A home made afternoon...

I had a free afternoon this Sunday, the house was hoovered and dusted, the washing drying on the line. I decided to spend half an hour making some birthday cards in preparation for the run of celebrations that are coming up.

I love hand making cards and while none of these are particularly original and they certainly aren't going to win design prizes I think that they are pretty enough.  It's amazing what you can do with some washi tape, fabric scraps and tissue paper.

Decisions, decisions...

One of the exciting things about our new house is the chance to redecorate. Every room needs the existing wallpaper stripping, holes filling, electrics moving, ceilings plastering...the list goes on.  Me and Mr E are muddling our way through things - he on the practical side of things and me on the more decorative.  Most conversations are along the following lines:

Me:  What do you think of this bedside lamp?
Mr E:  What, for the bedroom that still needs stripping, plastering, painting, furnishing etc?

You get the picture.  For me I need to have an idea in my head about what the room will look like when it's finished in order to get through the layers of paint, paper, paint and more paper that require stripping from every surface. For Mr E he can't think about the finished room until all of that is done and we have a blank canvas ready.

All of this goes someway to explaining why we currently have four wallpaper samples stuck to our bedroom wall as I try to decide which one I like best for a room that is not going to be ready to decorate  until July!

They are all William Morris prints and at the moment I am leaning towards the two on either end but who knows, by the time we are ready for the actual decorating I may have changed my mind!

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.

Home, sweet home...

Well, we've done it!  The husband and I have bought our new home together. Nearly a whole year after selling our flat and rather a lot of house hunting later we are the proud owners of our very own Hampshire residence.

There is rather a lot to do and it is all a bit scary but I can't wait to get started.

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 little glamour...

I fell in love with this lamp back in March last year when I saw it on Liberty London Girl's blog.  I love the unashamed glamour and the nod to a more decadent and luxurious time.  I can't decide if it is Deco, or more 50s Hollywood inspired, but either way I am smitten.

Our last bedroom only allowed us one bedside table so imagine my joy when in our new home I was able to have my very own nightstand.  As soon as we were settled in I decided to track it down.  It is now on sale which makes it even better.  I decided to change the shade and bought a beautiful white, gold lined one at the same time.

Here it is in situ, what do you think...?

His & Hers...

This weekend I did a spot of shopping and treated the husband and myself to some new glasses.  I do like a nice glass and these ones from Zara caught my eye.

I like the way that they are mismatched but the same in shape and colour.  And they do look rather lovely on our bedside tables!

His

                                                                   Hers

Both available here.

Home, Temporary Home...

This weekend we took up residence in our temporary home for the next few months.  We are now in our Twickenham stop-gap until we make our next and more permanent move.

I was sad to leave our little flat in the end.  It has been a good home to us for the last few years and has some very happy memories.  But, onwards and upwards.  We have upgraded to a little Victorian cottage and will have rather more space than we are used to.  We've just moved our existing furniture in and so far it is looking pretty good.  Once we've spent a few weeks actually living here we'll know if we actually need anything else and then fill in from there.  As this is just home for the short term I don't want to buy too much or spend too much on items that we won't want to take to our next house.

For now I am looking froward to having stairs again and to exploring our new area - even if it is only a mile up the road!

(Estate agent's photos)

Blue Monday...

All this talk of houses, selling and renting and eventually buying has started me thinking about how I want our home to look.  I have a scrap book that I stick ideas in and hope that one day they will leave the pages and become part of a living house.

My latest fascination is navy blue.  Striking and elegant I think that I would like to use it somewhere.  It looks amazing when contrasted with bright white so perhaps a bathroom.  Or maybe a bedroom with some beautiful crisp bed linen.  Who knows...?!

image one from here

image two from here

image three from here

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?!

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.

Long over due...

I haven't written a post for what feels like an absolute age and I have a million and one excuses.  The last month at work has been beyond busy, I was in Birmingham for nearly two weeks then headed straight off for a family holiday in Dorset.  So maybe not a million and one but valid excuses nonetheless!

So, to recap last month I set myself the challenge of not spending any money for the whole of November and I have to say that I was rather pleased with how well I managed.  I will admit that Spirit of Christmas proved rather too tempting for me and I was unable to resist a few purchases, but in my defence they were all gifts for other people.  I started my Christmas shopping early-ish and bought some beautiful presents.

I managed to stick to my guns for the rest of the month and didn't buy anything that wasn't on my allowed list.  Until that is I fell in love with a punch bowl.  It has a beautifully elegant shape and a glass ladle and is entirely impractical!  I will endeavour to take a photo of it for my next post, hopefully filled with a delicious festive tipple!

My bank account was noticeably healthier and I felt very pleased with my own restraint.  I may do the same in January, if only to make up for December which has been the polar opposite of a no spend month!

No spend month...

After reading about another Jess' intentions to have a month of not spending on her brilliant blog Knitting on Trains I decided to set myself the same challenge.

Today is payday so my month will be 28th October - 28th November.  I will admit that this month is a little, tiny bit of a cheat month as I am away with work from 19-28th November and will have meals provided along with a per diem for any other essentials. However, there are still 21 days of temptation available to me!  Days which include an invite to Spirit of Christmas.  I have no idea how I will manage to resist!

I have made myself a list of things that I am allowed to spend on and things that I am not:

Allowed                                Not allowed

Mortgage                             Clothes, shoes, handbags

Bills                                       Books

Food                                      Make Up & toiletries

Travel                                    Lunches

Planned socialising          Knick-Knacks, specifically vintage plates!

                                               Cards & stationery

                                               Jewellery & accessories

I am hoping to see how much money I usually fritter away over a month and then put that towards Christmas presents next month.

I'll let you know how I get on, so wish me luck!

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

Preparing for the week ahead...

I don't like Sunday evenings;  the end of the weekend, a period of limbo before work begins again.  They remind me of going back to school, of feeling nervous.  I have a Sunday evening routine to prepare me for the week ahead.

I like to make sure that my clothes for the working week are ready.  I realise that this next admission tips me slightly over the acceptable side of organised but I like to have all 5 days planned and arranged.  (This includes shoes, jewellery and handbag!) Sunday evening is also a time for grooming; eyebrows tidied, nails painted, a hot bath and face pack.

I try to make sure that the flat is spic and span, that all our washing is done and put away and that we have clean sheets on our bed.  When that's all done I sit down and decide what we will have for dinner each evening.

With all that in hand I take myself off to bed with a nice cup of tea and have an early night so that I am ready for Monday morning!

Friday night supper menu...

This evening the husband and I are entertaining friends.  I'm at work all day and so have planned an easy supper menu that I can whip up when I get home.  The idea is that it will appear effortless while being a rather more sophisticated that beans on toast!


We were the lucky beneficiaries of some delicious jamon brought to us by our Spanish friends.  It is so yummy that it needs little more than some bread and olives as an accompaniment.  Following on the Spanish theme I am making a fish stew with chickpeas.  I love seafood of all varieties and this is perfect for an after work stylish supper.  The pudding is the ultimate cheat - I have my raspberry and basil sorbet left from the weekend that will do nicely!

Sunday roast...

This weekend we welcomed home the newly weds from their honeymoon with a lovely Sunday roast.  We are lucky to have a brilliant local butcher here in Teddington, A G Miller, and I treated us to a rib of beef.  Well actually two ribs, but who's counting?!

We slow roasted the rib according to Matthew Fort's instructions.  You turn the oven on as low as possible and pop in the beef.  And you leave it there.  For hours.  In our case it was just over 5!  According to Mr Fort this method retains all the juices and flavour.  I can wholeheartedly agree with him.  It was delicious.  We have his Cooking by Numbers book but I have found the recipe here.  We served with Yorkshire puddings, roast potatoes, carrots and cabbage and a good gravy.  I made a basil and raspberry sorbet for desert that was fresh and clean and a perfect end to the meal.

Even if I do say so myself it was absolutely delicious!

Rainy days and Saturdays...

Well the relentless downpour has put pay to my weekend plans.  No picnic, no gardening and no local fete.  I am however using the time productively; I will finally sort out my mountain of paperwork, I will research the perfect pudding for tomorrow's lunch and I will reorganise my spice cupboard.  Oh the thrills!

To cheer us all up how about a little picture of Bingo?  You know me, any excuse!  This is him & his lady friend Zuki.

I can't wait...

...for the weekend to begin!


This weekend will be my first one off in 2 weeks and I can't wait to get back to doing all the normal things that I actually miss when I am away.  Things like doing the laundry, walking the dog, taking my clothes to the dry cleaners and cleaning the car.  Sometimes the normality of life is what makes it interesting.

Home, Sweet Home...

I returned home yesterday after working away from home for the last two weeks.  I have spent two joyous weeks at the Hilton Metropole at the NEC.  A hotel that in my opinion is indeed Dante's ninth circle of hell.


As I am there for such a long time I need my come comforts around me to make it more bearable.  My packing for this trip involved more non-clothes related items than actual outfits.   Here are my essential items to make even the most dreadful hotel room feel like home...


Photographs of the husband and Bingo:  I bought this leather photo frame in Habitat years ago and it travels with me when the husband cannot.  I like the old fashioned look and it reminds me of an age when travelling light hadn't yet been heard of;  when ladies would set up a dressing table just the same as in their home even if it was just for an evening.

Lavender oil:  I find sleeping on hotels difficult, but a few drops of lavender on my pillow and I am instantly relaxed.

A good book:  I love reading and a good book never fails to settle me and make time fly.  I am currently engrossed in Jilly Cooper's latest, Jump.  And I have to say that it is simply marvellous!

My iPad:  When I am working away it tends to be both antisocial and irregular hours.  I often return to the hotel and am simply too awake to go straight to sleep.  The hotel television offers little entertainment and so my iPad is a godsend.  I can watch films, catch up on blogs, listen to music...the list is endless.

Slippers:  I don't know what it is about slippers but putting them on at the end of the day really makes me feel at home.  I also hate the slightly grubby carpet that you inevitably find in big, corporate hotels and am much happier to have my toes encased in something a little more friendly.

Bubble bath:  Who doesn't love a bubble bath?  No matter how awful the day a long soak in a hot bath makes the world of difference!