My vintage heart

A few weeks ago browsing through Instagram something special caught my eye, and less than a week later it was with me, and I had the challenge of working out where to display it. Of course, I’m talking about the vintage heart, and it was total love at first sight.

When it arrived, there wasn’t a plan of where it would go. I wasn’t actually sure how big it would be, so didn’t want to fix on a place and then need to rethink. If I’m honest there isn’t much space for thinking right now, as my head feels full, so having to do it twice felt like something that could wait.

I was fully asking MOH to ask where when it arrived, as well as one other predictable comment. And he didn’t totally disappoint. He mentioned, just in passing, that it was a little rusty…

I think I’ve found the perfect spot for it though, and I’m trying to keep my blinkers on while browsing Instagram, as I’m now following many more similar accounts, who are all selling items I’d happily own.

Motor cars, prints with all the glamour

Motor cars, just saying the words make me smile and think of something terribly old-fashioned. And if you’ve already seen the pictures in this post, you’ll understand why it’s motor car, and not just car.

Motor cars scream glamour, sophistication and money. Though to be fair, today’s more modern day versions are hardly cheap are they?

But it was on our recent trip to Kenilworth Castle that my inner petrol-head was once again reignited. And in the most fantastic way, with these fascinating drawings, or prints of old-fashioned cars. They were part of the 'Speed and Power: John Siddeley, Pioneer of the Motor Age' at Kenilworth Castle, which celebrates motoring and aviation pioneer, Sir John Siddeley and first Baron Kenilworth, a British motoring pioneer who bought the castle in 1937.

Aren’t they great? And weren’t you momentarily transported back to what appears to be a more glamorous - and one would expect, less road rage filled - age?

Reflecting on my week #95

It’s been another of those weeks where the work days fly past pretty much unmarked and almost unnoticed apart from the amount of time spent away from home, and where it feels like we’re living for the weekend. And in a way, we are, as without the confines of the office we can cram as much in as we can. Or we can choose to stop and chill.

Or do a bit of both. The end of last week saw both of those. A relaxing, but get things done kind of day at home, where I finally ordered a new kitchen bin (the one we saw at Grand Designs in May) and some doormats which I’d been pondering for a little while longer.

There was also a trip to Norfolk, in the wind, and after a short delay at the Blackwall Tunnel we were on our way. Only to be paused again a few miles further down the road, with a small fallen tree. Recognising that it could turn into one of those journeys, a loo stop was built in. Nearly four hours later we arrived armed with a fish and chip supper.

It’s often windy in Hunstanton, but even for there it was windy this weekend with its 50mph winds. So of course, what better than to go along the cliff tops for a walk?

It was hard work at times. Even the plants were struggling.

With the forecast proving to be correct, some indoor activity was needed. And that’s how we found ourselves in Setchey, close to Kings Lynn, wandering around a warehouse of antiques and collectibles. It was the sort of place that was displayed in a series of spaces, each with items belonging to a separate vendor.

The result was a visual assault on your senses, so much so that it was impossible to see everything on a single walk around the vast space. There were items along the way, like this Fab-licious sign, that seriously tempted me and challenged me to remember their exact locations, should temptation really bite and turn into a purchase.

There was a small decorative brass box, which I was so taken with somehow I didn’t even photograph, and now wish I had. But by then something else had caught my eye - a large basket of embroidery and crochet threads, which I immediately thought could work with the part-finished tablecloth, and project for the future, which I purchased in a similar kind of place in Suffolk a while back.

Looking back at that post I was pretty pleased with my colour matching memory. I was also pretty sure that I’d have fun just sorting through its contents, which turned out to be the case, I’m sharing more about what was in the basket in my next post, but no promises on exactly how I’ll use them!