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I do hope you have all had a wonderful Christmas?
Ours was a very happy time, spent with our three children who were home, plus various family visitors.  With very stormy weather here in the UK, we battened down the hatches and enjoyed good food and wine and the sanctuary of home.
Now with everyone returned to London, my husband and I are enjoying these lovely 'limbo' days at home, as I call them….the days in between the festivities of Christmas and New Year.  A time when we are still 'on holiday' but all is peaceful and calm and at a slower pace.  Enjoying the leftovers of the 'feasting' so no major meals to prepare, getting some fresh air and exercise with the dogs in between the downpours, and enjoying the time together to make plans for 2014….whether it be future travel, new garden and house schemes or work ideas.  It is also a lovely opportunity to sit by the fire and enjoy some relaxed reading time, especially as I have two wonderful new design books which were given to me as Christmas presents by my eldest son Teddy, and my sister Ellen, who both know how to pick the perfect pressie for me! One is the fabulous new updated publication by 'Taschen',  'New York Interiors'…showcasing a wonderful eclectic mix of the most stylish and exciting interiors to be found in the City.  The second is 'Designers at Home', written by Ronda Rice Carman, author  of the blog 'All the best'.  'Designers at Home' gives a  rare behind the scenes insight into the personal homes of fifty top Interior Designers.  As well as beautiful photography, it is full of each designers' tips on their own idea for creating the perfect sanctuary, the decorative details that in their opinion bring a room to life, plus suggestions for perfect impromptu entertaining, and more….. Both are wonderful inspirational reads, to charge the imagination for the upcoming new year, and I would so recommend them! Enjoy your New Years' celebrations, whatever you have planned.  We tend to avoid the big party atmosphere on this night, preferring to enjoy a quiet bottle of bubbles to see in the New Year, followed by a new tradition in recent years, of visiting 'Whitstable' on the North Kent coast for a fabulous seafood lunch on New Year's day, followed by a bracing walk on the beach….for me this is the perfect way to start a new and exciting year!  So to all of you, I wish you health and every happiness……thank you again so much for reading me, and I look forward to sharing so much more with you in 2014!

Posted by Sophia at 16:47 Labels: Books, Celebration, Christmas, Design, Family, Places of interest., Traditions

