Present joy

Pomona's cottage seems to be becoming a bit of a bloggers' retreat at the moment - not only did the lovely Barbara ramble along from her English garden for a little holiday last month, but also this weekend I had the pleasure of meeting Emma from Silverpebble and Mrs Thrifty Household when they came to stay in our B&B.

It was lovely to meet them both and sit about and chat while the Head Chef rustled up supper and generally slaved over a hot stove, but what was even more of a delight was the present that Emma brought for me. As you may well know, Emma makes the most beautiful jewellery, and funnily enough, just before she arrived I had been dropping broad hints to the Head Chef about the acceptability of some of her jewellery on the present front . . .

Actually, they were more than broad hints it was more like 'Emma who is coming to stay makes the most wonderful jewellery and if you would like to give me a present (no, maybe it was more definite than that, more next time you buy me a present (eg Christmas)) you could (no, ought) to look at her website. She makes it all herself, you know, and it is just so beautiful . . .'

The Head Chef just looked bemused, because for him presents are impulsive things - no, not even impulsive - a present is a stress purchase, and it's no good, I have tried sending him the links in emails so he just has to click on them, but he doesn't even have a Paypal account, so that cuts out Etsy. (But come to think of it, he did manage to find a pig trailer and order it online, and a man turned up with it the very next day, and I have never seen him so beside himself with glee . . .)

[The weekend before Christmas he will go into town to buy me a present under pressure from Princess Bunchy, and they might get some bits and bobs she likes from Cath Kidston because it is one of her favourite shops, and he will remember to get some bars of Green and Black's 70% dark chocolate from the supermarket because he likes having it in the fridge and I eat the odd square (except by Christmas I will probably be trying to cut down and go to the gym more to eradicate the winter midriff) and he will also buy me a bottle of Neal's Yard bubble bath, as he has done for the past I don't know how many years, and a bar of Neal's Yard soap for Princess Bunchy to give me (and I do like Neal's Yard, but a surprise would be nice, except the surprises are often not so good, and have to be taken back after Christmas, and I get consumed with guilt for being so ungrateful . . .). And how could I not enter into the spirit of things when last Christmas I was given the most expensive present I have ever received from the dear Head Chef - I am sure that I am an object of envy being the recipient of a Caframo Ecofan to sit on the top of the log burner and improve the warm air circulation in the house so that I will never again be chilly in winter, and that is why I didn't have the usual little bag of treats as who could want anything else when they have an Ecofan, and anyway it must be better to have one expensive must-have gift, rather than a quantity of cheap fun . . .]

So wistfully I went back to ironing the sheets and then blow me down with a feather, Emma arrived bearing the most wonderful present - one of her beautiful handmade necklaces with vintage beads, and a lovely little knitty badge, all packed up in a silver-tissue-lined birdie box. Christmas come early and even better, because Christmas could bring a log splitter or heaven knows what sort of exciting gadget (it may help you to know that the Head Chef's most treasured possession is his log pile, and I wasn't here this morning when he showed our two lovely guests around, but I would be surprised if it did not include the ceremonial viewing of the wood stacks). [And come to think of it, I bet you if I expressed a desire for a Denver boot to fit a trailer wheel, I would definitely get lucky.]

So if you want to see more lovely jewellery, go and visit Emma at Silverpebble (I especially like her new Nature collection), and for thrifty hints and tips Mrs Thrifty Household is the person to visit, especially if you want to see nasturtium seeds in a new light.

And if anyone out there wants to give me a nice gift for Christmas I could send you a link . . .  but for the present I am joyful.