Mix and match

I seem to have spent the last couple of days being highly ineffectual.

You know, faffing about; doing a little bit of one thing, then a little bit of another, but not finishing anything or doing any of it very well...

I'm all distracted and pathetic and pre-menstrual. 

And moany, clearly.

Sorry.

 

 

But all is not lost; my quiz team, the Ladies Purse, are convening tomorrow night to display their intellectual brilliance. Or their dismal ignorance, it could go either way.

 

And I am going to see Lloyd Cole on Thursday, so I am very excited about that.  

 

Do you know Goody who writes Eat The Blog?

She's funny.

 

And she observed here that some strange magic happens sometimes, and one's bosom looks bigger in certain photos.

Like here;

jacket on, boobs barely noticeable;

jacket off, knockers ahoy.

 

 

 

 Now you see 'em, now you don't.

Knockers is Goody's word. It makes me laugh, because I am foolish and have the sense of humour of a Carry On film. 

 

I can practically hear the Benny Hill music playing, can't you?

I'm enjoying all the textures going on here, and the little opal pendant which I found for a couple of quid in a charity shop. I was only looking at the chain actually, I need to replace one which broke, but I like opals so I'll keep the necklace as it is. 

 

1950s Scottish tweed jacket, 1970s tank top, sunglasses, necklace and bangles - charity shopped

1970s maxi skirt - vintage/collectables shop in Matlock

1950-60s tapestry bag - vintage shop in Birmingham

Blouse - jumble sale

Boots - retail (ancient)

 

 

I am also happy to muddle up my vintage styles and decades; I'm no purist, and if a 1970s tank top and maxi call out to be paired with a 1950s jacket, who am I to argue?

Just don't shop me to the vintage police.

 

 Thank you for all your very sweet comments on my last post. Gawd knows I don't want to be a Mummy Blogger, and you are kind to put up with the kiddy pics.

Claudia liked her birthday card, but is determined not to listen to any of my words of wisdom regarding personal style...

 

I've got Nina (Littlest) at home tomorrow because of the teachers' strike, and she is angling to do something special, mainly so she can rub her older siblings' noses in the fact that they have to go to school as usual.

I predict that cake will be involved, and yet more faffing about.

What does the rest of the week have in store for you?

xxxx

Hold onto yourself, Bartlett, you're 20 feet short

                      

It's been a quiet weekend; I felt like staying home and drinking tea and reading and relaxing and watching films, rather than braving the wet and wild conditions outside.

So that's what I did. 

I passed up a jumble sale and a vintage fair. What's wrong with me?

 

 

 

Actually, nothing. As much as I like to browse, I knew I wasn't in a position to buy anything, and it felt quite liberating to let these events go on without me. 

I need to get selling again on Ebay before I can consider buying, and I never bother with January, it's been horribly slow in previous years.

 

 

 

We watched Chitty Chitty Bang Bang with the kids; I can't remember when I last saw it, it must have been when I was a child. I have to say I don't rate the songs much, but the kids seemed to enjoy it.

The real movie joy this weekend was watching The Great Escape with the Seldom Seen Kid. The girls weren't interested, but it was  great fun to watch such a familiar movie with someone seeing it for the first time. Simon and I kept saying ooh, this is a good bit, and asked him to guess who gets away (he was right about Danny, Willie, and Sedgewick, but gutted that he was wrong about Hilts.)

 

 

 

And we had a discussion about our favourite characters. You can keep Steve McQueen as Hilts the Cooler King; it's James Garner as Hendley the Scrounger all the way for me!

 

We are compiling a list for future film nights; SSK has quite eclectic and grown-up tastes, so we can extend the range beyond kids' films and action adventure movies. Some classic thrillers might be good, and not-overly-horrific horror and sci fi.

What else?

In culinary news;

 

I've tried again to make decent shortcrust pastry, always a challenge for me; Eldest (a fan of The Great British Bake Off) criticised my soggy bottom...

Homity Pie. Tasted good, but I think my hands are too hot for pastry. 

Any tips?

 

 

 

Minnie watched the rain from the safety of the back of the sofa, and tried to catch the raindrops.

 

 

1950s tweed jacket, cardigan, tights, scarf, beret and bangles - charity shopped

1970s dress - vintage shop (heavily reduced because it needed repairing)

Boots - Ebay

Leather gloves - gift

 

 

 

These photos were from earlier in the week, a day when the sun put in an appearance.

 

On this week's agenda;

 

  Littlest joins Cubs, there's a PTA fundraising cake sale at school, a parents' evening for Eldest, a night out for Tracey's birthday, and a sleepover at the weekend as a belated birthday treat for Littlest.

It's going to be busy. Hope my cakes turn out better than my pastry.

 

I'm joining in with all the Visible loveliness over at Patti's.

 

 See you later! 

xxx

Tweed with everything

Fishnets and leopard print...
 
There's a combination which sounds more suitable for a try out at Spearmint Rhino than the school run.

Yet I think I look rather demure.

Must be the tweed effect.

 This Scottish woollen mill was established in 1758 and is still in operation today.

I found this jacket in a charity shop last week.

The style and buttons seem 1950s/early 1960s to me, and it is in really good condition, so I paid a whole tenner for it. I know, pushing the boat out.

I have sold several items on Ebay, so I feel justified. Remember I said I was going to have an autumn clear out?

Gone!

These either didn't fit, didn't suit, or just weren't earning their wardrobe space.

1950s tweed jacket, dress, tights and bangles - charity shopped
Boots - Ebay
Necklace - gift
Victorian micromosaic brooch - charity vintage sale

 

This jacket has a touch of the crime-fighting lady librarian about it (a look discussed here).

Interestingly, that post was a year ago.

There is obviously something about autumn which calls for a Miss Marple-esque jacket - who knew?

Because I like to mix my eras as well as my metaphors, I also wore the jacket like this;

Lady Fanny, Victorian detective...

...ponders the etiquette of crime-busting when one is a woman of gentility.

1970s maxi skirt, 1970s wool hat and 1950s tapestry bag - flea market
Top, necklaces, bangles, belt and brooch - charity shopped
Jacket and ankle boots - as before



The brooch has real dried flowers under a dome which might be lucite or celluloid, set in a silver tone frame with a simple hook fastening.
It has a 1930-40s look about it, I think.

Anyone know?

Speaking of anyone being able to help out;

Lady Fanny is currently involved in some detective work of a rather personal nature.

She has been informed by a lady of her acquaintance that there is a "tradition" in which a couple getting married take the opportunity at some point during their wedding reception to find somewhere private to, err... consummate their marriage.

No, not after the guests have departed, and the couple wend their weary but triumphant way to the marital bed chamber. During the festivities, while their guests partake of the vol-au-vents and drunkenly dance the Macarena.

Can this be true?

Lady Fanny has attended many a nuptial ceremony, and never noticed the bride emerging from a secret location (where? the toilets? outside, round the back of the kitchen by the bins?) with her lipstick smudged and her dress tucked in her knickers, while the groom follows with his flies undone.

But then she is a spinster of this parish and may not be fully cognisant of wedding rituals.

Can anyone shed any light?
Is my lady friend delusional?
(I fear so.)

Needless to say, if the aforementioned personage ever gets round to having a wedding, Lady F will be paying very close attention.

Surveys may follow on the subject of one night stands, and whether or not there is another "tradition" in which couples are obliged to have sex in every room when they move into a new house.

It's been a day of sexual revelations, accompanied by much hilarity.

How's your Tuesday been?

xxxxx