Are We Nearly There Yet?

And that was Christmas, I’m glad it’s done. I’ll admit I’ve let what I call the German gene creep in and ended up confessing to Himself that as my last 2 Christmases have been pretty crap I’m pretty sure that I’ll never enjoy another one again!

 

Never fear I’m sure my usual maddeningly cheerful Pollyanna persona will return soon. 

 

2015 continues to kick me relentlessly, like someone up there is trying to see just how much more I really can take. 

In the short period between Christmas and now this has ranged from getting in from work on Christmas Eve to find the fridge had decided that this was a perfect day to stop working, a bereavement on Boxing Day, a desperate relative in need, and to add insult to injury, being the only person with no gift in their cracker at Boxing Day lunch. I’m telling you, that empty cracker just might have been the straw to break the camel’s back. 

 

You may remember me ranting of old about the desperate battles we have getting anything in this house sorted by our landlady who has made being a tightwad into an art form. This time we just ordered a new fridge. No way was I spending the whole holiday without one. She can either pay us back or strike it off the inventory. Frankly I’d probably still be waiting this time next year without one if we left it to her to sort out!

According to the text from AO it was due to be delivered today by Mohammed (which tickled Himself) who as it goes was lovely, but did manhandle said fridge in an alarming fashion, it is now ‘resting’ for 12 hours before we can switch it on.

 I’m actually a bit scared to touch that switch if truth be told! After all there are still 3 days of 2015 left......

 

Saying that New Year is nearly upon us and for the first time in 18 years Himself and I will be spending it apart, each of us with a parent who needs us more instead. That’s going to be strange if I’m honest.

 

So yes, New Year, a time to reflect on many things including did I keep any of my resolutions from last year?

 

Hmm

 

I certainly didn’t lose any weight (Dammit) and I certainly didn’t go to America (Bah) but I did lavish lots of love on my garden, I did read more, and I did accept just about any invitation that came my way, some definitely better than others!

I also surprised myself by not only sticking with the Pilates, but finding that I absolutely love it! I’m already signed up for January and champing at the bit for it to start again.

 

I’m also proud of a lot of the things I achieved this year and also of the things I coped with this year. If you would have told me 12 months ago that with just a day’s notice I would stand up and give a presentation to nearly 100 people I would have laughed you out of the room, I’m not saying for one moment I enjoyed it, but fuck me, I actually did it! Yup that one still shocks me a bit.

 

Of course this is about the time I would be doing a ‘frocking round up of 2015’.

Despite all that has been thrown at me this year I have managed to buy my fair share of frocks, and well, it just wouldn’t be me if there wasn't at least one complete disaster, if not more (usually from Ebay) for every month of the year.

Unlike previous years I haven’t chronicled them all so I can’t do my usual round up with pictures, but trust me they exist, and oh boy do they exist!

 

Like the 1980’s does 1940’s number that looked SO cute on Ebay and even on the hanger when it arrived but which I don’t actually have words fit to describe just how hideous it looked when I put it on. 

Or the Nautical wiggle dress from Hell Bunny, which was actually more 'what the hell were you thinking woman' than 'Hello Sailor!'

 

There were more, many, oh so many more. 

 

If I’m honest I have had far, far too many disgraceful aberrations in taste this year when it came to buying dresses. You can take my word for it that it was a disastrous year on the frock front.

 

There were a couple of unexpected absolute clothing gems in all the chaos. Like the tartan skirt for £2 from Bournemouth that I only bought because it was tartan and £2, that to my surprise actually looked lovely on. Or the cute floral tea dress that I bought on a whim from a charity shop because it was just so pretty, even though I knew it would never fit. That as it goes actually bloody did! Sadly though they were few and far between.

 

It was however a very, very good year for my handbag collection though, at least my taste and judgement didn’t abandon me there!

 

I have just one or two new editions that I haven’t shared yet indeed I bought a narrow deep shelved unit only last month to display my new beauties in and upon. 

 

So on that note I'll leave you with my new handbags.

A couple of rainy day Ebay bargains.

This lovely little raffia bag arrived just in time to complete my outfit for Dan and Melissa's wedding.

These two were a job lot on Ebay. The top bag is in the middle of restoration. It was filthy dirty and has a broken zip. I've cleaned the outside, now I just need to clean it inside and see if I can do anything with the zip, otherwise I might just take it out all together.

I love the matching cigarette case with the cream bag. It's in a heck of a battered state so has clearly had quite a life, I wonder what stories it could tell!

Finally just to show it's not all vintage bags with me. I couldn't resist this little beauty from Accessorize.