Virtual Coffee: The Last Bank Holiday Weekend For A While

Good afternoon,

Tuesday again, already?????  I feel all out of sync following the recent bank holiday weekend, it always seems to throw me off course, however I'm sure I could get used to it.  It makes such  a difference having that extra day off. 

Well if I were really meeting you for coffee today I would invite you to have a slice of Strawberry Flan homemade by none other then yours truly.

After seeing Gemma's post the other week I have been craving one ever since, and this weekend gave into temptation.  I made 2 in all, James has taken one with him to work.  But fear not, this one right here is made up of home grown strawberries as well : )  Impressed? You should be, this is good for me.

If I were really meeting you for coffee today I would tell you what else I got up to this weekend.  On Saturday myself and James jumped on the tube (London Underground) and made a visit to Greenwich.  I really like it there plus there are some great views from the top of the hill.

The Royal Naval College

Canary Wharf

The O2 (Where I saw Usher earlier this year) (TWICE J)

They are currently preparing for the Olympics so you will have to ignore the work taking place on the grass in front of the college.



While we were wandering around I spotted a poster for an antiques and craft market, you can imagine my excitement to see this, so we wandered some more until we found it and boy was I disappointed, so much so we didn't even walk around the whole thing : ( never mind, you win some you loose some.

Disappointment aside I did buy these little beauties from the Greenwich market - Love that place : )

How cute are these cake cases, almost too good to use.

I have a thing about postcards at the moment, couldn't resist this one (sorry about the lighting)

Other then this little trip the weekend was pretty quiet.  I bought a soap making kit a while back that has been sitting in the cupboard ever since, so I decided it was time for it to come out the closet and for me to have a go at making soap.  

It was surprisingly easy actually, and obviously looked like great fun as James had to get involved hehee.  For my first attempt I am pretty impressed.  It needs perfecting a bit still as we have quite a few bubbles in them, and I didn't melt enough to fit in all the moulds but I am going to melt it down and try again so that should be fine.  Hopefully next time I will be able to get some more photos as it all happened pretty quick and I didn't have time to get many shots.

So enough about me.  How was your weekend?  What did you get up too?

Thanks for coffee, hope you enjoyed the flan.

Love Gem xxx

Linking up with Lucky Number 13 for Virtual Coffee

My Workspace On Wednesday

I tend to spend most of my time at work, sitting at my desk (moan, groan $*@>, you get the picture, right?)  We are lucky enough where I work, that we are able to decorate our own individual space with photos etc.  I have taken that on as a challenge : ).  Maybe it is because I still don't have my own place, I don't know but I like my space to look pretty.  I thought I would bring you with me to work today so you can admire it for yourselves.

I try and buy fresh flowers as often as possible but recently it has been less then usual, they can be quite pricey.  I couldn't resist these Peonies in Tesco yesterday, they were calling me to take them with me : )

They smell absolutely divine, and look lovely in my polka dot jug x

I bought this from the Spirit Of Christmas Fair in November.  Very pretty, don't you think? 

My present from James.  I had no space in my bedroom, and it is looking right at home upon my desk.

My very first decoupage project hanging proudly in place.

Of course my folders have to look the part also.

This was a bargain picked up from HomeSense a few months back

And these ring binders were in the sale at Tesco earlier in the year 99p each = Bargain how could I not snap them up.

My second decoupage project plant pot come pen holder and pretty box of tissues

Pink bunting and pastel paper chains, complete with a picture of Usher

And James : )  The 2 men in my life hehee

And no desk would be complete with out a cup for that all important cuppa each day.  Of course the cup had to match my theme, and the coaster also.

Thanks for coming to work with me today, I hope you enjoyed your hard day's work.

Love Gem xxx

Virtual Coffe: I'm Me

If I were really meeting you for coffee today I would have this to say.

I may not have a big beautiful country cottage of my own, surrounded by big open fields of beauty, with wisteria growing out the front and a pretty front porch where I can sit and admire the views.  A great big open fire where I can sit curled up on the sofa with a bowl of sweet popcorn, wrapped in a warm and cosy blanket watching DVDs on cold winter evenings.

I may not have a gorgeous scented garden full of pretty flowers with a wrought iron table and chairs where I can sit for hours lost in a book, feeling the soft grass between my toes or entertaining friends with tea party's in the garden in the lovely summer heat.

I may not be the best cook in the world or a good cook at all really, and may not be able to cook for big dinner party's in my extra large dining room.

I may not live around the corner to the picturesque country pub, where James can spend his afternoons having a pint with the locals - possibly even drinking beer he has brewed himself (he is a brewer for those of you who didn't know).

I may not be the owner of the black Porsche Carrera that I have wanted for an age.

I may not have my own business with my own tearoom,with a gift shop and florist attached selling all my handmade goods.

I may not be able to afford luxury holidays at the click of a finger where I can whisk off for short or long breaks away.

I may not have a lot of things but I am still me and I do have a lot.

I have my dreams, a lot of them.

I have my family and a boyfriend who I love and know that they all love me in return.

I have a roof over my head.  it may not be mine but it is still home.

This is a lot more then what other people may have.  So for now I will continue to dream, and count my blessings for what I have got in my life.

Love Gem xxx

It's Friday!!!

It’s Friday yay.

My only plans for this weekend are to add some items on E-bay.  I am desperately trying to save up for my own place at the moment, a lot easier said then done.  But I am feeling positive that I am actually doing something about it this time.  I have spoken to friends and we have agreed not to exchange Christmas gifts this year.  Myself and James are also not going to be having a holiday abroad this year either which for us is a massive sacrifice (hopefully worth it though).  We are both clearing through all our belongings and looking at what we can sell either on E-bay or at local boot fairs along with general cutbacks in everyday life.  So that is the plan, we do have a few other things we are doing but I don’t want to bore you all too much with it.  Fingers crossed it all pulls off.

So that’s pretty much my weekend ha ha and to think I have spent all week looking forward to this!  Let’s hope something nice will crop up and surprise me : )

Although I'd much rather be spending it here......

I love it here, Corfu.  These photos were taken on previous holidays here.  Still as I said, no holiday for us this year so we will just have to sit and reminisce.  

Hope you all have an amazing weekend.

Love Gem xxx

Pirates Of The Carribean - On Stranger Tides

Well what can I say, if you are a fan of the previous 3 films you should love this one.  I wouldn't say it was the best of the 4 but it was good.  I was glued to the screen the whole way through and loved the way they had introduced so many new things to the film.  I was really impressed with Penelope Cruz, she did a grand job, I was a bit unsure about how I would feel about her and also how the film would work without Orlando and Kiera, but it was OK.

My fave part had to be the bits set around Greenwich in London, I got all excited thinking I've been there, I've been there too hehee, sad I know.

If you are going to see the film make sure you stay right until the end and by this I mean after they have run all the credits as there is a short scene at the end, I am giving away no more then that : ). 

Just a short post from me today, I have not really been feeling myself at all but I just had to tell you about the film last night.

Enjoy your evening.

Love Gem xxx

Battle, Hastings & Rye

As you know from my post yesterday my bank holiday weekend was spent at the above places.  We camped in a Tipi at Freshwinds located in Pickham Farm in a small little village called Pett.  Like Gemma's post today I too fell in love with the area, me and James spent the whole weekend talking about how we would love to live somewhere like this.  Myself and Gemma are very similar in what we want in life, we often talk about just how similar, it is frightening.  I did chuckle when I read her post today as her and Ian's conversations seem to sound very much like mine and James'. 

Of course we walked along the seafront, had a quick (OK maybe not so quick) go in the arcades (it had to be done), a game of crazy golf, a race in the go-karts, a ride on the ghost train and a trip up the side of the cliff in the cable car thingy.  The view from up there was lovely.

I loved the old town in Hastings, with all the antique shops and boutiques and emporiums, I could have spent a fortune, I think I did quite well considering.  I will be sharing my newest purchases with you very soon.  We wandered around the streets for hours popping in and out of shops and having a real good nose around, it was lovely.

We also spent time in Battle exploring all that there was to see, it was lovely.  I really enjoyed our look around the Yesterday's World Museum.  I love hearing about what life was like for people years ago, especially hearing about what life would have been like in my grandparents era growing up.  That is one of the many things I really miss about my Grandad, hearing all his stories of life growing up, it is funny so many people get frustrated about hearing stories being told over and over, but I could have sat listening to him going on about his life for hours and still not get bored, it always used to fascinate me.

A walk through the Abbey was a must.

We will most definitely be going back again.  I loved it.  It was nice for me to hear all of James' childhood memories and stories of holidays spent here with his family and re-living some of those moments was magical, it really was quite something. 

Who knows, maybe one day we will be able to take our own children there to create even more memories to treasure.

~ Gem x

Virtual Coffee - Tipi Adventures

Well if I were really having coffee with you today I would tell you all about my weekend spent camping in a Tipi at the Freshwinds Campsite.  It was the first camping trip of the year and what a lovely trip it was indeed.

Isn't this lovely, it was home for 3 nights and 4 days. 

This was one of the lovely views from one side of the tent.

The amazing scarecrows in their cute little garden complete with flowers and vegetable patch.

One of the many adorable lambs.  

I loved the feeling of being in the countryside.  There were lambs and calf's a plenty and the owners of the farm were two of the nicest people I have ever met.  We are definitely going back, but next time we are thinking about possibly staying in one of their yurts.  If anyone would like to know more about the site where we stayed I am more than happy to answer any of your questions or you can find out more information from their website. 

We visited so many places while we were there but I am running out of time so will have to share more stories of the places we visited with you tomorrow.

Hope you all have a lovely evening.  The sun is shining here in London, let's hope it is here to stay a little while longer, at least until after the weekend.

~ Gem x