Wednesday 2 May 2012

Where Has the Time Gone?

Gosh it has been an age since the last time I posted. Sometimes life just whizzes by without you even noticing. My children all returned from Uni for Easter and created the usual happy chaos which always means very little time for my mini world.
I did, however, make these.....
 ......for the little princess in my life who celebrated her 21st birthday at Easter time.
Like all little - and big - girls she was a huge Disney princess fan so it seemed like a fun thing to make her. My first attempt at decoupage which is a lot harder than I thought!
My girl is very hard work when it comes to presents so as she is finishing her third year studying Archaeology and has been accepted onto a Masters course next year I decided to treat us both to a trip to Pompeii.
 Here is the birthday girl enjoying a hot chocolate on our arrival in Pompei town square. We had to have a hot drink because unfortunately for the first couple of days the weather was not wonderful.
 This was our first visit to Pompeii and it absolutely poured down!! We kept smiling though because despite the rain we were so amazed by the site. It is huge and having only seen the ruins in Rome before I could not believe that now we were walking down whole streets.
 Then every so often you would peer in a 'house' and see a frieze like this looking like it was painted a couple of decades ago. 
It is a truly fantastic place to visit.
You can find drinking fountains all around the site and place a hand on the same place as a Roman citizen as the stone is worn away where thousands of Romans leaned over to take a drink.
You can even cross the street using a Roman pedestrian crossing!
Of course we had to see one of the eerie victim casts. You can even see the markings of their clothing.
We had such a nice time not only doing the history and culture but having lots of girl chats and gossip!!
Plus the pizza was to die for and once the weather cheered up I was able to enjoy a glass or two of my favourite tipple, Prosecco.
I have had some time for a bit of mini shopping that I hope to be able to share with you over the next fe days. 
Plus work has continued on Flourish and Blotts. Lots of brick work and tiling. Not very exciting but sooooo time consuming.
Lastly, I have booked to go to the Making of Harry Potter Sudio Tour next Wednesday which is very exciting. I am hoping to get lots of inspiration and intend to take 100's of photos. Having seen some already I know there will be a thousand thoughts in my head when I come home!!
So, that's me. Now to catch up on some blog reading.

25 comments:

  1. Felicidades por los 21 años ,,tus fotos me han recordado Pompella ,hace un año tambien la visite ,,y me encanto ,,es una maravilla y su historia es espectacular ,,felicidades por ese viaje ,,besoss

    ReplyDelete
  2. Janice,

    I pretty much thought you'd been busy and I knew you'd been away with your daughter for her 21st! :o))) Pompei looks totally amazing despite the awful weather (it's been the same here as you probably know! lol) and that body cast is very eerie indeed. Your daughter is studying the same subject as my Nephew, he's doing history too, very rare to hear of another studying these!

    My you do have that HP trip to look forward to! I hope to go next year. Have a great time and happy bricking in the meantime! :o))

    Michelle xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lots of bricking and tiling Michelle. Plus I am awaiting all the interior bookshelves which has put me behind a little. Really looking forward to the studio tour after seeing all Kat's photos.

      Delete
  3. Sounds like a special trip, my daughter and I want to go to Egypt to see the great pyramids someday. Happy 21 to your "little princess" :)

    Can't wait to see your studio tour pictures, looks like an amazing place.

    Hugs,
    Victoria

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I am so looking forward to the tour Victoria. So much to see.

      I used to have a yearning for the pyramids until I heard about all the insects!!

      Delete
  4. What an amazing pressie! Glad you had a lovely time! Bet your excited about the tour, i cant wait to go! Im doing the ice cream shop and mulpeppers next so if you get a chance to get any shots of the window displays or a look through the windows id be really grateful Janice, i dont thinkmill get to go this year! Have a fab time, so looking forward to your post on it! Kate xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You know what it's like as they get older. How many ipods do they need??!! plus I got something out of it too!! It made us spend time together that we don't really get any more which was the real pressie.

      I will be taking very many photographs through every window I can get close too Kate so I am sure I will be able to send you lots of photographs.

      Delete
  5. I went to Pompeii so many years ago and it was cold that day too. Congrats to your daughter!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It is very hot in the summer though. Not sure I would like that either!!

      Delete
  6. Janice, what a fabulous place to visit. I'd love to go to Pompeii. Its fascinated me since I was a child. What a great 21 Birthday present.
    Have you seen Kat's photo's of the HP Tour, fabulous is all I can say. I hope you have a great time..

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh Debbie you must try and take a short trip you can see it all in two nights and there are lots of rock bottom flights there out of season. It is incredible.

      I have seen all of Kat's photos so I am really excited about how much there will be to see.

      Delete
  7. Thanks for sharing the photos.
    The birthday girl is a beautiful young woman. Congrats!
    Hugs

    ReplyDelete
  8. What a wonderful trip you had. Happy 21st to your daughter xxxxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It was wonderful Joy. Even photographs cannot tell the full story of this incredible site.

      Delete
  9. I am Italian, and I haven't been to Pompei yet! :)
    Sorry about the bad weather!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We never visit our own wonders do we??!!

      Don't forget I am English and always well prepared for rain! Ha! Ha!

      Delete
  10. It looks like it was a fantastic trip even with the rain :) Happy Birthday to your lovely daughter.
    Hugs Maria

    ReplyDelete
  11. Wow, I have always been fascinated by Pompeii. Its on my list of things to do. Thank you for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You must bring it to the top Troy it simply took my breath away but Herculaneum, a further site in a nearby town, was even more amazing.

      Delete
  12. What a marvellous gift and lovely photos. You both look as though you're having a great time.

    Ah, 21 - I remember it well! I always feel as though I've lost 10 years somewhere. No. 1 son turned 30 last weekend. How did that come about? lol.

    ReplyDelete

I really appreciate all comments that readers take the time to leave. I try to reply to all of them.