Disappointment

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.

A Week to Myself

Yes, it's true. I've had a week's holiday from work all to myself. I've been into work some extra Saturdays and done some training to be able to lead walks for the public. That's meant I've ended up with loads of time owing and course I picked this week to have the time back, primarily because of the England game on Wednesday. (Huge sighs of relief on that front).

The weekend began with a trip to lovely Shrewsbury and my first visit to Vintage. Just look at that oh so inviting display in the window and on the pavement. Well, I couldn't pass it by now could I? The shop is mainly vintage with a few new items and is really attractively laid out despite its small size. Needless to say, I didn't come away empty handed. Have a look at my goodies. A pretty plate




another pretty plate



and a huge bar of French lavender soap.



Although I think the bargain of the day must have been the new pair of Birkenstocks from the QVC shop for only ten pounds.



This glorious weather has meant that I've actually been able to enjoy the garden





and pick some pretties to display in the house





along with some beauties from the local Waitrose.



I've also kept Mr F and Josh happy by baking yummy lemon drizzle






and the more exotic red velvet cupcakes





from this fantastic book.




Yesterday I took the train to Worcester and found a few goodies there. A new CK bag to feed my spotty obsession.



Also feeding my spot obsession was this bargain scarf at three pounds.



You might have noticed my fondness for anything Union flag related



it was a bargain - really!

I've also made a new button necklace from some vintage coat buttons. Larger than I usually use, but I've already had some sweet comments about it.



Tomorrow, I'm off to the hairdressers for some pampering and on Sunday - well, it will be a very stressful afternoon watching our boys pasting the Germans! Don't underestimate us Mr Beckenbauer.

Back at work next week for a rest I think.


Not sure they'll like it if I turn up in PJs.

Making me Happy

Oh I have missed my computer! After four weeks it's working again and I can do all the things that I've missed so much. I've already had some much needed retail therapy and now it's time for me to catch up with all you lovely ladies. I've tried to keep up with your blogs whilst I'm at work but it's very difficult as even though I'm using my lunch time to catch up with everyone the time is monitored as well as the sites we use. So all in all I feel quite uncomfortable using their p.c.s and as a result I've missed you all.

I was so happy to get the computer back and looking forward to sharing the photos I'd taken with you of the places we had visited and of the garden as it has sprung back into life. So as I settled down to upload my pictures yesterday I anticipated sharing loveliness with you and making up for lost time in blogging terms. However, just as the pictures had been uploaded and then deleted from the camera - the heavy rain outside turned into a thunderstorm and a power surge turned the p.c off for a few seconds - not long - but long enough to lose all my pictures! Maybe I should give up blogging now!

So today, I have very little to show you in the form of pictures. No pictures of my garden looking pretty or of elegant Berrington Hall or historic Hellens where we spent a couple of lovely days last week. Instead, just a few pictures of the things giving me plesaure today. Best of all, my Alys Fowler book arrived this morning. I have missed this series so much since it finished. I am hoping that they will put it out on dvd so I can watch it again and again and probably get something new from it on each occasion.



Also making me happy today - seeing the jolly cushions I made a few weeks ago, in the garden arbour


and being able to chill in there with my delicious new book.



Colourful teatowels that make the washing up a little less of a chore




my new, old tin,



Sweet William,




and new mugs for the picnic basket from Waitrose. I'm sure that we'd actually got plenty of mugs in the cupboard that could have fitted the picnic basket but these just said 'buy me'. Don't tell Mr F!

And the thing that's making me happy most of all?...........................Being back in the world of blog of course!

Polka Dots and Paintballs

Well it's been a great but busy week. On Thursday I had a girly day out in Shrewsbury with friends and then Friday saw the final preparations for Josh's weekend at The Big Game paintball battle in Stone, Staffordshire.


Here he is in full battle gear ready to see off the raiders from The North. Of course that meant a teenager free weekend for Mr F. and myself. So of course we made the most of it. Saturday we spent the morning in Tewkesbury at the food festival and the afternoon wandering around the market town of Pershore. We had a wonderful day with a good lunch and afternoon day without the usual accompanying teenage grumbles. On Sunday we were in charge of bringing our soldier and a friend home from the battle so we decided to head a little further north to the Potteries and visit a couple of factory shops that I've been wanting to visit for ages. Here's where we went first.



Who can resist an offer like this?



I'm sure the staff were perturbed by the persistent oohs, aahs and shrieks of pleasure as I spotted goodies around every corner in the sort of quantities that I've never even dreamt about. If only I could get that lottery win and fill trollies full of the stuff!



I've never seen so many mugs altogether at once.



Loveliness.

Gorgeousness.

Goodies galore.


Next it was on to Burslem to the Middleport Factory of Burgess, Dorling & Leigh and the most gorgeous blue and white pottery ever, ever, ever!


I was a little worried when I saw this sign outside the shop


but needn't have worried as there was literally a warm welcome in the shop with a log fire beckoning us in from the raw wind.


This is one of the dressers I will have when I've had that lottery win. Laden with a selection of goodies from Burleighware I'll never be stuck for the right size jug or pretty dinner plate again.

Maybe there'll be space for this dresser too. Or do you think that's just being greedy?


Maybe I need a little girly pink too?


Such a lot to choose from, so little money.


Luckily, Sunday was our wedding anniversary so we did have a few pennies to spend. Goodies from EB

and loveliness from Burleighware.


Then it was a weary jourey home for our young soldiers......but they were triumphant in victory.