Sunday morning...

It's a beautiful day... it's so long since we have seen blue skies and sunshine!  B is still in bed (with a sore head from last night!) so I am here downstairs, listening to some gentle music, enjoying the stillness, eating a leisurely breakfast and having some good coffee.  The woofers are resting on the sofa...they have been very sick for the past two weeks but seem to be on the mend again.  I think we might go up the mountains today or maybe down to the sea...not sure, whatever, hopefully the sunshine will last :)

Shrewsbury and the Bullring..

Just a few photos from Shrewsbury.  We flew in and out of Birmingham so I made some time to check out the Bullring, designed by Future Systems.  So cool.  Have a good weekend!

Shrewsbury...

So, we went to Shrewsbury, Shropshire for 5 days.  Hubby signed up to do a fine box making course.  The course took place in barn/workshop on a farm near a little village called Church Stretton...a lovely little place to do a course and he loved it!  And he produced a beautiful walnut box with maple and blackwood inlay..which was a present for me for Valentine's Day!  It isn't quite finished yet as it needs to be lined and the hinges need to be added plus it needs some more very fine sanding and finally finishing with oil (will proudly post pictures when complete!).

Shrewsbury is a beautiful town dating back to the 15th century and is full of beautiful timber-framed, lopsided buildings...lots of hills, winding alleys and the River Severn runs along beside it.  I took lots of pictures but unfortunately, for the entire time we were there it was grey and wet...never mind, we still had a lovely time.

The hotel we stayed in was gorgeous...part of it dating back to medieval times.  It was recently refurbished (very sensitively) and what a great job!  I spent lots of time hanging out in the bar/bistro area, close to the huge open fire, reading writing and generally stuffing my face and having decadent glasses of wine in the middle of the afternoon!

I loved the decor...white and grey, painted furniture, tongue and groove panelling, oak floors with a little industrial edge thrown in with the addition of the tolix chairs and stools in the bar/bistro/cafe area.  The bedside lamps in our room were the ghost ones by Philip Stark.  There was a little seating area on the landing upstairs and I noticed Ikea Karlstad armchairs and some Ikea rugs.  The entire look was put together really thoughtfully and worked beautifully.  It really was a delight to be there.

Some of hotel below - will post photos from around Shrewsbury later.

Hope you are having a great weekend :)

On the road...

We've been away in the UK for 5 days and hired this little guy when we were there...my total favourite car - the Fiat 500!!  Husband, at 6ft 2" was very sweet and didn't mind at all but, in fact, it really wasn't as small as you would think!

Anyway, we had a lovely time and I will post more about our trip later.  Hope you are having a good week!  I am back to work tomorrow...yuck...but at least it's just 2 days til the weekend :)

The weekend...

Winter woollies, brown bread, magazines, curling up and rugby...that was pretty much it.  Miserable weather meant staying indoors most of the weekend...eating toast, reading my mags and watching the Six Nations - we lost to Wales :( ...sadly.   

We bought the Rosetta Stone language kit and loaded it up on our macs too...we both want to be pretty fluent by the end of the year...vive la France!  Once I have done that, I am moving on to Japanese!  Am also doing a design course so it's all about learning in 2012!

Just thinking about it now...we actually did venture out this weekend....we went out for Chinese food on Friday night.  It was delicious...I cannot remember the last time I ate Chinese out...seriously, must be 15 years - really enjoyed it. 

Stuff I like...stuff I bought...

All these Muuto products were on sale....about a third off on Achica and even though I would love to have bought them all, I held back and tried to be sensible!   However, that is mainly because I have just purchased this lovely little number instead...the Cross Blanket by Pia Wallen...found it at Story North a lovely little online store I recommend checking out!

Hope you are having a good week!  Can't bloomin' believe it's February...I am sorry but where on earth did January go??  Not that I am not happy to see the back of it...not the biggest fan!  Bye :)