Here we go again

Time slips by and updates get forgotten such a naughty girl. Well I'm always out and about and never get time.
We have our holiday booked for September, off to Mallorca again and the same apartment. This time we have Dolenta and Andy and Mark and Philip our friends from Brighton who we are to see in a couple of weeks.
Have had a disaster on the computer front. The hard drive on my iMac is failing, luckily I have a largeish drive so I managed to partition it and and am booting up from that, thank goodness I back stuff up. Then of all things Madame's computer failed, couldn't find the hard drive but luckily after taking it in to the Apple Shop it was just the wire connecting the drive to the main board and not the drive itself.
The week before last I managed  5 days out of six dressed which was amazing out here there and everywhere even the visits to the Apple Shop were en femme.
On the sixth we were off to the London Alternative Market but a little Billy no mates as our friends were all unable to attend but we had a lovely day and so good to catch up with Mistress Caramel.
It looks like I shall have quite of string of days to myself from Wednesday as Madame is off to her friends on Canvey Island frock making although I might get roped in spending the weekend there.

So Christmas has come and gone and the New Year is here. NYE was spent indoors I don't see why I should pay extra for something I can do any other time just because of a date. So the intervening time between the last update and this? Of course being out and about. The only sales we participated in were madame getting herself a new belt strap and buckle at Elliot Rhodes as she always does and visits to John Lewis and Liberties haberdashery departments. Madame managed to get loads of material at knockdown prices at John Lewis in particular their 150 year celebration fabric at a £1 a metre. Talking of which Liberties managed to do this......

I wonder which sort they were, Electric or Gas?

We took ourselves off to the London Alternative Market last Sunday, all prepared for our usual breakfast in Pret in St Mary Axe we found it shut! Off we trolled and found a new place on the corner of some alleyway and Bishopsgate called The Drift and very nice it was with prices comparable to Pret etc but a much, much wider choice. All sparkly and new it was with painters still painting. The staff were... a little taken aback with the pair of us, even more so when the remaining four of our party turned up.

A little trip out yesterday, a quick flit into Superdrug and Selfridges thence off to the V&A. No matter how many times I go there I always find something I haven't seen before...

Plus of course the odd self-portrait....

 

Go East young lady

Off window shopping to Westfield Stratford today. We have decided that White City is our favourite, better shops, more space etc, etc. A rather damp but uneventful journey and a lovely pre-lunch wander from shop to shop, well with a few notable exceptions We are rather surprised, not that many people considering its school holidays etc and my visit to Brent Cross yesterday saw it packed like a weekend.
We partake of a rather nice chicken and king prawn salad for lunch in Giraffe topped off with a cloudy lemonade and mint, delicious and lovely staff. We go for a post lunch wander until it gets rather warm and we make our way home. Yes of course people notice but no stares, comments or pointing.

Not quite tea at the Ritz

A day out with Stephanie. We get the bus to Oxford Street and change to another route that takes us to The Strand, through the back streets to Charles Fox. Supplies purchased we stroll through Covent Garden and take an early lunch at Pizza Express in Bow Street. Sufficiently stuffed we continue our stroll to Seven dials and into Mercer Street where Stephanie buys a pair of shoes in Poste Mistress and some concealer in Screen Face then we stroll into Soho, along Brewer Street to Regent Street on then into Bond Street. We take a look around Fenwicks who have some amazing hats and frocks. We cross and go down Conduit Street for a look round Vivienne Westwood then into Bruton Street. By now the sun is really hot and we need liquid refeshment. Where to go? I know let's push the boat out as far as it can go, Claridges. Oh yes we do. In we go and are directed to the cocktail bar and a totally delish Blood and sans Alcohol. A very pleasant hour passed we make our way home. Well if you are going to do it, do it in style.

Bah humbug!

Whether to believe the weather forecast or not. There I was itching to get out and about and what happens? The weather says, start nice then by lunchtime.... crap. So I decide not to go and do pictures instead. By lunchtime, when it is supposed go all go wrong the weather cheers up instead. Still a bit drafty but definitely not the cloud and rain forecast. Mmmm, ok Brent Cross it is. Well it was a lovely couple of hours trolling around, as I said previously thoughts of taking advantage of sales would be pointless what with the diet. Shame really as I saw so much I would have loved. Aaaanyway I leave Brent Cross to find the sun has definitely got his hat on and all is well with the world. Damn, I could have gone up town. Oooo it does annoy me, all this money poured down the bottomless pit of weather forecasting and they can't get it right a few hours in advance. I wouldn't mind but checking the forecast when I got back it showed what we were actually experiencing. We can all look out of the window and change things but weather people we really do plan things by your forecasts so try to get it right, occasionally.

A new day

Well that bit of horticulture certainly tired me out. Front garden most respectable now, and then, and then I decided to attack the back garden too. Oooo I must have been mad and got got myself stung by a stinging nettle. I'd only cultivated it for the butterflies, just goes to show, you do something for the environment and what does it do, it bites you.
So do I sally forth today or not? Still undecided. I've cleaned the shoes at least. Silly really, new shoes and what is the first thing I do, go out in the rain, tsk, tsk, tsk, silly girl.
I 'spose if I do go it will have to be Oxford St, its just that if I window shop alone I tend to do it at a gallop. Whatever mode I'm in its always at a gallop, whereas if I am with someone I linger. Ah well as I say we shall see.
Still waiting for goodies in the post. But if they come then, well I'll just have to go and collect them. The lens hood arrived yesterday, cheap nasty plastic thing and horror of horrors doesn't have the word Nikon on it, but if it does the job then that is fine.
I think, I hope that Howards website is not done and dusted, everything lines up and links together seamlessly.

Not thirteen just one

Dear Ted,
Mr Baker why is it that I enter your concession emporium in Fenwicks Brent Cross and find a lovely frock with mark you, a matching handbag and then fail to find it on your website? This is not the first time this has occurred. Now I know that there are many places that list more on their websites than they have in their shop, I can see the reasoning, I can see the financial implications and the issues of space but why have something in a shop you cannot buy online? To the best of my knowledge, and believe me I look almost everytime I go out, these items are not old stock.
It is also a shame that you have another rather large outlet that disposes of old stock at Bicester whose stock you hide from view on your website?
yours etc, etc

Two to go

Well after much wringing of hands and indecision there are two more outfits to try and that will be Berlin sorted. Yes more straining at corset laces yesterday and much disappointment, corsets that didn't quite fit, and before you ask too big, although I did locate an A-line latex skirt in pink and purple that could be added to the wardrobe. Of course there are outfits that I would use in a flash but with airline travel as it is they are either too bulky or too heavy or both.



Its the excitement of shopping today, oh the joy then the sorting of Howard's website. Tomorrow is a dash to Dolenta, the gloves I picked up the other day were just too small so she is making a slightly larger pair.

Another two days of here there and everywhere. Yesterday trip to Brent Cross. Herds of kids on holiday and we are hardly noticed. We have a look at all our favourites, Lipsy, Monsoon, Hobbs etc, etc.

Today we are off to the West End. We pop into M&S for lunch but find it too, too crowded so its off to Pret. Suitably refreshed we have a stroll around New Look I am sooo underwhelmed by New Look, have been for simply ages, cheap and nasty with one or two exceptions. A couple of years ago I would have been hard pressed not to buy something but these days... shame really. Mind you gone are the days when I could have spent a fortune in Zara. Aaaanyway, we leave and then we are off again to Notting Hill Gate and Trendco, Stephanie requires new hair. We arrive early and dive into a local hostelry for a half hour where I have a lovely chat with a woman who just been to the David Bowie exhibition at the V&A. I must admit having looked at it on their website I am not inclined to visit although I am considering becoming a member as then all the exhibitions will be free.
We cross the road and its into Trendco. My goodness we have wigs here there and everywhere. Such a fabulous advisor too. Naughty Stephanie selects a wig and another, and another and then... another ! Suitably weighed down we exit the shop and hop the bus back to Oxford Street only to find they have forgotten to pack something so we have to return. We are sooo lucky buses appear magically and we are soon homeward bound.

Quite how we do the things we do, go to the places we go to without a care in the world is a constant source of amazement to us both. Its never until its all over that we realise what we have done etc :-)

Well its off to the LAM on Sunday to see how D got on with dying those long line bra's for us and to see the delicious Penny and Dave who will be unfortunately sans Natacha.

Well all that snow has been and gone. Strange isn't it how one's love affair with the prettiness of snow disappears when you have to go out in it especially when its pristine whiteness has gone. Aaaanyway a lovely trip to Westfield White city last week. We have decided that this is out favourite with Stratford being to pushy and shovey for our liking. Don't get me wrong but there is a difference between things being comfortably busy and packed, plus of course the shops are that little bit nicer. Very little was bought, just a little Olay and a foundation spreader. No not a trowel, a sponge LOL.

Upon arrival we selected a rather nice little coffee and bunnery and indulged in hot chocolate with whipped cream, mmmmm, even if the whipped cream came from a squirty can. Going along a deserted aisle we espyed a policeman, as I said to Stephanie, if this was 30 years ago we could have been arrested for this ! Talking of Stephanie she was tempted by shoes that naughty girl, black suede, although we both were in heaven after seeing a pair of suede black and gold heels in Miu-Miu but well out of our price range :-(

So a stroll round and lunch in Byron's and then suitably refreshed we take in a multitude of things we cannot afford. As I have said, I don't mind things that are far out of reach pricewise, it doesn't worry me in the slightest its the things that are just out of reach that get to me.

So my partner and I need to go up to town, off we trot. She needs some dressmaking accoutrements and I some loose powder. A nice breakfast repast in Marks and Spencer and quick stroll through Selfridges and then down to Charles Fox in Covent Garden. A nice chat with the girls about foundation and powder bought its back to Oxford Street and Morplan in Great Titchfield Street only just before we get there madame realises she hasn't bought her student discount card with her! So home we go but not before she has to have a pair of Ugg ear muffs in John Lewis!

Busy, busy

Well its was off to Brighton, fabulosa day. We find Get Cutie and are a trfile unerwhelmed. The fabrics are fab but the frocks are so simply made and no lining whatsover. Nice but vastly overpriced for what they are. The material shop was little better, yes they sell some of the fabrics we want but none in stock. Luckily madam has found somewhere in Durham that sells what we want online. We pay a visit to the lads in Wildcat, ooo must be two years since we've been there.
We take a little delicious lunch at Giraffe and then its off to FabricLand where of course madam find some fabric, well she can't go home empty handed can she.

Wednesday post North Circular flood hiatus we are off to Bicester Outlet Shopping Village. Madam's first shop was a disappointment, Church's shoe shop. Very upmarket mens and ladies 'sensibe' shoes. A pair she wanted desperately they didn't have in her size. But the Ann effect came early. As we entered Church's the guy on the door said good morning........... ladies LOL. Madam said to me I dunno there is something about you isn't there? tee hee. I wouldn't mind but I was in drab my dears.
So we went from shop to shop, most disappointed with Versache, nothing outrageous and nothing that tickled my fancy, just as well at their prices. Off to Wolford's a fab plain LBD but at £95...... a gorgeous red body but that was even more ! Then it happened, Ted Baker. I know, I know. We looked around the shop, a couple of fab skirts but too expensive for a skirt and couldn't find anything I liked until we were leaving, on a model in the window. She loved it and I couldn't find it in the shop. Aaaaanyway as we made our way to the door she spotted it and in my size so yes I got it. Glad in a way as I saw sooo much after that it would have been impossible to make up my mind but having bought that I couldn't afford anything else.
Well there was three wonderful frocks in Matthew Williamson's absolute dreams, then there were another three in Karen Millen, one a floaty number is bright, bright yellow. But as I said to madam, it was one of those things while you are in the shop you go yes, yes, yes and once outside you think well it is fab but where and when would I wear it. Disappointed with Valentino's, nothing I fancied, Hobb's the same. Madam got a lovely frock in Coast and I could have a couple there too. Two wonderful ones in Alexander McQueen but at over £1K I don't think so. Nothing much in Jimmy Choo shoe shop, there never is. Nothing caught my eye in DKNY or Dolce and Gabbana except a fabulous short winter coat, white with a brown and white real fur collar but again over £1K. Went into L.K. Bennet, they had a fab frock but money had been spent. Nothing in Reiss. A gorgeous red leather handbag in Smythson but that was £375 down from £850.

Baaaa LAM

Well off we went to The London Alternative Market today. Very quiet when we arrived but buzzing by the time we left, surprising really what with the London Fetish Weekend next month. The lovely D of Second Coming had managed to sell something of mine which allowed me to give some money back and get a rather nice red satin waist cincher.

Looks like a hectic week this week, a visit to Brighton for material from Ditto Fabrics and a visit to Get Cutie luckily both in the same street. Of course there will have to be the obligatory visit to those weirdo's at Wildcat and that Andy better not be on a day off !

Madame and I shall be making a visit later in the week to Bicester Shopping Village where if my luck is in will bring me one of two lush frocks.

Bloody Olympics

So not only are we 'encouraged' to avoid using our own transport system, you know the one WE pay for but now we have no-go areas for those who live here.

Want to shop in Westfield Stratford? Well some would, if they could, but it seems unless you are staff or have a ticket to an Olympic event you are barred on Friday and Saturday

So any criticism of the Olympics is actively and rigourously verboten and now we are told where and when we can go out !

Regrets I have a few

Bloody Olympics, I could not care less what happens, all I know its costing me fortune and I have no interest in it. My regret ? Not having the money to get as far away from London as possible for the entire month. That way I wouldn't have to suffer congestion on the roads and public transport, be shoved from pillar to post by bloody tourists and to see something other than sport on the television, hear it on the damn radio and have it plastered over websites and newspapers. So bah bloody humbug. If you don't like it, stick where the sun doesn't shine.

Up and down

Well a week of up and downs that's for sure. The poor car looks like it needs to be pensioned off. Getting to the stage where repairs are more than its worth. Such a lovely car and so faithful over the past twelve years. Seriously looking at a Fiat 500 now.

On the upside a lovely trip out with Stephanie to Westfield Stratford. Well we thought we'd get our visit in before the bloody Olympics which will result in the place being packed to the gills.

Took the train over, sat sitting there as you do when Stephanie notices we are having our picture taken. I do wish people would realise that when they do things like that or remark to companions it is blatantly obvious what they are up to. Aaaanyway if she had asked we would have posed for her quite willingly.
Herds of schoolkids both on the train and at the centre going for guided tours of the Olympic stadium etc but we go for the most part unnoticed.
I suppose it our collective confidence and certainly my willingness to be engaged in conversation that almost without exception we are greeted by assistants in shops extremely pleasantly.
We troll our way round then take lunch in GBK and again after the initial shock are treated wonderfully. A few of the customers are gobsmacked but once over their shock ignore us.
It is strange that some people look at us in very odd ways, perhaps they think that being a tranny is catching.

Got my lovely wife to cut my hair this week in preparation for a little trip away :-)
At last, I managed to do a proper photo session today, of course most of the planned outfits never materialised but hey that means I can have another session in a few days.