My Berry Hearts 💕

Hello my sweet people!  How great is your week going so far?

I'm hoping to have a night free of firework displays pounding away at the first glimpse of dusk.  It's been quite a year for Guy Fawkes firework displays - they've been set off relentlessly from Friday through to last night.  They seem to be bigger, better and more amazing than ever before.  Certainly noisier!
My house is near to many big organised fund-raising displays and I get 360° views from the windows.  Fortunately, Bertie the cat is pretty cool with pyrotechnics.


But let's talk about another firecracker.  My hearted 💕 berry blouse!
Here's how I've been putting it though it's paces.

The sparks have been flying off my hearted 😍 blouse from Primark, so much have I been wearing it.

A bum-covering shirt in an easy care fabric is proving to be the ideal top when wanting something for my upper end of smart casual.  

Especially this time of year.  This type of shirt is perfect for wearing with jeans, and this berry hearts 😘  shirt has already found its bestest friend for the winter, these berry coated leggings from Next.  I cannot sing their praises enough!

My third piece here was a berry cardi, bought last winter - good call, Pout, as the restaurant on this night was a little on the chilly side, and we're not talking AC!

The white hearts 💟 design just about saves me from being one gigantic walking talking berry!

Taupe boots (Jones) claw back some of the berriness too.

On a slightly warmer day,  a jumper and court shoes can be worn.

A daytime smart casual look is achieved with this uber cosy jumper from Primark as the shirt collar and tail pop out from inside the jumper.

The blouse has its edgy moments.

Worn loose.

Or tucked in to black jeans.  This is what I chose for my evening meet up, I think it worked better.

Black biker and chunky heel boots finish my granny-edgy look.

Hopefully I've given you a few ways to put together shirty outfits  for this time of year.  I've also found a way to use up a lot of emojees, by using one every time I mentioned 💗, which is often because that's what this blouse is all about - me wearing my 💖 on my sleeves and on my bodice too!

Do you have a recent autumn purchase that's pulling at your heart 💝 strings right now?

A  la perchoine,

Mary.

Saturday Six #4

Hello, my dear reader.  Happy Saturday to you!

Yes, it's Saturday and, rather weirdly for inconsistent old me, this means you get my fourth Six.

Oh my, have I truly made it all the way to #4?!!!  Four was my aspiration and I've achieved it.  Can I get to six Sixes ... ?  That would be neat.


#1.  The benefits of Saturday Six

I think I've got to #4 because this happens to be a good vehicle for bits and bobs.  I often used to write little bitty blogs which never got to see the light of day.  And hey, I can now bundle them up into a snappy package called a Saturday Six!
Does this format work for you, dearest reader?

#2.  The written word.

Receiving kind words touches deep into our souls and when it's received out of the blue and in writing, then it really hits that spot.

This week, out of the blue, we received a pretty card of our little Sussex town from a UK cousin and her husband.  Inside were pictures of their garden where we have spent happy times dining (and perhaps drinking too?!), chatting through the day and into the dark of the evening.

(I strewed a few dying peony petals, hopefully incentivising TP to buy me a replacement bunch!)

 My cousin and her hubby wrote that they missed us and how they were looking forward to welcoming us into their home again.
#iwastouched.

Also this week, when I was getting het up in our Sibs messaging group about struggling to find a parking space in town because of cruise liner passenger transporation clogging things up, I received this:

"Let it go, you'll only get bitter and rage on your blog - embrace the liners and you will find inner peace and constant zen."

It was written humorously but it brought my rant totally into perspective and I lol-ingly laughed at myself!  Thanks Bro.  And it's done the trick - no rage here today!

Written words touch us deeply, so why not write a note, an email, a card, a letter, when you randomly think  nice thoughts about someone, when you suddenly feel inspired to reach out to a loved one?  #spreadtheloveinwords.

#3. Poldark

In my previous Six I told you that we were "getting a man in" to do the garden.

I posted a pic of Poldark.

Well "be careful what you wish for" because it turns out Poldarks are like buses,  you wait for ages for one and then two turn up at the same time!

Of course, I had to tell them about my Poldark post when asking their permission to post this pic and one of them told me that he actually gets told he looks like Poldark!

Photo Bonus #1.  I was reminded of the crack in the camera lens when it appeared covering Poldark No 1's face.  I decided to address the cracked lens the following day.  Wearing the pineapple outfit below, we went into town ("it's gonna be expensive" said the camera shop guy).  It was a 2 cruise ship day and we struggled to park, which caused Bro to give me his words of wisdom above.
From cracked lens to zen.


Anyway, back to Poldark (oh how I digress!) - the guys have worked so hard and without pause, amazing stuff  has been done in a couple of days and the garden has been totally blitzed.  I'll share their work with you sometime soon.


#4.  The Yellow Cardi Saga.

Last year I made occasional references to a missing cardi.  It was a useful piece in my summer wardrobe and I mourned its absence.
It didn't turn up for duty again during this year's seasonal switch (SEE HERE), so I bit the bullet and bought another, which was similar but not quite the lemony shade that I'd loved. 

When I bought it I told TP that of course the MIA cardi will now turn up.  And it did.  When hunting for specific old bright blue jacket this week, I found the AWOL item in the same bag.

Turns out that yellow cardis are like buses too. 

To paraphrase Oscar "to have one yellow cardi is fortunate; to have two is careless".


#5.  Deferred.

Well, this one was going to be about the film I saw last weekend, but that bit got a bit too long for this bits n bobs vehicle and it clearly was a post on its own, so you'll get that tomorrow as a "bonus feature".  Hope you do pop back tomorrow to #readallaboutit!

#6.  What I wore.

Well, seems it's a variation on a chinos and cardi theme this week, though white jeans and shorts have burst in on sunnier days.

Pineapple top, chinos and summer weight cardi (£5 rail some years ago), all M&S. Clarks metallic toe flatties.

Berry top (Next),  chinos and snakeprint flatties from M&S,  cardi from The White Company.

 Photo bonus #2:  In editing the first outfit's pics, I spotted that the mirror I limed some years ago now clashes with the aged oak of the Lebus roll-top desk.  That's yet another project now added to my never-ending 2018 To Do List.  (Hmmnn, perhaps extra work's not really a bonus ...?)

I'm off for a lovely meal on the cliffs this evening.  The forecast is looking a bit iffy.  Friday's weather would have been perfect for this setting, rather than the thunderstorms predicted slap bang (quite literally!) around teatime.  Oh, what to wear in a thunderstorm?  Not an umbrella, perhaps?!

A la perchoine.

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COMING SOON AT A SCREEN NEAR YOU!

A Book Club

A Vintage Collab
A Style Steal

An espadrille.

The First Skirt of Summer

Hi my dears, welcome to June!  

And a very happy Friday to you too.  Do you have much lined up for the weekend?    Unusually for me, mine's going to be wall-to-wall lovely things from lunchtime today through to Sunday evening.  #feelinggrateful.  No doubt there will be a few What To Wear dilemmas along the way but who's complaining about a few rummages in the wardrobe, eh? 😉

Rummaging started on Wednesday.

What to wear for TP's post op appointment?

I've recently been feeling that it was time to get out of the spring jeans.  It is summer after all.  So today was the day, dressing low-key smart and fresh for the surgeon visit plus a few bits and bobs along the way.

I slipped on a M&Co linen skirt, with Next print cami and linen cardi.

I tend to become mostly inseparable from my Clarks metallic toe flatties through the summer months and today was no exception.

There was no place to hide from the wind which was lashing my hair left, right and centre.

So once in town, I found myself some shelter.  A jeweller's shop.  TP was inside fixing our watch batteries.  I stopped to admire the window display.

The devil makes shopping opportunities for idle eyes.  Mine were eyeing the window display.

See what I have in my hand.  Yup a jeweller's bag.  More on that in another post.

The town was busy with visitors, though not from a cruise liner today as one had popped in earlier in the morning, seen the fog and skidaddled sharpish on to the next port.

We went for a coffee and the view from the café showed that fog still lurked.

But it was still a pleasing view, here seen from my table.

I got my coffee.

But a mini prawn salad appeared in front of me too!

I cannot believe how much salad the serving lady heaped on to my small plate.  I must have looked under-nourished 😏.  Or just plain hungry. 

And what about you readers?

Are you out of spring jeans?  Are you in skirts and pretty little dresses?

How about those of you in the southern hemisphere - is it feeling cool enough to wear jumpers and jackets yet?

I leave you with Town on a clearer day ...

and this - I've just found a new edit widget!

Oh, and TP's appointment with the surgeon?  He found something new to operate on 😷.  No emergency this time but he will need a few days in hospital sometime soon.  The two of them can't seem to stay away from each other  - bit of a bromance going on there?

A la perchoine.



Me and my Hygienist

I am old, I wear green

Keep my teeth nice and clean

See my friend, see the sights, feel alright.

Oh paraphrase, how I've missed you.

So I tweaked the Supergrass classic because, well, I feel alright.

Friday saw me excitedly dressing for my trip to the hygienist.  Well, perhaps "excitedly" is pushing it a bit.  I dressed sensitively for the occasion.  Dressing is a influencer and it's vital that I pitch this one right, for I want mine to like me.

I usually go for something casual, for I don't want her to think I'm trying too hard but I do want to please her, make the experience good for us both.

Me "Quick photo shoot, please."

TP "But you're going to the hygienist!".

Me "Exactly."

So for this visit I chose green.  Green is calming, opined The Photographer.  To calm us both, I added, for I am not the easiest of patients!

Pretty silk scarf which is of many colours and green is one of them, apple green Monsoon jumper (v. old).   And navy cotton, err, not jeans ... slacks maybe?  Oh goodness, I've taken to wearing slacks, how old-lady is that?!  The, err, slacks are another £8 January sales bargain from M&S.

So there was much deliberation over what to wear for the hygienist, and it was ever thus (SEE HERE).  The important thing here is that she liked the green, she liked the scarf.  I confessed that I dress to please her so she'll like me - and  she says that she does!

 Dressing for the hygienist aside, and it really is an aside,  oral care is so important.  It affects our health in ways that are a mystery to me.  And here's the thing - my hygienist teaches me how to brush my teeth.  Teaches me, her 68 year old pupil. 

 Children these days are taught religiously how to keep their teeth nice and clean and their work is monitored daily.  When I was growing up you were given a toothbrush (if you were lucky!) and left to your own devices.  The result is that my hygienist is having to teach this old dog many new tricks.

Each time I see her she shows me a technique, or points me to an area that needs specific attention. And then I go home and work on it and three months later, it's nicely embedded in my cleaning routine.  She is now complementing me on my work.

So, result! I had a pleasant hygienisting experience and I think it was good for her too.  Seems I am keeping my teeth nice and clean.  

And I feel alright.

But she and I aren't just about the teeth.

Conversation:

She "Have you seen The Film ?"

Me "Yes"

She "Did you spot that red brick farmhouse?'

Me "Yes"  

She "We don't have red brick farmhouses!"

Me "Yes".

She "And what about the accents?  Not one Guernsey accent!"

Me "Oh yes, I've blogged about it".  

(By this time she'd removed water sucker and sonic booming instrument so I was able to respond with more than a "yyuerrzth").

And she's not even a Guern and yet she too was irked by that brick and all the other opportunities the film bods missed (See HERE).  It was a seminal moment, a bond was formed by that red brick faux pas.  She's my friend.

Anyway my new bestie liked my choice of green, she liked my oral hygiene work, and the brick farmhouse just about sealed it.  

Me and my hygienist,

we're alright.

A la perchoine.

A Study in Neutrals

It's Sunday.  The birds are singing and the sun is shining.  I'm getting ready to go out for lunch and that means a call out to The Photographer.   So what do I do?  Yup, I position myself against said sun for my OOTDs!  Sorry.

Call me sad but one of the many things I like love about this time of year is being reunited with old favourites.  You too?  Thought so.

I was so excited to pull out my fave chinos.  M&S about 5-6 years ago but boy have I been getting my CPW down on these.  These past few years it's been quite a cliffhanger with their first wear of summer.  

Are there any patches of wornoutedness?  No.  

Do they still fit?  Yes!

And then, phew, breathe.  All is right with the world.

I fear the day that they will give up the ghost on me.  So I ordered a couple of pairs of chinos this morning.  Back up, just in case.  They may disappoint.  

M&S

Do you find that you hit on something really good, then re-order from the same brand, pretty much the same cut, colour and fabric - and they just don't cut the mustard like your original item? 

White Company taupe trapeze cardi, Next layer blouse.

Yes, all neutrals but I'm of the beige persuasion.  There, my secret's out!

Necklace and earrings from way back.  I dug them out of the jewellery cupboard this morning and oh joy, did they bring back memories.   A holiday in Corfu, 2003.  Brilliant holiday.  I remember wearing this jewellery with a black vest dress for a dinner in our favourite restaurant on the island (yet I still struggle to work out what day it is today ...).

I expect Corfu is bracing itself for the Captain Corelli effect that Kefalonia experienced.  It's just as pretty as it's portrayed in The Durrells ... anyone know if it was actually filmed there?

Oh how I digress with you guys!  Back to the OOTD.  I changed it!

And we all know that TP loves all this outfit changing?  Not.

Yes, I agree with TP (and maybe you too?), the change was subtle and just swapping one beige for another may seem hardly worth the effort but I fancied some more reunion thrills.

 So my Zara pearly jumper was given its first airing of SS18 too.

And I swapped the heels for Clarks metallic toe flatties.

'Twas but a moment's work to achieve just the right amount of beige!

Sling on a string of pearls (beige).

And Sunday lunch, beige is comin' ta getcha!

A la perchoine.

Licensed To Frill

Well, dearies, I went out for my Christmas dinner with my girlie cousins a few days ago and I impressed myself, for I stuck to plan.  During a free-for-all outing trying session recently here I stumbled upon a super combo of silky frilled tunic and coated biker jeans.  Perfect for the night out with the girls I had in my diary.

But I needed another layer for 'tis the season of iffy temperatures, inside and out.

As reward for taking hurried shots of me before I left the house, I let The Photographer choose my 2nd layer.



I thought he might like the neatness of this little round-collared black velvet jacket. 

But no, he doesn't go a bundle on shirts hanging down below top layers, so this jacket was cast aside.

I thought TP might light this long line Monsoon cardi, for I felt it followed the foppish look of the New Romantics style frilled top.  But it was a no to this too, though no explanation was offered and when having photos taking hurriedly I know better than to ask for him to justify his view.

So, with the clock ticking and his patience being stretched to its max, I threw on this oversized tuxedo.  Feminine frilly offset by masculine tailoring.

"Yes, I'm liking that one" said TP. 

"Is it because it is the one I'm wearing and you want me out the house?" I enquired, based on previous similar situations where his choice and a ticking clock abutted.

"No!" was his immediate response.  "It is the best look".

Well, I was not going to argue with The Photographer With Fashion Views.  Tux, it was.

I managed to sneak in a James Bond shot.  The Pout, Licensed To Frill.

And then a Batman shot in my cape coat worn for the journey.

With that, my window of photo snapping opportunity was closed and I was ushered out the door, on my way to an evening of chat and festive cheer.

Keeping to plan makes for stress-free dressing, ladies.  I really do wish I could keep this up.

A la perchoine.

Testing The Sweater As a Dress

Happy Saturday, my dears, and Happy Boxing Boxing Thanksgiving to all you American ladies reading this today.  If you are reading it tomorrow, please add another Boxing, and so on and so on ... ad infinitum.

Right, today I'm going to attempt quite a challenge ... keep this post light on words, heavy on pics.  You see, I've just spent the past few hours attempting to set up my annual Christmas Card.  And getting nowhere.   Oh, not quite right, my single achievement has been to load two photos on to the card site.  Two photos.  Nothing more.  So I need to walk away from the Christmas Card project and update you on my grey sweater done as a dress.  Then walk away from the laptop.

Recently, I showed you the piece as a cowl-neck sweater here.  So I tested it out as a dress and as I wanted to see how it performed as a dress IRL, I took it out into the real world.

I had various things to do, errands I think you call them.  Getting house keys cut, shopping, that sort of stuff.  Errands.



Whilst waiting for the key cutting, I used the time to wander around the area, enjoying the beautiful day and the pretty views. Castle Cornet can be seen in the distance and the island of Sark can just about be seen on the horizon.  The air was so clear that all nearby islands were visible.  

And I kept my real life real by not editing out the skip!

Here's a bit of visual story telling about Othon's visit to Guernsey.

No, nothing stinking in the State of Denmark, just an unfortunate shot!

And here I am with Othon, a Swiss visitor to the island about 800-900 years ago, BITD anyway.

I spent some time standing outside what used to be my office windows, with views across the pretty bay to the historic castle.  So uplifting.  I also spent time leaning on lampposts.

I spent a lot of time carry around the wrap I totally did not need, so warm was this lovely day.

I tested my dress some more, shopping at Waitrose for fruit.  We're really into Pink Lady apples.

So my grey sweater as a dress was really given a good work out.

What I realised is this.  The bardot neck rolls up, IRL.

And I've worked out why.  I bought the wine sweater/dress in one size down.  Because the grey was rapidly selling out, I bought it in what was available, two sizes down, resulting in the neck being a little tight on the shoulders.

Of course, a scarf would cover. it.  But on my return home, I pinned a silver brooch in the front centre of the neckline, anchoring it to the bottom of the ribbing.  That worked a treat, the collar stayed in place.  Other than that, the fit of the "dress" itself is fine.

And ladies, just look how I started out.  Anyone would think it was November! 

I ended up carrying the poncho round town as it was far too hot for anything but the dress on its own, then when shopping I just draped the tartan scarf over my shoulders, as supermarkets can sometimes be chillier than outside.

Here's how Dotty P sees this being worn.  On a tall, slim lady it really is a long sweater.  It would be rather embarrassing on her as a dress, don't you think?!

I see that they pull the bardot waaaaaay down over the shoulders - that will be my next look in my 3-ways-2-wear with this cosy item.

I'm very happy with with sweater/dress and the versatility it offers for someone of my height.

It's a cosy piece which is going to be a little workhorse this winter.  You will get bored seeing it over the next few months, it's going to be that much of a workhorse.!

Have you been trying out sweater dresses?  Or sweater/dresses?

And bardot necklines? 

Wishing you a lovely lazy Sunday 

And hey, I think I've done what I set out to achieve, a post pretty light on words, eh?  Result!

A la perchoine.