Where oh where has this week gone?

For me, it has passed in a haze of sore throat, snot, coughing, aching in my very bones, and worst of all - losing my voice! OK, it was only for about an hour first thing in the morning, but without my voice, I am nothing. Seriously. Couldn't shout at the kids to hurry up and get ready for school, it was a disaster.

I did consider whether I should go on the school art gallery trip as I felt so crap, but Smallest LB's face was a perfect portrait of misery at the thought that I wouldn't be going with her. And I had promised her teacher. And I had made a fuss about the sculpture. So I went. 

And yes, the sculpture was included on the tour, with the little talk about it. I had imagined that the sculptor Marc Quinn was referencing Rodin's The Kiss, but in addition, we were told that he was thinking about ancient statues which are considered so classically beautiful, despite being damaged (Venus de Milo in particular). If those works are beautiful and valued despite not being perfect or complete, why not a representation of contemporary people who are not physically perfect or complete either?

I'm very grateful to N's teacher for realising there is nothing inappropriate for children in any of this. She even bought me a postcard of Quinn's sculpture to say thanks for helping. Or maybe to say keep your sticky beak out and your huge gob shut in future, I'm not entirely sure...



So I haven't been feeling at my most stylish this week, I must confess, despite the wonderful Karen's (mistaken) impression that I am dressed up to the nines every day!

This is me today. I need a bold print to distract from my hacking cough and the monstrous carbuncle on my nose. Damn the peri-menopause, it's giving me teenage skin to go with my wrinkles, that's just not fair. And now I sound like a teenager too!

Charley's not impressed. Or perhaps he thinks I'm after his fur, like Cruella. This is another alleged maxi which isn't on me, but I like it anyway.

1960s Davisella maxi dress and Jones boots (Ebay), faux fur jacket, cardigan, gold leather belt and bangles (charity shopped), enamel pendant (flea market)


You know all about my charity-shopping frenzy this month, which has left me financially embarrassed and a little guilty... But this little find was a mere 10p in the knitting pattern box.


                                                                Recognise this lovely lady?

 If I'm not mistaken, that's iconic 1960s beauty Jean Shrimpton, modelling for Patons knitting patterns and looking exquisite doing so. There are loads of pictures of The Shrimp on Google images so having compared, I'm pretty sure it's her.

                                                                    Beautiful, isn't she?

I am looking forward to watching "We'll take Manhattan" tonight, a drama about Jean Shrimpton's relationship with David Bailey. One to watch on your Ipad, Ariane!

And speaking of Ariane at Style Montreal Sud-Est, she tagged me to answer some questions, but because I'm feeling grumpy and hormonal and teenagery, I'm not going to! Such a rebel without a clue.

 What do you think makes you unique

What is you hidden talent

If you had the choice, where would you live

The things you hate to do

The worst injustice

Fast fashion or vintage?

Red wine or white wine?

What makes it that you will be loosing your patience?

Favorite male actor and why?

High heels or low heels?

Favorite subject in school

Blame the head-full-of-mush but I can't think of interesting answers to the tricky ones, so I'll just do the easy ones - any wine, vintage, I would love to live by the sea in my dotage, and I love high heels but my feet don't.

This reminds me of doing (or not) my Maths homework - trying a couple of the easier bits then refusing to do the rest while sulking and whining "It's not fair! I hate Maths!" Reverting to one's teenage self is so unappealing.... Sorry, Ariane! (And sorry to Mr Buckingham, my Maths teacher 1976-80.)

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