Let's get busy

It's been a whirlwind of a weekend, all lovely stuff.

Bright brights to combat the winter gloom.

On Friday night, I went out to a cabaret evening to celebrate the birthdays of two friends, Sue and Chris.

Trace and Sue.

Sue, Joanne and me.

Chris and Trace.

 

 

I tried to take a few photos but most were horribly blurred, so you will just have to imagine the tap-dancing turkeys, drunk Santa in a shopping trolley, and the fire juggling.

 

 

 

This is Sister Ruth the flatulent nun on her mobility piano, and the rocking band who finished the evening. I was a bit jealous of all the jiving, lindy-hopping folk tearing up the dance floor. 

 

Saturday;

my sister and her partner arrived for the rest of the weekend.

We took in a jumble sale (which was crap), went into town to do a last bit of Christmas shopping, had coffee, enjoyed the lights, and went out for a delicious dinner at our favourite Chinese restaurant.

That's my sister with the girls, posing with a strange pirate figure. It's obviously a genetic thing, we can't help pulling faces.

Then back to ours for more beers and karaoke, hurray!

 

 

 

Seldom Seen Kid refused to participate. 

Most of the photos aren't fit to be seen, but the girls loved it, when they could wrest the microphones off the adults...

 

 

 

Sunday;

 

auntie and uncle were kind enough to take the kids out to the park, while Other Half slept off his hangover, and I cooked a big roast dinner and the best apple crumble ever. 

No really - it was.

We put the tree up this evening, scrabbled around doing last minute homework, waved goodbye to our lovely family, and I have been wrapping presents since the kids went to bed.

I'm knackered!

But it's been great.

 

 

1960s Tom Jones for California maxi dress - vintage fair

Cardigan and bangle - charity shops

Boots - Ebay

Brooch - gift from my-angel-is-a-centrefold Sarah 

 

 

If you haven't already seen it, check out the marvellous Melanie's post here featuring the December edition of her online magazine Vogoff.

 

You may recognise some of the contributors.

It's absolutely fabulous, darlings!

 

Hope you have had a successful weekend, whatever you've been up to!

   xxxx

So I'd like to know where you got the notion

                                   You'll be aware that all the Diamond Jubilee hoopla wasn't really up my street.

 

 
                          Who needs a crown when you have a precious original Sassy Vamp flowery headpiece?

 
Instead of watching the dreary roll call of "National Treasures" wheeled out for the concert in the Mall on Monday night, we thought we'd have our own gig at home. Karaoke - yay!

                                               
                                           I guess you'd say, what can make me feel this way - my girls.

                                               Move over, Cheryl and Kylie, you've got competition!

                                                                                Hang the DJ.
 
       Seldom Seen got bored and decided to read a book instead of playing at being a rock star. Girly swot.

                                                              Guaranteed to blow your mind. Anytime.

                                                               I am a rock star. Can't you tell?

    Someone at Lucky Voice (online karaoke site) has a sense of humour, their Jubilee playlist included Killer Queen, God Save the Queen and Rock the Boat. We sang them all.

    There is no prouder moment than watching your kids belting out There is no future in England's dreaming. It quite brought a tear to my republican eye. 

Tunic top, necklaces and bangles, metallic t-bar shoes (here), leopard print t-bar shoes (above), lurex leggings, waistcoat (all charity shopped), Sassy Vamp headband (gift from the divine Desiree)


            I had a good old chuckle over the various reactions to my last post on the vexing question of trousers.

I'll summarise;
I look OK/good in jeans/bad in jeans/need jeans that fit.
I should wear longer jeans/skinny jeans/bootcut jeans/never wear jeans.
I should wear the Valentino genitalia trousers because they are fabulous/to threaten the children/only if I wish to be certified insane.
I should stick to skirts and dresses/persevere in finding the right pair of trousers/jeans.

                                             What is a girl to do but follow her own wayward heart?

                                              (Next up - the shorts and swimwear questions, haha!)

It occurred to me as I was pondering all this, that back in my previous existence as a professional working in mental health, I did some Cognitive Behavioural Therapy training. One of the key strategies for bringing about behavioural change is the behavioural experiment. While challenging negative thoughts is important, the development of new and healthier beliefs only really happens as a result of experience. So, a socially anxious person is supported in deliberately putting themselves in what they perceive to be an embarrassing situation, and asked to observe what happens. (This is a very rough'n'ready description, but you get the idea.)

Take me. Average, not-a-rock-star little old me. I wore my "embarrassing" Valentino trousers out for tea to our favourite Chinese cafe. What happened? Did people look? Yes they did. Did I expire from anxiety and self-consciousness? I did not. Did the world stop turning because I wore mad trousers? It did not.
Behavioural experiment completed, lesson learned - they're only clothes and who gives a shit anyway?

            So I'm happy to rock the boat and look a bit crazy and make myself, and hopefully you, laugh.

                                                             Rock on with your bad self! xxxx