OUT AND ABOUT

This week began with a trip to London to pick up my Mum and Dad from Gatwick. Really happy to be able to go a few days earlier to see friends and have some me time. 

 The first evening was spent at The Dean Street Townhouse

A Stroll through Chinatown on the way 

The following day I took a trip up to the Southbank, and a visit to The Tate Modern to look at the weird and wonderful art followed by a stroll along the river in the sun.

Make of it what you want, "What is art?"

The Thames festival Totally Thames was on for the month of September   so there was plenty to see.

The amazing bubble man

This absolutely terrified me. Sitting in a cage spinning around 100 or so feet in the air.  I can imagine the view was amazing, but I don't think I would have been able to open my eyes.

This was an installation made from plastic strips normally used for doors in hospitals, but these were coloured and because the sun was shining it made this interesting effect.

The evening started with a bottle of champagne with a friend in Kingston, and then off to the Norbiton and Dragon for Thai. 

My last visit was Thursday to eat mountains of cream cakes with friends in Hanwell. Feeling relaxed, full and blessed to have such lovely friends, who (I'd love to see more of.) I headed to the airport and then drove back to Devon.

In contrast to with the city at the beginning of the week. Mabel and I were out on Saturday, after dropping Bella off to ballet for a bit of shopping and cake eating in Totnes. 

Strolling along the Totnes high street in search of cake 

Found it! Anne of Cleves

 

Waiting for Bella was a great way to enjoy the grounds at Dartington Hall and take in the beginnings of Autumn

Tip toeing through fungi looking for fairies 

Changing colours of the trees showed us that Autumn was definitely on its way. 


New items for this week are these oilcloth Mabel and Bella bags in grey and white stag, and beach stripes.

and these upcycled abstract print long sleeve dresses beautifully modelled by Mabel and another pair of Boden knee high socks

Pop Art style upcycled Spiderman fabric short sleeve dresses 

All available on the website My Sister Mabel 

LONDON, HOLLYWOOD & BEYOND

With two weeks Half Term, the second week we set off for London.  I always love a city fix, albeit with children quite a different experience!  Before we left I managed to get a couple of new things finished including some new "swishy skirts" and some new customised sweatshirts, and a new range of PVC Book Bags.

On the Sunday before we left we had a quick trip into Exeter and visited the Museum for coffee and cake, where Bella took this photo (a modern day family portrait!)

On to London and all its glory!

The Royal Albert Hall

The Natural History Museum

No trip to London with a 6 year old is complete without a visit to Hamleys.

A little stroll along Carnaby Street looking for a suitable pub.

Finished off by a good burger and chips at Ed's Diner Soho

Day 2 of the trip began with walk from St Paul's and over the Jubilee Bridge to The Tate Modern

Admiring the view of the Shard

Crossing the Jubilee Bridge with St Paul's Cathedral in the background

The Tate Modern - A fantastic place to hang out and admire all the weird and wonderful things it beholds.  The girls are still a little too young to appreciate it quite as much as we did.

Our next stop was to see The Lion King at the Lyceum Theatre and much to my surprise it was a truly amazing show. Definitely one of my all time favourites.

On to Covent Garden and ballet mad Bella had to have her photo take outside the Royal Ballet under the bridge of Inspiration which links the Royal Ballet with the Royal Opera House 

 Harry and Mabel showing some of their fine ballet poses

Bella far more serious about it all.

Mabel meets the Madhatter in Covent Garden


We returned from London to find our little seaside town turned over to a Hollywood film set. Colin Firth and Rachel Weiss were here to film the start of a film about Donald Brocklehurst, a man who set sail around the world from Teignmouth (and to cut a long story short) his boat was found but not him! 

Down on the beach watching some of the filming going on.

Summer is not too far away (I keep telling myself) as we were able to have our first Sunday paella in the garden

And then it was back to school for the last 6 weeks of this school year, and our first trip home over on the ferry - probably one of the most "stress free" school runs anyone could ever have, even when you have just missed it!
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Mabel: This was your first West End Show.