La Minette Anglaise

Our Cotswolds trip

I know that I normally write about the wonderful things to be found in Paris but I wanted to share some pictures from our trip to the Cotswolds this summer.

We stayed in the beautiful cottage on the right, part of the OwlPen Manor Estate. Although it rained most of the time we were there it didn't put us off exploring the area.

One of the highlights was a visit to Sudeley Castle with it's fantastic collection of contemporary art doted about the grounds

This photo makes me laugh - my Dad on the right and me with Sacha in the scarf on the left

 

I love this weird cross between a pulpit and a tree house by Henry Krokatsis

The ruined part of the castle

Sudeley Pitchfork by Michael Craig-Martin

 

Tourist in my home town

How strange it is to be a tourist in your own home town! But that is just what I was last week.
I was back in London for a few days to visit 100% Design and some of the other satellite shows and a couple of friends from Paris joined me for the weekend.

Walking around with them, sharing some of my favour spots, I started looking at the city in a different way, looking up, noticing the wonderful architectural details, new shops and bars and the of so British flavour...

Above ~ Dr.Martens shop in Camden
Below ~ Window of the new Luella shop, Conduit Street

Above ~ Giant Plug socket off Carnaby Street
Below ~ Strange plant and fabric installation at 100% Design

Above ~ A favourite view over the Thames
Below ~ Bridge near Waterloo station

Above ~ Mornington Crescent tube
Below ~ Coffee shop next to Spitalfields Market

Above ~ Rocking horse in his best suit
Below ~ Gnomes in a window on Bond Street

Japan - where to start?

Ahhh....Japan....where do I even start? We spent three amazing weeks there in August and it surpassed all my expectations. First off - it was hot! Between 35 and 40°C and between 60 and 70 percent humidity - so hot that the moment I stepped outside I was perspiring in places I didn't even know I could perspire!

Our trip started in Tokyo - a city of many contrasts. Modern and traditional, beauty and not, calm and activity. I loved being in a huge city with so much to see and do (kind of reminded me of home..) - I know that we barely scratched the surface..

We were lucky enough to stay with my brother-in-law who has been living in Tokyo for the last two years. He lives not far from Ikebukuro, in North-West Tokyo.

On our first day there we were proper tourists - Tokyo Tower, the Imperial Palace gardens, Senso-ji temple and a visit to a Takayama department store where we saw a watermelon for sale for 60 euros!

The next day we took it easy and visited Tokyo National Museum and a walk through Ueno Park. We came across these girls playing in the park - they were thrilled when we asked to take their photo!

And of course we couldn't spend time in Tokyo without shopping!

In Aoyama we visited the Galerie Doux Dimanche owned by Jeu de Paumes where I picked up a copy of their new book "Paris Kitchens 2" ( I am a really fan of their books - I have quite a collection now), then on to Oriental Bazaar where I picked up some bargain beautiful lacquer bowls.

I couldn't help going into a shop called "KiddyLand" a few doors down - a six floor kitsch-fest emporium stuffed to the gills with the most amazing toys, collectables, mini robots, you name it, they had it. With amazing self-restraint I managed to come away with only this little doll - a Sonny Angel Pig Baby (really I would have much rather the reindeer but it's a pot luck buy!)

On our last night in Tokyo my brother-in-law took us to a restaurant called Gonpachi in  Nishi-Azabu where we ate the most sublime meal and drank my new favourite - Umesho & soda - a kind of plum liqueur, delicious on it's own but even better with soda and ice!

I must admit that our 3 days there left me with a longing to go back and spend some real time discovering the city. But the next day we headed out of Tokyo to the beautiful mountains of the Hakone region...but more of that in another post..

Why I still love London

Just back from a week in London. I make the same mistake every time. I try to do too much and see too many people. Result - I get back to Paris exhausted!

The first day was dedicated to wedding madness. A wedding make-up test with my lovely friend Dee. She is a very talented professional make-up artist and has very sweetly offered to do my hair and make- up as a wedding pressie. I'm going for a 1940's look with my hair and "an improvement on mother nature" for the make-up!

In between gossiping and cigarette breaks for Dee, we finally managed to work out both hair and make-up and left enough time to go for lunch in the new café - The Kitchen Table.

If you ever find yourself on Mill Lane, London NW6 go and check it out. Thomas & Jenny who own it are old friend's of Dee's and they opened only a few weeks ago. The food is amazing (cakes to die for) and the service is great - I couldn't resist taking a picture of the rose left in my cup by my double espresso.

The next day, another dress fitting. Here's a sneaky peek.. I have another two fittings to go but it's pretty much there and it's really beautiful!

Over the weekend, I headed over to Spitalfield's market. Every time I am there, yet again the area has changed. The newly rejuvenated part of the market is a little too slick from my taste but I have to admit it's been well done. I particularly like the new square to the south with a canopied seating area.

At the wonderful Caravan, I bought a beautiful sprig of metal roses, now happily adorning the shelf above our front door. If you love vintage homewear but like to mix it up with design classics and flea market finds, this shop great. It's owned by Emily Chalmers, a very talented lady who not only runs her shop but styles interiors and writes books - my favourite is Flea Market Style.

The other side of the market on Brushfield Street, there is this great looking chocolate shop

And a little further along the kind of sweet shop I always yearned for as a kid...

No visit to Spitalfield's is complete for me without popping into Story, a beautiful poetic shop on Wilkes Street. The very talented Anne Shore resides over this ever changing space. Her home was recently featured in the April issue of UK Elle Decoration. Makes me want to go live in a beautifully shabby loft space..

Chantilly

Yesterday was another 'jour férié' or public holiday here in France. It's traditional to max up your holiday by taking the 'pont' (taking friday off so with the weekend you end up with a four weekend). And it's also the time when everyone hits the motorway.
So mindful of this we thought we would take out day out in the countryside a day earlier - and what a great idea that was.

We visited Chantilly - a stunning chateau set in even more stunning gardens about an hour north of Paris. And we practically had the place to ourselves. It was a joy and I got to take loads of photos uninterrupted..

If you get the chance to go there do - it's stuffed with amazing paintings and beautiful architectural details and tons of gold leaf!

Au Bois de Vincennes

For the last few days I have been in a horrible hormonal fog so the lovely husband took me to the Bois de Vincennes for a walk.
Sometimes just being outside makes you feel better. I truly am a lucky girl to have such a wonderful husband.

Dungeness

It was my friend Z who convinced me to start writing a blog.

Then I found this photo in a box - taken on a boiling hot, beautiful summer's day. We decided to get out of London and she drove me down to Dungeness on the coast.

If you've never been there, put it on your list - it's quite an amazing place.

So thank you Z for the lovely day in Dungeness, for the encouragement. I miss you.. hope you're having fun in Liverpool.