In which good things arrive in big brown boxes.

Last week my brother and his wife stayed for a few days. They arrived with gifts and foodie treats; the sort of visitors we relish!

We are now the owners of a CD of Lute music composed by Lord Edward Herbert of Cherbury (brother of the more famous George) and a map of Montgomeryshire dating from around 1700. Good stuff. The cheeses and the Battenburg cake got scranned asap.

Now, on arrival @nt strolled round our house - not unusual as it was his first visit and curiosity isn't a crime. But as he progressed the expression on his face grew a little more perplexed. A problem @nt? And what's this? A gift for our house in a big bag is what it is. It's a lampshade - a gorgeous lampshade. A lampshade for a pendant light - and we have none. Strings of halogen spots and recessed jobbies by the dozen but not a hanging light to our name. Oh dear. The shame, the shame.
The shade returns to London with a view to exchanging it to fit a standard lamp. We do not have a standard lamp either but that is easily resolved and plans are afoot to commission Nigel the blacksmith to run us up a stand using similar motifs. This morning it arrived and is a lovely as I remember. Thanks @nt and S. The Granary is delighted.

PS. A quick namecheck for Lush Designs who have a shop in Greenwich Market in SE London. Have a look online at their other shades, products and textiles.