Living It Up In Leicester

We always like to try and get over to Leicester during the Christmas period.
 

 

It is a wonderful bus journey through the lush countryside of Leicestershire.

 

 Proudly hanging onto my bargainous yellow frilly brolly; a fiver from TKMaxx.

 

If the bus windows each way weren't so filthy they could've been some pictures of some of the lovely houses and their wonderful festive lights. So, just a few of us and the town centre lights!



 

We just caught the market as it was closing. It always looks so beautiful. The traders lay out their goods with so much care. I didn't get a picture of them, but even the new potatoes are laid out all neat. Sadly, it makes Northampton's effort look rather bleak!

 

 

I would eat a lot more of this good stuff if I had access to produce like this! (Well, maybe not the tomatoes!).

 

So, I guess on that note, a good resolution for 2013, that I wish you all a hale and hearty New Year, with all that you could wish for, for you and your families!

Z xx

Festivities

 Arguing it out with the Christmas tree!

 

To all of you who I didn't get round to sending personal wishes...

HOPE YOU HAD A HAPPY CHRISTMAS!

Z xx

Kitsch 80s Christmas Card Designs

I doubt this would get passed the Christmas Card Police nowadays!

 



Do you think the makers of the Meerkat ads for the Coronation Street got this card for Christmas?

 

 Cannot beat a "Jolly Santa" card; any year, any age!

This one actually has a name...'Any Takers?'

Too cute for words

Sprouts have the same effect!

 

Can't beat 'squiggles' playing with the deccies. It makes me think of that film 'National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation'.

 


Aaaaah!

 

Granny snowman gets a look-in too! Personally, I think she looks a little too much like the wolf from Red Riding Hood!

And this one? Well, just in case you haven't realised what month of the year it is, here's the Care Bears to remind you!



80s Christmas Make-Up Ideas

Sorting through a stash of stuff kept from way back when, I found a whole load of fashion and make up pages ripped out of magazines. Things that inspired me or that I aspired to. And, tell you what, some of them still make me go 'ooo' 30 years down the line.

So, I thought you might like a little lookie and where better to start than Chrimbo make up ideas! Not sure which mag this article came from - Look Now, Woman's Journal there's a myriad of titles!

Enjoy and if you try any ideas out take a photo and show me!!

 

You Light Up My Life

So, there I was, all ready to put my lights up at the window...

 

 

...and I can't find the little suctions hooks anywhere!

When we packed up  all our belongings, Christmas seemed like an eternity away and now it's just a fortnight! Arrrgh!

 

 

They were all safely in an old Barielle hand cream tube box, where they have been kept for years, but quite where that has gone to, I'm not sure! Mr B said he'd buy some new ones but I said I'd just use some white LX tape. Then he said what about using some black tape to make 'leaded windows' and then spray each 'dip' with fake snow. That set me thinking! Not sure where the can of spray snow is now either!!

Run -Up

 

The run-up to Christmas picks up the pace as Santa is seen out with 'hands-on-head' Olympian and friends.

Even the rail replacement coach is festive.

 

 

It's a joy!

 

(Mr B Guest Post)

 



Bible-Bashing Saturday

This post is not written to offend anyone; just for me to let off steam!
 

 http://reigninggifts.com/BIBLES,AudioBooks.htm

We may be fed up of Christmas starting in September but I seem to
be suffering a new phenomenon...
 

In the space of half an hour I've had the Gospel Hall shove a stash of printed stuff through my letterbox. And they left my gate open.

 

Then the doorbell went and this couple were trying to 'sell' me God on my doorstep! She obviously seemed unaware of stepping into peoples' personal space as she tried to be all chummy. Sorry, but it just p*sses me off.

 

I know a lot of you are religious and that is part of what makes you 'you' and I value all of you as you are. I chose to be Christened when I was 16 and then got Confirmed. Away at boarding school, it may not have been for the 'right' reasons. I may not be a church-going, God-fearing soul, but I do hope that I am a christian with a small 'c'. That I try not to hurt people, that I care for those that need it, that cross my path, not only close friends and family.

 

I do pray for things, but don't feel the need to go to a specific building to do so. Again, at school, a certain vicar would often make comments to do with collections and us being from a fee-paying school, as though all our parents were millionaires (in the days before the Lottery!). In actual fact a lot were like me - sponsored or from the Forces, so our parents were just regular 'Joes'.

 

The Baptist Church we went to always made you feel welcome as did the 'high church', which I loved for all the theatricality of it. I love visiting The Hidden Gem when I go to Manchester. (Posted about here and here).  I just like to sit and think and, yes, pray.
 

 Sketch of St. Mary's by L.S. LowryLowry (1887-1976) was chiefly noted for his portrayal of industrial scenes in Salford and Manchester.In 1962, he produced this chalk and charcoal sketch of St. Mary's.(Reproduced by kind permission of the copyright holder, Mrs Carol Danes.)

 

But, I do not need pushy 'sales people' bothering me at home on my doorstep!

If you're still reading, thank you!

Rant over!

Z xx

The Three Cs

 

It's a "Castle Carlsberg" Christmas!

I got myself out and about yesterday afternoon. It was beautiful but cold. Outside Argos, on my way to TKMaxx I spotted this car, right, with its' layer of snow. Must've been visiting from the outskirts of town, I think!

It's In The Air (Mr B Guest Post)

On the last afternoon of November, on my way to our storage container, I saw a swan fly majestically overhead. An hour later, on the train to work, horses in a field were back lit by the setting sun.

 

On the first day of Advent...Santa hats.

 

It started with the sighting of a girl in a Christmas pudding jumper and now it's official...the run-up to Christmas is back.

 

We have all this to look forward to!

Who knows what treats are in store?

 

I told Elishka about the swan;  said it was reminiscent of Clara from, "The Nutcracker", being flown to the Kingdom of the Sweets on the back of a goose.

It seemed a little sad to see a lone swan. "Maybe it was Christmas shopping" said Elishka, "Like the snowman in the John Lewis advert."

 

"Here's Santa now!" I exclaimed, as a figure appeared in Cinderellas' fireplace.

No, it's just Patch changing the butane canister for the flame effect.

 

 

Burlappiness

One of my favourite posts ever written is this one by Lakota, about burlap.

 

So, of course, whenever I see the stuff, I think of her. Don't know her, never met her, don't always read her blog regularly, but that one post has been indelibly engraved upon my person!

 

This collection of 'burlappiness' was on display at Homesense, this afternoon, and I didn't buy any of it!

 



Burlap 'curtains' at Malmaison, Manchester.

(Posh burlap)!

Saturday Slip-Up

Couldn't resist re-posting this from Michelles' blog, http://hellolovelyinc.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/hello-lovely-paris-apartment.html

Her post is actually about a most wonderful apartment that she rented in Paris, that is just oh so beautiful.

 

But this film made my eyes water with laughter. Not only the poor model wobbling over but the News Presenters trying, and failing miserably, to be professional!

Enjoy!

Z xx



My First Sighting!

 

Yay! My first viewing of the TV Coke ad at Christmas. It was on during Emmerdale earlier this evening.

'specially for you Ditzy!

Z xx

Dorset Square

"Let me tell you about this house", said Irene. "It's 210 years old".

 

The large front room of her flat used to be the reception area and the room that I was staying in would've been the library. Actors used to stay here when she had an advertisement in 'Spotlight'. Her husband had once thought he would become an actor and got the part of playing a corpse. Unfortunately, he fell asleep in his dressing room, waking up just in time to dash down onto the stage. The corpse lay there panting and that was the end of a glittering career in showbusiness!

 

The house is on Dorset Square, where there is a plaque to commemorate  the founding of the original Lord's Cricket Club. "It used to be a field", said Irene.

 

There's a photo of the Square as it used to be, on top of the bookcase. A black and white photograph in a black frame. Irene had got it from the Library. She joked that people looking at the photograph would say 'Oh, is that you in the window, Mrs A?'

 

As I took this picture, standing with my back to the window, I didn't realise that the same, now more mature trees, of the Square, were reflected in the framed glass.

 

I remarked that I liked the bookcase. "It comes apart she said." The top sections were individually glass-fronted, you raised the glass like a letterbox, to access the books. "It's Edwardian", said Irene, "I got it from a friend, who was moving to California.  I asked him what he wanted for it and he said 'Fish and chips', so I gave him some fish and chips."

 

On the subject of books, the lady who wrote '101 Dalmations' used to live on the Square. Irene remembered her having a party every year.

 

The clocks went back whilst I was staying at the house, but I didn't awake to Hansom Cabs outside. Nor did I hear the sound of leather on willow or see any Dalmatians, but, for all you fashionistas out there, I did see a man wearing a cricket jumper tucked into red trousers.

Edit: this is a guest post by Mr B. He was working in London and Dorset Square was where he was staying.

It's All Back! (To Front & All Over The Place!)

 Everything has now come back, either home or to the lock-up. Now the difficult bit begins...what to get rid of!

 Definitely not the 'demon goat'.

Or my chi-chi kitty, who looks as though she is wrapped up in some luscious evening coat. (But is in fact still wrapped up in removal wrapping paper)

 Talking of wrapping paper - if you get a wrapped pressie from me, don't think "Cheapskate. She's re-used old paper and hasn't even bothered to iron it!" No, my new, unused wrapping paper got squished in a box!

It's no good, trying to hide down there, Mr B! I can see you!

 

At least we're still smiling!
Z xx



Blue 4 U

Just something a little different today.

I treated my self to this pretty charmed handmade necklace from Bunyip in Exeter, the day I met DeeDee.

I can't believe how well it works with this top from TKMaxx!

All my favourite charms...swallow with a post card, lovebirds, scissors, key, ships' wheel, angel wings, Eiffel Tower and 2 flowery-disc things.

 

A big THANK YOU for your supportive comments the last few days, it's really has been a help; particularly Caroline likening the 'box room' to Tetris! That made me laugh out loud!

Z xx

Who'd've Thought That...

  ...my shoes would take up so much space!

Nah, not really! But I had two crates delivered today and two yesterday and this is how my home looks at the moment.

 

Only one more crate to come! Yippee!

(But thank goodness that's not arriving until next Monday!)

Z xx