Photo diary: week 13, project 365

Easter wouldn't be Easter for me without the Classic FM Hall of Fame countdown. I spend a lot of time in the kitchen with the radio on, and walk around the house with the iPhone, with the Classic FM app playing, so that I don't miss anything. If you're not familiar with the countdown, it takes place over four days of Easter holidays. You have to vote (in advance) for your favourite pieces of music. 

I tend to stick to the Russian composers. Masquerade Suite by Khachaturian has slightly fallen down to spot no.177 (18 down). I love this piece so much I keep telling my guys that I want it played at my funeral (that, and Dance me to the end of love by Leonard Cohen).

The Gadfly by Shostakovich has moved up to no.89 (up 33). I might have told you the family story before. My late Dad, bless him, was not a great reader. When he was wooing my Mum who's always been very bookish, he read The Gadfly by Ethel Lilian Voynich, trying to impress her. When I was born, he wanted to name me Ethel, Lilian or Gemma (the character from the book), all names would have sounded quite funny in Russia. Though I did fancy being called Gemma, when I was little. But I digress...

For my 3rd choice I voted tactically for Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto no.2, as I would love The Lark Ascending to finally descend and fly away from its top position. Well, we'll find out this evening who wins the coveted no.1 position. I'd be actually happy with anything but the Lark.

Photo-wise, I was taking pictures inconsistenly, and not every day. These catkins are so fluffy, like bunny tails.

In the past most shops would be decorated for Easter, but as the shops are still in the lockdown, there is not much to see. Thankfully, The Teddy Bears of Witney didn't disappoint. One of their windows had Easter-themed teddies and bunnies.

It was such a glorious sunny day, and I've taken a lot of pictures in the garden, mostly of the hyacinths, but also of thie beautiful butterfly. There was a yellow green butterfly fluttering around, but I couldn't catch it, as it wouldn't sit still long enough for me to make a snap.

This is the view from my in-laws' balcony into the inner courtyard and the neighbours' magnolia tree this week. We used to go to Italy for Easter for many years, but stopped a couple of years ago. It's tricky to travel with Sash, who gets very anxious in the airports, and it's not fair on him. But I do miss seeing several generations of my Italians together, Ferrara at Easter (and Christmas) and having all that beautiful Italian food. 

Shopping at the weekend, Eddie begged me to buy him The Iron Man sunglasses. I managed to break my own sunglasses, which I only got last year, and had to get a new pair for myself. I opted for the Iron Man model as well, though a different shape and colour.

I am not good at botany, and don't know what this plant is called. It has a rather unpleasant smell, but looks so pretty. Snapped it in town, on the way home.

We started working on the Easter chocolate and hot cross buns days before the official day. 

Heston Blumenthal's creations for Waitrose are often hit and miss, but this year his mocha hot cross buns are a winner. They are soooo good. My strange children though didn't want to try them, well, more's for me.

And what's with the Easter eggs saga this year? I bought a few in advance as gifts for my guys, friends, Sasha's class mates (two big boxes of Creme eggs) and driver/assistant (Green & Black's milk eggs), but when I went to the shops on Wednesday, there was hardly anything left. On Friday the Easter shelves were absolutely empty. We wanted to get mini eggs for baking. I mean, mini eggs? Why is there a shortage? You can usually buy them in spades. In the past I enjoyed buying half-priced chocolate eggs in the shops, this year obviously it's not going to happen.

The Mumsnet, of course, called it the first world problem. And while I appreciate it's not a necessity and we will survive, I don't understand this shortage of Easter eggs. Boo hoo.

Did you manage to get all the chocolate eggs you wanted? And do you listen to the Hall of Fame countdown? Tell me what you've voted for? (If it's The Lark Ascending, I will give you a dirty look).

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