The Hummingbird Bakery
It has been a great weekend, really busy, but I have managed to pack so much in it has been really satisfying. On saturday we headed north to Crouch End to pay a visit to a restaurant that serves up the best American/Californian breakfasts this side of the Atlantic, called Pick More Daisies. The food was to die for, it was seriously worth the 1 hour trek. Crouch end also has some great shops, it really is an independent shop honey pot. The icing on the cake, quite literally came when Miles and I decided to head over to South Kensington to The Hummingbird Bakery for some Sunday afternoon tea and cupcakes. Well, diet coke and cupcakes.
The Hummingbird Bakery is one of my favorite places in London, it is so damn cute! The colour scheme is bubble gum pink and brown and it does shabby chic very well. It is much more than just aesthetically pleasing – the cakes are totally dreamy. The vanilla frosted cupcake is yum, very smooth and really fluffy sponge. I love all the cakes, I love the shop, I love the displays, basically I just love everything about it..
So if your in London Hummingbird is really worth a try, their sponge is hard to beat for fluffiness. Plus the guys and girls serving you get the best uniform. They get little pink sweat tops with Hummingbird written across it – super cute!We finished our afternoon off with a 3 mile stroll around Hyde Park, it is so beautiful. The sun was setting, and the Serpentine was shimmering a gorgeous slate blue hue. The ducks were out and the leaves were all off the trees it felt like the perfect warm up to Christmas. Ice skating at Somerset House soon, I can’t wait…. now that will be Christmassy.
Greenwich
I have been so busy of late it has been impossible to sit down and blog or even find some inspiration to blog about. This is by no means a moan, I love being busy but the last couple of weeks been very exhausting plus I have had a severe chest infection. Anyway, enough of that as it all worked out in the end. So, Miles and I finally managed to steal some leisure time this weekend and headed to Greenwich for the day on Sunday – and what a day it was. I really don’t know how to do Greenwich justice in words, it is so beautiful and there is just so many interesting things to see and do. I have to stress if you love unique markets (like I do) then Greenwich market is the place for you. We visited about three separate markets in total, and the place is not that big. They all sell a mixture of things including vintage furniture and clothing (hence the photo above), exotic foods and handmade crafts.
After all the markets and shops I couldn’t ignore Miles’ plea’s for food any longer so we made a b-line for The Gourmet Burger Kitchen, The burgers are amazing and they really do come piled high, so high they require a knife and fork. I had the chicken burger with camembert and cranberry accompanied by chips with satay sauce (very nice). Enough about the food, we had to walk the dinner off so headed to the naval college to see some sights. It is situated right on the bank of the Thames and you really feel somewhere else, it’s light and airy and very Parisian.
We then made the most of the good weather and headed up into the park, we stopped off at the mini boating lake and hired a pedal boat. It was a first for me having only ever experience oars! It was awesome. Then up to the observatory it’s quite a trek, but the view at the top is totally worth it – it could rival the London eye. Overall, an amazing day, Greenwich is so cool and the things to do are so varied. I will come back again soon, hopefully with all belongings (wink, wink Miles). Ok the alteria motive coming through – I want to live here please!
Away Days
I have just got back from 3 days away in Salcombe, Devon, I was visiting Holly in her new abode. The weather contrast has been a bit of a shock since coming home. I left very sunny spells for dirty grey skies, constant drizzle and some mild flooding. I think the weather change occurred somewhere just outside of Reading, as the train passed through it left the weather behind. Anyway enough about the poor British weather. So, I spent many hours on the train to get there as I live in Kent but when I did finally arrive Holly and I got straight to it, the shopping. I use this term ‘shopping’ in the loosest sense as I am currently the poorest thing ever. So what I did was some serious ‘shoe-string shopping’. In Totnes the main destination was the shop to end all shops, Gazebo. This is a shop which sells a comprehensive collection of Greengate (finally). The stuff is like gold-dust in the Uk.
The picture above is a collection of just some of Gazebo’s great window displays. This is just what I could snap from the outside (I am always too scared to ask to take pictures inside). The inside is rammed full of curious objects and the latest Cath Kidston and Greengate supplies. Not to mention the Orla Kiely mugs and the very extensive collection of Rice products. Gazebo was great and really exciting, however not good when you have no money. I did manage to grab a bargain pale blue spotted Greengate sugar bowel to add to my collection and a lovely new season Cath Kidston iPod case (both so pretty).
We did do more than just shopping, with views and beaches like this to see there was lots to explore. We walked and walked, and walked some more but it was all worth it we saw some good beaches and some good dogs (just for you Holly). Then we got the ferry back across the estuary, I loved this part I think it’s all the splashing waves and wind in the hair. Anyhow, I ate very well thanks to a lot of ice cream, pasties and Holly’s Ma’s cooking- all in the holiday spirit.
Ok, this is turning into an essay length post. So much to say and not enough time or space to say it. Last thing was my little study of sea plants (see above). I have a strange appreciation for plants that can rough it at the seaside, they are all hardy and so over-looked. Anyway they proved to be an interesting photography subject. I think the strange fascination comes from Geography at school (strange huh?). All round lovely trip, thanks Holly. See you in the smoke!
The Zetter
This is The The Zetter hotel in Clerkenwell, London. Miles and I stayed there in November last year. It was our little break before christmas. Not only is this post to say how cool this place was to stay but also that it was this place that sparked my passion for designer wallpaper. Every room is fitted out with gorgeous wall coverings, mostly by Cole&Son . The whole place was uber cool with knitted hot water bottle covers, painted original brickwork, rain style showers and Designer Guild chairs. It was so relaxed and friendly and really reasonable. The area was really nice too, all round winner.