Travel – Page 19 – Wattle and Ash

How does your garden grow?

January 19, 2017January 18, 2017by wattleandash3 Comments

I will always love fresh flowers in the house. There’s an element of simplicity and sophistication that blooms seem to capture. Like when someone compliments your outfit and you reply ‘Oh, this old thing?!’. Flowers are grown-up and pretty, without really trying. They just are.

House plants though, I’ve never really had an affinity for. To me, they remind me of Australian suburbia circa 1994. Palms and Calla lilies in sturdy rectangular cane planter boxes, on beige linoleum floors quietly wilting in the summer heat. Meant to look all tropical and fresh, but instead looking droopy, brown and dry. Or even better, the fabric, plastic variety of house plant that sort of look reals from afar but when you get close up is covered in dust and spiderwebs. Yuck!

After a couple of mega Pinteresting sessions though, I’m slowly starting to reconsider the humble house plant. I’ve been quietly lusting over images of kitchens and sitting rooms, neutrally decorated in whites, greys and navy with hints of greenery. Tendrils of leaves, tumbling oh-so-perfectly from cute pots sat on open shelving surrounded by pretty mugs and copper saucepans.

I bought by accident a house plant the other week. Adam was making a lamb dish that needed mint leaves. There were no small packets of fresh mint leaves available, so I picked up a mint plant instead. We’d had a relatively successful herb garden when we lived in Wagga Wagga and had talked about doing something similar in England but due to the season hadn’t bothered with it yet. I found a little bowl and sat it in front of the window near our kitchen sink.

Over the weekend while visiting Adam’s grandparents, I clumsily knocked over a house plant making a lovely mess of soil on the cream carpet. While cleaning it all up, I noticed the plant had a few ‘extra bits’ of greenery in its pot. I learnt it was a spider plant and Granny told me every house should have one. She sent me home with one of the ‘extra bits’, which I’ve since learnt are called spiderettes (!), and told me to put it in some water until its roots grow.

The spider plant is now living beside the mint. They look ever so nice, sitting in our yellow kitchen. Instead of being outdated and naff, they almost feel like company when you’re standing at the sink washing dishes. Also, on cold drizzly days when the fog doesn’t lift I like the little reminder of the outdoors, indoors.

I won’t say I’m a convert when it comes to house plants… but for now the two in our home are staying! Do you have house plants? What can you recommend? – Suggestions on what does well in grey English weather would be appreciated!

Everyday life, Local sights, Travel

The first snowfall

January 16, 2017January 15, 2017by wattleandash2 Comments

I nervously watched the weather forecast all last week. Snow had been predicted across a large part of England and on Thursday afternoon it started to fall.

I was incredibly excited, as it was first snow I’ve seen in England. There’s just something about those flakes of ice that puts a smile on my face. I didn’t see snow until I was 21, working and living as a television reporter in south-west New South Wales. While driving with a cameraman to our shoot location for the day, I mistook hail netting on apple orchards for the real stuff!

I’ve visited the Australian High Country dozens of time over the last decade to both ski and play in the snow, but seeing it fall naturally on the place where I’m living is something I’ll never forget. It didn’t settle in Malvern itself on Thursday afternoon, but standing in our front yard watching the snow gracefully descend to the ground, was enough to keep me happy.

You can imagine my smile then, when the next morning Adam and I woke up to everything covered in white! It was only an icing sugar dusting – nowhere near enough for a snowman, but enough to fully cover the ground, roads and roofs of all the houses nearby.

Adam had an early start at work, so I took advantage of being awake at the crack of dawn to rug up and head out for a wander around. There was a brief, but beautifully colourful sunrise that I was lucky enough to see before the clouds rolled on in again.

My morning walk was just wonderful – there was the scent of wood fuelled fires in the air and I passed ruddy cheeked children on their way to school with big grins on their face (much like me!) taking in the snowy scene.

Girl standing in snowy street with scarf and hooded coat on — One excited little Aussie!

The snow was all melted by the weekend and there’s no more forecast in the next week or so, but fingers crossed we see another flurry or two before the winter’s out!

Food, Local sights, Travel

Ludlow

January 12, 2017January 11, 2017by wattleandash3 Comments

If you like historic buildings, cute colourful cottages and good food and drink you’ll love Ludlow. This market town in south Shropshire is credited as having the first successful food and wine festival in the U.K. and its centre is made up of dozens of independent cafes, tea rooms, cheese shops, butcheries, bakeries and providores style shops.

Earlier this week, on a particularly dark and damp day, Adam and I made the trip north to Ludlow for a visit. Adam’s told me dozens of times about the Ludlow Food Festival and it’s already marked in the diary for this year (September 8-10 if you’re interested).

We parked the car and wandered down narrow streets and walkways full of character filled shops, finding our selves in the high street. Ready for something after our drive, we walked into a tea-room full of lounges, golden lamps and a rather fabulous collection of eclectic tea cups and saucers. After slices of cake (orange and lavender for me – unusual but tasty, coffee and walnut for Adam) and a pot of tea each we were ready to explore.

Ludlow’s the sort of place I think you need to keep visiting, in order to try all the dining choices on offer. While we weren’t disappointed in where we visited, we walked into or past a handful of other tempting options. The baker in Adam also got rather excited when we found a small shop where you could buy scoops of flour, oats and other grain straight from the big brown bags the mills use.

The local farmer’s market was also on when we visited. The drizzle meant we perused quickly, but there was still a nice selection of fruit, vegetables, bread, cheese and flowers on offer – not bad for a weekday in January.

Visiting during the off-season meant we often had little laneways to ourselves and it was lovely to peek at the some of the beautiful homes that are right in the centre of Ludlow.

If you like shops with character, I’d recommended having a nose about in Rickards – a kitchen – outdoors – gardening mecca. It’s the sort of place where you can never find anything, but the shopkeeper knows exactly where ‘it’ is. How great is the front counter?!

I’m looking forward to heading back to Ludlow again – one word of advice though, arrive with an empty stomach!

Everyday life, Travel

Hygge

January 9, 2017January 8, 2017by wattleandash1 Comment

Have you heard of hygge? It’s a Danish concept that’s focused on the home. It doesn’t have a direct English translation, but it’s essentially about making your house a cosy, comfortable place in the colder weather, where you can focus on the small things in life that make you feel happy and fulfilled. Think a delicious hot chocolate in a big mug, swathes of blankets, dim lights and a good book. Hygge (hew [like threw]-guh) has been huge in Britain over the last few months. There were dozens of books on the subject released over Autumn and they flooded bookstores in the lead-up to Christmas.

I’d never heard of hygge until I started flipping through one of the aforementioned books while browsing a store in December. As an Australian experiencing her first northern hemisphere winter, it was a concept I was immediately drawn to. For me it hasn’t really been the cold that’s bothered me, rather it’s the short days I’ve noticed the most. It’s dark a lot and I can understand why people develop Seasonal Affective Disorder now. Hygee it’s all about encouraging you and your family’s wellbeing during the long cold winter months. Denmark has topped the United Nations World Happiness Report twice (it’s been a top five country in the five years the report’s been compiled), so they’re obviously onto something.

Since I discovered hygge, I’ve been trying to introduce it into my day-to-day living. Instead of getting disheartened at the current 4:18pm sunset (with a 8:15am sunrise!), I’ve turned drawing the curtains of an afternoon into a ritual. I switch on lamps and fairylights (which we’ve reappropriated now Christmas is over) around the house, which add a lovely glow and make myself a cup of tea, while trying to knock over a few pages in whatever book I’m reading.

Adam’s 2017 hobby (read obsession!) is baking bread. Often he’ll make tomorrow’s loaf before we cook dinner, so our afternoon cuppa is increasingly being accompanied by a slice of fresh, warm bread spread with butter, honey and dusted with salt flakes. It’s a nice way to wind down after the day and an opportunity to sit quietly for a few minutes and chat about our days.

Of an evening Adam and I will listen to music and read (occasionally while enjoying a glass of Australian shiraz!) It creates this wonderfully relaxed atmosphere and you go to bed with a clear mind.

Hygge is something I’d like to keep up even when the weather warms. I’m imagining fresh flowers, open windows, elderflower spritzers and bowls of jewel-like berries. It’s also increased my desire for a Scandinavian holiday over the next 12 months tenfold!

What I really like about hygge though, is that it’s something you can create in your own home too with either little or no expense. It’s not about having designer throw blankets, or fancy scented candles, it’s more about creating that feeling of loveliness by changing your mindset. You can use what you’ve got around you to do that. Try it, you might be pleasantly surprised :). Happy hygee-ing! x

Local sights, Travel

All the pretty houses

January 5, 2017January 4, 2017by wattleandashLeave a Comment

“Old houses, I thought, do not belong to people ever, not really, people belong to them.” – Gladys Taber

One of my favourite things about living in England is the houses. Every village, town and city has its centuries of history preserved in the homes its residents live in. While Australia has a small amount of architectural history, it pales in comparison to places like the U.K.

I’m pretty sure I’ve pointed out a home I’ve liked to Adam almost ever day since our arrival. Being a sucker for a good story, I get so much delight out of thinking about all the people who’ve lived in these buildings over the years. What were their names, what did they do, what food did they cook and what flowers did they plant in the garden?

House on the eastern edge of the Malvern Hills overlooking the Severn Valley — Chimney pot envy.

Ivy and ferns cover the front entrance of a house with a sage green arched door. — That door!

Can’t you just imagine sitting in a slightly worn, super squishy armchair with a good book, roaring fire and mug of tea in front of some of those front windows?! #bliss

Everyday life, Thoughts, Travel

The new year

January 2, 2017January 1, 2017by wattleandashLeave a Comment

2016 was certainly a year of change for me. I pushed pause on the career I’d been working away on for the last decade, rented out the brand new house I’d built in 2015 and moved overseas. I’m now working in a totally different industry, living in a 150 year old house and truly loving the new opportunities England is presenting to me.

I’m not really big on new year’s resolutions, but given 2017 is going to be a year like no other, there are a three goals I’d like to achieve.

Wake up to more views like this.

The view from Low Hallgarth, a National Trust cottage in the Lake District. — Looking out on a frosty November morning from our National Trust cottage in the Lake District.

When Adam and I decided to move to England one of the top items on our ‘to-do’ list was travel. We spent much of 2016 planning and saving for the relocation, so it meant that we didn’t go on too many holidays. By Australian standards, the U.K. is relatively well connected transport wise, plus you’re never too far away from an international airport where you can normally find good deals on airfares to much of Europe and north America. On our list so far is a trip to the Brecon Beacons in Wales, the Isle of Skye in Scotland, one of the Scandinavian countries (top of the list is the Faroe Islands or Iceland, Adam fell in love with the country during a visit in 2014), Italy (I visited in 2013 and still have vivid dreams about the glorious food!), Germany and Croatia.

2. Live more simply.

Adam and I both want to make this year more about experiences than ‘stuff’. The television Adam had before he came to Australia hasn’t moved in with us – it’s still on loan to his family, but we’re not missing it at all! After years of working in news and knowing what’s happening around the clock, it’s lovely to step away from that constant connectedness. We keep up to date with with current affairs via our phones and computers and spend our evenings reading, listening to music, chatting or having a Netflix binge. We’d also love to get stuck into helping out in the family allotment growing herbs, vegetables and fruit, and we want to expand our abilities in the kitchen. Adam’s already getting stuck into perfecting bread – sampling freshly baked loaves on an almost daily basis is fine by me!

3. Get outdoors more.

Adam and I on top of a hill in the Lake District. — Waking up early for long, cold walks is worth it when you get views like this.

In Australia I was a regular gym goer. Usually three times a week I’d pop along for pilates and yoga classes. I loved it, but that routine has completely gone by the wayside over the last few months due to move. I’ve truly embraced the British habit of walking (as you can read about here and here) and it’s something I’d like to continue this year. There are public footpaths just metres away from our house and in 2017 I want to start using them more and getting up onto the Malvern Hills on a more regular basis. I love how you can go on a walk in England and discover beautiful little spots, unique views and character-filled pubs and cafes. There is so much more incentive to get out and be active (even in the cold weather) when there’s the chance of seeing something new.

Do you make New Year’s resolutions? If so, what are they?!

Here’s to wonderful things over the next 12 months. x

Everyday life, Travel

British banking 101

December 29, 2016December 28, 2016by wattleandashLeave a Comment

This week I’ve opened my own U.K. bank account, two months after my arrival in the country. Given the nature of my visa, the fact I had a residency card and the ease in which Adam was able to open a bank account in Australia we made the assumption it would be a similar straight forward process in England. However, as we discovered, it was a little more complicated than that!

The bank where I’ve opened my account required multiple forms of identification as well as a proof of address. My passport, visa stamp and residency card covered the identification requirements. Normally I’d whip out an old phone or electricity bill as proof of address – but as I’d only been in the country a few weeks I didn’t have any letters of that nature.

Adam suggested I apply for a National Insurance Number (similar to an Australian Tax File Number) as I’d need it to be able to work in England. That required a phone call to HMRC (Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs), an application pack was sent out where I had to fill out a number of forms and send away copies of my identification documents. We’d been advised the application letter wasn’t a suitable proof of address, but that the letter with the actual NIN would be.

My NIN was issued on a letterhead from Jobcentre Plus (a privatised section of HMRC), and couldn’t be accepted by the bank so I had to ring HMRC again explain the situation and ask them to reissue my NIN letter on a HMRC letterhead.

After four in-branch appointments I finally had success and now feel like a fully functioning adult again! Thankfully I had Adam, who had his accounts and we were able to get by with him using his bank cards and me using cash.

After so many years of relying of my ‘plastic’ it was a bit unusual going back to using physical money again. I became a lot more aware of what I was buying, but it was a hassle at times making sure I always had enough cash on me to cover expenses.

I am aware of services set up to help people who are applying for visas in the U.K. Many of them, as part of various packages, offer setting up a bank account. If you’re considering a similar move to me and Adam, I would seriously consider investigating such deals. You obviously pay for the service, but it might save you a good amount of time and effort when you arrive. If you don’t have a partner, friends or family in England with an already set up account, I imagine it would be even harder. It was a lesson I’ve certainly learnt the long way, but it feels good to finally have another bit of life maintenance complete!

Everyday life, Travel

Christmas

December 26, 2016December 25, 2016by wattleandashLeave a Comment

Sometimes the unplanned, imperfect pictures are the best ones. It can be so easy to share images of perfectly stylised celebrations, but for me that’s not what Christmas is all about. It’s about the sitting room floor getting covered in torn wrapping paper, the dog bringing in a half chewed stick and gnawing it on the rug, spilling gravy on the table cloth and sneaky afternoon naps while wearing a paper crown.

So this is what my first English Christmas looked like: Sunny and mild (gasp!), with clumsily held video calls to Australia involving dorky family traditions, gifts to help me adapt to the English way of life, way too much food and magical lights in all the right places.

It was perfect. Who needs a Christmas Day that looks like it should be on the pages of a magazine, when you can have your nearest and dearest nearby laughing, eating and simply being them?!

I trust you all had a lovely Christmas Day and are now in the post December 25th haze, taking it easy… or finding a bargain at the Boxing Day sales!

PS – The Christmas elves came and overhauled the blog over the weekend. Hope you like the changes!

Everyday life, Travel

Let the wrapping begin

December 22, 2016December 23, 2016by wattleandash3 Comments

I find there are two sorts of people in life – those who love wrapping presents and those who’ll happily pawn the task off to others. I’m in the first camp. As a child growing up my mum was always pretty particular about the styling of her Christmas tree. Gifts had to coordinate with the tree and a general colour scheme was adopted every year. I have fond memories of the two of us sitting on the floor in the family lounge room surrounded by rolls of paper and boxes of ribbons and bows, televised Christmas carol special on in background, wrapping presents in the days leading up to December the 25th.

It’s a tradition I continue to keep and over the last few weeks I’ve seen countless images on Instagram and Pinterest of fresh foliage adorning beautifully boxed presents. As it’s so warm in Australia around Christmas, adding a sprig of spruce as part of the wrapping process never really crossed my mind. This year however, I decided to use harness that inspiration and try it myself!

I raided the garden at the front of Adam and my apartment finding holly leaves and a large shrub with red berries, which I believe is cotoneaster horizontalis (budding gardeners, is that right?!) and got busy!

Continue reading “Let the wrapping begin” →

Local sights, Travel

Exploring Croome

December 19, 2016February 1, 2017by wattleandash2 Comments

Last week I celebrated my birthday and as part of his gift to me Adam bought us National Trust membership. I’d been ogling at some of the properties the Trust owns in the lead-up to our departure from Australia and we recently had a wonderful stay in a National Trust cottage in the Lake District, so I was thoroughly chuffed at the present.

After a scan of the thick book of attractions that was sent to us, we quickly decided to head to a property about a 20 minute drive from Malvern, Croome – which for many years was the home of the Earls of Coventry and more recently the site of a secret World War Two airbase, RAF Defford.

The main house is stunning and I must confess I immediately felt like I’d stepped onto the set of a Downton Abbey episode!