The house was wonderful, largely because it retained the sense of being a family home. No areas were taped off and you could walk around freely just as the family had. There were volunteers keeping an eye on things but they were all very friendly, easy to chat too and willing to give out interesting facts about the Kipling’s lives and the surrounding areas. Their genuine enthusiasm made the visit all the more enjoyable.

This is the entrance with the cafe on the left and the house at the end of the path. Rudyard and his wife Carrie fell in love with the house the first time they saw it and he is reputed to have said ‘That’s She! The Only She! Make an honest woman of her – quick!’ When they found Bateman’s he was already a world-famous writer and this house with its mullioned windows and oak beams was to give him the sanctuary he was looking for. There is still a garage with his Rolls Royce, walled gardens and an apple orchard.

Before we looked around the house we visited the cafe for coffee and cake. I didn’t take any photos in there but was most impressed by both the food and service. I had a delicious gluten free cake and later for lunch some homemade leek and potato soup with a gluten free roll.

A few more photos of the interior:

This last one shows a corner of Rudyard’s study where his secretary sat at the typewriter as he sat at the desk on the left. He had wooden blocks added to his chair legs so that he could still see out of the window while sitting.

My last two pictures are of the guest bedroom and a mouse on the staircase!

I apologise for the above if you are not a fan of fictional pirate(ism) or if indeed you are a fictional pirate and you can see my obvious pirate lingo fails  The sillyness does make sense I assure you.

I was recently sent a packet of brand new Walkers Baked Hoops & Crosses in Roast Beef flavour to test out. It came nestled in the arms of a cuddly monkey, who was swiftly commandeered by my littlest Monkey who is currently somewhat pirate obsessed. So these yummy new snacks were eaten in the gardens of a Regency Townhouse by a Monkey cuddling Pirate

Walkers say they created these snacks because they understand that kids can be little monkeys when it comes to snacks in their lounchboxes. New Walkers Baked Hoops & Crosses are intended to be a great-tasting, low-fat and fun way for kids to boost their wholegrain intake.

My little pirate devoured these snacks so fast I didn’t get much of a chance to try them out myself, however I was informed (at the point of a foam sword!) that they were so delicious we had to buy some more. Here’s the all important info:

• Each Bag contains just 85 calories, so they are a fairly guilt free treat. Plus they are baked not fried!
• They are made from Wholegrains and have no artificial colours or preservatives.
• They come in three flavours, all of which are suitable for vegetarians (Roast Beef, Prawn Cocktail and Salt & Vinegar).

Taste

We only tried out the Roast Beef flavour, but they were really quite yummy. They had a strong flavour but I wouldn’t call it overpowering. They were crispy and non greasy and enjoyed by all the family.

Would I buy them again?

As I have already that’s a resounding yes! I’m quite happy to give them to my kids as a slightly healthier alternative to traditional crisps as an afternoon snack. Also not to be forgotten, they are a fun shape!

Plus my children inform me that Land Lubbers and Pirates alike are actually allowed to eat them

Jack’s recipe can be found on her website http://agirlcalledjack.com. I changed this to use a tin of chickpeas and also left out the flour, making the burgers gluten free as well as inexpensive.

I was very pleased with how easy they were to make and when fried in a little oil they didn’t fall to pieces.

I admit I haven’t worked out the exact cost but four burgers were made from one tin of chickpeas, one carrot and one onion so it cannot have cost too much. I added potatoes and cabbage and had a really delicious meal.

The Thatched Cottage Pendant is worth £50 and is part of our Heritage range which has been featured in many magazines, websites and arts festivals.

To be in with a chance of winning this fabulous prize all you have to do is ‘Like’ our Facebook page and then fill in your details on the competition page (so I know who you are )

Click here to be taken straight to competition page to Like us!

Rules:

It took me longer than it should of to realise that I could employ a similar rational when it came to my beloved pooch. He (like all dogs) tends to whiff a bit on occasion and I’m fairly intolerant of ‘dog smell’ in my own home. This led to semi frequent bathing with a store bought shampoo. It was heavy and took ages to wash out, then we had to endure wet dog smell for several hours until he was finally dry. It also seemed to strip the moisture from his skin despite being labelled ‘gentle’ and ‘sensitive’.

So with several choices available to me:

1. Bath him way less and come to terms with his dogginess.

2. Keep bathing him but his skin would become dry plus the hours of wet dog smell.

3. Make my own dog shampoo

I went with number three!

After reading much on the subject of a dog’s skin PH and scouring my cupboards for ingredients, this is the recipe I followed. It is an amalgamation of several I read, tailored to my little waggy chap.

Recipe

6-7 Sticks fresh Rosemary

Boiling Water

3 Tbsp Unscented Soap Grated

About 15 Tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar

Cocoa Butter or Almond Oil

Method

First place the fresh rosemary into a saucepan, cover with boiling water and simmer for about 15 minutes. Leave to cool before straining out the leaves. I actually left mine to cool overnight, you might see an oiling film on the water if you do this.

Add the grated soap to your Rosemary water, then the Apple Cider Vinegar. Finally add about a Tbsp of Cocoa Butter of a few drops of Almond oil. Heat gently until the soap has melted.

Pour into a clean bottle.

To Use

Shower your pup in warm water and then start squeezing your homemade shampoo onto his skin. Mine didn’t lather a huge deal. Rinse thoroughly.

The Results!

Amazing he didn’t even smell when wet!!! His fur felt a little dryer at first but only for an hour or two. He actually dried off really quickly which was a huge bonus.

The Apple Cider Vinegar is a natural deodorizer (is there anything Apple Cider Vinegar can’t do!). Apparently you can combine it with water in a spray bottle and use it as an in between bath deodorizer for your dog as well, although I’ve yet to try that one.

Supposedly your kitchen should be the heart of your home but with a new fitted kitchen often costing an arm and a leg, plus all the associated mess and disruption it’s not always easy to revamp quickly. Home style TV programs often tell us that it increases your houses value but a 2012 survey by HSBC found that it only actuallyupped the selling price by £4,577.

So today on the blog we have a few options to spruce up your kitchen with a bit of DIY. Even if the end result doesn’t make you love your kitchen anew, it might tide you over until you can afford a huge makeover or make your house more saleable. Also don’t underestimate the value of a few new appliances, they can lift the whole room.

Get painting!

Instead of replacing whole units, restyle your existing cupboards and storage. A new coat of paint can instantly brighten and modernise a space, whilst replacing handles adds a fresh, clean look.

Change those worktops

Chipped, scratched or outdated worktops (countertops) can be given a new lease of life by replacing the work surface, rather than the whole unit. Laminated worktops are a good option being both durable and mimicing the look of more expensive finishes like granite, marble and wood. If you’re handy with a saw or jigsaw cut and fit them yourself for maximum savings.

Create more space

Suffering from a small kitchen? Don’t grab the sledgehammer just yet, create the illusion of space by removing wall cupboard doors and replacing with glass, if the contents isn’t pretty just use some frosted glass Make sure tired pots and pans are kept neatly tucked away, and instead use these shelves to display colour-coordinated crockery or elegant glassware. You could even pop down to your local charity shop and grab some vintage gems.

Retile!

Many jobs don’t require calling in a pro, and a DIY attempt can often achieve the same effect. A tiled splashback can inject style instantly while keeping clean and tidy for a lot longer than a painted wall. Small mosaic tiles in neutral tones look amazing but come in easy-to-apply sheets. If you’d prefer larger tiles just purchase some tile spacers (little plastic crosses to keep your tiling perfect).

Theme your room

Keep your kitchen makeover framed around a defined theme. Neutral rooms look great with a signature colour focused on bright textiles and accessories: look for coloured or printed chair cushions, vases and wall art. Or, for a really sleek finish, try out metallic cupboard handles, a steel-look light fitting and dark-tiled splashbacks.

Take advantage of payment plans

The thought of finding the money to update appliances can put many people off getting stuck into their kitchen re-style, but these purchases can actually be surprisingly affordable if your payments are staggered. Big ticket items like fridge freezers on credit is a great option offered by household companies like Littlewoods, enabling you to spread the cost over a number of months should you need it, avoiding an instant hit on your wallet.

We celebrated with a day out in our garden, it felt almost tropical being able to sit outside and eat lunch without wearing a coat. In this country you have to take advantage of the good weather when it arrives, you never know when you’ll see it again!

Earlier in the week I had promised to build a den with my children, originally I was envisioning sheets over tables and chairs, but the sun prompted us to we move our den building outside.

My husband had a bag of unused garden canes which he bound together with garden twine. These were bent over to make dome shapes and bound together at the top.

Then we used a pair of old curtains for the sides and a sheet for the top and ta-da a wonderful outdoor den. The kids all loved it, the adults did too! It might not be as elegant as a shop bought tee-pee but hey it’s free!!

The best part is we can rebuild it whenever the sun decides to saw it’s face again and it takes up zero storage space!

Gloomy, rainy days may provide the perfect excuse for sitting around watching films and vegging out. But, why waste the day away when you can be productive? Don’t let the dreary weather dampen your spirits and energy. Try some of these activities that will keep you occupied and bring out your creative side.

Turn a pillowcase into a T-shirt

Some of the best pieces of clothing are those that are worn, vintage, display your favourite rock band, or are created from another item that you love. This is because they have character and sentimental value. If you have a pillow case that you are particularly fond of, then show it off! First cut out holes for the head and arms. Start off very small and then gradually increase the size of the holes until you are pleased. Then cut the shirt to the length you like – long like a tunic, tailored at your waist or a chic crop top. Once you’re finished, you can leave the seams undone and frayed or finish them by sewing a hem or applying an adhesive that is found at craft stores.

Create your own greeting cards

There is something very special about handmade cards. That personal touch and effort really shows and recipients appreciate it. Keep cards on hand for any occasion by making your own personalised stock. Start off by measuring plain stationary so that it fits your envelopes. Then, fold it to form a card. Then use decorative pens or glue to write your salutation and adorn the card with whatever stickers, stamps, decorative paper, patterns and drawings you wish.

Make decorative vases

Have some old wine bottles lying around? Maybe some old vases that are boring and plain? Turn them into spectacular showpieces for your flower arrangements. All you need is spray paint to give them a bright, new look. To get intricate patterns and stripes, spray over rubber bands and them remove them. A glue gun is a great tool to write three-dimensional words and sayings. For even more texture, try adding Epsom salt.

Declutter and redecorate

Okay, just a little. Nobody wants to spend the entire day cleaning. However, it can be much more rewarding than you think. Decluttering and redecorating is quite invigorating. The process of getting rid of old junk helps clear your space and mind. Plus, there are services like musicMagpie that will pay you for any unwanted and old electronics. Afterwards, unleash your creative side, by rearranging furniture, adding color and new decorations to your space.

Snap eye-catching photographs

If a little rain doesn’t deter you from being outdoors, then grab your rain gear and a camera. Clouds, lightening and rain provide for some of the best shots. Play with different filters and settings to help capture the weather, streets, people, garden and anything that inspires you. Once you’re through, create a collage of your pictures or hang them throughout the house.

Whenever I visit a new area I am on the hunt for individual and unique shops. Many high streets seem to be carbon copies of each other, so finding these unusual gems can sometimes take a bit of homework. One such search recently turned up a shop called Postcard Teas near Oxford Circus in London at 9 Dering Street.

When I walked in I was expecting to see a tea shop but this store was so much more than just that. The left hand wall had shelves of small tins full of teas from all over the world, each with a description of taste, origin and the name of the grower. Quite a few were from very small estates, making them extremely unusual and exclusive.

Along the right hand side of the shop was a long table with stools (the tasting area!). While I am an avid tea drinking and much prefer leaves to teabags I quickly realised that I knew little about these rarer varieties. I started by tasting a couple of teas called Nilgira Frost and Korean Breakfast.

My personal choice out of these two was the Nilgira Frost. Unlike my tea at home these varieties are best enjoyed black without milk or sugar. I never thought I could enjoy tea without milk, but I’m thoroughly converted, especially for these yummy blends.

The name ‘Postcard Teas’ is certainly an unusual one, it is actually based around a wonderful and quirky idea. The store has postcards that you can write to a friend or relation, they are then put in a clear envelope with a sample of the tea you have chosen and whisked away to the happy recipient. I love this original idea, especially when the humble holiday postcard seems to be drifting out of our culture.

I was having such a wonderful time that I couldn’t resist trying two more varieties, Big Smoke and Original Lapsang. At this point the owner Tim came over and explained that you could brew the Lapsang twice! The wealth of knowledge is mind boggling, it’s like attending a wine tasting (but no headache or inability to drive afterwards!) Each tea caddy is like an education in itself with information on the growers, conditions and much more.

The shop also sells tea caddies, tea cosies, fabric shopping bags, coasters, pots, tea cups and other tea related gifts. Most of these can be seen on their website Postcardteas.com. The fabric items are all beautifully made and embroidered, being made from old saris and sold to help people in India earn money from their work.

The tea caddies are amazing, quite pricey but with the potential to become heirlooms of the future. They are all made by Kaikado of Kyoto, the oldest makers of handmade tin tea caddies in the world!

Tea has been my drink of choice since I was young but I really feel that I have learnt a lot from my visit to this wonderful store and I’ll definitely return on my next visit to London.

My bath tub has quite a few chips, it’s old and has held up very well but it’s time has most definitely come. My sink suffers from a similar affliction and just looks generally tired. The toilet on the other hand, well that is quite the comical fellow with a handle that only works if it’s attached upside down!

The truth of it is that my bathroom is old, tired and in need of a little lot of love! When it is finally made over I promise I’ll show you all it’s awful faults, so you can marvel at it’s transformation

For now though I’ll have to console myself by dreaming of my future haven of tranquility. I’d love a large deep possibly clawed bath under the window. The sink and toilet would also follow traditional lines with glinting taps and Edwardian style elegance. Think this bathroom suite from Bathshop 321, it’s called the Hamilton (even the name sounds elegant!). I suppose if we’re dreaming then my bathroom would never need cleaning and would always smell of fresh linen. Maybe I need an Edwardian maid to match my scheme, probably a butler as well because… well because having a butler would just be amazing! I may or may not be humming the theme tune to Downton Abbey as I type ;P

Of course the very best way to illustrate my vision would be through the medium of cake! It may not be as good as the real thing but at least it’s a bit of tasty consolation! So here I am languishing in my gorgeous new bath, filled to the brim The foot shaped bathmat is essential!

If you’d like to make your own Bathtub cake below are intstructions for how I made mine

Step 1

Bake your favourite cake in a loaf tin. I made a madeira cake as I find them easier to carve.

When cooled use a knife to round the corners of your cake until it looks bath shaped.

Step 2

Spread a thin layer of buttercream over your bath.

Step 3

Roll out some ready made white fondant and cover the cake. Next I sprayed the cake lightly with a silver cake decorating spray, this gives an enamel finish to your bath.

Step 4

Cover a cake board with fondant, I made mine slate grey. Then using something long and thin (such as a ruler) lightly press lines into the fondant to create tiles. When finished pop your bathtub onto the board.

Step 5

Now the fun begins, using fondant make a rubber duck (one larger ball pinched at one end for the tail, plus one smaller ball for the head) paint his eyes on with a tiny bit of food colouring.

Then make a bathmat, mine is foot shaped yours could be square or circular etc. I used a cocktail stick to make tiny dots all the way around to simulate sewing marks. Then paint ‘Bath’ on your mat using colouring.

The tap is created out of sausage shapes, one large sausage for the centre bent over slightly. Two smaller sausages on either side, with teeny tiny crosses for the top. I dusted then with edible gold shimmer.

The person is actually just a head and two arms. The arms and made by rolling sausage shapes, one end is flattened slightly then use scissors to snip the fingers. Place into the bathtub on either side.

The head is made by rolling a ball shape, add a smaller ball for the nose and shape using your fingers or tools. Make little indentations for the eyes and mouth (these are painted on using food colouring). There is an ear either side made by rolling a ball shape. Place this onto the bath end.

The hair is made by rolling out fondant very thin, then use a sharp knife to create strands, attach these from the base of the head layering up to the crown.

Step 6

Now to fill the bath, I used buttercream but royal icing would also look good. Mix a little blue colouring into your icing, I didn’t mix it fully to leave a slightly mottled colour. Using a small knife spread this over the top of your bath. Once finish add your rubber duck.

Voila one bath cake