the beast of Bodmin

so Cornwall apparently has its own 'Sasquatch' or 'big foot'. I once talked about Harrods selling animals (like lions, tigers and most likely bears). Well, it's an old legend that a baby puma or cougar was bought from Harrods and sent down to some wealthy crazy person in the middle of Cornwall. Unfortunately, as the animal got larger and larger the owner couldn't keep him anymore and instead of calling animal control or not buying a ridiculous pet in the first place - he released it into the wild. And now the Bodmin moors are 'haunted' by the beast who looks for food in an 'unnatural' environment.

Once and a while someone claims to see it - but there have been no pictures.

It's a balloon

It's actually a dolphin. Apparently albino dolphins are pink. You have to wonder if this is a hoax? If not, I wonder how long this little guy will last as being pink doesn't really protect him from predators (human or sharks). More information and image via

The first day of spring

It's the first day of Spring. It's sunny, warm (14 degrees) and beautiful out in the capital. Today is one of those days that I'm glad I live in London. Flowers are blooming and market shopping is mandatory this weekend.

topshop fix

I'm a good london gal (if I can call myself a Londoner?!) and do love Topshop. Preferably at like 10 a.m. on a weekday morning though where you don't have to wait in line or listen to about 10 different and very thrilling 16 year old girl conversations. However, Topshop has recently gone on a day-glo kick - one that I can't get on board with. However, they are also doing loads of florals and as I'm more of a sweet girly dresser than hard rock machine... I'd like these for a few picnics.

Pound to spend a penny?

So I've been looking into flights to spend a weekend in Dublin and horror of horrors - the cheapest flight is Ryanair. I put a ban on the airline since I've come over due to shady safety records, bad airports (most of their flights only leave from Stanstead or Luton which is far to go and when you add in the train ticket price becomes more expensive), and the fact that they try to get money out of you anyway they can like their current idea of making people pay to use the loo while in air.

I'm sorry but if I have to go, I have to go and spending £1 to use the bathroom once is more expensive than using the washroom at the bottom of Notre Dame. And it seems absolutely ridonkulous - as someone could get ill and not have a £1 on them and that's it - the Ryan air attendants will now have deal with more than a few 'issues' in the aisles.

However, the flight is only an hour and half and its not official yet - so I may have to cave and lift the ban.

Image - again L2's.

when in camden

home of Amy Winehouse, Kate Moss and other iconic trouble/style makers - Camden Market is definitely the place to see any and everything when it comes to fashion. It originally started as a craft market back in the 70s and now is this huge massive antique, fashion and just about anything market. You can also get scrumptious sugar donuts (4 for £2) to keep you going as well as just about any other food. But get the donuts.

Last Sunday, L2 and I took some friends up to the market (it was L2's first experience too) and I went crazy! Purchased - a charcoal grey balloon dress with pearl detailing on top, a black feather headband that will look great if I go out at night and tame my very large hair, and some black Ray-Ban knock-offs for France. L2 bought an original sex pistols album for a friend for a deal and a half.

I'm still wishing I bought a Blair Waldorf style headband in charcoal and this amazing fascinator for Ascot. It was white, ostentatious and perfect. I guess I'll just have to go back and hope it's there.

toast to warm weather

I'm currently dreaming of warm weather. It's actually been surprisingly nice in the city for the past four days (sunny, really warm (like 14/15) and no crazy wind). But now I've had a taste for sun - I don't want it to end. I want to be in Porto, Portugal or the South of France wearing Toast and sipping white wine in an outdoor cafe.

I'm ready for summer.

Images via Toast - my new favourite catalog. Currently coveting the outfit above, a violet plaid scarf and some yellow beads.

one for St. Patrick

well it's the closest I'll be to Ireland on St. Patty's day - so it's time to raise a glass tonight at a local Battersea joint to celebrate the irish snake-free island. Plus I love the colour green - so here's a few green inspirations.... Images -At the very top - Dublin Castle statue (my own on a really bad camera) 1. Kew Gardens (L2 or mine), 2. Apartment Therapy, 3. Apartment Therapy. 4. Toast, 5. Anthropologie (dress not sold anymore) 6. Oxford (L2 or mine), 7. Romania - apple tree, 8. Jungfrau region, Switzerland; 9. Oxford again.

walking London

It's hard to explain how London is small yet gives the appearance of being huge. Most people don't get a sense of how close things are together due to the tube lines. You go underground for 5 minutes, take a 2 minute tube ride and go up for five minutes and suddenly you start thinking things are a 20 minute walk minimum. In reality, it was probably easier to face the outside crowds and walk the 5 minutes to your next stop.
I'll admit - if you want to get from Notting Hill to Brick Lane - then a tube is required. The rest of the time - walk! Thankfully TimeOut London agrees with me and this week published Great London walks. It's free, fun and some exercise in a city that prefers a hefty amount of fine dining.

Images are L2's.

office envy

~Another Living etc pining - If only I had a office at home. I know I can deal as really we don't have/nor do I need specific space for an office. But if I did - I would like it to look something like this please... and I would want that view too...
Image via

Friday the 13th and 60

That's right - that woman - my mama! - turns 60 today. Please oh please let me get her genes. That was taken on TG's 60th back in October...... I look more like him....

more cake please

Thanks Cowgirl for pointing out this lovely site to make amazingly fun cakes. I think I need to make this in honour of shark week on Discovery. I have no clue when that is - but I hope it's soon!
Image via

christmas already?

well due to airmiles and overplanning - L2 and I have already booked our trip back to Canada at Christmas. That's right - 9 months in advance. We're keen?!? It'll be two weeks of snow, cold, gingerbread and merriment. I have to say it will take a while to sink in that our flight is already booked as the return flight definitely had 2010 written in it.... At least I know I'll get off this island and onto a different continent at least once this year.

a little french mountain

so the easter trip has been planned. Finally we're getting off the island and onto the mainland! We've decided to take two extra days off around Easter (as I still can't take a full week off work at the moment) and head to the mountainous region of France called the Alps.

The plan - fly into Lyon on Wednesday morning and maybe tout around town or maybe even Geneva until late afternoon. We're hoping to keep our luggage somewhere for the day but still have yet to figure that out. Then we head to Chamonix for three days of glacier hiking, skiing, the crazy cable car and Vallee Blanche. We're planning on staying in a hostel and taking over the full four beds (hopefully!)

Then on Saturday night - Tina, L2 and I are headed back to Lyon for a day and a bit of french eating and culture in the second biggest city in France. Oddly enough, Tina knows someone who knows someone who lives in the region so maybe free place to stay? or another place to eat?? Either way the trip seems the right mix of culture, sports and food. I can't wait! (Now to officially book off the days at work...)

Image via

a little version of benjamin button

another milestone missed in my families' life. My very responsible brother has brought a second son into this world on Friday. Unfortunately, L2 and I were given the wrong phone number for our new place and I didn't find out that I had a new nephew until Sunday.

But he's here - Kenyon Anthony Gage and looking as wrinkled if not more so than Benjamin Button. Kenyon is Irish for blond boy - and given his brother is as pale as they come - I think we'll have another fair haired child in the Gage family. I'm feeling like a very proud auntie!

a little english travelling

Due to some health issues and some general laziness on L2 and my part - we've really not travelled very much the last two months. It's actually starting to get at us as one of the main reasons we are living in this country is to travel (not have a pretty apartment (as much as I want it!).

Thankfully - it looks good that we have almost officially booked our Easter trip (which I will discuss once the flight and accomodation has been confirmed) and a trip at the end of the month to....

Cornwall and Devon!

L2's parents are visiting us at the end of the month so we've booked a car and taking to the southern England roads. Mandatory - hiking, coastal cities and a lot of devon ice cream.

Image via

a little bit extra

As part of the move, L2 and I decided to splurge and get a Living Etc magazine subscription.

When I first moved over here I had some withdrawal from Domino – but I've found that this very modern living magazine has more than made up for it. It's London-centric which means every little back alley place in a max 40 minute journey away. It's also becoming more and more popular with blogger posts. I'm guessing it will officialyl take over as the reigning magazine of interest now with Domino gone. (sob!)

If we didn't already have a band of hooks - I would love to do this with our entrance wall. Plus the black door is amazing. Image via

ok now rest

Well at least most of the moving is finished. The main stuff is in the house, everything has a reasonable place (even if the lady left way more in our storage space than we liked) and we have everything sorted into armoires, bookshelves, etc.

We're still lacking internet which I find very strange (as we are paying for it!) but on the plus side we bought these Orla Kiely linens over the weekend for our new bed. The grey scribble turned out to be too dark (and green?!) for me and these linens make me feel like a princess every night.

We also have yet to put up our pictures though and find a perfect portrait of Queen Elizabeth for above the couch. But the little things will be done over the next few months, I'm not going to be too perturbed that we don't have our pirate poster or our chalkboard up (as long as it's not in the way!)