love those cupcakes

Saturday

• A crisp and sunny start to the day here, so it seemd a good idea to tag along on Boo's morning walk in the local park.  Predictably, the good weather didn't last and we ended up getting rained on but I enjoyed the exercise and managed to avoid (at least for a little while) those bliddy practice guidance documents I rather stupidly agreed to write.

• My new apple green (ish) winter boots.  Hardly rock chick but they're very comfortable, look like they'll withstand a fall of snow (unlike last year's more fashionable pair) and I quite like them.

• Having read a couple of rave reviews, I ordered some boxes of gingerbread porridge but would have to say I'm a tad underwhelmed. The flavour's a bit too subtle for me.

• Window three on the Advent calendar opened.  Being very lazy, and very lacking in the crafting skills department, I bought this one from Amazon.  But I did tart it up with a bit of glitter here and there.

•   Getting ready for a little trip.  Without Boo (and, boy, is he in for a surprise).

Back soon.

 

Another blast from the past

Remember this?

Well, what do you think of the new addition?

I was given one of these typewriters by my parents the Christmas I was 12. 

It was love at first sight.

The typewriter is an Olivetti Lettera 22 and apparently is so iconic it's included in MOMAs permanent collection.  (I'm not sure why the design didn't include a number 1 key.  You have to use the lower case L).

That Christmas present became one of my most treasured posessions.  I'm not sure what I typed in those early days, though this is amongst the handwritten recipes in the cook book I started (inspired by Miss Benson in Domestic Science lessons) at about the same time.

 
Incidentally, I'm certain that cheeseboards never featured on the menus in my family when I was growing up and I doubt I'd ever seen (or pronounced) let alone tasted Brie and Bel Paese.

Sadly, I have no idea what happened to that original typewriter.  It certainly accompanied me when I went away to university and it definitely took up residence in our first house after we were married.  I remember laboriously typing addresses on Christmas card envelopes (trying to impress?) that first year of wedded bliss.  It also came in handy in my early days as a social worker, when case notes and reports were still being typed, to bypass the typists' towering in trays and do it myself, though I was still using the amateur's two index finger method.   

The Mister thinks it's still somewhere in our current house but I've searched and searched with no success. 

So there was no hesitation when I spotted this one for sale.

It's not a perfect specimen but it's a great blast from my past.

The day after

I had a day's holiday yesterday.  August 17th.  My birthday.  Please don't ask which one.  Suffice to say a telegram from the Queen wouldn't have been too much of a surprise*. 

There were cards, flowers, chocolates, Mad Men DVDs and this fabulous vegetarian recipe book.

We decided to have a celebratory lunch in Harrogate, down the road (the A1, that is) in North Yorkshire.  Opting for tapas yet again, we were presented with a rather strange mix of Spanish, Italian and Greek dishes this time.

I managed to fit in a bit of shopping afterwards (Harrogate does have some lovely shops), putting some of the birthday money from Aunty M and my father in law to immediate use to buy black linen trousers, ballet flats and a striped top.  (I'm clearly aiming for that Just Stepped Off The Yacht look).

Waterstones provided a couple more novels to add to the ever increasing To Be Read pile.

I popped into this shop for something to finish a little knitting project I might tell you about another time.

Then it was home for the teeniest birthday cake ever ("Well you said not to bother with a cake") and an evening in front of the telly with a box of chocolate gingers.

Oh, come on, you know how it is after you've eaten one or two.............

* Postscript:  I'm not old enough for a telegram from HM.  I'm just so not liking the number I've reached.

Going green(er)

I've never been one for the colour green and have always thought it was best left to the garden and countryside.  My dad wasn't a fan either though his dislike was linked to a belief that green was unlucky.  For instance, he would never have considered buying a green car. 

I did buy one.  It was a used Ford Escort estate, my third car and the colour was a sort of metallic British Racing Green, a re-spray job by the previous owner.  I used to park it in a car park over the road from where we lived at the time as we had no garage.  One morning, I went to get into it to go to work but it wasn't there.  The police found it later that day, unharmed and parked outside the house of the bloke who'd TWOC'd it.  Apparently, he just hadn't fancied the walk home after a night in the pub.

Looking around me, though, I've been surprised to find evidence of the once avoided colour in various places:

On the kitchen wall.

 

On the floor.

  

In my mug.

It's been creeping into my jewellery box.

 

Even finding its way onto my feet.

Teamed, of course, with that old favourite of mine, black.

Blast from the past

My latest acquisition.

A Trimphone.

Just like the one my parents had. 

Introduced by the GPO in the 1960's.

With warbling ring tone.

And light up dial.

Fab.

Absolutely fab.

Out and about..... again

Seems there's no stopping us now.  Despite the grey, drizzly weather (and hence the grey, drizzly photographs), we ventured a bit further afield yesterday, with a drive across the North Yorks moors

to the coast and a blast of sea air.  First stop was in a perishingly cold and pretty much deserted  Robin Hood's Bay.

Walking down the steep steps to the lower part of the bay, we looked for somewhere to get a hot drink and shelter from the ferocious north easterly wind.

 But, unsurprisingly, everywhere was closed.

Then we had a wander (and by then much needed coffee and scones) in nearby  Whitby

and treated ourselves to a little splash of local colour

which is now on the wall above the piano.

 

Flying visit

Although I'm back from Spain, this is only a flying visit as I have a couple of work trips to York and Manchester.  Just enough time to empty the large holiday suitcase and pack the small weekend one!  I thoroughly enjoyed the break and did nothing more energetic than lounging, reading (more about what was read coming soon), eating and quaffing some very nice wine.  (The Husband is still in Spain doing some necessary house painting as he gets used to his new status). 

Whilst I was getting ready to go on holiday I found a (forgotten) Christmas present lurking in a drawer - a voucher for a day spa.  So I've a range of pampering treatments to look forward to one day next week, including a "Detoxifying Coffee & Spice Body Glow Scrub".  Wow.

A bit of a do

I'm attending a posh-ish work event in December and need something suitable to wear so I decided to go for this Diane von Furstenburg little number which I bought online from here (with an unexpected but very welcome reduction).   

     

                             

I don't usually wear dresses (can't remember the last time I bought one) so wanted something that wasn't too over the top.  Not sure about the bare arms, though.   I may just have to cover those.

Giveaway winner

This is just a quick post to say thanks to everyone who took part in the draw for my blog birthday giveaway.  As the Gorgeous Girlie was home this weekend, I asked her to select the winner. She randomly chose number 7 and so the goodie bag goes to:

   jellybelly*jellybrain

 

Belated birthday and giveaway

Love Those Cupcakes is a year old. (Cue the birthday song).  Well, over a year old now. I missed the actual birthday with all that's been going on recentlly so this is a belated celebration. 

I've had a great time learning the bloggers' ropes (still am) as I set out 12 months ago to share, well, stuff.  Along the way I've connected with so many people and found myself irresistably drawn into the ups and, for some, downs of their lives.    It's been a fascinating experience with some unexpected impacts (I mean, apart from spending hours on end at the computer).  For instance, I bought a camera which now accompanies me everywhere (more or less).  I read more widely, based on the recommendations of people whose opinions I've come to value.   I find myself trying to knit and sew instead of just slumping in front of the TV after work.  I've tried new recipes which have now become family favourites.  I've discovered  new places where I can buy from very talented people.   I've found myself  laughing out loud whilst reading hilarious posts and at other times have been reduced to tears by emotional outpourings.  I've been entertained.  I've been inspired.  I've been welcomed.  And blogging is now part of what I do. 

But a birthday wouldn't be a birthday without presents so, to celebrate in the way bloggers do, I'm giving away a goody bag.

I've included a gorgeous cupcake themed handmade apron from here, a cupcake book and cake cases, paper napkins, doilies, a Cath Kidston tea towel, a little bag of cake decorations,  a set of note cards (made by yours truly), a Laura Ashley "home sweet home" embroidered sign and a Cath Kidston shopping bag from Tesco.   

So, all you need to do now is leave me a comment on this post.  As I'm going to be away in Spain for a little while, I'll leave it open until Sunday, October 19th when I'll randomly choose the recipient.