A touch of blue glistening down her back

I'm not feeling remotely blue, but the dresses of choice have been just that this weekend. 

 

Left; 1970s Shubette maxi dress - vintage fair

Right; 1960s Sherman of London maxi dress - Ebay

Kimono jacket - charity shopped

Sandals - retail

 

Yesterday was busy, full of lots of lovely things.

 

 

Sheffield city centre skyline.

 

I was in town checking this out;

a sale in the costume department at the Crucible Theatre. 

 

If you fancied stroking Kenneth Branagh's coat or sniffing Joseph Fiennes' waistcoat, you could do so. Or even buy them, if you had the cash.

(Only Brits of a certain age will remember Sheffield's own Marti Caine.)

 

I enjoyed browsing. If they had been selling off any of the Victorian street girl costumes from the production of Oliver! I went to see, I would have snatched their hand off, but alas...

 I did find;

three dresses. Much cheaper (£4 each).

 

 

 She looks delighted, doesn't she?

 

 

 

 

Next stop; Heeley Festival.

 

Always a joy (if the weather plays nice); we meet friends, buy sweets from our friend Zander, peruse the produce...

 

lounge about in the sunshine...

 

admire the view...

 

meet the animals at Heeley City Farm...

 

delight in the fact that knitting can be a Force for Good...

 

...and enjoy the blue-skied vibe.

 

 

And finally; a meal out at Thyme Cafe to celebrate my birthday. A little early, but Claudia is away at a Scout camp next weekend, so it was now or never.

 

 

 

 

Waiting for the bus.

 

 

 

After a few more glasses of pink fizz, the photos degenerated...

but hey, if you can't pull faces with your kids on your almost-50th birthday night out, when can you?

And that, my friends, is that.

Oh, and thanks for sharing my righteous indignation at Vix being passed over for that award; and for expressing a little outrage on my behalf too. I probably make it sound as though people are rude to me and insult my clothes all the time; they really don't (and it's balanced up with compliments too) but I like to tell you when it happens because it makes me laugh!

Hope your weekends have been full and happy.

 

xxxx

Colour my world

January.

Not my favourite month, but I am trying not to be miserable about it, and it's never a good plan to wish your life away. Not when you're probably over half way through it. (I'm 50 this year, it's got me thinking!)

Colour, that's what I need. Colour, print, and a vintage frock.

 

The girls and I headed into town to the Crucible Theatre on Friday evening.

 

 

 

Oliver! was great. I am not the biggest lover of musical theatre, but the production and performances were strong, and of course I know all the songs. It's been such a long time since I saw any live theatre, I had forgotten that wonderful sense of excitement and expectation when the house lights go down and the music starts. 

 

I know Littlest looks as though she's nodding off. She wasn't, she was just being a twit. She was actually saucer-eyed, and because she didn't know the story, she was horrified that Nancy was murdered. 

source

I was rather taken with the Dickensian street girls' costumes, and feel I may have to do my own Oom Pah Pah tribute post at some stage. So there's something to look forward to.

 

I am also inspired to read some Dickens for the first time in 30 years. I'm an English Literature graduate who has never read Bleak House, and that's a bit shameful.  This year, I am trying to intersperse my usual reading with the occasional Piece of Literature I Should Have Read But Haven't. 

 

I started with Heart of Darkness, because it's short. I'm aware of how shallow that sounds, but it's the truth!

 

On Saturday, we went out for brunch, taking in the River Sheaf and a playground along the way.

 

 

 

 

 

As you can see, Seldom Seen's new specs have been glued back together, and he is rocking them. Give him a sharp 1960s suit and a gun, and he's Harry Palmer.

1960s Tom Jones for California maxi dress - vintage fair

Cardigan, bangles and necklaces - charity shopped

Boots - Ebay

 (The peacock feather bangle was a gift but I can't remember from whom... Was it you, Princess Tan-Tan?)

 

 

 

There is stew with dumplings in the oven for tea, as befits our first major frost of the season (my poor camellia will suffer even more) and a chilly day. 

Homework has been done (albeit painfully).

The week's plans include a PTA meeting, tidying up (Must Be Done), an attempt to sort out the Cupboard of Doom (ditto), and maybe some sewing.

Rock'n'roll!

 

 

 

And what better way to start the week than by meeting up with Patti and her friends for Visible Monday? 

 

See you there!

 

xxxxx