which overlooked one of the pools.
I straight away started on the box of chocolates
All the wives who were accompanying their husbands at this business conference were given a beauty treatment of their choice on the first day (I chose an anti ageing facial) then I explored the beautiful grounds.
On the second day we had an official guided walk around Winchester.
This plaque was provided by the Jane Austen society and there are always fresh flowers here.
This is the oldest restaurant in Winchester where we had lunch.
Now this is really too difficult to narrow down to one book. For the BBC's Big Read in 2003 where people could vote for their favourite book I voted for Harper Lee's 'To Kill a Mocking Bird'; this came 6th. Number one was Tolkein's 'Lord of the Rings' which I have never read, nor shall I ever as it is not the sort of book I would enjoy at all.
At the moment I am reading 'Roots' by Alex Haley and can't put it down! Next in line is 'Life Class' by Diana Athill which I bought after seeing her interviewed on TV a couple of weeks ago.
At my art group we have been studying Van Gogh. I hadn't realised how much work he produced in his very short life (37 years). He didn't start painting until his late twenties and much of his most famous work was produced during the last two years of his life. He produced more than 2,000 artworks (900 paintings and 1,100 sketches) and I believe he only sold one during his life.
Of course, it is well known that he was a very troubled man. I find this painting ('At Eternity's Gate') haunting as he produced this in the last year of his life.
On 27th July 1890 Van Gogh shot himself in the chest and died two days later from his wounds. His brother reported his last words to be "La tristesse durera toujours" (the sadness will last forever).
I bought the single record of Don McLean's song 'Vincent' in 1972. Here it is on youtube, it never ceases to bring a tear to my eye.
and after......
I painted the chair with Farrow & Ball's 'Light Blue' which I had used in the spare bedroom above the coving. I haven't finished the cushion yet but this Kate Forman fabric is perfect for the pink and blue theme in the bedroom.
The bedroom is more or less finished. I took my inspiration from all the lovely blossom we had a few months ago and an eiderdown I already had so decided to have mostly pink and blue in there. The walls were painted in F & B's 'Dimity' which I think has a pinky tinge to it (husband said it looked like Magnolia!). I painted the floorboards white (4 coats!) and added 2 rugs we already had plus a new one. The blinds are off white and I added paper flowers to the tabs on the cream Ikea curtains.
The fireplace came from a salvage yard and I painted it white, whilst the hearth tiles were already there (underneath an old carpet). The what-not in the corner was painted in F & B's French Grey and is ideal to display some of my commerative china from Porthleven. The pink floor lamp was a bargain from Ikea at £9.99.
It's a very light and sunny room and I am really pleased with the result. 
