If you've visited my blog on fairly regular basis, you will know that I freely admit to being a magazine addict.
There's nothing like coming home from shopping on Friday morning with a pristine copy of a glossy magazine full of luscious photographs that will lift me up to heaven for a few minutes. My favourite features of these magazines are those where we get have a nosey around someone's home. To be perfectly truthful, they are my favourite blog reads too. There's nothing more satisfying than finding great design ideas that can inspire you with ideas for your own home. I thrive on seeing all these quirky, cluttery, shabby homes. My very favourite magazine without doubt is Country Living. I've bought every issue ever published and although there are times when it has gone through a rough patch I still wait eagerly for that familiar thud as it lands on the doormat and I try not to rip the wrappper off before I've done all the housework. Sometimes, I have to admit, I give in, leave the mop in the bucket, or the washing up in the sink, then just wait for the soothing whistle of the kettle before I grab that coffee and pore over the loveliness inside.
This weekend however, I could not contain my disappointment when this month's copy of Coast was hurriedly removed from its plastic wrapper.
Promising start, lovely cover
Bright, cheerful beach huts
The problem was, there it stopped. What's this? Green plastic lump of WHAT? Yeah, we're all going to dash out and buy one of these aren't we girls? Never mind I thought, that's just one article, a bit further along there might just be a Cornish fisherman's cottage with flagstone floors and a kitchen full of Bridgewater - and no I don't care if that's not the 'in thing", it's what I love! Maybe, there will be some lovely slatted wooden doors with old fashioned latches and windows with monkey tailed catches? Not on your life. I thought I was reading a bloody double glazing brochure! Just look at it all.
I'm sure you want one of these. It's even got lightshades hanging from it!
Patio doors.
More patio doors.
Another set of patio doors
And ermm... some patio doors
Just for a change....an attractive(?) staircase.
Don't know what this is but it's not what I expect from CL's sister magazine. If that's 'design' you can keep it.
Look - this house has a red plastic thingy a bit like the green plastic thingy we saw earlier.
All the time I'm hurriedly turning the pages there are sighs and harrumphs and there's also lots of tutting. I'm tempted to get on the phone and tell Mr F of my disgust....no better not. Believe it or not I'm getting angry and uptight over a magazine of all things. I put it down, walk away and go and do something else for a while. Problem is, I have to keep walking back, picking up the magazine, looking at the offending pages, swear a bit, throw it down in disgust, swear a bit more.
When Mr F comes home I am waiting and before he's untied his working shoes I thrust the offending magazine under his nose.
"Just look at it" I say "Just look". There follows more swearing and sighing from the grumpy old woman and a few giggles from Mr F and 'Well, I can't do anything about it" sort of comments. My temper doesn't improve after a couple of glasses of red and spag bol either.
Later that evening I pick up a copy of H&A. Now this is what I want. Just look at the loveliness of Nikki's home from Nostalgia at the Stonehouse. It immediately makes me feel calm, content and inspired. All's well with the world again. Aah!
Saturday morning and July's CL - all's right with the world, beautiful, calm, English, comforting, home.
And Coast? I've cancelled my subsciption.
