Travel – Page 20 – Wattle and Ash

Reflections

December 15, 2016December 23, 2016by wattleandash4 Comments

Is it just me, or do special occasions often make you think about life? The past, the present and what’s happening right now. Today is my birthday, the first I’ve celebrated abroad (!), and this week I’ve been spending a lot of time just thinking about how much has changed since December last year.

Twelve months ago I was getting ready to host my family for Christmas in Wagga Wagga. This year I’ll be with Adam’s family in England. It still seems slightly surreal that I’m here, in the UK… and not on holiday! I’m still pinching myself, realising this is now my every day.

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Everyday life, Travel

Nesting

December 12, 2016December 23, 2016by wattleandashLeave a Comment

It’s been just over a week since Adam and I moved into our Malvern house and I’m in full nesting mode, trying to turn our new space into a home.

Our apartment is virtually fully furnished, which is great if you’ve only got limited possessions like we do, but also a challenge when it comes to decorating. There is no clean slate, or fresh start, it’s a matter of adapting the already established style and making it your own.

Adam has a small collection of chicken jugs – as soon as we walked into the kitchen I could see the large sill on the window that overlooks the Severn Valley would be the perfect spot for them. We’ve added a string of fairy lights around the window for added festive cheer, and the chooks seem pretty happy in their new glowing home.

As we don’t own a lot of ‘stuff’ we’ve also had to be a little creative in how we fill up the space that now surrounds us.

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Everyday life, Local sights, Travel

O Christmas tree

December 8, 2016December 23, 2016by wattleandash5 Comments

One of the first purchases Adam and I wanted to make when we moved into our new home was a Christmas tree. When Adam was growing up he fondly remembers going to the Leigh Sinton Christmas tree farm, just north of Malvern – the trees are so well regarded they’ve even been used outside of the British Prime Minister’s house at 10 Downing Street!

Leigh Sinton Christmas tree farm — You’d have to have a big house to fit these trees in!

I’ve only ever had a ‘real life’ Christmas tree once before at my brother’s house in Canberra. Growing up in tropical Queensland, humid summers and fir trees just don’t mix, so we always had a fake tree.

I was amazed at the huge variety of trees available…

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Everyday life, Travel

Moving in

December 5, 2016December 23, 2016by wattleandash3 Comments

Blimey, what a weekend! Adam and I moved into our new house over the weekend – it feels like we haven’t stopped. Even though we didn’t have a real lot of ‘stuff’ between us (two suitcases each, plus a few boxes and bags of Adam’s cookwear, linen and knick knacks that his family have been minding in his absence) it’s still seemed like a massive effort.

Front door to house in Victorian-era building — Welcome to our new home!

It’s far from being ‘complete’ yet, but take a peek at our new digs…

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Style, Travel

A guide to fell walking

December 2, 2016December 23, 2016by wattleandash2 Comments

Through my childhood reading of A.A. Milne, Enid Blyton, Jane Austen and the Bronte sisters I was somewhat aware with the English obsession of walking. It wasn’t until I moved to the UK though, that I fully comprehended what that meant.

Whether it be a daily constitutional round the block, or a long ramble of a Sunday before a mandatory roast lunch, my new countrymen just love a wander.

Naturally while Adam and I were in the Lake District this week, we had planned an on-foot exploration, and in Cumbria the go-to is fell (hill) walking.

Path to Birk Fell in the Lake District National Park, United Kingdom — The road (yes, this is technically classified as a road!) to Birk Fell.

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Local sights, Travel

Low Hallgarth

November 30, 2016December 23, 2016by wattleandash5 Comments

The Lake District is synonymous with the English summertime – an cool, green escape in the hills where one can seek refuge on the water or under large shady trees. It’s just as enchanting though in the off-season. All snow-capped and burnished with chimneys on stone cottages puffing endlessly.

For the last few days Adam and I have been staying in a National Trust run cottage, Low Hallgarth, near the village of Langdale. The little two bedroom property made of rock and slate was once owned by children’s author, Beatrix Potter. It’s set into a hill and a small brook runs directly behind.

The instructions on how to the find Low Hallgarth mentioned it was isolated without phone or television reception. The drive in however, was a little more than we expected!

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Local sights, Travel

The Christmas fayre

November 25, 2016December 23, 2016by wattleandashLeave a Comment

Adam and I headed into Worcester last night for its Victorian Christmas Fayre. It was dark, not too cold and full of all those Christmas clichés you crave at this time of year: choirs singing carols, decorated trees galore and lots and lots of food!

We fortified ourselves with delicious mulled wine and chestnuts (roasted on an open fire!) and got to exploring. Continue reading “The Christmas fayre” →

Style, Thoughts, Travel

Christmas in the air

November 23, 2016December 23, 2016by wattleandash5 Comments

I can’t believe it’s almost four weeks since Adam and I arrived in Malvern – the days are just flying by! I had the sniffles at the start of the week, so that combined with a few very rainy days has curtailed my exploration of the countryside.

Raindrops on a balcony window overlooking an autumnal landscape — It’s been perfect soup and socks weather this week!

I’ve been using the downtime to think about Christmas – which will be pretty special this year, as it’ll be my first ‘winter’ festive season.

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Everyday life, Travel

A picnic with Frank

November 21, 2016December 23, 2016by wattleandashLeave a Comment

It’s been a big few days in Malvern, with a family reunion of sorts taking place. Adam’s brother John, his partner Sally and their dog Frank Cabbage came and visited!

John, Sally and Frank took the train from London on Friday morning for a jam-packed few days of eating, drinking and generally being merry.

Corgi sitting on a train — Frank behaving himself on the train.

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Food, Local sights, Travel

The Fold

November 18, 2016December 23, 2016by wattleandashLeave a Comment

Have you ever driven or walked past a place that immediately captures your attention? On our second day in the UK, Adam and I took a drive to the north of Malvern and in the village of Bransford we passed a collection of restored farm buildings that caught my eye. From the car you could catch a glimpse of a gravel covered courtyard, quaint tables and chairs and parked cars.

Adam told me the complex was called The Fold and earlier this week while he was away working my curiosity got the better of me and I decided to go and have a look myself.