Recipe for a jolly good wedding

Flowers in jewel colours and men in uniform

More colour?

What with the yellow, red and turquoise, this cream dresser looks a little out of place. I am thinking orange.

Drama over

The website has now been restored, huge thanks to Jamie at Cowbelly for pointing out the hacking. If you haven't been over to her blog, do so now, I am still hoping to persuade her to hop over the pond and photograph The Boy Wonder.

Our website has been hacked into

My apologises to anyone who has been onto our website this morning. It would appear that it has been hacked into. We are sorting out the problem, in the meantime I would prefer you not to visit it.
Another day, another drama!

Miss P

Stroke of genius or massive mistake? - you decide

Before

After

Yes it is yellow, and yes the top is blackboard, so we can write prices and stuff, love messages, recipes, shopping lists, or the names of cheeses.

Taupe be gone, it is all about accent colours now - but not an accent wall - WAG's we are not.

Using different colours

Purple, yellow and green, the tin of yellow paint is for the shop, it could be a stroke of genius or a massive mistake.

Meanwhile.....The Navara seems to have taken on a life of it's own, perhaps it should have a blog or at the very least a facebook fan page?

Alternative form of transport

Whilst we await the fate of The Berlingo (I suspect it has delivered it's last bunch) The Hound and I have been without transportation. Sadly the horse and carriage were unavailable and we are still searching for our own Morris. Enter Mr Ferrari with his very generous offer of the loan of The Navara.

I know what you are thinking, are they not the vehicles commonly seen by the side of the road, with some caravans and a lone horse? Or by gentleman offering to tarmac your driveway? Indeed the very same vehicle.

They are also rather handy for florists

Or for general shopping a la supermarche.

My social standing has dropped several levels, my neighbour (who drives an Aston Martin)shudders every time she sees it, people rush to lock their doors as I drive past, and The Captain is quite convinced that by parking it on his drive just for a few minutes, his house has been devalued, it is also quite difficult to park - but I love it. The Hound is enthralled by it, I think he has found his spiritual home. I have however denied his request for a velour tracksuit and hoop earrings - one doesn't need to go that far.

Introducing.....The Mother Hen

Part of our new "Introducing....." feature, I thought it might be nice to introduce you to some interesting people. First up The Mother Hen, all round wonderful person, domestic goddess, true matriarch, and possibly the most glamorous lady in all the land.

Changes

It is that time of year, resolutions, new starts and a desire to do something a bit different. Christmas was wonderful, very relaxing, and delicious food courtesy of The Mother Hen.
Unfortunately The Hound, The Mother Hen and I were involved in a car accident just after, thankfully we are all alright, but have taken on a "Bride of Frankenstein" look. Did you know airbags are filled with smoke and burn and bruise your inner arms? I might take to driving in opera gloves. The main thing is everyone involved is fine.
It does make one think that a girl cannot live by flower shop alone, and working 7 days a week isn't really the way forward. So from now on we will be closed on Mondays (except when we do flower school) I realise this is a radical change, but I feel quite sure you will get used to it.
The shop reopens on Thursday, expect a few more changes.........

Pinch, punch, first of the year

2009 has barged through the door with a cup of kindness, and a childlike sense of optimism. A rather boisterous entrance has meant several resolutions already lie broken. He has packed away the deep reds of amaryllis and ilex, and installed a frosty morning heavy with the promise of magnolia branches, snowdrops and burgeoning buds of blossom.

A Happy New Year to you all.

Merry Christmas, Joyeux Noel, Feliz Navidad and all that

The last wedding of the year

The flowers have been sold

And the Champagne has been cracked open

Wishing you all a Christmas filled with joy, merriment and Hollywood kisses under the mistletoe.

Good things

These were supposed to be the last of the wreaths.......made another tonight, I am just a girl who can't say no. Possibly my favourite of the year, blue spruce, viburnum tinus, Skimmia Kew Green and eucalyptus pods.

The flu still has a stronghold, today's remedies have been Buttercup syrup and Golden Newt (I know so unladylike - I drank it straight from the bottle as well) It has helped numb the pain of a pulled muscle in my neck and my left hind wisdom tooth that has decided to make an appearance.

We have a couple of copies of The Flower Shop and Friends left, and a few of the little book Flower shop secrets, perfect stocking fillers, and features photographs of yours truly.

I had one of the best presents in the post on Saturday, Nicki from White Garden

in Henley sent all the florists in the book a compilation CD of all our favourite songs. If you want to know what mine is, or what Marcelle dances to of an evening...buy the book.

Camera battery charger found

So back to posting pictures of actual things. More wreaths, blue spruce, pussy willow and eucalyptus pods.

Today a man came into the shop, and asked for four candles, I started giggling, he had no idea why, so in case he is reading here is the reason (it is not because I am demented)

For the last few days The Hound has been looking a little glum. He is fed up with pine needles landing in his bed, and I haven't had the time to keep fetching him cocktail sausages from M&S.

As a treat today he has spent the day with The Mother Hen and The Captain. He is now looking very smug, and snacking on some garlic bread.

Miss Pickering and the case of mistaken identity

Dear Lady on the checkout at M&S,

Thank you so much for not recoiling as a coughing and spluttering, dishevelled blonde, eyes heavy with cold, came towards you this evening. Thank you also for not looking horrified as she dug in her pocket for money, and pulled out a few coppers, stub wires, pine needles, and half a dog biscuit.
It wasn't always like this, I used to live in W11, and wear beautiful shoes, and drink cocktails - I just wanted you to know.

Yours in heartfelt appreciation

Miss P

Flu remedies - helpful tips from my customers

The fact that I am under the weather has not gone unnoticed by my customers, some have leapt to my aid and starting making wreaths - thank you Allison. Others have merely pointed out how terrible I look - thank you Mr B.

I thought that it might be helpful to share with you some of those tips.
Lemon and honey - the vintage remedy, favoured by ladies with the scent of home baked mince pies.
Stick your head in a bunch of eucalyptus - easily done if one is a florist, but I have yet to see any clinical data showing effectiveness.
You should go to the Doctors. This is like a scratched record, and people have started shouting at me now - when they start offering appointments at 6am I will.
You need a week in the sun - by far my favourite remedy, I would favour St.Barts over Tenerife
The most popular is a whisky - personally I haven't drunk whisky since that fateful summer in France. His name was Xavier

Girl flu

Unlike the Man variety, girl is flu is all very real. I have been in a fog of fever, delirium, aches and pains for the last few days, my apologises to anyone who has tried to engage me in conversation. Creatively I may also have been a little off, if you have something odd on your wreath, your advent tablecentre is in an unusual shade, or if you were the unlucky lady that I managed to convince turquoise disco glitter twigs were the only thing to have this Christmas - my apologises.

Men I would like to eat Tuna Carpaccio with, version 2.0

Ladies and gentlemen I give you Mr Owen.

Meanwhile......back in the shop

We now have some of Kelly's lovely pieces for sale in the shop, I have purchased some of these pretty magnets for my fridge.

Christmas pudding bowls filled with hyacinth

The Hound has been sitting about looking pretty, and for the florists among you - is there a better tulip than a Ronaldo? Do you prefer a Webber, or a Rococo, perhaps you can't live without a Silver dream, do you love Purple Prince more than ice cream?

Hot topics of conversation have been
The size of pigs ears - they seem to have shrunk, have they been GM'd?
Wondering what effects the FIA cost-cutting plans will have on Formula 1.
Discovering that Smarties now do big tubes of just pink ones.
Wearing gloves - as a florist is it worth the added warmth when you keep getting stems caught in your mittens, and do fingerless ones make you look like a tramp? Tramp as in "Lady and the", and not street walker.
Can I pull off a beret?
Song of the day has been Kings of Leon Use Somebody, are they better than TT?

Guided home by satellites

Yesterday, I received another fabulous present you will recall this one, and these. It is the power of navigation by satellite, rather like The power of Greyskull, except without the evil forces of Skeletor or the sword - watch the clip.
The Hound and I, are comforted to know that after all this time, we have been taking the right route home of an evening. We are now planning a long trip around the British Isles, just so we can listen to the silkened tones of Tim - the voice of the satellite.

Edit - The Hound - a whizz with technology accidentally pressed another option and has given us a whole host of new men to choose from. We are currently flirting with Antonio the man from Espanol, Jacques the man from Francais, and the divine Roberto from Italiano. O Mr Ferrari - we thank you.

Christmas flowers for delivery

Did you know we send our flowers nationwide? Wrapped up in swathes of tissue and sent in our rather smart boxes, they arrive in the morning to delight friends, family and lovers.


Traditional wreath made with Blue Spruce, holly, berried ivy and lots of scented cinnamon, pussy willow and dried fruits £55.00 delivered nationwide


Large mixed foliage wreath with hydrangea and Grand Prix roses £120.00 delivered nationwide

Christmas in reds and blues, handtied bouquet in 3 sizes £40, £60, £80 delivered nationwide

When only white flowers will do darling, handtied bouquet in 3 sizes, £40, £60,£80 delivered nationwide

Christmas in a tin, arrangement in a pail £50 delivered.

Order by 2pm now for next day delivery, last delivery date is the 23rd of December. Call us on 01780 482961 to order

My Birthday

Today has been my birthday, we have mainly been feasting on belly pork, roast beef and puddings at this fine establishment

And a bit more pudding

And despite the disappointment at the lack of a horse, I got some lovely presents.

Hanging out with The Small Child means that The Other Miss Pickering and I have learnt some more "street" talk. If you happen upon an attractive and dapper chap, one might remark that he is "Dro", likewise should you meet a gentleman who doesn't give you butterflies, and you would rather he wore a paper bag over his head, one would remark that he is "Dirt". Who said old dogs can't learn new tricks?

A whole lot of roses

I love decorating long tables, long lines of roses and Guinea fowl feathers wrapped in the bark of silver birch trees.

Antique french planters filled with foliage - very blurry pic

A new window, The Hound has worked his portrait into the blue and red scheme.

"OOOOO Katie look at that window, blue and red works well at Christmas"
" It's very Nigella"
"It is......that reminds me has the Brora sale started? I need a new cardy"

Oh my

You will recall The Hound completed his interior design course. This evening he is measuring up for some lovely wallpaper from Osborne and Little. With pencil behind ear and a Smythson notebook in hand, he is evidently planning to put it in most of the rooms.

Oh joy

You get up before the birds, drive through the snow to market, work hard all day, and then get pine needles in your mulled wine. Yes it is 16.15 pm, and yes that really is mulled wine.
Huge thanks to The Mother Hen for rescuing the day, and to The Stamford Hen for performing the same duty on Tuesday.

Questions, questions, questions

Tell us Miss P, may I call you that? Do you ever do flowers for real life Princesses?
Funny you should ask, here is one I made for HRH Princess Anne just yesterday.


You have some very smart new vases in your shop, does this mark a change in direction for you? No, it is a one off homage to my beloved boys at Vaas


We very often wonder if your house is filled with fresh flowers?
No

Today you are off to have a glamorous makeover as part of your birthday present from The Mother Hen, you have to take a picture of someone whose look you admire. Who is that ?
Miss M

Rumour has it you have been dancing to Ladyhawke - does this not seem a bit "young and trendy" for Miss P?

It is my birthday on Sunday, I am having a midlife crisis, the Porsche is being delivered tomorrow, I have bought a leather jacket and taken a young lover.