Second Garden Party – and my newest item of clothing

Checked linen dress from Toast (2010)

Today dawned dark and cloudy – and my heart sank.  We were hosting the 2nd garden party.  I walked to church with the boys and tried to pretend it wasn’t raining. 

In church I pondered the ethics of praying for the rain to stop, but in the end I did just follow the service and listen to the sermon.

Back home, it was still cloudy. 

I put on my Toast dress (purchased this year) and gold gladiator sandals.

gold gladiator sandals from Toast shop in Llandeilo

Clearly, I was not going to be warm enough if I ever got a chance to leave the kitchen and join the guests in the garden.

I opened my wardrobe for inspiration, and remembered that I had bought a cream-coloured cardigan only a few days ago.

This cardigan is by American Vintage, and I bought it from a shop in Lewes called “Delilah”.  (I can’t walk past that shop without singing a few bars of the Tom Jones song).

When I saw it I knew that I would wear it all the time, but hadn’t really planned to start wearing it so soon.

I am sure I shall remember buying it for a long time, because of a bit of an embarrassing brain slip.  The shop proprietor and I engaged in a long conversation while I was looking at everything in the shop, and eventually choosing the cardigan.  While I was driving home it occurred to me that I couldn’t remember paying for the cardigan.  Then my mobile phone rang….  Shop lady was equally embarrassed, as she had neglected to ask me for any money.

Here’s my prize cardigan (now paid for):

cream cardigan by American Vintage (purchased Lewes 2010)

Garden Party Dress

Last Sunday we had a garden party (we are having another one this week).

I wore this dress:

Dress from Joules 2010

As I spent most of the party in the kitchen, the sleeveless part of the dress was perfect.

The weather was such that most of the guests were wearing coats.

They looked happy though, and all the food got eaten.

For the record:  I bought this dress from Joules, this time online.

Usually I visit their shop in Chichester and do recommend it.

Two parties, one dress

On Saturday Wonderful Husband and I went to an 85th birthday party at lunchtime.  It was close to home, so we walked.

Despite the lack of need to drive, I drank only fruit juice.

My abstention was due to the fact that in the evening we were going to a Wedding Anniversary party.  This happy celebration marked 30 years of wedding happiness.  Both the man and the wife said they had been and continue to be very happy.

Wonderful Husband and I both felt very happy and honoured to be invited to both parties.

I wore the same dress to both parties.

print dress by Hoss Intropia purchased in Cambridge 2009

I purchased it at a small shop in Cambridge in January 2009, in the post-Christmas sale.

I carried a small Furla bag that came from Brown Thomas in Dublin.  I have had this bag well over 5 years.  It was fairly expensive, but it still looks like new.

pink bag by Furla purchased at Brown Thomas Dublin

Navigating by Underwear

Wonderful Husband and I went to Dieppe for an overnight visit with 2 of our friends.

In the evening we strolled from our hotel to the restaurant enjoying the warm weather and taking in the view.

The two men walked in front, leading the way (as men do) while D and I chatted and glanced at shop windows.

The meal was wonderful and the wine flowed. 

To balance the intake of calories, it was agreed that we would walk along the seafront and then back to our hotel. 

There was a large fun fair on the front and the streets were crowded. 

When we got back to the area of town that I think of as the ‘shopping zone’,  the men were once again in the lead.  Their steps slowed, and they came to a halt.

One of them actually looked at one of the street plans that are displayed at regular intervals in the centre of Dieppe.  Wonderful Husband joined him but complained that there was no “you are here” indicator.

My friend said, “I know where we are, I remember that dress”  and I was able to add “and there’s that nice raincoat.”

The men looked mystified.  My friend said, “we can find the hotel”. 

We led on, until my friend said, “I didn’t see that underwear before.”  I agreed.  We had gone a little bit too far - but were able to retrace a few steps and then find the hotel.

Women don’t need street plans when they’ve got shop windows.

Critical Mass

I have looked back over my posts from the past 2 months, and it appears that I wear the same few dresses all the time.

This is not true; my wardrobe is full of clothes.  In fact, I think that as far as clothes are concerned I have reached critical mass.

‘Critical Mass’ by Antony Gormley at the de la Warr Pavilion

floral skirt purchased in Denver, possibly 2007

Black top by Adini, purchased Seaford 2007

So yesterday, I put on something that I have not posted about for a long time.  I wore a black chiffon top by Adini.  In fact, I don’t think that I have put up this photo before, although I have had the top since 2007.  I bought it in Seaford.  If I hang it up carefully after washing, it does not need ironing.  (A Good Thing).

I wore the top with a black floral skirt that I purchased at a discount mall in Denver Colorado, at a ridiculously low price.  Also my white Clarks sandals from Sidmouth (2008) and my yellow Radley bag purchased in Birmingham this year.

 

My outing for the day was a trip to the de la Warr Pavilion in Bexhill-on-Sea.  There is an installation of sculptures by Antony Gormley called “Critical Mass”, on display for a few more weeks.

The de la Warr Pavilion makes a perfect setting, but then that building makes most things look beautiful.  Perhaps even I achieved a moment of elegance.

Dressed to play Aladdin (in pantomime)

I bought this purple top in the Toast sale this year:

I think it was a big mistake.  I bought it online, along with 2 other tops.  I sent one of them back because the sleeves were too tight.

Keeping this one was probably a mistake.  My friend said the colour was rather garish, but I ignored her.  What I should have done was to try it on and ask her opinion.  I think that the elastic around the bottom makes me look like a puff ball mushroom

And the colour would be just fine if I were playing Aladdin in pantomime.  All I would need would be a coolie style hat.  Oh and a magic lamp of course!

However, waste not want not, so the other day I wore it with the brown cropped trousers that I bought from Boden last year:

brown cropped trousers from Boden

I added my brown sandals from Russell & Bromley that I bought in Brighton in 2006, and a Radley bag that came from Chichester quite a few years ago.

brown sandals from Russell and Bromley

I see now that I was wearing 3 shades of brown.  What a dreadful outfit.

Fund raising

My church has recently had a new roof.  As the building is about 900 years old, this was not unexpected, but it used up all of the reserve funds.

The congregation is holding a series of fund-raising events during the year, all under the title “Raising the Roof”.

Yesterday was the final part of a lecture series.  Our local Member of Parliament came to give a talk at 2.30. 

It was something of a surprise that over 90 people turned out on a warm Friday afternoon, all paying £5 to listen to somebody that they could normally hear for free. 

I wore my newest Boden dress:

Boden dress purchased 2010

I also wore the red sandals that I bought in Llandeilo this year -

My newest red sandals (from Llandeilo)

Celebrations

Yesterday was Wonderful Husband’s birthday, so we enjoyed a meal out at The Lamb (at Wartling).  We did have a slight disagreement as to how to get there.  This was partly due to Wonderful Husband thinking that we were going to Rose Cottage.

When we arrived at The Lamb we were told there would be a half hour wait, which did not cheer WH.  However, once we were at the table and our food had arrived he was pleased with our choice of eating establishment.  Both of us had fish and very nice it was too.

I wore the Marilyn Moore dress that I bought in Lewes in 2008:

Marilyn Moore dress (is looks better on -honestly!)

This was an expensive dress but it is machine washable, and I have worn it for both smart and casual occasions.  I think that it has proved to be a ‘good value’ purchase.

I wore the white Clarks sandals that I got when I was in Sidmouth in 2006.

Clarks sandals purchased in Sidmouth 2008

 

I added a little white linen jacket, and carried the yellow Radley bag that I have shown on my 2 previous posts.

I had further cause for celebration today.  The number of unique viewers for www.looklovely.net on 22nd June was the highest for the year!    I am very pleased, but of course I hope the record will be broken several times – and soon.

Wonderful Husband has a Pre-Birthday Bash

Tomorrow will be Wonderful Husband’s birthday.  As we now work on the premise that we don’t know how many more birthdays we will have, he is celebrating in a big way.  Yesterday we had friends for dinner.

Today he had a drinks party at the office – after work of course.  I travelled up on the train.

I wore the yellow tee that I bought from Toast this year with my old favourite Mexx skirt.  I bought that in London, in Knightsbridge, possibly in 2004.  I remember I was wearing a pair of shoes that pinched.

Also, I wore my Russell & Bromley sandals that came from the shop in Brighton.  I was still working, so that must have been 2006 (last year of employment).  My Boden jacket was purchased in 2005 and I can remember wearing that to work, sitting through frustrating meetings.

To add a touch of cheer I carried my yellow Radley bag, the one I got in Birmingham this year.

Tomorrow evening we shall dine out to celebrate Wonderful Husband’s birthday.  You only live once.

Yellow tee from Toast

yellow Radley bag purchased in Birmingham 2010

My ancient skirt from Mexx

brown sandals from Russell and Bromley

 

Awards Ceremony

Yesterday I attended the Awards Ceremony at the college.  (I am on the board of governors).  My role was to look after VIP guests, these being either politicians or sponsors.   I was to make them feel welcome, escort them to the tea party that followed the ceremony and (most importantly) say positive things about the college.

The actual ceremony lasted just over two hours, and I applauded each student as they received their diploma or prize.   The palms of my hands are still slightly sore today, but I was genuinely pleased for them all.

I wore my new dress from Joules, with a white cashmere cardigan from Purecollection, my

yellow Radley bag purchased in Birmingham 2010

 yellow Radley bag that I purchased in Birmingham this year, and my brown Russell & Bromley sandals.  I think I bought the sandals in Brighton in 2006, but it seems that I could have been wearing them when Noah got off the ark.

Dress from Joules 2010

 

On the subject of my website, www.looklovely.net the viewing figures for Thursday and Friday are below those for the previous week.  This is a disappointment, but I am encouraged that there have been some hits via search engines for a brand new article on facial massage.  Perhaps Google is beginning to like look lovely – please…

brown sandals from Russell and Bromley