Category: London

December 18, 2013

Oooops I did it again…

Such a beautiful jacket non? Vintage 70’s, never been worn – was left over stock from a shop that when it closed down got packed away in an attic..light weight wool with that gorgeous navy edging…it was crying out for a new home and a bit of love…it would’ve quite frankly been cruel to walk on by…and the best bit? A mere £15……..sigh. Gotta seize these opportunities when they presents themselves hashtag you always see the best stuff a) When you’re not meant too or b) When you’re broke.

I bought it at a Christmas vintage fair in Belsize Park last weekend where I was very lucky to meet up with the lovely blogger Gabrielle from Wee Story Book.

Who can resist a cup a tea in a proper china and a good gossip surrounded by delights?

There were little secrets in every corner waiting to be explored.

And live music.

This was a fantastic stall selling everything from Pucci to Gucci..Crystal the stall holder really knew her stuff.

Just a lovely day to ~~pretend to~~ Christmas shop ~~and buy more stuff for me~~ and dip into power of the Blogging Community. I hope we do it again in the New Year Gabrielle!

Laters, Kate x

December 13, 2013

Door-Candy x

The word on the street in the South West London ‘hood is that festive bling matters…bugger the size of your car, house..waist…What hits the spot in December is your door-adornment slash taste ranking. The competition is hotting up…

So far there are no reported cases of wreath-rage,

but those in the know fear it’s only a matter of Christmas time…

Laters, Kate x

December 10, 2013

Creative Coffee.. x

Creative Coffee this week had the enticing theme of Christmas-wreath-making-whilst-drinking-mulled-wine…Let’s face it..a winning, festive, smile-inducing combination!

We all had a basic moss base to work with and oodles of luscious greenery to choose from..

Silver or white spray was an option. As was lots of other delicious bits..

I went eu naturale… ivy, eucalyptus and blue thistles..

Ta-Dah!

Laters, Kate

December 9, 2013

Urban Adventure Part 2 x

So the second part of the Urban Adventure? Kaori and I went to the Paul Smith Exhibition at the Design Museum..

I love Paul Smith. I love his ability to see beauty in the ordinary and his understanding of what makes objects desirable.

It’s why he’s such a voracious collector, happily sucking on the marrow of life.

He knows the beauty of detail, whether it’s the unexpected lining of a jacket or the ribbon running on the inside of this covetable retro inspired cycling shirt.

Or the colour of a button.

But he never gets stressed by the obsession. He embraces it..

From the clutter everything is impeccably crafted and he always remains the epitomy of cool.

How cool is that?

A kaliedoscopic gathering of ideas that suggests why always look to the future?

When we have a wealth of unexplored inspiration at our fingertips..

I couldn’t agree more.

Laters, Kate x

December 8, 2013

Just for Jackie! x

A virtual visit to my local!…The Lavish Habit in Balham – part of my slavish habit of the week to kick back a frothy cappuccino and crucify a croissant…their toasted coconut bread with maple syrup is honestly to die for…and not only good food – sit on a chair, like it? buy it! What could be better?

Laters, Kate x

December 7, 2013

Once Upon a Christmas…

(Cameras are banned so Pictures secretly smuggled from Time Out)

It was a tough call and no easy task..but rest assured, we rose to the challenge..and YES, Christmas is saved for another year! Whooooo hooooooooooo! You can thank us personally later..

What do you mean you have absolutely no idea what I’m talking about?

You know nothing about Cinderella’s troubles in Pantoland??

What can I say? Except The Husband and I spent last night roaming all areas of Covent Garden (and I mean all areas: Sprinkler cupboards, shops, the bowels..) trying to make sure you’d all have a damn good knees up these coming festivities…It’s not often I get to run through a crowded pub and drink honey tea with a Grayson Perry look-a-like holding my hand, but for you..I did.

This was highly secret work..I can’t say much more…all I can tell you is it started by knocking on a very specific Georgian black door somewhere in Covent Garden..and then the adventure begins…

(Tickets from here)

Probably one of the most bizarre nights of my life..It was a bit like falling down a rabbit hole and arriving in a real Harry Potter world with the unexpected round every corner..(and half the fun was watching tourists eyes popping out as you had conversations with yet another whacky character)…But it was absolutely bloody brilliant and a genuine 24 carrot Christmas treat!

Laters, Kate x

December 6, 2013

An Urban Adventure..

Yesterday I met up with the lovely Kaori from Twist and Turn for a Mystery Tour around London.. We started in the atmospheric Borough Market. A foodie and visual delight, particularly at Christmas..

Then we headed towards London Bridge and the Thames, past the Shard – Kaori thinks the Shard looks just like Sauron’s Tower from Lord of the Rings. She’s not wrong!..it looks almost unreal next to the traditional Georgian houses.

Just passed London Bridge is the Peter Layton Glassblowing Studio and Gallery. A warm (particularly given the freezing wind) and wonderful place where you can watch the artists at work as well as buy their work. (Go this week and there’s mince pies and mulled cider as well!) When the kids can be trusted I will be buying one of their exquisite baubles, they look like suspended bubbles of glimmering oil…covetable.

Their work ranges from Huge installations to delicate pieces of jewellery, including an artist specialising in sea glass.

They also offer hands-on experience days to have a go yourself.

Check the website for more details.

We did more..we headed on to the Design Museum..but I’ll leave that for another day!

Laters, Kate x

November 25, 2013

A Family Wonder Event x

On Saturday we had an early Christmas present..a family day out at the Winter Wonderland at Hyde Park courtesy of ‘Fairy’, Bella and Charlie’s wonderful Godmother. Such a brilliant idea…memories are so much better than bits…honestly, she is the best!

We all went ice skating on the Wonderland ice rink and watched Charlie demonstrate his natural kamikaze skills..

And Bella showed her elegance. They both have regular lessons so they left us for dust.

We couldn’t have picked a better day.

Spot the extrovert.

We’d been before – 2 years ago..but this year was different. The traditional was everywhere, like this fire pit..specially designed for roasting marshmallows..how special?!

Charlie and Bella with Fairy doing just that!

Which meant there was always a sweet smell of smoke on the air mixed with mulled wine and chocolate….

Who needs to go to Germany when Germany’s in London?

Too much information..

There were also playthings for the adults..depending on how many bratwurst sausages you’d eaten..and how much you minded them repeating..

We also had a very funny trip into the freezing Magical Ice Kingdom to see the ice sculptures (NB There’s also an ice bar..cheaper than a trip to the infamous Ice Hotel)….but apologies..all my pics are blurred as I was laughing too much….at the end is an ice slide….suffice to say unless you had the right coat on (Fairy) it was more of a bottom shuffle (Husband)…

It was a delicious, delightful, delectable day to savour for a long, long time..

Kisses to our amazing Fairy! – memories are made of this.

Laters, Kate x

November 21, 2013

R.I.P Packhorse..

My beloved buggy is no more. Held together by cellotape for the last few months, it has finally given it’s last hurrah and collapsed in a little metallic heap.

Not surprising given the extensive tours of duty it’s performed over the years. And truth be told, for much of this year it hasn’t even been used as a buggy really except for the odd sneaky sleepy…

Instead I’ve been that mad woman walking the streets of South West London pushing my vacant buggy like an unaccepting empty-nester. We got attached Buggy and me..he became my ever-faithful ever-there friend getting me and my clobber from a to b in relative safety..picnic stuff/blankets/cricket bits/footballs/school bags/swimming/gym kits/shopping..buggy did the lot with never so much as a word of complaint, saving my sanity, shoulders and let’s be honest..multiple trips to the chiropractor.

So what am I to do now? I can’t carry this lot..I swear most people drive to the school because of the amount stuff required on a day to day basis. I don’t want to drive to the shops or order on the internet either, I get little enough time to exercise as it is..and I’m rather proud that in the urban sprawl that is London we actually do more walking than the majority of our country friends.

So is it wrong to be thinking of getting a trolley? (she whispers very quietly) Can I break the old woman stereotype? Is there a fresh, modern perspective on the art of lugging?

shopping_trolley_front There is this option I’ve found that looks pretty/traditional (picture with plaid picnic rug and warm baguette peaking out..she urges in hope..) ..even if it would take up half the hall…and is’t waterproof.

Or this ..ugly..but cheap and sort-of practical?

Or these, playing the trump card of up-cycling, they’re made from old cement bags and not bad at £39.99 a pop. Bit more street cred? Or am I sadly kidding myself?

I found this one made from an old sail…at bit more expensive at £85.00..but?…. still granny?

Or this one made in Spain by Rolser where they have cobbled streets (it has to last and they swear it does)..it’s £66 and folds up as a shoulder bag till you need the wheels..then ‘ping’ …trolley!..an acceptable-face-saving-vaguely-trendy-compromise?