Shine on

Enough of grown up coats and over-thinking; I need some sequins and sparkle!

I've enjoyed this week, as I knew I would.

Oh, not the getting up early, I never like that, but I don't mind the walk to school with Littlest. It's quite a sociable thing.

I've been charity shopping and to Chesterfield flea market, had coffees and catch-ups with friends, done my usual stint in school as a volunteer, and generally spent the week chit-chatting and laughing.

No wonder I struggle with working...

I seem to have lost my chazzing mojo at the moment, which considering the hideous state of January's finances, is no bad thing. 

I have seen 1950s velvet hats, 1960s wool coats, vintage linens and ceramics aplenty, all of which were very tempting, I admit. But I walked on by. 

Who knew I had it in me?

Jo and I loved being back at the flea market, but all I brought home was a cauliflower and a butternut squash.

How better to shake off tedious grown up angst than by wearing a child's t-shirt, pinched from Eldest, and a shiny metallic skirt?

The therapeutic nature of the outfit is all the more potent for the fact that it is composed of hand-me-downs and gifts from delightful blog friends.

T-shirt - hand-me-down

Cardigan and bangles - charity shopped

1970-80s metallic skirt - gift from divine dancing queen Sarah

Necklace - gift from luscious Leisa

Belt - retail (sale)

Boots - Ebay

Just one thing I have been a little less happy about this week...

Here's Seldom Seen Kid, off to school on Tuesday in his new glasses, looking mighty fine (if a little scruffy and in need of a haircut...)

By Wednesday, they were broken.

A kid ran into him, knocked him over, and the frame snapped at the side when he hit the deck.

Two days. TWO DAYS.

£60.

Bugger.

The opticians, who will not be enjoying our return custom, were spectacularly (ha) unhelpful and refused to try and fix them, so we have resorted to a DIY repair job, based on Superglue, hope and willpower. We'll see how long that lasts...

 And I am slightly concerned about this too;

my camellia is blooming but has that strange orange discolouration around the edges of the petals.

Any horticultural experts (les dames aux camellias, if you will) know what the problem is? I'm hoping it hasn't been attacked by some pest.

Camellia blight? Does it exist?

Otherwise, it is business as usual;

Jess is drinking out of the bird bath...

...and Charlie and Caspar from next door (although he seems to have forgotten he actually lives there and not in our house) are racing and chasing and play fighting. A moment later and they were a tangled, rolling mass of black and white, like a yin-yang symbol in feline motion.

The girls and I are off to see Oliver! at the Crucible Theatre tonight.

I'll be reviewing the situation in my next post.

And thank you for all your thoughtful and thought-provoking reflections on the subject of work in your comments on my previous post. I was fascinated by the discussion.
 

Oh, and I started tinkering about with my blog design, but only got as far as changing the header, and now I'm not sure I like it. It might be the first in a series of trial runs, just ignore me.

Have a great weekend, whatever you're doing!

xxxx