The old tatty bag came out for the express purpose of holding any junk that the boys might bring back with them. And the espadrilles were to hand so they went on the feet. They don't go with what I'm wearing but they are comfy and offer a little covered up protection from tickly grass (I'm one of those people who can't walk around in bare feet on grass - a little bit too close to bug life for my liking). Where possible, I also lay a plastic bag on the grass to sit on. The thought of real ants in pants makes me antsy (geddit)?

I have to say, I'm pretty impressed with the school fair this year - we had Maypole dancing, we had a dance team there to entertain, we had stalls and games aplenty to raise money for the school and what did my boys enjoy the most? Cupcake decorating. Who would have thought?



Anyway, I made a friend whilst I was sat watching the entertainment. He seemed quite taken with me.


Second time in a week with a drink. Crikey - you're going to start thinking I'm a bit of a lush!

Anyway, I've been racking my brains. We've had view from the loo, feet on the street, well my latest is lass on the grass. What do you think?

I wanted to wear a dress the other day but I didn't want to wear a short dress. For some reason, I wasn't in the mood for a bit of knee flashing. I didn't get on with my navy jersey maxi as it is rather plunging and I didn't want to wear a floral one as I wasn't feeling that way inclined. So I dug out a very old French Connection black linen maxi that I have never worn in the ten years I have had it. I don't even know why I still have it in my possession but I keep thinking, I'm sure it will come in to it's own one day ...  let's try today!

Blogging is a funny old business isn't it? For some people they use it as means to keep in touch with loved ones from afar, for some it's been a lifeline and therapy to be able to voice fears and find support, for some people it's their business and livelihood and for me? Well it's become an opportunity to link up with lovely likeminded people I would never have had the opportunity to meet let alone know they exist. Like Joanna from Poppys Style for instance.

I've met Joanna before in February when there was a gaggle of us all meeting up in London. It was fun and manic but I only managed to spend about 10 minutes chatting to her and I felt I'd missed out somewhere along the way. Then she said she was in the country again and had a day free. What's a girl to do but suggest a get together?

And we agreed to meet in Leeds - yay! And with kids in tow - oh! 

Anyway, a couple of snaps of what I wore before I headed out the door .....

This is my first pic of Joanna outside the agreed meeting place - Harvey Nicks! Where else???

And before that, we had "The Chat". The chat where George was bribed with the possibility of two Kinder eggs if he was on his best behaviour today. And I was rather amused to find that Joanna had had the same chat with her two though what bribes she used, I'm not sure. I was also told by Joanna that in America, Kinder eggs are outlawed but you can have a gun. I'm trying (very hard) to see the sense and logic in that.

We decided to decamp in Giraffe - it looked like somewhere which could cope with our motley crew and we had the most accommodating lovely waitress called Rosie (Hi Rosie, if you're reading! Please get started on writing your blog!) who really looked after us even though we trashed/destroyed/bombsited the place by the time we left (sorry ... really sorry). The children were really well behaved or as well behaved as could be expected for three caged animals for three hours. Enough time for that bottle of white wine to be drunk which Joanna insisted we have.

Little Angels. Ha ha ha.

We chatted and chatted about everything we possibly could in the time we had. We did a lot kid cajoling, we let them eat pancakes, chips and ice cream and gave them everything they could want so we could drink our wine "peacefully". In the same boat - you'd do the same right?

Oh yes, talking about the wine. I was only going to have the one as I'm a bit of a lightweight but Joanna was terribly persuasive about how it's cheaper by the bottle. So one phone call later to a rather bemused Grumps meant that he was driving the car home for me (thank you and I love you!).

Anyway, the day ended far too quickly for us both and not quickly enough for the small people. This is George and Hugh doing the great escape!

• I woke up this morning and the fog lifted. I'm returning them - I'm not going to get the wear out of these. But I like them and can recommend them to anyone else who will get the wear out of them. I think I'm a Converse girl really.

• I will probably regret my decision after. As usual.

Persian red and ecru. Ring any bells? Remember my disaster with my Persian red and ecru breton from Saint James? Well guess what? I had a disaster with my second one .... and my third one too. Yes, there was a third.

The second Breton I ordered was not from Atterley Road but a company called Olive Clothing. I ordered what I thought would be the size down from the first one. Hmm. The two stores operate on different sizing for the tops - I didn't expect that one to come and bite me.

I ended up with a top two sizes down from the first one which I could barely get over my bootay. Snug as a bug with fat hips in a rug. So back it went.

But I did manage to satisfy the persian red and ecru colourway in the guise of another garment. Hallelujah! But that's another story.

• Still love Atterley Road. I sent them a tweet about my blog on the Saint James tee and they replied! I'm so used to tweeting in to the ether that on the whole I don't bother but I'm trying to get down with the young'uns and this social media gumph. Three tweets a day - I set my targets low and I still miss.

• And yes again - they are fast on the delivery front. Can't fault them on that at all.

If like me, you go to bed with your feet hanging out for fear of smudging your freshly done pedi, you need a bottle of this stuff. Seche Vite Top Coat. This stuff works. Nice sized brush, super quick drying times, lovely shine! I know - I've tested it!

Picture Credit : Thewhitewhiteshirt.tumblr.com

So she's just a teeny bit cool. An iddy biddy bit.

Whistles Freya Shirt (no longer online)

It's taken me a long time to get on board with this white shirt thing. White shirts are one of those things which appear on those lists along with a trench, little black dress, grey cashmere jumper etc etc - you know - the list of perennial classics. I knew I wanted one but I was in no hurry because I would have said they are actually quite challenging to wear outside of the work place. If you want a sort of formal white shirt/blouse for work, there are plenty to be found. But a good white casual shirt for a SAHM - they're a bit slim on the ground.

I thought I found "the one" last year in Zara. A relaxed fit and made in a kind of ramie type fabric which I thought would soften with a wash and wear - a bit like a linen shirt after you've worn it for a couple of hours and your body heat has relaxed the fibres and then it takes on that funny acceptable crumpledness. The fit was almost there ... almost. A couple of weeks later, I did what I always do when I'm not sure about something - I returned it. I contemplated the perfect white oxford shirt from Gap too. I love my blue version but I didn't get on with the white - it looked too officey. So that was a no go too. And any other ones I came across were either too detailed/stiff/formal/frilly or just not right. 

But roll on a year and guess what - I think I found the one. Okay, I know I found the one. I found the white Freya shirt from Whistles. It was one of those items which you flick past on the rail and you run your hand across it and you think "ooh Andrex puppy soft" and smile. Then you pull it out and you realise it's that cotton voile which you like so much. Then you take it to the changing room and you try it on and it all comes together and you just like what you see.

Anyway, I walked out of the shop without the shirt mainly because it wasn't the cheapest shirt on the high street and I needed to do my research. A Gap linen shirt was a potential but when I went back in to Whistles to try on the Freya shirt again, I just knew it was "the one". The shoulders just fitted, the cotton was so soft and the length was good. Yes it's rather sheer - but hey it's the summer - it will keep me cool (any excuse) and the pockets help with the modesty factor if sheer bothers you.

And the thing about this shirt is that I can style it .....

• Tomboy style in chinos. I swear I must have been a bloke in a former life.

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