Domestic Goddess

I would like to dispel all rumours that school secretaries do nothing except shop, lunch, play Bedazzled Blitz on Facebook and socialise during the half term breaks. Yesterday I was suddenly hit by the baking bug. First off it was a multi-seeded bread loaf, followed by a banana and walnut tea loaf, and I also have a Victoria sandwich cake ready to be taken round to my niece's new home when she moves back to this area later today. Move over Nigella!

Our house is right on the very edge of town and within 5 mins of walking out my front door I am in open countryside and it is so pretty at this time of year. As it was glorious weather yesterday afternoon (and I needed a rest after all that cooking!) I went for a lovely walk out by the lake. My route home took me across the cricket pitch that is next to our cul de sac and as I was admiring the colour of the leaves on the trees I spied some sloes growing in the hedgerow. Now we all know what Mother Nature made sloes for ... sloe gin! So today's task is to go back with container and try making my own. The only problem is that I am only 5' 1" and the sloes were fairly high up. I may end up in the sloe bush rather than harvesting it.

Meanwhile, back in Italy,

Never was a place more aptly named. Isola Bella. Beautiful Island.

From the water you just see the castle with what appears to be follies and statues in landscaped gardens. When you get up close, you can only marvel at the imagination and beauty.
We did have one day of cloudy weather and decided to get on the train to Milan. Had never been on a double-decker train before! This is a picture of the cathedral, or Duomo, which was built from the pink marble which comes from the Maggiore area. Absolutely breathtaking.