Bruges, Antwerp and Amsterdam

New Year, New Beginnings

Happy 2016 everybody!

Here's a look back at 2015 and some photos and adventures I didn't manage to get up here last year.

Last Easter, Claire and I went on a road trip to Bruges, Antwerp and Amsterdam, ostensibly to source lovely vintage things for our business.  The reality was that, although there were many and varied vintage shops, prices were astronomical.    Instead we drank beer and enjoyed the scenery!

Some things in  this shop I'm sure would not be legal in the UK - stuffed zebras?  A whale's tail? 

and as for this poor bear.... 

slightly creepy

creepier still!

lovely dresser/display cabinet

Enamelware

At the flea market in Amsterdam

Beer is always the answer

Fun Day in Bungay!

Hello!  Long time no blog.  So difficult to find the time in this busy life we all lead.  However, I feel I must share Bungay with you all.  Claire and I went yesterday on a Vintage Foray and we weren't disappointed!  What a lovely town.  Somehow I was expecting 'back of beyondness' but far from it, it reminded me of a quieter Blackheath village (a much, much, much quieter Blackheath village!).

I did a little bit of research before we went like 'how to get there' (up towards Norwich and branch off at Diss), and a little bit of the history (was Roman, then Anglo Saxon, then Norman, then a thriving town for many years!).  It's soooo pretty with lovely houses and even lovelier shops.

We had a delicious lunch in Earsham Street Cafe - I had Moroccan meatballs with Pitta Bread and ginger and chilli cordial (I have a stinking cold and had to TASTE my food!) and Claire had a crayfish risotto which she said was delicious.  What further recommendations do you need?  (smiley face).

We also discovered the most amazing delicattessen called Earsham Street Deli.

A very trendy greengrocers!

Hang on a moment!  Didn't I say we'd gone up there for Vintage goods?  When in fact it would appear we ate and looked at food all day!  Well, actually we did both.

There is an excellent shop in Bungay called MOTH (Move over to Handmade) .  It doesn't have a website but it does have a Facebook page.  Look it up and enjoy!  The shop is basically a showcase for local craftspeople and you can buy some fabulous things.  (I bought some Christmas presents - yikes, in September?  Yes, yes I did).

 Here is a bike outside a fabric and all things crafty shop which has been crochet bombed!

 Bungay has a castle!  It's called Bigod's castle (comedy name I know!)

The picture below has been included because we came upon two shops that were full of wonderful curios yet they were closed and looked abandoned.  We could only peer longingly in at the windows.

Here is Claire looking decorative.

On the way back we went to Harlston because we'd heard of a great vintage shop in the old Corn Exchange called Harlston Cornucopia at the Corn Exchange.

It had a tea shop at the back as you can see!

Honestly, it was a beautiful sunny September day and we felt like we'd been on holiday for the day!  On our way home we popped into the Chilli Company for yet more spicy comesitbles to combat my cold! 

Diss (and dat!)

Claire and I have a fledgling business, called Sourced and Salvaged (funnily enough, you may have guessed).  In our quest to find interesting items to resell or upcycle we often go to Diss  to the auction house (I fully recommend it).

I bought this beautiful stone 'plinth'.  It's difficult to see it but it depicts animals running.  It's beautiful and very heavy as it's made from stone.  I think it must have originally come from above a fireplace or doorway.  Anyway it's in my dining room now and I love it.  

They have a Friday auction every week but also specialist auctions on Saturdays.  We recently went to a Garden Artefacts and Statuary auction and bought quite a few things!  After, we went to Diss for something to eat and a mooch around the charity shops.  Old Diss is a pretty town on a small hill.  We happened by accident to come upon a lovely little group of shops in a small mews and a fabulous vegetarian restaurant that I fully recommend called Amandines.

Snape and Iken

Some months ago (I'm still playing catch up here) Claire and I went to Snape primarily for a dog walk (yeah, right) and then to have a bite to eat and a browse round the shops.  Snape, for those unfamiliar is an old maltings which has been converted to many and wonderful uses, not least a world class concert hall.   http://www.snapemaltings.co.uk/discover/aldeburgh-music/

It just so happened there was a farmer's market being held that day so we had a good browse round and bought a fabulous burger from my niece's brother in law who had a burger stand there.  The word burger stand doesn't do it justice, they were 100% beef from a certain herd, the name escapes me now.

Just writing about Snape isn''t enough, you have to see it, and here are some pictures I took on the day.

There's a lovely walk up the river by the reed beds to Iken, a tiny but beautiful hamlet.  

Claire riding a Suffolk Punch horse (honest!)

The Rose and Crown, Orford

Claire's hubby Darren, recently celebrated a birthday. By way of a celebration we went to the Crown and Castle in Orford.  www.crownandcastle.co.uk.  for Sunday lunch.  My husband, Andy, was unable to come due to work commitments, so it was just us three!  I'm sure we had tongues wagging! This is Suffolk you know! Or maybe I should say, 'no one batted an eyelid, this is Suffolk you know.'  

A Day Out in Woodbridge, Suffolk.

 We had a day out in Woodbridge before Christmas.  Honey and Harvey is the THE place for breakfast in Woodbridge.  It's won awards you know! .https://www.facebook.com/honeyandharvey

After or even before you've eaten, visit the beautiful shops and get ready to part with your money!

Vanil is one of my favourite shops in Suffolk and beyond!  It sells all things Scaninavian.  Unfortunately they don't have a website (an oversight in my opinion)!

Beautiful shop fronts.  

Needham Lakes and Alder Carr Farm

 Now I've finally started this blog I'm retrospectively loading all the photos I took with the intention of starting this blog four months ago!  Get ready...

Suffolk is great for car boot sales and one particularly good one is Needham Market Lakes https://www.facebook.com/needhamcarboot.suffolk.  You have to get up early but it's worth it. There is a van selling bacon rolls etc which is ok if you like stodgy bread, but better by far is a visit to http://www.aldercarrfarm.co.uk/.  A farm shop with an excellent restaurant attached.  You will need the dog walk after their cooked breakfast!

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