Valentines. The aftermath...

So how did you all fare on Valentine's Day?

 I am firmly of the opinion that there are more or less two types of people - those who adore Valentine's Day and people who could really quite honestly do without it.  Mr NT and I have never really been ones to to rush out and spend lots of $$$ or £££ on gifts but we do usually exchange cards and I can't see anything wrong with a day which is committed to love... Suppose you could argue that every day should be dedicated to love however this is the real world and that doesn't always happen does it... ?
So, if there is a special day where we can take that extra time and let people in our lives (and specially that significant other) know that we really love them... well, that is IMHO, a Good Thing....

So, as I was saying, we don't usually exchange gifts so when a box arrived in the mail (around a week ago) I quickly tore it open - and spoilt the surprise....  Oh dear. 
Mr NT had sent me :

Delicious and wonderful body lotion by Byredo in their yummiest of yummy smells (my NBF - new best fragrance) which is, Gypsy Water... On their website the flowery blurb is as follows :

Gypsy Water is a glamorisation of the Romany lifestyle, based on a fascination for the myth. The scent of fresh soil, deep forests and campfires illustrates the dream of a free, colourful lifestyle close to nature.

Oh and for my birthday Mr NT gave me the Eau de Parfum... So now I am totally 'gypsy-fied' and can wander around wafting my imaginary gypsy petticoats and flouncy skirts.

The ingredients are as follows :

Top notes : Bergamot, lemon, pepper juniper berries

Middle : Incense, pine needles, orris

Base: Amber, vanilla, sandalwood


Doesn't that sound lovely to you?


Happy weekend to one and all and do tell if you received a gorgeous surprise or two for Valentine's Day....

Marmalade - my first attempt

How pretty are these colours ? Pink grapefruit and lemon into the pan - waiting for the sugar

The finished product - so quick and easy too

Fairly proud of myself as this is my first go at making marmalade - and I wonder why on earth I have never done it before in all of my 50+ years.  My parents are prolific and talented marmalade makers and do all sorts of special (proper grown up things!) like boiling the pips in a muslin bag in the marmalade. I wanted something far easier and so used an extremely easy recipe but "ooomphed" up the taste by using pink grapefruit.  This is the one that I followed:  It was listed as "Absolutely Foolproof Easy Marmalade" and I can assure you, it was.  As I did not have a huge pan (nor may I add many jars) I did reduced the recipe by a quarter.  So my combination was 4 fruits and 750gram of sugar and as I said earlier I used pink grapefruit (2) and lemons (2). Honestly, try it - am sure you will be delighted.

6 oranges (or any combination) or 6 grapefruits (or any combination) or 6 lemons (or any combination)
1 kg sugar
Directions:

1
Take the 6 citrus fruits and wash well, removing any blemishes.
2
Cut into quarters, and place in a food processor.
3
Chop until finely ground, skin and all.
4
For an optional extra add some crystallized ginger.
5
Boil with the 1 kilo of sugar, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon, for 20 minutes.
6
It splatters, so be careful.
7
This quantity fills about 5 x 340 gram jars.
8
Do not double the ingredients, rather make two batches.
9
It never goes dark and lasts for up to 6 months in the refrigerator without the need to sterilize the bottles.

Pics from the Antiques Fair

This way to the Fair

 Sorry, a little late as ever...

The Antiques Fair was wonderful - it was so lovely to be up in the big smoke for an afternoon even though it really was bitingly cold.  Oh, and a damn London pigeon pooped on my new Marilyn Moore coat.
Apart from that it was joy all the way and fantastic to see my boys from FONTAINE.  I stayed with them for around 4 hours and it was just like old times (when I used to work for them when they had an antique shop in East Sussex).  Sold lots too!

Not so much of a recession where their gorgeous things are concerned.
Here are a few photographs from the the day...

Do you fancy coming to the Battersea Antiques Fair today?

Am off up to London for the afternoon and unfortunately my partner in crime for these outings - my friend Miss J is not well and cannot come so if anyone would like to join me at the Battersea Decorative Antiques Fair this afternoon you'd be most welcome... I have a spare ticket and we can meet outside... Just email me and let me know.
If you cannot make it not to worry... will tell you all about it in a couple of days.  Definitely going to see my boys from  FONTAINE  there too - can't wait.

Very late back to class (and the cottage new paint finish)

So, may I officially wish you all a very happy and healthy 2013.  And say how sorry I am that I am so late with these sentiments.
Anyway, here I am back again in England after an wonderful month in Melbourne with Mr NT and my daughter - she is now back at University in Durham and I am in our little cottage in the West Country.

Remember a while back in the Autumn the house was being painted?  Well, here is the finished product which I have to say is one hundred percent better than the before photograph which was as follows :

One very sad cottage in dire need of a face lift

And now, all finished and smart ....

Close up of the front door - Farrow and Ball's Downpipe is the colour 

So, there we are - amazing what some paint can do to make a transformation but the whole job did take quite a while with lots of preparation work first.  Have to say though I am really delighted.

Now have to work on a few more small projects inside - will keep you informed as to what and when!

Christmas Decorations. AUSTRALIAN style...

So, any guessing where I am again?!  

Yes, back again in Melbourne with dear Mr NT and my daughter is here too.  Perfect. So it's a warm Christmas for us this year. Today the mercury hit 39.2 degrees C.  Phew. A little too warm for my liking but I believe it will be down again to the 20's for 'the' actual day.  I know I have said it before, but Christmas here is a much more relaxed and colourful affair. Well, I guess it does fall right in the middle of the Australian Summer and everyone is in party mode. Or so it seems....

Take a look at these lovely Christmas decorations I have snapped over the last few days... 

Bright twinkly silver wreath

Colourful table decorations at a special Christmas breakfast I attended last week at the Head office at work

Christmas tree in a local homewares shop

Rather like this table... all colours and lots of baubles

Again, that lovely 'tablescape'

What do you go for on the decoration front?  All white or a riot of colour, a la Aussie style?

Both are good.. 

Like Christmas in each country; both have their unique style and I love being in either UK or in Australia - so long as you are with loved ones it doesn't matter where you are really.

Wishing you all a fabulous and happy Christmas.

Twinkle, twinkle. Sparkle, arkle....

Tour d'Eiffel by Poppy

I love this photograph of the Eiffel tower taken by my daughter recently.. Now that really is some BIG and gorgeous twinkle, twinkle wouldn't you say?

And the next 2 photographs show a bit of twinkle at the cottage now that the nights are drawing in :

I love a few white lights around the mirror and to top it all off I have been burning this new gorgeous candle - heavenly....

Recent purchase in Paris - DELISH

Last but not least look at these for a bit of 'sparkle, arkle' for the holiday season.. my new twinkly loafers from Russell & Bromley... These will add serious glam factor to all manner of outfits I think....

The photograph doesn't really show just how much they catch the light and shine though.. Sometimes  they look silvery and then a sort of gold - very versatile indeed so therefore will pass the cost per wear criteria on many levels for sure! 

Bought anything recently for the sparkling season ahead?