I have a confession

I am completely addicted to Modcloth.com. I only discovered it properly two weeks ago (living under a rock, I tell you) and when I first looked I thought "gee, this is great". I put a few things on my wishlist. Didn't really think about it again. Then, it popped up in another blog I was reading and I went and had another look. A whole slew of new dresses and necklaces and shoes! Updated every day! Since then, I have sneakily been checking up on them every day, just in case something wonderful appears. And today I placed an order! I can't wait! Here's what I deliberated over and finally ordered:

Venetian Dress

Bonnie and Clyde Onesie

Frankly Fabulous Tunic

New Music

One Sunday back a few months ago, we were sitting at home doing a whole lot of nothing when a a lovely voice and a catchy tune caught our attention on Sunday Arts. It was a young lady called Megan Washington. We are big fans of Spontaneous Music Purchases - buying CDs having only heard one song, going to concerts for the same reason - and so we instantly googled, saw that she was performing at the Studio, and bought tickets within about 4 minutes of hearing that song (it was Chelsea, if you're interested).

I could carry on about how fantastic the night was for days, but it comes down to this: it was one of the best nights of live music I have ever been to. Her voice, the variety of musicians she had involved, the instruments, the wine and toblerone... it was near perfect.


She has since released an EP, How to Tame Lions, and the man has just bought us tickets to go and see her again at the Oxford Art Factory. I am soooo excited. It has been a long time since an artist has made me so enthralled.

Watching, waiting, listening

Waiting for this delicious top from VeronicaDarling to make its way to my letterbox.

Watching a bit of A Bit of Fry and Laurie (hehe). Hilarious. Watching Stephen Fry do his trip around America has been great too.

Listening to the new Muse album. I like it, a lot. And I feel that it will only get better with subsequent listens.

Growth in the Garden Area

Tis September and for those of us living on the southern side of the world, time for planting, cleaning out cupboards, and hayfever - yes, it's Spring!

In a suitably perky mood last weekend, I visited my local nursery and stocked up on some loveliness to get me through the summer. I'm a bit lacking in the actual garden department but make up for it with some large pots and a rockery area.

Lavender is always a favourite. This particular kind above is Avonview.

The rockery area is an odd shape and seems to have been fashioned around our hot water system. Strange. I am going to try this little cutie, a Red Saxifraga. Apparently it loves rocks and shade. Good luck to it I say!

The windowbox area outside my kitchen window. I have thyme, capsicum and a magenta pigface. It was intended for my very exciting purchase of this fantastic pig, however, I think the plant will be bigger than the pig.

Lovely friendly sunny geranium. Reminds me of my grandma.


Last but not at all least, an ornamental kale. I have admired kale as a cut flower at my local florist for a while, but it always seems outrageously expensive. So I pounced when I saw it for sale as a plant! I love the colours in it.

Are you fixing up your garden this spring? I'd love to hear what you are planting.

Planning Japan

For a few years now, my yearning to have a holiday in Japan has been growing stronger and stronger. I have kept a little notebook with tidbits from newspapers and experiences friends have had, have taken books from the library, and generally get excited every time I watch Iron Chef. Well, I am pleased to tell you that my trip is actually going to happen, next March. We are going to go for a month, and are currently working out where we want to visit and what we want to do. Currently my list includes (and stay tuned as we update our itinerary)...


Having a Kaiseki-Ryori meal, a very posh Japanese degustation meal. Possibly in Kyoto.

Seeing the Sakura (Cherry Blossoms). We are planning to go at just the right time to catch them at their best.

Seeing the snow monkeys in a little village near Nagano, where they laze around in the hot spas.

This is only the tip of the iceberg! I look forward to sharing our planning with you and would love to hear of anyone's experiences or travel tips!

Books from my childhood

My post from a few days ago got me thinking about the drawings I did when I was young. I have always loved books, and several stick out in my memory from when I was young. I can still remember the illustrations and the words. They are the kind of books I would want my children to have.Window by Jeannie Baker is a picture book without words, showing the progression of the countryside through a window into a thriving city. It is a gorgeous evocative book, one of my favourites.The Eleventh Hour by Graeme Base is another favourite. This whodunnit has the most intricate and thrilling illustrations and hidden puzzles and codes to solve as you try to work out who ate the feast! An absolute joy.

More Spaghetti, I Say! by Rita Golden Gelman and Jack Kerri still makes me laugh hysterically. It is a story of two monkeys, one with a major spaghetti eating problem. It is a rhyming book, and my mum used to read it with funny voices. We would read it over and over again. I still remember some of the lines:

"No, I can NOT! I can not come and play. Can't you see? I need more! More spaghetti, I say!"

What are some of you most memorable books from childhood? I would love to discover some new ones and remember some classics.

Starting Young

Oh, my gosh. This young man is 12. I am completely blown over by his talent. Such gorgeous and honest illustrations of the town in which I live!

This particular one strikes a chord as it is where I am working at the moment. A view I see every night!

Have a look at the rest of his drawings: moofus.etsy.com