My winter sunshine

I just had to share my 9am pictures with you today, 5th of February and we have 16 degree temperatures which is fabulous for mid winter.  Tomorrow is due to be 19 degrees - perhaps time to get the bikini out for the day!  Just wish the family were here to enjoy this as the north of England is being lashed with rain and gale force winds.

Where I'd like to be

Same shot, different time of day.  We do have blue skies and sunshine at the moment, alas not too warm to be sunbathing by the pool though.  Just put a few islands in front, and a few pine trees and the pool could be in Croatia.  It's actually in the Caribbean, see here.   photos

Getting ready for the celebrations

This morning was gorgeous so I took a stroll to the Old Town and took the above photo indicating our blue skies.  The flags and trimmings are up on the Stradun ready for tomorrow's celebrations for St. Blaise Day.  St. Blaise is the patron Saint of Dubrovnik and his day is celebrated with enthusiasm every February 3rd.  There are parades and parties throughout the day and the relics of the Saint are paraded through the town.  1,000s gather to watch the annual spectacle.

These are some photos I took during past years of the special day.  Unfortunately tomorrow I won't be able to attend - the office beckons.   Fabulous weather in Croatia at the moment!

Villa on the Sea

A villa for the summer holiday?  Here is a fabulous villa to dream about summer, located on the island of Brac.  The villa oozes modern comforts and is equipped throughout.  Sourced here.

Duelling Cellists Play Michael Jackson

Just found this on the homepage of American MSN.com.  Watching the video I thought the bar interior looked very Croatian, and indeed see that the 2 talented musicians Stjepan Hauser and Dubrovnik-born Luka Sulic are Croatian.  The video is a new take on Michael Jackson's Smooth Criminal - Fantastic! More than 2.5 million hits on YouTube so far. Both guys easy on the eye too!

Yes! We do get snow ... sort of

It is mighty chilly now, with the car temperature reading about 2 degrees C in the mornings.  However it's  bright and sunny which makes everything gleam.  I would not have noticed the snow as I live facing  the sea, but a few days ago I had to drive to one of the inland villages, and POW! around the corner saw on the hillside more than just a sprinkling of snow.  Looking gorgeous in the sunshine, like the icing on a cake, the hills really stood out against the blue sky.

Dubrovnik v Maldives

We all have friends who come into our lives again, just at the right moment.  Well my German friend Petra who has been living in the Maldives (aka paradise) since 1994 skyped me ... just at the right time as Dubrovnik's cold and wintery weather descended.   Just the pick-me-up I needed looking out on our stormy weather.  Currently on Kuredu but shortly their own dive base resort will open on the Laamu Atoll - link.

Coastal Dining

I just love these beige and blue stripes here on the table placemat and napkins, plus the healthy meal of ... green apples!   Definitely the coastal look I will try on the terrace when Spring arrives.   (no credit found for pic but sourced here)

Ligne Roset

The company I continue to love is Ligne Roset.  Their newsletter dropped into my inbox today with their new 2011 ad campaign and made me smile ... as my husband had seen this sofa style call Confluences, several months ago, and commented that he loved it .... so I was very pleased!   Although difficult to get this product in Dalmatia, one day I am sure we will buy something from this quality company.  See more here

Wave Break

We recently had our annual visit to Brighton.  New Year's Day was spent enjoying a bracing brisk walk along the promenade and seafront.   With the sun out and flat calm sea  lapping gently over the pebbly beach, it was a great start to 2011.  One of my favourite places to browse is the beachside Kings Road Arches, a collection of small art galleries, quality beach-themed handicrafts and artisan pieces.   The stand of cards caught my eye, naturally with colours of azure blues.  So many to choose from but I decided upon my first favourite - see above.  Called Wave Break.  The talented artist is Zorian P. Matthews, click for website.   Love his work!

Good Evening Beautiful!

We just had to have a wonderful sunset today at 4.40pm, considering how the dawn was this morning.   To have a January day like this in the depths of winter is magical.  I just hope we have many more the same until Spring arrives.   A pleasant 14 degrees too.  What more could you want? Have a great weekend.

Good Day Beautiful!

2 o'clock Friday, January 14th 2011 - can the winter weather get better than this?  Glorious day overlooking the islands and the flat calm sea.

Kolocep island bathed in afternoon sunshine.

The trees may be bare in the depths of winter, but the surrounding colours are fabulous.

I can feel a great sunset coming on at about 4.30pm.

Good Morning Beautiful!

I was an early bird this morning getting up at 6.15am, pitch black.  The dawn started at 07.00am ... with such colours I was certain it would be a beautiful day!  

Cowes, Isle of Wight

We visited Cowes on the Isle of Wight last week.  I haven't been there for 12 years so it was nice to return as it is known as "the sailing capital of the world".   However, New Year is a VERY chilly time of the year so not much sailing going on. (photo source)

Just an hour's ferry ride, with the Red Funnel, from Southampton and we reached East Cowes.  An intriging chain ferry then hauled us across the other side of the Medina river to West Cowes.

Promotions for the Superyacht Cup in 2012 just prior to the London Olympics.

The world famous photography shop of "Beken of Cowes" was unfortunately closed due to the holidays, but good to see the photo in the window of the large one I have framed here in Croatia of Susanne 1911. 
Link for more:   www.cowes.co.uk  and   www.uksa.org

New Year

As Britain shivers with yet more snow, I am back in Dubrovnik, now into a New Year.  10 degrees is not too bad for January and the sun goes down a little later every day which is great to think that Spring is just around the corner .....

Merry Christmas!

(photo Colliers)

From a warm 14 degrees to a chilly minus 5!  Landed in Gatwick ok and headed up to Yorkshire.  Would be nice if we lived in Buckingham Palace as pictured above (photo Andy Hooper, Daily Mail), alas, ours is a smaller place.  To see such snow in London is quite a sight.   Delayed posting as lots going on.  Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!  I look forward to posting more Croatian delights in 2011. Cheers!

Winning Ticket ... again.

We had a lovely evening at the Foreign Circle Christmas Party on Wednesday last week for the english  speaking expat residents of Dubrovnik.  The tombola offered some fabulous prizes, and my number came up! 2 nights B&B in the 5 star Hotel Excelsior.  The hotel has enjoyed the presence of guests such as The Queen, Liz Taylor & Richard Burton, Hollywood stars etc.   Our zero temperatures outside and flurries of snow made our stay even more enjoyable in the warm spa.  I won a similar prize last year with 2 nights B&B at the Hotel Radisson .... think the Foreign Circle may ban me from entering next year.

LottyB in Mustique & now in Croatia

Beautiful silk sarongs: the originals all hand painted

Gorgeous vibrant colours: perfect photos to look at on this cold December day

Here is Lotty at work on a special commission for the Sandy Lane Hotel, Barbados

Lotty has created new gift boxes for her silk items

Last year I did a post on LottyB, the talented artist based on the gorgeous island of Mustique in the Caribbean. She creates exquisite designs on silk for sarongs, kaftans, dresses, blouses, scarves etc.  They are sold in chic hotels and boutiques around the world.  I bought a "purple puppy" charmeuse silk blouse a few years ago, shipped from the island which is beautiful.  Yesterday Lotty emailed me about her revised website.  I was intrigued to read under stockists: Caribbean ... USA ... UK ... and now Croatia!