I've got a new friend...

This top is new. It was a remarkable £1.97 from Primark, Ipswich. It also belongs to my daughter. Never thought I'd see the day when I was pilfering from my teenage daughters wardrobe, but hey ho.

I put it with a white skirt, grey tights, a long heart shaped pendant and hot pink shoes (also wore my purple coat and I was really loving the colour combo).

We have slipped into a pattern on Friday evenings. I finish work, go collect the relevant children (when I say relevant, I rarely collect just my own two children, Friday night is sleepover central in my house). Go collect Martha (aka my mum, her name isn't Martha but for some reason I call her that). And then we all trot down to Bury St Edmunds Tesco Supermarket for dinner in their café. (Oh the glamour of Dinner in Tesco!).

Every Friday at the same time, an older gentleman also eats there, alone. Now this will sound really really mean, but at first sight I wondered if he might be a tramp?. Terrible I know, but do you know what I mean, when you get an impression of somebody that may well be very wrong?.

Well, he's not a tramp. (At least I don't think he is) And as the weeks have gone on, we've progressed from a polite 'hello' to a few words conversation. Occasionally I bump into him out of situ, in a pub for example. My friends are often bewildered as to how I know this man. My daughter always pokes me and says "There's your new friend".

I can't really claim that he is my new bessie mate, I don't even know his name, but if next Friday I go to Tesco and he isn't there, I will be concerned and wonder if he is okay.

I do have some very random conversations with very random people, it is true. And I guess it is because I invite these conversations. It's very good for the soul!





ps. Just spotted a weird thing. In the photo up top... my reflection in the glass behind, my bazookas are either on fire or emitting a strange glow...

Coat Love...

I've noticed a bit of 'Coat Love' going on in the blogosphere lately. Not to be last on trend, here is my most recent coat purchase.

A bargain £25 (full price) from, you guessed it... Matalan, Bury St Edmunds. Honestly, I should be the patron saint of Matalan.

Although the pic lies a little, it is bright shocking purple. I've not styled it up here, but I've been wearing it with hot pink or red scarves.

I love this style of coat, by far my favourite, it goes equally well with skirts as it does trousers, but can smarten up an outfit quicker than you can say... "ooh, don't you look smart".

They have it in other colours... I'm tempted by the turquoise version...


Have you seen Clarks new range of desert boots?

To celebrate the 60th Birthday of the Desert Boot – Clarks have produced six unique boots to represent ‘life through the decades’:

Harris Tweed for the 1950’s
Liberty print for the swinging 60’s
Purple Suede for the 70’s
Denim Blue for the 80’s
Red/White/Blue England flag for the 90’s and
Vintage Sand for the 00’s

Which decade would you pick? I'm digging the 70's purple little beauties...

In conjunction with this they have also launched a unique 3D animation online called ‘Your Original Life’ that allows you to create your life through the decades. Users can upload pictures, music, backgrounds, colours and themes that they can then keep for themselves or upload to the web to share with friends. The animation has been called a ‘visualisor’ and is the first of its kind.

Want to try it out? Go to www.originallife.me-digital.co.uk it is completely free of charge. I've had a quick look and it is pretty darn cool... check it out. You'll be one of the first to try it, as it only went live today!

Bright red corsage...

I saw Jane wearing a gorgeous corsage the other day, and ever since have been inspired to wear the one I bought a couple of days ago from Sainsburys, Bury St Edmunds, for just a couple of pounds (less than a Starbucks but gives me a similar sorta buzzzzzzzz).

I didn't realise how distracting it would be for other people mind you. I've noticed eyes being drawn to it all day and some even double taking. Probably thinking 'why on earth is that lady wearing a humongous red flower on her jacket?'


One person did ask me if it squirted water. Squirted water? what? did he think I was a clown, circa 1984?

Although personally I think that would be one nifty accessory... pretty AND a hilarious gag all in one! (although not as hilarious as I remember it being in 1984).





pssst... top secret: I'm not allowed to talk about how much my shoes are hurting me today, mostly because they are new and my BF did not welcome more unnecessary shoes into the home with open arms, let alone ones with 4 1/2 inch heels, so I had to soldier on and act like they were as comfy as slippers, (he was sure he caught me wincing a couple of times), but... publicly, I can tell you that they FLIPPIN WELL HURT LIKE CRAZY!

Handbrake turns for girls...

Crikey, it's been a busy day.

I've just finished work and it's 10pm (of the night time variety). Today has been manic so sorry no chance for a shopping post today, just something irrelevant. Well… it is irrelevant Tuesday after all.

On my way to my first meeting this morning, tad on the late side, I was bombing down the motorway (ah, just been pulled up on that, apparently it's not a motorway as it only has two lanes, but I'm a girl and anything bigger than one lane is a motorway in my book).

Doing a teensy weensy bit over the speed limit. 'Honestly officer it was only a teensy bit over'... when suddenly I got overtaken, by... a learner driver.

Seriously? He must have been doing 90mph. I saw the white knuckles of the instructor on the dashboard as he whizzed past. That's surely not allowed?

As I turned off the 'ahem' motorway, I pulled up behind another learner driver, who continued at the more accepted speed of 10mph... ALL THE WAY INTO TOWN! I was late.

So for that crazy learner driver and anyone else who has never tried it, here is some handy tips on how to pull off the coolest handbrake turn, like the ones in them there films and that...

The perfect handbrake turn for girls:
1. You are best doing a hand brake turn in wet conditions.
2. A hand brake turn can be done in any car with a good hand brake that can lock you rear wheels tightly.
3. You need to drive at around 15mph with your left hand on the hand brake and your right at the 12 o’clock position.
4. Then simultaneously turn the steering to the right, depress the clutch and pull really hard on the hand brake to lock the rear wheels. As you do this the rear end of the car will skid out to the way you steer if you pull the handbrake hard enough.
5. Once your car has turned, pointing to where you want to go release the hand brake, re-engage the clutch and drive away.

Important Note:
This sort of manoeuvre should not be attempted in Sainsburys carpark trying to secure the last toddler/mum space. It's not big and it's not clever. (Well it is a little bit clever).
But actually, should probably not be tried, like... ever.





ps. No offence intended to learner drivers by the way, I love them. I used to be one.

Just another manic monday...

Well, I went back to Matalan at the weekend, after my last embarrassment.

Manager man wasn't there, or he might have been, perhaps he was just hiding from me. I figured it's like when you fall off a bike, you just gotta get back on.

Just to be safe I took my mum and 3 others. Safety in numbers.

Good job I went back mind you, the sale was in full swing, I went a bit mental. Starting with this Autumnish dress. The colours are just perfect for Autumn. It was half price at £9. And the blue beaded necklace was £3.

I later looked on their website and realised... Doh, I am a complete hussey! This is advertised as a tunic to be worn with jeans. Never mind, I like it as a dress and you'd have to be a 6ft goddess to wear it as a tunic anyhow.

Dancing with the Store Manager...

Total humiliation in Matalan today.

They started a half price sale yesterday so I went in today for a browse. It couldn't have been a worse shop to embarrass myself in, my favourite bargain store of all places, I heart it, but it will never be the same now.

Here's how the story unfolded...

Strolling down an aisle, I almost bump into the store manager. He catches my eye with recognition, "Ah... hello madam, how are you today". Doh, embarrassment number 1, the store manager recognises me. (as I suspected, I do shop there too often).

Worse, he looks down, I'm holding a pair of tights and a frilly bra. Eek.

Worse still, we sidestep to move past each other, but, arrrgh... we sidestep the same way.

Worse still, we do it again.... and again... AND AGAIN, oh man, you can see where this is heading.

Even worser, not content with my already embarrassing situation, my mouth starts to operate before brain has had chance to communicate: "Shall we dance?" I say. CRINGE!

Please somebody shoot me!!!! I could of possibly got over the whole 'dancing with the store manager thing' if only I'd just left it there. Instead, I had to make it even worse, by making him feel even more awkward than he already did, he nervously giggles and moves away.

Why oh why can I not just go into a shop, and make a simple transaction?. It's not too much to ask is it?

BTW, random outfit post up top. Nothing to say about it to be honest.

Oh, and btw too, (I'm done with ps's) thank you all for your lovely comments yesterday, it meant a lot. And sozza that I made some of you cry, going all sentimental on ya! :-(

A Tribute...

I must admit, I have been 'umming' and 'arhhing' about whether to include this post. I wondered if it was too personal for my blog and whether my family would mind.

But it's such an important thing to me, I didn't think it appropriate for a whimsical outfit post today. So forgive my self indulgence. Consider it my therapy!

3 years ago today, we lost my dad. He passed away aged 55.

It completely devastated our whole family as you can imagine. My dad could make me laugh until I cried, daily. He was the 'hub' of our family. I would call him up for advice on everything, from a car problem to work issues, he always had the answer.

He was very poorly, but never complained. In his last few weeks he did not sleep well. I know this because I would go into work in the morning and my first email of the day was always from dad. Usually sent at silly o'clock in the night. It would always make me smile. I printed out all those emails and put them in a private box which I read now and again.

But something strange happened. A week or two after dad's funeral, I discovered I was a few weeks pregnant, with a little boy. I went 2 weeks overdue and was invited in to discuss induction. They gave me 3 dates, one of which was 07.07.07. Whilst in itself this seemed a nice lucky birthdate (and certainly one I can remember!), more importantly it was also 9 months to the day that dad died. And out popped Joseph Paul.

Joseph gave me a new focus in life and he (along with the rest of my family, extended family and friends) helped me start to come to terms with our loss. Naturally it doesn't go away, but having a focus helps a tiny bit.

Rest in peace Dad, I hope you are proud of me and everyone else in our family, we all miss you more than ever, but you're always, always in our thoughts.

It's raining, pouring, the old man is snoring...

Scared the window cleaner this morning. And he scared me. In fact we both squealed (but I'm a girl, so my squeal was allowed, he on the other hand should be a teeny weeny bit embarrassed, grown man squealing like a girl indeed).

Being a window cleaner, he should really know better than creeping up unannounced and cleaning your upstairs bedroom windows at the crack of dawn, he's just asking for some surprise moments.

He's just lucky I didn't swing open the windows in a "Oh what a beautiful morning!" styley (I've never actually done that but I can imagine can't I?), then he'd have something to squeal about and probably a couple of broken bones too.


It started to rain when he left (typical) and continued for most of the day, so what else is a girl to do? Pop on a totally unsuitable dress, pearls, and gold 'cinderella' shoes and go 'Singing in the Rain'... That's what.






ps. I'm off to the cinema again tonight, not to watch Fame again, (It crossed my mind, but I decided that would be too geektastic twice in two weeks, and there is only so much air leaping I can do). I'm watching 'The Invention of Lying' tonight. I have discovered that Tuesday nights at Cineworld is 'Bargain Tuesday' night, all tickets are £4.70 as opposed to £7.20. Nice one!

pps. Oh, and much excitement today, been invited to a party... Black Tie and Ballgowns!!!! OMG... Is that 'the shops' I hear a-calling me?

ppps. I've realised I've slipped a couple of song titles into this post, if you can comment using a song title, not only will you be amazingly cleverer than a clever person, but I will love you forever and ever and may even come over to your place (well your blog, I'm not a crazy, bunny boiler, stalker type really) and give you a great big smackaroonie... mwah!

pppps. Don't you just hate it when people OD on the ps's - I know. Annoying. So I'm going now before I think of another one.

Meet The Flintstones!...

Today I bought this bag from Primark (well I say bought... read on).

I keep humming The Flintstones theme toon when I look at it, which makes me smile, which in turn means it's a good buy.

I did have an attack of the 'little person in my head' talking to me when I put it in my basket.

Little head person: "You really do NOT need any more bags Missy"

Me: "I know, but come on, it's only £8, and it's making me smile" (hopefully I didn't say that out loud in the shop, but I can't be sure)

I can picture using it with a gorgeous cream and chocolate coloured trouser suit, I don't have one of those so will need to go shopping to 'accessorise' my new bag – with an outfit!

Anyway, turns out, the gods did want me to have this bag. Got back and realised the assistant didn't actually ring it through, so in effect I was a thief and it was free! (she didn't ring through a top my mum bought either, so mum is a thief too).

But alas, moral dilemma: should I take this back and own up? I'm thinking... Nope.

Capsule Wardrobe Challenge – Day 4 and 5

Day 4 consisted of: Flowery dress, black blazer, black boots, black belt and green scarf. I wasn't sure about the rock boots with girly dress, but I really liked the look (even if my legs look extremely short at this angle).


Day 5 consisted of: Flowery dress (hoiked up to look more like a tunic top), skinny jeans, red shoes, red belt, blue cardigan and silver necklace.
I haven't shown the red bag that I've been using this week (pictured above), or the red coat which is pictured below.


I found the challenge easier than I first thought I would. I quite liked the idea each morning that I only had 10 main items to choose from, it certainly saved time in the morning.

Some mornings though were not so easy, occasionally I was itching to wear something else but knew I couldn't or I'd be reaching for more accessories.

My most worn item was my flowery dress. I knew it would be. I rarely wear black and for some reason chose several black items at the start of the week, probably for safety, another time I'd try the challenge but would ban black items!!

Thanks to Jane for the challenge, I really enjoyed the week and it has changed my view on how many clothes I actually need in my wardrobe.