Deli-cious in Dorset

Last month I went to beautiful Dorset to stay with my mum for a week, and the OH and I got to spend the entire week exploring by ourselves – heaven! There is nothing better than a little day trip somewhere new (and the chance to discover a new vintage shop which might have a treasure tucked away for me!).

One place which I definitely have to tell you about is a little deli / cafe which we went to in Wimborne Minster. The town itself is worth a visit – it has lots of lovely shops situated around the Minster - and has such a quaint feeling to it! No.9 On The Green is situated just opposite the Minster itself, so you have a lovely view whilst sipping your cup of tea!  

 

When you walk into the cafe you are greeted by a counter choc full of yummy looking breads and baked tarts – they definitely got my tummy rumbling and ready for some lunch!

The decor in the cafe was just right up my street – very quaint and rustic. All of the tables had mismatched table lamps, fresh flowers and vintage books on them. It looked like a scene straight out of a Farrow & Ball catalogue!

I am more than happy to abide by these house rules!

It goes without saying that the food was delicious – we had soup which was served with freshly made crusty bread, and tasty paninis.

On the way out the OH couldn’t help himself but buy a huge crusty rosemary and olive loaf to take home – and it didn’t disappoint!

I know that the next time we are in Dorset we will definitely be making another trip to No. 9 On The Green – I just love to discover a new favourite!

Until next time,

K x

I fought The (North Berwick) Law, and The Law won

As a child my mum, her sister, brother and parents rented a holiday cottage in North Berwick during the summer holidays and spent the weeks paddling, catching crabs in rockpools and eating ice cream on the beach. My Aunt now takes her two daughters to NB every year for a couple of weeks to carry on the tradition and my mum, sister and I like to join them for a few days for a family get together.

I have always dreamed of living beside the sea...a little pastel cottage somewhere which I can fill with driftwood and treasures found on the beach. This year our half of the family only managed a day in NB, but the holiday cottage was full to bursting – ten people were all under one roof! Luckily we spent most of the day outside so we didn’t feel too much like sardines squashed in a tin inside the cottage! We managed to do plenty rock climbing, paddling in the FREEZING water, collecting shells and writing in the sand before getting completely soaked to the skin in a surprise storm!

I love how you can catch a glimpse of the sea from almost anywhere in North Berwick.

We also managed a trip down the High Street to look at all the retro sweet shops, cute cafes and quirky gift shops. The High Street is always covered in flowers – they do beautiful displays every year – this year’s theme was golf, due to The Open taking place just around the corner. This cute display made me giggle – isn’t it unusual?!

This old wooden boat filled with herbs is always a favourite sight!

Who could resist going down Quality Street?!

The teeny harbour is also worth a little visit – we love to look at all the nautical boat names!

You are never too far away from the sight of two things in NB – Bass Rock and the North Berwick Law. We climbed the Law a few years ago and you get a fantastic view out to sea and across the town. We didn't attempt to climb it this year as we didn't have enough time - although the locals compete every year to be the fastest to run up the 180m climb and back down again - the record time of 17 minutes is still unbroken from 1989!

This is my favourite picture – I didn’t need to adjust the colour on this one as it was so beautiful just as it was!

We finished the day with a haggis supper – battered haggis and chips to those non-Scots out there - and a rainbow. Another perfect little summer day out!

Where do you love to holiday in the UK? I would love to discover some more hidden treasures!

Until next time,

K x

Chic Vintique Fair - Croft

Well, long time no see! I have at last returned from an action packed week of family time. I thought I would let you know what I’ve been up to over a couple of posts as I have squeeeeezed so much in that there is just too much to tell you about in one day!

My mum is currently working in a school so gets LOADS of holidays (why didn’t it seem that way when I was at school?!) so made the trek up North to spend some quality time with my sister and I before heading up to stay with my grandparents in Scotland.

At the weekend I dragged my mum and sister to two vintage fairs and a car boot sale. That’s pretty good going for just one day!

(Ooh chipped nail varnish!)

First up was a mini vintage fair in Stockton, there were only a few stalls and we got there just as everyone was setting up, so we didn’t grab any bargains but I did take away some crafty ideas for the future! One of my favourite stall holders - Poppy Rose Vintage - was there and I am in LOVE with her vintage style brooches. How I have managed to resist them this long is a miracle to me! They also had some gorgeous embroidered stuffed hearts and bunting tea towels....drool!

The car boot sale was completely unplanned – we just saw a sign as we were on the way to the second vintage fair so decided to have a quick fifteen minute nip around. It was quite tiny as well and the only thing we came away with was something to add to an obsessive collection of my mum’s – vintage knitting patterns for children’s clothes!

Lastly was the main event of the day - the Chic Vintique Fair at the Croft Hotel, just outside Darlington. I have visited the Chic Vintique Fair before (see this post), but I never tire of spending my days off wandering around all the vintage and homemade goods.

After the fair we headed outside where we decided to treat ourselves with an ice cream from the most beautiful vintage ice cream van I have ever seen! Scoops and Smiles is a pastel and polkadot paradise! Even the interior of the van was decked out in bunting and cutesy vintage wallpaper.

I chose caramel apple, mum had rum and raisin, and my sister had mint choc chip. They were all to die for – so creamy and the flavours were delicious. We were tempted by the ice lollies too – doesn’t a cherry brandy lolly sound amazing?! The lovely lady who was serving told us that ‘Millie’ is available for hire for weddings and parties – doesn’t that sound fantastic?! I would love an ice cream van at my wedding...I won’t scare the OH too much by telling him – I’d have to get engaged first!

In the end we came home with some Christmas presents (gasp!) for both me and my mum. She got a stunning turquoise bracelet, and I got a silver ring, both from Dakotacat Designs.

As well as the usual vintage clothing, knitted things and kitsch homeware, we saw some beautiful jewellery made from sea glass – something which I have never seen before, as well as delicious smelling soy candles which you can use as hand massage oil when the wax has melted.  

We had a perfect little day out – I am just counting down the days until the next vintage fair I can go to!

More tomorrow – I’m off to drop some hints to the OH about a little vintage ice cream machine...!

Until next time,

K x

A Highland discovery

Last week the other half and I decided that we were going to make an effort to revisit lots of places from our childhood that we hadn’t been to in a while. Sometimes you forget all the amazing places which are on your own doorstep! Our first visit was to Stewart’s Park in Middlesbrough, which has had a bit of a facelift recently, and was the perfect place for a stroll on a sunny summer afternoon!

After a wander around the gardens and the museum we relaxed on the grass in the sunshine before feeding the ducks on the small lake in the park.

I think these floor tiles are so beautiful...

A totem pole which celebrates the British explorer James Cook discovering lands around Canada and Hawaii. Captain Cook was born on the site where the museum sits now.

A nod to the nautical connection of the park.

After a very relaxed afternoon (and the obligatory ice-cream!) we were making our way to the car when we made a discovery of our own - some huge Highland cows (and an ugly goat) who were happy to let us get up close and be fed with leaves and flowers!

 

You only get a sense of how massive a Highland cow really is when it’s standing right in front of you, with only a small wooden fence stopping it! They look so cuddly and soft but I would not fancy having one of these thundering towards me in a grumpy mood! 

 

We spent ages watching a young boy learning to ride his bike for the first time and both wanted to cheer for him when he finally made it away from his mum’s steadying hands (only to fall off seconds later!). It made me think of all the little milestones which we reach throughout our lives which we take for granted.

I passed my driving test in December and I had a feeling SUCH elation and pride in myself.  I know in a few years it will have lost the novelty and I won’t remember the relief of never having to stand in a windy bus shelter, passing cars spraying puddles over my feet, checking my watch and wondering where the last three buses had ended up!

Have you passed any milestones of your own recently?

Until next time,

K x

For the love of Saltburn

Sorry for the slightly delayed post this week – so much sunshine is not productive to blogging!

A couple of months ago you might remember this blog post about a trip I made to the seaside at Saltburn, and a wander around the farmers market which is held there. The other half and I love a stroll around a good farmers market – the smell of a hog roast or a sizzling Aberdeen Angus burger with all the tiny tasters of cheese, pickles and chocolate can’t be beaten! The other half especially loves to see all the cuts and quality of meat which he doesn’t see at the supermarket, whilst I am more taken by the handcrafted items – soap, crocheted items and cakes!

Usually when I am lucky enough to score a weekend day off work it means a frantic, action packed couple of days as we try to make the most of the time together. This weekend was a much more restful affair – a lazy lie-in and full English breakfast followed by a trip to the seaside on Saturday. True to form the other half expressed mock surprise that we had ended up in Saltburn whilst the Farmers Market was on...no doubt he had been planning our trip and clearing the freezer in preparation for a couple of days! What he didn’t know is that I had seen an advert for a vintage fair on the journey towards the sea – so I was doing some planning in my head as well!

After a walk around the food, pottery and homegrown produce stalls (and a quick paddle in the sea) we stopped for a venison burger with caramelised onions before I put my plan into action! The plan involved one of us sitting outside the nearby pub in the glorious sunshine, and one of us going inside the vintage fair for a quick look around and perhaps a cupcake. Of course, with much fluttering of the eyelashes, I got my way!

The venue was beautifully decorated with pastel coloured bunting which was fluttering in the summery breeze, and an array of stalls inside.

I have always loved vintage suitcases!

Pastel glass pretties.

Saltburn is famous in the area for the yarn-bombing which appears for special events – the seagull and donkeys were my favourite new creations!

After a long walk along the beach the day ended with us watching the sunset from the pier with fish and chips and mushy peas – bliss!

Hope you had a lovely sunny weekend!

Until next time,

K x

 

(Yep that’s right – knitted fish and chips!) 

Paint the town red

What a wonderful weekend – and what glorious weather we have finally started to get! How very British too – talking about the weather. I have had a very retro themed few days – I went strawberry picking on Friday with my friend and her little boy, and visited the Saltburn Vintage Fair and Farmers market on Saturday (more about that tomorrow!).

WARNING – This is a picture heavy post because NOTHING looks better than a big, red, juicy strawberry!

 There can’t be many things more idyllic in life than a ‘Pick your own’ afternoon in the summer! My friend’s toddler is a keen strawberry eater and more went into his tummy and down his t-shirt than went in the punnet I think! It was so lovely seeing his face light up when he realised that he could pick AND eat up all of the little strawberries which were covering the field! After we had filled and weighed our baskets we munched some of our pickings whilst sitting in the sunshine and had a good natter.

When I got home I realised I still had enough strawberries to keep a small army going, so decided the best way to use them up was to make a jam. Unfortunately the idea scared the living heck out of me since I have NO IDEA where to even begin to make jam! So I decided upon the safer option of a strawberry flan. AND I cheated. I bought a pre-made flan case (don’t judge).

 This is the beautiful creation minus the jelly glaze which went over the top. This has got to be one of the nicest looking (and easiest!) deserts which you can make...it even got a nod of approval from the other half with a suggestion to add some alcohol to the flan base to make it taste more like a trifle next time. I live with a big trifle fan here!

Saturday morning was also spent under a sea of fruit as our little strawberry pot in the garden decided to get in on the action and ripen up some nice strawberries just in time to sprinkle over our cereal! 

Hope your weekend was as heavenly and tranquil as mine, whatever you got up to!

Until next time,

K x

Armed with rhubarb and custard

On Saturday I was lucky enough to take a trip with my boyfriend to visit Manchester. It was just a flying visit, as we went to see Robbie Williams and Olly Murs at the Etihad stadium, but we had some time during the day to explore the city centre and have a spot of lunch.

Since I was a wee nipper I have loved going for a daytrip, and there is still the same excitement about getting in the car and going on an adventure! When my boyfriend first learned to drive we spent lots of our days off going anywhere and everywhere within about an hours drive from our homes, but Manchester is somewhere I have never ventured to as it is quite a bit further than that!

Obligatory car sweets purchased, we headed off and arrived just in time for lunch.

 

Who doesn't love a proper vintage rhubarb and custard?!

Have I mentioned that my other half is a wannabe Jamie Oliver in the making? He lives, breathes and is happiest when cooking. Our kitchen is a bit of a Jamie Oliver shrine, and he can’t pass up any opportunity to spend some time being near to his idol (I can’t judge, as I am exactly the same with Cath Kidston!). It just so happened that we were wondering up a quiet street and we came across the Jamie restaurant quite by accident....or was it pre-planned...hmmm.

We had to wait about half an hour for a table but we were quite happy sipping cocktails in the beautiful bar area. This is the second Jamie restaurant we have visited (Edinburgh being the other one), and I just LOVE how he keeps the original features and purpose of the building intact, it adds to a wonderful character. This Italian is within a former bank – and you can even hire a table in the underground vaults of the building!

 

Inside the open vaults were tiny tea-lights. So adorable!

 

We both had a burger – the menu described it as

“Prime British chuck & flank

steak with smoked mozzarella,

mortadella, sticky balsamic

onions, tomato, pickles

& chillies”

Don’t ask me what mortadella is. The only thing I know is that it was DELICIOUS.

 

After lunch we wondered around Piccadilly Gardens and towards the Arndale centre. I wanted to go inside SO. BADLY. We saw this brilliant street performer...

 

...and this wonderful sign outside a truly vintage-looking jewellers. That’s a little disclaimer underneath saying that actually rings aren’t sold this way anymore.

Here’s the best picture of the night, it was a wonderful experience!

Hopefully I'll get to visit Manchester again soon!

Until next time,

K x