Pleasant wonder is no loss of time

I'm not generally very good with change.

I like what I know, I like routine, I like the safety.

 But sometimes, a big old shake up is just the thing. 

 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 no!

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. 

It's... a bit trippy. 

1970s dress and cardigan - charity shopped 

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 Friends of Meersbrook Hall and local charity Heeley Development Trust. They plan to refurbish the house and develop it as a thriving community resource, remaining in public ownership. 

It was the first time I have ever set foot inside the Hall.

Nina's year group at school had an art exhibition on display, inspired by the work of John Ruskin.

Nina's picture. 

Walking home in the dimming light of late afternoon, the low cloud looked like mountains in the distance.
 

But as much as I am relishing some solitude, I am making the most of my social opportunities too...

 
well, it would have been rude to ignore this talented young man, don't you think?

My shop's Christmas do was a night out at a burlesque show. 

My feathers weren't quite as impressive - love those fans!

1950s cocktail dress - gift from Wayne at Mooch

Feather fascinator, bracelet and 1950s crystal necklace - charity shopped

With Heather, Mel and Jo - the most glamorous charity shop team ever!

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. 

Ruskin had it right - pleasant wonder is no loss of time.

Linking - for the first time in ages - to Patti's Visible Monday.

xxx

All work and no play

I'm painfully aware that I am being a dreadful blogger at the moment.

 

After all, bloggers, by definition, actually get their arses in gear and blog, no? 

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.

Going dotty? I just might be...

 

 

1970s dress - gift from Tania

1960s Admyra jacket - charity shopped

Boots - retail (sale) 

 

 

1970s Miss Mary of Sweden dress and denim jacket - charity shopped

 

So that's what I've been wearing for a couple of days at least. 

Not much else has been happening apart from work.

There is plenty of colour on the rails at the shop...

and party frocks from the 1970s or 80s, take your pick.

Dressing the mannequins is like playing with life-sized Barbies (and Ken).

 

 

We've got some great sewing patterns...

funky homewares...

and something for the kids too.

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. 

 

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.

 

 

There is colour going on out there too, and I hadn't even noticed.

 

 

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!

Linking to Patti's Visible Monday, despite feeling decidedly invisible at present.

Hope all is well with all of you.

xxxx

Time out and about

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.

But... by miraculous chance, Vix, Tania 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.

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!

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.

There were interesting buildings and architectural details wherever we looked. 

We visited Richard III's tomb in the cathedral; there he is, shaking his tambourine, or triumphantly grasping the crown, take your pick.

 

 

 

 

 

The area around the cathedral was particularly peaceful and rather smart.

Of course there was shopping. The city centre has plenty of charity shops, and we spent ages in the wonderful DollyMix vintage shop.

There were lovely ladies all over the place, in addition to some spectacular clothes at reasonable prices. 

See? Lovely ladies!

Lunch is always in a Wetherspoons; this time, the rather grand venue was the old Corn Exchange building. 

Even if we didn't find anything to buy, we wouldn't go away empty-handed.

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.

I found this 1970s cotton velvet jacket in the bargain basket in DollyMix - mine for a fiver.

And this 1970s dress was from Pink Pigeon vintage, just £10.

 

 

The print makes me ridiculously happy.

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...

I'll be joining Patti and co for Visible Monday, and catching up with your blogs soon, I promise.

 

However busy life becomes, I'll always make time for friends. 

 

xxx

Slimosizes and unshrinkable underwear

Any British vintage lover will probably have seen a few Norman Linton dresses on their travels. 

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 granny (or geek) chic... 

 

(No insult intended to middle-aged housewives - after all, I am one. Or grannies - I was very fond of mine.)

 

 

But hey, sometimes Granny takes a trip, a middle-aged housewife rocks a psychedelic maxi, and expectations are confounded.

Because I'm nerdy like that, I tried researching Norman Linton clothing but found little information. 

 

What I did discover was a hilarious Pathe News clip from 1953, in which the man himself is seen measuring robust women to make an outsize dressmaker's dummies.

I wonder if the slimosizes label was intended to make ladies with generous proportions feel better about themselves? 

This dress is my first purchase from my shop; I couldn't resist the trumpet sleeves and groovy print. 

First of many, no doubt.

1960s Norman Linton maxi dress - charity shopped

1970s cropped faux fur jacket - Kinky Melon

1960s tapestry bag - jumble sale

Boots - retail (sale)

 

 

 

I wore my new frock to work on Saturday, followed by a trip out for tapas with the family.

Hmm, the beauty and grace of the distaff side of the family knows no bounds... 

 

Actually, I've already made a second purchase, driven to it by the ongoing cold temperatures;

 

 

a 1960s Wolsey vest, just what I need under a dress on a chilly day.

Wolsey is a Leicester-based heritage British label, 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.

(Do have a look at the link, there are some fabulous photos.)

Cool packaging too.

(Vix, I know you don't really do undies, but look, it's you!)

 

I'm late again for Visible Monday, but luckily Patti is a forgiving hostess and lets me sneak in after hours.

 

Do bear with me while I try to find a rhythm for posting and commenting - I'll get there!

 

xxx