Just look into your heart my friend

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

I hope you know somebody loves you

And wants the same things too

Yeah, this is my wish, yeah yeah

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

I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat

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

Character contributes to beauty

Character contributes to beauty. It fortifies a woman as her youth fades. A mode of conduct, a standard of courage, discipline, fortitude, and integrity can do a great deal to make a woman beautiful.

A Woman's beauty
Her pretty face first attracts a person who wants to flirt,
Her kind heart is what attracts a lover, 
Her strength of character now that, that is what attracts a man.

I am always telling people, care more for your character than for your reputation. Your character is what you think of yourself, your reputation is merely what other people think of you.

The reason that your character is so important is simple. That's the person who stares back at you in the mirror. I think the reason that judgemental people irritate me so much is because they aren't the people looking into the other persons mirror! I mean how arrogant are you to think that what is appropriate for you is appropriate for everyone, not to mention incredibly narrow minded.

So there is wisdom in the tale of Snow White, the fairest of them all, are the people who see the beauty of their true self, their character. Vain people, see only what people think of them and can't face themselves.

Dress: Grace by Pinup Girl Clothing
Shoes: Aldo

Enlightened beings came here to learn, so sometimes life teaches us a lesson

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"

Katy Perry - The One That Got Away

The disambiguation of Atomic

I find disambiguation amusing, I like the way that certain words fire lots of patterns in my mind. Atomic, is one of those words. I can't help but have a moment of adding "icity" and reminding myself that atomicity is a fundamental principal of good database design, I think of atomic power, the atom, atomic numbers, Deborah Harry and heaven for fend Kerry Katona, at which point my mind has a mini cringe. Uggs boots, fake tan..........

Atomic kitten, it isn't even as though it is some clever play on Schrödinger's cat! It is just like rap star who insist on being "ice cold", which is actually really rather warm, now -273.15°C or absolute zero. That's cool, geek cool ;) Which leads me on to "glamour" models, I'll be impressed by the woman who calls herself "Blue Topaz" as gemologically speaking that has perfect cleavage!

Dress: Atomic

Shoes: Aldo

The Courage of our Convictions

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.

 

Dress: Convict in purple

Shoes: Kurt Geiger

Check - A surprisingly diverse word

You have to like like the word CHECK. It is great and incredibly diverse.

Check? - A question

Check. - A response.

Check! - A statement of fact in a game of chess

Check. - A pattern

Check - An imperfection in wood or glass

I like the simplicity of checks, essentially just squares of colour but they are so pretty. This simple print has white, pink and black squares running through a dove grey back ground. I like the combinations of colours. The dress is in the secretary style with a wide collar and matching grey buttons. This is a nice dress for work and is great for spring. 

Dress: Bettie Page Clothing

Shoes: Mary Jane in white by Bordello

Mathematics, Beethoven and the patterns in nature

1824 – World premiere of Ludwig van Beethoven's Ninth Symphony in Vienna, Austria. The performance is conducted by Michael Umlauf under the composer's supervision. The use of mathematical devices is deeply embedded in Beethoven's music. Therefore, this is one of the best places to dig for information on the relationship between mathematics and music. I'm not saying that other composers do not use mathematical devices. Practically every musical composition has mathematical underpinnings. However, Beethoven was able to extend these mathematical devices to the extreme. It is by analyzing these extreme cases that we can find more convincing evidence on what types of devices he used.

Mathematics, music, art and nature are all so intricately interconnected. Mathematics is a beautiful language with which to describe the world. 

The fibonacci series and the greek golden number and fractal patterns are all around us in everyday prints, nature and paintings. So as a method of appreciating the patterns of nature I thought I would wear my miami print dress. The cool crisp green and the life chiffon makes this a pretty spring dress and great for the sunshine. It is my magic monkey banana leaf dress.

Beethoven's 9th Symphony was one of my Dad's favourite pieces of music, I used to dance to this when I was little. My best friend Les like my Dad is a Mathematics teacher in Vienna, so the Vienna connection makes me think of all the fun I have had on my adventures in Austria. Pfirsichspritzer and pool, I am honoured to have been asked out to pool night on so many occasions. It is highly entertaining, opera singers and radio news readers and that's before we get to the mathematicians!,

Dress: Sarong wrap in Miami print by Vivien of Holloway

Shoes: Aldo

Mad dogs and Englishmen..............

It's a beautiful day which makes a change for the Bank Holiday, personally though I am leaving the sunbathing to Boudi, who partially qualifies under the heading "dog", she is bonkers rather than mad but we wouldn't change her.

I am having a creative day today which is pleasant so I am wearing my what a catch shorts with a white halterneck by Vivien of Holloway. If you can't make it to the seaside you can always bring the seaside to you. All you need is the power of your imagination, today is a day to dream dreams, think big thoughts and wait for the dice to land.

Shorts: What a catch

Top: Halterneck in white Vivien of Holloway

Shoes: Schuh

Success is simple, you just have to keep getting up

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.

Dress: Peasant dress in antique lace by Mode Merr

Shoes: Kurt Geiger

Happy Star Wars Day! The long and short of it

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

Shoes: Kurt Geiger

Worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubblegum.

I am always telling my friends to stop borrowing worry, and to cross certain bridges when they come to them and not to over think the obstacle before they actually have to face it. It is like the lyrics from the Baz Luhrman song.

Don’t worry about the future; or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubblegum. The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind; the kind that blindside you at 4pm on some idle Tuesday.

I find the concept of solving algebra with bubblegum ironic, probably because I am violently allergic to chewing gum and most likely bubblegum. Solving algebraic equations has no need to be fatal, so no fear of me attempting the bubblegum approach, but then again I am fab at algebra so it isn't something I worry about!

Life is best when you keep it simple, so try to change the things you can, accept the things you can't and hope that you are clever enough to spot the difference. Oh and if all else fails try to see the funny side of things, it is good to laugh, laughter is soul food.

A simple but stylish dress today in Olive green and Cream. I like the wide collar, and the upturn on the sleeves I think they are pretty and draw attention to your face. The buttons and the 3/4 built in belt which ties in an adorable bow at the back finish this off in a sweat and subtle manner.

Dress: Diner dress in Olive Green by Heartbreaker

Shoes: Aldo