Nuts For Life

I was lured into this new coffee and nut shop on Chiswick High Street by the enticing cupcakes on display in the window.

Cupcakes seem to be having a bit of revival. I see them all over nowadays. I had the coffee flavoured one and it was delicious, really moist. There is something about these cupcakes that make them seem grown-up, yet retain their childlike fun. Both shopgirls said that the vanilla one was their favourite, so that’s what I’ll be having next time I go.

The shop is a salad bar of nuts: raw, flavoured, roasted and coated. They also do dried fruits, muesli, cakes and coffee.

Pink Panther Music Box

I found this little treasure in Paris some time ago when we were rushing to find the kitchenware shop E. Dehillerin. It was in a shop window full of curiosities that caught my eye and after the kitchenware we came back to browse. The naked music boxes charmed me instantly – the only difficulty was deciding on which song to get. But there’s something about the Pink Panther theme and the clear plinky plonky sound that is just made for each other.

I love the fact that it’s unadorned: the exposed machinery looks beautiful, and it’s fun to be able to control the music’s speed as you turn the little handle. The sound is amplified when you hold the music box against a flat, resonant surface like a table or cupboard. Little kids love it.

Looking for music boxes online while writing this, I found this wonderful music box that plays happy birthday and comes with a blank score and a punch so you can compose your own tune. I’d love to make a special tune for my sweetie.