I know I said I wasn't going to shop but........

I was in London today and had a few hours to kills and some errands to run for The Boy and stopped into Cath Kidston - just to have a look at the new colour ways and the dress that I had wanted to buy in the autumn was there in the sale.  They only had it in a 14 and I thought that it wouldn't fit as only last year I was squeezing unsuccessfully into a size 16 from there but I had a look at it and thought that I would give it a go.

It was reduced from £95 to £40 and you know what it only bloomin' fit - so it was bargain and a size 14.  I am away from home and have no hangers in the room here at my brothers, here are some not very good photo's with my iPhone - will upload some better ones at a later date.

It's navy with a pale small spot an contrasting floral material at the v neck and cuffs.

There is also a floral layer at the neck at the back but it's a good v shape which suits me.

You can see the colour here and the detail at the cuff.

Some great things in store for Spring 10 - free delivery on orders over £100 on line  they have stores and concessions dotted around the country as well as a fab outlet store at Bicester Village.

Wordless Wednesday (Oh to be glamourous)

Wordless Wednesday

photo details

I love Hats - this one is from the Stephen Jones exhibition at the V&A last year.

My other shoes of choice

I am having a bit of a trainer moment; I love my trainers and spend a lot of time in them when not at work.  The Boy also really likes trainers so it's something we agree on.  Anyway the point is that in the last few weeks I have managed to get hold of a few limited edition collaboration pairs and am happy happy.


The first are some Nike Air Pegasus '89 Berlin Edition:

via limitedhype.com

Made to commemorate the fall of the Berlin Wall and the launch of the Pegasus, this Quickstrike release is packed full of detailing to celebrate the event including cement effect swoosh to represent the concrete of the Wall, contrast coloured ‘Berlin’ & ‘1989′ lace jewels, and Berlin ‘89 embroidered heel detail.

They don't have them in The Boys size without having to pay ridiculous delivery charges so he's a little bit jealous.

And then (oh dear and then) I was getting the boy these Adidas Consortium Crooked Tongues London:

City Series pieces like the adidas London have a place in the Brit shoe-psyche, and with such a bare-bones, slender and simple design - unlined red suede with leather 3-Stripes, blank heel and lacestays, there's a sense that the shoe's purpose is lost if it gets too fussy or bolstered. Inverting the colours so it's predominantly black water-resistant fabric and red suede 3-Stripes and heeltab that retains the original slouchy shape. Paying homage to the Soho area where Crooked Tongues is based, steeped in sleazy history, and tweaked for wet weather use, given the country's climate, a long raincoat theme down to a check lining seems appropriate. The traditional dimpled tongue is mixed with another local tradition, the British pint, while a semi translucent sole captures those perpetual puddles at street level. Gold lettering and branded lacetips captures more of the best of British that this makeup brings. 

via crookedtongues.com

Whilst looking I found these, Adidas Consortium Paris with Colette

Always expect the unexpected from Colette and Consortium - this Paris interpretation is no exception as once again, the Parisian retail experience give a cult design a look that confidently walks the line between simplicity and the avant-garde. Originally incorporating French flag blue, white and red in its early incarnations, for Colette's redux, a white leather upper and branded tongue are accompanied by three types of dot pattern within the white 3-Stripes - one red, one blue, and one mixing both. The blue heeltab is accompanied by the recognisable wordless Colette logo on the rear, and more conventional gold lettering reveals both collaborator and shoe name. Red and blue top metal eyelets reinforce the colour picks, while the innocuous looking white mid and outsole conceals the final surprise - a transparent section of hexagons, that reveals a matching pattern beneath. More Gallic flair that rewards close inspection without alienating those adverse to excessive fuss.

via crookedtongues.com

Pretty aren't they?  I have some other limited edition collaborations but think that these may be my favourite to date.

So, whilst I love my heels and FM shoes my trainers rock pretty good too.

Procrastination my old friend

I am in bed typing this. The Boy has gone to Glasgow again, after waking me at 5.20am to ask me whether my watch was by the bed and then when I said it wasn't turned the light on to find out the time.....grrrrr. So after getting up and closing the garage after him I came back to bed with my lap top, phone and work blackberry and have spent the last 90 mins arsing about on twitter and reading blogs.

I should be packing up the stuff to take to storage - something useful and necessary. However, instead I am here not quite snuggled. The Boy has been messing with the heating thermostat again so the heating only comes on if it gets Arctic in here (git). But it's all the way down stairs and that would mean coming out from under the duvet so it's easier to pop a sweatshirt on and just have cold fingers.

CP is not now coming this weekend - something about emotional blackmail and someones 40th Birthday, I have no idea. I don't mind at all just sad not to spend some time with her. She has rebooked for February so I am going to post her gift to her as I am not in Fancy London for a while now and it's just gathering dust in the shit-tip that is my dinning room.

CPs cancellation means that I now have an extra 5 days before we have visitors which gives me the perfect excuse to put of the sorting out of out mountain of stuff into storage. I shouldn't out it off and should really try to get it all done this week as if she were coming then (oh joy of joys) I can spend the weekend cleaning before my parents arrive next Wednesday (or maybe Thursday I don't actually know).

Had to go to Meadowhell™ yesterday to buy a new power cable for my Mac as the other one died. Have to go back there today for the meeting that I thought was yesterday. May start my Christmas shopping whilst I am there - though suspect that this may not happen as I have no idea what to get anyone.

During my short trip there yesterday I managed to buy a dress and a coat in Monsoon. Here is the dress:

The beading is metallic and nice and heavy so it keeps the bottom of the dress in place. It's a little more fitted than I thought it was but looks great on and fab with the shoes I got in the sale recently.

As I said I also bought a coat but can't find it on their website so here is a pic of love Cat Deeley wearing it

It's 8.22am, I'm still in my nightdress (with a tshirt and sweatshirt on top) it really should be time to get up. Porridge and coffee will do the trick. There's no way I will be able to get to the storage place and then to my meeting on time so storage will have to wait until later - but IT WILL BE DONE. It has to be.

The day after the day after the night before....

It started so innocently, just a FB message from Utterly Butterly asking if I fancied meeting up for a drink on Friday night to get together before she moved (she's only moving 10 miles away but is 5 mins away at the moment). So I put a casserole on for The Boy and got my sequins on, smoked up my eyes and met her at the local pub. I wore this French Connection dress (it's called Lust):

and my new bargain sale shoes (the black ones):

It was so lovely to catch up, since we last had a big night out she has got engaged, sold her flat and cut all her hair off. So we caught up over a bottle of PG and then got a taxi into town. It was all downhill from there. We bumped into loads for her friends, a few of which I have got to know over the years and had quite a few drinks. One thing (well drink) led to another and we ended up out until very very late. Sensibly we went back to UB's for a cuppa and promptly fell asleep. The Boy wasn't too chuffed to come down in the morning and find me on the dead to the world on the sofa, still in my dress, when I finally got home closer to 6am.

As The Boy was in such a mood with me, I spent all day Saturday pretending not to feel too bad when in fact I was having trouble evening speaking. So when In The Thick of It finished last night I could have almost wept with joy at the thought of going to bed.

So here I am the day after the day after the night before, over 8 hours sleep and I feel bloomin' marvelous. I have some interesting war wounds (bruises that I can't explain but as I am clumsy enough sober it's not really that surprising) and (some) memories of a great night out but now with the added bouns that The Boy is talking to me again, I no longer look like death warmed up and feel ready to tackle anything the day throws at me.

It was a great, great messy night out - and I for one blame it all on those pesky sequins.

My New Shoes

Just got these in black in the sale at John Lewis. Lovely jubbly.

Today was not a bad day (so far)

Today I am working from home, catching up on everything that needs to be done and getting weighed in at Fat Club. So I decided to cycle to Fat Club (burn every last calorie I could) so had the dilemma of a cycling outfit - it is a beautiful autumn day and too wrapped up I would sweat buckets and not wrapped up enough I would be too too cold. So I settled on, M&S Leggings, Ugg shorties, stripy French Connection t-shirt dress, bright green coat (always good to be seen) and a lovely chunky cable knit beret.

I cycled to the squash club and got weighed in and HUZZAH I lost 4lbs (it wavered between 3.5 and 4 but woot woot) which after I have eaten what I've eaten (see here) is bloomin good news.

So to reward myself I stopped in the market on my way home and treated myself to a non-food treat:

They smell fantastic and look so pretty.

So far so good......

Lovely Delivery

A while back I ordered a coat and dress from Isabelle Oliver and recently they arrived.

It was all very exciting and the packaging was lovely. So first the lovely box:

Opened it up to find this lovely packaging:

And then the beautiful Coat in a lively bright Pink:

It's so lovely, a great shape and really comfortable. No pic's of the dress but it's a bright blue wrap dress with lovely draping and very flattering over the stomach area.

If only every day could bring lovely post like this.

Madness Part 2 (we went we skanked)

Well that was a bloomin marvelous weekend. We set off Saturday morning with the car loaded up with the new Aggrolites Album and The Liberty of Norton Folgate and headed down south to fancy London for the weekend.

The weather on the way down was frightening - we drove through (well I was driving) the most amazing storm and it felt like we were just driving through one big puddle for about 5 miles.

So we landed in Greenwich and had a quick change, waited for the weather to pass and headed off to Mile End and then up to Victoria Park, Hackney for Madstock. We arrived just in time to see The Aggrolites and the sun was shining - The Boy got his Fez as he missed out when we saw Madness at The O2 in December last year:

The drink of choice was Pear Cider for The Boy and Dry Cider for me (it seemed to go with the sunshine). We then watched Jerry Dammers and his orchestra whilst eating Pie & Chips (The Boy), Moroccan Lamb Kebab with salad (me). We then went for a bit of a wander round and The Boy discovered Churros & Chocolate - he was very happy about this:

All was going well:

The Blockheads came on (with some chap who sounded a lot like Joe Strummer but just not quite as good) - more cider was drunk, and then the heavens opened:

It eased off in time for The Pogues and was dry and fine again by the time Madness came on. They were brilliant (as per) and we danced and danced and danced. Managed to get the tube and bus back to Greenwich really easily and rested our feet.

So Saturday and The Boy had a shopping list - we did all the shops he wanted and managed a quick trip down Mount Street were I stopped in Louboutin and Marc Jacobs but kept my purse in my bag. Not so in Marc by Marc Jacobs where we both bought Tshirts and I bought a few pouch bags. Back to Greenwich and The Gypsy Moth for a pint of Hoegarden and a late lunch (Bangers & Mash - The Boy; Steak and salad - me). Back to the house to catch up with my brothers and rest for a few hours before heading up to Kings Cross and The Camden Centre to see Neville Staples, Pauline Black and The Beat (no photo's as I forgot to take any). We both said that we didn't think we would be dancing much but that didn't last very long. My perfect blowdry lasted about 30 mins before being scraped back into a pony tail to cope stop it sticking to my skin. Another great gig and a great crowd - strange venue but perfect location.

So now we are back in Yorkshire, washing is in, courgettes have been inspected, Ocado order has been updated and our excellent weekend draws to a close. My feet hurt, my thighs ache, I may have pulled my left calf muscle a bit and I'm dog tired but I wouldn't have it any other way.

Playing the game (well this game)

So I have an interview today for a role that I will not be put forward for with a chap that has cancelled meetings with me twice. But I will pull on my black shift dress and neutral 'not really there but takes a bloomin age' makeup and a confident smile and 'play the game'.

I know that I could do this job and that I would fit with the company culture but also know that my career history doesn't quite fit the mold and in the difficult economic climate people aren't up for taking chances but will play it safe and go for the person that ticks all the boxes. The person they put forward will do the job well and will be more than qualified - shame that person won't be me.

You know what though - I am not down about this I can play the game with the best of them and my time will come.

When we were growing up our parents instilled in us the belief that we could achieve anything, be anything if we worked hard and put our minds to it. Their unquestioning belief in us means that we both bounce back and keep going when things are tough. As long as we don't hurt anyone along the way; treat people fairly and be honest then good things will come.

So I won't get this job, but I'll be working again soon and something else will come up and life will be good.

Ladies what lunch

So I'm on my way to fancy London to meet some lovely ladies what
lunch. I call these wonderful people friends but have in reality only
met them in the flesh one or two times. These are my Internet
friends, people I have chatted to in chatrooms, on Facebook and
Twitter who have become part of my wider support network. When I am
having a bad day it is these ladies I turn to first for their words of
wisdom and insight.

They are kind, thoughtful, generous with their time, wise, patient,
funny and often say the one thing you would really like to but are
just too "British" to do so!

So I am really looking forward to a lovely lazy lunch with friends old
and new. I may only see some of them in the flesh once a year but know
that I will "see" them regularly on line. So chin chin, time to put my
lippy on and meet some great old friends.

Sent from my iPhone

Lovely girly things

So I had to go into Leeds with The Boy today as he was having his hair cut; and whilst he was I went on a little shopping spree and bought some lovely things - first was this Vivien of Holloway dress and net petticoat bought from the lovely people at Rose & Co

And I also bought this lovely 1940's style dress:

Then met The Boy and bought these from Shade Station:

And it inspired me to have a little play with my hair and make up and here is the result (not great pics as self potraits taken with iPhone):

You can't beat a bit of Mac Russian Red.

Ooh look 6.25pm perfectly acceptable to have a glass of wine.

Took That - Partied

So where are we - it's been a busy and good few days what with Take That, Punk, Wimbledon (on TV) and the coast so time to catch up - a series of blogs to get me up to date.

So last Wednesday I met with the lovely KBW for lunch pre-Take That, we went to Hush I had the Chicken Ceasar Salad and she had the Steak; we sat outside it was glorious and relaxing. Then off to Wembley to meet Zee and see Take That. We got there in time to see the end of the Support Act (James Morrison) and take in the vastness that is Wembley; it's HUGE

Take That were brilliant - I saw them with Utterlt Butterly at The City of Manchester Stadium when they first got back together a few years ago. This show was so much more and they were better (slicker) the circus theme was amazing - a great gig. I met some of Zee's friends who all seemed Lovely and really up for a fun night.

KBW and I snuck out before the end to get on the Tube back to town - this was a great plan as we got on the Tube very easily and got seats. Though this is when I realised that I was a little bit tipsy (I think this was apparent when I said to the line of British Transport Police - 'hurah it's the real police it's the BTP - hello boys fancy a party; thankfully they just smiled at me ....anyway they didn't arrest me!). So we went to town and went to the painfully cool Punk - lovely T was on the door so we got in nice and quickly. It was brilliant, we danced and sang for 3 hours with the most fabulous trannies and dandies - felt ridiculously underdressed with all those amazing people (wish I had photo's - next time I will dress more appropriately and take photo's). Both KBW and I had the best time, taxi back to Greenwich and so to bed.

The next day was rough - I had a hangover and it was so hot. The cheap pre-booked ticket I had was actually booked for the wrong day so I had to buy a new ticket BUT it was worth it.

Never Forget Where You're Coming From.

Reading Blogs can be bad for your pocket....

Whoops so I was reading LibertyLondonGirl's blog and saw this beautiful coat by Isabella Oliver 365

Which I ended up pre-ordering and then (whoops) ordered this as well

Now I really need to get a job - money doesn't get charged until Mid August so I have a bit of time.

You know earlier where I referred to previous excess......well not so previous. Will post pictures of Friday's purchases early next week!

Ah well, time for another glass of Ned before bed. If you like your summer wines with a bit of fruit but dry then this is lovely. It has a peachy tinge to it and is bursting with flavour - unfortunately I am not on commission.

Sorting through my excess

So I can avoid it no longer - I have to sort through my clothes

mountain on the spare bed; my shoe jumble under the bed and my handbag
grain store.....it's a picture of my past excesses. I tried to take
some photo's to post but can't get a true picture of the mess. However this isn't far off:

It's come to a head for a few reasons. Firstly, if I get this job I
will be away during the week again for the next 6 months and that
means getting more organised with my wardrobe and accessories and as I
loose weight I want to be able to wear the clothes that I am beginning
to fit back into. The second reason is the row that I had with The
Boy last night over my slattern tendencies it went along the lines of
'for christ's sake Wife when are you going to clean up this f'ing mess
- you've been sat on your arse all day for a week now and you can't
even put your clothes away' to which I replied 'how dare you - you
were at home for five f'ing months and what exactly did you do with
you time? What did you achieve in that time?' closely followed by '
when you learn to cook and iron then you have the right to say
something to me about the mess but until then you can just f off'.
See a nice grown up sensible discussion!

Anyway the shame is too much so I will have to get on with it. The
petulant part of me doesn't want to do it today - as then The Boy will
think he has won and that it is a direct result of his comments
yesterday. But I should do it now whilst I have the inclination
otherwise I'll be sat here again in the middle of next week bemoaning
my procrastination. It's tough being a lazy slut!