Monthly Archives

November 2016

Monthly Memoir – November 2016

November 30, 2016

I’ve never in my life known such a cold November! We thought before it got any colder that we should replace our back door that was literally falling apart. Why do we always leave these things till the last minute? Why didn’t we happily have a day in summer with no door on? That’s just us I suppose, so once Chris finally got the door to fit, I was outside with my hat and gloves on painting it before it rained!……

Where to go for a unique enchanted Christmas experience – a review of Westonbirt Arboretum

November 29, 2016

On Saturday evening Jude and I drove up to Gloucestershire to see the Enchanted Christmas event at Westonbirt Arboretum. We’ve never been there before and weren’t quite sure what to expect other than the website describes an illuminated trail through the forest. It is actually quite difficult to explain how magical this actually is, so I took loads of photos to help…..

Weekly Wardrobe – a vintage velvet dress

November 28, 2016

It was the wonderful Glastonbury Frost Fayre on Saturday so I wanted to wear something a little bit Christmassy. A purple velvet dress fitted the bill, so that’s what I went with! I bought it from ebay a few years ago when I was invited to a friend’s 1940s party, and I thought this one looked like it matched the theme. The collar, length and style are very 1940’s, but it’s from C&A’s so it’s probably actually from the 1980s….

1950’s style dresses haul & try-on

November 27, 2016

I recently had that crisis moment when I looked into my room full of clothes and realised I had absolutely nothing to wear! I was looking for an outfit to wear to Blogfest and I had specific criteria: something that I’m going to be comfortable in all day; something that I definitely don’t look pregnant in (this was a Mumsnet event) ie. something flattering and I felt good in, and something that I felt suited my personality and style. 1950’s style dresses are something that answers these requirements, so I went on the internet and in a panic, ordered five! Three are going back, but I’m keeping two. Here’s the video I made, showing them and trying them on, so if you like this sort of style too, then hopefully it will be helpful. All the links are underneath….

Time to organise my photos + a massive Printerpix Black Friday offer

November 25, 2016

I have to admit, I miss the days of carefully placing photo prints into a sticky photo album; cutting bits off and overlapping where they don’t quite fit. Also putting every single photo in, even if it was awful, because you paid for it, it has to go in! Then I’d write little labels and cut them out so the future me would remember where we were and who I was with and then you fold over the clear cover, making sure there were no air bubbles. I have a stack of these extra-large albums about a metre and a half high in the cupboard in the guest-room! Nowadays people’s photos sit on their phones or on memory sticks, but I can’t bare not to have a tangible copy of my photos that I can look at without having to sit in front of a screen. This is where photobooks come in…..

Is it time to start making an effort?

November 23, 2016

Fashion and Beauty are terms that generally go hand in hand, particularly when describing the genre for some bloggers. However, whilst I am always interested in what’s on the catwalk, I can’t honestly say I’m all that bothered about ‘beauty’. I like looking at the craftsmanship of couture clothing, but I’m not rushing out to buy the latest eyeshadow primer. I suppose my interest has increased in the last six months or so when I’ve started blogging and making You Tube videos and my image is out there a bit more; and it got me thinking about how I’ve thought about beauty products over the years and how it’s changed…..

Weekly Wardrobe – 1920’s style for Fantastic Beasts & Where to find them

November 21, 2016

You have probably realised by now that in our household we take every opportunity to dress up if we can! So when we went to the cinema to see the new J.K. Rowling film, we decided to wear clothing with a nod to the 1920’s era as that is when it’s set. This is what I came up with…..

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them review (no spoilers)

November 20, 2016

This is just a quick extra post because I went to watch this film last night and thought it was absolutely fantastic! As Harry Potter fans, we were very excited in this household and the kids and I dressed up for the occasion in 1920’s style outfits! We ate a meal first at the Frankie & Benny’s opposite the Cineworld cinema in Yeovil (which, by the way is hugely improved from last time we went there – I think they’ve employed new kitchen staff) and sneaked pudding, in the form of chocolate buttons, in my bag into Screen eight!….

The romance of a well

November 18, 2016

I was pretty much brought up on Enid Blyton and it instilled in me a desire to live in a cute cottage in a countryside village. A well in the garden would be an added bonus. Well, although more of a farmhouse than a cottage, I am lucky enough to have fulfilled that dream. We were told by the previous owner that the well in the garden used to also serve the farmworkers’ cottages opposite. The path leading from the well to an iron gate half way down the garden would suggest that’s true. We live at the top of a hill, and as far as I’m aware, the only other well at the top of the hill in Somerset is in a small village called Kilmersdon, which is famous for the Jack and Jill nursery rhyme. Wouldn’t it be cool if that’s a mistake and it was actually our well? Haha!….

Mumsnet Blogfest review – an account of a nervous first-timer

November 16, 2016

I would have been altogether a lot less nervous about my first blogging event had I not signed up for Dragons’ Pen. They called it a Dragons’ Den style opportunity to pitch your book to an editor, and as places filled up extremely quickly, I was lucky to spot the e-mail in time to get a place with Sam Eades, senior commissioning editor of Trapeze, a new Orion imprint. I’ll be honest, I would have been a lot happier and relaxed that day if I hadn’t booked a place, but I’d also be kicking myself forevermore if I didn’t take a (very very) deep breath and go for it. I’d also for the rest of my life be wondering if I’d missed my chance to wow an editor in person. Would she snap up my work the second she heard it? Would she whip out a three book deal contract for me to sign?…..

Weekly Wardrobe – dressing for confidence

November 14, 2016

On Saturday I went to my first ever blogging event – Mumsnet’s Blogfest in London. Not being sure what to expect, and not being the most outgoing of people in the world, the outfit I wore had to be just right so I’d feel as good as I can in an uncomfortable situation. Basically, I wanted my dress to do the confidence for me! So this is what I went with….

3 Days in Oxford – Day 3. The story of the photographs

November 9, 2016

We’ve now come to my last day in Oxford and after breakfast, I sadly checked out of the hotel and drove to the park and ride. I bussed into the city where I was dropped off near the bottom of St Aldates and began walking all the way up to a lovely clothes shop called Olivia May on Little Clarendon Street where it snowed heavily for about half an hour. Then on route to the Natural History Museum, the sun came out and it was so hot, I took my coat off (bloody British weather). Of course, I took lots of photos on the way……