Petersham Nurseries.

Hello! Are you looking forward to your weekend? I am, she says with a big happy sigh. I'm sitting here nibbling on some chocolate, and drinking a cup of tea. The chocolate has come out of a drawer within a cupboard, in the kitchen, and I think Hugo puts it there thinking that if I can't see it, I won't raid the drawer. The chocolate is for both of us, but when Hugo buys it, I think he has it in his mind that the chocolate will only be eaten by him. Sometimes he arrives home after work, thinking he fancies some chocolate, only to find there isn't really much in the way of chocolate to eat, because I haven't had time to replenish the stocks after eating them. So that might explain why Hugo used to hide chocolate around the house. In places he thought I would never look. But when I need to eat some chocolate I become very determined.  It never ceased to surprise Hugo that I found his hidden stashes.  I once found some chocolate that Hugo had hidden and forgotten about, it was old chocolate by the time I found it. I didn't eat that.

Oh it is nice to have a good chin-wag. I'm feeling frazzled from the days torment of doing my accounts. Very neglected accounts. It always feels like I did my accounts a few weeks ago, when in reality, it's been months and months. So I never cease to be unbeliveably surprised at how much I've got to do. I tell myself every time that I will be more organised in the future. But time has a habit of whizzing by. Months feel like weeks, weeks feel like a couple of days, and days feel like I've only just got up, before I have to go to bed again a few seconds later. There are little piles of paperwork covering the entire floor of my studio, and any other free space. I had a moment of sheer panic , and, "I can't face this", earlier on in the day. Luckily I can talk myself out of those situations. I tell myself to take it one step at a time, and just plod on. I have to tell myself that when I'm doing the ironing too.

Today was another of those whizzy days, where the hours feel like minutes, so it's a good thing I had uploaded these pictures for you the other day, waiting for me to enter some text. I took these photos at Petersham Nurseries. We went there with my sister and her family, because we were staying with them for a couple of nights on our return from our Greek holiday. I'd been gently mentioning how much I'd like to go to Petersham Nurseries for years. Every time I went to visit my sister in London, infact! And at last we got to go there! I'd built it up in my mind as a mecca of beauty, and it didn't disappoint. The only down side was the cost of everything. It's bloomin expensive. I think the gorgeous Venetian glass tumblers in the photo above, were over £100 each. The thought of drinking out of a glass that cost over £100! Well, if I happened to be drinking from one, and I thought of the price, I might actually drop it.

We probably shouldn't have subjected our husbands to Petersham Nurseries when I think about it. They were bound to look at the price tags on everything, and use such words as "ridiculous!" or phrases like, "whoever buys these things must have more money than sense", and "I know where I could get that cheaper!"

Still, I enjoyed myself! We had a delicious lunch, in the cafe, which despite being the cheaper of the two eateries, was bloomin expensive, as our husbands pointed out. I must admit, I was quite relieved that my sister took packed lunches for the children, because Hugo and I were buying lunch for everyone.

Everything was displayed beautifully. Like fresh lemons in a smoky green glass jar, just because. Everything was just because. Just because it looks good.

This is the expensive restaurant, in the photo above. I didn't look at the prices on the menu, but our husbands told us the prices were ridiculously expensive. By that point in the afternoon, I didn't really care if the prices were ridiculous, I liked the idea of eating there.

O.k. I have to admit, some of the garden furniture was rusty, and did have a bad case of woodworm, and was a surprising price, taking those factors into account. But sometimes people want that aged look, that vintage charm. I don't know for sure that woodworm would be on my list of desirable attributes. But I personally love all that 'antique' garden furniture, it's got such charm and character, and is like nothing you'd find in a chain of garden centres.

I had a lovely afternoon, window shopping. Well, I did buy one thing, a ball of stripy white and green string. Ridiculously expensive it was!

I hope you've got a weekend of nice things to do ahead of you? We haven't got anything planned. I love Friday evenings. The anticipation of two days to do with just as I please! Bliss! Hugo is mysteriously banging around down stairs, it sounds like he's making something, for something................ I've just got a bit of time to do some crochet, before we go round to Hugo's parents for supper, what a lovely way to start our weekend! See you on Monday my lovely readers, take care, and I hope you have a wonderful weekend! Love Vanessa xxx (Now I can hear Hugo's got the circular saw out!)

Comments

[Deborah]

Hello Vanessa,
Expensive maybe...but nice to look at!
Have a lovely weekend whatever you get up to.
Deb x
(something in the post for you today! x)

[Moe (Seaweed, Roses & Wool) x]

Mmmmm, the garden center looks great, I always find though that places like that are much better if you could manage to leave everyone at home and just go by yourself!! You seem to be able to have a better Root around!! Anyway looks like you had a great day anyway! Pictures are gorgeous as always!
Moe xx

[Gerry Hook]

Circular saw ? ? ? That could go two ways - -
either something very useful
or - - -
somethiing being de-constructed.
Have a wonderful weekend.
Love going on all of your adventuresome outings with you.

[Helen Lambert]

I thought I was the only woman who had a husband who hid chocolate.....I love the nursery...it looks wonderful...have a lovely weekend...I am back at work for the final day of the festival..loads of big bands are playing..but the forecast is rain...

[Tina]

Hello! I just found your lovely blog! Perhaps Hugo is building a safe to keep the choccie in? Lol..my hubby has to hide our supplies too...last time I found it in an old biscuit tin in the garage...there is no hiding place! :) love, Tina x

[Menopausalmusing]

I have this rule: His chocolate is "ours", but mine is "MINE"... :O) x

[Laura]

Circular saw?! Maybe he's going to make a replica of one of the "ridiculously expensive" items you saw!

[LYnne]

I have to hide the chocolate from my husband. He's always snaffled it when I come to use it for baking, or eating. Very frustrating, and oh so annoying when I am craving it!

[melanie]

Hi Vanessa, I'm still working on a few more things for your swap parcel, but all is almost complete and nearly ready to go, I'm really enjoying making things for you, I just hope you like them.
Take Care
Love Melanie xxxxx

[Denise]

Hi Vanessa, I too have a husband who hides chocolate,a bar can last him months, only a square at a time. It must be a man thing.
The expensive garden centre looks great,so different from your run of the mill ones. Have a great weekend. Denisexxx

[Hen]

Oooh, I've been fancying going there, is that Skye Gyngell's foodie place? As I live in London there's no excuse now you've shown us how lovely it is but I'll definitely leave Mr HH at home, wouldn't want my shopping style cramped!
Hen x

[Karen]

Hope you have had a lovely weekend with lots of sunshine. Are we going to get a peep at Hugo's creativity? I am terrified of those saws and ours lives in the garage where I can't see it, along with every other woodworking tool a man might need! Going to try and crochet a heart this evening as yours look so lovely. Karenx

[kitschen pink]

a gallery in Holt sells similar tutti frutti glasses - I YEARN for one! I'd save it for very annoying mornings and drink just plain water and enjoy the moment! I'd maybe sit in bed so if I dropped it the mattress would limit any damage! t.xx

[The Curious Cat]

Hey Vanessa, Thanks for dropping by! Not sure if he will win her over - need to think about it...I am thinking probably yes but she might also do something cruel to him first. I want to write a little book of strange tales and illustrate them and this picture kind of sparked off the idea...we shall see, maybe one day! I have two story ideas in the pipeline though so whilst I'm still enthusiastic and motivated, I think I'll crack on!

PS I know what you mean about chocolate - I'm like that! My mum is also terrible. One year a cry came from the garage where we kept our spare fridge. My brother had stored all his Easter Egg chocolate in there at the tender age of 8 only to open the fridge and find my mum had devoured the whole lot! I think she replaced it but we still laugh about it to this day! Chocolate makes us go weak at the knees...it isn't easy to resist when it calls! xxx

[Kate MacDonald]

Haven't had much chance to read your lovely blog recently (B back in hospital) but I have enjoyed your lovely pictures this afternoon.
CKx

[Julie]

I was just thinking how lovely those glasses were - but at £100 ????!! I'd never drink from them, in case. As you say,the thought is enough to make you drop one. I'd rather have nice things, but not things that are so expensive/precious that you're on edge about using them. Looks like a fab place though - would consider putting on the list of places to visit when next in London, but since I'll have M (doing the moaning about prices husband thing) and the children (who I wouldn't dare let loose in a place with expensive breakables, perhaps not!) I shall just enjoy your pictures instead - much cheaper and safer!