TARDIS Tuesday- Classic Who outfit from Peri Brown in Planet of Fire and The Caves of Androzani

Hi there,

It's been a lovely bank holiday weekend.  Not quite the one I expected, esp since we made no particular plans and I am incredibly snotty and coughy, but namely the sun has shone.

Thus it seemed appropriate for my TARDIS Tuesday to reflect the clement weather.

I am inspired by an outfit worn by 80's classic Who companion, Peri (Perpugilliam) Brown who was an American Botany student who met the Doctor in Lanzarote! She wore it for both her first and second episodes, the names of which are in the blog title.

I have attempted this outfit before, back in  June 2016.

It felt just what I needed to wear for being out in the garden, reading in the long grass (I LOVE how the grass is for No Mow May- I like sitting in it when it is long, not so much when short!) 

Let's look at it.

Image borrowed from:
https://hoganreviews.co.uk/2017/12/16/dw-the-caves-of-androzani-review/ 

Image borrowed from:
http://theruedmorgue.blogspot.com/2012/02/doctor-who-caves-of-androzani-special.html

She wears pink high-waisted shorts with a pink top of some sort underneath. She wears simple white pumps on her feet and on top, she has a pastel checked blou

She wears pale pink high-waisted, fairly long shorts with a very pale pastel rainbow-checked shirt, tied up. Under it, she wears a peachy halterneck bikini.

I started with the shorts.  These are ridiculously comfortable and cost me very little second-hand a few years ago.  They have an elasticated back and button up and are made of a cotton linen mix. These are the same ones I wore in 2021. I see no need to change them. They are perfect coloured, shape and comfortable and they still fit me (unlike a few other pairs of shorts in my wardrobe).

You can't really see my feet but I am wearing nude-coloured ballet pumps. Very old, very crackly,but suitable for this type of thing!

I've used a different blouse from last time. I wore my question-mark shirt and then my brighter rainbow checked shirt last time but they were brighter. I found this one in the charity shop last year and realised it was the closest I was going to get to Peri's shirt.  I wore it mainly unbuttoned but tied at the bottom to mimic Peri's. After the photos, I wore it buttoned more and tucked in but I like it tied as it works with the high waist.    The shirt works so much better for this cosplay and I've realised, this is an outfit I might wear for school, as it is, in the early Summer.

One thing I am a little sad about is that I had the perfect bikini top for this cosplay, it was almost identical in shape to Peri's but a more bright red but I think I must have given it away to a charity shop last year. I didn't have matching bottoms so it seemed silly to have it. Only now have I realised its potential!

The lighting was dreadful for these photos but the original images are grainy so perhaps it is ok!

I spent much of the day reading my Kate Shackleton books and swapping over my Summer and Winter wardrobe items!

Hope you are well!

Kezzie xx

Images borrowed from:

http://fallenrocket.blogspot.com/2020/08/top-five-big-damn-hero-moments-peri.html 

https://theultimateguidetothefashionofdoctorwho.wordpress.com/2019/06/08/peri-brown-planet-of-fire-plus-size-edition/

Do visit these websites- they are great!

Blockprint

Hello my little cauliflowers!

I hope you are well.

I thought I'd start off this post with 2 outfits I wore last month with the blockprint skirt I bought in Majorca. It came from a lovely shop called Zoe Del Mundo and they had a man's shop, women's shop and kids shop.  CBC and I bought something from each shop. Me, this skirt, a top and a belt plus a lizard clatterpillar instrument and CBC a nice shirt. It has shirring at the back so is nice and comfy

I liked the colours together of this first outfit but not sure whether they worked together - it emphasizes my chest a bit too much and makes it look bigger than it is! Wore it with my Lorelai LQ ombre rainbow earrings and my new Timberland suede shoes (Charity shop, Hebden Bridge)

This was last weekend's outfit instead which I think works MUCH better. I wore this short-sleeved F&F jumper (bought about 11 years ago) with Balinese moonstone earrings and a simple necklace. Same shoes.

The orange waistband makes it harder to style. What would YOU wear with this skirt?

Ta da!! My shoes!

Last weekend, CBC was away with the Art department at school in St Ives. He had a really lovely time, which I am glad about, as he really needed it.

I also had a lovely weekend. Mine was spent in various ways.

On Friday night, after school, I caught the trains (3 of them!) to my Mum's.  The timing didn't work out well, so I arrived at Rush hour, so rather than make her come out to give me a lift, I cycled the 3.5 miles or so to her house.  I had a big, full bag to carry but the cycle route was mostly quite good so it was fine and in fact, the sun was shining and I really enjoyed the cycle.  Mainly I rode on pavements or side roads (some of it marked cycle lane) as the traffic is quite aggressive there, but I met no pedestrians at all. I felt good when I arrived at hers.

When I got to Mum, she'd a cup of Lemon Balm tea awaiting me. It was really delicious.  After saying hello to her adorable kitties, we went for the customary walk around her garden. I adore her gardens (her front garden is just as interesting and well-curated as her back garden) and there is always something interesting to see.

 After we headed back in, Mum started cooking the pasta because she had made my favourite dinner, Spaghetti bolognese (with Farfalle instead).   I actually like hers more than when I have it in Italy!

It was scrumptious, accompanied by Parmesan and Blackcurrant Kefir water.  We watched some TV and then had a tasty fruit salad to finish.

We headed to bed fairly early. I read some of my Kate Shackleton book, Dying in the Wool.  I've had this series on my shelf for about 8 years so it is time I actually read more than one of them.

Annoyingly, I awoke around 6.00am. Mum's room is quite light and I am one who needs darkness, plus, I ALWAYS awake early on Saturday morning. Not sure why I can't do this on a school day when getting up at 6am would be really useful!

We read in bed for a while, accompanied by a cup of tea and after showers, we walked to the Sandwich bar near her house to buy Bacon Baguettes for Breakfast.  Mum likes to support this place as she has said that some days, the lady barely breaks even and it saved her cooking. I also bought myself a Tuna Mayonnaise with cucumber and lettuce baguette for later, plus crisps.

We went to the hardware store near Mum and I picked up some bird seed then we walked down the street to try and track down an errant parcel....to no avail.

The baguettes were the perfect start to the day! I suggested, since the weather was so nice, we head down to the sea front (estuary but still nice). Mum thought we should cycle so we got the bikes out and cycled to the sea wall where we cycled from one end to the other, stopping for a little walk on the beach
 that she and my sister call 'Shelly beach' due to all the Oyster shells that are there.

I was rather appropriately dressed!

The sea wall has some beautiful murals all along,charting the history of the area but also, some fun photo bits!

I was so grateful to be spending Mother Daughter time with her.

We had a 99 ice-cream. It was very blustery but warm.

CBC sent me a lovely picture of Tree Echiums from Cornwall! I reminded him what they were called and he told all his colleagues. Thanks to Lulu who taught me about these!

It was soon time to bid Mum goodbye as I had to head up to London for my concert with Kensington Chamber orchestra.

The 3 or so trains were fine but carrying my bike plus a very heavy pannier, full of clothes, school work and now birdseed was a little cumbersome.

When I arrived in Nottinghill, I was early and the church was locked so I carried on cycling down to Portobello Road to the market.  Despite my already loaded bag, I could not resist the lure of the plastic free vegetable market (plus a MASSIVE strawberry donut!) so I bought...

• Peas in the pod
• Eschalion Shallots
• 3 enormous Chichory/Endives
• British Asparagus
• Organic carrots with tops
• Watercress
• Mini cucumbers
• French beans
• 1 enormous yellow courgette

I had to empty my tote bag of clothing into the pannier to house all my veg (to avoid the dreaded carrier bag) and had to precariously cycle back up the hill to the church with dangling tote bag and arrived back at the church to start the rehearsal.

We began our rehearsal of Brahms Serenade no.1 and Mendelssohn Scottish Symphony.  Thankfully things were sounding a bit better than Tuesday's rehearsal where our 1st clarinettist (not the regular one) had turned up for the FIRST time in 4 rehearsals and was not so hot at counting or sight-reading, rendering the rehearsal super irritating.   They still had some counting issues but at least not in as many places.    It's been a bit of a strange rehearsal series (not even taking into account the total Clarinet debacle!) as it was the first one with our new leader after over 13 years of the previous leader. In addition, the conductor, the absolutely wonderful Mark Biggins (current chorus master at ENO but moving to Geneva) hasn't conducted me in this particular orchestra before (he is fab!) but also, our regular 1st and 2nd clarinets, 1st and 2nd bassoons, 2nd clarinettist, 1st and 2nd trumpets and 2nd horn were not able to play so it was all deps PLUS a horn player went sick on the day!)

After the rehearsal, I wasn't feeling like a big meal (and I hadn't eaten my tuna Baguette yet!) so I decided to walk back down to Portobello to soak up the sun and ended up buying a bargain box of veg including Pak Choi, turnips, Cos Lettuce, Tenderstem broccoli. Of course, I had no idea how I was going to carry it all home!

Back at the church, after the delicious baguette, I got ready for the concert.

It went pretty well, barring a couple of rogue clarinet moments and for the first time in an absolute age,I did not get nervous and get the horrible feeling where I can't get my flute sound right (apparently I am imagining this but I FEEL it though) and felt like I really did a good job on the prolific amount of very big flute solos I had to play!

Our previous leader came to watch, as she hasn't moved yet, and she very kindly said that when she heard me play a particular solo, that was the moment she felt like this was the orchestra and how much she missed it already and it almost made her cry!  She's never said anything like that to me before so that really meant a lot!  After the concert, everyone had a lovely social and then it was time for me to head back to Essex.  I tried to rearrange my bag to accommodate at least part of the veg....I still ended up with a shoulder bag and a bulging pannier.

The walk into Nottinghill station and down the 3 escalators and corridors to the central line (plus the walk along the platform to avoid the vexing Liverpool Street getting stuck behind people who walk slower than a person holding a folded bike, a pannier and a tote of veg) was tiring but I was SO lucky at Liverpool street to make the train with 2 minutes to spare (thus avoiding 30mins wait)

I arrived home around 12.30am after the interesting dark cycle with the veg.

The next morning, I got up at 8am and dressed for church as Sue, who plays piano was supposed to be giving me a lift.

Alas, she forgot so I made a quick dangerous dash on my bike with 2 tote bags (pannier was still loaded) and the long skirt (wasn't expecting to cycle) to church. Sue suddenly remembered as I arrived.

It's the first time I've played flute at church. It was the curate's last service so I offered to play. It was a lovely service. After a quick cup of tea, I folded Delphi and Sue drove us to the other church for the 2nd service where we repeated the service.

People were really kind and appreciative of my flute playing.  It was very lovely to be part of the bigger worship team at the other church too!

After the service, there was a barbecue bring and share which was really nice. I chatted to some new people I hadn't met before.

After, I cycled home (I don't mind the cycle home as it is downhill.... it's a nightmare on the way there- sooo much uphill).

Back home, I did some gardening and did some other chores and later ate left-over Thai food from Thursday.

It had been a great, busy weekend.

xx

What is it? #77

Greetings!

How are you today? Well, I hope.

Draw up a chair and a cup of tea and get your thinking cap for the next round of 'What is it?'

In this game, you have a look at the picture below and see if you see an image in the cloud other than a cloud, e.g. animal, mineral, place, person, shape, etc.

You then leave a comment telling me what you thought it was and in the next edition, I will share what I thought it was!

Do leave a comment as these posts are one of my favourite blog posts as it's fun to see how people's imaginations differ or are similar!

What about last time?

They are talking to someone else in this picture? Think of someone they might talk to? Who is that?

 To me, I could see our late Queen Elizabeth II on the left, facing to the right but looking down.  In the second picture, you can see she is talking to the late Duke of Edinburgh who looked distinctly badger-like in it later years.

What did our diminutive, but much appreciated commenters see?

Alas, no one saw my Royal Family but I am always intrigued to see what others saw!

4 comments:

1. 
   Vix1:37 pm

   No, I can't see anything but clouds! x

   ReplyDelete
2. 
   Kelly4:25 pm

   I'm seeing two totally different things, neither of which probably make any sense. My first thought was the cloud on the left was a pencil, but I'm not sure what it's trying to do the cloud on the right. But the second photo made me think the cloud on the right was a fish about to open its mouth and devour the cloud-fish on the left! It's funny where our brains go...

   ReplyDelete
3. 
   Polyester Princess4:30 pm

   I can definitely see two creatures talking, but I can't tell you who they are, I'm afraid ... xxx

   ReplyDelete
4. 
   Lulu5:29 pm

   Well it's obvious isn't it Kezzie - the clouds look like a terrapin trying to eat a piece of toblerone chocolate! (???) ;) xXX

   ReplyDelete

TARDIS Tuesday- Yaz Khan in Power of the Daleks-a Borrowed edition!

Hello All!

Hope you are well.

I only actually featured this outfit worn by Yaz Khan in Doctor Who episode, Power of the Doctor in October 2022 so it's a very recent outfit.

However, I have, in my possession, only for a limited time, the Screen Accurate jacket, I figured, why not give it a second-viewing!

Let's have a look at it:

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/uk-news/jodie-whittaker-faces-final-doctor-25333198

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Doctor Who & Jodie Whittaker Fan (@doctorwho_jodiewhittaker_fan)

The outfit consists of a mustard heavyweight cotton jacket from All Saints (the name is the Dessa Balfern jacket) with a cotton snakeskin print blouse with balloon sleeves in a burgundy colour, also from All Saints. She accompanies it with black skinny jeans and some lace-tied biker boots.

Let's look at this iteration of it:

I have the screen accurate jacket as I am helping out a cosplay friend in Argentina by buying it and sending it for her (as she cannot buy from Vinted). It feels a very good quality jacket, quite a good weight and great-quality material.

I featured the same blouse last time.  It's called the Leonie Stanza blouse and again, is beautiful quality cotton in a snake print with ruched cuffs and balloon sleeves. I intend to wear it for school this week with a denim chambray skirt and a belt as it's a great blouse for work.

It's the ubiquitous black fitted trousers and my Mum's brown leather belt.

I decided that my Clarks men's purple Brogue boots were the closest boots I had to Clara's.

I saw this picture from behind the scenes filming when searching for a full-length photo and thought it would be fun to recreate with my plastic cup!

It's a pity that my hair isn't still long and I am not good at doing plaits on short hair so bunches it was!

It was fun to try out this jacket!

Hope all is well with you!

xx

The Pinks and Whites

 Last Saturday, I went for a walk from my house in order to get some nettles  for soup but  saw some  really pretty blossoms along the way.

I hope  they bring  you the same joy they brought  me!

TARDIS Tuesday- Clara from Kill the Moon

Hope you are well.

Gah, can't believe that Sweden won Eurovision. I mean, it was good but not my favourite!

It's time for a TARDIS Tuesday!

I last featured this outfit in May 2021 so it's due a return visit!

Image borrowed from:
https://claraoswaldcosplay.dreamconnect.de/?p=639

Clara wore this in a Series 8 episode called Kill the Moon. I had the opportunity to buy this dress new from ASOS when the episode first aired. I decided not to but then regretted it but then I had a second chance at it years later!

She wears this ASOS smock with black tights, black Bertie block-heeled shoes and a belt

I wore this for church on Sunday but didn't wear the shoes as they are painful and I can't cycle in heels! I think I might need to sell these shoes, much as I like them, because they are NOT comfortable and I struggle to get my feet into them- I feel like I strained my back trying to get them on today! I could just keep them in my 'collection' but I am trying to cut back on things.  Hmmm...

I like this dress very much but WISH it were cotton! It would be fab in cotton, it looks cotton but it's not!

This weekend was great. 

On Saturday, CBC got up ridiculously early to get ready for Duke Of Edinburgh bronze expedition.  He proceeded to ratch SO much in the drawers in the room trying stuff. He kept asking me questions and then kept coming back in. I was rather annoyed to be woken so early. Finally, he drove off to pick up a colleague in the school mini bus.

Great! I could sleep.

About 40mins later as I was finally getting back to sleep, my phone blared out with its irritatingly chipper ringtone.

What was this madness?

Ahrgh, it was CBC.

"Kezzie, I've forgotten the tent!! It's in the garage.  Please can you get it and put it outside the front door so I can pick it up quickly."

Was he kidding me?

Apparently not!

I did the requested job and just as I was doing it, I heard a loud engine. I opened the front door and it was him. I shut the door and heard an alarming bleeping from what seemed like the garage! It was the school minibus reversing!

It was so loud I saw the neighbours peep out their window. Eeek!

I was awake by this point so I decided to get up and go and do the washing up downstairs and make tea.

Later, after about 5 cups of tea and Weetabix, I left the house, realising that I had forgotten my key!! Disaster! I ran to my neighbour's to borrow the spare key to let me back in to get mine (the spare key is stiff and I am useless with stiff keys!) and then had to run the mile to the station with 3 large bags!

I jumped on the train and then changed trains to meet my friend Lara to go for lunch in Maldon.

It was SO nice to see her.

We went to Mrs Salisbury's tea room for lunch. This is where I went for the afternoon tea in December.

I ordered the prawn sour dough baguette.  It was delicious- a mixture of Rose Marie sauce with sweet chilli and corinder plus a generous portion of salad, coleslaw and crisps. Lara had the jacket version. After sodas, we both had milkshakes for dessert.

Ah, this is the BEST milkshake I have had. They were HUGE and we both struggled to finish them- so nice!

Once we'd eaten, we headed for a look round the shops. We both bought 2 books in the Maldon Bookshop. In the first charity shop, we both bought craft punches- she got a beautiful Martha Stewart one and I got a 3 flower one where you can layer them into a 3d flower. In the next charity shop, Lara bought a floral top and I bought a vintage blockprint St Michael dress in a gorgeous light cotton.

Some ericaceous soil from the Emporium and a quick visit to Silo Refillery who sadly didn't have any regular Pasta but did have crisps, apple rings, Organic Hand and Body Lotion  and Bran Flakes and it was time to go as Lara had a gig to get ready for.

We both realised we had had a really wonderful day and we were so grateful for our giggles,serious chat, being bad influences on each other for buying things.

I'd passed on a whole load of boxes from a school instrument order for her crochet side business and her birthday present.

After a wait at the first station, where I read my book, Jummy at the River School, I changed trains and walked home.

When I got back, I quickly grabbed some carrier bags, scissors and a hat and headed out to the Londis to pick up 3 Vinted parcels (2 items for me and one for a Cosplay friend in Argentina) and then walked to the church yard where I cut a back full of nettles. After a walk to the COOP to get a few items (yummy reduced plums and Chicken Kievs), I headed home.

This is what I wore on Saturday (the hat when I got home as it was so sunny!)

The skirt was a 3Euro bargain from Think Twice Bruges, the Timberland shoes from the Kindness charity shop in Hebden Bridge, the vest and cardie from Charity shops, hat from Monsoon.

I ate left over Chinese takeaway and watched the first 10 acts of Eurovision.

On Sunday, I got up for church (really could have slept longer) and when I got home, I did some tidying and sorting and washing  as well as cooking vegan bacon and tomatoes plus fried bread for a late breakfast.

I cleaned the shower drain in the ensuite and then headed into the front garden to plant up the Growbar flower seedlings I'd been germinating in the front planter.

In the back garden, I planted out my kale plants and my Pea plants, added some compost (accidently touching a Leopard slug with my bare hands and planted some other seeds as well as getting bitten by insects.

Bizarre thing happened. There was cat food all over my raised bed.

Huh?

I was perplexed?  Where did it come from??

It was all around my plants and something had decapitated my leek

Was it a neighbour? Was it an animal?

Later, I discovered a sack of catfood hidden in the raised bed. CBC thinks it was a fox hiding it.

Stupid fox- what a mess!!! It was so weird though!! All around my seedling Chard and spinach plants.

CBC came home from DoE and we had tea in the garden with his colleague and his wife.

CBC went to have a nap (he'd had a broken night) and I made a huge batch of Nettle soup. This will be good for this busy week.

I put the Kyivs in the oven and then a pizza for CBC.

We ate some soup and then the Kyivs and pizza - it had the right amount of nettles!

Hope all is well with you!

x

Eurovision 2023

 I only started watching Eurovision back in 2009 because of watching the Talent show from Andrew Lloyd Webber to find the UK's Eurovision artist for that year.  I LOVED it and it was a really good year to watch as Norway won with Alexander Rybak and Fairytale which was the highest scoring song in Eurovision history at that time.    I actually wrote a blog post as I watched my first Eurovision, typing my response to each song as I listened. From that year onwards, I watched it, which was good as CBC had a friend who hosted a Eurovision party each year which we went to a few times! They took it properly seriously with scoring though we haven't been invited to one since the friend had children. Not sure if they still have them but as is the way, we lost touch. I wrote 3 other posts involving Eurovision

Anyway, on Saturday, CBC was away and I decided to watch and type as I listened, sharing my thoughts and favourites.

It's a bit 'stream of consciousness and random!' but I thought it would be fun to share something different.  Feel free to ignore.

Austria: Edgar Allan Poe-

 Poe, Poe, Poe, Poe!!! So catchy!!! I liked the wall of red people.  Very easy to pick up! I like

Portugal: Al Coracao

Nice costume!More red! Lots of sideway head bopping.  Catchy oompa band feel.  Don’t really like her voice!  I like the lute instrumental interlude! Actually her voice is ok! Actually, I really like it!  Are her gloves pink???? They clash!  Sudden slow bit- yaaaaay, back into the fast bit! I want to dance!

CHA CHA CHA!!!

Her name is Mimicat!  Awww, that’s the name of the cat that CBC and I fell in love with on our honeymoon!! I wonder if Mimi is still alive? Ooh,weird coincidence…. Switzerland is up next and Mimi was from Switzerland!

Switzerland- Watergun.

Oooh, I hope we get a water fight! Ooh, piano!  We are all wearing black and holding Karate belts I a square.  His voice is a bit quiet but I quite like the fact he isn’t belting it out too much! I don’t wanna be a soldier! Ah, so use a watergun instead!  “Bodybags we become?” Wow, that’s maudlin!

No, I do not like those flashing lights!  He’s quite cute.  It’s not a winner though.  Timpani roll there!

He’s belting a bit more now. Back to the GCSE piano composition to finish.

Poland- Solo

I don’t like it.

Silly attitude dancers!What’s with the wagging hands in the background? I like her Ombre dress.  Ooh, how has her dress changed?  Weird effect!

Reminds me of Lily Allen a bit! “Now I’m better solo, solo!”.

Actually, it’s not so bad! Oooh, drummy dance break! She changed her dress!!!

Good hip action! It’s not a winner though!

Serbia – Samo Mi Se Spava

Graham Norton, you are hilarious! He apparently likes horror films- that will explain the staging. I think I’ll dislike it then!

Dramatic piano introduction.   Reminds me of a very low pitched James Bond Goldfinger! Nasty strobe electic sound- I feel like Buzzsaws are going mad! Too whispery rappy. It’s very intriguing though. Musically interesting in terms of melody. Actually, maybe it’s Labyrinth it reminds me of!

Er- why are the dancers going all strange.  Whaat a stranger Spider movement.  Too creepy for me! “Was it something they ate?!”- Graham Norton- you are funny!

France: Evidermment:

Oooh, very Liza Minnelli! What a nice glitter tower! She is standing on!

It is part of her dress?? Does she have stilts on? Ooh, the chorus is very funky! Rhythmically interesting! I like her hat! The costume is fab black glitter! Where did the glitter mountain go!?!?

This is a GOOD song!

Cyprus:  Break a Broken heart:

Cyprus have never won Eurovision.

OOOOOOOh, we start with a very high Oooooooh!”

Ooh, what a lovely voice after that initial noise! I like the Irish-sounding (well, on a different instrument) accompaniment- it’s gone away again! He’s got a good range!

Rain!!! I’ve just noticed next door’s dog is not howling! Where is it? Has it learnt not to? I like this but it’s not as compelling as the first two!

 

Spain- Eaea

Sounds very Arabic- a bit Azan-esque!

Her top is very plastic!

Creepy arms poking out.

I like the vocal harmonies but the blip blop blip bloppy accompaniment is odd.  Imaginative but odd! I find the song musically compelling.

Some headbangy moves in the background- in slow motion.

Ooh, “Little tears from the Nile”- maybe that’s why it sounds Arabic!

The fringed booth is an odd choice of scenery.

Ooh, there’s some “Give that Wolf a Banana” costumes in the background!

Sweden: Tattoo

Bookies’ favourite.

WHAT IS SHE WEARING!???? No, I hate it, she has massive talons! It’s like beige bondage gear!

She has a powerful voice- too shouty for me. I do not like the talons

Ah, so she’s using tattoo as a simile. I still don’t like it. Despite it being “epic”.

Really?? The contender?  Not for me!

 

Albania: 

She’s cosplaying The Rani from Doctor Who? Actually, that music in the opening is like Doctor Who incidental music.

Intriguing harmonies.  I like the tonality of it. 6 members of one family- rather like the Von Trapps!

Awww, they are really sweet performers.  I like the red scarf waving!

This has some fun instrumental interjections One of my favourites so far!

Italy: Due Vite

Oooh, speak Italian to me!! Yay! He’s wearing a very nice sparkly tank top! “Coffee with lemon to fight a hangover”-Urgh!

He’s got a lovely voice and it’s strong but he’s not belting (so far) The music has lovely ebb and flow to it. Ha, the two dangers in the background are repeatedly falling off a black staircase into a pit…must be a trampoline in there…  They are having so much fun! I can see why this is a favourite!

It’s very emotional!

Estonia: Bridges

She has a self-playing piano with her!! OOoh!

It reminds me of “The piano” Yann Tiersen.  The performer is very pretty! I like that the piano is getting lots of closeups! Who is singing that echo!!?!?!

The costume is very pretty! A lovely drapy Cornflower blue suit.

I like the melody- it’s very a simple 5 note scales repeated but effective! She’s got an attractive voice.

Great ending!

Finland: Cha Cha Cha

He’s in a box!!!! And he’s wearing GREEN with spikes!

Eurgh, that is a HORRIBLE green spkiy top!

It’s a bit too rappy for me! The Cha-Cha-Cha-ChaCha – Cha-Cha is very catchy though!

He’s been joined by some neon pink dancers strapped to a Maypole. Haha, what silly dancing!

The caterpillar dance they just did on the floor was fun! Now it’s that silly troll move again!

It’s ridiculously catchy!

The crowd love it!

Czechia: My sister’s Crown

A great start with some harmonies. 

Pink suits= pretty Strawberry ice-cream colour. Are their plaits real? THEY ARE SO LONG!

The whingy background ostinato is annoying.

Australia: Promise

Oops, I got distracted.  It’s got cars on the stage.  It sounds very 80’s.   That drummer is loving life! Ah-oh bit is very catchy! Is there a synonym for catchy?

Belgium: Because of you

Interesting pink culottes. It’s very 90’s. Makes me want to dance but not my total vibe.

Armenia

I’m not sure about that costume. I like the lyrics- a song which includes going to a bookshop is going to be good. Not particularly memorable.  Nice voice and a sweet performer.

Moldova:

Well, hello traditional flute! Kaval you say? Great but I can’t hear it- turn all the other stuff down and make the flute louder so I can listen its sound better. Is that man actually playing it? I like his horns.  The singer is a bit dramatic and I can hear Bach vibes in it but not my favourite.

Ukraine:

Nice singers and some interesting harmonies but not particularly memorable- I prefer last year’s one!

Norway: Queen of Kings

The costume looks like something from Starlight Express.  I like the opening.  I like the change of time signature. I think they are also playing on the musical Six.  The rhythm of the melody is different and interesting.  I like the melisma in the middle.  That’s a very high note!!! Fascinating lyrics! I like it!  Norway’s win with Alexander Rybak was my first Eurovision!

Germany: Blood and Glitter

We appear to have a costume from Lord of the Rings meets Stranger Things from the Upside down.  It’s very ‘rock’- not my vibe! “We’re so happy we could die?”- well that’s cheerful. I don’t like it. Loud and dramatic. It’s got a lot to look at but I don’t like that screamy shouty style of singing- you are going to damage your throat!

Lithuania: Stay

Ooh, I like the choral harmony antiphony! That’s a nice tasteful red dress- pretty artist. This is a pretty song.  Ooh,now a beat has kicked in.  I like the vocal harmonies. It reminds me of worship song we sing at church,  ‘O to see the day’ I’ve just realised, the chorus “it’s’ too loud” is in Lithuanian!

 Aww, she’s a sweet artist!

Israel:

Interesting boxy staging!  The costume is very Nineties meets Stormtrooper. She has an attractive voice. Ooh, where did that man come from? Now there’s two girls.The dancing is very strutty!

“I’ve got the power of a unicorn,”- have you????? Maybe not.

 

Slovenia: Carpe Diem

Nice outfits. I’d wear that shirt,maybe not the pink trousers but he’s rocking them!  He’s cute! 810,000 years?  That’s specific!  I’m enjoying the band accompanying. It’s catchy and makes me want to dance. The band are enjoying themselves!  I’m enjoying the chromatic bass line and the drop into the chorus!  They all have very nice swishy, shiny hair! Aww, look, they are all coming together to bow at the end! Yes, you are sweet!

Croatia: Mama SC

HA! I love the poses and the uniforms! Mommy bought eh tractor!  I could learn that dance! That song feels like a primary school Call and response! I think that’s what they ar aiming at. We have Mommy then the alphabet. Ah, it’s an Anti-war song! Evil little psychopath. Alligator Psychopath! It’s very memorable and witty!  Ah, they’ve just stripped down to vests and pants!

United Kingdom: I wrote a song

That’s a powerful opening- very James Bond! Urgh, stupid club beat and blip blopping.  The tune sounds a bit like a club version of the saxophone solo from Careless Whisper and now the blip blopping is salsa-y broken chords. The costume is a bit boring. Black corset, shirt and trousers.  The lyrics are a bit rubbish. The Da-da-da-da bit is ok if a bit simple. Urgh, rappy bit. Not a winner. Nope.

 

My favourites at this point:

Slovenia

Croatia

France

Italy

Albania

Austria

Portugal

Which one would I choose to win?

I think I like Austria or Croatia best!

Will they win????

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hexham charity shop finds

Evening mi hearties,

Hope you are well.It's been a long week, despite the fact I have only been at school for 3 days this week.

Ann said she'd like to see the charity shop bargains I picked up in Hexham on the bank holiday weekend so I thought I'd share them.

The first item was this Seasalt sailor top. I love these tops- I have them in 3 colours but I don't have a black base one- this one has sparkly stripes. 

The second item was this White Stuff cotton vest top. It's a basic but I like this type of top.

The next item was this F&F green and pink Paisley dress. I found this on the reduced rack and really liked it- it's a light Viscose.

The next item was a purple Karen Millen cardigan. I have another Karen Millen cotton cardie and it is really good quality so I was really pleased to find this. They had one in orange which I almost bought  but realised I don't really like wearing orange a whole load!

I love Cashmere and this Isle navy cashmere cardigan at £6.00 was a total bargain! I have already worn it loads and it is so soft and comfy!

 The bottom right dress is this patterned one from F&F at Tescos. I really liked it- it reminds me of Willow Pattern plates. I love a midi-shirt dress.

The final item was the dress on the left which is from East. I've admired dresses like this on eBay so it was nice to find one in the charity shop. The shirring means it fits beautifully.

I did also buy an Edward Marston book.

I have been trying to have a clear out and have given some clothes to work colleagues as well as charity shops. I was also really pleased to pass on a pile of brand new flute music to the lovely girl who is currently depping for 2nd flute at my Kensington orchestra as she is at music college. She was really happy and excited to have the pile of music (and said she would pass any of the rest onto other students if she didn't want any). I've still got too many clothes but I am working on reducing them as some do not fit any more!

Hope you are well.

x