June 27, 2016

The secret is out..

Now for something totally different: This was something that we did with my sister-in-law and brother-in-law and few months ago..except I couldn’t write about it then as we were all sworn to secrecy but now this particular experience has finished the secrecy is no longer needed and to be honest, somehow it feels appropriate to think back on something we brits are good at: obscure, ironic brilliance. This was a whacky, immersive dining experience set up by a Company called the Gingerliners in a warehouse in the Hoxton area of London where every course was in a different room, with a contrasting theme/story/setting..each more crazy than the last. (See the video above for the best interactive experience..or just enjoy the pictures)

It was a bit like being in a Harry Potter movie..you entered the first room on a sledge with four other people through a low tunnel to find your self in a rainforest complete with bird-girl on a swing and our starters in the trees…

The next room was run by a robot and her baby and our soup came from a suspended engine..

The main course was held in a haunted banqueting hall complete with dracular-like waiters.

Have you ever been in one of these as an adult, drunk and drinking from a urine pouch??

Dessert was sorted by a dolly with a trolly on a plane, with accompanying dance and song. We left via a giant slide..convinced the whole thing had been some fantastical dream. It’s opening again in September (go to Gingerliners to get on their mailing list) with whole new rooms of experience – tickets are hard to get – they sell out FAST. But if you like your reality hot-wired, this is the place for you.

Laters, Kate x

June 24, 2016

Today..

On Wednesday night we had a huge storm over London, well, I say a storm – it just kept on rolling in on waves of ear splitting thunder and torrential rain..locally we lost transport, various shops flooded and the internet…I’ve never known anything like it.

Except maybe this morning and the news of Brexit. Astounded, ashamed, depressed. It wasn’t that Europe didn’t have it’s problems, but we’ve now thrown the baby out with the bathwater because we asked people to vote on the EU…and they voted on something else entirely. As an act of rebellion my country has given a thumbs up to xenophobia, racism and bigotry. I thought the Americans had it bad with Trump..the laugh was on me.

Will the last person to leave the country please turn out the lights.

Laters, Kate x

June 22, 2016

Soak and Sleep x

I’ve never met a cotton pillow case I didn’t like and ever since The White Company ate up the homewares market there’s been a focaccia bunfight for aspirational linen shops. Soak and Sleep is one such company, offering fabulous bed and bath products for a lot less than on the high street.

Like these linen bedspreads from £20.90. Which means they’re both easy on the eye and there are bargains to be had…except check details…the sandstone is available at £20.90 but want the navy? and the price rises to a steep £129.

Even so, with the range on offer they’ve got something: Classic designs with an artisan edge combined with lux textures and products you genuinely feel will age with you (..I think that’s a compliment..)

If you need to buy for a special present/wedding/birthday they’re worth checking out. If you need to buy for yourself…I’m jealous.

Laters, Kate x

June 21, 2016

A Girl Called Jack x

Jack Monroe is my latest hero. I discovered her whilst painting the hall..the joy of decorating is having an ipad close to hand listening to iplayer doing it’s thing. Radio 4 made a drama from her life, basing it around her love of cooking and her relationship with her Grandmother: Two things that float my boat – it inspired me to seek out her cook book.

Jack started by writing, in her own time, a local political commentary blog. Then she had to give up her career when she became a single mum and her wage couldn’t extend to childcare. The only solution was benefits and a mere £10 a week for food for the two of them. Her blog ‘Cooking on a Bootstrap’ was a consequence of that constraint, written to share the recipes she magically managed to produce…which then turned into her own cookbook.

Being a single parent meant lack of time as well as a lack of resources translates into recipes that are both speedy and simple. There’s no frills or extravagant ingredients, instead she’s re-connected the umbilical cord highlighting that fantastic, nutritious food doesn’t need an overflowing handmade Devol larder and a certificate in corden bleu cookery.

(The vegetarian meals are awesome)

Jack believes that in order to tackle food poverty and a culture of convenience/microwave meals with dubious ingredients then cooking at home needs to be present on a less glossy, less sexy, less intimidating and more accessible way, which then has the rollover benefit of both spending less and reducing waste. Win win.

She makes you think about how you cook, why you cook..and how careless we are. The bottom line is we all need to care more.

I love her and I love her book.

Laters, Kate x

June 20, 2016

The sitting Room x

The advantage of doing all the decorating from our building works myself is there’s been something in the pot to buy a few treats like this Hans Wegner wishbone chair.

A pair of them now sit in pride of places at either end of our dining room table. What love.

The extra bonus were the large boxes the chairs arrived in which were quickly commandeered by the children. Who needs toys?

But it hasn’t all been treats and joy. This was the sitting room on Sunday..

A much needed bookcase went up meaning the final boxes could be unpacked. These are original midcentury tomado shelves – the choice surprised me as well.

Probably a good thing as we have guests for the next two weeks and at last the spare room is liveable in.

The sitting room isn’t finished (check out the plastic storage tub by the yellow chair, part of our sad tv storage) – it still has some organic growth to go – but it’s a huge improvement.

And lots of pictures have finally gone up.

The footstool still doesn’t have it’s cover on – it’s meant to be white, but I’ve got some lavender coloured dye waiting in the wings…

Slowly. But surely.

Laters, Kate x

June 17, 2016

David Nott x

Just a petite post today as I nurse a self-inflicted sore head and run to the kids sports day with umbrella, galoshes and small inflatable boat at the ready…I love the radio, particularly radio 4 – but sometimes it surpasses itself to create solid gold in the air. The Desert Island Disc on June 5 was one such inspirational moment. If you get a quiet half hour, grab a cup of tea and a tissue and listen to it here….if you don’t have a quiet half hour – find one – you’ll thank me. Promise.

Laters, Kate x

June 16, 2016

Shibori..

Yesterday was spent teaching a group of friends (I’m a rep for Charlie’s class) how to shibori tie-dye. It’s something I love to do with its heady mixture of deep indigo, spontaneity, freedom and promise.

I’ve posted about it before (here) but this year was a little bit different/lessons learnt – the scarfs are longer (2m – possibly the perfect length) and the dye is a new one: If you’re making a large dye bath with the more commonly used Dylon, it’s hard to keep the solution warm so I went for a procion dye that works with cold water (it’s the dye they use for batik dying) and it produced excellent results. If you want more info on dyes and techniques, check out this website (makes me wish I lived in Bognor)..this is a brilliant craft for kids in the summer..and imagine on duvet covers, sheets..or even larger pieces of furniture! Bella spent her evening after school dying..socks!

Gloves are always useful..

This may be old school..but it’s still the best.

Laters, Kate x

June 14, 2016

Exteriors..

As the internal painting on the house starts coming to an end (just the downstairs toilet and some radiator cabinets to go) all thoughts are turning to the outside. It’s a big decision and needs time to mull.

There’s so many options..dramatic and black?

I like it..but I think it might be better on the back of the house…(I just love the way it contrasts with green..)

So at the front..I’m thinking putty coloured windows and woodwork..but the front door? A darker putty shade? or that classic pale blue…

Or even a mallow pink?

Hmmmmmm. There’s no rush – we like the front looking crap as a burglar deterrent over the summer…but the picture needs to come into focus..

Laters, Kate x

June 13, 2016

Bonkers Boho x

Boho chic for a bonkers past week..that’s not been helped by my mouse dying (of the computer variety) sigh. I’m still running today..this time to see the tennis at Queens. Running now to iron my silk dress..