• Geronimo sign
    Outings

    Geronimo Festival at Tatton Park

    On the last weekend in May we went to Geronimo Festival at Tatton Park – a family festival set in the grounds of the historic estate in Knutsford, Cheshire. We had the weather, we had friends, we had so much to do we could have…

  • Five under £5 for June 2016
    Five under 5

    Five under £5 for June

    There’s a definite sunny day theme going on in this month’s five under £5 post, which is pretty fitting as it’s supposed to be an absolute scorcher today. We are on standby with the barbecue here, the paddling pool is all good to go so…

  • Coffee in the Nespresso machine http://rainbeaubelle.com
    Food

    Coffee, cake and the perfect espresso martini

    It all started when a recipe for espresso martini came up on my Facebook feed the other day; a friend had shared it and it just looked so, so good, I knew I had to try one. I love strong coffee – and martini –…

  • Me and Mine for May
    Me and Mine

    Me and Mine – a portrait for May 2016

    May, the month of two bank holidays, is nearly over and looking back now we seem to have packed quite a lot in. We’ve had a few busy but fun weekends – including this last one where we visited the Geronimo children’s festival in Cheshire…

  • Whitby fishing scene
    Outings

    Five things we love about Whitby

    We spent a day in Whitby while we were on holiday in North Yorkshire last month. It was the beginning of April when we stayed in a cottage in Pickering, ideally placed to visit our friends in York as well as the coastal towns of…

  • Superlambanana http://rainbeaubelle.com
    Family, Loss

    Life’s changes and moving house

    When I’m not writing about the bigger issues, like getting things out of my system or wondering where this thing called life is going (I’ve been listening to a lot of Prince lately), I’m probably writing about other stuff like make-up, running, or tea. It…

  • Lavender grey tea http://rainbeaubelle.com
    Food

    Lavender tea, Styling the Seasons in May

    There’s never an occasion where drinking tea isn’t the right thing to do in my view. Even when it’s time to switch to something slightly more celebratory, like prosecco or a gin and slim, tea can still taken either side! There’s a certain ceremony that…

  • Substandard before the run
    Family, Family life, Loss

    Our team 10k for the hospice – how it went

    At the beginning of the month I ran the Great Birmingham 10k with a dedicated team of work colleagues known as the Substandards, in memory of our much-loved colleague and of course my husband, Roger. I thought it was about time I updated you on…

  • Duck tape doll bag and wallet
    Makes

    Making a doll bag and wallet from tape

    I’m all for a craft idea that is quick and easy to do, even more so one that doesn’t involve sewing and can actually be used afterwards. My eldest, Sam, is a born crafter. He loves making things and quite often gets an idea in…

  • Five under £5 for May
    Five under 5

    Five under £5 for May

    Five days into May already, how did that happen? I can’t start another blog post with an apology for being behind but seriously, I must admit most of my five things under a fiver were last minute impulse buys this time. Not that that makes…

  • Thank you!
    Blog

    Being shortlisted for awards and a very big thank you

    If you follow my blog on Facebook then you might, just might remember hearing me mention something about some blog awards being open for nominations. You might, just might have given me your vote – and if you did, then I just want to say…

  • Me and Mine Sam's birthday
    Me and Mine

    Me and Mine April 2016

    The photos for this month’s family portrait were taken a few weeks ago on Sam’s birthday, when the weather was much warmer and brighter than it is today. I’m pretty relieved actually that I was organised enough to get a few pictures of the three…

  • Nine months flatly
    Loss

    Nine months and still going

    It’s nine months now since I lost my husband, Roger, to cancer. I can’t say the pain of loss is getting any easier, but I do feel like I can cope with those desperate, dark feelings a little better – even if I can’t predict…