A month in photos...

This last month has flown by in a whirlwind of visits, visiting, DIY and work.  The combination of all of this makes for a lazy blogger.  My solution is an update in photos.

Learning to bake bread.

Enjoying evening walks.

Taking in the carpet of bluebells in our local wood.

Celebrating my sister's birthday with a cocktail.

Marvelling at the porcelain flowers at the Chelsea Flower Show.

Wild flower envy at the Chelsea Flower Show.

Flower garlands decorate a stand at Chelsea.

A Mexican feast courtesy of Mr E.

Basking in the glorious glow of the gorse on the beach at my parents.

Orchids and an old pot...

There isn't really much to this post to be honest but I thought I'd share my latest addition to our sitting room. The pot is an old copper planter that my parents have had for years.  They've had it in their house for as long as I can remember, housing a variety of plants through the years.

As our new house is still looking a little sparse (we've moved from a modest two-up-two-down to a 5 bedroom house complete with sitting room, dining room and study) I asked if I might lay claim to the planter. I've seen lots of similar displays in florist's windows and for sale and fancied recreating it myself.  At the moment Marks & Spencer have their orchids on sale so I took the opportunity and bought three.  They are a perfect fit for the pot and the shape of it hides their plastic tubs perfectly.  It is by pure chance that the individual heights of the plants work so well together.

I'm so pleased with this that my next project will be to plant up some of my vintage china.  I have a lovely blue and white tureen that would rather suit some daffodils.

Under the Tuscan Sun...

This post is woefully late but looking through my photographs again has cheered up an otherwise dark and dreary November evening!

The second part of our Italian holiday was spent in Southern Tuscany at the most incredible hotel, Poggio Piglia.  We drove up from Rome via Orvietto in our hired Fiat 500 and took the scenic route. Scenic it certainly was.

Orvietto is beautiful and we spent an afternoon wandering, admiring the cathedral and of course enjoying a glass of the local wine!

We arrived at the hotel just as the sun was setting and made our way through the gardens to our apartment.  We stayed in a private suite that was separate from the main hotel with our own terrace and view across the pool and over the valley.  The hotel was peaceful and beautifully decorated.  It was so relaxing that we didn't want to do much more than sit by the pool.  They ran their own restaurant and the food was superb.  We did venture out to explore the surrounding towns and loved everywhere we went.

 

A perfect day at the seaside...

We are just back from the first leg of our summer holiday, a week in Dorset with friends, staying in a sweet thatched cottage.  We rented Peter's Finger in Chideock for a week and and had the most fabulous time.

One of the nicest days was an unexpected afternoon spent at Budleigh Salterton.  We popped in on our way home and enjoyed a wander along the beach, sat in the sun and envied the families with their pastel coloured beach huts.  We rounded a lovely afternoon off with a fish and chip supper that was nothing short of spectacular!

A very generous invitation...

This weekend we were invited to spend a weekend with some friends at their holiday home in Suffolk.  They are staying for the whole week so we were there to make sure it got off to a good start!  Partridge Lodge is a collection of farm buildings (dairy, granary and the farm house itself) that have been renovated into holiday lets.  We stayed in The Dairy Hall which was lovely, high ceilings, beams and lots of light.

Very near to the barn was the site of Sutton Hoo.  I have recently finished reading The Dig, a semi-fictional story about the excavation and had quite an interest in visiting.  It was a beautiful sunny day and we had a lovely afternoon wandering around the burial mounds and grounds.  The house is also open to visit and has a beautiful 30's interior.  

Summer nails...

It is no secret that I love a nail polish and have an alarmingly large collection.  I am also a bit of a stickler for tidy, well kept nails and even better if they are painted a nice bright colour.

I'd love to be able to go for weekly manicures or pedicures but sadly my bank balance doesn't quite stretch to that just yet.  It does mean however that I am now fairly proficient in home treatments and have quite a range of lotions, polishes and tools.  My regime is much the same for hands or feet and I simply vary the intensity depending on what state my nails are in:

• remove old nail varnish with cotton wool soaked in remover
• rub in an exfoliant until almost dry
• soak in a bowl of warm water for as long as you have.  I like to add some bath salts, or oils to this
• if it is a pedicure then I buff my feet with a pumice stone
• cut your nails and file the edges
• push down your cuticles and trim any dead skin
• slather on some cream and let it soak in
• clean nails with a quick sweep of nail varnish remover
• apply a base coat, colour and top coat

I keep my hands and feet well moisturised and have tubes of hand cream dotted all over the house.  I try to remember to use a pumice stone in the shower and cover my feet in cream each evening.  There is something very satisfying about lovely soft toes and a pretty polish!

An old favourite...

...and a new one.

This week saw me out on the town for a rare evening out.  We began at one of my most favourite of places, The Wolsey.  A champagne afternoon tea started the proceedings rather well.  We followed this with a visit to the super glamorous Bob Bob Ricard.  I know that the restaurant has been open for a few years now but I haven't yet managed to visit.  Downstairs they have a cocktail bar that I'd been longing to try.

The interior is over the top and decadent but in the best possible taste.  The bar is downstairs and is reminiscent of an ocean liner from the Twenties. Velvet booths and table lamps mix with outrageous wallpaper and waiters in bow ties.  The cocktails were excellent and served in the most beautiful vintage glasses.

Next stop was a bar I have always liked and have always called "The Bar with No Name".  It is a nondescript bar at the end of Kingly Street and I must confess that I have enjoyed many a cocktail there.  I think officially it is called Two Floors as there is a different bar on either floor.  I favour the upstairs bar and it couldn't be more different to Bob Bob Ricard if it tried.  The interior is minimalist with plain painted walls, a stripped wooden floor and mismatched furniture.  However, the cocktails are always excellent and it has a fun, busy feel to it.

Both photographs from the bars' respective websites.

One evening out, two brilliant bars and one to many delicious cocktails. What more could a girl ask for?!

A whistle-stop tour...

...of the last two months.

I can't believe that it has been over two months since I last wrote anything.  That is terrible, truly terrible.  In my defence it has been a super busy couple of months - I feel like I've hardly had two minutes to sit still.

June was, in the most part, devoted to work.  I was at the NEC for nearly three weeks working on BBC Gardeners' World Live, it is my favourite shows to work on.  I love the transformation that happens, the amazing Floral Marquee and beautiful show gardens.

My first day back was the start of boot camp part II.  This time it was a two week course, I really enjoyed it and am noticeably fitter.  I also managed to lose a few inches!

My youngest sister came home from travelling in South America.  She has been away for over six months and I have really missed her.  It is lovely to have her back.  She arrived home with some amazing presents for us - I think my favourite is this super bright fabric.  I just need to decide what to make with it.

We've seen a lot of friends and family.  I popped over to Madrid for a long weekend to see my best friend C.  We had a lovely few days of tapas, wandering through the scorching streets and roof top cocktails.

And every other second of spare time has been devoted to house hunting.  We are now searching for our own home and have seen the best and the worst that is on offer!  We haven't seen anything that is quite right yet though so the search continues.  Watch this space...

A cheerier message...

This weekend has been just the tonic I needed to shake off my grey cloud. I've given the house a spring clean and everything is in order.  I've booked a weekend in Madrid and bought a new striped dress. My nails are painted a cheering coral and I'm looking forward to the week ahead.

I start boot camp tomorrow morning at 6 o'clock and am actually rather excited.  I'm hoping it will give me a real kick start to the day and get me back on track.

The Queen plays with her corgis...

I've really been enjoying the build up to the Diamond Jubilee, the BBC 1 programme and the various newspaper supplements.  I very much admire The Queen and I think one of the things I like the most is the way that she is always surrounded by her corgis.

The picture below is one of my favourites, I first saw it as part of the Exposed exhibition at the Tate.  I love the butler in his wig & dress coat throwing the football and The Queen looking on indulgently.

image from here

When I started looking at pictures of The Queen and her corgis I found this one and loved it almost as much.  Apparently the Queen's first corgi was called Susan and went on the honeymoon with the newlyweds!  Now that really is beyond marvellous.

image from here

The last picture I picked was this one.  Super elegant, lovely lines and beautiful clashing colours.

image from here

I love the way that the corgis are always trotting along behind and really seem part of everyday life.  Our little dog is much the same, never far behind. However I do wish that I could take Bingo to work and on all my travels.

Colour crush...

I've been home alone this weekend and have had rather a lot of free time to devote to blog browsing!  I have discovered some super new interiors blogs and have been enviously drooling over other people's beautiful homes.  

Consequently I have become rather obsessed with the combination of coral and turquoise.  I love how the colours totally clash yet totally complement each other.

image from here

image from here

image from here

These rooms use the colours in their most vibrant and I think that they look just incredible.  I love how the traditional wood panelling lends itself so perfectly to the dark turquoise then meets the unexpected coral ceiling, rather like a sunset falling into the sea.

image from here

This room uses the same colours but in more muted, romantic tones.  It has a wonderfully elegant and calm feel and I rather think I would enjoy siting at that table with a cup of freshly brewed coffee.

image from here

If you aren't feeling brave enough to dedicate a whole room to these colours then this simple flower arrangement is an easy way to flirt with the idea until you are ready to commit!

image from here

The handwoven rug above is just too beautiful for words.  If this were in my home I think I would be to in awe to even step on it.

Sold...

Today is a very exciting day.  After rather a lot of too-ing and fro-ing with solicitors we finally exchanged contracts and I can begin to believe that our flat is sold!

Today marks the start in the next stage of our plans and I am beyond excited. Well once I find somewhere to move into I will be beyond excited.  Until then I will be packing and calling estate agents.  But after that there will be much excitement!

P.S.  That picture isn't of my flat unfortunately.  If it were I suspect I wouldn't be so excited to leave.
Did I mention that I am excited?!

2012 vs 2012...

After toasting the New Year with a glass of champagne conversation in our house turned to how one refers to the year in numerical terms.  We celebrated this year with a German friend who was puzzling over the two options: twenty twelve or two thousand and twelve.

Our guests were split but I am firmly in the two thousand and twelve camp.  I know that it is long winded but it somehow feels more elegant.  The other feels more factual and for me will forever be associated with the Olympics.  I don't care much for the Olympics if truth be told and for that, and other reasons, I shall be elongating 2012 at every opportunity!

image from here

Condensed Christmas...

I hope everyone had a lovely Christmas and New Year and that we are ready to face 2012 with a smile.

Christmas this year was a busy one, in between packing up our flat we managed to fit in three counties, seven siblings and two dogs!  I didn't manage to take many photos but here are a few that sum up my festive fortnight...

Nails painted and ready to go.

Assembling & serving our homemade blinis...

Walks on the beach...

The M3 motorway (several times!) 

image from here

I will be back soon, hopefully with a little more to say.  I have a feeling that 2012 is going to be a good year.

An autumn affair...

This weekend has been one of those perfect autumn weekends; clear skies, crisp air and beautiful sunsets. The start of autumn is one of my favourite times of year - it signifies the start of so many wonderful rituals.

Here are some of my favourites:
Long walks with leaves crunching underfoot.
Red wine on a Sunday afternoon.
Game pie and other such hearty fare.
Seeing your breath when you exhale.
Wearing coloured tights.
Snuggling under a blanket on the sofa.
Boots and wooly socks.

I have made a good start this weekend by rescuing my winter clothes from storage.  My beloved boots are once again back in favour.  Hats, scarves and gloves are ready for their turn.  The husband and I went for a walk this afternoon, amazed at how different the streets look with their autumn wardrobe on display.  As I type I have a game pie in the oven.

Now I can't wait for winter!

The ever beautiful Bushy Park

Sunshine and friends and Agatha Christie...

Today's post is more of an update really.  I am smiling once again; thanks to sunshine, friends and Agatha Christie.  Not necessarily in that order.

My best friend who lives in Madrid was visiting for the weekend, and what a weekend she picked.  How amazing was the weather?  I had Friday off so we met for lunch and then headed over to Brick Lane for a rummage through the vintage shops.  I was very restrained and treated myself to just the two tea plates.  After exhausting ourselves with the spoils of the East End vintage scene we headed back to our pied a terre (our friend Russ' flat in Kensington!).  A glass of vino and an olive or two and we were totally refreshed.

Friday evening was spent at the V&A, there was an open evening on with cocktail bars and live music.  It was such a beautiful evening that we sat in the courtyard and chatted until hunger got the better of us and we gorged on burgers at Byron Burger.  Have you been?  If not then go immediately.

Taking advantage of the continued sunshine we spent Saturday in Richmond Park, wandering along the streams and eating ice creams.  Thai food for dinner then home to bed.

On Sunday we jumped in our battered car and ventured into sunny Surrey to celebrate in the christening of friend's baby.  It was very nice to catch up with lots of people who we haven't seen for an age, the lunch afterwards was super and the biggest plus point was that I had an hour each to listen to my Agatha Christie audiobook!  Is that wrong?

So all in all I am of a much cheerier disposition, and am ready to face the week ahead.  How about you?

Les vacances...

We are back from holiday and what a lovely holiday it was.  To stop the holiday blues I am going to post some of my favourite parts each day for the next week.

We start with the beach.  The beach in St Jean de Luz is very pleasant indeed.  Called La Grande Plage it certainly lives up to its name.  Sandy and curving along the length of the town it has clear waters, rock pools and deck chairs for hire.  We spent nearly every afternoon there enjoying the late sunshine.

Little houses and hotels line up along the edge of the beach; a beautiful mix of traditional white Basque houses, Art Deco hotels and grand family homes.  The town stretches back from the beach to a cafe filled square where we sat and watched the world go by.