off to cornwall

I'm heading south for a few days - see you next week!

Vintage map garland from Naturally Heartfelt, a lovely Falmouth-based etsy shop.

thrifting in france

And I'm back! It's been a busy summer, not least because of all the weddings I've attended. Having never been to a wedding before, three of my friends got married this year! All were lovely, of course, but the most glamorous took place last weekend in France.

And it wouldn't be a typical weekend for me without one little thrifting trip. I had been keeping my eye out for signs for brocantes or vide grenier, but not expecting too much (particularly as we didn't have too much spare time). And then I came across this...

Which led to this...

Most of it was your usual junk, but I did manage to find one item - another tin, of course. If you are headed to France, this website, Brocabrac, looks quite helpful for finding flea markets.

And the wedding? It was fabulous of course. We stayed in this lovely house in the centre of town, which had been converted into hostel-style rooms.

And it was a short stroll to the chateau for the reception, with cocktails on the lawn (the view is of the reception venue from the hotel)...

(linking to Flea Market Finds at Her Library Adventures and Thrifty Things Friday at The Thrify Groove)

from italy to africa

A lovely surprise in the bottom of a thrifted scrabble game, these postcards were sent to Joan Gorse in 1964. Joan lived in Kampala, Uganda, and it seems her friends were well-travelled folks too. 

Eastern Cataracts, Victoria Falls

Sat. 21st Dec.
Had a very pleasat trip. It is stinking hot here. Met Ann Fletcher and Rose Watson yesterday evening. We saw them off in the train to Billawayo after dinner last night. Hope Reg arrived, and that a happy time is had by all at Kabale.
Love Mirry

Firenze, Duomo and batistery

Dear Joan, here we are in Florence after a run of about 250 miles from Rome. Arrived about 3.30 and we have been for a walk to the Cathedral. Although it is Good Friday all shops open and it is like Xmas Eve here. Car running well but broke a headlamp with a piece of wood thrown up. Had 500 mile service in Rome yesterday. Hope to make Venice tomorrow. Getting colder as we go north. Cheerio from Kathleen, Les and Terry.

Jadini Hotel, P.O. Ukunda, Kenya

4/3/64
Dear Joan. We are all roasted nicely and now ready once more to resume our wandering and boarding the ship tomorrow. Very hot here and all we can do is eat swim and try to sleep. The food here is excellent. Our quarters are the ground floor of the smaller building, all self contained and very nice. We have not been into Mombasa but hope to have a look around tomorrow when we have settled aboard. We went to see a record sized shark which was caught along here, 650 lbs. Pleased it didn't catch me!
Love from us all. Les

Have you found any gems hidden in thrifted items?

Linking to Flea Market Finds at Her Library Adventures.

i heart camping

I survived my first camping trip! We spent last week in sunny Dorset, testing out the new tent. It was surprisingly fun, albeit a bit chilly the first few nights.

Our campsite was in a lovely spot, with the Swanage steam railway chugging through it - can you see it in the photo?

And we managed to have cream teas every day. The best was from Downhouse Farm - hard to find but oh, so worth it, with fresh clotted cream made on the farm.

What have you been up to?

(I Tent Camping sign from Jeremy Anderson, cream tea photo by S)

roman respite

So, I disappeared there for a bit! Things have been a bit hectic the last couple of weeks. But there is light at the end of the tunnel. More specifically, the gorgeous light of Rome. We are off next week - and it can't come too soon!



Picture borrowed from here.

luck of the ...

Six years ago today I was here:



It wasn't our intention to be in Chicago on St Patrick's Day, but just a lucky coincidence.

Picture from here. Although, I don't remember the river being quite that vivd - it was a bit murkier!