There's no place like home

Turning on the television today you can guarantee to find something property related, whether it’s buying and selling, redecorating and improving, building or just simply looking around. It’s an endless choice that never seems to go out of fashion, and why would it? Everybody wants to create a home to show off, and these programmes offer us the opportunity to do just that. 

The problem we are often faced with however, is the huge mass market of reproduced products and items from big companies all trying to sell the same thing to us, often making us lose the identity of the home we want to create. With such a vast array of a-lot-of-the-same, it can be difficult to know where to start, especially when you have a specific idea/theme that you are striving to achieve. 

This is what happened to Northampton local, Cassie Munnelly. Working in finance as well as juggling the day-to-day lives of her own family, she struggled to create the home she sought due to the lack of products out there. Braving the competition, Cassie decided to try her hand at learning the techniques of restoring vintage pieces and it wasn’t long before friends and family took notice of what she was doing. Before she knew it she had swapped the glamour of heels and make up for trainers and leggings and a new business venture, Remara House was open to the public. 

Owned by Cassie’s husband, Dean, who deals with the finance, business and source of products, Cassie deals with the furniture pieces as well as offering a soft furnishing range, but it doesn’t stop there. They offer home consultancy visits and provide ideas for design and décor right through to supplying the painters, materials and furniture, regardless of your budget.

They understand the importance of maintaining the features of a home and will go as far as collecting old pieces from you to recreate into something new and modern without losing the significance of that item. So before you think about selling that chest of drawers handed down to you from your Granny, or pulling the fire place frame apart and sending it to the tip, it may be worth considering getting it commissioned.

 

Trading from the Lillie Vanillie Vintage Emporium in Northampton town centre, where most of their stock is sold, there is a strong focus on vintage and shabby chic, but that’s not to say it’s not suitable to everyone’s taste. There is plenty of choice for all from dressers, chairs and tables to home accessories including door stoppers, draft excluders and even kitchen accessories. 

If like me, you just need a little inspiration, their Off The Shelf collection allows you to browse products ready to buy, or you can even go one step further and take advantage of their wish list allowing you to piece together bit by bit exactly what it is you are after and let them do the rest! 

 

Although the business has only been going for a short time, the response they are getting has been surprising. Their Facebook and Twitter pages are increasing by the day and the range of photos available to browse through show off exactly what they can do. They are not short of comments from people near and far admiring their work and it seems they are taking Northampton by storm. If there’s one Cassie isn’t ready for yet, it’s hanging up her paint brushes and trainers so it’s worth checking it out and seeing just how special this little venture has become.

 

Cassie and Dean Munnelly

To find out more about Remara House, you can visit their Facebook page:

 Remara House

or follow them on Twitter:

 

@Remarahouse

I'll be your clown...

It’s funny how writing can take you from one extreme to the other. Just last week I was blogging about the historical features that have shaped my hometown, and today I am writing to tell you all about another shape that has been appearing locally in the form of a clown. Yes, you heard correctly, a clown. Over the weekend there was lots of talk of one spotted roaming the streets of Northampton and if I’m honest, I didn’t take much notice of it until Saturday night when a friend of mine filled me in and it seems now we have our own little celebrity causing quite a stir amongst the locals.  

Spotted so far only at night, the clown appears holding either balloons or flowers and there is now a race to see who will be the next to find him. Facebook and Twitter have gone clown crazy and the news has even reached not only other parts of the country, but even the world. I had someone from LA tweeting me about it last night, yes…LA and it’s even reported this evening CNN have interviewed a journalist from our local newspaper, Chronicle and Echo to find out what’s going on.  

I’ll admit it; I did initially think the whole thing was odd. After all, why would a grown man want to wander the streets dressed like this because to me it screams weird and freaky, but on reflection, I can’t help but find the whole thing incredibly amusing! We even have our very own super hero “clown catcher” now also taking to the streets to protect us from him! It’s good to hear he’s out there because knowing a creepy clown is lurking about doesn’t half put people on edge. 

There has been a lot of speculation as to who the clown really is and also whether he is a threat to us but that now appears to be just idle gossip after he braved the backlash and took to Facebook and put those rumours to bed.

“Too much hate not enough love. No, I don't have a knife on me! that’s just stupid rumors spread by stupid people. I'm also 'not' on twitter as it confuses the heck out of me. However, I might go for a jog around that pond in Abington Park later as I’m really unfit... See you around! Beep Beep!

Nice to see he’s reassuring us and also proving that even clowns understand the importance of a healthy lifestyle….a new role model on the horizon perhaps? 

There is as much love as there is hate for him, but whatever your take is on the situation, he has got us all talking. Personally I think it’s great to have a little bit of fun happening in town, just as long as it doesn’t have any negative impact. I will be keeping my eyes out for him and will keep you posted if I hear or see anything else!

Published Piece!

I had the opportunity this week to write a piece about my hometown of Northampton for @NorthantsHourUk on Twitter. It was published on their website on Thursday so thought I would share it for you all to read! Take a look at the link below...you might be surprised at what you read! ;-)

Tanya xx

http://northantshour.wordpress.com/northampton/

The Follower

Sarah didn’t feel right. She was suddenly aware of the quietness surrounding her when all she could hear was heavy breathing coming from her dry mouth. Her eyes darted around but nothing was there. Maybe it was all in her head again, she thought. But there it was: the familiar sound of footsteps coming towards her. She froze in horror because she knew that sound all too well, and the only thing she could do now was run. Again.  

Tears streamed down her cheeks and her heart raced, propelling blood around her fragile body as fear engulfed her like a burning flame on an oil slick, bellowing out a piercing scream from the bottom of her stomach deafening anything within reach. 

“Not again, please!” she begged as she ran for her life. 

It was no good though, he was right behind her. She could smell his aftershave mixed with the stale scent of cigarette smoke embedded into his unwashed denim jacket. That smell…she knew what was coming.  

Sobbing as she tried to run for her life, Sarah lost control and fell to the floor. She tried to stand up but her legs had turned into a mangled mess. 

“NO!” she screamed “GOD NO!” 

And then it happened. She felt him over her pinning her down with force as she tried desperately to push him away, kicking her legs into him.  

“NO!” she screamed again. 

“Calm down, Sarah” said a stern male voice.  

“NO!” she shouted “Get your hands off me!” 

Sarah was determined he wouldn’t hurt her again.  

Let go of me! Stop! Somebody HELP ME!” she screeched. But there was nobody.  

“Calm. Down. Sarah” he said again.  

This time she had no chance when two more men surrounded her, all three of them fighting to hold her down. 

“NO!” 

Biting the hand of one of the men, she frantically tried to save herself but she knew she had no chance. Squirming hysterically, she could hear the men talking to each other but nothing made sense. All of a sudden she felt the scratch of a needle on her arm and cold liquid enter her bloodstream.  

“What the hell are you doing to me?” She yelled 

“Sarah, stop shouting!” said one of the men.

She gasped as her battle slowly began to alleviate, taming her panic. The struggle eased and she felt heavy, like a weight falling to the bottom of the ocean. Her pupils were dilated and breathing slowed, calming her back into a controlled state. She felt beads of sweat run down her face as she lay there powerless, unable to move or make a sound. She was paralysed.  

Lying on the floor she stared nonchalantly into the distance as the three figures looked down at her before walking away, shutting the heavy door behind them. She felt cold and alone as her eye lids intermittently closed.  

The men watched her through the Perspex window of the room she was in waiting for her to pass out. Seeing her limp body relax and drift into temporary unconsciousness, they knew it was safe to go back in.  

“15.37 19^th September 2013” came from one of the trio. “The sixth fit she’s had in two days.” 

“Poor kid” said another voice as he gently put a blanket over her. “We’re going to need to reassess her medication and keep her in refinement longer than we thought.” 

“Alex the girl doesn’t stand a chance; look at the state of her. She’s never going to leave this place, we all know that.” 

Silence fell amongst the men who had been trying for so long to help her. They wanted so desperately to give her the life she deserved, but too much damage had been done. As they walked out of Sarah’s room again, the third man turned around and looked at her once more, his heart sinking to the bottom of his stomach.  

Somewhere, deep within her unconsciousness Sarah heard the jingle jangle of keys locking her in and the bolt slam shut, securing the door. Calm had resurfaced but the tears still fell. Five years she had been kept hostage in here. Five years. They were never going to leave her alone. 

“Next time I’ll be ready” she thought.