Two days

Two days of out and about with Stephanie. Sunday sees us off to Tate Britain somewhere I had not been for a while. The last time they were part way through the refurbishment so it was much improved. A thoroughly enjoyable few hours were spent wandering although we did think that it should be renamed the J M W Turner appreciation society. Of course I know that they are the recipients of the Turner bequest but it is Turner overload and I am not THAT much of a fan especially of his later works. Thankfully there are many others examples to take our attention. Art philistine I may be but many examples of modern art leave me cold. Aaaanyway after much wandering hunger drives us forth into the cold and drafty Millbank and into Pizza Express.
We walk to Parliament Square and do a few pictures then hop a bus up to Oxford Street and Selfridges. Stephanie wants to buy some upmarket makeup! In we go only to have to join a queue for the ladies, why oh why does it take women sooo long! One of the very few advantages of maleness, in, out and away LOL. Aaaaanyway we make our way to Chanel and a lovely young lady helps Stephanie, she tries a few different lipsticks on her and she buys two plus a lipliner and brush and we exit Stephanie quite a bit poorer but a very happy lady. Its then time for home and dinner.
Monday is photo day and thence a trip to Brent Cross. As we are both a tad poor its just a wander although we are severely tempted by items in Lipsy. I have to take Stephanie home as madame and I are out to dinner that night.
Ah the delights of the Holloway Road, we manage to park and walk to the restaurant, a Thai establishment which it turns out is rather nice, everything freshly cooked. Its the daughter-in-laws birthday so there is quite a crowd of us, sixteen in all so the staff are well pleased so many on a Monday night, I bet he has never had so many people.

Hotel rooms

What is it with hotel rooms? To date I have only found one hotel room, in the Nhow Berlin in which it is even remotely possible to put on makeup. The lighting is appalling, the levels verge on twilight, the positioning of the lights is laughable and the mirrors, just do not get me started on the subject of mirrors. The rooms can only have been designed by men and men who do not care too much about their appearance.
As I say the Nhow in Berlin was streets ahead of anywhere I have been. Bright lighting in the right place, a magnifying mirror attached to the bathroom wall which was moveable in any direction but all the others without exception have been dire. To put on eyeliner you just need three hands, one to hold your own magnifying mirror, one for the eyeliner and the third to pull the skin taunt and all this standing up ! Architects and hoteliers you are all useless, well more than useless if there is such a thing. The Saratoga in Palma did have one saving grace, a wall mounted moveable bedside lamp but life was still pretty much impossible.

Day 4

Off out for breakfast around nine then up to the rooftop pool for a sunbathe. It gets really hot around eleven so off comes the slap as sweat pouring out through makeup is not a good look. Not too long after we decide to go walkabout which of course means a holiday beer or two. We shuffle back to the hotel for a freshen up before departing for Dolenta's mothers for paella.



We grab a cab and are there in a few minutes. A long late lunch ensues and we take our leave about six. Madame and I decide not to venture for the evening and collapse exhauasted after I have had an evening stroll.

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.

Only a t-girl

Only a t-girl would get up, shower, shave, makeup and dress in multitudinous outfits and take over 300 pictures, make and eat lunch and then, then mark you, then in full dress and makeup decide to grout the tiles she put up yesterday. Madness, sheer and utter madness. Well at least I took the high heels off.
Mind you a lovely surprise, with this dieting a few corsets are coming back into the fold and the odd one or two will be leaving soon as they will be too big !

A trip

A trip to Brent Cross today, no reason in particular which of course means unexpected spending. A visit to the Kurt Geiger shop and their sale results in Madame exiting with a pair of loafers, very tasteful. A little treat, a coffee in Starbucks, ooo that was nice. We take a stroll around Fenwicks, a few nice frocks, very nice but as we are on a diet it would be waste of money. I need some eyeshadow so we pop into Boots and I exit with a couple of Revlon palettes, a selection of browns and a selection of greens.

It is so nice to be able to discuss these things with someone, even better when it is your significant other. What with my appauling colour eyesight it does make my life rather difficult. I can see colour but someone with good or perfect colour vision could convince me virtually anything is not the colour I am seeing. Many colours I just do not know what they are, I know there is a colour but what it actually is, is a different matter entirely. Of course I am certain that many of the assistants know that it is for me and not my partner but as I say I am proud of what I am, I see no shame in it whatsoever.

We stroll into John Lewis, again lovely frocks but of course a waste of money if I manage to slim down a size or two.

Well after a days delay it was try the outfits day yesterday. Ooooof, all that corset tightening takes it out on a girls arms I can tell you, nine of them, one after the other. Aaaanyway all I can say is....... I know what I'm not wearing. The diamante one needs some replacements glued on if I'm to wear it. Of course the pleated skirt outfits are for the expo not the ball.



Today I shall peruse the rubber options and perhaps do some pics on Wednesday. Monday and Tuesday are fully booked. Charles Fox is beckoning as I need some foundation as the current one is too, well..... suntanned and I prefer the pale look. Tuesday is more mundane, shopping Tesco stylee and a trip to Brent Cross for lippy and other holiday makeup essentials.

Its a hard life but then someone has to do it

I think I may do some pictures tomorrow. Well my excuse is trying every outfit possible for Berlin. Its not just what fits but what goes with what and what they look like. I don't mind a corset open at the back but only by two or three inches and some look better than others. Plus of course we have sooo many corsets and in various sizes. Of course Murphy's law will prevail and the favourites will be the ones that are not suitable.
The fact is it is such an awful drag getting the slap on, clambering in and out of clothes, pulling on corset laces until your fingers complain and the fact you can't breathe if they are tied properly isn't enough you have pictures to take as well! Oh such is the life of a naughty girl ;-)

On a lighter note, whilst standing the kitchen the other morning at some god awful hour I espy a young fox, it trots round the garden then scoots off. Well this evening, about dusk it is there again and then mum shows up too. They both look in excellent condition, aaaanyway they wander round then disappear, quite lovely.