I love getting on the boat in Mytilene and crossing the Aegean sea to Ayvalik. I went again yesterday it was another day trip and again not long enough. Next time I am staying overnight, there is just so much to enjoy there and I always come back inspired.
Finally I am sitting down to say thank you M&C Saatchi. Just before Christmas my friend Tom McFarlane suggested I come into the agency and bring my book, My Greek Island Home to sell in their fab canteen. Tom said it was the perfect Christmas gift. He spoke to the lovely Victoria Uriarte and asked her to come up with something tasty for lunch, with a Greek twist. I set myself up in the corner like a proper saleswoman and enjoyed meeting and chatting to various agency folk that came through the door. It was a lovely thing to do everyone was so friendly, a great atmosphere. The food was just yummie, Victoria really went to town. Slow roasted stuffed leg of lamb, chicken poached in red wine with olives, spanakopita, roasted chat potatoes, roasted sweet potatoes, Greek salad, tzatziki, green beans with almond’s, figs baked in fig leaves with ricotta and honey, honey soaked vanilla cake with sesame seeds and poached peaches with crushed pistachios and honeyed yoghurt. As you can see from the photos there were smiles all around. What a great place to work, if I worked there I’d never go home. Thank you Tom and Victoria and thank you to all those who purchased a copy of My Greek Island Home, I hope you all enjoyed it!
Good news for all those who have been asking where they can purchase my latest book, ‘My Greek Island Home’. It is now available on pre order from Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Greek-Island-Home-Claire-Lloyd/dp/1921382589/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1362833571&sr=8-1&keywords=my+greek+island+home and http://www.amazon.co.uk/Greek-Island-Home-Claire-Lloyd/dp/1921382589/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1362835578&sr=1-1 This book is a very personal account of living in a village, on a Greek Island.It’s about the importance of community and the generosity of people. It’s about leaving behind a city life and finding joy in a simple life, surrounded by nature, animals and warm local people. There are stories of daily experiences and also a few of my new friends recipes. It has been the most wonderful experience documenting life here and I hope all those who have the chance to read it thoroughly enjoy it.
Back here in Greece I am all cosied up in our warm little village house with my cat Sweetie curled up on my lap. She hardly fits, she is enormous and wearing her very healthy luxurious winter coat. She has not left my side since I returned from Australia. She is so loved up purring loudly, there is some snoring too. I am not complaining, as I love the love not to mention the warmth. Outside there is a howling gale and torrential rain. Lightening is lighting up the vast skies and loud grumbling thunder follows. Nellie our rescue dog has retreated into the house for comfort and found a nice chair to settle in. The weather has been like this for days. There have been a few moments of reprieve, enough to take a couple of long walks along the track with Matthew and the dogs, Nellie and Hector. It’s great to be back. Memories of Sydney whirl around my head all the wonderful experiences I had are vying for my attention. One lovely evening Matthew and I had was with Katie Quinn Davies and her husband Mick. We met them at a dinner party my publisher Julie Gibbs threw before Christmas. Julie is really the hostess extraordinaire she gathered together a great group of people and served the most delicious food cooked by her self, so impressive. Katie is Irish, from Dublin and began her career in graphic design. In 2009 she decided to photograph food, something she certainly does beautifully. She started her blog
What Katie Ate http://www.whatkatieate.com which became an internet phenomenon. Katie and her husband Mick, a great Aussie man invited us around to their house for dinner a real treat. Matthew secretly thought the invitation was based on our mutual love of cats but who knows. We felt so special to have Katie cook up one of her yummy meals. We had a wonderful night with Katie and Mick and hope for more to come. My culinary skills are not up to Katie’s but I will do my best when we return the invitation. Katie has a new book out which will inspire you. It’s also called What Katie Ate http://www.whatkatieate.com/my-book/ Her simple delicious recipes are photographed to lure you into the kitchen. The photography is reminiscent of paintings by the Dutch Masters. The layout and design of the book, also done by Katie reminds you of a precious family cookbook handed down from mothers to daughters. This book is a visual delight and a must for all those who love to spend time in their kitchens or just love food and photography. I myself will keep looking through the mouth-watering pages, be inspired by the photographs and look forward to Katie and Mick asking us back for another evening. I am including some spreads and a few cropped photos from the book see below. Enjoy and thank you Katie for this treasure.
As my wonderful time in Australia draws to a close I am reminded of beautiful summer days spent with gorgeous friends. These days spent on Stradbroke Island http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stradbroke_Island on the eastern side of Moreton Bay, close to Brisbane have been amongst my favourite. Beautiful lazy beach days with Dave, Rob, Matthew, Eddie and Lil. Thank you all for the time we spent together, so, so special.
One of my lovely friends gave my book, MY GREEK ISLAND HOME to her mum as a gift http://www.penguin.com.au/lantern/life-style/books/my-greek-island-home http://www.yatzer.com/my-greek-island-home-claire-lloyd Her mum, Joan sent me the most touching card the words meant a lot to me so I will share them in this post.
Claire, Your book has come into my life and it has brought me warmth, peace and wonder, but most of all reality. The eye and mind rests – one feels transported through the photographs. The more one looks the more you want to stay with each shot – it makes you feel good. the script top class, you’ve got style – fantastic. I can hear your heart- beat. Congrats Therese’s Mum – love Joan.
Thank you Joan for such appreciation.
clairelloydloves 