I also stumbled across another typewriter....oh what to do. I didn't buy it, telling myself if it was still there today then I should buy it.....I'll let you know.
xo.
Sunday, 11 March 2012
I heart retro prints.
Yesterday LV and I hit the shops early. I was focused and ruthless. We didn't get much, some face paints for her and a camping chair for me. I have wanted one of these chairs since last Summer, well, I wanted two, but there was only one there so the hunt for another will continue, but these retro camping chairs can reach a fair amount of dollar on ebay! Not that I'm going to sell it, I'm going to hide it in the shed and when we get some nice weather I'm going to bring it out and hope Rob doesn't feel the need to mention yet another of my random purchases. It was £2.99 and is surprisingly comfortable and very light, perfect for taking to the seaside. We rarely go to the seaside, but when we do, we'll be prepared!
I also stumbled across another typewriter....oh what to do. I didn't buy it, telling myself if it was still there today then I should buy it.....I'll let you know.
xo.
I also stumbled across another typewriter....oh what to do. I didn't buy it, telling myself if it was still there today then I should buy it.....I'll let you know.
xo.
Tuesday, 6 March 2012
Mystical land of 'HAVE A GREAT DAY'!
Last week I was fortunate enough to venture to the US with work for a conference. It was a whistle stop tour in that we flew out and flew back within 72 hours but I'm not complaining I was over the moon to get to experience the land of excessive fizzy pop refills even if it was just for a few hours.
The flight was brilliant, I squeezed in two meals, 3 films, a couple of chapters of a new book 'The Help' and three magazines - I laughed, I cried (film) it was an emotional rollercoaster. I rarely get to do any of these things so I made the most of it. The flight back, well that was a whole different story, I fell asleep as we took off and woke up 20 minutes before landing. That's what business class will do to a gal! My first and probably my last experience of flying business class and I snoozed my way through the entire experience.
So, onto the good stuff, I got off to a good start, for the first 2 hours after landing I avoided doing anything embarrassing (mainly because we were in a car and I was concentrating on not being sick). I was thrilled when we arrived at the hotel and I was still physically well. My sleepy mood was lifted by the onslaught of cheery 'Where are you guys from?', 'Are you having a great day?', 'You say cheers? That's so funny'! etc. This is when things took a turn and I lapsed into my normal state of being embarrassing, a few of the things that happened to me in the few hours I spent in USA.
Concierge interaction
I asked if it would be ok for me to drink the tap water. The concierge looked at me like I was insane and said 'Would you like some bottled water?' me 'oh no I just wanted to check it was ok to drink the tap water' at this point I realised how ridiculous my question was so excused myself.
Starbucks, I ordered a green tea
me 'please can I have a tall green tea?'
waitress 'hot or cold?'
me 'tall' I assumed she'd misheard me
waitress 'hot or cold?'
me 'what do you mean?'
waitress ' would you like to drink your tea hot or cold?'
me 'do people drink tea cold?'
waitress 'yes'
me 'oh sorry, hot please'
Automatic door debacle
When a door requires more than than simply pulling/pushing it open or pushing it shut I struggle. I've had a bad experience with a rotating door before when I accidentally squeezed into the same compartment as my boss and had to shimmy behind her trying not to make contact, awkward. These types of doors make me nervous. But the doors in our US office were worse, they rotated and required both a card swipe and patience...a tricky combination. I swiped, I entered, the alarm sounded and a voice over lady told me to get out, fail. So I tried again I swiped, I paused, but this time I paused too long, entered too late and was instructed to try again. This happened approximately 8 times and as the queue formed behind me (it was rush-hour) I got more and more flustered. My colleague had a go, made it through first time and I was left to try again...with an audience. Thankfully I made it to the other side, finally....I think I heard a round of applause...I didn't look back.
Actually, I've just realised that I didn't last 2 hours before doing/saying something embarassing, as we went through passport control I squealed with excitement as I spotted an Amish family..I was literally overjoyed. I tried not to stare but was so intrigued I pretty much followed them...just for a bit...my collegaue slowly but surely inched away from me. It was a highlight for me.
There are plenty more where these came from....tip of the iceberg one might say. But for now I'll leave you realising/or reconfirming what a mentalist I really am.
Have a great day now. xo.
The flight was brilliant, I squeezed in two meals, 3 films, a couple of chapters of a new book 'The Help' and three magazines - I laughed, I cried (film) it was an emotional rollercoaster. I rarely get to do any of these things so I made the most of it. The flight back, well that was a whole different story, I fell asleep as we took off and woke up 20 minutes before landing. That's what business class will do to a gal! My first and probably my last experience of flying business class and I snoozed my way through the entire experience.
So, onto the good stuff, I got off to a good start, for the first 2 hours after landing I avoided doing anything embarrassing (mainly because we were in a car and I was concentrating on not being sick). I was thrilled when we arrived at the hotel and I was still physically well. My sleepy mood was lifted by the onslaught of cheery 'Where are you guys from?', 'Are you having a great day?', 'You say cheers? That's so funny'! etc. This is when things took a turn and I lapsed into my normal state of being embarrassing, a few of the things that happened to me in the few hours I spent in USA.
Concierge interaction
I asked if it would be ok for me to drink the tap water. The concierge looked at me like I was insane and said 'Would you like some bottled water?' me 'oh no I just wanted to check it was ok to drink the tap water' at this point I realised how ridiculous my question was so excused myself.
Starbucks, I ordered a green tea
me 'please can I have a tall green tea?'
waitress 'hot or cold?'
me 'tall' I assumed she'd misheard me
waitress 'hot or cold?'
me 'what do you mean?'
waitress ' would you like to drink your tea hot or cold?'
me 'do people drink tea cold?'
waitress 'yes'
me 'oh sorry, hot please'
Automatic door debacle
When a door requires more than than simply pulling/pushing it open or pushing it shut I struggle. I've had a bad experience with a rotating door before when I accidentally squeezed into the same compartment as my boss and had to shimmy behind her trying not to make contact, awkward. These types of doors make me nervous. But the doors in our US office were worse, they rotated and required both a card swipe and patience...a tricky combination. I swiped, I entered, the alarm sounded and a voice over lady told me to get out, fail. So I tried again I swiped, I paused, but this time I paused too long, entered too late and was instructed to try again. This happened approximately 8 times and as the queue formed behind me (it was rush-hour) I got more and more flustered. My colleague had a go, made it through first time and I was left to try again...with an audience. Thankfully I made it to the other side, finally....I think I heard a round of applause...I didn't look back.
Actually, I've just realised that I didn't last 2 hours before doing/saying something embarassing, as we went through passport control I squealed with excitement as I spotted an Amish family..I was literally overjoyed. I tried not to stare but was so intrigued I pretty much followed them...just for a bit...my collegaue slowly but surely inched away from me. It was a highlight for me.
There are plenty more where these came from....tip of the iceberg one might say. But for now I'll leave you realising/or reconfirming what a mentalist I really am.
Have a great day now. xo.
Saturday, 11 February 2012
TV nostalgia.
One of the lovely things about having a mischievous toddler is that it gives you permission to relive your own childhood. I have watched a serious amount of kids TV in the last 3 years, at the moment we're (LV is) mad keen on peppa pig, Ben & Hollys Magic Kingdom, Tinkerbell and inappropriately Home & Away. Thankfully she has pretty good taste and I quite like these programmes (particularly Home & Away), well, as much as someone of 29 years old can enjoy watching snorting pigs. As we sit here on this Saturday morning watching Scooby doo together I started to think about all the programmes I used to enjoy when I was little.....and I feel far less guilty about LV watching Home & Away....
I used to watch:
Birds of a Feather - Set in Essex, the story of two women whose husbands are in prison for armed robbery.
The Upper Hand - A male housekeeper moves in with a single mother, after 6 series of fuelled innuendo they marry.
The Brittas Empire - The running of a leisure centre by an incompetent manager, the receptionist keeps her baby in a desk draw.
Family Ties - I can't remember what this was about but I watched it religiously, aspiring to be like the materialistic Mallory.
So above are the more adult orientated programmes, then there were the early teen programmes:
Sister Sister
Boy meets world
Sweet valley high
Saved by the bell
Hang time (wasn't great)
California dreams
Brandy
Heartbreak High (Drazic!)
The Wonder Years
I was quite clearly addicted to American high school relationship based dramas.
Then there were the actual children's programmes:
The Jetsons (my total fave)
Green Claws
Why don't you? (This was a treat to watch when we were over in the UK)
Bertha
Adverts (We didn't get these in Germany and I used to find them massively exciting!)
As you can see LV comes from great TV viewing stock, I have high hopes for her...and I watched a mass of totally inappropriate TV programmes and I turned out ok, I think. I can't wait for LV to look back and list all the random programmes I used to let her watch. Most importantly though is where you watch the programmes you shouldn't really be watching..I remember my sisters and I watching Birds of a Feather in my mum and dads bed...mega cool.
xo.
I used to watch:
Birds of a Feather - Set in Essex, the story of two women whose husbands are in prison for armed robbery.
The Upper Hand - A male housekeeper moves in with a single mother, after 6 series of fuelled innuendo they marry.
The Brittas Empire - The running of a leisure centre by an incompetent manager, the receptionist keeps her baby in a desk draw.
Family Ties - I can't remember what this was about but I watched it religiously, aspiring to be like the materialistic Mallory.
So above are the more adult orientated programmes, then there were the early teen programmes:
Sister Sister
Boy meets world
Sweet valley high
Saved by the bell
Hang time (wasn't great)
California dreams
Brandy
Heartbreak High (Drazic!)
The Wonder Years
I was quite clearly addicted to American high school relationship based dramas.
Then there were the actual children's programmes:
The Jetsons (my total fave)
Green Claws
Why don't you? (This was a treat to watch when we were over in the UK)
Bertha
Adverts (We didn't get these in Germany and I used to find them massively exciting!)
As you can see LV comes from great TV viewing stock, I have high hopes for her...and I watched a mass of totally inappropriate TV programmes and I turned out ok, I think. I can't wait for LV to look back and list all the random programmes I used to let her watch. Most importantly though is where you watch the programmes you shouldn't really be watching..I remember my sisters and I watching Birds of a Feather in my mum and dads bed...mega cool.
xo.
Monday, 6 February 2012
Sunday, 5 February 2012
Banana Bonanza.
Yesterday afternoon it snowed, so LV and I baked. I used this recipe from pannasbaking and it truly is the best banana cake I've ever tasted. I knew it would be because Rose of pannasbaking brought one to a friends 30th birthday a couple of weeks back and it made such an impression that I've since dreamt about it! Bonkers I know. I also ate it for breakfast the day after the party and it helped me feel normal again so I'd say not only is it delicious it has magic hangover curing properties!
The quantities suggested made 12 muffins and a loaf. Most of the muffins have been eaten (yikes) and I've frozen the banana loaf ready for my next work baking day (organised or what?!). There's nothing complicated about this recipe and there was lots LV could help with: mashing bananas, stirring flour in, pouring buttermilk in.....and eating the mixture of course.
xo.
The quantities suggested made 12 muffins and a loaf. Most of the muffins have been eaten (yikes) and I've frozen the banana loaf ready for my next work baking day (organised or what?!). There's nothing complicated about this recipe and there was lots LV could help with: mashing bananas, stirring flour in, pouring buttermilk in.....and eating the mixture of course.
Saturday, 4 February 2012
Is that a Gplan mirror? Thirfting fabulousness.
It has been weeks since I last thrifted, I lost my thrifting mojo, it's not that I haven't been on the hunt, more that I just haven't seen anything that I can really say I love. That was until today. Today I had low expectations, I sauntered into town and after finding two amazing treats in the first shop I made the decision not to continue to the others. Very unlike me, but I'm trying to reign in my thrifting ways and I'm under strict instructions that we really don't need any more junk! Junk? hardly.
Today's delights:
Is that a fabulous Gplan mirror I hear you ask? Why yes, it is. It matches our wonderful Gplan sideboard. Was it a total steal at just £10? Why yes, it was. The only caveat around this purchase is that in order to hang this in the living room I think we might just need a new wall colour....I've already started the groundwork for this with the resident ex-painter aka my husband.
Second delight of the day:
This beautiful vase caught my eye straight away, it's a 1960's Newton Abbott pottery gem. I love the pattern. Initially I decided against buying it because it was too expensive at £10, I tend to decide how much I'm willing to spend before I consult the price tag and if it doesn't meet my max then it doesn't come home. However, as I was looking at it the shop assistant said she loved it too and that it had been there for ages which she couldn't understand, I said I also loved it and she offered it to me for 50% less so I went for it and it's now part of my merry 'junk' filled home, horay!
xo.
Today's delights:
Is that a fabulous Gplan mirror I hear you ask? Why yes, it is. It matches our wonderful Gplan sideboard. Was it a total steal at just £10? Why yes, it was. The only caveat around this purchase is that in order to hang this in the living room I think we might just need a new wall colour....I've already started the groundwork for this with the resident ex-painter aka my husband.
Second delight of the day:
This beautiful vase caught my eye straight away, it's a 1960's Newton Abbott pottery gem. I love the pattern. Initially I decided against buying it because it was too expensive at £10, I tend to decide how much I'm willing to spend before I consult the price tag and if it doesn't meet my max then it doesn't come home. However, as I was looking at it the shop assistant said she loved it too and that it had been there for ages which she couldn't understand, I said I also loved it and she offered it to me for 50% less so I went for it and it's now part of my merry 'junk' filled home, horay!
xo.
Train etiquette part quatre.
I spent three days in London this week, that meant plenty of to and fro-ing on Eastmidlands mainline service...and we all know how well I get on with trains. My first whinge is in relation to the price of tea, totally outrageous. £1.70 for boiled water and one peppermint tea bag!! A disgrace. I've made a pact with myself to carry my own teabags, surely they won't charge me for water?!
Now onto the real etiquette related content, so as I boarded the 15.15pm back from London st pancras on Friday afternoon I anticipated a busy train, what I did not anticipate was a cattle carrying experience. People were jammed in the aisles, people were practically having to stand in the toilet. It was jam packed. So, the only available place to settle was in an entryway, not exactly comfortable and with a two hour journey ahead I wasn't happy. I was momentarily even more unhappy when three youths attempted to bed down in my chosen location with plastic bags full of wine. The look on my face encouraged them to try another doorway. Then the saviour announcement came 'due to a very busy train today please use the first class carriages and take any seat available'. Like a cheetah I lunged at the doors that divided my doorway and first class and claimed a chair...phew maybe this journey wouldn't be so bad after all. Then it happened, a man was actually looking for his reserved seat, he was wading through the masses to find his reservation..please don't let it be my seat, please...then he focuses on me 'sorry that's my seat' me 'ummmm sorry I have a seat reservation too that I can't get to (lie)' I panicked, I couldn't move, I couldn't stand for two hours! As my colleague reminded me afterwards the actual truth was that reservations were cancelled because the train was so busy, but when the pressure was on I crumbled. I didn't move and I ended the conversation by dismissing the seat claimer with my eyes. I know I'm awful. I moan about train etiquette and it seems I'm guilty of being a horror of a passenger too...yikes. Maybe I'll be more tolerant of train behaviour after committing a faux pas myself. Maybe not (wink).
Xo.
Now onto the real etiquette related content, so as I boarded the 15.15pm back from London st pancras on Friday afternoon I anticipated a busy train, what I did not anticipate was a cattle carrying experience. People were jammed in the aisles, people were practically having to stand in the toilet. It was jam packed. So, the only available place to settle was in an entryway, not exactly comfortable and with a two hour journey ahead I wasn't happy. I was momentarily even more unhappy when three youths attempted to bed down in my chosen location with plastic bags full of wine. The look on my face encouraged them to try another doorway. Then the saviour announcement came 'due to a very busy train today please use the first class carriages and take any seat available'. Like a cheetah I lunged at the doors that divided my doorway and first class and claimed a chair...phew maybe this journey wouldn't be so bad after all. Then it happened, a man was actually looking for his reserved seat, he was wading through the masses to find his reservation..please don't let it be my seat, please...then he focuses on me 'sorry that's my seat' me 'ummmm sorry I have a seat reservation too that I can't get to (lie)' I panicked, I couldn't move, I couldn't stand for two hours! As my colleague reminded me afterwards the actual truth was that reservations were cancelled because the train was so busy, but when the pressure was on I crumbled. I didn't move and I ended the conversation by dismissing the seat claimer with my eyes. I know I'm awful. I moan about train etiquette and it seems I'm guilty of being a horror of a passenger too...yikes. Maybe I'll be more tolerant of train behaviour after committing a faux pas myself. Maybe not (wink).
Xo.
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