My daughter is 18!

Yesterday my lovely daughter Alissia celebrated her 18th birthday

Yes, eighteen

Really, she was 18

It doesn't matter how I say it, she is still 18. (which seems impossible), where have those years gone.

She had a great day celebrating with all her fantastic friends and kind and loving family and received lots of lovely cards, messages and thoughtful presents.  What a lucky girl.  

 

She is also fortunate to share her birthday with her dad, my Mr P. who, as always helped make the day very special for us all.  Happy Birthday Mr P, I gave you the best present 18 years ago when Lissy was born, don't you think ? 

As is the family tradition, her Grandad gave a beautiful speech, (for family members who were absent we have it on video!)

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 we drank champagne, sang happy birthday  and celebrated together as Lissy is now 18.

Yes 

And we love her to bits x x x x x x

Painted Ercol Unit

Mr P and his brother set off very early this morning to collect my recent e.bay purchase.  Very nice it is too, although me thinks is needs a little bit of TLC , a little bit of sanding and some painting here and there but otherwise its great.  That lovely Ercol shaped top that is so, well Ercol, it even has the cutlery tray.

The weather has been good this week in the South East and the gardening is coming to life.  Lots of fresh green growth emerging from the ground and buds on tress.  I'm now not only thinking about what furniture/accessories to take to 'home by the sea' but also thinking about what plants to move as well.  Will my peonies transplant ok? what about my favourite viburnum.  I can't wait to start my veggie patch, maybe some fruit trees, oh just to have more space for all the plants I can't fit into my existing garden.  What joy!

Table completed

After much sanding, undercoating, painting, re-sanding and re-painting and  then giving up.My beloved Mr P. took over and made a fabulous job of painting my little round table in  Farrow and Ball Wimbourne White and wow it looks fab.  Think this will look lovely in my 'home by the sea'.  Pictures to follow. Thank you Mr P.

I've kind off stopped blogging for a while, as thought it best until we had at least exchanged contracts; which hopefully will be soon
I have seen some lovely furniture and fabrics, not sure if I want a 'retro', 'cath kidston' look or a 'beachy look' for 'home by the sea'.  Recently found a new blog to follow www.abeachcottage.com  and and I'm loving that look, also John Lewis have a great range of 'coastal' accessories in at the moment which would fit in well with the beach theme but so love the 'cath kidston' look.  Just can't decide.


Lovely Mr P. successfully bid on a painted ercol unit for me last week, which he is kindly going to collect tomorrow. Hope its nice.

Almost finished footstool

After sanding, priming, undercoating, the legs are ready for a coat of lovely Farrow and Ball paint.  New foam has been attached to the top and then covered in a pretty pink floral fabric and stapled into place. All  that's needed is a trim around the edge and my first project completed.  Pictures to follow.  What fun!

First project

My first project; a small footstool and a table, both brought yesterday, locally and cheapl .  Initially I was after a much larger footstool but the very helpful lady in the shop advised me against this 'a bit too advanced for a first project'. As I have not a clue about upholstering, I can only compare with wrapping a present! I took her advice.
Armed with scissors, stapler remover and pliers I attacked the mustard fabric on the (very dusty) footstool; to reveal a very boring circular piece of plywood with 3 three legs screwed to the base. What was I expecting?.
Anyway today I am out to buy paint, foam, fabric and tassels.  Will report back later.  PP
Before photos; actually look better in photographs then they really are.

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Hello

Today our offer was acccepted on our new 'home by the sea'.  I know it will be a while until the house is ours but I have a good feeling about this.  This lovely cottage will one day be ours.  5 minutes from the beach and maximum 15 minutes from my very dear old (time not  years) friend, it is the perfect location.  For those that know us, we can be impulsive, who else buys a house in rural France over the internet! well almost.  But this feels so right.  A search on rightmove and a late night comment by Mr P led me here.
Over the next few months or once the house is ours I will be decorating my new dream home by the sea, buying second-hand furniture and applying my own touches to it. Please join me. Hopefully it will be quite the journey. Enjoy!

PP x