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.

Cushions and Shopping

Earlier this year, I won some pieces of fabric from Sal at Sal's Snippets. They have been in my sewing box for a couple of months now until I could find time to sit down and do what I wanted to with them. I've so enjoyed myself this weekend cutting the fabric and sewing the squares together to make cushion fronts. Does anyone remember back in the 80's when Laura Ashley used to sell packs of squares and hexagons ready for patchworking? I used to love these packs in their co-ordinated prints or even better, you could buy packs of random pieces which really came up with some goodies and fantastic colour combinations.




One of the fabrics was large enough to make a cushion front of its own and I love its bright colours and delphiniums that could cheer up any dull corner.




They are just the thing to make my shed nice and comfy now that the weather is warm enough for me to sit here with a book or listening to a good radio play.


Thanks Sal, I've really enjoyed using my goodies.

The past month has been busy but fun. We had a really great Easter with a trip to Hay-on Wye and a whole week away from work for me which I really enjoyed, gardening, tidying, reading.....absolute heaven really. Last weeekend we took a little trip to Bewdley.



Now we live about a 20 minute drive from here but I've never bothered blogging it because it's really been in the doldrums for the past couple of years. Most of my favourite shops had gone and it was depressing to see this beautiful little town struggling to survive.



Last weekend gave me the most tremendous lift. Shop units are being filled with the sort of shops I love.


Indeed , it also seems to be developing a foodie theme with a gorgeous delicatesen and a wonderful, old fashioned grocery, filled with loveliness.



I'm pleased to say that the tea rooms were busy




and that the town's fantastic Georgian architecture was coming back to life.







Even better, I found some goodies to bring home with me. I couldn't resist this pretty mini bunting for the kitchen



and this serving dish cost me the grand sum of three pounds.





As did these lovely plates.




They'll look even better with cupcakes on them! I haven't forgotten the giveaway from the last post. I drew a name scientifically from the hat. This time the winner is Pipany. I'll try to do another giveaway soon... when I find something nice!