Also from the Poppy range, by Northern Lighting, this table oil lamp in powder-coated steel comes with a removable childproof lid. It’s available in Skinny (H27cm) or the wider Bold (pictured; H22cm), in off-white, black or green. £131; hollowaysofludlow.com
You can rely on the Italian brand Seletti to bring something surprising to the party — and these resin monkey lights are no exception. They come in standing, sitting or hanging primate form and are mains-powered, with a 450cm cable. The lamp and cable are waterproof, but the plug must be kept indoors. This model is 76.5cm high. £165-£220; ovohome.com
This transparent acrylic LED table light from Fatboy (H25.5cm) is wireless and chargeable. It’s also available in green, yellow, blue or grey. £90; amara.com
Made in the UK by Old School Electric, this traditional oval bulkhead lamp has a cage frame inspired by marine lighting. It comes in solid brass and measures H24.5cm x W16cm. £90; abodeliving.co.uk
Northern Lighting’s new Poppy outdoor lights are inspired by the seed pods of the plant. The sectional powder-coated steel stems can be driven into the lawn or slotted into a circular base, and stand up to 139cm tall. £172; hollowaysofludlow.com
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Point the way to the bar or the garden with this decorative LED Arrow light in powder-coated metal. It measures W43.5cm x H18.5cm and takes two AA batteries. £20; lakeland.co.uk
Lakeland’s solar-powered garden light chain features 20 bulbs on a 10-metre cable. They light up automatically after dusk and change colours, blinking through pink, blue, green yellow and red. £35; lakeland.co.uk
Agenda
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It takes a lot for tennis to grab my attention. The grunty ball-bangers bore me dreadfully. But an undignified tussle over a piece of bath linen? Consider me hooked. The textile in question was one of the official Wimbledon towels, manufactured for 30 years by a British firm, Christy. Such is their popularity that last year the company sold 29,000 to spectators during the two-week tournament.
The official merch stand, however, is not the only route to ownership. After his win over Christian Garin, Jack Sock launched a towel towards a souvenir-seeking young fan in the crowd. It became the focus of a tug-of-war between the kid and a panama-ed plum buffer. Buffer won with ease; kid retired disappointed; Twitter, led by Judy Murray, sat in judgment.
Murray failed to mention that the players, including her sons, are the most prolific tea leaves when it comes to Wimbledon towels. They should be returned after each match, but only a third are. It’s a crime committed equally by male and female players, Christy reveals, but some are notorious snafflers. With Serena “eight a day” Williams expecting her baby in a few weeks’ time, there may well have been considerably more to go round this year.
Leaving social media screeching gleefully “What is wrooong with him?”, I visited the serene surroundings of Liberty last week for the launch of the fashion designer Bella Freud’s Psychoanalysis scent. The great-granddaughter of Sigmund, Bella was partly inspired to create the fragrance by her own analyst. The range, including a scented candle with hints of tobacco flower, amber and cedarwood, is available in mid-September, exclusively from Liberty.
While you wait, lie back on Ercol’s Studio Couch, above, in Bluebell Gray’s Treslaig (£4,995; ercol.com), and tell me about your childhood. Any traumatising towel incidents?