A few Summer outfits

Hello there!

We are several weeks into term now.  I was really sad on Friday at school because we are really late starting clubs because the person who does them was away. And then, the payment for clubs has gone up by a lot.  And when I looked at sign up for my clubs, I had only 4 signed up to Drumming Club, 9 to year 3-4 choir and only 11 for choir.  And I've been told the deadline is Monday. I miss the old days where I was able to just run my own things and I'd have big numbers. I cannot run any of those clubs with those numbers, I just can't. Anyway, I did raise my concerns so I hope and pray that perhaps something can be done.  I feel really despondent. 

This weekend, I have a gig on Clapham Common. We are playing Balinese Gamelan for Colourscape.

I found a few photos I'd taken of some outfits I really liked so I thought I'd share them before the seasons change:

A few times, people have told me red really suits me and looking at this outfit, I agree, it IS my colour!

Incidentally, the first time CBC and I danced together, before we got together, I was wearing a red dress!

This LK Bennett was charity-shopped a while back and I really like it. It's knitted but the short sleeves make it different. I teamed it with my Nan's gold necklace. It's funny because when she died some 25 years ago, I took her dressing table box of costume jewellery, nothing expensive and I kept most of it for sentimental reasons. This chunky necklace was never my taste but this year, I've found myself drawn to it and wearing it this year.

These Lucy and Yak trousers were charity-shopped earlier in the year.  It was funny because my friend Jen had a pair of Alexa trousers by Lucy and Yak a few years ago and I really, really liked them - they looked so comfortable.  I've been watching them on Vinted for a few years, particularly in the Sunflower pattern, which always sell well. When I saw them in a charity shop when I was hanging around waiting for CBC, I was so happy because I could try them for size. The size S fitted me perfectly and I made a donation to charity!

The Rieker lattice shoes (charity shopped of course, about 4 years ago) have been the shoes I've worn the most this Summer.

To complete the outfit, I added my Rochester-charity-shopped jacket and an ASOS wool hat.

I carried the jacket and shoes into the following outfit worn for a Thai meal out along with a Majorcan belt and my Sari-recycled dress from Padstow.

The shoes continued into this outfit featured a black skirt with Indian dancers which was, yes, you guessed it, charity-shopped and a crocheted top I charity-shopped (naturlich!)  only this year.

I have neglected these brown Asos sandals, back of a cupboard in a shoe box under other shoes but it was nice to wear them again.

The garden Crocs ruin the look somewhat of this Laura Ashley dress! CS-ed of course! 

Here's an outfit from Northumberland. All CSed. The linen and cotton mix cardigan was my only purchase in Hexham. It was £1. The skirt is from Fatface originally and is a comfy jersey. 

Plus CSed straw visor. 

Finally, the rainbow dress in another incarnation, with a Dorothy Perkins t-shirt and my Moshulu sandals. 

Any favourites here? 

TARDIS Tuesday and kitties

Hello there! Greetings from my Mum's garden! CBC and I went over there for lunch today.  We had our usual customary walk around her beautiful garden to admire her prowess at growing food and flowers and then we walked to the marina to try out a new cafe called Shell's cafe.  It was really really nice with a good selection of food and nice shady tables with amusing paraphernalia on the walls of the garden.  We then walked back to her house but sadly, the sole of one of my shoes completely came off so we had to make it a shorter walk than intended.  RIP these shoes- I love them so much- so comfortable. I bought them from Primark at least 19 years ago so they have had a good innings- going to see if I can glue it back on though. We played with her kitties, drank an intriguing glass of Black lace elder and rose cordial and then headed home via the garden centre where I felt sorry for a manky-looking Erysimum Bowles plant which I bought for £2 and CBC bought some extra stones for the pond, the main reason we went there.

Onto my TARDIS Tuesday outfit. Last posted in June 2024, I am featuring Sarah Jane Smith's final outfit from her days as Tom Baker's companion in the episode, The Hand of Fear, which the wonderful Ang Almond adapted for me 2 years ago or so! (See here the post where I debuted them with explanations of what adaptations she did)

Images borrowed from:
https://theultimateguidetothefashionofdoctorwho.wordpress.com/2017/10/25/sarah-jane-smith-the-hand-of-fear/

https://bradleybasement.wordpress.com/sci-fi/doctor-who/doctor-who-timelines/the-doctors-timelines-index/the-fourth-doctors-timeline/the-hand-of-fear-tv/

And here's my 2025 iteration of these in Mum's garden!

I wore my same Joe Browns red top which I found in a charity top last year and was pleased as it was the perfect top for this outfit (AND others!). My beautiful dungarees which Ang customised and the aforementioned spotty pumps- not really screen accurate but I saw them in my cupboard as I was dressing and fancied wearing them...

Can you see someone poking out my pocket?

It's Mini-Owl! Sarah Jane holds a stuffed owl with this outfit as she leaves the TARDIS and CBC told me I looked like a Children's TV presenter in this outfit as I dressed and said I needed to fill those pockets so I obliged with Owl...who I knew I could get out easily for photos! We also have Mini Squirrel!

Here in the customary pose! Can you see the sole flapping on my shoe.  That's the one that STILL has its sole!

Had to have a play with darling Bramble

She has a thing about shoes. Has to put her feet into them and then have a rub and sniff around them.

Rowan has a thing about bags...

He had a lovely time playing with my rucksack after investigation.

Until she decided to get involved...

She then attacked the side ties on my dungarees and sunk a claw into my derriere as she attempted to vanquish the dastardly bow!

We had a fun weekend before this with a day spent with CBC's brother and then the Sunday spent with our friend Nath at the beach and out at the pub for dinner after a trip to a garden centre. More on the weekend anon.

Yesterday was largely spent at home.  I peeled, chopped and cooked 5 large containers of apple, blackberries and raspberries for the freezer and then watched Wednesday after an omelette and vegetables.

I ADORE a me-cooked cheese-omelette!!! It's the ONE thing where I prefer to cook it myself!

xx

 

VE day outfits

On VE day, we were invited to come to school dressed in either 1940's inspired outfits or the coluors of the Union flag.

I decided to go with the latter option

I started with the white blouse. It is one I charity shopped a year ago or so. I really like it but I don't know where it originally came from.

Next, I added the red skirt which is my Romana cosplay one- it was second hand.

Next was the blue Monsoon cardigan which I've had for a long time and my Clarks Funny Dream shoes from Vinted.

Add my red beret (Primark charity shopped) and this Collectif nautical necklace (which I ended up lending to our Assistant Head as she was wearing nautical trousers with star fish and lobsters on in these colours!) .

I loved the combo.

At playtime, I was on duty and ended up chatting to M, a lovely, quirky, individual.  I looked at her outfit and admired it.  I then looked at it again and said, "Actually, I HAVE this outfit at home! I could totally come to school tomorrow wearing this outfit!"

And so the next day, I came to school dressed in the outfit (the outfit above!).  I walked past her classroom on my way to the Staff room and the door was open. I hissed her name as her teacher did the register. She looked at me quizzically and I pointed at my outfit.  She looked puzzled at first and suddenly sheer delight and incredulity spread over her face. I waved and carried on with my journey.

At playtime later, I saw her and said, "What do you think!".  She was so sweet and said, "I AM HONOURED!!!"  Haha, it was funny to do this and I think it made her smile!

On the actual VE day, we had an all school, outdoor assembly with poetry reading and sang 3 songs I'd taught.  Of course, despite all my best laid plans, technology failed us and the boombox stalled on the backing tracks I had prepared.  Ah well, we persevered without them!

Hope all is well with you!

x

TARDIS Tuesday - Romana Warriors Gate

http://www.4thdoctorcostume.com/2015/06/lalla-wards-time-capsule.html

Hello there! 

Time for TARDIS Tuesday! 

I unexpectedly ended up wearing this for school on Friday so this ended up being my TT outfit for this week. 

I wore it relatively recently for TARDIS Tuesday about a year ago. It is the last outfit worn by Romana, the Time Lady companion portrayed in her second incarnation by Lalla Ward, one time wife of her Doctor, Tom Baker. 

https://aminoapps.com/c/doctor-who-cast-crew/page/blog/romana-iis-outfits-ranked/6qpR_leSzukZwpj3n1ZVGYpKqKDpLlg15

https://doctorwhoworlduk.com/romana-2-gallery

The look is mainly red and black. Here I am :

 I wore the red top with some loose black Seasalt trousers (bought last Summer from their eBay outlet after ripping my regular black trousers in a cycling fall. 

I added these black Rieker ankle strap shoes which I charity shopped last year and then added these red Primary socks plus some red pencil earrings, a present from my current Headteacher well over a decade ago when we used to share a class!

I do love red and black together. I'd love Romana's actual top it looks so soft and flowing - mine is little more scratchy - but it has the effect!

There are so many beautiful Romana looks I'd love to try! Anyone got a grey smock sailor dress at all???

Went to the first rehearsal of one of my orchestras tonight (Monday) - I'm playing piccolo and luckily it went OK and there are no massive scary piccolo moments for the conductor to terrorise me on. 

My main orchestra, Kensington Chamber Orchestra has its concert this Saturday. It's a bit of a Girl Power concert. We have a female conductor, a female violin soloist and we are playing a symphony by French composer Louise Farranc. Very cool! More details available on request! Or you can look at our website!! 

Xx 

Red Sailor

Ahoy there, Sailors!

I love a bit of sailor/nautical sartorial-styling!  Last week, my Year 5's were writing and performing their own sea shanties and this week, we were looking at the Sailor's Hornpipe!

In this outfit, there are two pieces that I bought for cosplay for Classic Who companion, Romana.  The red tiered skirt and the Sailor jacket.  Both were bought second hand for cosplays but get worn in other combinations regularly but I don't think they've featured outside cosplay posts!  The Laura Ashley t-shirt was bought from a Loue charity shop and is so comfortable.  The hat is from ASOS and the boots second hand Vegan Dr Martens.  I wore this on the lovely sunny day we had our Kensington Chamber Orchestra concert.  I sat on the steps reading my book and several people commented that I looked like a painting! It was funny. I do love the combination of Navy, red and White.  

The necklace was a present for Christmas from my friend Lara. 

Xx

 

Sun, Spring, Sailor

Oh, the SUN, the SUN!  It has been glorious! It puts one in such a good mood! I ate my breakfast in the garden both days of this weekend and it was a joy!

I walked with my friend Margaret this afternoon which was also a joy- we travelled to and walked along Southend Seafront to Thorpe Bay and back.

The signs of Spring are here- my first Daffodils opened and I can see buds on my cherry blossom.

Yesterday, I made sure to wear clothes I can't usually on a bike- a long skirt and a hat!

And went for  real sailor vibe.

This necklace was a present from my friend L for Christmas

Wore my Laura Ashley top bought in Loue last Summer along with my red tiered skirt (my Romana skirt!) 

Added my sailor jacket (Zara via Vinted) and an ASOS felt hat.

You can't see my Dr Martens.

I wore this to travel up to London for my orchestra concert. It was a great concert and two of my colleagues came to watch it- it was so nice to have them there, particularly as one of them had been fasting all day for Ramadan and was very hungry! They were so sweet and enthusiastic!

This week, I am taking the choir to the ROyal Albert Hall.   Hopefully, there won't be any catastrophes like Vomit-gate like last time!

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 Thursday- Day of the Doctor Clara

 I had an awful headache lasting from Sunday evening to Wednesday morning and I couldn't face a computer screen so TARDIS Thursday it is, instead of Tuesday! I also had a first rehearsal for The Rite of Spring which I am playing with the Orchestra of the City in Holborn on Friday 19th July (if anyone is interested!).  It was really exciting! It is such a difficult and interesting piece to play and I am playing the Alto flute part which, to me, actually seems the best part out of all FIVE flute parts as I get solos but none of the dreadfully difficult high stuff! Admittedly, I didn't enjoy it as much as I would have done with a stonking great headache but I did have a nice little treat as I bought a battered sausage from the nearby chippy to eat just before (I'd had some salad and fruit plus marmite on bread) and the guy threw in a little scoop of chips with it which was really kind!

Anyway, onto a TARDIS Tuesday which last featured in October 2021.  It hasn't changed since my last two permutations except I switched in some different black boots.

Let's look at this very 90's looking outfit: 

Image borrowed from this Pinterest

Image borrowed from https://www.pinterest.com/pin/339881103102661537/

And here's my 2024 rendition:

The main element of the outfit is yet another red garment for TT- it's the 3rd week in a row with red as the main feature!

The red dress is from River Island and really needed an iron!

I added a black belt and Clara's Topshop boots from some other outfits. I didn't bother with the SA boots.  Considering slowly discarding all my uncomfortable Clara shoes- I already sold 2 pairs!

My jacket is from Barbour but hers is Belstaff. I like this one well enough!

I like this outfit very much and it's a nice Summer outfit- if I wear the dress with leggings rather than tights and sandals rather than boots! I'm wearing a tiny horseshoe necklace which I bought from eBay a long time ago!

This Friday, I am taking my Drumming Club to a interschool festival, this Thursday we have an author coming to visit the school and this weekend, CBC and I are going to Northumberland and Scotland for Chase the Sun North. He will cycle the 205 miles from Whitley Bay to Ayr and I shall attempt it by Pubic transport! Ahrgh!  We have to get to Whitley Bay at around 11 at night and then he has to get up at 4am or earlier to get to the start line. YUCK!

Hope all is well with you.

My day was good today  as my Year 3's had a jolly, well-behaved lesson in which they composed and performed their own recorder roads melodies and the year 2's enjoyed learning about Benjamin Britten's opera, Peter Grimes, listening to two of his sea interludes, Dawn and the Storm and then learning a song with contrasting verses about the sea and creating Dawn and Storm interlude music in between.  They seemed to be having a great time!

Hope you are well.

x

TARDIS Tuesday- Oswin Oswald

Last TARDIS Tuesday was a bit of a unloved one!  Thank you to Ivana and Vix for their nice comments! This week, I am keeping my colour scheme from last week's Sarah Jane cosplay and passing it onto Oswin Oswald.  This was Clara Oswald played by Jenna Coleman's very first appearance in Doctor Who, back in series 6, in the guise of Oswin Oswald.  Here's a short Youtube video showing her character's first appearance: 

And here are a series of stills showing her outfit

Image borrowed from
https://www.reddit.com/r/doctorwho/comments/ch7suw/for_everyone_who_loves_clara_oswin_oswald_and_who/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eW2cQPFUcHg

https://silvermarmoset.tumblr.com/post/170466432024/clara-oswalds-wardrobe-the-eleventh-doctor-years

Image from
http://promotedancing.com/sqjjb.asp?iid=52125658&cid=25 

I HAVE worn this outfit on here before but I CANNOT find it anywhere in my links! I reckon it's been at least 3 years since I wore it on here.

Here's my 2024 iteration.

It's pretty much identical to whenever I last wore it except that I think I may have worn a different belt.

I adore this dress which I bought second hand from Zara, but for the fact it is so short on me with my longer legs.  I would wear it with leggings in public.

My trainers come from River Island as do Clara's but for the fact, mine have some weird cut outs at the side- CUT OUT TRAINERS????? The socks came from eBay.  I added the belt which was from Primark. I don't have all the items she has on her belt, but you might see I added a whisk on the left hand photo!!!


By the way, I inadvertently cosplayed another TV character with this outfit.  Below is Zooey Deschanel from TV programme, New Girl and my dress happens to be the same model that she is wearing! 

https://www.reddit.com/r/findfashion/comments/o459ds/looking_for_a_red_dress_similar_to_the_one/

By the way, since the Swing Seat is out, I couldn't resist trying to recreate the hammock photo from the pictures above! This took a few attempts as I had to rearrange my skirt quite a few times

I really love red and it is a colour that comes back repeatedly into Clara's wardrobe! Stay tuned for more red next week!

What do you think of this outfit?

xx