My Version of Urban Gardening

This planter I bought at auction sparked something in me...

The planter is crudely holding the potted cutting of Shropshire lad.

I live in a permanent mental state of flux.
It was only 7 years ago ( before the iPad) that I finally got my first magazine subscription which was crazy BC I've been a magazine fiend since I was single digit age.
I got married the same year too.
Psychoanalyze that.

So while I liked flowers as much as the next person, I couldn't put down my literal and figurative roots.

I always thought I'd move again which I did on a biannual basis like when I was single.
Marriage has brought a certain static energy to my life which was probably needed but I got an extra dose because I'm married to a Taurus.

Most of my plants I have in front of my house has been jettisoned by moving neighbors or gifted.

My jumbled up stream of consciousness compilation of pot plants as of last summer.

So even though we built the second floor I left the terrace bare with the exception of a lemon tree. 

Oh we will sell anyway soon one day I thought, maybe this year or next year -
testing the theory of time and space.

But I just realized it's been almost 3 years since we did the building work and not doing something because I just might do something else didn't make any sense at all.

So I went through the Royal Horticultural Society plant catalogue for some hydrangeas and herbs and David Austin for his roses using my RHS membership discount.

We had to go to the gardening center three times because we miscalculated soil requirements. 

I was so confused with which plant goes in which pot.

I don't have a garden so I can't just dig in anywhere.

I unpacked in the rear courtyard as I have never ordered plants online before making a mess which LSH wasn't too pleased with.

I hope I have a thriving relationship with these roses.
 I have a great relationship with my yellow roses. 

But my relations with this red rose is a bit more tempestuous. 

The said defendant.

It didn't bloom for three years in a row then in the spirit of talking to plants as told to me by my grandmother who was a huge believer in this practice, I had a very stern talk with the rose and basically did a botanical house of cards ultimatum on it. 

I threatened to kill it even if it didn't perform.
 I explained it was taking up prime real estate in my few planters available and I was having no dissent on my watch.
You're in or you're out.

As if on cue, it bloomed that year.

But it's been stubborn again the past two years.
Of course, science will tell you that I haven't spoken to it in those very two years.
I think this rose takes the stick approach rather than the carrot sadly.

Must be a rep from the rose union or something.

I am still not done re-potting and will update you over the year but then in the world of gardens, 
are you ever done?

Little Venice and the canal walks of London

We have been having a glorious summer in London.

I thought I would make the most of the weather and my dose of Vitamin D.  I had to meet my brother to pick up Millie so decided to go the scenic route.

 I started in Paddington Central which is a modern development right by Paddington station for your guide. 

What you see in the picture above are old warehouses that would have received delivery of goods of stoneware and wool from the industrial North of England.

Due to the sun, the water has a green overgrowth that looks like astro turf if you didn't know better.

The bridges are main arterial roads that lead to the A40 and the Marylebone Road.

Even houseboats are squeezed in every possible berth.

Gardens and barbeque sets are just as important to boat dwellers.

There are a few local turns but you should look for the

Jubilee Walk ( click for link ) and follow the canal if in doubt.

September 2013 Instagramy Post - Part 1

The turn of season has come.

Even inanimate objects are polite in Britain,

summer never overstays its welcome.

The first foggy morning of the season seemed atmospheric 

and very Bronte-esque but that very morning 

there was a car crash involving 130 cars.

Pumpkins or is that squash has come out already.



Due to my new area, I got on the wrong train like a bloody tourist but went past the Battersea power station and had a good look at it from an angle that I rarely see it in. 



It is finally being developed after being left dormant for 30 years! 
It is going to be a modern complex of shopping center/flats 
because God knows London needs more shops 
and more unaffordable accommodation.

May 2013 Instagramy post

May has been so busy that I felt a bit like this duck.

I am lucky enough to live in walking distance to Ottolenghi but having gone there for more than a decade, I always make sure I spread the love and visit Tavola in equal measure.

It often gets overlooked as it is 2 blocks away from Ottolenghi.  

But Alistair Little the owner/chef is one of the three cooks 

who were  mentored by Elizabeth David; 

the other two being Rowley Leigh and Simon Hopkinson.

He does both savoury and desserts extremely well!

Even his produce is flown fresh from Sicily but 
I tend to balance out all that fresh deli food with...

I forget who said if you want to eat well in England, eat breakfast 3 times a day.  
I go to a Spanish restaurant / caf ( not cafe but caf my dears) 
called Churreria

Royal Chelsea Flower Show Part 2

Part 1 of my post on the Chelsea Flower Show was about the show gardens but this post is about the two other sections of the flower show.  The show also has a huge exhibition in the Pavilion and there are Artisan gardens which are the other two judging categories.

This lily stand won gold medal because not only was the overall effect amazing but each individual flower was perfect.

This new feathery, frayed lily is my new favourite variety.

Name is Roselily Natalia.

Everywhere you looked inside would make you walk towards each respective stand that we ended up doing a zig zag inside.  

But Avon Bulbs was one of the best and of course won gold.

Imaginary Conversations in Hyde Park

This past weekend London had been briefly visited by Spring. 

I didn't know that Spring had the personality of Lindsay Lohan: so much hype, so much promise, but so late showing up and when she does - it's a quick entrance, ducks out of vision and leaves without saying good bye. 

Via eonline.com

But momentarily, there was sun and we almost hit double digits in the temperature - it was 9 degrees people!

But considering it was just snowing a few days before, I felt I had to be a good host to Spring and went to the park to greet her.

I like to take a walk on my own - I get to think properly.

I don't even listen to music - just my own thoughts.
And other people's conversations.

I decided to sit in the Lido cafe having a cup of tea with some papers, getting some Vitamin D, and people watching.

Via Flickr

The park was full of people full of like minded people trying to catch a glimpse of the sun rays.

I know we all do this, please tell me you do, but don't you sometimes wish you could just go up to certain people and have a quick word?  I know I do.  Good thing I was alone because I was busy having imaginary conversations in my head with these people. 

That way you also get the last word.

Well there were a few people who I talked to.

Classy British stuff

This is a last minute post - partly because I was thinking about this all day and I am at home unexpectedly.  I thought I was meant to go to see Helen Mirren in The Audience  tonight. But due to my head space not being compos mentis and the false pride I have in mentally filing as opposed to having a diary, I missed the play I had tickets to last night.  Insult to injury, I turned down an invitation to the hottest ticket in town for The Book of Mormon because I thought I was otherwise engaged...Argh.

Anyway, the papers had the usual smattering of different headlines today but the one that quite a lot of front page coverage was this.

Apparently, there are now more social classes in the U.K. than one previously thought.

It used to be this.

bbc.co.uk

One upper, one middle, and one working class man.
Looking up and down upon each other.

This is based on a very famous sketch which for those of you who are not familiar with it can watch here.

But apparently now there are seven different classes.


  
I don't know whether to sigh or yawn.

Rachel Vosper - Part 2

Hello all, I am having a few technical issues while on holiday.

Will try to do a travel post but the internet and my equipment is not making it easy...

So here's one I made earlier!

I tried Rachel Vosper for the first time around Christmas time.

Shop exterior on Kinnerton Street,
one of the loveliest hidden streets in Belgravia.

I wrote about it in this post.

Shop interior,  I love her use of cornicing as shelves on the left.

I love and need candles around the house and was so excited to find someone to fill all the empty used candle jars with some new scents.

Homage to the TUBE - 150 years anniversary in London

This is a little off beat post but feel like sharing with you.

The subway system in London for those of you who may not know is called the Tube.

We all have a love/hate relationship with it in London.  I, like many others, like to sneer at it and complain but recently I have noticed that actually there is a lot of hidden beauty in the stations.

It has faithfully been serving the city for 150 years! The first tube ride was on January 9 1863.

Queen Victoria was in the middle of her reign then and she was the first monarch to have a Diamond Jubilee before the present Queen Elizabeth.

Queen Victoria in front of Kensington Palace - Kate and Wills live there now.  I was walking past early and no one was around so I took a picture for y'all.

One of the oldest platforms and stations of the Tube. Very Victorian example.

Iconic graphics of all the stations in the Underground.  You could spot it a mile away.

Finally have a chandler! Not the one from Friends.

As you all might have guessed, I really like candles.  

It is something I use everyday and I can't believe it has taken this long for me to find a chandler.  I like saying that word - chandler -  or otherwise known as a candle maker. 

Through a friend, I discovered Rachel Vosper - a proper artisan and chandler.  I love that in this day and age there are still craftspeople out there producing products in store.  She has the cutest boutique that would not have been out of place in London during the 1700's.  I took some pictures for those of you who might be too far away to visit her store anytime soon.

How cute is that - you can sit on the chairs while deciding which candle you want.

It is located opposite one of my favourite resturants, Salloos, and next to a cute pub.

She has an amazing range of scents that are distinct and her range of glassware is diverse and original.

The vessels themselves are beautiful and would make a lovely decorative addition to any home.

How beautiful is the long white one - perfect for the dining or coffee table.

Images taken from her website where there are more beautiful options with many unique scents.  
You can even design your own!

But what really sets her apart is her refill service.  

This is truly revolutionary.  

I know I have so many empty glasses once the candle is done.  

I think almost everyone I know including myself and most blogs I read have an empty Diptyque or Cire Trudon candle that doubles as a makeup brush holder.  But you only need so many utensil holders right?

I love glass as a material - I collect it in many forms.  

I have this gorgeous green whiskey goblet that I adore but as I don't drink whiskey I end up just looking at it.

I took it to Rachel so she could do her magic. 

Before the makeover but still pretty right?

This glass does not have a bad side.

So after a few days with Rachel - she turned it into a beautiful French Lavender scented candle.

I love that I had a big part in making this unique candle.  

Here it is - Voila!

She is so clever she used two wicks for more even burning.

Action shot - isn't the two flames pretty cool?

She really can refill most vessels - if unsure just bring it to her and she will let you know if she can make it into a candle or not.  She is so nice that she even refills empty candles from other brands so don't worry about bringing them into her. 

I have already decided on my next new candle which is this soup tureen!

Soup tureen from the Nil pattern collection from Hermes

I can't wait to show you after it becomes transformed. 
She is having a sale at the moment - 25% off candle refills until end of February so now is a perfect time to try! 

 If you don't live in or near London, you should find your local chandler and see if they can transform a piece in your home that is staying idle.