I’ve been busying buying up some of Liz’s out of print books on Amazon – such a fab way to find and sell hard to find books, via their marketplace. I also love the way that they recommend books / films to you, once you’ve popped something into your basket – I find it hugely helpful when buying presents too. A cold day today, after some stunning weekend weather.
My younger sister and I visited the IOW for the weekend – I live in London, and spread my working life between our London shop and the island. We stayed with Vintage Vacations, owned and run by an island-based stylist and her fashion photographer husband – who swapped crazy London life for the peace of the beautiful island, a few years ago. One night, after a few glasses of wine, she bid for a stunning vintage American trailer on EBay – made from the 1930s onwards by Getty, the airline carrier manufacturers. The rest is history – she has now bought six and all are based in a green English field, on a rural working farm just outside Newport. It’s very much ‘back to basics’, but with a rather kitsch edge – such as the original wet room bathroom! It made me appreciate the comforts of home, in a way, as you fire up the burner for your hot water shower and nip outside with your wellies at 5am to visit the outside loo! But very authentic and beautifully styled with vintage memorabilia, magazines and board games – as well as a couple of bottles of Babycham (love it!) and a cream tea upon arrival. We stayed in the 1951 Spartanette and, as the owner says, she truly was the ‘Cadillac’ of trailers!
The island is just such a varied and stunning place – perfect for a long weekend or for a week or two away with the kids. Everything is catered for – all tastes and budgets. This time, as a regular hunter down of fab IOW things to do, my sister insisted that we did new things that I’d never done before. We weren’t disappointed – a long walk on Tennyson Downs rewarded us with stunning views, and we even ventured on to the National Trust’s Old Battery by the Needles. I felt very proud to see the recognizable IOW symbol – I think, not immodestly, that we really have helped put this beautiful gem of an isle on the map for many mainlanders who only have vague Enid Blyton memories from their childhood…. I love the old churches here too, and my sister indulged me in a return to my favourite island haunt, the old church on the seafront at Bonchurch. So old and so charming – very romantic for a stroll. I must bring my husband back soon!
Hot off the press news today – our TVSN presenter in Australia, Carla King Turner, has just had a baby boy and he looks adorable! She will be using Orange Flower Botanical Body Wash for his baby baths apparently. Wonderful news – mother & baby are both grand.
