Beyond the Fringe

I finally got round to making a hairdresser's appointment, my grey roots have been driving me crazy, and I felt like a change.

Who's that girl?

Why that would be me, with my new hair do!

Looking pretty smug!

What do you think? 

Looking back at old photos, I think it's about 3 years since I last had a fringe. 

I am past the stage of fretting about hair cuts or colours, thank goodness. It's only hair! Though I do remember weeping over my first ever perm (disastrous) and when a hairdresser cut all my layers back in after I had spent ages growing them out. He spent more time looking at himself in the mirror than at me. Why was I so unassertive back then?

Going to get my hair cut is a very pleasant experience these days. 

And I had the go-ahead from fellow Fringe Dweller of Note, darling Sarah, so that was all the encouragement I needed. 

My lovely hairdresser Kirsty is just back from maternity leave, so we talked births and babies and broken nights and being besotted. 

And hair, of course, you have to talk about hair.

1970s Tricoville dress (last seen here) - gift from fabulous festival floozy Vix 

Cardigan and bangles - charity shopped

Belt and Fly sandals - retail (sale)

Necklace - my mum's

Sunglasses - vintage shop

Shiny new haircut - Kirsty at Creator

I used to work with someone who reckoned a change of hair style indicated a change in life. If a colleague turned up to work sporting a new do, he's nod sagely and whisper "Bet she's got a new fella."

No new fellas in my life, but I do feel the need for some change. Nothing major, but I know I am in a rut. It's comfortable but I feel lazy.

Maybe it's time to shake it up a little.

   xxx

Blend in or stand out?

Does anyone else experience the phenomenon of feeling flat as a pancake after having a really great time?

It often happens to me, I get a horrible shit-that's-over-now come-down, leaving me feeling sad and grouchy, and not a little guilty...

Today's outfit is an attempt to shake myself out of my funk.

It was working too, until I tipped the tray loaded with the kids' lunch onto the kitchen floor. And over my feet.

Orange squash-soaked sandwiches, anyone? 

I took pics of yesterday's outfit, but look...

... my dress and the bark of my cherry tree are the same colour. Talk about camouflaged. No wonder I felt a bit drab.

Today - lunchtime accidents apart - is better.

But will whoever keeps sneaking into my wardrobe and letting my hems down please desist?

Another one! I know what I'll be doing this evening.

The kids had a great time with their auntie and uncle, and we all met up on Monday. Tynemouth, on the North East coast outside Newcastle, is a lovely spot.

Great company, fabulous food and drink, gorgeous beach, even some blue skies - wonderful!

So - it's daft to feel downhearted after a lovely time, isn't it? Kind of spoils the experience, if you let it.

1970s Crimplene maxi skirt - Ebay (£2.20, bargain!)

T-shirt, suede belt, necklaces and bangles - charity shops

Not blending in so much today - that's good!

While everyone knows Morrissey's Everyday is like Sunday is the best British seaside song ever (sorry, I will have NO argument about that) and Squeeze's Pulling mussels from a shell is the funniest, I find myself rather fond of Keane's swoony nostalgic tune.


Enjoy.

xxx

What do bees smell of?

Child-free weekends are a great rarity in this household.

The last one (here) was 9 months ago. When I looked back at the post, I chuckled at the fact I was wearing orange.

What is it about the kids heading off to spend the weekend with their fabulous auntie and uncle that sends me into orange?

There is a LOT of fabric in this 1970s wraparound skirt!

Look, the embroidery matches the skirt. It's almost as though I planned it...

 
 I am just a flower-snapping, PicMonkey collage-making fool!

The other day, Littlest was pretending to make perfumes for me when she asked me an interesting question: What do bees smell of?

Any ideas? Other than bee?

I couldn't get close enough to sniff him, but I heartily approve of his colour scheme.

1970s wrap maxi skirt, orange vest, belt, necklaces and bangles - charity shops

Sandals - Ebay

Embroidered top - street market 

Collage for my dear friend Joni!

Bitchface for gorgeous Krista - I'll be smiling when I meet you, darling!

So while the kids live it up in the North East, the man and I have been out for a coffee, for a drink, for lunch, then for another drink...

Then I had a Nanna nap.

Delicious!

We go up to meet my sister and her man, and the LBs, on Monday. We have FaceTimed with them and they are having a ball without us!

Hope you are all doing delicious things this weekend.

  xxx

Put on your red shoes and dance the blues

This skirt has a tendency to garner some attention.

You don't see many mermaids in landlocked Sheffield.

I wear it a lot, it's one of my absolute favourite items of clothing (last seen here).

It was old stock from a fancy dress shop, a fact which never ceases to delight me!

I didn't notice the hem is falling down at the front, despite wearing the skirt all day.

When the members of the Ladies Purse, my quiz team pals, called for me en route to the pub, they spotted it immediately. Bah!

I am attempting to give two colours a go which I rarely wear and have in my mental doesn't-suit-me file; cream and grey.

I figured if I wore them with some crazy black/gold/silver lurex mermaid scales, I might pull it off.

And I have tried a trusty Vix Trick - a waistcoat!

The Ladies Purse came a creditable second in the quiz.

In and around the serious intellectual rigour,
 the discussion encompassed:

 Potato Day at Saltaire and which potato we would like to be (I chose Desiree, in homage to the Sassy Vamp herself.)

Vajazzling, whether there is a market for a male version (feel free to make up your own name), and whether the technology is available for a vajazzle kit which lights up when your partner hits the spot. Expect to see us any day on Dragons Den with that idea...

The chewy consistency of escargot and whelks, and opinions thereof.

Living on a remote Outer Hebridean island, and its relative merits/problems.

I love my quiz nights - we never win but we do have a laugh!

1970s Atlantic Made in England lurex maxi skirt - Ebay

1970s sheer cream hippy top, waistcoat, shoes, bangles and necklaces - charity shops

Brooch - car boot

Silver cuff - Brick Lane street market

Flower - retail

Blogging is a fascinating pastime, for many reasons.

Not least is the feedback one receives - about clothes, photography, styling, blog layout, comic timing, and writing style.

I have spent all my adult life developing a brand of self-deprecating humour, which serves two purposes. It makes people laugh (I love making people laugh) and if I get the joke about myself in first, it prevents anyone else from saying it. 

If it's an annoying trait, I can only apologise, and say that I will try to rein it in. I think my self-esteem is pretty good these days, but old habits die hard.

Thanks for the feedback, it may not always be easy reading, but it's all good!

         xxx

Stand and Deliver

The kids and I had a great day out with friends at Bolsover Castle yesterday.

 

I know, I look a bit shit, but the castle doesn't disappoint!

 

Nothing like a bright blue sky to act as the perfect backdrop for a bit of English history!

 

The older parts of the castle are ruined, having been damaged by the Parlimentarian forces in the Civil War, and subsequently allowed to fall into disrepair.

 

The English Civil War is one of my favourite periods of British history; the radicalism and passion and daring were astonishing. Yet it seems largely ignored. I wonder why?

This part of the castle (the Little Castle) is intact, with lots of rooms to explore.

 

 

 

Beautiful painted ceilings and decorative panelling.

 

 

 

 

The kids loved all the nudity. And truthfully - so did I!

My dear bessie mate Joanne and I pondered whether our figures were better suited to these 18th century images of big bottoms and sturdy thighs...

Those kick-ass little cherabim really make me smile!

The Venus Fountain.

 

Joanne, being an organised kind of person, had discovered that there were themed kids' activities happening, based around Heroes and Villains.

Now I have to say I didn't expect much, maybe a few half-arsed craft activities with most of the supplies used up, or the odd dressing up box.

But hush my cynical mouth, there was a day-long schedule of interactive sessions with 2 actors, who were completely brilliant, and managed that clever trick of entertaining and involving the kids while amusing the parents. 

 

No mean feat.

 

They loaded and fired muskets.

 

 

 

They were dastardly highwaymen.

 

 

They learned about crime and punishment back in the day.

 

Eldest had been adding unsavoury ingredients to her bread and cakes, so was pinned to a stake by her ear, which was then cut off. Seems fair, if you're going to put rabbit droppings in the "chocolate chip" cookies.

 

 

 

I think I may have a little crush...

 

... on Mr Hottie McHighwayman. 

 

 

Stand and deliver, baby.

 

 

 

 

 

I think we should get back to the architecture, don't you?

 

 

 

 

And the view.

That's better.

 

There was a little bit of dressing up.

 

Let Mama join in, darlings.

 

Too cool for school...

Ooh, big old hips! 

If I was naked, and on a ceiling, around 300 years ago, I'd be considered a goddess.

 

 

We had a fabulous day.

The End.

 xxx