My Block

 

Yesterday I took a walk around the block to get a coffee. I do this many times a week, but the light was so beautiful today I wanted to capture it. 

I have only lived in this area for a short time but have loved it the most of all the places I have lived in Bournemouth and Poole. I will defo live here again when if I return. There are so many huge trees and beautiful streets.

 The shopping area has great coffee places, grocery stores as well as many, many charity shops...which I frequent like a territorial animal *wink*

 The buildings are full of character and history.

 And this is the only place I have ever been to where the traffic stops for you EVERY time at a Zebra Crossing. I love the staff at my local Costa, they know me a bit too well :)

I have a spot I like to sit and drink my soya-sugar-free-syrup-latte and do some Art Journalling.

 Is it wrong that I fall in love with things like this? A manky drain and a cul-de-sac sign...Nicola seriously?

 I pass this sign on the way home, I love the fonts. My street is so pretty, I find a little walk really inspiring and often just what I need to kick start an idea or some creative project.

This shadow was spooky looking, but the light was so lovely through the trees, I wanted to take a billion photos.

 What is your local area like? Where do you go to get inspired or just to re-connect with you?
Love, me x

Ps - photos taken with the awful camera on my Blackberry for purposeful poor quality, then transformed into Polaroids using this FREE software which I heard about from another blog I love to read.

Coffee Date - Crooked Book

Hey Pals...
I tried out a new coffee place a little while ago and it is quite literally ER-mazing! It is called The Crooked Book, and is in Boscombe. I have told you about Boscombe before, it's this weird little in-between place that has always struggled to make a name for itself. In recent years it has been doing so much better, with vintage markets, a whole vintage and second hand quarter, a surf reef and some delicious and groovy places to eat (both on the beach and in town).
So this new place I have found is loverly because it is part cafe, part book shop and part antique/ vintage interiors store. Uh...what else could it sell to make me love it more?

I had coffee with my very cool and creative friend Bisi who you can see through the glass.

So, yeah...if ever you are down this way, check it out or if ever you fancy a cuppa you can suggest we go there together (because quite frankly I'd be jealous if you went without me).

Do you have a favorite place to chill?
Love, me x

Coffee Dates - time to do girltalk

Hello blog chums!

I love it when I have a little bit of extra money to take my daughter (12) out for a coffee and a girltalk about life/ worries/ silly stuff. It is my absolutely favorite thing to do, which is good because I think it is HER favorite thing to do too.
We have many favorite places to get out coffee-on. Last week we stopped off at Red Rooster in Ashley Cross to soak in the retro/ American vibe.

Things we love about coffee dates: sharing a warm scone, real butter, teeny pots of jam, sachets of sugar (or better still sugar cubes), good music, funky design, reading material, snuggling up, quiet moments.

Things we love to chat about: boys, friends, big ideas about existence and God, poetry, art, human spirit, life lessons, silly in-jokes, working out what other people are like in the coffee shop, and Olivia's favorite question - 'what would you do if...?

I'm going for coffee with a friend tomorrow in a new place. I'll report back soon chumblies!

Where do you get your coffee-on?

Love, me x

coffee dates

I am lucky to have some very good friends. I don't have a billion friends but the few I do have are of the very highest quality and carefully selected. I take my time with that. I have made some rubbish choices in my past and got involved with people for all the wrong reasons, resulting in chaos, something which I have worked hard to rid my life of.

I don't much like going our to pubs/ clubs etc, never have - they make me feel awkward. But I do like coffee and dinner dates.
At Christmas my friend Anna was given some money and as is her way, she decided to share that good fortune and invited us out for coffee at our favorite place: 'Boscanova' in Boscombe. A weird place with a high percentage of tramps and addicts (no joke), but also pockets of creative types and organisations striving to help those with their struggles.

It is such a creative space. I love the decor, and the coffees, lattes, chai and gorgeous healthy food are delicious (especially the mushroom halloumi burger).

It is my favorite place to have coffee, but I don't go too much or else it would lose its effect on me.

Today is Valentines, and I spent some time with Anna then went shopping with my daughter to spend her Christmas vouchers (finally). We are cooking up something delicious for dinner as a treat. Tomorrow we are off to London on an adventure. Can't flippin' wait (especially as I won some 1st class train tickets a while ago which we are using so no driving).

I'm single and happy by the way. Valentines normally hacks me off but I tried to make it a positive day with fun things planned, and to see it as 'love' day. One day I'll find my Wesley but until then I am seriously content.

Lots of love to you all, me x x x