Storytelling Sunday - Dressing Up

Not so much dressing up, but more getting dressed up to the nines.

It was December in the early 90s, my husband was working for a company in London that treated its employees and their partners to an all expenses paid Christmas dinner and dance in posh London hotels.  This particular year we were invited to the Hilton Hotel, in Park Lane.  Very swish.  At this time, I had a 2 year old and a 5 year old.  Posh frocks were not a part of my wardrobe, I was still in 'comfy clothes' mode! 

This coincided with my husband's cousin opening a dress rental business.  High quality, designer clothes and accessories.  She took pity on me and offered me a free rental.  It was hard to choose, so many beautiful dresses, totally out of my price range if I'd been buying but I had a free choice.  Now before I describe this dress you have to remember that it was the 90s.  Fashions have changed.  What was fabulous then would be a tiny bit 'over the top' now.  I finally decided on a fabulous dress.  Emerald green velvet, very fitted at the top, with a drop waist.  The velvet underskirt was a pencil skirt shape and over the top was 3 gathered ruffled skirts in a shimmering green taffeta.  I felt amazing!  I had some lovely black patent high heeled court shoes with a bow attached to the back of the heel (very 'Lady Di').

My mum had agreed to have the children to stay overnight and we set off for the evening.  Husband in dinner suit and bow tie, me in my posh frock. 

We had a new car to travel to London in too.  My husband's company changed the company cars of their staff every two years and we had a brand new car on the drive.  However, as time went on, this car turned out to be possibly the most unreliable car we ever had.  And its first time of breaking down was that night.  At a petrol station.  On a dual carriageway just before the junction with the motorway.  We stopped for petrol and the car refused to start again.  We rang the breakdown company and they told us they had a van nearby but couldn't locate where we were.  (Days before mobile phones became part of every woman's handbag essentials!)  I looked across the road and could see the breakdown van at the services on the opposite side of the road.  So in desperation I decided to run across 4 lanes of busy traffic in my finery to get his attention.  By the time I returned to the car, my hair was ruined, my shoes were dirty and the relaxed, child free evening mood had well and truly evaporated.

Happy to report that the car was easily fixed, we got to the hotel on time and had a fabulous time.  However, after that, whenever we went to the Christmas 'do' I always had a sensible pair of shoes in the back of the car in case I needed to flag down a rescue vehicle again.  I still don't know why I chose to go, why on earth didn't I send my husband?!!!

Hello Monday

Hello Monday - You started very early today - 2am to be precise.  Wonder what it was that woke that Coco up and made her bark, non-stop for 10 minutes.
Hello Monday - And hello October!  You're making your presence felt today, wind and rain - yuk!
Hello Monday - A bit of an emotional day for our daughter as she handed in her notice at work.  A new job in London beckons.  Hopefully the start of better times for her.
Hello Monday  - I wonder what make Coco think that the dead bird she found on her lunchtime walk would make a good pet if she brought it home with her?  (Imagine slight tug of war between me and dog in rain in a lane by our house)
Hello Monday - Cottage pie for tea tonight.  Love the comfort food that colder weather makes you crave.
Hello Monday  - And hello to the week that sees Strictly Come Dancing start properly!
Hello Monday - It's going to be a busy week at work.  Please give me the patience and good humour which may be necessary!
Hello Monday - something nice to look forward to at the end of the week.  A crop at Eclectic Keepsakes with a class being taught by the wonderful Ann Freeman .  Hopefully the talented Karen Moss will be jotting ideas down from the 'Great British Bake Off' and delicious cupcakes will be provided as normal.
Hello Monday - In view of the above, I had probably better get my bags sorted and packed!

My month in numbers

What's that?  September's nearly over?  It can't be.  Today?  The last day is today?  What?  So that means I can take part in My Month in Numbers.  I've never joined in this project before, but there's a first time for everything!  Julie Kirk gave me the idea here on her blog 

1 - farewell meal with Jon, 1 family gathering with Paul's cousins and 1 quiz night

2 - trips to the vet with Rachel's dog, 2 meals out with friends, 2 bottles of wine won in a raffle

3 - days in Peak District and 3 friends or relatives having birthdays

5 - times I didn’t win the lottery 

24 - the day Jon moved to Edinburgh

25 - pounds won on the premium bonds

32 - number of years wedding anniversary we celebrated

40 - the number of years I have known the ex school-friends I did the quiz night with

About 16 - the age me and the ex school-friends feel when we get together

50 - number of years wedding anniversary celebrations for Paul's cousin and husband

360 - the number of miles between us and Jon now he's moved to Scotland

A tale of two cushions

or maybe I should have used the title 'How me and Coco fell out this morning'.

Today is my niece's birthday and despite buying her present about a month ago, I suddenly remembered I hadn't wrapped it up until late last night.  My niece is an extremely artistic girl.  Has a degree in Art from Winchester University.  Works as an interior designer.  Presents that she gives are wrapped beautifully, with coordinating ribbons, feathers, beads and bells.  Paper and labels carefully chosen.  Clearly a roll of cheap paper from the 'Open 24 hours Tesco' was not going to be suitable.  So what does a scrapper do in this kind of situation?  She Googles 'how to make a gift box' and comes up with this:

I've never had a go at making fancy boxes before but it was good fun and pretty easy.  All I needed was a 12 x 12 piece of cardstock.  That wasn't going to be a problem was it? :-)

Then I found a piece of patterned paper with cupcakes on it, cut one out, mounted it on a piece of white card, added a gem to the centre and we were good to go.  Much more fun than popping out to Tesco late at night in the rain too!

Anyhow, the story about me and Coco involves the cushion on which I photographed the box this morning.  It's a lovely cushion covered on one side with satin, and the other side with a beautiful long heather coloured fur.  I had photographed the present before taking it round to her house and left the cushion on the bed. So I'm on the phone in the study and I can hear madam prowling around in my bedroom.  It all went quiet and I stupidly assumed she had settled herself down for a mid morning nap.  As I was finishing my call, she poked her head round the study door.  Around her mouth and all over the hair on her chin was beautiful heather coloured fluff.  As I went to investigate further, I noticed she was chewing.  Chewing beautiful heather coloured fluff.  I fished that out of her mouth {yuk} and went into the bedroom.  The cushion is laying on the floor and my bed has a fine covering of heather fluff with a few large clumps by the pillows.  Fortunately she has thinned out the fluff evenly and it's not obvious that some areas have much less than others but needless to say she is not in my good books.

Does she look sorry to you?

Hello Monday

Hello Monday - and today is the day that my son will be saying 'Hello Scotland'.  Cue sad motherly face.
Hello Monday - it's a short week at work as teachers have a CPD day on Friday and support staff (i.e. me) and students don't have to go in. Cue happy face.
Hello Monday - Our friends who moved to Belgium are visiting this area this week and I am out to dinner tonight with the wives from our old group of friends.  Ladies night at a lovely restaurant in town.  Tables of 4 ladies get two courses for £12.50 offer.  Cue happy purse!
Hello Monday - I've been suffering from a very painful back for the last few days.  I am hoping that this week will see the exercises working and being back to 'normal' again.  Cue crossed fingers.
Hello Monday - It's Open Evening at work on Thursday.  There's bound to be tons of extra 'urgent' work coming through the office.  Cue cross face.
Hello Monday - Coco's mum is back from her holiday and is around to resume early morning walkies.  Cue extra time in bed in the morning. 
Hello Monday - I see you've brought chillier weather along with you.  Guess that mean's it's officially Autumn.  Cue warmer clothes!

Scavenger Hunt - the finale

I've said it before, and I'll say it again - I've REALLY enjoyed Rinda's scavenger hunt!  To the extent that I was quite disappointed when I had snapped my last picture.  All I can say is - roll on next year!
This year I made a mini-album with my pictures and to display them all in one place I've created these two collages:

A huge thank you to Rinda  for organising this!

Hello Monday

Hello Monday - I'm a little late this week, it's very nearly Tuesday!
Hello Monday - Once again our family is 'one in, one out'.  Daughter flies out to Spain tomorrow and as soon as she comes home, Son disappears off to the wilds of Scotland
Hello Monday - The end of this week sees the official end of Summer
Hello Monday - A few days left to tweak my post to celebrate Rinda's Scavenger Hunt photos
Hello Monday - Coco is not happy to see the suitcase out again, she's already got her 'Take me with you' face on.
Hello Monday - Celebrity Masterchef is nearing the end, and I still can't decide who I want to win.
Hello Monday - Today there were lots of changes at work.  I'm not sure I like all of them.