Great design makes all the difference

I was recently asked by a customer, Skandic Hus, to produce some images that reflected their passion for scandinavian design. They are setting up an online business later this year based around such design houses as Design House Stockholm, iittala and Kosta Boda. In addition they are attending a number of select events around the UK where they will exhibit and have stock available for purchase.

This particular bird was designed by Oiva Toikka and is just one taken from his awesome “Birds” series. Hopefully you will agree .. pretty special.

To register with Skandic Hus just click on the photo.

There are many ways to cross the Channel.

You can fly, drive through the tunnel, take one of the numerous ferry options or for those of a somewhat  healthier disposition than myself, sail, row or even swim.

But to my mind only one option captures the true beauty and passion of the trip. The Ferry crossing affords the traveller vistas like this and the time to enjoy them.

Admittedly the crossing was not without it’s challenges. The lavatory in my allotted cabin did not flush. Not a good feature in a lavatory at the best of times, but on a ship potentially disastrous, if not for the current incumbent then surely for those hearty sea farers to follow. The chief engineer was sent down to check this out. “It does not flush ” he said in broken English. “I will call someone to get it fixed” he informed me. I told him that is exactly the course of action I had settled upon and now fate had brought us together some 40 minutes into the cruise.

Having been assured that the issue with the errant lavatory would be dealt with I thought this would be a good time to load the wallet up with Euros as I had none with me prior to departure.

I asked at the information desk as to “the whereabouts of the bureaux de change?”

“It is closed” was the reply that met me like a wet flannel in the face.

“When will it be open? I enquired.

“It won’t” snorted the rather unhappy looking info desk lady.

“We only open on departure”. A less than useful service on a 5 hour trip!  She went on, “I made an anouncement”. She then added  in a rather accusatory tone, that I must of heard her announcement .

“Well I didn’t”. Possibly because at the time “I was too b****y busy trying to get the damn toilet into something like flushing working order”

Despite Brittany Ferries attempts to scupper my dreamboat experience the images I took while the sun was setting made the crossing all the more worthwhile.

Sunset

Sandbanks on the Dorset Coast is a great place to spend some time. One of my favourite restaurants “cafe shore” is there and the views across the bay as the sun slips away are usually pretty special.