Have you noticed how busy Bridie has been recently?  At strange times of the night I get short emails describing delirious and crazy schemes… and to be honest, I’m not sure if Max is getting his walks every day….

Have you guessed? Yes, it’s nearly time for the Cabinet of Curiosities. And though I hate to predict anything, I have a suspicion that this year is going to be even more wonderful and beautiful than last. Astrological curios, geological boxes, perfect geometric shapes, shell creations, corals, hen’s teeth…. we will have them all on display when the back of 17 Rugby Street is to be transformed into a magical Wunderkammer once again.

Your invitiations are being sent but in the meantime here is a sneak preview… the private view is on Wednesday 13th October and we look forward to seeing you then. Please send Sophie an email to the address shown if you would like to attend. 

And just as a memory, a few photographs taken by the fantastic Mr Bevan of last year’s Cabinet.

We can’t wait to see you then!

With all the talk about those Milibands, and lurches to the left or who’s getting ready to leave Britain, I’m reminded of that expression UK politics is celebrity for weird people. No, I take that back, The Milbands are no William Hague (we were all very relieved in the office when he came out as being straight).

Anyway, to improve our thoughts on this grey Monday morning, I thought it would be nice to look back to an era of better looking political brothers. What style.  Or maybe life just looked better when we had the cold war to worry about and the news was in black and white.

For a little while, Bridie and I have reluctantly admitted, in private, that the biggest attraction on Rugby Street these days was no longer the shop. No, not the latest Peter Hone plasters; not delectable Marianna Kennedy lamps. Certainly not my Parsonage candlesticks, and not even Bridie’s stamp plate decoupage.

No, for a lot of people in the WC1 area, the only reason to visit 17 Rugby Street these days is to say a lunch time hello to Max.

Max, Bridie’s perfectly handsome poodle, arrived as a little ball of fluff a few months ago now. My friend Monica accurately described him as an ink blot, especially apt in those early days when he had long hair. After a little while, Max had his first hair cut.  We were very excited to be able to see him, and I think he was even more excited to see the world.

He has one or two failings. I think it’s true to say that one or two of us in the architecture office find it a little trying that he cries quite so mournfully (and loudly) as soon as he is separated from Bridie for more than six seconds. We’ve tried to explain it to Bride but of course she can never actually hear the sound of Max being separated from her, so although she is sympathetic I am not entirely sure she believes us.  A bit like people who snore who are convinced they don’t.

Well, despite everything, we certainly forgive the happy little fellow. We are all in love with him. Who couldn’t be?

So secretly, I’ve been wondering when Bridie would pluck up the courage to post Max’s first photo on the website.  For those of you didn’t happen to be browsing in the antique furniture department for a nice little vintage children’s chair or two, here’s Max.  A star is born, and you saw him here first.

Autumn is in the air, isn’t it? What a beautiful weekend it has been in London. Yesterday afternoon, after a morning of running very satisfying errands, I went for a fantastic walk on Hampstead Heath with my friend Stephen and his dog Hector and I wondered if September is my favourite month.

On Friday Bridie sent me this photo of the shopfront, with its shiny new paint job, Wayne’s handpainted name sign, our new line in hardware and baskets, and a collection of home grown pumpkins in the window of the Utility Room. Pop in and say hello soon!

I’m sorry for not posting for a while. It’s been a busy few weeks – architecture life is undergoing a bit of that autumn rush that always seems to happen around this time of the year.

Still, not as busy for us as for the Pope. I must to confess that I’m not so excited by the Papal visit (I got the feeling the Queen wasn’t either). Yawn, yawn, could we have any more hand-wringing on Radio 4 and in the popular broadsheet comment pages about religion and secularism and whether blah…………..

But I was quite excited by his shoes.

Check them out!!  I am authoritatively told they are by Prada.  What a beautiful red.

The pontiff is very welcome at Rugby Street any time he wants a quiet wander away from the busy business down in Westminster… Bridie and I feel sure that any owner of those handsome slippers must enjoy a fine line in decorative accessories too.  Some John Derian would surely look rather well in the echoing, private corridors of the Vatican City?  (And goodness, he would probably enjoy picking up a piece of costume jewellery from our neighbour Maggie Owen, a sharp new winter jacket from Oliver Spencer or some cozy knitwear from Folk).

And then, of course, we have a rather more home-grown contribution to sartorial religious elegance, our very own archbishop. Here are the two old boys – can you spot which one has his hair cut in Canterbury?

Still, I’m not sure the gaydar protestors didn’t make the best scene of all, complete with golden angelic wings. A rather more exciting picture than my onion harvest. Have a happy weekend, god bless you all.

On Tuesday, as you will know if you follow this blog, Bridie and I reopen the doors after what can only be described as a new term reorganisation. We’ve metaphorically got a nice shiny new pair of shoes, put a new notebook and pencil case in our bags, and turned over a whole new shop!  Sophie and Jessica will be joining the team. And we’ve been hard at work sourcing a lot of new ideas and getting ready to open the expanded shop, including the new Utility Room.

I couldn’t photograph the utility room today because, well, it’s still full of builders’ ladders and goodness knows what. But I thought you might like to see the dahlias that I brought up from Dorset early early this morning… making our new window for a few days, and providing a rather lovely little moment in the back of the shop in the Hone Museum.

We hope you’ve had a good start to term too, and we can’t wait to see you on Rugby Street!

This weekend I was meant to be working. Tomorrow morning, Monday, my client will find out that I haven’t done the drawings that I promised to get down. Oh dear. The problem was the weather – it was too beautiful.  Sorry Michael – but I think you of all people will understand.

It’s been an amazing late summer week down in Dorset. Unfortunately I’ve been in a lot of extremely lengthy and tedious meetings all week, which made staring out of the window even more frustrating, as August slipped into a soft September and a first real hint of autumn rolled through the valley.

Anyway, yesterday morning I woke up with every good intention to spend some time at the drawing board. But as the sun rose through a pale grey mist, and the air warmed, I had a hunch that this was going to be the last beautiful day of the summer. A day, I am afraid, to spend outside, savouring the air, and the sound of wood pigeons, and harvesting the veg.

I’ve had a bonkers crop of pumpkins and squash; and it was also time to bring in carrots, onions, and maincrop potatoes. It was a perfect warm day to dig everything up. The squash have been baking for a week already, hardening off. And now I have carefully stored everything and taken it down to the cellar. Where, if the books are to be believed, everything will store beautifully until March.

Good bye summer. It is a funny thing, but just when we are ready, the season changes.

A while ago, I seem to remember writing about the simple pleasure of a grapefruit. Thank you to those of you who sent Bridie and me pictures of your simple pleasures.  On Monday, I had a similar little moment, looking at the laundry on the washing line.

Then that afternoon I planted the first of my bearded irises from Woottens of Wenhaston,  If I’ve got it right, they should all be different dark colours… black, purple, reddy brown… Watch this space in May next year!  Have you ordered your daffodils yet?  It’s strange, but rather reassuring, that just as I am taking the veg patch apart it’s time to think about next spring.

Did you have a good bank holiday? It feels a long time ago… a busy week down in Dorset.

I had 75 people round for lunch on the Sunday at the Parsonage, from the village and around and about, and in between rain and sunshine we had a fantastic time. At 5ish, everyone left, and a beautiful evening shone down the valley.

The garden had gone a little mad too, and I have been clearing it all week. The dahlias have been insane (pop in to the shop this week, I picked a massive bunch on my way back up). Here are some photos of a happy day.