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Category Archives: travel

Books, Bikes and Cakes

On one of our walks around Amsterdam we came across an alley lined with arches and in each a book store. They were so tall,  a very long ladder was needed to reach the higher shelves.

As you will probably know, bikes are an important mode of transport in Amsterdam. Pedestrians really need to keep themselves very aware of the silent speeding velocipedes, bells being very few and far between! It was lovely to see whole families riding, the baby in a baby cart, the toddler on a frame in the front and children of all ages cycling along. There were also flower decorated bikes.

Parking for many bikes

WEdding bike

I really wanted to try Dutch Apple Cake and succeeded – one more a pie and one with a crumble topping – both absolutely delicious. We also shared a scrumptious tiramisu after an excellent Italian meal in Antonio’s.

 

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Oude Kerk in Amsterdam and An Iris

On our first day we had a canal cruise which gave us a good idea of the architecture of Amsterdam and a bit of a feel for the layout of the city and later we visited the old church, Oude Kerk which dates back to 1306, with its countless tombstones set in the floor, its wonderful windows, a beautiful organ and some delightful carvings in the 15th century choir stalls. Enjoy the gallery and click on a photo for the explanatory caption.

The city’s oldest bell 1450

A new iris has appeared in the garden. We didn’t plant it but love its delicate colouring.

 

Canals in Amsterdam

Click on any photo to see the bigger version.

 

Two Stations, Saying Goodbye and Garden

I hope the Flowers in May, posted for your delectation, have pleased you. I scheduled them all, taken just before we went away for a long needed break – a train journey to Amsterdam with friends.  Over the next week or two I’ll share photos from then.

St Pancras station where we caught the Eurostar

Amsterdam Centraal

While we were away on our long planned train trip to Amsterdam, the funeral of our Dear friend and breakfast companion, J, took place. As we very sadly couldn’t be there to say goodbye and to sing for him with my choir, my lovely choir leader offered to take something precious of mine so that a part of me would be there.
I chose a small ribbon in purple, white and green that Daughter no 3 gave me some time ago. J appreciated my suffragette history and so it seemed an appropriate token to represent me last week.

Grown well in our absence

 

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Bracelet, Buttons and A Word

When I was eight or nine, my Granny went to Austria and brought me a lovely wooden bracelt with paintings of  flowers. It no longer had the elastic threaded through but I do still have the pretty wooden beads.

In the bag with the beads were a collection of buttons  some of which also came from my granny.

The sun shone this morning! The beautiful book I was given last week had 99 words for rain and one for sun.Here it is.

Sending love to all my Dear Readers on this Valentine’s Day.

 
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Posted by on February 14, 2026 in art, Austria, Beauty, flowers, painting, Postaday 2026

 

Exhibition in Truro Museum and Art Gallery

We had a treat today as tomorrow my lovely Mr S goes into hospital for a TKR, total knee replacement, so we’ll be at home for a few weeks as he recovers. I may not post every day over the next few weeks.
The exhibition, Exploring Time, is the work of one of our favourite artists, Tony Foster, who travels from his home in Cornwall to remote places  with his tent, his paper and water colours. He has painted, among other places,  The Grand Canyon, Everest, rain forests, the Galapagos Islands and locally and I love how he adds a tiny map and  little piece of nature to each painting – tubes of sand, a pebble or two, a shell or pressed flowers – truly beautiful work.
If you want to know more, just put his name in my search bar. Enjoy today’s photos. Click on each to expand to read his pencil notes at the bottom of each painting and if you are local, do go along and immerse yourself in these precious reminders of the fragility of this beautiful earth we inhabit.

Grand Canyon

Chapel Porth

Jurassic Coast

Cornish Oak

And this is his tent!

We have one of his Lockdown pieces at home. https://mybeautfulthings.com/2021/10/22/cottage-cygnets-and-meeting-the-artist/

 

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Audience, View and A Very Special Moment

This morning at choir,  it was so warm we had the door open as we rehearsed and sitting right outside was a seagull who stayed for quite a while. I like to think it was enjoying our rendition of “Wild Mountain Thyme.”
We went for lunch at The Gylly Cafe and had a wonderful view of the sea and the paddle boarders.
Our friend, Paul Haines is on a Peace Walk, walking from Berlin to Budapest and raising money for Children of Peace. Today he sent the following short report  of a truly special and beautiful moment.
“A Special Moment!!
The other day I was walking out of a town and passed a bus stop. A bus pulled up coming in to the town and the driver and I waved and smiled at each other.
I carried on walking and about fifteen minutes later there was a very loud horn sounding. I turned and saw it was the same bus, now exiting the town. The driver was smiling and waving and then pointed upwards as he passed. I looked at the back of the bus as it drove away, and there, instead of the destination, it read “Together for Peace”. What a wonderful thing the driver had done. What a special moment!!
Unfortunately it all happened so quickly I had no time to take a photo.”
 

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Puppy, Present and Pruning

We were having coffee in our favourite coffee shop this morning when our favourite puppy, Tobi,  went by with our friend N. In they came and just look at those eyes!

We arrived home to find a present on our doorstep. What a glorious Butternut Squash this is and it will make pints of delicious  soup. Thank you so much S and M.

My lovely Mr S cut me a branch of our Twisted Hazel that had been waiting to be pruned and I have put all our beaded decorations on it. We bought many of them in Mapoch, the village where we volunteered in 2006, others in Eswatini ( used to be Swaziland ) when we drove through on a later trip. 

 

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Golden Rose, Gate and A New Word

I have cut three of the  beautiful golden roses we were given for our Golden wedding some years ago. They smell divine.

This intriguing gate is in Montecatini Termé,  Tuscany.

I like this new word.

And it’s Father’s Day so just a word to remember my lovely Dad.

 

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Knobs and Knockers

Most of these were taken in Pistoia but odd ones we found in Siena.   They pleased me with their variety, their lovely shapes, the wooden doors and the humour.  Click on any photo to see the detail.

 

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