And is getting excited for some new ones

They'll be clean and fresh, but for  part of my next trip not *new* because they'll be that scary thing -  revisits.They are sort of bookends of England,   The George and Dragon at Clifton in Cumbria www.georgeanddragonclifton.co.uk and The Bull at Wrotham, Kent thebullhotel.com They both serve up my three essentials. Fab food I particularly remember a lovely English bubbly at The Bull, what do you mean wine isn't food? Beds are plumfy and comfy; if you're booking at The George go for one of the deluxe rooms at the front. And dogs are welcome. Yes, of course we opted for the Dogstarke-along holiday.

And then to France and pastures new. Well for us anyway. Where we're heading is hardly an undiscovered region. We'll be there in time for Mardi Gras and after that I'll have to  summon all my willpower to bypass all the scrumptious patisserie and chocolate

For now it's back to work and perhaps a little light list making. 

But that's all part of the fun

PS. In the meantime I've  been exploring my local area with Mr and  DogS, we've had some gorgeous sparkly weather and some lovely walks.

Bye for now

and gives self a ticking off....

Yes Marina, write out several hundred times "I must not put things off until tomorrow...".
What's brought this on? Wasted opportunity. Last post I complained that I hadn't really been out and about this year. Then came the most glorious weekend and if I didn't travel to distant, nor even new places, managed a good bit of exploring the local area in the most gorgeous crispy, winter sunshine. Weather which was absolutely perfect for  taking photos.
Except I haven't been able to take proper photos since the first week of my summer holidays when my camera battery ran out with no means of charging it up. Ever since then I've been promising myself that I'd order a new charger.
But I didn't. So I couldn't take photos on my 50th birthday, or when we moved house or lots of other times. Yes, I have a phone and yes it can take photos and in good conditions they are ok. But I've been missing the chance to take "proper" photos. Not that I'm that good at it, but I find it fun and like adding them to my posts.
So I finally got around to ordering the parts I needed, an edit duly arrived;  in time for one of the dreichest weekends in ages. And I live in a very wet part of the country. Even Dogstarke hasn't been that keen on going outdoors.
Still it was nice to see the last photos I took back in July........

 ........in sunny Yorkshire.

And plans some new trips......

Happy New Year!

What do you mean it's a bit late? This would have been New Year back in the 17th Century. Yes, a shameless use of history to  excuse laziness in posting. But apart from my weekly commute there haven't been many trips recently. And the one I did make was not improved by a bout of food poisoning. The food poisoning wasn't due to the the trip, I took it with me, well actually I thought I was better, but wasn't. Anyway it meant that plans for a Big City night out and maybe a trip to the Spa turned into TV in bed and....well three important facts:
1) My eyes nor indeed my hands are NOT bigger than my belly*
2) You should NEVER carpet a bathroom**
3) Dogs are supremely loyal, and disgusting

Ok.  Anyone from my bijou audience still reading and not retching? Then I'll address the matter in hand. Where to  next?
Next will be February, so do we go for somewhere with reliable sunshine? Appealing with the wet and windy weather we've been enjoying.   Or should we plan a trip which can include Dogstarke?  Possibly to somewhere with real Winter weather? Or nice walks and museums?

 Mmm .......*scratches head in a thoughtful way*. You know I am missing the sun, last February we were jetting off to the Philippines and UAE.  It was lovely.


Cue gratuitous holiday pics .......

Though it did rather spoil me and recalibrate my hotel expectations a tad beyond my budget.*** 

Some sunshine would be lovely though, and there were these really sweet deer

But then there's really, really sweet Dogstarke, and Dubai is expensive....

But she could stay with MasterStarke..........And he does miss her so.

Well. Which did I  choose? Actually it's not just me deciding, Mr Starke does get a say in the matter. And yesterday we booked.........

* I was told this when I chose more than I could eat as a child (it didn't happen all that often.....)

**Luckily it wasn't.

***I was spending a windfall