Ravensburger Perplexing Puzzles no.11 - Make It Medley 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle

I was returning home this morning, after taking Eddie to school, and almost bouncing on the way like a middle-aged Tigger. I thought to myself that I have several favourite things waiting for me at home: a puzzle to finish, a new episode of Shetland to catch up on BBC iplayer (I confess I have a big crush on Jimmy Perez) and a cup of coffee.

Make It Medley 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle from Ravensburger is no.11 in the Perplexing Puzzles series.
It's an absolute treat for any puzzle fan.
I adore this kind of puzzles, with lots of details and challenging patterns and designs.

The photo taken by Devon-based photographer Greg Shepherd shows what I would call a creative chaos. It is a paradise for crafters.
Greg is brilliant at arranging complex, challenging still life images. This is the third  puzzle from the series which I worked on, and I loved every minute of it.

There are all kinds of crafting accessories and materials, from fabrics to ribbons, from colourful thread spools to beads of all possible colours and designs.

All the crafting stash is artfully arranged, inviting you to a visual feast.

The finished puzzle measures 70x50cm when complete. It is suitable for ages 12+ and is made from strong premium grade cardboard, with linen finish print to minimise glare on puzzle image.

This weekend we will be celebrating Mother's day. This splendid puzzle could be a lovely gift for any Mum who loves puzzles as much as I do.

If you like the sound of this puzzle, you might want to check out some other puzzles from this series - No.8 Glittering Gemstones or No.9 Retro Revelry.

Disclosure: I received the puzzle for the purposes of reviewing. All opinions are my own.

The Reading Room 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle from Ravensburger

For the last couple of days everyone seems to be talking about the Beast from the East. The hashtag #snowmaggedon is trending on social media. It is pretty cold outside, especially with the wind, and we've got a smattering of snow. But the local schools are open, much to Eddie's chagrin,
I'm warm and cosy indoors, wrapped in a woolen shawl, having one cup of tea after another, and enjoying a new jigsaw puzzle from Ravensburger.
It is my birthday today, and I spent all morning after the school run, piecing the puzzle together. It's still a work in progress, I will need a couple of days to finish it.

The Reading Room 100-piece jigsaw puzzle will appeal to all jigsaw puzzle fans who love intricate patterns and small details. It will also please book lovers. As I'm both, I'm on cloud nine.
I love the image of the reading room, with shelves upon shelves, well-stacked with folios.

It brings happy memories of the times, when I worked in the library as a library assistant. I loved my job. I also spent many blissful hours, working in the libraries around the world, doing research and just reading for pleasure. I am so lucky to have had a chance to spend a lot of time in the libraries at Oxford and Yale Universities. Aw, happy days.

Reading rooms were often found in towns and villages for residents to read books and periodicals of the day.
The room depicted in the puzzle looks cosy and intimate, a space where I'd love to escape with a big stash of books and a cup of tea.

The shelves are beautifully arranged in colour blocks and also display artefacts and vintage curios.

There is a Siamese looking very comfy on the dark leather sofa, and a smiley dog on the floor.

This high quality puzzle measures 700x50cm when complete. It is suitable for ages 12+.
Like all Ravensburger puzzles, it is made from strong premium grade cardboard, with linen finish to minimise glare on puzzle image.
The attention to detail is exceptional.

Tomorrow is the World Book Day. You might want to dress up as your favourite character, or spend a day, engrossed in a lovely jigsaw puzzle about love of books.

Disclosure: I received the puzzle for the purposes of reviewing. All opinions are my own.

Last minute Mother's Day gift ideas

I have no great expectations for Mother's day. It's not something we celebrated, when I was growing up in the Soviet Union. The 8th of March was the day when the womenfolk of all ages and creeds were feted, and it is still a big celebration in Russia. I'm not going to bemoan the lack of gifts, or breakfast in bed.
In fact, when my younger son mentioned that he was going to serve me breakfast in bed on Sunday, I got alarmed and told him to reconsider.
I'm sure I will have cards my boys made for me at school, and that will be lovely. As for my dear husband, him being an absent-minded professor, he wouldn't even remember when his own birthday is.

Have you left your Mother's Day gift buying to the last minute? Or perhaps - like the Five from Enid Blyton's spoof book - you've forgotten all about it?

Wandering around town today, you couldn't escape all the Mother's day displays and paraphernalia, so I indulged myself in thinking which gifts I would choose for myself.

This little gift guide is based purely on my own likes. I'm sure some Mums would love nothing better than being spoilt by a spa day. I can't think of anything more boring than sitting wrapped in a towel, having your nails painted. Just the idea makes me shudder. Nope, spa days and nail salons are a definite No for me. I don't care for cars, or luxury boutiques, diamonds or the latest gadgets...
This is a short guide on what you might find right now on the High Street, as it's too late by now to order anything online, unless you pay exorbitant prices for the next day delivery or you are an Amazon Prime subscriber.

Bookshops are a magnet to me. Our local little Waterstone's has very friendly staff, and they create imaginative window displays, often hand-painted, or chalked on blackboards. I love it that they sell not just books, but beautiful stationery, plus pretty china and some novelty gifts.

I nearly bought Virgins by Diana Gabaldon, but remembered I had some book gift card at home, so might get it the next time I visit the bookshop. That, and a splendid-looking "Isabella of Castile".

WHSmith has the latest installment of Poirot mystery by Sophie Hannah at half price this week. I'd be very happy to receive it as a gift for Mother's Day, as I love Poirot.

Gin and prosecco seem to appear in almost all gift guides for Mother's Day. As much as I enjoy a glass of prosecco, I'd be much happier with prosecco-flavoured gummies (found in Lakeland).

Whittard's is a shop I'm trying actively to avoid, as I end up buying yet another novelty tea from them. I love their range of teas, and china, and for me, anything from Whittard's would be a super present.

White Stuff shop is another "danger zone" for me. Their tops and scarves are feminine and stylish. This silk scarf is perfect for spring, with its delicate pattern.

Marks and Spencer runs a 20% off offer on Roger & Gallet products this week. Le Soin Aura Mirabilis Legendary Cream is made with 18 natural essences, officinal plants and distilled plants. Apparently this formula was patented in 1727. Usually priced at £35, it is £28 at the moment, and that's what I bought myself as a gift for Mother's Day. I love the smell, and how silky the skin feels after the application.

As for flowers, I'm very easy to please. Give me a bunch of tulips, and I'd be eternally grateful.
This bunch is actually from Sainsbury's and costs a princely sum of £2.50.

Are you still looking for the perfect Mother's Day gift? If you are a Mum yourself, what would you fancy on Sunday?

Glittering Gemstones 1000pc jigsaw puzzle from Ravensburger

Give me a jigsaw puzzle and leave me in peace, and I'm on cloud nine. That's one of my favourite ways to relax. I don't like to be distracted, working on a puzzle, so usually treat myself when my children are at school. I'll make a cup of tea or coffee, switch on television with something equally congenial like Father Brown on BBC iplayer or some costume drama on Netflix, and get a puzzle board from under the sofa.
I'm happy with any jigsaw puzzle, but if I had to choose, I prefer those with lots of little details rather than big scenic views.
Glittering Gemstones is the 8th jigsaw puzzle from a popular Perplexing Puzzles range (Ravensburger).
It is delightfully detailed and wonderfully challenging.
The photo taken by Devon-based photographer Greg Shepherd shows a collection of glittering gemstones and trinkets. There are all kinds of jewellery, from rings to brooches, from bracelets to necklaces... Long strands of pearls encircle cameos and brightly coloured cloisonne enamel.
All the treasures are artfully arranged, inviting you to a visual feast of jewellery. Each piece of jewellery, be it a golden dolphin or enamelled boat, is shown at its best.

I have read that for this project the photographer's friends have contributed their treasures, how wonderful is that.
As with all Ravensburger jigsaw puzzles, this set comes with an A4 colour leaflet as a reference help.
This is a high quality 1000pc cardboard jigsaw puzzle, which measures 70x50cm when completed.
It is suitable for ages 12+. The jigsaw pieces are made from strong premium grade cardboard, with linen finish print to minimise glare on puzzle image.

This jigsaw puzzle is a real pleasure to work with, and will make a super present for any puzzle lover.
If you are thinking of a suitable Mother's Day gift, and know that the recipient loves puzzles, this could be just the right gift for her.

Disclosure: I received the puzzle for the purposes of reviewing. All opinions are my own.

The True Tea Club

"There is no problem on earth that can't be ameliorated by a hot bath and a cup of tea" (Jasper Fforde, Shades of Grey)

Amen to that. Where would I be without a cup of tea, or two or five? Self-confessed teaholic, I am always delighted to try new brands and flavours of tea. 

If like me you enjoy discovering new teas, how about a tea subscription box? 

The True Tea Club subscription box is a company based in York. They specialise in seven loose teas - white, green, black, oolong, chai, rooibos and herbal tea - to satisfy every taste and preference.

New subscription boxes are released on the 20th every month, but the boxes are also sent out all the time in between these dates.

How does it work?

You choose between three different levels of subscription:

1. Standard (40 cups of tea) at £10 per month

2. Premium (60 cups) at £15 per month

3. Deluxe (80 cups) at £20 per month.

Delivery is free in the UK, while international customers will pay £3.75 delivery fee.

What will you receive?

- 4 different loose leaf tea (new every month)

- 4 empty tea bags

- welcome card

- business card

- tailor card

If there is a certain type of tea you don't like, you need to let The True Tea Club know by leaving a note at the checkout.

All subscribers also receive an exclusive 15% off the online shop. 

Customers can cancel any time, there are no long standing commitments.

I was happy to receive a sample box from The True Tea Club (please note that your packages will be bigger in size. The samples I got were for a couple cups of tea for each flavour).

There were four different flavours to choose from.

Mighty Mango, is decsribed as "mellow like a Californian beach, the sencha basis is surrounded by bright sunflower blossoms which relaxes in harmony with the fruity mango flavour".
ingredients: green tea, flavouring, sunflower blossoms
origin S.E.Asia

It is a lovely, aromatic tea, with fruity taste.

Earl Grey Rebel is "a rebel in its own right. This loose tea provides a rich taste of assam leaves with bergamot and adroitly joint forces with orange flavouring".
Ingredients include Assam tea, lemon peel, orange peel, cornflower petals and natural flavouring.

Earl Grey is my favourite tea. I am happy to drink it every day. Earl Grey has a distinct flavour and aroma, it is a beautiful tea, both in rich colour and taste.

Rainbow Chaser is "a magical concoction of apple pieces, blackberry leaves, peppermint and orange peel".
Ingredients: apple pieces. blackberry leaves, sultanas, orange peel, safflower, peppermint, lemon-myrtle, lemon peel, stinging nettle leaves, freeze-dried strawberry pieces, blue cornflower blossoms, marigold blossoms and rose petals.

Light refreshing brew, floral and fruity, it will be a good base for cool iced tea drinks in summer. And it does look so colourful, a true rainbow.

Vanilla Cupcake is "an exotic and smooth vanilla rooibos which provides a velvet mouth-feel. An added dash of banana chips amplifies this infusion into heavenly status".
Rooibos tea always makes me think of Mma Ramotswe from the No.1 Ladies Detective Agency. She cannot live without her favourite brew. I think she would give thumbs up to this floral tea.
It looks so pretty, with bright blue specks of cornflower.

If you like the sound of a tea subscription box and would like to try it yourselves, receive 50% off your first subscription box by using code LOVE at the checkout.

Disclosure: I received a box of samples from the latest tea subscription box for the purposes of testing and reviewing.