Officially unemployed!!

    Yesterday was my last day at work, it was a long busy day and now it is all over! 15 years of hairdressing done! It was a very strange day, just felt a bit weir, sad with lots of goodbyes of course, but I've been doing that for weeks now! People have been so very kind though, I've had some lovely cards and presents plus so many flowers my house looks like a florists!! I did'nt really say goodbye to my work girls as I'm going back to have my hair done just before I leave so we've put off the farewells til then, that will be sad.  
                                   

I have beautiful blooms everywhere!

     So now I have two weeks to pack the house, move everything we are keeping out to my sis inlaws, who is very kindly storing the homeless items, and sort out everything else! Mr finishes work in two weeks time, no use him being off with me, whilst I pack, phone, email, sort, move he would be playing golf and watching TV!!! Better off out of my hair I think.

     I have list's coming out of my ears of all the people I need to contact, things I need to get, things that need to be done and everything regarding the house that needs to be cancelled! My sleeping pattern is a little off at the moment as you can imagine!!!  I'm just like Carrie in SATC when she keeps waking in the night but she was waking because nothing was wrong with Aidan, don't think my nocturnal awakenings are because my life is lacking in drama !!!!

You know I can't resist a little Sex and the City!!!

   But I now feel because work is now finished at least I can concentrate solely on what I need to do and I will actually make a start on what I can!

Enough of the stressfull stuff though, tomorrow night is party time again!! My dearest girl

friends are throwing me a farewell soiree. At first I was kept out of what was going on but then my bestest girl L decided it would be wise to let me in on it all. It's an 80's ski party!!! How hillarious this is going to be, the original plan was not to tell me and then dress me up when I got there, I cannot tell you how relieved I am to know!!!! It's frightening how I have managed to concoct an outfit from my wardrobe (plus a few little purchases) and lent some extra bits to my sis inlaw!!! That is bad eh? Not the first time I have lent friends my clothes for fancy dress either!!!!!!! When I put my outfit on last week, Mr 's reaction was a look of utter distaste and the words "you look terrible", mission accomplished me thinks!!!! So looking forward to it, I think it will be much fun!                        

Will we look this glam????

                                                        

      

Cocktail Hour.

    Well this saturday night just gone was the first of a few leaving do's, my work one. A cocktail party at mine was the order of the evening and a great evening it turned out to be. All my work girlies (minus a couple that unfortunately were out of the country) and a handful of friends plus a gallon or 10 of alcohol made a fun night for all.

The party always ends up the kitchen!

Me (far left) and my girls!

Sensible, sober ladies!



Mrs Fab (centre) and work girls.






Looking good despite the copious amounts of cocktails!

Oh to be young!!!

The lovely Samantha before the windmill!

        The whole evening I must say turned out to be a civilised, albeit a drunken, affair, bar one of my apprentices becoming a little green and making an early exit. It was nice to get all dressed up , the LBD seemed to be a popular choice and everyone looked great. Everyone was having fun and my poor neighbours must've thought there were a pack of screaming hiyenas taking over the house! It was just lovely to spend the evening with all the girls having a good old chat fuelled by some rather ridiculously strong cocktails, funny how the drunkest people are the ones who end up in charge of the drink mixing! I don't have to tell you how that turned out!

        As ever when there is too much alcohol there are always one or two things not to be repeated, all I am going to say is windmill and large breasts!! If you don't know what it is I am sure you will find out somehow but I shan't be the one to say!!!

        The boys gatecrashed our fun and frollicks at 1 am, luckily that was after the windmill, although had they had known I don't think they would've gone out at all! I thought we were drunk until they came stumbling into the house, will they ever learn??? ( Although I am in no position to judge!!!) I think they have realised that they are getting too old for night on the town where we live, coming in moaning about loud music!!!

         I finally got to bed about 3.45am after the clearing up and was pleasantly suprised to wake up minus a hangover, the same could not be said for Mr!!!!

         Hope you had a good weekend too.

The search for a SENSIBLE winter coat!!

   Right, if you are familiar with my blog, you will also be familiar with the fact that I do not always buy the most sensible option when I am meant to be making a practical purchase! You may aslo be familiar with the fact that I rather like Zara, and so the story begins again..................

   I am moving to the French Alps in 3 weeks, I will be living in a winter wonderland all shiny and snow covered (and freezing cold and icey, but hey), so I have been on the search for a practical, warm but stylish coat. I intend to bring a little glamour and style to ski resort wear, No fleeces, No ugly footwear and No 'comedy' headwear, No unisex outerwear!!!!
                                                                
                                                                           

Casual but cool.

                                          

   So today I bought a lovely double breasted camel swing coat from Zara, I must add at this point egged on by Mr (shocking!!! He practically breaks out in hives at the thought of shopping, but he was so hungover I think he was still drunk!!!). I had tried on the down filled padded, black, hooded coat about 10 times but I dunno it just is'nt me. Bit like with the boot buying expedition (see a couple of posts back), before I knew it the camel coat was on with thoughts of gorgeous layers of scarves and hats and long leather gloves. The padded coat hanging there looking like the ugly duckling, no amount of sequin beret's, cashmere scarves and butter soft leather gloves are going to turn this poor little coat into a beautiful swan.  

                                                                   

D&G gets snow style right.

                                       

                                        
    Also in the defence of the camel swing coat, roomy sleeves and swinging style means more room for layers and lovely knitwear underneath! The padded coat just did'nt have a chance, plus I did neglect to mention that I actually do already have a slightly padded, khaki, hooded parka already hanging in my wardrobe that I bought a few years back for a skiing trip! Whoops!!!!!!!!!

Warm and stylish

                                

Lovely layers and not a padded coat in sight!

                                          

    Have you treated yourself to a new winter coat?

Nearly there.

      Apologies for the lack of blogging once again, I haven't had a chance to catch up on anyone elses blogs either so am feeling right out of the loop!!! I have been run off my feet, crazy busy at work, with just one more week left its been incredibly busy and that equals stupidly late nights and early starts!!! To top it all off I am throwing a cocktail party for my work leaving do this saturday, so I have quite alot to do! Couple that with the house sale, the constant chasing of solicitors is just so time consuming and frustrating!!!! But at least the sale is going smoothly and we are on schedule to complete as we leave around mid november! Luckily the buyers are actually having the majority of my furniture too so thats one more thing sorted. My list of 'things to do' seems to be growing though!

      I am off to London today for the Ski & Snowboard Show at Olympia so that should whet the appetite some what!! Thats just going to make it all feel a little more real I think and make it even more exciting!!! The trouble with seeing all the new ski clothing though is that I am going to want all new things, it happens everytime that I go!! Must be good!!!! Going to go a little early though so I can have a quick nose around Kensington High St, would be rude not too, also I actually do still need a new coat so there I have a valid reason!

      Will be posting all about the party after the weekend, I am sure there may be a drunken story or two to tell!!!  Think we'll have some outfit posts too!!

      Hope you all have a good weekend,
     
      e xxx

So much to do and practical boots, aghh.........

        Things have been a little busy of late, so between that and the fact that my internet connection has not been working properly means I haven't had a chance to blog. With only 2 more weeks of work to go things are obviously a little crazy there and now with only 4 weeks til we leave for France weekends are flat out too catching up with friends and family, seeing as much as we can of everyone. Oh and there's all the little things like packing the house, getting all the final paperwork things in order, chasing solicitors, getting all our affairs in order, sorting out international banking, etc etc etc.......................
You get the idea!

I am trying to keep calm doing lots of yoga, not juggling my own babies but trying to make the most of the little ones surrounding me whilst they are still little!

      

Amongst all of this obviously the auntumn winter finery has been hitting the shops and well you know I'm gonna need some new bits for the next few months ahead, it's gonna be cold, so new jumpers, cardi's, boots, coats. I have been good, recycling I like to call it, it's name is ebay. Out with old and in with the new, I am only spending what I have earnt (on ebay!!!) so thats not really spending is it???

Too many boots? What moi????

  So the essential item for any budding seasonarire is a pair of good, solid, sensible boots, snow proof, steady on the ice, warm and cosy. I should probably point out at this point sensible footwear does'nt really exist in my volcabulary, in 10 years of going skiing, spending at least a week a year in snow drenched mountain villages with virtually solid ice under foot I must admit I haven't ever bought a proper pair of snow boots or taken any appropriate footwear with me. I have a snug (but ugly) pair of classic Uggs and last year bought a pair of ankle biker boots which have a slight grip (that is useless!!!) but they are more for style than practicalities. I have skidded all over the Alps, Canada and Pyreneese in kitten heeled ankle boots, platform knee highs, four inch heeled pirate boots, suede thigh highs and slipped around in a pair (incredibly uncomfortable) Converse hi tops!!! So I was thinking it may be time to try out these sensible, flat, grippy  

boots that everyone else seems to be happily stomping around in seen as I'm gonna be there for six months of slipperiness!

Ahh Louboutins!!!

Choo's anyone?

   So off to the shops I trot after trawling the wonderful world of online shopping, but after much looking, trying on and pondering, I decide (once again!) I'm just not that sort of gal! Bugger it, it is just not me to clomp around in what can only be described as boot carnage! Everytime I was looking at sensible (ugly) boots, I was like a moth to a flame and the next thing I knew I was standing there with high heeled beauties actually on my feet with the ugly flatties sitting on the shelf looking down disaprovingly at me.

You don't really need me to tell you how this little tale ends, but just for the record I'd better had.

•  Pair 1- Brown leather lace up high heeled hiker, great grip with chunky 3 inch heel. ( I can walk in the snow in these I am sure!)
• Pair 2- Classic black knee high with 3 inch heel. Legs stay dry!( for not so icey days!) 
• Pair 3- Brown beaten leather pull on western style knee highs, chunky wooden 3 inch heel perfect for snow. (Hmmm, nice and casual though!) 
• Pair 4- Black leather ankle wedge boot. ( come on they are practically flat!!!!)

      Did I say I went looking for 1 pair of sensible snow boots???

So long, Farewell......

       Well I have just 4 weeks tomorrow until my last day at work. I cannot believe it has come round so quickly. As a hairdresser I see my clients every 3-8 weeks so time flies as I am always looking 12-16 weeks ahead. Over the (many) years I have made some great friends and have enjoyed getting to know everyone and hearing all about their lives. I announced that I was leaving at beginning of the year and was pleasantly suprised to get a very positive response (maybe they'd had enough of me!!!!). But over the last couple of weeks I have started seeing people for the last time. It is really quite sad to be saying goodbye, last night I was nearly reduced to tears by one lovely lady, christ know's what I'll be like on my last day!! But I've been giving them all my blog address so hopefully they'll stop by and we'll stay in touch.

      But there is another goodbye today too, some very special friends of Mr & mine's are leaving for Kuwait tomorrow. They are a lovely couple we met in Australia 8 years ago when we were all travelling. We have stayed in contact and it is always great to meet up even if it's not for months on end . They had a lovely little girl a year ago and have made wonderful parents. Then earlier in the year they were offered an opportunity in the middle east which was too good to refuse so off they are going. It is a great chance for them and I admire them for going for it, especially with a little one, but hey you only live once eh? So I wish them a safe journey, and I just know we will see them soon one way or another.

Just a little fix!

  

       Well for those that have read my blog you will know that I have an obsession with Sex and the City, but after the excitement of the summer film it's been all quiet on the SATC front. Imagine my delight when I came across this,

      
                         Oh I sooo want this!!! Available from amazon.

Julie and Julia.

    There is one thing I have been meaning to do for some time. I have been desperate to see the Julie & Julia film with Meryl Streep as Julia Child, the famous american french cook, and Amy Adams as Julie Powell, cookery blogger extraordinair!!
     So last saturday night whilst Mr was inebrieated somewhere in London I finally curled up on the sofa  with this most wonderful film. I must say it was every bit as fantastic as I thought it would be, Meryl Streep is brilliant as the charming, full of beans Ms Child and Amy Adams' Julie feels like she would make a lovely friend.

The perfect casting!

        The fact that it is based on the true stories of these two women makes it even more heart warming, coupled with the most fabulous french cullinary masterpieces and Julia's late 1940's wardrobe it is just a winner all round. Factor into it the power of the bloggosphere and it just has you hook, line and sinker!
        Whilst watching it it makes you want to live in Paris and New York (not suprising for moi!!), makes you want to learn how to bone a duck and cook beouff bourguignon ( I am a vegan!!) and  I have become ever so slightly obsessed with looking up Julia Child recipes on you tube and am now putting 'Mastering the art of French Cooking vol 1' and Julia Child's biography on my christmas list!!!

I love that Julia/Meryl is wearing a heart for st valentines!

        I also feel as if I want to follow in Julie Powell's footsteps and attempt to cook the gastronomic creations! On sunday I went out to specifically buy butter, white pepper and white wine in an attempt to make beurre blanc!!!! On sunday afternoon I found a couple of recipes and spent the best part of  two hours making salmon with beurre blanc accompanied by garlic mash and steamed greens. I spent an hour reducing white wine, white wine vinegar and minced onion then adding butter cube by cube only to have the sauce split 5 mins before serving!!!  Meanwhile I simmered garlic cloves in cream for 45 mins to add to the mash a la Julia (once again I must add that I am meant to be vegan!!!). It was delicious!

I am now channeling Julie/Amy!!!

   So you may have gathered that I enjoyed this very much, If you haven't seen it I urge you to grab yourself a copy (mine was £5 in the supermarket) settle down on the sofa with a nice glass of vin!

   Have you seen it??

Things are looking up!

   Just when it feels like the world is against you something happens and all of a sudden things get back on track. With now just 8 weeks till departure everything is finally sorting itself out. The house is SOLD!! (again!) Trying not to get too excited but a very short chain, our buyers have a buyer purchasing their property for their daughter with no mortgage and our buyers have a huge deposit and have their mortgage is good to go. I know alot could happen but fingers crossed!!!

  
   The next thing is I will finally be back on the road this evening in a big safe 4x4 so any young boys speeding in their little hatchbacks better get out of my way!!!! I am not a car person, as long as it is a dark colour, newish and does'nt look like its designed for the aged I don't really mind or care. I have only owned a few cars since I passed my test 13 years ago as I would rather spend the money on holidays and shoes! But a strange thing is although I consider myself an independent young woman able to say what I think, run a business, do as I please and generally look after myself without relying on a man, car's are where I have a bit of a wobble. I always feel the mechanics, salesmen etc see you coming and think they can pull a fast one. And in all honesty they probably bloody could, who am I to argue? I have not one iota what they are on about or what I am looking for. But today I have successfully test driven, asked the required questions (blagged big time) and secured a rather good deal (hopefully???) all on my lonesome!! What a clever girl! The funny thing is this is the biggest most manly car I've ever owned!!!! It'll probably blow up on the way home!

Should keep us safe in the snow!

                                              
 Does anything make you feel like a little girl lost?

Another favourite place of mine.

   A love affair with Italy, Oh I am in love. Mr and I first went to Italy 3 years ago and it was just the most wonderful place in the whole world. It lives up to every stereo type you ever hear about, gorgeous cities, gorgeous food, gorgeous beaches, gorgeous people........bellisimo!!

Trevi Fountain.

The Pantheon.

Inside the Vatican City.

The magnificent Colliseum.

  
     Our 1st stop was 3 nights in Rome which was just stunning, I decided after stepping out of the taxi on our arrival at our hotel that this was the place for me. Everywhere you look it just feels like you are surrounded by history and beautiful architecture, amazing. It is simply breathtaking. I feel I could wander those streets forever and never ever become tired of those wonderful sights.

Positano from the sea.

The view from our balcony.

The view from the pool.

    
     We then had 4 nights in Positano which must be quite frankly one of the most amazing places on the Amalfi coast. Built up in to the rocks and cliff face, the whole place is a maze of little lanes and alleyways crammed with incredible resturants and fabulous shops ( Fendi? Prada? anyone?), all built around the gorgeous little bay and beach. The perfect place to relax and forget all about real life. Sigh.........................  

     Have you been to Italy?

One of my favourite places in the world.

 
I love to travel. I love to see new places. I love to immerse myself in new cultures. The sights, the sounds and the smells of a new land is just so exciting. I have been very lucky to travel to lots of wonderful places, some have been holidays and some whilst on a gap year but all (well most) have left me with wonderful memories so I thought that I would share some of my favourites with you.

  One very special place was Morocco, this is where Mr and I spent our honeymoon. We had 2 amazing nights in Marrakech then 5 nights on the coast in Essouria. It felt like we were stepping back in time, but with fabulous decor courtesy of Mr & Mrs Smith.

Our beautiful Riad in Marrakech.

Djamaa El Fna

The Majorelle Gardens, home of the late great YSL.

  
   Marrakech  really is an assault on the senses, stunning leathers, towering spices, mountains of olives, glimmering metal work and animal intestines dripping on to the path!!  The amazing thing was that everyone selling their wares be it gorgeous lanterns or scrawny caged chickens co-exists without batting an eyelid. You get the feeling things have'nt changed much here whilst the rest of the world is whizzing by. But then you go for dinner and a huge red velvet curtain is pulled to one side and you enter an incredible dining room that would rival those of  New York or London, whilst next door someone is stoking their coals on the doorstep. Just incredible.

Essouria port.

Our terrace in the ramparts, perfect for a sun downer.

 
    Essouria is little less known which makes it feel like a sleepy fishing town, a very laid back vibe which was very popular in the 60's and 70's with the bohemian crowd and you can see why. Lazy lunches in the afternoon heat overlooking the harbour and strolling along the miles of sandy beach (although a little windy, this is the atlantic after all). Relaxing on the many roof terraces watching the sunset over the medieval ramparts, and all finished off with an incredible meal tucked away down an alleyway in the medina.  Ahh.....
  
   Do you have a favourite place?  And where did you spend your honeymoon?

Soup Kitchen part 1.

 As mentioned previously I do love to cook and this time of year when the weather starts to turn theres nothing that I like better (well kitchen wise that is) than making soup. Every week I make a different soup for my weeks lunches. So I thought I would share one of my favourites, roasted squash.

Take,
2 squash, I used one butternut and one harlequin.
1 tin of chopped tomatoes.
2 medium potaoes.
3 garlic cloves.
1 tbsp fennel seeds.
1 ltr of boullion vegetable stock.
Salt and pepper to season.

• 1st pre-heat the oven to 200, meanwhile cut the squash in half, remove seeds and season.
• Place in oven proof dish and roast for approx 30/40 mins until soft.
• Whilst the squash is roasting dice the potatoes, slice the garlic, grind the fennel seeds and make up your stock.
• Add the potatoes, garlic, stock and tomatoes to a large pan, bring to a boil then simmer for 20 mins.
• Add your ground fennel seeds.
• By now your squash should be done so scoop the flesh out (mind your fingers, hot stuff!) and add to the pot.
• Simmer for 10 more minutes, then remove from the heat and blend!
• Season to taste and enjoy with some crusty bread. 

   Hope you like it! e xx

Bad Times.

   

  I don't like to sound like I am always moaning but blimey things are sent to try us at times eh? At the start of the year Mr and I invested in a practical and safe new car for our journey to the alps in november. We have approx 690 miles to drive so my trusty little corsa was probably not the best choice! We luckily have some friends in the business and managed to get a more sensible car to take with us.
  I've been happily driving back and forth to work in the new vehicle, was quite happy with it and most importantly it was roomy enough for all our belongings (plus, err a few pairs of boots!!). Also it was one of the things on my list of things to do done, all sorted move on to the next item.

  So imagine just how annoyed, let alone shaken up and a little shocked when some young lad ploughed into the side of me at 50mph whilst I was going round a roundabout last sunday!!! Luckily nobdy was injured, god knows how. So with everyone in one piece the police left us to it.

Lucky I was driving really, Mr's leg would probably have got caught in that door.

     
    I contacted my insurers and was reassured that they would do what they had to do and I would hear from them within 24 hrs about a replacement vehicle. I was stupidly under the impression that that was the worst of it and I could leave it to the proffessionals!!! Oh how wrong was I.
   To cut a long ( I am not kidding) story short, the insurers have decided it was my fault although I was half way round the roundabout, and despite the fact that there are skid marks courtesy of the other vehicle for about 10 meters before he hit me and these were going through the middle of the mini roundabout, and the fact that it is a residential road with a speed limit of 30mph! And we had witnesses. But the bastards had already admitted liability on my behalf before Mr emailed them the photos and then when I (rather furiously) enquired why the hell, they told me the details they had on the system were that I pulled out from a parked position!!!!!! Quite frankly this means I am not entitled to a courtesy vehicle as it was 'my fault'. The car is also deemed a write off. Aghhhhh.
    Nothing is ever simple, we now have a hire car as an act of good will from the insurers as I refused to hang up until I had a replacement car, but if I reject their 1st offer to cover the cost of my car the hire car agreement becomes void!
     So enough about that, we also thought we were on to a winner with the house sale when a couple came round and loved it, even put a note through the door to see if they could come back the next day. Trying not to get our hopes up, they came back, loved it. Had an offer 2 days later, 30k under the asking price! WTF? We then found out their max budget was 25k under our price!!!!! But we do have a secound viewing tomorrow from a couple that have sold, they have told the agent it is their favourite so fingers crossed. We are getting closer to going now and if we don't sell by the end of the month then we will be renting the house out, not ideal but a solution to a problem. Nothing is gonna stop us going now and after all this it can't come round quick enough!!!

My little friend Zara.

    I love Zara, I have quite an unhealthy obsession and am now rather excited to hear that they will at long last be selling online from the 2nd of september!!!! Yay!!
   They have some gorgeous new stock in and I can't wait for them to chuck out that dreay left over sale stock and get all the rest of the new lovely autumn/winter stuff out on the shop floor!!
    Here's a little peek at some of the A/W lookbook......

Comfy!

Love, love, love this leather skirt!

Nice!

Friday Night Fun.

Mmm good starting point!

   
  A little story of  2 ladies, too many drinks and some press ups.
   
     My friend L and I  are always ever so organised on the social diary front. We always make sure we have dates booked in in advance to make sure we get together as often as possible, we both enjoy a drop of good food and don't shy away from drink or two. So this friday night just gone started out the same as normal, dinner at a new riverside restaurant in our home town with plans to have a few drinks after. There were us plus our Mr's until my Mr found out he was meant to be on a stag do (men are so unorganised!!), so no probs we bought the dinner forward to 7oc so that the boys could bugger off early and join in the hijinks of the stag do.
    A lovely dinner was had by all, by 8.15 L and I had polished off the 1st bottle wine and as we were'nt rushing off decided we had better order another to keep us going. 9oc and the boys made their excuses and left us to it, it was around this point that L and I admitted we were already feeling a little squiffy!
    I should add at this point by this age I really should know when I've had enough but it never seems to happen!! Oh well.
    We left (or rather stumbled, probably) the restaurant and settled ourselves in a nice bar where we seemed to drink our body weight in, L- vodka, Moi -gin but, considering, I think we were holding up ok. It was lovely to have a good old chat just the two of us, and make the most of what time I have left with my friends before I leave in november.

What we shoulda had!!!

                                                  

    Around 12.30 we decide time for a change of scenery and obviously a few more beverages (like we needed it!!!), so off  we go to another bar which is almost always full of protentious arseholes but the decors nice and they do a mean cocktail so us girls always like it!! We headed off into the cocktail lounge where we ordered ourselves mojitos, as mentioned before the place does attract wankers and at the bar seemed to be the biggest of them all, what on earth makes these tossers think we are interested in one word they have got to say is beyond me, but hey ho.
     We were minding our own business, when the aformentioned tosspot kinda lunged himself at us and announced he was buying our drinks, wanker. We ignored him and turned back to the barman who was making our drinks, neither remotely resembled a mojito, I was told by the barman they were making us something else as they were out of mint, he seemed totally oblivious to the fact that I did'nt order something else and was handed a muddy looking concoction of drunk in a glass!!! (vodka, gin, tequila, bacardi, lime and coke) whilst I was having a one way conversation about the drink that not only I did not order but did not want, the knobhead that was pestering us had dropped to the floor to do press ups, WTF?????  Was that meant to impress us? Bloody hell, it was just embarassing but hugely amusing to see someone making such an ass of himself. What had we done to deserve such attention. We let him pay for the drinks as we did'nt want them (although by this drunken point we drank them anyway!! Oops), and then disapeared before he could annoy us any further. Where waiting for us was one more tosser, blimey. At this point we decided to call it a night and go home, I finally made it to bed just before sun rise. A good night was had by all.

Maybe this is where Mr Universe shoulda been doing his press ups!