Tag Archives: holiday

A Letter to Bart

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Dear Bart

Thank you for a fab weekend jaunt to the New Forest with the Pearl and Earl posse..  we set off stressed, but with your groovy tunes and laid back approach to the drive we soon chilled out on the journey to the New Forest.

Our destination?   Red Shoot Camping – which is where Mr H and Mrs P took your friend Brian many years ago on their honeymoon..  The place has had a little upgrade (new shop and reception) but other than that it was a step back in time.  The sun was kind and the donkeys hung out by the gate to the camp, next to the micro brewery pub (the Red Shoot Inn)  – which is where Mr H spent quality time testing all the local brews, while the kids hung out on the log swing, strung from the pub tree.

We bought some retro friends along for the ride – like the kids Chopper Bike and mini original Budgie – which held their own against the back drop of seriously loaded mountain techno bikes..  We even managed to free wheel through a ford without falling off!

Sausages were a whizz to cook up on your handy stove with all the gadgets – and Mrs P bought home made cakes for tea.  You caused many an admiring glance and your shiny hub caps made the perfect arty shot of our camp!  We were blessed with the best of British Summer Weather and so caught the Sandbanks Chain ferry to Shell Bay..  where we finished the day eating fish and chips watching the sun set, in comfort.

Whilst the last day may have been a little damp – we chilled out watching dvds and drinking lots of tea, relaxing before having to head back home.

Until next time …

We love you Bart
x

PS – for regular readers Bart replaced Bongo at the last minute due to a last minute hitch… and you too can make friends with Bart via our friends at Vanilla Splits

Off on a trip with Bongo the VW Camper

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I am off for an op next week – and have been VERY busy this hols writing my book, finishing our mug project, designing new Christmas lines and working with some very lovely people to make sure we hit all their deadlines (oh and working with a hurricane who has been holding our decorations hostage in the States) .. phew

So how lovely today that Mr H could see that perhaps I needed a little break to chill out.. so he sorted out a liason with the lovely BONGO from our friends at Vanilla Splits. .. and had turned up packed, with kids in tow to head off into the promised fair weather this week.

So goodbye dear friends and I will fill you in en route (weather and wifi permitting)!..

PS – This week orders are dispatching today and tomorrow and the rest will be out on MONDAY due to packers vacations

 

Glamping Sunshine Stripes

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 After 2 weeks of sunshine and one of the most glorious Easter Weekends for years … please welcome some of the new products which are part of our new OUTDOOR LIVING collection – launching this week…
We photographed a lot of the things on our jaunt on the bus to Blackberry Wood – as the simple British Summertime setting, fitted perfectly with the nostalgically striped products.
Fingers crossed that the sunshine continues – and you can be the envy of all your glamping friends!

Lost in France

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The Chateau

The long and sunny Easter hols could not have come at a more perfect time for us. We have had an amazing 12 months .. but Pearl and Earl HQ was pooped and in need of a little reviving …
One evening last month – I was introduced to the Ambassador from Holland (yes a little mad I know) who owns a chateau in the Champagne district of France – which is only 2.5 hours drive from the chunnel!..  With 2 small children a small journey time is definately top of our holiday hit list… so we booked his guest house for a week long jaunt in the middle of nowhere.  It was perfect.. and the simple beauty of the location was made even more delightful and charming as..

  1. The neighbouring village was called La Belle Idee (the good idea)
  2. There was a champagne vineyard up the road called Jolly Champagne (bubbles on tap)
  3. Everyday a boulanger (baker) turned up at our door with a van filled with bread and french patisserie for us to devour
  4. The housekeeper was called Madame Noel (Mrs Christmas – and the kids thought she was married to santa)
  5. We had 4 acres, an orchard and 5 rusty bikes all to ourselves

Off again in the summer, as Mrs Christmas has kindly organised broadband for us ..  so for a couple of weeks we will have a satellite HQ en France!

Beekeepers Orchard
Some of the mad cap vintage finds
The Champagne Vineyards of Epernay
french patisserie from the boulangerie van

Jaunts on a Bus

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We have been a little pants at blogging of late… simply because we have been up to our eyes with orders and working on some of the new design and business ideas…  as well as a little jaunt to hospital for me (yes the last month has taken it’s toll!)

So it was with great joy that we looked forward to a little break over the Easter hols with the kids..  escaping to France and then back to sunny Blighty for a stay on a double decker bus at the super simple and charming Black Berry Wood, just up the road from us near Lewes.
Whilst there I was working on projects for my book.. and found stitching in the sunshine one of the most theraputic pass times..  I had forgotten (as my hobby became my business) just how relaxing it can be – getting lost in the flow of yarn on blank fabric.
With long sunny evenings round a camp fire .. honestly we felt blessed.
Now we are back for a couple of days before the full on throttle of normal life resumes next week…  

Summer Holiday on a Bus!

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“We’re all going on a .. Summer Holiday…”   Tra la la … inspired by Mr Richards (Cliff not Keith) we have booked a little Easter jaunt to Black Berry Wood (nr Lewes in Sussex).
Whilst only a hop skip and a jump from us, the lack of long car journey (bonus with the kids) does not alter the total escapism of going on an adventure away from home.
Mr H has been desperate to go here for a while – so as a belated Christmas present I booked this on site bus (kitted out as a caravan with kitchen and 2 double beds and a kids bunk)..
Blackberry wood is a simple camp site which is frequently in top 10 cool camping venues, because it is small and set in lots of woodland, does not allow caravans, gives spacious pitches and best of all – allows camp fires!
It is super popular – and weekends in the summer are gone as soon as they are released, but if you can go mid week, then we would recommend it.
It is not however for the glampers amoung you perhaps – as the wash facilities are basic to say the least..  We are VERY excited …

Easter in Sussex

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Easter weekend seems for the first time in a while perfectly timed.  The daffodils are only just out – and lambing is in full throttle as the chicks are starting to hatch and Sussex seems to be waking  up after a long long Winter.

There are a plethora of farms and nurseries around the Sussex coast and Gaston Farm in our neighbouring village of Slindon (owned by the National Trust) hosts a lambing event every Spring.
Yesterday we saw twin lambs being born, fed the new mums (ewes), suckled the orphan lambs and held the cutest ducklings and chicks …  blustery but sunny it felt like the perfect Easter day.

Particularly when we returned home for a slap up roast and family time!  Roll on Summer!

Arundel Holidays live

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Those who follow us will know how much we love where we live in Arundel ..  so we have just launched our first holiday home TURF COTTAGE in the heart of Arundel so you can enjoy it too!
This grade II listed cottage has just been refurbished to a high standard and it’s 3 bedrooms, 2 receptions and 3 bathrooms comfortably accomodate 6 people.
Why not visit our website www.arundelholidays.com to find out more for yourself.

Hope to see you soon x

 

Van Weekend Adventures

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Just returned from our anniversary weekend with Mr Earl to the fantastic New Forest in the ever lovely Mr McHenry the VW Camper Van.  We honeymooned in the same place and returned for a bit of R and R without the kiddies.  Heaven.
But it wasn’t all wooded walks and bike rides, as we also visited the fabulous Beaulieu to catch up with our Pearl and Earl stock in their gift shop.  Which we admit looked a little lonely as they had sold out of our teatowels!
Whilst there we were looking for inspiration for our new vintage caravan project and came across another Royale Caravan no less – but this one was a minature made for Prince Charles when he was a nipper (lucky chap).

But our favourite find (besides the cracking pub with a micro brewery) had to be this vintage picnic set and this fantastic tea pot with a caravan motif.  Now frantically searching ebay for my own … x

Cool Customers in Cowes

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What a glorious weekend… with the promise of September sun and a few jobs to organise (the list is actually endless!) we popped off on Saturday to Southhampton early and finished up by 12.00.

En route home we passed the Red Funnel Ferry with a huge banner advertising £30 day trips to Cowes.  With 2 small kids in tow and the Queen Mary 2 parked in the sunny solent, we couldn’t resist and 15 minutes later were on the water heading for Cowes.

We wandered the streets of Cowes for the afternoon, and discovered a lovely wood crafts man Wight Wood – where Libby wrote her name on a wooden heart and he carved it for us there and then for £5.  Great incentive for a 4 year old starting school and a top Grandma present for Christmas!

We also visited our local stockists the lovely ladies at Live Like This and Buff (the later being one of the coolest male focused stores out of the big smoke).  What was left of our collection was beautifully displayed amoungst some stylish pals…  the teatowels had flown out.  All good news.  Would highly recommend the store for an vibrant mix of lovely gifts (Pearl and Earl included of course!).

Quick locally caught fish and chip supper, and with purchases in tow, we headed back to Portsmouth (for an extra £20) and passed the Spinnaker at Sunset.

Great off season family afternoon out for under £50 plus personal purchases!