I was looking for a way of updating our dark stained pine dining table to a more rustic grey, aged wood look. Lots of internet research showed various methods of achieving this, but I decided upon a mixture of tea, wire wool and white vinegar. Without going into too much boring detail, the wire wool […]
Bakewell Tart
Crisp, citrus-spiked buttery pastry, filled with sweet strawberry jam and soft frangipane, sprinkled with flaked almonds. A perfect option for dessert or afternoon tea and never fails to impress. In my humble opinion, it is worlds apart from the shop-bought versions with super sweet thick fondant icing topping. Ingredients For the pastry: 120g butter 40g […]
Chelsea Buns
Sweet, cinnamon spiked soft enriched bread dough, filled with plump raisins and drizzled with a tangy lemon drizzle. These are yet another family favourite…I like to eat mine sliced in half and buttered, whereas my husband and children eat them as they come. They will keep in an airtight container for 2-3 days, but are best eaten […]
DIY Vintage Style Wooden Crate
Vintage Style Without the Pricetag After we finished our son’s industrial bedroom makeover, he subtly added that he’d like a vintage looking wooden crate to put his school bag and paraphernalia in. We agreed it was a good idea as it would encourage him to keep his room tidy and 5 months on from his bedroom […]
Amsterdam
A Whirlwind 24-Hour Trip with the Family On our way to visit relatives in Germany, we made a 24-hour pit-stop in Amsterdam to meet some friends. The city itself was easy to get to via car from Rotterdam in just over an hour and our hotel; Raddisson Blu Amsterdam was easy to find and benefitted […]
Valmorel
Alps Skiing Trip We spend a lot of time researching ski resorts and have a long list of requirements. Over the past few years we have stayed in hotel apartments with separate bedrooms, living area and kitchen, which also benefit from hotel facilities such as a swimming pool or spa. We stayed in CGH Residences […]
Valentines Card & Table Setting
A quick and easy home made valentines card, using nothing more than card, glue and red buttons. As a couple, we’ve never been overly bothered about Valentine’s Day – why should you wait for one day to show the one you love how much they mean to you? And…why would I want to sit in […]
Venice City Break
We always say we will never go back to the same place; the world is a huge and there’s so much we have yet to see, but there are some special cities that we have returned to and would return again if given the chance. Venice is one such city. There’s nowhere else in the […]
New York City Break
Our last New York trip was just the two of us and it remains one of my favourites trips to date. In fact, I love the city so much that we are planning to return with our children later this year, visiting some of the places we loved and trying out some new ones too. […]
Dubrovnik City Break
Dubrovnik Old Town is one of the world’s finest and best preserved medieval walled cities. As a popular cruise ship destination stop, it can get quite busy at certain times and if you can time it right, just as the crowds are descending on the old town is a perfect time to sit in a […]