rain and no shine

... soggy grass, muddy flower beds ...

so let us both snoopervise behind the shed and then go back inside

sales fest

Darcy

A certain someone has been buying in the sales!

Online purchasing is the worst kind of addiction because this someone doesn't know when to stop.

And its Boden.

But the boxes are great and I get to help rip things open! 

This certain someone has been looking for a gift for us too (naturally)

The one she loves most is a beautiful wooden indoor tower.

It is very expensive and I heard her saying

"but what if they don't use it?"

... and there is some truth in this.

We used to LOVE sitting on top of the cupboard

but now we don't.

We used to stare at the pipes in the airing cupboard

but now we don't.

We used to sit on the back of the chairs

but now we don't.

We used to ....

feline PC picket

Bingley laying claim to the Senior Havens PC

Blogging dear friends is proving difficult on account of our Mrs Haven and the 'so called' demands upon her time! We sometimes feel she fails completely to fully appreciate that we have people to see and things to do. After all, we have entertained visitors over Christmas and New Year for her (scratched no one); assisted with the clearing up in our inimitable way (pressing the newly washed and folded sheets with our bottoms); nursed her through her cold (extra fluffy hugging on Doctors orders) and showed utter patience while snoopervising the house in her absence (we don't know where she goes nor why).

Is it too much to ask that we can use the PC to visit you all again?

a new year unfolding

New Years Eve

May 2011 defy the doom and gloom outlined by the politicians and be a wonderful one for you all.

I think it will be! 

Boxing Day with dear friends

"The merry year is born

Like the bright berry from the naked thorn..."

~ Hartley Coleridge

festive seek and find

Our Christmas Day was truly lovely.

It was a family affair - blended with freedom, love, food, laughter..

All our most cherished people came to stay.

Bright parcels appeared. We (as chief feline hosts) checked them out....

Bingley ignoring the 'fragile' note..

(care not)

Bingley and Mrs Senior Haven 

...gotta BITE this one...

Darcy

... tissue paper, decorations... bring them on..

A hectic, exciting, joyous and ultimately peaceful day...

Peace and Joy

The Haven household wish you all

a most happy, healthy Christmas ...

tinsel town

We love it when we have a tree in the house which is covered in dangling things!

Miss Fairy - handed down and possibly 100 years old

Drummer - a gift from friends from Michigan State, USA

painted Sand Dollar

Bingley

... and now for MY personal favourite decoration, guess which one...

... what do you mean STOP pulling it off? I'm actually hanging it back on!

let it snow ...

"Announced by all the trumpets of the sky

arrives the snow"

 ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

... always wear white camouflage when out so the birdies won't know you are there..

Whatever it takes.. blend!

... look closely and see Bingley crouched on the wall....

... it is all a little bit thick and cold ...

 

 

... views from Haven terrace

"Beautiful feathery flakes of snow

Over the woodland and field they go

Making a blanket so warm and deep

Over the flowers that lie asleep"

~ Mary Louise Allen

So 'Nice'

What with Britain turning into the Antarctic, we wondered if we would even get off the ground to fly to Nice. Heathrow car park was thick white and there were queues of people attempting re-book after their flights were cancelled.

But we did fly off and only 40 minutes delay.

Nice bay

... long fresh walks by the sea

Antique hunting (my suitcase just not big enough)

Christmas Fair - mulled wine, roast chestnuts...

...Sign of the times, Father Christmas in a hurry..

(so fast that how the little children are meant to catch him I just don't know.. AND where are all the gifts?! I think he had over-slept)

time out to stand sit and stare

... and a spot of romance (OK, so we ate it)

... perhaps we should have stayed in 'Hotel Darcy' 

... these were all the rage but I prefer the real thing...

 

And then there was Villa Ephrussi in Cap Ferrat.

Not to be missed with its 9 different gardens. A master piece.

... who needs supermarket orange juice here? 

... dinner for two in the restaurant... 

...actually no, we had chocolate cake there and then walked to Ville France for pizza.

And then on to Greek Villa Kerylos which was a marvel.

 

... delays homeward bound at Nice airport meant we watched the fish in the tank there a lot...

But once home we reminisced over a wonderful few days away.

The senior Havens organised a wonderful creche for the feline boys...

"...bovvered you went away...? do we look bovvered...!"