In neutral

I've been waiting all winter for my annual cold of epic proportions to hit, and it's finally arrived. So be gentle with me, I feel fragile. 

Nah, not really - I'm tough as old boots, but currently with added phelgm. Mmmm.

 

 

I am feeling the need to apologise to my darling friend Vix for these outfits; she'll be most disappointed with my lack of colour (see her post on the subject here). 

 

Between Monday's denim and leopard print and today's denim and lurex, I did wear plenty of green, red, purple and orange, honest; I just didn't take any photos.

Denim dress, top, belt, beret and leather patchwork bag - charity shopped

1970s Wallis cropped faux fur jacket - Kinky Melon's Retro Boutique

Boots - retail

This outfit reminded me of Natalia's Girl Next Door look here; she wondered whether neutral colours and casual clothes are necessarily predictable and boring. 

Well, denim and leopard print are neutrals, aren't they? And this is about as casual as I get. You'll have to decide whether it's boring or not!

I'll link my blue beret with added flare (if not flair) to Judith's Hat Attack.  

There is a Seventies vibe going on, though neither dress nor top are vintage. Both items cost just a £1 each from charity shop sale rails.

1970s Alexon lurex maxi skirt, Levi's denim jacket, top, suede waistcoat, scarf, bangles and boots - all charity shopped

1960s tapestry bag - gift from Gisela

 

 

The gloomy light is making everything look grey... And that really is a neutral too far for me. 

In reality, the waistcoat is more of a petrol blue, and the skirt is sparkly black/silver lurex. 

 

That's better!

I was pleased to find the Levi's denim jacket for a fiver yesterday; I bought it for Claudia really, since she has purloined permanently borrowed one of mine, but I might keep it. In all likelihood, we'll share.

The Alexon maxi skirt was in a bag of donations given to the charity shop on Wednesday...

along with several other 1970s treasures; a lurex blouse/jacket hailing from Leicester, two slinky and glamorous maxi dresses (sadly too tiny for me), a Louis Feraud skirt, and a 1960-70s wooden beaded bag.

My fellow volunteers laughed at me for squealing ooh, lurex! as I pulled the skirt and blouse out of the bag. I know they think I'm bonkers, but the bonkers lady has raised over £1000 for the hospice, and has been mentioned in dispatches. 

 

Well, in the shop's weekly bulletin from the manager anyway. Oh yes, they took the piss out of me about that as well; we've reached that stage of a friendship where some gentle leg-pulling is permitted, and I love it.

Thank heavens (or rather Kirsty) for a haircut yesterday, it was much needed and very therapeutic. And I'm relieved to be approaching the weekend too; Chinese food and folk music are on my agenda, what about you?

Hope you have a good one!

xxx

She could clean the house for hours, or rearrange the flowers

Is it just me who sometimes feels they have stumbled into a life they hadn't planned?

 

 Not all the time. 

Mostly I like it, and I recognise that being at home with the kids is a luxury many women - and men - long for but can't afford.

 But...

But... it's not what I expected to be doing.

I expected to continue my career, to use my education and professional training and skills.

I think these are now so rusty after years of disuse as to be non-existent.

I'm good at making a tit of myself though, that's a skill I still use regularly, to keep it sharp.

 

In case any of you UK gals are wondering, these photos were taken a couple of weeks ago. I haven't become so unhinged as to wear a winter coat on a warm sunny day.

Not yet anyway...

The original intention behind these pics was a jokey look - sexy neutrals! post, since my disdain for beige and camel and neutrals in general is common knowledge to most of you.

But the photos... oh dear, the photos gave me pause.

 I look sad. Not just in a Chronic Bitchface way, but properly downhearted, dispirited, tired and old.

So I shelved the idea.

1970s Alexon wool/faux fur coat, 1960s slip, sunglasses and faux pearls - charity shopped

Bangles - gift from my favourite freckleface Tania

Lurex fishnets - gift from darling skip-filling Vix

Shoes - retail, ancient

Just so you know, I am not meaning to denigrate the hard work and valuable contributions of stay-at-home mothers. 

It just isn't what I anticipated for myself, and now I seem a little stuck with a role in which I'm not sure I am either effective or satisfied. This is a view I hold about myself, no one else.

Don't mind me; in a couple of days I'll be whizzing round the charity shops, selling on Ebay, helping out at school, feeling more productive, and counting my blessings, of which there are many.

 

I credit blogging, a less provocative equivalent of Lucy Jordan's urge to run naked through the shady streets, screaming all the way, with helping me avoid her fate on the Paris rooftop. I adore this song, but had no idea when I first heard it in 1979, that I would come to identify with Lucy's story.

Funny how things turn out.

Oh good grief, give me slap or a shake in your comments, snap me out of this!

I don't feel at my most visible, but I'm taking my angst and my neutrals over to Patti's as usual. She may throw me out for being a misery but it's a risk I'm prepared to take!

    xxxx