The endless trials of technology...

... so after a weekend where I became perilously close to buying the much lusted after iPad I had a moment of realisation....

I keep buying things in the hope that they make me happier for longer than 10 minutes.  To date the only time that has worked has been when I got Hattie who continues to make me endlessly happy (and only occasionally frustrated).  I realised that the reason I feel the need to get something new on an almost constant basis is that I don't often enough do the things that make me happy for longer - cooking good food, making beautiful things, spending time with friends and doing what I really want in life.

To that end I have redoubled my efforts on the website... www.thefloralemporium.com

I think I am getting there but would love to know what you think.  I'm planning to properly launch on 1st September but if you see something you like or have suggestions of what you think I should stock please share!

Despite some niggling doubts I am mostly excited!

Pasties, Pubs & Puppies

Sorry for the lack of blog this week... I would like to say I have been really busy & I have been a little bit but mostly I have been feeling lazy!

I was home in Cornwall for the weekend and had a lovely time with the parents - it's so nice when you grow up and can just relax with your family.  Mother seemed rather smitten with the pooch but Father will take a little more persuading...

Spent a lot of time sitting by the seaside in the wind and sunshine (and perhaps a little rain).  Heavenly.

Have a marvellously relaxed weekend ahead - some light cleaning, cooking, baking and gardening.  Some might consider me tragic.  I like to think of myself as a domestic goddess instead.

Shall also be working on the website (www.thefloralemporium.com) - that part will be less relaxed.  I am not clever enough for such technology!

Am not going to mention riots, other than to say that I hope you and all your loved ones remained safe and sound throughout.

Some people are just never happy...

... or really I should say some people are always susceptible to the next shiny new toy and never have enough.  Sadly when I refer to "some people" I mean me.

This year has been amazing!  New beautiful Pashley bicycle, new job, new car, new macbook, new garden, new hair and new puppy.  I think we can all agree a pretty good 8 months?

So why then, three weeks after getting the new pooch am I now lusting after an iPad.  This must stop!  The addiction to always wanting something else has to end...

... I'm just not sure I can.

I like to think it is down to my optimistic personality - however good life is I still believe it could be even better.  Suspect instead though I am in fact just a victim of the "consumer culture" everyone is always talking about.

Any tips, hints, or tips very much appreciated...

.... and while you're here please take a trip to my website I'm working on and tell me what you think...  www.thefloralemporium.com

Polo, Pimms & Murder...

Have had a amazing weekend with the girls from university.  It was our annual reunion and it was heavenly to spend time with such good friends.  

We mysteried and murdered on Friday night (and I was the murderer as Ms Jade, the conniving con woman), we shopped til we dropped at the Farmers Market on Saturday and then rocked up to the royal perfumery in Bourton-on-the-Water.  It was a beautiful day.  

On Saturday night we ate at a marvellous country pub, drank copious amounts of pimms and slept (but not until 5:30).  By Sunday we were feeling a little weary (no longer spring chickens evidently) but gathered ourselves and a picnic together and went to the polo where we were told off for sitting in the wrong place and didn't follow any of the game at all - a great afternoon.  

An utterly beautiful weekend filled with laughter and joy with utterly beautiful people.  

\

In other, unrelated news, I'm working on a website... www.thefloralemporium.com ... what do you think?  

Hattie...

8 weeks old.

A jack shit noodle (!)

Named after Hattie Jacques.

Enjoys eating courgette leaves, fluffy cushions and my fingers.  Dislikes eating anything she's actually allowed to.

This is her...

Smitten.  

The Great British Summer Party...

.... had everything tonight - Pimms, Hog Roasts, family, friends, laughter, puppies, babies, competition, weeping (from all the crying) and a bouncy castle.

A brilliant evening which made me feel lucky to know the people I do.

Hattie came along to meet everyone and was terribly well behaved - a habit she's not managed to maintain since we got home.  Though now she is asleep she looks rather more angelic again.

Settled in for a bit of Robert Downey Jnr and a lovely glass of wine.  A good day.

I'm back...

.... after a shamefully long absence.

So, what's new?  Everything... or at least an awful lot.

New job has begun and am finding it more engaging than the last if not overwhelmingly inspiring.

New bike arrived and is amazing - it is so shiny and red and makes my journey to work considerably more cheery.

New puppy!  She is called Hattie, after Hattie Jacques because she is a chubby comedian.  I am smitten.

What is not new?

Still in Gloucester, still addicted to ice cream and pimms and tea and flowers.

Still wish I had a different and more exciting job - how did this become my life?!?

Lovely party to go to tomorrow but otherwise this weekend is for thinking and sorting out...