One step closer...

Our goal to live and work in more than one country is becoming a reality...we have a place in Cape St Francis that we can call home.  We stayed in it for the first time this December.  Find out more...click here:   Brokkieson

http://brokkieson.wordpress.com/

Christmas 2013

Meeting special friends in London, at home, at the pub celebrating Christmas before leaving for SA on Christmas eve.  We escaped the floods and mayhem at Gatwick...Turkish Airlines departed only a little later than scheduled.

No snow...lots of rain

Winter walks

Emily, our dog walker sent the bottom right pic of Maddi running near Barden lake. It was a long walk home for George after Mo jumped into the Haysden lake...it's a funny story.

A new season

Autumn brings a new beauty to the woodlands...also colder, wetter and muddier walks.

"A little off grid living"

"One of three yurts tucked away in two hundred acres of private woodland.  Perfect for a little off grid living..." . 
Leafing through Alastair Sawday's "Dog-friendly breaks in Britain" we came across the website,  www.canopyandstars and found this description of Birch Place...and it's exactly that.  

 

Birch Place (continued)

 

 

Summer 2

Visits from family and friends + picnics and barbecues + long bright warm days = essential ingredients for a lovely summer
(a longer and warmer summer than last year)

Summer 1

 

Each walk with the dogs is an adventure.  As winter gave way to spring, Maddi and Mo grew bolder and I grew more confident in exploring the paths around the lake, through the woodlands and along the river.  Maddi and Mo love swimming (and chasing swans and ducks!) These pics are taken along the paths I do most often with the dogs between Barden Lake and the school fields.

Spring!

This pic summed up Spring for me this year.  It was taken at the beginning of a walk we often took during winter - I couldn't believe how it had been transformed from a plain muddy path to such abundant foilage and colour.

Spring in the Cotswolds

A very chilly start to Spring this year...we enjoyed a weekend with our friends, Wendy and Chris (and Whiskey - their Jack Russel) in Cold Aston - a small village in Gloucestershire which lies in the Cotswolds.  The Cotswolds are a range of hills in southwestern and west-central England which has been designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Spring in the Cotswolds (2)

West Coast Road Trip

 

 

Special Christmas moments

Spending time with each other, my brother and Wendy and our folks - another very special Christmas with our family - Cape St Francis - South Africa

Plant inspiration

The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, was founded in 1759 and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2003.  Kew is considered a world leader in plant science and conservation and provides great inspiration for the appreciation of plants.  I didn't want to leave - I doubt any length of visit will be long enough...can't wait to discover more.  In the meantime, I often visit their website to keep informed:  www.kew.org

Rain or shine (or snow) - we love being outside

 

Plus 2

Welcome to Maddi (white) and Mo (black) ...Jack Russel and Patterdale Terrier mix...I think we have our hands full.

A weekend adventure

The highlights... exploring a souk in Marrakech - hiking in the Atlas mountains amonst the Berber villages - reaching the summit of the highest peak in North Africa, Jebel Toubkal

The start...

We began our trek from the village of Imlil.  Our luggage was loaded onto the backs of trusty mules -  the main means of transport in this area.    We were intrigued by the layout of the village, its shops and displayed goods.  The sales pitch from a local vendor, "Cheaper than Asda"  made us laugh.

Mint tea - anyone?

 

Enjoying a refreshing cup of mint tea from a family in the village at the beginning of our trek.