Posh B&B and new hats at Sheringham 1940's weekend

Once a year a small seaside town in transported back in time to the 1940's - it is one of my favourite weekends of the season.

Sheringham is the home of the Poppy Line and we had a fabulous time riding on trains, dancing on the platform and chatting to all the lovely peeps that came along and made such an effort with their outfits.

We stayed in a wonderful and very stylish B&B - No 27 - we had a lovely bedroom, sitting room and wet room with the smallest but very cute loo!!

 

 

 

 

The following morning we tucked into a very filling full English breakfast and fresh coffee - delicious.

 

 

 

 

We had great fun catching up with friends and chatting with people on the platform - everyone always make such an effort with dressing up and the town shops all take part too.

 

 

Saturday Night dance with my lovely hubby on the decks.

 

1940's jacket Shazam vintage, skirt from a suit from Prim Vintage, 40's hat and shoes.

Gloves from Retreat Vintage.

Vintage suit Shazam vintage, 40s hat Retreat Vintage (that was one of the  new hats!!)

Shoes Rocket Originals and gloves Retreat Vintage.

Vintage suit and blouse Shazam Vintage and another new hat bought from the

stalls at Holt the previous day!!

 

 

 

 

And I spotted three ladies looking fabulous in the Barbara dresses.

Not murder but magic on the Orient Express

This Saturday was a dream come true for me - I have always loved train travel - the romance and the mystery of where people are going and meeting, I am of course talking about the good old days of porters and carriages with proper seats.

For my 50th and our wedding anniversary we had booked lunch on The British Pullman something I had wanted to do my whole life - it almost didn't happen the Saturday before we had a car crash on the way to an event and I spent a few days in hospital nursing fractured ribs but nothing was going to stop me going on this trip so armed with pain killers and my leg in a surgical bandage we headed of to London to pick up the train.

Walking or should I say hobbling along platform No 2 at Victoria we arrived at the check in

 

We were allocated our carriage - Audrey - built as a first class kitchen car in 1932 making her debut on New Year's day 1933 as part of the first all electric Pullman train. She then spent nearly 40 years of service as part of the Brighton Belle - this was fabulous to know as the Brighton Belle was the train that my father used to take when courting my mum, traveling from London to Brighton at the weekends.

Just a short wait and then the iconic train pulled into the station and my heart skipped a beat - the carriages slowing coming to a stop so we could get on board.

 

Hat - Shazam Vintage, 1940's vintage dress - Paris, gloves - Retreat vintage and shoes Rocket Original. (Surgical stocking courtesy of the NHS!!)

 

 

Once we were seated champagne was served in the most beautiful crystal glasses and the train gently pulled out for the start of our journey.

 

 

 

As we travelled through the Kent countryside fabulous food kept coming and wine glass was refilled as if by magic, stewards effortlessly served our lunch and how they managed to serve soup from a terrine on a moving train I will never know!!

 



 

The food was delicious and the service was fabulous. After a couple of hours the train manager informed us that we would be arriving at Winstable shortly for a short stop with champagne and oysters served on the platform.

 

 

The trip was everything I imagined and then some. I didn't do much running around carriages as I wanted but didn't want to hurt my ribs anymore so here are a here are just a few more fabulous pictures of the carriage.

 

 

Sadly we all to soon arrived back at Victoria Station and our journey was at an end. Leaving the old fashioned style behind us we vowed to return one day and maybe just maybe do the ultimate Paris to Venice.



 



Spring blooms - garden ideas!!

Our garden has been looking a bit sad recently - we lost a lot of plants a couple of winters ago and we didn't do much with it. Then with the strong winds this winter our fences blew away so we got rather cosy with our next door neighbours but now they are back up again so this Sunday we headed out to the garden centre to buy a few plants to brighten it up a bit.

Lots of digging, pruning and re-discovering the water feature under an over grown olive tree we - well I say we most of the hard graft was done by my lovely hubby while I sat around giving instructions!!

It is still work in progress so I won't post any pictures yet but here are some of the ideas I have been collecting.....................

 

My initial plans were for a Mediterranean style garden as I love the lush green foliage but as with the house the collector in me takes over and I end up with an eclectic mix of vintage pieces that I find on my travels. I also like the idea of picking flowers to put into the house so now I am investigating lots of colourful blooms that I can brighten up the rooms with.

 

 

I love the idea of making the garden into an outdoor room - I am not much of a gardener but potter and like to have a glass of bubbly in the sunshine

Photos to follow when it is how I want it - need to find some fabric for the LLoyd Loom chairs, a couple more chairs and a new table - so watch this space.

How does your garden grow? Do you have an outdoor space or window box - I would love see how you plan yours??

Home Office Style

I was planning a post about our adventures over the Easter break but due to rather typical miserable bank holiday weather we didn't get to do all the things I had wanted to do - cue drinks in the garden, picnics in the sun - scuppered!!

So instead I had a bit of a spring clean in the house and managed to sort out my home office - something I have been meaning to do since leaving Fabulous Miss K HQ in November. (Long story as to why we moved out - too expensive and a burglary!!)

Sitting on the sofa watching crap daytime TV does not make you productive so an alternative space was desperately needed. Trying to find even a small corner in a two up to down terrace is difficult but my ever practical hubby came up with the perfect solution - I knew there was a reason why I married him!!

Many hours looking on pintrest and home styling sites lead to a mood board for inspiration -

 

 

I found the perfect spot in the corner of the bedroom next to the window so when the sun shines I can look out over the garden. It is a small space but just big enough to fit the cabinet that was in my previous office, I already had a book shelf so I filled it with all my fashion and styling books, added a few accessories and hey presto the finished result.

 

 

Just need to get the chair covered in the most fabulous fabric I found in Anglia Fashion Fabrics.

Some of my favourite styling pictures on display.

Just a few of my many fashion books!!

 

I love my new office space small but perfectly formed I am very much looking forward to working here.

 

 

Have you got a workspace if you work from home or is it the dining room table or are you lucky enough to have your own office - would love to know how you get your work done??