MEL UK

I’m so glad the craze for mismatched tables and chairs has passed on – there’s nothing that jars on my senses more than seeing one table in a coffee  house, with 4 completely different chairs around it.   The most annoying aspct of this was that most of the chairs had been bought as groups and … Read more

I went out on a spur of the moment jaunt the other day.  Having spent too many days idling after the new year holidays, I suddenly had a  “let’s go and find more garden furniture” moment.  I knew just the place I was heading for.  A decent little family run garden and plant centre some … Read more

One of the more interesting things about the Christmas period is the way families interact with each other.  The children tend to get on top of each other in the house, most folk staying indoors and not venturing much further out than the bins in the back garden.   The extended family gathers for the festive … Read more

I was taking my borrowed doggy pal for walkies recently when we had to stop by a nearby house to collect something.  We were invited in with hearty enthusiasm.  It’s funny how friendly evryone is when you’re being tugged along by a small Irish Wolfhound.   I was a tad anxious about the dog being allowed … Read more

At the start of spring, when the more awful of the winter weather has finally swanned off elsewhere, it can be very tempting to whizz out and buy up any old patio set for the garden.  There are so many mismatched suites gumming up the space that should be as neat and elegant as the … Read more

When we talk about home interiors it is usually the design, colour scheme or the furnishing ensemble that takes much of our interet.  We are bombarded by television and magazine advertising campaigns to visit this store or that and to have these windows or that furniture.  There are millions and millions of pounds spent every … Read more

There are many things about modern living that differ greatly from when I was growing up.  In those days   we were expected to eek out Dad’s income by growing all our own fruit and vegestables.  This was quite normal for many families anyway – there being far less shops available, we would have gone pretty … Read more

When you open your garden for local village neighbours to visit for a fund raiser, it is critical to include somewhere for your patrons to sit and while away the odd few minutes with that all essential cup of tea and selection of home made cakes.   Having toured a set of gardens recently, I was … Read more