Sunny Days and Afternoon Tea in Bourne

A couple of weeks ago, Ed and I decided to use one of our Christmas presents. It was a voucher for afternoon tea and we chose to visit the Toft Hotel just outside Bourne. I used to work in a construction site around Bourne a few years ago and have fond memories of the place. It has some great charity shops, pubs and historic places. It also has some beautiful countryside that is worth exploring.

I'd never been to or heard of the Toft hotel and its afternoon tea before. And I wasn't sure about what to expect. We were both pleasantly surprised. It is lovely hotel housed in a pretty building and surrounded by gardens, the golf course and rolling hills. The interiors were pretty and English kitsch.

The afternoon tea was nice too. We were presented with generous selection of sandwiches, cakes and scones. I like my teas and they stocked a lovely selection of Suki teas which was a pleasant surprise. Ed's coffee was pretty good too. The service was pleasant and efficient. The sun was shining we chose to eat in the garden to make the most of the glorious weather.

The afternoon tea outing was as good an excuse as any to wear one of my latest summer finds from Butterfly. The delicate Havren blush lace dress was so English and summery that I easily succumbed to it. I teamed it with nude heels from M&S and a Marc Jacobs Baby Stam bag.

Anyway, If you are looking for a spot of afternoon tea in the Peterborough/Lincolshire area, I recommend checking out the Toft Hotel. Are there any other good afternoon tea locations you would recommend? Ann x

 

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Photography by Edward Chandler

A little flower festival

Serendipity is such fun. Whilst wandering the streets of the very quaint town of  Pizzo, we noticed the entrance to the local church getting beautifully dressed in floral art. A number of dexterous young people were busy creating religious images through the medium of petals. It happened to be 'Infiorata' which is the Italian celebration of Corpus Christi, a Christian festival celebrated some weeks after Easter. In true Italian style, they engaged us in animated conversation trying to convey the full extent of what the day was all about. My Italian was 'poco poco' but I nevertheless enjoyed the lively exchange.

Eventually, we took leave and started walking back to our holiday flat. En-route we passed by some beaming sunflowers growing wild on a steep slope. Inspired by Infiorata and partly because I adore sunflowers, I walked down the steep little path to admire them from closer. I also gave in to temptation and plucked a little sunflower to prettify our room. It was a bit of walk back to where we were staying and by the time we got there, my wildflower collection had substantially grown! I'd also somehow acquired a sparkly little bracelet from one of the local village shops!

 

Whilst we were only staying in Pizzo for a couple of days, I liked the idea of making our temporary living space cosy and colourful. The little sunflower and its colourful friends brought us plenty of cheer. As a side note, for maximum comfort during my holiday exploits, I wore a easy over-sized linen dress for my favourite shop, Cos. It was no iron, no fuss and easy chic, just the way holiday style should be. And, it came in ice-cream colours so even better ;)

Have you had any unexpected little happy events recently? Do share! Ann x

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Photography by Edward Chandler

Charity Shops: Sue Ryder Thorpe Hall

If you thought charity shops were housed in dinghy little buildings or bland high-streets, you must visit the Sue Ryder Thorpe Hall shop. Despite living in the area for a good few years, I always assumed Thorpe Hall was a wedding venue and so never really ventured in. However, I very excited to recently discover that it housed a Sue Ryder hospice and a charity shop. Such a perfect reason to write about a great shop, a great cause and also help my readers make some fab shopping savings!

The Sue Ryder shop is quaint and compact with very friendly staff. And yet, it housed a vast volume of truly beautiful china, vintage glassware, pottery, good quality clothing a even a few great books. My favourite items were an Orla Kiely style jacket that was in mint condition,  a very quirky taxi brooch that has made my trinket box its new home, lovely and a some pretty sparkly ballerinas. I even found some classic books that were being sold for an absolute bargain.

Whilst on the subject of the shop, I think it is worth mentioning the charity itself and its inspirational founder. To quote wikipedia,  "The Sue Ryder charity has been supporting people with complex needs and life-threatening illnesses for over fifty years. The charity supports people living with conditions including cancer, multiple sclerosis, dementia and stroke at 7 specialist palliative care centres, 6 care centres for people with complex conditions, 15 homecare services and a growing portfolio of tailored, community-based services." By shopping at the Sue Ryder charity shops, you are helping support a very worthy cause.

Whilst writing this post, I also read up a bit more about Sue Ryder herself. A truly amazing lady, she started her caring career volunteering at the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry during World War II at the very young age of fifteen. She spent a her post-war years undertaking more relief work before eventually establishing the Sue Ryder Foundation in 1953. Sue Ryder was a woman of faith and that helped her on her journey to provide help and care to thousands that desperately needed it. If you are interested in learning more about her work, it may be worth contacting the Sue Ryder folk who I'm sure would be happy to tell you more!

If you are still reading this and feeling positively moved, can I ask you to look up the Sue Ryder website and read about their Thorpe Hall Appeal. They are looking to expand the services provided at Thorpe Hall by building an extension for which they require £6 million by March 2015. There are a number of ways in which you can help and I suggest checking out the Thrope Hall Appeal page

Before I love you and leave you, here are my top tips for this charity shop. This is your place if you are looking for vintage china, good quality ceramics, wedding and mother of the bridge outfits and stunning silverware. Whilst stock at the shop is likely to vary and is dependent on donations, I have a feeling that this shop gets some truly unique and generous donations. More importantly, all donations stay there so they don't get shipped to any other store.

I hope you are able to make some time to visit the Sue Ryder shop when you are in the area and also take time to read up on the Thorpe Hall Appeal. Where else can you bag a unique bargain and also make your soul feel good?  Ann x

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What's in my bag?

I've been excitedly looking forward to Kristina's Hultkrantz's illustration of what is my handbag. Kristina is an uber creative illustrator based in Stockholm and I fell in love with her work through the pages of Pinterest. Her drawings are cheerful, quirky and so very stylish. I feel very honoured to be a part of her blogger collaboration series on 'What's in my handbag?'

Whilst a picture is worth a thousand words, a brief note on the contents of my handbag that help me function through the day are worth a mention. I tend to travel a lot and so my Iphone and Blackberry help me stay in touch with whatever is happening out there, be in in the world of fashion or work. My Moleskine and travel notebooks help me organise my life and thoughts. I find writing and making lists therapeutic. Other handbag favourites includes my delightful watermelon coin purse, a bright pink Chanel lipstick, Burts Bess Rhubarb Lip Shimmer, a stock of perfume samples from my favourite brands (Diptyque's Tam Dao being the flavour of the month) and Rituals Gingko Hand Balm ( the best hand cream ever!). We do have the odd few sunny days in the UK and my Moschino sunnies make the world look better. A copy of the latest National Geographic magazine (or Vogue) makes late evening train journeys back from London or elsewhere much more enjoyable.  And, my good old cucumber flavoured Dettol hand sanitiser is an absolute travel essential and fights the multitude of bugs I come in contact with whilst travelling around the Tube and public transport. Also, if you fancy a nice little bag like my beloved Mulberry Alexa satchel, check out my tips for buying an investment bag on a budget.

For further handbag inspiration, you must check out Kristina's fabulous Pinterest series. I would also highly recommend visiting Kritsina's Etsy page where you can commission anything from a piece of fashionable art to a whole new header for your blog!

What are your handbag essentials? Ann x

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Quirky Shops: Butterfly, Pimlico

If you fancy a little treasure hunt and a good rummage, Butterfly is the place to head to. The tiny little boutique,  just across the road from Tate Britain, stocks a truly fabulous mix sale clothes from brands including Hoss Intropia, Crea Concept and Nougat London. The shop window caught my eye as I was walking back from work on evening and I decided to have a little look around. Despite being a tiny place, I enjoyed looking around so much that I only left a couple of hours later!

I think the other other reason I stayed as long as I did was because of the lovely lady who owns the shop. Butterfly is a friendly place and the lady who runs the place helps you along your treasure hunt with lots of little helpful tips. With summer around the corner, well sort of, I wanted a little lace number. I ended up buying a beautiful Havren dress for £35 instead of the £150-£200 that you pay for it  in Johnny Loo. The shops has also recently stocked up on a whole load of dressy Gatsby-esque numbers from Hoss and Nougat which are absolutely divine!

Butterfly as stock a mix of vintage and new jewellery, bags and shoes. They a section upstairs which is filled with loots of dressy numbers. The charm of this place is that it doesn't cater to one specific age group. You can find a prom dress next to a mother of the bride outfit or a classy cocktails number. And everything you find here is cheaper than most other places,. I know it as I'm a complete sales geek.

If you are ever in the Westminster-Pimlico, I'd very much recommend you pop over to Butterfly. Its a few minutes walk from Pimlico station and is usually open from 1PM onwards in the afternoons. Their current stock of Crea concept summer tops are fabulous and I very much doubt you will not find it cheaper anywhere else.

What re you favourite little boutiques in and outside London? I'd love to find new places to explore. Ann x

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Sugar and Spice: Rhubarb and Ginger Jam

Yes folks, its Rhubarb again! Whilst its not growing at quite the same rate it was a few weeks ago, we still have plenty of Rhubarb to play with. Ed and his family love their jam and so I thought Rhubarb jam would be popular little treat for them. The recipe, like most jam recipes, is really easy. I added ginger, a popular accompaniment to Rhubarb, to add a touch of spiciness to the jam. I must admit, it is one my favourite jams out of all the varieties I've made so far. Here is how I made it.

Ingredients:

500g rhubarb

500g jam sugar

4 tsp lemon juice

10 cm fresh ginger

Method:

Chop the rhubarb and heat in a saucepan with a couple of table spoons on water. Chop the ginger finely and add to the saucepan. Cook till the rhubarb and ginger mixture is soft. Add jam sugar and lime juice and cook on moderate to high heat till it gets to boiling point and then continue to cook on moderate to low heat. The sugary mixture will take around 10 minutes to get to setting point.

To test if the jam has set, spoon a small amount of jam onto a pre-cooled ( in the fridge) teaspoon and stick in the fridge for a few minutes. If it solidifies into a jelly like consistency, your jam has set. If not, cook for about 5 more minutes.

Serve with warm or toasted bread. And let me know how you get on! Ann x

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Photography by Edward Chandler

Magnificent Monreale

The little town of Monreale is a must-do if you are in Northern Sicily. Unlike the much-hyped and tourist infested historic towns that we are all familiar with, Monreale had an air of discreetness and calm. Whilst considered part of the Palermo commune, Monreale could not be more different than its urbane sister. The little town has much to offer including the most magnificent cathedral interiors I've ever seen but it isn't demanding; it only takes a day trip from Palermo to soak in this rich historic and serene place.

 

There is something primal and true about first impressions. My first impression of Monreale cathedral (possibly one of the finest Norman Cathedrals in the world) was one of sheer awe. I've been fortunate enough to visit some of the most beautiful buildings and churches in the world and yet not one of these have had quite the same effect as Monreale. It wasn't just me. Not a soul in the cathedral looked unmoved. The rich mosaics that acted out myriad biblical tales were so magnificent and exquisitely beautiful. A lady nearby waved her hand as if tracing the path of each mosaic. If it weren't for her complete immersion in the act, I would have tapped on her the shoulder to find out more. Entry to the cathedral is free and you can easily spend a few hours just in here. You could also go up to the top of the cathedral for splendid views of the area for € 2.

Adjoining the cathedral is the Benedictine cloister which is also a very unique structure with Norman and Arab architectural influences. Each column on the cloister building is covered in unique gold inlaid aesthetically pleasing mosaics. You don't need much time in the cloister as there isn't that much to see but it is worth a quick visit.The entry to the cloister is € 6 and whilst this seems a lot for little, remember you are getting to visit the cathedral for free!

Whilst walking around Monreale, you will be able to take in some stunning views of the Palermo valley, more amazing architecture with Norman, Byzantine and Arab influences, quaint little shops and cafes and sometimes even markets selling local produce.You don't need very long in Monreale but it is well worth the trek from wherever you are. It costs less than € 2 for a 30 minute bus ride from Palermo (with a couple of changes and potential delays due to unreliable public transport) or
€ 25 per person if you go for the Palermo city tour bus.

 Have you been to Sicily or Monreale? And, has there been a place that inspired you like Monreale cathedral did to me? Ann x

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Photography by Edward Chandler

Travel Lists and Traditional Fashion

For as long as I can remember, I've had deep and earnest desire to travel and explore the world around me. Growing up, I wanted to be a diplomat so I could live in a different country every few years. And until I was able to do that,  I travelled vicariously through books and television. However, as you grow up, you realise that your childhood fantasies may not quite be the right fit for you. Despite a mental shift in career paths, I wasn't cured of the travel bug. I continued to devour travel books and shows. On our recent trip back to India, Ed found one such book: 100 Most Beautiful Cities of the World. I bought the book ten years ago and never imagined that I would actually be able to visit almost half of the cities in the book in the few years that followed ( through a combination of extreme wanderlust, luck, planning,  the arrival of budget airlines and  roughing it!).

Despite having travelled to many of my dream destinations, the travel bug continues to egg me on to discover new and exciting places. I'm older now, possibly less adept at sleeping in communal dorms and have a mortgage. Hence my travel wish list is less ambitious and not time bound.  Nevertheless, here are some of the places that I hope I can visit in the next few years:

1. Sicily: I want to soak up the cultural diversity of the little island, wander around cosmopolitan Palermo, relax in the exotic Aeolian islands, hike up to the island's famous volcanoes and indulge in its sensational yet wholesome cuisine.

2. Japan: I love all things Japanese. I'd like to experience the buzz of Tokyo and the creative excitement of its Harajuku suburb , eat the most fantastic versions of sushi, make friends with a geisha, stock up on matcha, watch a sumo match, travel on the bullet train, visit little fishing villages and so much more!

3. Australia: I really like the Aussies and would like to visit their country, check out its cosmopolitan cities as well as its rural districts. I'd particularly like to experience the cultural scene of Melbourne,  Sydney's architecture, the great barrier reef and smile at a kangaroo in the wild.

4. Iceland and Northern Lights: I fancy learning the Icelandic language, bar hopping in Reykjavik, visiting the country's many natural wonders and witnessing the spectacular aurora borealis.

Whilst travel opens your mind and helps you grow as a person, it is important to not forget one's own culture. In an effort to stay true to my roots I cook Indian ( and Keralite) food as often as I can and indulge in a but if Keralite fashion. The traditional dress worn by Keralite women is the 'Set Mundu'. Keralite fashion is very minimalist; it is all about whites and crisp cotton. I suppose it explains my evolved fascination with Cos, Crea Concept and other such brands that channel summer lightness best. Anyway, I found a lovely Set Mundu whilst in Kerala and had to feature it as a toast to my culture. How often I wear it in the UK remains to be seen!

What does your travel wish list look like? And what have you fine lately to reaffirm your cultural identity? I'd love to hear. Ann x

P.S. At the point of publishing this post, I will hopefully be ticking off wish list item number 1!

Wearing: Set Mundu and Mawi for Disney Necklace

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Summer Dreams: Eton Mess with Rhubarb and Edible Flowers

I can't think of a more quintessentially English dessert than Eton Mess. It is classic, simple and very easy to make. In order to use my the vast quantities of Rhubarb growing in our garden and allotment, I chose to substitute the traditional ingredient i.e. strawberry with Rhubarb and edible flowers from our garden. I also used the leftover egg whites from the Creme Brulee I made the other week to make the meringues. Egg whites keep well in the fridge in a sealed container for a week or two. Here is how I made it:

Ingredients:

For the meringue:

4 large egg whites

100g icing sugar

30g caster sugar

For the compote:

1 stalk of rhubarb per serving

1 tsp vanilla extract

Few edible flower petals, I used pansies

200 ml double cream

Method:

Meringue:

Heat the oven to 140 C (fan oven). Whisk the egg whites until stiff. Slowly add the sugar and continue whisking until smooth and glossy. Use a teaspoon and scoop onto parchment paper/foil on baking tray and bake for about 20 minutes or until the meringues are ready. I made about 20 meringues with the quantity of ingredients listed. After you turn off the oven, continue to keep the meringues in the oven for about 3 hours.

For the compote:

Chop the rhubarb and stew with a little water and sugar ( a couple of tablespoons each) for about 10 minutes.

Whip the cream until light and fluffy. To serve, crush the meringue and layer with compote, cream and edible flowers. Happy days!

The dessert is so simple and yet so sophisticated and I love how the different tastes and textures of the various ingredients complement each other so beautifully. I hope you have fun making this dessert and let me know how you get on! Ann x

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Quirky Restaurants: The Yoga House, Mumbai

In the heart of bustling Bandra ( a very popular suburb of Mumbai), in the very quaint Chimbai Road area, is a little oasis called The Yoga House. I'd read about the place in the Indian edition of Vogue and wanted to check it out myself. I half expected an over-rated hyped-up place that sold eastern philosophy to western tourists. I was wrong. If I had to use a word to describe the place, it would be authentic. The eating area is very Ghandian cool. They burn frankincense in the evenings. The menu is wholesome yet unpretentious and reasonably priced (relatively speaking).

We visited the yoga house one Friday evening whilst briefly stopping over in Mumbai. We sat by the open air eating area,  looking at a fraction of the Arabian sea in the near distance, listening to hymns from the church next door and the yoga teacher possibly explaining Anjaneyasana pose. I drank a virgin mojito and Ed sipped Mami's coffee which was essentially Nescafé with jaggery and cinnamon. It was blissful.

The menu has interesting titles and I chose 'I am Dancing' for my main which was essentially an Indianized brown rice paella. Ed had 'I am Detoxing' which a scrumptious quinoa burger. Both dishes were thoroughly satisfying, wholesome and delicious. We shared a baked apple and ice-cream number for dessert which was nice too. We figured that a wheat grass shot ( at Rs.60 a go i.e less than £1) seemed a nice way to finish off the meal.

Watching the yoga session made us both want to go join in. Sadly, you can't really do yoga with a full belly. We asked the staff for details of the Yoga course and I was little shocked by the prices. India has moved on so much since I last lived there. They Rs.600 per session or Rs.7000 for unlimited classes a month which seemed a little more expensive than what I'd pay in the UK. And yet, they seemed very popular.

Seemingly expensive yoga sessions aside, we think it is a great place to hang out and enjoy some serenity amongst Mumbai's chaos. The detox diet has inspired me to start using more brown rice and quinoa back home.I'd definitely recommend a visit to The Yoga House if you ever happen to be in Mumbai.  Ann x

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Hello from our Spring Allotment

Some readers asked me how we were getting on with the allotment since I last posted about our 13/14 plan. I thought I'd best give you some photo evidence! The plot is far from pristine. However, amongst all the weeds and such like, a lot of new life is beginning to show. We've been far behind on our allotment work this year; the weather and our social calendar are partly to blame. Nevertheless, we chose to take it one step ( a.k.a. bed) at a time.  We've been trying to get some short focused sessions on the allotment when possible just to clear the beds and make space for my little seedlings.

Our fruit trees are in full bloom as I'm really hoping we get some peaches this year. They were destroyed by late frosts for the last couple of years despite being covered in warm fleece. I need to start using up all the fruit in my freezer to make space for all fresh fruit this year. Our grape vine is growing well and so are our figs and  I'm thinking of new and inventive  recipes for them both. For the first time ever, my elephant garlic is doing really well too. Pods that I sowed a couple of years ago are now growing magnificently, much to my surprise.

My seeds are all sprouting nicely and I'm hoping to get more of them planted outdoors soon. I'm hoping we have lots of fresh courgettes and beans over the summer. My potatoes are also growing well and I'm hoping they help break down the cement like soil where they have been planted.  Ed did some great work rescuing our strawberry patch which was getting suffocated by couch grass. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that they don't get drowned out like they did last year.

Our spring onions are growing nicely and the resilient globe artichokes have resurfaced again. Talking about resilience, our bronze fennel is behaving in a weed-like fashion and multiplying rather robustly. However, we love the flavour of fennel so really don't mind it that much. And of course I've told you about our Rhubarb! I'm trying to cook every imaginable recipe with this vegetable. More recently, my Finnish friend mentioned eating Rhubarb raw (with the ends dipped in sugar) as a child. I found that fascinating although I'm not adventurous enough (!) to try it myself.

What have you been growing this month? I'd love to hear all about it. Ann x

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