Pinch Myself

This is what I have to do sometimes. Just pinch myself to check this life is real. Am I this lucky? I was driving back from Nantucket a few days ago having taken a day-trip there with my Mother-in-Law. Angus has been working away this week but the boat was going to be visiting this historical island for a couple of days and I don't have to be asked twice to go on a day-trip there. It is beautiful and I am a little obsessed with the whole whaling history - I just find it fascinating.

Anyway, I digress, we had a fabulous day on the island made famous by Herman Melville's 'Moby Dick', with a boat trip, delicious lunch, a couple of hours with Angus and a look around the Museum of Whaling. I was driving home with Coco fast asleep in the back, Grandma Flowerpot dozing next to me and the most stunning sunset-sky ahead of me when I was suddenly hit with an overwhelming sense of well-being.

I didn't dream in a million years I would have ended up marrying my best friend. I feel so completely loved and adored by him and I hope he knows I feel exactly the same way too. To top it off, we now have this edible little girl who just makes my heart sing. So what that we don't own a house. Who cares that we live out of a bag most of the time. It doesn't matter that we aren't together 24/7. Is it important that my career isn't quite where I hoped it would be? There is still time to make all of these things happen and I really believe that it all will. There is no reason why we can't have it all. I realise it isn't always like this, but when it is, isn't it important to stand back, take stock and say "thank you"? Ah - big sigh. Very happy. Lucky, lucky me, I treasure every moment of this precious life.

We have wracked up the miles this week. Not only did we cover Nantucket but also managed a fleeting visit to Vermont where we ate enormous amounts of maple syrup and Western Massachusetts where we learned all about the Shakers. I need to do a separate post to really do justice to this road-trip so watch this space. Vermont diaries to follow shortly.

I wish you all happy moments this week xx

Video below as promised.

A Load of Cobblers

At the beginning of this week I didn't think we were going to make it back to the US. I was feeling so rough that the idea of packing up and getting on a seven and a half hour flight with an 11 month old baby filled me with absolute dread. However with the help of Grandma Paintpot, who drove us to the airport, and Grandma Flowerpot, who flew out with us, we have made it and it actually wasn't too bad. Coco and I are still ill which isn't so good. We are functioning but slowly, a bit uncomfortably and with the help of four hourly drug cycles. Unfortunately, as I waved Angus off on a week long trip this morning and he was complaining of a sore throat. Whoops - sorry love.

We have managed to squeeze a fair bit into the time we have been back despite blocked noses. Our discovery of the week was Sweet Berry Farm (www.sweetberryfarmri.com) - a delightful PYO farm, cafe and shop just outside Newport. On a scorching hot day it was blissful to be out in the countryside enjoying a delicious lunch in an environment that just felt healthy. Some places are like that don't you think? You can't quite place your finger on it but it is rustic yet clean, homemade yet professional, laid-back yet organized. We have somewhere at home called Pythouse Kitchen Garden (www.pythouse-farm.co.uk) which I absolutely love and it reminds me very much of there. Not as 'English' obviously but the same 'shabby-chic'.

After our yummy lunch (baby spinach, asparagus, pine nut, sun-dried tomato, sweetcorn and mozzarella wrap!) we ventured out into the orchards to pick our own peaches and blueberry's. I have never picked either fruit straight from the tree before and it was quite a thrill to see the peach trees laden with fruit. To pick something straight from the tree and take a refreshing bit was simply lovely. It somehow felt very rejuvenating.

Needless to say, we now have an enormous amount of peaches and blueberries to get through so last night I made a Peach Cobbler for dessert. I haven't done this before and combined several different recipes I found online to finish with the one I will share with you now. It was so easy and so delicious I might just have to make it again in a few days time!

Peach Cobbler for G-Flowerpot


3 fresh peaches sliced
1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon
5 slices of bread (brown or white)
115g butter melted
150g sugar
2 heaped tablespoons of self-raising flour
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon of vanilla essence 


- Lay the sliced peaches over the bottom of a square oven proof dish measuring about 25cm across
- Sprinkle the cinnamon over the peaches
- Cut the crusts off the bread and cut in to quarters then 'tile' over your fruit leaving no gaps
- Beat the remaining ingredients together and pour over your dish spreading the topping equally to cover the bread
- Back in a preheated oven at 175 degrees C for about 40 mins until the top is golden brown

I could only get hold of some squirty cream last night (which I haven't had since I was a child and I don't think I have ever bought!) which was fine but it would be delicious with vanilla ice-cream.

Finally, I am going to to have a baby-brag. Not only does Coco do me proud with her amazing behaviour on all the long-haul flights we make her endure (this was her ninth!) but she has added to her first year achievements by officially walking! Having done nothing much since those initial first steps she now totters about the kitchen like a pro. Video to follow shortly.

A Happy Ever After

So much has happened in the last couple of weeks that I really don't know where to begin. I have to warn you now that I absolutely can't do it all justice, the last 10 days have been a blur of happy activity! I am going to keep it brief and include lots of photos. So here we go...

A delightful overnight in Boston with my gorgeous husband, drank a bit too much wine and bought very funky sunglasses - for him I might add.

An uneventful flight home with Coco being an absolute dream although we were both a little bored by the time we landed at Heathrow. However, we were met by a very overexcited Grandma which cheered us up no end!

Bridesmaid dress fitting - it had to be taken in a LOT - which is obviously a good thing. Lunch with another set of Grandparents and Auntie Vicky. Coco and I were very pleased to see all of them before they dashed off on their world travels.

Remembered Grandpa, which we do all the time but especially over these few days.

Hen Party! - A weekend of fun and frolics at Park Cottage, one of the best ever.

Coco had an absolute blast with Auntie Bridgie and seemed completely unfazed by her first night away from me. Thank you Cowan-Deyes's for giving me the weekend off x

A joyful few days with nieces - it is always such a pleasure to spend some time with them and I hardly saw Coco!

A night in London to enjoy the impressive preview of Katie's new album. Stunning venue, electrifying performance - surely the recipe for success! Yes, I was Coco free - again!

Pub lunch and a long overdue catch-up with a special friend.

A long journey up to Anglesey but SO worth it for the wedding of the year! First of all there was some soggy hard work...

Followed by some last minute preparations...

But the final result was the most beautiful bride in the world...

And a sublimely happy couple...

Coco loved her first wedding...

And thank you Mums for coming to help with Coco. I mean, I couldn't be expected to look after her by myself! We have pretty much forgotten who each other actually are over the last week! Mummy who?

Ilm couldn't have been a more perfect bride, she was elegant and gracious and so in love - it was a complete honour to be a part of her special day. I just hope her motley band of bridesmaids lived up to expectations.

Now it is back down to earth with a bang - and a stinking cold - to pack our bags and head back across the Atlantic for more adventures with our baby, our buggy and the boat.

Life's a Beach

What an absolutely lovely weekend. Other than Angus not being around to share it with us it was pretty much perfect. After the walking excitement of Friday (which hasn't happened again since by the way - such an anti-climax) I kick started the weekend with movie night. The Bounty Hunter is fairly innocuous, but I wouldn't rush out to see it. The best thing about it is Gerard Butler who I can't help having quite a crush on. It's the rugged look.

I also managed to finish the book I have been reading for the last goodness knows how many months! 'The Art Of Racing In The Rain' should have been the sort of book I leaf through quickly and easily but it took me forever, partly because reading does nowadays and partly because it never completely grabbed me. Lovely idea (book written by the family dog) but you felt it could have been much better. Sorry Mr Stein. So moving on to 'The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo' which I have been itching to read for ages now but have this thing about not starting a new book before I have finished the old one. It is such a silly rule as I am sure I wasted an inordinate amount of hours reading so much rubbish.

On Saturday Coco and I hit the beach with a whole load of - wait for it - new friends! So exciting to have met some lovely people to hang out with. It is amazing the difference it makes to your general feeling of well-being knowing that there is someone just down the road who you can drop a quick text and meet for a coffee. It's not just me but Coco too. She loves having another baby around to interact with. For the four hours we were at the beach there was no stopping the babies, they were on the go constantly, swimming, playing, eating food, eating sand and eating more sand. After a tea of banana and animal crackers, because I was preoccupied by wine and socialising (another fine example of responsible parenting!), Coco literally passed out as soon as we got home and slept for a remarkable 13 hours!!

As if this wasn't enough for one weekend, the Sunday was spent packing for our impending UK visit until I became more and more distracted by the beautiful weather outside and decided to pack a picnic tea and head out on a mini adventure. I have wanted to try the Ben Utter Trail to the Stepstone Falls for a while now so why not seize the day? I have to say, the 5.5 miles was fairly arduous with Coco in the backpack but it was worth it. It was a gorgeous walk and the waterfalls were lovely. Apparently they are even better in the spring, they were quite dry with all the hot weather we've been having but very pretty nonetheless.

I have to confess to having slightly achey legs this morning! Is it a sign of age?

One Step At A Time

I have to confess to feeling a little intimidated about my blogging. I was writing with such confidence but over the last few days I have been introduced to a whole new blogging community that I had no idea was out there. Don't get me wrong, I can not tell you how exciting it is to have new people reading about our lives and sharing their thoughts, I absolutely love it. However, it has meant I have started actually reading a lot more blogs and basically they are so bloody good! On one hand I am completely inspired and on the other I am wondering who the hell I think I am participating in this world of interesting, creative people? Much respect!

Anyway, I am participating and I have got news so I will plough on and hope that I don't appear too out of my depth. Coco, at the tender age of just 11 months, took her first real steps today! I was so excited I nearly squealed the house down and I am not generally a squealer. I worry sometimes that I don't get overly enthused about by beloved daughters achievements but today I made up for it. She has been doing one or two steps between strategically placed pieces of furniture for a week or so now but today was the real deal. Today, she was in the middle of the room with no support at all (wearing new shoes which I am sure she was showing off in) and she took a grand total of five steps! She even stopped in between each one to get her balance and have a little giggle. The feat was only interrupted by the fact she was clapping at herself so much that an uncontrollable wobble ended with her sitting down heavily on her nappy padded bottom.

We celebrated by sitting on the floor together and sharing a bowl of freshly made popcorn - most of which ended up being thrown around the kitchen.

Five steps count as first steps right? I'm not over reacting about this?

Short But Sweet

I love our life, I really do. We get to see all of these fabulous places, make lots of new friends (yes, I am making some friends now!) and we are at least in the same country as each other but sometimes it feels like we are grabbing little pockets of time together here and there. Angus was back from a trip on Tuesday and then gone today, we had barely drawn breath and he was packing his bag again. Such is the life we choose.

It didn't help that yesterday was, shall we say, a little fuggy. When will I learn that mid-week drinking is never the best idea but mid-week drinking with a 10 month (nearly 11 month!) old is definitely NOT a good idea. With the end of a charter there generally tends to be a few celebratory drinks so Coco and I met Angus from work for a cocktail. Well, when has 'a cocktail' ever really meant 'a cocktail'? Three Bellini's later and Coco has been put to bed in her buggy and we are on a roll! A fine example of responsible parenting?!


Luckily, a swimming lesson yesterday morning helped to clear my head and I was ready to face the day.

We have had a serious change of weather on this side of the Atlantic, having seen no rain (other than the odd 5 minute downpour) for six weeks the last 48 hours have been wet, wet, wet. This offered me the excuse for some home time and the opportunity to perfect my sugar-free fruit muffin recipe. This is my third batch now and Coco absolutely loves them. They are a delicious, guilt-free snack and great for when you are out and about. She is even allowed them at nursery as they qualify as being healthy enough. So it is time to share it with you. For those dairy-free cooks amongst you, I have made them with and without the milk an they are equally as yummy.



Mama Lou Lou's Fruit Muffins


1 cup self-raising flour (or 1 cup plain flour, 1 tsp baking powder, 1/2 tsp baking soda)
1 egg
1 ripe banana mashed (I've used 2 when they needed using up and makes them lovely and sweet)
1 large apple peeled and finely chopped
1/2 cup sultanas
1/2 cup oil (use a veg based oil. I have used veg, olive and sunflower and all work just as well)
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
2 tbsp milk


- Heat oven to 180 C
- Whisk together the egg and oil
- Mix the flour, cinnamon, chopped apple and sultanas in a large bowl
- Add and egg/oil and mashed banana to the flour and mix carefully
- Add the milk (if using milk)
- Bake for 15 - 20 mins


I make mini-muffins as they are a better snack size for Coco and the above recipe makes about 20. They freeze really well too!


Enjoy! x

Oh What a Night!

Jack, Jack, Jack, Jack, JACK - you didn't disappoint me. Once again, Jack Johnson delivered a phenomenal  concert for his To The Sea Tour - and this time, it was even more special because I had my gorgeous Coco with me. The only dampener was the fact that Angus didn't manage to make it. When I realised that I would be going it alone, I nearly chickened out. After all, dealing with a ten month old baby alone, at a pop concert, with 19,000 people milling around is a little daunting. However, I made the decision - maybe not an entirely sensible one - that I would give it a go. After all, I could always come home if it all got too much.

Needless to say, it was all absolutely fine. Luck was on our side in that the rain held off as I don't think it would have been possible if both Coco and I were drenched, and what started off as a scorching day cooled slightly. Coco was totally over excited all evening with all of the people, the music, the lights and the attention she got from everyone. She was however, completely oblivious to the highlight of my night. Before going into the venue, I found a pleasant grassy area under a tree with a picnic table. There was nobody around so Coco and I set up camp for our picnic tea and run around before getting pj's on being secured in the sling for the rest of the night. Just on the other side of the fence was the warm-up stage and although we couldn't see anything we could here G. Love and ALO playing an acoustic warm up set. It was perfect. Then, I thought I recogized the voice and sure enough, Jack joined them for a couple of numbers - I was over the moon. I felt like we had just heard a little secret bonus track. But that wasn't it. A couple of security guards came and stood by the fence and said lovely things about Coco and then the next thing, a gate opens and out walks... G. Love!!! Followed by... Zach Gill!!! Followed by... JACK JOHNSON!!! They were literally about three meters from us. I just stood there like a lemon and said "say hi to Jack, Coco", she waved and they all waved back! How cool is that!

The rest of the evening just sailed past, right 'To The Sea'. The music was fabulous, our seat was really good, Coco danced in her sling and laughed her head off at the clapping and cheering and then literally passed out half an hour into the show and I still managed to strut my stuff, even though I had a sleeping baby strapped to my front. The only slight downer was that 'Better Together', Angus and my wedding dance, was in the encore and I didn't dare wait until the very end to get out of the venue, so I missed it. Still, I'm glad I made the vaguely sensible decision to leave early, it helped make the night a success which couldn't have been guaranteed if we had been stuck in the car park for hours. The other slightly disappointing thing was my lack of camera. I took the ticket rules 'no cameras' literally whereas actually it seems everyone had cameras. So no visual record of the night I'm afraid but take my word for it, it was awesome!