oo

c e l l a r d o o r

contributors

Lottie AndersonLaura Booth

Alexandra CameronStevie Cooke

Siobhan FrewMarij HesselKaty Hudson

Hannah IrishBecky Morris Knight

Ellie LoughranSara Mautone

Amy PeckOlivia PurvisKatie Rea

Emily W

♥

Jade Cooper - Collins Amy Power

Editors

Jade Cooper - Collins Amy Power

Hello lovely Cellardoor readers and welcome to

another jam-packed issue of the magazine. What have we got in store for you this

time? Well, there’s beauty trends that you won’t want to miss, tips on the perfect holiday

wardrobe from our bloggers, the music you

should be listening to this summer and our usual

delicious recipes for you to try at home. And that’s not

even everything!We know - you can’t wait to start turning the pages.

So off you go...

letterEd’s

contents6. Cellardoor’s Favourites

8. Pocket Full O’ Posies

10. White Van (Wo)man

12. When I Grow Up

18. Bon Voyage

22. Brighton Rock

30. Pastel Dreams

38. Touch The Sky

46. Beauty 101

48. What’s On Our Speakers

52. Home Trends

60. Summer Menu

64. Cellardoor’s Summer Reading List

68. Perfect Circle

Cellardoor’sfavourites

Vintage Postcard Dress, £70, Oasis

‘Time To Drink Champagne’ Print,£ 1 5 , Notonthehighstreet.com

Anna necklace, johnandpearl.co.uk

‘Time To Drink Champagne’ Print,£ 1 5 , Notonthehighstreet.com

Everything Alice: the Wonderland Book of Makes,

Hannah Read-Baldrey and Christine Leech

I Love London Lunch Box, £6 , JOY

Floral type rug, £ 12.00, Urban Outf.itters

Kelly Love... her name gives you a clue as to how we feel about her latest collection. The Australian designer is based in London and has created a beautiful spring/summer 2012 collection entitled Pocket Full O’ Posies.Kelly’s style oozes femininity, glamour and (of course) love. Her dream of owning her own fashion label began when Love was living in Japan and working with Sin Nakayamal, a Japenese fashion designer and boy are we glad she decided it was for her.Pocket Full O’ Posies was inspired by all things childlike – think nursery rhymes and outdoor picnics – crossed with vintage femininity. She uses both hand-painted and digital prints on crushed silk to create her unique look, with a handful of antique French lace and pleated jersey thrown into the mix.If you like Love’s collection, her pricing ranges from £140-£350 and the clothes are available to buy on various online boutiques – including her own website – as well as Sauce in Dubai, Dolls Boutique in Ireland, That’s So Bazaar in New York and Lily Boutique in Suffolk.

Pocket full o ’ pos i es

White van [wo]man

Meet Betty, Bernadette and Lulabelle - three beautiful vans and their owners who have found interesting ways to make the most

of them...

ice cream van Remember when you were little and heard the ice cream van coming down the

road? You can’t beat a bit of nostalgia. That’s why we love this vintage ice cream truck so much.

Vintage Scoops is a business run by owner Hayley, using her 1950s ice cream truck - named Betty, of course. She’s usually adorned with floral

bunting to complete the retro look.Betty serves only the very best Beechdean Farm-house Dairy Ice Cream and she can be rented for parties, fates or even weddings.Bit better than a

hot dog stand isn’t it?

The caravanWe know our Cellardoor readers love little boutiques, and there’s none more unique than the Honeybean Boutique. Why’s that? We hear you ask. Well, it has something to do

with the fact that the Honeybean Boutique is actually based in a 1960s caravan called Bernadette in Nashville,

Tennessee.It’s not every day you see that now is it? Bernadette’s

owner Kaelah takes Honeybean to various flea markets, craft fairs and festivals throughout the US, where you can

find her stuffed full of goodies including jewellery, independent clothing lines and specially

picked vintage pieces.

The campervan

If you’re a VW Camper Van lover then just take a look at Lulabelle. Born in Germany

in 1959, Lulabella has come a long way since her humble beginnings as a fire truck and via LA has now gone on to

become a very jazzed up, well-loved van in Yorkshire.Lulabelle’s current owner Cathy has given her one hell

of a makeover and she’s now used as a base for Cathy’s catering business, which specialises in children’s parties and vintage tea parties. She can be hired for corporate events

or even just a small get together. We certainly wouldn’t mind Lulabelle showing her face at one of our parties!

When did you realise you wanted to be an illustrator? My sister had two postcards on her bedroom wall when she was a teenager; the lady of Shallot by John Waterhouse and Zodiac by Mucha. Both really inspired me to draw and I took a sketchbook everywhere I went. I was addicted to drawing and I knew I wanted to be an illustrator when I made my own picture book about Susan, a girl who collects cats in her big cat bag.

Where do you source your inspiration from? I draw a lot of inspiration from old photographs, fabrics, and Indian block printing. I keep a camera on me when I’m out and about, in case I see anything that catches my eye - tiles, drain pipes, shop signs, door knobs. I am also greatly inspired by my family, my grandma’s stories and my dad’s funny sayings.

How would you describe your style of work? My work is intricate, detailed and heavily patterned.

What’s an average day like for you? An average day involves queuing behind a bearded lady at Penge post office, drawing a thousand dots or lines (if not more) and drinking tea. Oh, and building fabric tents for my son Albert.

Do you have a particular favourite piece of work? This changes all of the time but at the moment I think it’s the Rapunzel Illustration for my collaboration with Oasis. What do you enjoy doing when you’re not drawing? I enjoy walking around the V&A, sewing, taking photographs, wasting hours window shopping online and freeform dancing to Pink Floyd.

When I grow up...After seeing Rosie Lovelock’s beautiful illustrations

we couldn’t help but ask her a few burning questions...

You’ve recently collaborated with Oasis, how did that come about? As well as illustrating I have an online shop with a fellow illustrator under the name Zosienka & Rosie Illustration. We had a stall at the Renegade Craft fair in Brick Lane, where the Creative Director of the Oasis design team bought a lion print and black rabbit tea towel. He took my business card and that was that.

Tell us something interesting about yourself that not many people know. Peter Pan makes me cry.

What else can we expect to see from you in the future? I’m working on some t-shirt designs. I also have a short animation in the pipeline with Studio Lovelock.

Do you have any advice for our readers? Don’t waste your time doing things you don’t enjoy. And lastly as this is the Summer issue, what’s your favourite thing about this season? The smell of sweet peas.

bon voyage i

We’re all going on a summer holiday. Great! Oh wait, that means that we actually have to find a gorgeous summer wardrobe that not only makes us look fantastic but also suits our holiday destination.

Good job our bloggers are on hand to share their tips for your perfect holiday wardrobe this year...

oMy dream destination would be West Coast USA. Either

Palm Springs or Santa Barbara- lounging by a motel

pool and sipping mojitos.

A retro style swimsuit, probably by Boden or For Luna, who both make excellent quality styles.

A pair of wooden sandals- a little bit of height makes

them equally as comfortable as they are beautiful.

My book of the Summer is The Perks of Being a Wallflower- the film (starring Emma Watson) comes out soon so I want to refresh my memories of this amazing book.

I’ve just returned from Latitude Festival and the best band there by a mile were M83. Their track ‘Reunion’ is my perfect summer track!

A handful of vintage cotton sundresses would be high on my

travel checklist but I’d probably buy a lot more out

there and some Gap cotton t-shirts would be in there too,

to chuck on over a swimsuit.

A pair of Miu Miu sunglasses, in silver glitter to sparkle in the sunlight.

Ellie

I’d have to say Italy is one of my dream destinations – there’s

romance, food, culture and history. From sandy beach breaks, to glistening city

sights, the entirety of the nation is a traveller’s

paradise and if I could hop on a plane tonight, I would!

Olivia

Comfortable shoes are a must for absorbing city sights - even go Italian with some Chung-esque Supergas!

A floppy hat: Beachy hair has never been so easy to cover up! Think oversized 70s shapes paired with bug-eyed sunnies for the perfect, effortless beach babe!

A pair of sunglasses: When it’s too hot for cat-eyed eye make up, there’s only one other option. As well as protection, sunglasses can make an outfit. Think big, round, and colourful!

oIt’s a tie between the uber-talented Jake Bugg’s- Lightening Bolt, or Doigsong by Kindness!

A light smock is the easiest thing to throw on no matter where in the world you are. Worn on top of a bikini, to an evening meal, or just beach side; a light cheesecloth frock can do no wrong.

Rain or shine, home or away; this is my ultimate make up staple and will add the finishing European chic touch to any outfit.

Wherever in the world you are; with tights ofwith flip flops- the denim cut-off can do no wrong and is a holiday essential for any time of the year.

o

There are so many places I want to visit, namely the usual holiday destinations

such as New York or LA. Recently, I’ve been

interested in Caribbean, I think Cuba would be amazing.

Oh Boy by She & Him (Originally by Buddy Holly). I love the retro rock ‘n’ roll sound in the song, and Zooey D has got a great voice!

Sarah

When you’re choosing a bikini, choose one that you feel comfy in and makes you feel good. We all get self-conscious of our bikini bodies, so every little helps.

When it’s hot, the last thing you want to do is

carry a heavy bag, so go for a little straw number

– the cutest beach bag!

When you’re going for sunglasses, there’s really only one option – Ray Ban Wayfarers. They’re classics for a reason.

Keep cool in every way with a lovely little summer dress. You’re guaranteed sunshine in Cuba, so make the most of it.

Be kind to your feet when you’re walking around in the Cuban heat. Find a cute pair of sandals that look good and don’t give you blisters!

Brighton Rock

Brighton RockPhotographer Lottie Anderson

Stylist Beckie NowickaHair and Makeup FionaTanner

Model Lara Raybone

Photography Alexandra CameronStyling Lauren Green

Hair & Make-up Terri-Anne NeighbourModel Sophie H @ Profile

PastelDreams

PastelDreams

CARDIGAN GuessBLOUSE Creme BruleeTROUSERS Marco PoloRING cK

Top BelleroseTutu Stylist’s own

Photography Sara MautoneStyling Irene Ghillani

MUA Marina BernacchioniHair Stylist Nicoletta Gauci using Paul Mitchell

Model: Luna Voce@WhyNot Milano

TOUCHThe Sky

TOUCHThe Sky

Top BelleroseTutu Stylist’s own

With so many new trends about this summer, it’s hard to pick which ones to try! We’ve shortlisted the top ten to get you started.

Beauty 10 1Words Stevie Cooke llustrations Katy Hudson

Summer wouldn’t be summer without seeing some dodgy fake tan or worrying about the whiteness of your legs! But with the new breed of fake tans around, there’s no need to be scared. Now, they’re coloured when you apply them so you can see any densely coloured areas or places you’ve missed.

Fake it

Virginal

CheekyThe straight-haired among us will rejoice at this trend. No longer is beach hair all about impossible ‘sea-salt’ tousled surfer girl hair! For 2012, slick side partings and ponytails is where it’s at.

Straight upRazor-sharp, Bowie-inspired cheek bones are back, so get out the blusher and start sculpting! Remember to smile and apply blusher on the apples of your cheeks, towards you hairline to stop spreading blusher all over you face!

This fresh-faced, butter-wouldn’t-melt look is perfect for humid weather. The virginal look is all about barely there skin and blushing blusher. Easy to pull off and practical too!

Virginal

Straight up

Bold brows were all over the catwalks as this summer’s must have look. If yours are looking sparser than you’d like, invest in a good quality eyebrow shadow and apply with a slanted brush.

Bold brows

There’s always a new trend for nails and for summer it’s ‘20s inspired greens. Think mint, pistachio and jade rather than lime and you’ll be on the right track.

Go Green

Move over lipstick, lip stain is the product of choice this summer! Perfect for making sure your lips look kissable in - and out - of the pool.

Get Lippy

Neon EyesA fresh take on the bold eyeshadow of the 80s, neon eyeshadow is all about picking a statement colour and wearing it with confidence. The colour of the catwalks has been aqua, which is slightly easier to pull off than the daring pink seen on some models!

WHAT’S ONOUR SPEAKERS

Of monsters and men

Hailing from the same corner of the world as music legend Bjork, this Icelandic six piece who won a battle of the bands competition in 2010 have been perfecting their indie pop folk sound ever since. Now after gaining success across the Atlantic, they released their debut album My Head Is An Animal in April of this year and have been spreading their melodic music. With band members playing a range of instruments, including a glockenspiel and accordion, their sound is different to the norm. Check out their song Little Talks which is bound to put a smile on your face.

Words By Siobhan Frew

WHAT’S ONOUR SPEAKERS

Bastille may traditionally be known as a medieval French prison, but lead singer Dan Smith and his band are set to change all that. This London-based band, citing Regina Spektor and Bat for Lashes as influences, and having recently supported Emeli Sandé on her latest tour, are making waves with their electronic sound and raw vocals. Their songs have also been featured in Made in Chelsea and Hollyoaks no less. There is also the added treat of a video using clips of a young Martin Sheen in the movie Badlands, for the song Flaws, which may or may not have helped them get to half a million YouTube hits. Either way, they are set for great things.

Bastille

Nina NesbittBeady-eyed Ed Sheeran fans will no doubt recognise this 18-year-old Edinburgh native from the Drunk music video, but there is more to Nina Nesbitt than just a pretty face. After uploading videos of herself singing her own songs onto YouTube, Ed Sheeran invited her to tour with him and before she knew it she had a record deal. She released her studio EP The Apple Tree in April of this year and it made its way half way up the iTunes top ten, namely because of her fresh sounding songs and sweet voice. New single Boy is coming soon.

Bastille

HOME TRENDS

Soft feminine pastels will never go out of style, but sometimes they can start to feel a little bit, well… dull. If you’ve been living with pastel shades for a while and are itching to liven things up then

why not go for the hottest new colour trend: Pretty Pastels + Neon Brights.

So, here is our step-by-step guide to building a Pastel Bright colour scheme which will work for you...

Words Becky Morris Knight Photographs Marij Hessel

1

HOME TRENDS

Look around you – what do you have already that simply cannot be changed? Curtains, carpets and major pi eces of furniture are the building blocks of any design scheme, so they need to be able to work with the neon tones you will be injecting. Anything in heavy reds and royal blues will be difficult, so think about whether you can create a neutral base to work with.

1

2Pick your pastelsCombine peachy tones for a warm feel, go with blues, mints and turquoises for a fresh, airy style or use pinks with neutrals for a feminine touch. A word of warning here – don’t mix too many colours, or go for very floral patterns as this will make it difficult when you come to add the brights.

This is an exciting youthful look with a quirky contemporary edge that will make

sure your home feels full of life and fun.

Begin with a neutral base, along with plenty of wood. Pale wood is especially nice with this

sort of scheme. Then layer up the pastel tones and colour with plenty of different

textures, but not too much pattern.

Pack a neon punchWe’d recommend you leave adding brights to be the final step of dressing your room. Once you’ve got the feel of the room right you can begin to add in neon hues in as much quantity as you feel comfortable with.

Get creative and consider what you can DIY – paint the legs of a table in neon yellow, add a hot pink edge to your cushions, or make a paper garland using your favourite pastel & neon combinations.

3

If you’re too busy (or not so snappy with the scissors) then there are some great

brights beginning to pop up online and on the high street. Here are a few fabulous finds:

Orange light flex cord - Curiouser & Curiouser, £29.95

Neon Succulent sculpture – Waterstone Succulents, Etsy, $17

Let’s Dance screen print – Three Chord Print, Folksy, £22

Neon Lime Ikat Cushion – Table Tonic, $79

Green antlers – Pedlars, £425

African Print cushion, Static – Pretty Dandy, £26.99

Spindle floor lamp base – Habitat, £170

Geometric Art Ornament – Becky Kemp, Etsy, £35.50

summer menu

When it’s summer time and the weather is fine (which it hasn’t been so far, but we can hope) we want to eat delicious food that will keep us satisfied but isn’t too

heavy. Luckily at Cellardoor we have an army of chefs mentored by Paul Hollywood and Mary Berry on hand to create delicious recipes for us... or maybe not. We just

have one very talented cook who doesn’t even need mentoring.

If you’re looking out for the perfect summer menu for a warm, sunny day then

look no further...

Recipes and photography Hannah Irish

Cheesy Asparagus

Tart

Start by boiling the potatoes for 15-20 minutes in a pan of salted water. Meanwhile blanch your asparagus in a separate pan of

salted boiling water for 4 minutes, and drain in a colander.

Pre-heat the oven to 180°C. Grease your baking tray or oven proof dish with butter

before rolling out the pastry to roughly the size of your tray or dish, using flour to ensure the pastry doesn’t get to wet and sticky. Place the pastry on your tray or oven proof dish and

brush with melted butter.When the potatoes are cooked, mash them

with the cheeses. You can always add other ingredients such as garlic and onions to

your mash. In a separate bowl, mix together the eggs and cream and stir in your cheesy

mashed potato. Season well with salt & pepper and mix together. Spread the mashed potato over the pastry leaving a 2cm pastry border around the edge. Line the asparagus in the

mash and brush the pastry with melted butter to create a golden brown glaze whilst cooking.Bake for around 25 minutes, or until golden and crisp. Serve with a fresh watercress and

orange salad.

Method

500g potatoes100g butter, meltedSea salt and freshly ground black pepper

500g asparagus spears200g puff pastry

100g grated Gruyere cheese100g freshly grated Cheddar cheese

3 large free-range eggs1 pot of double cream

Ingredients

Drain chickpeas and set aside liquid from can. Combine remaining ingredients

in blender or food processor. Add 1/4 cup of liquid from chickpeas. Blend for

3-5 minutes on low until thoroughly mixed and smooth.

Place in serving bowl, and create a shallow well in the center of the hummus. Add a small amount (1-2

tablespoons) of olive oil and garnish with fresh parsley.

Homemade Hummus

1 tin of chickpeas1/4 cup liquid from tin

of chickpeas3-5 tablespoons lemon juice

(depending on taste)1 1/2 tablespoons tahini2 cloves garlic, crushed

1/2 teaspoon salt1/2 teaspoon paprika2 tablespoons olive oil

fresh parsley

Ingredients Method

Lemon Drizzle Tea Loaf

Method

250g plain flour1tsp bicarbonate of soda

1tsp cinnamon115g unsalted butter

115g dark brown, soft sugar2 beaten eggs

3 large bananas, mashed75g dried fruit

50g nuts

Pre-heat the oven to 180C and line a loaf tin with greaseproof paper.

Sift the flour and baking soda into a large mixing bowl.

In a separate, smaller bowl soften the butter by beating and continue to cream whilst

adding the sugar. Mix until well combined.

Stir the mashed banana into the butter mixture, gradually mixing in the beaten eggs

when incorporated.

Tip the combined wet ingredients into the

dry and mix well to form a thick batter.

Now simply add your additional ingredients (we love using dried fruit) and pour into the

lined tin.

Smooth the surface and bake in the oven for 1 hour or until risen and golden brown. A skewer when inserted should come out

clean.

Allow to cool for 20 mins before removing and serving, preferably with a piping hot

cup of tea and a good slather of chocolate spread or honey.

Lemon Drizzle Tea Loaf

Ingredients

Method

C E L L A R D O O R ' SSUMMER reading list

Words Amy Peck Illustrations Katie Rea

The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey If you like your fiction with a dash of the magical this is the book for you. Loosely based on the fairytale of the same name, this book is set in the wilds of Alaska in the 1920s. Jack and Mabel came to farm the unforgiving land to try and escape the sadness of their past. One snowy night, they build a little girl made of snow. By the morning she has gone, yet they glimpse a young girl running towards the forest. Has the snow child come to life through their longing? Whimsical, charming and laced with sadness, this novel will stay with you long after you’ve closed it.

The Shopaholic series by Sophie Kinsella Meet Becky Bloomwood. Financial journalist by day…serial shopper in her spare time. These books aren’t going to win the Booker Prize but the characters are truly loveable and will have you rooting for them all the way to the end. You’ll instantly fall for the irrepressible charm of Becky as she navigates her way through many mishaps.

Forever by Judy Blume Blume is the ultimate author of teen fiction. Young girls from all over the world wrote to her asking for advice on everything from divorce to periods. Whilst to be honest, any of the books are worth a read, if you haven’t read Forever you are seriously missing out on a rite of passage. The plot essentially is about a young couple exploring their sexuality, and while the content probably won’t be surprising to you now, imagine reading it as a 12-year-old. If you haven’t read it, look forward to finding out why the name Ralph was ruined for a whole generation…..

The Great Gatsby by F Scott Fitzgerald Unless you’ve been living under a rock, it won’t have escaped your notice that The Great Gatsby is getting the Baz Luhrman treatment. The film, starring Tobey Maguire, Carey Mulligan and Leonardo DiCaprio, comes out in December so stay ahead of the curve and read this now. Set in the 1920s, Fitzgerald perfectly captures the decadence and glamour of the decade. You’ll fall in love with the enigmatic Jay Gatsby, and the ending will shock and surprise. One of the best books ever written.

The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie This is the first full-length novel featuring the debonair detective Hercule Poirot. A classic mystery story from the superbly talented Agatha Christie, we meet Poirot amidst a murder at an isolated English country house. Most of the suspects have something to hide but who is guilty? A wonderfully written ‘whodunnit’, the twists and turns of the plot will keep you reading on.

My Mothers Wedding Dress by Justine Picardie Written by Vogue contributor Justine Picardie, this is a beautiful and charming book about how clothes become the fabric of our lives. From wedding dresses to children’s clothes, Picardie explores what clothes mean to all of us. Evocative and perfectly written, this is a wonderful homage to how our wardrobes are so much more than just cloth and stitches.

Before I Go To Sleep by SJ Watson You’ve probably seen this book on the shelves or spied someone engrossed in it on the daily commute. There has been hype surrounding this novel, and in this instance it is wholly deserving. A woman loses her memory every night when she goes to sleep so every morning she has to learn who she is again. Who can she trust? Her husband? Her therapist? This book will keep you guessing right up until the final page and the story draws you in to the point you will struggle to put it down.

How To Be A Woman by Caitlin Moran Columnist Moran has written the ultimate book for modern feminists. This is a clever blend of part-memoir, part-musings on all the pressing questions of how to be female in the 21st century. From Brazilians to Botox via why everyone asks us when we’re going to have a baby, this book will make you laugh at loud. Definitely a classic in the making.

Elegance by Kathleen Tessaro This is a wonderful tale of a woman who is feeling frumpy and unattractive, and after finding an old book in a second hand bookstore entitled Elegance, she begins to follow its style rules. Incidentally this guide really existed and was reissued after this novel was published, a book within a book, what’s not to love? Her life begins to change as she rediscovers herself through changing her look. This isn’t about fashion, it’s about real style and is an inspiring read.

Never Let Me Go by Kazuo IshiguroKathy, Tommy and Ruth spent their childhoods at the seemingly idyllic boarding school Hailsham in the English countryside. Constantly told how special they are, as adults they come to realise exactly what that meant. Hailsham was not an ordinary school and they were not ordinary children. Created to donate their organs to seriously ill people, their lives will be spent in hospitals or in recovery centres. The characters are beautifully crafted and you will grow to care immensely about them. Raising important questions about the future of genetic science, this stunning story that will haunt you long after you turn the last page.

Photography ruffledblog.com

The four of us huddled in the entrance to the church. Jenny and Louise fluffed Amy’s skirt whilst I straightened her veil, tears welling in my eyes. “I can’t believe I’m 22 and I’m getting married!” Amy squealed. “I always said I’d never do this, you know, rush into things. But then with Lily, I just couldn’t find a reason to wait.”“Don’t worry, you’re doing the right thing,” Jenny assured her. “Lily would have been ecstatic to see you in this dress. However, you need to be a little bit quieter because everyone just turned around to see where that squeal came from!”Louise put her arm around my waist. “Are you OK, Izzy?”“Yeah, I’m fine, don’t worry.” I plastered a smile on my face in a failed attempt to ease her worry. The choir started to sing and the doors were flung open to reveal the aisle. And Jack.The last time I saw him had been when we finished university. “You have to come to Australia Izzy. It’s the most amazing opportunity and we’ve been planning it for ever! We can see Sydney and Melbourne, I can learn to surf and you can finally attempt to get a tan,” he laughed. “Don’t give up on this now. Remember the trip to New Zealand? The campervan? We could always fly back if anything were to happen to your Lily, we’d find a way.”He was tanned now and his brown hair flopped into his eyes. I couldn’t help but watch him throughout the ceremony. He gave me a shy smile and started turning Amy’s wedding ring over in his pocket. He did the same thing with coins every time he was nervous.Amy very cleverly manoeuvred it so that we weren’t together on photographs and sat us at opposite ends of the table. The first time I heard him speak was following the ringing of glasses as he stood to make his best man’s speech. He told jokes, discussed exactly why Amy and Will were perfect for each other and then, finally, discussed true love.“Someone once told me that you know you’ve found true love when that person is the only one you want to sit next to. When I left for Australia I looked for someone else that would squeeze my hand on the aeroplane and make me laugh from the passenger seat of the car on long journeys. I was supposed to be there six months but it took me two years to realise what I was looking for was at home.” He was looking at me now and I was frozen to my seat, subconsciously stroking the spot where my own engagement ring once lay. “Will, I am so pleased you held on tight to Amy. She is so perfect for you and I just hope I get the same chance with my perfect girl. Not that you need it, but I wish you both all the luck in the world.” He raised his glass in a toast, “To Will and Amy.” As the room chorused “Will and Amy” I turned to Jenny. “Is Jack home for good?” From the look on their faces I knew that was the case.

“Why didn’t you tell me?”Louise saved her by closing her hand over mine. “Darling we knew you’d get upset, overthink things and not want to leave the house in case you bumped into him.”“I wouldn’t have…”Jenny interrupted. “I love you but yes, you would have.”I ran outside and collapsed on a garden swing. Set on a cliff top overlooking the beach I could see the spot further along the coast where we had scattered Lily’s ashes. She’d loved it here and Amy had chosen the location so she could share the day with us.I stared out to sea as the swing moved and settled still. “You left me.”“You were supposed to come with me.”“You were supposed to love me. Why didn’t you understand?”“I did. I do. I’m in love with you Isabelle. Only you.” He reached out to take my hand. “I just, I didn’t realise Lily would get so poorly.”Finally, I turned to look at him. The setting sun gave me even more of a golden glow and I felt translucent in comparison, pale and forgotten. “Well, she did.”“She was 21,” he sighed. “People aren’t supposed to die at 21. I thought she’d get better. You were so certain you should stay but you never asked me to. I thought you were having second thoughts about us.”Jack and I had cuddled under the covers and made hundreds of plans. Weighing up whether we should go to America or Australia, whether we should work in bars to fund trips round New Zealand and Thailand too or settle down in Sydney. We’d kissed and kicked the covers around and planned routes on my iPad, safely cocooned in my room. Then Lily had got ill and I had been so certain. He was right. The doctors had said she had a great chance of survival, they’d never expected her to deteriorate so quickly, but for some reason I just knew. I had packed up all of things in my room that belonged to him, twisted the necklace he had given me from my neck and laid it on the top of the box before leaving it with his housemates.“I couldn’t let you miss out. Was it amazing?”“It was. But it would have been better with you.”He started turning something over in his pocket before nervously pulling out the necklace. “I was gutted when you gave this back.” It was a perfect flat circle, he said it meant infinity. Of course I was cynical, I’d not believed him, I wasn’t sure love could last, but there they were - our initials still entwined on the under side of the band.I smiled at him and the worry lines around his eyes loosened. “I think we should plan a trip.”

Short Story

Perfect Circleby Laura Booth

Photography: Emily W

until next time...

until next time...