#BEDM 3: Self Care Sunday

I've had a really pronounced headache for two days now- it started on Saturday morning minimally and I thought, "AAAAAH!" as I was getting on the trains for a shopping expedition with two blogging friends. By the time we were 3/4 of the way we were through, I was really starting to feel it and was thankful for the long train journey to shut my eyes and try to get rid of it. To no avail. Napping all evening and trying to sleep, it was not shifting. When it came to Sunday morning, Self Care Sunday felt like it should be "Stay in bed, try to shift headache," and block the world out. However, CBC knows best. He said to me, "Kezzie, you need to go to church," (who'd have thought he'd say that!) to which I groaned and replied, "But I still haven't done the editing of the sermons." Yes, I am admitting it here. I somehow, in a bid to try and help someone at church, somehow agreed to help edit the audio of sermons to remove all clicks, lip-smacks and other issues and then convert to a movie in Movie-Maker and then upload to Youtube. I'm not very technical, I haven't had the software in the right places (I haven't got WMM yet) , keep forgetting to do it and it's become this horrid guilty weight on my shoulders that meant I didn't go to church for 2 weeks. As I told my friends yesterday, I've got about 10 of the wretched sermons to edit. CBC said I should just go which I knew was right, despite the fact my head was pounding still behind my left eye and ear (always there- why?) and be honest. Of course, he's right. I went and despite the headache, I was glad I did. The sermon was spoken by a nice guest vicar on 1 John on Love. God is love. We can show our love for him by showing it to others. And I was needing to hear that. If I am to take care of myself, first I need to love God, show my love for him by showing it for others. The burden on me was that editing: to remove it was to do it, I originally wanted to help someone else with their burden, that's why elected to do it by offering to help originally- to show love for someone else and finally do what I said I would and then this anxiety which has kept me from going will be removed. Of course, the person I had offered to help didn't come up to me and demand where the edited sermons were- I didn't even get to speak to him. Why do I assume that someone is going to be unloving to me like that? It seems I have thought the worst of him AND Him.

Onwards, I came home. CBC decided we should go out to Tiptree to visit the Tea-rooms of the Famous Jam Makers and then go onto Mersea Island. I could have stayed home and lain down to rid myself of the headache, especially as the Ibruprofen were doing zilch but we went. Actually the car journey with the air blowing on my head was helpful, the food in the tearooms restorative and the best of all was walking along the beach at Mersea island (blog post to follow at some point soon with more of Mersea Island).


Oh how could I forget how restorative that sea-air is. As I was blown and blustered around, the sense of throbbing was somehow reduced and I was not aware of it as the painful spots buffeted by the strong wind.  By the time we drove home, it wasn't bothering me anymore.



 You're wondering about the photos? Don't bear any relation to the story except that that's what I wore today.  Well, I ended up wearing this outfit this morning, planned for TARDIS Tuesday and to coincide with Visible Monday, as tomorrow's brief is something more specific for Blog every day in May.  Despite the headache, you can kid yourself that you don't feel quite so bad if you try to dress normal.  Wearing a jumper and trousers might have been better but I didn't.    And I've have missed an opportunity to pose in one of these fields which was on my 'pretty summer blog locations I'd quite like to have a go at' as we passed quite a few in Mersea Island.

What's the inspiration for Doctor Who today?

Well, it's a Clara Oswald inspiration again.  One of her outfits from The Caretaker.  I've actually done this one as inspiration before here, before the advent of TARDIS Tuesday but in entirely different garments from today.

Image borrowed from Doctor Who tumblr

Image borrowed from Worn on tv

I started the day before windy-restorative-hairstyling, with fairly neat hair but as you can see in the photos, it didn't stay like that.

I am wearing the same shirt as Clara- Topshop diamond print shirt (ahem, saddo that I am) and teamed it with Forever 21 mini-skirt and Clarks oxblood shoes and my acorn-anniversary necklace from CBC .

And as CBC and I lay on the sofa drinking tea and reading, I suddenly noticed his socks matched my shirt. Funny coincidence.

Sometimes, Selfcare isn't what you think.

Linking to the lovely Patti with Visible Monday and to Claire Justine with Creative Mondays and finally Maricel at TARDIS Tuesday.  Of course, this is my daily post for BEDM too!

xx

A touch of red

Hi there!

How has your weekend been?  Enjoyable, I hope.
I had an exciting/interesting weekend in some ways, including a cookery course and Sunday roast club, a walk in the park, picking up of a parcel, great church service and some housework!

Image borrowed from wornontv.net

Since TARDIS Tuesday and Visible Monday are upon us, I decided to try and cosplay in a tenuous way, this outfit worn by Clara Oswald in Doctor Who.

The main features I tried to incorporate were the 

• red and black pattered skater skirt
• Asymmetric cropped jacket
• Heeled lace-ups
• Red collar detail

Image borrowed from DanielfFaust

Here I finally  christened my charity-shopped grey wool jacket (this is as close as I personally will currently be getting to a leather jacket in current times), Bailey and Quinn red leather handbag and Clarks ox-blood shoes both bought in the post-Christmas sales.



Underneath the jacket, I wore a Peter-pan collared top and Cashmere jumper, both from Primark, ancient. Black tights are presumably ancient. Who can tell the difference between black tights?

 Admittedly, what I am wearing is a bit different but not a bad Cosplay, I hope!  

I must dash. Have not been free to blog all weekend so this is it! Breathe a sigh of relief....

Enjoying linking with 3 lovely ladies...
Linking with the lovely Maricel of My closet catalogue for TARDIS Tuesday.

P

Creative Mondays with Claire Justine



Linking to Visible Monday with the ever wonderful Patti at Not dead yet style



A

Flatline

It's Doctor Who day, so it's time for another Cosplay of Clara!! And today, I am trying to recreate Clara's outfit from today's episode, Flatline.  Ha, I am THAT sad, that I looked up what was coming!

Image borrowed from http://www.polyvore.com/clara_oswald/set?id=126758515

This is a great, comfy weekend look but not too boring as it involves a nice bright checked shirt in my favourite colours of red and blue.  I, of course, do not have Clara's wardrobe so I had to try and find items which best matched the outfit.

Shirt: H&M (current)
Coat: £5 bargain in Nottinghill!
Binoculars necklace: random boutique somewhere.
Trousers: H&M
Wedged desert boots: Clarks originals

I am excited every week to watch Doctor Who! I love having something to look forward to on iPlayer as there is not much I like,though I love The Apprentice and You're fired and I loved The Great British Bake-Off.  I'd like to watch Downton too  but ITVplayer doesn't seem to be working on my computer!


I'm currently watching Flatline as I type, in between, as I was out at a church Cabaret evening tonight. It was super. Our church is SO flexible as a space- the church was turned into a cabaret venue with candles all around, round tables and acts coming up.  I played 2 pieces- a piece inspired by Jethro Tull and Moon River (with CBC at an hour's notice!). Everyone seemed to enjoy them.  There was SUCH a good variety of acts of various ages.  A 15-year old with the voice of an angel who sang a McFly and Jessie J song in her own style playing guitar, a Vicar of Dibley sketch butchered based on our church, a Joyce Grenfell narration called 'Free activity' based on nursery school teaching (hilarious), Nuns on the run, a 10 and 11 year old clarinet and flautists, a 60's cover band called Night Shift and some great singers and narrators.  Everything had a light tone and it was well attended- must have been well over 150 there! It was a privilege to be part of and I hope we raised much for the church tower restoration.

And, it's happened again- like last week, the TARDIS has shrunk, only this time, the Doctor really is stuck inside, he's tiny!


Better get help!

See you anon, I'm off to a drum-making workshop tomorrow...

xx

Eek, forgot it was Visible Monday today so linking up with the fab Patti and co. Do go and see the vivacious and colourful crowd over there



and Creative Mondays with the super Claire Justine!  I feel today's look is a very Claire look!x

Lemonade and daisy chain dreams

You know all this blog talk about Autumn? I'm sorry, I don't quite get it. Perhaps it was because I was away  (in the sun) and then spent most of the last week mouldering over a computer (school prep) but things have felt the same to me, I'm curiously immune to it! Sunday was gorgeously warm and sunny and I wore this ensemble to church. It was a sad day as it was the vicar's last service before moving to a new parish. He was SUCH a lovely man and I am so sorry to have missed the last 2 months of his services (I've been away that much!) but there is always the promise and hope of the new incumbent- the Lord provides!!  There's a time for everything in heaven and on earth, so there must be a time for change!


I was absolutely determined that the day would be sunny on Sunday and it was indeed, so the outfit I picked out was just fine. I actually find this lemon-yellow broderie-anglaise Topshop dress (Charity-shopped of course), quite hard to wear- I last wore it with a panama and heart-shaped sunnies in the yellow-peril post but I wanted to wear it in a different way that didn't quite it look quite so 'little girl'.

Thus, I teamed it with a Primark Daisy-print blouse tied-up, added these Clarks suede kitten-heel shoes (clothing-swap party) and then added more accessories- old Daisychain crown from Poppydaisy, daisy-earrings (?) and daisy bracelet (Tu). Finally, added my lemon necklace to play on the whole thing

To be honest, I'm not so sure I managed to stop it looking 'Little girl' but at least I achieved a different look with it.

I'm determined to get some mileage out of my beloved summer dresses so that Autumn-blogger bandwagon is passing by this house, untouched for now!!! Call back later Pal!




As you read this, I'll be back at school. I'm trying not to be blue about it, but it's just been a wonderful holiday and I am, I admit, anxious about this new school year, there just seems SO much change and despite doing lots this week, I still feel vastly unprepared! A new headteacher (a maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan!!!!!), lots of new teachers joining (5-6), lots having left, a new timetable (no Reception and instead- a whole day's worth (spread over the week) of random non-music lessons in year 1 and 2), trying to find the time to train the Reception and nursery staff in music and juggle sharing instruments, a WW1 concert to organise, trying to gather evidence and finally apply for Threshold (upper-pay scale), the possibility I might still be chucked out of my lovely new classroom back to my deafening rabbit hutch, having to sort out all my 6 clubs again, process letters and applications for these (a laborious process), adapt to a new national curriculum or at least silly key-skills that we follow, having to train an orchestra with mostly new beginners, the possibility of my role at school changing to a scarier one.  I will of course, adapt,survive and find the enjoyment and joy in it, but whilst it hasn't happened, I just long for the halcyon days of last year! God be with me! And you too!
xxx


Big thanks to WOMOTM for my new tripod since the old one vanished inexplicably!

These boots were made for walking

It's Inspiration Monday  with the two birds and it's Ashley Tisdale in a very short dress and funky boots!  Obviously, I look nothing like her.  Firstly, that is a large amount of flesh on show and secondly, she's wearing a necklace like Jareth, King of the Goblins from Labyrinth! And thirdly, she has a funky embroidered jacket.   STILL, inspiration it is and I shall take from it what I can (I like it, but lack the items or temperature!)

So I just went with the boots then and the dark short thing (and a feature necklace of course!)
I am a little sad about these boots.  I've been admiring them on the Clarks website for an age and finally, since my black ankle boots that I wear often to school are really worn down at the heels, I thought I'd buy them.  They actually only arrived today.  BUT, they feel extraordinarily tight and really not Clarks' usual size 8!  I am wondering if they will stretch a bit, because other than that, they are great- pretty and the heel is low but not too low that it will wear down in an instant! And they're leather, so always good.  I don't know, what do you think?  Should I see if they stretch a bit?  They're not totally and utterly uncomfortable but I am aware of the sides being close on all sides to my foot, if you know what I mean?

Here, I decided to do the 'Blogger showing shoes pose'- one looks down at one's shoe and makes like you're trying to grab your heel! I almost fell over! It kind of reminds me of those Egyptian cave paintings where they would be painted with ALL their body parts showing, feet and all, because they thought that image would take them onto the afterlife with all their body parts!
FYI, the skirt was a recent magpie thrift find, the necklace is Wolf and Moon (via Sunday upmarket), cardie is Monsoon and the black top is an  Icelandic gift!


So I was back to reality today and though it sucked on a grand scale, it wasn't too bad (apart from a 25 minute queue at the ticket office this morning!!!).  Yes, yes, I know those of you that only get 4 weeks holiday a year, I get it, that's really not much holiday.  But it still was horrid going back especially after lots and lots and lots of prep at the weekend!

This week is a really busy week, lots happening!  Rehearsals galore at school and outside of school Friday is now officially my absolutely worst day all week.  I get absolutely no break now from 9 to 4.25 (having of course been travelling for an hour to get to school from 7.30ish and then having to run around getting stuff ready in school before 9) - I previously this term, managed to grab 5 mins at lunch just before orchestra but now KS1 lunchbreak times have been made to end 15minutes earlier, instead of running out of orchestra and getting down to the playground to fetch a class, I have to run and relieve an already annoyed teacher who is losing 15 minutes of their PPA time! (it's actually also now the same on Tuesday, except I can grab about 8 minutes break!) It's all to make things safer and better for the children in playground space but still, it's going to be hard!  To top that, it's my birthday on Friday!  Aghrgh, I am going to be over the halfway mark to 35!  We're going for a meal on a boat on the Thames on Saturday, thanks to an experience voucher I was given!  Not sure what else? I was hoping to go swing dancing on Saturday night but not sure if that will happen or not as it's in Watford which is a bit of a trek!  CBC asked what I wanted for my birthday and I had mentioned that I'd really like to go to Dolly Clackett's beginners dress-making class in Leamington spa in a couple of weeks but not sure- I've used a sewing machine but not regularly or for ages (or can I remember how, and nor do I own one) and I am a pretty useless person at doing things that are 3d- what do you think? Should I do it?

I've already bought the snacks for school on Friday as it's tradition to bring in treats on your own birthday.  I have two other colleagues with the same birthday plus one child in Year 6!! She always remembers we share a birthday!

Right, I have a stonking headache and am off to bed.  A more sensible person would have bypassed all this and done that straight away!

Hugs to y'all xx

Found your khaki?

I'm having issues uploading the Inspiration Monday picture, it's too big a file and Blogger is saying no- so you could go to the Two birds direct to have a look except it doesn't seem to be loading there either.   Basically, it's Rachel Bilson wearing a khaki coloured jacket with tatty jeans, a white top and a quilted bag with a pink scarf tied round it.  It looks a little like what I'm wearing if you have a reeeeeeally vivid imagination!  Check out Megan- she IS Rachel Bilson to a tee and Nora also looks amazing- who would've thought she'd had a baby in that tummy some weeks ago!
 I have NO recollection of when or where I bought these trousers (aside from M&S at some point)- tis most bizarre! I think I've committed the cardinal outfit sin here of wearing 2 slightly differing shades of the same colour in matching them with this khaki cord jacket (M&S via Oxfam).  I paired it with this contrastingly girly white blouse  (H&M via Age concern).  The shoes are Clarks originals. (Bag is from Hazel's giveaway with Cath Kidston soldiers scarf).

My second day of school has been quite positive on the whole.  Teaching 2 of the new reception classes for music was positive, not least because I knew a lot of them and they really helped to carry the new children who have never experience my music classes! There are a couple of live wires in there and I can definitely already see some character clashes in these 4-5 year olds!  Three very bossy children ended up sitting next to each other and they weren't standing any of each other's nonsense!

I was also not standing any nonsense with Year 6 in the afternoon- the two classes are notoriously difficult- due to a boy to girl ratio and I was teaching them a Ghanaian round, Nanuma- I had one or two moments of possible difficulties with them but somehow managed to keep the majority of the class positive, trying hard and getting annoyed with any who didn't- their singing was impressively good on the whole and they were interested in what they were learning so this bodes well for the term.  I actually put the levels linked to the different objectives/key skills and somehow, seeing the words Level 4 and Level 5 served as a real impetus for them to do well- it was really nice to point out particular children who were singing well and pointing to the targets and seeing their smile and how it spurred the rest of them on!  Usually I don't put levels down! Somehow with  Boy-heavy classes, this works! I feel glad that we started the term on mostly a positive note so I wont dread their lessons!

Edited, after reading Heather's post (check out her outfit- great!)   I thought this would make you laugh (or despair, whichever).   A particular 5 year old was found with 2 pencil sharpeners in the playground.  When asked where the 2 pencil sharpeners he had in the playground came from he replied that they had 'fallen from the sky'. Then when given 5 mins to sit, he said 'they came from the rocket', 5 mins later 'I brought them from home'. Finally after the teacher said she'd check with his mum, he said he'd taken them from the writing table! Ahrgh! Such an imagination at 5!

I've got an absolute glut of plums at the moment- how many plums should one eat before one should stop?