gold | 101 Beautiful Things

While shopping in my local M&S last month I was stopped in my tracks by the sight of a beautiful display of these bottles, all lit up and glistening in the light. Not feeling in the mood for Christmas at that point, I didn’t purchase one there and then which I later regretted as they became very difficult to get hold of. But success on an early morning trip – felt a bit uncomfortable buying gin at 10am when everyone else was getting milk and bread but it had to be done as the store had put a two bottle limit on them as they were flying out.

I think M&S have certainly pulled it out of the bag for the Christmas must have this year. It makes a perfect gift, very attractive, doesn’t need wrapping and comes with its own light. Give the bottle a quick shake, press the light on the base and sit back and enjoy the edible gold leaf glistening in either Clementine or Rhubarb flavour gin liqueur. I haven’t tried it yet as it is almost too beautiful to drink but it should satisfy the gin loving friend and being only 20% vol makes a good mixer with other spirits for cocktails.

I have always been quite fascinated by snow globes. I cannot walk past one without giving it a quick shake and watching the snow flakes swirling around often a very disappointing plastic Santa. In my research for this piece I tried to find a more modern tasteful one, but sadly only came up against an array of very kitsch looking Santas, snowmen and winter scenes.

Looking at the history of snow globes they first appeared in Vienna Austria, apparently by accident when the inventor Edwin Perzy was trying to increase the brightness of an electric lightbulb. Inspired by shoemakers who increased their light source by filling a glass globe with water and placing it in front of a candle flame, he experimented with glass globes but after trying out several different methods dropped some semolina in water and noticed how it fell like snow to the bottom. Sensing he had hit upon a winner he added some scenes as a backdrop in the globe and the snow globe was born. They are still being manufactured by the family company today. I will continue my quest to find a nice looking snow globe but in the meantime, cheers!

Not sponsored or paid for, all items purchased by me.

There are some stories that you are told as a child which are so mysterious and fascinating that they remain with you throughout your life and occasionally pop into your consciousness and come flooding back. The story of Tutankhamen is one of those for me.

I remember as a young child being taken to the Tutankhamun exhibition at the British Museum in the early 1970s and being told this amazing story of how his burial chamber was found and how there was a curse put on the team who discovered it. At that point there had been some deaths among the team but I have since learned that the curse story was all a massive media stunt. A bit disappointing but a relief for the families of their descendants no doubt.

The 1972 exhibition was a huge event and the highlight was the gold death mask, inlaid with lapis lazuli, obsidian and quartz. Truly stunning. It spawned a lot of merchandise, everyone was cashing in on its popularity there were dresses, stamps, plates and even makeup depicting Tutankhamun.

The exhibition that is currently on at the Saatchi gallery in London Tutankhamun – Treasures of the Golden Pharoah, sadly doesn’t have the mask on display but it does have an amazing selection of artefacts gathered from the tomb. Even though they are over three thousand years old the preservation of these items means they are in immaculate condition and the craftsmanship is quite spectacular.

There is also a really interesting timeline showing pictures from the discovery of the tomb, the reveal and the whole process of sifting through so many items, preserving and cataloguing them. There is also some press around the 1972 exhibition showing what a massive event it was and how it really gripped the nation. Definitely worth a visit if you are around London.

This post is not sponsored and I purchased the tickets.