Ruth

Ruth Howard (nee Pugh, later Stevens) at her nursing home in Lexden, Essex near her daughter Auriol. My mother's first cousin, they played and rode together as children as described in this fragment. She lived near us in Hampshire and was always close - and known as 'Aunt' Ruth. After my mother died she became father's companion. Still beautiful now at 96.

Friends

That life may be more comfortable yet,
And all my joys refined, sincere and great,
I'd choose two friends, whose company would be
A great advance to my felicity:
Well-born, of humours suited to my own;
Discreet, and men, as well as books, have known.
Brave, generous, witty, and exactly free
From loose behavior or formality.
Airy and prudent, merry, but not light;
Quick in discerning, and in judging right.
Secret they should be, faithful to their trust;
In reasoning cool, strong, temperate and just;
Obliging, open, without huffing, brave,
Brisk in gay talking, and in sober, grave;
Close in dispute, but not tenacious, tried
By solid reason, and let that decide;
Not prone to lust, revenge, or envious hate,
Nor busy meddlers with intrigues of state;
Strangers to slander, and sworn foes to spite:
Not quarrelsome, but stout enough to fight
Loyal and pious, friends to Caesar, true
As dying martyrs to their Maker too.
In their society, I could not miss
A permanent, sincere, substantial bliss.

From The Choice by John Pomfret

The Orangery in Winter

I wish the garden looked like this; it's been horribly mild so far. This was taken in 2001. Roll on a decent winter snowstorm!

The morning after I posted this, we woke to snow. This is the garden in the early morning

Stunning New Zealand

Lucky enough to fit in a quick trip to New Zealand after Christmas and New Year in Sydney. Managed to visit Taupo, Christchurch and Queenstown - with an overnight visit to Milford Sound. The photos speak for themselves - this is one of the most spectacular places on earth

New Year's Eve Fireworks in Sydney

The 9pm 'family' fireworks on Sydney Harbour were even more spectacular this year. And the midnight sequence, breathtaking. Click on the heading to see a video of the countdown to the finale.

Charlotte Lucy Lawford

Charlotte Lucy Lawford at three months

Sydney at Christmas and New Year

The family came together at Christmas and New Year 2006 when we stayed just under the harbour bridge. Click the heading to see a video and here to see some photos of the New Year's fireworks

Hong Kong at Christmas

Hong Kong was having wonderful weather and the winds had blown away most of the smog so it was idyllic having rooms overlooking the harbour. Friends took us to a fabulous French restaurant overlooking Deepwater Bay called Cococabana

Favourite Cafes

Fabio, Daniel, Jesus (the chef), Giorgi, with Mirelle and Paola

I don't know why I haven't written about this place before, as it played a large part in my City life. The Village was originally a greasy spoon in the back of our office building just off  Mitre Square where The Ripper did for his eighth victim and was taken over at the end of the 80s by a family of enterprising Italians who cleaned it up but kept it totally unpretentious. It became my breakfast haunt for 20+ years.

I would take my Lloyd's List in there at about 7am and have the same breakfast every day - poached egg on toast with grilled tomatoes and a large latte.  The waitresses were sometimes Romanian doctors moonlighting while they got their British credentials. Friends would come in and we would sit and chat and catch up on the news or the gossip. A wonderful way to start the day.

Although I no longer go there I was sad to see that the place had recently closed as the building is awaiting renovation.  I  don't know where they've gone but I'm sure somewhere they are making people happy.

Skating at the Natural History Museum