P is for Play...

If I am correct.. I think this is my 60th post and I find that extraordinary considering I nearly fell at the first fence!
I remember a very hesitant hand .. hovering over the 'Publish' button on the 14th October as I teetered on the threshold of Blogdom! That seems a very long time ago but really is a blink of an eye.. and it has been a wonderful journey to where I find myself today.. tapping out more musings and finding I have loyal and friendly followers. I just wanted to say...
actually a much admired blogger Louise@Home is where the Heart is... has already said it so well... what a wonderful institution this world of blogging is... it brings together mutual friends and is a wonderful way of sharing these snapshots of our lives..
I am hopelessly addicted to blogging and can't imagine a day without reading about your lives and loves and losses and lots of other words beginning with L...
The most significant revelation for me is the way I look at life now... I feel a real sense of who I am and how people perceive me and I am much more observant of my surroundings these days..
OOOer... I seem to be getting a bit Malcom Muggeridge...
I shall go and seek out that naughty mince pie now that is beckoning me from the kitchen..
Think I've said enough for one day... Let's go play....

And the winner is.......

Hi Folks
Have returned from the Theatre and a fabulous performance of Handel's Messiah played by an 18c style orchestra and choir...just wonderful! The music easily brings tears to my eyes as I find The Messiah a very powerfully emotive piece of music and one that my mother and I went to hear every Christmas together.. so of course it is doubly loaded for me..
I managed to supress the hacking cough armed with honey and lemon cough pastilles and boy... was it good to get out of the house and walk in the fresh air to the Theatre and back... I had forgotten how invigorating a good brisk walk can feel!

The purpose of this evening's blog is of course to announce the Cowboys & Custard Christmas Giveaway No:2 .. and this time Pickles obliged and managed to half heartedly perform his draw master task...



With a little help from me I picked out the winning slip of paper... so CONGRATULATIONS to Nicky at Vintage Magpie for being the winner of this giveaway.. I hope your mantle is dusted and ready to receive this award!



I don't know who enjoys these little ceremonies more.. you or me.. I just love sharing and hearing from you all ... and those Christmas feasts of yours have got me salivating so I am off for a quick snack and then bed.... all this excitement has left me exhausted..

See you soon!

XX

Fair Play ...

Having waited weeks of childlike anticipation to reach the large X on the calendar for the local Craft Fair in Bath.. the day finally arrived. I set off at silly time of morning to get to the fair to unpack everything before the traffic wardens started their head hunt for the day.
Arrived at 7.15 a.m.. only five minute trip in car from house... and found that my requested table was not were I had asked for it to be.. was then shown by organiser to little pokey room with little table on verge of collapse and told that I had requested the previous week and obviously I was in the wrong! I meekly argued that this was not so as I had sent an email to confirm dates and table but it was futile and so my beloved went off to fetch boxes from the car whilst I quietly fumed and felt on the verge of tears..
You have to remember that this is only my second craft fair and in my naivety and optimism I felt so much rested on this fair and it was my last chance to introduce my products and work to the public for 2007.
Suddenly, flustered organiser appeared with my beloved behind her grinning at me, and told me I had another table so to dismantle all that I had just set out on wonky table.. Oh to cut a long short.. I ended up more or less where I had wanted to be originally and could hear mutterings in the background about unreliable stallholders etc etc...
Not to be thwarted I set up my table and then sat for an hour and a half waiting for the event to open to public and thinking to myself.. why did I get up so early?????
A steady stream of very soggy very miserable punters streamed passed my table of Cowboys & Custard wares and I surmised (gosh Holmes!) that it was raining heavily outside and that the craft fair was just a temporary refuge and not an intended shopping event for this motley crew.
Well for anyone who has done a craft fair and I know that there are many of you who have... especially dear Fiona @ Nonnie..
who did the same fair last weekend... they are rather soul destroying.. if they are not well organised, located, advertised as this one fell into all of those catogories! Oh and then there are the customers to deal with.. or lack of them!
I sat with a fixed grin trying to engage the steady flow of people but found it hard to feel kindly towards some of them when all they did was stare vacantly and would not acknowledge my greeting or invitation to take a business card..
I did however.. have some delightful customers who really saved the day and who 'understood' my work and appreciated it.. that made it all worthwhile and of course the takings at the end of the day more than compensated for the mind numbing experience of sitting there for 10 hours.
One dear lass bought two frames from me ... and I was almost in a state of shock as I offered to gift wrap them for her and my hands were shaking with sheer joy and disbelief ...oh and eternal gratitude!

All in all it was a funny old day but I am not deterred.. onwards and upwards.. I intend to march on in 2008 and just be a bit more selective about my venue. I really don't mean to sound like an old sourpuss.. these events are real hit and miss ocassions.. you never know what to expect.. 'Expect the unexpected' is my motto.. I must remember that!

I came home to a very welcome supper cooked by my beloved... he is such a rock! Who needs Nicholas Cage any way...?

P.s I will never know exactly what beloved said to the organiser to secure me a better table .. but it worked .. Thank you my darling!

THANK YOU ALL who have entered the giveaway so far... some sumptuous feasts have been chosen and I am already reaching for the alkazelters ..
I will put all names into a bowl and pick winner this evening on return from a trip to the local Theatre Royal to hear Handel's Messiah .. a favourite of mine.. performed by candlelight...Just hope I can keep cough under control!

Now hear ye hear ye ... Christmas Giveaway No: 2

Are you sitting comfortably...? Then I'll begin.. (for those of you as aged as me who remember 'Listen with Mother')

Here we have promised Christmas Giveaway No: 2 Brought to you from Cowboys & Custard..
Now you will have to be quick as I am going to end all entries to this draw on Sunday 9th December at 7 .00 p.m G.M.T.
Everyone who leaves a comment will be entered into the draw... just tell me what your favourite Christmas Fayre would be if you could ditch the turkey! Sorry turkey but I am not a huge fan!
Given my dream Christmas dinner.. it would be.. a plate of sweet chilli tiger prawns followed by some olives and fine cheese and olive bread.. washed down with some lovely bubbles.. not coca cola... pink champagne.. to be eaten in mountain retreat.. snowed in with Mr Cage... oops... sorry beloved ...no not Mr Cage... you of course my darling!

Oh yes... the prize..
Well any of you who have paid attention over my last few blogs will have seen this one already.. but I have decided to spread a little bit of vintage Christmas to one lucky winner so here it is...

One of my vintage box frames featuring a vintage postcard, vintage bisque father Christmas , vintage bottle brush tree and vintage cracker housed in a distress painted wooden box frame...Ta da!

Good Luck one and all and don't forget to leave a comment...All comments will be entered into draw!

Need I say more?

Article in Daily Mail.. all rights reserved

Nicolas Cage snaps up £4m house in Bath
Last updated at 19:41pm on 1st May 2007



Oscar-winner Nicolas Cage uses his trust Hancock Park Real Estate to acquire properties worldwide
Hollywood superstar Nicolas Cage has snapped up a £4 million town house in one of Britain's most prestigious addresses.

The Oscar-winning actor is in the final stages of buying a classical Georgian property situated on The Circus, a curved millionaire's row in the heart of Bath, Somerset.

Once the home of the Earl of Chatham, it boasts an indoor swimming pool, grand staircase, five bathrooms and six bedrooms spread over five storeys.

The 9,000 sq ft pad has a 30ft kitchen, south-facing terrace and large garden and is considered the "principal house" in the 18th century Circus.

Cage, 43, uses his trust Hancock Park Real Estate to acquire properties worldwide.

His portfolio includes several properties in Los Angeles, a castle in Germany and a whole island in the Bahamas.

Cage is in the final stages of buying the classical £4 million Georgian property above


The house came onto the market two years ago when the owner, a publishing tycoon who used it as a second home, decided to sell up and move back to London

Estate agent Knight Frank confirmed the property is under offer and refused to deny rumours that Cage was the buyer.

Chris Hart, department head at Knight Frank, said the property had been bought by a trust. He added: "Obviously Knight Frank is obliged not to divulge information we're not given the authorisation to divulge."

Neighbours also confirmed sightings of the star of Leaving Las Vegas, Adaptation and new release Next on the Circus within the last six months.

The property is situated on The Circus, a curved millionaire's row in the heart of Bath, Somerset

One resident said she knew from two trusted sources that the rumours were true, and that the transaction was due to be completed at the end of May or June.

Another resident in the Circus, who did not want to be named, said she understood that Cage did not plan to live at the address permanently.

She said: "We're told he has bought it, but don't think we'll see him here. I don't think he's completed the sale yet.

"Our daughter saw him in the Circus six months ago."

The house came onto the market two years ago when the owner, a publishing tycoon who used it as a second home, decided to sell up and move back to London.

It was on the market for with a guide price of £4 million for some 18 months before an offer was accepted.

The Circus was designed by architect John Wood the Elder in 1754 and the arc of town houses became Britain's first circular street and a major landmark.

Architects describe the Grade 1 listed homes as the "best examples of classical urban architecture in Britain" characterised by tiers of columns and ornate facades.

Bath is fast becoming one of the most exclusive places to live in the world - with the city's top estate agents keeping a list of people ready to buy houses for millions.

House prices in the area have trebled in the past two years and many of the largest homes are changing hands for so much money the figures are never made public.

Stars in her eyes....

Goodmorning Good Folk
Well.. what a morning already!
Having gone to the cupboard like old mother Hubbard and found it bare first thing this morning... I had no choice but to venture out to kill a fatted calf.. (or carton of Covent Garden Soup) to bring home for my ailing child and myself! Beloved not due home till silly time tonight having to take his 420 children to a carol concert. Not all his.. I hasten to add!
Now considering I have not set foot in the metropolis for a week I was a little anxious and wary of going out into the tidal wave of frenzied shoppers so, I reckoned that if I got to Waitrose at 8.30.a.m , a 10 minute walk from home, I could avoid the crowds.. do a supermarket grab and be home to administer clementines and love to my child a.s.a.p!
Well.. it was a little nervewracking.. I can tell you.. just negotiating the hill into town.. I felt very light headed and even a bit agoraphobic having not been outside properly for some time.
I kept my head down and headed on to Waitrose.. en route espieing some lovely decorated windows and kicking myself for not bringing my camera for a photo opportunity! Incidentally.. have you ever tried kicking yourself? Not easy without falling over!
Soon arrived at bright lights of Waitrose and grabbed basket to do battle with other early shoppers.. it was at this moment that I was overcome with the worst tickly cough which results in me going blind and demented with simultaneous coughing and sneezing! Still.. it cleared the shoppers who gave me a wide berth.. and I continued with streaming eyes in determined fashion. As I did a wobbly swerve into the fruit and veg section.. who should I come eye to eye with (well not exactly.. he is 6' something and I am 5'6" so it was more eye to chest)..... NICHOLAS CAGE no less!!!!


My immediate thought was ' pinch cheeks..hold tummy in, look healthy girl' as here was my moment with the rather gorgeous Mr Cage!
If I hadn't looked like the wreck of the Hesperus and Mr Cage hadn't had a very pretty lass and child in tow, oh and I wasn't already spoken for.. all these minor details.. who knows what could have happened! LOVE amongst the brassicas!
Well seeing this rather gorgeous man certainly perked me up but it also threw me off course and I completely forgot about the rest of my shopping list.. so came home with strange selection of food which will never make a meal.. icing sugar, humous, and a bottle of Benylin.

P.s Thanks so so much for ALL your friendly comments of late.. I read them all and love them all..
I will try and get the Christmas Giveaway posted on blog v soon.. otherwise it will be an Easter Giveaway !

One step forward two steps back.....

I have decided to paint a cross on our front door... No... it isn't a minimalist Christmas Wreath.. rather a warning to all approaching our household, that it is condemned! We have all succumbed to this hacking cough and not only would a visitor be at risk of catching this nasty virus but is more at danger of becoming profoundly deaf by the high decibels of coughing!
I am sick of it now and just want to press fast forward... not a patient patient!

I would like to say a big sincere THANK YOU to all of you who joined in my Luuuurve survey and chose your favourite Valentines from my previous selection.. It is interesting to see your choices and I have made note of the popular ones..
It seems to me that 'Well Hello Little Missy...' is a thumbs up followed closely by Love Letter..

I am really wanting to get into the Christmas spirit and have not set foot outside or rather ventured near a retail outlet for a week now.. must be a record! I have avoided the pre-Christmas scrum in town and just watched from my ivory tower and made LOTS of lists... these may well end up in the recycling bin..
I am, however, getting into the spirit by holding another Christmas Giveaway Draw in the next few days... Watch this space..
I just have to put the finishing touches to the prize... any guesses... no it is not a gift wrapped Pickles but he would be quite glad to leave home with all this plague around him!

I will leave you with this... just a little sparkle to brighten your day....


I hope you are all well and bright eyed and bushy tailed out there!
XXXXX

Sublime to ridiculous...

It's Tuesday and I am still coughing... if coughing was an Olympic sport ... I have just won gold!
I have been bragging for years that I haven't had a cold so serves me right really for being so smug when all around me were sniffing and sneezing.. knew I was tempting fate! For years I have been a devotee of the wonder herb echinacea and took it religously from October through to February without a hint of a cold but this year ... I simply forgot..and look what happened.
Anyway.. I am beginning to sound like The Lancet and it is getting a bit dull for you all to hear me moaning and groaning as I am sure there is a lot of it about....
So I will STOP.. right here and change the subject..

I have been trying to drum up some enthusiasm for the impending Craft Fair in Bath that I am attending this Saturday.. and after hearing of Fiona's @ Nonnie's dismal day at the same Fair last Saturday I am not exactly optimistic about this one..
There are Craft Fairs and Craft Fairs and I know which one I want to be associated with..
Anyway not to continue on the negative path.. I am making last minute cards and girding my loins for the prospect of spending a Saturday in town... I have not ventured out since last Thursday apart from a quick trip to the Doc's today..

I am thinking ahead now to next year and Valentine's Day is my next date for occasion cards..
I have just put together some ideas and would like a bit of audience participation before I offer them to the world at Not on the High Street...
They could be described as sublime to ridiculous or just ridiculous.. but I would welcome your honest, gut reaction to them as it is so easy to be out of touch with popular trends... I have to appeal to the masses as this is how I earn my living...(suppress uncontrolled laughter) and Pickles is getting a bit worried about his pension!

So here are the selection so far.. more to follow soon..














Place your votes now please!

A huge thank you to all of you who visit me each day and really make my day!
There are some mighty fine people out there and it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance!

Have a Jolly Holly evening ....

XX

Twinkle Twinkle...

This weekend did not go as planned.. I had so badly wanted to go and say Hi to Nonnie and meet Sue @ Vintage to Victorian as arranged at the craft fair held in Bath, but I still felt as though I had been hit by a bus by this horrible virus that is doing the rounds....I couldn't stand another day looking at the ceiling and listening to the distant hum of Christmas shoppers.. I even took a photo from my bed to pass the time after I had read the Telegraph glossy back to front... how desperate is that?!


I could not resist the lure of the glitter today and determined was I to get in the mood for Christmas I got up from bed and decided to seek out the Christmas trimmings.
Every Christmas as I dig out the boxes of decorations I do feel a sense of what went before and remember Christmasses past.
Every decoration has some poignancy or memory attached to it... some bitter but mostly sweet.
This year is no exception and I, eager as a child, rummaged through the boxes to find forgotten treasures and landmarks of the festive seasons from childhood to now. I have managed to salvage a few very precious decorations from my childhood which have all kinds of memories for me as they have appeared every year over the last 40 something years to adorn our tree. My favourite is a snowman made of card and old tarnished glitter.. just the way I love it!
They are still wrapped in tissue waiting for the arrival of the tree but I was keen to decorate my mantelpiece this year as I promised you earlier.. ..

I had bought a collection of vintage bottle brush trees from the good ol U.S.A and these were going to be my main feature... a forest of bristle and wood and old mica dust.









Well it took me all of 10 minutes or so to dress the mantle and I suspect that I will be tweaking this and that to perfect the festive scene. I have used one of our prize pieces of sculpture, the angel centrepiece, by Edwina Bridgeman an eminent local artist and friend and my favourite mercury glass votives to add the twinkle and magic!


It was unfortunate that my camera decided to run out of juice in the middle of my photograph session so I resorted to my mobile phone camera which gives the effect of a print on linen... or in other words..a poor photo!



So did you get the glitter urge today and wrap the family in tinsel?

P.s Note to Fiona aka Nonnie.. so sorry didn't get to see you at the fair... I hope you did well. Looking forward to hearing all about it.

Pickles has been tagged....

Lying in state in sick bed and bored rigid... so here's one I prepared earlier.....
(Thanks so much for get well wishes... they are the best medicine!)

Captain Rupert @ Higglety Pigglety has tagged Pickles... so here goes..
Pickles has his say...and you won't hear the last of it!

Name five favourite songs

1. (Diamonds) Tabbies are forever
2. Cool for Cats
3. (Born) Prawn free!
4. (Wish) Fish upon a star
5. Tiger Feet

Five favourite toys

1. Wally the Walrus..my best loved catnip toy
2. Any cardboard box that happens to be vacant
3. Helium balloons.. love to jump up and catch the string .Always a favourite at Christmas
4. Clockwork mouse.. when the real thing is unavailable
5. Chasing my own tail when there’s nothing else to do


Name five things you love to eat

1. Fish fish and more fish
2. Fish
3. Science Plan munchies
4. Prawns when I am lucky!
5. Greek yoghurt.. well why not!

Five activities you like to indulge in

1. Curtain twitching
2. Climbing into small spaces.. boxes, cupboards, whatever fits!
3. Bird watching
4. Digging up the garden
5. Sleeping! Lots of sleeping.







Name five bad habits …only five!?

1. Ambushing feet on the stairs
2. Attention seeking.. climbing along the mantelpiece and knocking ornaments off.. only when I am hungry though!
3. Paddling in the bath with muddy paws
4. Chasing the cute cat next door!
5. Bringing up hairballs on the best rug…… sorry tmi.







Just to let you know that Pickles is working on his autobiography ... place your orders now!