Random thoughts

September 5th, 2010

Through the rabbit hole



It’s feels as though I’ve fallen through the rabbit hole and I think I landed somewhere really really good this time. The past few weekends I’ve not gone to Pilates which has allowed me time with the family for a long Saturday morning walk – something we’ve not had since we’ve been back.

There is nothing quite as lovely as a long, beautiful, late Summer walk on Hampstead Heath without any timetable, just walking, wandering, up to the playground, across to the village shops and back home for a late lunch.

On the advice of my doctor I finished my contract a week early and I’ve had the most slow, marvellous week of just getting myself back. I’ve been quietly working on a project of my own, which has been an utter joy. Days of utter focus, walks under a beautiful blue sky. Slow mornings reading the paper with a cup of tea at the local café after dropping the girls off.

I am just so happy we are here. I really couldn’t think of anywhere I would rather be.

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September 5th, 2010

Time for bulbs



I’ve just discovered Thompson & Morgan as I was trying to find a non high-street online shop for bulbs – how had I not discovered them before?

So as the seasons change and we move house in just a couple of days it really is time to start thinking about the garden – and most importantly, the bulbs for next Spring. That’s the one job I never fail to get done. Imagine a Spring without beautiful bulbs coming up – it’s just not worth it. I am so excited I just had to compile a list and I’ll whittle it down from here.

Did I mention we’re moving home on Tuesday? Can’t wait! A proper, big, whole house. A beautiful rustic English home. With a proper garden just waiting for me to get planting. And a whole blissful month of quiet, doing my projects, writing new blogs, having some time for glorious end of Summer walks on the Heath. It really doesn’t get much better than this.

Anyway, here’s my garden wish list;

Buddleja Buzz™ Half Price Collection
Allium Cottage Garden Mixed
Tulips pink passion mixed
Brodiaea laxa Royal Blue
Daffodil poeticus Plenus
Hyacinth Midnight Mystique™
Hyacinthoides English
Lily Oriental Miss Lucy
Russian Snowdrop
Tulip Paul Scherer
Daffodil – Fragrant Jonquil Mix

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August 5th, 2010

Stories and pies and baking



I am saving up to buy The Fundamental Techniques of Classic Pastry Arts. But in the meantime I cheat with my breadmaker. And I cheat by buying non organic pre-made pastry from M&S. I don’t have the time to be a purist. Much as I’d like to be one. For now as an Art Director in Advertising Mum, I use machinery and pre-made pastry. Heck I even bought the kids Walls ice creams and Waitrose pizzas this week.

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July 22nd, 2010

Things to do this weekend



Check if the new Cass Art shop is open in Hampstead and buy a paintbrush and a painting board for Astrid.Get myself a .13 pen. And tracing paper. And an artline pen. And a clutch pencil.
Go for a big long Heath walk.
Go to Astrid’s secret playground and take a picnic lunch on Sunday.
Do my portfolio.
Start working up my poster ideas. Done
Buy my new font.

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April 27th, 2010

Just ask Amelie

Lost for words.

Deleted and deleted.

After the past few days I have asked myself what’s really the point? I think I have. Where are the big hearts? And there, today, the most beautiful wonder appeared – and I simply thought, well, I just can’t stop smiling. And I smiled and I smiled and I rang estate agents and rang and rang; and all the time I unwrapped beautiful beautiful pieces of pieces and handmade and japanese and the most incredible red bowl – and I didn’t have to think what have I done to deserve this – because I know.

The first thing I did was open the ring.

Hahha – and THAT was the story I was going to tell you. And that was the thing that made me smile and laugh and want to write before it all crashed (the computer) and I forgot.

So the other night I was SO annoyed – and driving home on the motorway – and was SO annoyed that I took my engagement ring off and it tried to stay on – but I chucked it out the window on the north western motorway. It tried to hold on – it’s been like the Lord of the Rings this ring for so long.

Beautiful but hideous and it’s always been a huge curse. And I chucked it and out it went and it was finally GONE.

I went to throw it in the water one night in rarotonga but the crabs were all chattery and I was terrified and ran away. And so many times I have tried to get rid of the damn thing. It’s been cursed. So chucking it out the window on the motorway was so choice; and to have this beautiful black ring arrive; with such lovely books. I have kept the pink things for Astrid tomorrow.

And I can’t believe the enormity of the chanel box. So in three weeks I shall ask the new black ring to get us a garden flat. Just like Amelie. You know how we decided to go to London? An Amelie question; if Ocado stocks Weleda we go to Europe. And guess what; they did, and so we are.

The Amelie method is most definitely the best way to make decisions.
If the courgettes are dark green today then I will go to London.
If the courgettes are yellow, we will go to Paris.

There; off you go and see what colour they are.

ps the wedding is still on. One day. And it will be here.

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July 14th, 2009

Leaving



I’m going to feel sad, leaving Waiheke. I’ll miss the ferry trips into town. The moon setting. The calm bay at dawn. Weekends on a cold winter beach, deserted. Cold. But home. The corrugated iron boat sheds on the return of the bay at Oneroa. Scores of dolphins in the freezing evening dusk sitting out the back of ferry being buffetted just like we were when we were kids, sailing. Feeling like New Zealanders. Gannets flying alongside the ferry. Slightly nutty people. Slightly nutty in a New Zealand way that I’m very much not really quite used to. Another thing I’m not used to is just how long it takes the lights to change here. Sometimes you can wait five minutes to cross the road, or for a green light.

The best thing about here is the passionfruit yoghurt. And the moon-sets, the still dawns over the bay. Meeting old craft friends at random. Bumping into people. The organic shop at Oneroa is a gem. One day I’d like to taste the $15 a bottle ginger beer. One evening we treated ourselves to a bottle of Waiheke Pinot. We weren’t entirely convinced. But then again, pinot always tastes best at the Gypsy Tea Rooms.

And because we’re leaving, and we’ll be sad, we’ll also be arriving, and we’ll be happy.
Arriving in town. A whole new adventure… A whole new arrival!

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May 28th, 2009

returning



I’m back online.

twitter
flickr
getty

Lovely NZ will be being tended to again, soon too.

Less than a week in this house. The cats fly out on Tuesday. We fly on the 16th after a couple of weeks at my brother’s. Hong Kong first. Then Auckland – currently creaking under the weight of all those feijoas. Excellent news.

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May 2nd, 2009

last IKEA hurrah







We’d been avoiding the fact but Edith is well and truly filling up the moses basket now. And the mattress is all lumpy and rubbish. So off we went to IKEA last monday. For the last IKEA hurrah. To buy her a cot as we’d sold Astrid’s fancy organic one. And some frames for prints that have been sitting rolled up for far too long. Two wall-lights also because we never could find any in Auckland that we either half decent or remotely affordable. We got these, in white – perfectly fine and as usual for us, the cheapest.

Oh how we’ll miss IKEA. They won’t let it into New Zealand because it would put all the crap overpriced furniture places out of business. The government’s excuse was, “IKEA cannot come to Auckland – it will cause too many traffic jams”. And guess what, I’m not joking.

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April 27th, 2009

new horizons

Today I discovered two great blogs – one a well curated visual delight, and another that captivated me with its words. Both now on my sidebar.

the seventy tree
famine or feast

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April 12th, 2009

warm grey





Hello. I am busy knitting. I don’t want to stop.

Apart from to go out for big long walks on the Heath and take photos in the rain. And go out with friends to Ten Ten Tei and our old pub. And wander around Soho a bit. And come home and take photos at midnight in the rain. Cloth House. An evening out at a book signing and lecture in Covent Garden. The 24 bus home. Pret hummous salad for lunch. Wardour Mews. The caf on the Heath. Earl Grey tea. Full english breakfast (after the night that included the pub).

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