Christmas Fair

I love going to gift events, I love the getting ready and the setting up, chatting to people and seeing other stalls.


Today I am going to a Christmas Fair in Surrey, which is being organised by the very lovely Lisa from Out of Love.  It's going to be fun to meet her at last as I have been tweeting with her for ages.

I went to bed way too late to be up an hour and a half before the alarm, but I have found my bags that I had mislaid last night.

If you are in Milford, Surrey today then do pop into the Out of Love Christmas Fair and come and say hello!  

I have lots of lovely gifts and home wares, stocking fillers and treats, these colouring books are my most favourite colouring books!

Memories

I have been really tired recently, not dead on feet tired or happy to nap tired, just tired - physically, emotionally, punctually, mentally!  You know that sort of tired?!  Yes, well then you will know what I mean!

I bumped into a friend outside school and she asked how I was and I said "oh so tired" and left it at that, later on that morning I rang that friend and said "can I have a hypnotherapy appointment please?" to which she of course was happy to oblige.  It was all booked in and as the date approached so did an email confirming it and saying how she was looking forward to seeing me.  I so nearly cancelled.

Thankfully I didn't.

I sat in her chair and we chatted, about lots of things and she asked me why I was there.  To be honest I wasn't sure but I said "because I am tired of feeling tired, I am tired of feeling I have nothing left to give and I am tired of always saying yes I can help when really I can't" all said with a smile and not a trace of negativity. I think I was asking her to tell me that I will stop feeling tired, that I do have lots to give but not all the time and that it's OK to say no.

Maybe that's what happened.

I find hypnotherapy a strange one and I can't explain it but after my snooze I felt calmer than I had done in a while.  Clare asked me to sit down somewhere comfortable, which was a chair in my granny's house in Warwickshire, she said look over the garden which I did and somehow the ha-ha led down to the bottom of my granny's house in Bath, where I watched the lights go off in a tall building.

Who knows what happened to my little mind but in a way I feel I recharged my batteries with memories of happiness, safety and security.  My two grannies were the most amazing people in my life and I call them my inspirations.  Sadly they're not here today.  

Last Wednesday I felt that they were really with me and they were hugging me tight on their laps whilst stroking my hair all the while saying "shush now little child, don't bother yourself, sit here quietly and when you're ready get down off my lap".

Maybe that's what happened!  I think it's OK to feel like a child sometimes.

Some photos ....

I've been meaning to share a few photos and create a photo album for ages, now here are some!

A friend made this fire surround for us years ago and when we moved we took it with us.  I dug it out of the shed and painted it, when I stepped outside to see how it was drying I saw my daft dog sitting infront of it!  He has no idea what a fire surround does but he clearly associates it with being warm, happy and loved!

 

 I started taking some bits outside to show off what I was stocking!  As you can see I stock lots of gorgeous gifts and wonderful items for the home!

When I first started talking about returning to The Original Present Cupboard a friend suggested painted arrows.  

This is one of the first ones that I did, it's very basic and rushed but I love the simplicity of it! 

I have a batch of orders so will settle down and paint some up soon!

How can you not love this?  A cashmere hot water bottle, a woollen envelope and a star saying Yummy Mummy, of course you can have your star personalised.

A tidy desk?  Well, it's not overly cluttered and  you can see everything and it's all beautiful!

A view of the shop some time ago, the dresser stays in the same place but I tend to move things around!  Keeps me on my toes if nothing else!

Another arrow!  I followed my dreams and started up The Original Present Cupboard.  Before that I followed my heart, did I really want to leave my job and start up my business again?  I followed my heart.

Cushions, cushions, cushions.  A seat is not properly dressed without cushions!

A few of my favourite things!  Black labradors, green and lavender envelopes, seeds for ideas and gardens and storage!

I picked up some chairs and decided to paint them for the coffee shop, then I added some detail and now I am not sure I want to let them leave my house!

I just adore these beautiful notebooks, covered in material they are a best seller!

Covered Notebooks £7.50

There is nothing nicer than a handwritten letter and what better way to make it bright and beautiful than with a fabulous card!  Priced at £2 each and printed in GB they are fabulous!

I like nothing better than the shop being open and the sun shining.  A shop on the farm in the woods!  A find!

I hope you will come and see The Original Present Cupboard soon, we can be found at Wysipig, or for more photos and chat we are on Facebook and Twitter 

I

A quick hello ....

The happy dappy days of summer have gone and it's now very wintery feeling!  Good!  It means I can wrap up warm with a hot water bottle!!







It has been an age since I have blogged and there is good reason!  Oh my oh my it has been hectic and I have been really busy!  I have had to be extra structured and disciplined working from home and as everything is made by or comes from people I know really well or have got to know over the years I have to make sure I make time for proper chats and not just a quick call whilst stirring the pumpkin soup/walking the dog/sorting out homework etc.

As you know you can find The Original Present Cupboard on Facebook (The Original Present Cupboard), Twitter (@MrsOrigiPresent) and at Wysipig, a pig farm with a butcher and a cafe deep in the Coombes woods in Aborfield, Berkshire.  The website is on its way!

The shop is open 7 days a week Monday and Tuesday 930 to 4pm, Wednesday to Sunday 10am to 4pm or by arrangement.

On the second Saturday of the month Wysipig holds an Open Farm Day where you can see the pigs and goats, farm machinery and enjoy a hog roast.

This Saturday (10 November 2012, between 10am and 4pm) it's the Wysipig Farm Open Day, Taster & Order Day and The Original Present Cupboard Gift Event.  For more details have a look at the listing on Stallfinder 

On Saturday 17 November 2012 The Original Present Cupboard will be joining a whole host of lovely stallholders at the Out of Love Christmas Gift Fair

I am constantly adding to the shelves of  The Original Present Cupboard and will shortly be adding a photo album.  In the meantime wrap up warm and keep smiling!

Nell x

October Open Farm Day - Hog Roast & Ice Cream

Saturday 13 October 2012 between 10am and 4pm is the October date for the Wysipig regular Farm & Machinery Open Day (the farm shop at Ellis’s Hill Farm, Sindlesham Road, Aborfield, RG2 9JG).

Learn about traditional farming methods, admire tractors, steam engine and vehicles of years gone by whilst seeing the pigs and goats in the farm, surrounded by the glorious Coombes woods.

Traditional and wonderfully tasty Wysipig hog roast.

Kevin the Master Butcher will be showing off his skills and tempting you with all cuts of pork, bacon and sausages, his chilli sausages are certainly worth a try!

The Original Present Cupboard offers beautiful gifts and home wares sourced by Nell including oils and creams from the amazing Lubatti range, Christmas decorations & stockings, handmade pet treats, door stops, bathcakes, notebooks, wrapping paper, cards, tea towels, aprons, plus much much more.  Personalised items are available to order. 

Nellie’s Wellies offers a selection of funky wellies, welly warmers and boot bags for men, women and children.  Wide sizes are available for those with generous calf muscles or bunched up jeans!

Muddy boots can be removed easily with a boot jack Decorated by Deryn

Cake Obsession will be returning with fabulous themed cup cakes and cakes to tempt you, as well as a delicious Gingerbread House to drool over, available to order.  Order early for Christmas!

Daisy Ices, a beautifully restored vintage ice cream van will tempt you with delicious flavoured ice creams and hot chocolate.

QGlass will be showing off some amazing stained glass window panels.

Brighten up your home with finds from the gloriously brightly coloured shelves of the very popular Shirleyz at the NEW Shirleyz at Home venue. 

Jack French’s Firewood offers dry seasoned firewood from pick up loads to net bags, providing a year round service, free delivery available on bulk loads!  Net bagged kindling also available.

Ample parking, entry is free.

Please note that the shop accepts cash or cheque only

Look out for us on Twitter  @Wysipig @MrsOrigiPresent @DaisyIces @Cakeobsession1 @qglass @shirleyzshop

Years and years ago

Years and years ago I was given an Abba album by my brother.  Years before that he gave me the 7" black record of Vienna by Ultravox and some popcorn, years later in a final act of kindness he gave me away when I eventually married a friend of his.

Sometimes I wish that I could freeze the picture ....

I adore my brother, he is 2 years older than me and has always looked out for me, sometimes it's through his fingers covering his eyes but he will always be my brother!  He placated mum when I got rusticated; he told mum I'd had my ears pierced; he once ran away when I thumped a contemporary of his at prep school.  Oh yes, he's my brother!

I always have sepia memories of my school days at this time of year.  The trunks would come out and we would sort out our school uniform, tuck and sometimes contraband.  I recall Mum driving us both to Malvern and we'd then set about starting a new school year!  Mine would be peppered with explosions of teenage love angst, my brother never expressed angst - only exasperation - possibly because I had the monopoly!

Now, years later and my own children are starting afresh in key stages and schools.  My smallest starts junior school where the other two had been, she leaves behind the comfort of the infant school that welcomed us when we arrived, crushed by the private sector and my old prep school.  The middle child goes up to the secondary school and joins the eldest who begins her GCSE years.  I admit I did shed a tear on the last day of the summer term as I dropped them to school! 

I hope in years to come my girls will look back on these days and remember their sisters with fondness and love.

School bag in hand she leaves home in the early morning ...

Team Gloriously Bonkers

I bought a second hand purple bike with a basket last month, I have always cycled and I love it, if it's flat  My lovely purple bike puts a smile on my face!

My husband on the other hand is what is known as a keen cyclist.  By keen I mean sort of obsessive, he wears lycra, his shoes clip into his pedals, he does "oh about 100 miles out with the club", he cycles up (yes UP) Watlington Hill, he cycled from Wokingham to Broadway, he once cycled to Bognor Regis with jet lag (more on that another time) and he has also done the etape du tour which is 95 miles up hill following the route of the Tour de France.  He cycled where Bradley Wiggins cycled!

I am not the most sporty person you will ever know, I am not even the least sporty person you will ever know, I am the most useless person in a sports quiz which frustrates my husband and makes me appear somewhat dim watching a Question of Sport.

In my youth I did some activities that are sports!  I used to ride (at the time I smelt more of hoof oil than Anais Anais - that'll date me), cycle (no public transport in the village and if you wanted to go out you had get there yourself), lacrosse (well the pitches were past the Boys Coll), squash (we used to get dropped off and then run back to the Boys Coll), tennis (well sort of dress up in a short white skirt and pretend) but hold on I ski!  

Skiing - what a great holiday!  I have no sense of direction and a very short memory so each time I approach a chair lift I feel it is a brand new one and each slope is new!

Being married to a Welshman I do get excited about the Rugby, I like the singing and I've actually been to Cardiff Arms Park (ok it was 23 years ago to see Simple Minds and Texas as the support act) and the Milennium Stadium.  I love the way that he supports Wales first and then anyone who is playing England second.  It's the way it is!

Big fella used to play cricket - despite playing it myself at prep school and being made to play it by my brother and all his friends I still had no clue, I could make cricket teas and drink Mount Gay rum, I have met Courtney Walsh & Sid Lawrence at Hurst Cricket Club, I met Bev Bevan at Rowington Cricket Club (where I also met my husband) and often drive past the Somerset ground in Bath.

See what I mean, I really am clueless and am useless in a pub quiz BUT and it's a pretty big BUT I am emotional and loyal and so totally into the Olympics and after the Opening Ceremony who doesn't want to be part of Team GB?  That's Team Gloriously Bonkers in my mind!

Wasn't the opening ceremony just such a wonderful snapshot of our crazy little island, an island of history and a wealth of quirks and characteristics that put a smile on our faces and such pride in our hearts.

I have goosebumps as I type this, I am a hugely emotional person and to see those Olympic greats bring home the medals makes my heart swell with pride and yes I cry.  I cry great big fat sobbing tears.

As I said I am no sporty person, I am just gloriously bonkers and proud and I can say in years to come "2012, I was there!"

I was there in Richmond Park for the cycling, my husband and girls were there for the hockey, they were there for the Time Trials, we were there glued to our seats, we were there as we screamed and cried and hugged each other and above all we were there and we are here,  we are part of that small crazy island and its achievements has put a smile on everyone's faces.  

Pretty much like my bicycle puts a smile on my face, but on a larger scale.

Harvest Open Day

The second Saturday of the month is the regular Open Day at Wysipig the farm shop at Ellis’s Hill Farm, Sindlesham Road, Aborfield, RG2 9JG.

Saturday 8 September 2012 is Harvest Open Day, between 10am and 4pm there will be the wonderfully tasty hog roast and Kevin the master butcher will be showing off his skills.

The Original Present Cupboard's shelves will be groaning with beautiful gifts and home wares  sourced by Nell Pritchard-Gordon from her talented friends and Twitter followers including handmade pet treats, door stops, bath cakes and notebooks plus much much more. 

Nell has also brought together a selection of her fabulous friends for the event ~ Lickety Split a travelling sweet shop, Claire with her wonderfully themed Cake Obsession Harvest cupcakes from and display pieces from Quintessential Glass .

There is plenty of parking and a warm welcome guaranteed!

We look forward to seeing you!

Are you a hoarder?

I was asked this week by a very dear friend if I was a hoarder and I said yes!  


However after 48 hours in the company of a friend's daughter (who is really rather lovely and isn't as stern as all that despite being queen of clutter clearing) I embarked on the mind blowing Phase II of clutter clearing and sorting and tipping and charity shop dropping and giving away and clearing and cleaning and and and and (you must get the picture by now) I can now say "I am Nell and I used to be a hoarder".


Unfortunately the rest of the family haven't caught up and they are still trailing around leaving everything where they feel it should be, whilst I have turned into the Meryl Streep character from the fabulous Lemony Snicket's Unfortunate Series of Events film and see disaster at every dropped hair clip!


I am longing for my mother and step father to come for a visit, it normally entails my mother tutting and sniffing and my steppa marvelling at how much useless stuff I can hoard for a rainy day!


We've had more than enough rainy days and nothing has been useful so it's all gone!  
Gone gone gone.  


I am hoping that I will remain strong and it wont start creeping back in, if it does will you remind me that the 'must have bargain that I can't live without' has to serve a useful purpose.


I've emptied the house of everything and have actually sat down and read a friend's Growing Spaces blog and marvelled, the perfect excuse to go shopping for storage!  I've also found a pile of books to keep me on the straight and narrow  (Dawna Walter, Judith Wilson) AND I now have a coffee table, ok so it's a coffer, which this week include  my favourite books from the wonderful and talented (of course I'm biased) William Yeoward.


There's so much more room that I can now share my 80s dancing techniques with the children, they are understandably not impressed but it clears the room!  Bonus!!


See you again soon!


Nell x

Camping in Berkshire

The Farm Shop is open Wednesday to Sunday 10am to 4pm selling my favourite ~Present Cupboard Loves~ every aspect of pork, as well as serving teas, coffees and cakes.  Do follow us on Twitter @Wysipig

Put a date in your diary for Saturday 14 July 2012 which is the July Open Day!

You could always make a weekend of it and pitch up a tent, have a look at the Camping Berkshire website http://www.camping-berkshire.co.uk/.  You can follow them on Twitter @campberkshire

The farm is surrounded by The Coombes (http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/4067) which is a wonderful place to walk and lose yourself in peace and quiet.

I do hope you will find your way up to the Farm Shop soon, be sure to tell us how you heard of us.

More smells

As soon as I publish a blog I think I should have added in something else!  Bear with me, I'm new to blogging and clearly have a lot to learn!

Following on from my Smells blog I wonder how many have you have said "well where can I get lavender cream?".  I am very pleased to announce that I am a Consultant for a Jüstrich Cosmetics.  Please do browse the website and if you are in the Thames valley then contact me via the website to book presentation of Just ~ Swiss herbal bodycare  products.  If you do order anything and are prompted for the consultant code then my code is NPG2012.

Smells

As I write up this blog I can see and smell the beautiful stocks I picked up from Wokingham Market this morning.

Smells are very important to me.  I am sure my heart flips when I smell baby powder as it brings back the memories of those gorgeous little toes and the gappy smiles of my children.

Lavender is one of those smells that calms and awakens me.  What a bonkers thing to say, but it's true!  Lavender is well known for its calming qualities.  My children went through stages of bad sleeping and it drove me to despair.  Many years before the children rocked up I was invited to an Aromatherapy party.  Oh!  I am so glad I went!  My bonkers children had to sleep!  I would run a chamomile bath, wrap them in a warm towel and when dry, before the 'warmed on radiator' PJs I would cover their toes, ears, back of neck, chest and back with lavender cream.  Sleep.  Lovely sleep!

To say lavender awakens me is well yes I know daft!  However, lavender reminds me of two wonderful ladies who are sadly no longer here.  My father's mother was at home in the garden in Rowington wearing a quilted jacket stuffed full of mints incase a horse escaped and she needed to catch it!  My mother's mother was a girl about town who used to change for supper.  Those were the days!  Both of them had a bowl of lavender and would squidge the fading blue as they wafted into a room - smelling of mint, baby powder and Ellnet!

These two very strong ladies inspire still.  I am useless at flower arranging yet spent hours watching Granny Sheldon arrange the church flowers in Bath, I was too impatient to knit anything other than a square cotton dishcloth yet used to sit for hours watching Granny Pritchard-Gordon embroider.  I think they'd be proud of me, if only for my love of smells!

I am very lucky that The Original Present Cupboard  stocks beautiful bath oils and body lotions from Lubatti, their bottles evoke memories and the scents are divine.

Fabulous finds and fantastic friends

As I mentioned in the first blog  The Original Present Cupboard  has been around since 2006 and over the years I have been very lucky to meet some wonderful people and I'd like to think you'd like them too!

Many many years ago when my smallest was a tiny baby I went to a gift fair to see a friend of mine and ended up meeting Harriet from Hunter Gatherer who has been one of the funniest friends I have met.  In time I might just share the tale of our first gift event!   The Original Present Cupboard  stocks Cinnamon scented kindle cones and Bowlovers which are both amazing!

A great friend and blogger middleagedcred suggested I join Twitter as I was struck down with flu (not just small flu but big huge 5 months off work flu) and there'd always be someone to talk to at silly insomnia o'clock.  Oh how I laughed, chatted randomly and got to know many Tweeters.

One of my earliest Twitter meets was with Georgie Newbery The Flower Farmer who is fabulous, has a black labrador and a terrific sense of humour.  I love treating my friends and loved ones to gifts and gorgeousness and the flowers are a classic example of a gorgeous gift!

I have spent many hours tweeting and therefore I felt I had earnt myself an addict mug available from Name Art; a number of my friends have been given these mugs and we proudly sip our coffee from ours at the shop.

Another tweeting friend introduced me to his girlfriend Claire and since then she has made some fabulous cakes for me including an Girls Football Team cake (the girls were totally amazed by it), bowler hat cupcakes for my leaving do, some fabulous piggie cupcakes for Open Farm Sunday 2012 at Wysipig .  I'm looking forward to the cupcakes for the July 14 Open Day at Wysipig as well as the birthday cake for my eldest!

Also through Twitter I got to know Gabriella from Moobaacluck who made the wonderful Open / Closed bunting for the shop.  I could spend hours looking at her website and many of my friends and the childrens' teachers have been blessed with a handpainted personalised gift.

If you are looking for a hogroast for an event or would like to order some pork then I can't help but enthuse about Wysipig.  I have blogged about them previously but without them I'd not be able to have a shop!

Wysipig and the July Open Day

The Original Present Cupboard is very lucky to have a shop on a farm in the Aborfield countryside.

On  Saturday 14 July 2012 Wysipig at Ellis’s Hill Farm, Arborfield will be having its monthly open day, between 10am and 4pm.

Visitors will be able to sample the wonderful range of pork products including master butcher Kevin Turner's tasty sausages and bacon.  Audrey French, the proprietor, will be on hand to share her knowledge of food and cooking with helpful hints and advice, together with details of future events and the company's weekly home delivery service .

Visitors will be able to relax and enjoy a hog roast roll, teas and coffee; cakes from Warings bakery as well as some themed cupcakes from Cake Obsession. 

The steam engine, vintage tractors and vehicles will be on show and visitors will be able to see the pigs and goats.

Wysipig is at Ellis’s Hill Farm, Sindlesham Road, Arborfield, and more details can be found on the website at Wysipig.co.uk and on Twitter @wysipig or by calling 07774 989362.



SPECIAL ATTRACTION
Furniture repair surgery by local specialists ‘Traditional Restorations ‘will be taking place on the farm demonstrating techniques and giving quotations for small items or arranging appointments for home visits.

The Original Present Cupboard ~ a new chapter

Hello there, you've found this blog so thank you!

The Original Present Cupboard has been around since 2005, when Nell decided to add something else to the chaotic mix of 3 children (aged 1, 5 and 8), a busy husband, an overgrown garden and an ancient cat.

After a completely bonkers change of magnum wearing neighbourhood policing direction, I returned to what I love best ~ gifts and gorgeousness ~ in the shape of  The Original Present Cupboard .  The children have matured a few years and only one of them is smaller than me, the busy husband is still busy, the cat is even more ancient and to add in a bit more barking there's a daft dog.  The garden is less overgrown but like everything else it needs time!

The Original Present Cupboard can be found in the Farm Shop at Wysipig thanks to my fabulous friends who breed pigs on a farm that evokes many childhood memories.  The Original Present Cupboard  website is coming soon, do follow us on Twitter @MrsOrigiPresent

The  Farm Shop is open Wednesday to Sunday 10am to 4pm selling favourites from  The Original Present Cupboard every aspect of pork, as well as serving teas, coffees and cakes.  Do follow them on Twitter @Wysipig

We look forward to seeing you soon!