the Cider House Rules......!!!

'Perry's Cider Mills', in deepest Dorset, is always my favourite stop off point when I visit the area. Not least because cider is my favourite tipple..... and this place makes the real thing, strong scrumpy cider served by the litre from the barrel!!

The apples are grown on orchards on the farm, and as it is Autumn, they were being harvested just now......the place smelled of fresh apples and vinegar!

1. put the freshly harvested apples in the pit to be washed

2. press the juice from the apples

3. discard the pulp of the apples
4. put the juice in to oak barrels and leave to ferment.

5. pour into to bottles and quench your thirst....sorry, no pictures available!! haha

6. make sure your orchard is ready for next year!

Lord an Lady Montacute

Still in Dorset, and i went to meet friends at this superbly preserved Elizabethan stately home. Its most recent claim to fame was that it was featured in the film 'The Libertines' with Jonny Depp and Jon Malkovich.
Liz and Colin with 'Little Lady Charlotte Montacute'

Sunday Tradition

Meet the parents....Frank and Hilda!
I travelled down to Dorset for a visit and that of course had to include a Sunday roast at the local pub.

They live in this cutsey 'chocolate box' cottage with a thatched roof. Very quiant aint it ?!

A TASTE OF TEXAS

My friend Claire, and her daughters, Emma and Sophie, decided i might be missing Texas, so took me to their favorite 'Cowgirl Cafe', in Ashtead, Surrey. They were a little nervous (apparently), that i might not have found it 'authentic' enough, but needn't have worried.... it was just like the real thing!!!!

Thanks Girls.......!!

'HARVEST' ON THE KINGS RD

Here are some of the lovely wares on sale in the shop i was working in for a little while throughout September.







This is Petra, standing in the shop front.
The shop is on the Kings Rd, which was once a mecca for shoppers looking for clothing with a difference. It had it's hey-day during the late 70's/early 80's when it housed shops for the likes of Malcolm Mclaren, Zandra Rhodes, Vivienne Westwood and other 'Punk era' designers.
Today, it is getting harder to find independent shops, as chain stores like Gap, Zara, FCUK etc take hold....Shame really!





This is me in my 'uniform' (joke!!) ....... leopard print is very 'in' this season and should be worn top-to-toe for maximum effect, and cowboy boots are the new black!!! hahaha

LOOK WHAT I FOUND!!!

A 'HOWDY' BADGE!!!!

Amarillo inspired the owners of this bag and shoe shop that i came across in Wandsworth, South London.......they don't seem to be doing to well though, it's always shut!!