Oh I do love to be beside the Seaside!!!

Or Why Brits get into so much trouble when they swim at Bondi (or any other Aussie beach).

So the other day in the continuing saga of "the brakes for the little red truck", I had to go to Hove to pick up the 4 measly missing bolts (how they got to Hove is another story! but I digress) Here was the beach advisory.

 Check that air & water temperature people, this is Summer Brit style!! The sea mist? Just another common feature of a day at the beach here.

Somewhere there is the rusted hulk of the old or west pier. Yup, somewhere in the middle. Trust me, it's there OK?

This is how folks here enjoy the beach. Up on the promenade. Away from the water. Way away. Where they can be surreptitiously photographed by Australians.

Then they have random news reporters from Saudi Arabia come along and film them. 
I shit you not! I would love to have one of these huts. If I didn't live 2 streets back from the beach! LOL I just like the idea of decorating the space & pretending to be far away on a holiday.

The view from the most scenic loo in the world (or maybe just West Sussex??) Marks & Spencer's Worthing. Can you imagine what that view would be worth in Australia? I can assure you it would be too expensive for a loo!

See I really do love what I am doing.

Lush x

Just call me Grumpnuggett!!

OK, I warn you this post is a whiny rant. I do not seek sympathy cause let's face it my life is not that bad & in fact it is generally really good; I have the love of my life by my side, my health (touch wood) is not too bad at present & I live in a spectacularly beautiful part of the world BUT just sometimes the cards don't fall the way we want them, things get annoying & we all need a little rant in our lives.

So you know I have the cutest little truck in the world & am trying to make a living flogging coffee etc to the good burgers of Sussex yes? And you know that it is not the cash cow people think it is yes? As an aside - why do random strangers think it's OK to spend 20 minutes asking you the ins & outs of your personal/business finances, telling you that "you must be making a killing & nudge, nudge, wink, wink pay no tax" then not buy anything!!! I wish I earned enough to pay tax!!! People on benefits earn more than me!!!

See I told you it was a rant.

OK so the little truck has had some bad mojo happening lately. Started with the brakes failing in spectacular style 2 weeks ago when JB was driving to the Rec ( I finally caved & get JB to do a day per week for me, 7 days a week when it is not raining was killing me). Most importantly she is OK but the little red truck ends up in the shop. 

1000 pounds please. I know, heart attack right there yeah?

So it gets better. I asked them to do 3 things. Eat the cake that was in the truck. Remove the milk from the fridge. Charge the fridge/pump/machine batteries every night - a simple matter of plugging in a cable.

Guess which one they did? 300 pounds for new batteries!! and that fridge may never smell right again!!!

Then today, (cause this can only get better yeah??) getting photos of the battery information numbers so I can order new ones & the door to the battery hatch comes off in my hands!!! Boo Yah!!!! That's the hat trick right there!!!

So all this is to get the frustration off my chest & resign myself to the fact that it is impossible for me to justify attendance at Fat Quarter Retreat. I was so looking forward to catching up with my imaginary friends in person again but sadly I just cannot justify the expense!! 

The money for the repairs? That my friends is why they have extended limits on credit cards!!

Here is a video of Daisy in a bone coma. Need to remember to laugh & that life is not that bad, just very bloody annoying sometimes!!

Trying really hard to remember that I am loving what I do (she says through gritted teeth)

Lush x

Just a Quickie!

Almost forgot I had these photos lurking in the phone camera and even though they are old I still want them here for posterity so here we go!
Had a chance some time back to go to a big car boot with friend JB. This was the real deal, up before the birds, off to the wilds & come to a huge airfield. No chance of missing the turnoff then.

 Loads of fun, interesting items (cause why would you not have your vacuum as a coffee table?) 

 and you know you have had fun when you need a trolley to take your things to the car. Yes?

On a recent trip to the hardware store I came around the aisles & was confronted by this wall of toilet seats. 

Is it just me or do we really need this much choice in what is an essentially unseen object?? Really?? Really?? OK just me then??

Loving what I do
Lush x

 

A little sewing, at last!

I have managed to get a little sewing done, not much but a little! I have completed another set of Sew Euro Bee an blocks. Not sure i will ever be caught up but just trying to not drown. Muchos apologies to my fellow members but I am trying, really.

Anyhoo, when I received this fabric I was not convinced of the plan but after cutting & stitching & seeing the original inspiration I am a convert. Just lovely, reminds me of sparkling water or diamond facets, can't wait to see the finished article.

I also needed to spruce up the spare bedroom with some colour so made up these cushions in some hand screen printed fabric from Prints Charming. Couple of hours & a finish, gotta love that!!! Cath & Kirsten from Prints Charming are both lovely, they have a range of fabric out with Free Spirit.

Check out my 50 pence @ car boot cane table, coat of paint works a treat!

 Gives a little pop of colour to an otherwise very white room. Now I am off to do a little baking & then maybe catch up on another set of blocks. Wish me luck!!

Loving what I do.

Lush x

3 days in Barcelona

As a fabulous surprise gift for my recent birthday The Prince gave me a trip to Barcelona!
I have never been to Spain & was so excited! These trips are so deeply moving for me as I never thought I would ever have the opportunity to travel outside of Australia so traveling to these cities I have only seen in pictures is a real dream come true. We may not have funds to fall back on but we scrimp for these trips & are not wasting any opportunities to see the places we want while we are so close.
The food in Spain is absolutely delicious! I was gobsmacked at the variety of tomatoes on one market stall. I know there are hundreds of varieties (they all have their own unique flavour!!) but had never before seen so many in one place.

Those ones bottom right are the size of your head!!

  

We bought some cherry tomatoes & ate them like cherries, they were the BEST tomatoes I have ever tasted! Seriously good stuff!

On our last morning we hastened off to the markets & filled my suitcase with goodies to bring back to The Old Dart, where lets just say its a little difficult to get your hands on this stuff. Was great to be laden with goods yet be able to sail past customs with nothing to declare, (as we were coming from an EU country) would never get away with it going back into Oz & rightly so.

Our market haul!! Why yes we did buy a little bit, it was like a great Waitrose shop but at a tenth of the cost. The red polka dot in bottom right is my souvenir of Barcelona. Best ever, cute & functional!

That's a 5 p coin (same as Oz 1 cent) for perspective. Suffered a slight blemish in transit but definitely did not affect taste!

Just so you don't think that it was all about the food, we did go on a tour of the city and let me tell you the architecture is pretty stunning and not just the Gaudi. Thankfully The Prince is a fan of the open top tour bus as am I. Some people think they are daggy/naff but we love that they give you a great overview of a place in a short space of time. 

The city is laid out in beautiful grid style & the apartment buildings are arranged as squares with central courtyards. Simple but makes the living feel much more spacious.

Seriously playful & gorgeous building

 This was my favourite building, whimsy & delicacy rendered in pink stone. Magic!! So pretty.

Random fashion store with lace doilies for decoration. Love.

Amazing shadow play.

Love the little bats on the stunning street lights

Massive roof of hexies on the Santa Caterina Market -we thought this market was better than the Boqueria

While the Boqueria is touted as the tourist market, we preferred Santa Caterina both for selection & price. It seems to be where the locals shop & so gave a bit more of a window into real life. Mind you the Boqueria was pretty!

Marzipan fruits

More marzipan fruits

Love the baby bombonerie

 We had a fabulous time, much thanks to my sweet Prince for the gift. If you ever have a chance, just go!! The people are lovely, the place is gorgeous, food is great. Did I mention the food?? LOL Just Go!!

Loving what I do

Lush x

PS: positive thoughts for my big sister who is going through a traumatic time post surgery & is still in hospital 2 months later. We are all cheering for you Sis, get better soon, we need you home where you belong. xox

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