THE FLOWER APPRECIATION SOCIETY

Last Tuesday I went to a flower workshop with The Flower Appreciation Society and it was THE BEST EVENING EVER. The sun was shining at Ellie and Anna's Hackney studio which is the cutest workshop filled to the brim with pickle jars, swan vases, crazy props from their studio-mate and flowers, of course. The tables were filled with huge jars of flowers, ready to be arranged into the haphazard style of my favourite floral duo and after a quick introduction and a whistle stop tour of the basics, we got stuck in.

Ellie and Anna make it look SO easy but it definitely takes a lot of practice! Within the first few minutes I had cramp in my hand and had to start again a few times, but it was so much fun and the other girls in the group of 24 were all lovely and chatty. I made a beeline for my jar after spotting that incredible peach rose in the pictures above. The workshop was themed around British Flowers Week so all the flowers came from UK growers and smelled incredible. I've never smelt anything like it! My bouquet is still going strong and I'm so smitten with it I've been bringing it around the house with me so I can look at it when I'm eating breakfast, watching telly or drifting off to sleep.

The workshop perfectly coincided with the launch of The Flower Appreciation Society: An A to Z of All Things Floral. From how to tie a bridal bouquet and favourite filler flowers to quick interviews with Ellie and Anna's regular market stallholders, I would really recommend it if you have any interest in flowers or cool illustrations (everything is illustrated by Anna!).

Workshops pop up on their site from time to time and you can book them for a hen do flower crown workshop too. The cost of my workshop was £35, which covered all materials, a jar to take them home with and a glass of wine too! You'd pay the same for a bouquet from a florist and I think this is prettier than anything I've ever seen before.

KINGLY COURT, LONDON

I think I've found the most Christmassy place in London! If you find yourself doing last-minute Christmas shopping on Oxford Street (good luck!), then I highly suggest you pop into Kingly Court on Carnaby Street to get away from the hustle and bustle.

As far as I can remember, this little complex has always hosted an array of little indie shops, but now it seems to have been mostly cleared out and turned into a foodie paradise. From the ones I've tried - Cha Cha Moon, Pizza Pilgrims and Shoryu - to the ones I haven't - Señor Ceviche, The Rum Kitchen and Whyte & Browne - I think it's safe to say there's something for everyone. And the Christmas lights are pretty darn good, too!

A BIRTHDAY LUNCH

It has now become a yearly tradition to mark my brother’s birthday with a special meal at Al Boccon di’Vino in Richmond. The first year, we were completely bewildered to enter this cosy little world where the walls are lined with crates of wine and you’re brusquely told that “you will eat ahhhntipasti, pahhhhhsta, meat and dessert. You choose naahhhh-thing. Except the wine.” And so you choose the wine and then the food comes thick and fast, plate after plate of mouth-watering delights that you realise still constitutes the antipasti portion of the meal. Seating about 40 people, with two daily services – lunch and dinner – this restaurant is an homage to the Venetian wedding feast and is a sparkling gem in the crown of home cooking and fine, seasonal produce; one that I am reluctant to share, lest we not secure a reservation for the same time next year!

This year we ate:

Grilled aubergine, courgette and peppers in a piquant, yet rich, vinaigrette
Wafer thin curls of Serrano ham, salami and wedges of cantaloupe melon
Crisp bruschetta with garlic and tomato
Butterflied paprika prawns
Scallops in their shell, ruthlessly drowned in garlic olive oil
Rocket salad with smoked salmon and prawns
Rolled beef in a thick tomato sauce
Crisp meatball croquettes
Aubergine parmigiana with griddled asparagus

Fettucine carbonara
Ravioli sprinkled with award-winning parmesan

And then after a marathon of starters and primi platti, the chef and his right hand woman parade a whole roasted lamb through the restaurant before serving up steaming portions to each table, on a family-style platter with a bed of soft, rosemary potatoes.

To finish – pannacotta with syrupy strawberries, a startlingly strong espresso and a homemade limoncello digestive.

Al Boccon di'Vino, 14 Red Lion Street, Richmond TW9 1RW
Reservations essential: 0208 940 9060

THREE THINGS FRIDAY

Hooray – it’s Friday! It feels like forever ago that I was in Cornwall, but it was just the beginning of this week. I had such a relaxing long weekend and I didn’t take a single picture – I didn’t have my phone on me the whole time and I didn’t even have to carry keys! It was very liberating. In light of Freya’s blog post this week on keeping the freedom of travel and relaxation mode in motion once the vacation is over, I’m making plans to make no plans this weekend (but here’s what I would do if I was making plans…)

EAT: I’m taking a leaf out of Jo’s book and thinking about a little Franco Manca treat – I live between 3 different branches, so it would be rude not to, really!

DO: This week I was invited to the press opening of Return of the Rudeboy at Somerset House, hosted by the creators of the exhibition. I don’t often get to go things like this, especially on a Thursday morning, so it was a bit of a treat (with croissants and orange juice!). The exhibition is amazing – and free – and Somerset House is the perfect place to escape the heat in London this weekend.

LISTEN: My music taste is a little embarrassing and I don’t often add new songs to the repertoire, but this song will always be the one. 

p.s. I wrote a feature on Kerry from Seventy Tree’s sweet home in the latest issue of 91 Magazine, if you’d like to see. I’m really proud of it and love contributing to this wonderful publication.

BATTERSEA FLOWER STATION

The other weekend when the weather was glorious, I set about sprucing up our balcony garden and found out about Battersea Flower Station, an independent garden centre about 10 minutes away from me. It feels like you're going to a friend's garden, which I suppose is exactly what it is as it was set up and self-funded by a group of local residents with a passion for gardening and supporting local businesses. As well as a floristry service and a beautiful selection of pots, there are also experts on-hand to offer advice for all types of garden, and you can even get a window box made up just for you! Doesn't it look magical? Plus, there was a sweet dog there who I couldn't resist giving a pat on the way out.