Happy New Year!

Whether you spend it with a friend or family...

...or simply relaxing alone...

...however you see the New Year in I hope you have a wonderful time! I would like to thank everyone for all of their lovely comments over the past few months and I look forward to reading all of your great blogs in 2007!
A Very Happy New Year to You All!

A Very Merry Christmas To You All!

I thought it was about time I shared some Christmassy photos with you! We have been busy decorating the tree and have also decked the timbers with garlands and lights!





We've had a very traditional red and gold theme for our decorations ever since I can remember, and every year we add a few more! Therefore some of the decorations are 'vintage' and some are much newer!



Lastly, Santa's little helper was overcome with all the festivities and decided to stop for a rest!


I hope you enjoy the photos and I look forward to seeing all of your Christmas photos too! Merry Christmas everyone!

My 'Vintage' Phone!

I can't quite believe I'm actually 'blogging' my phone but I hope you'll agree that it isn't just any old phone!!! It was my birthday last week and my lovely husband whisked me away for the weekend for a stay in a converted windmill. http://www.oastbarn.com/ click on 'Splash Mill' to find out more! As if that wasn't enough of a treat, we spent the whole of Saturday in the Portobello Road, doing a spot of antique shopping. But the absolute highlight of the weekend was a trip to the Michal Negrin shop in Windsor, the first of her stores on the UK. http://www.michalnegrin.co.uk/ Two years ago we spent my birthday in Prague where I had the pleasure of discovering her beautiful jewellery for the first time.

Apparently there are only a handful of these phones in the UK at the moment - the main delivery is expected in March I think. I was lucky enough to get one of the four they were expecting that week as I was VERY persistent! It is presented in the most beautiful box which can be used as a jewellery box too - oh, and the phone even has one of those dangly things attached to it!!!

Anyone who knows me would be amazed that I am excited about a phone - after all, it isn't exactly vintage is it?!! But it has to be the closest thing to vintage-style that a phone can get, don't you agree?!!

Who is Alice?

I have a cottage filled with floral oil and watercolour paintings, they bring the garden inside and at this time of year it's nice to be surrounded by flowers!

However, one of my favourite paintings is a delightful oil painting of a little girl. It was painted in 1933 by Alix Jennings and written on the back is the name 'Alice Scatterbrook'. I have always wondered who she is. The surname sounds as though it originates from the North of England but I have no information on her.

I think she is adorable! The painting charms me every time I look at it! With those big blue eyes, her lovely rosy cheeks, pretty golden curls and wonderful pink dress, who can failed to be charmed by her?! Given the age of the painting, if the adult Alice is still around, then she would probably be in her late 70's or early 80's.

Does anyone else have something special they would like to know more about?