trouble and stripes

I love this site, and I've been invited to join!

2010-04-20T08:33:00.002+01:00

One of my favourite sites to buy something special and unusual for a present has invited me to sell on their site, and to say I'm excited is a bit of an understatement.

www.notonthehighstreet.com get 500 applications from sellers a month and accept only 10%. So I'm completely made up.

I guess I'm gonna need a bigger scalpel...

Feelin' hot hot hot

2009-09-07T20:34:00.005+01:00

This was the first year I've tried to grow chilli peppers.
They're on the kitchen windowsill, but not in full sun.
There was loads of flowers, followed (obviously) by little baby chilli's.
They all came out green and started to grow, then miraculously, the new baby ones were coming out red. So now we've got some green and some red on a plant. I have no idea why... but it looks really pretty!

A little cheeky snifter in the making

2009-09-01T19:01:00.004+01:00

Fearing we were too late to pick raspberries for our annual Raspberry Vodka making session, I popped off to Sopley PYO to see if I could get any. I was in luck! The 'autumn raspberries' were just coming into plumpness and I was assured there was 'a few'. A few?! what, like 6?

So off we trotted (Kerys too) towards the Autumn raspberries. Yup, there was 'a few'... not loads but enough to fill 2 punnets - albeit taking slightly longer than we were used to.

Recipe
1 litre vodka
1 punnet of raspberries
250g granulated sugar

Use a sterilising tablet to sterilise your jar. Wash the raspberries, pop them in the jar. Pour over the vodka. Add the sugar. Stir. Pop in a cupboard. Stir once a week. After about 3 or 4 weeks, strain through a muslin into a bowl. Pour the lovely pinky vodka goodness into sterilised bottles. Enjoy!

PS. I don't even like vodka that much but this raspberry vodka is to DIE for - you can even drink it by the shot it's so lovely and sweet and raspberry-y

Come to mama!

2009-09-01T18:58:00.002+01:00

I got a new Mac... I love it.
Mmmmmmmmmm!
Wireless mighty mouse and wireless little keyboard an' all.
It's like ACTUAL Christmas day...

Och aye tha noo!

2009-08-19T23:21:00.005+01:00

It's not everyday yer little sister gets hitched is it?
And it's not every day that you get to have a cracking good time in Edinburgh festival in a lush townhouse to celebrate said little sisters Hen weekend is it?

So it started well enough - Mum got to our house early in the morning for our 8.30am flight. I knew it was trouble when there wasn;t a checkout open that said "Ryanair Edinburgh"... it turns out that cocking Ryainair had re-scheduled the flight by 2 hours. 2 HOURS EARLIER!! With not another flight until Saturday afternoon! Not only that, but they'd cancelled our 8.35pm sunday night return flight to 8.20 in the sodding AM! Honestly, NEVER fly with those cowboys again... I beseech you.

SO ANYWAY!

We found ourselves on the 8.54am to Edinburgh train. It was a somewhat unideal prospect: 7 hours on a packed train... but it was actually a really good laugh! Mum and I drank wine (I forbade it until at least, lunchtime) and chatted to our new best friends in the carriage all the way there.

Wowowaaweewaa! What a lovely town house Cara had found us! Stu-uh-ning.
The girls had cooked an amazing chilli and we drank bubbly until ghost tour o'clock. The ghost tour was really interesting, we went deep into the haunted vaults under the city. In one vault everyone got reeeeeally cold and my breath was visible like a winters morning. Weird.

and played games and sang and danced and air-guitared to Queen until the wee wee hours.

The next day (and it was lovely and sunny, better than the Scottish rain we had arrived to) we mooched around the BEAUTIFUL city of Edinburgh. It was my first time to Edinburgh, indeed Scotland and my camera was going clicky KERAYZEE...

The evening was spent in silly dress up with outrageous wigs in a lovely Tapas restaurant followed by comedy club (2 comedians good, 2 not so great). Then it all goes a bit of a blur... I know we tried to get into a club, but a fight broke out and a girl was yakking up outside so we decided to move along. We found one but Mum needed to get home so May and I walked her home and, well.. it was 2ish and a bit too late to go back out to the club to meet the others.

The train ride home on Sunday was less drunken and loud and chatty than Friday. Funny that. We left Edinbo' at 12ish and got into Sunny Bmth at half 8. Long old ride eh?

All in all, a lovely weekend. Happy hen Cara, hope you had a blast!
Roll on the 11th September wedding!

Holiday bliss

2009-08-19T22:22:00.008+01:00

It's been a while since my last post.
But wanted to show you pics from our lovely holiday at Meon.
(See previous post about the lovely Meon beach shack)

We got there Sunday night.
Oh man, as soon as I open those curtains to that lovely view I relaaaaaaaaaaaax.
It's such a relaxing place I love it.

Monday morning we awoke to perfectly delicious hot weather, bikini time weather.
The kids lolloped in the sea and G got the little boat ready for its maiden voyage... puh! that was funny. All 4 of us in a little boat floating around whilst G frantically tried to get the freakin' outboard motor started. So we went back to shore... THEN he remembered he had to turn the fuel on! DOH! so anyhoo, pretty rubbish first voyage but then we made up for it over the week.

Loads of fish were caught from that little boat. I caught loads - 8 in one go! AND I filleted them all. Get me!

Oh poor Kezzy though - on the first day she chipped her tooth, well, lost the cap from an already chipped tooth. She was so upset bless her. So Wednesday we had a frantic rush back to Wimborne for an emergency appointment to restore her lovely smile. Glad we were able to get an appointment...

We had amazing weather all week - well, apart from an afternoon of rain Thursday arvo. We were all getting niggly which was resolved with sweets and a few games of UNO. And wine and beer for the grown ups of course.

Friday was the end of Cowes week and was the best day. HOT HOT HOT with swimming in the sea, messing on boats, messing on kayaks, lovely dinner, our own Red Arrows displays (or so it seemed) and lovely fireworks over in Cowes. There's such a lovely party atmosphere in all the huts on the last day of Cowes week.

Saturday and Sunday were equally as delicious as Friday, but with less Red Arrows. Sitting in the sun reading... swimming in the sea... bit of fishing... sitting in the sun reading... lunch... swimming... boat... wine... sitting in the sun... wine... dinner... sunset... more wine... board game... laughing... sleeping...zzzzzz.

I didn't want to leave. I could quite easily hole myself up there with G and the kids ALL summer long. If only...

Oh I do like to be beside the seaside

2009-07-28T15:39:00.005+01:00

Meon Shore is near Titchfield Haven RSPB bird reserve, quite near Stubbington... about 20 minutes from Southampton. It is a little quiet oasis of calm with a backdrop of big old cities of Portsmouth and Southampton... and I love it there.

Ma and Pa Orlebar own a beautifully sweet little hut, which has been in Ma's side of the family for generations. G and James grew up spending entire summers there.

It is right on the beach - a shingle beach - and overlooks Cowes on the Isle of Wight. Consequently, you can sit and watch yachts a-coming and a-racing, plus the Wight Link ferries to-ing and fro-ing, not to mention the odd HUGE cruise liner sailing out of Southampton on their way to exotic climes full to bursting with excited cruisers happily exploring their cabing, unpacking and deciding what to wear for the dinner dance at 8pm.. well in my mind, anyway.

Last year we saw the QE2 on one of her last journeys - she's titchy compared to huge Oceana or whatever they're called these days.

Anyhoo - we were at Meon with Ma & Pa last weekend and the sun shone. It was blissfully perfect, as usual. And it has got G and myself itching to get back there for our holiday - but we've only got to wait a week... hurray!

Larmer Tree 'Outreach' Festival

2009-07-28T15:22:00.005+01:00

Meriel coined the phrase 'Outreach' festival for Larmer Tree in the deepest depths of Dorset because it is THE most middle class festival you're ever likely to see! And I'll tell you for why...

1. When we arrived to see Andrea, there was no space to dance, just a sea of grey hair and wax jackets around the stage, erm, I mean SEATED around the stage...reading the Guardian and wondering what time the 'dream catcher' workshop starts.

2. No hippies... no travellers... no complete festival nutters having a far out messy time

3. Posh campervans everywhere... and caravans... being pulled by Porshes and BMW 4x4's

But anyhoo, we had a good time, despite the rain and MUD. Lots of mud...

Andrea had a cool time hanging out on BBC Radio Solent with Sally Taylor and Jonny Walker - Jonny Walker from Radio 2! Andrea was told by a dude from the BBC that if Jonny plays any of her songs just twice onhis show and Radio 2, then she's there! If she gets on the Radio 2 playlist that'll be AWSEOME... clever little sunshine lady!

Andrea's site at last!

2009-07-24T10:16:00.002+01:00

Inspired by Goba's lovely photography of his beautiful and talented fiancée Andrea, I have created a simple site to showcase my lovely friend's music, personality and spirit. You go girl!

www.andreasoler.com
www.andreasoler.blogspot.com

I'm in love...

2009-07-24T09:58:00.003+01:00

Found this through the ever amazing Design*Sponge - Julene is one clever lady... with a cutting hand of STEEL! http://madebyjulene.com/

Hope G doesn't read this because I really want to buy him* one...

*me

How true...

2009-07-22T11:40:00.003+01:00

Haven't blogged for a while and am due a big catch up - but for now have this (don't know who did it, but gorge nonetheless)…

Jurassic Coast

2009-06-21T22:18:00.004+01:00

At a loose end without the kids this weekend we decided to become tourists in our own patch. So we took a boat trip from Poole, past Studland, Old Harrys Rocks, Swanage and the Ballard Fault and over to Dancing Ledge.

This part of the coast was once attached to America... America! Madness eh?

We didn't see any puffins or dolphins unfortunately but did see plenty of rock climbers, lovely boats (many many Sunseekers) hikers and shags (the birds).

Plus I learned a lot about our coastline that I never knew before. So nice one.

What is a browser anyhoo?

2009-06-21T10:33:00.003+01:00

8% of people questioned got this wrong, which is a little surprising. But then I am a geekoid.
Interesting responses though.

Found at the ever inspirational SwissMiss

River Cottage Strawberry Fayre

2009-06-19T21:53:00.005+01:00

We tore ourselves away from the folkie on the Sunday to go to the River Cottage Strawberry Fayre. The girls were going to come but being the age they are, they wanted to hang out with their friends. Allie was staying with us and offered to have them for the few hours we were away so we were child-free and off to Devon!

We stopped off at the River Cottage Canteen in Axeminster to pop in a Little Veg Patch in their restaurant garden first. It looks ace. It's one of the little new ones 60cm x 120cm (perfect for balconies) and I think this is the prototype we've given them! eeek!

Anyway that didn't take long setting up. I had to take the million obligatory photo's 'just in case'. RCHQ is only 10 mins from there so we were supping strawberry cocktails before we knew it!

It was a lovely hot sunny day and I wish that Kerys and Amber had come with us. Although they're probably too old... I was watching the little tots dressed as strawberries for the strawberry parade and wished the kids were 4 again! Either that or we had a little tot ourselves. Maybe one day, eh?

It was lovely geting there and having Cat, Pete, Steve and Mark all saying "Hi! How's it going?". G talked to Hugh, too. He was impressed with the Little Veg Patch and G was dead chuffed that he knew all about it.

It was cool seeing River Cottage being filmed too. It'll be on the TV this Wed on Channel 4 at erm.. 8pm I think.

Before long we drove the 1 or so hour back to the folk festival to relieve Allie from her duty looking after the kiddiewinks. Amber had got into a spotof bother having walked home with Amanda's kids who had run across the road or something and been taken to the police station who played football with them and gave them pencil cases!

I can imagine it now:
"Where's your mum?"
"In Devon"
"oh..."

BAD MOTHER!

Even more of a bad mother Monday morning when there was nothing for lunchboxes and had to goto the corner shop for emergency crisps and yoghurt....

Folk Festival 2009

2009-06-19T21:35:00.005+01:00

Well you know that summer is truly here when the craziness that is the Wimborne Folk Festival comes around.

Friday was a weird day for me.
Being told I'm being laid off work is not a great thing to hear before having a houseful of friends wanting a happy jolly time, eh?

Anyhoo, I had a strop and a tear or two and G was awesome as usual and then KNOCK KNOCK! they started arriving so I pulled myself together, poured myself something winey and chilled and forgot all about it. Monday I'll worry.

The whole weekend was lovely lovely lovely.
We caught up with Barni and lovely Kate and Rich, it had been 2 years since we last saw them. 2 years! How did that happen??

G was incredible BBQ man again. Love him.

The folkie was VERY boozy... We didn't have the kids friday night and saturday daytime so we hung out and listened to the bands and drank quite a bit of sticky beer. Saturday night we had a houseful of kids and G lit the BBQ again for yet another friendy-feed-fest.

Shame we didn't catch up with Mum and Dad who were down for the Sunday - Dad even managed to play an irish set at the Pudding and Pie - missed it! Doh! But then we were at River Cottage... (see above)

I wasn't much good for anything Monday.. but luckily(!) I've been laid off so I worked Tues and Wed on Amanda's site which is coming along lovely. I'll pop the link on here when it's gone live.

Come back home to momma!

2009-06-19T21:32:00.004+01:00

My beloved camera got sick and had to go to Dr Sony to get fixed.
Awesome service - back within 5 days. Thank you Sony!

When it returned, there were some alien pictures on it.
Obviously the guy who fixed it forgot to delete the tester shots.

Tee hee! I can see your workshop! I can see your workshop!

Sunrise Festival = hello summer!

2009-06-02T20:00:00.005+01:00

Sunrise was postponed last year due to terrible terrible weather, coupled with the fact the site was on flood plains. Doh! So we got reimbursed with a ticket for 2009 - bit of a gamble as the organisers had lost so much money.

But the gamble paid off... what an AMAZING weekend. The summer actually started the day we got there. 28 degrees on Saturday. Oh it was so so lovely.

We got there Thursday night all packed up with the kids and stuff in the camper. We convoyed down with Meriel in her lovely cosy camper and Allie and Andrea in the car avec tent etcetera and set up camp close (but not too close) to the un-smelly compost loos and festival entrance. Handy for when the kids wandered off on their own to do kids stuff (buy hats and sunglasses as it goes, that and bouncy castle politics).

The whole festi was ace - lovely food, lovely booze, lovely company... we didn't want to leave. But when's the next one? The Summer has just begun!

Garden mission on!

2009-06-02T19:17:00.003+01:00

The other weekend (Bank holiwobble) saw us at home without the girls. We relished this long weekend and not just for all the time off. It was our first and last weekend in a long time where we had NOTHING planned... LOVELY.

We bought loads of plants and little mini plug plants and seeds for the little veg patch. Oh man how we dug and planted and watered. Loved it.

We planted (in no order of preference):
Calabrese
Cabbage
Sweetcorn
Radishes
Loads of salads
Rocket
Sugar snap peas
'Normal' peas (YUK - hate them)
Runner beans
French beans
Butternut squash
Courgette

Phew.

Then on Sunday we went to the Shapwick Village Fete which was ACE. It was so blinkin' English. There was bunting, Pimms, dog shows you get the idea... We stayed for 2 pimms (they'd mixed it pretty strong!) then went off down the lane a bit to the Anchor pub and sat outside drinking with John the Fish. Such a laugh. I won the toss so G was driving. Happy days.

Bank holiday Monday Allie, Andrea, Anke and Justin came over for a BBQ. Very last minute, very ad hoc, but very cool, laid back and funny. We all drank too much... and we scorched the garden from sitting around the chimmina.

Crop circle mission

2009-05-26T13:12:00.006+01:00

We awoke to TORRENTIAL rain the morning after Clives party. We were really worried about the camper getting stuck in what was fast becoming slippery clay-ey soil. So we all sort of bleary eyed headed back to ours for a slap up full english. When I say we = Me and G, Anda and Justin and Anke.

It was sometime over breakfast Andrea was talking about how she and Gobs had been to the Silent Circle in Avebury last summer and visited a couple of crop circles. Well, the obvious thing to do was engage her in the conversation, then move on to a different subject before washing up and vegging out for the rainy Sunday. WRONG.

We thought we'd head all the way to Avebury in Wiltshire and see if we could find a croppy. Which we did! It was VERY wet. Wandering around a field of canola (rapeseed) in the rain searching for a freakin' circle was odd. And wet, did I mention it was wet?

See the pics though, it was crazy. Anrchie went absolutely potty in the circles - racing around like an absolute LOONY.

Clive makes 40 - lets camp!

2009-05-26T12:50:00.013+01:00

What an ace weekend and an amazing campsite - it was only down the road but I was so jealous. It's exactly the sort of land we want to buy... maybe one day.

Clives party was piggy backing on the back of Waynes baby naming ceremony, which sounds a bit hippy but the words were beautiful (wish I could remember some of them)...

I'll let the photos do the talking.

Where did the time go?!

2009-05-26T12:41:00.004+01:00

Yup, we've made the 2nd anniversary mark. My lovely G and me.
We said we wouldn't 'do' presents, but I couldn't help myself getting him some stuff.
Ahh...

Stressful cake? No problem!

2009-05-11T18:05:00.003+01:00

I don't know why I offered.
I'm not even that good at cakes - but a cake was needed for Tracys surprise meal so I stepped up to the plate... or mixing bowl if you will.

All well and good but BUT our oven thermostat broke last week so I had to bake it in the top oven which is rubbish. After half an hour baking, I did the ole skewer test - still runny! I tested again after 40 mins... still runny... 50 mins... [ the top was slowly darkening by this time ] almost solid.

I was *that* close to going out and buying one, but hey, it was ok in the end.
I cut off some burny bits at the top (coz it peaked up like a BOLCANO) and plastered it in butter icing that closely resembled mashed potato. Then I covered the whole shabang in lots of sweets. Job done.

PHEW!

Surprise!

2009-05-11T17:51:00.009+01:00

Trace didn't have a clue about her surprise birthday meal.
It was ace.

The cake went down well (see above post), no one could taste the burnt bits...

The food was lovely, the company was lovely,
the wine was a-flowing and laughter a-chuckling.

Happy birthday Trace!

Fun in Looe

2009-05-07T22:20:00.009+01:00

So it was our 4th anniversary of our first date and around our 2nd wedding anniversary so we decided to dust off the ole campervan and take off (sans kids) to Cornwall for the bank holiday weekend.

It was going to be Wales, but we plumped for Cornwall as it was half the driving time and we were feeling lazy. Thanks to cool camping for the incredible guide which we now find completely indispensable.

We stayed at Bay View Farm near Looe which gave us a beauuuuutiful view over Looe bay and St Georges little island from the camper. We stocked up on wine, food for the bbq and firewood and settled in with a cornish cream tea with local clotted cream, local jam and incrediblely soft and lovely scones (no raisins, phew).

We went mackrel fishing.
A bet was placed.
The one who catches the most mackrel buys the other a pint.

I landed the first fish onboard but it got away... (honestly, it was a beast). I then caught 3 on 1 line, then another 3... G hadn't caught a thing and I was feeling very smug... but then... Nothing. He started catching them left right and centre and I was getting cold and bored.

End result:
K = 7 mackrel (yes, I did include 'the one that got away')
G - 11 mackrel (yes, he got his winning beer)

We popped back to the van and G filleted them (I did one, my first ever filleting experience). We cooked em up on a hot barbie and they were delicious. Fresh as, well, fish.

On the way back (after a quick look into a national trust house, purely to justify the membership fee) we rocked up at Dougies and went for a pint and a pub lunch. We love Dougie.

All in all, a lovely lovely weekend.
Topped off by about 4 or 5 loads of washing. Nice.

Endless lego fun

2009-05-07T22:16:00.003+01:00

Amber had her friend Emma over to stay the other weekend.
They were really quiet, so I took a peek in the bedroom and found a little lego world.

They've had this Lego for absolutely years and years.
I love that they still play with it after all this time.

I also love that they put a blanket down before tipping it all over the floor.
Clever little lady.

Overheard...

2009-04-20T18:00:00.002+01:00

I love walking past snippets of conversations.
You can almost see the words hanging in the air.

Here's a good one overheard in Sainsbury's on Saturday that conjures up a great mental image:

"... a turtle the size of a double bed!"

And here's one from the farmers market yesterday between 2 old men:

"You got the internet?"
*incomprehensible mumble*
"Have a look at facebook..."

He'll be poking in no time...

The best nut roast in the land

2009-04-20T17:16:00.000+01:00

Sunday morning poor G was all down... was he cut out in garden design? (answer: yes) what does he *really* know about the retail gardening market? (answer: not much...) would he make a good garden design lecturer? (answer: yes! what a great idea!) so we spent most of the morning drinking tea in bed (the kids were at Scotts) and discussing many things... exciting things... dreams of our own land, poly tunnels, camping, photography, making jam, you know the sorta thing.

So after all that we found ourselves racing a little to get ourselves ready for Matt & Clare. We walked the dog to the farmers market and bought a couple of nice jasmine plants. 1 for me, 1 for Clare. We were assured we didn't need to bring anything, but I hate turning up empty handed and there wasn't enough time (or indeed, skill) to bake a nice cake.

We got there (sans dog) at 1 ish and were treated to THE BEST nut roast EVER. Matt had lovingly crafted it with his own fair hands and there was a layer of creamy cheesy roased pepper goodness in the middle. I thought it would be weird to start photographing it, so you'll just have to imagine it...

It was D.I.V.I.N.E. All washed down with some lovely fermented grape juice (the chardonnay flavour).

Then we went for a walk up Maiden Castle to laugh at sheep.

So, a lushious roast and a walk. How typically Sunday. Love it.

Once upon a time...

2009-04-20T10:50:00.000+01:00

...there was a girl called Meriel who decided to gather a few choice friends together for an evening of food and fun. The 6 friends all arrived at the Orlebar house, despite Meriel neglecting to let the Orlebars know until the very last minute - to save them from panicking, I expect.

The friends arrived laden with a delicious feast with food and treats of all shapes, sizes and smells. The table was bursting with succulent lamb, vegetable gratin, bruschetta and much more. All the friends enjoyed the feast which was washed down with sticky fermented grape juice.

Before long, the carriages were prepared and the friends journeyed out into the spring night towards Cranbourne and the neolithic round house. On arrival, the friends gathered sheepskins and plump cushions and numerous coats and hats, for the roundhouse can get a little nippy.

A roaring fire was waiting for them and just as they sat down, along with the rest of the audience, the storytelling began. The friends heard fascinating tales of frog princesses, huts with chicken legs and murderous worms as they sipped their spiced apple juice.

After a wonderful evening of magical tales, the friends made their way back to the Orlebar house for cake and custard and peppermint tea (and the FA cup final highlights for the boys).

And they all lived happpily ever after.

An Orlebar Easter

2009-04-16T21:10:00.000+01:00

Easter Sunday saw us desperately trying not to be late to the Orlebar easter lunch at my in-laws. I'd been given strict instructions over the phone a few days before... "oh Kyleigh my love, try not to be late..." oh. They're learning about their daughter in law, eh?

So we left by 11.30 and got there by 12.30! hurray! But... I'd forgotten the easter nest cakes Amber and I had made the day before. Gutted.

It didn't matter because the table was overspilling with baskets and dainty glass dishes full of little 70% eggs, mini eggs, noisette eggs... plus there was a little Easter gift at each place setting from Bumble.

I like that G has an Aunty called Bumble. Bob and Tamsin call her 'Bum'. How cool is that? For pudding there was crumble so I couldn't help but ask her "Are you enjoying your crumble Bumble?" to which Uncle Mike cracked up and started hollering at her "Hey don't grumble about the crumble, Bumble!"... after a pause she simply put down her napkin and stated "hey, don't fumble with the Bumble!". She's SO lovely and so glamourous. She must've been a force to be reckoned with in her day. I imagine her driving a vintage sporty Merc down the Kings Road in big Mary Quant shades, smoking a fag in a long cigarette holder...

So there was 11 of us for Orlebar lunch which was duck... which is an Easter tradition apparantly. The wine flowed... oh how fast it flows. I was designated driver as I'd given G strict instructions to let his hair down and get drunk and ridiculous. He didn't disappoint.

After the dishes were loaded into the dishwasher and folk had bid farewells, G and uncle Mike were still going for it and yet 2 more Oyster Bay bottles were consumed in about an hour. He slept all the way home...

And now a word from our sponsor

2009-04-16T20:52:00.000+01:00

Kerys came back from Skiing trip happy, but feverish bless her. She wasn't even well enough to come to Kingston Lacey for an Easter egg hunt. As she was tucked up in bed with Albas oil on a tissue and dosed up with Calpol 6+, we nicked off for a couple of hours to give her some peace.

The Easter Egg hunt was sponsored by Cadburys... jeez - come on National Trust! You don't need sponsorship, surely? Anyhoo, it was nice but most of the 'hunt' was in parts of the gardens which don't allow dogs. So we just carried on and pretended not to see the 'No Dogs beyond this point' signs. At one stage I even feined looking intently at the egg hunt map because I *knew* we were walking past one of these signs and into the formal gardens with a raggedy old scruffy smelly dog pulling on the lead.

We 'won' the hunt. Oh! My! A Cadburys easter egg as a prize! Now who would've guessed?

2009-04-16T20:22:00.000+01:00

G spent Easter Saturday starting our new garden plan which has been in our heads for months. It's basically a quick fix on a budget because:

1. The grass is rubbish and half is in the shade
2. The tired old gravel was ugly
3. The tired old flagstones were ugly
4. The table and chairs didn't fit on the ledge of flagstones properly
5. An ugly garden meant dog plops not being picked up regularly... they'd harden for days

So the new plan is a semi circle of lawn (all of this will get lovely sunshine), plus lots of pea shingle (easy to pick up dog plops) which I'll stand lots (and lots) of big pots on there to fill it up and make it all green.

Oh and G has got his head fixed on a clay pizza oven, he's made it to match the little veg patch in the corner which is cool. Can't wait to have pizza parties... I bought some more solar powered fairy lights to celebrate.

London calling

2009-04-16T19:32:00.000+01:00

Amber and I spent a lovely few days in the big smoke visiting my big bro and various London sights and museums. Amber was so excited, which waned slightly during the boring coach ride (would somebody pleeeease put the rail link back in Wimborne...) but as soon as we got there she perked right back up.

We went straight to the Natural History Museum which is an eternal fave of mine (love the mammals bit the best) and we wandered around for hours and hours. I love the pic of Amber in front of the bear. RaaaaR!

Meric and May's place is lovely - yes, much better than James and Ambers old place even. Loving their little garden and masses of lovely books (spent each morning leafing through many). It's got a lovely happy vibe and reckon they'll be very happy there until it's time to buy their own little place.

We were SO tired after 3 days walking but it's funny, whenever I go to London I feel the same things:

1. Jeez, it's So big... (I'm such a country mouse)
2. I wonder what everyone is DOING, where' are they GOING? Why the rush?
3. I look at people on the tube and dare myself to hold someones eye, or start a conversation (it'll never happen)
3. I wonder if I could ever live there (nope)
4. I look into people's windows - if you leave London by coach in the evening when people put lights on but haven't yet closed their curtains the coach goes right past Harrods and many beautiful apartments. EYE SPY..
5. I'm so glad to get home to sleepy Wimborne and trees and fields.

PS. The recycled plastic handprint (last pic) is what I think the Little Veg Patches for schools would be lovely being made of. Just need to find a supplier. It's so lovely and bright and you can see bits of what it's been made of.

Straight to my heart

2009-04-14T16:53:00.000+01:00

The night before Kerys went skiing with the school to Austria we had a right old barney. She was SO stroppy, i was racing round like a blue arsed fly trying to pack and sort food for the journey and stuff, drop her to drama, pick her up, race to Matalan for some emergency jeans, race back home, cook dinner, finish packing... so yeah, we were both stressed which led to a blazing row.

I've spent a lot of money on the ski trip and she was behaving a little ungrateful to say the least. Not that I want a medal, I'm happy for her to go, but I don't want it to be taken for granted either you know?

I was nervous of my baby off skiing and excited at the same time.
She was excited, but nervous at the same time.

We apologised and hugged before sleepyhead hit they hay.

THE morning arrived - she was up bright and breezy, I helped her finish packing. Loaded the car and dropped he to school. We hugged for a long time and said our goodbyes. I went off to work and she went off on an adventure.

That night as I was getting into bed I found a note on my pillow the sneaky monkey. It brought tears to my eyes... it read:

3/4/09 8.20am
To Mum xxx
I love you
so much
and thank you.
Thank you sooo
much for Paying
for everything.
not just for
skiing but
EVERYTHING!
I will miss you!
Love Kerys xxx

G got one too:

3/4/09 8.23am
To G xxx
Thankyou
for everything,
kindness, support and
love.
I will miss you.
Love
from
Kerys xxx

Bless her little heart xx

Dirty boy!

2009-04-14T16:49:00.000+01:00

Archie went out with John and Sarko and rolled in some fox plop plop.

STINKY!

He's got a lot better in the bath. He used to go crazy.
Now he just stands there, ears back...

Dirty boy!

While you were commuting to work...

2009-03-30T14:38:00.000+01:00

So here's a nice way to ease yourself into the week - a sunny monday morning walk with husband and scruffy dog. The frost had bitten during the night but the sun was out and had a spring warmth to it. It sure beats battling through roadworks and traffic jams.

Lovely Sunday

2009-03-30T13:44:00.000+01:00

After all the hard work of the launch, we deserved a well-earned rest this Sunday. So we went out to the Olive Branch for a lovely roast lunch avec lovely French chardonnay. It was yummo! Kerys went to Bryonys after, so Amber, G and I went home and played The Game Of Life. How eighties? It was good fun and Amber was a scream! And she won! woooop!

Then I set up Amber with her painting stuff and she set about painting a still life at home of the tulips and stuff on the radiator cabinet, plus the orange wall. The sun was streaming in, the wine was making me sleepy, it was lovely.

Oh and the clocks went forward so it was the first light summers everning of the year. BLISS!

The little veg patch has launched at last!

2009-03-30T13:14:00.000+01:00

Phew! After a stressful few months of preparation, web design, product honing, promo design, apron printing and sign carving, the little veg patch launch was finally upon us. And what a glorious day it was.

I was up until 1am the night before the launch putting the finishing touches to thelittlevegpatch.co.uk, adding google analytics and stuff so by 5.45am when G got up all excited, I was pretty darn tired! Gerald set off for River Cottage at stupid o'clock but I had an easier morning of it as kids aren't allowed on site until 10am - so the girls and I set off after a quorn bacon sambo and awakening cuppa.

G had done an amazing job on the stand (despite cracking his head on the marquee!). Dougies sign looked amazing, the plants surrounding the little veg patch on display looked beautiful. As the public came filtering in, we soon had quite a crowd jostling to grab leaflets and quiz us on the little veg patch. It was fantastic and everyone was so lovely and very impressed with the product. "What a fantastic idea!" was probably the most oft heard sentence of the day.

We celebrated at the end of the day with some English champers bought at River Cottage from Pete at cost price - thanks Pete! Such a great day - Kerys and Amber were absolute gems. It was lovely to have our pitch right by the day old little lambs. I wanted to smuggle one home... but G would've eaten it I expect...

Launch day is upon us

2009-03-27T23:49:00.000Z

Too long has gone between posts for my liking. But that has a great deal to do with the imminent launch of the little veg patch which is tomorrow AAARGH! Everything is done now. I've spent a friday night sipping wine, eating dairy milk and doing the little veg patch site - crazy, but I'd finished earthwormlandscapes the other day, and thought that was that, until I realised I'd put thelittlevegpatch.co.uk on all the 500 leaflets. Doh! So here I am, there I was.

But anyway, it's all done now. All the stuff is back from the printers and looking splendid (even if I do say so myself). G has made some amazing driftwood presentation frames on which we'll hang A3 laminated - sorry, encapsulated - info sheets. He's spent a small fortune on lovely plants to adorn the stand. The same plants will adorn our garden after the launch so hurray! (let's hope Archie doesn't dig them up like he did the Hosta and stuff last year the SWINE!)

Everyone is asleep. It's 11.56pm. The truck is packed, the wellies waiting... the order book heavy with antici.........pation. Wish us luck!

Strange cloud

2009-03-27T23:45:00.000Z

So the other day Amber was off to Emmas around the corner, and she popped back in and said "Mum, there's a really weird cloud out here..." And sure enough, there was.

Now either a crazy plane had been going around in circles for a while, then disappeared without any cloud trail, or some strange freaky weather created it. Whichever it is, I think it's beautiful.

If you look at the bottom of the pic, you can see other people in the street marvelling at it's craziness.

Little Cupcake

2009-03-17T21:32:00.000Z

I know I should be doing lots of work for the launch, but I couldn't possibly miss the opportunity to spend a few hours with Anna and lil' Isabella Cupcake.

We hadn't seen each other for aaaaages, and I hadn't seen Isabella since she was a newborn! She is an absolute delight. A giggly little monkey forever exploring. Archie loved her but we had to pop him upstairs for a while for fear of getting a little over excited, the poor wee mite.

G came home in time to hang a little with the gals, and yet more tea and cake. So it was a lovely afternoon. No sooner had they left and I was back infront of the mac putting the final touches to the Get Growing Guide book which is off to the printers WOOOO! 'citing.

A bientot!

Spring has sprung at last!

2009-03-16T14:24:00.000Z

So yesterday it was just me and the girls as G was off to Dougies to pick up the amazing sign (see post below). The sun was shining, the dog was desperate for a walk so we packed a picnic and headed off to the river.

When we got back Amber's little friend came over and the children baked stuff. Kerys made THE most amazing Green & Blacks white chocolate cookies (a Hugh recipe) and Amber made little fairy cakes. By the time the house smelled divine, G came home to warm biccies and cakes straight from the oven. Bliss.

So overall, a lovely springy Sunday. Blossom has just come into bloom in the last few days. Fantastic! I love love love this time of year! Whoopla!

Well done Dougie!

2009-03-16T10:29:00.001Z

Dougie has done an amazing job on the big sign for the Little Veg Patch. We weren't too sure on the burny black background when we first saw it, but I like it now. It's sooooo tactile. You just wanna touch it! We've decided its perfect for shows and festivals when we do them, but it's too big to stay at River Cottage on the 2 veg patches they have there for their gardening courses. So Dougie is making a smaller, thinner one - which means I might have to revise the logo, so it's all in one line with the worm on the end... YAY DOUG!

Congratulations! it's a little baby blog!

2009-03-14T20:16:00.000Z

Here I go - I've been thinking about it for a while. What would I talk about? Why would I do it? Would anyone read it? Doesn't matter... I think I like the idea of having a place to go "wow! I LOVE this I found!" or "I am SO pleased with this photo I took" without having to ram it down anyone's throat. Ok, ok, it's for me. I'm a new freelance designer - well sort of - last month I was taken down to 3 days a week by my empoloyer which is fine by me! I'm freelancing at home 2 days a week and working for an evil ad agency 3 days a week. I WILL get out soon and work full time for myself. I am currently working on my wonderful husband G's stuff - we're launching The Little Veg Patch at River Cottage on the 28th of March. Can't WAIT. But lots to do. I'd like to keep this up to keep a diary of the run up to the launch. Ok, I will then...

I've spent a small fortune today - Kerys is off skiing in a few weeks and needed so much stuff. But it was so lovely hanging out with her, trying on hats, crazy sunglasses and drinking chai latte in Neros. As my best friend said on the phone tonight "So lovely to have a bit of solo time with just one of the kids". As she is 13 this year, I'm hoping for a few more of these girly days before teenage craziness kicks in. With Amber I have slightly longer.

Now I wonder if I can post an image on here of today... [edit] yes! ok, catch you laters