Of mugs, memories and spotty stoves

Ahhh, a loooong weekend. We were out and about walking Spot in the Beach, and sharing a cupcake from Life Is Sweet when I was stopped in my tracks by a mug in a shop window. Yes, a mug. It's from Emma Bridgewater and just feels so perfect for this time of year, no? Plus, I want to remind folks to treat themselves and buy a lovely mag at a news-stand. They cost as much as a primo coffee, but with way less guilt attached, and a much nicer kind of inspiring buzz too. Did you know that a magazine's cover price in no way reflects the real cost of what you're holding in your hands? Hmmm, well, that's another story entirely.

I have a total crush on Emma Bridgewater's gear. Her 'I had a really nice dream last night about Daniel Craig' tea towel is a fave prezzie of mine to give (but as we know I have a bit of a tea towel problem, lol). Emma has hooked up with Aga to produce a stove covered in her trademark spots, in celebration of the firm's 300th anniversary. Isn't it a stunner? My only Aga stove memory is from when I was a kid. I was invited over to a friend's house where we sat at the kitchen table and had hot buttered toast made on their Aga, served, very chic-ly I thought, on little wooden boards instead of plates.