Home Design Room: Retail Spotlight

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Creative Gifts

<br /><div style="text-align: center;">Browsing the internet,</div><div style="text-align: center;">I found a few fun finds to share</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">What's not to love about this</div><div style="text-align: center;">hand stamped butter knife?</div><div style="text-align: center;">(those scones look divine too!)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq8YvbR5KDx1nllp0XlK7-d-7IU2S1stuG-KAJWYKcvrgekoJwUlOpVGMISAycPgRZCvmeiLi3yCCtzUMuipUbUyp2DwAyaxyaZRbN-nEl-LMSAMFdMDYJysD9l5E629DXjcBh_X2eTozZ/s1600/original_silver-plated-spread-the-love-butter-knife.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq8YvbR5KDx1nllp0XlK7-d-7IU2S1stuG-KAJWYKcvrgekoJwUlOpVGMISAycPgRZCvmeiLi3yCCtzUMuipUbUyp2DwAyaxyaZRbN-nEl-LMSAMFdMDYJysD9l5E629DXjcBh_X2eTozZ/s640/original_silver-plated-spread-the-love-butter-knife.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sold by <a href="http://www.notonthehighstreet.com/thecutlerycommission/product/silver-plated-spread-the-love-butter-knife">The Cutlery Commission</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Map your life journey with hand stitches</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">UK, US, European and World maps are available</div><div style="text-align: center;">in different colors which can be further personalized</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpw751Uvk97fubf779BJWW3XQt_q36dnABOohgJG_IFuRhe0-TY2_MlETf7GG9qLJGJdE33DPld1uPrKl2woBP8MBbWjWpMuiZ8lJg0EzdxmbFnYDqxZl9XP-KhxZ3RvtpAJQ2rln4TnVn/s1600/original_stitch-a-journey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpw751Uvk97fubf779BJWW3XQt_q36dnABOohgJG_IFuRhe0-TY2_MlETf7GG9qLJGJdE33DPld1uPrKl2woBP8MBbWjWpMuiZ8lJg0EzdxmbFnYDqxZl9XP-KhxZ3RvtpAJQ2rln4TnVn/s640/original_stitch-a-journey.jpg" width="556" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Available through <a href="http://www.notonthehighstreet.com/thelittleboysroom/product/stitch-a-journey">The Little Boy's Room</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">Something about this card planter makes me happy</div><div style="text-align: center;">with its little weather vane and bicycle</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Cress seeds included</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisZJiWZp5rSeh3jHz2Y2Jbtl6RqcluROYztW28VCw2HxbK9Pu-2f_NAUWRckOhauRj8f9ygcY0R5HYxrMx2tWkjA7ytB58lld9LneGrhRS_zgt8fqzjA2_l97C3dVopdhdvSlatfHzCouW/s1600/original_village-matchcarden-set.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisZJiWZp5rSeh3jHz2Y2Jbtl6RqcluROYztW28VCw2HxbK9Pu-2f_NAUWRckOhauRj8f9ygcY0R5HYxrMx2tWkjA7ytB58lld9LneGrhRS_zgt8fqzjA2_l97C3dVopdhdvSlatfHzCouW/s640/original_village-matchcarden-set.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">by <a href="http://www.notonthehighstreet.com/anotherstudio/product/village-matchcarden-set">Another Studio</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And look at this gorgeous piece of luggage</div><div style="text-align: center;">- ooh, the colors and design! -</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">You could pick that one out of the all-black-suitcase crowd!</div><div style="text-align: center;">But I'd be afraid someone would steal it because it is</div><div style="text-align: center;">soooo gooorrgeeous :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKgUnedQ1uBk2rnj7CIJz74CuIL2-QArUWTYMyjD7ntx_D3MGRN2C6JuZiEDX4ajdTwuCzqRavP5SculPc6B4AbN9NsmZV30PR5oGkE_Yl1iIFVND-ewhLUFH6u9uJkwiZTbIS5t54BQ1O/s1600/original_pip-studio-suitcase.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKgUnedQ1uBk2rnj7CIJz74CuIL2-QArUWTYMyjD7ntx_D3MGRN2C6JuZiEDX4ajdTwuCzqRavP5SculPc6B4AbN9NsmZV30PR5oGkE_Yl1iIFVND-ewhLUFH6u9uJkwiZTbIS5t54BQ1O/s640/original_pip-studio-suitcase.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pip Studio via <a href="http://www.notonthehighstreet.com/fiftyonepercent/product/pip-studio-suitcase">Fifty One Percent</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I'm pretty confident you don't have this kooky clock</div><div style="text-align: center;">Instead of clock hands, the googly eyes tell you the time based on position</div><div style="text-align: center;">Such a conversation piece!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I believe the time is showing 12:25-ish :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyKD8EGaTtVrsGwHp1Q7NP81lg93jO0LavP6JiEGoYFPRo2Y1Q0msOT5OG6azotqGCUKhsSeZpAwl20FTg3lbXy2AMB43qkwmHah0hsy_kJUW2JiWi21g4_y-BV2XcsH5ZxvWOfl4vE5NE/s1600/UKSuckClock.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyKD8EGaTtVrsGwHp1Q7NP81lg93jO0LavP6JiEGoYFPRo2Y1Q0msOT5OG6azotqGCUKhsSeZpAwl20FTg3lbXy2AMB43qkwmHah0hsy_kJUW2JiWi21g4_y-BV2XcsH5ZxvWOfl4vE5NE/s640/UKSuckClock.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">by <a href="http://www.suck.uk.com/products/eyeclock/?category=house">Suck UK</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I'm not much of a shopper,</div><div style="text-align: center;">but I love giving creative gifts</div><div style="text-align: center;">(often hard to find)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Do you have any unusual finds to share?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(an unsponsored post)</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

Creative Gifts

Browsing the internet, I found a few fun finds to share What's not to love about this hand stamped butter knife? (those scones look divi...

3:45 AM

Chelsea Flower Show 2013: Products & Ideas

<br /><div style="text-align: center;">This is the second year the Chelsea Flower Show</div><div style="text-align: center;">has housed the Artists Retreat Section</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">- one of my favorite areas -</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Designers are invited to decorate a summerhouse,</div><div style="text-align: center;">creating inspirational hideaways</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Swoon on, my friends...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFoKqf5lch_Ju9pBjg5hOCUey9lL6iteI-B_5FQ4qPNYATgaCQqDeLmhpSwe52yXV_Q4K0-tSdWNjhyphenhyphenUGIBuCgkJ9Mblx1hiKol53spGdXQsXDo1L_R2Nd9hx8YTnzopF2_ODkk6WDlrL6/s1600/DSC05925-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFoKqf5lch_Ju9pBjg5hOCUey9lL6iteI-B_5FQ4qPNYATgaCQqDeLmhpSwe52yXV_Q4K0-tSdWNjhyphenhyphenUGIBuCgkJ9Mblx1hiKol53spGdXQsXDo1L_R2Nd9hx8YTnzopF2_ODkk6WDlrL6/s640/DSC05925-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The mowing path is so creative!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">A quintessential English brand,</div><div style="text-align: center;">the Cath Kidston retreat</div><div style="text-align: center;">featured handmade paper roses</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Let's take a peek inside the shack,<br />shall we?<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPF6XeTXE8hX8G72tJBVIHFQfcw5PmN8AYsqeAM17UA2nEgGOpU-8WBeNvKjCDhPf5LH73hk_FmvMPU7pezrboZiwfs89taAQLlzVTRxWk6A0ReXKZbnX-1LwyFRaemcFejzVkZvHfWNpO/s1600/DSC05927-002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPF6XeTXE8hX8G72tJBVIHFQfcw5PmN8AYsqeAM17UA2nEgGOpU-8WBeNvKjCDhPf5LH73hk_FmvMPU7pezrboZiwfs89taAQLlzVTRxWk6A0ReXKZbnX-1LwyFRaemcFejzVkZvHfWNpO/s640/DSC05927-002.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Across the way, I met Rob Ryan in his workshop retreat</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Genuinely, I have been a huge fan of his work for years</div><div style="text-align: center;">so it was a real thrill to meet him<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLKLxBRK1hUn5CGvOnZump4xta6ns2rKvi_LSXZLapt_dCgZO9jAehVkYDa3DLh7mASqQF-lCCJ474x9XUxTaqE27FhTSWjIVmPe_TdA2mTjzGQJQTwIfk68laoF0UYk9xJ4Fa0c_R-1M8/s1600/DSC05937-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLKLxBRK1hUn5CGvOnZump4xta6ns2rKvi_LSXZLapt_dCgZO9jAehVkYDa3DLh7mASqQF-lCCJ474x9XUxTaqE27FhTSWjIVmPe_TdA2mTjzGQJQTwIfk68laoF0UYk9xJ4Fa0c_R-1M8/s640/DSC05937-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">With a background in print making,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Rob now is known for his papercut art (laser and by hand)</div><div style="text-align: center;">and poetry-like sayings that sweetly speak to the heart</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Transferred onto ceramics and textiles,</div><div style="text-align: center;">you can find his products online and in some of the coolest stores</div><div style="text-align: center;">(including Liberty)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Grabbing things from his real workshop,</div><div style="text-align: center;">here's a limited look at his show retreat<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwELTn7oQsO-E7-nR3stnDPcNd1NhGwKLsubeq7AzNBHnd0NZ_R_SaH0UflmIBCRid4v63-OCtAFliUtPJEV1mEQmoYH-23huAnLQxiJqh_MXxfZZIvkzEplmcPphERCAC_B3cJqz5P-tX/s1600/DSC05942-013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="392" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwELTn7oQsO-E7-nR3stnDPcNd1NhGwKLsubeq7AzNBHnd0NZ_R_SaH0UflmIBCRid4v63-OCtAFliUtPJEV1mEQmoYH-23huAnLQxiJqh_MXxfZZIvkzEplmcPphERCAC_B3cJqz5P-tX/s640/DSC05942-013.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">A space that oozes creativity</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Moving away from the Artisan Retreats,</div><div style="text-align: center;">I thought this was a clever peat-free compost alternative</div><div style="text-align: center;">made of wool and bracken from the Lake District<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVthX1OJRKLZnP9VqAQzV4rdv5MXoL97RYc3KrKdJ_6APM_5YBGXG7fCQXd0q7J2vCETyJ1fc3cs4WGc0GXKkboxut8eMX0jssiAiPLUvV1PMwWjWdS9DuMRLAMzrxREtlLyknzhSL0zvA/s1600/DSC05919-002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVthX1OJRKLZnP9VqAQzV4rdv5MXoL97RYc3KrKdJ_6APM_5YBGXG7fCQXd0q7J2vCETyJ1fc3cs4WGc0GXKkboxut8eMX0jssiAiPLUvV1PMwWjWdS9DuMRLAMzrxREtlLyknzhSL0zvA/s400/DSC05919-002.JPG" width="272" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And how about an upside down lampshade<br />as a decorative potting sleeve?<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtxvi9xIJGLyZ0SAsM_k9dxysXsiv6wpXxkMJJBEayQ7zCRsKSFBTvF1sy0Ox704PnLbbrzUx7zPgxHibyU54DkEWOFSvMmQMPplP8KeaiDkhZyL2T1bfP6OO5mAplqF4aUNIxV7zUpG49/s1600/DSC06185-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtxvi9xIJGLyZ0SAsM_k9dxysXsiv6wpXxkMJJBEayQ7zCRsKSFBTvF1sy0Ox704PnLbbrzUx7zPgxHibyU54DkEWOFSvMmQMPplP8KeaiDkhZyL2T1bfP6OO5mAplqF4aUNIxV7zUpG49/s640/DSC06185-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />or an old boot?<br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_MNYTOw5KZdWG-x7dBrUqt24j4UizqGaIgDDopxu-A0eiEMIbkjMoVkbCOjLZZKR4JNR2BCCrlBf4eojCSp3eUjP7CclQ50969s4q14pCe9Fj3QeFn-wfaR1CwEh4XPAKGavb9C53um7K/s1600/DSC06139-002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_MNYTOw5KZdWG-x7dBrUqt24j4UizqGaIgDDopxu-A0eiEMIbkjMoVkbCOjLZZKR4JNR2BCCrlBf4eojCSp3eUjP7CclQ50969s4q14pCe9Fj3QeFn-wfaR1CwEh4XPAKGavb9C53um7K/s640/DSC06139-002.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ken Muir exhibit</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />Typically, 'coloured mythical creatures' are banned from the show,<br />but this year the ban was lifted for charity<br /><br />I think gnomes are having a bit of a comeback,<br />for I spied a few at the show<br /><br />Look at this cutie<br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmqPg77dlIC3WPSVG_SygiwjTM7Jim1v5lw82mxCBkSi2Sq_qwapmvUf0opc24CfxYptx-l3l_C5PROT_pSfLURNSozctJsgsk-m7ZMA1zyvH9eqrrLjCSKCCab1Im6DF39_-pOqiwO-BM/s1600/DSC06182-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmqPg77dlIC3WPSVG_SygiwjTM7Jim1v5lw82mxCBkSi2Sq_qwapmvUf0opc24CfxYptx-l3l_C5PROT_pSfLURNSozctJsgsk-m7ZMA1zyvH9eqrrLjCSKCCab1Im6DF39_-pOqiwO-BM/s640/DSC06182-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">University of Reading exhibit</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />The University of Reading<br />was promoting the concept of<br />'A New Millawnium' (clever)<br /><br />With proper planting,<br />it is possible to have a full flowering, grass-free lawn<br />requiring mowing just 3x/year<br /><br />Goodness me,<br />can you imagine, lawn gardening?!<br />My, how beautiful<br /><br />Ideal for roundabouts and small yards with light foot traffic,<br />I can see how this could be possible<br />with nonaggressive clovers, yarrows, buttercups,<br />English Daisies, violets, and more<br /><br />According to the university,<br />medieval paintings indicate lawns of the past were flowered<br />while grassy lawns were for jousting tournaments<br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtFSu7S4SeHTuYhO57nKnVfuBG6uCM4i884A8b-KYPAsxopkqZR6v2ZpDdSHRIggE0cWCwHH0Iobiz4Ra5FmwgOmIHfefcLoSuJHCqcMrkzRV1zT-VGRGo2R6DddsC15E4ORUCx_O7kwzb/s1600/DSC05946-003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtFSu7S4SeHTuYhO57nKnVfuBG6uCM4i884A8b-KYPAsxopkqZR6v2ZpDdSHRIggE0cWCwHH0Iobiz4Ra5FmwgOmIHfefcLoSuJHCqcMrkzRV1zT-VGRGo2R6DddsC15E4ORUCx_O7kwzb/s640/DSC05946-003.jpg" width="626" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pippa Small's retreat</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />Alrighty, I think that pretty much covers it :)<br /><br />I hope you found some inspiration over the last few days<br />through the series<br /><br />It has been an absolute pleasure -<br />can't you just see me twirling in a meadow of flowers right now?!<br /><br /><i>'But yet still inside you there will never be a shortage </i><br /><i>to the amount of love that your heart can grow...</i><br /><i>until it finally blossoms and its flowers cover the whole world'</i><br /><i>-Rob Ryan</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">P.S. A few of you have asked about how to buy tickets in the future. I order my tickets online in December/January for the May show - they sell out each year but it varies as to when. RHS Members can purchase tickets for Tuesday (when flowers are looking their freshest), and the public can buy tickets for Wed - Sat. Buy tickets through the RHS website <a href="http://www.rhs.org.uk/">here</a>.</span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">- photos by me -</span></i></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">More 2013 Chelsea Flower Show Posts:</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/chelsea-flower-show-2013-gardens.html">The Garden</a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/chelsea-flower-show-2013-press-day.html">Press Day!</a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

Chelsea Flower Show 2013: Products & Ideas

This is the second year the Chelsea Flower Show has housed the Artists Retreat Section - one of my favorite areas - Designers are invited to...

1:00 AM

England's Literature Festivals

<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In such a small country,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">it seems a famous author (dead or alive)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">is never very far away :)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiisJmJY1598KGyLKG4FO3tVmTaUNfsYty934hN16c7DE7t7mYdyxjAJQnouhfGQk9R6VvtVxz8yxnmSib3LK-2wKxOzboVckyWm1WhVOW_U23KdSVIC4ZGRaCC0Un3NvIjlcTd-yU18krg/s1600/il_570xN.421436234_ao82-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiisJmJY1598KGyLKG4FO3tVmTaUNfsYty934hN16c7DE7t7mYdyxjAJQnouhfGQk9R6VvtVxz8yxnmSib3LK-2wKxOzboVckyWm1WhVOW_U23KdSVIC4ZGRaCC0Un3NvIjlcTd-yU18krg/s320/il_570xN.421436234_ao82-001.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Purses handcrafted from books by <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/86160369/alice-in-wonderland-book-purse-with?">Novel Creations</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And periodically,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">a lot of them congregate at literature festivals :)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Check these out</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 150%;"><a href="http://issuu.com/bathfestivals/docs/bf12_literature_brochure_online"><b>Bath Literature Festival</b></a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 150%;">March 1 - 10, 2013<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 150%;">Tickets on sale now<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 150%;">Bath will host over 150 events for 10 days in March</span><span style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 150%;">Featured authors include </span>J.K. Rowling<span style="background: white;">, </span>Hilary Mantel<span style="background: white;">, </span><span style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">P.D. James<span style="background: white;">, </span>Kate Mosse<span style="background: white;">, </span>Pat Barker<span style="background: white;">, </span>Harriet Walter<span style="background: white;">, </span><span style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Darcey Bussell<span style="background: white;">, </span>Sandi Toksvig<span style="background: white;">, </span>Robert Fisk<span style="background: white;">, </span>Gavin Esler<span style="background: white;">, </span><span style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A.N. Wilson<span style="background: white;">, </span>Allan Little<span style="background: white;">, </span>Ben Goldacre<span style="background: white;"> and many more</span></span></div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwVWm0mev2Dcv1n7ioUyE1uLpMYVYFnWhu0P79z5PptH26vPwnSfIAmkONbIt920MFyuBkd0Irxp6vLARubHA4pCmuD6otg8OflklHEnExJ0Vi3lZyzqaLXtnd67YCEnSptrbtqlcnPyIl/s1600/il_fullxfull.270244812-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwVWm0mev2Dcv1n7ioUyE1uLpMYVYFnWhu0P79z5PptH26vPwnSfIAmkONbIt920MFyuBkd0Irxp6vLARubHA4pCmuD6otg8OflklHEnExJ0Vi3lZyzqaLXtnd67YCEnSptrbtqlcnPyIl/s400/il_fullxfull.270244812-001.jpg" width="322" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Graphic art available via <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/hairbrainedschemes?ref=seller_info">Hair Brained Schemes</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 150%;"><a href="http://oxfordliteraryfestival.org/"><b>Oxford Literary Festival</b></a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 150%;">March 16 - 24, 2013<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 150%;">Tickets on sale now<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Over 160 events are now listed, with more to come<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Some big names include Booker winners Julian Barnes and Hilary Mantel,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">former Cabinet minister Jack Straw, novelist Alexander McCall Smith,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">broadcaster Nick Robinson, Nobel prize-winning poet Seamus Heaney, <o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">children's novelists Cornelia Funke, Anthony Horowitz, <o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">and Sue Townsend of 'Adrian Mole' fame</span><br /><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.hayfestival.com/"><b>Hay Festival of Literature</b></a> (Wales)</span><br /><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">May 23 - June 2, 2013</span><br /><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Tickets now on sale to see John le Carr</span><span style="line-height: 21px; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">é</span></span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 150%;">, Carl Bernstein, </span><br /><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Elif Shafak, </span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 150%;">Christy Moore and Dana O'Briain</span><br /><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">More event details to be released in April</span></div><div style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px; text-align: center;"></div><div align="center" style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><a href="http://www.bathkidslitfest.org.uk/"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Bath Festival of Children's Literature</b></span></a></div><div align="center" style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">September 27 - October 6, 2013 </span></div><div align="center" style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">No current information available<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; clear: both;"></div><div style="line-height: 1.3em; max-width: 683px; padding: 7px 0px 3px; text-align: center;"></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 150%;"><a href="http://www.cheltenhamfestivals.com/literature"><b>Cheltenham Literature Festival</b></a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; max-width: 683px;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 150%;">October 4 - 13, 2013</span><span style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; max-width: 683px;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 150%;">No current information available</span></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; max-width: 683px;"><br /><br /></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; max-width: 683px;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5SBlr9Rkb4FiyE9xViEZ9idbrkzcb3kD2pKlRR2EBYmF15UA8w9y4cS60Bm_b224s-6djO6XrIwoc2g5KmMYvtNC0O_dNu1OHAz3qKpNZxvpsObPgPkYjNLWmCheqNlMDo_ShAkSTIypc/s1600/DSC04522-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5SBlr9Rkb4FiyE9xViEZ9idbrkzcb3kD2pKlRR2EBYmF15UA8w9y4cS60Bm_b224s-6djO6XrIwoc2g5KmMYvtNC0O_dNu1OHAz3qKpNZxvpsObPgPkYjNLWmCheqNlMDo_ShAkSTIypc/s400/DSC04522-001.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bookmark I made the other day with the kids</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; max-width: 683px;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">An English mom recently told me </span></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; max-width: 683px;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">classic literature <span style="line-height: 150%;">is not being taught </span><span style="line-height: 150%;">in their school anymore</span></span></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; max-width: 683px;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">and being replaced by modern books to grab students' interest in reading</span></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; max-width: 683px;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; max-width: 683px;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I have mixed feelings about that</span></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; max-width: 683px;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">While I see their point of nurturing the love of reading (so important),</span></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; max-width: 683px;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> how can students not be introduced to <span style="line-height: 150%;">classic literature, </span></span></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; max-width: 683px;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 150%;">especially in England, the birthplace of so many famous written words?</span></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; max-width: 683px;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; max-width: 683px;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">What do you think?</span></div><div style="line-height: 1.3em; max-width: 683px; padding: 7px 0px 3px;"><i><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">(An unsponsored post)</span></i></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

England's Literature Festivals

In such a small country, it seems a famous author (dead or alive) is never very far away :) Purses handcrafted from books by Novel Creations...

11:03 PM

Scrambled States Of America Game

<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We've heard from other expat American families</div><div style="text-align: center;">that while their children may receive a more global education,</div><div style="text-align: center;">a strong US geography base might be lacking</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Clever Santa delivered a family game this year</div><div style="text-align: center;">which teaches (or reviews) US state locations, capitals, and state nicknames</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We played it on our vacation,</div><div style="text-align: center;">tirelessly</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtJIY2L18IB5tAvXT65xHjkwIc6gDH4kx8LMIFe-zUjFG6jmiEbsVTfOCMbt-oy-b5KkpsqCYrTwY42Ly_IOkaVcQ0wJaxsgdMLvxs3kru9UCpzJLfixv-BSirjDH198Rg5sIDPRZw8jZB/s1600/Scrambled+States.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtJIY2L18IB5tAvXT65xHjkwIc6gDH4kx8LMIFe-zUjFG6jmiEbsVTfOCMbt-oy-b5KkpsqCYrTwY42Ly_IOkaVcQ0wJaxsgdMLvxs3kru9UCpzJLfixv-BSirjDH198Rg5sIDPRZw8jZB/s640/Scrambled+States.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Based on book of same title<br />via <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Gamewright-5505-Scrambled-States/dp/B0009XBY1W/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1357299485&sr=8-1&keywords=scrambled+states+of+america">Amazon</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Targeted for children 8+,</div><div style="text-align: center;">this game is fun for tweens too</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It is a great concept with many tasks,</div><div style="text-align: center;">such as finding the closest state and finding hidden names within capitals</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It later brought up interesting dinner discussion such as</div><div style="text-align: center;">''Why is it called Rhode Island when it is not an island?''</div><div style="text-align: center;">''What is the proper pronunciation of Montpelier?''</div><div style="text-align: center;">''How do you call someone from Juneau?''</div><div style="text-align: center;">Hmm, good questions</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div>My only complaint about this game is</div><div>it is not available for other countries or continents</div><div>(hint, hint Gamewright)</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Many Europeans are surprised that Americans often can't name</div><div style="text-align: center;">the capitals of all 50 US states</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This is because many capitals are in small cities that</div><div style="text-align: center;"> rarely make national news and seldom visited</div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Hoping you are having a wonderful new year so far</div><div style="text-align: center;">Thank you so much for reading :)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Sharing about this game only because it has been a great find for our family.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>I received no free product or compensation for this post.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><br /></i></span></div></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

Scrambled States Of America Game

We've heard from other expat American families that while their children may receive a more global education, a strong US geography base...

4:47 AM

'Vintiquing' In England

<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinF3AOK3ZuiGC6keVOkCav03Th_DSsInNgXiJFWCRN5Kw70_wCNH23zKHyixYGUXc5NHDFLWV_v9p-PNMZ6bIhZa0NmCquO4ayCedR_NTQCTwCVrwVMcy7ocsg4l_wvpmZK-YfUVctMu7U/s1600/DSCN6814-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinF3AOK3ZuiGC6keVOkCav03Th_DSsInNgXiJFWCRN5Kw70_wCNH23zKHyixYGUXc5NHDFLWV_v9p-PNMZ6bIhZa0NmCquO4ayCedR_NTQCTwCVrwVMcy7ocsg4l_wvpmZK-YfUVctMu7U/s640/DSCN6814-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Portobello Road</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">I almost wrote 'Nervous Nellie' when the form asked my name,</div><div style="text-align: center;">as I registered as a buyer at an antique auction house</div><div style="text-align: center;">along with experienced antique dealers</div><div style="text-align: center;">What had I gotten myself into?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The nice man gave me my numbered card to raise during the auction</div><div style="text-align: center;">(could I exchange it for my favorite number 9, please?)</div><div style="text-align: center;">(elderly lady behind me smiles and says her mom always asked for a 3)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This was really the last frontier of buying cool vintage stuff for me</div><div style="text-align: center;">It showed my absolute dedication :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"> and I was sooooo nervous</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Would I be able to understand their accent</div><div style="text-align: center;">as numbers flew out of their mouths?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Dare I remove a stray hair tickling my cheek</div><div style="text-align: center;">in fear of accidentally buying something?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Would my American accent 'out' me as a foreigner,</div><div style="text-align: center;">my shaky voice indicate my inexperience,</div><div style="text-align: center;">or would I accidentally double the price?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Here's how it worked:</div><div style="text-align: center;">I went a few days before the auction to view what was going to auction</div><div style="text-align: center;">I marked on my paper the items I was interested in (2 paintings)</div><div style="text-align: center;">The sheet indicated the opening bid</div><div style="text-align: center;">On that particular day, there were loads of furniture, artwork, and kitchen goodies</div><div style="text-align: center;">all at <i>incredibly</i> affordable prices/opening bids<br />Basically wholesale antiques!<br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr3e6ILMLGesrRgtRCHuQQaToDPB1WosOLotNS-aNYf7NWJNY8X3jWxD615rgwWvYtScX4JQfVZ9QvepgEgDwwWWH2YDLaYLkkI_KyWLfj_nRTF1KX6LTYG7fwb0ufG1Z-gc2laeQM8aAz/s1600/DSC03933-002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr3e6ILMLGesrRgtRCHuQQaToDPB1WosOLotNS-aNYf7NWJNY8X3jWxD615rgwWvYtScX4JQfVZ9QvepgEgDwwWWH2YDLaYLkkI_KyWLfj_nRTF1KX6LTYG7fwb0ufG1Z-gc2laeQM8aAz/s400/DSC03933-002.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of my recent purchases-<br />Groovy vintage printers tray by blogging friend, <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/Vintagesheetaddict?ref=ss_profile">Vintage Sheet Addict</a><br />Authentic letter blocks from <a href="http://www.the-bothy.co.uk/">The Bothy</a></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br />The day of the auction I found about 70 people in the room</div><div style="text-align: center;">The auctioneer was very easy to understand and spoke slowly (yay!)</div><div style="text-align: center;">They went through the items only by number, so I'm glad I went on preview day to view the goods</div><div style="text-align: center;">Typically only about 2 or 3 people were bidding on a particular item</div><div style="text-align: center;">The highest bidder paid for the item and took it home that day</div><div style="text-align: center;">(delivery available)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Because most of the bidders were dealers,</div><div style="text-align: center;">they would drop out from a bidding war early</div><div style="text-align: center;">as they didn't have the emotional tie to items</div><div style="text-align: center;">and needed to make a profit</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I got my two paintings at half the price I would have paid at an antique fair</div><div style="text-align: center;">with no embarrassing mishaps</div><div style="text-align: center;">- plus a story to go with it and conquering the fear of auctions :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_a0NnT1fZlxqz2NHUf-Ua5N_bhoeaKX5B2PVDhvMgkJZx2iEdsEXplZ7Cn3YV5srT3syyKZGCo-J0V6IjUOYJlzMd5D-zpDa3LB1I-Um0y5JJwx2K080rQcrbzM9bVyvjImPDqggTlkNk/s1600/IMG_2312-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="496" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_a0NnT1fZlxqz2NHUf-Ua5N_bhoeaKX5B2PVDhvMgkJZx2iEdsEXplZ7Cn3YV5srT3syyKZGCo-J0V6IjUOYJlzMd5D-zpDa3LB1I-Um0y5JJwx2K080rQcrbzM9bVyvjImPDqggTlkNk/s640/IMG_2312-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ardingly Antiques & Collection Fair</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">But if you must know, </div><div style="text-align: center;">my happy happy place for vintiquing</div><div style="text-align: center;">is <a href="http://www.iacf.co.uk/ardingly/">Ardingly Antiques and Collection Fair</a></div><div style="text-align: center;">held only twice a year</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It is HUGE and jam-packed with vendors from all over Europe</div><div style="text-align: center;">It is open two days in a row, but only go the first day when it is full of vendors</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Everything you could imagine is there</div><div style="text-align: center;">It is so freaky-good that I get giddy<br />each time I step foot among the treasures yet to be discovered</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I have found London to be too expensive,</div><div style="text-align: center;">but nearby Surrey has some other great finds:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sunburyantiques.com/">Sunbury Antiques Market</a> (2x/mo)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.hamptoncourtvillage.co.uk/Shopping-in-east-molesey.html">Hampton Court Village</a>, East Molesey  </div><div style="text-align: center;">Dorking's <a href="http://www.dorkingantiques.com/">West Street</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.bourne-mill-antiques.co.uk/">Bourne Mill Antiques Centre</a> & <a href="http://www.packhouse.com/">The Packhouse</a> in Farnham</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I've found car boot and jumble sales have great deals </div><div style="text-align: center;">but rarely provide good loot</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />The most bizarre thing I've seen in my foraging?<br />A container of human glass eyeballs from Victorian times(!)<br /><br />My recent brocante obsession?<br />Kitchen scales and kitchen containers<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Do you have any tips to share?<br />Your obsession?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">- all photos by me -</span></i></div><div class="im" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><div style="color: #500050;"><br /></div></div><span style="font-size: x-small;">More info: <a href="http://www.ewbankauctions.co.uk/">Ewbank Auctions</a></span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">Related post: <a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.co.uk/2011/10/buying-vintage-in-england.html">Buying Vintage In England</a></span><br /><br /> <a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

'Vintiquing' In England

Portobello Road I almost wrote 'Nervous Nellie' when the form asked my name, as I registered as a buyer at an antique auction house ...

8:55 PM

Mug For Anglophiles

Posted by Happy Homemaker UK<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">One last royal bit before I leave the royal theme</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I spied this delightful mug</div><div style="text-align: center;">at Liberty</div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxHwRyQS0QgXsaPetg4Bjxs9FE2R1myhRFdbTxdnISxA2AGuL2xGba5TNlhjuYV05LfbId3LvPZfkMs5vQQgmXAZbqG4heh69aIWrSLa8t1IiJEeV7ppMcIDxUI-U8bkJ8iICZO2fGiVg/s1600/liberty+mug+2-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxHwRyQS0QgXsaPetg4Bjxs9FE2R1myhRFdbTxdnISxA2AGuL2xGba5TNlhjuYV05LfbId3LvPZfkMs5vQQgmXAZbqG4heh69aIWrSLa8t1IiJEeV7ppMcIDxUI-U8bkJ8iICZO2fGiVg/s320/liberty+mug+2-001.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Check out the poem on the back</div><div style="text-align: center;">Such a clever way to remember the order of past monarchs</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDEFJhy6bNrvTlIF1-2zNtNH5UNQ2gQiIkV-AT4sEtqD8eyYZ4PWnCR_O_hr3Dj5o9ni-NSeImy7cMnU087Bg7dv65UO-Prn1v4bbEp07odsGPpcSNs98aqQMdp0FZXWiX15V-JCZOoK4/s1600/liberty+mug.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="554" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDEFJhy6bNrvTlIF1-2zNtNH5UNQ2gQiIkV-AT4sEtqD8eyYZ4PWnCR_O_hr3Dj5o9ni-NSeImy7cMnU087Bg7dv65UO-Prn1v4bbEp07odsGPpcSNs98aqQMdp0FZXWiX15V-JCZOoK4/s640/liberty+mug.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">from <a href="http://www.liberty.co.uk/fcp/product/Liberty//Kings-And-Queens-Jubilee-Mug-Cole-Of-London/75892">Liberty</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Ever wondered what the Queen carries in her handbag?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">According to Hello! magazine, Queen Elizabeth packs</div><div style="text-align: center;">£5 or £10 for the church plate</div><div style="text-align: center;">a compact</div><div style="text-align: center;">lipstick</div><div style="text-align: center;">handkerchief</div><div style="text-align: center;">glasses</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I love the simplicity of it</div><div style="text-align: center;">no iPod or phone</div><div style="text-align: center;">not even a pen</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">:)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Source: Hello! 18 June 2012</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

Mug For Anglophiles

Posted by Happy Homemaker UK One last royal bit before I leave the royal theme I spied this delightful mug at Liberty Check out the poem on ...

12:28 AM

London Getting Ready For The Jubilee

Posted by Happy Homemaker UK<br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimcsm00iXNgY4dd2HUx4DaKOj3-K20dwSc5v5NQpKCh5lD380p5r0LlfuUzCU6F-2kuVjjfuRIsLk_OfGrejlhsKZVgJYZlhtgApxcGaYVRp70_FZ9l4ue_l2FkgVKoHru3Sc7AcjHLQE/s1600/IMG_2327-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimcsm00iXNgY4dd2HUx4DaKOj3-K20dwSc5v5NQpKCh5lD380p5r0LlfuUzCU6F-2kuVjjfuRIsLk_OfGrejlhsKZVgJYZlhtgApxcGaYVRp70_FZ9l4ue_l2FkgVKoHru3Sc7AcjHLQE/s640/IMG_2327-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Street window in Selfridges</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This week I took two walks...</div><div style="text-align: center;">one in London</div><div style="text-align: center;">one in Richmond</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">See what I saw</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtOx3OzzyeIZILmjDjV3opb9PH_a67s8Qq_BndmdVMy49AbHJF7ATocktdv-LTX9eioiCeQnBy9FR4Fic0r-RWih9d_bNWCHmmdshM8xa0ds2-rlNwQCjoO_03RXQVU70e3D4Idgij_uQ/s1600/IMG_2379-003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtOx3OzzyeIZILmjDjV3opb9PH_a67s8Qq_BndmdVMy49AbHJF7ATocktdv-LTX9eioiCeQnBy9FR4Fic0r-RWih9d_bNWCHmmdshM8xa0ds2-rlNwQCjoO_03RXQVU70e3D4Idgij_uQ/s640/IMG_2379-003.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Regent Street</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Union Jacks <b>everywhere</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhswqgk7eXkTQajnwtDO578tOw_co6rhSO6S7aTr-48_p03HdZ7sC0PYgtAv6oZk5fH_HXLONoz1WBTd2YDDnMV9DgDkWldE5t4EX6unveCU13CiSoHjhK9o48jbqYKV_-DuWDEVza2OyQ/s1600/IMG_2352-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhswqgk7eXkTQajnwtDO578tOw_co6rhSO6S7aTr-48_p03HdZ7sC0PYgtAv6oZk5fH_HXLONoz1WBTd2YDDnMV9DgDkWldE5t4EX6unveCU13CiSoHjhK9o48jbqYKV_-DuWDEVza2OyQ/s640/IMG_2352-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Made of fake flowers, but beautiful nonetheless</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Drool-worthy Liberty</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQM7JtQA6wAFGAukM3KrJ0wFc_nEsdv_hQTtZth4kc_R5M7XXyxfzB_abV3jt5IjAUdJb50gI6RkxgOpZrMi-cdZnHMaXXnEx93NWIv4cwldzgE3xRQ_7q6AHZT4YrGo6u89yKGswhhqs/s1600/IMG_2353-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQM7JtQA6wAFGAukM3KrJ0wFc_nEsdv_hQTtZth4kc_R5M7XXyxfzB_abV3jt5IjAUdJb50gI6RkxgOpZrMi-cdZnHMaXXnEx93NWIv4cwldzgE3xRQ_7q6AHZT4YrGo6u89yKGswhhqs/s640/IMG_2353-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPTPhRXGgJULPj5b9PHp66MLNK9ikOjL_QU8IGZhEPCI8g77ztclO7dUDV3Wve_De3ryj7t0qWNpG2GrfOTW9aKiu2jNZFrHq2C1QEURAQQEgBA4ZWDVkgc5756a0Xo3-xvvl_eFmNtgQ/s1600/IMG_2372-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPTPhRXGgJULPj5b9PHp66MLNK9ikOjL_QU8IGZhEPCI8g77ztclO7dUDV3Wve_De3ryj7t0qWNpG2GrfOTW9aKiu2jNZFrHq2C1QEURAQQEgBA4ZWDVkgc5756a0Xo3-xvvl_eFmNtgQ/s640/IMG_2372-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Made of Liberty fabric</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Boats heading toward London on the River Thames to dock for the flotilla</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2djfe605NjAbP0XFh_Rg5WevbeSkXxUyH8lOyXhYIgFqXTL2cjmsIZ5FowC45rpZWxRg_oR0K8qo8J3TRZj1kGr2r0nQIwZi1BGJ_ByA18_XG_PYamF1FNggpBZ6UOALWmvC_upsmNhQ/s1600/IMG_2395-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2djfe605NjAbP0XFh_Rg5WevbeSkXxUyH8lOyXhYIgFqXTL2cjmsIZ5FowC45rpZWxRg_oR0K8qo8J3TRZj1kGr2r0nQIwZi1BGJ_ByA18_XG_PYamF1FNggpBZ6UOALWmvC_upsmNhQ/s640/IMG_2395-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The Royal Barge Gloriana (below) will be in the flotilla tomorrow</div><div style="text-align: center;">and was being worked on as I walked by</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjZ1QO9rl3YgvlBoDQWUKDqa8O8aTIX9g6v5wwfV_WQQVOUJG4tNQ0SaE1eSoMG2Xr_wJB9UD5D5BLdfBmyX9ELMeyO5t7inIFuuF-qenyAQaw9a5GiIA_khyDk9pz7YJiwhdBMgccYlY/s1600/June+20122-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjZ1QO9rl3YgvlBoDQWUKDqa8O8aTIX9g6v5wwfV_WQQVOUJG4tNQ0SaE1eSoMG2Xr_wJB9UD5D5BLdfBmyX9ELMeyO5t7inIFuuF-qenyAQaw9a5GiIA_khyDk9pz7YJiwhdBMgccYlY/s640/June+20122-001.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">At home, we decided to try to make our new favorite English dessert,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Lemon Drizzle Cake</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I was pleasantly surprised how easy it was</div><div style="text-align: center;">We followed a BBC recipe <a href="http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/4942/lemon-drizzle-cake">here</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTFpmk_8Il-p4eSNyBv4HMNqHbA_Ij79rSY2FVgMgfJ88uN6w3aOKBVLStE0eMm7FCse9hak6krgk-fOVMaDAy56pdG07W2FmGWsiqIT0bgx-DrH2JYGFDdJ9eJJ_f1nF5rnbYjeqqHPk/s1600/IMG_2503-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTFpmk_8Il-p4eSNyBv4HMNqHbA_Ij79rSY2FVgMgfJ88uN6w3aOKBVLStE0eMm7FCse9hak6krgk-fOVMaDAy56pdG07W2FmGWsiqIT0bgx-DrH2JYGFDdJ9eJJ_f1nF5rnbYjeqqHPk/s640/IMG_2503-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Watch for precarious cracks, Mr Carriage Driver :)</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The cake broke while getting it out of the pan</div><div style="text-align: center;">but yummy, nonetheless<br />& the kids loved decorating it</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><center><center><div style="text-align: center;">Off to the flotilla tomorrow in flip-flops or wellies :)</div><div style="text-align: center;">We'll see!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #444444; font-size: x-small;">- all photos by me -</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #444444; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;">In This Series:<br /><a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/beacons-for-queen.html">Beacons For The Queen</a><br /><a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/diamond-jubilee-flotilla.html">Diamond Jubilee Flotilla</a><br /><a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/find-your-jubilee-beacon.html">Find Your Jubilee Beacon</a><br /><div><a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/diamond-jubilee-window-shopping.html">The Diamond Jubilee & Window Shopping</a></div><div><a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/celebrating-queen-elizabeth-ii.html">Celebrating Queen Elizabeth II</a></div><div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"></a><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="border: 0px !important;" /></a></div></center></center></div>

London Getting Ready For The Jubilee

Posted by Happy Homemaker UK Street window in Selfridges This week I took two walks... one in London one in Richmond See what I saw Regent S...

3:47 PM

The Diamond Jubilee & Window Shopping

<div style="text-align: left;">Posted by Happy Homemaker UK</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">With the upcoming Diamond Jubilee and the Summer Olympics,</div><div style="text-align: center;">this will be a historical summer in Great Britain!</div><div style="text-align: center;">* squeal *<br /><br /><br />Submitted by<br />10 year old Katherine Dewar of Chester,<br />this official emblem was selected in a competition<br /><br />Along with festive bunting and 'Best of British' slogans,<br />I see it frequently<br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpMxGp6gcFmmLCwYii2TGKxW1rzBjiOhqja_HPDxKQXDthATjXtJ7AHt9UwVBliR1xUD8uXjMZCm-88aYSrdNZdK9NV1oDxZZ6lH3Sc45cT-mDlLL58Ww36qv9Ou3Nm4LL7lHKDB6oQFs/s1600/Jubilee+Logo+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpMxGp6gcFmmLCwYii2TGKxW1rzBjiOhqja_HPDxKQXDthATjXtJ7AHt9UwVBliR1xUD8uXjMZCm-88aYSrdNZdK9NV1oDxZZ6lH3Sc45cT-mDlLL58Ww36qv9Ou3Nm4LL7lHKDB6oQFs/s320/Jubilee+Logo+1.jpg" width="227" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Here is the line up for the public celebration </div><div style="text-align: center;">of Queen Elizabeth's 60 year reign</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Sat 2 June</b><br />The Queen attends Epsom Derby</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Sun 3 June</b><br />The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh travel in a flotilla on River Thames<br />{ can't wait! }</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Mon 4 June</b><br />Concert at Buckingham Palace</div><div style="text-align: center;">A network of 2012 beacons to be lit throughout the UK</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Tues 5 June</b><br />Queen attends service of Thanksgiving at St Paul's Cathedral </div><div style="text-align: center;">followed by Carriage Procession</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Street parties, '<a href="http://www.thebiglunch.com/">The Big Lunch</a>', and afternoon teas will take place throughout the UK on those days<br /><br />I've sprinkled some fun 'Best Of Britain' in the post to get you in the mood...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-pQ-0qVnu0nyaHYN5Wj1wS07oq8aa-FuaYT5lyscgA0Z_qxn6oxIWrc3FhK41K-Ex57vBoxyUzfp4MWuL60g4IX0lDxL4r0wfj55ue6utMi5CHDDDy1NRNI0rrh9Y7xf1a7HMywQBTaE/s1600/Jubilee+Mug.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-pQ-0qVnu0nyaHYN5Wj1wS07oq8aa-FuaYT5lyscgA0Z_qxn6oxIWrc3FhK41K-Ex57vBoxyUzfp4MWuL60g4IX0lDxL4r0wfj55ue6utMi5CHDDDy1NRNI0rrh9Y7xf1a7HMywQBTaE/s320/Jubilee+Mug.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mug by <a href="http://www.notonthehighstreet.com/hunkydoryhome/product/continuing-period-of-reign-mug">Hunkydory Home</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Unlike the Royal Wedding just a year ago, </div><div style="text-align: center;">this event feels more intimate</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The English seem to deeply appreciate her loyalty and dedication to her position </div><div style="text-align: center;">and think it is a wonderful celebration of her 60 year reign<br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAtE1Ef-3NC49I9e-SzKExwNHYBjslh_zH1EVZ-aqZzkGQ8zF7wFtEVOlU5bJBnK5SCT7uFUAWex07BHBnr8dXhLMM0WtSA1ZJV2a31_r2ox2sKA_67LOBMbT0GoklpJXBthrM5Zrxn_0/s1600/Jubilee+card+vase.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAtE1Ef-3NC49I9e-SzKExwNHYBjslh_zH1EVZ-aqZzkGQ8zF7wFtEVOlU5bJBnK5SCT7uFUAWex07BHBnr8dXhLMM0WtSA1ZJV2a31_r2ox2sKA_67LOBMbT0GoklpJXBthrM5Zrxn_0/s1600/Jubilee+card+vase.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clever cardboard vase by <a href="http://www.talkingtables.co.uk/ranges/british-street-party/958/royal-carriage-teapot-vase/">Talking Tables</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Quite a few remember her coronation in 1953</div><div style="text-align: center;">when she was just 27 years old</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">She has been Queen during the lifetime of most Britons<br />and has provided stability and continuity to this country<br /><br />Because the only other Diamond Jubilee has been for Queen Victoria<br />and many Britons may not experience another Jubilee in their lifetime,<br />this event is a really big deal<br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5IIxdk-cmIKVlk7S7v9i0tq8yJ7mfUrEIfNZtiqdau0Idi2IdnXSv0_fKJIiPDxNxmemDl6dsPGqLxZ0BLcA3ccE-6MHsJ_1uvVA9yYCvz33gwv6LZJLk_Mn0TxrggkmwiULh5-LyFmM/s1600/Jubilee+Hunter.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5IIxdk-cmIKVlk7S7v9i0tq8yJ7mfUrEIfNZtiqdau0Idi2IdnXSv0_fKJIiPDxNxmemDl6dsPGqLxZ0BLcA3ccE-6MHsJ_1uvVA9yYCvz33gwv6LZJLk_Mn0TxrggkmwiULh5-LyFmM/s320/Jubilee+Hunter.JPG" width="286" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.hunter-boot.com/original-brit">Hunter</a> is the iconic British wellies brand</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This Jubilee reaches across ALL ages<br />and has brought out loyalty, pride, and even patriotism<br />in Britain<br /><br />The curious thing about the British is they have allegiance to <b>two</b> flags<br />- the Union Jack and their constituent country<br />(England, Scotland, Wales, or N Ireland) -<br /><br />which creates a multilayered identity at the heart of every Brit<br />with perhaps muddled patriotism<br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3I-BBl6hL4U1pM4NcMsAoOFfolPSNBWEJKL22dqIslHmC50_nABpO0FRu_mYw708H1px2Zpo5zIALOBbwDOXVPbAqkIx-eBAuik5MT-UiqWk00cTZyQ0GPa_JDhGYvWS2CHSR-_23DfE/s1600/jubilee+bag.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3I-BBl6hL4U1pM4NcMsAoOFfolPSNBWEJKL22dqIslHmC50_nABpO0FRu_mYw708H1px2Zpo5zIALOBbwDOXVPbAqkIx-eBAuik5MT-UiqWk00cTZyQ0GPa_JDhGYvWS2CHSR-_23DfE/s1600/jubilee+bag.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Always something bright & cheery at <a href="http://www.accessorize.com/en/restofworld/union-jack-laminate-vanity-case/invt/18925199/">Accessorize</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />Ooh, it is going to be an exciting few days,<br />and I'm going to bring you along :)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">In this series:<br /><a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/beacons-for-queen.html">Beacons For The Queen</a><br /><a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/diamond-jubilee-flotilla.html">Diamond Jubilee Flotilla</a><br /><a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/london-getting-ready-for-jubilee.html">London Getting Ready For The Jubilee</a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/celebrating-queen-elizabeth-ii.html">Celebrating Queen Elizabeth II</a><br /><a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/find-your-jubilee-beacon.html">Find Your Jubilee Beacon</a></div><br /></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-color: initial !important; border-image: initial !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-style: initial !important; border-top-width: 0px !important;" /></a>

The Diamond Jubilee & Window Shopping

Posted by Happy Homemaker UK With the upcoming Diamond Jubilee and the Summer Olympics, this will be a historical summer in Great Britain! *...

10:08 PM

2012 Olympics Poster Art

Posted by Happy Homemaker UK<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">How do locals feel about the Olympics coming to the London area in 2012?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQEeJzLgZnXzwbTJy4belyFjj6X_JfR3YfcIN_Mx9Q2GLymr3Kr4-DIj1mVvN1v9-OelLwTpBRT0ZjXPlI5yY5KL5vn2jzTe-RYepseaCKWUdSkjKLVdacA6oYYtBd48_CxTU81AwtkM8/s1600/Olympics2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQEeJzLgZnXzwbTJy4belyFjj6X_JfR3YfcIN_Mx9Q2GLymr3Kr4-DIj1mVvN1v9-OelLwTpBRT0ZjXPlI5yY5KL5vn2jzTe-RYepseaCKWUdSkjKLVdacA6oYYtBd48_CxTU81AwtkM8/s320/Olympics2.JPG" width="212" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">To be honest, the public isn't real keen on funding an Olympics during these tough economic times</div><div style="text-align: center;">and London has already hosted 'The Games' two times prior</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And it is not like London craves the international spotlight with last year's Royal Wedding</div><div style="text-align: center;">and the Queen's Diamond Jubilee this June</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">People are concerned about the transportation reality during those three Olympic weeks next summer</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">But it has motivated London to upgrade its subway system,</div><div style="text-align: center;">the oldest underground railway in the world (since <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_underground">1863</a>)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTqY9KQqXTvNkEPm7Wnn3006Vp7xlOFOmkdv8sF4Q79Q-JonDHju5Upf_O6gUMPUm7Bgy9Vc_2Q-R1mqYgL5LRGx-01RiU321XVDKxeX6s88re3qKqig-cJNSEkIfYhStyu6FaHxnjSmc/s1600/Olympics4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTqY9KQqXTvNkEPm7Wnn3006Vp7xlOFOmkdv8sF4Q79Q-JonDHju5Upf_O6gUMPUm7Bgy9Vc_2Q-R1mqYgL5LRGx-01RiU321XVDKxeX6s88re3qKqig-cJNSEkIfYhStyu6FaHxnjSmc/s400/Olympics4.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Interestingly, there is a large variety of official Olympic Games posters for sale</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This one is my fav...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRetAHLpQ1aCZVZwIA61M7wERAATmrmBiE1adKt5MJDbudTTINOKhHkI7ei85-8l6-0Gh_JCTBrBgjrVHutMgaIvRhenEjB9lXYwKcF6G61TNljo1wNYuet3ZyjFqMSPk0Y0Lkq-2l3NY/s1600/Olympics5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRetAHLpQ1aCZVZwIA61M7wERAATmrmBiE1adKt5MJDbudTTINOKhHkI7ei85-8l6-0Gh_JCTBrBgjrVHutMgaIvRhenEjB9lXYwKcF6G61TNljo1wNYuet3ZyjFqMSPk0Y0Lkq-2l3NY/s400/Olympics5.JPG" width="297" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">English painter Bridget Riley arranged colors in horizontal stripes</div><div style="text-align: center;">to represent the direction of athletic tracks and swimming lanes</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I just love it</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Fancy a look at other 2012 Olympics posters?</div><div style="text-align: center;">View them <a href="http://festival.london2012.com/about/posters/posters.php">here</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Catch some interesting Olympic scoop from my previous post <a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.com/2011/03/let-games-begin-olympic-tour.html">here</a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-color: initial !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-style: initial !important; border-top-width: 0px !important;" /></a>

2012 Olympics Poster Art

Posted by Happy Homemaker UK How do locals feel about the Olympics coming to the London area in 2012? To be honest, the public isn't rea...

6:09 AM

Boris Bikes

Posted by Happy Homemaker UK<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoP5othBuiBhWqSuYiY55qQIOCp2uM_am-RhYrGNJAwxTpQoZC0tNO4tfiQ3MYsJFpr3ssNTEYgbModgVihRMhFhCRDEbp27tzmPVFfaxiAfpxzp5H7HwhtBuCojR1_AVt6cNPCzoy7MQ/s1600/DSCN5641-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="516" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoP5othBuiBhWqSuYiY55qQIOCp2uM_am-RhYrGNJAwxTpQoZC0tNO4tfiQ3MYsJFpr3ssNTEYgbModgVihRMhFhCRDEbp27tzmPVFfaxiAfpxzp5H7HwhtBuCojR1_AVt6cNPCzoy7MQ/s640/DSCN5641-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Introduced in July 2010, London has a successful public bicycle sharing scheme</div><div style="text-align: center;">with bikes and 'docks' located throughout the city</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Nicknamed 'Boris Bikes' after Boris Johnson, the current Mayor of London,</div><div style="text-align: center;">these bikes can get you around town faster than tube or taxi</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">But beware, vehicular traffic is congested with few bike lanes</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Sitting on the same latitude as Russia, </div><div style="text-align: center;">England gets dark early in winter </div><div style="text-align: center;">so each Boris Bike is equipped with excellent lighting</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Bell not included :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">For dock locations & info: <a href="http://www.tfl.gov.uk/roadusers/cycling/11598.aspx">Transport of London</a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-color: initial !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-style: initial !important; border-top-width: 0px !important;" /></a>

Boris Bikes

Posted by Happy Homemaker UK Introduced in July 2010, London has a successful public bicycle sharing scheme with bikes and 'docks' l...

10:42 PM

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