on clouds, family and flowers

This is the last week of my PGCE course, which is very exciting, but also means that I have not managed to blog about the weekend before now. 

So here's a quick overview of the weekend events...

We set off for Surrey, hoping to leave a wet Bristol behind and find some sunshine. We found a few rays by the time we got there, having driving under heavy black & grey skies for hours. I didn't mind though, because I got to watch the ever changing skies the whole time (apart from during my nap), which is one of my favourite things to do.

It was exciting to be arriving, knowing that my Granny had no idea we were coming to celebrate her 90th birthday with her. Surprises are so much fun when you're in on the secret.

My Granny is priceless - when my Mum & Dad arrived she said to my Dad 'what are you doing here? I only saw you two weeks ago!' 

I could not get over these sugar crafted flowers that were on top of her cake. They were just perfect - attention had been paid to every single delicate detail of the colour, shape and form of the irises.

Irises for Iris

As I took this photo, my Granny was talking to a friend about the WI and how old white sheets make the perfect table cloths for cake stalls at Women's Institute Summer fairs. They reminisced on how it used to take a whole day to do one's laundry & chuckled at the way things have changed. I love hearing about what life used to be like in the years before I lived, told straight from the mouths of those who lived in those times.

 

After we had chatted & celebrated & eaten vast amounts of wonderful food (there were enough varieties of cake to open up a bakery), John & I headed to London to spend the night at his parents in East Dulwich.

I always love visiting the shops in East Dulwich - there are so many pretty things to pour over. I found two dresses in a charity shop for £12 and these beautiful incense sticks. 

I bought these from a gift shop called Ed, and while I was happily browsing their beautiful selection of gifts, I witnessed a theft! A girl walked out of the shop, setting the alarms off, and two of the staff ran after her. They returned ten minutes later, and hadn't managed to catch her. That must be so disheartening when people decide to steal something that helps to provide your livelihood. 

I also came home with these beautiful flowers grown with love in my mother's garden, and a bay tree from John's parents.

If you've made it to the end of this photo fest, well done, and thank you for taking the time to read my ramblings!