A week ago, I posted about a disastrous picnic. Needless to say Dexter and I weren’t dining alone and were joined by a couple of thousand flying ants. Given anything fingernail sized and four-legged sends me into hysterics, it was utterly horrendous. I still shudder about it now, and there isn’t enough money in the UK to tempt me back to that spot again.
But the show must go on.
A few weeks back I was sent the most beautiful picnicware from John Lewis, and it would be crime not to stuff it with treats and try again. The set consisted of a seriously pretty Little-Red-Riding-Hood-inspired picnic basket (complete with a set of lightweight plastic picnicware), and a designer picnic cool bag and rug from Anorak.
This isn’t the first time I’ve gone all gooey-eyed over Anorak’s pretty prints. I actually have a make-up bag in their adorable seagull print. Created by textiles designer Laurie Robertson, it’s inspired by her love of the outdoors and childhood memories of camping. The collection includes bedding, bath towels and soft furnishings, all of which is seriously on-trend.
My picnic cool bag and rug is in the Kissing Robin design, in navy and contrasting white. The bag is HUGE - lots of room for chilled wine and a family sized spread. It features a strap that allows you to attach the rug to the bag, so you can go hands-free when trekking to that secluded spot. Made from wipe proof nylon it will also withstand spills and inquisitive little people with mucky fingers too.
Not just limited to picnics, both pieces are multi-purpose. The picnic rug is waterproof backed, super lightweight and machine washable so perfect as a baby playmat or beach blanket. I’ve also used the cool bag as a baby change bag and laptop bag and it always gets lots of admiring glances. For £38 each, you’ll get tons of use out of them.
My new basket is just as versatile. When not being whisked outdoors for a picnic, it holds all my gardening essentials. Pictured here crammed with John Lewis Botanist picnicware it looks so charming. Wicker never fails to bring back memories of my nan’s old big farmhouse kitchen - she had a few of these scattered around overflowing with cooking apples, spices and ‘nana-clutter’.
You see, I told you it was all very pretty!
With memories of last weeks epic fail still fresh in my mind, Craig decided to break me in gently and prepare a garden picnic instead. I’ve been so tired with this pregnancy that it was nice to be outside in the fresh air, even if it was only a few metres from our back door!
We opted for a mix of savoury and sweet; pastries and fresh scones. With champagne flutes filled with sparkling elderflower and topped with fresh strawberries, it would have been quite romantic if Dexter hadn’t been on top form making us giggle.
And just like that, my faith in the good old traditional picnic is restored. All it took was a handsome older man, a beautiful (and very funny) baby boy, and a bit of picnic inspiration from John Lewis.
DISCLAIMER: I was sent these lovely picnic items from John Lewis. I’ve understandably raved about them in return - all thoughts and opinions (and amateur photography) are my own xx
