Have you entered our Spring competition yet?
Simply ‘like’ our latest post on Facebook to win a perfectly kitsch gingham collar and lead set worth £60.00.
One lucky winner will be selected on 02/04/12…good luck everyone x
bill and eddie follow
Bill & Eddie love…Porth Farm Cottage, Cornwall
Last week was the long awaited mini break with Seldom Seen Husband and the dachshunds. To break away from our usual trip we took a leap of faith and booked a self catering cottage (yes, this meant we were cooking!) in Mawgan Porth, just a stones throw away from the beautiful Porthcothan Bay which bewitched us on our last visit.
The cottage was picture perfect with wide ranging views of the sea, underfloor heating (the dachshunds like their comforts) and an open fire. And boy did we need that fire as come day two of our trip the Cornish drizzle descended complete with a howling wind which meant a cosy night in with a bottle of red and the occasional ’debate’ over who let the fire go out (him, not me).
The days passed by pretty much the same which was just fine by us. Long lazy beach walks, big lunches, afternoon naps and gourmet feasts in the evening with the odd walk out to Mawgan Porth’s uber glam hotel The Scarlet for a glass of Camel Valley or two. A must do if you and your best friend find yourselves in this part of the world, is a trip out to The Gurnards Head in Zennor. The drive alone is worth the trip (big barren stretches of coastline with views sweeping out over the Atlantic Ocean) but the real treat at the very dog friendly Gurnard is the food. Locally sourced and ever changing the menu is a real treat and as for the lemon posset, I could happily die now I have tasted theirs!
The thing that struck me most about Mawgan Porth was how much soul it has. It may be smaller, quieter and more reserved than it’s bigger sister Watergate Bay but I think we spoke more to the locals on our 3 night break than we do our neighbours here at home. From fellow dog walkers to farmers, shop keepers and hotel staff we were bowled over at how friendly people were. It may be a tiny village but it has a whole load of soul!
Pictures: No. 6 Porth Farm Cottage & Porthcothan Bay
A place to stay: www.5and6porthfarmcottages
A place to eat: www.gurnardshead.co.uk
A place to drink: www.scarlethotel.co.uk
To keep away the chill today I brought my two loves (aside from my dachshunds) together and ate a piece of cake whilst trawling through the village antique / bric a brac shop. Don’t get me wrong, I’m the first to be found pouring over the latest edition of Elle Dec and I covet a nice bit of Conran as much as the next person. But just lately it’s dawned on me that the things that really make my home are a bit ragged around the edges (a little like SSH!).
There’s something really heart warming about finding something that you know nobody else will have. It’s that little piece of you that gives a lot of soul to your home - exactly like owning a dog.
It’s no surprise then that most of my trawls often result in a dog-related purchases, be it a nostalgic Cecil Aldin drawing, a tiny brass 1930’s dachshund or simply this little ceramic terrier chap that I found today. There was just something in that face that made me smile and has made me keep smiling all day.
I find it hugely reassuring that in the insanely fast social media world we live in, it can still be hugely enjoyable to just take an hour, walk the dog, browse a bric a brac or simply eat a piece of cake. Who knows, one day I might just put a few of my treasures on the website and share the love with some of you - who I know are just as mad about dogs as I am!
So treasure your finds and treasure your dogs people, and if you see something you think I’ll love out there you can always drop me a line!
Amy x
And the winner of our NY competition is…
We are thrilled to announce the winners of our New Year competition as Helen Wilde and her Beagle Bunty.
We were inundated with such lovely entries that we’ve been sat at HQ trying to pick a winner all morning. In the end Helen won hands down for her soulful reflection of the laughter and joy our beloved dogs can bring to our lives. Here is Helen’s entry in all it’s winning glory:
“she is my confidant, my companion, a fellow adventurer, a short, stout forever happy, tail wagging puppy of joy, she’s the reason I smile and the reason I laugh at least once an hour, she’s my alarm clock, my burglar alarm, my hot water bottle, my consumer of leftovers and most importantly of all… my best friend”
Helen Wilde.
Photos of the lucky Bunty to follow once she’s received her prize.
Thank you to all of you for your entries - some made us laugh, some made us cry (seriously!) but all warmed our hearts and showed just how much you care for your best friends.
Amy x
Bill & Eddie love…Watergate Bay in the winter
In my humble opinion, wild bracing winter walks do not come much better than the stretch of North Cornish coastline that is Watergate Bay. Almost two years ago we scattered the ashes of our beloved Labrador Bill on this very beach and so coming back here is always a little like coming home.
On a bright and freezing January morning it’s best to come here in time for sunrise (still hovering around the 8am mark so very do-able even for one so slovenly as me!). If you can get down to the beach to say hello to the sun you can always pop in to the Beach Hut for a warming cup of coffee – they do pretty delicious breakfasts too if, like us you don’t need any excuse to tuck into a full English on a weekend and the best thing, you can take Fido in with you.
Watergate Bay was one of the first dog friendly places Seldom Seen Husband and I discovered together (when we first started dating and I quickly realised I had inherited a black Labrador to boot!). Memories of gorgeous coastal drives and big expanses of ocean will always be intertwined with the smell of a rather damp dog panting on the back seat of our very impractical sports car.
Five years down the line, that very silly sports car has morphed into a much more practical (if, ahem, boring) estate and in it sit two very naughty dachshunds who often have SSH wondering if there exists an Erasmus scheme for dogs somewhere in the world where he might trade them in for another beloved Lab. Our carefree whimsical dating days have too morphed into a rather more chaotic, tumbling and raucous romp…which only owners of dachshunds will be able to bear witness.
So not a stress free weekend once you take into account Eddie chasing a jogger, Alfred peeing on some poor child’s sandcastle and the pair of them being very cross with every large dog that passed us by, but this will always be our little piece of heaven…just with a small helping of sausage dog thrown in these days for good measure!
Have you entered our New Year competition yet?
For a chance to win a luxury dog hamper containing a handmade leather lead & collar, lambswool blanket and ceramic dog bowl (worth over £200) and organic treats for the entire year ahead simply email our lovely HQ at info@billandeddie.co.uk and tell us why you think your best friend deserves to win.
A lucky winner will be selected on Mon 16th Jan.
Good luck everyone x
Crazy weather here in Clifton but some stunning scenes at Ashton Court yesterday as SSH and I dragged out the last of the holidays with a winter walk with the boys.
The city dogs were not too happy when the rain hit but it was well worth a soaking for these views!
bill & eddie love…
a FABULOUS winter sale!
The turkey’s been eaten, presents unwrapped and carols sung, now you can get up to 50% off in the Bill & Eddie sale.
This is our biggest sale to date (we’re in a very generous mood!) so take a leisurely peek online at the savings to be had and maybe treat Fido to that sweater you’ve been promising him all year…I’m sure he’s been a VERY GOOD BOY!
Much love & happy shopping, Amy x
bill & eddie love…
Battersea Dogs & Cats Home
With the weather getting colder and thoughts turning to Christmas we have decided to partner with the lovely team at BDCH and launch our Give a Little, Care a Lot campaign.
For the month of December we will be donating £2.00 from every order we receive online. We’re hoping to raise as much as we can to help the centre buy Christmas dinner portions for the dogs in their care this year.
We will also be sending a parcel of fleece blankets next Friday (16th Dec) to go a little way to keep the dogs a little cosier over the holidays so if you think you can help with either of these donations please get in touch with us.
email: amy@billandeddie.co.uk
call: 0117 973 6929
It’s double trouble in the office today with our guest dachshund Byron.
…If only I could train them up to pack parcels!
