The Woman Who Went to Bed for a Year

Have joined a new book club and went to the first meeting last week.  The book choice Bad Science wasn't really me at all.  For a start it was non-fiction. And it was about science.  Can only recall one other science book I've ever read (The Language Instinct by Stephen Pinker and that was a bit of a struggle).  But persevered and glad I did.  Ben Goldacre, who writes a column in the Guardian with this title, points out the flawed research methods used to prove the effectiveness of anti-ageing face creams, vitamin pills and alternative therapies such as homeopathy  It was very convincing and surprisingly funny, especially the chapter on Dr Gillian McKeith.  I shouldn't sneer though - there's a copy of  'You Are What You Eat' on my bookshelf and I once resorted to homeopathy when conventional medicine failed to sort out a medical problem.  After reading this I won't be taken in again nor will I bother forking out for Clinique. Will stick to my old favourite Oil of Ulay, which I notice is now called Olay. Presumably to make it more European like the transformation of Opal Fruits into Starburst and Marathon into Snickers.


This month's choice appeals to me a lot more.  I've loved Sue Townsend since the first appearance of Adrian Mole and the title of her latest book, The Woman Who Went to Bed for a Year,  is intriguing.  Could have applied to me in the last year as I seemed to spend a lot of time in bed, despite being a bit of an insomniac.  Prone to waking a 3am and then would lie half-asleep for a couple of hours worrying about things or inventing things to worry about.  Then tired the next day so I'd have an early night or, at weekends, a nap in the afternoon. So lots of wasted time in bed.  After watching a recent documentary on sleep problem, I have now cut down the amount of time I spend in bed.  Reckon I only need six hours sleep to function properly.   So now I use the time saved to write this blog instead of lying awake worrying. Anyway looking forward to reading about Sue Townsend's character.

No photos of me today.  Am mostly wearing repeat outfits from the minimalist wardrobe anyway.  Still haven't trained myself to mix and match separates and tend to wear the same tops with the same trousers etc.  My Spanish friend, on the other hand, seems never to wear the same thing twice.  Not quite sure how she manages this as her budget isn't much different to mine.  Here's tomorrow's  plan then for an outfit I haven't worn yet. Might change my mind if it turns cold again though and substitute a polo for the shirt.

Black/White Herringbone pattern jacket form Next

White Shirt, also Next

Marks and Spencer, Slim leg Black Trousers.

Project 333 - footwear crisis!

Item 7 M&S Suede skirt, Item 4  Lakeland Leather Jacket, Item 27 Next Black ribbed polo neck

Oh dear - bad hair day.  Thought twice about uploading this photo but currently no one looking at my blog so it doesn't matter much. Have to admit to cheating.  Current cold spell and melting snow have meant that shoes aren't much use and boots are required.  My Project 333 footwear section has two pairs of boots and one is a pair of ankle boots with heels.  Really not practical for current icy conditions (though it is thawing as I write).  What is more I simply cannot bring myself to wear ankle boots with skirts.  So added another pair of boots when I wore this outfit - brown leather ones with a bit of a heel from Gabor - which I had consigned to the spare room wardrobe.  Still sticking to 33 items as some of the clothes on the original list are unwearable in the current climate. So have put away Item 15 on the original list, (See post on 9th January) the Next White Shirt which hasn't been worn yet.

Have also had to resort to wellies as the journey from the car park into work, a mere 50 metres or so, has been so treacherous that I have needed something with a bit of grip. Haven't got anything else with proper tyre-style grippy soles so wore the wellies and changed when I got onto dry land.  These wellies, from Sainsbury's I think, are now a shared wardrobe item with Fashion Girl.

We are almost the same size in shoes, somewhere between 4 and 5. Sadly this does not apply to the rest of our bodies- she's a 6; I'm twice that.  But it does mean that I can just about squeeze into the most expensive pair of boots in the house - her Uggs.  She acquired these when they were the must-have wardrobe item a couple of years ago using a very sneaky tactic.  She sent me a begging letter by email, using paragraphs, connectives and persuasive devices.  Knows how to get round her English teacher mum. We forked out the £169 and didn't eat for a month.

Don't like the look of Uggs much, but do like the cosy sheepskin lining. She's not worn them much this year so am considering borrowing them. If I can force my feet into them, ugly sister-like. Might only be a 4 length wise but my feet expanded widthwise when I was pregnant and never went back. 

Will have to stick to the wellies.

On Blogging in Boden

 

My resolve has slipped.  Daily blogging not happening and alcohol abstinence also abandoned. Still enjoying writing this blog even if only a few intrepid explorers are viewing it. So will write as the muse strikes, rather than seeing it as a chore. And a couple of glasses of red at the weekend is actually beneficial to health so they say...

Above is chosen outfit for weekend drinks at a friend's house:  my recently purchased Boden print dress.  Still not sure about it  - going off this kind of dress though Fashion Girl approved of the the outfit.  (She went too - it was a parents and kids do - and wore her new T-shirt which says GEEK in large letters and a pair of geek-style fake glasses from Claire's to complete the look.) 

Somehow felt a bit frumpy in this dress beside the other mums there.  I'm the oldest as I didn't have Fashion Girl until I was 40 but usually manage to hide this with the help of hairdye and Spanx.  Certainly couldn't match the on trend dress from Zara worn by my style-icon Spanish friend.   It was knitted, so was suitably cosy for the weather and had faux leather sleeves. 

Johnny Boden is attempting to break my no shopping resolution by sending me tempting emails discounting the new collection.  After this weekend I may continue to resist and check out Zara instead.

Pri-marni and Me

Just walking into our local Primark store disturbs me.  There's just so much stuff jammed onto the rails and not much space between them.  Much prefer Jigsaw with those lovely wooden hangers and selection of lovely-but-out-of-my-budget clothes.

Not that I actually shop much in Primark. I know I shouldn't anyway - the clothes are cheap because some unfortunate workers are being exploited and underpaid; the quality is often poor and disposable fashion is bad for the environment.  But Fashion Girl is quite keen on it so did venture in there before Christmas to buy some stocking fillers for her.  Got a maroon pompom scarf, a pair of fingerless gloves with a nifty little hat you can pull over to transform them into mittens and a two pack of black sparkly socks all for around £10.  And she has a really useful hooded navy gilet which looks a lot like the £98 Jack Wills one which some of her friends own.  It was worn illegally the other day over her school tracksuit for outdoor PE. It was well worth the £12 it cost.

I'd be lying too if I claimed never to wear anything from Primark.  Most have been presents.  The pyjamas above were from my sister and are really cosy and cheerful with a bird print and a velvet ribbon at the waist.

I also have quite a few scarves, mainly presents from Fashion Girl.  The red, white and blue took me through jubilee summer and the nautical print one is lovely and silky.  Both seem well made and there's a lot of fabric for what they cost - less than a fiver each she tells me. 

But the Primark purchase I wear most is this silver/grey scarf which was originally bought by me for her but is now a shared wardrobe item.  It's kind of brocadey with a rose print and I like it because it sort of lifts things that might be too grey on their own.

So I'll be braving the crowds, chaos and clutter in Primark again. If my conscience lets me.

Grey M&S ribbed polo, Grey M&S wool dress, Grey M&S Waterfall Cardigan, Primark Scarf

Donkey jacket top from M&S

Bought my first item of clothing of the year yesterday.  Bit of an impulse buy as I spotted it while on the way to children's section where I purchased two non-matching Batman T-shirts for my twin nephews' 4th birthday. But I already know it was a good buy as I wore it right away today and it passed the test as it is warm, comfortable and stylish.  It's a black top from M&S which has leather (or leather look) panels on the shoulders in the style of a donkey jacket, though offically it is called a Slash Neck Ponte Top.

I wasn't quite sure what ponte is so I checked it out and the term refers to the fabric which is a kind of jersey - not as bulky as a jumper but thicker and warmer than cotton.  It's quite fitted too so I wore it tucked in to my Red/Black Geometric Print Skirt (Wardrobe Item 6). Also like the three quarter length sleeve.  Not sure about the leather trim at first but think it will look quite good too with my Next skirt with the leather trim on the waist and pockets.  So this item is added to the 33 to replace the black cotton long sleeve t-shirt (26) which is too chilly for the current weather.  No picture of me today - no time what with all the de-icing to be done this morning.

Brassed off with Clearing Clutter

  

 Clutter clearing in crisis - I'm not a natural at creating order as this fridge magnet given to me cheekily by a more organised relative suggests. Two weeks into term so the ironing board is permanently erected and piles of books, papers etc are scattered around the kitchen.  I'm too easily distracted, you see, and now that the initial enthusiasm has worn off, I'm falling back into bad old habits.  Today instead of clearing up I baked caramel squares (or millionaires' shortbread) for a charity cake sale.  Should have taken a picture but too late now as they have all gone.  Pretty good too even though I singed the shortbread slightly.

But some progress as I have decluttered the cupboard under the sink, the one that contains cleaning fluids, various dusters and dubious cloths.  It also contained about 25 empty jam jars carefully saved because of my intention to make my own jam.  As I child I remember how my granny had jar and jars of jewel-coloured jam -strawberry, raspberry, blackcurrant and gooseberry -  all made from fruit grown in the garden by Granda as we called him.  I long to recreate this idyll and did a couple of years ago make some strawberry preserve using a Delia recipe.  The house smelt divine, better than any overpriced scented candle, and I was transported back to my childhood in Northern Ireland.  But I only made a couple of jars.  I don't need 25, so I recycled them.

Out also went various bottles of unused, half-empty cleaning fluids.  But found it hard to part with this Brasso, which is practically antique.  Love the retro styling of the container.  It dates from the time I used to polish the brass on my front door, a messy business which wrecks your hands. I did this occasionally to please my mother in law, who sadly passed away a few years ago. Her door furniture was always gleaming and her kitchen immaculate: she even employed someone to clean her wheelie bin.  I fear I was a bit of a disappointment to her as I don't care very much about such things.  So I've kept the Brasso for now in homage to Hilda.

Here I am in my outfit of the day from the capsule wardrobe in front of one of my newly decluttered kitchen cupboards.

Item 9, Boden skirt, Item 25  Next blue long sleeved top, Item 10, M&S cardigan, 31. Gabor Black Patent Shoes.

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Warmth versus Style in Boden and Next

 

 Wardrobe items: 28, 14, 29

M&S Polo, Boden Tunic Dress, Black Patent Boots

My choice of clothing from the capsule warbrobe is a bit limited now that winter has started to bite: none of my dresses is particulary warm.  So on Friday I layered a grey polo under this Boden dress and added a necklace.  The dress looks better without the polo really - not sure this works.  But at least I was warm. Also added number 23 (it's like a takeaway menu), the M&S grey waterfall cardigan, at one point but then took it off in work when it warmed up and left it there in a classroom somewhere.  Hope it hasn't disappeared into lost property, buried under a pile of discarded blazers and smelly socks.  

Tan Ankle Boots form Clarks

Orla Keily Scarf

I also have a photo of Saturday's outfit but I look horrible so I won't print it.  Perhaps I should use headless photos which seem to be the practice in some of the fashion blogs I have read.  I put my denim shirt (17) over the black narrow leg trousers (21) and wore my tan ankle boots (30).  Would have been happier in jeans but Fashion Girl tells me double denim is not acceptable.  And these trousers didn't cover my ankle boots which are one of my favourite wardrobe items right now.  Added my lovely Orla Keily print scarf from Uniqlo.  It was a real bargain at only £9.99 -great quality for the price and everyone admires it.  Thanks again to Beth at Style Guile who blog spotted it and wrote about it in her blog.

On Sunday Fashion Girl said she'd choose my outfit.  Below is what she selected. No 16, the Teal Reindeer Print top from Next. With short sleeves.  Even layering it over a cami (underwear, so doesn't count in the 33), I was still freezing.  She of course never feels the cold and was wearing her usual shorts and tights combo. Sub-zero outside at that time so I added 22, Grey Cardigan and the scarf again for warmth and have felt cosy all day.   Not sure about the reindeer print when I first bought this top from Next.  Was it another item that was just for Christmas? But love the colour, the fabric and the shape - the way it flows out and then is nipped in again is very flattering.  And to be honest you can't see that they are reindeer unless you look closely.  In the Spring/Summer directory there's one with mini-elephants on it and a jumper with a huge cat on the front.  What is going on with animal thing?  The cat one is hideous.