The One That Didn't Get Away

Hi my lovelies. Enjoying your week so far?  And your weather?
 We had rain at the weekend and it feels strange to say this but it was totally welcome!
Rainbound, we attacked the utility (laundry) room - it's now purged, and walls, shelves and cupboards have been painted a fresh white.  And of course I will share some pics soon, it's what I do!



We've returned to sunshine again so for my day's errands I chose a simple outfit.  And yes, often I just want to wear something comfy, uncluttered and, in summer, cool.  Sometimes my day-to-day leaves no time or inclination for outfits.
  There will be no accolades handed out to me on these days  (or probably ever!) but if I feel good and perhaps I get the occasional compliment from TP, then I'm happy with my work.
These are my "down days", my easy days.
And please tell me, is that how you roll most days too?!

This was such a day and I'm sharing it with you.
This top popped out when I delved into the archives last week.


2nd Loved, Terri!

The top is part of a set I found in a charity shop about 15 years ago, then pretty much forgot about.  It's a beautiful fine cotton lawn fabric and cool in this heat, so why it missed my radar all these years has me flummoxed.

There's a long story to the matching jacket. I won't ramble on.  Suffice to say it became estranged from this sleeveless top and I gave it away just recently, only to find its partner a few weeks later.
Have you ever done that?  It's like throwing the baby out with the bathwater.  Sort of.

Such a shame that I let its partner get away.

It's just an everyday outfit, nothing stylish, but it is the kind of thing I wear when going about my day-to-day.  My down days.     Perhaps it's the kind of thing you grab too, with no thought to accessories ... or potential photos?!  Just a put on and shoot out the door sort thing

(BTW, I'll show you what I'm looking up at in another post!)

And before I go,

I don't think I've shown you my pretty nails!

CND Tutti Fruiti with a silver glitter overlay.

So my friends, do you have down days where no science is applied to your outfit, no pressure, yet you feel fine and relaxed with what you wear - and occasionally your OH likes it too ?!

 I'd love to hear from you.

A la perchoine.

P.s.  TP said I looked nice.  And I was happy with nice.

COMING UP

What I'm looking at!

Holiday pics

My Deferred Date Night

How To Control Your Crisp Habit

 Hi there, sweet people.  I bet you're starting to rush around now that we've hit December.  Christmas is coming up for real.  I'm guessing quite a few of you find yourself surrounded by lists, like moi.   And if it ain't (sic) listed or diarised, it don't (sic) get done.   

I already have one man down - today I realised I missed a hairdresser appointment over a week ago.  Little appointment card details didn't get transferred to the diary, you see, so this was an appointment guaranteed to be missed.  I have to grovel to the hairdresser tomorrow.

So, we're jingling into to December.  I impressed myself in November.  I decided I would go a month without a vice. And I did it!   My chosen vice was crisps (chips).  Not one crisp has passed my pout in 30 days.  Well actually 34, because I haven't gone on a crisp binge come 1st December.  No I am sailing elegantly and confidently into the month without any desire for my salty addiction.

You see, I decided that if things need addressing, then I'm going to take a light-touch to them.  Just calmly tell myself this month I won't eat crisps.  I can eat crisps in December, if I want.

It's been so easy to get crisps out of my system with that approach.  I haven't gone charging into December, frenziedly tearing open a pack of M&S reduced fat sour cream ridges (which I adore!).  Nope, I haven't missed them, not one little crumb - the small broken bits are my thing.  My jam, I think the Americans say right now.

Crisps were becoming a naughty habit of mine. They were my mindless eating.  During November, I made up little dishes of more healthy foods in the evening.  Sliced apple, shelled walnut halves, little sticks of a good cheese, grapes, a few cheese biscuits.  It actually felt far more elegant, simple, controlled.  Conscious eating.

That's going to be my approach, I've decided.  Make small changes to my life.  A light-touch approach.  Baby steps, each time I identify changes that are called for.

I haven't got any Lent-style deprivations lined up for December, I'm not obsessive about this month thing, but January is going to be the classic, G&T/wine free.  Fancy joining me?

So it perhaps sounds like I'm setting myself up for failure by moving on to my OOTD and stating that I'm still a bit of an old wino.  To qualify that, I'm still feeling the love for the colour.

I bought this bargain of a fancy sleeved wine top a few weeks ago.

 I thought initially that the sleeves were too long and would get in the way when doing chores, like washing the dishes, cleaning the bathroom etc.  They don't ... I just avoid chores.  Simples!

Isn't it wonderful what a blog can reveal about its author.  I saw spots on this pic and realised it wasn't my top that was speckled, it's the mirror.  Clear proof that I'm avoiding chores.

 

This winemance has sent messages to my brain to search out more wine stashed away in my wardrobe (goodness, I'm starting to sound like I have a real problem with the stuff!).

I remembered I had a wine-coloured jacket, which I bought a few years ago but I don't think I've ever worn.  A blogger lured me to it; it fitted her climate and lifestyle, doesn't really fit easily into mine.  But 'tis the mini season for jackets, so I slipped it on.

I added grey suede boots and a grey muffler.

I  decided grey jeans with this little ensemble would look too contrived, I thought blue denim gave more of a just-threw-these-things-together look.  What do you think?

As the day was quite mild, this little OOTD was all I needed for a trip to M&S Food Hall and a sellotape buying expedition, for 'tis the mini season for sellotape too.

My nail finish didn't look too bad with wine, thought it might clash.

These have lasted more that 3 weeks. Got to think up a new colour by Thursday, Pout nail day.

Seems we ladies are divided on the issue of nail gel.  2017 has been my year for trying it out. My nails have grown for the first time in 3 years.  But let's see what 2018 brings. 

Later, I swapped the jacket for a down jacket and the grey suede for black Chelsea boots.

And I enjoyed my morning constitutional along the east coast.

 

The day was looking calm but moody.

The clouds later turned to rain clouds.

But no matter, I've made a cup of coffee and I'm up in my garret chatting with you guys!

Thanks for popping in,  my dears.

I'm now off to assess where I am with my lists and will charge back into Christmas preps.

How are you doing with your lists?  With your preps?  Got your house dec'ed up yet?  

I haven't, I have, err, technical problems.

A la perchoine.

Nails and Tummy Pampering

Hello, dearies.  I gave you heads-up in the previous post that my nails were going to get some Sunday pampering ...

... and here they are, post-pamper.

 

When it comes to the world of manicured nails, I am a neophyte.  A newbie.

My severe gardening "breakages" turned out to be nothing more than lifting nail gel.  That is apparently what it does over time.  Never mind, the tea bag repair exercise was useful.

  I am now all tutti-fruitied up (that's the name of the shade), this time in shellac (there's a difference, though I don't what). 

My impromptu survey yesterday on my patio revealed that 3 out of 3 ladies of diverse ages had worn (2) or were wearing Tutti Fruiti shellac (1) on their nails.  How amazing is that?  I hit on a shade popular with the younger set, for 2 out of the 3 surveyed were some 25 years younger than your researcher of quantative behaviour, a.k.a. Nosy Pout!

Yes, my nails have again been dressed ready for photographs.

Here draped around a wine glass; and here, resting on a dahlia. 
I can almost forget that my fingers are old and arthritic when my nails are tutti-fruitied.

The spa was recommended by DIL.  So nails, done.  On a Sunday.  And that doesn't feel bad.

For the hidden dividend of a Sunday spa visit was that The Photographer popped his head into the salon to tell me he'd booked us in for lunch in the hotel's brasserie.  #didn'texpectthat!
(I'd dressed for a manicure - quick check, yup, reasonably presentable  but who's gonna check out my garb when I'm wearing the Tutti-Fruiti eye magnet?!)

So, the nails and their proud owner were here at The Old Government Hotel and Spa.

 

And they met TP here.



We ate early and the bistro was empty, I expect most want a proper lunch on a Sunday.  Never mind, it felt like we had staff!

The hotel is set in the centre of Town so had rooftop and sea views from the balconies.

I loved the décor of the conservatory and took away a few ideas for my humble abode. 

I did not take away this massive light fitting - I would have to move out to fit this into my conservatory!

Such a tastefully elegant place to eat.  And the added bonus is that piano music wafted softly in from the bar next door.   From the style of playing, I would guess it was a certain Mr Paul Tongs.

I drank coffee as I perused the menu.  Even a simple cup of coffee is served elegantly.



 My eyes wandered around the beautifully decorated conservatory as I menu-browsed.

But were drawn back to my tutti-fruities.  Enough of the nails, Pout!

OK, I'd pretty much made up my mind when I saw Lobster Roll was on the menu, but I perused elegantly anyway, just for show!  Have you become a fan of the Lobster Roll?

We didn't want a full-blown Sunday lunch in one of the hotel's several restaurants, preferring something from the "light" bite conservatory menu, more suited to our pensioner appetites.  A Lobster Roll fits the bill.

Surrounded by a sea of lobster, chips and wine.  How happy am I? 

And I was even happier when I got to the loos!

Yes, I am the sort of gal who takes a camera with her on loo visits. 



And I am the sorta gal who's so happy with the décor that she takes loo selfies.

I loved the fresh simplicity of this cupboard.  I kept returning to it for more shots.

Farewell, powder room!

Do you take photos of hotel and restaurant loos? I hope I'm not alone on this one.

A marble stairway down to the conveniences, with solid brass hand rails.  #loveoghloos

#Iloveoghlightfittings

So, black, gold and white décor.  How I adore that combo.

I finished my crisp sauvignon blanc in the sun on the terrace.

 

On the way back to the car, we stopped by the Police Station (it's OK I wasn't detained!), which is housed in the old Town Hospital, established nearly 300 years ago.

Oh, go on then, just one last Tutti-Fruiti shot, seeing as you've been such a good reader!

A la perchoine 



Fringe and Fingers - Girlie Stuff Today!

Firstly, I'd like to welcome my new followers, Gail & Susan.  If I have missed welcoming you as a recent follower, dear reader, then I have to apologise for my lack of technical skills - I can't find how to access the buttons of new followers and the followers section seems to be frozen.  Oh dear.  Sorry.


I've had few days of spring cleaning, gardening and a serious attack on an olive tree, so this post is a bit hotch-potch.
Starting with ...


Fringe

I had my hair trimmed during the week and still my fringe isn't feeling "right".  So of course I took to my kindle for an investigative selfie, so much easier than a camera.

 Despite the tidy-up, I noted that I still have a sparse fringe.  It's thin in the middle and I can only deduce that it's because I'm suffering from hair loss as I age.

 Yesterday in my doctor's waiting room I picked up a magazine dealing with "female genetic hair loss".  Fortuitous, thought I.   Serendipitous.  So I read that it's common and hereditary.  It's something to do with testosterone and  just when I got to the bit about how maybe I could deal with it (hopefully something can be done), I got summoned into the doctor's room.  So, I know it exists and I know my mum had a thin front bit cos I often did her hair, so it's hereditary.  The bit I'm missing is if anything can be done.  Any ideas?  Are you dealing with a thinning pate?  Are you doing anything about it?  I'd love to hear.

Fingers

I continue to be gaga about my gel nails, which are now actually growing over my finger tips!  The first time in several years.  However, as a result of stripping, washing and replacing sofa slip-covers, I've had a bit of gel nail damage.  I arranged an appointment to have my nails re-done.  Tomorrow.  Sunday. 

 What is the world coming to?  Until a few years ago, we couldn't buy petrol or rubber gloves on a Sunday nor everything in between. We couldn't go to the pub.  And all of that was just fine by me.  And now we can do all of those things.  

Of course, I choose to do none of them.  But I now discover that I can have my nails fixed on a Sunday.  And I choose to do that.  Nay, I am rushing to do that.  It seems a bit, er, perverse.  But needs must.  I am feeling so weak-willed.  I should have refused a Sunday appointment ... but I have become so quickly fond of having proper girlie nails.

But, stop press ladies, in the interim I have fixed the more damaged of my nails with a teabag.  A teabag you ask?!  Not a handbag a la The Importance of Being Earnest but, yes, you heard right, a teabag.  Just look at the link my helpful Son sent ... here.

It's a bit fiddly and I was using my left hand to work at it so the result is not salon-standard but it's kept the nail together for two days and has stood up to olive tree hacking, so it's doing a great job.  Have you ever tried this?  It's a bit reminiscent of those nail repair kits that used to be on sale.  Showing my age.  Again.

So, there you have it, my hotch-potch of a post.

Hope you're doing just what you want to do this lovely Saturday.  Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

A la perchoine