Birthday presents

My birthday presents this year were truly brilliant, at this point we have to mention my favourite

The Arucana babies, bought early but as delightful as they were when they arrived. They are gorgeous and I'm so happy to have them.  Next up were a surprise present i got from my bandmate Emily at rehersal, these are upside down strawberry cheesecake cakes from the humming bird bakery. They were delicious (Emily is a very good cake maker) but very sweet (I loved them & they didn't last long).

 Next up is an excellent present from my friend Fi, a warm winter coat to keep me warm (she gave me it the weekend before Towersey and I definitely needed it. It's artificial sheepskin on the inside but just a cozy, also I have fulfilled one of my lifetime goals by owning a coat featuring toggles...)

 This lovely beaded heart was acquired in Cirencester (which we visited on the Saturday of my birthday. We had lunch at the fabulous Brewery Arts (here is Jam sampling some of the local brew which is called Muddy Wellies and is brewed at Cirencester agricultural college))

Anyway back to the heart, it was purchased from an excellent shop called The Wendy House, they stock mostly furniture but also have a fab selection of knick knacky things. I spent most of my birthday money in there apart from Nannas who I spent on this lovely chap from Cirencester Arcade.

 

Like a bow tie wearing Mabel that is actually a tea pot! (seen here holding its own on my teapot shelf) Fantastic stuff! The final arrival to my present pile was this beautiful mirror from my friend Nichi. She included a note in with it saying she saw it and felt it ought to belong to me, its beautiful and I will treasure it. What a great birthday!

 

the one where I buy the oversize porcerlain cat...

This weekend I met up with the wonderful Alex to have a royally overdue catchup and explore the delights of Camden market. When I was a teenager Camden market was my go to place for all things cool (my uncle had a flat round the corner in the very posh Regents parks area and gave my mum a key to his place so we could pop in whenever we wanted) however since swapping the streets of London for the golden glow of Oxford I haven't been back. Would I be disappointed? Would Camden not be cool anymore? I needn't have worried, all was as it should be. Alex took me to a fantastic tea shop for lunch (a baguel and delicious chocolate cake) and then we headed to the market. One of the first things we saw was a 3ft high black poreclain cat in a shop stuffed full of 60's items. To say it was love at first sight would not be an understatement, but we had just started shopping. We asked the shopkeeper about it (as well as the prospect of getting it shipped to Oxford (they had a massive sign announcing they shipped worldwide). No she couldn't ship it had we felt how heavy it was? We felt, it was pretty heavy. Alex valiently offered to carry it for me, but we would have to go back for it later. I asked the lady if she would save it & that wasn't possible either so after wandering round London all afternoon (and visiting this very cool camera shop, I really want one of these) we returned, and to my joy it was still there. So guess where it is now? That's right, at home with me :-)