Category: Holiday

Socked x

Happy New Year! We undressed the Christmas tree yesterday – a mark of understanding that this day, Monday 4 Jan, would be the official start of normality and the end of the lull, even before twelfth night. Can I say how much I love the lull? Every excuse to rein in, relax and restore; I know it can’t go on forever – that things ending mean they don’t lose their power to happen again. But I will miss it.

I think it was helped that we’ve hit a cold patch in London, encouraging layers and fires and general huddling and cuddling. Although, of course, only in our family unit. There’s also been lots of walking – which has meant a realisation that 3/4 length trousers, of which I seem to wear a lot, have an obvious design fault – but where there’s a will, there’s a way – and an investment in socks – notably long, knee high socks to lessen draft – striped socks, bright socks, argyle socks – has solved the problem in a most norm corm but satisfying way.

(All pics Pinterest)

Viva la sock!

Laters, Kate x

Rejoice!


This shop has a piece of my heart and remains open for Christmas orders until 21 December. Ethically aware – everyone in the supply chain is respected and paid a fair wage – and beautifully produced, East End Press offers a unique line of paper garlands, wooden decorations and so much more.

(All pics Pinterest and East End Press)

The colours, the care, the backstory? This is what really sings Christmas!

Laters, Kate x

Oh The Joys… x

 

 

This post has been pulled from the archives and edited from Summer holidays for Coronavirus especially for Abbi and Laura and all those working from home with young children. Just know, I know that you’re amazing.

  1. You’re watching a film, OK it’s Disney..but actually you’re involved in the story (sad but true)..at the crucial scene (long-lost Anastasia being re-introduced to her frail Grandmother..a real tear jerker. Promise)…there’s always a ‘Mum, mum, I need to tell you something RIGHT NOW.’  Without fail.  Truth be told, happens in all programmes..sport – just as they come to the finishing line, the news..the weather! They announce the weather you’ve waited 30 minutes to hear so you can plan the next day – picnic? no picnic? ….’Mum, MUM!…’
  2. This also relates to map-reading or any activity that requires your immediate attention…..major road junction and need to hear the sat nav? or need to talk to husband because not trusting the stat nav?… ‘Mum, MUM, MUUUUM!’…
  3. The phone..Mum talking on phone means I must talk to her extra loudly SO SHE CAN HEAR ME.
  4. ‘Please guys I need 30 minutes undisturbed’ equals at least six interruptions.  Because each one was only a small one…because they didn’t want to interrupt you…
  5. The call of ‘Mum, MUM!’ from another floor followed by silence…that chick-like cry translates to ‘Drop-everything-you’re-doing-even-if-it’s-saving-the-world-because-I-need-you-to-do-something-really-insignificant-because-if-it-was-important-I- would-actually-bother-to-come-and-find-you’.
  6. The other much heard cry: ‘Mum-MUM-I-need-a-wee NOW!’…guaranteed on a motorway but the worst time so far…Eight hours into a drive on Greek roads at 37 degrees of heat, crawling along on single track, snaking, moutainous road with a stream of lorries which we’d slowly and painfully over-taken without being killed.  We pulled over and had to watch as each and everyone passed us again..I cried. And Charlie was given an empty bottle for the rest of the journey..
  7. The ground-hog-day morning call of ‘Please can everyone have their shoes on and teeth brushed and everything ready so we can go as soon as I’ve finished this’.  You finish tidying the house, sorting the washing, putting the washing machine on, cleaning the fridge (delete/add as appropriate)..and nothing’s happened.  And now you’ll be late…
  8. You’re always late.
  9. The ground-hog-moment of reminding them to say please and thank you on loop throughout the day.  Like hitting you’re head against a permanent wall.  You can remember the date of your birthdays but this is too hard?? It’s the mum equivalent of chinese water torture. Results in No.15.
  10. I say ‘Please can you turn your ipod down’ and I get ‘Well that’s it..I’m just going to throw it in the bin and then you’ll be sorry’.  Like doh? Results in no.15.
  11. The more bored they get, the less I want to do with them, the less they are capable of doing except whining at me for being bored…and then I spout all the cliches: ‘In my day…’
  12. Then you book them on a camp or tennis club..and it’s ‘We don’t want to go because we want to stay with you..’ Why???
  13. The longer you take to cook their breakfast/lunch/supper the less it will be appreciated.  And cooking three meals a day stinks. Results in no.15…for me..
  14. So you have a picnic and where ever you are, whatever you’re doing, you’ll be handed all the rubbish as if you’re one giant dustbin.  Even if you’re driving.  Or getting ready to pilot a rocket to the moon..silently, the used lolly wrapper/empty drink carton, sandwich foil are passed over to you… Do I have ‘I am really a bin’ written in permanent ink on my forehead?  Results in no.15..
  15. I tell them a certain behaviour will result in a consequence.  They never believe I’ll carry it through.  But I do every time..and they’re still shocked.  Like??
  16. Because of no.15 the consequence usually means we don’t do something nice that gets us out of the house.…which means no.11 kicks in…and I’m bored too.
  17. Asking something to be done requires the order in triplicate.  And then no.15 kicks in, followed by no.16.  And then no.18
  18. The longer the school holidays last, the more I find my brain shrinks (see no.1)
  19. And then they’ll disappear and play beautifully together..
  20. Except the more fun they have…. the greater the mess…
  21. Till it reaches a tipping point of hysterical proportions and you say ‘This will all end in tears’.  And it does…
  23. 5 weeks down, three more to go

Yeah. Um. Well. Yep. When actually will it end? This is life now. gulp.

 

GOOD LUCK!!!!!

 

Laters, Kate x

Ice, ice baby!

 

We’re heading to the slopes. Can’t wait! Although this will be the year that the children will leave me trailing in their fast floating ice crystals.  But such is the natural way of the world – I will still fight them down the slope with good grace!

 

 

But of course, one considers all the cool outfits it’s possible to buy.

 

 

But the truth is, on the slopes, anything goes.  Because you’re not there as a fashion statement – we’re all effectively wearing portable eiderdowns – but to stay warm and have fun, fun, fun!

 

I’ve been pulling all our ski gear out of the cupboards in preparation: My Jacket and salopettes are a cast off from The Husband and are over thirty years old, we have ski socks and thermals of a similar vintage.  The Husband’s set marks thirty years.  The children are now in my discards at a youthful twenty years.  We’re given the message that technology has moved on and we need to move with the times, that this is progress…. but lets be honest, apart from when we were living in Italy, despite their age, none of these clothes has yet seen a years wear.  And we schlepped all this gear to Finland last year, skiing in minus eighteen, minus twenty…it can’t be that bad: It proves buy well, buy once.

 

 

So whilst the above pictures look great and dandy and represent my dreams. This is more the reality.

 

(All pics Pinterest)

As is this!

Laters, Kate x

Totes amazing..

No metaphor represents the end of summer more than abandoned, once loved inflatables, lying discarded like an unwanted skins by over flowing bins, waiting to be hauled off to landfill. A couple of weeks pleasure in return for environmental chaos.  But one man’s poison is another man’s pleasure – for Georgia Wyatt-Lovell and her husband, Steve Lovell this is the perfect raw material for their bags at Wyatt and Jack.  From deckchairs in the big smoke, bouncy castles in the suburbs and lilos from the beaches, all are gathered together and given new life and new purpose.

(Particularly love this one, designed for bikers and doubles as a pannier. Genius.)

(All pics Wyatt and Jack, and Pinterest)

This is the sweet spot where design, practicality and awareness coincide.

And what a rich place that is.

Laters, Kate x

Do fashions for wreaths change each year? Possibly is probably the answer – because despite the dogs being blinged to their eyeballs (including the recent addition of festive dark glasses, a cunning buy from a party shop) the pull for me for wreaths has become pared back natural.  Sadly our wreath of many years doesn’t quite hit the spot is on the door – it’s  simple version of fir cones except they’re covered in glitter, and every time someone brushes past, a fir cone falls to the ground..I think a bit of tender loving DIY is needed or it’ll become it’s own epitaph..

The perfect excuse for a little bit of Christmas craft. And breathe.

Laters, Kate x

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Tree house x

Apparently this is the most popular property listed on Airbnb: A treehouse, not an extravagant marble and gilded residence, but a place of romance and whimsy in Atlanta Georgia.

Escape can be simple..

 

Laters, Kate x

Pascale Monovoisin x

I like to think that way back, when the rules of the world were decided, there was a little subsection that was quietly written into stone which read, And for summer there will be a certain type of jewellery that will look and feel right, sing of sunshine, long days and blue skies. These pieces by Pascale Monovoisin belong to that heady group.

Is it the simplicity, the link to nature, the colours? Or is it that summer just makes choosing much easier, freer and organic?

 

Laters, Kate x

Swimming pools

so here’s the thing…I was meant to be in the UK this week, travelling out to Greece on Friday, but in one of those schisms of life I flew out a week early, even missing the England match, but not missing the London heat.

 

These were a selection of mouthwatering photos designed to pre-empt the summer dream…simple, elegant beauty that looks so edible it transcends man made and manufactured…….except now I just happen to be living the reality…

 

Laters, Kate