Decorated plant holder

This cute painted watering can was an impulse buy on a recent press trip to the south of France (perk of working for a magazine about France!). I saw it in an artisan shop in one of the places we stayed and thought it would look great with a plant in it. As it was nearly my mum's birthday I got it as a present for her and she decided to put a small Aloe Vera inside.

Handpainted by a French woman this can is unique and beautiful.

Here are some snaps from my trip to make you all jealous...

An olive stall in Les Halles market in Narbonne

The beautiful Roman town of Narbonne

View from my hotel room across the vineyards 

The stunning medieval cité of Carcassonne

Chocolate Smarties Cake

  This is the result of a spot of Sunday baking! I am a member of the Cheltenham branch of the Clandestine Cake Club, a group that meets once a month or so in a different location each time. Everyone has to bring a cake along a theme, and this month's theme was 'colours of the rainbow' - I think I fulfilled the brief!

 It is a basic chocolate cake (a Mary Berry recipe, can't fail!) covered in chocolate buttercream icing and decorated with smarties. It took nine packets to get enough of all the different colours, turns out orange and brown are the most common colours and green is the least!