Lambs Conduit Street - Persephone Books

Persephone Books reprints neglected classics by C20th (mostly women) writers. They are all carefully designed with a clear typeface, a dove-grey jacket, a 'fabric' endpaper and bookmark, and a preface by writers such as Julian Barnes, Eva Ibbotson and Polly Toynbee.

© David Gentleman

The shop is full of beautiful grey books, scented candles, classical music and easy chairs. 

'The Winds of Heaven is a 1955 novel about 'a widow, rising sixty, with no particular gifts or skills, shunted from one to the other of her more or less unwilling daughters on perpetual uneasy visits, with no prospect of her life getting anything but worse’ (Afterword). One daughter is the socially ambitious Miriam living in commuter belt with her barrister husband and children; one is Eva, an aspiring actress in love with a married man; and the third is Anne, married to a rough but kindly Bedfordshire smallholder who is the only one who treats Louise with more than merely dutiful sympathy. The one relation with whom she has any empathy is her grandchild.'

Recommended for a few peaceful hours in genteel surroundings

Lambs Conduit Street - Cosmo China

Cosmo China is based just off of Russell Square.

What a beautiful shop, packed full of lovely hand-painted bone china. Of special interest to me were these lovely children's plates, which would make lovely christening gifts.

They also have in their discontinued section a plate painted by Polly Dunbar

Not cheap, but if you need a special gift this is the place to come.

London Birthday recommendations

It was my daughters birthday over the weekend and i thought you might like to know some of my recommendations.

Party entertainer
www.diddidance.com/
Anne Marie is the founder of the company and full of energy and fun. She is really funny too, making parents and children laugh and get involved. A very good judge of children she can work out which children need encouraging and which need calming down.

Party decorations
http://www.nonstopparty.co.uk/
Based on Kensington High Street the shop is on two floors and stocks a huge variety of decorations, balloons, party plates etc. The staff are very helpful and it's great to see everything before you buy it. Can be reached easily by tube, so no need to hire a car and go to an industrial estate.

Party food
Mostly crisps

Party clothes
http://www.thelittlelegscompany.com/
One of the biggest stockists of Zutano clothes in UK, I emailed them to find out when their Autumn stock was coming in. Because the stock hadn't arrived yet, the owner Helen, emailed me a suggested dress, and couriered it to me for free! Fantastic service, a £5 voucher for my next purchase, and a gorgeous dress.

It was a lovely weekend and if I think of anything else, I'll let you know!

Night-lights

Not one of my more lyrical of posts but I wanted to share these lovely items with you...

I've been looking for a nightlight to stop Rose waking during the night and saw these beauties.




    

merkled light cubes / 2004 - 2008

Lovely pub by Smithfield - Fox and Anchor

I have often yearned for the perfect pub, nice selection of drinks, and lovely simple food that is better than you make at home. The Anchor and Hope on the Cut by Southwark tube station is one of my faves for rib-sticking slow cooked sharing dishes, but not really suitable just for drinks. The Fox and Anchor on the other hand is perfect for either. Bar snack include homemade pork pies and scotch eggs (and they were really home-made too) which were delicious, goose fat fried chips, homemade pork scratchings, pint of prawns, fresh oysters on ice. They also had a roasted piece of pork belly to be sliced for sandwiches with apple sauce. mmm. I was spoilt for choice and will be going back as often as I can without having a heart attack!
Nothing very low cal/cholesterol though, so not for the abstemious but Mylene Klass was there at lunch today if you're interested in celebrity spots

snuggle

Some tragic news has made me spend more time cuddling Rose and spending time on the sofa wrapped up in blankets. Pyjamas and blankets and towels have always been an important part of the snuggling process for us, so here are my favourites. Some are currently in the sales....

Pyjamas:

1. The White Company flannel pyjamas. Beautifully soft and cosy, I buy them 2 sizes too big and roll up the sleeves.

2. Hatley pyjamas - good quality, with lovely prints. Hatley also do nice adult PJ's too, just haven't found a stockist for them yet...

Blanket:

Brora lambswool stripey blanket, thick and soft, with a vintage feel. Really good quality too.

Bathtime:

Towels: The White Company again, soft and fluffy and stays that way after numerous washes. It is also plenty big enough for a toddler...

Flannels:

Cath Kidston shooting stars is my favourite print, their flannels and wash mitts are nice and thick and pretty reasonably priced.