Seventies Star!

This is one of my oldest soft toys. Known as Mrs Mouse, she is a groovy 70s mouse in bright geometric patterns. I also inherited a cuddly dog in almost the same pattern, could they be from the same shop? Are these fab toys still available? Does anyone else have any like these?

Looking out a dirty old window

Anyone who follows me on facebook may have come across my cryptic references to Window Puddy. I watch WP from my kitchen window, and he watches birds, cars and the comings and goings in my street. He keeps very regular hours, but sometimes varies the window he views from.

Anyway, here he is.

Reading the Eighteenth Century

After watching a fantastic BBC4 programme about the history of the novel, I vowed to read a novel from the C18th. I have read Clarissa (short version, original is eight volumes!) and...er...Fanny Hill (yes, it's C18th porn), The Castle of Otranto (pioneering gothic novel) and planned to read Tom Jones or Tristram Shandy. However, I was daunted by the giant size of both and instead bought Evelina by Frances Burney. It's a rom-com by an author who was greatly admired by Jane Austen.

The One that got away

I admit it, I'm a bit of an ebay nut. I like nothing better than trawling for vintage clothes and accessories, old books and random knicknackery. Sometimes, however the cut and thrust auctioneering world is a little harsh. This is the one that got away; a lovely 1950s evening dress. No, I didn't 'need' it and it sold for £72 but part of me still laments it. Anyway, here is a fond mind image of me drifting elegantly around in it.

New new blog

As I lay in bed this morning, pondering the unexcitingness that is my blog, my better half had a fantastic idea....why not illustrate it myself? So I whipped out my old watercolour paintbox (which I've had since I was about 10) and daubed an illustration to the last entry I made. Here it is. From now on, readers will have the dubious pleasure of illustrations by me, hopefully on a weekly basis.

Anonymous Style Icons

I was walking through the town centre today and was fascinated to spot a lady who I often see around. She was wearing (as always) a fabulous outfit of vintage ginger long fur coat, leopard print booties and had a huge and intricate beehive hairdo. I was consumed with curiosity, who is she? Sometimes you see interestingly dressed people and want to know who they are, or is that just me? When I used to spend a lot of time in the Aberdeen Reference Library I used to see a dashing man in all over tartan/punk wear. Likewise, while waiting in Dundee Law Library, I was secretly always watching for a girl with neon pink hair and a black rubber backpack with spikes. She made me want to have pink hair, but I never dared. And on a different note, when I was in Orchar Park in Broughty Ferry, very near where I used to live, I sometimes used to see a girl who looked Just Like Me which was a rather disturbing experience.

Passion for Polishes

Ever since I was about 14 I have had an obsession with nail varnish. I remember standing on the hockey field as a total geek in school and yet having bright fuschia pink nails. Made me feel better. I like nail polish cos its more like a clothing thing; you can wear any colour. These days my brand of choice is Opi which I buy in John Lewis. They do new themed 'collections' every season and the names are terrible puns which amuse me. They also do unusual textures like matte, suede and a crazed effect but i haven't tried those yet. Their website: http://www.opi.com/

They do lots of weird and wonderful colours, my latest buy being the (apparently hugely trendy) 'You don't know Jacques'. It's sort of grey brown which I thought would go with whatever I am wearing. It's pictured at the top of the blog. I have lots of other strange colours too, mainly for toenails, turqoise, navy, blue, gold, and lots of bright glamourous red. As I have quite a manual job I usually wear neutral pink/beige type colours on my fingers unless it is for a special occasion.