During my pregnancy, I suffered from gestational diabetes, which meant I was tired a lot more than usual for pregnancy and even sometimes bed-bound as my energy levels were low. I was desperate for an adventure but I knew there was no way I’d be getting on a plane abroad with my condition. I didn’t want to risk raising my blood pressure or getting blood clots so I had to settle for something more practical in the U.K. We decided on the Cotswolds after my mother had been there and had talked endlessly of how she wanted to retire there. For those who don’t know, the Cotswolds is a rural region in south east England covering Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire. The area has been preserved since medieval times with stately homes, churches and pubs. There are areas of newer buildings but they tend to be built of the same distinct limestone. Kate Moss famously got married here as it is very picturesque. Other celebrities who live in the area include Prince Harry and Duchess Megan Markle who reportedly rent a thatched cottage, Hugo Grant, Sir Patrick Stewart and my favourite, Damien Hirst.
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I have held plenty of parties but over the past weekend, I held an accidental alfresco dinner party and I am feeling ever so grown up - a far cry from a birthday party that had to be shut down by the university security team because the party got too raucous and I had to face the Dean. If they could all see me now. Ha!
When I went on maternity, I decided to take on a new project other than my son. I decided to redecorate the entire flat. I live in a converted Victorian House with a big garden. I am lucky enough to live in a nice part of London Town. In fact, a Bloomberg report stated that the borough I live in has the highest rise in house prices from 2013. It is a family oriented area - a lot of young families in the middle class Crouch End area; there is plenty of entertainment in the Tottenham area; Finsbury Park is great for walking/jogging or just feeding ducks; Wood Green offers high street shopping from H&M, Nike and TK Maxx; Alexandra Palace hosts concerts and summer fetes in their extensive gardens; Muswell Hill has a lot of trendy cafes and restaurants and 2 miles away is the rather expensive Highgate area with its renowned Bishops Avenue (aka Billionares Road). Basically, I can see why this area is the most sought after location and I feel very fortunate.
I have started a new photography series - Shadow Play - where I'm hoping to capture light and darkness. Unfortunately England's summer has started out very badly so I have not had many opportunities to go outside in the sun and capture light and dark in the streets of London. So instead, I am starting the series with glass because I know it captures light so well and because I can play with light in my back garden. I have taken a few photographs and I will be updating the blog post as I go along. For now, here are a few photos.
My mother loves glassware. She collects colourful glassware but she especially loves Swarovski. For years, I never understood why she would shriek with joy when given a Swarovski rabbit for Christmas. However as the years have gone by, I have started to understand the beauty in glass. I visited a glassmaking factory in London last week and I was really impressed with how a glass vase is made, never mind the complex glass with different colours and patterns. It is an art and a skill. I have been collecting some vintage glassware, or at least vintage-looking glassware.
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