A year in the life of the wardrobe of vintage vixen pin-up girl; the queen of corsetry and the ruler of the pencil skirt. She's cupcakealicious
A guide to style and good tailoring
Hi welcome to my own unique perspective on what constitutes style and individualism. The vast majority of the photos are taken using a mobile phone camera and I have no make up on.......
I'm in my late 30's and I'm also a widow which probably explains why I look so god damn hot in black, well that and being an ivory skinned pale red head! It also documents my wardrobe, so many people seem fascinated by my clothes and compliment me for how I look wearing them.
It is one woman's campaign against Jeans, Tracksuits and Ugg Boots!
More importantly it's about altering your view on life and trying to do the right thing even though it isn't always the easiest.
This blog is a story in taking pride in yourself and not letting yourself go, or settling for second best because you know what girls? No one really is better than someone if they don't treat you like a Queen................
We spend most of life in a proverbial waiting room, waiting for decisions, outcomes, to hear from people, for parcels, phone calls, text message. For people to finish what they are doing, for the lights to change, for our turn. It is as though some days are spent waiting for that eponymous "microwave minute" which is a lifetime compared to an "internet minute".
We laugh as a nation at our ability to form orderly queues and wait patiently and in good humour. Indeed I find the scene in The Hitch Hikers Guide side splitting but we really do under estimate it as a life skill. I guess this explains why the same people keep popping back into our lives, they must be on the same appointment schedule. Here's hoping there are decent recipes in the magazines whilst we are all waiting! A reflective day. I choose my black peplum dress today because it is a simple design that has striking shoulders. The gold beading is pretty and adds a reflective quality to the dress. Dress: Stop Staring! Shoes: Kurt Geiger
I am always hearing people talk about changing the world, or about changing other people but rarely do we talk of changing ourselves.
Change and managing it is something I find interesting personally and professionally. It comes in two flavours and I'm not talking chocolate or vanilla. Change is either planned or forced. The difference between the two is simple our choice - we choose planned change and bought into it, forced change is as the name implies forced upon us and we have no choice but to chew down on the sandwich of change and pretend that we like the flavour.
Our reactions to change are interesting. I must confess that when it comes to forced change I tend to like the "let's sweep the pieces of the chess board approach", my logic being you will remember where the important things were and keep them. The thing is if you want something to change you have to apply some stress or force so that you change and adapt, it is just like exercise, you increase the weight and stress your body it gets stronger. And over time you start to realise you are capable of things you weren't before. Most people talk about stress like it is a bad thing, the reality is most of us have no problem what so ever with stress. It is anxiety that is the killer. So stress yourself out in the right way, make a change a positive one. A change that is going to have you queuing at the front of that door waiting for it to open.Or maybe the change you want to make is shutting a door and leaving what was. Welcome constructive criticism, look at how your life might improve if you take the feedback in positive light."This is right." "This is wrong." We make such distinctions all the time. We hardly think twice about them, how often do we say 'This is wrong at the moment but if only I were to do this, or that, it would all be right!' For some strange reason, too many of us equate creativity with speculation. If a leap of imagination is called for, or a change to the status quo is so much as considered, we suspect that we are dabbling in the realms of dangerous risk. Yet if you don't, what will ever change? What wonderful things are you missing out? The people, the places and the experiences. People who are you friends say things for a reason, their motivation is not to cause you pain, upset or berate you (we are all only human), instead maybe they said it because they want you to grow as a person and be the very best that you can possibly be. So you want to change something? Put some stress on it! Now when it comes to change then this dress is one of the biggest I have made, I would have never worn circle skirts if it wasn't for Marv. I trust her when it comes to telling me the truth about what looks good, because your friends want you to look and be your best. Anyway when Marv said wear the orange belt (orange is a funny colour if you have red hair) I knew to trust her. Friends make us move outside our comfort zones and they do it for your benefit not theirs, the trick is knowing who has your best interests at heart; and sometimes the answer to that question can be surprising. Dress: Netti in Tiki Print by Pinup Girl Clothing Shoes: Kurt Geiger
Cogito ergo sum, or in English, "I think therefore I am" is a philosophical proposition put forwards by Rene Descartes. I have always thought it amusing that there is an extra tacit premise - one that is unstated which is essentially "Whatever has the property of thinking, exists". However the proper logical flaw of the argument is that existence is already assumed or presupposed in order for thinking to occur, not that existence is concluded from that thinking.
When we are on top of our game, we find it easy to summon the emotional reserve and intellectual depths required to tackle problems that face us, then at other times we are flat as a pancake. We have run out of the proverbial steam it is as though we just don't know where we are going, where we have been or where we are going to go next. At times like this it seems as though we can't make choices, either it doesn't make sense or it doesn't feel as though it fits with any picture about where we would like to see our next phase in life going. Sometimes when we can't see the future, we aren't quite sure of what we can see in the present and this in turn raises questions about our past. We can't always be sure we can make the choices and be sure to get the results that we want, when this happens we can get disillusioned with our ability to make choices. Still though because life is a learning curve, there comes a point where we can make choices, we can make a commitment and see it through, or we can open a door and allow something to come through it, or even better we can walk through that door ourselves and allow ourselves to climb into a world outside our normal sphere of experience. That invitation to embark on an adventure, that chance to recognise more of your own self worth, to explore a new opportunity and explore more of life is already there you just have to be able to see it. When it comes to "the grey matter" then I think this beautiful 1940s style stop staring number has it all. Classy and sophisticated with beautiful attention to detail. A dress to think thoughts and dream dreams whilst wearing. Dress: Stop Staring Shoes: Kurt Geiger
Beethoven’s symphonies were courageous creations. So, too, were Picasso’s paintings, Byron’s poems, Einstein's theories. What if any of these great artists and scientists had decided to refuse the muse. All were human. All had doubts about their own ability - or the ’worth’ of their contribution. All of them too, had bills to pay, chores to perform, social and domestic commitments to honor. They didn't have to be develop their talents. They were not obliged to believe in themselves. Are you any less special? Well then... what SHOULD you be doing now? This is a time for developing your talent and using your imagination. Beyond the mountains of reality lie oceans of ideas. Never forget that creativity contains a precious truth all of its own. The Experiences, the sights, the sensations and the people that inspire us to create are a reflection of our inner selves. The most precious thing that any of us has is ourselves (not your house, car or money - but plain old you). When we are inspired to dance, to write stories or to compose poetry, write code or experiments we show and share a part of ourselves. A treasured token and this is the greatest gift any of us can ever give, part of ourselves. Being creative is also about breaking the rules, and sometimes you have to be your own muse. I decided to inspire myself by breaking some fashion rules :) I'll let you guess which ones! Shorts: tailored red sateen high waisted shorts by pinup girl clothing Top: Black halterneck by pin up girl clothing Shoes: Kurt Geiger
This morning in 1536, Anne Boleyn woke up in the Tower of London and went to face her trial. She knew she would be sentenced to death, but there was still her daughter to preserve. She was charged with treason, adultery and incest. In 1618 Johannes Kepler confirmed his previously rejected discovery of the third law of planetary motion. It was ground breaking as it moved away from the idea of perfect circles, and well he was outrageous, he actually used physics in astronomy! The establishment didn't like that. Without these discoveries there would have been no foundation for Newton's work on gravity. In 1718, James Puckle and London Lawyer patented the first machine gun, it fired 9 shots per minute and was called the "Defense gun" though it is best known as the puckle gun. As with many ideas and inventions the design was ahead of it's time and so never achieved mass production because the components were too complex to be manufactured accurately by the gunsmiths of time. Indeed it was said that the gun "only wounded those who hold shares therein". Each of these events shaped the world we live in today, Anne Boleyn's daughter defeated a superpower and set us on the road to empire. Kepler's law gave us space travel, satellites, mobile phones, communication and well you can see how James Puckle changed the world on the news every day. It is the ripples of history on the pond of time. Today it had to be a dress with stripes because the way the bands follow are like the peak and troughs of the waves in the pond, it makes sense that it is blue too. Dress: Pinup Girl Clothing Shoes: Kurt Geiger
A friend is someone who understands your past, believes in your future, and accepts you today just the way you are. It takes a big personality to do that, to be real which probably explains why all my friends are different and a long way from so called "normal" which equates in my book to average. Who wants to be or know mediocre people? I have enough mind numbingly dull people to deal with in every day life without inviting them into my personal life. I like to know people who are unforgettable, definitely different people who life has shaped whilst they have shaped their lives. The people with real strength of character. It is a rag tag band of people who do unusual things and don't think quite like other people do, some people say we are "random" but we aren't, we're just two standard deviations away from the mean. We try to see the best in people and bring it out in them whilst knowing we sometimes fail to give ourselves this gift. So we are great friends to other people, but at times horrendous friends to ourselves. In fact if a person treated one of our friends the way we treat ourselves, no doubt words would be had, or at least an eye brow raised.
There are those times when you want to say to your friends - If you want, then start to laugh, If you must, then start to cry but be yourself in that moment don't hide. If you are going to be accepted or rejected then make sure it is for the real you and in those moments when you doubt yourself just look into your heart, that is your true self. If that fails borrow "Merv's Special Specs" and take a look at how I see you. I inherited the special mathematics tinted glasses from my Dad - now with added code monkey software upgrades :) Peoples lives intersect and you can never tell the impact or influence that you have had on a person; you might have only met them once, you might see them every day or you might never have met. It doesn't matter the only distance between friends is a thought, and as some of you know when you have a monkey for a friend, we are for life not just for Christmas. Plus life is much more fun and interesting when you have a monkey in it. If I could take the pain I would, if I can lighten the load I will but above all I'll just be there when you need me most, whether you're in intensive care in a foreign country, your big ends just gone on the motorway, when you need a hug from super long monkey arms or when you just need a cheerful emails with questionable jokes because you are along way from home. Given that my friends are for the best part bonkers just like me, I thought I would wear my stop staring! Mad men dress (hehe). It is a bold beautiful check pattern that illustrates wonderfully how friends intersect your life. I think this dress is charming I love the offset neckline with the fold over and the button, I like the paneled high waist as it accentuates your curves. It is a pretty and practical work dress. Dress: Stop Staring Shoes: Kurt Geiger
What I want for my friends
I hope the days come easy and the moments pass slow
And each road leads you where you want to go
And if you're faced with the choice and you have to choose
I hope you choose the one that means the most to you
And if one door opens to another door closed
I hope you keep on walkin' ‘til you find the window
If it's cold outside, show the world the warmth of your smile
But more than anything, more than anything
My wish for you
Is that this life becomes all that you want it to
Your dreams stay big, your worries stay small
You never need to carry more than you can hold
And while you're out there gettin' where you're gettin' to
I hope you know somebody loves you
And wants the same things too
Yeah, this is my wish
I hope you never look back but you never forget
All the ones who love you and the place you left
I hope you always forgive and you never regret
And you help somebody every chance you get
Oh, you'd find God's grace in every mistake
And always give more than you take
But more than anything, yeah more than anything
My wish for you
Is that this life becomes all that you want it to
Your dreams stay big, your worries stay small
You never need to carry more than you can hold
And while you're out there gettin' where you're gettin' to
On this day in 1940 Winston Churchill gave his first speech to the House after having been offered the King's commission as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in the first year of World War II.
I would say to the House as I said to those who have joined this government: I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat. We have before us an ordeal of the most grievous kind. We have before us many, many long months of struggle and of suffering. You ask, what is our aim? I can answer in one word: Victory. Victory at all costs — Victory in spite of all terror — Victory, however long and hard the road may be, for without victory there is no survival. I admire Churchill, people thought he was wrong about Hitler, when he constantly warned people about Germany rearming. In fact in his memoirs he refers to this time as the "wilderness years". People actually thought he was crazy, I think this happens to people who can see things for what they, who can cut through the smoke and mirrors and say it like it is. So let's see how good you are at seeing beyond the propaganda and new speak that people generate about one another: It is time to elect the world leader, and your vote counts. Here are the facts about the three leading candidates: Which of these candidates would be your choice? Candidate A associates with crooked politicians, and consults with astrologists. He's had two mistresses. He also chain smokes and drinks 8 to 10 martinis a day. Candidate B was kicked out of office twice, sleeps until noon, used opium in college and drinks a half bottle of whisky every evening. Candidate C is a decorated war hero. He's a vegetarian, doesn't smoke, drinks an occasional beer and hasn't had any extramarital affairs and gets up at 6am taking in a morning walk. The chances are you just voted for Candidate C - well done! You just voted a genocidal Maniac into power :) I am sure your parents and HR are proud. You choose Hitler! Now don't get me wrong I have worked with and met lots of people who are capable of having the wool well and truly pulled over there eyes, and it is a shame. It is a shame because they are the good people who stand by and do nothing, they are the "I'm alright Jack" crowd. The people who care about power and title not people and jobs and real lives. In case you are interested A is Roosevelt and B is Churchill. So food for thought, how many judge on propaganda or what they hear whilst ignoring what there eyes can see? If you do that, then bare in mind you're the kind of person people like Hitler needs to get into power. You are the good people who stand by and do nothing, for that is all you need to do for evil to succeed.
People are always telling me I wear my heart on my sleeve so for a change today I am wearing it on my pockets :) I love the simple sweet home made feel of this skirt. The navy with the small white polka dots in a circle skirt with the contrasting heart pockets with little bows. The halterneck is sweet too, but the outfit is made by the pockets.
Skirt: Circle skirt with pockets Vivien of Holloway Top: Halterneck in white by Vivien of Holloway Shoes: Kurt Geiger
When experiences that we so often class as "bad" happen in our lives, some of us can start to think, I must have been really terrible in a past life to deserve this. That isn't the case. The reality is that they are being given the opportunity to be an enlightened being who came here to learn from the experiences of life, and sometimes that means life teaches us a hard lesson.
People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime and it is your job to figure out which it is and what they have come to show, teach or give to you. In life you will realise there is a role for everyone you meet. Some will test you, some will use you, some will love you, and some will teach you. The ones who are truly important bring out the best in you. They are the rare amazing people who remind you why it's worth it.
People get so focused on goals and destinations in life that they often forget it is about journey. It is the path we take that we often share with other people, in some cases we don't get to travel as far down the road with them as we would have liked.
We cannot change yesterday, and we cannot predict tomorrow, but we can live today. So be alive. Never let one day pass by without a smile.
If I could walk on water
If I could tell you what's next
Make you believe
Make you forget
Sometimes it is all in your memory so what better way to remember all these lovely things and moments than with a beautiful dress. The scene of a poppy field is gorgeous. I love the fluffy clouds and the bright blue skies with the trees standing watch over the poppy field. It is a calming scene and I adore that it is on a dress. It really is a work of art.
Dress: Poppy Fields by Bernie Dexter
Shoes: Kurt Geiger Carvella
Simple Minds: Don't you forget about me
Won't you come see about me?
I'll be alone, dancing, you know it baby
Tell me your troubles and doubts
Giving me everything inside and out
In another life, or a parallel universe I am cooking Lamb Nihari, Tarka Dall, Spicy tea chickpeas and Saag Aloo today. "Happy Birthday Adi xx Gone but not forgotten". In this life I'm hosting the "Not a birthday party, party"
The ability to let go, to change tack, to rethink and to move on, is not just a precious freedom; it is an essential tool for anyone who aspires to climb life's most important ladders. The ladder of self discovery, grant yourself that option, far too often we create our own prisons and enchain ourselves.
We create a cage from which we attempt to change the world, or other people, yet we never talk about changing ourselves, of letting going of our self imposed limits as to what we believe we are capable of.
We should have the courage of our convictions but we should not be a convict to them. Sometimes it is about holding on and letting go.
Success is a simple thing, all you have to do is keep getting back up. It isn't about never been knocked over, or everything going to plan. It is about getting knocked down 10 times and getting back up 11.
We talk about good and bad times, we don't want the good times to end even though we know that eventually all things run their course; and well the bad times can't pass fast enough. Life is that symphony played between the two. It was so beautifully summed up in the opening line of a tale of two cities - It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.
"Your living is determined not so much by what life brings to you as by the attitude you bring to life; not so much by what happens to you as by the way your mind looks at what happens." - Khalil Gibran
"The sharp thorn often produces delicate roses." - Ovid.
Lace is delicate just like roses, and pretty like them too. I love the floral pattern on the lace overlay of this dress with the sheer sleeves. I like green it is one of my favourite colours to wear and it looks lovely combined with the lace and the pencil skirt. It reminds me that I can be delicate and strong, it just about how you deal with the thorns.
Star wars day and my sisters 50th Birthday party, how exciting? It is as good as it gets because it means outfit change :) Love it! It is also Saturday and that means shorts day :)
I like this outfit, the cardigan is really soft and snuggly and I love the sailor collar with the anchors on it. It looks really sweet, the red shorts are my favourite tailored ones from pin up girl clothing in a chirpy bright red and as ever heels.
Cardigan: Hell bunny
Shorts: Tailored shorts in red by pinup girl clothing
“This life is what you make it. No matter what, you're going to mess up sometimes, it's a universal truth. But the good part is you get to decide how you're going to mess it up. Girls will be your friends - they'll act like it anyway. But just remember, some come, some go. The ones that stay with you through everything - they're your true best friends. Don't let go of them. Also remember, sisters make the best friends in the world.
As for lovers, well, they'll come and go too. And baby, I hate to say it, most of them - actually pretty much all of them are going to break your heart, but you can't give up because if you give up, you'll never find your soulmate. You'll never find that half who makes you whole and that goes for everything.
Just because you fail once, doesn't mean you're gonna fail at everything. Keep trying, hold on, and always, always, always believe in yourself, because if you don't, then who will, sweetie? So keep your head high, keep your chin up, and most importantly, keep smiling, because life's a beautiful thing and there's so much to smile about.” ― Marilyn Monroe
The quotes above make me think about what I call my New Life, this is the one that I might not have chosen for myself. For a while I wasn't particularly keen on it either, this was until I realised that we have to be willing to give up the life we planned to live the life we were meant to have. This is the life I was meant to have. Today's dress is an important dress to me, it symbolises my New Life. It was the first non black dress that I bought in my New Life as I was easing my way back into the concept of colours. It needed some work from Grandma, and when I tried it on at her house I will confess - Marv, Grandma and I all welled up and had a moment. You see I want this New Life not my old one. The classic dove grey combined with a powder pink is feminine and understated. The attention to detail is wonderful, the little flicks and buttons on the sleeves, the piping around the neckline. The lovely pin tucks down the front with the sweet like round pink buttons. The belt and pockets are just the icing on the cake.
Dress: Avondale in pencil skirt originally by Bettie Page Clothing, revamped by Grandma Shoes: Kurt Geiger
It's May. In fact it is May Day so it is time to think of maypoles and may queens and lots of other exciting things. It is also the birth date of the Duke of Wellington or Sir Arthur Wellesley.
We all think of Waterloo and Seringapatam when we think of him, or we think of shoes, but it is interesting to note he also coined the phrase "Publish and be damned" amongst many others.
Back to May day though, lilac blossoms in May and it is a beautiful flower and I love the smell of it. Given that I thought I would wear my lilac Jackie O suit today. I had a lilac outside my bedroom window as a child I love peeking over the purple clouds of flowers to see the world beyond my window, so for me this is the colour of spring.
Now this Jackie O suit is super special, possibly because only a few weeks ago it was "a little bit big", Grandma did look a little shocked when she realised that I could put the skirt on without undoing it and that it fell off my hips. OOPS! Grandam said "a little?". Ah well it is all relative. So this is totally revamped and restyled by the seamstress to the superstars Grandma :)
Suit: Jackie O in Lilac originally by Bettie Page Clothing, remodelled and revamped by Grandma
Today in 1599 Oliver Cromwell was born. Best known as the Lord High Protector he led the round heads in the English Civil War against King Charles I, as politicians they were called Ironsides. He was a key figure in one of Britain's most troubled periods. I remember watching the series "By the sword divided" as a child, and seeing how it quite literally tore families apart.
One of the people who shared Cromwell's fate was John Bradshaw, the man who was the judge of King Charles I and the only man to write and the first to sign the death warrant of a king came from the place that I live. Now where it gets really interesting is that he was posthumously executed, his body along with that of Cromwell and Cromwell's son-in-law were exhumed, they were hung from the gallows at Tyburn before being beheaded at sunset, 12 years after the death of Charles I.
Strangely I think when it comes to the civil war I would have been a leveller cavalier. I have no trust in politicians so I like the fact that the monarchy exist to stop them doing things like voting for the parliamentary term to be extended or it is period altered to what say 25 years?
Cromwell's coat of arms and that of the protectorate were mainly blue, and the place where his family lived was demolished to make way for a school, so I am wearing something that is scholarly with something blue. I really do like this pinafore dress, you can wear it with so many different tops getting lots of different looks.
Dress: Pencil Jumper dress in black by Bettie Page clothing
Cloud nine is an idiom referring to a state of elation or happiness, like many idioms it's etymology is undcertain. A commonly heard explanation is that the expression originated as one of the classifications of cloud which were defined by the US Weather Bureau in the 1950s, in which 'Cloud Nine' denotes the fluffy cumulonimbus type that are considered so attractive. Another explanation is that the phrase derives from Buddhism and that Cloud Nine is one of the stages of the progress to enlightenment of a Bodhisattva (one destined to become a Buddha).
Neither of these explanations holds water. To begin with, both the cloud classifications and the Buddhist stages to enlightenment have ten levels. To single out the last but one stage of either is rather like attributing the source of the 'whole nine yards' to American Football where it is ten yards rather than nine that is a significant measure.
This dress is called Cloud 9, the last time I wore it I can genuinely say I was a long way from feelings of elation or happiness and somehow that is worse because I actually wore it last at a wedding. Don't get me wrong I was very happy for the bride and groom I was made up for them. It was my cousins wedding, wanting to feel happy for other people why I was there and I wanted them to know that I was there for their special day. I am glad in many respects that my Dad raised me to have more front than a row of terraced houses and as much bottle if not more than United Dairies if he hadn't I would have never managed to get through that day. I had buried my husband two days before and in two days time I faced my first wedding anniversary as a widow. Not the best place to be finding yourself when it comes to celebrating weddings.
It is time to reclaim it. It is such a beautiful happy dress.
On this date in 1509 Henry the VIII th ascended to the throne in Britain. I find it interesting that he is remembered for reformation, essentially transforming Britain from a Catholic to a Protestant nation and for having nearly as many wives as Elizabeth Taylor had husbands!
I have always found it amusing in an ironic way that the title "Defender of the Faith" or if you prefer Fidei defensor was actually conferred upon Henry by the Pope for his book, Assertio Septem Sacramentorum (Defence of the Seven Sacraments), which defended the sacramental nature of marriage and the supremacy of the Pope. It seems somewhat ironic that at school you remember the rhyme divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived!
So we have 8 for Henry being the eight to carry his name, seven for the sacraments and six for the number of wives!
This dress is fab, it is affectionately called the prison warden because an old boss of mine said that's what the colour reminded him off, so tongue in cheek I am wearing it because if you were one of the wives of Henry the 8th a visit to the Tower of London was highly likely.
I adore the cornflower blue in this dress, I love slightly muted, or earthy colours as they suit my skin tone. I find peter pan collars hard to resisted because they remind me to stay young at heart. The matching buttons down the front make this a really sweet work dress. I also like the the skirt is a little fuller.
This is another grandma revamp, restyle and rebuild. Grandma takes shrinking things by 4 to 5 dress sizes in her stride, she fires up the sewing machine equivalent of a Bugatti veyron! You should hear it, it has a serious engine and kind of purrrsss like a lion would.
Dress: Peggy in Denim originally by Bettie Page Clothing, restyled and revamped by Grandma AKA Matriarchal Marv and seamstress to the stars (oh and if you think the alterations are fab, wait until you see what Grandma makes!!!!)
Dad often remarked it wasn't that he didn't believe in god, just that the odds of his existence were vanishingly small and tended so close to zero as to not be significantly different. He also reckoned there was statistically speaking there was a greater chance that Jesus was the son of an alien than the son of god. I have wondered over the last 9 years whether my Dad was surprised at the end? All I know is this, if my Dad got a surprise then his maker got a shock!
People often said my Dad was one in a million, but my Dad was far more one in a million.
He was one in all the people are are, that have been as well as those that yet may be, my Dad was 1 in 13.5 Billion (give or take 10 million) and it is of comfort to me that as the time passes my Dad gets more unique.
My Dad was the height of a discontinued line, a one off and it was his view of life that made him so special.
If we were to view life as a journey then many would say that it is not where you start but where you finish that counts.
My Dad however, saw the world a little differently; he saw the world through his special tinted mathematics glasses. He believed it was how you got from A to B that mattered, the start and the finish were not as important as the path you took between the two.
He often said "The path from A to B is rarely a straight line love, (takes a smoke of his pipe, and wiggles his feet)......except in GCSE Maths, but that's a special case!".
It was my Dad's certain knowledge that there were multiple solutions or routes that you could take, that gave him the eyes to see the potential in everyone; He knew there was always more than one way of getting there and that most of them were valid. That is why my Dad always supported us whichever path we took.
My Dad saw maths everywhere and he lived his life by it, he:
Added to friendship and understanding
Subtracted sorrow and pain
Multiplied joy and happiness
and always left love undivided
After all as he always said, we are here to add what we can to life, not to take (or subtract) from it.
My Dads life lasted three hundred and sixty four million, fifteen thousand eight hundred and forty minutes and for me that number is by no means large enough, but perfect numbers like perfect men are hard to find!
I have my Dad to thank for many things, including my mind thanks to you I am neither left nor right brained, my eccentricity as well as my sense of style. I miss your waistcoats and pocket watches, your Inverness cape and deerstalker! I miss your hats. The chink of your pipe on the ash tray, the knotting of handkerchiefs, the furious foot wiggling when you were solving a problems. I miss the maths scribbled over graph paper, your raucous belly laugh which was bigger than heart. Most of all though I just miss you.
My Dad loved music. He used to listen to in and conduct it in the dark as he puzzled maths questions. When I was little I used to dance, leap and swril around the house to his music and I remember him laughing at me as Dad's do at the spontaneity of children. He was a big man but light on his feet and an amazing dancer. I remember how he could never resist the twist at families do and still went all the way down well into his 50s!
Given his eccentric style and his love of big bands I thought it would be fun to wear my Telstar band print dress. My Dad would have enjoyed the tailoring and the quirky print!
Dress: Halterneck circle dress in Telstar print by Vivien of Holloway
As you know I am a huge fan of the 1940's style Tea Dress, if only because you can probably do an assault course in this dress thanks to the wrap over effect of the skirt. They really did think of everything - look good whilst running to the air raid shelter! This design is in my opinion the The best tom boy in disguise dress ever
I love the femininity of the simple design combined with a beautiful floral print. It has a pretty sweetheart neckline with straight sides which acts to draw attention to your face. The sleeves are wrap over too and so have interest when viewed side on. The little pleat at the waist just finishes the design off.
I'm not a tea drinker, tea is poison to monkey's. YAK. In fact if I inadvertently find that I have been unfortunate enough to consume tea, then it has me running for the nearest sink whilst I try to block out Mother saying "A lady never spits"...... I mentally caveat this with except when it is tea. I do like herbal infusions or tissanes though and this is an ideal dress to indulge in Afternoon Tea, though preferably with Champagne.
Dress: 1940 tea dress in Marguerite print by Vivien of Holloway
