Royal wedding, and Lorna's Hen party weekend

Nuptials actual and upcoming! I really enjoyed watching the Royal wedding - beautiful dress (-es, as well as a couple of fashion disasters!) and a wonderful Parry-fest, with all my favourite anthems bringing back fond memories of festive Evensongs. I was up in town earlier in the week for a lunchtime concert at St Martin-in-the-Fields, and walked up the Mall and in St James' Park and saw all the prep going on. I still prefer St Paul's - it's my favourite building in London, especially on the inside with all the amazing decoration and my favourite psalm around the roof - but Westminster Abbey is lovely too.

Teatime souvenirs

Something for the fridge

Then off to Devon in the afternoon to Lorna's girls' weekend; 20 of us, from 8 year old nieces to 15 grown-ups. We stayed in a big house called Acorn Park, in the countryside, near Exeter, with lovely grounds and big entertaining rooms. Friday night was for settling in, meeting new friends and a relaxing dinner and chat.

Saturday morning we got creative! Vicky Rowe from clarabows.co.uk led a workshop making fascinators! Fantastic! We had lots of lovely things to play with - beads, feathers, crystals - and had a wonderful morning! The idea was we will be wearing them with our wedding outfits. Here's the stage-by-stage
progress:

Saturday afternoon we went to Budleigh Salterton, the nearest seaside, and had a bracing walk along the front. Saturday evening we were catered for by a chef and waitresses! Delicious food, and the dishwasher did all the hard work afterwards.

Sunday was a leisurely day, Sally, Georgia and I went to Otterton, where there was a nature reserve, a farm shop, and craft studios. Found some pretty presents, and lots of inspiration! We managed to dodge the showers.

Back to London today, after a lovely weekend - thanks Lorna, Julia and Stella for all the organising! Here's to the big day on June 4th!