The Annual Catch-up: part one (of possibly many!!)

 So, another birthday has gone by in a flash. As has quite a lot of the past year!!

another year, another cake

Most exciting news? Well, after a regular trip to the docs for blood tests, (all OK thank goodness!), we went for our lunch at Poppyfields.

long hair, don't care but do love that lavender at Poppyfields

 But after THAT, we took the bus, yes, BUS, one stop to the big Sainsburys. Well, only Sainsburys now. I haven't been on a bus since before COVID.  It was quiet, I thought we might've mis-timed it and caught all the hooligans, (sorry, schoolkids), going home, so that made it much easier!!

Once upon a time, I'd have walked from the surgery to the supermaket, done the meander around the aisles, had a bit to eat and got a taxi home with all the grocery shopping. Now I am just revelling in the fact I could walk to the pub without panicking or tripping myself up with my 'drunken walk'. It's a nervous thing I think...I swear I must look like I've slurped several pints and am worst for wear!!

The panicking is still an issue. But gradually I am improving.

Thank heavens for the Volunteer Car Service. That's all I can say.

Halfway through last year I needed to make several hospital visits and they took me. It was a private hospital, set in the grounds of a big Mental Health facility. It was a struggle, believe me, but eventually, on the third or so visit, we staggered through the stunning grounds to a little cafe. It was heavenly. 

 

 

Even when they threw an MRI at me, (stuck in a tube that only left me room to breathe), I managed. Upshot of the visits? Well, I am trying to cope without them Botoxing me in my 'lady parts'!! What does bother me is, why, the fibroid I have, that rests just by my bladder, has grown, when at the time it was found, (several years ago), I was told "at my age" it would shrink in size. No one seems that 'bovvered' and to be honest, who wants major surgery to remove it? So, I'll live with it for now.

Another brilliant thing to have 'achieved', is that, again, for the first time since before COVID, I got to visit my hairdressers. Bliss. I have never had such long hair. Whereas I did love it, I was not up to the care it needed. Bathing has become an issue, even just standing for any length of time, to have a shower, is painful and scary. So shorter hair is easier to wash in the handbasin if necessary. Investment in a sturdy 'bath seat' has been a good, if at times, demoralising purchase.

Mr B celebrating Valentines' Day. Always there to support me. Whatever.

Exercise and diet are needing much improvement. My diet is not awful, but with no walking, all food is too much food!! I don't drink caffeinated coffee anymore. Very few fizzy drinks, and preferrably no orange or citrus drinks. Same with food, citrus is out along with spicy food. I am Missy Bland!!

Grumble just sleeps through eveything

More crafty/garden goodness to follow!

Zxx

BEDM - Day 18 "Newsflash!"

Mr B has just Skyped me from Truro.

 



 

The digs where he is staying is the third chimney along the row of houses, just visible behind the trees on the left.

The cathedral is behind where this is filmed from.

 

It is a beautiful place; if you ever get a chance to visit, grab it with both hands!

Zxx

To The Light Of My Life

 A little Valentines' vignette or two.

 

The 2 pale blue hearts are made by Sharon at Shabby Polka Dots; the Union Jack one by Suzanne Heartsnkisses. The others are from Homesense ages ago.

 

The Christmas roses stay out to do a turn on the 14th February.
Note my 'Paris' wallpaper.
How very romantic!

 

Oh Mr B, I do love thee!!

Zxx



Lucky Girl

I may be a lucky girl because I now own a MAC x Brooke Shields eye palette that sold out across the world on the day of its' release.

 

But I even luckier to have a wonderful partner who limped down to Selfridges in his between shows break and bought the last on in the store for me!

source

That really is lucky!

 

 

Thank you Mr B

#BEDM ‘What is your blog all about?’

"You never know what you'll find on Pennyblossoms",

so says Mr B, my partner of 28 years on Sunday.

  (Or is that 'partner-in-crime'?)

Superstar Vlogger, Louise, of Sprinkle of Glitter said my blog is '... mostly about homes and interiors and what not, I enjoy blogs like that muchly..'

 

Sadly, Blogger seems to be playing silly b*ggers and I can't put in links or centre my typing, so I am giving up! Not how I envisaged my first #BEDM post to be!! Fingers crossed it'll be all up and running properly tomorrow.

Z xx

Record Store Day 2014

As I turned into Merchants Arch I heard Mick Jagger singing an old blues song "I followed her to the station with a suitcase in my hand."

 His long drawling tones filled the shaded walkway and the sound drifted up between the buildings either side.

The song was coming from a speaker over the door to a staircase that led you up to Mojo's Records.

 

"I moved upstairs because the rent was cheaper", said the owner. I found Mojo's on my first visit to Dublin but it was after closing time.

On this sunny afternoon off I was lured back by records and posters. 

It was worth the trip to see these album covers alone...Tom Waits, Keith Richards, David Bowie-wearing a dress, Bob Dylan and The Beatles dressed like Eskimos...now that's what I call a party!

 

Guest Post from Mr B, the 'birthday boy'. Not as old as The Queen but for one month only, the same age as me!

Happy Birthday Mr B!

 

Record Store Day 2013

Vintage Vixen wrote that her partner, Jon, would sit in their kitchen and contemplate the 'Girl on a Motorcycle' poster, from the film of the same name starring Marianne Faithful.

 

 

The book of the film, although with a different cover, was in the middle of the display  of paperbacks when I once again visited the Record Store.

 

Tucked between Bruce Lee and the David Bowie Story, Marianne Faithful stood like a leather-clad jewel in the crown.

 

 

But my eye was on a different prize. Jayne Mansfield's 'Wild, Wild World', which I thought would not only be a good read, but the cover would also make a great T-shirt. I asked the Record Store owner if I could take a photograph of the book display, because it looked so good.

"Of course you can", he replied. " A lot of people don't bother to ask."

The owner seemed a lot more upbeat than on my previous visit. It was good to see him. Wearing a dark velvet jacket, he was busy cataloguing singles as the '13th Floor Elevators' played in the background. He smiled as I said I would take the Jayne Mansfield book.  

"Not many people know who Jayne Mansfield was these days", he said. The opening credits to 'The Girl Can't Help It 'came to mind, but I just smiled back.
 

"I see that you've sold that copy of 'Aladdin' by Cliff Richard and the Shadows" I said, having looked through the 'Soundtrack Section.'

"I may've put it in the 'Cliff  Richard Section'" he replied, retrieving it in an instant.

"I've got to take that" I said.

I left with a copy of  'Aladdin and his Wonderful Lamp' ( a mono recording of a pantomime performed at The London Palladium, for which 'the Shads' wrote the music) and a paperback full of Hollywood glamour about a woman with a heart-shaped swimming pool.

 

I'm not sure if Jayne Mansfield's 'Wild, Wild World' has made it onto Kindle yet?

 

As for the vinyl...I can't wait to hear Side 2, Track 4, 'Genie With the Light Brown Lamp.'

 

 

A Guest Blogger Post from Mr B

Spanish Week @ Pennyblossoms

Hola! from Euroblossoms!

Here we have another video from Mr B. Again, as with the swifty-swallows yesterday, this was filmed about 7 o'clock in the morning, after the crew had worked through the night!

I was a busy ZoZo today; had my hair cut at lunchtime, met Mr B for lunch, (he's on his summer break), and then had my Support Worker come and visit. Phew!

Off to Brum tomorrow, to see the osteopath. I missed an appointment cos' I couldn't get there and had to cancel a couple of appointments due to root canal tooth treatment, so am in dire need of a crunch! Mind you, Andrew specialises in Cranial Osteopathy, which is much gentler.

Another meeting with the SW on Thursday, doctors appointment Friday and then THIS

Still haven't download my photos from the Vintage Garden Party. I do believe that dear Margaret is probably still waiting to see her photo up 'in lights', so to speak. So...

...looking forward to seeing you on Saturday!
Z xx

RIP Millenium Dome. Long Live The 02 Arena!

If you have read my earlier posts you may recall that we spent Christmas in London because Mr B was working here.

The Main Entrance.

The Foyer.
(The bar where we partied is just to the right of here.)

The view back to where you come in.

But, of course, this being Pennyblossoms, you go in here!

And you can see things like this...

...that are at the bottom of these...

light wands

flight cases full of expensive lighting kit and stuff

Mr B spent New Years Eve doing this! Although he and his props where actually in the bit known as The Bubble.

 

So, seeing as we are in a Hard Hat Area it seems fitting to post this...

...and these, which was a pack of chocolate tools!

That was at the end of last year. Tomorrow I hope to get to here.

Seeing as I missed the Jumble in January I am in need of a good dose of Vintage and a natter with all me blogging mates! We travel over by coach; the journey is always picturesque, but with the added delight of a layer of snow it should be absolutely delightful.
Can't wait!

Z xx

Edit: Nahh! Of course, ga-ga brain here! They actually did the get-out the day before NYE, didn't they! And it was dancers' class that was in The Bubble. The props were packed up in an indoor trailer parking area!

Wicker Wednesday 3

A proper theatrical skip! I was going to call it a hamper...but have been 'advised' that hampers are for picnics!!

Never heard of anyone being born backstage in a theatrical skip though. In films it's always a hamper!

Enjoy your weekly dose of Mr Whicker!

Z xx

A Post For Pearl

Vivienne Westwood original Pirate Boots.

Pre-fancy VW label; pre-fancy logoed box; pre-fancy logoed dust bag!

These go so far back as to have the scimitar rather than the orb, which is so recognisable as her 'signature', on the label.


Additional 'signatures' courtesy of Mr B who got Lux Interior (RIP), Poison Ivy, Grrr Fur and Nic(ola) Knox of The Cramps to sign one boot. Also on there is Diana Rigg, (due to her Emma Peel character), Fenella Fielding, (I guess...just because...), Eartha Kitt (RIP) and the wonderful Iggy Pop, (before he bailed out and got into bed with Swift Cover).


The little verdigris brooch apparently used to be given gratis to customers at Worlds End.

Enjoy, Pearl!

Z xx

Who's A VERY Lucky Girl, Then?

At long last after much trawling of t'internet, after seeing it on Pixiwoo, I found it! Hurrah! Woop!

Thought I'd peek in Debs in Brum and yes, Smashbox had a stand. The smallest, shared, display, ever!
I hung around for a while and couldn't see it on display, so as it seemed obvious no-one was coming to help, I looked thru' the stock drawers below!
And there it was ! One lone Smashbox Masquerade Palette! In the drawer, unloved and unseen by Joe Public! Then there was the small problem of finding someone at a till, for me to pay for it. I seriously believe I could've walked outta that store without anyone taking a blind bit of notice! (Wasn't prepared to try out my theory, tho'!)
The colours are designed to work together in rows of 3, up, down and diagonally, which is quite nifty if you're not too sure about colour blending.

Then, my wonderful Mr B came home with THIS!

MAC 'Packed To Go' 6 Cool Smoky Eye Shadows.
l-r, t-b
seedy pearl, tendersmoke, satin taupe
a brown suit, beauty marked, carbon
Apparently these are marketed for Duty Free shopping only. Mind you, at Heathrow, the counter staff hadn't got a clue! Thankfully, the lovely MAC girl at Narita were on the ball and asked if it was a gift, and very kindly packaged it up with ribbons and bows! How kind was that?

I found out about it on this website, http://beauty-free.co.uk/. I used the photo above from this site, as mine came out rubbish! Don't know who she is, as there are no personal details. But if you are flying/cruising away on holiday, this is the site to look at! I was browsing for Japanese beauty stuff and came across this site. She covers all the 'specials', stuff not available in the regular shops. Makes for very interesting reading!

Mr B also managed to get here, not London, but Tokyo, and bought me this for my birthday!

A Vivienne Westwood amethyst orb necklace. I was very nearly in tears.
It is very beautiful and I am very lucky!
Z xx