Books and bed...

So now we know our post-lockdown tiers. For London it’s tier 2, which is what I expected really, and hoped that it wouldn’t be tier 3, I do feel for those that have unexpectedly found themselves there. I think it was probably close for London, and to be honest with the amount of people out and about on ‘essential’ trips, it could quite easily escalate.

And so, books and bed is quite apt. That feels like a very sensible option. So I thought it was a good time to share the bedroom in the holiday cottage we stayed in last month, ahead of all these tiers. It was a small, but perfectly formed space.

So small that it was mostly the king size bed. The ‘room’ itself had two ‘doors’ or rather curtains across each entrance. There was no walking around the bed, and the bed was high. So high, that there were small stools to help you climb in. But it was a fab space.

The alcove above the pillows held plenty of stylish looking books. Carefully arranged, but books that were clearly well used. As books should be.

The colours drew me in. And then the books did too.

The childhood memories from these Observer’s books came flooding back. I’m sure we had a similar series of books, if not these.

Definitely a world of information at your fingertips.

I told you the room was small didn’t I? But one stuffed full of character.

And despite the decorative approach to the wardrobe there was plenty of inbuilt storage space. Under the bed. That’s why it was so high. The pull out drawers were large enough to hold our travel bag. That alone was worth climbing into bed for.

I hope you’re coping with the latest announcements and the restrictions they bring. I’ve a busy few weeks at work ahead, but the thought - and promise to myself - of books and bed will get me through it.

A fence post, or two, that made me smile

Yes, you did read that right - and I think once you see them you’ll probably agree with me. Or you’ll think I’m completely bonkers. And if you do, I’d like to point out that I only photographed them. I’m not sure of their purpose - other than to perhaps brighten up some raised beds, and raise a smile or two. I’d love to know more about them, and who decorated, what look like fence posts.

Very nice fence posts. Now. Some with messages.

Love your garden.

Sundowners

Fifty shades of summer.

Gone to the beach.

All great messages, and all very uplifting. My favourites are the ones on the left of the photo below, especially the one with the pale background and various flowers.

Though it seems when I was there I was more taken with the beds on the right, as I’ve many more photos of those.

But they made me smile, and I hope they’ve made you smile too!

Browsing an actual shop

I know, what a novelty. Last week we were away in Norfolk staying in a beautiful, but tiny, cottage close to Holt. More on the cottage another day, it was stunning. But then again, so is Holt - it’s one of my favourite Norfolk towns. We’ve only been to Norfolk three times this year - thanks 2020 - but hadn’t managed to get over to Holt, until this visit. It has some great shops, and it felt almost decadent to be in them, looking around, albeit with face coverings and social distancing, of course.

So today, join me for a wander around the shops, and see what caught my eye.

Holt has plenty of small yards, which are packed full of shops to explore, and we started in Follyology, a new-to-us shop, both of us drawn in by the garden ornaments. The wall art below was very well strategically placed, and caught our eyes. It is stunning, and realistically priced at about a hundred pounds ( I think from memory - sometimes it’s good not to know, or remember, isn’t it?)

From what was on display outside I was keen to see more of the shop inside. That didn’t disappoint either. It was full of colour.

As well as items which I’d not considered before, like these pretty ceramic teaspoons,

Downstairs there were homewares, upstairs clothes and accessories. And it was the latter, on a table in the centre that was my focus, with a number of decorated velvet pouches.

I resisted at the time, but resistance was futile and a day or so later returned to purchase one of the small pouches - you might have already seen which one on Instagram?

Feeling more normal, despite the masks, next up was a wander around the nearby streets and yards, and a pop in to Bakers and Larner’s food hall for something for tea. Another fabulous shop, which seems to have a never-ending series of departments, though in Covid-19 times there are designated entrance and exits, as you’d expect, but which made me realise I knew more of the shop’s layout than I realised.

Around the town I spotted a couple of penguins in one of the shop windows. Clearly not real ones, but they were rather cute. I think MOH was glad these weren’t the things we popped back to Holt for.

Well, not that time anyway.

Maybe my attraction to Holt is its colourfulness, maybe its quirkiness, who knows?

But what was clear was that it felt good To be back, even just for a short while.