What a difference a week makes? We are sitting her on a dark and dank evening with the rain pouring down, and to think last week was the hottest September day in goodness however long. Let’s take a look back over the week:
One
This week started so beautifully! One of the joys of having a dog is getting up early to head out for a walk and enjoying the beauty of the morning, Tuesday on Horsell common was one of those joyful occasions when it is a joy to be out and about.
Two
On Thursday night we headed up to London to go to Regent’s Park Open Air theatre to see an adaptation of Jane Auten’s Pride and Prejudice. It is a very jolly adaptation with all the comedy and romance of the novel, we really enjoyed it.
Three
Hooray for September, it is time for the new Ikea catalogue. On Saturday we popped into the Southampton branch to grab a copy, and then proceeded to speed Saturday night going through in fine detail. In today’s online age printed catalogues seem somewhat superfluous, but still we love browsing nevertheless.
Four
On Sunday we got up early and headed to east London to Columbia Road Flower Market. If you have never been it is a really fun experience, the whole road is packed with traders selling cut flowers and plants. We love it and could easily spend hundreds of pounds! Whenever we go we always make sure we pop into Columbia Cafe for a bagel and a coffee, it’s our tradition.
Five
So the week started so gloriously but by the end it was cool, grey and wet. It has been coming for a few weeks but Autumn is definitely here now. We can look forward to joys of the season, let’s make the most of it!
We spent our bank holiday down in north Devon (more of that later this week) but we managed to pick up some local beer from Braunton Brewery, we are loving it. I am sure we could probably buy it from somewhere closer, but the beer is as good a reason as any to head back down that way! 
Another west country staple is a cream tea. A scone with jam and clotted cream is one one of our favourite treats. Although there is much discussion about what goes on first, Jam (the Cornish way) or Cream (the Devonian way). Calum has his own approach making a scone sandwich with jam one side and cream on the other. Whichever way you eat one they are absolutely delicious!
Last Thursday was National Burger Day. We kid you not, this is an official thing and quite frankly this is a national day we can firmly get behind. We love a cheese and bacon burger in a lightly toasted brioche bun with some relish and some crispy lettuce. Gherkins are a tasty addition too.
So it seems we now have a glut of home grown tomatoes! Calum will soon be cooking up batches and batches of tomato chutney and other recipes. Not that we mind, who doesn’t like a good chutney?
Lots of the garden flowers have gone over now, but some are just coming into there own such as this Rudbeckia fulgida var. sullivantii ‘Goldsturm’ we spotted when out and about. It has to be a perfect late summer plant, masses of bright yellow flowers to keep us cheery!
For Calum’s birthday present Rich got him this 
To be honest Hettie would probably make the Top Five every week. She is such a gorgeous dog in temperament as well as looks but that wasn’t the reason for this entry! This week whilst Rich has been taking her out on walks he’s discovered the joy of Monocle Magazines 
Our Lovely friends Nikki & Mike recently went to 
Birthdays obviously need birthday cards, Rich was very excited when he discovered 
We have a card, and a present. Only one thing left for a perfect birthday – Cake!! For a change Rich headed into the kitchen to create this pimped up Victoria sponge cake. With all that fruit it must be very healthy and good for you no?
