Corrugated colour and flip flops

From the vibe of the decor in the restaurant which billed itself as serving Rio street food I had high hopes for the decor in the loos in Cabana. As I reached the staircase, made of scaffold poles and planks for the treads I started to think I could be right, but I had no idea what I was to discover.

It was quite a trek down, and on reflection the ground floor was a light and double-floored space so perhaps that shouldn't have been such a surprise.  When I entered The Loos, as they were signposted, this is what I was met with.

It was as if I'd walked into one of those storage containers, albeit a pretty pastel rainbow one.  Showing how pre-programmed we are, and conforming to type, I headed left to a door with pink flop flops nailed on.

As I had the space to myself I took a peek behind each of the pink doors.  The decor behind each door matched its place in the rainbow, but all of them had these funky, beaded oversized lampshades.

LILAC

CANDY PINK

CERISE PINK

But it wasn't just the paintwork or the corrugate finish. The mirror and sink also stood out - and behind the mirror there was a tame hand dryer, with a more ferocious one out in the lobby.

The tap almost looks out of place, but I coped.

Fun isn't it?  And totally in keeping for the restaurant's vibe, but also far from what I expected when I opened the door.

Wow! Heather at Compton Acres

Compton Acres is a fabulous independent garden in Poole, Dorset and the Heather Garden there was just one of the gardens that blew us away when we visited in March last year.  The garden has over 100 different forms of heathers, and if I'm honest who knew there were so many?

I don't seem to have much luck with heathers in my own garden and while there's some heather around the lake in Greenwich Park, nothing on this scale. But we weren't aware of what lay ahead of us until we turned the corner and saw this:

Yes, exactly. 

I told you it was quite something.

Originally this space, which is south facing and full of rocky banks was the summer home of Thomas Simpson's cactus and succulent collection, which I'm sure would be equally as impactful. That was lost during World War II and after it was transformed into what would have been, at the time, a highly fashionable heather garden.

There were walkways and benches to get up close to the heather, and so that's what I did.  Each plant was full of colour, and nothing like the sorry plants I've had in my garden, and which has led me to give up on heather in this garden. It's all in the soil, and my woodland-like garden isn't where they want to be.

As you can see from the colour of the sky March last year was much different to this year, which I'm grateful for, but I can't help but wonder if the Heather Garden was as spectacular with a grey backdrop. It may well have been.

Despite being wowed by the overall sense of the garden there were still quirks to discover as you explored its paths.  These two lead statues were fun and elegant at the same time.

So who knew that heather could be this amazing, certainly not me and I couldn't help but be a little envious of the residents close by who overlooked this part of the garden.  I've plenty more to show you from this fascinating garden, and I'll do that over the next few weeks, but if you're in the area - or even close by - do go and have a look for yourself, I'm sure you won't be disappointed.

Post Comment Love and Blogger Showcase 13-15 April

Hello there and welcome to this week's #PoCoLo - it's Friday the thirteenth today and so I hope that goes by without any mishaps.  If you were here last week, it was great to see you and if you're new here this week then I know you'll be made to feel very welcome by both Morgan and I and all of our lovely linkers.

I feel as if I've been submerged in a vat of grey this week. It's been misty here with occasional bursts of sunshine. There's been rain but I haven't minded the proper rain so much, but I'm not a fan of that stuff that just hangs in the air.  The usual complaint is frizzy hair, but mine of course revels in being different and instead of staying where I'd blow dried it does the exact opposite, and so for most of this week I've just let it be.  Sometimes it's the only way.

The work on our conservatory is getting ever closer and I'll have more to share on that over the weekend.  Somehow I've lost another week, this one in advance as I was convinced we had an extra week to eat the freezer - but we don't.  I guess that means there'll be some rearranging happening this weekend, or a lot of eating. Or both.

The sofa samples have started to arrive and even though it's been grey outside I never realised there were quite so many greys. Some blue, some pink, some brown and some actually grey.  And yes I know the yellow velvet is about as far from sensible grey that you can get but I couldn't help but add it to my swatches.

Blogger Showcase: Nate from Above Average Nate

1. Who are you?

My name is Nate Johnson. I like to read, run, and ramble (in the traveling sense). I have my own blog, www.aboveaveragenate.com where I write whatever I'm feeling for that day.

2. How did you discover blogging?

I discovered blogging through The James Altucher Podcast. James mentioned it multiple times and I felt I should give it a try.

3. Why did you start blogging?

To document my life and allow my children to see my successes and failures in my early 20s. 

4. What do you find most challenging?

Fighting perfectionism. Sometimes I get too scared to write because I think it won't be worth reading. So I don't even try.

5. What is your favourite topic to write about?

I enjoy writing about goal setting and using myself as a case study for how to set and achieve goals.

6. Are you blogging for fun or do you have goals?

I started out writing for fun. I have the goal of being a New York Times best-selling author.

7. What is your favourite thing about blogging?

Giving voice to a topic or opinion that I believe more people should hear about.

8. Have you ever attended a blogging conference?

No.

9. What are your 3 best posts?

• My Ten-Year Plan for a Remarkable Life Option Three

• Beautiful Ashes

• Being Published in a National Magazine

10. Describe yourself in three words!

Creative, Writer, Traveler.

11. Are you a tea and biscuits or coffee and cake person?

Tea and biscuits.

12. What's your idea of a perfect night out?

Going to a steakhouse and seeing a movie.

13. Your perfect night in?

Reading a good book and evening yoga.

14. What would your best friend say is your best quality?

Loyalty and Passion.

Thanks for being our Blogger Showcase this week Nate, finding new blogs is one of my favourite things about this feature.  

If you're not already connected to Nate then do take a minute to check out his blog and social channels:  Twitter  -  Instagram  -  Facebook  -  YouTube 

If you'd like to be featured in our Blogger Showcase then please get in touch with Morgan or I.

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