Hello there.

Hello there.


It’s the 20th of December. It would appear I haven’t blogged a single time since April. Shameful, utterly shameful. I used to enjoy this little place. I would relish the time of the day when I would check out inspiring blogs out there and get lost in their amusing, entertaining and beautiful posts. Only something happened.

I can’t quite put my finger on it. Ah yes, life got in the way. Now, where did we hear that before? Basically, I travelled, and Boyfriend came back from Australia, and work got a little more hectic, and I went on another holiday, and work got even more hectic. I ended up having lots of different interviews and finding a new job. Still living in the same wonderful little house, but Boyfriend was upgraded (or rather upgraded himself) to Fiancé.

So here I am, a few months down the line, and not so much to show for it. Well apart from new business cards and a pretty ring, of course. Sadly, not a lot of crafting has happened around these parts. Living in a house is a lot of work, there’s always something to clean, and there’s always something to tidy up in the garden. Work is also keeping me a lot more busy these days. Crazy deadlines mean I have been working a lot harder and longer hours. To give you an example, I started at 7.15am on Wednesday and didn’t really stop until 11pm. That doesn’t leave any time to blogland. No writing and no reading.

So here I am, making a little comeback a few days before Christmas. Not the wisest move perhaps but I have felt that amongst all the mayhem, one needs a little escapism. And this is it for me. I definitely won’t be going back to my daily posting, I simply haven’t got the time. But a weekly post sounds appealing, something to summarise what I have been up to in the previous seven days or so. I just miss writing, I miss crafting and I miss photography. It is clear all were intimately linked to this blog and I want it all back.

See you next time.

Easy lunch

After posting about my lovely leftovers the other night (and rest assured, foie gras and 2002 Bordeaux wine are not usual fare in my house!), I made myself a lovely little lunch at the weekend. I've been terribly busy lately, getting ready for Mr PF imminent arrival, and haven't spent much time in the kitchen.

And sometimes, all you need are good basic ingredients:

Dark rye loaf from the best bakery in town, and other ingredients courtesy of Waitrose. One ingredient is missing though, a chunk of garlic. Fairly important too, as it was scraped against the toasted bread to give it some flavour. You just can't beat that.

So there, here's to good simple food. Have a nice start of week everyone!

When leftovers...

Are better than proper meals...

Mr PF, you were deeply missed xx

Back home in bloom

I'm back home after nearly 3 weeks down in sunny Western Autralia. That's why things have been so silent over here. I had an amazing time, it's such a fantastic country, but I'll save telling you about it for some other time. I'm still readjusting to UK life on my own. I had to leave Mr PF behind, but at least it won't be long until he's home again.

It's been so nice coming back to this country with the sun shining and all the trees in bloom. The temperatures aren't quite up to scratch, especially compared to Perth standards which I very easily got used to! But nonetheless, it's a beautiful place to live, and I'm enjoying every second of it.

I couldn't help but try to bring a few little outdoor blooms indoors, and it cheers me up no end to see all this colour. I haven't had a chance to catch up with anybody's blogs yet, but I'm pretty sure I'll get a feast of spring beauty.

Ladies, I'm back :-)

Changes to my routine

And I love it.

I wouldn't consider myself an architecture geek but this beauty makes my jaw drop.

Those lines, that light. You don't need a degree in art to appreciate this beauty.

 

I don't think I say this enough, but it ain't that bad commuting into a city like London. The reward you get is sometimes where you least expect it. Kings Cross, you'll always have a special place in my heart.

If only I had a voice like that...

It started with a Nutella pancake.

It got even better than that afterwards.

Florence, I ♥ you.

Beeswax candles

I love candles. But the idea of burning something in my home which might be full of nasty chemicals is less and less appealing. So I've recently turned to beeswax candles. The homemade type.

Homemade because these were made by yours truly! To be completely honest, if you've done this yourself, you'll know that a three year old could do this too, but this doesn't stop me from feeling very pleased with myself!

So apart from feeling rather smug for succesfully rolling a sheet of beeswax, I must say these really are delightful. Their natural fragrance is really lovely and their colour pleasingly natural. I can't decide which ones I like best, the plain ones, or those with a frilly side.

I am now on the lookout for a good online supplier of beeswax sheets, because I've exhausted the supplies given out in my little kit. Any suggestions welcome!

Food let down

This doesn’t happen often. I see a recipe and think it looks appealing. The list of ingredients is sound, this should turn out ok, right?

Oh dear. Far from it. How can this be? I was so looking forward to this Sunday morning. Worse thing is, I had to finish some off yesterday and let me tell you, there could never be enough apricot jam to drown out the taste of those mean little pancakes (photo below isn't greatly appealing I know, crab apple jelly isn't photogenic out of the jar it seems). They looked so good, so promising. Unfortunately, the taste was rather odd, and more like an omelette than a pancake. Not my favourite. Although possibly due to the fact that I didn't actually blend the mixture, I just mixed it around with a spoon...

Saturday’s breakfast on the other hand was a lot better. Can’t go wrong with a plain wholemeal bagel and scrambled eggs. Clearly, I must stick to basics rather than try and be extravagant.

You live and learn don't you.

A little organisational crafting

I went a little mad recently labelling things and getting stuff or-ga-ni-sed. Ensued the use of the cutest little pins and some coloured card to match the decor in the room. Nothing too full on, just little splashes of colour which lift the mood immensily you know?

Greens and blues came out and I love them. I actually enjoy getting magazines and other bits of paper out of those folders now. The blue ones are yet to be labelled, waiting for me to make up my mind as to whether I'll move things around first.

And I should point out, for the benefit of Mr PF on the other side of the planet, that all this crafting was done to the following tunes...

And me singing to the top of my voice. Of course.

Cold sunshine

We had a beautiful day yesterday, with an amazingly clear and blue sky and a surprisingly warm sun. I missed sunrise, but I made the most of the daylight and went around the garden taking photos of nature at its best.

From dazzling tree silhouettes to snowdrops, via crocuses galore, I wanted to gobble up all this beauty and lock it away inside my heart. Instead, I snapped away with my camera and went back inside for a toasted muffin. Hey, what can you do.

White beauties

I'm ever so proud to have successfully forced several hyacinth bulbs for the first time this year. This is definitely something I'll be doing in the future, and most probably at the exact same time. The thought of having them ready in time for Christmas was not only stupidly optimistic and ignorant, but it was based on the erroneous belief that I needed yet another thing to make my house feel festive at that time of year. What I ended up getting were the most fragrant and beautiful-to-look-at flowers in the period post-Christmas when the house is back to its normal state and may feel a little empty at first. These flowers have provided me with that hope that only Spring brings. And surely, with snowdrops and crocuses flowering their little hats off at the moment, that can't be far away now. Bring it on I say.

If every morning started like this

I'd be a very happy girl indeed.

Happy Friday to you all!

Numbers of the day so far

9.15 am. I have been up for 3 hours.


In those 3 hours, I cycled to the gym, did a quick 40min workout, showered, cycled home.

I then cycled to the train station, sat on the train for 30min and walked 25min to the office.

I’m now sat at my desk, having just had breakfast.
Would it be silly to say I’m pretty impressed with myself? Well if no one else is, I’ve got to be, right?! Still a whole working day to get through though… wish me luck!

Far far away...

But the heart is as close as can be.

Happy Valentine's Day to you too xxx

At the weekend I...

Cleaned the house, changed the bed sheets, put a couple of clothes washes on – there may only be one of us living here at the moment but it’s funny (well not really) how much crap/ washing up/ tidying up one person generates…

Paid a visit to some relatives. It was clearly a time for tulips, their living room was full of them already. You can’t beat those colours, so cheerful, full of hope. Makes up for the garden still covered in white snow...

Ended the weekend with the best fish pie ever, and I can’t take any credit for it (so no recipe I’m afraid! Although I was told it was a Jamie Oliver one). Either way, very healthy and very tasty. Wish I could have brought some home with me!

All in all, a lovely weekend. Getting stuff sorted out and back in their place, as opposed to doing anything "fun" as such, but all very necessary. And I don't know about you, but I can't get creative and allow myself to get my crafting supplies out until both my house and mind feel organised. So I guess that was the first step, right? 

Here we go again...

From last night's efforts to London town first thing this morning, via the train station...

Honestly, the snow is scuppering my weekend plans.

Not. Impressed.

What a change

Saturday: bright, clear and crisp. A beautiful sunrine, some cheery daffodils and a stunning sky.

Sunday: white apocalipse. Out in my pyjamas with my trusty sidekick who really wasn't sure about all this white stuff and preferred following me in my footsteps in the end (quite literally). Magical.

Le 1er février

London, 8.20am, 1st of February 2012.

Clear, cold and crisp.

The year is already flying by it seems.