End of an Era

Funny how recent fashions and music have been harking back to the 70's/80's. (The era of my mis-spent youth) and now sadly we have lost 2 iconic symbols of this era in Farah Fawcett the beautiful blonde in Charlies Angels - the picture of radiant health in those times and of course Michael Jackson. It makes me feel very sad that we have lost something good and at the same time very glad to have been a part of it all (I can still remember staying in to watch the Thriller trailer on TV and what an amazing thing it was at the time) .

I have to say that when I heard the shocking news about Michael Jackson - I thought it was a hoax and actually would not be surprised if it is - just think about it for a moment - this way all his debts will be dissolved - he wont have to do all of the concerts at the O2- in fact he wont have to work again- and he gets to enjoy the privacy he valued - Sempre Viva Michael.

White Shorts and Wedges - 70's style

A few weeks ago I had an extreme deja vu moment -triggered not by the usual inexplicably familiar places and people- but by a pair of white short shorts (Wham Style) and a pair of white wedged sandals in New Look that transported me right back to the long hot summer of 1976 when I was a 16 year old 'schooly' sitting my 'O' Levels. I had a pair of almost identical shorts and wedges and one of my memories or should that be traumas whilst wearing them was being late for an exam and having to run up the road in them and then run-up several flights of stairs without breaking my neck !

The good news was that despite being late I did pass the exam !!

meercats

Well In contrast to a rather lively night out with the girls last night. I have spent a boring old day chained to the laptop trying to wade through the sludge of finding a car insurance quote. I did try to cheer myself up by looking up the 'compare the meerkat.com' spoof website which I had been told really does exist and it does - and gave me a chuckle before being 'timed out' and redirected to the boring old compare the market site - the meerkat pictured is my avatar as it is small and likes to knit and holiday in Florida and has delusions of owning a flashy car.

The good news is that after nearly 3 hours surfing I did save £120 on my policy which is just as well given the amount of money we have spent this month on car tax,mots and servicing not to mention our social spending on meals out - hope my premium bonds or lottery ticket comes up soon!

What Not to wear ....

I had a job interview yesterday - on one of the hottest days of the year - so obviously my usual navy business suit was not appropriate.

As I frantically raided the wardrobe for something more appropriate I rembered a quote from Barbara Cartlands Etiquette Handbook suggestively titled "A guide to good behaviour from the boudoir to the boardroom" which had caused some amusement at the time "Women should always wear stockings at an interview and, if possible, a hat"( it asks the question of surely a skirt and top would be more appropriate).

I eventually found a nice plain white top and pink and black skirt which was part of a Chanel style suit but didn't wear the jacket as it was too darn hot!! However all that fretting went out of the window as I reported at the reception the first person I saw was dressed in a hawaiian shirt and a grass skirt!! (it was one of those trendy call centres) and they were having a beach themed day.

I felt positively overdressed - maybe I should have gone with just the stockings and hat after all!!

A Week-end Affair

We managed to get out last Saturday for Kates Birthday and enjoyed a lovely meal in Velvet with Di, followed by a cocktail in Taurus and a little late night dancing in Naps that was cut short by headbanging music and a head ache!

However I could tell that K was a bit fed-up and suggested that we booked into a hotel for this week-end as our good friend Karen from Scotland was coming down for the weekend. Having caught a further sickness bug I was feeling under the weather again and suggested that she went out on her own - sometimes a little 'me ' time is needed and I felt we would both benefit from some. So I dropped her off at the train station on Friday with my blessing and strict instructions to stay out late and enjoy a cocktail or two! We had loosely agreed I would meet up with the larger group of girls on Saturday who were out for a meal and dancing in Karens honour.

Saturday turned out to be a glorious sunny day which I spent in the garden - just me the birds (who have busy courting as we have 3 birdnests with eggs ready to hatch wrens, robbins and bluetits so a nice selection - Springwatch would be proud! ) and George Michael turned up quite loud on the MP3 player - bliss! I had spoken to Kate in the day and arranged to meet at the hotel at 7pm - it was really strange as got ready to go out it felt like I was going out on a date - complete with butterflies in the stomach - quite something when you consider we have been married for 23 years and its been over 25 years since we did the whole courting thing.

We had a great time although Kate was a bit tired from partying the night before and it was especially good to have a couple of wives - Mrs Emma and Mrs Tina with us to liven up the night.

On Sunday morning after what felt like 2 hours sleep we met up with Mr & Mrs Emma for a luxurious breakfast at Velvet Eggs Benedict and salmon darling! We sat outside in the glorious sunshine and pretended that we were in a glamourous European city although it was nice to see the canal boats meandering past it wasnt exactly glam! Manchester is a bit like me - lacking in glamour but full of fun and with a warm heart ...... Roll on Sparkle!!

In Your Dreams 007

Well I am pleased to report I have finally recovered from the ' piggin flu'. Hooray

One of the stranger side effects has been quite exciting dreams .The most vivid of which was that I had a key that would open any car - cosmic!! Obviously I tried out every sports car available to me ..... a few Porches an Aston Martin and a Ferrari (it was a dream after all) Driving at speed doing all manner of stunts . The weirdest thing was that I actually morphed into none other than Pierce Brosnan and turned up at the HQ of a large office complex where I used to work in my career girl days in an Aston Martin which I parallell parked using a hand brake turn squeeling the tyres - talk about making a n entrance! In the real world - I am actually crap at parking.... my car is usually the one parked at a weird angle - hence the reason I have loads of dents in my bodywork .

On Friday I felt sufficiently recovered to negotiate a trip to the Trafford Centre for some much needed retail therapy and as it was 20% off at Debenhams I hot footed it to the ladies clothing department and quickly picked out half a dozen dresses from the Julien McDonald 'Star' range which I love. However despite my best efforts the piggin flu bit back at me by making me feel too tired to try them all on and worst of all ...despite having survived on cheese sandwiches and water for a whole week - I seemed to have developed a tubby tummy (well spare tyre!)... I just hope I don't grow a snout or a tail next !!

Piggin' Flu for Two!!

Well of course the inevitable had to happen after tending to Mr Kate -the piggin' thing got me and I spent the weekend in bed instead of out painting the town red with Mr & Mrs Emma!

I was very well looked after but we were both gutted at being laid up - however- I am sure we will make up for it in the coming weeks!