Cheating a teeny bit but still joining in with Jane

I am joining in with lovely Jane who is behind the blog Small But Charming and showing you my flowers in the house... She is showing Flowers around the Summer house but we are in topsy turvey land Down Under so we are in Autumn/Winter mode here of course.... First two photographs show my lovely bunch of Jonquils given to me by the divine Ms. S. They smell amazing.

And below - next two photographs these lovely blush pink spray roses. Given to me by Mr SE just before he jetted off to Europe (yes, again) on business on Saturday evening.

And here is the cheaty bit!! But I know that Jane will appreciate this as she is a florist. These are photographs taken at my local Florist run by the very sweet and gorgeous Cobi. She is so young ( think perhaps early twenties?) yet she owns and runs this successful business with a team of helpers.

LOVE the saying on the board outside.. "Winterference" - great!

Outside the shop above and below.

Entrance.

And above 5 photographs just taken here and there around the store....

Beautiful isn't it?

I've been "Shellac-ed"

On Thursday I went to my local nail salon and had my nails done. With Shellac Gel. No, it's not something that goes on the top of a piece of furniture finished by French polishing as I had previously thought but a new nail technique. Well, new to me - may be quite old hat to you.

It cost twice as much as an ordinary manicure but apparently will last up to 3 times as long. (So therefore in my book = Good Value For Money). And it's different from Bio Sculpture Nails (which often give the appearance of a thick layer or two of polish on your nails) and Bio Sculpture nails are more expensive (so I am told) than this new shellac polish....

Downsides : as yet not a HUGE selection of polishes to pick from but enormous UPSIDE : as soon as it is done you can pick up your bag, your keys etc. and off you waltz. No more trying not to smudge your nails and spoiling a manicure within 10 minutes of getting them done. RESULT.

So, I will be counting the days that this lasts and will let you know. So far, I am really quite impressed.

Happy Weekend to one and all.

Margaret River Region, Western Australia

Mr SE and I had a wonderful time last weekend in the beautiful Margaret River region of Western Australia. I flew to Perth (Mr SE was already in Perth on business) and then we hot footed it in the car 2.5 hours south....



This is where we stayed - Empire Spa and retreat. Very relaxing with an Eastern influence.

Photos above and below taken in the hotel grounds.

Loved the cascading water fountain below ....

We walked the 2kms out (and back !) along Busselton Jetty - the longest pier in the Southern hemisphere.

Although it was sunny the wind was pretty fierce... these seagulls were trying to keep their heads down out of the gale!

Beautiful sunrise.

Mr SE was interested in exploring the Ngligi Caves - where there were plenty of stalactites and stalagmites to spy!

All quite eerie and interesting if not a tad geographical for my tastes!

Mr SE loved it though...

I rather liked these sheep with their black faces which we passed on the way to one of the region's many wineries. The Margaret River region is one of Australia's most prolific wine producing areas.

The vines above looking very Autumnal. And below the Howard Park Estate where they produce the range of wines that are one of our favourites....
We ordered a case to be shipped back to Melbourne! Free postage too - great value.

Last pic for the post today - Mr SE....

We had a wonderful weekend. And hope you are enjoying yours wherever you are and whatever you may be doing.

Frothy Underpinnings

My blog pal 'That's Not My Age' posted about some gorgeous underwear that she was thinking of investing in last week... See HERE. And at the time I was awaiting a package from delicious lingerie company - Mimi Holliday (by Damaris) Like TNMA, I have to admit that the state of my 'knicker drawer' is rather a sorry one. And I am not one for matching sets (more's the pity laments Mr SE) - adore the idea of them but just have not got myself sufficiently into the matching underwear mindset. However, this could change..... This underwear is beautiful. It is sexy but supportive and the bras do not look like the 'over-the-shoulder-boulder-holders' I have had to put up with in the past. Although I do like bras by Prima Donna - but a girl has to have a little froth and lightness in her life at times. And so I present to you :

Above. Exhibit A - black French lace and silk 'French Knicker' - this will go with a plain black seamless bra I already own (the matching bra to this one from Mimi Holliday was completely SOLD out in my size). Sad, but good for my bank balance.

And Exhibit B ..... above and below... such delicate underpinnings... And a MATCHING set - be still my beating heart. It fits and looks gorgeous...... - this is the 'blurb' about this design from the website :

A darling oyster 100% silk satin and white lace story- Rossetti is the ultimate in lady-like elegance and right on trend for a ballet inspired fresh Spring look. The subtly between the graphic white French lace and soft oyster silk satin creates a luxurious effect- it is a very wearable and understated story....

And from the website - the pics below to show you what they look like on - well, you didn't think I was going to model them - god forbid ;-) ?!

Above the set "Rossetti" and below :

The black French knicker.... ("Bisou Bisou")


Their arrival is perfect timing. Mr SE and I are going away this weekend (it's a long weekend here in the state of Victoria) off to the Margaret River region in Western Australia. Can't wait!!!

Season Envy

What's wrong with me......?
It's not that I don't like Autumn which is well and truly upon us here in Australia (in fact I might go so far as to say that it is my favourite season) it's just that I want what you've got! You lot in the Northern Hemisphere. Or perhaps it's a case of the grass seems always greener. I have loved seeing Spring photographs on others blogs and imagining a Summer in England. Maybe I'm homesick or feeling sad at the thought of not being around during the long holiday break from University that my daughter has just begun.
So in the hope of "snapping out of" this melancholy - here are a couple of Autumn photographs I have taken over the last week.... Above - our skinny latte and skinny flat white coffees we had last weekend at the market in South Melbourne. Excellent coffee place called Padre. And I love the pottery earthenware - that struck me as very Autumnal. And below, also snapped at the same market :

Fresh walnuts in huge sacks. They looked really beautiful - what could be more "seasons of mists and mellow fruitfulness" I wonder ? Maybe this below - a photograph taken a while back when I was in UK - my English Apple cake :

For the recipe which I posted on the blog then please click HERE.

Enjoy your Season which ever one you are experiencing!