First interiors interview of the year - and bargain city!

Today we drove an hour up the coast to Waikanae where I interviewed a home-owner who has done amazing things to her house with a tight budget. She's the owner of this adorable shop so her home was all manner of cute.

Sadly, I only remembered to whip out my phone at the last minute so these are the only pics I have to share. But, between you and me, I was crushing out hard on the driftwood Xmas tree - might have to get my Martha Stewart groove on this year and make my own.

As has become our practice, the boys went to the beach while I did the interview; but when the Animator came to collect me, Bristol got to play with the home-owner's dog Poppy. They only stopped long enough for me to take this.

Best of all was the home-owner's heads-up of a couple of second-hand stores on our way home; this is the haul from both - six items for the princely sum of $31! Almost, dare I say it, as good as the UK car boots.

  

(Apols for rubbish photo; I am on deadline to deliver this story by tomorrow AM so no time for faffing about with photoshop).

First day back

Returning to work after a holiday is a little like ripping off a sticking plaster - painful, unpleasant and, when it finally comes off, it takes a tiny piece of you.

Seriously, though, today was fine. Unlike last year, the first day back at the current contract didn't have me poking around the dustier corners of the internet for advice on anti-depressants.

Tonight after work, the Hound and I went on a gloriously long run in the bush; on our return we ran into one of Bristol's many GFs, a gorgeous black lab by the name of Lily, who positively fawned all over him.

Dinner was at 7.30pm in the back garden in the blazing hot sun. Happy days.

Something else in my bliss bag is this cute vintage tin I picked up at a Masterton second hand shop in November for the princely sum of eight bucks. It really rocks a pink hydrangea, doesn't it?

And, to balance out the colour wheel, here's some purple hydrangeas too...