Inspiration

Three weeks have passed since my last blog, with plenty of travels (but not a massive amount of photographic evidence). The first week back saw a weekend in London.  I was speaking with my lovely editor Beatrice at the FT Festival in Hampstead - held in the grounds of Kenwood House. It's an event that always puts a wry smile on my lips as it is the sort of place where you feel that an awful lot of people AGREE with one another. There's most definitely a type. (A very nice type, I will add). Beatrice and I were discussing new housing design - a subject you know is close to my heart. And then Bridie (who'd come along as my support group) and I left and made our way to Ruth Guilding's house for a delicious late lunch followed by long drinks in the garden.

The next day I had a whole day of sorting and tidying. Just the ideal day at the start of the new term.

And then a busy week. I can't even remember what I was up to, but early on Friday morning I was meeting our friend Kate for the tiny Loganair plane direct to Kirkwall via the stop in Dundee.  We arrived at Westness that afternoon, bathed in beautiful sunshine - slanting September light.

Hello Nancy!

A beautiful evening.

The next day we had a special service in the chapel - to celebrate 100 years since it was opened, in 1925.  Charlie's beautiful flowers.

What a beautiful place. We are very lucky to have it here.

We had a wonderful lunch with the Minister and a few friends who'd come for the service, such a good lunch that I completely forgot to take a single photograph.  That afternoon, after everyone had left, we went for swims. The clouds were rather spectacular.

And amazing light, later that afternoon.

Down on the pier, looking back to the farm.

The next morning was like none we'd really experienced before - completely flat calm, for hours.

We had the longest swim in the perfect mirror flat sea, followed by a late breakfast - followed by a long walk - as the wind began to get up.

We went up into the centre of the island, to the loch.

And up to the hills overlooking the house and Eynhallow Sound.

Back home - butterflies sunning themselves on our gate posts.

And her garden, filled with an amazing crop of apples.

And quinces.

The next morning I was due back in Poundbury for a day of site visits - but early that morning I popped into Littlebredy for the first time since we left - almost a year ago now - how time flies.  I wanted to say hello to Mum, who, of course, is buried in the churchyard.  A familiar view from the churchyard.  The house was looking very good - I think it's been under some repair and all looked well.  Dorset is awash with rumours about the future of the Littlebredy Estate, and who the new owners are.  For me, I was glad to see our old house in good order, and Charlie's garden still there in structure if not quite in atmosphere.  And strangely, I didn't feel a tinge of regret at our move.  Maybe you can see why when we think about the wide open spaces of Rousay.

From Poundbury to a site visit in North Dorset, and then Danny from the office kindly drove us home to London.  The next morning, I was off early to Suff0lk. I was staying with my wonderful old boss Charles Morris, and with Rachel - for the annual little get together of his studio, always such a happy event.  Look at this brilliant cottage on the way. 

And not long after we found the pig that Charles likes to visit when he's on this road, escaped out of her pen. she was happily eating acorns on the verge, and was even happier to have the apples that Charles had brought for her. When we came back from lunch a few hours later she'd made her way right into the village and was the cause of much merriment and uncertainty in quite a large group of villagers who'd assembled to get her half a mile, at least, up the road, back to her field.  She seemed in no mood to move.

Lunch was at the perfect King's Head in Laxfield.

Back to Charles and Rachel's as the glow of late afternoon sunshine caught the lime washed boarded gable. More quinces - obviously a good year for them.
A walk around their beautiful garden, looking so good this year.

Delicious sweet grapes on Charles's "Wood Henge" as it is known.

In their little conservatory room.  I only show you this picture because when I moved from Charles's office to New York in the beginning of 1999, I gifted him my red geranium. Here it is, still going strong, 26 years later.

We had a little tour of the magical church next door, Holy Trinity, Blythburgh, inspecting a few of the works in progress and the wonderful work to install beautiful clear glass in the windows.  The project to replace the great east window with clear glass is next.

The roof is famous for its carved angels.

A recently re-glazed window, gleaming with autumnal sunshine.

We had a lovely lunch with Charles and Rachel's uncle, Ben, now aged 100 years, and still coming out to enjoy the day. I had to tear myself away all too soon, home to London.

Travels continue this week. Tomorrow, the whole studio is on our way to Yorkshire for our annual trip. More on that soon.  York at the beginning of the week; New York at the end. Watch this space.  And in amongst all the comings and goings, let's thank our blessings for the small still moments of calm.