Wild swim
July 14, 2009
Good news! Elle Decoration, July Issue, has voted my blog as one of the best style blogs on the web: ” British style journalist Jane Cumberbatch’s blog is a feast of gorgeous photography and inspiring ideas, on everything from Ercol furniture to making shortbread. Her style is simple, relaxed and recession-friendly”. I’m in sartorial male blog company too, from Mr Peacock who offers tips on how to customise an Ikea sofa, to James Andrew a NY designer who dresses as hip as his surroundings and Jonathan Adler who’s mad about blue.
It’s sweatingly hot and steamy in the city but at Hampstead Ladies pond , spreading trees shade this North London oasis and swimmers become part of nature as they move between floating water lilies and small fleets of ducks with ducklings. It’s my first ever dip here, and it feels like heaven, so peaceful, and even though the dark water seems eerily bottomless, it is fresh and free from tangled weed.
Ben and Jerry’s or Haagen Dazs might be what the teenagers prefer to spoon into their wafer cones, but I live in hope that student budgets or even ennui with the packaged stuff, might nudge them towards making their own ice cream. It’s dead easy. See my latest YouTube for proof.
As all bee experts will testify, the global bee population has recently entered a catastrophic decline, in a syndrome despairingly known as “Colony Collapse Disorder”. Thriving bee farms are being turned overnight into ghost towns as workers mysteriously desert their queens and everyone is quoting Albert Einstein to the effect that if the bees go, the human race will perish four years later. Well you wouldn’t think there’s a buzz crisis in Tulse Hill the bees are positively crowding out my pom pom thistles and lavender bushes in their pollinating and honey making efforts. In fact, this year. Nevertheless, I’m going to do my bit and offer up a quiet spot by the shed to host a hive a brilliant initiative for urban beekeepers who need more space.
I’ve been communing with more bees at Das Kransbach spa where you can get stuck into some serious treatments or idle away the day in buzzing and knee tickling Alpine wild flower meadows. The boxy hives passed on the walk home are the source of sticky golden chunks of honeycomb for breakfast. Just as energising for the soul are the sublime rooms designed by Ilse Crawford and the simple back-to-nature saunas, and pools that lull guests into bliss. No spartan spa this is, either, with delicious cakes on trays at teatime.
Comments (16) Tags: garden, home cooking, Simple, summer
Congratulations to you for your nomination! I too love your pure style and like your books!
Comment by Marjolijn | July 14, 2009 @ 7:43 pmMany greetings from Belgium, Marjolijn
Congratulations!
I haven’t even read to the end of this post yet, but I just have to pass on the good news about student ice cream up here in Edinburgh:
We have just finished a superb tub of vanilla ice cream made by the student son of my mum’s neighbour – he made it in such quantities that they have been giving it away to anyone who would take it!
Comment by Floss | July 14, 2009 @ 8:20 pmCongratulations!
Comment by Shell (Wildflower Studio) | July 15, 2009 @ 12:00 amThat is so scary about the bees! I had no idea it was THAT bad.
Your spa time sounds incredible! I definitely need to look into that!
Be well,
Shell
Lovely to have your July update! And congrats on the well deserved accolade.
Comment by Viv | July 15, 2009 @ 11:16 amSounds wonderful. I am certainly going to give your ice cream a try.
Comment by Anna R | July 15, 2009 @ 3:21 pmAnd I have also noticed all the bee activity in my lavender garden – we must all do what we can. Thank you for the reminder.
Congratulations! I love the simple style of your blog. Usually when reading style blogs I skip to the pictures, but you write so well that I eagerly await your next entry.
Comment by Louise | July 16, 2009 @ 10:35 amDear Jane,
A good thing Elle Decoration have chosen your blog you totally deserve this award ! I read on the Nordjlus blog that u were busy preparing a new book, can’t wait to see and also saw pics of your house, which looked amazing.
Comment by liz | July 23, 2009 @ 11:36 amSo what’s happening over in Olhao and the place you are renovating ? I am off to Portugal in August spending two weeks in Tavira from 10 August and then going onto Seville and Barcelona. If by any chance u are in Olhao at this time and you would like to have a galao and a pastel de nata sometime I would love to meet u, otherwise wishing u a really wonderful summer and keep up the lovely work
liz (from Paris)
Congratulations. your style is very inspiring – i’m just going to clear clutter and throw out and paint everything white!
Comment by carole | July 23, 2009 @ 11:38 amCongratulations!
Comment by Caroline | July 24, 2009 @ 7:16 pmWe sadly just had a hive destroyed – but not by our choice. They were living in our water main by the street, and since that’s technically city property, they came and did whatever it is they do to make sure the meter reader doesn’t get stung to death. They never bothered us. Poor things.
Came here from Keiko’s blog and I am glad I followed her links. You have a wonderful blog. No scratch that. Your blog and images are just amazing!
Comment by Helen | July 25, 2009 @ 3:01 amCongratulations on Elle Decoration’s nomination! I just posted photos of your lovely London home….you are an inspiration.
Comment by vintage simple | July 27, 2009 @ 10:41 pm-maria
Oh my gosh you have a blog! I read you books religiously! So happy to have found this space!
You are a huge inspiration to my work and everything I do!!
dallas
Comment by Dallas | August 5, 2009 @ 6:03 pmhttp://dillydallas.blogspot.com
Oh my… I love you blog!! Just found it via Dallas Shaw’s blog – dillydallas.
Congratulations on being one of the top design blogs via Elle Decorations!!
(Although I’m new to your blog, it’s an absolute *feast* for the eyes and mind. I love it!!)
The bee situation is scary to me … thank you for the link on starting your own hive.
oh yes … and the spa sounds like heaven!!
Comment by Teresa | August 13, 2009 @ 4:00 pmHi Jane
Would love to know when you will start blogging again. I really enjoy how you write and what you talk about.
Cassandra
Comment by Cassandra | September 18, 2009 @ 9:45 amI don’t know If I said it already but …This blog rocks! I gotta say, that I read a lot of blogs on a daily basis and for the most part, people lack substance but, I just wanted to make a quick comment to say I’m glad I found your blog. Thanks,
A definite great read..
-Bill-Bartmann
Comment by Bill Bartmann | September 22, 2009 @ 4:34 amCongratulations to you!
I know there’s a bee issue, but you wouldn’t know it by the looks of our place either. I guess we’re doing our part to keep the bees happy.
I recently came upon your book Pure Style Outdoors, and it’s been fun. I googled for a blog this morning and found one! I’ll be back!
Comment by Carole | October 2, 2009 @ 5:22 am