friday, november 7 } what a bonus to have seen one of my close friends nazira twice! although we met quite recently (end of 2012) we quickly developed a deep friendship. we live thousands of miles apart, but she’s one of the few who significantly helped me through the slow deterioration and ultimate demise of my relationship with *him*

saturday, november 8 } riding in the back with tareq and nelli. we drove to surrey on a rainy day and looked at six properties. this is a dream come true, having free rein over other people’s homes. for me it was a day of exploration and discovery. and i think my excitement has raised the value of a couple of the properties. i’m the worst person to go home-shopping with

eve in ‘the second’ house, which was a huge mansion built over three periods beginning in the 18th century. this is on our way up to the converted staff quarters

my favorite: the pantiles, or ‘the third house’. the name of this property is quite unfortunate because we kept reading it as ‘the panties’ and then it developed into the pantyliners. it was located near leatherhead, so it ultimately became the panty liners from leatherhead

one of the kitchen windows at the pantiles home. i loved this property. to me it was the homiest, the most cohesive and generally the one with the best vibe (but with the worst name)

i hearth surrey. eve on the mantle of the master bedroom fireplace

i love that this property was dotted with the couple-who-lives-there’s children’s projects and toys

on the slippery patio looking in

i’ve always wanted to do this. so many fun gizmos in the massive garden

i call dibs! this is the ice house outside

this is the ice house inside

the fourth property: camilla lacey, or ‘tom’s house’. here eve poses outside this spooky, dragon-ridden mansion

taking a break by a disembodied head

leaving camilla lacey

the fifth house. with this estate you acquire the title of lord and lady. it’s true, you really do. i just like this little table and stool. and the moat surrounding the house

the last house, the one that belongs to the doctor who was in too deep because he thought he could be a designer and contractor too

finally we ended the day at langshott manor. because they appreciate my love for the english countryside, nelli and tareq treated me to a stay at this surrey inn. it’s so lovely and quaint (but is making me feel ever so lonely) and i’m sleeping in…

…this room. i am so glad i got the room of the woman who outlived henry VIII. anne boleyn is down the hall. tareq and nelli are downstairs in the katherine howard room

off the landing on my floor is this chandelier and this staircase

a dove outside my bathroom window

and this is now. i had a great time at dinner with nelli and tareq. i was the only uncoupled person in a room full of lovers, partners, spouses, but funny enough it was the time i had most fun. i realize and appreciate how much nelli and tareq are trying to not make me feel like the third wheel! i had a good time, my fix of the countryside and then some. i’m ready to get back to the city

i get out of bed

you know you’ve ordered too much when they give you table settings for two. i didn’t have a choice. only a few little ones…

so in love with my breakfast. here the cats look down at my tray in envy

enjoying my breakfast while i watch ‘long lost family’ on youtube. i cry on cue every single episode

a room with a view, a window sill with a face

the rest of my breakfast is fed to the ducks and geese