Random bits of loveliness

I have a bookmark folder which I have named ‘Beautiful things coming my way soon…’ it’s where I save things I’ve come across that I want in my life. Some are wildly expensive and possibly on the beyond reach spectrum but many are affordable and will either become gift ideas for whenever I’m asked for such things or when I feel the need for some ‘To Me, with love from Me’ action.

I believe in the power of expectation and if that all sounds a bit woowoo to you and not something you’re into then do please scroll on down and simply look at some of the pops of loveliness I have come across recently.

Certainly ‘The Law of Attraction’ doesn’t always work, if it did Ipswich Town Football Club would have won the Champions League title at least twice, England the World Cup and the Euros (see later) and I would be a size 8… BUT it does sometimes work in the most magnificent ways. I don’t allow manifesting or creative visualisation to govern my everyday, that would be mad, but it feels like a positive thing to do from time to time. It’s just fun. It’s mainly acting ‘as if’ you already have something in your life that you want. It’s said that it is best not to be too specific, better to just imagine how you might feel if you were to have the thing you really want. However if it feels good to be specific it doesn’t hurt, I’ll give you an example of how a focussed and fully believed in expectation, has worked for me. I would also say, only do this when it feels good and ‘right’. You will know when that is.

‘The thing always happens that you really believe in; and the belief in a thing makes it happen.’ Frank Lloyd Wright

I should also note that using ‘The Law of Attraction’ can be twisted by folks just sitting on their arses and thinking they can just wish their best life into being; of course it ain’t like that.

The very best example I have of when this approach to life worked for me was when my husband and I were hoping to buy our dream home, the farmhouse we now live in. We hadn’t even had contracts drawn up but I went ahead and had some correspondence cards printed with our name above the address of the farmhouse we wanted to buy. It wasn’t a huge outlay, I didn’t order a heavy-weight vellum card with gold-leaf script, but there they were, our correspondence cards with our names printed above our dream address. We were gazumped shortly after the beautifully printed cards arrived. A cash buyer with much more to spend had arrived on the scene. My cards appeared to be redundant. Doubts did crowd in at that point but I hung on to my dream and when we visited the property again to renegotiate, I just had the strongest sense of knowing that this home, despite the odds now stacking against this outcome, would be ours. I do believe that by having the cards printed I was sending a strong message to the Universe (apologies if that phrase makes you cringe) that I expected this house to become my home. The cash buyer melted away and I am sitting at my desk looking out at the beautiful views from my farmhouse window, writing this twenty plus years on.

Right, enough of this manifest your dreams stuff, here are some random bits of lovely.

You know when you see something on Instagram and you take a look and then another look and then algorithums make it follow you around daily until you either resist or capitulate. I gave in.

I would normally be very wary of buying something online like this ‘Rollo Figurative Sculpture’ described as ‘emulating a beautiful bronze sculpture’ and as it’s only £26, though it’s clearly small (dimensions H19 x W15.5 x L15 cm) the price made me feel dubious as to the quality, not to mention the word ‘emulating’. However it kept calling to me so I made a purchase and I’m delighted with her. The figure is not satisfyingly heavy but she is charming. I keep moving her around my home not sure quite where her best resting place is yet, but she’s a keeper. I bought mine from Abigail Aherne but I’ve just discovered she’s also available here at After Noah at £24 though here she’s described as ‘Reading Figure Resin Ornament’ I think the word resin (which explains the price) would have put me off!

I came across this Cockerel Gluggle Jug when I was visiting The Oxford Brush Company for last week’s post. My parents had one of the iconic fish ones which are having a bit of a revival. I never liked the fish but whilst I have added this to my beautiful things folder, typing these words beneath this photo is making me think naaa, I think the novelty will wear off and a big part of me is wondering, is this heading towards naff? I should probably delete.

I have coveted these pieces from Suzie Watson for some time. My garden awaits…

My garden would also benefit from a beautiful gate like this please, from Pipers Forge.

Having said in a previous post that I haven’t picnicked for a while increasingly things are appearing on my radar to suggest I should be doing more of it. I have seen these chairs in the flesh and I can attest to the quality. They are from The Well Heeled Hippy.

Having seen a very bashed up pair of these on the feet of a young woman whose style I admire (she wore them with a floaty white dress) I now want a pair in the deluded and false hope of looking like her.

James Arthur - Let’s Get It On

You may think I have gone a bit random with my song choice this week but I came across it in on an old playlist recently and I do love it. I hope you do too. Forgive the element of ‘X- Factor’ cringe. I think James Arthur looks cute.

Sadly I have had to edit the draft of this post today - the morning after England are defeated by Argentina in the World Cup semi-final. I awoke this morning feeling bruised and a bit teary as I had been so full of hope for this amazing team of talented young men. I mostly feel sad for them, they clearly gave their all and we can ask for nothing more. I want to sincerely thank them for the joy they have given. Now they have to go again and re-group for the grim third place match against France, now termed the bronze final. Who wants this? Not the players, nor the fans. It’s mean.

So, I was planning to share this joint tribute to the late Bonnie Tyler and Djed Spence (never thought I would have put those two names in the same sentence) in happier times. A football supporter sang this chant to hosts Chris Sutton and Robbie Savage on the Radio 5 Football Phone in 606. On first hearing I admit to feeling a little disconcerted about the idea of our fine defender Djed Spence being a total eclipse, as it goes he executed one of the finest tackles of the tournament on Wednesday night. I thought about deleting this, but it’s a love song for a player who did so very well and it is, for me, the joy of football fandom right here.

Thanks as ever for reading and if you would indulge me with a click on the ❤️ button it would gladden my actual heart… which, unless we thrash the arse off France on Saturday, feels a bit broken.

Thanks again.