25.5.11

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




21 comments:

  1. What a find! I love maps and she is a beaut! I wonder if my little island is on there??!!

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  2. Melissa, I'm so jealous...what a fantastic map...the colours are great...specially Australia...I could go on...and on...Robx

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  3. Wait? You mean America *isn't* the biggest in the world?! ;)

    It's a gorgeous map. My husband would be most jealous. He is a map collector--the older, the better.

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  4. I have always wanted a wonderful real looking map just like yours. Lucky you finding one. Clearly it was meant to be. Are you staying in that school house? It's such a beautiful place, what wonderful adventures you will have there. I'd love to live in a house like that. So much wonderful character and charm. I do hope you all enjoy your time away and come back with fab photos to show us.

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  5. OOO! I love the map. We have a giant one of Australia, all the way from the classrooms of '67, hanging in our study.

    And thank you for the tea... just what I needed. Sniffles are visiting us at the moment and I find the steam and herbs are the perfect remedy. gxo

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  6. Can I come travelling with you? It sounds so fun, and I'm so lazy about trip planning! Thanks for coffee

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  7. oh my goodness it's wonderful!!!!
    xo,
    LuLu

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  8. Oooh, lovely map! Totally jeal ;)

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  9. i'll have a mint & spice moroccan tea Melissa please!
    i love that map, wow, I have been looking for one aswell.
    it's beautiful.
    have a wonderful day & thanks for the tea ♥

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  10. The map is a truly wonderful find! As for the famous five adventure, both I and the Captain are envious. We are serious Blyton fans here! x

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  11. Oh, Sweetie! Just fabulous. And to think I had one very similar when I lived at home which hung on my wall for all of about 20 years and I threw it out when we married and moved to Sydney as it was faded and a bit tatty! Sigh. I'm now on to the hunt, too. J x

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  12. Hi Melissa! Thanks for the blog love! I am so glad you came over and commented because I just love your blog and I probably wouldn't have found you otherwise!
    Great map! My husband would be so jealous. He is a history teacher and loves maps!
    Looking forward to following along on your travels!

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  13. oh, this is what i have been looking for as well. i don't necessarily care exactly what it is--but would like a map of the world, old and faded and lovely like this! what a treasure! hahaha...i know all about the grimace of pain your husband gave you...i am quite sure i have seen it on my husband's face many times! : ) have a wonderful time on your road trip, i trust you will return with lots of pictures and stories to share with us so we can travel with you virtually! your kids are so lucky melissa, what amazing experiences you are giving them!

    maybe you can keep your eye out for a job for my husband out there on the other side of the world--and we can go on these adventures with you! i honestly just told him to start applying for jobs anywhere, even out of the country and i'm not sure i could really do it if it came down to it, but if it wasn't for you i would never ever even consider it, not even for a second! thanks for inspring so many of us! XXXXX

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  14. So beautiful!! It definitely shows why they used to say that "The Sun Never Sets on the British Empire" :-)
    Blessings,
    Marcia

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  15. Apparently Blogger and
    I have been at war as
    it's not let me comment
    on many blogs for many
    days now!! So glad I
    figured away around it ~
    I'm tricky that way ~ and
    made my way here for an
    herbal cuppa! I'll have
    the Morroccan, please : )
    We are so on the same
    wavelength. I'm doing the
    herbal teas, too....AND,
    I've wanted one of these
    school maps for ages....AND
    the post that I'm currently
    composing is full of the
    word serendipity! Hope your
    trip is fabulous-o, Melissa!
    xx Suzanne

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  16. Love the map. Thanks for stopping by Beach Cottage Good Life Wednesdays and adding your link.

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  17. That map is stunning! I WANT one! It is perfect for mapping out adventures and looks amazing the wall!
    I am so excited about your road trip on your behalf! When we lived in Oxford we did a road trip up into Scotland... what happy days! We hired a van and popped our bikes in the back... we camped and visited quite a few pubs and sights along the way up.... and back! We stopped and cycled around the Lakes District on the way back home, visiting friends in Ludlow on the way back to...... what fun!
    Have a wonderful time dear, thank you for bringing back some happy happy memories!
    I am sure you will make some very happy ones of your own! X

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  18. Ooh I'll have the mint tea please! I love minty Moroccan tea. That's a fabulous map. You know, I've been looking all over for a map of Southeast Asia...or even Asia in general...and for the life of me CANNOT FIND ONE. There are maps of Thailand. But not Asia. So frustrating. Now that map you have there, though, what a find!

    Thanks for the tea and lovely photos as always! Love your new header.

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  19. Well done, quite the find! My fella's American so I am always hunting for a nice map showing all the states, and I wouldn't mind a UK one to go with it, so we can both learn a bit more geography (OK I admit, his geography is pretty good, it's mine that needs the maps!)

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    ReplyDelete

Thanks for taking a moment...x

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