June 2014 Insta Post Part 1

Still hectic but I have a feeling that if I don't continue this is how bloggers think they will rest and stop all together so I am plogging on. ( that's plodding on and blogging )

When I came back to London, I found that Hyde Park and changed in the 3 weeks I was away.

The pedal boats were out but then so was all the algae.

There are times when the algae can really stink so they tend to have to cull it about twice a year.

London really gets into the spirit of the Chelsea flower show and a lot of stores do their own displays.

No one will convince me to wear socks with heels.

Not even Karl who designed this all in one bootie Chanel contraption for those who are into this trend.

I love recycled wellies.

One garden I forgot to feature in my flower show posts 
was the silver gilt winner West Green House.

It was one of my favorites! 
 Maybe it is because I don't have a trained eye but I would really love to know why the judges didn't award her a gold.  
It was also one of the more popular ones judging by the crowds standing in front of it.

She had a great eye for detail and it hit all the right notes of balance, beauty, and livability.

She is also an Australian who bought a property in Hampshire and has lovingly restored it.

The gardens are open for most of the year.

It has made such an impression I plan on visiting once later this summer.

I on the other hand am not getting any garden awards.

This is my first outdoor furniture I ever got. I bought it in the 90's.

I only kept it because it is an original French iron wrought table that had the top broken last summer.

It looked so pathetic that one of  my artistic neighbours put 4 planks of wood so I could at least rest a cup of coffee on it.  Then another neighbour took pity on it and has offered to make a new top. 

I went to Bristol and dropped into their museum.

This is one of the original Bristol Boxkites they still have hanging.

They had a special temporary section there.

Don't know if you heard in the news but the artist known as Banksy left a painting in front Broad Plains Boys Club in Bristol.

The painting was then taken to the famous "Antiques Roadshow" and valued at around £400,000 which will benefit the boys club

 and hopefully do much good.

It may not have the inventory of a London museum but it does seem to have a more educational approach.  In London museums, one feels like one needs an official tour or guide but in Bristol they had a lot more plaques that explained the displayed artifacts.

This fine example of Liverpool Delft is a posset jug.

It was a special pot used in festive occasions that was shared and served a type of egg nog called posset.

They had tiles that any household would find a way to make use of.

It was interesting that some of the tiles didn't look "old-fashioned" and would not have looked out of place in any reputable tile shop.

I don't plan on becoming an antiques expert but I love learning these little tidbits of markings on porcelain.

My standout memorable pieces were these colored glass from China that had such a vibrant hue of pink and yellow made a couple of hundred years ago.

I found myself completely taken with the following boxed sets of utensils.

Then I realized I loved how everything had its place. 

So tidy. 

On the drive back I noticed a hill that looked very similar to the Microsoft screen saver that they also got from the west country.

I met Cilla from the lovely and engaging blog Cilosophy for lunch on her travels around Europe.  I took the new double decker buses that are all nice and clean and there was no traffic.

We were really busy as we went to Liberty.

Dropped off at Anthropolgie.

Had a wander around Fortnum's.

Don't you love this faux orchid Philp Treacy headpiece?
Something for Ascot?

Fortnum's is the type of place where you get flower specked shower caps but I wouldn't dare get it wet.

Did you know that Mr Fortnum who started the store back in the 1700's was a footman in the royal court of Queen Anne and started out by recycling half lit candles?

Can you believe it's June?!
Does time really go faster as you get older?
Here's to a safe June x