The Most Beautiful Dress in the Whole Wide World.

Apparently Autumn is coming with a vengeance at the weekend, just in time for me to be on holiday in Bournemouth....Arse!
In the meantime I have been melting in the baking heat and snotting from a delightful cold that has also seen this as the opportune moment to descend upon my personage. Bah.

I know it is that classic situation of having stopped that has found me full of cold, up until this weekend I have been flat out busy socially and it's been bloody great, but tiring.

I was actually secretly loving the fact that this weekend we had no plans for the first weekend in months.
Friday night we had the Rocky Horror Show but other than that nothing, sweet nothing.
The RHS was fun as ever. Sadly not the greatest version bearing in mind it was the 40th anniversary tour but fun never the less.

Saturday I had a glorious lie-in and then we attacked the final hedge. My poor garden is in a very sorry state as all this social butterfly stuff means I haven't done more than charge round with a watering can when able. Much work needs to be done before the winter!

I had plans of the lying on the sofa watching a film kind for Sunday but Himself had other ideas. He announced we should go the Reading as we hadn't been for ages and there was a film in there we should see.
So off to Reading we went. I spent most of it refusing to let myself do any shopping so close to my holiday which was hard I tell you, very hard. SIGH.

We headed to the cinema to see 'The Way Way Back'

I really enjoyed it, though it is quite a depressing film in many ways. I'd recommend it if you get the chance to see it.

We came home to the most glorious sunset.

I do love this time of year.

Two days at work and now I am off until next Tuesday Huzzah. We are off to Bournemouth tomorrow for our annual visit. It seems our luck has finally given out weatherwise as the weekend is meant to be awful. Usually we have sun, sun, sun.
Not that I care in all honesty I'm just dying to get away for a few days break.

I have had to rethink the packing and add waterproofs, hiking boots and a warm coat, oh well. I packed this morning then scooted out to the shops.

God our Charity shops have been completely crap lately, all over priced Primark tat. I hunted and scoured and all I found was.

A green blouse for a pound and a floral dress for three pounds, both will do for work and

the sweetest little metal kiwi bird. How cute is he?? I was going to put him out in the garden but I suspect he will find a home inside....

Finally I must share with you the dress of the title. As you know I am slightly obsessed with green dresses at the moment and forest green is a colour that suits me very well. I had a dress that colour years ago that I literally wore to pieces and I have never found anything to match it since, until now that is.

Words cannot describe how much I love this dress, it's a repro piece by Hell Bunny and it fits like a glove. I really wasn't sure about the sizing but I just had to have it. When it arrived I was actually too scared to try it on for a couple of weeks in case it was too small, I know, crazy stupid right? I can't be the only person who does that though!
Anyway I finally took the bull by the horns and put it on today and it is divine. So divine I have ordered myself the burgandy version too.


 

Downtown Eat Your Heart Out.

Yesterday I took a day off work and went out with Jenny and Soo for an adventure.

I was in need of some quality time with my best friends, it has been a tough week. The thing that hit me the hardest was visiting my friend Murray in hospital on Thursday.
He is very sick, I didn't even recognise him when I walked in, it just breaks my heart.

That among other things have really had me thinking about life and making the most of it, not having regrets and not taking my health for granted.

So yes, I was in need of the opportunity to talk, hear advice and have a damn good laugh.

We decided to check out Lydiard House and Park

The house has been wonderfully renovated by a local trust after falling into such disrepair that even the army decided it was too dilapidated when it was requisitioned during the war! Instead they built nissan huts in the grounds. It was interesting to read of it's history first as a U.S.A.A.F hospital and then prisoner of war camp up until 1948.

The park is open to the public for free and it was heartening to see it packed with families enjoying the balmy weather. You are so used to hearing about kids lounging in the house all day whilst their parents ignore them these days.

In terms of a stately home Lydiard is fairly small, but my life what a family the Bolingbrokes were!

I said they could make a tv show out of it all but Jenny pointed out it would more than likely be dismissed as being too far fetched to be believed.
We are talking getting drunk and accidentally killing someone in a duel, getting drunk and accidentally killing your best friend, getting drunk and insulting a king (don't know about you but I see a pattern forming here.)
Bringing in the local blacksmith's daughter as your housekeeper and next thing she's lady of the manor. Marrying one wife then bringing in the second to live with you and fathering two children to her whilst the first is still alive..... Finally, the most shocking, being married with 2 children but having another 4 kids on the side with your own sister!?!

Mind you it is worth remembering the house IS in Swindon.                *joke*

The actual Royal Pardon that was issued to the viscount who accidentally shot someone in a duel whilst he was drunk. (How do you do that??)

The rooms were set up to reflect life in different eras in the house and this was further illustrated with the use of waxworks that scared the bejesus out of me every single time even though I knew they were there!
This is seriously the most sinister waxwork ever, look at that face *shudder*

Mind you have you ever seen a waxwork with a comb over who looks like he is about to break into some music hall ditty on the spoons?

I found the whole place fascinating, I loved all the wonderful family portraits going through the ages  and all the personal bits and pieces that made it feel like a family home.

(Not that they are a family I would want to be part of judging by their history!)

As you know I always seem to find an elephant somewhere and this was no exception. Behold this funny looking chap embroidered on the 17th century bedding as copied from the stained glass window in the chapel.

We went from the house to the renovated walled garden, which had been the pride and joy of Harry Love the head gardener (the best name for a gardener ever.)

It was absolutely gorgeous and refurbed with the help of a lottery grant. According to the lady volunteers in the house the local scouts used to pitch their tents there up until that point.

To just go off at a tangent one of the ladies had the same hairstyle, glasses and accent of Billie Whitelaw in Hot Fuzz. It made it very hard to take in what she was saying as I just kept picturing her in the film!

Anyway rumbling tummies said it was time for lunch so we headed to the stable cafe

not being a horsey kind of person quite frankly this is the best use for a stable I can think of!

The sandwich board outside declared all the various types of hot and cold food they served so we discussed, chose and queued up, got to the counter, placed the order only to be told "We have no food left".
We expressed polite incredulity to be told very defensively "We've been very busy"
No shit Sherlock, it's a bank holiday weekend! Surely the thing to do is to take the boards in when you have run out of food hmm? 

False advertising and all that.

Apparently there was another cafe up in the woods that was bigger and usually had more food. 
The weird thing was, that there is a conference centre at the house and the entrance is directly opposite the stable cafe and it also had boards outside it announcing things like cream teas and hot snacks but that wasn't suggested as an alternative, clearly there was some manner of rivalry going on!

We decided we couldn't be arsed to walk all the way 'up in the woods' so we went to the conference centre instead.

We were greeted warmly at reception which was a good start  so Soo asked if we could have a cream tea as advertised outside. The lady looked perplexed, she didn't think they were serving food as they "had a big wedding on the next day so none of the kitchen staff were in, she would go and ask the duty manager" and off she disappeared whilst we looked at each other with 'seriously, WTF?' faces.

Now admittedly I've never worked in catering, but surely if you have a big wedding on your kitchen staff would be in and busy prepping on the day before?

We waited for about 10 minutes and were making noises about going when a veritable angel of a lady who had clearly been roped into serving us some food, appeared. There was no hot food but she could make us some sandwiches. It took a while but my goodness were they well worth the wait., absolutely delicious!

Fed and watered we headed back to the house to sign out the key for the church for a quick look see before the whole place closed. It's a grade one listed building partly due to it's medieval wall and ceiling paintings,  

I particularly loved this sun painted way, way up on the ceiling.  How happy is he?

All in all a great day out, I'd definitely go back.

Once I got home, I cooked and scarffed dinner, packed a bag and headed over to my Mum and Dad's as today was our annual trek to the Stonor Park craft fair.

As you can see the weather was not playing ball today so we didn't linger as long as in previous years but I still bagged a treasure or two before we dashed back to the car.

Three brooches, a bracelet and two decorations for the christmas tree!

I also got this fabulous book from Jenny as a belated birthday present

I'm really looking forward to reading it properly have dipped in on the train home.

What A Vintage Carry On Margate - Photo Fail.

Hello firstly I failed big stylie at the weekend and Himself also failed me. I forgot to pick up the camera on my way out to work in the morning and he forgot to bring it with him when he met me at the station with the bags later on BAH.

The camera on my phone is absolutely shit so I have about 4 very poor pictures from my weekend at the What a Vintage Carry On Festival in Margate this weekend.
Not a single one of my outfit which typically came together perfectly and got me lots of compliments, something that does not happen every day!

I wore the lovely polka dot vintage dress I bought earlier in the year in Torquay, teamed with my brown leather and suede brogues and matching leather handbag.

I thought about doing a rerun for blog pictures but it never looks the same does it?

Anyway thankfully the weather held until the evening though it was stupidly windy. I first had a breakfast cup of tea with himself outside a cafe where one lady felt the need to point and exclaim very loudly 'I bet she's going to that vintage thing'.
Thankfully I was wearing sunglasses so when everyone around her turned and gawped I could remain cool and mysterious *cough*.

After I walked Himself to the station where he headed off to the safety of Broadstairs, I threw caution to the wind and went for a stroll on the beach, fancy outfits be damned!

I mooched there until I got a call from my friend Kay who I was meeting for a few hours at the festival. I browsed a few of the shops until she arrived and then we both browsed the outside stalls which were a fab mixture of vintage and handmade items.
We then did more of the many great junk/antique/vintage stores in Margate Old Town until it was time for cake and a catch up. So we headed to the aptly named Cupcake Cafe to stuff our faces until my sister arrived.
My purchases...

 Kay bought me the kitsch little girl ring and I bought one for her because we both loved them. You know me and brooches by now and these two were a done deal.

This funny ceramic dog with a tape measure in his mouth was £4, I couldn't resist him. My sister decided to pull the tape out and then of course it wouldn't go back in!

My sister arrived in time to join her dance group for a jive display in the market which was amazing. I'm so proud of her and very jealous because I can't dance to save my life, and of course, I haven't got my camera with me have I? dammit!

Once she had finished we went for a much deserved glass of wine and a catch up. By then it started to rain so we headed our separate ways, her to go for a kebab with her fella and me for dinner with the in laws.
There are some official pictures here 

A couple of other purchases to share.

1980's sundress which needs a wee bit of altering as it's too big. £4.99

I think this one is 1970's. It doesn't look like much on the hanger, and I thought it might be too small but it fitted like a glove. It looks quite glamorous I must say. Again £4.99

Finally a dress I bought with some birthday money and which I nearly wore for the weekend.

It came from the wonderful Trollied Dolly
What an amazing service they give and what fantastic quirky and well made dresses they sell. I highly recommend them to one and all.
 

A Grand Day Out and The Thin White Duke.

This could be a very picture heavy post but I am forcing myself to keep it light.
On Saturday Himself and I got up at a ridiculously early time for a weekend and headed off to Bristol for the day to do the Gromit Unleashed Trail.
As seems to be my luck when I plan these outings, we got to the station and our train was cancelled with no explanation. With a sinking sense of deja vu we finally got on a train wedged to the rafters with people and spent an uncomfortable hour pressed up against the door in the vestibule. It was Easter weekend all over again!
Eventually we got to Bristol and with our blue trail map clutched in hand ticked the first Gromit off the map.

                                                  'Isambark Kingdog Brunel'
  We had a fantastic day out and what a gorgeous city Bristol is. We walked for about 7 hours all in, and covered everywhere from the docks to the shopping centre, the cathedral to the BBC Bristol offices. We saw 45 of the 79 Gromits dotted around Bristol and the surrounding area. Not bad going really and a great way to get around a city.

The statues were either outside or just inside various buildings, a very clever way to get people to go into the museums and galleries and then maybe stay and look round. (Though I suspect Harvey Nichols were rather horrified at all the not quite of our class of people trooping through their store!)

We spotted the one on this amazing old ship from across the other side of the water and then had to figure out how the hell to get over to take a picture. Talking of pictures we did find it amusing how terribly British everyone was politely queuing and waiting their turn to take their pictures!
There was no pushing, no shoving, no dashing in. Everyone took their turn and there were a lot of people at every statue.
 Bristol was packed with people and just about every one of them was clutching a blue map.

We did culture.

We gatecrashed a hotel with a wedding going on to find Where's Wally.

Found a random elephant sign

and saw a pigeon wielding a baguette like a lightsabre (typically it stopped when I got the camera out!)
Our final Gromit was Vincent Van Dog

By this time we were footsore and in need of refreshment. We retired to Wetherspoons for a much needed drink or 3 then only just managed to catch our train home, phew.
All in all a grand day out as Wallace would say.

Yesterday we headed out to the cinema with Soo to see the exclusive live screening of 'David Bowie is happening now' from the Victoria and Albert Museum.

Soo and I were both desperate to see the exhibition but didn't manage to get tickets. It sold out within hours and has been the V&A's most successful exhibition ever with 330,000 visitors. If anything all this screening did was made me even more frustrated not to have seen the exhibition and been able to browse round it at my leisure. I'm not a huge Bowie fan or anything but I do find him fascinating and this exhibition did not disappoint.

It was incredible to hear just how many people that very first appearance of Ziggy Stardust on Top of the Pops in 1972 affected and influenced. You can only begin to imagine what it must of been like, to watch colour tv, for pretty much the first time in your life, and see this glittering catsuited creature with the exotic bright make-up and hair singing at you, directly at you.
Parents were horrified and teenagers suddenly found meaning. A life changing moment.
   
I did find it amusing how they glossed over the 80's, quick glimpse of the Ashes to Ashes peirrot costume and that was your lot.

Himself and I agreed it could have done with more words from the man himself but other than that it was all good.

The V&A commissioned a piece of art work for the exhibition and much to their surprise the artist came back with the Periodic Table of Bowie. Inspired.

It lists the people who influenced him and the people he has influenced. I have to say I loved it so much I went to their online shop and ordered myself one!




 
  

Under Pressure.

Been doing a bit of navel gazing this week mostly due to having been incredibly ill last week and to the doctors on the Friday. It was one of those give with one hand but take with the other situations.

I knew I had lost weight before I went and I was generally feeling pretty good about stuff.
Yes the weight loss I have achieved so far is great, keep up the good work etc. However now it would appear I have high blood pressure, it was high last visit apparently (though they didn't tell me at the time) and it was still high this visit.

The irony is when I was 'overweight' my blood pressure had always been exactly on the average reading. I lose weight and bingo up it rockets *SIGH*

Before you all tell me it's a coincidence, I know it's a coincidence, and quite frankly a predestined one at that. Blood pressure-wise I was always on borrowed time, High pressure is hereditary and lucky me it runs in the family on both sides, so no escape. It was only a matter of time.
I am pissed off about it though. I don't feel ready for this, I don't feel old enough for a start!
Fuck it I should be a pensioner before I get bloody high blood pressure? surely??

Oy Vey.

Anyway enough of the outraged pity party, I'll get my head around it and what I need to do to keep as healthy as I can.

Onwards.......

I have a very busy August ahead of me. This coming weekend we are off to Bristol to see the Gromits (as in Wallace and Gromit) on the Gromit Unleashed Trail
I'm very excited about that and about visiting Bristol as I have never been there before.

Next week Himself, Soo and I are off to the cinema to see the live screening from the David Bowie Exhibition at the V&A. More exciting stuff!

Next weekend we are off to Margate to visit family and whilst Himself is off doing his own thing with his mates, my sister, my friend Kay and myself are going to What a Vintage Carry On

That is followed by the Bank Holiday weekend when I go to the annual Stonor Park Craft Fair.

Finally we have The Rocky Horror Show at the end of the month. The 40th anniversary tour and the tickets were one of Himself's 40th birthday presents so it was meant to be.

Lots to look forward too.

Also I didn't mention that Soo had been over and we did a trawl of the charity shops. I bought a few bits and pieces including this lovely jumper

and a childish picture of a donkey for my wall of Kitsch. Vix may have her wall of misery but I have my Kitsch Kitchen!

Just Got Back From The Windy City

I know it was a work trip but it's amazing how much you can cram in to the bits of free time you do get when you put your mind to it! The last comment I had from the big boss before I left was 'to network' I'd say going out to drink cocktails, and beer, and eat deep dish pizza and world famous hot dogs with some of your conference companions all count as networking right?

So we arrived in Chicago late Saturday afternoon and frankly it was hotter than Hades. Paull and I decided to check in the hotel and then go out for a walk in Millenium Park. The idea being to tire ourselves out in the hopes of combating the inevitable jetlag. 
Now the thing with the heat in Chicago is the humidity, boy, oh boy is it humid. I have only every sweated like that once before in my life and that was when I was fighting a fever!!!
 It's not ladylike and it's certainly not pretty.

The views and the delicious salted caramel ice cream did go some way to helping me feel a little less self conscious.  

The Bean in Millenium park. It's a bit mental really how shiny and reflective it is. You can walk right underneath it too, there was a wedding party having their picture taken whilst we were there, I bet they were some amazing shots.

My first view of the famous skyline.

The Wrigley (as in chewing gum) building.

We trudged back to the hotel made plans to meet for breakfast. I have never been so grateful for a super powerful American shower, cranked up the air con and hit the sack.
I didn't sleep so good, my room was at the front of the hotel and I kept hearing this loud whistling which drove me nuts, it turned out to be the doorman calling up taxis!
Also we were next door to a hospital so there were on and off ambulance sirens all night too.

I was up at 5.30am (damn you bodyclock still on U.K time) and after another shower this time to wake me up a bit, I went down bleary eyed to breakfast. I had decided to stroll to Lincoln Park via the lake shore and visit the zoo which opens at 9am. Paull was going to go to the Art Institute but on discovering it didn't open until 11am opted to join me at the zoo first.
I think it's important to get the balance right of time together and time alone when you travel with a colleague, thankfully Paull and I get on like a house on fire so it works out well.

Another hot, hot, hot day. I slathered on the sunblock and wore a hat (get me being all sensible and mature!) before heading out into the furnace.
The manmade beach was super busy with joggers and cyclists and we watched a little bit of the volleyball before cutting through the park.
The Zoo is WONDERFUL! not only is it free there is so much to see. Well I say that, when we first arrived at about 9.05am we were greeted by empty enclosure after empty enclosure.....

We were joking it was a bit like the KitKat Panda advert (British reference there!) but were disappointed never the less.
As we were debating what to do next we caught a polo shirted, wellington booted movement. Turns out we were just too early and they hadn't even let the animals out yet!
So we got to stroll round watching bears, tigers, rhinos and monkeys tucking into breakfast, some of it far less appetizing than others.

We both spotted the carousel and dashed up to it with undisguised excitement. It was only $2.75 a ride so there was no hesitating, tickets were  purchased and animals chosen, it is made up of wild jungle animals not horses. I sat with two baby gorillas on a log and Paull chose a blue arsed baboon.Bloody brilliant fun.

The primate enclosure was the best. We were in there ages and got chatting to a lady who told us all about their important work with breeding Gorillas for hopefully releasing back into the wild one day, it was fascinating stuff.

The best bit by far was a chimp after my own heart who clearly was so sick of all the idiot visitors pounding on the glass and shouting, that he picked up a large pile of poo smeared it all over the glass in front of them, then turned his back with a look of utter disdain. Hilarious.

We wandered back through the park and decided that some manner of refreshment was in order. The Cheesecake Factory it was! After a long cold drink and a dish from their lighter choices menu we felt we were justified in having a pudding.

                                               Baked banana cheesecake anyone?
 
After lunch we decided to go our separate ways. Paull to the museum and myself on my quest to find the only Bath and Bodyworks store listed for Chicago and stock up on their wonderous products.

What a trek, I walked for what felt like forever through some not so savoury parts and finally got there at 3.05pm, yes you've guessed it the store closed at 3pm....ARSE. I gestured through the glass and the guy mouthed back at me 'we're closed' I finally got across that I only wanted to ask a question. Basically if they had what I wanted in stock I would zip back the next morning before the conference started. As it turns out they didn't stock it so double arse.

I then decided to head sideways across town to a vintage store I had found online. It wasn't my day because it was also shut when I got there even though it wasn't yet 4pm the listed closing time. Somewhat disheartened I headed back towards the Magnificent Mile across the bridges which turned out to be a pretty interesting walk. By this time I was starting to feel weird, couldn't put my finger on it but not well. I had spotted an organic tea cafe the day before and hunted it down and ordered a 'medium black tea with milk' on clocking my accent the girl said' I'm guessing you want that hot right?' Absolutely.
Turns out the medium was about the size of a bucket, undeterred I drank the lot in 10 minutes flat and felt 'me' again.
We met up for a steak dinner, the best I have ever eaten, then headed to the hotel for another early night.

Next day the bodyclock was still on U.K time so I headed out for a bit of retail therapy before the conference started. Other than gifts for others this is what I bought...

The last two were in the sale = result.

After a quick freshen up it was time to work and work we did. A whole afternoon of presentations followed by an 'ice breaker' hour and dinner. We soon broke off into a small group who decided to go to a bar famous for it's cityscape views and cocktails.

Now that is what I call networking.

Next day was 7 full hours of workshops broken up by lunch. I was on my knees by the end of it. hellish lot of concentration and work. This was our 'free' evening with the organizers strongly advising joint activities rather than solo trips out. As I have never had the famous deep dish pizza that was the group we joined.

11 of us went to Gino's and it was GOOOOOOOOD. After we split into two groups. Some went shopping and the rest of us walked to Navy Pier to have a look round and drink surprisingly good beer. I spent the whole time talking British TV shows with one of the guys who was a big fan of them. Networking right?

Wednesday was another full day though this time we finished at 4.30 before going on a firework cruise at 6pm.
What a fantastic night that was.
The gorgeous views from the lake,

the stunning firework display that seemed to go on forever, 

and the fabulous food.
Plus the bonus of an unlimited free bar, now that certainly broke the ice! Our coach sang loudly all the way back to the hotel and plans were made for drinking/clubbing.
 I decided to bow out of that as I had pulled the short straw and was attending the morning sessions the next day (when did I get so sensible??) I hear a damn good and messy time was had by all.

One final morning of presentations, pack and check out (with a minor heart attack over the bill which was thankfully in error), then off to the airport for a long wait before our flight home.

All in all a great time. I could have done without the work bit but as we were encouraged to move tables all the time I did meet a lot of different people and made a couple of what I hope will be life long friends.

So Hurrah for networking.