We're just browsing ........

£123 in the collection for Mary's retiral gift.  My colleague Julie and I were despatched (well, being as we are the only ones who work in the office, we despatched ourselves, strictly speaking!) to purchase a gift.

In consultation with AN Other we had decided a nice piece of jewellery and some other small keepsake would be ideal.  Although Perth is now pretty dire for shopping (unless you want to buy something which only costs £1, or are shopping for clothes of poor quality which fall to bits at the first wash) we are lucky in having a decent number of little individual 'artisan' shops.

In the Old High Street, we bought a beautiful necklace of delicate amber beads threaded on a fine silver chain, and a pair of lovely drop earrings to match. 

That left £25 in the pot, so we walked along the Newrow and popped into the Jardine Gallery and Workshop, where the owner can be seen making beautiful and lifelike clay animal sculptures.  There were lots of wonderful things to choose from, but sadly well above our remaining budget. 

Just round the corner on York Place we popped into the Wee Soap Shop, and bought a gorgeously rich ruby and charcoal grey pure wool scarf, handmade in Argyll.  Mary feels the cold terribly, so perhaps she will think of us working fools when she pulls it around her neck to keep her warm. 

It's very nice to spend other people's money; and we were so pleased with ourselves that we nipped into the lovely café Blend, and had flat whites and fruit scones with butter and jam.