Lazy Sunday

I have the laziest most indulgent Sunday ever. I have spent 94.5% of it in bed. Was so thrilled to wake up this morning to see the weather was quite mis. Hooray!!! My favorite, a guilt free day in bed. I can't bare that bright happy sunshine day when you feel like you should be outdoors 'doing things' To top it all off i have just started new book. Well, I can't tell you how I am loving it! I read her first book about three years ago 'Liz Jones's Diary' by Liz Jones. Liz Jones was or is (am not too sure) the Fashion Editor of the Daily Mail. She wrote about being single in The Sunday Times and then in The Guardian. She now writes a hugely popular weekly column in The Mail on Sunday YOU magazine. If you google Liz jones daily mail you can read her articles. Anyway she is basically like the real life Carrie Bradshaw. So..... I read her first book a few years ago and had that amazing experience when you find a book you LOVE. I normally find that in one in every ten books. Look, it's not deep and moving a life changing and up there with the greatest novels of all time sort of stuff - it's is just such fun and so funny. Her writing is very Bridget Jones, Marian Keyes vibe. One needs to read these type of books in between the ones you feel you should be reading. Anyway, I couldn't belive it when I was perusing the isles of Exclusive that I happened to notice the name Liz Jones on a new book 'The Exmoor Files' Could it be? Yes! Liz Jones's new book about "How I lost a husband and found rural bliss" My word! So the first book about "How one single girl got married" was follwed up by how she got divorced! I have spent the entitre day reading the new book - again hilarious. Now that I know they got divorced I want to read the first book again to see if I can spot the cracks. Human nature (or maybe just mine) is fascintaing.

The first book.

The new book.

Oh and just to finish off the weekend in the manner that is has been going along in - I am having custard for supper. Yes! It was tradition on Sundays when I was growing up that my brother and I were allowed custard for supper. I haven't had it in years, but have a sudden craving. I hope I don't make it all lumpy.

Orange all Around

As you know I spent the last weekend in Natal. It so happened to co inside with the Hindu festival Thaipusam.
Thaipusam is the feast for the son of Shiva, Lord Subramarian. Lord Subramarian is the universal granter of wishes. All those who wish to ask for a future favour, fulfill a vow in return for a granted favour, or to repent for past sins will participate in this feast.
I happened to come across these beautiful garlands made out of marigolds for the celebration. I loved how each one was so individual, some had other flowers braided in between the marigolds whilst others where adorned with peacock feathers. It was mainly the colour that struck me as so vibrant and rich. I'm not normally a yellow/orange kind of girl, but when I got home I looked around me and noticed quite a few of my favorite things were shades of this rich marigold orange......

For starters, my beloved Dr Hauschka mini travel kit. Also, I love the look and smell of Darling's Geo.F. Trumper's Sandalwood shaving soap.

My treasured copy of Elsie de Wolfe's 'House in Good Taste' Her advice is timeless.

Part of my collection of the Schott's Almanac. Poor Darling gets one for every birthday as tradition. They all live stacked in our guest loo! I have paired the orange with the blue here - as I started this post I realised something I had forgotten from art class, blue is the complimentary colour to orange. Of course!


My very handy worst case scenario book. Who knows when I'll have to leap from a motorcycle to a car. I'm serious the first instruction is to wear a high quality helmet and leather jacket, plus leather pants and boots. The outfit sounds very glam.

I got given this beautiful box of Turkish Delights by a guest. A wonderful present I thought.

My favorite amber Lampe Bergere. I stock these in my shop so am always living in a world of 'Cypress Breeze' or 'Cedars of Babylon' Quite exotic names for the oils I must say. These amber beads I adore as they remind me of my great aunt. They are very heavy and I'm sure I would get a migraine within seconds of wearing them. They look beautiful on my dressing table though. Again, couldn't do without the blue!

This Naf Naf tee I have had FOREVER. I can't toss it, I'm not sure why but I have become attached. I think it's one of those items that is kept for the day my figure miraculously reverts back to a twelve year old. mmmmmmm

Same with the bikini bottoms. They have seen me through many a fun summer.

My new fancy running gadget! Apropos of my previous blog on running I decided to get myself into the swing of things by treating myself to a handy little running watch. I love the colour and the design. Typically it does not get enough time on the track. I seem to be stuck on the 3rd week 9min run.

A girlfriend has just given me this beautiful little bag from her trip to Hong Kong. AGAIN can you believe the blue?

I bought these beautiful pumpkin orange silks from Thailand eight years ago. I wonder when I'll do something with them?

Spot the lone marigold! Definately not my favorite flower but an essential one.

* A note from Mrs Potter

If you want to have an organic vegetable garden, it is hugely helpful to plant African Marigolds as they act as a bug and slug repellent.
You won't have to use chemical pesticides!

Botha House

I am so excited as this weekend we are going to stay at Botha House. It is in Pennington on the South coast of Natal. It is a beautiful stately home originally built for the first Prime Minister of the Union of South Africa, General Louis Both, in 1920. It has all the original fittings, Oregon pine floors, double volume ceilings, antique furniture, portraits and a grand old staircase.

I can't wait to explore. I'm sure I'll come back with some inspiration.

Burns' Night

So it was Burns' night on Monday night - I know I am a bit late but for some reason we are only celebrating it next Saturday night. We are going to a Burns' night soiree. There will be the toast to the haggis, a toast to the lassies and I'm sure some Scottish reel dancing. We also have to dress up in some sort of Scottish attire! Quite a feat to achieve in Cape Town. I'm thinking along the lines of Alexander McQueen and Sarah Jessica Parker at the Costume Institute gala.(Although must say, he pulls it off much better than her) Will keep you posted!

* A note from Mr Manners

Burns' night supper is a celebration of the life and poetry of Robert Burns, author of many Scots poems. The suppers are normally held on or near the poet's birthday, 25th January. Burns' suppers may be either formal or informal. Informal suppers typically include haggis, Scotch whisky and the recitation of Burns' poetry.
Wikipedia

Last year I went to Scotland for the first time. We were invited to a real Scottish wedding. It was very 'Four Weddings and a Funeral' I loved every second of it.




A bagpiper at the wedding. There's something about that sound that is very romantic.

It felt very dramatic. You can see how cold it was. Also, very Braveheart.

There's Darling in his kilt! Very dashing, walking towards the Church. The wedding was at Murthley Castle.

The best part about our trip was our friend's beautiful home.

Look at the way the hedges are shaped.

I also loved their garden.

The view from the front of the house was just like a painting.

Marriage Italian Style

So, Darling is away. The Beags and I decided to have a quiet night in and treat ourselves to a bit of Italian drama. We decided on watching ' Marriage Italian Style' starring Sophia Loren and Marcello Mastroianni. We were not disappointed.It is over the top dramatic, romantic,sexy and incredibly stylish like only the Italians know how. We adored it. Of course we couldn't possibly watch it without a huge plate of spaghetti. I remember reading Patti Boyd's autobiography she explained Eric Clapton's extreme ways.He would insist that she make him large bowls of pasta for when he watched The Godfather. He would have to have the whole setting Italian as well, and only watch with his large bowl of spaghetti and a large white starched napkin tucked into his shirt. So the Beags and I gave it a bash - I must say it definitely makes the vid even better. Am very Italian at the mo.

Although, don't think I could take it this far. I think only Sophia could pull this one off.

Secret Garden

I am currently trying to plan my garden. Since we got the Beags, the poor garden has taken quite a bashing. So...... now that most of my plants have been ripped out and used in a tug of war, I have been left with flowerless beds with mounds of earth a la graveyard. Not very attractive.
Although, I am now very excited planning a whole new garden from wall to wall. For inspiration I was privileged to visit 'Freshwoods' private garden in Elgin. It is owned by Peter and Barbara Knox-Shaw and has been described as "Rambling,romantic plantsman's garden with major collection of heritage and species roses and many rare trees and shrubs"
It certainly is the most beautiful garden I have had the pleasure to walk through. It is like a dreamland with so many wonderful,magical secret spaces. It has such ancient towering trees, winding walkways that sometimes lead to hidden tunnels. it even has a bamboo garden.

Oh dear, where to start!