You could pick up a "romantic" (!) Valentine's day present when shopping at Sainsbury's, Braintree (thanks to Old Holborn for the photo). What a smart juxtaposition - I mean what could be nicer on the most romantic day of the year than a pair of really sturdy rubber gloves? :)
Or you could do it the traditional way.....
I know which I would prefer!
This rose came from my family home in South London - a place where my mother grew up and several generations of my family lived. Sadly it had to be sold a few years ago. My grandfather planted the rose bush from which this bloom is taken.
I made T. a heart shaped marmalade cake for Valentine's day. He doesn't like very sweet stuff, and this was very bitter marmalade (home made by me) So the tartness of it suited him well and he has now eaten a surprisingly large amount of it.
Happy Valentine's day, everyone!
Ha! Definitely prefer your second photo! It must have been heartbreaking to leave a house that had been in the family for so long. We have no such thing - the longest I've stayed in one house was 5 years but it was usually 1 to 3 years.
ReplyDeleteCan you tell us what part of South London? The roses in England are so beautiful, and they are so big!
ReplyDeleteHappy Valentine's Day, and I hope you don't get any plastic gloves!
goodness! It's already Valentine's Day. Happy one to you, too! :)
ReplyDeleteThe Sainsbury's photo made me smile!
ReplyDeleteYes, we all know how MUCH you love rubber gloves! :o)
ReplyDeleteHappy Valnentine's day!
Happy Valentine's day to you, too! Over here, it is not a big deal and only observed by (mainly) young and youngish couples. It was never a tradition in this country but only introduced on a broader level in the 1970s, to promote business for florists, bakers, chocolate makers, restaurants, cosmetics shops and so on. Therefore, I'd be very surprised if anyone would send me a Valentine's card or gift!
ReplyDeleteOh the things I could say about the rubber gloves and Valentines Day but I just don't know you well enough yet ;o)
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful rose! ... just perfect :o)
ReplyDeleteHappy Valentines Day x
Don`t they say that nothing is as sexy as a man with a cleaning cloth? So rubber gloves on HIS hands would do the same trick, I guess. Carrying chocs and roses, of course!
ReplyDeleteCards and rubber gloves? How funny!
ReplyDeleteA most beautiful rose!
Such a lovely rose. Happy Valentine's Day to you as well.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful rose. How sad your family had to part with their home when it had so much family history steeped into its bricks and mortar x
ReplyDeleteA nice rose, full of memories and symbolism!
ReplyDeleteA wonderful Valentine's Day to you Jenny! DeeBee
Dearest sweet Jenny, thanks so much for your lovely comment on my little space. I am so glad you did coz it lead me to your very inspiring space!! I love it here. :)
ReplyDeleteHappy Valentine's day!! I hope is off to a beautiful start. I definitely adore the 2nd photo most...teehee Such beautiful roses!! Oh and i am sure your mister is gonna love that cake. Have a fabulous day and love to you!
My people used to move house, roughly every 5 years. However, my father used to uproot a particular yellow rose (named after an ancestor), and replant every time. In about 1960 he was digging it up to transplant yet again, when his hand was pricked, and it swelled up to the size of a football. It remained where it was!
ReplyDeleteWhat lovely roses you got there, Jenny! :)
ReplyDeleteHappy Valentine's day.
A home made heart-shaped marmalade cake. How special. ^^
p.s. I totally agree with Angela there! ;)
ReplyDeleteThe first picture is a hoot, an example of a marketing no-no :-) I'll take the rose please.
ReplyDeleteDarla
Thank you for stopping by. Looking forward to visiting all the places you show us.
ReplyDeleteI'm so jealous! My beloved Japan has, predictably, turned this day on its head: women are supposed to give chocolate to men! (Men reciprocate a month later on so-called White Day.) There's nary a red rose in sight, though. :(
ReplyDeleteHappy Valentine's, everybody!
Heehee my Sainsburys did a bit better by having a special Valentine display in the foyer, cards, roses, the lot. I took a picture and forgot to use it.
ReplyDeleteIn answer to your query re pickle duty, I should have investigated the saying. It is or was a local expression for you know what... apparently not commonly used elsewhere. I should have written this on the blog but can't get into it right now. Summat's up, as they say.
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ReplyDeleteI laughed at the odd positioning of gloves and greeting cards, Jenny, and was moved by the photo of roses that are rooted in such deep history. It’s a great example of the personal continuum of life. Lucky dad to have a daughter bake him a special cake that is so suited to his tastes! Happy Valentine’s Day. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the great comments. @Emm, yes, it was heartbreaking. We tried to find a way to keep it, it was very much part of my childhood because I travelled round the world a lot with my family and so it was always "home" and had so many memories of people I loved. But there were a number of people who inherited and none of us could afford to buy it outright. Often the case, sadly. It makes me want to cry when I found that some developer ripped out the insides, unchanged for 90 years, and turned it into poky looking flats.
ReplyDelete@KayG, it was in Wimbledon, not the poshest part though.
@Malyss, yes, those rubber gloves...mmmm.... fetish :D
Seriously, what were they thinking of to put them there? But that's Sainsburys for you, I can't stand that place at the best of times!
Bonnie, I think you are probably thinking what I was thinking anyhow - well now you know THAT about me! :)
Angela, the funny thing is that the only person who wears rubber gloves in this house IS hubby. Not only does that make him sexy but he is a hero when it comes to doing the really nasty jobs. Maybe I should wear them more for the nice ladylike jobs I do, I might have nicer hands :)
@Cro Magnon - good story! I'd suggest that rose had finally had enough of being transplanted by your dad. So it grabbed its chance when it could...
Nope, I'm married to him, actually Penelope, :) though don't know whether it makes the marmalade cake better or worse than if I was his daughter. One of our daughters is a demon cake baker and has made us beautiful cakes, though never for valentines.
I can think of a couple of romantic things to do with those rubber gloves but this probably isn't the time or place to discuss it.
ReplyDeleteSigh Looks like another year when I have to buy my own rubber gloves....
ReplyDeleteYes, a good pair of rubber gloves has long been on my Valentine's wish list;) The roses are lovely. I wish you could have taken the rose bush with you. Happy Valentine's Day! Bonnie
ReplyDeleteThank you for stopping by my place recently.
ReplyDeleteHappy Valentines!
I have always wanted rubber gloves for Valentines Day, haven't you!
ReplyDeleteLove the BRILLANT rose and learning where it is from. Touching indeed . . .
Happy Valentines Day . . .
I also prefer the pink are so beautiful, of course this day there are a variety of gifts to make. A greeting.
ReplyDeleteHappy Valentine's Day! Your roses are beautiful. You have reminded me about our rose bush, which has been pruned to baldness by the gardeners. So unfortunately, no home grown roses for us this day.
ReplyDeleteThat first picture at Sainsbury's is hilarious!
This post reminds me that I used to give my mum a dish mop on Mothers day!
ReplyDeleteHappy Valentine's Day! You have lovely roses in your garden. They are quite expensive during this holiday if you get them at the store. It always makes me laugh when I walk into a store on Valentine's Day, the men are usually packed in the card section looking for a gift for their sweetie.
ReplyDeletePerhaps we are all naive and the good folk at the supermarket have tapped in to some kinky practises that we can't imagine ...
ReplyDeletebeautiful roses which I hope smell as sweet as they look.
Best wishes Isabel
At least you're still flying the flag! Elsewhere Valentine's Day is not what it was.
ReplyDeleteHappy Valentine's Day,Jenny Woolf!
ReplyDeleteWhat lovely red roses you have in your garden. So gorgeous! This post reminds me of my nickname. Thank you!
Stay warm and take care not have a cold.
RedRose.
Had a little chuckle at the rubber gloves - not a lot of thought there!! Missed opportunities.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful story about the red rose.
The marmalade cake sounds delicious - no wonder T has eaten a lot of it. Well done :D)
Sounds lovely (the cake, not the rubber gloves!). Hope you had a great day.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful rose. There's no flower quite so lovely, is there!
ReplyDeleteAh. And I got a new whisky glass for Valentine's Day - now there's love for you.
ReplyDeleteI was very miffed that Jenny didn't buy me the expected pair of rubber gloves this year. The box of chocolates was a crushing disappointment.
ReplyDeleteHope you had an absolutely wonderful Valentine's Day. The rose is gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteI have never heard of a marmalade cake, but it does sound good. Making your sweetheart a cake is a very loving thing. Hope you both enjoyed the day.
ReplyDeleteI bought my friend a heart shaped crepe pan so she could make her husband a pretty pancake.
ReplyDeleteNot a big believer in Valentine's Day but I happened to see the pan and it seemed a nice thing to do for a friend
The roses are beautiful. The gloves, not so much :-)
ReplyDeleteThe rose photo is my favourite of the two.
ReplyDeleteThanks very much for visiting my blog and leaving a comment on my Val Day post :)
The rose bush just keeps on giving and giving. The gloves would probably spring a leak after one use. Ha. Beautiful sentimental rose bush.
ReplyDeleteHow nice, Jenny, you removed letter verification! I'm so glad because I couldn't send this comment and saved for another try.
ReplyDeleteThe passionate red rose would go deep in the beloved’s heart. The heart shaped marmalade cake sounds delicious! Homemade cake is the best present sprinkled with a hint of love. I liked it when my daughter baked a cake and the sweet yummy fragrance filled the air. I think this custom in my country is odd: women give (mainly) chocolates to men, out of love, out of friendliness, or out of duty (at offices), and men present sweets or more expensive ones on “White Day”, March 14th, in return.
I'll return soon for the latest post.
Yoko
I give to you
ReplyDeleteMy Valentine's kisses
And also these gloves
So you can wash up the dishes.
haha that is a good comment from Mark :D
ReplyDeleteSuzanne
(PS I still cannot post on your blog, I think its the internet here is the problem)