tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84892378108861775842024-03-13T13:05:53.374-07:00The Secondhand YearsTales of vintage love and other storiesCurtisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10362184504889147455noreply@blogger.comBlogger493125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8489237810886177584.post-27057850242958095202017-04-24T16:37:00.000-07:002017-04-24T16:37:31.913-07:00A room without a roof<div style="text-align: center;">
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Happiness comes in many forms.</div>
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Meeting up with these beauties brings me real joy - look at them!</div>
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Vix did a post about Our Day Out<a href="https://vintagevixon.blogspot.co.uk/2017/03/girls-just-wanna-have-fun-bloggers-day.html"> here</a>.</div>
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New frocks that cost a fiver... </div>
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unexpected tulips in my garden...</div>
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borrowing my neighbour's gorgeous ginger fella...</div>
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and seeing Nina's art work (she painted the foxes) in her school mural:</div>
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these things are happiness on a plate.</div>
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Oh look - more Nina. </div>
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With Uncle Gary.</div>
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Two of my favourite people.</div>
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Lemon drizzle cakes (made by me)...</div>
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huevos rancheros for brunch (not made by me)...</div>
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and a Fanny that plays records.</div>
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These are Good Things, clearly.</div>
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So is a visit to Chatsworth House... </div>
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especially when there are hats to try on...</div>
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with my gorgeous niece. </div>
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Always good to have a weekend away - how about Stratford upon Avon?</div>
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Beautiful sunshine, blue skies, and this man...</div>
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Yes, there are lots of reasons to clap along, if you know what happiness is to you.</div>
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Hope everyone is well, I'll be popping by soon. </div>
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xxx</div>
Curtisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10362184504889147455noreply@blogger.com47tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8489237810886177584.post-3841960471442257872017-03-07T13:16:00.000-08:002017-03-07T22:57:29.233-08:00We move like the sea<div style="text-align: center;">
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There's nothing like a blast of sea air to blow away the cobwebs.</div>
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And a visit to Tynemouth means great company too.</div>
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My sister Sabena and her partner Gary; two of my very favourite people.</div>
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Jumping for joy on the beautiful Longsands beach. </div>
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Some more successfully than others...</div>
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There is a market every weekend at Tynemouth metro station too, which Sabena and I browsed around...</div>
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while Gary took the kids to the match at St James' Park.</div>
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I am woefully out of practice at blogging, and feeling sadly adrift from my lovely community of bloggers whose support and company I value. Real Life has its distractions at present, but I'll have a good go at catching up with you all - I miss you. </div>
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<i>1970s hand made maxi dress - Mooch vintage shop</i></div>
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<i>Boots - community fair</i></div>
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And it's hard to find a good spot in my new garden to take a decent photo!</div>
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xxx</div>
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Curtisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10362184504889147455noreply@blogger.com39tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8489237810886177584.post-60988219214778753542016-12-18T12:05:00.001-08:002016-12-18T14:29:50.412-08:00Pleasant wonder is no loss of time<div style="text-align: center;">
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I'm not generally very good with change.</div>
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I like what I know, I like routine, I like the safety.</div>
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But sometimes, a big old shake up is <i>just</i> the thing. </div>
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Before I moved, Nina asked both Simon and I whether we would be sad or lonely on the days when she, Claudia and Owen were at the other parent's house. We both replied with an amused but emphatic <i>no!</i></div>
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I can't vouch for Simon, but for me, those days have a strangely unreal quality to them. Time opens up in front of me, space to be filled in any manner of my choosing. Of course work commitments continue, and all the usual chores still require attention, but there have been times when I have a day off, no particular plans, and I wake up without an alarm and lie for a minute in the dark, excited by the prospect of suiting myself, from start to finish of the day. I can't quite find the words to articulate how it feels - it's liberating, but slightly overwhelming, so much choice almost makes me anxious until I remind myself I don't have to cram a million things in, I'll have days like this on a regular basis now. </div>
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It's... a bit trippy. </div>
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<i>1970s dress and cardigan - charity shopped </i></div>
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Something I did on one such day was go for a walk in our local park and visit Meersbrook Hall, an 18th Century Grade II listed house. Since the 1950s, the hall has been home to council offices, but the Parks and Countryside department has now relocated and this year, the keys to the building were handed over to the<a href="http://meersbrookhall.org.uk/"> Friends of Meersbrook Hall </a>and local charity Heeley Development Trust. They plan to refurbish the house and develop it as a thriving community resource, remaining in public ownership. </div>
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It was the first time I have ever set foot inside the Hall.</div>
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Nina's year group at school had an art exhibition on display, inspired by the work of <a href="http://www.theruskinsociety.com/aboutruskin.html">John Ruskin</a>. </div>
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Nina's picture. </div>
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Walking home in the dimming light of late afternoon, the low cloud looked like mountains in the distance.<br />
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But as much as I am relishing some solitude, I am making the most of my social opportunities too...<br />
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well, it would have been rude to ignore this talented young man, don't you think?<br />
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My shop's Christmas do was a night out at a burlesque show. </div>
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My feathers weren't quite as impressive - love those fans!</div>
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<i>1950s cocktail dress - gift from Wayne at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/moochvintage/">Mooch</a></i></div>
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<i>Feather fascinator, bracelet and 1950s crystal necklace - charity shopped</i></div>
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With Heather, Mel and Jo - the most glamorous charity shop team ever!</div>
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And while we're on the subject of leggy birds in feathers - look at this beauty, spotted on the River Sheaf the other day. Watching him take off was a joy. </div>
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Ruskin had it right - pleasant wonder is no loss of time.<br />
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Linking - for the first time in ages - to Patti's <a href="http://notdeadyetstyle.com/pearls-everything-visible-monday"><i>Visible Monday</i></a>. </div>
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xxx</div>
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Curtisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10362184504889147455noreply@blogger.com40tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8489237810886177584.post-76737151517369651972016-12-04T09:31:00.000-08:002016-12-04T09:31:30.339-08:00Remaking<div style="text-align: center;">
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Hi.</div>
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Anyone there?</div>
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Look, it's me.</div>
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Finally. </div>
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I've moved house, and have braved my first photo session in my new garden.</div>
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The neighbours will soon get used to the curious sight of me flouncing about and posing in ridiculous frocks...</div>
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<i>1970s Betty Barclay dress - <a href="https://www.facebook.com/moochvintage/">Mooch vintage shop</a></i></div>
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<i>Vintage Bally boots and 1960s pendant - my shop </i></div>
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So what can I tell you about life at the moment?</div>
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It's good.</div>
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The period leading up to the move was difficult. I am not usually much of a crier, and have been known to despise those who weep at the drop of a hat (their hat, anyone's hat). But good lord, I have cried more than I thought was humanly possible in the last 6 months or so. There were points when emotional distress manifested itself so physically, I was simply floored by it. </div>
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When I cleared out the Cupboard of Doom, that repository of a lifetime's clutter and so many memories, I had to keep stopping to sob and try and catch my breath. The jacket, full price and extravagant at the time, to which I treated myself after a relationship break-up; the Chinese parasol I had up in my room all through my university years and beyond, yellowed with cigarette smoke and a little ragged around the edges; the rug made by my dad as therapy when he recovered from a bout of rheumatic fever in his youth; the dress I bought when I visited my dearest friend Deborah in America 20 years ago.</div>
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Three tiny sleepsuits, the first items worn by Claudia, Owen and Nina when they were born. </div>
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The Sex Shoes. </div>
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Oh don't ask...</div>
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Dismantling a life; it's really fucking <i>hard.</i></div>
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<i> </i></div>
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<i> </i></div>
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I packed it all away, and moved.</div>
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And now I am in the process of remaking.</div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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I know things are only things...<i> </i>But they hold associations and memories, and I like to have them around me, displayed and cherished. </div>
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<i> </i>Your comments on my last post also triggered many tears. You can't know how much your kindness, concern and encouragement meant to me, thank you very, very much. </div>
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The support of my friends has been both overwhelming and essential during this time of great change.</div>
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So I am settling into a new rhythm. And finding I like it. </div>
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The house is lovely, I feel comfortable, and the kids like it too.</div>
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I'm hoping that I'll get myself back into a blogging routine again, now that the <i>sturm und drang </i>of the last few months have abated. I've missed it, missed all of you.</div>
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And thanks again for your patience and support. You're fab!</div>
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xxxx </div>
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Curtisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10362184504889147455noreply@blogger.com48tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8489237810886177584.post-7360650117531835832016-09-20T07:56:00.001-07:002016-09-20T07:56:17.015-07:00Down to believing<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Looking back, my last post seems elegiac. Unintentionally so, at the time, but there is an air of weary melancholy about it all the same, a sense of mourning and loss. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I didn't know - then - that I would be absent for so long. Or that when I returned, life would have changed so much. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XQs-MdORpSA/V-FET2lZ9RI/AAAAAAAAXR0/Ol92Y9XBeHsUZ-D4DQqsaiGZ_vVr04N7ACLcB/s1600/IMG_7723.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XQs-MdORpSA/V-FET2lZ9RI/AAAAAAAAXR0/Ol92Y9XBeHsUZ-D4DQqsaiGZ_vVr04N7ACLcB/s640/IMG_7723.JPG" width="494" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> I've composed this post repeatedly in my head. I didn't know how to write it, and still don't. So I'll try and keep it simple and brief.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Simon and I are in the process of separating. I'm moving out, the kids will live between both homes, and we'll do our very best to share their care and upbringing in a loving and decent fashion. (They seem to be doing OK, so far.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><i>On holiday in Crete in May</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I confess to feeling daunted. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I'm starting again, alone, from scratch, at 52. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Fifty-fucking-two. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><i>On my birthday in June.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The To Do list runs over several pages and keeps getting longer.<i> </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><i> </i>The logistics of managing the schedules and possessions of three kids across two households will be a challenge.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> My impending poverty is alarming. Church mice will be offering to buy my drinks.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">It's a little overwhelming. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Love - that elusive joker - seems a world away.</span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Og8I7rz9gac/V-FHL69Uo-I/AAAAAAAAXSI/2piFCPIzU4MfsjsR0I46FuVMoFWATYD1QCLcB/s1600/IMG_7694.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Og8I7rz9gac/V-FHL69Uo-I/AAAAAAAAXSI/2piFCPIzU4MfsjsR0I46FuVMoFWATYD1QCLcB/s640/IMG_7694.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">But...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I guess it comes down to believing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Believing in the support of good friends, and the fact that I know that money doesn't buy what is truly worth having.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Believing in resilience, resourcefulness, and the possibility of new beginnings. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">In my own judgement of my worth, and trusting the truth in my misshapen heart, scratches, scars and all. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">So I guess it comes down to believing, and whether we do or we don't.</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">And I think, I hope, that I do.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">xxx</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><i> </i> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span> <br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ax5j05KgQow" width="560"></iframe></div>
Curtisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10362184504889147455noreply@blogger.com60tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8489237810886177584.post-24756408818157966162016-05-01T02:42:00.000-07:002016-05-01T06:28:59.832-07:00She's not there<div style="text-align: center;">
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Day Off + Things To Do (x many) = Fuck It. </div>
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I went to the General Cemetery instead.<br />
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Bright sunshine...<br />
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blue skies...<br />
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acid greens...<br />
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and plenty of sun flare.</div>
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It's been a while since I visited, but this place always calls me back.<br />
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Trying to explain it to someone who has never been and doesn't share the Victorian Graveyard Love makes me sound like a freak. So be it. </div>
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It felt a little different; much of the overgrowth has been cut back and some trees have been cropped. </div>
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Necessary, I know, as part of the ongoing renovation work, but part of me regrets the loss of the wilderness...<br />
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although there is enough left to enjoy. </div>
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I went to enjoy the silence, only to find myself sharing the space on this occasion with more than the occasional dog walker. </div>
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A gaggle of school girls with their teacher working on an art project; a chatty man with his over-friendly if delightful dog; a couple of young women sharing a fag on a bench as they rehashed the events of the night before and planned their future festival tent arrangements; and two drunk-ish men with a supply of cans. <br />
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No matter - they all passed through and left me to myself. </div>
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Having posted photos of the cemetery before ( <a href="http://sopastcaring.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/and-with-you-in-your-cold-grave-i.html">here</a>, <a href="http://sopastcaring.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/you-stood-in-bell-tower-but-now-youre.html">here</a> and <a href="http://sopastcaring.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/guess-whos-living-here-with-great-undead.html">here</a>), I was interested to see if I could see something different this time.</div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EWcLdkacOBY/VyW_Ii-HUHI/AAAAAAAAXMc/vU88b_IJ61MlqHGuMI4oRlI0TLJ3a3rPwCLcB/s1600/PicMonkey%2BCollageGC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EWcLdkacOBY/VyW_Ii-HUHI/AAAAAAAAXMc/vU88b_IJ61MlqHGuMI4oRlI0TLJ3a3rPwCLcB/s640/PicMonkey%2BCollageGC.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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There are some gravestones I hadn't spotted before. </div>
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<i>Ubique </i>is the motto of the Royal Artillery Regiment; Army Pensioner George Myers had been at the battles of Sebastopol and Inkerman during the Crimean War.</div>
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The shield-shaped headstone is for Annie Paine, Adjutant of the Salvation Army, <i>promoted to glory April 25th 1914. </i>Interestingly, there is a second inscription underneath for <i>Helen, beloved wife of Major Jonah Evans, </i>who died a year after Annie. Sisters? Secret lesbian lovers? I'm hoping for the latter.<br />
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<i> </i></div>
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And if I have already photographed most of the graveyard, I can always tinker with effects.</div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xSBsEBAwcCo/VyWzau9Fl6I/AAAAAAAAXLM/zVCDzReYG4sxu9hApticUJpTCetrCokAwCKgB/s1600/IMG_7500b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xSBsEBAwcCo/VyWzau9Fl6I/AAAAAAAAXLM/zVCDzReYG4sxu9hApticUJpTCetrCokAwCKgB/s640/IMG_7500b.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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I know how she feels; I feel like shaking my fist at that non-existent God too.<br />
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I had a brief scan over my recent blog posts and was struck by how dull they have been; a dirge of repeat complaints about how busy I am, and tired apologies for poor blogging form. I'm boring myself, never mind you. </div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nyWBx2_rF8o/VyXJSqLxTnI/AAAAAAAAXOM/U15SGLUN3AkMbr2806tm0RRZejBZIV5UgCLcB/s1600/IMG_7507a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nyWBx2_rF8o/VyXJSqLxTnI/AAAAAAAAXOM/U15SGLUN3AkMbr2806tm0RRZejBZIV5UgCLcB/s640/IMG_7507a.jpg" width="468" /></a></div>
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<i>1960-70s lurex maxi skirt - Ebay</i></div>
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<i>1970s velvet jacket - Leicester vintage shop</i></div>
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<i>Sunglasses - vintage market</i></div>
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<i>Ankle boots - charity shopped</i><br />
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I need to just <i>stop. </i>I don't intend to stop blogging, it's too precious to me - the friends, the conversations, the connections, the inspiration and ideas, I need them all. And I need this outlet for whatever nonsense is circling around my brain too.<br />
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<i> </i></div>
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But I am keenly aware of my lack of presence in the blogging world, and I feel guilty, frustrated and disappointed.<br />
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I'm going to wait until I can do this properly again.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nQzhZzOgwsU/VyXL5PwSxmI/AAAAAAAAXOc/HgQNyrEoqQMVZ8xS2UwXdWtq_Hj51A4vwCLcB/s1600/IMG_7512a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nQzhZzOgwsU/VyXL5PwSxmI/AAAAAAAAXOc/HgQNyrEoqQMVZ8xS2UwXdWtq_Hj51A4vwCLcB/s640/IMG_7512a.jpg" width="472" /></a></div>
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<i>Please don't bother trying to find her - she's not there. </i><br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WFWkQwqiJBk/VyXMdvwuphI/AAAAAAAAXOo/vsyN-l2T_9QGFTE9f6v2BmH0Zb4x2jLrACLcB/s1600/IMG_7504a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WFWkQwqiJBk/VyXMdvwuphI/AAAAAAAAXOo/vsyN-l2T_9QGFTE9f6v2BmH0Zb4x2jLrACLcB/s640/IMG_7504a.jpg" width="428" /></a></div>
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Hopefully it won't be too long.<br />
And I hope you'll wait for me.</div>
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xxx<i> </i></div>
Curtisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10362184504889147455noreply@blogger.com46tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8489237810886177584.post-80775425167314946282016-04-13T13:29:00.000-07:002016-04-13T13:29:12.852-07:00All work and no play<div style="text-align: center;">
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I'm painfully aware that I am being a dreadful blogger at the moment.</div>
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After all, bloggers, by definition, actually get their arses in gear and <i>blog</i>, no? </div>
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Me, I lurk in the shadows feeling overwhelmed by the number of posts I have failed to comment on, and wondering when the hell I can take some photos for a post of my own.</div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PmIGRJVuUaw/Vw6aNbIfVfI/AAAAAAAAXG0/gESuYqJIrS01KOrMZficiW5Zi8-4IXXWACLcB/s1600/PicMonkey%2BCollage5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="588" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PmIGRJVuUaw/Vw6aNbIfVfI/AAAAAAAAXG0/gESuYqJIrS01KOrMZficiW5Zi8-4IXXWACLcB/s640/PicMonkey%2BCollage5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Going dotty? I just might be...</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5fzoez6ZgEk/Vw6eLSJwC2I/AAAAAAAAXHE/f9CwVk8zreEY6-DMJO3AhsQoh87_AUkpwCLcB/s1600/IMG_7333.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5fzoez6ZgEk/Vw6eLSJwC2I/AAAAAAAAXHE/f9CwVk8zreEY6-DMJO3AhsQoh87_AUkpwCLcB/s640/IMG_7333.JPG" width="470" /></a></div>
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<i>1970s dress - gift from <a href="http://www.frecklefaceblog.co.uk/">Tania</a></i></div>
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<i>1960s Admyra jacket - charity shopped</i></div>
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<i>Boots - retail (sale) </i></div>
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<i> </i></div>
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<i> </i> </div>
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<i>1970s Miss Mary of Sweden dress and denim jacket - charity shopped</i></div>
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So that's what I've been wearing for a couple of days at least. <i> </i></div>
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Not much else has been happening apart from work.<i></i></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T2s2k24guGw/Vw6lymOs4qI/AAAAAAAAXHc/1SfKz3BMYRULvc82wTRW1aPGhtywaw4IwCLcB/s1600/PicMonkey%2BCollage2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T2s2k24guGw/Vw6lymOs4qI/AAAAAAAAXHc/1SfKz3BMYRULvc82wTRW1aPGhtywaw4IwCLcB/s640/PicMonkey%2BCollage2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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There is plenty of colour on the rails at the shop...</div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1OprIWPiGWY/Vw6mDuoCdHI/AAAAAAAAXHg/jJ8qKwLwefwuMV6IydJ-NpTzeb1f9UmsACLcB/s1600/IMG_7296.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1OprIWPiGWY/Vw6mDuoCdHI/AAAAAAAAXHg/jJ8qKwLwefwuMV6IydJ-NpTzeb1f9UmsACLcB/s640/IMG_7296.JPG" width="384" /></a></div>
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and party frocks from the 1970s or 80s, take your pick. <i></i></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eqBaTJbbGOY/Vw6mYJjvU5I/AAAAAAAAXHo/_9zVEBy-LwsNGOVNJVZFkA_UabTXXkIQgCLcB/s1600/IMG_7320.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eqBaTJbbGOY/Vw6mYJjvU5I/AAAAAAAAXHo/_9zVEBy-LwsNGOVNJVZFkA_UabTXXkIQgCLcB/s640/IMG_7320.JPG" width="432" /></a></div>
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Dressing the mannequins is like playing with life-sized Barbies (and Ken).</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9abJyF_tH0s/Vw6nEIIF-2I/AAAAAAAAXH0/WCmjaqac7ssXtMptPh9vjv92yMDlAGSjQCLcB/s1600/IMG_7290.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9abJyF_tH0s/Vw6nEIIF-2I/AAAAAAAAXH0/WCmjaqac7ssXtMptPh9vjv92yMDlAGSjQCLcB/s640/IMG_7290.JPG" width="424" /></a></div>
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We've got some great sewing patterns...</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--tLAG2UYYBI/Vw6nSYWdOkI/AAAAAAAAXH8/s1MoPFprkqIDOCuMYCkHlPKxLPWqH5u9gCLcB/s1600/IMG_7299.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--tLAG2UYYBI/Vw6nSYWdOkI/AAAAAAAAXH8/s1MoPFprkqIDOCuMYCkHlPKxLPWqH5u9gCLcB/s640/IMG_7299.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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funky homewares...</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hAcj-yPMZOc/Vw6ne8q4UVI/AAAAAAAAXIA/MZVEXdM1ey8xme9dlnb79Vf36BVKDke4QCLcB/s1600/IMG_7302.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hAcj-yPMZOc/Vw6ne8q4UVI/AAAAAAAAXIA/MZVEXdM1ey8xme9dlnb79Vf36BVKDke4QCLcB/s640/IMG_7302.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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and something for the kids too.</div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UawKogRUlso/Vw6nqzYQLuI/AAAAAAAAXII/11E-7mutSyUvbUbl_WBeTaltAAKBjUXOgCLcB/s1600/IMG_7358.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UawKogRUlso/Vw6nqzYQLuI/AAAAAAAAXII/11E-7mutSyUvbUbl_WBeTaltAAKBjUXOgCLcB/s640/IMG_7358.JPG" width="544" /></a></div>
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But you know, as much as I love the shop and passionately want it to be successful, I have decided I don't want to work full-time. </div>
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I want my life back. I miss my family, my friends, my blog. I want to sleep through the night, go to charity shops which aren't mine, cook better meals, I even want to clean the house. I want to sew, take photos, and get out in the garden. </div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cZtVezbmNBI/Vw6oVMA_1kI/AAAAAAAAXIU/5U4oAvm_NHA2uMjwCPi220yHasIES4j_ACLcB/s1600/PicMonkey%2BCollage4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cZtVezbmNBI/Vw6oVMA_1kI/AAAAAAAAXIU/5U4oAvm_NHA2uMjwCPi220yHasIES4j_ACLcB/s640/PicMonkey%2BCollage4.jpg" width="610" /></a></div>
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There is colour going on out there too, and I hadn't even noticed.</div>
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So, as soon as the charity can recruit a shop manager, I will revert back to my role as deputy and part-time hours. Until then, blogging may be patchy, but I'm looking forward to a time when I have something other than work to write about!</div>
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Linking to <a href="http://notdeadyetstyle.com/">Patti's</a> <i>Visible Monday</i>, despite feeling decidedly invisible at present.</div>
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Hope all is well with all of you.</div>
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xxxx</div>
Curtisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10362184504889147455noreply@blogger.com39tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8489237810886177584.post-34887015142245207572016-03-30T08:46:00.002-07:002016-03-30T08:46:19.825-07:00Lead on to Leeds<div style="text-align: center;">
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A long weekend.</div>
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A change of scene, and a destination easily accessible from South Yorkshire and the North East were required.</div>
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Solution? The West Yorkshire city of Leeds.</div>
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Here's the gang, all set to explore.</div>
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Past and present.</div>
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There is much evidence of Leeds' industrial history. Its wealth was largely built on the wool and linen trade in the 17th and 18th centuries, and further industrialisation through the development of mills and the Leeds-Liverpool canal brought great prosperity. </div>
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The city's current affluence owes much to the financial, legal and service sectors. </div>
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There are imposing Victorian buildings wherever you look, built to represent the city's wealth and success. </div>
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This is the Town Hall, complete with lions and a Henry Moore sculpture. It was opened in 1858 by Queen Victoria.</div>
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This used to be the central Post Office in Leeds, now a restaurant. </div>
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The Leeds City Museum.</div>
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The Corn Exchange, opened in 1864, is a beautiful building inside and out.</div>
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The spectacular domed glass roof was designed to allow in as much light as possible so the corn merchants could clearly see the quality of the produce on offer. </div>
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It is still a centre for trade, albeit no longer corn-based; it houses a selection of independent shops and cafes. </div>
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The lavish Victorian arcades are testament to the fact that a love of shopping is not a modern phenomenon. </div>
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The setting for the shops might be stunning, but the same can't always be said for the merchandise...</div>
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Kirkgate Market is the largest covered market in Europe, and home to the original stall where Marks and Spencer started trading in 1884.</div>
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And because we all love a bit of gruesome medical history, we also went to the <a href="http://www.thackraymedicalmuseum.co.uk/">Thackray Museum,</a> housed in the old Leeds workhouse next to St James' Hospital.</div>
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It wasn't all about history though.</div>
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There was also fun with wigs... </div>
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and plenty of pit stops...</div>
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and a wander around Park Square, an elegant city-centre Georgian square which now also includes a peace tree planted by the majors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 2003. </div>
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We love our weekends away with Sabena and Gary, and Leeds didn't disappoint.</div>
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Discussions about our next destination have already begun! </div>
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xxx</div>
Curtisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10362184504889147455noreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8489237810886177584.post-80904411749603427162016-03-20T12:33:00.003-07:002016-03-20T12:33:17.299-07:00Time out and about<div style="text-align: center;">
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Working full-time is certainly having an effect; the house is even more chaotic than usual, I've given up ironing, meals are variable in terms of timing and quality, and my social life has taken a nose dive.</div>
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<i>But</i>... by miraculous chance, <a href="http://vintagevixon.blogspot.co.uk/">Vix</a>, <a href="http://www.frecklefaceblog.co.uk/">Tania</a> and I were all available on Thursday, we chose a destination we could all get to by train in about an hour, and off we went to Leicester.</div>
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There was no chance of losing these two; I just had to scan the streets for a fuck-off huge fur hat and some neon pink legs!</div>
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I'm ashamed to admit that I have never been to Leicester before, though I've travelled through the city hundreds of times on trains heading south.</div>
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There were interesting buildings and architectural details wherever we looked. </div>
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We visited Richard III's tomb in the cathedral; there he is, shaking his tambourine, or triumphantly grasping the crown, take your pick.</div>
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The area around the cathedral was particularly peaceful and rather smart.</div>
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Of course there was shopping. The city centre has plenty of charity shops, and we spent ages in the wonderful <a href="http://www.dollymixvintage.com/about/4585079979">DollyMix</a> vintage shop.</div>
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There were lovely ladies all over the place, in addition to some spectacular clothes at reasonable prices. </div>
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See? Lovely ladies!</div>
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Lunch is always in a Wetherspoons; this time, the rather grand venue was the old Corn Exchange building. </div>
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Even if we didn't find anything to buy, we wouldn't go away empty-handed.</div>
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My gifts were a 1970s spotty dress and sewing pattern from Tania, and a sexy red 1960s slip, parrot earrings (to go with my parrot print frock) and Dr Martens sandals from Vix. As always, those girls get it absolutely right.</div>
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I found this 1970s cotton velvet jacket in the bargain basket in DollyMix - mine for a fiver.</div>
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And this 1970s dress was from<a href="https://www.facebook.com/pinkpigeonvintage/"> Pink Pigeon</a> vintage, just £10.</div>
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The print makes me ridiculously happy.</div>
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After losing a multifocal contact lens, I'm back to wearing my single vision lenses and reading glasses for close-up. One of the perils of full-time work is having problems making appointments with the optician...</div>
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I'll be joining<a href="http://notdeadyetstyle.com/"> Patti</a> and co for <i>Visible Monday,</i> and catching up with your blogs soon, I promise.</div>
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However busy life becomes, I'll always make time for friends. </div>
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xxx </div>
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Curtisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10362184504889147455noreply@blogger.com38tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8489237810886177584.post-43617782252120566462016-03-09T12:19:00.000-08:002016-03-09T12:19:14.951-08:00Slimosizes and unshrinkable underwear<div style="text-align: center;">
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Any British vintage lover will probably have seen a few Norman Linton dresses on their travels. </div>
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In my head, Norman's frocks are on a par with Richard Stump's - frumpy, not that exciting, made for middle-aged housewives in the 1960-70s. Ebay listings are fond of referring to such dresses as <i>granny (or geek) chic... </i></div>
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(No insult intended to middle-aged housewives - after all, I am one. Or grannies - I was very fond of mine.)</div>
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But hey, sometimes Granny takes a trip, a middle-aged housewife rocks a psychedelic maxi, and expectations are confounded.</div>
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Because I'm nerdy like that, I tried researching Norman Linton clothing but found little information. </div>
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What I did discover was a hilarious<a href="http://www.britishpathe.com/video/outsize-fashions"> Pathe News clip</a> from 1953, in which the man himself is seen measuring <i>robust women</i> to make an outsize dressmaker's dummies.</div>
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I wonder if the <i>slimosizes </i>label was intended to make <i>ladies with generous proportions</i> feel better about themselves? </div>
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This dress is my first purchase from my shop; I couldn't resist the trumpet sleeves and groovy print. </div>
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First of many, no doubt.</div>
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<i>1960s Norman Linton maxi dress - charity shopped</i></div>
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<i>1970s cropped faux fur jacket - <a href="http://kinky-melon.co.uk/">Kinky Melon</a></i></div>
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<i>1960s tapestry bag - jumble sale</i></div>
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<i>Boots - retail (sale)</i></div>
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I wore my new frock to work on Saturday, followed by a trip out for tapas with the family.<i> </i></div>
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Hmm, the beauty and grace of the distaff side of the family knows no bounds... </div>
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Actually, I've already made a second purchase, driven to it by the ongoing cold temperatures; </div>
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a 1960s Wolsey vest, just what I need under a dress on a chilly day.</div>
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Wolsey is a Leicester-based <a href="http://www.wolsey.com/Page/History">heritage British label</a>, one of the oldest textile manufacturers in the world. Known for their knitwear, Wolsey underwear was worn by Scott, Amundsen and Shackleton on their polar expeditions. If it's good enough for those conditions, it'll do me.</div>
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(Do have a look at the link, there are some fabulous photos.)</div>
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Cool packaging too.</div>
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(<a href="http://vintagevixon.blogspot.co.uk/">Vix</a>, I know you don't really do undies, but look, it's you!)</div>
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I'm late again for <a href="http://notdeadyetstyle.com/the-green-of-spring-visible-monday"><i>Visible Monday</i></a>, but luckily Patti is a forgiving hostess and lets me sneak in after hours.</div>
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Do bear with me while I try to find a rhythm for posting and commenting - I'll get there!</div>
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xxx</div>
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Curtisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10362184504889147455noreply@blogger.com36tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8489237810886177584.post-51396343569926625792016-02-29T12:20:00.001-08:002016-02-29T12:20:51.587-08:00Chickens and parrots<div style="text-align: center;">
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Last month, my lovely and funny blog friend Connie asked her readers to recall their <a href="http://conniesnow.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/overalls.html">Very First Personal Fashion Moment. </a></div>
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I left a comment about my Chicken Dress...</div>
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...and here it is.</div>
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This photo was taken in 1967; I was 3, and singing into my skipping rope.* <br />
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The dress was a hand-me-down, it had been worn by both of my older sisters and dated from the 1950s.<br />
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Bright colours, a great print, secondhand - a pattern was established with this dress.<br />
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See?<br />
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Parrot print, plus a peacock.<br />
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<i>1980s Hawaiian dress, cardigan, bangles and tights - charity shopped</i><br />
<i>Peacock necklace - vintage market</i><br />
<i>Boots - retail (sale)</i><br />
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I had an interesting exchange with a couple of customers in the shop last week. I heard a man telling his wife how much he liked 1970s styles, and we got chatting. I was wearing a 1970s maxi which the couple admired, but the man said that he could never wear a Seventies suit (he had been trying on jackets and browsing the suits).<br />
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<i>Why?</i> I asked. He spoke at length about living in a small village, and speculated about what his friends, neighbours and colleagues might think if he wore something unusual and different. I listened, then suggested that maybe he was overthinking things. If he liked a certain style of clothes, perhaps he should just wear them without worrying about anyone else's opinion.<br />
<br />His wife clapped her hands, and said <i>she met you 5 minutes ago and she's got you pegged. You overthink everything!</i><br />
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Sadly he didn't buy a jacket, but I'm hoping a seed was planted. What's the worst thing that can happen if you wear what you love? The couple were visiting their son who is a student in Sheffield, and maybe next time they're here, they will call back into the shop and make a purchase.<br />
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What sort of a vintage seller would I be if I didn't wear it myself, and passionately advocate for the beauty and value of old clothes? What I wear is proving a talking point, and I love having a job where my eclectic wardrobe is a positive benefit.<br />
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I'll take my parrot dress over to Patti's for <i><a href="http://notdeadyetstyle.com/7913-2">Visible Monday</a>.</i> <br />
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This outtake is the <i>real</i> me rather than the posed me - a bit gawky and inelegant, but friendly, fond of laughing, and usually talking. I'd spotted a friend working in a nearby garden and we were shouting across to each other while the camera snapped away on the timer. <br />
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<i>*</i>Perhaps
that skipping rope prefigures my penchant for karaoke just as much as
the chicken dress sets the scene for my style preferences? My mum
helpfully wrote on the back of that photo that I was belting out <i>Puppet on a string</i>, the UK's Eurovision entry in 1967. I still know every word.<br />
<i> </i><br />
xxxx</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jfeiCaRJgMY" width="420"></iframe>Curtisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10362184504889147455noreply@blogger.com39tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8489237810886177584.post-17055062612235049472016-02-23T13:47:00.002-08:002016-02-23T13:47:17.549-08:00What a way to make a living<div style="text-align: center;">
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What do Cary Grant, the Visible Man and I have in common?</div>
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We can all be found in St Luke's new charity shop specialising in vintage, of course!</div>
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I am <i>loving</i> my time in this shop - it's just right for me. </div>
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I'm working full time, we're still building up our team of volunteers, and there are lots of things to tweak and adjust and develop. I'm waking up in the small hours of the morning with ideas and plans and Things To Do. I'm knackered, but I'm so happy to be there. </div>
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<i>1960s black/metallic dress (shortened by me accompanied by much swearing, it was tricky to preserve the shape and the pattern at the hem while sorting out a previous poorly-sewn remake) - charity shopped</i></div>
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<i>Boots - retail</i></div>
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Gotta love a job where wearing flamboyant vintage clothes is not only acceptable, it's positively de rigeur. </div>
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I'm being a terrible blogger at the moment - parachuting in with a <i>me me me</i> post, having failed to leave any comments on your blogs for days on end. I will rectify that soon, I promise, but right now I need my bed and I have yet another list to write for tomorrow...</div>
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(I'll just pop over to <a href="http://notdeadyetstyle.com/">Patti's</a> to join the <a href="http://notdeadyetstyle.com/im-old-hippie-visible-monday"><i>Visible Monday</i></a> gathering before I go.) </div>
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See you all soon!</div>
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xxx<i> </i></div>
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Curtisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10362184504889147455noreply@blogger.com44tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8489237810886177584.post-34005547658814804412016-02-14T07:51:00.000-08:002016-02-14T07:51:03.490-08:00Half Term History <div style="text-align: center;">
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Half term has been restful and relaxing, which was just what we all needed. And waking up naturally without the warning shriek of an alarm was the biggest treat of all. </div>
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We went to Eyam on Thursday, a lovely little village in Derbyshire (pronounced <i>Eem</i>, by the way) made famous by the villagers' actions in 1665. </div>
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The bubonic plague arrived, carried by fleas in a bolt of cloth sent from London. The villagers, led by the Reverend William Mompesson, agreed to a self-imposed quarantine to prevent the spread of the disease to other areas, and in the ensuing year, over 260 people died. </div>
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(<a href="http://www.frecklefaceblog.co.uk/">Tania</a> visited the village last year and wrote<a href="http://www.frecklefaceblog.co.uk/2015/07/eyam-plague-village.html"> this post</a> about it.)</div>
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The church dates back to the 13th century, although the late Saxon font and Celtic cross in the graveyard suggest an earlier church existed on the same site. </div>
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The wall paintings are from the 18th century. </div>
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The modern stained glass window tells the story of the plague in Eyam. William's wife Catherine is the only plague victim to be buried in the churchyard; others were buried quickly and without ceremony in gardens and on nearby farmland.</div>
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The cross is 8th Century, and the sundial on the side of the church is dated 1775.</div>
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The village is pretty, with plenty of stone cottages, a village green complete with stocks, and a late 17th century hall.</div>
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They enjoyed it, honestly - take no notice of the face-pulling... </div>
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Before we left, we took a walk out of the village to the so-called Riley graves. The land was owned by a farmer named Riley, but the people buried here are John Hancock and 6 of his children. They all died within a week of each other in August 1666, and it fell to John's wife Elizabeth to bury them. </div>
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It's a beautiful spot, but such a sad story.</div>
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Some colour was needed to counteract the gloom;</div>
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<i>1970s dress - Ebay</i></div>
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<i>Vintage scarf, cardigan and bangles - charity shopped</i></div>
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<i>Boots - retail, sale. </i></div>
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I'll join <a href="http://notdeadyetstyle.com/">Patti </a>and co for <i>Visible Monday</i>, and catch up with your posts before I launch myself into a busy week at work in my new shop - wish me luck!</div>
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xxxx</div>
Curtisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10362184504889147455noreply@blogger.com33tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8489237810886177584.post-28595362280032285922016-02-07T08:44:00.000-08:002016-02-07T08:44:34.148-08:00A tale of two skirts<div style="text-align: center;">
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If my blogging form of late were to be graded, it would probably score a poor D- (and that would be generous). The dog didn't eat my homework, I've just found it hard to summon up time, energy or inclination. </div>
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Must Do Better, and I intend to try.</div>
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I'm in a skirt phase at the moment, and these two have been on high rotation, especially for work.</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h1YGZJwPcEo/VrdnYW54dPI/AAAAAAAAW4A/FwzgTBPwzUw/s1600/IMG_6785.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h1YGZJwPcEo/VrdnYW54dPI/AAAAAAAAW4A/FwzgTBPwzUw/s640/IMG_6785.JPG" width="470" /></a></div>
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<i>1950s wool jacket, Hobbs wool skirt, jumper and scarf - charity shopped</i></div>
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<i>Boots - retail (sale)</i></div>
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<i>1950s brooch - flea market</i></div>
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<i> 1970-80s St Michael skirt, top, cardigan and scarf - charity shopped </i></div>
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<i>Boots - retail (sale)</i></div>
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<i>Vintage Windsmoor faux fur coat - vintage fair</i></div>
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Despite the fact that tartan isn't my favourite print, I do like the colours and the different shapes of these two skirts. </div>
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I've worked some extra hours lately, covering at other shops and doing some sorting and pricing of stock for the vintage shop. It opens on February 15th, but I have next week off for half term, so yesterday was my final day at my old shop. </div>
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Doors close, doors open.</div>
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We've had plenty of rain and howling winds, but the sun does occasionally shines; Owen and I took advantage of a break in the clouds to head to town. He needed a haircut as badly as I do.</div>
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And because I like nothing better than a busman's holiday, I've managed
to find time to peruse the charity shops and nab myself some vintage
treasures.</div>
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1960-70s enamel pan</div>
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1970s maxi dress</div>
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1960s vinyl bag</div>
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1960s sewing pattern</div>
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1950-60s Franpear lurex sweater</div>
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1960s Petite Francaise silk duster coat</div>
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That last one was the real bargain of the bunch - an immaculate vintage slub silk coat for £2.50? Now <i>that's</i> why I go scouring the rails of charity shops on my days off. </div>
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The ever-useful Vintage Fashion Guild's <a href="http://vintagefashionguild.org/label-resource/">label resource</a> informs me that Petite Francaise was probably a British label, started in the mid-1960s, producing beautifully tailored dresses and matching jackets.</div>
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My old tan boots have started to let the rain in, so I was pleased to find these Hush Puppies at half price as a replacement. The old boots will still be fine when the weather allows. </div>
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I'll link to the lovely <a href="http://notdeadyetstyle.com/">Patti</a> and her <i>Visible Monday</i> gathering, and I'll be round to see what everyone has been up to as well. </div>
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It's been a sad week. George's funeral was a highly emotional occasion for everyone, but a warm, personal and beautifully thoughtful tribute to a lovely young man. And I'm sorry to be leaving my little team of staff and volunteers at Nether Edge.</div>
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Onwards, upwards...</div>
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xxxx</div>
Curtisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10362184504889147455noreply@blogger.com44tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8489237810886177584.post-35910649811038608952016-01-18T12:18:00.002-08:002016-01-18T12:18:33.515-08:00Hey babe, let's go out tonight<div style="text-align: center;">
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Hello? Anybody there?</div>
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I hope so; it's odd being away from blogging. I've felt a disturbing echo of ancient adolescent angst, a fear that everyone else in the world is off having all the fun without me... </div>
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Life's been going on as usual.</div>
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Work is busy - January is obviously Major Clear Out Month, the donations have been piling in. The vintage shop still isn't open but it's looking likely for February. We'll see.</div>
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<i>1970s blouse and maxi skirt, 1960s Astraka faux fur coat, suede waistcoat, vintage leather gloves, beret and ankle boots - all charity shopped</i></div>
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We've had a mere dusting of snow, which has made a change from the incessant rain. The garden is a quagmire, the cats and I are not impressed.</div>
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<i> </i></div>
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Jess' winter fluff, on the other hand, is <i>very</i> impressive. </div>
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On Saturday, we all went to see <i>An Inspector Calls</i> at the Lyceum theatre (the building on the right). </div>
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Over dinner afterwards, we debated the nature of the mysterious Inspector, admired the staging of the production, and discussed whether polemic makes for good theatre. Well, Simon and I did - the kids may have been ignoring us and troughing their puddings at this point. </div>
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It was snowing by the time we went home.</div>
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Thank you for your kind comments on my previous post. </div>
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And in the spirit of getting back to normal around here, I'll be joining <a href="http://notdeadyetstyle.com/">Patti's</a> <i>Visible Monday</i>, and coming to visit everyone. What's been happening?</div>
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xxxx</div>
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Curtisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10362184504889147455noreply@blogger.com48tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8489237810886177584.post-33989769046231042612016-01-07T08:01:00.001-08:002016-01-07T08:01:44.109-08:00I can't look at the stars<div style="text-align: center;">
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Please forgive the blogging hiatus, everyone - oh, and a very happy new year to you all.</div>
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A hectic pre-Christmas schedule at both work and play, combined with a heavy cold, did some damage to my staying power over the festive period.</div>
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And then we learned of the death of a friend of Claudia's, a truly delightful young man named George. They have known each other since they were in nursery together, we know his mum and dad, and our family, like the whole community, is reeling with shock and sadness. </div>
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It's every parent's worst nightmare, isn't it? Even as I try to imagine the unimaginable, that desolate grief and anguish at the loss of a beloved child, I find my mind recoils and refuses to face it. </div>
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I don't mean to appropriate this tragedy as my own, I'm merely a saddened and helpless onlooker, but I must say it has knocked the wind out of me. So I haven't taken many photos, nor worn anything you've not seen before, I can't think of much to say, and honestly, my heart just isn't in this at the moment.</div>
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<i>Vintage souvenir Hamsa pendant, talismanic symbol of protection - charity shopped</i></div>
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I'm sorry, I'm sure I'll soon be back to posting and commenting as usual. </div>
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In the meantime, squeeze your loved ones tightly.</div>
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<i> </i></div>
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This photo was taken on Claudia's 13th birthday outing last March; she has lovely friends, and none lovelier than George (front right, in the pink shirt and bow tie). </div>
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We miss him, and will remember him always.</div>
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xxx</div>
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Curtisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10362184504889147455noreply@blogger.com44tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8489237810886177584.post-67418690152599223492015-12-18T10:55:00.000-08:002015-12-18T10:55:31.323-08:00We kissed on a corner, then danced through the night<div style="text-align: center;">
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Cards written and posted.</div>
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Presents (mostly) wrapped.</div>
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Shopping (mostly) done.</div>
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School terms ended.</div>
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Tree decorated. </div>
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Impromptu Christmas post-work piss-up enjoyed...</div>
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and the wearing of festive red is ensuring that I stay bright amid the fog and the drizzle. </div>
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So I'll be joining up with <a href="http://notdeadyetstyle.com/">Patti </a>and co for pre-Christmas fun on <i>Visible Monday</i>. (Look at me, getting in early, that's a first.)</div>
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<i>1970s Co-op maxi skirt, top, denim jacket, vintage scarf and bangles - charity shopped</i></div>
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<i>1960s tapestry and vinyl bag - jumble sale</i></div>
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<i>Boots - retail (sale)</i></div>
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I should also add that the first Baileys of the season has been drunk - this morning, at my friend Joanne's. </div>
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Well, you've got to start somewhere. </div>
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<i>1970s Miss Mary of Sweden dress, and bangles - charity shopped</i></div>
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<i>Boots - retail (sale)</i></div>
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Nina and I have also had out first Christmas sing-song, featuring a rousing rendition of Slade's <i>Merry Christmas Everybody,</i> followed by<i> </i>our favourite duet, <a href="http://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/25-things-you-didnt-know-about-fairytale-of-new-york"><i>Fairytale of New York</i></a>.</div>
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She loves this song; I heard her singing along to it in a very strange voice, and when I asked her why she was singing like that, she replied that she was trying to sound like the man on the record. </div>
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<i>(Tonight, Matthew, we're going to be Shane MacGowan and Kirsty MacColl.) </i></div>
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After all, nothing says Christmas like a 9 year old belting out <i>you're a bum, you're a punk, you're an old slut on junk. </i></div>
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Her singing is better than her spelling... </div>
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Fart Her Christmas indeed. </div>
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Look what I got from <a href="http://eattheblog.blogspot.co.uk/">Jenifer</a> - I will enjoy making these Fuck Yeah Culottes. I just need some time - can one of you send me some more of that please?</div>
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Unlike the kids, I have yet to break up for Christmas - I'm working until December 23rd. But it's OK, things are under control, I think. </div>
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I don't hate this time of year, but I don't believe the hype. I know happiness doesn't lie in a big gift box with a fancy bow, or the perfectly decorated house/cake/tree. I am neither a Christian nor a pagan, so celebrations of the birth of Jesus or the winter solstice mean little to me. I have family and friends who enjoy the ritual of card- and present-giving, so I'm willing to participate; I like the food and drink, the parties, and the atmosphere of goodwill and bonhomie. I'll even sing a carol or two - they're only songs, and they are embedded in my consciousness just like <i>Merry Christmas Everybody</i> or <i>Fairytale of New York</i>. I like time off work, and time spent with loved ones. As for the rest - the commercial hard sell, the greed, the message that the measure of your love and care is found in the cost of your gift - well, I can do without all that. </div>
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I'm unlikely to squeeze in another post before next Friday, given my schedule of work and social events, so whatever your take on ancient Palestinian myths or pagan fertility rites, I'm sending all of you a big Christmas kiss under the mistleoe - you lucky sods!</div>
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<i>I've got a feeling this year's for me and you</i></div>
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<i>So happy Christmas - I love you, baby</i></div>
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<i>I can see a better time, when all our dreams come true.</i></div>
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xxxxx</div>
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Curtisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10362184504889147455noreply@blogger.com48tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8489237810886177584.post-25909846301347722422015-12-13T06:48:00.000-08:002015-12-13T06:48:24.716-08:00Winter Blues<div style="text-align: center;">
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No no, I'm not at all miserable; just wearing blue and trying to keep warm and dry!</div>
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Life is very, very busy at the moment and any illusions I ever had about being in control and organised have all but disappeared. </div>
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At least I've found the Christmas cards; I distinctly remembered buying a load dirt cheap in January and putting them away <i>in a safe place. </i>It's taken hours of ransacking cupboards, drawers and turning the bedroom upside down to find them. (They were on the attic landing. Obviously.) </div>
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Better write in the buggers now, I suppose.</div>
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I found this 1960s Prova wool pinafore dress in a charity shop recently and have been wearing to death. Prova was British Home Stores in-house brand in the 1960s and 70s. </div>
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The sheepskin jerkin isn't vintage, but I love its 1970s vibe, and it is proving a useful extra layer on chilly days. </div>
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Apart from hunting for Christmas cards and going to work, I've been out for a Christmas meal with our shop's volunteers, enjoyed a much-needed chazzing-and-coffee jaunt to Doncaster with my mate Joanne, and celebrated my friend Sue's birthday.</div>
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And yesterday, we braved the rain and went to an event in the cathedral commemorating the 75th anniversary of the <a href="http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/sheffield-blitz-the-day-the-luftwaffe-bombed-the-city-1-7618271">Sheffield Blitz</a>. </div>
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We had a version of that <i>Tell Me</i> quiz game in the 1970s, and it is still being produced now.</div>
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The parachute silk wedding dresses were lovely, and look at Sue's daughter rocking her Victory rolls.</div>
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There were even free mince pies from God. </div>
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From the cathedral, we headed on to the Nichols Building for a browse.</div>
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We puzzled over that errant apostrophe in the <i>Glamorene Carpet Shampoo'er, </i>until<i> </i>Sue suggested it replaced a missing <i>p</i>. </div>
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Of course. </div>
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While I have several friends who might appreciate a male torso complete with whip, it would be a challenge to wrap.</div>
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<i>1960s Prova pinafore dress, 1970s shirt, s</i><i><i>heepskin jerkin, top and velvet leggings</i>- charity shopped</i></div>
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<i>Boots - retail (sale)</i></div>
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<i> </i></div>
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Despite the fact that my blogging presence is barely visible at the moment, I'm linking to <a href="http://notdeadyetstyle.com/">Patti's </a><i>Visible Monday. </i> </div>
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And I'm hoping to come and visit everyone soon! </div>
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<i> </i></div>
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xxxxx</div>
Curtisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10362184504889147455noreply@blogger.com41tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8489237810886177584.post-9174362857059855362015-12-03T13:15:00.000-08:002015-12-03T13:15:47.169-08:00Scarlet for me, scarlet for you<div style="text-align: center;">
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I do love wearing red. </div>
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It's an instant pick-me-up, and you certainly don't fade into the background wearing a bright pillar-box red vintage coat. <br />
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So I had better get myself over (belatedly) to Patti's for <a href="http://notdeadyetstyle.com/visible-monday-167-klsdjkfjslkf"><i>Visible Monday</i></a>, and the reappearance of my sequin beret means I can join Judith for this month's <a href="http://stylecrone.com/2015/12/01/hat-attack-29/"><i>Hat Attack</i></a>. These are the only link-ups I do, so I hate to miss them! </div>
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I can't tell you how much I love this 1960s Jaeger coat; the shape, the fit, the buttons, the colour, the quality of the wool fabric, everything about it says quality. </div>
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(The little micro-mosaic brooch is another charity shop find, the simple hook fastening would suggest it's quite old.)</div>
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I had a look on the Jaeger website; their cheapest wool coats cost £299...</div>
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and although this one is smart, I prefer mine. Since it came from a charity shop, it was considerably less expensive - just a tenner. </div>
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<i>1970-80s St Michael skirt, cardigan, top, beret and bangles - charity shopped</i></div>
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<i>Ankle boots - Ebay</i><br />
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It seemed fitting to wear my red coat to last night's performance of Little Red Riding Hood, the school pantomime. Claudia and Owen<i> </i>were in the cast, as were various of their friends<i>. </i>The audience booed and hissed the baddie, shouted <i>behind you! </i>when required, and clapped and cheered with gusto at the end. We know the drill. <br />
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<i> </i>I'm working both days this weekend as there is another local farmers' market on Sunday. I don't mind, the atmosphere is friendly and relaxed, and it's a good opportunity to make a bit more money for the hospice.<br />
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As for when my new shop will open... Well, your guess is as good as mine, but the manager should be recruited before Christmas, so hopefully we will be looking at an opening date in January. I'll keep you posted.<br />
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I'll be getting round to commenting on your blogs soon, I promise; hope you're all OK!<br />
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xxxxx<i> </i> </div>
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Curtisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10362184504889147455noreply@blogger.com41tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8489237810886177584.post-10228525706568627582015-11-27T14:49:00.002-08:002015-11-27T14:49:37.369-08:00Shorts story<div style="text-align: center;">
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I've had a day off today and have been extremely thankful for it. I'm tired, a bit run down, and slightly jaded. Tomorrow morning's lie-in will be a real treat.<br />
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Ooh, how's that for a moany opening statement? You can tell I need an early night. </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-z0DQ84PegKA/Vli6UyVthwI/AAAAAAAAWvI/eGFIO_0JjZg/s1600/IMG_6453.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-z0DQ84PegKA/Vli6UyVthwI/AAAAAAAAWvI/eGFIO_0JjZg/s640/IMG_6453.JPG" width="512" /></a></div>
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This is the jacket I bought for 2 Euros at a flea market in Amsterdam.<br />
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Sorry to disappoint you, but I didn't buy the <i>Breaks The Wind</i> coat;</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Mx7n94wHm14/Vli7ilMKsxI/AAAAAAAAWvc/qvseH3oxwTs/s1600/IMG_6223.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Mx7n94wHm14/Vli7ilMKsxI/AAAAAAAAWvc/qvseH3oxwTs/s400/IMG_6223.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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I just couldn't resist taking a photo of the label. </div>
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It's not exactly chill-proof, but I do like my smart little 1980s checked jacket, and at £1.45, it was a bargain. </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FLyRU9N5wKw/Vli9SZU3K6I/AAAAAAAAWvs/V3kzDpy-hD8/s1600/IMG_6463.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FLyRU9N5wKw/Vli9SZU3K6I/AAAAAAAAWvs/V3kzDpy-hD8/s640/IMG_6463.JPG" width="458" /></a></div>
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It's a funny thing, but while I wouldn't wear shorts or a mini dress with bare legs, I am quite happy to do so with opaque tights. What a difference that layer of lycra makes.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mm7Dz3RrD_o/VljDYJUgY3I/AAAAAAAAWwU/EB7OX0AwCjc/s1600/PicMonkey%2BCollage1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mm7Dz3RrD_o/VljDYJUgY3I/AAAAAAAAWwU/EB7OX0AwCjc/s640/PicMonkey%2BCollage1.jpg" width="606" /></a></div>
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Google <i>1970s hot pants</i> and you find some fantastic images. </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1_3cI1vCsXw/VljEK1nJkCI/AAAAAAAAWwc/4GQvn_kr5EA/s1600/PicMonkey%2BCollage2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1_3cI1vCsXw/VljEK1nJkCI/AAAAAAAAWwc/4GQvn_kr5EA/s640/PicMonkey%2BCollage2.jpg" width="626" /></a></div>
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Such groovy girls!<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--Say-fB0m08/Vli-xJ6m0_I/AAAAAAAAWwA/9ThMExF9-QQ/s1600/IMG_6468.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--Say-fB0m08/Vli-xJ6m0_I/AAAAAAAAWwA/9ThMExF9-QQ/s640/IMG_6468.JPG" width="446" /></a></div>
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I bought this 1970s knitted tank top on my day out with <a href="http://vintagevixon.blogspot.co.uk/">Vix</a> and <a href="http://www.frecklefaceblog.co.uk/">Tania</a>, intending it as a Christmas gift for a friend.</div>
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Oops... </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zus-ahH42XI/VljZVNNYsFI/AAAAAAAAWxA/AHVQ9OETW5A/s1600/duffy4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="432" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zus-ahH42XI/VljZVNNYsFI/AAAAAAAAWxA/AHVQ9OETW5A/s640/duffy4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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His and hers Harold Ingram tops, 1972.<br />
<a href="https://emmapeelpants.wordpress.com/2012/05/29/inspirational-images-how-to-make-it-happen-on-holiday/">(source)</a><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-l_YbMQ4dFHQ/VljHBI4lmnI/AAAAAAAAWww/7yfo9azXELk/s1600/IMG_6472.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-l_YbMQ4dFHQ/VljHBI4lmnI/AAAAAAAAWww/7yfo9azXELk/s1600/IMG_6472.JPG" width="450" /></a></div>
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<i>1970-80s blouse - gift from Tania </i></div>
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<i>1970s Harold Ingram tank top, shorts and ankle boots - charity shopped</i></div>
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<i>1950-60s tapestry bag - gift from <a href="http://paintedstyle.blogspot.co.uk/">Emma</a></i></div>
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I haven't got the energy to chat, so I'll just leave you to ogle Sally Carr's fabulous legs in her hot pants in 1971. <br />
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If you're old enough to remember it, do sing along!</div>
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xxxx</div>
Curtisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10362184504889147455noreply@blogger.com37tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8489237810886177584.post-46109769479232230002015-11-20T13:20:00.000-08:002015-11-20T13:20:01.579-08:00A brush with nylon<div style="text-align: center;">
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Certain fabrics get a very bad press. </div>
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While natural fibres like silk and cotton are undeniably lovely to wear, I don't have any problem with synthetics, particularly in colder weather. </div>
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I bought this 1970s maxi dress last week on my day out with <a href="http://vintagevixon.blogspot.co.uk/">Vix</a> and <a href="http://www.frecklefaceblog.co.uk/">Tania</a>. It's handmade (very nicely too, complete with purple lining) from brushed nylon, like my autumn-in-a-frock dress (seen <a href="http://sopastcaring.blogspot.co.uk/2015/11/autumn-in-frock.html">here</a>). </div>
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Often used in the 1960-70s to make bedding and nightwear, brushed nylon is one of those fabrics which divide opinion, rather like Crimplene. </div>
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I'm in the <i>why not?</i> camp. It washes easily, dries quickly, doesn't need ironing, and the Fuzzy Felt texture is perfect for days with a chill in the air. And that groovy psychedelic print makes me very happy.</div>
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The<a href="http://startupfashion.com/fashion-archives-history-synthetic-fiber"> history of synthetic fibres</a> is interesting. Early examples like <a href="http://www.differencebetween.net/object/difference-between-rayon-and-viscose/">rayon and viscose</a> were organic, derived from cellulose, but with the invention of <a href="http://blog.tuppencehapenny.co.uk/2011/02/history-of-synthetics-nylon.html">nylon</a> in the 1930s, fabrics could be entirely man-made from petrochemicals. </div>
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<a href="http://blog.tuppencehapenny.co.uk/2011/02/history-of-synthetics-acrylic.html">Acrylic</a> and <a href="http://blog.tuppencehapenny.co.uk/2011/02/history-of-synthetics-polyester.html">polyester</a> followed in the 1940s and 50s. Whether you like to wear them or not, these fabrics had a revolutionary impact on fashion. </div>
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<i>1970s maxi dress, jacket, vintage brooch, bangles and boots - all charity shopped</i></div>
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It's a good thing I wore something quick-drying today; it has been pouring with rain off and on, and I got caught out without an umbrella on my way home from Lidl. </div>
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My life is <i>all</i> about the glamour. </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uxVjqYd6rpY/Vk99Pt_QImI/AAAAAAAAWt8/TKSSTW5fEEA/s1600/PicMonkey%2BCollage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="594" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uxVjqYd6rpY/Vk99Pt_QImI/AAAAAAAAWt8/TKSSTW5fEEA/s640/PicMonkey%2BCollage.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Speaking of which, I found this little piece of glamour in a charity shop this week.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-D_2rS7IeQxQ/Vk-AdJz2TAI/AAAAAAAAWuI/y5Ra3AuTK1c/s1600/IMG_6443.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-D_2rS7IeQxQ/Vk-AdJz2TAI/AAAAAAAAWuI/y5Ra3AuTK1c/s640/IMG_6443.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Yes, I know it could do with a good going-over with a lint roller, but for a quid, it's a lovely little vintage velvet evening bag. And it's probably as close as I'll ever get to the Taj Mahal.</div>
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After a bit of googling, I discovered that this type of embroidery using metallic thread is called <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zardozi">zardozi</a>, a Persian technique which became popular in India. Designs use silver or gold thread, and can incorporate beads and pearls. This decoration is still produced today, but I think my bag is an old one since it has a internal pocket intended for a small mirror, not a feature you find in modern bags. </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f4VwZdPP7cg/Vk-FoKJAZ6I/AAAAAAAAWuc/QvQBS7GQKSY/s1600/IMG_6446.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f4VwZdPP7cg/Vk-FoKJAZ6I/AAAAAAAAWuc/QvQBS7GQKSY/s400/IMG_6446.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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And I found a suitably autumnal vintage copper brooch in the same shop, also £1. </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2KcmtqFtEn0/Vk-HEwuFkgI/AAAAAAAAWuo/FbAa9fdZn5c/s1600/IMG_6422.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2KcmtqFtEn0/Vk-HEwuFkgI/AAAAAAAAWuo/FbAa9fdZn5c/s640/IMG_6422.JPG" width="444" /></a></div>
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I'm ridiculously easy to please; a nylon frock, a £2 spend in a charity shop, and the company of my cats in the garden. </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7Lj8Kw6uWlg/Vk-H6Lo-FtI/AAAAAAAAWu4/Q47L5ovWkPQ/s1600/IMG_6431.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7Lj8Kw6uWlg/Vk-H6Lo-FtI/AAAAAAAAWu4/Q47L5ovWkPQ/s640/IMG_6431.JPG" width="490" /></a></div>
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I'm really busy at the moment, so in an effort to plan ahead (like wearing a quick-dry frock on a rainy day), I'm linking in advance to <a href="http://notdeadyetstyle.com/">Patti's</a> <i>Visible Monday</i>. </div>
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Have a good weekend, everyone!</div>
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xxxx</div>
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Curtisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10362184504889147455noreply@blogger.com37tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8489237810886177584.post-10597792359025368532015-11-15T14:04:00.001-08:002015-11-15T14:04:44.833-08:00Girls just want to have fun<div style="text-align: center;">
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It's always a delight to meet up with my lovely friends <a href="http://vintagevixon.blogspot.co.uk/">Vix</a> and <a href="http://www.frecklefaceblog.co.uk/">Tania</a>. Busy schedules have meant it has been far too long since we had a day out. </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-J27w2TV1Ihg/Vki8TDUwaYI/AAAAAAAAWqw/ARKxEIfx4Mw/s1600/IMG_6363.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="496" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-J27w2TV1Ihg/Vki8TDUwaYI/AAAAAAAAWqw/ARKxEIfx4Mw/s640/IMG_6363.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Last Thursday, we managed to rectify that situation, and thoroughly enjoyed making the most of our time together. We chatted, laughed, charity shopped and Wetherspooned like demons.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-habGOGV4hRk/Vki9FY54-wI/AAAAAAAAWq0/bAxL3Cf4WBk/s1600/PicMonkey%2BCollage1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="582" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-habGOGV4hRk/Vki9FY54-wI/AAAAAAAAWq0/bAxL3Cf4WBk/s640/PicMonkey%2BCollage1.jpg" width="640" /></a> </div>
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I was useless, I took hardly any photos, but you can check out Vix's account of the day and the treasures she found <a href="http://vintagevixon.blogspot.co.uk/2015/11/when-bloggers-meet-wine-women.html">here</a>.</div>
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What she didn't show you was this;</div>
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a stunning 1960s Jean Varon marabou-trimmed wedding dress which fitted her like the proverbial glove. Tania and I so wanted her to buy it, if for no other reason than to alarm her partner Jon.</div>
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(I love the fact that there are customers in the background taking absolutely no notice of a beautiful woman posing in a vintage wedding dress in the middle of the shop.)</div>
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The vintage was plentiful and of amazing quality, we came away with some great bargains and left plenty behind too. </div>
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I bought:</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9MPhuPm-H2k/VkjAiTlw_sI/AAAAAAAAWrM/rygmoEgPZv0/s1600/PicMonkey%2BCollage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="566" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9MPhuPm-H2k/VkjAiTlw_sI/AAAAAAAAWrM/rygmoEgPZv0/s640/PicMonkey%2BCollage.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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a 1970s Harold Ingram knitted tank top, and a 1970s-does-Deco Tina Warren maxi dress.</div>
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(photo of me borrowed from Vix). There was another maxi, but I haven't taken a pic of it yet; I'll show you next time.</div>
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Tania gave me this 1970s handmade wrap top and skirt set - just look at that fabulous print - and a lavender bag she had made, which is now in my knicker drawer. </div>
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And I also bought this 1980s velvet batwing dress, although when I tried it on in the charity shop and showed Tan and Vix, I managed to put it on back to front...</div>
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thereby flashing rather a lot of bra, as you can imagine when you see the deep V at the back. </div>
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<i>1980s dress and 1970s pendant - charity shopped</i><br />
<i>1970-80s faux fur (again) - <a href="http://kinky-melon.co.uk/">Kinky Melon</a></i><br />
<i>Ankle boots - Ebay</i><br />
<i>Belt- retail (sale) </i><br />
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The go-faster gold stripe makes me smile. I remember wearing batwing sleeves a lot in the Eighties, but I refuse to subscribe to the view that if you wore a style first time around, you shouldn't revisit it.<br />
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Why ever not?<br />
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I'll take my Eighties-tastic dress to Patti's <a href="http://notdeadyetstyle.com/visible-monday-165-how-to-leap-into-bold-color"><i>Visible Monday</i></a> gathering.<br />
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Life is set to get even busier from now till Christmas, as I'm going to be working an extra day a week, helping out at another shop. But I'll get round to commenting on your blogs soon, I promise!<br />
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xxx</div>
Curtisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10362184504889147455noreply@blogger.com34tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8489237810886177584.post-86107660664694425412015-11-10T15:04:00.000-08:002015-11-10T15:04:09.630-08:00Once upon a time when we were friends<div style="text-align: center;">
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Thanks for all your suggestions about helping volunteers to spot vintage donations; I'm going to write up some ideas for the retail managers, and hopefully we can plan a <i>We Love Vintage</i> campaign!<br />
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It shouldn't, but it still surprises me when people recoil at the mention of the 1970s.<br />
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I was discussing vintage with a volunteer in the shop, and she thought no one could possibly want to buy anything dating from that decade. (I did happen to be wearing a 1970s dress at the time, which made us both laugh.)<br />
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<i>1970s German-made maxi dress - Ebay</i><br />
<i>1970-80s Wallis cropped fur jacket - <a href="http://kinky-melon.co.uk/">Kinky Melon</a></i><br />
<i>1960s tapestry/vinyl bag - jumble sale</i><br />
<i>Boots - retail</i><br />
<i>Vintage Austrian crystal necklace - charity shopped</i><br />
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Oh well, each to their own.<br />
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I'll take my Seventies Chic over to Patti's for <a href="http://notdeadyetstyle.com/visible-monday-164-how-to-go-from-meh-to-modern"><i>Visible Monday.</i></a> <br />
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I have to admit, I don't look as good in fur as this lot.<br />
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Jess' fur was being buffeted by the wind, and she does<i> not</i> like that.<br />
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She always sits on this particular bit of fence, but both my neighbour and I have noticed that she falls asleep there and sometimes slips off, followed by an unseemly scrabble to cling on and haul herself back up.<br />
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My lovely neighbour is such a softie, he's made a little platform for her by nailing on a wider piece of wood. Now she can catnap without losing her dignity.<br />
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On Saturday, I had a delightful evening with my dear friends Sally, Claire and Martin.<br />
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First - pizza;<br />
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then ABC!<br />
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<i>The Lexicon of Love </i>remains a favourite album of mine. The lush strings, funky horns and basslines, Trevor Horn's shimmering production, and lyrics full of wordplay dissecting love and relationships all combine to make an epic set of songs.<br />
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Released in 1982, it coincided with my arrival in Sheffield, so it's part of the soundtrack of my youth, and accompanied my transition from living at home to being away at university.<br />
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So the opportunity to see Martin Fry with the Southbank Sinfonia (conducted by Anne Dudley, who played keyboard and was also responsible for the orchestral arrangements on<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/jan/21/how-we-made-abc-lexicon"> the original record</a>) was a real treat.<br />
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He was in great voice, as were the audience who sang along with enthusiasm, especially to <i>The Look of Love. </i>How wonderful it must be to have written songs which a hall full of people sing back to you over 30 years later.<br />
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Of course, the Sheffield crowd were always going to be partial; although Fry is a Manchester lad, he came here to study English Literature at university (the same course as me) and formed ABC with fellow musicians from Sheffield.<br />
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And after the gig, as we were deliberating where to go for a drink, who should come and introduce herself but Diane, who features her incredibly fine photography on her blog <a href="http://diane-heartshaped.blogspot.co.uk/">Heart Shaped</a>. We've been blog and Facebook friends for some time, so it was really good to meet her at last. <br />
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Of course, just as there are 1970s-haters, there are those who sneer at the 1980s too. I wonder why some people feel the need to write off whole decades? Ten years; that's a long time, and so much can change socially and politically, and in terms of popular culture, music and fashion. <br />
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For me, both decades were formative, they provide the backdrop to my childhood, adolescence and early adulthood.<br />
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And any decade that produced <i>The Lexicon of Love</i> is alright with me!<br />
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xxxx <br />
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Curtisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10362184504889147455noreply@blogger.com36tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8489237810886177584.post-73174127841297058762015-11-06T08:13:00.001-08:002015-11-06T08:13:23.213-08:00Autumn in a frock<div style="text-align: center;">
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I bought this autumnal dress a year ago and fully intended to shorten it...</div>
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but a combination of laziness and shortage of time means it's still exactly the same length as when I first wore it...<br />
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Oh well - it's fine as it is.</div>
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<i>1970s English Lady brushed nylon dress - local vintage market</i></div>
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<i>Boots - Ebay</i></div>
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<i>1960-70s pendant - gift from <a href="http://vintagevixon.blogspot.co.uk/">Vix</a></i><br />
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<i> </i>We're back into the routine of work and school this week<i>. </i><br />
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I am still waiting to hear when my new job will start; the shop fitters are in but a manager has yet to be recruited, so I'm carrying on in my current post, but feeling slightly in limbo.<br />
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One of the challenges of the vintage shop will be making sure we have appropriate stock in sufficient quantity. As donations come in to the other 12 shops run by the charity, the expectation is that the staff and volunteers will put aside anything "vintage" to pass on. I think they might need some support to identify the right pieces, an issue which the organisation also recognise.<br />
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So here's a question for you; if you were a volunteer sorting through stacks of donations in a charity shop, what would you need to know in order to have a hope of picking out potential vintage stock? Most of the shops get a<i> lot </i>of donations; which is great, but it means they are dealt with quickly, and having to consult lists or look things up will slow down the sorting process. Any information I circulate will therefore have to be pithy and easy to recall and act upon, in addition to which I'm well aware that not everyone is as interested in <i>that old shit </i>(and I quote a shop manager) as I am.<br />
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So, here's my question; if you had to give some short sharp pointers for identifying vintage donations (including clothing, accessories, jewellery, homewares, kitchenalia, linens and fabrics, pictures, etc - it's so hard to make an exhaustive list), what would you say?<br />
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I have lots of ideas myself, but it would be useful to get some different perspectives.<br />
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So while you mull that over (or alternatively, while you think<i> bugger off and do your own homework, you lazy arse</i>), here are a couple of recent vintage purchases I would gladly have in my shop;<br />
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a 1970s "Tara" design Taunton Vale storage jar, and a floral still life print of indeterminate heritage. Both cheap as chips, and both from charity shops.<br />
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And look what lovely <a href="http://oneimadeearliertoday.blogspot.co.uk/">Lynn</a> sent me to wish me luck in my new job - my very own vintage angel! <br />
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Do you think she looks a bit like me?<br />
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And speaking of look-a-likes;<br />
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doesn't the stalk on top of the pumpkin we grew in the garden look rather like Baby Groot from <i>Guardians of the Galaxy</i>?<i> </i><i> </i><br />
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We thought so!</div>
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I might just be dancing myself later; I'm off to see ABC. </div>
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Can't wait!</div>
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xxx</div>
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Curtisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10362184504889147455noreply@blogger.com39tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8489237810886177584.post-85787860154594173502015-11-02T12:09:00.002-08:002015-11-02T13:24:43.666-08:00Brilliant Orange<div style="text-align: center;">
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We've been to Amsterdam.</div>
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It's a very beautiful city. </div>
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A short flight and free wine? Thanks, KLM. That's what I call a good start to a city break.</div>
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We stayed in a typically tall and narrow <a href="https://www.sonnenberg-canal-apartments-amsterdam.com/authentic-jordaan/">17th century house</a> in the Jordaan area...</div>
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complete with original staircase and stepped gable. </div>
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At the end of our little street was the Brouwersgracht (Brewers canal).</div>
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The elaborately-shaped gables on the buildings in Amsterdam are wonderful.<br />
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We spotted one of the the hook and pulley arrangements being used; most staircases are too narrow and steep to get large pieces of furniture into a house any other way.<br />
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Canals and bikes are ubiquitous.<br />
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This is the river Amstel; </div>
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I fancy staying in <a href="http://www.ihg.com/intercontinental/hotels/gb/en/amsterdam/amsha/hoteldetail#scmisc=nav_hoteldetail_ic&">that hotel</a> one day.<br />
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We really enjoyed our food, coffees, and a Heineken or two... </div>
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and the company of Sabena and Gary is always much appreciated. </div>
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There is no way Simon or I would have gone up there with the kids, so it's just as well auntie and uncle were with us to do the fairground bit.<br />
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The<a href="http://www.dutchamsterdam.nl/781-begijnhof-courtyard-amsterdam"> Beginjhof</a> courtyard...</div>
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so peaceful, it's hard to believe you are in the middle of a bustling city.<br />
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We even found a few local vintage shops for a browse...</div>
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and a flea market at <a href="http://www.iamsterdam.com/en/visiting/what-to-do/shopping/amsterdam-markets/waterlooplein">Waterlooplein</a>.</div>
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Vintage fur coats, wedding dresses, heaps of clothing, and boxes of all sorts; it was like an open air jumble sale. Cheap too; I bought a jacket for 2 Euros (£1.45). </div>
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Always useful to have a warm coat that <i>breaks the wind. </i><br />
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As you can see, the weather was perfect; sunshine and clear blue skies.</div>
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We couldn't face the lengthy queues for the
Rijksmuseum or Anne Frank's house, so those will be on the agenda for any future visit.<br />
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Instead, we ambled in the sunshine, took a boat trip, ate and drank, and thoroughly enjoyed this cool and relaxed city. </div>
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Oh Nina...<br />
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<i>Dankuwel,</i> Amsterdam - we'll be back!<br />
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Linking to Patti's <a href="http://notdeadyetstyle.com/visible-monday-163-a-sultry-wrap-and-a-giveaway"><i>Visible Monday</i></a> and Judith's <a href="http://stylecrone.com/hat-attack/"><i>Hat Attack.</i></a> </div>
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xxx </div>
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Curtisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10362184504889147455noreply@blogger.com39