Christmas Fair

I love going to gift events, I love the getting ready and the setting up, chatting to people and seeing other stalls.


Today I am going to a Christmas Fair in Surrey, which is being organised by the very lovely Lisa from Out of Love.  It's going to be fun to meet her at last as I have been tweeting with her for ages.

I went to bed way too late to be up an hour and a half before the alarm, but I have found my bags that I had mislaid last night.

If you are in Milford, Surrey today then do pop into the Out of Love Christmas Fair and come and say hello!  

I have lots of lovely gifts and home wares, stocking fillers and treats, these colouring books are my most favourite colouring books!

Memories

I have been really tired recently, not dead on feet tired or happy to nap tired, just tired - physically, emotionally, punctually, mentally!  You know that sort of tired?!  Yes, well then you will know what I mean!

I bumped into a friend outside school and she asked how I was and I said "oh so tired" and left it at that, later on that morning I rang that friend and said "can I have a hypnotherapy appointment please?" to which she of course was happy to oblige.  It was all booked in and as the date approached so did an email confirming it and saying how she was looking forward to seeing me.  I so nearly cancelled.

Thankfully I didn't.

I sat in her chair and we chatted, about lots of things and she asked me why I was there.  To be honest I wasn't sure but I said "because I am tired of feeling tired, I am tired of feeling I have nothing left to give and I am tired of always saying yes I can help when really I can't" all said with a smile and not a trace of negativity. I think I was asking her to tell me that I will stop feeling tired, that I do have lots to give but not all the time and that it's OK to say no.

Maybe that's what happened.

I find hypnotherapy a strange one and I can't explain it but after my snooze I felt calmer than I had done in a while.  Clare asked me to sit down somewhere comfortable, which was a chair in my granny's house in Warwickshire, she said look over the garden which I did and somehow the ha-ha led down to the bottom of my granny's house in Bath, where I watched the lights go off in a tall building.

Who knows what happened to my little mind but in a way I feel I recharged my batteries with memories of happiness, safety and security.  My two grannies were the most amazing people in my life and I call them my inspirations.  Sadly they're not here today.  

Last Wednesday I felt that they were really with me and they were hugging me tight on their laps whilst stroking my hair all the while saying "shush now little child, don't bother yourself, sit here quietly and when you're ready get down off my lap".

Maybe that's what happened!  I think it's OK to feel like a child sometimes.

Some photos ....

I've been meaning to share a few photos and create a photo album for ages, now here are some!

A friend made this fire surround for us years ago and when we moved we took it with us.  I dug it out of the shed and painted it, when I stepped outside to see how it was drying I saw my daft dog sitting infront of it!  He has no idea what a fire surround does but he clearly associates it with being warm, happy and loved!

 

 I started taking some bits outside to show off what I was stocking!  As you can see I stock lots of gorgeous gifts and wonderful items for the home!

When I first started talking about returning to The Original Present Cupboard a friend suggested painted arrows.  

This is one of the first ones that I did, it's very basic and rushed but I love the simplicity of it! 

I have a batch of orders so will settle down and paint some up soon!

How can you not love this?  A cashmere hot water bottle, a woollen envelope and a star saying Yummy Mummy, of course you can have your star personalised.

A tidy desk?  Well, it's not overly cluttered and  you can see everything and it's all beautiful!

A view of the shop some time ago, the dresser stays in the same place but I tend to move things around!  Keeps me on my toes if nothing else!

Another arrow!  I followed my dreams and started up The Original Present Cupboard.  Before that I followed my heart, did I really want to leave my job and start up my business again?  I followed my heart.

Cushions, cushions, cushions.  A seat is not properly dressed without cushions!

A few of my favourite things!  Black labradors, green and lavender envelopes, seeds for ideas and gardens and storage!

I picked up some chairs and decided to paint them for the coffee shop, then I added some detail and now I am not sure I want to let them leave my house!

I just adore these beautiful notebooks, covered in material they are a best seller!

Covered Notebooks £7.50

There is nothing nicer than a handwritten letter and what better way to make it bright and beautiful than with a fabulous card!  Priced at £2 each and printed in GB they are fabulous!

I like nothing better than the shop being open and the sun shining.  A shop on the farm in the woods!  A find!

I hope you will come and see The Original Present Cupboard soon, we can be found at Wysipig, or for more photos and chat we are on Facebook and Twitter 

I

A quick hello ....

The happy dappy days of summer have gone and it's now very wintery feeling!  Good!  It means I can wrap up warm with a hot water bottle!!







It has been an age since I have blogged and there is good reason!  Oh my oh my it has been hectic and I have been really busy!  I have had to be extra structured and disciplined working from home and as everything is made by or comes from people I know really well or have got to know over the years I have to make sure I make time for proper chats and not just a quick call whilst stirring the pumpkin soup/walking the dog/sorting out homework etc.

As you know you can find The Original Present Cupboard on Facebook (The Original Present Cupboard), Twitter (@MrsOrigiPresent) and at Wysipig, a pig farm with a butcher and a cafe deep in the Coombes woods in Aborfield, Berkshire.  The website is on its way!

The shop is open 7 days a week Monday and Tuesday 930 to 4pm, Wednesday to Sunday 10am to 4pm or by arrangement.

On the second Saturday of the month Wysipig holds an Open Farm Day where you can see the pigs and goats, farm machinery and enjoy a hog roast.

This Saturday (10 November 2012, between 10am and 4pm) it's the Wysipig Farm Open Day, Taster & Order Day and The Original Present Cupboard Gift Event.  For more details have a look at the listing on Stallfinder 

On Saturday 17 November 2012 The Original Present Cupboard will be joining a whole host of lovely stallholders at the Out of Love Christmas Gift Fair

I am constantly adding to the shelves of  The Original Present Cupboard and will shortly be adding a photo album.  In the meantime wrap up warm and keep smiling!

Nell x

October Open Farm Day - Hog Roast & Ice Cream

Saturday 13 October 2012 between 10am and 4pm is the October date for the Wysipig regular Farm & Machinery Open Day (the farm shop at Ellis’s Hill Farm, Sindlesham Road, Aborfield, RG2 9JG).

Learn about traditional farming methods, admire tractors, steam engine and vehicles of years gone by whilst seeing the pigs and goats in the farm, surrounded by the glorious Coombes woods.

Traditional and wonderfully tasty Wysipig hog roast.

Kevin the Master Butcher will be showing off his skills and tempting you with all cuts of pork, bacon and sausages, his chilli sausages are certainly worth a try!

The Original Present Cupboard offers beautiful gifts and home wares sourced by Nell including oils and creams from the amazing Lubatti range, Christmas decorations & stockings, handmade pet treats, door stops, bathcakes, notebooks, wrapping paper, cards, tea towels, aprons, plus much much more.  Personalised items are available to order. 

Nellie’s Wellies offers a selection of funky wellies, welly warmers and boot bags for men, women and children.  Wide sizes are available for those with generous calf muscles or bunched up jeans!

Muddy boots can be removed easily with a boot jack Decorated by Deryn

Cake Obsession will be returning with fabulous themed cup cakes and cakes to tempt you, as well as a delicious Gingerbread House to drool over, available to order.  Order early for Christmas!

Daisy Ices, a beautifully restored vintage ice cream van will tempt you with delicious flavoured ice creams and hot chocolate.

QGlass will be showing off some amazing stained glass window panels.

Brighten up your home with finds from the gloriously brightly coloured shelves of the very popular Shirleyz at the NEW Shirleyz at Home venue. 

Jack French’s Firewood offers dry seasoned firewood from pick up loads to net bags, providing a year round service, free delivery available on bulk loads!  Net bagged kindling also available.

Ample parking, entry is free.

Please note that the shop accepts cash or cheque only

Look out for us on Twitter  @Wysipig @MrsOrigiPresent @DaisyIces @Cakeobsession1 @qglass @shirleyzshop

Years and years ago

Years and years ago I was given an Abba album by my brother.  Years before that he gave me the 7" black record of Vienna by Ultravox and some popcorn, years later in a final act of kindness he gave me away when I eventually married a friend of his.

Sometimes I wish that I could freeze the picture ....

I adore my brother, he is 2 years older than me and has always looked out for me, sometimes it's through his fingers covering his eyes but he will always be my brother!  He placated mum when I got rusticated; he told mum I'd had my ears pierced; he once ran away when I thumped a contemporary of his at prep school.  Oh yes, he's my brother!

I always have sepia memories of my school days at this time of year.  The trunks would come out and we would sort out our school uniform, tuck and sometimes contraband.  I recall Mum driving us both to Malvern and we'd then set about starting a new school year!  Mine would be peppered with explosions of teenage love angst, my brother never expressed angst - only exasperation - possibly because I had the monopoly!

Now, years later and my own children are starting afresh in key stages and schools.  My smallest starts junior school where the other two had been, she leaves behind the comfort of the infant school that welcomed us when we arrived, crushed by the private sector and my old prep school.  The middle child goes up to the secondary school and joins the eldest who begins her GCSE years.  I admit I did shed a tear on the last day of the summer term as I dropped them to school! 

I hope in years to come my girls will look back on these days and remember their sisters with fondness and love.

School bag in hand she leaves home in the early morning ...

Team Gloriously Bonkers

I bought a second hand purple bike with a basket last month, I have always cycled and I love it, if it's flat  My lovely purple bike puts a smile on my face!

My husband on the other hand is what is known as a keen cyclist.  By keen I mean sort of obsessive, he wears lycra, his shoes clip into his pedals, he does "oh about 100 miles out with the club", he cycles up (yes UP) Watlington Hill, he cycled from Wokingham to Broadway, he once cycled to Bognor Regis with jet lag (more on that another time) and he has also done the etape du tour which is 95 miles up hill following the route of the Tour de France.  He cycled where Bradley Wiggins cycled!

I am not the most sporty person you will ever know, I am not even the least sporty person you will ever know, I am the most useless person in a sports quiz which frustrates my husband and makes me appear somewhat dim watching a Question of Sport.

In my youth I did some activities that are sports!  I used to ride (at the time I smelt more of hoof oil than Anais Anais - that'll date me), cycle (no public transport in the village and if you wanted to go out you had get there yourself), lacrosse (well the pitches were past the Boys Coll), squash (we used to get dropped off and then run back to the Boys Coll), tennis (well sort of dress up in a short white skirt and pretend) but hold on I ski!  

Skiing - what a great holiday!  I have no sense of direction and a very short memory so each time I approach a chair lift I feel it is a brand new one and each slope is new!

Being married to a Welshman I do get excited about the Rugby, I like the singing and I've actually been to Cardiff Arms Park (ok it was 23 years ago to see Simple Minds and Texas as the support act) and the Milennium Stadium.  I love the way that he supports Wales first and then anyone who is playing England second.  It's the way it is!

Big fella used to play cricket - despite playing it myself at prep school and being made to play it by my brother and all his friends I still had no clue, I could make cricket teas and drink Mount Gay rum, I have met Courtney Walsh & Sid Lawrence at Hurst Cricket Club, I met Bev Bevan at Rowington Cricket Club (where I also met my husband) and often drive past the Somerset ground in Bath.

See what I mean, I really am clueless and am useless in a pub quiz BUT and it's a pretty big BUT I am emotional and loyal and so totally into the Olympics and after the Opening Ceremony who doesn't want to be part of Team GB?  That's Team Gloriously Bonkers in my mind!

Wasn't the opening ceremony just such a wonderful snapshot of our crazy little island, an island of history and a wealth of quirks and characteristics that put a smile on our faces and such pride in our hearts.

I have goosebumps as I type this, I am a hugely emotional person and to see those Olympic greats bring home the medals makes my heart swell with pride and yes I cry.  I cry great big fat sobbing tears.

As I said I am no sporty person, I am just gloriously bonkers and proud and I can say in years to come "2012, I was there!"

I was there in Richmond Park for the cycling, my husband and girls were there for the hockey, they were there for the Time Trials, we were there glued to our seats, we were there as we screamed and cried and hugged each other and above all we were there and we are here,  we are part of that small crazy island and its achievements has put a smile on everyone's faces.  

Pretty much like my bicycle puts a smile on my face, but on a larger scale.