What a difference a year makes...

This little blog has lain dormant for almost a year <sigh>, but I am finally trying to commit some time to resurrecting it now that I find myself on maternity leave!

Life, lately.

Original quote: Benjamin Franklin [Source]

2014, to date, has been relentlessly busy. It has been characterised, for the most part, by significant change and punctuated by such beautiful, exciting things that I simply haven't had any time at all to document along the way. Since my very brief Japan post back in June, which in itself was a couple of months overdue, I have been rather preoccupied with (in no particular order):

• Moving house - the third time in four years.
• Leaving one job and starting another - exhausting, but I love it.
• Attending five weddings - I was lucky enough to be a bridesmaid for my closest friends at three of them, which was just wonderful.
• Helping to organise - and being present at! - three hen dos.
• Directing a musical.
• Welcoming a new niece into the world.

I am not, in any way, glorifying 'busy'. I only mean to say that my evenings and weekends have been tied up one way or another for quite some time. I felt it was really important to enjoy being present and mindful during all of these important life experiences, which didn't leave much time or energy for blogging about them! The new job, which is great, has also been full on. I start at 7:30am and have often been working late, till 9pm some nights. Needless to say, I'm glad to be writing again and I will do my best to fit it in as often as I can.

Thirty before 30.

I turn 30 this year. I am not afraid.

Source

Being an August baby, I've always been keen to catch up with my peers in the age stakes. I remember how agonising it was, waiting to turn sixteen, seventeen and eighteen, simply to finally be legally allowed to do all the things you'd been doing for years anyway. It seems strange now, to have been in such a hurry to have the next number in the sequence proverbially stamped on your forehead. I can honestly say that 30 is no exception; I'm sprinting for the finishing line. Whilst I acknowledge the significance some may place upon the end of their twenties, I cannot share their trepidation in the face of the big 3-0. For me, this birthday milestone is all about celebrating the passing of my twenties (interspersed as they were with bad boys, poor financial management and regrettable sartorial choices) and embracing my thirties (making good choices, making money, making babies - not yet, Mum & Dad!).

Marriage ~ 380 days later.

We recently celebrated our first anniversary. It has been an exhaustingly busy year, and one which has seemingly disappeared on us in the blink of an eye. Reaching our first marital milestone, as wonderful as that feels in the context of our relationship, has reminded me just how much I miss the wedding planning process, and I have been filling that little void of late with poring over our wedding albums!

Playing for keeps

Whilst pinning typographical art to my latest board on Pintrest (infinitely more interesting than sleeping), I stumbled across the following rather touching article on marriage, by Lydia Netzer. It seems to me to be very sound advice and is beautifully written, so I am posting it below in honour of all my wonderful friends and family who are very recently married (J&G), newly engaged (F&D and H&J), or soon to be celebrating their 30th wedding anniversary (Mum & Dad!). I'm also posting this for my Mr Magpie - four months and counting...

Image © Ria Mishaal Photography

NB Marriage is not a prerequisite for reading this article; there aren't any smug married comments and it does not idealise marriage in a condescending fashion. It's honest and charming; you should read it:

15 Ways to Stay Married for 15 Years 

Today is my fifteenth wedding anniversary. I really love Dan, and I am proud of how awesome our marriage is. We certainly haven’t killed each other yet. Hell, we haven’t even maimed each other. We have not always been perfect, but we have made two cool kids, and we have always kept it interesting. For two people as weird and intense as Dan and I are, staying together this long is a big accomplishment. I know some people are surprised.

When Dan and I got married, we were 25 years old. Now, we’re staring down the barrel of 40. Looking back I’m surprised we didn’t, as 25 year olds, self-destruct just for the heck of it. Now that we are older, we are perhaps surprisingly also wiser. Here are the things we have learned over the years, that helped us stay married and even happy for fifteen years. (Beyond that, you’re on your own. I can’t promise another 15.) Our list does not resemble the one you will find in Cosmo orLadies’ Home Journal. We have never had a regular date night, nor do we prioritize “communication” or play sex games or see a therapist. He doesn’t bring me flowers every Thursday, I don’t cook his favorite food very often. But we do have some other ideas.

1. Go to bed mad.

The old maxim that you shouldn’t go to bed mad is stupid. Sometimes you need to just go to freakin’ bed. “Let not the sun go down upon your wrath” is prefaced in the Bible by the phrase “Be angry and sin not.” So, who’s to say it doesn’t mean “Stay angry, bitches. Don’t let the sun go down on that awesome fierce wrath of yours.” Seriously. Whoever interpreted this to mean that you should stay up after midnight, tear-stained and petulant, trying to iron out some kind of overtired and breathy accord -- was stupid. Shut up, go to bed, let your husband get some sleep. In the morning, eat some pancakes. Everything will seem better, I swear.

2. Laugh if you can.

In any fight, there is one person who is really mad, and one person who isn’t that mad. That person should deflect the fight. Make a joke, do something stupid or corny, make the other person laugh. If the fight is very serious for you and you feel like you really want to plant your flag and die on this hill, fine. Do it. But if you’re fighting for entertainment, or because you’re just reacting, then you be the one to deflect. Fights are bad. Deflecting a fight whenever possible is a good idea. When you’re the one who’s being pissy and raw, and the other person helps you get out of it and brings about peace, that feels fantastic. This was a hard lesson to learn, for me. Letting Dan deflect a fight is the best thing, now. He does it really well.

3. Don’t criticize. Ever.

Here is a fact: Whatever critical thing that you are about to say to your wife is already being loudly articulated in her head. And if it’s true, she already feels like crap about it. Assuming you married someone intelligent enough to like you and sane enough to let you put a ring on it, trust that they are self-aware enough to know when they screwed up. It may feel good to you in that moment to say the critical thing, let it go ringing through the air in all its sonorous correctness, but it will feel awful to hear it. The only, only way it’s beneficial to give your wife criticism of any kind is if you’re absolutely positive she is completely unaware. And you better find the nicest, kindest way possible to tell her. And even then, good luck convincing her. Their recognition of the thing you are helpfully trying to point out will be INHIBITED, not facilitated, by your criticism. And then you’re the asshole. So be careful.

4. Be the mirror.

Your husband is the mirror in which you see yourself. And the things you say to him give him an image of himself too, which he will believe. You want him to believe it, so make it good. Be a mirror that reflects something positive: you’re smart, you’re successful, you’re fantastic in the sack, you’re a great provider, you’re the best. Can you MAKE him any of these things just by telling him he is? I don’t know, but consider this: the alternative really sucks. The things my husband says to me are 1000 times more convincing than anyone else’s opinion on earth. Don’t think he won’t believe you because you’re married and you’re contractually obligated to say nice things. He’ll believe the shitty, insulting things you say, and the gloriously positive things. Listen to Nico, girls:

5. Be proud and brag.

Let your spouse hear you talking about them in glowing terms to other people. Be foolish. Be obvious. It will mean everything. You will stay married forever.

6. Do your own thing.

Dan races bicycles. I write books. I don’t race bicycles or have any desire to race bicycles. He doesn’t write books, nor does he even read the books that I write. Seriously. And I don’t care. My opinion is that he’s the fastest, coolest most awesome bike racer ever. His opinion is that I’m the bestest, coolest writer ever. We don’t have to know all about cycling or writing in order to form these opinions -- in fact knowledge of literature or actually reading my book might damage Dan’s opinion of me as “best writer since the dawn of time.” We can still support each other without being all up in the other person’s stuff. Doing your own thing, having your own friends, being completely insanely passionate about something that the other person has no idea, really, about, is awesome. It allows your spouse to be your cheerleader, uncomplicated by knowledge or personal investment. And it means you’ll always have stuff to talk about, because you’re not overlapping all the time. You don’t have to read the same books either. You don’t have to have the same friends.

7. Have kids.

Kids stop you from being as crazy as you want to be. Because when you have kids, you can’t be that crazy.

8. Get really good at sex.

You’ve got all the time in the world to get really really good, not just at sex in general, but at having sex with your one particular husband. You should make it your life’s mission to become the perfect sex machine exactly for him. And he for you. There is no reason to hold back, or be embarrassed, or not ask questions, and get everything working properly. There’s absolutely no excuse for letting years drag on without becoming fully skilled, gifted sex partners for each other. It makes everything so much better. Does talking about this make you uncomfortable? How uncomfortable would it make you to know that your spouse is secretly, silently “just okay” with your sexual performance? Yeah. You want to last fifteen years, remember? That’s a long time to be mildly happy.

9. Move.

Live in different houses. In different parts of the country. Travel. Make it so that you can look back and divide up your life into the years you spent in different cities, or different houses. If you’re feeling stuck geographically or physically, you can confuse yourself into thinking you’re stuck romantically. See your husband in different places, in different contexts, in different countries even. Try it. Take him to a mountaintop and give him another look. Pretty sexy. Take him to a new city and check out his profile. Along the same lines, don’t be afraid to change personally, or let your wife change as a person. Don’t worry about “growing apart.” Be brave and evolve. Become completely different. Don’t gather moss. Stagnation is unattractive.

10. Stop thinking temporarily.

Marriage is not conditional. It is permanent. Your husband will be with you until you die. That is a given. It sounds obvious, but really making it a given is hard. You tend to think in “ifs” and “thens” even when you’ve publicly committed to forever. If he does this, I won’t tolerate it. If I do this, he’ll leave me. If I get fat. If I change jobs. If he says mean things. If he doesn’t pay more attention. It’s natural, especially in the beginning of your marriage, to keep those doubts in your head. But the sooner you can get go of the idea that marriage is temporary, and will end if certain awful conditions are met, the sooner you will let go of all kinds of conflict and stress. Yes, you may find yourself in a horrible situation where it’s absolutely necessary to get a divorce. But going into it with divorce in the back of your mind, even in the way way way back of your mind, is going to cause a lot of unnecessary angst. Accept that you’re going to stay with him. He’s going to stay with you. Inhabit that and figure out how to make THAT work, instead of living with the “what if”s and “in case of”s.

11. Do not put yourself in trouble’s way.

Leave your ex boyfriends and girlfriends alone. I’m sure you’re very trustworthy. Aren’t we all? The thing is, there’s absolutely no reason to test it. Your husband and your marriage are more valuable than any friendship. Any friendship that troubles the marriage should be over immediately. Protect it with knives and teeth, not because it’s fragile but because it’s precious. Don’t ass around with a “hall pass” or a “harmless flirtation.” Adultery isn’t an event, it’s a process with an event at the end. Don’t put your feet on a path that could lead someplace bad.

12. Make a husband pact with your friends.

The husband pact says this: I promise to listen to you complain about your husband even in the most dire terms, without it affecting my good opinion of him. I will agree with your harshest criticism, accept your gloomiest predictions. I will nod and furrow my brow and sigh when you describe him as a hideous ogre. Then when your fight is over and love shines again like a beautiful sunbeam in your life, I promise to forget everything you said and regard him as the most charming of princes once more. The husband pact is very useful because you want to be able to vent to your friend without having her actually start hating your husband. Because you don’t really mean all those things you say. And she, the swearer of the pact, knows this.

13. Bitch to his mother, not yours.

This is one I did read somewhere in a magazine, and it’s totally true. His mother will forgive him. Yours never will. If you’re a man, bitch to your friends. They expect it.

14. Be loyal.

All the crap you read in magazines about honesty, sense of humor, communication, sensitivity, date nights, couples weekends, blah blah blah can be trumped by one word: loyalty. You and your spouse are a team of two. It is you against the world. No one else is allowed on the team, and no one else will ever understand the team’s rules. This is okay. The team is not adversarial, the team does not tear its members down, the team does not sabotage the team’s success. Teammates work constantly to help and better their teammates. Loyalty means you put the other person in your marriage first all the time, and you let them put you first. Loyalty means subverting your whims or desires of the moment to better meet your spouse’s whims or desires, with the full understanding and expectation that they will be doing the same. This is the heart of everything, and it is a tricky balance. Sometimes it sways one way and some the other. Sometimes he gets to be crazy, sometimes it’s your turn. Sometimes she’s in the spotlight, sometimes you. Ups and downs, ultimately, don’t matter because the team endures.

15. Trust the person you married.

For two people who are trying to help each other, it can almost be harder to let the other person help you than it is to be the one who’s helping. It can be harder to let the other person deflect the fight than to be the one deflecting. It can be harder to believe that your husband is fully committed to a lifetime of marriage than to commit yourself. Harder to change yourself than to let the other person change. Harder to be loved than to love. Weird, but true. I’m saying this to everyone who’s newly married, and to myself: trust that person. Love them completely and let them love you. If it all goes to seed, it’s going to hurt either way. Better to have gone into it full throttle. Full throttle marriage is a thrilling ride.

Lydia Netzer’s original article, complete with pictures from her wedding day – very sweet.

Sleep tight, everyone.

pp x

All grown up

I always knew that there would be something of an anti-climax to face once the wedding was over. As stressful as planning a wedding can be, I found it exciting and rewarding to have such a monumental event to design and orchestrate from scratch; it gave me an opportunity to be creative in a way I haven't been for such a long time. I loved finding ways of expressing our personalities and including details that were representative of our stories, both as individuals and as a couple, and seeing everything come together to produce the end result was hugely satisfying, not to mention emotional. Immediately after the wedding, we flew away on our honeymoon, returning to celebrate Christmas, albeit belatedly, and relive our wedding day through photos and conversations with family and friends. We floated along merrily on our newly wed cloud for several weeks, but I knew reality would eventually bite. And it did.

Going back to work after the most incredible three and a half week break was harder even than I had imagined. As happy as I was to be married to my wonderful husband, I felt an overwhelming sense of inertia and apathy, which I have spent most of January and February battling against. I have enjoyed some lovely weekends during that time, spent doing fun things, visiting friends and family etc, but the Monday to Friday grind has been a real slog. Thankfully, I am finally beginning to feel my energy and motivation returning ~ mostly thanks to this half term break, and some heart-to-hearts with friends who have been experiencing similar issues ~ and I am embarking upon my own Happiness Project, which I hope will help to inspire proactivity and keep me feeling upbeat and positive. With that in mind, I have given la petite pie a make-over! I feel her new look is fresher, clearer, and rather grown-up, reflecting my current state of mind. What do you think..?

I would love to hear your thoughts on the content of this post and/or the blog's new look ~ please do leave your comments below!

pp x

Our wintery wedding wonderland at Wentworth!

Fortunate in friendship

Today (in the face of vehicular adversity!), I was fortunate enough to enjoy several hours in the company of a wonderful friend. We talked, we laughed, we ate, we shopped. It was simultaneously fun, relaxing and energising to share recent experiences and 'deep thoughts' with a beautiful and kindred spirit (Thanks, E! x). Last weekend also, His Lordship and I both commented on feeling thoroughly uplifted, having shared a lazy pub lunch with supremely lovely friends in Clapham, and we were then very lucky to be cooked for and entertained by new friends on Friday, when we delighted in putting the world to rights until the wee, small hours of the morning. Next weekend, I'm off on a bit of a road trip with another very dear friend, which I'm so looking forward to, and the thought of which will doubtless spur me on through the working week.

Sitting on the train en route home today, I felt inspired to write this little post, celebrating friendship and acknowledging its importance in our lives. Those we love, whose company we enjoy and whose opinions we value, play such a monumental role in defining who we are, assuring our well being, and creating those most precious of memories that will last a lifetime.

I apologise if this comes across as overly sentimental, cliché or disingenuous in any way, but I want to take this opportunity to thank all my cherished friends and family, past and present, for contributing to my life in so many ways, some of which you may not even be aware of. I am so grateful for your time, your support, your understanding and your love.

When, I wonder, was the last time you told your friends and family just how much you love and appreciate them..? In the spirit of the month, why not let them know how great they are?

pp x

Good intentions

I was full of them.

Back in October, I sat in a similar position, both literally and figuratively, on this same sofa, typing away at this same keyboard, assuring myself  and my readers ~ or so I believed ~ that I would have and do it all: I would keep on top of everything at work, tutor outside of school, finish planning and preparing for our wedding, instigate regular contact with my family and friends, spare time for myself and my then fiancé and all while maintaining my blog and my sanity. I am very pleased to report that my mental health, whilst some may argue otherwise, is in pretty good shape; my poor blog on the other hand, I believe requires some resuscitation.

These three months past, the little magpie has lain forlorn, abandoned in its very infancy. I'm so thoroughly disappointed in myself, and yet I'm sure I suspected when I wrote last, that my intentions, however keen and sincere at the time, were bordering on the delusional.

I fear I do this rather a lot ~ set myself up for disappointment by setting the bar a little high. I think it's a common affliction these days: we strive to be the very best that we can be, doing everything, seeing everything, accomplishing everything, and all by 9am without so much as breathing a sigh, let alone breaking a sweat.

This time of year is always one of reflection and introspection for me. Every other year, I have felt refreshed and inspired by the new year, always determined to give or take something up, make positive changes, be a better human being. This year, not so. This year, January feels like hard work. I finally understand why everyone is depressed and broke, and empathise. So this year, my good intentions are going to be less pie in the sky. I shall deliberate for the rest of this month as to what they might be and start in February (I'm actually ignoring January this year, it's just too much of an anti-climax after a December wedding), but this time, you can believe me as I now believe myself, that aside from any other resolutions to be made, and/or broken, there will, I promise, be regular things for you to read here, should you feel like dropping by...

Happy 2013, everyone!

pp x

Hey little bird

Two months. Well, almost.

Two months (!!) since I last felt I had the time, energy and inclination to sit and write. I have missed this little blog so much. There have been times when I have so wanted to take time out to write, but just felt I didn't have the impetus to do it justice. I'd like to think there might be somebody out there who's missed reading the little magpie too... To all my wonderful regular readers, I am so sorry to have been away for so long, and I promise not to take such an extended leave of absence again. Wedding and work may have taken over my life these past few weeks, but I have now vowed to set aside some time at least once a week to devote to my little online haven.

Coming soon...

On the plus side, not having written for some time means that I have accrued a fair few things to blog about, which I hope you'll enjoy! These include some great recipes (a couple of which were promised a while back), make-up bits, shoes, stationery and interiors. I have also had a few ideas for regular features to run, in addition to my Sunday Smörgåsbords. I do hope you will all drop by from time to time to check out the latest! And please, don't be shy ~ I would love to hear your thoughts via the comments box!

Also, after the big day in December, I cannot wait to share some of my wedding experiences online, including some DIY details for any crafty brides-to-be amongst my readers, and also to sing the praises of a few of our fabulous suppliers.

It's great to be back!

pp x

PS I hope you'll enjoy the following, fabulous cover of Tom Waits' Jockey Full of Bourbon, by Youn Sun Nah. "Hey little bird, fly away home..."

All the world is birthday cake...

In my world, one of the fundamental criteria for a happy life is to celebrate at every opportunity. The days are long, but the years are short (Gretchen Ruben, The Happiness Project ~ a great read by the way, I recommend it!), so in my view, any excuse to spend time having fun with family and friends is a good one. Aside from the fact that it's exciting to have things in your diary to look forward to: birthdays, weddings, Christmas etc, it forces you to set aside sacred time for relaxing, indulging, being a little extravagant perhaps, and (hopefully!) feeling happy, uplifted and loved. Christmas is my absolute favourite of these events in the year, because it's a time when everyone who celebrates it gets to share equally in the joy of the festivities, but birthdays are certainly fun too. I have to confess that a part of me simply revels in being the centre of attention for the day (I can't help it, I'm a Leo!), and who doesn't enjoy receiving gifts (?!), but most importantly for me, birthdays are the perfect excuse to catch up with the friends I haven't seen for a while. So it is that every year on my birthday, I make a point of inviting my nearest and dearest to eat, drink and be merry with me, and this year was no exception.

On my birthday itself, His Lordship and I went to my parents' home with my sister and brother-in-law. It was such a relaxed evening, spent eating, drinking and putting the world to rights, outside in the garden enjoying the balmy summer evening. The Saturday that followed, we had a great time rock 'n' bowling 50s style with a handful of close friends at All Star Lanes in Holborn. I was eager to dress the part, though I can't say the not-so-sexy velcro bowling shoes complimented my outfit... I am always so touched by the messages, calls, cards and presents I receive on my birthday, and was overwhelmed this year by the thoughtfulness and generosity of the people I am fortunate to count among those dearest to me. Those of you reading this who know you are one of those people, thank you again so very much.

Each year, my birthday coming around prompts me to reflect on the year gone by, reminiscing the highlights and recalling the life lessons learned, and also to look forward to the many things I hope to enjoy and achieve before I'm another year older. This past year has gone by in a whirlwind of work and wedding preparations; this year, I am so excited to be getting married and possibly looking for a new home. Life is good, and as the montage of images below undoubtedly shows, I am one exceptionally lucky lady to have such a wonderful future husband, fantastic family and great friends ~ I love you all.

Just a few of my birthday highlights in pictures before signing off...

Top row, from left to right:

1. Gorgeous little bracelets (which I've worn most days since receiving them ~ thanks, H! x)  from Silverado, Brighton.

2. Mentioned in previous post, my 'happy birthday to me' treat: Philosophy's Vanilla Birthday Cake. You can purchase a really cute gift set including this and some matching lip shine beautifully packaged from Boots, linked here.

3. Gwyneth's cookery book (courtesy of the lovely F ~ thank you, for the gift of course, but mostly for likening me to the utterly fabulous Gwynnie! x), can't wait to get my apron on!

4. Sulley, who has finally arrived to keep Mikey company...

5. The amazing Muppets bag that Sulley came home in. If you haven't seen the film yet, do make a point of watching it ~ it's very sweet and full of laughs.

Middle row:

1. More culinary delights! I love French food, but it can be rather too involved for the everyday. Rachel Khoo's modern approach to French classics is supposed to be fresh, fun and simple, so I'm quite excited to try these out (thanks very much, J&G! x).

2. A gift from my future sister and brother-in-law (thank you x); a highly amusing read!

3. Love my new handbag (love you for giving it to me, H! x) from M&S.

4. No birthday is complete without a balloon, and Hello Kitty is mega cute. I am very grateful to my two year old niece who chose this one for me herself, having been steered away from her first choice, a 'Congratulations on your retirement' number.

5. Amazing. In addition to dessert on my birthday, my mum made these tiny trial wedding cakes for His Lordship and I to sample - they were delicious! I won't tell you what we chose... I know she would want me to point out that these were just rough drafts, as it were, to test the flavours, not her usual masterpieces with handcrafted sugar flowers etc...

Bottom row:

1 & 2. I was, quite simply, beside myself when I spotted these awesome giant biscuits in Costa - they are just so fun! I really wasn't especially hungry but ordered them anyway just to be able to photograph them. Aside from looking cool, they were pretty tasty too.

3. All Star Lanes, Holborn.

4. My Johnny Loves Rosie headband purchased at half price from Ollie & Nic in the sale ~ a really easy way to jazz up a simple outfit with a retro twist.

5. I was so thrilled when I (reluctantly) tore open the pink spotty paper to reveal these beautiful place mats. I'd seen them in Maison while out one day with His Lordship, and I was so touched that he had not only taken note of me saying how much I liked them, but also remembered and made a point of going back on a separate occasion to buy them (xXx). It's worth mentioning that I would happily furnish and accessorise our entire home with the stunning things they sell in these shops. Well worth a visit if you live in/near Tunbridge Wells, Richmond or Dorking.

Another year, another candle. Can't wait to celebrate next year as a Mrs! What do you like to do for your birthday..?

pp x

Citius, Altius, Fortius

Confessions of an Olympic cynic: I was not excited. I wasn't even apathetic; I was one of the haters, you might say. I thought it was sure to be a logistical flop and a target for terrorists. I believed it to be an indisputable waste of money at an especially inappropriate time, and a tactless and insensitive extravagance in the face of redundancies, rising unemployment figures and the double dip recession. What a little ray of sunshine I was in the lead up to London 2012!

But that all changed in a heartbeat. Why? Because from the very first moments of the Opening Ceremony and throughout the past fortnight, I have witnessed my country rise from the ashes of last year's riots, to become once more a nation that can feel proud of its collective endeavours and achievements, its identity and, specifically, its sporting elite. I have marvelled at the creativity, skills and organisation of the people behind the Games, the warm reception each and every amazing volunteer has given visitors from all over the world, and the enthusiasm and pride of our nation for the accomplishments of all the Olympic contributors, from cleaners, vendors and builders, through BoJo and Beckham, to our own British Olympians and Gold medalists themselves.

I cannot pretend that London 2012 was flawless; it wasn't. There were frustrations and disappointments, Paul McCartney's omnipresence, for one! The empty seats were a real bone of contention for most, though this particular issue was dealt with fairly swiftly, and I do believe that the cost of tickets priced many people out of having the opportunity to attend ~ I was disheartened to note that the vast majority of spectators were middle class Caucasians... Possibly the most unjust thing though, I felt, was that many people had tickets for several events, whilst others had none, which could very easily have been avoided.

Negatives aside, I really want to emphasise my personal turnaround from cynicism to awe of the London 2012 Olympic Games. I was incredibly lucky to be taken along by His Lordship, who managed to buy tickets fairly late in the day from the Czech ticket agency, having picked up on a tweet by a BBC reporter who vouched for their authenticity. We loved every minute of our time in the Olympic Park, impressed by the construction, cleanliness, organisation, reception, security and atmosphere of the place. We were fortunate enough to have tickets to the athletics in the Olympic Stadium, and saw Blake and Bolt (No. 1! <doing the arms...>) run in the semi-final of the 200m, along with some other great track and field events. Aside from our trip to the Games, we have been captivated by excellent BBC coverage of the Olympics, and I'm not ashamed to admit that I've been moved to tears numerous times, witnessing both the elation and heartbreak of the world's finest sportsmen and women. Particular highlights for me ~ along with most other Brits, I'm sure ~ were Jess Ennis's and Mo Farrah's victories, but I have thoroughly enjoyed a wide variety of the events, from rowing and diving, to gymnastics and dressage, and this from someone who is not an inherent sports fan.

So, shame on me for ever having doubted; thank you to anyone and everyone who played a part in bringing these wonderful Games to life; well done Britain for creating the atmosphere, supporting London 2012 and generating the contagious spirit to encourage our home-grown contenders; and lastly, a huge congratulations to this year's British Olympians for all your hard work and achievements, and for inspiring a generation ~ I've no doubt you will all live to see your legacy increase our medal count in years to come.

"The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win but to take part, just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well."

In what can all too often feel like a dog eat dog world, I think we'd all do well to bear Coubertin's noble Olympic creed in mind from time to time...

I see trees of green.

I'm sorry to say that over the past week or so I have rather put off writing. However, this has mostly been in favour of going out and doing interesting things to write about, so I hope that the next few posts will make up for my recent absence.

I cannot believe that the best part of two weeks of the summer holidays has already been and gone in the blink of an eye. Our approach to making the most of these precious weeks is attempting to strike a balance between doing lots of lovely things and doing, well, nothing at all! So far, we have managed both, though perhaps not in equal measure - I feel as though this last week has been as busy as term time! Last week was a little more laid back though, and on Sunday we donned boots at the first twinkle of sunshine through the rain, and went to take a stroll around one of our local parks...

It really was the most beautiful walk I've enjoyed in a long time. The colours were stunning, the light enchanting, and it was such a great pleasure to explore somewhere new, hand in hand, at our leisure. Through the lens (of my iPhone), I discovered unexpected textures and depth of summer hues that I've been overlooking in this dull, grey weather we've been having. It was so refreshing to get out of doors, to stretch our legs and to escape the hustle and bustle of living in town.

Apparently we are due some sunshine from tomorrow (hooray!), so I hope that you may get a chance to be outside and feel it on your skin over the weekend. Why not find somewhere new to explore as we did? After all, as Louis would say, it's a wonderful world.

pp x

Poles apart.

Phew! What a week since my last post! The school year finished on Saturday, after what feels likes a protracted countdown, and the last few days were rather hectic to say the least. So much so that I spent all of yesterday in my PJs, just doing odds and sods around the flat, and being just the tiniest bit lazy - hence no Sunday Smörgåsbord this week. It is such a physical, mental and emotional release to be able to relax your body and mind after the stresses and strains of a school term. Doubtless some of you will be thinking something along the lines of 'part-timer', but I assure you that the holidays are an absolute necessity rather than a luxury when you're a teacher!

This evening, I'd like to talk about something that I discovered back in January, and have become a fierce advocate of over the past seven months: pole dancing.

January 2012. Every year for the past six or so, getting fit has made its way onto my list of resolutions, but this year I actually had the impetus to get going and stick with something - our wedding in December. I am not, nor have I ever been overweight. I've no doubt carried a few extra pounds at one time or another, but never outside the boundaries of a healthy bmi. Having said that, I am no Skinny Minnie. I love my food, and like to think of myself as having curves in the right places, let's put it that way. My intention to get fit is precisely that, not an attempt to shed multiple pounds and end up looking like a bony, sickly, hungry version of myself on my wedding day. With that in mind, I considered what I would enjoy doing, rather than looking for a sport that would help me lose weight, and I pinpointed that I was looking to build my upper body strength and tone my arms in particular.

There have been times in my life when I have been a regular at the gym, which I enjoy, but prioritising saving for the wedding meant that an expensive gym membership was out of the question. I have always loved dance and aerobics, and one lesson a week would certainly cost less than the gym, or so I thought... Some dance classes were in the region of £30 an hour, and having tried out a few aerobics classes, I felt most of them were not leaving me feeling as though I'd had a good enough work out. Body Combat was the only reasonably priced class that was fun and made me break a sweat, but various commitments meant that I wasn't always able to attend. So it was, that with curiosity, trepidation and the moral support of a friend to join me, I signed up for a Level 1 Pole Fit course at my local leisure centre, and the rest, as they say, is history.

First, I must point out that I practise pole fit, as opposed to pole dancing, which really is something quite different. Let me first reassure you that I do not spend my weekly lessons grinding against a pole in a push-up bra. Pole fit is about strength - in your arms, legs and core - and is far more like gymnastics than lap-dancing. It is also, when performed well, quite beautiful...

I hope you'll agree that the above (performed by Doris Arnold, a famous Parisian pole artist) is tasteful, sensitive and expressive; there is nothing sleazy or degrading about it. The only thing you cannot escape is the necessity for skin contact on the pole - hence not very much in the way of clothing - but it's arguably similar to other forms of dance. Let's face it, male ballet dancers' outfits leave little or nothing to the imagination!

Needless to say, I've not quite reached Doris's level of expertise just yet, but I have learned many of the moves you see in the video above, and in seven short months, with only one lesson a week and no pole at home to practise on (until yesterday, that is!). I cannot emphasise how quickly you begin to see results with pole fit. I have lost 5lbs, as well as inches from various places, gained core stability, subtle definition to my biceps, triceps and quads, and the ability to do full sets of proper press-ups, which I could never do before.

Please indulge me while I share just a few silly shots of me performing some of my favourite moves (taken at my instructor's house, where my friend and I now have our lessons - NB the Barbie pink wall!):

Inverted crucifix

Butterfly handstand

The plank

Gemini

My motivation for writing this post is a desire to share the joy of this sport, and perhaps also to close the gap between people's possible preconceptions of pole fit, and the reality of it. Pole fit is not synonymous with stripping or lap-dancing, or advertently alluding to sex. Sensual it may be, provocative even, but not in a way that should be viewed as degrading or indicative of the sexuality of those who practise it. I hope this post may also encourage you to have a closer look at some of the awe-inspiring routines on YouTube!

Over and out.

pp x

The beauty of imperfection.

As a very small child, I can remember the internal and, more often than not, audible groan that escaped me whenever my parents would lead the way into an antiques shop. Every minute felt like an eternity in the musty, labyrinthine and tardis-like edifices that contained, to my ingenuous eyes, inconceivable amounts of old junk. Little did I know that my initial disinterest would later turn to curiosity, that in time would be followed by appreciation, and that ultimately, I  myself would become the kind of person that would happily while away an afternoon browsing antique shops, thirsting for hidden treasures.

There is something undeniably beautiful about age, a certain charm and allure to things or people that have a story, or indeed many, etched across their faces. Age, I suppose, is synonymous with experience, knowledge, history. If only inanimate objects could talk! Imagine the history each of them might have absorbed over the years - the intrigues they may have witnessed from their designated spot on the mantelpiece or dressing table...

There are so many buzzwords employed these days to essentially mean antique: vintage, preloved, shabby chic, upcycled, collectible etc, etc, and their increasing popularity has rendered them ubiquitous. Some might see their becoming commonplace as negative, but I am thrilled by it. I love the idea that people are becoming more inclined to put to use beautifully made things already in existence rather than fuelling the mass production of new things we don't really need. In fact, I resolved some time ago, that when it came to finding beautiful things to adorn myself or my home, that I would first turn to preloved ornaments, rather than soulless, mass-produced tat that you might find in a thousand homes up and down the country. That's not to say that somewhere like Ikea, for example, doesn't have its place, but I would gladly forgo shopping there permanently in favour of purchasing things with a little more je ne sais quoi. I suppose what I am trying to say is that next time you're on the look out for something pretty, why not consider re-homing an antique..?

Some of the inspiration for this post came from another post, written by our wonderful wedding photographer, Ria Mishaal, in which Ria discusses a shop she stumbled across in Oxford, Objects of Use, where each of the items they sell is tagged with details of its history and use - what a fabulous and utterly charming idea! There are many great places to find vintage treasures, from online boutiques to your local charity shop. Finding your own personal favourites is half the fun, but for me, I love the plethora of antique shops in Dorking, Ripley and Brighton, and online I don't think you can beat ebay or Etsy. As is my wont, I have posted a few gems for your perusal:

Vintage blue rocking chair from ellie_magpie on ebay

Victorian Blue Milk Glass Salt and Pepper Shakers from The Bountiful Bird on Etsy

1940s pink glass buttons from Add Vintage on Etsy

Vintage Aurora Borealis Milk Glass Brooch with Iridescent Rhinestones from Uncommon Vintage on Etsy

French Portieux Vallerysthal Milk Glass Pedestal Compote Dish from Haute Blooded on Etsy

Vintage Milk Glass Hobnail Lamp from the Hepburn House on Etsy

Painted Wooden Trunk from mrstiddlywinks on ebay

In a follow on from this post, early next week I will be looking at some of the wonderful people I have found who use old and beautiful items to create new and beautiful items for your purchasing pleasure. Be sure to stop by and check them out! Until then, I wish you all a wonderful week. Fais de beaux rêves...

pp x

A long time coming...

How exciting, my very first post!

This first post has in actual fact been waiting to be written for many months now. My attention was first drawn to the true wonders of blogging only this time last year; of course, I was aware that it had become something of an internet phenomenon many years ago (who hasn't read Belle de Jour?!), but it was only when my now soon-to-be-hubby proposed last year that the online glut of wedding paraphernalia led to my personal discovery of a whole world of wonderful blogs, wedding-related or otherwise.

Since that time, aside from delving into an array of compelling, and some very successful blogs, I have been keeping a journal. It is a beautiful, though now somewhat grubby around the egdes, orange Paperchase tome, which I have been sporadically filling over the past year with thoughts, ideas, quotes, lyrics, pretty pictures, things I have bought/would like to purchase etc, etc, and I have taken great pleasure in so doing. However, I've been increasingly tempted to share some of these, what I consider to be lovely things with the rest of the world, if indeed anyone cares to read about them!

So do please excuse me while I find my feet, and I very much hope you will enjoy what I find to share...

pp (petite pie) x