany and Uruguay, Esme has Holland and I have Spain. Viva Espanol!!!