the greatest gift

The Haven household, headed up by 

Mr Darcy and Mr Bingley

wish to thank you all for the greatest of gifts, those impossible to wrap - your time and your attention.

Have a happy, healthy and love filled festive time...

Darcy                      Bingley

... just checking the decorations one more time...

window of opportunity

Bingley in the kitchen

.. if you are outside, I wanna be outside ...

Christmas... is it here yet?

"Christmas isn't a season. It's a feeling"  ~ Edna Ferber

Darcy

Bingley

..  Can we open our presents yet?

paw talk at 7.30am

Bingley

... what yah mean... you have to go to work..?

You're only young once but you can be immature forever

.... let us play....

heat wave French style

The senior Havens pitched up and we headed off to Nice.

The furry lads were left to care for the Seniors.
We flew and landed to a climate that hit 27 degrees..

and the South of France welcomed us...

“France has neither winter nor summer nor morals. Apart from these drawbacks it is a fine country” - Mark Twain

Bring it on....

I can only say it feels weird to be warm and without a coat when you peruse Christmas trees (but we loved it)

Monaco

We ate in the park ...

 Villefranche-sur-Mer

Visited Ephrussi de Rothschild villa and gardens in Cap Ferrat and then ate a meal to die for in Villefranche (watched over by a dog)

local birdies... (eat your hearts out Bingley and Darcy)

bon appetite in Cannes, a favourite haunt of ours..

from the days when we liked to tan..

David Niven once lived here... who does now, I wonder?

so much to see... but can you see me?

wish we could grow these at home..

and then have time to sit beneath them.

Then we wondered how many antiques could be squeezed in a bag

(and not break in transit)

gave up and toured (all along the coast on buses for one euro),

listened to jazz, soaked up the sunshine, ate more delicious food...

.. and yes, dreamed a little of home ....

Bingley

Darcy

Home coming is sweet when these boys await, afterall.

cupboard love

Bingley                              Darcy 

“Sometimes the most important thing in a whole day is the rest we take between two deep breaths.” Etty Hillesum

the visit

We went down to Cornwall earlier in the month and here is a little of what we got up to.

It was fabulous weather for Autumn - blue skies and balmy days...

... a mix of napping and play for Bingley and Darcy.

When the window steamed up, Mr Haven said "lets each draw a cat'"..

This was his effort... (looks more like a chimp?)

... and this one is mine (electric shock kitty)

We visited Fowey and basked on the veranda of the Fowey Hotel

.. gazed at the view..

.. admired the local knockers ..!

... indulged ...

.. fantasied about living by Readymoney Bay..

.. watched the boats.... and the sea ..

.. and, most important of all, visited Auntie.

(some of you know that she is in a dementia unit, which is the main reason for going down to Cornwall.

She is still going strong, but has begun repetitive movements, in this instance, the art of blanket folding.

Dear Aunt)

ALERT: we had all the oil stolen from the Cornish house (near Liskeard) while down there, so if you run on oil... it might be an idea to check on your security.

bed head

Official: Even cats get bed head fur in the morning!

I bring you...

Mr Bingley

Before                      After

stuck for Christmas gifts - a solution

Winter blues?

No worries... a little gem has arrived from Amazon to fill those dark, damp evenings.

Kaori Tsutaya has created this wonderful little book - 'Crafting with Cat Fur'.

Yep, I wish I had thought of it first.

I fancy making this hat and scarf adorned with miniature Darcy and Bingley icons

Bingley

So, first, take one excessively fluffy and willing cat...

Darcy

.. and if possible, maybe a second one (in this case less willing)

... introduce them to the delights of the book... in any which way..

commence fur collection...

... and sew accordingly.

(watch this space for the result but please make allowances for my rubbish abilities in the crafting department)

Fancy a go?

wherever I lay my paw

"... one paw

two paw

three twist paw

... or more... ?"

Bingley (paws)            Darcy (head)