Pretty women out walking with gorillas down my street

Well hellooooo!

 

 It's only just over a week or so since I last posted, and a fortnight since I did an outfit post, but in Blogland, that feels like a lifetime! I must say it felt very strange to read and comment without posting myself, so I have a lot of catching up to do.

After wading through a ton of camera reviews online, and thoroughly overwhelming the very small area of my brain which deals with technology, I finally decided on a new camera and bought it - hurrah!

No idea if the photos are any better but I am trying to get to grips with it.

 

Hasn't the weather in the UK been awful? End of March, and I'm still in boots, gloves and a trusty faux fur, that can't be right!

 

Jess and Charlie don't seem bothered by the snowy conditions. 

 

 

 

So here's a little catch up of some of my doings while I've been out of the blogging loop.

 

Mother's Day isn't really something we make a big fuss about in this family, but I did appreciate this card from Eldest;

 

She had her 11th birthday last week;

Littlest's spelling needs some work but she means well.

My baking apparently needs work too, I had actually made a chocolate cake but it was so flat and uninspiring, I threw it away and bought a replacement. Only a few days before, I made the Other Half a coffee and walnut cake for his birthday which was excellent (if I do say so myself!) 

Same oven, same flour, same tins, same me - I can only blame the Baking Gods for making mischief.

 

Yes, those are new Converse on her feet - secondhand actually, bought from Ebay, but they look virtually unworn and cost less than half the price of new ones. (Those of you who have followed my blog for a year might remember my outrage at the price of the new Converse I bought her last year.)

Her other birthday present was her first phone - the photo bottom right is now a very common sight...

 

 

Obviously I have been keeping an eye on the charity shops,and found a few bits and pieces;

 

 

 

1960s hanky box, £2.50

1970s Droopy and Brown's sheer angel sleeve dress, £6

1970s compilation CD, £1 (with a bizarre mix of songs which includes Thin Lizzy, Cher, Sparks, Joe Jackson and the Jam. Fabulous!)

And a 1950-60s Hawaiian cotton dress, bought from Chesterfield flea market on a 3-items-for-a-fiver rummage table. (My calculator tells me this makes it a bargainacious £1.6666666666667.)

 

 

 

 

Dress, 1970s faux fur coat, jerkin and bangles - charity shopped

Hat and boots - Ebay

Gloves - retail (sale)

 

 

 

 

 

I promise to visit your blogs and see what's been happening in your lives - I don't like it when I feel out of touch! 

 

And thanks to those who commented on my last non-outfit post (it felt odd not to do my usual "here's a frock" thing) and to those who got in touch to say they missed me, I appreciate it!

 

 

 

  xxxxx

Domestic Bloggess

   Now I know you probably have me down as some sort of Domestic Goddess and a candidate for Parent of the Year.

Wholesome organic meals on the table every evening, with beaming healthy happy children eagerly anticipating their Turnip Surprise before doing their homework with great enthusiasm and erudition.

When I have fulfilled my tasks as school volunteer extraordinaire, PTA member, and general Pillock Pillar of the Community, you know doubt imagine I skip home, don my pinny, and clean every inch of the house with nothing more noxious than a squeeze of lemon juice, a sprinkle of bicarb, and a whole lot of elbow grease.

Not for me the towering pile of ironing looming ominously over the top of the washing basket, the layer of not-so-fine dust and cat hair covering every surface, or the quick fix of fish fingers and oven chips...

Yeah, right!

I am far more likely to be found arsing about in the garden taking photos of myself and flashing my petticoat!

What has it got in its pocketses?

(Our family are all very much looking forward to the release of The Hobbit.)

I can cook fine, I just don't like it much.

I hate the drudgery and pointlessness of housework. 

But sometimes even I have to make an effort.

It's Seldom Seen's 9th birthday today, so there was a cake to make, and beds to change ready for a sleepover, and tea to shop for and prepare, and even a bit of hoovering to be done (encouraged by Melanie's tales of Upright Love).

I found these devil horns while I was tidying up, don't they match my outfit perfectly?

I always prefer the uncooked cake mixture to the final product somehow.

Maintaining high levels of hygiene at all times, obviously...

Dead Ringer for Love was on the radio.

My Top Tip for Successful Baking - have a little dance in the kitchen. Makes it all much more bearable.

Hmm, bit on the wonky side. But there is nothing wrong with a bit of wonk.

I even had time for a lunch of yesterday's leftover homemade spicy butternut squash soup and two of the best cheeses ever - Gouda flavoured with wasabi, and a white Stilton with red chilli.

Mmmm, I believe in cheeses.

And I bought this fabulous pan at Chesterfield flea market yesterday for £2.

It has Oct 1973 stamped on the bottom and looks unused.

Perfect for more winter soups.

Or Turnip Surprise.

1970s dress - vintage market

Cardigan, shoes, tights, bangles and petticoat - charity shopped

Blue beads - gift from Liz

So do I pass muster as a Domestic Goddess? Are you convinced?

Nah - the devil's in the domesticity!

I'll be round to visit your blogs when the boys are asleep.

I may be some time...

Have a wonderful weekend, my friends!

xxx