Cheeky Pink Tulip: May 2011

I love PINK

Not the singer, the colour.

I'm 27. I'm a serious girl and whilst in the past I would never admit to liking the colour pink (because in all honesty, I didn't that much) something mysterious has happened and I now get all giddy in it's presence. I don't own any pink clothes and my nails are never adorned with the hue but when I see it on a blog, in interior design or on a (cup)cake I get all giddy inside. So for your viewing pleasure, my current favourite things that are pink:

The Secret of Success is Support

Is there a colour that sets your heart a-flutter?

Honeymoon, where for art thou Honeymoon?

We need to book it. And kinda fast.

My initial thoughts were to go to the States (seeing as the euro has a fabulous rate against the dollar these days) and get a whole lot more bang for our buck. I was thinking a road trip round and down the central west coast (San Fran to LA with a bit of Napa Valley and Yosemite National Park thrown in) topping it all off with a few relaxing days on a Hawaiian beach.

I love the states, no doubt about. Our trip to Florida, almost 3 years ago was the best holiday of my life (skydiving, swimming with dolphins, Universal Studios - minus the queues - and deep fried plantains) and I continue to believe you can't go wrong with a holiday out there. And that way, we get a bit of city, adventure and beachside relaxation all rolled into one.

But the Mister wants something a little more exotic then all that. I agree. This is the one holiday in our lives where we're entitled to go absolutely all out. Extravagant, over the top, no holds barred opulence and luxury. Anywhere in the world. I've always been one to make life lists and get them ticked off. I've done well so far - ticking quite a few off during our Florida trip and I don't see why our honeymoon should be any different.

If we're going down the exotic route, these are my requirements:

Go scuba diving.

Swim under a waterfall.

Aromatherapy-esque spa treatments. I want to smell like coconuts.

Unparalleled breakfast buffets. Must have pancakes.

White sandy beach (complete with swinging hammock).

Volcano or jungle hike and/or kayaking/white-water rafting activities.

If we're going somewhere with elephants, I want to ride one.

Not a deal-breaker but if there are ancient temples, that would be nice.

I'm a barrel of fun, aren't I?

So, I've narrowed it down to the following locales:

FIJI
Land of a thousand islands

Matangi Island Resort


Liku Liku Lagoon - The only resort on the Fiji islands with overwater bungalows

THE MALDIVES

Home of the over-water bungalow and under-water spa

Huvafen Fushi

Cocoa Island Resort

TURKS AND CAICOS

Caribbean Dream

Point Grace

Seven Stars Resort & Spa

HAWAII

Just like in the movies

Mauna Lani Bay Hotel

Hana Maui Hotel

THAILAND
Typically beautiful in every way

Six Senses Yao Noi

Rayavadee, Krabi

COSTA RICA
Because I love coffee that much

Finca Rosa Coffee Plantation & Inn

Ideally, I would prefer somewhere off the beaten track. Somewhere with a little more privacy and a little less golf course. Reasons why I'm leaning towards Fiji.

Some of the sites I used to consider honeymoon options:

Conde Nast Traveller

Brides Magazine
Five Star Alliance
Mr and Mrs Smith
Unusual Hotels of the World

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Where would you go? Have you been to any of the above? Any tips?

Plight of the Honeybee

They’re disappearing…

I’ve been thinking long and hard about what my first post should be. Seeing as spring is finally in full swing here in Athens, I thought it most appropriate to talk about my passion for all things bee. I always thought when I’d move back home I’d set up my own hive in my back yard and make my very own honey – urban style. And now I’m home. Spring is here and the bees are out.

I became a little obsessed with honeybees after visiting the absolutely charming Hive Honey Shop on Northcote Road over a year go. The shop sells honey and honey products from all over the world as well as from their own hive in residential Wandsworth. I never knew how common urban hives were! Their Wandsworth honey is positively divine and the reason for urban honey being so good is the variety of flowers on offer thanks to the numerous parks, gardens, wasteland etc in London and of course, most cities. You can read more about the rise in beekeeping in London here.

However, I wasn’t aware until now how endangered bees are and indeed how important they are to our every day lives. I ordered a bunch of books from Amazon and I even signed up to attend a beekeeping course via Urban Bees in Battersea, London. I wanted to help the bees.

They really are quite the irresistible things – they help to pollinate beautiful flowers, fruits and vegetables and they make a gorgeous natural sweetener which is both beautiful in taste and colour (not to mention it’s health and beauty benefits). As a by-product of the honey-making process, beeswax is used for numerous things not least of all to make gorgeous pure candles. And last but not least, bees live an admirably disciplined and hardworking life, one which we could all learn from.

What’s not to love? Next time you see a bee, put the folded newspaper away and take a moment to stop and appreciate its beauty, its skill and its hard-working nature…

I’ll keep you posted on how I get on with making like a bee and getting busy setting up my own hive.

Books about Honey & Bees

The Hive: The Story of the Honeybee and Us by Bee Wilson

I would recommend this book to absolutely everyone whether they’re interested in bees or not. It is thoroughly fascinating in the way it chronicles how bees and honey have influenced human life in the areas of work, sex, politics, food & drink, and life & death through the ages. Very easy to read and dip in and out of, but it will keep you hooked with it’s charming illustrations and photos and the author’s passionate foodie voice shining through.

Robbing the Bees: A Biography of Honey –The Sweet Liquid Gold That Seduced the World by Holly Bishop

Honeybee Democracy by Thomas D. Seeley

The Wisdom of Bees: What the Hive Can Teach Business About Leadership, Efficiency and Growth by Michael O'Malley

A World Without Bees by Allison Benjamin & Brian McCallum

**They have a bee-keeping course available in Battersea. Visit the link here for more info

Books on how to set up your own hive

Beekeeping: Inspiration and practical advice for would-be small holders by Andrew Davies

Collin's Beekeeper's Bible: Bees, Honey, Recipes and Other Home Uses by Philip Et Al McCabe

Guide to Bees and Honey: The Best Selling Guide to Beekeeping by Ted Hooper

Meditation and the Art of Beekeeping by Mark Magill

The Bad Beekeeper’s Club: How I stumbled into the curious world of bees and became (perhaps) a better person by Bill Turnbull

Resources in the UK and US to learn more about bees and to attend beekeeping classes

Urban Bees

The Honey Association