Designspiration (Take 2)

I’ve been away from this blog for quite a while now – things have been so busy what with me being away in New Orleans for a week! I’m planning a blog post on my trip to the Crescent City – I’ve taken lots of photos, done a ton of shopping and eaten my weight in food so I hope to have something up soon about this wonderful place!

In the meantime, I leave you with some more designspiration!

This miscellany of pics covers some fantastic window displays from the High Street.  Note the luscious tropical foliage of John Lewis, the kooky vintage frames of TM Lewin and the spring blues of Whittard – although many of you in the UK will, like me, be asking the very question ‘What is this ‘Spring’ they talk of?’ whilst you’re pelted with wintery showers!

John Lewis Cambridge

TM Lewin Cambridge

Whittard of Chelsea, Cambridge

An MOT garage is the most unlikely place to gather inspiration and yet I did, from AutoKare in Cambridge, which provided a superbly professional service as well as keeping me entertained with its cool décor of model cars and trucks, plus free tea and coffee, whilst I waited for my car to undergo its MOT (which thankfully it passed!)

Last but not least – my mother is a keen and talented gardener, and here are some shots from her early spring garden.  She got these fantastic flower hanging bags online and planted these pansies in gradations of mauves and purples.

She’s also been quite keen to plant different varieties of daffodils and these are her pride and joy at the moment – the deep orange trumpet and the pale cream of the outer petals reminds me happily of a creme egg!

My Valentine’s Day

By my own admission I am not the world’s most romantic person, nor do I particularly like to build up Valentine’s day as a huge event, as I believe that one should show one’s love for their loved one every day of the year, and so on and so forth… However, I’m going to be a massive hypocrite and write about how I spent my Valentine’s Day this year.

For those of you who don’t know (and I suspect that is most people here) I got married last October to my boyfriend of nine years, and this Valentine’s is my first one as a married lady.  We’ve always treated Valentine’s Day as a low-key thing without too much emotion invested in it, and the various things we’ve done are exchanging small gifts, cooking for each other and going out for dinner.

This year, I gave my husband a lovely teal sweater by Kin by John Lewis and this cute ice-cream shaped chocolate.  He gave me a beautiful orchid from Waitrose and a box of strawberry truffles from Charbonnel et Walker.

As hubby was off by train to a conference in Newcastle late on Valentine’s Day, we decided to go for a relaxed drink first at the railway-styled GNH bar at King’s Cross Station.  I love coming here because of its vintage mirrored opulence and evocations of a more glorious era of train travel.  Plus the cocktails are to die for.  I had the deliciously sweet and sour Mr Cubitt whilst hubby went for a more classic Bloody Mary.

Onwards to Spanish tapas place Camino, @ 3 Varnishers Yard, just a short walk from King’s Cross Station.  The choice of dishes was staggering! Aided with a refreshing Cava Royale and soft bread, we finally managed to make our choices.  Everything we had, from cheese fritters to chicken skewers to squid ink rice with cuttlefish, was absolutely delicious and we were full at the end!  I’m afraid I’ve only managed to take pics at the end of the meal, as I was way too hungry to wait!