When I was a little girl, there was a TV series on in the afternoons called Farmhouse Kitchen. It ran from 1970 to 1990, and was on at 2.30 in the afternoon, so watching it probably meant I was off sick from school. I think, as long as we weren’t vomiting and really nauseous, it was a way to keep us quiet. I used to … Continue reading Book Friday: Home Cooked by Kate Humble (Recipes from the Farm)
I have been married 29 years. We celebrated our 29th anniversary on 22nd October this year. I find it amazing that we’ve been married for anything like that long. More amazing, perhaps, is that we spend so long together. Bar a few hours when I teach or visit friends and relatives, we work, live and sleep within 10 m of each other. It’s okay: I’ve … Continue reading Book Friday: One by Jamie Oliver (Simple One Pan Wonders)
I reallly do appreciate how sometimes a load of different interests or philosophies of a person can intersect to create something wholly personal, intensely suited to them. A neat-freak, tech-obsessed minimalist, for example, whose dream home is a white box flat in a neat, square glass-coated tower block will have a clear, clean, virtual-living focused home, while a gardener in love with organic, natural living … Continue reading Book Friday: The New Mindful Home (and how to make it yours) by Joanna Thornhill
A few weeks ago, I signed up for an art class that a friend had advertised… she was running it on a Tuesday night in a local gallery/social hub, Smithdown Social Arts Hub. It’s a short course, involving using inks, pastels, pens, paint, it was free to attend…. and it intrigued me. I draw and I have painted for fun, but I’ve never been brave … Continue reading Creating Flow… finding craft hygge in a circle.
Sanctuary is my Word of the Year for 2022. I chose it because the idea of a space away from the world and safe from external attacks appealed to me, especially after a rough couple of Covid years. And I knew when I chose the word that the meaning, both physical and mental, would be important to me. I wanted to rebuild the inner sanctuary … Continue reading Book Friday: Spirit of the Home (How to Make your Home a Sanctuary) by Jane Alexander
I have a massive apology to make here. In Monday’s post, I listed Advent by Anja Dunk as one of my Advent books, the small volumes I wrap and give myself on the Sundays of Advent. That was written at my desk in the office, where I do most of my writing and without all of the books actually being present in front of me. … Continue reading Book Friday: Advent by Anja Dunk (Festive German Bakes to Celebrate the Coming of Christmas)
Of course, a dedicated Christmas Fan will have started planning, preparing and producing for Christmas way before now. It makes sense, especially on a tight budget, to make like a squirrel and buy little and often, hiding them away in your own or someone else’s house (make sure you’re either related to them, or they know what you’re doing: it’s hard to explain why you’re … Continue reading Only 10 weeks left… time to plan, prepare and produce for Christmas!
How to Hygge the British Way 