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Friday 13 October 2017

Paint It Black



Hi my sweetie pies!  Ready for your weekend? Have you got a relaxing rewind of a few days planned or is it going to be jam-packed with house tasks and socialising?
I did have exciting plans with a lovely friend which have had to change a tad, so maybe a quiet dinner is on the cards, coffee with family and just a little housework.  Does that sound like a pensioner's weekend?

I don't know about The Pouting Pensioner, I'm feeling more like The Peripatetic Pensioner at the moment (or some of you may think of me as The Peripathetic Pensioner!)
I'm all over the place right now.  Mini cruise to Bruges, a week in the Scilly Isles and now three weeks in the UK, which will involve a series of mini trips between Sussex and London and maybe other places too.  My holidays are certainly like buses!

Because of all this peripatetic-ing (oh I love making up words that don't pass spellcheck!), I've had the usual challenge of devices that don't talk too each other.  And the challenge of packing, multiple times. For the past six weeks it seems like life had been pack, unpack, launder; repack, reunpack, relaunder ... maybe exposure to so much packing had got me rather good at it 😊, see here and here.

However, so much was I fine tuning my UK trip's packing to attempt record-breaking carry on weights that I made an executive decision with regard to photographic devices.  "Oh, the iphones will serve us well" was my decision, for I was that executive.  It was a rash decision.  Not my best. Because they haven't served us well.  My photographs are coming out decidedly bad, lacking in focus, blurring lights, that sort of thing.  I fear I may just weaken and let my finger stroll over to Amazon to get myself something better.  So my apologies for the quality right now.  Not good.  And shortly I will give you practical demos on how not-good they are.



So, enough of the waffle, Pout, tell your friends what you've been up to!
Well, just a day after arriving in  Sussex, I went on my first mini trip up to London.  No not to meet the Queen!
I started the journey with jeans and a top.


For dinner I wore the black modal jersey top and switched jeans for a black pencil skirt, both M&S, with Clarks chunky heeled courts (pumps).  Legs patterned by M&S; I felt all that black needed a bit of texture to lift the outfit.


Next day I wore a Dotty P jersey dress (packs a dream).  My "waist" is "cinched" by a deep black leather belt.  Tie Rack silk square.  These last two items are about 20 years old and still much loved (I say this in case I decide to put this post on Terri's 2nd Loved link-up - my old clothes are loved, but still by me!).
The legs were clad with matt opaques.



Over this I wore a v. old ex-suit textured jacket by Kaliko; this also packs a dream and hence I took it with me on many business trips, BITD.  My little black handbag finished off the outfit.



For dinner that evening back at the hotel, I switched the jacket for a spotted cardi, Primani.  And became obsessed by a light fitting.

So my little case carried 1 jacket, 1 dress, 1 skirt, 1 cardi, 1 vest (tank), just in case. 1 pr courts, tights (racy and sombre), silk square, handbag.  Mostly black.  I wanted black.
Either side of these outfits and for travel I wore the top with jeans, leoprint scarf and flatties; crossover bag.
Pretty light packing, huh?
I could have done without the skirt and vest but our trip may have been extended by another overnight, so I packed for that eventuality.


Now here I will demonstrate how bad my pictures are.  We stayed at Orsett Hall.


Website photo.



My photo.






My photos only (none found on website).  I loved this lounge, I loved the colour mix and the patterns.


And here I ate a surprisingly tasty tuna bagle.  I'm impressed that the simple tuna can be turned into something quite tangy and exciting.  Coffee was accessorised by cute milk churns.  I know one milk churn fan who will be wanting to get her hands on these cutiies.  You know who you are!

Back to the comparisons.



Website photos



My photos (a wedding reception was taking place the day we arrived).



My photos only.  Again, I found no dining room website shots to compare.



I liked the floral touches in this room.  The voiles were edged in fabric that matched the wallpaper.  "Snapshots" of the fabric pattern were used on the backs of the chairs.  I liked those touches.

 Now, some of these photos aren't the worst, but they can definitely be done better. 
The fact is, this is about finding more ways of doing less of what I currently do better.
And if you don't watch W1A, that last sentence will leave you scratching your head. 
Yes, exactly.  Yes.



Oh and did I say I was concerningly besotted by a light fitting?!
This huge chandelier-style fitting spanned the hotel's three floors!
I challenged myself to have photos taken with it on each floor.  I won't bore you with all of those.
I'm guessing you don't get obsessed by light fittings?  It's probably just me ... oh, and a family member of mine who always heads for the light fittings section in DIY and department stores.  You know who you are too!


A la perchoine.
















24 comments:

  1. Hi MRY, Let me know if you're anywhere near. Super to see your post, looking good in these outfits Hun. x Jacqui
    www.mummabstylish.com

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    1. Hi Jacqui, so kind, thanks. I'll email you. Hope you have the bestest wknd, x.

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  2. Well it appears to me you are living the life of a movie star! Such a class act in black! Have fun beautiful!

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    1. Ooooh, I love that Andrea, a movie star's life! Thanks for your chirpy comments and for making my day, here's to a lovely weekend, hugs,x.

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  3. I think your photos are fine, not bad at all! You stay at the nicest places, I am a lover of chandeliers, I even have one in my laundry room and we just purchased a new one for our kitchen. Once the renovation is done it will go up and so will my mood! Ha! Just kidding, I'm always happy, unless of course I am getting run down by a rage filled neighbor while I'm walking in my neighborhood. But I digress.
    You have become my packing hero! Quite the champ! I feel like I need to plan a trip somewhere so I can challenge myself to do the same. Good call bringing the racy tights - they totally add your spunky personality to an otherwise conservative outfit.
    Well, I'm off to a Robotics Competition with my son today. All day. Where I'll be surrounded by high school kids with extremely high IQs. It's a bit like the Big Bang Theory and I'm Penny. Way outta my league at these things! No worries, I'm bringing nail polish and books to read, ha!
    Hugs my dear!
    xo,
    Kellyann

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    1. Oh dear, I've just been out for a newspaper and have come back with a new pocket camera!
      Looking forward to seeing your new chandi-glam kitchen, especially the cupboard insides you've lovingly glammed up.
      I tell you, this less is more in the case is getting to be such fun, it's a creative process and yes, even something as light and small to pack like my racy lacys bring so much to the party.
      You'll have to let us know what happens at a robo comp, I'm guessing it's not men dressed in robo suits doing Michael Jackson-style dancing!
      Hugs, sweetie, x.

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  4. Wow! That hotel is gorgeous! You sure do have a lot of grand adventures! I love your outfits too!

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    1. Oh isn't it, Amy, and it was set in some pretty grounds but we had no time to walk around much. But I love a bit of hotel décor so I was happy. Thanks, sweetie, I had to pack conservative but they came out just fine. Enjoy your Sunday day out, x.

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  5. always found you can't go wrong with a Kaliko jacket, plus like the light fittings

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    1. Hi Tarquin, great to hear from you. Can't believe my luck, a fan of Kaliko and light fittings all rolled into one lovely reader. What are the chances of that?!!
      Hope you have a lovely weekend, big big hugs! x.

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  6. You look great in those outfits. Love how you have cracked the packing. Like you I think the colour combos in the lounge are wonderful. Chuckled at your reference to doing less with more - it amazes me how they can remember their lines!

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    1. Oh, you watch it too Christy! It cracks me up. The timing is spot on too.
      Well, Janet below has provided info on the decor, I wish I was gutsy enough (and rich enough!) to decorate with fabrics like that.
      Thanks for your sweet words, hope you have a nice Sunday, hugs, x

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  7. wow you are the jetsetter these days! lucky you. that fabric on the chair is by designers guild. i bought 3 yards of it when i was in london and all i've made is one big cushion from it. that's sad bc that fabric is so good! x

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    1. Thanks so much for the info, Janet, no wonder I liked all the fabric and colours there. Tricia Gould can do NO wrong in my world, I have always ADORED her fabrics and style.
      Your cushion must look gorgeous in your cottage.
      Happy Sunday to you, x.

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  8. Make I offer a suggestion? I have noticed in a number of your photographs you are wearing something dark and then standing in front of a dark piece of furniture, drape, tree, etc. It makes it hard to see what it is you're wearing. Hard to tell the color and details. Might I ask for lighter backgrounds and more light in the photos? Thanks. (Signed) Old Eyes :D

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    1. Well, Anne, I much appreciate you thinking of ways to improve my pics and having old eyes myself, I can't believe I haven't worked out that I should not be standing in front of a similar coloured backdrop. In fact, I should have got heads up when several readers thought I was wearing a huge bustle some weeks ago, but I was wearing a white background dress and standing in front of a white sofa (the bustle)!
      On top of your astute observation, I have recently been reliant on a phone camera. I bought a new pocket camera at the weekend, so hopefully there will be some improvements!
      Thanks for you help, hugs, x.

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  9. Wow, you are busy. I did go to two nights of the Kansas City Fashion show. I upgraded to an Iphone 6 last spring because my 5 took such lousy photos. I will admit that I use it a lot and the Nikon gets to stay at home. The Grand Canyon will be its biggest test.

    The girls and I did stay in a hotel last night after the Saturday night show. Michelle is a veterinarian and had a lot of points built up from all the conferences she goes to and treated us. That was nice.

    I've decided to get a passport. Don't know where we will be going, but it will be nice to have one. I'm the only one in the family without one, even the grandsons have theirs.

    Take care, have fun-Terri

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    1. Yes, October is going to be another busy month. We (I) made the decision to leave our Nikon home, far too bulky, and our old pocket camera took awful shots (or maybe it was me!). So we picked up a new Canon at the weekend.
      So lovely that you had a special hotel stay in Kansas City. How great to have a daughter who gets them and is generous with them too.
      Wow, a passport, sounds like you just may have some
      plans. ideas, dreams?
      Hugs, x.

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  10. Oooh, you were really near to where I live! Orsett Hall is lovely- my friend got married there! It looks very nice!

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    1. Well, what are the chances of that, Kezzie? We meet the same blogger and we go to the same hotel? We'll be up in the area again soon ... not sure when.
      Hugs, x.

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  11. I was 10 minutes away from Orsett Hall at the same time! We could have met up! xx
    www.vanityandmestyle.com

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    1. Oh Laurie, what a bummer! The days were filled with family matters but my evenings were my own. Such a shame. Next time, eh!

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  12. As everyone says, I'm jealous. No comparison to my Oslo shoebox room. I'll travel on your bill next time! And you can do my packing. Ps nothing wrong with your pics at all.

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    1. Thanks, sweetie.
      Your Oslo shoebox was in a lovely building though. The thing I discovered last year in France was that you don't have to pay much extra to upgrade to fantastic hotels (and chateaux!), making the experience sheer pleasure. I'll pop you too in my suitcase next time and share the luxury, but be warned, my case is getting crowded!
      Hugs, x.

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