Port Out Starboard Home (P-O-S-H)

Isn't it funny how a certain phrase, sight or smell can transport you back years? Port Out Starboard Home is one of those phrases for me. One of my fondest memories from my childhood is of sailing at the Arun Yacht Club in Littlehampton. I was paired with a very good sailor called Trevor and together we won countless dinghy sea races, although the local newspaper could never quite get my name right! The  banks of the river where we went in and out were very close to the river mouth and beaches, but rather than being nice and sandy were rather oily black mud - not exactly glamorous on any scale! Still, it was great fun, but I suspect I'm wearing rose coloured specs to view my rather hazy memories as I kind of recall chattering teeth as well as frozen fingers and feet in the cold weather, not to mention the rather hefty crack on the head I received from the boom as I didn't have a clue what "Jibe'O" meant - a phrase once hit with, never forgotten! Oh, and I never did manage to remember which was port and which was starboard so I would probably have roasted on an upmarket cruise ;-) 

I am now far from the grubby nailed teenager who loved boats and horses (still love horses but always regret helping my son out with his when I see the state of my hands afterwards!) - my nails are long and filed even if I forgo the nail polish because it marks paper and card. The company I am very pleased to introduce you to this week are as far from the less glam side of sailing and cruising as you can get! 

 

We were delighted to be asked to feature in Kim’s blog. As our Business is newly formed and we are relatively unknown, we hope you will enjoy finding out about us and how we came up with our name!  

We are Jill and Georgie: a mother and daughter team who appreciate the importance of having everything just right and of the highest quality. We handcraft glamorous and unique hair accessories for weddings and special occasions using components from a bygone era. The rhinestone, paste and pearls used in these pieces have an amazing lustre, sparkle and luxurious feel.  We offer a bespoke service and enjoy making to order, perhaps using an article with family sentimental value.  

We are constantly searching for special items we feel will make a beautiful and unique headband or comb. We often incorporate raw silk, brocade, satin, lace and feathers in our designs. We love all things vintage! We gain our inspiration from the pieces we find and from studying historical hair accessories, jewellery and fashion. We have family connections in France, Germany and Austria and like nothing more than searching in markets and shops for that extra special jewellery item when we are visiting.

We were inspired to launch Port Out Starboard Home (P-O-S-H) after Georgie’s wedding. We had an idea of the special hair accessories we wanted for that occasion, but found that the choice was very limited.  Georgie decided to design and make her own headband from items in granny’s jewellery box.

Georgie's Headband

 The headband was a huge success and the business idea was born! We started in a very small way as we both had full time jobs, but when Jill took early retirement in July 2011, it seemed an ideal opportunity to launch our business. P-O-S-H has blossomed from there and we have been busy making special items for weddings, balls, proms and other occasions since our official launch in September 2011. 

Life has been very hectic since September and we love every minute! We have met some amazing people and have had some interesting commissions. Our favourite moments have been, designing a bespoke headband for a film premiere, a wedding in Las Vegas and experiencing the thrill when one of our headbands was used in a TV show which will be aired in the spring (details top secret at the moment!). We are currently planning our spring/summer collection when we will be expanding our fabric head dress range, using 1940s and 1950s as inspiration for our designs.  

People often ask how we got our name! We thought long and hard about our name and wanted something unique to convey times gone by when well-to-do people would dress beautifully in hats and gloves and spend their time cruising on luxury liners and visiting ports of the world! We believe our unique and glamorous accessories are perfectly suited to this wonderful lifestyle and era.   

P-O-S-H (Port Out Starboard Home) was coined in the days before air-conditioning. On the outward voyage to India, the cabins on the Port side got the early morning sun and had the rest of the day to cool off. Conversely, the Starboard cabins were intensely hot in the afternoon and were like ovens at bed time. On the homeward journey the situation was reversed and it was the unfortunate passengers on the Port side who roasted.  VIPs travelling were given preference of the cooler side of the ship in each direction and were given cabins which were Port-Out-Starboard-Home. Their tickets and baggage were marked POSH! We felt this name conveyed the First Class VIP image we would like to portray with our collections! 

We hope you have enjoyed finding out a little about us. Please visit our website to view our collection. If you would like to chat about any of the pieces or discuss your ideas for a unique hair accessory, please contact us by telephone or email to arrange a consultation. We look forward to hearing from you.

Contact Jill & Georgie on their email, via their website, support them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter. You can also call them on 07703544345

Photos by Martin Wise Studio Wise Photography - http://www.studiowise.co.uk

Buttercup Bus

Since the Surrey Networking Tweet Up a couple of weeks ago the Wedding Industry Awards Regional Winners have been announced. Having met so many wonderful people at the Tweet Up I looked with interest to see who the regional winners were. On the list, amongst the people I have heard of but not actually had the privilege to meet, I was thrilled to see the name of one person I had met and with a delightful and unusual business! Mr LG has a huge soft spot for VW Campers, having spent months living in one travelling across Australia many years ago - in fact he still has the VW badge from the front of the van tucked away with all the photos from the trip. My parents bought a VW Camper when I was a teenager, a rather fetching two tone orange and cream (well, it was the late 70's!), with a pop top roof where two people could sleep.

Nathalie, who runs Buttercup Bus VW Campers is passionate about restoring these vehicles which I'm sure feature in the memories of many of us .......

 Mini-mooners with a sense of adventure!

I was delighted to be invited to write a blog entry for the lovely Kim at Lil Guys. (We met a couple of weeks ago at the weddings in Surrey Tweet Up, exchanging stories about our mischievous puppies!). I wanted to write a blog about something that seems to be a current trend I have identified, and also something very close to my own heart as a lady passionate about the outdoors...

Over the past three years, surveys have reported a decrease in wedding budgets of around £5k. The honeymoon is starting to make way for the new “mini moon”, as couples become increasingly cost-conscious with wedding plans. These “mini moon” breaks can lead to people coming up with inspirational ideas on how to spend a blissful short break with their loved ones, whilst often avoiding the stress of busy airports, long haul flights and not forgetting the passport shenanigans with maiden name changes.

Giving up the traditional two week holiday on a tropical island need not be a sacrifice with some of the ideas I have seen floating around on the UK wedding forums. As a wedding supplier myself, I spend considerable time on these forums, keeping tabs on changes in wedding trends. I wanted to share with you my top UK mini moon ideas, taken from real bride’s recommendations combined with my love for the British countryside and camping with a luxurious twist...

Having lived a large proportion of my life on the Hertfordshire / Essex border, this  little find was rather close to my heart- BOUNCERS FARM CAMPSITE.  The cute little gypsy caravan traditional bowtop wagons are adorable, and ooze with romantic charm... imagine sitting together in front of the log burner with a glass of red wine, enjoying each other’s company...  Set in an orchard, this campsite is a must, if you are getting marries in the first week of May – think of all that blossom! If you are planning a trip later in the year, October would be ideal for the orchard harvests! For those of you with a real sense of adventure, the farm land can be used for horse riding, and there are even carriage trips available. At £50-60 / night, this little gem is a viable option for those on mini moon!

Gypsy Caravan at Bouncers Farm

For those of you looking to sleep under canvas, but without the stress of putting up tent poles, or carting all you camping equipment down with you, why not try Glamping Holiday  based on the Surrey / Sussex Boarder. Bell tents decked out with everything from bedding to chandeliers guarantee a camping trip that offers something special...not to mention the welcome breakfast pack on your arrival containing eggs, bacon, bread, butter, jam, milk and even marshmallows.

Glamping Bell Tent

If a holiday isn’t really a proper trip unless you have crossed the sea, then what about The Isle Of Weight? The Really Green Holiday Company offer 16ft fully furnished Yurts... and you can even hire one complete with four poster bed! There are plenty of tourist attractions in the area, and in the evenings, you can watch the stars in each others company – or go to the communal “dome” and meet other couples as a “Mr and Mrs” to enjoy a drink and a chat!

Really Green Yurt

One place that I have always wanted to go to (but never been able to get availability) is The Treehouse at Kinlochlaich House in Scotland. Yes, this octagonal shaped accommodation is up in the branches, with an oak, spiralling staircase, winding round the central tree... I don’t think that I would want to leave, all snug, looking out at the fantastic views. Short breaks are available out of peak season, at around £360 from Friday to Monday. Prime time August for a full week comes in at £605. Just remember to book well in advance for this hidden treasure.

The Treehouse

For the magpies out  there that are attracted to bright and shiny things, there is no accommodation that sparkles more than an airstream. We love one campsite in East Dorset near the popular New Forest and wonderful sandy beaches, that hires out these vintage Airstream caravans. Happy Days RetroVacations offer Mobile fire pits can be rented from reception so you can enjoy toasting marshmallows with a glass of local cider by the fire as the sun goes down. A fish and chip van visits on a Saturday night in high season and an ice cream van visits frequently too.

Airstream

Looking for accomodations reflective of history a little further back in time? Shepherd’s Huts were built in the 19^th century to provide living quarters for shepherds who were away from home during the lambing season. Today, many of these huts are being restored to a high specification, to include sofas, double beds, kitchen and shower room.  The Rose and Applewood Shepherds Huts in Butley, close to the Suffolk coast, are situated in a lovely garden, deep in the countryside. Guests will enjoy a wonderful experience, with a pre-war atmosphere, while every practical consideration has been taken care of... Friday to Monday short breaks come it at £318 during August, with a full week costing £505.

Shepherds Hut

Last, but certainly not least, how could I miss out an adventure very close to my own heart... the vintage VW Camper. As the owner of Buttercup Bus VW Campers - a Croydon (South London and Surrey Border) based VW Camper hire company, one of the perks of the job is to regularly go out on little breaks – the Sussex countryside being one of my favourites. The campervan provides you with the freedom to hit the open road, the flexibility to visit as many destinations as you want, and brings a certain vintage charm to your trip, which will turn people’s heads and make them smile. We love to go to the WoWo campsite in Uckfield with our buses. This campsite is based in the Sussex countryside, and has a brook that runs through it, allows open fires and offers communal soup gatherings. There is a yurt and a Tipi on offer to hire, as well as ample space for campervans and tents alike. They will even allow musicians to stay for free if you are willing to share your musical skills with the campsite. Prices start at £60 per pitch for a long weekend at Wowo. Buttercupbus campervan hire starts at £325 for a long weekend. Book early to get your places secured!

Nathalie with a Buttercup Bus!

Whatever your preference, the blanket term “glamping” used to describe holidays that embrace  humble (and sometimes quirky) outdoor living combined with the modern luxuries any newly weds would desire, is certainly becoming increasingly attractive as a mini moon choice.

Nathalie | Buttercup Bus VW Campers Website | Twitter | Facebook | Buttercup Bus Blog

I'm very definitely a country girl but glamping is much more my thing than the traditional wet week in a Welsh field with the loo block half a mile away! I'm seriously considering looking into the Isle of Wight option, not because I have to feel that I'm 'abroad' but because I heard on the radio the other day that Springsteen & The E Street Band are headlining the closing day at Bestival 2012 - would love to go but not keen on a tiny tent and queuing for a smelly portaloo at night! 

Lastly, and this is purely indulgent, I have to post pics of Nathalie's Yorkie and my LGs!

Nathalie's cheeky chappy - not sure why the photo's
refusing to stay upright!

Bingo's trying to persuade Betsie to help him
find the squirrel he saw......

Betsie prefers exploring rabbit warrens though!

So Bingo has another go himself .......

Bingo & Monty enjoying a walk on the River Adur

More photos of the LGs on our Facebook Page, why not come and join us?

A Long Weekend In Malta - Part Two

Unfortunately on Saturday evening when we went out in the car to find somewhere to eat, it was raining, as it had been on and off all afternoon. We ended up in a quaint looking Italian restaurant (we were trying to find a small local establishment serving great food rather than one of the larger chains with a TGI Fridays feel to it). After a disappointingly indifferent dinner we headed back to the hotel rather than the clubs and bright lights of Paceville.

As I mentioned yesterday, our hotel is opposite one of the many churches in Malta. It looks very pretty with it's dome and two bell towers which we can see very clearly from our balcony. This is because we are almost on a level with them. Which means that we can hear them. Very clearly. Whenever they are rung. The smaller church a few blocks away has a much softer sounding bell. We haven't as yet quite worked out what the bells are tolled for. At first we thought that one bell sounding one, two or three times followed by the other bell sounding however many times was telling the time, but this doesn't seem to be the case after all. We may never know! All we do know is that sleeping with the balcony doors open is a no-no if you want to get any sleep!

The breakfast here is wonderful - a huge selection of cheeses, fruit, yoghurt, pastries and cooked breakfast ingredients to choose from, fruit juices and water. A word of warning to any coffee lovers however - the coffee here is dire! You can stoke up on as much breakfast as you like and it'll keep you going virtually all day. After a lazy start to the day we headed out in the car to explore a bit more of the island. Marsaxlokk in the south east of the island is meant to be still a slice of traditional Maltese life, however the Sunday market selling a mixture of local produce and tourist tat could have been in any tourist area in the world. We stopped for a quick cold drink and then left.

On Saturday we had seen a sign for The Blue Grotto whilst driving around the Rabat area where Mdina is situated. Just the one sign! So on our way to visit the prehistoric temples in the south west of the island we decided to try again to find the Blue Grotto. 

Blue Grotto caves

We did find the Blue Grotto this time, but unfortunately it was very windy and therefore the sea was too choppy to make the half hour boat trip to the caves seem very attractive, so we passed on that one and made our way to the prehistoric temple site. Unlike Stonehenge which is open to the elements, the temples have been enclosed under a dome to protect them from the elements. At 9 Euros each to view the temples (plus visitor centre) we felt this was rather pricey compared to the value at the cathedral so gave this a miss also.

Prehistoric Temples

A late lunch at one of the waterfront restaurants in Vittoriosa, one of The Three Cities opposite Valletta, and indulging in a spot of people watching, passed a couple of hours.

A narrow stepped street in The Three Cities

The Hypogeum in Paola is an underground necropolis discovered during building work in 1902 and is thought to date back as far as 3600BC. If Mr LGs contract here continues and I get to come here to visit again this is definitely something I would like to visit. Tickets have to be booked at least 2 weeks in advance as visitor numbers are restricted but this can be done on-line before you get here - tours last around 50 minutes and it is not suitable for children under 6.

The Hypogeum

Mr LG is back at work today (boo!) but I've enjoyed a leisurely lie-in, a stroll down to the waterfront, reading my Kindle in the sunshine on the balcony, a bit of blogging and resting my feet! This evening we're going out with work colleages of Mr LG which will be fun but will no doubt be an early evening as they are all working such long hours, added to which the others went home to the UK for the weekend and arrived back at the hotel at around 1.30am so are likely to be feeling a little jaded!

Tomorrow I have another leisurely day, as well as doing a bit of work on my laptop I might also investigate the spa facilities here. Wednesday morning Mr LG and I catch the flight back to LGW and back to what passes for 'normality' at our house!

The long weekend has done both of us good, without the pressures of general every day life at home. It's been lovely to be shown around Malta by Mr LG, to spend time on our own and just be a couple, and I think (hope!) he's enjoyed some time alone with me and showing me around. He warned me that this area is very brown and built up and he wasn't wrong. Everything here is built of local limestone, and if there are planning laws they are not particularly evident, there's a mixture of old and new, and much restoration work in progress. It rained before I got here so where over the last few months everything has been brown and dry suddenly overnight there is a bit of grass here and there.

Driving here is not for the faint hearted. Don't be fooled by the fact that they drive on the same side as us and the signs and rules are very similar! It's every man for himself, zebra crossings you should treat very warily and make sure ALL traffic has stopped for you, give way signs don't seem to mean much at all, and if you commit the cardinal sin of actually giving way  at a junction you will be hooted at from behind even if there's not a millimetre of space to jump into! Oh, and Christmas decorations are going up left right and centre - look rather incongruous in the 21 degree sunshine but hey ho!

So on Wednesday I go home and back to being a mum as well as a wife, but feeling like I've had a bit of 'us' time with Mr LG and a bit of 'me' time while he's working - all very important in either getting your groove back or maintaining it!

 

French Bubbles

One of the things that I, and perhaps you, associate with weddings (or indeed celebrations of all kinds!) is champagne. For our wedding I completely overordered (ooops ;-) ) - I didn't exactly see this as a problem though as the extra bottles came in very handy afterwards!

Today, with the wedding season in full swing, we welcome French Bubbles to the blog......

We are an artisanal collection of fine quality, limited-production Grower Champagnes with personality and heritage. Our champagnes come from five different growers in the region of Champagne. We differ from our competitors by organising Champagne Events for Privates and Corporates. As part of our business, we also focus our attention in working with Charities.

  

 Great tasting products that all have international awards

Best value and fine quality starting from £19.95

Fantastic next day delivery, on time and free over £50!

Providing a unique and personal service, French Bubbles will always endeavour to meet your expectation when it comes to quality and budget and with your guidance, select the perfect Champagne with you to celebrate your marriage in style.

 

French Bubbles will help find out what champagne(s) you would like for your special day. We can arrange a tasting for your wedding. French Bubbles are a member of Vows part of this association of Wedding Expert.

Our team of experts will work with you and your catering team to discuss themes and menus as well as your guest list to recommend the perfect marriage of Champagne for reception, meal and toast. A pink Champagne or Chardonnay style makes the perfect reception wine. The richer, Blanc de Noirs styles can be

selected for serving during the meal or with the cheese. For the special moment of the toast, a special Vintage Champagne will add to the creation of a joyous lasting memory.

We can guarantee you that our Champagne will be perfect for your budget. It will be more interesting to buy our Champagne and pay the corkage of the venue than just drink the Champagne proposed in the package. Without mentioning the outstanding quality of our Champagne!

We will liaise directly with your chosen venue for the delivery and the logistic with nothing to do for you! Giving a Little Back By choosing French Bubbles Champagne, you can give a little bit back to a good cause. Supporting a charity of your choice, for every bottle of Champagne served, we’ll donate £1 to the cause.

Any customer’s wishes can be granted because of the diversity of our products. We can provide champagne for any type of events: birthdays, parties, aperitifs, etc. The delivery times are short and the delivery reliability is proved.

Many thanks to Odile for the photos and information, you can visit the French Bubbles website, join them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter. 

New Product Launch

As you are all no doubt aware Mrs LG is a lover of all things sparkly and luxurious and is constantly on the lookout for anything new and different. She is extremely happy to have finally obtained some items that she spotted last year and can finally offer them to you!

Luxurious Silk Sets Hot New Stationery Trend

What can be more luxurious than silk? These silk boxed invitations are a hot new product for 2011/2012 weddings, handcrafted and available from Lil'Guy.

Purple silk 8" hinged invitation box with ivory ribbon and gold diamante embellishment

While regal purple is bound to be a sell-out, the stationery can also be made in white or cream, accessorised with coloured or patterned ribbons, or choose from over 50 different silk colours to perfectly complement any wedding theme.

Ivory silk 7" invitation box with ivory ribbon and silver diamante embellishment

Ivory silk favour box approx 2 1/2" square with ivory ribbon and silver diamante slide

Wow your guests, not only with stunningly beautiful invitations printed on beautiful high quality, unusual card and presented in one of these gorgeous padded silk invitation boxes, but with matching favour boxes too. With over 50 colours to choose from there is sure to be one that suits your style!

The boxes themselves are made from recycled card rather than from wood so are more eco-friendly than some other similar items. The card used in all our work is from a manufacturer who deals with world-renowned mills who use wood from sustainable Forestry Council Stewardship certified forests, and the pulp is  bleached using a process that does not release chlorine or other chemicals into the environment.

Please feel free to contact me for a quote by email.