In the last few months we have been between London, Somerset and Cornwall, with half a house to pack up each time (highchair, travel cot, baby monitors, toys etc) my own packing has had to become super quick, efficient and minimal. To that end I have edited my travel toiletries…
Instagram on Countryfille.com
You may have noticed in the last few posts my photos have got significantly jazzier. I have Instagram in my life and all is well. I did photography as part of my degree so I will freely admit to being a camera snob, namely that I still don’ t believe…
Things that other people do: making marmalade
So, I popped my preserves cherry today. Seville Orange Marmalade, no less. Look away now if you are a by-the-book jam maker as this will probably make you scoff: I used oranges from a tin. If this makes you clutch your WI recipe and break into a cold sweat, I…
Our first family holiday: Bedruthan Steps
It is with HUGE excitement and a little intrepidation that I’ve booked us our first family holiday. We shall be spending 3 nights this June at the Bedruthan Steps hotel, Mawgan Porth in Cornwall. Gulp. The trip will not be into wholly unchartered waters as this shall be my third…
Snapshot: the dressing table
It’s taking a while to get our heads around the space that living in the country brings. A bit like battery chickens we’ve been trying to cram all our stuff into one room/cupboard/shelf, but slowly we’re spreading out and creating nooks and crannies we couldn’t have dreamed of in London.…
Uncovering garden treasure
So, a couple of posts ago I wrote about my lustings for a hammock for my tree-less garden. Well, that’s not strictly true. We did have to get a tree surgeon in to remove all six mature trees in various states of rot, decay and downright danger. I am always…
And the winner is…
Devon. After a lot of house-hunting, umming and aahhing, a whole heap of soul-searching and should we/shouldn’t we midnight talks, we’ve decided that Devon will be the Mansi family’s new home. While London was a loyal bedfellow for the last decade, with the arrival of Country Bebe it felt right…
On… hammocks
One of my main loves when it comes to country living is an early evening swing in a hammock. Preferably accompanied by my trusty Roberts wireless and a G&T. My parents have the perfect pair of apple trees to string a hammock between, offering dappled shade in the summer and…
The big chop
My mother cut my hair. This may be in the past tense but I’m not talking 30 years ago, it was last week. For an ex-beauty editor this is like a chef saying: “I just scoffed a Tesco Value ready-meal”; or a sommelier admitting to; “quaffing a bottle of Lambrusco.”…
Lulu Guinness for Uniqlo
I will be setting the alarm to get online on the 16th and hopefully snap up the second from bottom trio of t-shirts from Lulu Guinness’ collection for Uniqlo. I usually avoid a graphic tee like the plague (big boobs don’t need adverts), but these bold iconic Lulu designs really…
Object of desire: Plankbridge shepherd’s huts
Sigh. Aren’t these a thing of beauty? Plankbridge in Dorset handcraft these traditional Victorian Shepherd’s huts, and even restore original examples, for those in search of a rather more romantic alternative to your conventional extension. I like to daydream (often) of myself sat here, writing this very blog Or, at…
Things that other people do: DIY beauty
So, I’m not ashamed to say it. I used the last of my Bamford Geranium body oil this morning and almost shed a tear; the added lavender and peppermint make it the perfect balance – herby, floral but modern and light. None of this sweet, flowery nonsense. And it’s thick,…