Words are just dust in deserts of sound

Hello campers

The Nation clan have just returned from a little jaunt up to Northumberland, one of our favourite little getaways. 

These were taken on the first night after a long drive and a couple of glasses of wine

Top & blazer - Primark

Skirt & necklace - charity shop

Brooch - Two Squirrels Vintage

Due to it being forecast to be one of the hottest weekends of the year so far, I thought I'd travel light and only pack a minimum of clothing.  It meant I ended up wearing the same things over and over but hey, less washing.  One of the tops I packed was this one I'm sporting...

...which used to look like this

A bogstandard men's t shirt from the charity shop.  I was drawn to the 'Refreshers' logo, ya know with my fondness for sweeties and all, but I tend not to wear t-shirts.  Answer?  Get scissor happy.

Admittedly I got a bit too scissor happy and ended up having to wear a vest underneath to preserve my modesty!  Still, I'll get much more wear out of this version, so jobsagoodun.

 

Do you recognise the necklace?  Yup, it's the one Vix sent me.  Isn't it fab.  I think it has a touch of the Ziggy Stardust about it which made wearing it even more fun

Top & skirt - charity shop

Leggings - can't remember

Necklace - Vix

Sandals - Dotty P's

On the way there we stopped at the services and I was beside myself with excitement to find this in the newsagents

A special edition of Metal Hammer magazine dedicated to "The Cure & The Story of the Alternative 80's" 

This took care of my reading material for the weekend!!

Special nod to Helga!

We visited all our favourite places and I took lots of photos, trying to get to grips with the 'Hipstamatic' camera app

We visited my one of my favourite ever bookshops, Barter Books, in Alnwick

A converted Victorian railway station piled high with all the books you could ever wish for. 

As far as the eye can see

   I could have spent all day in here, and that's just in the vintage children's annual section!

It has such a laid back and pleasant atmosphere with benches, tables and chairs dotted about for anyone to sit and read for as long as they wish.  Miss 5 spent was delighted to spend her time in the children's section which was full of little ride on toys and children lounging on beanbags reading or being read to by their parents.  Great stuff.

Incidentally, it is from this particular bookshop that the now ubiquitous 'Keep Calm & Carry On' phenomenon had it's modern day beginnings.  

This smoothie bar and cafe was a real find.  I'd definintely go back there.  They had the most yummy smoothies and a mouth watering collection of freshly made bakes, cakes and pastries.  I want to open my own place like this!

So all in all a gorgeous weekend.  Yes there was the odd torrential downpour and I was grateful I'd thrown the wellies in at the last minute, but most of the time the sun was cracking the flags.  

And that's about it from our little weekend, save to show you my nails, which I was very proud of

I knew I wanted to paint them black with some pink and blue accents but I wasn't sure where I was going with it, so I just 'freestyled' and hoped for the best.   When I'd finished, I realised my nails reminded me of liquorice allsorts!  Yay, sweeties!


I'll be taking a wee bloggy break for the rest of the school holidays to enjoy some family time and get myself organised!  So, enjoy the rest of August and I'll see you in September

Lucy xxx

Keep Calm & Carry On

I've decided I want to live in a Carry On Film.  A brighter, uber colourful, kitschtastic version of the real world where nothing bad ever really happens and tense situations always end with a bun fight

I'd go back to Carry On Loving and live in this flat

Isn't it perfect?

 

Oh but I love Esme Crowfoot's pink palace too

I'd let the philandering old men and young boobalicious nymphettes get on with it

I'd be busy having cocktails in this bar every night

Fnaar!

Joan Hickson is a legend!

I want to live in Carry On world.  Anyone want to join me?

Lucy x

On a plain

Happy Monday everyone!

Here are some recent work outfits, this is from last week

 

I bought this dress in the sales thinking it would be ideal for work but when I looked back at these photos, I just wasn't sure.  The shape of it just seems designed to draw attention to my ample chest from every angle.  While wearing it I felt like I'd inserted a pair of  comedy breasts inside my dress... Blackadder style 

Found here

Dress - Next sale

Leggings - goodness knows

Beads - charity shop

Bag - Primark (with charity shopped scarf)

Shoes - Ebay

I think it's possibly cut in too narrowly on the shoulders and buttoned up too high but it made me realise one thing...  I am definitely ready for colder weather!  Do I talk about the weather too much on this blog?  I suspect I do.  I posted here about the dread I feel every year when the spectre of 'summer' is on the horizon.   I've realised that it's not that I don't like sun and brightness, I just don't like humid and humid, unfortunately, is a word that sums up British 'summertime'.  That and the fact that I just want to wear cardigans again!

Here's what I wore today

Yes the opaques and brogues are out already

Nothing exciting.  You've seen the dress before, a few posts ago.  I just feel so much more comfortable in this outfit.  I can't wait to be able to layer it up with cardigans and scarves and brooches galore!

Dress - charity shop

Tights - don't know

Brogues - Next, years ago

In other news, I was recently tagged by fellow tree dweller Gem and our own pink haired artist extraordinaire Clare with the following awards

 

 

You probably already follow them but if you don't, what are you waiting for?  Be off and follow them at once!

Here are my 7 random facts:-

1.  I hate diet coke.

2.  I love cherry coke

3.  My natural hair colour is mousey blonde.  I've been dying it since I was 12

4.  I hate moths - they're evil

5.  Among many others, I currently love the words - nonsensical, disquietude, avuncular, spry and  plinth.

6.  I have just read George Orwell's Nineteen-Eighty-Four for the first time (I know, I know, I've been in a coma all my life) and it BLEW MY MIND.  I am poised to devour Orwell's entire literary back catalogue and I have added the 1984 film adaptation starring John Hurt to my rental queue

7.  Despite my initial indifference, I have really enjoyed the London 2012 Olympic Games and I think they've been great for the country

I'll leave you with a quote from Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian which I think sums it up:-

A glorious celebration of a forward-looking, outward-looking attitude, a multi-ethnic identity, confidence and self-belief. Irony and cynicism have been suspended for a fortnight, and it's remarkable how we easily learned to live without them.

Couldn't have put it better myself.

Have a great week

 

Lucy x