From Russia With Love...............

Nothing could have prepared me for what my trip to Paris had in store for me.....I thought we were going Christmas Shopping! We set off on the 9th December and John said we were staying overnight and to pack a bag...so of course HOW excited was I?! Thinking we were breaking the journey because of the distance from here...and the traffic. He took me on a Fabulous sightseeing drive around the stunning Paris by Night...the Christmas lights were spectacular and I got all emotional as we ended up parked right infront of the Eiffel Tower,all lit up-it was Magical....

The traffic was crazy and most of the photos have a blurred edge to them as I used my I-phone as we whizzed from lane to lane & around huge free- for -all roundabouts.....wheeeee!

We passed the famous Department Store where we have found so many Antique treasures from & sold them on our site in the past-Les Galeries Lafayette-their exterior Christmas decorations were amazing!...

and on and on we travelled...until we reached the Tour Eiffel-what an awesome sight in the dark!..

and after walking the dogs underneath it and all around we finally grabbed a bite to eat & collapsed into our Hotel room bed,Dita parked neatly between us and Esto padding & panting around the room all night like a Tiger (he hates Hotel rooms).Dita on the other hand in total contrast calmly climbs on the bed,crosses her front paws like a lady,grunts and goes to sleep every time without fail, usually with a huge sigh of contentment! She knows when she's got it good!

Next morning the surprise continued and I expected we were heading for the City Centre,but no-we were heading for Charles de Gaulle Airport....Terminal 2E to be precise....to collect my Christmas Present which was coming in from Moscow????

and as we waited.....a delightful young Lady came walking towards us pushing a Large trolly with an equally Large Flightbox on it which contained my dream come true......a Cropped Eared Dobermann Puppy from Russia who just happens to be Dita's niece! Wow! Never in my wildest dreams did I think this would ever happen but I have the most beautiful little girl called Dashuta........who is just 5 months old! John certainly knows how to spring a surprise!The best Xmas Pressie he's ever given me-I'm over the moon!

Her ears just need a little support for a while by way of gentle taping with plaster-which is taken off regularly and replaced & then she will look like her stunning illustrious Father-International & Russian Champion Sant Kreal Zvenislav...........

and her mother Russian Champion Gera Russkaya Dusha....

and so we came home with this gorgeous squidgy squashy puppy and just a day later I had to leave her with her daddy & go back to the UK for a week for my gorgeous Granddaughter's 3rd Birthday Party!!......it was all go,go,go.......
I landed at John Lennon Airport and spent three days with my parents,shopping till we dropped in Historic Chester......what a beautiful City it is....

we had to stop for refreshments to re-fuel,this Xmas shopping lark is hard work!....a Long Hot Chocolate & toasted teacake went down very well,especially with my mum!

Teacakes are a luxury we don't find in France....more's the Pity...I LOVE them!As you can see-mine was literally the size of my plate!

then there were the droves of people to wade through to get even close to shops so we  took retreat for a while in the calmer Arcades full of Christmas Decorations,pretty stunning we thought...

Street Sellers & Artists were out in force-this Sand Sculpture I thought pretty Spectacular & popped a donation in the talented Italian's hat for his sheer brilliance....!

And so we shopped till we dropped & stopped later for good old Fish & Chips on the way home-ooh,another Luxury we've had to give up living in France!

...it's all Moules & Frites here..(Yuk!)
But it all had to come to an end and after another busy four days with my son & Family and darling Granddaughter Princess Erin with her Birthday Celebrations I had to bid them all Farewell & fly back home to France.......and now I have to catch up with Listing some new goodies to tempt you with,always a pleasure as I love my Work!
It will soon be that Special day on December 25th,so may we take this opportunity to wish all our valued Customers a very Merry Festive time-thankyou you all for your custom throughout the Year and hope to see you again in the New Year 2014!

Bleary-eyed & Blurred Vision............

It's getting harder & harder to drag ourselves out of bed at stupid-o'clock in the hunt for Treasures,and to be honest we have enough stock put by to warrant a lie-in at weekends,but it's the thought of  tracking down that elusive piece of  France that spurs us on.....and a few Espresso's later,I'm usually awake......I tend to fall out of the van at whatever destination we arrive at.....and can't seem to focus straight away.........!

 Aaaagh!

France has too many tempting Patisseries-I am slowly munching my way into another dress size-and no amount of walking around Brocantes is going to cure it.....but when you havn't had time for breakfast,and a lovely Festive Window entices you in......it's hard to resist!

and then when you get inside and bump into THIS guy,it kind of brings you to your senses.....

Yes-I've been good,I've been Very,very good! ....(except for the Tarte au Citrons......)

We travelled to three different Brocantes in three different areas this last weekend......and gradually,from being frozen to death at 6.00am, began to thaw out as the morning went on-it was positively beautiful by dinnertime with the wonderful blue skies....

we found lots of new and interesting things,many of which will trickle onto the site over the coming week. We bumped into an Antique Dealer friend of ours on our travels and he passed me these delightful Tiebacks out of the back of his van-I had bought a bagful from him the previous week when we'd met up to peruse through his latest stock and he'd forgotten to show me these in the depths of his van....so he'd saved them just for me!-they're just so LUSH! 

We delved into our saved Treasures this past week and have listed most of our Stunning Church Altar Bougeoirs...we thought them very Festive and quite in keeping with this Emotive & Religious time of Year...

The Enamelled Piece is really something quite special..

the detailing is Amazing....

And so I'm working hard in preparation for a few days off next week.....to go Christmas Shopping...apparently .....I'm being taken to...... PARIS!!!!! (Woooooooh Hooooooo!)-Can you tell I'm excited?!!!

So I will remember to take my Camera ......and until Next Time...Au Revoir!