Rochester! A lovely city!

On Saturday I drove all the way down to Kent, I had never driven that far before and I had never been on the motoroway! I can't say I liked the M25 very much, but now I have done the journey I can go and visit Flo of Thoughts Of The Common Reader more often.

We arrived in Maidstone, had tea and flapjack and then decided to go over to Rochester which is really close to Maidstone. We parked up and the first thing I saw was a place called "Mrs Bumble's Tea Rooms". What a great first impression! We headed up the high street and stopped in front of an interesting looking shop. I had noticed what I think was a sewing box which was a stool as well. "We'll go in here it's looking good already" we thought! Little did we know what we were in for!

Field Staff Antiques. Oh my what a wonderous treasure trove! I asked permission to take a few photos so I could post about it and got chatting to the lovely lady behind the counter and a gentleman she was talking to. They even told us about the best places to stop for tea and cake!

We looked through old postcards, cabinet after cabinet of jewellery, vintage clothes, handbags, suitcases, crockery, glassware, tins, and look at those beautiful scarves all tied in bows up the staircase! It was wonderous. We were pressed for time unfortunately but if we had more I can guarantee I would've spent hours in there digging around through the vintage clothes and handbags and jewellery and tins. You can see me taking the photograph in the mirror on that last one! I didn't even realise. I will be braving the M25 many more times in the future!

My first tag! I'm rather excited!

I've been tagged! For the first time ever, i'm so excited, tho i'm not sure who to tag as I don't have many friends, here goes tho!

Here's the rules:

1. Respond and rework: Answer the questions on your blog, replace one question that you dislike with a question of your invention, add more one question of your own.

2. Tag eight other people.

Here goes...............

What is your current obsession? Shrinkles. Remember those? More about those soon!

Coffee or tea? Definitely tea, the name should say it all. I don't drink coffee as I get migraines.

What’s for dinner? Mmmm lasagne

What would you eat for your last meal? Oh jeez, I don't know. I love food. Probably roast dinner, Lamb preferably.

What was the last thing you bought? Food shopping. Last off the conveyor belt was baking potatoes I think.

What are you listening to right now? Wimbledon coverage.

What is your favourite piece of clothing in your own wardrobe? Black velvet 80s jacket with sequinned shoulders. I don't wear it v often. Its a bit much really lol.

What is your favourite ice cream flavour? Ben & Jerry's chocolate fudge brownie.

What do you think of the person(s) who tagged you? I don't know her very well but i'm very excited about any blog friends. And I appreciate being tagged.

If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would you go? This is a toughy too. Probably Southwold Harbour Inn sitting outside in the sun with a nice cool glass of pimms and my Chris.

Which language do you want to learn? I'm rubbish at languages so I have no desire to put myself through that again!

What is your favourite colour? I love colour, so to pick one is pretty difficult but if I had to it would be pink.

What is your dream job? I would love to make money from being an artist and creating what I enjoy. One day I really hope this could be true. I do love lecturing so I think i'd do some of that too. As pocket money (haha!)

What is your worst habit? worrying! I am a big worrier!

If you had £100 now, what would you spend it on? Vintage finds!

Do you admire anyone’s style? I admire loads of people's style, check out Lookbook.nu I get lots of inspiration from there.

Describe your personal style? I think someone I know could describe it better than me. A friend's partner once said 'how does Jess manage to look like she's covered herself in super glue and jumped into her wardrobe and still look good?' i've calmed down a lot since then! I think I just look like me.

What are you going to do after this? From looking around I think I better tidy.

What are your favourite movies? Currently, Che Parts One and Two and Amelie. I've seen a lot of really good films this year.

What is your favourite fruit? Pineapple.

What inspires you? Englishness, domesticity and the countryside.

What's your favourite book? I don't really have a favourite. I love Haruki Murakami and i've not read a bad Persephone so far.

Do you collect something? Too many things, vintage homewares, old tins, fabric

If you could change your name to anything, what would you call yourself? I actually really like my name. I am Jessica which I do like, but I think i'm definitely Jess. Sometimes Jessie, i'm not a big fan, but it depends on who says it.

What is your favourite smell? Bed in the morning. Or a warm cat (yes for you non cat people I know that sounds off but I hope you cat people will get it)

What are you most proud of? Finally finding my own style and liking what I create.

How many times do you press the snooze button before you get up? I press it once if I do it at all, I do tend to get up tho, i'm quite the morning person.

Cats or dogs? Cats. In a big way.

What’s your biggest fashion mistake? When you've been as bonkers as me when it comes to clothes the list is endless.

Complete the following: Love is… for us, never arguing and being constantly silly and not feeling stupid for it.

What is your guilty TV pleasure? Oooo i don't know. Dolly Parton!

What are you reading currently? Marianna by Monica Dickens

What did you want to be when you grew up? A geologist, a teacher and a journalist.

What is your biggest regret? Not doing a textiles degree. But I wouldn't be so well rounded a lecturer now had I not done a fine art degree. So i best get over it.

Tag! You’re it:

Strolling Sue
Blueberry Park
Thoughts Of The Common Reader
Claire Palmer Designs
Debbie's English Treasures
Sal's Snippets

Play along if you fancy it, don't worry if you can't be bothered.

A New Blog To Read

My dear friend Flo has begun a new blog for me to read and any of my lovely readers who wish to as well. If you are out there friendly blog readers 'hello!'.
Thoughts Of The Common Reader" is a blog devoted to the author Virginia Woolf, her life and her books.

Flo has decided to read Virginia Woolf's books in chronological order and discusses her reasons for partaking on this 'mission' and her passion for the author and her writing. I will say no more as you really should go and discover the blog yourself, and I wouldn't like to steal Flo's thunder.

I'm sure her posts will be very interesting reading, she strings a sentence together better than me for a start!