Our friend Pebbles discovers fabulous French holiday apartments, crabs and goats!

Dear Dizzy and Creative,

I hope you're both keeping well and steering clear of these nasty cold bugs that seem to be going the rounds again?  Also that you're keeping out of mischief, but I hold out little hope on that score.

View from my bedroom window -
with garden boat and flags!

I promised to share a few of my holiday experiences with you, so here goes - I do hope they come across well, as there's nothing worse than someone else's holiday snaps without the personal context or emotional links forged through actually being there. I'm sending this in two parts, as so much happened, even though I was only away a short time.

I stayed with my French friend Danielle, who has a house down on the Quiberon peninsular in Southern Brittany. It's a fabulous location with an enormous amount of fascinating things to do and see, all within incredibly easy reach. Danielle's house is just 50 metres from the sea, in a little fishing village called Portivy. The house is divided into self catering apartments, so anyone can share this adventure, and to demonstrate the link to the sea, there's an old fishing boat sitting in the garden!

Portivy

Boat in the garden

Danielle flew the Devon flag and the Union Jack in honour of my residence. 

The whole area abounds with everything to make a wonderful holiday - fabulous beaches with two distinct coastlines so there's everything from surfing or canoeing to swimming and fishing. There's a vibrant artistic community and a wealth of inspiration for all kinds of creative medium. The food and drink are a gastronomic delight and the history breathtaking. You can walk or cycle everywhere with ease, or take the local bus or train - who could want for more?!

Rockpool colours and shapes

St-Pierre Quiberon (from the bar)

Every day was sunny and warm, so I could explore the rock pools and walk around the area to my heart's content. Just a kilometre or so across the width of the peninsular is the little town of St-Pierre Quiberon and as there's only a small supermarket in Portivy, I walked to S-PQ in the morning to fetch fresh croissants and bread from the patisserie, together with Danielle's newspaper. If I was in good time, I could sit on the sea front with a coffee and watch the beach getting up and ready for the day, or even visit the 'petit ferme' down a narrow lane. This is where a local smallholder keeps a

Inquisitive goats

startling mix of small animals, including goats, pigs and poultry of every description, all running side by side in one huge enclosure. The hedges were laden with great fat, ripe sloes (the French don't appear to consider sloe gin!) and so I picked some and fed to the animals. I had to be careful of the turkeys though, who became extremely viscous at the sight of a sloe, and were inclined to peck!

Dolmen used as a playhouse

The village children play house in an ancient Dolmen, tucked in a corner amid a jumble of cottages. I can just see Heritage England allowing such close liberty, and I'm enchanted to see the juxtaposition of the human effect in the region. 

Danielle's husband Michel took me out on his fishing boat - a little adventure in itself - and we caught a potful of crabs which we brought home and cooked straight away with lots of bay, seasoning and cayenne pepper.

Michel fishing for crabs

Eating our endeavours - yum!

We  ate our catch with great relish. The crabs were preceded by fresh ripe melon, accompanied with sparkling wine and fresh bread, and eaten in the company of good friends whilst watching the most glorious sunsets - I just didn't want to be anywhere else! How you two would have loved these evenings, it's such a shame you couldn't spare the time to come with me.

Sunset - our view from the dining table

For anyone wanting to book a holiday - www.homelidays.com 
Then follow the pathway of clicks - Monde Entier - Europe - France - Bretagne - Morbihan - Pays d'Auray, Location vacances - Saint-Pierre Quiberon - Location 6098650 (6 people) / Location 6098640 (4 people).   It's worth the effort!   

That's all for now, girls - more to follow soon,
Lots of Love,
Pebbles   xxxx

© Jay Hooper and Carol Kennedy July 2013 all rights reserved

All Things Vintage and Lovely

Hi Creative,                                                                                            

Dizzy texting to Creative

I hope you are having a good afternoon. 

A quick text to let you know, whilst I was out  I have met the designer at Pontia Rose to find out what she is getting up to. Guess what? She is not unlike me in many ways, certainly a bit scatty and very similar to look at too! I had a lovely chat with her, she is tweaking away at her new website and hopes to launch within days.

She was telling me about her friend, Jay, who is very talented at creating all kinds of things from garments and all kinds of crafts.  The pair of them are off to the ‘Miss Ivy Event, All Things Vintage and Lovely’  at the Guildhall in Plymouth tomorrow, Saturday 26th September. 

Together they are going to be demonstrating with a few garments a fashion time line from the twenties to the eighties. It sounds right up our street, shall we pop along and see what it is all about? Oh, and, they will be running taster classes in Dorset button making and smocking, how lovely it would be to have chance of trying something new. Are you up for it? It would be an opportunity for us to meet them and see who else is around to put into our next blog.

Smocking taster workshop

Dizzy x

PS  What’s for dinner tonight? 

Hi Dizzy,

Creative texting back

How lovely to hear from you, and thank you for the latest news on Pontia Rose. I have been thinking of her in recent days and it's great to know she's about to launch her new website, I will look out for the exciting moment. 

The Vintage event on Saturday sounds really interesting and if Pontia Rose is going to be there, it would be a great opportunity to go along and give her my best wishes and support for her re-launch; I think she's amazing to have got herself together to this point. As you rightly point out, she can be a bit scatty, but I have every faith in her amazing creative abilities. I'm sure this is the right path for her, and things will take off for her.

Button making workshop with
Orchard Learning Studios

We could take part in a workshop while we're there as well - I quite fancy a go at the dorset buttons but the demonstration also sounds really interesting.  Those Orchard Learning Studios workshops are all so good, it's always difficult to choose.  Shall we toddle along together?

I've been writing most of the afternoon, instruction sheets mostly, for that new partnership. Did you know they are using us as the inspiration behind their latest product? Very flattering, as long as they don't make us look too fat!  

I'd better go, as I have a nice pieces of Hake waiting for the grill. 

Creative x

©Jay Hooper and Carol Kennedy July 2013.  All rights reserved

Goodwood Revival and Ooh La La!

Our Revival picnic

The event of Septmber has got to be the Goodwood Revival (www.grrc.goodwood.com) and we were there to soak up the atmosphere of old fashioned Britishness and fun. Preparations took us a long time as we had to decide on how to dress within the period 1948 - 1966 which reflects the heyday of the racing circuit. In the end Creative decided the 1950s were for her, while Dizzy went all out for the Audrey Hepburn look.




As well as all the fabulous racing, stunning period vehicles and wall to wall music, the event had all it's usual surprises and fun features in a terrific all-out party atmosphere.

Spin in the Jag

We were lucky with the sun although the wind did give Creative a couple of hat moments. 

Dizzy found her dream car with Pocket Classics (www.pocketclassics.co.uk), and both of us enjoyed a quick spin in a borrowed Jag!

Creative was in her element with so many men in uniform to choose from!!!! 
Dizzy:  I just looked the other way and had to pretend I wasn't with her.....

Dizzy's Dream car from Pocket Classics

Dizzy's selfie at The Black Fox Inn!

As usual we had a warm welcome at The Black Fox Inn

(www.blackfoxinn.co.uk) at Liphook, where Julie, Alan and the team made us comfortable and cooked us delicious meals each evening. 

Dizzy was clowning around trying to take a selfie outside the Inn.

All in all, a wonderful weekend of fun and sun.

On our way home, we were excited to receive a text from our friend Pebbles, having a wonderful time on holiday in France.

Pebbles getting to grips with oysters

She sent us a photo after a visit to an oyster farm and we can't wait 'till she gets back in a week or so, when we can hear all about her trip.

Top Tips for a Posh Picnic - make sure you include:
Smoked salmon, cold chicken, strawberries, chocolate, damask napkins and the butler!
Creative: ...and don't forget the champagne and glasses!

Next public appearance: Miss Ivy Events (www.missivyevents.co.uk) All Things Vintage and Lovely Fair, Plymouth Guildhall Saturday 26th September. 

Look forward to seeing you there!

©Jay Hooper & Carol Kennedy July 2013 all rights reserved