wooden furniture

Two things I like looking for are lovely big fireplaces and mantlepieces and beautiful chairs. This is probably because I love sitting in front of the fire reading a book or newspaper with a pot of tea and a tasty slice of cake. I found this site for solid wood furniture by Steven Burgess and Peter Lyon that can be finished to your own spec and made to the size that would fit your space. Thier furniture looks lovely and will be keeping them in mind when I come to furnish my dream house!

book ends

I love my books and like seeking out cool bookends for them. I found this pair at the hiccup gifts website. The site has a variety of kitsch type gifts - some of which are good and some not so good - but they get the thumbs up for these. And at £14.99 they are a wee bargain too.

my dream desk

I have always imagined having a lovely sunny room, lined with bookshelves with some comfy chairs, a coffee machine and an elegant yet sturdy desk for me to read, write and dream at. Well, I have at least found the desk! The winner of this year's Grand Design (best furniture design) is the Yves desk from Pinch Design and I love it to pieces. The best pic is on the front page of the website so go visit - I just have the one below - although it still makes me wish I had a spare £1850.



It is sleek and simple and I love the green leather surface. I hate desks that have bits and pieces under the main surface - racks or drawers - I like space to wriggle my legs about! Also - while you can't see it, there are management holes in the back in case you have computer equipment you want to hook up on the desk but keep tidy and neat and not detracting from the beauty of the desk itself. I am sure if I had this desk that Booker prize winning novel would be produced in no time...

EcoHab - livin' in a round pod!

I have a thing about living in a round house - like a lighthouse - and wish one day to have one. Andy says furniture will be an issue...

Anyway - came across EcoHab which produces round pods that are small but well-designed and are also eco-friendly (and cost effective). Apparently they were shown at the Grand Designs show this year - I must go to that one year - I would spend my whole time gawping in amazement at all the fantastic design.

Anyway - here are some pics - the coverings come in different types and there is a more wood-like one which I prefer but couldn't sort a photo out.

Feeling better

So I am starting to feel more back to normal. Very tired but at least my brain feels like the neurons might be firing.

I hate being stuck indoors and so yesterday I risked going up to Balgay Park. It is just up the road so figured if I started feeling unwell I could make it back to the flat. It was a lovely sunny day and just sitting on the bench in the sun for half an hour really boosted my mood.


This image comes from the weblink if you click 'Balgay Park' above and isn't my own photo

While I was there a man sat on the bench and we had a wee chat - just a meandering out-in-the-sun chat and it was really lovely. Usually people who start speaking to you have no idea of boundaries or of being respectful that you might just want to sit in peace, but this guy was really sweet. He had travelled all over the world and he talked about how he goes out for a walk every day, no matter the weather. For someone who is retired and getting on in years I envied his fitness levels! I was tired afterwards and had wobbly legs but it was worth it - and it reminded me that there are good people all around and to not fall into the trap of viewing people you don't know with suspicion. It was a great wee moment to have had and cheered me up a lot.

Interiors

Because we will be moving house at some point and I like to day dream! I have been picking up wee idea-inspiring notes from magazines, blogs, newspapers, TV etc on housey type stuff. So will be posting up what I find!

Cool ideas for plates etc
http://www.rustdesigns.com/

Banana Sandwiches

Banana sandwiches are one of my favourite things. They are great for a quick snack and if you are feeling poorly and they are a good snack on the run too - grab a roll and a banana and you can make a sandwich out the back of your cycle bag. Essentially you just need bread and a banana but when I am making one at home and at my leisure it is made in a particular way.



scottish plain bread
one banana per sandwich - must be yellow with no green or black bits on the skin
brown sugar

take out two slices of bread.
remove the skin from your banana and place in a bowl
mash the banana using a fork
spread the banana evenly over one slice of bread
sprinkle brown sugar over the banana - it will dissolve slightly in the banana mush
top with the second slice of bread and cut in half

Serve with a hot piping cup of tea and a wee square of Fry's Cream to follow. Delicious!



If you are using 'normal' bread I would cut it diagonally so you have two triangles - but with plain bread you cut it into two squares.