Boo's 50th Birthday Party - Live & Let Die

Luckily I was asked to cover Boo's party, which I must say, turned out to be the loveliest collection of well turned out party goers, I have been amongst for quite some time!

For those of you that don't know me, I love a good fancy dress party, and although the straps from my 'strap-on' camera harness prevent me from wearing anything bejewelled and delicate, I was there, as a 60's secretarial type, in a vintage dress.  Still, pretty tame for me... 

Sparkford Hall was once again spectacularly dressed by The Wonky Dog team and was bang on point.  There was a blackjack table in the library, a roaming magician and a tarot card reader and in the basement.  The themed decor was everywhere you looked, from the Union Jack flag above the doorway, a couple of vintage Landrovers parked outside, skeletons, snakes, and what looked like a stash of sparkling diamonds scattered upon the mirrored bar.  

If you want a lovely private venue with free reins to produce something quite amazing, this is the place for you.  Licensed for weddings and surrounded by enough private land for a mini festival, you need look no further..

Oh, and please give me a call if you need me.

 

 

Gillingham Matters

There I was with my children at the annual Gillingham latern parade.  Father Christmas was expected to switch on the Christmas tree lights, the streets were lined and the atmosphere was fantastic.  I had a tired and heavy 4 year old on my shoulders, and I really didn't expect to be in a good position to get many photos, so I put my camera away. 

The Mayor then announced the winners of the School Latern competition and I suddenly realised that I was the mother of the co-creator of the winning latern!  I flipped by daughter from my shoulders, (which didn't go down very well), and scrambled to get my camera out of my backpack in time to get a shot of my son receiving the winning shield.  The little'un flipped out and started running toward the bank of the river, so I'm surprised I managed to get any!  The group shot was quickly assembled, but I think that the children photographed were far too distracted by my daughters behaviour to actually look into the camera!

I sent them to the local Blackmore Vale Magazine anyway, and here they are, and in 'Gillingham Matters' too.


Santa's visit to Gillingham, (on the Lions Club Float)

And there we were minding our own business, having our dinner on a friday evening, when a loud tannoyed rendition of 'Oh Come Ye Merry Gentlemen' came wafting across the road.  "Father Christmas!" the children exclaimed, as they downed their knives and forks and went rushing out onto the wet road, without shoes on.  

Wonky Winter Wonderland at The Silk Mill, Frome

So yesterday I went along to the Wonky Dog productions groovy grotto - WONKY WINTER WONDERLAND - which is two specially curated weekend events.  It's held at the wonderful Silk Mill Studios in Frome, this weekend, (December 5th and 6th) and next the 12th and 13th.

There was a selection of DJ's, Morton Mitchard was teaching breakdancing, and a young wondering magician, Nat was there to make sure the children had plenty to do.  You could pick up or order a (www.potentpines.co.uk) Christmas tree, buy a few unusual Christmas gifts from the indoor market or just take a break at bar, while the children get their faces painted, perfect.  I bought a dress from my favourite designer www.nessydress.com on a sale rail for just £15, so I was happy...

I would have loved to have got stuck into the mulled wine, but I was driving, but there where other yummy delights from events caterers, Field to Fire Pizza and Lucky's Street Food - and good taster of Somerset. 

So check it out https://www.facebook.com/events/172459186437008 and go, if you can.  I know there is loads more to come, live music from Captain Cactus and a full 'LOVE SUNDAYS' DJ set today. 

Don't take my word for it, check it out.  These guys really know how to put on a one-stop-shop of fun!

'Helloween - From Dusk 'til Dawn' at Sparkford Hall

This year Sparkford Hall in Somerset, hosted their first Hallowe'en party.   Known for it's beautiful weddings, (of which I have been lucky enough to be a part of), it can be hired in it's entirety to be themed for any event. 

This was a first, showcase event by the recently formed 'Wonky Dog' team, (with the help of a Mr Katz!).

The side elevation of the hall became an impressive backdrop, for the walking zombie and skeleton projections by Ingrid VJ Gridz, whilst an enormous skull lit up the front, above the main door.  This decoration, along with the drop dead gorgeous interior, was another complete triumph by the Potent Party team.

The celebrations were spread over three areas.  The main hall, with a cocktail bar and banging house music, the cellar, again with a fully stocked bar and DJ, and there was a quirky additional space in the shape of an old style tent, tacked onto the side of the house.  This was wonderfully adorned with old fashioned lamps hanging from the ridge, and it was here that we were treated to live music by various bands.   One of these, was the impressive sounds of twins Ned & Maff of The Egg.  They treated us to their trademark funky chill-out grooves, continuously for what seemed like hours.  La Roux and various others jumped in and accompanied, and it turned out to be a very hard party to leave!  

Family Holiday in Roche

Here are a few holiday snaps from the most wonderful family holiday in Roche, Conil de la Frontera, Andalucia, Spain.  Having travelled extensively, I was very pleasantly surprised to find somewhere that was unlike anywhere I had ever been.  We were lucky enough to stay with friends in their holiday home, which is now taking holiday bookings.  I would definately recommend this wonderful house to anyone that would like a very quite, upmarket place to stay.  The detatched, one story villa is in an exclusive and quiet residential area.  It's gated, alarmed and is only overlooked by the most wonderfully unusual fir trees.

Chris & Izzy's Wedding

By total contrast to the enormous wedding two weeks before, Chris & Izzy's wedding was a small, (yet perfectly formed) wedding.  They also live abroad and as an oriental twist used a beautiful array of parasols to decorate the main hall.  I've never seen Sparkford Hall looking so different, it was really lovely.

Ruth & Karl's Wedding

As Ruth and Karl have been living in Singapore for some time, their wedding was a chance to catch up and see everyone they had been missing.  To say it was a big wedding would be an understatement!  It was standing room only in the main hall at Sparkford.  After the ceremony there was an encouraged karaoke sing-a-long to "All You Need is Love", which was a lighthearted and original twist.  It also seemed that a majority of the guests had small children, which added to the fun and slightly chaotic atmostphere.   I loved this wedding, it was a visual extravaganza!

Chester's 10th Birthday Party

So for a Birthday Party treat we took our eldest, (Chester aged 10), and a few of his best friends to Quasar Fun Factory in Weymouth.  I was a really impressed as it was the cheapest solution, pot luck party I had ever organised.  Not only did it also cater for younger children (of which we have two), with a soft ball play area, but it was bathed in natural light!  For the unaccustomed, soft ball places are usually windowless, corrigated iron barns, with dodgy airconditioning, unhealthy snacks and disgusting overpriced muddy coffee!  This one even had an outstanding coffee machine and an outside space with fresh sea air and a bouncy castle!!  It was staffed with friendly, helpful young people who bent over backwards to put us back on track after our convoy turned up stressed and 30 minutes late for our 2 hour slot.  They happily rearranged the place settings so that the boys could eat their pizza & chips in private room whilst the next party came in.  I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this place, it was worth every penny.

Source: http://www.funfactoryweymouth.co.uk/

Trip to London

My beloved Uncle Derry, AKA Del Boy passed away.  I turned the unfortunate event of his bank holiday, weekend funeral in Surrey, into a long weekend away in London, with my son.  We stayed with my friend Julia, who put us up in her fabulous designer (shed) office, in her garden.  After a boozy late-night catchup I nursed my hangover with a sushi treat for the train home.

Always the one to push the healthy option, Chester's loving the sushi on the train from Waterloo.

Always the one to push the healthy option, Chester's loving the sushi on the train from Waterloo.

Milestone Portrait

Last chance portrait before the gap is filled!

It may only be a few months, but it happens to everyone. You hear parents of older children harp on about how quickly they grow up and this is certainly one of the milestones that need to be recorded. It's been over 4 months since Summer could actually eat properly, is that a long time? Anyhow, they are coming through now at a rate of knots. So a last chance portrait...

Easter Break at Home

Well the Easter Holidays are always my favourite. This year we stayed at home and had people to stay instead of galavanting around the countryside in a car that we are fast out growing! The weather was lovely and I took many candid shots of my children, without them noticing.  Isn't it the only way?  Otherwise they clamber to see the photos "Can I see, can I see?!", and always ruin the moment, sometimes I hate digital!


The Eclipse, 20th March 2015

As with the weather, you never really know how an eclipse is really going to turn out. The morning of the solar eclipse wasn't promising, not overcast, just cloudy.

As I was driving back from the school run I suddenly got a glimpse of the sun, through the thinning cloud. It looked as if it a chunk had been bitten out of it. I was shocked. My heart started racing, I had 30 minutes and through the clouds, it was perfect viewing conditions.

The birds where churping away and the cat was clearly freaked out and jumping sideways! Jessie, was busy muttering to herself and scooting up and down the garden at brake neck speed, nothing strange there then... I so wanted to share the phenomenon with her, but how do you explain to a 3 year old that you couldn't actually watch what was happening because we didn't have the right glasses? It was getting brighter and brighter, colder and colder!

I quickly remembered to auto-focus the camera before it was too late. Set it to manual, squinted and blinked to get the framing right and hoped it was enough.  I think I was lucky to be in the right place, the cloud was just thin enough to give it a lovely frame and a bit of colour.

Portraits of an Artist

Portraits are best taken with a prop or somewhere interesting. For me there has to be something extra. I don't really want to just photograph somebody in a studio and this is the reason I don't usually use one. Nature is awe inspiring and the most incredible designer.

The weather was lovely, spring had sprung, the light was reflecting all over the place and I couldn't have been happier.  As Hannah is an artist, I wanted to have a bit of fun with her photos.  Little did I know that I would end up threading hair through the ivy to make her look like she had been dragged backwards through a hedge!

naturalportrait


Pirates of The Caribbean

For those that know me well, I'm not usually underdressed for a fancy dress 'DO', but this one I was shamefully ill prepared! I had rushed from a job in London and practically got dressed in the car on the way!  Most costumes were hired from Angels in Shaftesbury Avenue and were the actual costumes from the films... Beat that!!

Anyhow, I got over it pretty quickly by lapping up the atmosphere, (and the fine selection or real ales!) in the beautifully restored tithe barn, newly rethatched to its former glory.  Lord and Lady Margarvine put on a very successful fundraising auction, for local good causes.  The food was great and the live band was a fantastic mix with brass, bagpipes and uptempo vocals.