Choosing a quirky apartment, instead of a hotel in Porto

Usually our holidays tend to be cottage-based rather than in a hotel, and that's how we like them. And so when we were in Portugal I was keen for part of our trip to follow our preferred approach. I struck lucky in Porto finding the Apartment Bomfim 234, and as you can see from the photos it positively shines.

Unbelievably I booked it on Expedia.  I know, that surprised me too.  From the outside though you'd never have known what was inside. This was the view that met us as we opened the door.

I wouldn't call myself a natural fan of mid-century modern furniture, it's a style of furniture that while I admire, I skip over when choosing items for our home. I'm not sure if that is due to growing up in a sea of teak and G-plan furniture in the seventies or because I'm pre-disposed to other styles, but in this apartment I started to see what I was missing out on.

This cabinet was the winner for me, not that we had the TV on (that's a rarity on our holidays too), and I think it's the added colour that won me over. For me, that takes this style of furniture to another level and I've found myself admiring similar projects since I've been home. It moves it away from those seventies memories, and into something more up to date, don't you think?

But there was more to the apartment than the furniture. There was the layout. On the mezzanine level there was the bedroom, on the ground floor the sitting area and a half floor below housed the kitchen and bathroom.  

All were accessed by open staircases, which were the feature. These above, which lead to the bedroom do have a look of "shelves" about them, and were much easier to navigate than perhaps you'd expect.  

Upstairs the bedroom area, although snug, was just as stylish.  

When I say snug, there was just room for a bed, and just about enough room to get in it. Just, it was a bit of a squeeze, but I forgave it; its stylishness one me over. 

And, oh... the bedside lights.  A feature we both liked and a design element we're storing for the future.

Heading downstairs to the kitchen area felt in some ways more precarious, but no less stylish. MOH kept marvelling at the building regs and such like that made this possible, ever the practical one...

Standing at the kitchen table gave a great view up to the living area and full length windows, complete with shutters.

Now you might be thinking Porto, fabulous tiles and wondering where they are in this apartment. Well it didn't disappoint there either. They were saved for a full wall of pattern in the bathroom. 

My first thought was wow, they're busy, but that quickly turned to wow, they're beautiful. Beautiful close up and from more of a distance, and they certainly made an impact. With another idea for the future banked, and another style feature I'd usually shy away from I was having quite an epiphany, and we'd only just arrived in Porto!

As we headed out of the apartment to explore Porto some more I noticed the first of many more walls of tiles. These were in the hallway, which somehow I'd completely overlooked as we arrived. 

Geometrics are big in the shops here at the moment aren't they, but it seems in some places they've never gone away.

A knockout of a pinny from Bespoke Binny

When Bespoke Binny got in touch about trying out their homewares, after looking at their site I settled on an apron. With the promise of more outdoor cooking on the cards, and with no pinny of my own it seemed meant to be. The designs all have vibrant colours and West African prints, and well you know me and colour, so you'll not be surprised to learn my apron had some yellow in it!

It arrived, beautifully packaged, on the Saturday morning of our 110th party, so arriving with great timing for me to put it to the test. By the time this photo was taken I'd half changed for the party, but I was still unsure what top I'd wear (as I was reconsidering my chosen outfit given the heat!). And why is it that my hair flicks out, instead of under in the heat - it's fixable of course, but only with the addition of even more heat.

CHEAT'S PANACOTTA, ME AND MY BESPOKE BINNY APRON

I hadn't really thought my outfit through alongside the apron. The Black and yellow check pattern, which I loved, was stylish and different enough to stand out, but not so much that I felt overly conspicuous, but with orange cropped trousers, that was colourful!

Never mind, there was still work to be done.

And much to MOH's dismay that included arranging (or plonking) some flowers into water. He thought it was a non-essential job (ahem, less so than cleaning the inside of the bathroom cabinet I'd say), but having bought yellow and coral carnations I was determined to use them as I'd planned.  And as I was snipping their stems and placing them into our small gravy and cream jug I realised that yellow and orange weren't that much of clash after all. It can't be can it, as it's one of nature's colour schemes.

The apron is lined with cotton twill and I think after washing will be less stiff, as it'd just arrived that morning I didn't have time for that, but that didn't mean it wasn't comfortable. The neck strap was a little long for me, but I expected that, as at five foot two things are often a little long. A quick knot in the neck strap and it was easily adjusted. 

My next job that was captured on camera was hanging some bunting in the gazebo, not usually the kind of job that requires an apron but by now I'd forgotten I had it on and when I remembered I was so sure I'd spill something down my trousers that I was happy to leave the apron on until the party started.

I think part of the reason I haven't had a pinny of my own until now is I've not found one that isn't a bit too twee and frilly, or one that I'd wear. Strangely MOH now has two aprons (not pinnies obviously) but I think that's because he's most likely to wear them cooking outdoors, whether that's the barbecue or the pizza oven. And I'm happy for him to continue leading on the outdoor cooking - it's a man thing, I know - but now if and when I'm called into help I'll be well equipped with my own pinny.  

Actually I think I'll be donning my apron for bread making, as I invariably end up with flour down the front of me at some point, especially if I'm kneading bread. There's a large contrasting pocket on the front, just where you'd expect and I'm sure in weeks to come I'll store something there and forget about it. For me, I think there's a small improvement that could be made to the apron, and that's to have longer ties so that it could be tied at the front, rather than just at the back. A small thing, but I naturally crossed the ties over at the back, to tie at the front, but they weren't quite long enough. Of course, that's not going to stop me wearing this, or enjoying it - I mean anything that helps me be less messy, or making my clothes less messy, is good by me. 

HANGING OVER THE DOOR TO SHOW OFF ITS FULL DESIGN

As well as aprons and matching oven gloves, there's also cushions and lampshades too and I think any of which would make a unique and stylish gift. What's even better is the designs are, I think, suitable for anyone, male or female and that makes them a great find in my book. There's plenty of designs to choose from and I'm sure you'll find one for whoever you have in mind.

What do you think?  I love the colours of mine, and I think it's very me - the fact that it matches a third of my dining chairs just underlines that really doesn't it?!

* This is a collaborative post, but all views and opinions are my own.

Proper Bikes (and more) at the London Bike Show

At the end of last week HeyGreenGo got in touch and offered me tickets to the London Bike Show which they were one of the sponsors of. MOH had planned to pop into the show after a 60 mile ride which started at the Excel on Sunday, but I didn't have any plans to go along. I assumed the show would be geared towards those who take cycling a bit more seriously and for those that wear full cycling gear, which as you know isn't me.

But taking a look at the site I wondered if my assumption was right. I knew MOH was keen to look at potential new bikes, and I knew that after cycling sixty miles or so around Essex that maybe might not be high on his agenda, so going a day earlier might work out well. And so that's what we did.

Imagine my surprise then when on the first stand we stopped at I spied a step through bike, and bikes with wicker baskets. Just my sort of bikes and where the afternoon potentially turned expensive. As with any show there were show offers, but while I was interested I knew I wouldn't buy one on the day, as for me a show offer only really works if you've done your homework beforehand and not in the fifteen minutes or so you spend on the stand.

The bikes that were deemed suitable for me ranged from £700 to £2,250 - and now you can see why I say deemed suitable. I think if I were to spend the higher end of that range on a bike I wouldn't leave it anywhere, ever. There were though some very nice bikes, and we spent quite a while learning about the bikes from an informed salesman. I don't know much about the technical parts of a bike, and nor do I think I need too, but I did find it frustrating that when it got to a technical bit it wasn't me that was being spoken to, it was MOH.  

A salesman once did that when I bought my Megane, and yes I still bought the car because it was a good deal. He insisted on talking to MOH, who doesn't drive, and asked MOH if he wanted to sit inside. The salesman's face was a picture when MOH got into the passenger seat. After that the salesman spoke to me more often and backtracked really quickly, and couldn't do enough for me to get the sale.

But I digress, it's still frustrating though.

I was quite taken with the Pashley, but was potentially swayed by the basket, which I think is bigger than my current basket and proper wicker, rather than plastic wicker. The Brooks saddle doesn't look quite as comfortable as my current padded leather one, but I know they come well recommended and well, they mould themselves to the shape of your derriere.

The bikes on the stand were generally in neutral colours and I think that's what made the one below stand out. I'm quite partial to green as well, so I found myself drawn to this one from a cosmetic viewpoint. It didn't have traditional brakes and involved pedalling backwards to brake, which I'm sure you get used to but it probably wasn't something to try out at the Excel on Saturday. It's a looker though isn't it?

In fact as I'm writing this I've realised I tried two bikes out for size, which was two more than MOH did and it was him that was supposed to be more seriously looking for a bike. Whoops.

This is the one at the higher end of that range I gave you earlier and was beautiful. It had a couple of people placed alongside it and I couldn't work out if they were just taking a break or ready to pounce on anyone that was taking a serious interest in it.

The light was integrated and pedalling powered the light, very clever. The chain too looked different, we saw this maintenance-free style chain on a couple of the bikes on this stand, and it looks interesting, although I'm sure I could make this type of chain come off, most probably without too much effort.  

What I did like about the people we spoke to on this stand, even the salesman that could sense my eyes glaze over at the technicalities, and throughout the show to be fair, was that none of them looked down their noses at us for having Halfords bikes (and nor should they), or for me being at the more leisure end of the cycling scale and that was much appreciated. Now if more cyclists had that attitude I think we'd all be better for it.

Finally we left the first stand, I know, I think I might have become obsessed with these bikes and I think I've realised that at some point this year I'll be replacing my bike. There's nothing wrong with mine, but it is a bit of a beast (MOH's nickname for it) and it is heavy. I know I want to keep an upright and step through style and I know that I don't want to spend four figures on it. I now also know there's a bike shop in Great Portland Street that will take the time to find me a bike that suits me and my price range, and so quite a useful afternoon. 

At the next stand MOH learnt more about the ORRO bikes, who are based in Ditchling, near(ish) to Brighton. I think he was quite taken with this one, and it was interesting to see him being drawn to black and red styled bikes throughout the show. 

There were many colours to choose from, and many specifications. You'll not be surprised to learn this one caught my eye, for the obvious reason. Here's a clue if you're not sure why: 💛

Elsewhere in the show there were clothing brands as you'd expect and plenty of lycra on sale and being worn. These more feminine tops from Chapeau caught my eye, but I'm still not sure if I'd buy one or not. I don't like, or wear tops cycling or otherwise with high necklines. I know why they're designed like this, but I've yet to be convinced, and all my cycling tops with back pockets (which are very useful on longer trips, even with a basket) are a vest style, which gives me the lower neckline, but are also sleeveless which isn't always practical. 

One day, maybe, I'll find what I'm looking for. 

Throughout the show there were many opportunities to try energy bars and flapjacks. Our favourites tend to be Cliff bars, as they're not too artificial tasting, are very dense but they do give your jaw a good workout so are good value too as we often share one between us.

When I spotted this beetroot based Beet It stand, I was keen to learn more, and to taste their bars to see just how beetroot-y and earthy they were. The answer is not as much as you think, and the bars were quite pleasant to eat, but not overly sweet either. Beetroot is full of nitrates, and that's good, especially for exercise; the more you have, the more it opens your arteries which allows more oxygen to get to where it's needed. That's the non-technical description of why.

What's more is where these are made in Suffolk the beetroot pulp is returned to the farm so that it can be fed to the pigs, so there's hardly any wastage and both us and the pigs benefit from the natural produce. The beetroot shots are quite concentrated and so do turn your wee pink, which could be a shock if you weren't prepared for it, and I do wonder if it has the same effect on the pigs too - I didn't ask that!

One of the last stands we visited was the Vitus stand, MOH had heard of them, I hadn't. I was though quite taken with the classic racer bike they had on display. It's a real beauty and the style of bike I remember being popular as I grew up in South London in the 1970s. I couldn't get on these then, so there'd be no chance now, this one was suspended way above my head, so it was safe, but it really is a design classic isn't it? 

So quite an afternoon at the London Bike Show, and I was glad we went, and even more glad that I'd found, what I call, Proper Bikes  if you haven't worked it out already that's step through and with a wicker basket. MOH still shakes his head, but for me a bike without a basket just isn't happening, I find it way too useful. 

We headed back to Greenwich on the cable car and was treated to another fantastic sunset, London still has the power to surprise me at times.  

I never really expected to find my kind of bikes at the show, let alone be considering a new bike, and I think I'll be studying this little black book of bikes more closely, working out what my budget is and most likely popping up to Great Portland Street to actually try some out for size. 

So while the afternoon itself didn't turn out to be expensive, there is still potential that our visit to the London Bike Show might mean a couple of new bikes for us, at some point. Ah well, there's worse things I guess...

Did you go along to the London Bike Show? What did you think?

* This is a collaborative post, with thanks to HeyGreenGo who gifted me tickets for the London Bike Show. As usual all views and opinions are my own.