a virtual coffee...

tuesday...tuesday...catchup coffee time...love it....
love having you here...on the pink chair....
i have something very lovely & vintagey & *been-on-my-list-a-veeery-long-time* to show you...
right today i am serving herbal tea...
i know, it may not be your thing...
but summer {is apparently} coming to this side of the globe & that means some summer holiday plans are going to involve swimming, frock wearing, makeup free days, that will need some very good, healthy, simple clean skin on show...
so my friend *sweet fennel* -revive & revitalise or *mint & spice- morocco*?
i'm doing the sweet fennel, as i've still got the school pick-up & after school stuff to do...

see that map there?!?!
fab isn't it!
i have been on the hunt for an old *British Empire Map of the World* since we moved here...
a truly vintaged, been-in-the-classroom, english school map...
this is it...
The London Geographical Institute map of the British Empire from 1940...

i know...it's gorgeous isn't it...
even herbal tea tastes better looking at this lovely...don't you think!?
i actually love herbal tea...
it's just not something i'd serve over a lovely little escaping-get-together like this...
it's not banana muffins & a creamy indian chai...but it's good for us...
so drink up gals...
and so...back to the map please...
we were heading to London as you may recall *here*
my big ol people mover loaded with kiddos & my gorgeous brother & sister-in-law from Oz...
& my gorgeous, patient, calm, understanding, loving partner in life...my husband...
& as we headed out of our village...there outa the corner of my eye...i spotted her...!
hanging outside the very shop that i sell my rows of bunting through!!

serendipity my friends...
i used the big doe eyed look on him...the patient husband...
he smiled...actually it looked a little more like a grimace of knowing pain...
but i recall someone smiled...
& he was lovely & pulled over for me...
i ran in...yanked her of her hook & a deal was done!
they would keep her looking lovely in their shop window till we returned from London...
& i would swap her for a few long rows of bunting & a veeery teensy little amount of money!
P.E.R.F.E.C.T

did you notice that we are having a kit-kat with our herbal tea?
i know...it's not particularly in keeping with my show-off-the-healthy-skin-it's-summer-theme...
but you were due...
i'd not made anything special...
it was there...staring me down...
anyway...shoosh...& eat up...
once it's gone we just won't mention it again...right?!

so...the reason i have been longing for a proper old school map...
is that we travel alot...in fact we've probably ruined out kids for life...
they'll have to go back to *back-packing* at some stage with their mates...
at the moment...they see the world & we foot it all...
the love & luxury of being a child...
but we wouldn't change it for the world...
so...due to all this travel, the kids have a fantastic grasp of the world...it's geography...the lay of the countries & how to travel across them...
we've even challenged them to plot out a trip home from england to australia by car...
it could be done...maybe...!?

so...this map has been searched for...to replace an american, totally slightly out of proportion one that we had hanging above the dining table & the kids computer table...
America, on the previous one, was so large that the rest of the world kinda seemed a second thought...
Canada was enormous...
Greenland was huge...
& Australia didn't look quite so vast & empty!
we are now on track...it's a classroom version!


so...we have spent this past week, map on wall, planning our little half term adventure...
to the outer Hebrides, off the top of Scotland & the Isle of Skye...to Raasay...
{go here for the school house on Raasay}
a week of *famous five* adventures for the kids...
fishing & crabbing with pots in beautiful bays...
a road trip up through two countries...england & scotland...
a total getaway from phones...laptops...work...jobs...
& now all mapped out on a vintage school map...
of course some countries names have changed...leaders of those countries have come & gone...
but now our children will learn *how* the world has changed...
using this old map & our new globe...
comparisons will be made & they will learn without even realising that they are learning...
a bit like herbal tea & kit kat...you know that being balanced without realising we are being balanced thing ;)

so...with only a couple of days to pack, shop & finish sewing up orders...
i'm gonna leave you staring at my gorgeous map...pot of herbal brew in hand...
take your time...
hands off ;) ...
call if you need me...
i'll be upstairs throwing kids clothes into bags!

thanks for all your comments & emails on *a weekend lovely*

i'm going to get a linky party set up every sunday/monday after we return from 

making memories in the wild wonderful school house we love in Raasay

xox 

~~~

thanks, as always my lovely friend *amy from lucky number 13* for hosting us all today with  our herbal tea {blah blah}
&
to the inspirational *sarah from a beach cottage* for her good life wednesday lovelies...

x