Lunchbreak Browsing.

The novelty of being pretty much in the centre of a city has yet to wear off. It's so nice to be able to take full advantage of my lunch break and do a bit of mooching, it really helps that Oxford has so many places to explore too!

One of my favourite things to do happens weekly on Wednesdays and Thursdays, and that's the Oxford Giant Market, a food and vintage market in the Gloucester Green market square.



It's a great place to pick up really tasty dim sum and there are quite a few fun shops and cafés dotted around the outside, including The Old Fire Station, which holds entertainment and arts events and even includes a cute art shop that sells indie prints and jewellery.

I still had my camera from snapping at the Lush Christmas event so I took the opportunity to take a few pictures, I even managed to pick up Dolly's namesake record for just £1, something that pleased me no end - it helps that it's a pretty nice cover with cute spiel on the back too.








A big part of me hopes this guy is still there today - might be one of my biggest regrets not buying him. WHATISHE?!










I just read that there's going to be a more vintage/retro focussed market happening on Saturdays from 8th November onwards so that will be great for Christmas and allow for a more thorough root through all the hidden treasures(!)

It's slightly less glamourous and a lot smaller than Spitalfields, but so much more affordable and less like money for old rope, I definitely recommend swinging by, if only for the dumplings. ♥

Ruby's Second Chance Christmas Fair.

Tis the season for Christmas markets, and aside from my recent trip to Bath decent pickings are seem to be slim, especially in Newbury.


Despite picking up a couple of pretty decent things when we went last year, Moon and I were overall pretty disappointed with Ruby's Vintage Fair and hadn't returned since. It was an easy way to fill part of the afternoon when our friends Dan and Kirstin came to stay though so we took a drive (in Moon's flash new car) up to their new location and were actually pretty impressed.



They definitely made the most of the space, if we hadn't been looking for a more substantial lunch it would have been nice to stop for tea at the tearooms they'd set up.



I'm not sure if it was because of Christmas, but there was a pretty wide collection of stalls and all with such varied selection at reasonable prices. I failed massively on the Christmas shopping front again but I made a great fuchsia cardigan and cute cat & mouse brooch mine so that's alright.

Even though we used Kirstin and Dan's visit as an excuse, I'm glad we went and the £1 entry fee didn't seem like a rip-off this time around. I'd definitely be interested in going again and have already recommended it to Catherine from Isobelle's Pantry (you should look at her crochet holly garlands, they're so cute(!)) as a great place in Berkshire to have a stall.

It certainly made a nice change from the regular traditonal Christmas markets we've been to and I haven't been to a decent vintage fair in ages. Thinking back about this now I can't wait to get back over to 'basically London' and have a proper mooch.

Have you been making the most of Christmas markets near you?

Let's Go Here, and Here, and Here...

From a couple of weekends ago; Taking in my favourite place in East London, Old Spitalfields. ♥
It was all about: sweet dogs on the tube, new street art, alfresco dining at Patisserie Valerie, checking out InSpitalfields, performers singing Elbow, Judy's Vintage Fair and clever cupcakes.


This dog was so well-behaved, and loved being petted, what a sweetheart. ♥





Flat White.



Valerie Club.



Go meet your anchor.


Inspitalfields.








'Pimm's My Ride' from Flavourtown Bakery – a fancy cupcake with mint & orange icing, lime sponge and Pimm's jelly in the middle, so clever!



Crazy-ridiculous hipster specs.



Beef stew is one of my all time faves, but they need to get serious.



A lovely first half to an afternoon hanging out with my sister, part two coming up real soon.