TARDIS Tuesday - Clara Tiles

 I haven't felt motivated to do TARDIS Tuesday for a couple of weeks. Mainly because I just have felt really tired and not spending much time hunting out clothes and just throwing any old thing on!

This week, I thought I'd return to an old favourite worn last in October 2023- was it really that long? Apparently, I only feature this dress on the blog every 2 years!

It was worn by Jenna Coleman as Clara Oswald back in series 8 in multiple episodes. I really love this dress. She wears it with a tan belt, her standard opaques and her Bertie Navy brogues.

I wore it for a dinner out with CBC and his old work colleague who he no longer works with. I like her very much so it was really nice to see her.

This is my newer size 10 in this dress. I used to have an 8 but I wanted it to feel less fitted so I was glad to find this one at a fraction of the cost of the original one I bought! I always feel very feminine and pretty in this dress, plus I always forget that I hide my legs quite often nowadays in baggy trousers or midis/maxis! I should make the most of them!

I sold my brogues so I wore a pair of black Clarks Artisan shoes that I've had a very long time- they are so comfy!

The return to school has been ok- I've had a stonking headache for 2 days that isn't going away which is vexing, particularly as I went to bed early to try and help that yesterday (and planning to after this!).

Tomorrow, I'm taking some children to watch an orchestra concert. This means I don't have a day of Year 2's-which is a bit of a relief but if I have already got a headache, what does this mean for 'School Trip headache?'

One thought for the day.  I LOVE baked beans on toast with melted cheddar cheese on top!

xx

 

TARDIS Tuesday - Dark Water

Hello there!

Hope you are well.

Today, I am back to my favourite/main orchestra rehearsals with Kensington Chamber Orchestra.  Hooray!

And it's a return to TARDIS Tuesday after a few weeks hiatus.

Last seen in October 2023, I am featuring an outfit worn by Clara Oswald in Dark Water and Death in Heaven.  This was an episode where she is filled with grief over the loss of Danny Pink after her declaration of love.

She wears a dress from French brand, Sessun with an Geometric pattern, navy brogues from Bertie and a Green mac with checked lining from Topshop

Also borrowed from Clara Who Cosplays

My whole outfit is made up of colour alts and I sold my screen accurate shoes last year so I have some navy blue shoes from Aldi I had to buy for my FiL's funeral when I discovered I had only taken walking boots.

The dress I have is made of a different material from the screen accurate one and you can dye it to make it more screen accurate or colour it in but I don't think I'll bother!

The jacket is, still, to this day, my favourite Clara item and I found it in the wild- in my local charity shop.  It's such a lovely cotton coat and is a great mid-season cover-up. I wore it today for school.

This is my second week of trying to get to know the new year 1 children- will I remember their names??? 90 to learn!

xx

 

TARDIS Tuesday- Into the Dalek- the final outfit winterised

 In Into the Dalek, Clara spends most of the episode wearing her creepy eye-shirt (which I last cosplayed in September 2024 but just at the end, she changes into an alternative outfit.

I last featured it here in November 2022, so that's over 2 years ago, so I thought I'd feature it again

Let's have a look at it:

• Topshop red ladder-stitch red cropped jumper
• ASOS reclaimed Check jacket
• Topshop black Scallop shorts
• Topshop 'All Mine' boots
• Black Deena and Ozzy satchel
• UO double circle necklace

For this February iteration, I decided to go less accurate and dress for the weather!

I had no desire to root around for tights or even less desire to wear them OR shorts so I decided to substitute the black shorts for a pair of my black ASOS trousers (not the cycle-ripped ones, but the other, baggier pair).

I also decided not to wear my more accurate, vintage jacket, but the Urban Outfitters cooperative bomber jacket that has the same print.  It's a lovely little cosy cardigan to wear (I wore it with 2 coats over the top to cycle!) plus my Topshop All Mine boots.

I forgot how cosy this red Topshop jumper is 

The final touch are the two gold ring necklaces which I bought from eBay a long time ago.

I felt very satisfied with this outfit.

Today and yesterday, I have done quite a few things:

Saturday:

Washing, 

Reading

Booked train tickets for Northumberland

Started packing for Northumberland

Marking (I marked about 400 pieces of work yesterday)

Went to Cinema to see Bridget Jones

Had dinner at Sababa in Southend (review to come soon)

Typed up some poems.

Wrote 2 new poems

Sunday:

Church

(Got chatting to lovely couple who have recently started coming to our church, one of whom used to work with CBC)

Drew tabards for World Book Day

Watched a lot of Classic Dotor Who

Marked about 450 pieces of work- FINISHED all my marking

Made an 80th birthday card for my Godmother

Made dinner of Crispy tofu

Put washing in.

Hung up washing.

Put away other washing

I've got about 540 report grades to get done this week so I've got to take my computer and assessment sheets with me plus a few other bits of admin work to do but I hope we can have a nice break in Hexham too.

xx

TARDIS Tuesday - Polka dots for Pudsey Bear

Last worn in 2020

Hello!

I am wearing what I SHOULD have worn for TARDIS Tuesday last week if I hadn't wimped out of wearing it on Tuesday because I hadn't slept well. However, all worked out as it turned out we were all wearing Polka Dots on Friday for Children in Need so I already had an outfit ready to wear.

Here's the inspiration:

Image borrowed from ClaraOswaldcosplay.com

In a "See it for 2 seconds" moment in a rather dodgy episode called In the Forest of the Night, Clara is wearing this River Island polka dot top with collar and bracelets.  We don't know what else she wore with it as it's never shown. However, this was always right up my street as I love collared tops and polka dots although I owned it for a few years before I wore it due to a snipping incident which required fixing.

I wore it with black trousers and my grey Clarks shoes- these have been repolished and heeled and are looking a bit shabby now but they are comfy 

I added a black polka dot wired headband and merino wool grey cardigan (charity shopped)  and funnily enough, another colleague had an almost identical outfit on!

One of my lovely Year 6's who is one of Sad Frog's new crew this year came in with spot sticker which she had embellished a white t-shirt with brilliantly. She came and added spots to Sad Frog so he was involved! Sad Frog's fans in the other class were amazed to come in and see him all spotty!

Friday was a good day at school-mostly- my year 6 classes worked hard and got on well. Orchestra went well. In the afternoon, I called a music shop to ask questions about ordering a new Timpani skin and then interviewed two lots of six pupils for Pupil Voice- this is something you have to do as a Subject Leader in school. Interview children to find out what they think on a range of issues/subjects.  This time my focus was Most Able, Gifted and Talented pupils so I called 2 of the highest attainers from each class from year 5&6 and got some good useful feedback. I typed it up, complete the report and got it sent off which was a relief.  

I then went to fetch A, an autistic girl in Year 5 who is obsessed with my guitar and ukele and gave her a little 5 minute lesson to play a chord sequence on the Ukele. She picked it up really quickly and was euphoric! Really glad I did this as I have now used it as an incentive for her to work hard and not disrupt lessons and she is excited.

I had a hilarious impromptu moment. One of the reception teachers had asked me about outdoor musical equipment.  We talked about how expensive it is and how things just get trashed and broken (unless supervised) and I mentioned using old large metal tins as make shift steelpans or darbukas.  To my joy, after some searching, I found about 6 different sized tins and took them back to the classroom- they were delighted and right there and then, the teacher, myself and the nursery nurse (both are musical) had an impromptu improvisation on the tins and it was a real moment of joy and musical cohesion for all of us.

I then headed home and wrote a pair of poems about house plants and then CBC and I heated up left over NettleSoup (I made a massive batch the previous Sunday) and left over pizza and watched a Christmas film called Hot Frosty. CBC thought it was dreadful but I LOVED it!

This week after 2 weeks of no evening rehearsals or plans, I have 2 rehearsals this week. Monday night with Forest Phil playing piccolo for Scheherezade and then a rehearsal with Covent Garden Chamber Orchestra on Wednesday- we are playing with a choral society in Chelmsford Cathedral on Saturday.  It's a  bit of a dull gig for me as 2nd flute in this particular Beethoven Mass involves lots of rests and not many interesting tunes but hey, it's my first time playing with the orchestra and I get to see my lovely friend Caroline who is playing 1st flute.

Hope all is well with you.

xx

TARDIS Tuesday- KILL THE MOON!

 Today's TARDIS Tuesday is an outfit I wore strangely recently (in comparison to others which have had a long hiatus)

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

It was worn by my old favourite, Clara Oswald, in series 8 of Doctor Who in a controversial episode called Kill the Moon. Controversial because it turns out the Moon is, in fact, an EGG...which hatches into a creature!

She wears a black and Autumnal coloured floral dress from ASOS plus her typical black opaque tights, her block-heeled Bertie shoes and a tan belt.

And here I am:

There's not much to say about this outfit except to say, I am wearing the ASOS dress but with leggings.  Mine was shortened...NOT something I needed to be done but when you buy it 2nd hand, not much you can do!  I also sold my screen accurate shoes so I am wearing an alternative pair of Clarks shoes I've had for a loooong time!

  

TARDIS Tuesday- Into the Dalek

 Today's TARDIS Tuesday is one I haven't worn on here since May 2020- that's right, since LOCKDOWN!

It was worn by my original favourite, Clara Oswald, as acted by Jenna Coleman.

In this series 8 episode, she wore a rather creepy outfit comprising of an orange silky shirt covered in blue eyes from a Hong Kong brand called Shalex, indigo high-waisted denim trousers from Just Female, River Island brown/tan high-heeled brogue boots, a brown leather jacket and gold double ring necklace plus a tan satchel.

She discards the jacket for a lot of the episode so I will too!

Image borrowed from this Pinterest

Here I am!

If you've been here a long time, you may recall that this top was adapted for me by my amazing friend and superb prolific blogger, Ang Almond! I found a red eye-print tunic from a brand called Vera and Lucy and Ang transformed it into this blouse. It's a very striking piece, if, a little creepy!

My jeans were from ASOS and are the absolute closest alternative you can get to the real trousers.  They are really comfortable as they are soft and flattering, I think! Plus, they fit me really well, unlike most jeans!

The final item which you can see are these grey brogue boots.  They are the same brand and model as the originals except that they are suede and grey rather than leather and tan! 

I tried to recreate several of Clara's poses in my original post  and wore my leather jacket and satchel (that brown leather jacket I wear for practically every Yasmin Khan post!) but this time, I decided to go with the look without the jacket.  My hair is a better length this time- last time it was long and scraggy!!!

I had a lovely moment last week.  I was waiting with the year 4 children to speak to a parent and all of a sudden, I was incredulous to see the mum of a pupil of mine that left about 9 years ago! I called and like me, she was overwhelmed with joy to see me!  We had an absolutely massive hug (you know the type where you are so excited to see someone and someone you really liked as a person!) .  It turns out she is the aunty of a boy in Year 5 (I had no idea!) I haven't seen her for about 9 years.  She was a lovely lady who is Muslim and who bought me the beautiful hand-carved nativity scene which was made in Bethlehem as a present! It still sits in my living room as it is so beautiful We always used to talk when her son was at school.  Her son was a really good musician. To my delight, she told me he was still playing the piano, aged 20, and had achieved his Grade 8 piano and still very much loved music!  We had another massive hug and then she had to go.  Honestly, it made my day to see her!

On the subject of lovely visitors, on the first day of term, one of my lovely year 6's (the Sad Frog crew), burst into my music room at the end of the day to see me. "I missed you!" we both said to each other with a big hug. She said she'd taken Sad Frog child on holiday! It was so lovely to see her.  The next day, I had another bursting into my room visitor- another of Sad Frog's biggest fan!  She also took her Sad Frog child on holiday.  I asked her if she wanted to borrow a book that I kept telling her about and she was delighted to borrow! She came back the next day to return it, having read it in 24 hours!  She took another one!

Hope all is well with you!

xx

TARDIS Tuesday- Tileprint alternatives!

 Is it really true that I haven't featured this Clara outfit since August 2021?  The time before that was 2019- so it seems a biennual appearance is its regular spot!

Well, it's due a repeat as it was one of my original favourite Clara outfits!

Topshop tile print dress and navy Bertie Brogues plus navy tights.

Let's have a look at my rendition.

It was worn for school on  Tuesday in September.

You might be forgiven for thinking, Hmmm, this looks a slightly different colour and print. No, your eyes aren't deceiving you. For whilst I DO have the accurate colour, Topshop made an alternative nude-coloured version.

My lovely size 8 version was getting a bit tight on me and I found it hard to locate another one in a larger size.  My friend Laura was selling her size 12 alt coloured one and I was selling a Yaz Khan top she wanted. So we swapped!

I MUCH prefer a larger version. I subsequently found the green one in a 10 so I sold on my Green one.

Worn with the too-small navy brogues. This is their last appearance on the blog because I have sold them! Realised there was no point in having them as they were too small and I didn't want to wear them because they hurt. So they are winging their way to Canada.  I could have sold them at a profit but I just sold both my pairs at the same price which meant I basically made what I had sold them for.

Bye, bye brogues!

However, I have seen that Clarks had a lovely Hamble Oak pair of brogues which are quite similar so if I ever see those at a bargain price, I may replace..and I won't be scared to ruin them!

The print is really pretty. Not sure I've ever shown you it up close before.

This was a good dress to wear for the slightly cooler but still warm weather we had in September.

I also think it is a good teacher look too. Out of some of Clara's slightly less school appropriate outfits, this one rates higher!

Hope you have an enjoyable day!

xx

TARDIS Tuesday- Red dress yes!

 To my surprise, it was 2 years ago that I featured this outfit for TARDIS Tuesday.

In the Caretaker, we see Clara's manic life as she tries to juggle trips in the TARDIS with teaching and beginning to date Danny Pink!

We see her go on a date in a glamorous dress from The Kooples:

Image borrowed from 
https://claraoswaldcosplay.dreamconnect.de/?p=622 

I found a lovely red dress in the charity shop last time I wore this...which JUST about fit me (if I breathed in and didn't wear a bra!) but I saw the real dress recently at a very decent price (for a dress which originally cost £300!!!!!)

And here it is!  
I must confess that I LOVE a red dress!  In fact, I often remember that the first time CBC and I danced together, at dance night at camp, before we knew we definitely liked each other, I was wearing a lovely little red dress from ASOS! 

This one is a strange crepe fabric but it fits me well and this is one of my favourite pairs of Clara shoes (boots...) that ACTUALLY fit my foot size properly. None of this 41 is a size 8 rubbish that I frequently have to put up with as a large-footed individual. 42 is an 8 ladies and gentlemen, NOT a 41!

Though... does it look ok from the side? I'm not used to wearing fitted dresses around my stomach!

I realise, upon looking at these photos, that these tights have gone a little bit weird and patchy/stretchy on the thighs... hmmm...

I added my little silver sparkly handbag  which came from another Clara outfit!

Cannot wait for an excuse to wear this out to a nice dinner or occasion rather than just posing in the garden!  We are going to watch Peter Grimes at English National Opera on Monday night....suitable for that or not???

xx

TARDIS Tuesday- Clara from Dark Water

Hi there!

I hope all is well with you.

Did you hear about the awful chopping down of the tree on Hadrian's wall in a spot known as Sycamore Gap?  A beautiful 300-year old tree that has delighted many for years, been the inspiration for countless artists and has sheltered many over the years.  It was brutally sawn down with a chainsaw on Wednesday night.  I've walked that stretch of the Roman Wall from the Sill to Housesteads many times over the last 15 years and it is really sad that it is no more. I wonder if we will find out why it happened in time? It's just so sad and pointless!  I am glad that I made CBC drive me there for a walk in July to walk that stretch even though he didn't want to at the time.

Much love to a much beloved tree. It feels like so many beautiful trees are being cut down in recent times, if not by awful developers (Blore homes, I loathe you), local councils or mindless yobs.

Onto TARDIS Tuesday.

I was incredulous to see I had not shared this dress and outfit on the blog since 2019!!!

The outfit I am inspired by this week is Clara Oswald's outfit worn in double episode finale of series 8, Dark Water and Death in Heaven.

She wears a navy and orange Aztec print dress called the Wax Koko dress from French brand Sessun along with her standard black opaque tights, navy block-heeled brogues from Bertie and then later adds her Topshop green contrast checked mac

Also borrowed from Clara Who Cosplays

Here is my version of this outfit:

My camera was very hazy and blurry- not sure if I need to clean the lens or something!

The lovely Ann is responsible for me obtaining this dress as she brought it with her to England after it being sent to her from France a few years ago.  I'm quite surprised it still fits me as a few of my other dresses that I've not worn for a while don't anymore! It's a light crepe material and if I could get away with cycling in it I might wear it for school  few more times whilst it's still fairly warm...with leggings!  It's an alternative coloured one to Clara's one which is Indigo and orange- mine is navy and white.

The shoes are the same ones from Bertie and whilst I ADORE how they look, they really are too tight for me to comfortably wear and whilst it is lovely to have them in my collection- realistically, I should probably pass them onto someone who will get more wear out of them.

My black version of Clara's Topshop jacket is one of my oldest cosplay pieces and one I wear the most-it's a light cotton hooded jacket- perfect for cycling and slinging on when there is a slight chill in the air!

I really like this one of Clara's outfits though, if I had to rate it by how easily you can run around being chased by aliens or being dropped out of aeroplanes, I'd say, Could Do Better!

Hope you are well!

Kx

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

TARDIS Tuesday- Flatline

For TARDIS Tuesday, I am featuring an old favourite- quite a casual old favourite, but one that I have worn many times on this ere blog!

 I last featured this cosplay on the blog in October 2019 and it has featured quite a few times but was first featured in October 2014, almost 9 years ago!

Image borrowed from this Facebook

The episode itself, from 2014, was BRILLIANT! Such a clever premise- creatures from a 2-dimensional world trying to get into our 3-dimensional one.  It had some seriously scary moments and some comic genius, especially where Clara discovers the TARDIS has shrunk!

It featured an H&M blue and red checked shirt, a Khaki and black biker jacket from The Kooples, Ash-wedged trainers, black skinny jeans and a gold-mandala style necklace (which I have NO IDEA how anyone could see or even ID!) 

Confession: I absolutely love my original 2014 post of this, even though it wasn't particularly accurate- there was something fun about my posts that I don't seem to be able to achieve in my posts so well now, looking almost 10 years older!

Anyway, I tried to have a little of the storyline in these photos:

I wore this for a Sunday at home (plus a visit to the COOP)- I was SO tired after my concert day on Saturday and getting home around 1am, that I achieved very little.

The H&M shirt is a super soft but light flannel which feels very nice to wear. I remember searching for SOOOO long to find the Screen-accurate shirt as H&M have made loads of shirts in this combination of colours over the years. My original was a brighter blue and more fitted- I really liked it though it became a bit small in the end. 

The coat is the same Kooples one and I was lucky to find it early on in my Clara 'career' for a very reasonable price for what is a £400 jacket. I confess I don't wear it that often as I always worried about rain so I tend to wear my coats with a hood more regularly...I think it actually has a hidden hood so perhaps it is the season for it coming up!

Have you spotted the very same trousers and Ash wedged trainers from last week's Clara cosplay?  They are one and the same.

My TARDIS is in fact a ceramic cookie jar which I bought from the original Doctor Who exhibition when it was in London. I had to sit with it under my feet when my sister and I went to see Billy Elliott at the theatre after it! If I were any good at computer-wizardry, I'd photoshop a hand coming out of the TARDIS! Ha!

This Tuesday, I won't have any orchestra! Hurrah! My concert went really well on Saturday.

It was a concert of different emotions. Our wonderful leader, Cory is moving to a new city so it was her last concert as leader.  She's also done so much to run the orchestra and her husband has been a wonderful part of it too. After losing our wonderful conductor last year, it's really sad to be losing her.  The concert was supposed to be conducted by a guest conductor I know well, Sam but he caught Covid and had to pull on Tuesday and a wonderful conductor called Orlando took over (even though he didn't know one of the pieces, Poulenc Sinfonietta well.). He did a really good job and we liked his conducting very much.

One of the pieces we performed was Beethoven's Triple concerto (for Violin, Cello and piano) and the soloists were dynamic and exciting- they made a gorgeous sound.

Lots of old friends of the orchestra came to watch and we had a large audience including our former 1st oboist Suzy who I had mentioned to, that it was Cory's last concert.  It was the first time I've seen her since our last pre-Covid concert in March 2020, though we have communicated through Insta.

The performance went very well, despite us wind-players experiencing unexpected terror in the first piece, Faure's Masques et Bergamasques- not sure why we were all scared!

In between the rehearsal and concert, the wind players all went to a lovely Thai buffet on Portobello road called Brown Rice. I made the plan and they were all pleasantly surprised by this place as it meant there was no hanging around ordering food, no waiting for the bill, you paid as you went in. A very reasonable £12 got you an Eat as Much as you Like Buffet. It meant we got back to the church in plenty of time rather than the usual panic!

After the concert, we had a reception for Cory where they were presented with a fine double music stand from the Early Music shop.

Alas, there were Engineering works on our local line so we had to make alternative arrangements which added a lot of extra time to our journey. We were, however, incredibly lucky that we managed to get a Central line train immediately and get straight on our final train without a big wait. We were, however, exhausted by the time we got home at around 1am! Yawn!

Hope you are well.

xx

TARDIS Tuesday- In the Forest of the Night Clara Oswald

Hello!

Greetings mes amies! It's been a while. Today was my first day back at school after the half term holiday.

For TARDIS Tuesday this week, I decided to wear quite a casual outfit worn by Clara Oswald in series 8- In the Forest of the Night.

Interestingly enough, the last time I wore this was in 2019- the day before I went to Bruges.  I wore this, this time, the day AFTER I got back from Bruges. Total coincidence!

As Clara/Jenna Coleman's outfits go, this one is pretty easy to wear.

Let's have a look at it:

IMage borrowed from This Pinterest

She wears a grey marl cropped sweater from Topshop along with some indigo denim trousers from Just Female and black Converse trainers.  She has a mustardy/tan jacket which she wears around her waist and a black leather Deena and Ozzy rucksack.

Image borrowed from Cosplay Gallifrey.com

Here's my version:

It's an easy outfit to recreate. My sweater is the same Topshop one- it's a cropped sweater and so you need to wear it over a dress or with something high waisted.

Luckily, my jeans are high-waisted- they are from ASOS and very similar to the Screen accurate ones but a different brand.

I added my Converse high tops- not sure where my low tops are: I bought these in Bali in 2006- yes, I have owned them longer than I have been a teacher!

I didn't wear a tan/yellow jacket but instead wore my itchy mustard cardigan bought by my lovely in-laws for me. I went for a walk with my friend Christina from my old church. She came and picked me up and we went for a walk along the creek. It was a lovely impromptu plan and we were pleased to see each other. I brought my things in my TARDIS rucksack which I am wearing in the picture.

This was a good outfit for an easy walk- I ended up wearing the cardigan most of the time as it was breezy.

Can you believe I am still unwell?!  It's almost 2 weeks.  I thought I was getting better in Bruges but I really couldn't sleep last night and I've felt grim all day with a very sore throat coming back again as well as the snot. It's annoying!  I went to bed around 11pm and at 1.27am, I got up and went to the spare room to see if a change of scene would help me sleep. It did but I was a bit of a wreck this morning to be honest! I hope and pray I sleep well today!

Hope all is well with you!

xx

TARDIS Tuesday and Christmas and New Year Catch up

 Hi there!

Happy New Year to all of you!

I do hope you have had a great Christmas and New Year.

I've had a nice Christmas and very sad it is almost over!

I've not really caught up since before Christmas.

I mentioned the week of the train strikes last and mentioned coming home with a sore throat and feeling not particularly well on the Saturday.

By Sunday, I felt more unwell, headache, cough and really tired. I had to go and sing carols in the afternoon as it was too last minute for them to find anyone. It was only half an hour but I felt really drained and out of it. I really shouldn't have gone. I'd done Covid tests since Thursday (before I was unwell, as I had had to do one to visit the care home)- all were negative.

By Sunday evening, I really didn't feel well and was starting to cough more.  CBC, who never has a day off, was shocked when I said I didn't think I was going to be able to go into school.  He said that I should see how I was in the morning. I felt really annoyed and a bit upset as I really do not take days of school lightly. I really wanted and needed to go in to teach Jingle Bells as it would be weird to teach in January, but I really didn't feel well and it felt like he was not believing me. I texted my Deputy Head to warn her I wasn't 100%. She said to text her in the morning.

I woke around 4am, feeling dreadful and not being able to stop coughing.  It woke up CBC who went to the loo. I  think, after hearing me cough for around 45 minutes, he realised I really wasn't well.

I texted my Deputy Head just before 5am to say I wasn't going to be in. Felt gutted not to be able to teach Jingle Bells. I spent most of the day lying on the leather chair or sofa, trying to force myself to do some work but I just couldn't muster up the energy. I managed to do a bit of timing on the Christmas recordings, editing them on the computer and a few things but that was about all.

I felt worse on Tuesday so I didn't go in for the last day. Again, I was really gutted as I had SO much stuff to clear up ready for the new year- so many things left out, paper work to clear away, instruments to put away, paperwork to tidy away and missing the last day excitement.

By Wednesday, I was feeling a bit improved- not as headachey or unable to do anything at all, but still didn't have energy so I cancelled my plans with my friend Margaret to meet for lunch which was sad.

By the end of the day, after having another day of lying on the sofa, the rest was helping although I was starting to feel I'd pulled a muscle under my arm from all the hard coughing so tried to practice breathing slowly.

Thursday, I felt much better and Mum had invited us for lunch. I'd warned her I probably shouldn't come as had been ill but she told me we still had to come.  We had a lovely lunch of soup and vegan Bolognese and fruit salad. It was lovely to see her and the kittens. We went home and I spent the rest of the day of the sofa.

Friday, feeling improved, though not 100% we rearranged to meet M for lunch. We went to a lovely cafe which was totally empty except for us. I had to pick up a present for my sister from Next and then went home. Our friend Nath came round for dinner. CBC cooked a vegan chilli plus a Potato Dauphinoise. Nath brought some sausages wrapped in bacon that had to be eaten. We had a game of Scrabble. 

Christmas eve, we headed off to Oxfordshire for Christmas. Disastrously, I'd forgotten to cancel the milk so had to send it to my neighbour who gleefully talked about hot chocolates galore!

We met in a pub for lunch.  Everyone else had 3 courses but I stuck to a 1 course mezze as the last time I'd had a stodgy pub lunch at theirs, I'd had awful constipation on Christmas day,so I had lots of veggie things! Christmas eve ended with a cheese fest.

It turned out that there were 3 of us who had the horrid cough and lack of energy and all of us weren't feeling particularly good and ended up coughing a lot- it was like playing Cough Tag most of the time we were there. Ended up going to bed early as I was so exhausted.

Christmas day was lovely. We didn't have loads of presents which was nice. CBC bought me some cute wooden earrings and a Balinese cook book (I bought him a smart shirt, leather belt and bag of mints) and my MiL gave me some books. CBC's sister gave us a lovely little edible stocking. I helped out with Christmas dinner and washing up.  They bought fun crackers with individual chimebars and beaters which everybody had a go at playing and we watched some TV. I ended up going for a walk mid afternoon in an non-waterproof coat and got completely soaked. We also had a walk around 8pm which was much needed.

Boxing Day, we went out for a 5 mile walk and had a tasty buffet. We played Linkee and watched a film. I ended up going for an extra walk. Didn't feel particularly well but the walk was much needed despite wiping us out!

The 27th, CBC's older sister, husband and 2 nephews came over. It was manic and crazy but sweet in some ways!

The 28th, we left around 9am to get J to Oxford train station to catch her train back to Northumberland. This meant we got back to Essex quite swiftly. Spent most of the day on the sofa feeling tired. I have tended to find I feel fine if I am not doing anything but feel unwell when I start doing anything or going outside in the cold.

On the 29th, we had a late start and had to go into London late to meet CBC's friend who was over from Sweden. Didn't really get to spend much time with her and the whole trip felt a bit futile, again, didn't feel great having to traipse around cold London. We ended up having dinner on Marylebone highs street and I was very relieved to get home.

On the 30th, we went to Chelmsford late afternoon for CBC to get his haircut and for him to look to see if there were any suits in the John Lewis sale (there weren't). I ended up buying a fancy 'Darvilles of Windsor' Tea Advent calendar for next year as it was reduced from £33 to £6.75 as it had a date of December 2026 on it. We then went over to our friend Lara's and Tim's for a lovely buffet.

On the 31st, we went over to my Dad's in Kent and stayed till the evening of the 1st. We had a wonderful meal on both days and did an  online Escape Room plus a walk along the river.

Yesterday, I went and spent the morning with my flute quartet. I had a headache so I spent the rest of the day lying down as I felt tired after the flute playing and the headache wasn't helping

I'm back to school on Thursday. Still got a cough, very tired and the pulled muscle is still not better but I honestly feel so much better than I did.

Today's TARDIS Tuesday is a reflection on how I feel- wanting to be comfy.

The outfit featured is worn by Clara Oswald when she's grieving over the death of her boyfriend, Danny Pink in 'Death in Heaven'. It features a pink speckled cardigan from Urban Outfitters, a white top with black stripes and indigo jeans.

I'm wearing the same cardigan but a similar top- the real one has not been IDed. I'm wearing some comfy ASOS jeans from another Clara cosplay.

Not an exciting outfit, not really 'blog-worthy' so only here for the sake of doing a TARDIS Tuesday after not doing it for 2 weeks. Didn't really feel up to it!

Hope all is well with you.

xx

TARDIS Tuesday- Into the Dalek Clara

Good evening!

I hope you are well! I am well.  Today, for TARDIS Tuesday, I am sharing an outfit worn by Clara Oswald in series 8 episode, Into the Dalek. I can't believe I last shared this outfit last in April 2019-almost 3 years ago!

Let's look at it!

The outfit is worn I thought would be perfect for Remembrance Sunday...with a slight modification!

It consists of:

• Topshop red ladder-stitch red cropped jumper
• ASOS reclaimed Check jacket
• Topshop black Scallop shorts
• Topshop 'All Mine' boots
• Black Deena and Ozzy satchel
• UO double circle necklace

And here it is.

This practically identical to the last time I wore it. It needed no adjustments*.

The Topshop sweater is really warm and comfortable to wear- it hugs you really well but, because of the ladder-stitch, isn't too hot.  My jacket is one of my best Charity shop Clara finds as it is vintage, not the same brand as hers but looks identical from a distance. It cost me £4 and I spied it from a moving car when I was driving up Battle Hill in Hexham in the window of the Sue Ryder charity shop!

Not much to say about the shorts and boots other than- not appropriate for school!

*Speaking of inappropriate for school- I slightly modified this outfit for church. The shorts are too tight and too short for me to wear in public so I swapped them for my new black cropped corduroy trousers from Seasalt. Also easier to cycle in!

Here's a close-up on my double circle necklaces AND the remembrance addition to this outfit (which I think is perfect for this outfit- Clara's needs it!)

Apart from the fitted shorts, the outfit is super comfortable and smart for many occasions. If only the shorts were longer and a bit looser!

I played piano for the first time at the church I've started going to on Sunday morning. I do NOT enjoy playing piano in public - even Singing Assembly at school or School concerts is not in my comfort zone (even though I've done it for 16 years).  BUT, the regular lady who plays piano had a nasty fall a few weeks ago and broke her shoulder (and really smacked up her eye and face) and I really wanted to help out so I  offered to help out when I was able to.  It went ok- there were a few Les Dawson moments and I had a couple of blanks just before starting about WHERE I was going to start an introduction but it was ok.  As I wasn't singing at the same time (because that makes it harder to get it all right)- I did teacherly nods to show when it was time to come in, just in case!

After church, I did something else really cool but that's for another day!

xxx

TARDIS Tuesday - Robots of Sherwood- Clara's tartan cute look

Hi,

Welcome to another TARDIS Tuesday! Today, I'm featuring an outfit worn by Clara in series 8 of Doctor Who.

 I have featured this outfit twice before: in May 2019 and earlier in September 2017

It's not changed hugely but I have made a slight alteration.

https://claraoswaldcosplay.dreamconnect.de/?p=586

Sadly, we didn't get to see the outfit for very long, nor in daylight which is a shame since it is SUPER cute!

It featured a teal Oasis jumper and a Topshop purple and teal skort (that's a picture of shorts and skirt). She wears black tights and I THINK she wears her Bertie Astor wingtip heel shoes.

Image borrowed from WornonTV.net

And here's my 2022 iteration!

I started with the same Topshop skort I've worn each time (it's screen accurate). It's really short but cute.

I teamed it up with an alternative Oasis jumper which has a leather collar. This jumper originally had a floral colour and a fake shirt bottom but the wonderful Ang adapted it for me. She even managed to turn the floral collar into lining for another Clara dress so not to waste it!

Today, I decided to wear a different pair of Clara shoes- these are my Bertie heels rather than my black suedette boots I wore last time.

I can't work out where I got this leather collar from but it is not the one I usually wear.

I wore this on Sunday for an orchestra rehearsal.  The skort IS short but I do like how well this outfit goes together. The whole thing really needs an iron but that's not going to happen!

I have not worn this outfit for school for obvious reasons but I hope Clara didn't- too short!

Hope you had a good day!

xx