My Coach Legacy Handbag

I do love a good handbag.

My beautiful Coach handbag

 I first discovered Coach bags when they had an outlet in Harrods, this was pre Millennium.  I bought a couple of lovely bags and purses (still in use) during the sales.  I was very disappointed when they closed their concession, and for several years Coach bags were no longer available in England.

Coach bags became a real treat for me, to be bought by my husband  on business trips to the States.  About 12 years ago I went on one such trip to California with him and he bought me a very beautiful, simple tan bag from the Legacy range.  I was delighted with it, the gorgeous Legacy bag quickly became my favourite handbag, so you can imagine my horror when, just two years later,  I brushed against some (unlabelled) wet paint, and the front of the bag was ruined.

I looked up the instructions that had come with the bag and they seemed to say not to use anything on the very traditional leather.  So I sadly put the bag away.

It was such a joy to me when Coach returned to London, the flagship store being in Bond Street.   I love to go shopping in Piccadilly and Bond Street,  when I had to go to do some important shopping (Rose Pouching tea from Fortnum and Mason) I thought I would dig out my poor old bag and take it along to Coach.  They might just be able to recommend something.

The staff in the shop were so helpful and kind.  They whisked the bag away and said they would see what they could do about it.  I left them contact details.

A few weeks passed and I received a phone call.  The bag was back and ..... the paint had gone!

I went up to London to collect it, and as you can see from the before and after photographs it's was as good as new.

I was completely delighted with the bag, and with the service from this shop.  I had no receipt from the original purchase, but all Coach bags have indentifying features and numbers, so the company knew it was one of their bags.   The problem was not in the manufacturing of the bag, but they still dealt with the paint, and there was no charge.

Sometimes it is worth spending a little more money on a handbag,  in this case I think I was also paying for superb after care.

Thank you Coach for such wonderful service.

Coach bags are now so popular, and over the years I have added to my collection, but I love getting this bag out every summer and using it.

My poor bag, with dreadful white paint on it

And it couldn't have been in a worse place on the bag

The bag when I collected it from Coach

It is perfect, I am really delighted 

Just in case anyone wonders, this is my own experience and I have not received anything (apart from First Class Service) from Coach.

Ham and Petersham

We're fortunate in the Ham and Petersham, to be the greenest electoral ward in Greater London, we have Richmond Park to the north, and Ham Lands with Petersham Meadows to the south, boarding the river Thames.

The water meadows are my favourite place for a walk with the dog, and to go foraging in the spring and the autumn.

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The tow path is an idyllic way to walk into either Richmond or Kingston.  If you choose to go towards Richmond, you will pass Ham House, the ferry to Marble Hill, and River Lane, which will take you to the Petersham Nurseries or the Dysart, should you be in need of a delicious meal, some gorgeous flowers, or maybe a certain Shabby-Chic item for your home.

I love walking or cycling into Richmond.  In the spring and the summer  the cows are in Petersham Meadow.  They are looked after by the National Trust and spend their winters in Surrey.  The Belted Galloways have been chosen for their gentle nature and placid attitude.  I miss seeing the nursing cows, who were there years ago, but sadly a few irresponsible dog owners caused problems,  these gentle creatures are a wonderful substitute.

If you are ever visiting Richmond, than take the walk in the opposite direction to me. Follow the river  from town to Teddington Lock, though you could do as many do,  stop at Ham House, take the foot ferry across the river, and walk back along the other side.

Have you ever taken this walk?  Which season was it?  Maybe you're a local and can recommend a hidden gem.  Do let me know, in September I intend to write some more in-depth pieces on this gorgeous "country in the city" part of London, which I am lucky enough to have called home for the last thirty years.

Cooking by the Coast - Book and PDF For Sale!

I'm delighted to say that my book is available to buy, both as a book and a PDF.

I wanted to share a link with you today, as Blurb (the publishers and bookshop) have a 25% discount for the remainder of today and tomorrow.

If you want to buy a copy you need to use this:  Code:DREAM25

Even with the discount code, the price for a book is quite high, so I have also made it available as a PDF, which you can buy and download to iBooks.  It works beautifully on my iPad and would be useful in a holiday kitchen, as well as meaning that you would have one less book to pack!

The link to my store front in Blurb is at the top righthand side of this blog.

Happy Shopping.

The PDF fills the screen of the iPad, and is easy to scroll through.

Cooking by the Coast - A Shopping List

One of the things I wanted to include in my recipe book was a shopping list, but the cost per page, meant it was something I saved for here in the blog.

When you arrive in France, for a self catering holiday, tired from a long journey, and perhaps staying in a new place, with shops that you are not used to, it's still essential to stock up.

You have several options, one is to visit the local market, which is great fun, but perhaps best saved for a day when you're less busy.

Secondly you can visit the little shops in town, and practice your French, I love doing this, and there is always someone who can suggest a new and interesting way to cook something.

Or you could visit a supermarket.  We do a combination of all three on holiday, I have to admit that the supermarket is usually my first port of call, for that initial large, stocking up shop.

This list is by no means definitive, but is a start, and I hope is useful for you.

A Shopping List

These are some of the more specialist ingredients which feature on my first shopping list of the holidays in Brittany.  (Most are available in the UK too)

Eggs (Free Range, Organic ) Les oeufs de poules elevees en plein air, biologique

Yoghurt (Glass Jars – Goat, Malo) Le Yaourt, (bocaux en verre,  Chevre, Malo)

Buttermilk Lait Ribot  (also Babeurre)

Chicken (Free Range, Organic) Poulet eleve en plein air, biologique

Lardons

Seafood Le Fruits de Mer

Fish Soup Soupe de Poisson

Rillettes (jars of fish pate)

Croutons

Rouille

Tinned: Duck, Sardines Tuna, En Conserve,  Canards,  Sardine, Thon

Jars: Artichoke Hearts, Olives Pots: Coeurs d’artichauts, las olives

Jams, Honey, Chocolate/Nut Spread  Confiture, miel, Chocolat et Noix

Plain Flour La Farine

Bread Flour Farine de Pain

Buckwheat Flour Farine de Sarrasin

Baking Powder, Bicarbonate of Soda, Levure,  Bicarbonate de Soude

There is a huge selection of Breton Biscuits, Caramels (both sweets and liquid spreads), Cider, Water, even a Breton Cola!

In Brittany you will find a range of locally produced seasonal vegetables and fruit (see the book for more details about vegetables).  The breton strawberries are amazing, as are the other seasonal fruit available.

I have not included all the usual things such as washing up liquid, soap powder, kitchen and toilet paper, matches, tin foil, coffee, tea, milk, butter, cheese, ham etc etc

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Many products in Brittany carry the 'PRODUCT EN BRETAGNE' (made in Brittany) symbol, featuring the white light house, with the sea behind, all within in a bright, yellow circle.