Pour myself a cup of ambition

I had lots of plans for today. 

Finish off my Christmas shopping, get cards and parcels to the Post Office, deliver some local cards, breathe a sigh of relief.

As it is, I am housebound with a poorly child, but I can at least do a blog post, and catch up on all your news from the weekend!

Hmm, probably should have worn a slip under that skirt to stop it hugging my legs like a clingy toddler, but never mind.

 

 

 I had a lovely time round at my friend Alison's on Friday evening, where the theme was sparkles. Did I remember to take any photos of the assembled ladies in their sparkly glory? I did not. Bad blogger.

I took just the one photo. Of my drink. 

Sparkling rose with extra (edible) glitter, of course.

I wore silver lurex head to toe but you'll just have to imagine it...

Blimey, I could have someone's eye out with that frontage. 

 

 

A few of you have been curious about what I wear to work, so I'll show you.

Here I am setting off for my shift on Saturday, snapped on the doorstep by Eldest.

 

Dull, isn't it? Looks better with the houndstooth poncho (a gift from Sarah) but a black dress and black cardigan? So not me. 

 

At least my Ravel loafers are getting some use; I bought them on Ebay ages ago and haven't worn them much, but I am finding being on my feet for hours quite a strain, and  comfortable shoes are invaluable. 

I'm working Friday, Saturday and Sunday this week, I'll be too knackered for Christmas! And I'm working on Boxing Day, the first day of the sale, so that will be crazy. Retail is hard!

1970s skirt, top, scarf, belt and bangles - charity shopped

1960s Tricoville knit coat - vintage fair

1980s boots - Second to None (never was £8 better spent)

All these photos seem really scuzzy and muddy to me; no idea why, maybe it's just the poor light conditions and my cheap-ish point and press camera.

So - some Christmas cards are written, but not all (I ran out); some presents are bought and wrapped, but not all (I am disorganised); and no decorations are up in the house, including the tree, languishing in its box in the cellar (I am unmotivated). I think I'll wait until anyone (the man or the kids) mentions it, and if they don't, it just might stay there.

Big balls to it!

I'll be joining Patti and the lovely ladies at Visible Monday, but not in my work clothes; I feel drab and dull in those, which renders them ineligible.

Hope you have had marvellous weekends, one and all.

xxxxx

Plasters for disasters

I was out at two delightful events last night; Littlest's Christmas play, and my mate Sue's birthday pub quiz.

 

At the former, we just managed to squeeze in on the back row (who knows what time the Competitive Parents must have arrived to grab all the front seats) so I only caught a fleeting glimpse of Littlest. She was most unimpressed to be given just one line to say, but she said it with great feeling.

I was sitting behind a would-be film director dad, who held his camera up high and blocked my view throughout. Honestly, it's tough out there in school showbiz land.

Ooh, I'm a cross patch today, no?

The Ladies' Purse did well at the quiz; despite a paltry-sounding score of 11 out of 20, we were joint leaders, but lost it on the tie breaker. That's one difficult quiz, it's a good job we only do it for a laugh.

We don't go away empty handed though, since we bring our own prizes for each other.

A leopard print beret? That'll do nicely, thank you.

1960-70s Tricosa maxi skirt - antiques centre
Top, poncho, 1960s vinyl/tapestry bag and bangles - charity shopped
1960-70s suede jerkin - gift from Lucy
Scarf - flea market
Boots - Ebay
Gloves - gift
Beret - gift from Tania
Necklace - gift from Gisela

 
 Oops, pesky teardrop on my necklace is arse about face, but never mind.

It's been a busy, bitty, up and down kind of a week, nice stuff, annoying stuff, weird stuff, stuff stuff stuff and nonsense. Life's like that sometimes, isn't it?

Blog search terms - they're always good for a laugh, aren't they?
This week's highlights are fit boobs and vintage pissing.
Naturally.

Look at these lovely ladies.
Old postcards from Chesterfield flea market.

These would look well on Em's Shelf of Shit.
 

This old drinks machine still had some sachets in it; vintage vegetable soup, anyone?
My treat.

You can buy anything and everything on that market.

December 12th, and not a Christmas card written or a present wrapped. I need to crack on!

     xxxxx

I'll try not to sing out of key

Friends.

They are great, aren't they?

Real life, online life, old, new, human, feline, I love them all!

While I was ill in bed, this one was my constant companion.

This is Willow. 

Although we never call her that. Littlest took to calling her Willsy Pillsy, which has stuck, and now we all call her Pills or Pillsy Potter.

Apart from when OH calls her Pillock, because he thinks she's thick.

She isn't, she's just a little fragile and needy. Aren't we all, sometimes?

While we are talking cats, meet the new addition to the household...

Lovely Em of Ivy Black Chat knows I love all things feline, so she sent me this handsome boy to join the gang! And the blue flower ring too.

See, he fits right in.

And dear Terri of Rags against the Machine has been kind enough to send me a parcel of vintage treasure.

A feast of 1970s delights! 

Fabulous spotty day dress, amazing velvet and lace maxi dress, and a spectacular tapestry maxi skirt.

Thank you, Emma and Terri, I am really touched by your thoughtfulness.

My weekly routine is usually quite a sociable one, but since my hearing problems have continued, I am really struggling with talking to people. I am OK one-to-one but as soon as there is any background noise, I can't hear much.

Which means I can't do my usual voluntary work in the classroom at school, even chatting to other parents in the playground is tricky, and a night out in the pub is impossible.

That makes me a little sad...

But it also makes me truly appreciate my online life and friends. 

It doesn't matter if I can't hear you, I can read your blogs and email!

1970s maxi dress - Ebay

Wool poncho, hat, bangles - charity shops

Clarks riding boots - retail (ancient, almost forgot I had them...)

1960s vinyl/wicker shopper - vintage fair

Flower - retail (sale)

Green beaded bracelet - swap gift from Milan-loving fashionista Sacramento

Green button bracelet - hand made by my dear friend Joanne

Friends make life so much better!

xxx

Gifts from the Goddess

I went to collect a parcel from the Post Office depot yesterday, and was delighted to spot Rock Goddess Helga's name on the back of my package.

I couldn't wait to get home and have a look inside.
I was not disappointed!

Bags and sunnies and beads and brooch and bangle and scarves and sequins and orange 1960s baby doll nighties.

But wait. There's more.

                    Just look at the fabulous print on this cape-sleeve 1970s maxi dress. I can't wait to wear it!

                                                               Such a pretty floral canvas bag.

               


           I can't show you the bag of delightfully named Pineapple Lumps, cos we've scoffed them all.

The girls seem to be under the impression that some of the gifts are for them. Would it be inappropriate if I call them the Pineapple Lumps? Great name for a girl band.

Eldest LB informed me that the nightie she's wearing must be for her, as it's too short for me and would show my bottom.
Don't know what the problem is with that...

So that is my parcel of heavenly delights from the Goddess herself. Thank you, darling delicious soon-to-be-famous Helga, you are too too kind.

Of course I did a bit of charity shopping while I was out and about.

I like this smart wool C&A coat, it fits really well, and it was in the half price sale, so cost all of £2.50.

 More coat hangers, 50p each. Charley liked biting the holly fabric-covered one. Obviously not a fan of Christmas.

And since my crazy drag queen false eyelashes are for extra special occasions only, I invested a whole 50p in these rather more subtle falsies.

And though these photos aren't from yesterday (the hair colour gives the game away), this was pretty much what I wore.

Wool poncho, hat, scarf, ditsy 70s-style dress, sparkly footless tights, hoop earrings, bangles - all charity shopped. Boots - Ebay.


And for no other reason to amuse you (and myself), I thought I'd share a couple of out-takes from Sunday's sweater girl photo session. Does anyone else try ridiculous poses just for fun? It can't just be me, can it? 

 
                                                 Hurry up with the bloody photos, I'm dying for a pee.

                                                              Soooo sexy. And soooo foolish. 


Has anyone got any good 'uns they are prepared to share?
Go on, I dare you!
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

The summer sun is fading as the year grows old...

I had a good time out'n'about after the kids had departed on Saturday. A few jobs to do, then a few charity shops. All in the autumn sunshine, perfect.

Remember my maxi skirt from Matlock?
I couldn't wait to wear it, it's very me!

I love autumn colours.
You could be forgiven for thinking I live in that belt, but I do take it off sometimes.

The lurex sparkle doesn't show up too well, but believe me, it did in the sunshine! And I had sparkly tights underneath too, a gift from lovely Vix.

I wore it with my other Matlock purchase, the wool poncho. A lovely lady came up to me as I perused the goods in Oxfam and said how much she liked the outfit. It's so great when people say nice things, I'm going to make renewed efforts to go up to strangers and let them know if I like what they're wearing. It's such an easy thing to do, and who doesn't appreciate a compliment?

1960s French Tricosa maxi skirt (£10, vintage section of antique shop), wool poncho (£5, charity shop), Inwear long-sleeved top (£2.50, charity shop), ankle boots (£2, fair), 1970s Jaqcmar scarf (£1, charity shop), Charley (free), Virginia Creeper (here when we moved in).

Other Half and I had a few bevvies before heading to a local curry house we haven't tried before, which specialises in South Indian/Sri Lankan cooking. The food was spicy, fiery and delicious, and the welcome was equally warm. We would definitely go back again.

Then up early next morning to get the train to Newcastle, and the metro to Tynemouth, a lovely North East coastal town, to meet my sister and her partner and the kids, who had been having a ball without us!

 

Had time for a little mooch around the regular Sat/Sun flea market in the metro station, but I can't show you what I bought because it might be part of my blog swap package for lovely Alex!

We had a lovely time, lots of bracing sea air and a right good laugh.

Can't say fairer than that!