Hello all!!
I am currently loving many, many things. Here is a list of just some of the things that got my attention:
Carousels. You've got to love carousels even if they make you dizzy:
Rain and the sun at the same time:
Looking up to discover something new:
Always loving the South Bank:
Funny presents:
And silly cards:
I absolutely love my new tray "I Love London". I use it all the time, all the time:
I am still reading Wolf Hall and am still loving it. A quiet read accompanied with a delicious dessert, churros at the Wahaca.
No pictures for the next treat, but I am really enjoying the latest instalment of the Danish drama The Killing.
And most of all, always loving the moody and exciting London.
What are you loving these days?
Have a lovely week ahead.
Red xx
Hello all!
It's not Christmas just yet, however, I treated myself to a few goodies:
New earrings from Oliver Bonas. I've wanted these for a few months now, but for some reason didn't get them. But they've been waiting for me. This was the last pair:
Then I got these cute coffee/ tea cups from a charity shop. I don't think they are vintage, they just look a bit old fashioned. I think they are quite perfect and a great addition to my many cups and saucers. I can never get enough of things like that. What do you think?
This was in the post today. A present from one of my oldest friends. As I keep a journal every day, this will come in very handy. And it is just too cute:
As ever, I have flowers on my coffee table. Fresh flowers I think, make the room that much prettier:
These little presents were really not expensive at all, but I feel as if I was treated like a princess.
Have you treated yourself or anyone else lately?
Have a great rest of the weekend.
Red xx
Hello all!!
It is very unusual for me to wake up at 8 am on a Sunday morning. But, I did as one of the closest and dearest people to me had a tricky appointment to go to. I came along for support and of course as a distraction.
We were anxious and nervous but decided to turn an obstacle into an opportunity - use the walk to the place to enjoy the almost empty streets of Chelsea and Kensignton.
It was very cold, but the sun was out, I thought, just for us.
We saw some interesting buildings, like The Chelsea Arts Club. With every season, they change the exterior of the building. This is what was on today:
That, and remnants of a previous night's party:
Some seriously yummy cakes. We haven't bought any, however we thought they make for very pretty window dressing.
Lucky staff at the amazing Hermes. Once the Christmas is over, instead of taking the decorations down, they can eat it!!! I would love to join that party!!
We enjoyed pretty flowers and some silly things too (as an aside, flower sellers are such hard working people. And early risers too!):
And then after the appointment I was treated to the most delicious lunch at Wagamama in the South Bank. Yaki udon for the loveliest person ever and chicken chili man for me. Yum:
On a daily basis, life throws challenging situations at us. It is up to us how we react to them. We can succumb and get down, or turn an obstacle into an opportunity - an opportunity to learn something new, see something we haven't seen before, enjoy the small things around us, or just spend quality time with the ones we love.
I hope you all have a good and happy week. And if you come up against something difficult, maybe this time you can think what you can learn from it, or what joy you can get from that particular situation, however small. I am sure it will give you strength, and let's face it, it beats being beaten down and unhappy.
Red xx
Hello all!!
I like squirrels as the next person, but not on my balcony and not the very curious ones that want to come into my house.
This little madam was particularly nosey and curious. Every time i tried to shoo her away, she would come closer!!
And finally she was on her way to someone else's terrace. Let's face it, they might be cute, but at the end of the day they are rodents with fluffy and pretty tails. I am not fooled :-)
Have a lovely week!!
Red xx
Hello all!!
King's Road in London's swanky Sloane Square has become one of the places I seem to frequent more than any other in London lately.
Since I started taking my yoga classes just of King's Road I have come acrross lots of lovely places I never for some reason go to that often. And I love rediscovering places in London.They sort of become new in a strange way.
Although I didn't practice yoga yesterday, I still went for a bit of shopping in King's Road. The street was buzzing and I swear you'd never think there is a recession in this country. People were buying in literally every shop in the street, as if they were giving stuff away for free.
So, in the spirit of spending money, I also treated myself to two lovely things. These fluffy and warm slippers, (from Habitat of all places). See what you think:
And then, an entirely spontaneous and accidental buy. A vintage, designer bag, for just £16!!!! And it is new. I spotted it in an Oxfam shop and as this is a very rich borough of London, the stuff in charity shops there is mostly designer and of very good quality. So, here is my new favourite bag by Edina Ronay:
And from the side:
I also spent time looking at this pretty little exhibition:
As I said the street was buzzing with people and Xmas lights are already on too. The whole street looks very pretty and sort of celebratory:
After "working" so hard, I was ready to spend the evening with a glass of wine and my current read Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel (strongly recommended. Her first Booker Man Prize winner from 2009 about the Tudor times, Henry VIII and Thomas Cromwell amongst others).
Saturday night at home? I hear you say. Well often, those kind of evenings are the best. And indeed it was a lovely evening. I was ready to work hard this Sunday morning at my yoga class. And it was fantastic! Re-energised and ready for the week ahead.
Hope you had a lovely weekend and are ready for the coming week.
Red xx
Hello all!!
My half term week started in style. Right after work last Friday friends and I went to see new James Bond movie, Skyfall and collectively, we really, really liked it. I don't think that the movie merits more than that. It was good fun. The movie was followed by a few drinks in a warm pub.
In my world, a pretty perfect way to start a holiday.
And then today, I spent the day with people I love and enjoy being with. I had a terrible nightmare last night, and couldn't shake it off for a few hours after I woke up, but having delicious mince pies, coffee and good conversation, made everything better.
Mince pies were provided by the amazing Heston Blumenthal via Waitrose:
Tin Tin joined us for coffee:
And after a dinner at a lovely Tapas Bar in Clapham Common, I opened my belated birthday present:
This person knows me really well. I can't live without a Moleskin diary and journal.
So, after waking up on the wrong side of bed this morning, all I needed was good people around me and a few small treats.
I'll leave you with something that caught my eye the other day. Often, people concentrate on the negative and how things aren't as good as they'd like them to be. Sometimes, all we need is to step back, breath and look for the beauty around us:
"For every minute you are angry you lose sixty seconds of happiness."
Easier said than done, I know, but well worth a try.
Hope you'll all be able to appreciate the good around you and spend some time with people that make you happy.
Red xx
Hello all!!
This week has been busy but relaxing too.
After a tough rehearsal at The Royal Festival Hall, I deserved coffee and sugar:
More coffee in one of the very old coffee shops in London:
And then few days later, I treated myself to an expensive but beautiful trench coat.
You can't exactly see the stylish cut, but I quite liked taking pictures of myself in it, in the mirror. I can't wait to wear it with skinnies and heels.
I also bought myself a new journal:
And I have spent good few hours reading one of the books from this year's Man Booker Prize short list. It is set in Bombay and it is about opium and drug addiction. Narcopolis is very much recommended.
And of course, I spent time with people I love and ate good food. That's always improtant.
I am now recharged for the last week at work before half term.
I'll leave you with a quote from Buddha:
"Let yourself be open and life will be easier. A spoon of salt in a glass
of water makes the water undrinkable. A spoon of salt in a lake is
almost unnoticed."
What nice things have you done for yourself this week?
Have a lovely week everyone and enjoy every minute of it!!!
Red xx
