Works every time.

Obvs they have to be ‘real Lancashire’ Eccles cakes. Not to be confused with Chorley cakes.

New cards available in the shop. Big thanks to the lovely Miss Smith for gracing the shop with her talent.

Tonight is Brits night.  I won’t be watching. It’s on ITV and there are some things that one just can’t do.  My Brit goes to this girl. For hair alone.  True talent.

After a rather strenuous week, it was needed. Figs, banana and pumpkin seeds = big thumbs up. Syrup and pancakes = well it’s not every day is it.

Flower markets remind me of christmas tree purchasing. You pick up something a little bit interesting, that the guys don’t like perhaps. And next minute everyone wants the same thing.

Put these two together – they make a lovely couple.  I did try to think of a lovely couple but struggled….Elisabeth Taylor and Richard Burton? Wills and Kate? Adele and Karl Largerfeld – as I said I’m crap at this game.

Enjoy the sunshine.

Ah, another Valentine’s Day, and don’t you think The Gossip have it nailed?  Florists the world over are waiting for their poor little hands to recover. The studio, before the stock arrives.

The roses are hiding the English tulips, early cheerfulness and black iris. More stock arrived, and no photos were taken. And now, it’s all gone.  It’s scattered through the houses of Manchester making people smile, safe in the knowledge they’re loved.

“You’ll do it all again, and I’m not lying.”   Miss Ditto, she’s right isn’t she?

Now, you didn’t expect Blackpool prom did you? And you didn’t expect to find ‘that’ either.  Love it? Hate it? Completely indifferent?

The sort of architecture that critics describe as “B-movie architecture”. And having “echoes of such serious precedents as Frank Lloyd Wright, but also 1950s motels.”  So know you know.

And no mention of V day.  As I said, not what you expected.

What do you mean, grey drizzle isn’t your thing? Oh freezing rain doesn’t do it for you?  Some people want the moon on a stick.

The soup is perfect.  Pumpkin (I’m still working through the great harvest of 2011, only four left), five spice, garlic, ginger, chilli (lots), lemongrass, fish sauce, rice, coconut milk, stock, salt and a good pinch of pepper.  Should have had lime juice, it didn’t the fruit bowl could only offer a lemon.

It’s nearly Valentine’s, can you feel the romance? No, me neither, but there’s time.

Soup, a la Mandelson.  Whole bag of slightly defrosted peas, couple of homegrown garlic roasted enough to squish out of the skin. Veggie stock, cream, pepper and onions.  It’s simple and yum.  Followed by 27 veggie sausage sandwiches – this food isn’t going to eat itself.

And lilac, astrantia and memory lane roses.  Was feeling in a dusky mood today.

Just proper cake. In slices. Chocolate orange. With dark muscovado and syrup. No gooey topping. No decoration. No effort either.  Mrs F made it.

Wooden wardrobes. Imagine if Ikea did these? Am I the only person who likes wooden furniture?

And old fashioned embroidery stuff?

Chez Fletcher is a bit of a time warp.  Today it’s 1932, it’s a brave new world with unadorned cake.

Old Fashioned Romance – £40 and £60

Modern Romance – £40 and £60

To order call 0161 962 7341.

Individual blooms may vary, but will contain red rose Naomi – I could bang on about how amazing this is. But you can see the picture so there’s no need.

Old Fashioned Romance – vintage styling, includes roses, astrantia, tulips, anenomes, ranunculas, waxflower.

Modern Romance – edgy styling, leucospernum, roses, cordyline, ginger lilies, pittoscorum.

No gyp, no gerberra, no plastic hearts on sticks, and definately no swirly rose cellophane.

And as any great blogger knows the first rule – take a camera.  Well I did, just not the battery. And Mrs F took a rather cute Cosmic Symbol circa 1960s – so the film will be developed in October.  Can’t wait to see them!

The clarity of these is amazing no?

And a few vintage shop finds. The skates fit ever so snuggly in a small weekend bag*.  Hand knitted cardigan too, very nordic. And will be keeping this little florist all that bit chuffier over the next few months.

So much so that the last one came home with me.  Don’t be gossiping about it though!