Five days of sunshine and blue skies spent in Sorrento. We visited Pompeii, walked miles around its ruined streets, marvelling at the wall paintings that have survived. Em made friends with one of the local dogs that roam the ruins.
All the time we were aware of the brooding presence of Mount Vesuvius behind the town.
We walked around Sorrento discovering all its delightful shops, views and marveling at all the beautiful plants which at home are house plants but in Sorrento are garden plants - Bougainvillea, white Jasmine, Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia)
, Date Palms, Prickly Pear Cactus, Yellow Mimosa in bloom, a stunning sight against the deep blue sky, figs, oranges and lemons 
and other plants I have never seen before. I spotted several birds - several birds which looked similar to a Bee Eater and a Black Cap bird (but it had airforce blue colour on its wings), Sparrows and I heard many other bird calls I didn't know.
We enjoyed espresso coffee at Cafe del Carmine on the Piazzo Tasso. 
We visited Mt Vesuvius and walked (huffed and puffed) up to the top to look in the crater
and
admire the views. The views were hazy despite a bitterly cold wind blowing for two days, as you can see from the photos we were cold despite being well wrapped up.
We stayed in a lovely 
appartment on Via Parsano with views across towards the hills behind the town of Sorrento. It meant that we could cook a hot meal which it turned out was necessary as we didn't find any restaurants selling chips or gluten and dairy free food suitable for Em. It gave us a chance to use the local shops, Tony spoke very rusty italian which hadn't been used since 1988 but like riding a bike he remembered most of it and gained in confidence as the days rushed by. I learned a few phrases and picked up a few more along the way, Em who usually stays silent on foreign holidays also attempted Italian and by the end of the holiday professed a love of Italy and would like to live there! I wonder how much of it was due to the idea that at the age of 16 you can learn to ride a scooter - she spotted a red vesper she'd like (oh no!) I did buy her a small model of one instead ;-) but she is keen to learn Italian, so when we return she can understand and speak more.
Returning to the appartment one evening we spotted a beautiful little church up on the hillside above Sorrento all lit up. Finally on Friday we bade Sorrento farewell, but we will return because we had a wonderful time and we have more to discover about this enchanting area.
January slipped away and February breezed in, the days are slowly lengthening too. the weather has been overcast and cold except for a beautiful day of sunshine we had on Tuesday, but I've been ill this week with a horrible bug that laid me low from last Friday - Stomach type - Yuck! So there's no pictures to post, instead I thought I'd share my Garden with you. At the moment I can see a snowdrop at the end of the garden in one of the tubs bravely standing alone (its only a small garden) and my next door neighbours Clematis balearica is also in flower trailing across the side and top of the garage. In the corner hidden from view is the Jasmine nudiflorum also showing its pretty yellow flowers. The rest of the garden is sleeping but the birdsong from the Robin and Blackbird tell me spring is on its way. I love gardening but the extra special bit is when the Robin comes down and fearlessly picks up all the bugs from the soil that you have just turned, he's close enough to touch and then he sings from the branches of the fig tree in the centre of the garden.
On Tuesday we went to London, it was a wet and gloomy day but we had a lovely time, we visited Trafalger Square and saw the ship in a bottle on the fourth plinth 
which I later found out is a replica of Nelsons ship The Victory which he sailed in for the battle of Trafalger. If you click on the link (ship in a bottle above) it takes you to a website with lots of photos of the ship in sunlight and if you click here you can read up more information about the artist who made the sculpture.
We went to Leicester square where almost everything was boarded up and the swiss clock had gone! still it might just have gone for a service/repair as the flag stand was still there. We went to Wong Kei's for lunch and had Won tun noodle soup and Beef chow ho fun with chilli and black bean sauce, all washed down with Jasmine Tea. After lunch we walked through China town and wandered around the shops. 
Later we crossed Charing Cross Road and walked up to Seven Dials. we found lots of lovely shops along the way. We took a Taxi to St Pancras station and saw a Christmas Tree made of champagne bottles. Finally we caught the tube back to Victoria Station then a train home.
Another month has disappeared with alarming speed, it started with Ali's Graduation on the 30th November. Sadly I don't have photos as my camera decided to play up! Thankfully my parents took theirs so I'm hoping for a chance to copy the photos over Christmas. Travelling back from Graduation on the following morning, I arrived at Clapham Junction Station expecting to catch a train back to Sussex having come up from Dorset on the 5.18am. After a half hours wait we were told all trains had been suspended to the south coast! five hours later I caught a train. This photo is the village church in the snow
. Since then I've been busy with Rangers doing their end of term show, which was brilliant. 
Stitching a special gift for my friend Debs and another gift for another friend which is yet to be given.
Debs Loved her NOEL hanger and is so delighted with it that she facebooked it too. Finally the snow came back to Sussex not quite as deep and crisp and even as last time, but just a disruptive to the flights, Eurostar and roads. this photo is of the village pond and the poor frozen ducks. 
