All of a sudden it is Saturday again. The last Saturday in April, with temperatures apparently rivalling Mexico and garden centres heaving with well to do old ladies and me.
For the most part garden centres in Britain get a rather bad press. Over-priced, under-stocked and indeed purveyors of all that is half dead and out of season. But not the one a few miles down the road from me. Yes it is a tad expensive, but oh look at the service! See wandering around the a-z of herbaceous perennials a man with a daft hat who will tell you everything you need to know about that obscure little plant in your trolley and should he fail, will happily accompany you to the garden education centre wherein lives a vast shedful of bearded men of knowledge. It is wonderful. So I have spent the morning there. Plodding about in blue garden clogs I shouldn’t really leave the house in and learning everything there is to know about lavender so when I get around to it, I can pull up the weeds in the front garden, plant myself a lavender garden and re-name the house Lavender Cottage…
I have in the past week found myself drowning in information. If ever my thirst for red wine rivals my thirst for knowledge I give you my permission to send me to rehab post haste. I am stockpiling books like they are going out of fashion. Reading into the early hours of the morning, and standing brushing my teeth with a book propped between the taps. There isn’t a moment to waste! There is so much to learn. Veins to fill with ideas I’ve never before considered and a cavernous mind waiting for the spark of my personal literary grail…
I have almost given up cooking. Slathering home made mackerel pate onto fresh sticks of French bread instead and trying not to see the crumbs scattering between the pages of another best friend. Drinking espresso late at night so I can live to finish another chapter and fiendishly doing battle with she who dared to reach for the musty old book of my dreams at a rather fuddy duddy fleamarket this morning…
And all because I have fallen in love with Beverly Nichols. A man who knew what it was to live, to plant, to decorate and at times to merely pass the time away meandering around his garden. A hilarious man driven to the point of distraction by bad taste and ill-mannered staff, and indeed a man who recognised the joy of dailiness and sought in anyone of his beloved homes, a sense of oneness with every item it held…
This is a literary crush if ever there was one, but readers, darling readers, expect more. I have at last committed to writing a BrocanteHomebook and if I know myself as I think I do, I suspect it will be an age before I put pen to paper, convincing myself (as I already have) that what lies dormant in my mind is not enough to create anything worthy from until I have sandwiched it between the knowledge of every housekeeper who came before me, every woman who was ever dumped and every mommy who knows how it feels to want to feast on her babies life…
It’s official. My marbles have rolled under the bed. Or the dog has chucked them out of the window. Today I did something I have never done in eleven years of blogging: I accidentally posted something I have posted before. (Blink and you would have missed it). After a morning of dog walking and carrot…
Hello Sweeties, as you may or may not know, this mornings Brocante newsletter brought news of this years extra special Christmas treat: The BrocanteHome Advent Calendar! I promised you a special little Brocante something for the holiday and this is it: subscriber only access to 25 days full of the best links, treats, recipes and…
I do believe that telling a story is quite the most wonderful way to sell your little somethings on Etsy and in my humble opinion, nobody does it better than Emma at Lavender House Vintage. Her pictures speak of the kind of old fashioned humble domesticity I so adore and just browsing around her little…
And so it was that on a gloriously hot day, of which these pictures hardly do it justice, Finley and I set out in hats and sun-block to the school fete: an annual event resplendant with all you would expect from such an occasion. And donkeys. Though we could hardly be said to be beside…
Occasionally you happen upon things truly astonishing during the course of yet another trawl around the treasure trove that is Ebay. And so it was today. There is nothing better than a scrapbook that tells a story. A pile of old love letters. Or photographs you may never understand but find yourself hypnotised by… Wonder…
21 Comments
I can't imagine you waiting a second! But I can imagine the book flying off of shelves all over the world and some young housekeepers fighting over used copies at yard sales 🙂
I was just thinking about his books the other day! I have read many of his books and always enjoyed them. They are such a wonderful mixture of garden knowledge, humour and devilment. And what a prolific writer. And btw, there is absolutely nothing wrong with living on pate, baguettes and espresso. Were you italian or french in another life?
OK, I have to comment! If you write a book, it will be incredible, fabulous, a bestseller and amazingly hilarious, sweet and endearing. The best thing about you, Alison, is that you are real and people, women, basically everyone, loves REAL. Can't wait….get busy….Dawn 🙂
OK, I have to comment! If you write a book, it will be incredible, fabulous, a bestseller and amazingly hilarious, sweet and endearing. The best thing about you, Alison, is that you are real and people, women, basically everyone, loves REAL. Can't wait….get busy….Dawn 🙂
Ooh I want to buy your book, please don't leave it too long, and with lots of loverly pictures please. Love your blog, you're an undiscovered talent in the literary world. Gill x
Ooh I want to buy your book, please don't leave it too long, and with lots of loverly pictures please. Love your blog, you're an undiscovered talent in the literary world. Gill x
So little time, so many wonderful books waiting to be read. Love this sentiment and share it dearly: "trying not to see the crumbs scattering between the pages of another best friend" The last area of clutter I cannot conquer is my library – for you see, I will never see it as clutter, no matter how many books I own that have never been read, they are my dearest friends!
As you know, I’m ready to purchase a ton of copies for everyone I know. Alison, could you send me an email? I’ve lost your email, looked everywhere, and wanted to tell you something. G.
As you know, I’m ready to purchase a ton of copies for everyone I know. Alison, could you send me an email? I’ve lost your email, looked everywhere, and wanted to tell you something. G.
Hurray!!!! I can't tell you how many times reading an entry, I've wanted to print out everything you've ever written, but alas, ink cartridges are expensive. So, a book! I've been waiting for this day my whole Brocante life! Please, oh, please, oh please don't wait too long! I'll be the first in line at my nearest Barnes & Noble!
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I can't imagine you waiting a second! But I can imagine the book flying off of shelves all over the world and some young housekeepers fighting over used copies at yard sales 🙂
I was just thinking about his books the other day! I have read many of his books and always enjoyed them. They are such a wonderful mixture of garden knowledge, humour and devilment. And what a prolific writer.
And btw, there is absolutely nothing wrong with living on pate, baguettes and espresso. Were you italian or french in another life?
OK, I have to comment! If you write a book, it will be incredible, fabulous, a bestseller and amazingly hilarious, sweet and endearing. The best thing about you, Alison, is that you are real and people, women, basically everyone, loves REAL. Can't wait….get busy….Dawn 🙂
OK, I have to comment! If you write a book, it will be incredible, fabulous, a bestseller and amazingly hilarious, sweet and endearing. The best thing about you, Alison, is that you are real and people, women, basically everyone, loves REAL. Can't wait….get busy….Dawn 🙂
Yo! Go for it Alison…. and put my name down on the advance list. Tee hee, a brocante home book. I'm salivating at the thought!!!
So happy you're writing a book!!
Can you post which book or books by B. Nicols you recommend? I'd like to order a couple. Many thanks!
I love this quote:
“every mommy who knows how it feels to want to feast on her babies life…”
That’s me!
Ooh I want to buy your book, please don't leave it too long, and with lots of loverly pictures please. Love your blog, you're an undiscovered talent in the literary world.
Gill x
Ooh I want to buy your book, please don't leave it too long, and with lots of loverly pictures please. Love your blog, you're an undiscovered talent in the literary world.
Gill x
So little time, so many wonderful books waiting to be read.
Love this sentiment and share it dearly: "trying not to see the crumbs scattering between the pages of another best friend"
The last area of clutter I cannot conquer is my library – for you see, I will never see it as clutter, no matter how many books I own that have never been read, they are my dearest friends!
As you know, I’m ready to purchase a ton of copies for everyone I know. Alison, could you send me an email? I’ve lost your email, looked everywhere, and wanted to tell you something. G.
As you know, I’m ready to purchase a ton of copies for everyone I know. Alison, could you send me an email? I’ve lost your email, looked everywhere, and wanted to tell you something. G.
Oh gosh Alison, I want to come and visit bearing a scrumptious new notebook and lovely pen for you! Write! Write!
”I have at last committed to writing a BrocanteHome book”
YEEEEESSSSSSS!
”I have at last committed to writing a BrocanteHome book”
YEEEEESSSSSSS!
Hurray!!!! I can't tell you how many times reading an entry, I've wanted to print out everything you've ever written, but alas, ink cartridges are expensive.
So, a book! I've been waiting for this day my whole Brocante life! Please, oh, please, oh please don't wait too long! I'll be the first in line at my nearest Barnes & Noble!
Beverly Nicholls. Oh he is fun, isn't he?
Mari-Nanci
Beverly Nicholls. Oh he is fun, isn't he?
Mari-Nanci
Whoo hoo!
Get the editor on the phone! No procrastinating, dammit!
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