Oysters

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I recently came across this big pile of oyster shells that had been caught/fished in the south east of England. I’ve never tried or seen oysters before and I was surprised to find that they could be found in local English waters, and in abundance.

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I like how the shells on the outside look rough and dirty and to the untrained eye could look like rocks (or maybe just to me then). But the insides look all smooth, shiny with a pearly tint to them, which makes me think of treasures being hidden within that have to be pried out

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These ones that look even rockier are ones that were being sold to customers alongside the harbours. They have been freshly caught and were being opened to serve to customers alongside other seafoods. I tried to take a picture of an oyster with the edible flesh still inside, but wasn’t quick enough. I was pleased to see them and it was definitely a highlight to the day

Vintage bridal shower

Wedding season is in full swing at the moment and this year we have a big wedding in our family too; my youngest sister is getting married. To get the ball rolling with the celebrations my older sister decided to throw her a bridal shower, the theme; vintage, which means florals, pearls, pastels and polka dots. We held the bridal shower in the garden so we can enjoy the good weather, the extra space and also have my mum’s pretty flowers to add to the theme.
To add a bit of shade and colour we hung some pretty, flowery scarves from the fences, across the garden and added my sister’s handmade banners. We also added lots of other little touches to make the garden pretty

We each made some food for the day; my older sister made macaroni salad, my younger sister brought along chicken sandwiches and my sister-in-law made a pretty trifle. My contribution was chocolate dipped strawberries, plates of cut summer fruits and old fashioned lemonade which I thought would add a nice touch to a summery party. Our guests also brought along food and other tasty treats to share so we had lots of variety

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For fun my sister-in-law arranged a quiz for my sister who is getting married where she asked her fiancé 20 questions and asked my sister to see if she could guess how he answered. For each question she got wrong she had to put to put a piece of chewing gum in her mouth – I think she got about 2 right so she got through several packets!

Overall, it was a lovely bridal shower and everyone was able to enjoy the good weather, food and company. I think it was my baby nieces and cousin though, who stole the show with their pretty smiles and polka dot and flowery dresses, who got away with being cheeky and running off with numerous biscuits and cakes

Next up my sister-in-law is hosting a 1920’s themed party for the bride-to-be which we’re all looking forward to

Vegetable patch

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Every Spring my mum, who has very green fingers, grows a variety of herbs and vegetables in our garden, with more varieties being added every year. This year as we are shooting through Summer lots of the plants are now bearing their offerings which are now ripe and ready to be picked. Here we have aubergines, chillies, French beans and tomatoes (you may wonder why some are still green though – my mum likes to add these to cooking to give food a tangy kick). There’s also others in our garden and as we head towards the end of Summer they too will be ready to enjoy

I’d love to hear what others are growing in their gardens and whether you’ve had a chance to enjoy them yet

Summer fruits

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This year Ramadan has fallen over the month of July, and whilst the days are long and getting hotter as the days pass, one thing we all look forward to are the delicious, mouth watering summer fruits that are prepared and ready to be eaten soon after we break our fasts, for some much needed refreshment. I think my favourite has to be the watermelon, what’s yours?

Ramadan Mubarak 2014/1435

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Ramadan Mubarak to Muslims around the world who are fasting during the holy month of Ramadan. Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset and this year in England the days will be quite long as Ramadan is over summer, but I will try to make the most of it and take things a little slower than my usual hectic pace. I hope that everyone fasting during this special month makes the most of the days ahead to shake bad habits, create new ones and purify heart, body and soul

The best of 2013

2013 has been an exciting year for me with regards to photography; I finally managed to get myself a DSLR and was able to take some great photos with it at some amazing places. I have also been learning more about photography through a course as well as through all of you bloggers out there. Some of you have left helpful tips, while others have left kind and encouraging words, but I think most of all I feel that having seen photos that you have taken and published on your blogs you have really set the bar high, with beautiful, amazing shots of the world around you. I thank you all for your support on my blog and for helping me see the world in a different perspective.

I hope you all have a happy and successful 2014 and I leave you with some of my favourite photos from this year.