View to Falmer, Brighton. Hello, Happy Christmas!!! I am baking cakes, making a huge trifle and an even bigger pavlova. I'm sure you are all doing something similar. This is a short post to wish you all a very Happy, Restful and Enjoyable Christmas - I hope Santa brings you everything you wished for. For most of us I think it will be the rest that we look forward to - and the odd glass of wine and mince pie!!!! nid-noi.com is closed for the holidays now until January 1st. There will be a short window in which I can get orders out as I will be flying to New Zealand for three weeks - to teach - on January 7th. Sooooo - orders received between now and January 5th will be posted on January 6th at the latest. After that - no orders will be posted until February 2nd. You are most welcome to order products while I am away, but they wont be posted until February 2nd. I hope this doesn't inconvenience too many of you. That's all for now - the cake smells as ...

  A mountain of brightly coloured macaroons. Well, I am now back home, had the parents and my gorgeous sister over for tea and it's time to start revving myself up for a busy week. I wanted to show you some more of my time in France with my good friends Sue and John Culligan. Sue and John live i n an old stone farmhouse in the heart of the Charente-Maritime in t he tiny hamlet of Le Verderie, close to Brizambourg. It's all very rural and lovely. A great place to rest and also to have a great time. Sue and I went to college together many moons ago, so we know each other VERY well. Sue and John run a chambre d'hotes and Sue is the owner of Knitting Holidays in France www.knittingholidaysinfrance.com and is the pattern editor of Knitting Magazine. She is also the author of several books. I have such clever friends. After several days of dog walks and fantastic food (and much lounging about) we all spent the last day in Bordeaux, about two hours South from Le Verd...