The Sickeningly Twee Trend of Grow-Your-Own

About five years back all the posh periodicals decided that growing your own veg wasn't just for grannies & muddy outdoor types. Suddenly weekend magazines included tips on carrots & marrows a few pages after the latest on high street Botox.

I think the whole fad was deeply effected by article writers' memories of the completely fictional world of the British sitcom The Good Life.

With the recession yet another wave of grow-your-ownism hit the media, when in actual fact the time you have to put into the pastime is not economic at all. That's why we have farmers & Tescos, right?

Looking after vegetables requires work & that's why it's little old ladies who potter in their gardens, and not stockbrokers with a patch of broad beans on the go.

Anyway, it's a fun hobby to try out & this year I have grown from seed tomato (green pots with flamingoes) pea (not pictured) and courgettes (yellow flowered plants).
I've spent about 50 hours in total over the months potting, repotting, watering, tying them, and so far not ONE vegetable or fruit.

Anyway, in my little Poundstretcher greenhouse I've just planted corn, lettuce, watermelon & strawberry. Late in the season for planting, but wanted to give them a go anyway.

Sickeningly twee.

American Food... From Germany

My inbuilt need to be weird even stretches to the kitchen, I'm afraid.

I'm the kind of shopper if I see something remotely foreign or new on the market, I'll buy it before I buy a pack of Cookstown Sausages.

My husband despaired as I raided the Polish Food Shop in Belfast last week, but if you don't look you might miss out on something amazing. Also Kraft & Nestle still sell some old products abroad that they discontinued here, for example I got Cheetos in that shop.

I also love imported American junk food. I bought a haul from Candy Pirate two years back, but for whatever reason UK food importers charge insanely high postage to Northern Ireland, despite us being under Royal Mail. Shipping for half a dozen items cost £30 from England to NIreland.

Anyway, the next American snackfest was during our trip to London. There's a fabulous shop in Covent Garden that stocks all that stuff.

I stumbled on www.americanfood4u.de last week however. A German site that charges in Euros, and only charged €9.90 to ship this lot.

Mountain Dew Voltage, Poptarts in Cherry, Cookies&Creme, Hot Fudge Sundae & Chocolate Fudge. 3 bags of killingly hot crisps & Cookies&Creme Jello.

Kitsch Suburbia 3

Now this is true kitsch. Yes it's a big house, but not huge enough & way too Northern Ireland located to warrant a host of full-sized Grecian statues.

In the tradition of kitsch being the overdressing and fussiness of the ordinary, this home in Armagh City has been given a rather bizarre Greek God makeover, with half a dozen white robed figures dotted around the very Northern Irish garden.
True accidental kitsch, and worth me pulling over the car at the side of the road for a sneaky snap.

Vintage Rocks Hair Parlour

Local ladies and gents, I recommend you all swing by Vintage Rocks Hair Parlour, South Belfast, at least once in your life, to step back in time & step out with a new hairstyle.

If you're anything like me, you'll make it your regular salon from then on.

Owner Clare is a LA trained hair stylist who can recreate up-dos and vintage waves from any era. She can also do a mean, modern cut, I've got a sharp inverted bob the past two visits and I love it to bits.

Vintage Hair Rocks isn't just fabulous because the girls are so skilled at what they do, the salon itself is a real treat.
Tattoo inspired art and pin-ups provide the background to your pampering experience.

They also cater for gents' styles, or you can get your other half a gift voucher for a unique experience.

www.vintagerockshairparlour.com

Photos by Jessica Weber and Pete Moore.