eau natural...

It was only a matter of time before someone came up with an eco pool - Natural pools, a clever, chemical-free mix of water garden and swimming pool. Biotop, an Austrian company dreamt up the idea and over the last 15 years have spearheaded their development.

The idea - Water plants foster the growth of beneficial microorganisms that kill bacteria and keep natural pools clean enough to comply with the EU's strict water quality standards. The plant portion, or regeneration zone, is separated from the swimming area by a wall concealed below the water’s surface. Sunlight heats the water in the regeneration zone naturally, and the warm water gradually filters swimming area. Synthetic pool liners keep the whole thing from leaking

The pools cost $$but in the long run save you $ and the environment.. it takes a while to get around the idea of swimming your lengths with the odd frog and water lilly obstructing your progress BUT its well worth it I think!

Biotop via.

suspened btw the earth & sky...bliss

Unbelievably the sun keeps shining here!

If like me, you love escaping to the bottom of the garden or any other 'space' come to think of it then what better than making yourself comfortable suspended between the earth & sky in a hammock.

Hammocks come in all shapes and sizes & even come free standing - no trees needed!

Anthropologie's tranquil paradise hammock via. 78 uk sterling - MY PICK

Crate & Barrel's hammock via. bargain buy $29.95

Royal Botonia free standing hammock available via. $11,787 usd

&... hammocks come for babies too!

everybody out....

Long may the sunshine last pleasssseee ......

The UK is being blessed by wonderful weather at the moment and what better excuse than to show you some more stunning images to inspire you all to dine outside...

This is the second time I have blogged about al fresco living. In the first blog entitled 'inside out' back in February I wanted to inspire you to venture outdoors - to live under the stars..

This time around it is primarily to whet your taste-buds a little more to the marvels of dining out with some stunning images I have found...

keeping it in the family.....

The sun continues to shine here in London and it makes work seem all the more pleasant!

Whilst, in the process of transition I am busy helping my aunt at the Chelsea Flower Show.. CFS claims to be the number 1 flower show in the world, and it is quite impressive even for someone like myself who knows absolutely nothing about flowers!!

My aunt, ok if truth be told my step-aunt - always the coolest, arty one of the family has been exhihiting here for the last 5 years and whilst I might sound a little biased - her work is phenomenal and she deserves all the praise and accolade that is now coming her way..

Here is a taster of what she does...

www.jennypickford.com

wish list........shepherd's huts

Who said you had to travel a long way, to get away??!

I love the idea of having a shepherd's hut as my hideaway - and it needn't be more than a few meters from my front door to give that sense of escapism.

Historically of course, the shepherd's hut offered a very different type of escapism, allowing the shepherd sanctuary from the driving rains and freezing temperatures as he tended his sheep for long periods of time. Widely used throughout England and Wales in the latter centuries the hut was a basic structure with a corrugated iron roof and windows either side to allow the shepherd to keep an eye on his flocks. It would have been simply furnished with a small stove to keep him warm.

Today the choice of decor and style of hut is all about comfort and part of the fun is deciding how you would like to put your personal touch to your new home BUT at a cost...... Sadly, they are not cheap.

For further information have a look at The Shepherd's Hut Restoration Company, Plankbridge based in Dorset the setting for Thomas Hardy's Far From the Madding Crowd... or Artisan Shepherd's Hut who have some stunning ideas.

If your budget doesn't quite stretch to purchasing your own hut but, you like the idea of escaping and experiencing a couple of nights under the stars there are various places that now offer this getaway - In Devon you can stay at Sellerswood Farm, near Lyme Regis on the coast or why not try Hill Farm which is in Southam, Northants.

Images borrowed from Hill Farm, Artisan Shepherd's Huts, Cotsworld Shepherd's Hut and Plankbridge

when it rains it pours...

It seems that my home city Buenos Aires, has turned monsoonal over night... and with weather related stories hitting the wires every day from all over the world, one can safely say that something has gone a little 'loco'.

Perhaps, if we looked after our planet a little better then these extreme weather events would not be quite as devastating and wouldn't occur as frequently as they are now doing...Come on, let's not just look the other way, we need to act NOW to try and save the planet, no-one else is going to do it.....lecture over.

So, in the meantime preventative measures are called for and what better excuse that to join the welly brigade!

I have spotted more than a couple of portena fashionistas ( fashionable ladies from Bs As) donning their wellies in the shopping centre, out for lunch and wait for it, I even spotted a couple of pairs in a night club the other night!

Wellies are for everyone, and with styles and colours to suit every taste it is now becoming a considered purchase.

The festival scene (think Glastonbury) is leading the way in welly fashion and even the original 'don' of all wellies 'Hunter', not wishing to lag behind in the welly race, has come up trumps with their new 'festival collection'..

Feel free to laugh out out loud at the ridiculous, but believe me, many $$$ will be spent on the rubber accessory in the months and years to come.

Personally, I am more of a bare foot girl at heart but with a little persuasion I might well join the welly brigade too, I'll keep you posted!

ps - ok, I didn't see any wellies in the night club! but I'm not ruling out that possibility.

Hunters from 65 uk sterling