Graduation in Durham!

 

Students gathering outside Durham Cathedral

I was up in lovely, but very blustery Durham on the weekend (incredible winds - think it was the storm 'Nina' that was making all the noise!) in connection with the graduation of one of the Professor's PhD-students. I don't get to know all his students, but every so often some of them become like friends and it feels natural to be there with them on their big day - particularly if they are not able to have their own families with them.

 

Borrowed from the web - we were not allowed to take pictures inside during the ceremony

 I had not been in to the amazing Cathedral before, but I will definitely go again soon (have wanted to save it till we have guests to take around!). Simply beautiful. After the ceremony in the cathedral there was a reception in the school.

 

Fitting decoration for the occasion - from the reception in the Business School.

We then proceeded to our house for a couple of hours before we went for dinner.

 

Picture borrowed from Finbarr's webpage

The new Doctor invited us all out to a delicious meal at Finbarr's . Finbarr's is an excellent  restaurant for a special occasion. We ate very well and it was such a nice way to mark the day. I strongly recommend the restaurant if you make your way to Durham.

 

And the socks I was knitting...? No, they were not completed on the train, but on Monday evening. I have two more 'UFO's to complete before I start anything new. Wool has been ordered for this new project, but I have PROMISED myself to finish off these two other projects before I get going on anything else.

 

Looking at the new wool waiting will be a good incentive, I think...!

Even in December...

I had to make a quick trip up north to Durham on the weekend and was surprised to see that the amazing rose bushes outside our house are still blooming...

Even in December...

With the low light and the particular glow the sun has this time of year it made me think of the song "In the bleak midwinter". Here is a version sung by the Choir of Kings in Cambridge.

It is rapidly getting colder all over the country - even if there is no sign of snow neither in Durham nor in Cambridge... The cold here is a different 'kind' than I am used to from Scandinavia. It is a 'humid' cold which clings to your skin and you feel much chillier here than at even lower temperatures in a 'dry' cold.

On the plus side, I don't struggle with excessively dry, itchy skin here as I often encounter in a 'drier' cold.

It is important to see the bright side of things..!

:-)

Hope you are enjoying the advent season - the anticipation and preparations are almost the best part of Christmas, in my view!

Deception...

I went up to Durham on Saturday to help The Professor settle in to the rental house we have got him while we wait for the sale in Edinburgh to go through and while we look for something new to buy. I really enjoy these train rides. A bit of luxery to have 3.5 hrs to myself, just sitting reading or crocheting!

This is apparently the oldest University building in the world still in use, from 1027. Nope, it is neither the house we are renting nor the house we went to view... :-)

Glorious weather and lovely with some alone time with The Professor

♥

The house is fine and within walking distance to town and office. But it is a rental, so it takes a little effort to make it more 'home'.

 

On Sunday we went to view a house for sale. It was a big disappointment, to be honest. It is really annoying to see how the estate agents use wide angle lenses to make rooms look bigger...

Makes me really annoyed, actually!

 

But we should be patient.

This was the first house we viewed so I guess we should listen to the quote saying

patience is bitter, but it's fruit is sweet...



Some Small Projects

Simple in white.

Those of you that follow me on Instagram might have seen that I have found time for some small crocheting projects. Our Boy and I went to Edinburgh for a few days last week as it was half term, The Professor's birthday and Valentine's Day. Talk about having a lot to celebrate! It was probably the last time we visit before we sell the flat. I must admit it was a little nostalgic, but a new chapter opens and we will hopefully soon be househunting again.

 

On the way up to Edinburgh on the train I crocheted this bib which will be making it's way to Switzerland once I have put some decorations on it. I found the pattern via Fru Tunheim who had found it via some other blog, but here is the link to the original blog (in Norwegian). I am also working on a special item for a friend of mine (almost a secret so no pictures yet), but I like having more than one thing on the go, so last night I started this super easy scarf pictured below.

Purple - my all-time favourite colour!

It is the simplest pattern ever and can be done 'in your sleep' or at least while watching TV. I am pleased to have found a way to use up some silk mohair yarn that was just 'hanging about'. I must admit I have forgotten where I found the pattern, but I will get back with the link once I have had a look at the IPad where I stored it...

Slow Start to the New Year... (or perhaps not)

Happy New Year!

I went a bit quiet over the holidays, but I am back again!
Here is a quick summary:

 

We enjoyed lovely, peaceful days over Christmas with loads of seasonal food... and it continued when we went to Norway to celebrate the New Year!
The weather was not the best although we were greeted with a lovely white wintry landscape. Well, that soon turned into pure ice and rain... But never mind, the company was great! A couple of days before New Year's Eve we were invited for pinnekjøtt and on New Year's Eve we were 15 around the table enjoying a gourmet meal cooked by the host's nephew who is a professional chef at a great restaurant in Oslo.

We have been so spoiled!

♥

Marius pattern bedsheets!

I didn't manage much shopping whilst 'home', but I managed to run and get new bedsheets for Our Boy. He was lucky enough to be given a super long down duvet (2.20m) and bedsheets when kind and considerate friends came from Norway earlier in December. At 16 he is 1.85m, so the regular duvets (2.00m) are short for him and you can't get any longer ones here (yes, I have asked!). Talk about happy boy!  'Now I don't have to choose whether to have cold feet or cold shoulders', he says. Oh, the little details that make life comfortable

☺

After we came back to England The Professor and I we went straight to Durham to suss out the town and to start looking for accommodation for him. Early days yet, but we plan to rent something for a while whilst waiting to sell the place in Edinburgh and then buy something new in Durham. I am pleased to say I liked the town very much! Reminds me in many ways of where we live now, but still different. For one thing, Durham has hills.... On a positive note - great for exercise!

Oh, and we managed to see "Life of Pi" at the movies! I had not read the book, but I enjoyed the film!

 

 

So, now back to normal routine!

Work wise, that is...

☺

I end today's post with a picture of my friend's new Jack Russel puppy...

Too cute for words!
 

Hope you are having a good start to the new year!

 

 

 



On the Move...

We are selling our flat in Edinburgh!

 

the lounge

The Professor is taking up a new job in Durham (2.5 hours from us as opposed to 5 hrs like today!) in the spring and this means that we have to put the flat on the market and hopefully start looking for a new property for him!

 

kitchen

Let's hope somebody nice is looking for a lovely place to live in Edinburgh! It has been an extremely useful and easy property to have, so I hope it will be possible to find something similiar again.

 

master bedroom

We have fallen in love with these old properties with high ceilings and big windows. As the flat is on the top floor it lets in a lot of light.

 

en-suite

You can see the prospectus here 

 

main bathroom

2nd bedroom

Viewings on Sundays from 2 pm - 4 pm!

(The pictures are all taken by the estate agent)

 



Recommended Reading: The Importance of Being Seven

I am in a 'McCall Smith' phase again having just completed "The Importance of Being Seven" by Alexander McCall Smith and started on "Bertie Plays the Blues" from his 44 Scotland street series.

I just love the familiarity of the characters and the warmth and humour underneath the short chapters. 

It is not 'laugh-out-loud' funny, but I catch myself chuckling all the time...

♥

The fact that it is set in Edinburgh, a city that is becoming more and more important to me, is also a big plus. I love feeling familiar with the street names and the places in the book which is not far from our own flat in Stockbridge. Maybe one day we will have a flat in Scotland street or Moray Place? It is almost so that I expect to run into Angus walking Cyril, Domenica arguing with Antonia, Matthew and Elspeth with the triplets and not to forget wee Bertie and his intolerable mother Irene when I am in Edinburgh... 

(don't worry, I KNOW they are fictional characters!)

☺

Birthday Weekend

We are back home again after a long weekend in Edinburgh where we have been celebrating The Professor's birthday. His birthday coincided with the school's winter half term and I also took a couple of days off work. Edinburgh is an amazing city. It has so much to offer and yet it is small enough to explore on foot.

♥

 As a birthday treat I had booked a table for us at The Witchery for Sunday evening. It was amazing! I highly recommend this lovely restaurant set in a 16th century building next to the castle. They also have a few rooms you can book if you wish to spend the night there. A really special experience, I would think!

But be warned, both the restaurant and the accommodation is very popular, so book well in advance!

♥

Apart from enjoying walking around a very springlike town, we also went to see the newly refurbished Portrait Gallery. 

What and entrance hall!

I had left my camera at home so the pictures are all borrowed from the web.

We also managed to find time to do a little painting in the flat. Just some odds and ends that needed doing like an old cupboard that had been waiting for a lick of paint. 

Good to be able to tick that off the list!

♥

Half Term Adventure

We have spent part of this half-term holiday in Edinburgh with The Professor.

The Cat was sent away to a (lovely) cattery, but I always feel guilty about sending him there. It is a lovely place on a farm where he has his own little room and outdoor area, but it isn't home...

But the flat in Edinburgh is becoming home. Little by little things are finding their way in and we are enjoying the flat and the city. The picture above is obviously from the kitchen. It was all renovated when we bought it and looked very sleek and modern. However, I have decided I will not have black granite work tops or black tiled floors in my next house/flat - contrary to belief - 'everything' shows! But a lot of black and white and steel gives a rather masculine feel so the quirky whiskey bottles softens this a little

;-)

Funny what writing a blog makes you do - never thought I would take a picture of the toilet before...

;-)

But here are some details to show how the re-decorator has aimed to keep the bathroom in style with the house from 1890. It has its quirks: you MUST remember to close the toilet lid before flushing if not the force from the water tank makes a lot of it splash out on the floor...Not a problem, if you only remember to close the lid before flushing!

Here is a picture of the bathroom looking into the hallway.

Sorry, for the lack of styling for the picture... Just didn't notice that cleaning can on the sink until I got it on the computer. Again, the colors in the bathroom like in the kitchen are held in black/white/steel so a little splash of color with a bright towel is in its place. I have sort of a 'fobia' for drilling holes in tiles (just think I will ruin them) so this suction hanger does the job.

We are delighted to discover that the flat is just around the corner from a large park with a small lake leading to the Botanical Garden.

Great place for a walk or jog!

Although it was colder in Edinburgh than home further south, spring is definitely in the air.

Buds are appearing and even some blooms were coming.

Just lovely...

I Never Thought...

My first chandelier

I never thought I would be buying a chandelier...

It just wasn't really me, I thought...

But then I have never had a flat from 1890 with 3.5 m under the ceiling before either... 

It was just so clear that our flat in Edinburgh just NEEDS a chandelier...!

There is a perfectly fine lamp hanging in the living room, and the room actually needing a new light is the second bedroom where there is just a lone light bulb hanging from the ceiling...

What were they thinking!?
Not pretty at all...!

We spent last Saturday walking around the antique shops in Edinburgh (I have to commend Our Boy on being soooo patient!), but as always when you are looking for something particular, nothing seemed right...
Lo and behold - a decision was quickly made when we came across 1/2 price sale on new lamps in a department store (yep - we love a bargain):

The light in the living room will be moved to the second bedroom and a new chandelier will be put up in the living room!

Not the antique find we had hoped for,
but no comparison to the lone light bulb!

A New Dining Idea



picture borrowed from http://charlieandevelynstable.blogspot.com/



I have heard about this concept before

- I seem to recall hearing about similiar underground/pop up restaurants in the USA.

This one is in Edinburgh and unfortunately, I only learnt about it AFTER I had left Edinburgh this weekend....

However, there seems to be a waiting list to get in, so it might be something to plan for another time I am in the Scottish capital!

Charlie and Evelyn's Table is a new dining experience. It is not a restaurant, but a private dining club hosted in a private home. This husband and wife team have been receiving glowing reports from national press and glossy magazines.

This is how it works:

You book a space at their table (they can accomodate max 8 people in total), agree on any food allergies/not likes and BYOB ('bring your own booze').  Payment for the food is in the form of a donation (recommended is £20) and you are sent a copy of the menu planned and can object if there is anything you don't like. So you turn up on the agreed date and you are treated to 4-5 courses and dine together with the other guests.

I think this sounds really different and fun!

This is taken from their blog:

Rachel and Chris Rowley LOVE to eat and to share this passion with others. Their hospitality has been widely enjoyed by those who know them and those who don't. Intrigued by the concept of secret, pop up or underground restaurants, they began to daydream about their own. Charlie and Evelyn's Table is their daydreams made real. And, the table really does exist. It was bought by Chris's Grandparents(Charlie and Evelyn) years ago. It has been at the heart of Chris and Rachel's home since 2004 and they look forward to welcoming you to it, or, bringing the Charlie and Evelyn experience to you, at home.

A Glimpse....

The renovation of Our Boy's room is almost done!!!

I thought it would take two weeks - it took six weeks...

I promise it will be a while till I endeavour on a new project!

The only thing outstanding is the painting of the wood above the wardrobe and filling in some of the nail holes on the skirting board. The builders left yesterday and I will do the last touches myself.

Our Boy and I were so excited we just HAD to try out moving some of his furniture in last night and this morning.

;-)

We will now spend some days with The Professor in Edinburgh.

So, for now I offer you a glimpse of the finished room and will return to give you more when we are done furnishing it when we return home again next week.

Have a lovely weekend!

Most Viewed in 2010 and a Question

I find it fascinating reading the statistics on the blog - particularly seeing where my readers are coming from. Think we have covered most countries in the world soon...!

I also find it interesting seeing what people like to read about.
These are the entries that have had most visits in 2010

- seems baking related posts are the most popular:

1. Tried and Tested: Decadent Croissant and Chocolate Pudding

- my spur of the moment dessert creation

2. A Different Beauty Date

- my run in with some finned friends

3. Notice Board Creativity

- a creative re-use project

4. Water of Leith

- travel tips close to our flat in Edinburgh

5. Tried and Tested: Dreamcake - Monthly Challenge Entry

- a simple cake which will definitely become a classic in our household

This blog was meant to be sort of a diary for our family for 2010 and has also become a place where I collect and share tips and recipes. I really enjoy this media and have learnt so much from reading other blogs - who knew there was such a wealth of generous inspiration 'out there'!?

So, as you see the blog continues.
;-)

To honor the original intention of making the blog a diary for 2010 I am on the lookout for a way to have it printed and bound.

Anybody got any good tips and experience with companies that print blogs?

Our Lives in 2010

At the end of 2010 it seems fitting to cast my mind back at the year and think about some of the things that happened to us - a year which has been full of changes for us as a family with The Professor taking up a new job in Edinburgh. We knew it would be a challenge, but although it is not ideal for the family to be split over two places, we feel we can conclude that the arrangements are working.
At least for now.

Here are some pictures to give a few snapshots of the year that is almost over (as I started blogging in February these snapshots start then as well):

February:

Our Boy posing with the Best Neighbor in the world before going on a winter hike



Visiting Hard Rock Cafe in London with relatives from Norway

 March:

Celebrating Nowruz - Persian New Year

 April:

Buying the flat in Edinburgh for The Professor



May:

walking in the English countryside

 June:

Speech Day at Our Boy's school



July:

summer fun - learng to punt on the river



August:

... and on a different type of boat in Norway after our holidays in France

September:

back to school...

October:

visiting the farm shop at Gogmagog

 November:

Meeting up with 'old' friends in London

December:

Christmas with new decorations from Namaste

I wish you all a very happy 2011!







Frozen...

picture borrowed from http://www.diyreviews.net/2010/prevent-frozen-pipes-fall-maintenance-tips/

This gripping cold is having severe consequences on our family life.

The Professor was due back this afternoon after almost three weeks away in Edinburgh, but he called yesterday morning saying he had NO WATER in the flat! We couldn't quite believe the pipes could be frozen as the flat is on the top floor and you would expect the pipes to freeze at the entry point to a property, but that seems to be what has happened as all the other neighbours still had water. The plumber couldn't make it as he was snowed in(!), but he was hoping to manage to get his car out to come and have a look today. Obviously, The Professor can't leave till we know the pipes are safe and the water is flowing as normal. 

It is not a good feeling not knowing what damage might already have happened and I can imagine the neighbour in the flat below ours is also concerned...

At least he has now met and spoken with all the neighbours in the building...

Searching and Finding

A few months ago the Professor and I came across a lamp we both really loved in a charity shop in Edinburgh. The shade was like an old map of the world while the base were a couple of old leatherbound books and the stem was like the spine of a book.

It would have been perfect for the flat which is getting some elements of an "English-Gentleman's Library-feel", if you know what I mean. It wasn't the style I had in mind, but hey! He is the one that spends most of his time there, so I guess it should be more to what he likes.

But to our bitter disappointment the lamp was not for sale!



A bit fuzzy picture taken with the Professor's IPhone on a grey morning



Yesterday he called and triumphantly announced he had found the lamp manufacturer and ordered the lamp which had arrived yesterday!

The manufacturer Original Books makes all sorts of things and furniture in this style. They are not cheap, but as their products are all hand crafted, it explains ...

;-)

Water of Leith

I grew up on the coast and I always feel drawn to water, whether it is a river or even better a lake or the OCEAN!

I really miss it now that I live inland with only a small river to satisfy my need for water.

I think I see the water/lake/ocean as a way out - an escape route and feel calmer when I "know it is there"...

I was therefore delighted when I disovered this little pathway along  Water of Leith which is just a few minutes from the flat in Edinburgh.

The weather was not very inviting, but it didn't matter. So many plants were growing without any care and attention. And the bumble bee (can you see him?) was very busy!

This part of the river is not deep, but it still had a lot of force.

The "innocent" looking pigeon made me jump as I didn't see him until I was right next to him because I was too busy looking through the camera. He was quite tame and there were several of them sitting and looking at the river.

To be honest, I don't like pigeons too much, but up close he had really beautiful colors.

Scottish Projects

Here are finally some proof of our projects in the flat in Edinburgh! We had bought a cheap (and cheerful) table and 4 chairs from Ikea (before we fell out with them) with the intention of doing something more creative with them. I only had time to do two of the chairs, but perhaps The Professor will surprise me and do the next two on his own...? For those who are interested - I used Farrow and Ball's interior paint, color called "Pointing no 2003" which is fairly white, but not completely - a bit creamish I will also paint the legs of the dining table. I like this combination of colors and think it spruced up the plain looking chair.

This is the burau we found in Bobby Clyde's antique shop as well as the Tiffany lamp we got from Jenners. I would have liked to paint the burau, but I don't think The Professor will let me. The burau is in perfect condition, even the leather is undamaged.

We then got two old fashioned-looking suitcases (they are not old) which we put on top of eachother to use as the nightstand.

I think it works well and is a bit different.

They also give a little bit of storage - which is never a bad thing.

By the way - the Professor is very proud of the lamp (I think I would prefer the shade in another color) which he had bought on his own (!) for £3 in a charity shop...

Antique shopping

We decided when we bought the flat in Edinburgh to try to furnish it with second hand and perhaps some antique furniture pieces.

It is great fun, but very tiring being on the prowl. 

The essential things are in place like sofa/beds/kitchen stuff - all new.

We are therefore now searching for the other little touches that makes it a home via charity shops and antique stores.

Trying to keep down costs is one issue, but mainly it is nice to see things being used again. 

We were fortunate when we got back to the charity shop yesterday as the little mahogany table we saw the day before was still there.

The Professor was still very sceptical and made me promise that we were not "married" to it. He has a hard time understanding I have a "vision" of what the flat should look like, so he insisted that it could go in the skip if he didn't like it...

"Yes, dear. (As if...!)"

We quickly got it in the taxi (great UK taxi's take a lot of stuff!) and brought it home. 

Needless to say, once in it's place, he fell head over heals in love with it and refused to let me paint it (pictures will come when I am back home as I didn't bring the converter with me).

We immediately went out and found a Tiffany style lamp from the shop with the best selection of lamps in this town, Jenners. It went great with the new table!

Today we have rummaged through the antique shops on the southern side of town. My God, there is a lot of rubbish, but also a lot of really nice places with gorgeous things.

We came across Bobby Clyde's place in Grange road with outstanding furniture and with the most reasonable prices ever. Prices are more fixed than other places we saw, but they were also so much lower so it just seemed more upfront and fair. I am not too good at haggling...We went home with a small bureau (skatoll) and it took over the place of the table bought yesterday.

However, it doesn't matter - the table fits nicely other places in the flat, too.

Particularly since The Professor loooves his table...;-) 

I will certainly make Bobby Clyde's a regular place to visit.

Many of the antique stores we have visited these last few days are full of rubbish and dust making it hard to see the gems. Bobby Clyde's place was also jam packed, but it was all nice and clean. It made such a difference. Apparently, his shop is being featured on BBC2 in the fall in one of the antique shows.