Nine

Each year around the time of my blog birthday I share a post to celebrate my space on the internet, and this year’s no different. The posts often feature a list, but this year I was struggling to think of a theme. Nine years is a long time blogging, and a long commitment - but nine what?

Last year my list was on how life had changed during Covid, before that seven gardens to visit - and yes, that didn’t go quite to plan, though I did revisit my progress back in January.

I was stumped.

Where did we holiday nine years ago, I’m not quite sure I know that easily, or can lay my hands on photos - though I do know we went to Guernsey for our wedding anniversary in June and had a great time. Then inspiration struck when I realised that the traditional 9 year anniversary gift theme was pottery.

That was something I could work with - and while the link may be tenuous in some cases, here’s nine posts from over the years to celebrate.

And here’s to more years blogging too - thank you for continuing to support my blog, it’s great to see you here.

A waiting game

I’m not known for my patience, but here I’ve excelled myself. I’ve long been a fan of the blue rimmed white enamelware, and over the years I’ve acquired pie dishes, pie plates and tumblers, and it’s always something I look out for in markets and charity shops. Last summer I branched out colour-wise when I fell in love with the mustard yellow jug.

In the first lockdown of 2020 the ads in my browser started to show enamelware and eventually I cracked and headed over to see what was there. I quickly became very taken with Falcon’s Enamelware 5 piece bake set - the added attraction was being able to use on our induction hob, a bonus over our current pans. But it was out of stock. And it stayed out of stock for quite a while.

Briefly it came back into stock and I thought to myself - great, I’ll sort that out.

And then by the time I did people had got there before I had. So I was waiting again.

Occasionally I’d find myself on the site, but there was still no stock. I was almost resigned to the fact that it wasn’t meant to be.

Then, guess what? A week or so ago when I checked again, there was stock. There it was the blue rimmed white enamel bakeware set. I wasn’t going to miss out this time, so it was in my basket and checked out before you could say, well pie dish.

And then it was here, and just as beautiful as I thought it would be. I also bought a small tray and took full advantage of the first purchase discount.

MOH predictably asked if with new tins coming in, this meant some old tins would be going out. And it may, but not just yet. We’ve already made good use of the small tray and a couple of the tins, I think even MOH is surprised.

And I now have a new Falcon Enamelware item to stalk. The small tray is so useful, and just the right size to hold my olive oil bottle which sits behind the hob, but as our worktop is black granite the white one isn’t quite right, so now I’m stalking the black version - which yes, you’ve guessed it, is out of stock.

It seems my life isn’t complete without playing the waiting game with Falcon Enamelware. Luckily, I’m ready to play the long game - let’s hope it doesn’t test my patience (or lack of) too much.

Street art in Lyons

Lyons was our last trip abroad, pre-pandemic in February 2020. It seems so long ago in some ways, but also still quite fresh in my memory. Maybe because it was our last trip abroad, maybe because it was such a great trip - and most likely because just thinking about it makes me feel full up, the food everywhere in Lyons was so, so good and also for our mad dash through the airport to make sure we didn’t miss the plane. We didn’t, but it was way closer than either of us liked.

Lyons was a pretty city, and we covered a lot of it on foot. We walk a lot when we’re away anyway, but it was also much needed exercise after sampling, no eating, plenty of glorious food. I don’t think I’ve ever been so full, for so long. And it was full of street art, each with a very different feel. It’s a tough one, but I think these roses are my favourite - they’re on an unassuming part of a building, between two drainpipes with a gargoyle perhaps showing his displeasure.

The cat chasing a butterfly came a close second though. With the neon graffiti alongside it, both were eyecatching in different ways.

This one shouts uber cool, though the partir ou mourir (leave or die) grave stone brings another dimension. The yellow shapes behind look like they’re part of a different addition to the wall, but also they do highlight and enhance the overall look, who knows?

And to prove there were all different styles, this rather strange shaped protrusion onto the pavement was decorated quite differently. With the spring like flowers, and the three hearts to the left. And that’s without mentioning the sculpture which is part of the building. Completely intriguing.

The final piece of artwork I’m sharing was just stunning, and in a most unusual spot. They were on one side of a stepped area, a prolonged stepped area which seemed to be never ending and definitely needed something to distract you from the steps. So many steps! I took full advantage of a photo stop!

I love it when a city has unexpected finds like this, don’t you?