BEDM 16 Date night

I'm hoping to be experiencing some facets of my favourite parts of a date night tonight at my sister-in-law's wedding! Many congratulations to lovely her and her new husband!

Perfect date night is the precis for the day!

Mine will be as such:

• It should of course, include my husband CBC!
• We will go out to dinner first.  It will be inexpensive and will either be Thai or nice light/quality Wagamama/Chinese/Vietnamese cuisine. Tofu will definitely be on the menu. There will be lots of it.
• Should include dancing. Of the swing-dance variety. Lindy, Charleston, East Coast Swing
• It should be in a large, well ventilated room.
• There will be a live band.
• I should be dressed in my finest sleeveless 50's inspired dress. Anything from Cath Kidston or Lindybop will do. It must be cotton and not be prone to wardrobe mishaps. It must also have a really cute print or really elegant and striking in one colour.
• Shoes will not make my feet sweat.
• CBC will be up for dancing and won't get self-conscious about the fact he is out of practice and can't remember more moves. He will either remember more moves or will not mind repeating the same ones.
• We will also both get to dance with other people too so we can excitedly talk about what moves we tried out later.
• There will be lots of snacks to eat like Jiveswing do best.
• It won't be too far from home, we can get back quickly.
• We won't get back hideously late.
• Previously in the day, we will have been for a glorious natural walk and we will be calm, rested and eager to dance.

That's my ideal date.

What about yours?

Love Kezzie

xxx

Cupcakes with Rosie

Fairycakes, really, as Alex has attested to on various occasions.
In my Photo a Day post, I alluded to swing dancing on Saturday.  I was really excited to wear this dress for it. I bought this in the post-Christmas sales from Lady Vintage London which I found on someone's blog around that time.  I saw this dress and thought it was so kitsch it was untrue and I'd really rather like it!   So I bought it.

Try to ignore the fact I haven't taken down the Christmas decorations. As I published this, I noticed...

It was a great dress for dancing in though I discarded the tights as soon as I could- roasting hot in there and wool tights were a bad idea!  Adding in a petticoat had the whooosh factor and the kitsch factor increased with the charity-shopped apple belt!



CBC and I went (as mentioned in Photo an Hour) for a short walk around 11pm in the beautiful gardens not too far from the seafront in Southend-on-Sea in the conservation area. The lighting was terrible but we quite liked the spooky dulling effect of taking the photo in the dark!

I'm sorry, I am barely comprehensible tonight as it was the KS2 singing festival tonight so I was with my kiddies  (who performed admirably) and my Headteacher came to watch. All of them turned up and I was proud of them. It did mean, after helping to tidy the church' that I was home at 10pm- yawn! I DID have an unexpectedly nice dinner with an old work colleague and 3 current ones- 3 out of the 5 are called Gill/Jill!
xxx

Goodnight Sweetheart

I write this with greatly aching muscles almost 24 hours after CBC and I left Goodnight Sweetheart, our swing dance weekend.  I don't have masses of amazing photos, the quality is pretty rough particularly as many were from the evenings but I thought I'd write about our experiences.

CBC picked me up from school on Friday evening and having had an awful headache all day, I was really in no mood for dancing, travelling or anything other than collapsing in an exhausted heap.  We travelled to Watford, getting caught in pretty dismal traffic so it took a long time.  Eventually we arrived, found some parking and headed off to Beachgrove to the Baptist church which was the venue.  The church building is incredible, they have SUCH good facilities there.  We signed in and received our wristbands and programmes for our Intermediate ability group and headed off across town to a gym for our first taster dance.  This was a Balboa class, which is a faster form of swing dance that was developed when the dance floors got too crowded for lindy and for fast tracks. It is danced in a closer hold than Lindy and involves smaller steps. We did some work on moving around the floor.  It was quite a small room so it was lucky there weren't too many of us.  Jon and Jenna who were our teachers,from Nashville, were fantastic, really clear, informative and great fun in their teaching style.

After the class, we headed off to the church to get changed for the evening opening dance. It was a bit yucky having to get ready without a shower, a distinct disadvantage of not staying in Watford but driving home each evening.  Eventually, at 9pm, the party began.  The theme was 1920's and there was a great band, The Last Chance Ragtime Band.


Dodgy photo quality (phone as battery ran out on camera) but this is what I wore-a modern drop-waisted dress bought from some dodgy shop at some point plus charity shop pearl necklaces, gloves from Accessorize ages ago and a primark silk scarf plus an amazing vintage beaded bag J bought for me.

The dancing was great fun although I did have a headache still so didn't do loads.
The teachers were all introduced. The thing I like about JiveSwing and Joseph, the director of the dance group is how family and friendly they are.
 Finally, we left at about midnight to drive home (an hour), feeling hideously exhausted, getting to bed at 1.30am.

The next day, we set off at about 9.30am, feeling  absolute wrecks. We decided to skip the taster class and headed off for porridge and tea in a trendy artisan coffee house who gave me an egg timer with my tea! CBC, ever the romantic, had demanded we bring along a book of love poems we'd got from my Grandad's collection, so he could write my Valentines card (we were yet to write them)

I should point out that we ate very well that weekend. Delicious vegetarian fettucine in Ask on Saturday lunchtime, more wonderfulness at Wagamamas in the evening on both days.

Saturday's first class was in a really crowded room and I felt really dreadful and to my horror, started to cry in the class,so I had to take 5 minutes outside.  The first lesson with Jenna and John again was good though was mostly about technique rather than learning new steps. CBC really liked them. I liked them but would have liked to learn something new.

After a lunch break of 3 hours in which we moved the car, went to Ask and bought some things in Tiger (a new umbrella and a picture frame)  we headed off to our next class withDave Madison from San Fransisco, who is a blues teacher. He did some work with us on Musicality and listening to the music to form your lindy moves.  It was useful and in a better room.  After this was the best class of the day with Fabien Vrillon from France and Lisa Clarke from the UK.  They taught us 3 really cool Lindy moves which we added to our repertoire.  I thought they had a really cool and gentle dance teaching style and were my favourite teachers of the day.

The final class was a Performance class with Alison Marsh.  We were learning a choreographed routine to 'Love me or leave me' with elements we had to decide on ourselves. This was great fun and had the added bonus/terror of our having to perform it in front of the whole of the GNSH audience on Sunday night.  I love learning routines so it was a great end to the lessons.

After a brief trip to Primark to buy some much needed clean socks, a hand towel (and some tartans shorts to wear under my dress- we'd forgotten things) we had meal in Wagamamas with some other dancers from the Southend class we used to go to.

Again, we really felt like a shower would be lovely after all the sweating of the day but had to be content with washing faces in the toilets and the wonders of cleansing wipes!

The evening ball kicked off at 9pm again. I wore the Lindybop green dress CBC had bought me for Christmas (featured before but only the bottom half was visible) together with a Crown and glory silver heart bandeau. Pity you can't see it properly as it is enormous! It was ideally 1940's night but I don't have anything that I could dance in of that era/inspiration.



I was accompanied by my very own Matt Smith Doctor Who in Bow tie (Bow ties are cool) and tweed suit (and I am linking him up to TARDIS Tuesday for that reason!).  He did look handsome!

We had a few dances and danced a few with some other people. I had a bit of a crisis of confidence about my dancing. I wish I had the bravery to ask more people to dance but I was in a bit of a spiral of 'I am terrible, nobody wants to dance with me, I must avoid eye contact so they don't have to dance with me if they don't want to" which I know is stupid but since I had been feeling unwell and was still tired, this was to be expected.  The teachers cabaret was amazing! Those teachers are so talented! There was also a great Andrews sisters-style group called the Polka Dot Dolls.  Finally, we headed home at about 12.40am feeling very very tired!

The next morning, we headed off to Watford at 9.30 for a rehearsal for our performance group. It was at this point, I was volunteered for a central role by our teacher who loved what I did for the 'Blue, blue, blue' bit of the song and was made to stand in the middle and do my over-exaggerated looking miserable for that part.  Apparently I had everyone in fits of laughter and people were coming up to me all day saying they loved it.  The dance evolved from a routine to a staged and polished performance with rotation of partners and stage positions. There was one cool moment where we made a roueda with our partners and rotated like a wheel between partners. The whole process of putting the dance together over the hour yesterday and this day was hideously fun and a great bonding experience.   We went straight into a Lindy class with Joseoh Sewell which was originally about improving some basic moves but we learnt a cool move called the Pop which involved some fast spinning (which usually means me careering off to the right)- I am not so good at double spinning and ended up treading on many toes and accidentally punching one partner in the face!

After a chilled lunch, we headed to  more lindy classes with Jon/Jenna and Lisa/Fabien,both fun.  I definitely preferred the one with Lisa and Fabien where we learnt some impressive looking Charleston variation moves.

The final class was a taster class in Blues with Dave Madison again.Blues was a dance form that came before Lindy and is much slower.  We did some basic moves and getting the basic technique which is a lot more chilled than Lindy.

The final night was 'casual dress' although everyone really made an effort. I wore my Cath Kidston comic strip dress (sorry forgot to take photos), put on a simple heartprint Crown and Glory headscarf and didn't bother with the make-up!

I feel a lot more confident tonight, perhaps it was people being so nice about the routine? Anyway, I asked a few guys to dance which worked out well and fun. I had a couple of really fun dances particularly with a guy from my class and a guy from Hamburg who I had chatted to earlier.

We sat down to watch the Euro Jack and Jill Lindy competition. This is basically a competition where people enter individually.  They then have to social dance to the music that is played and then dance with three different partners. Since they have not rehearsed together (as they don't know who they will be matched with), nor can do they know which music will be played, they are being judged purely on their following or leading skills. It is incredible to watch!!!

There was also a solo Jazz competition, where the competitors dance alone. The winner was this amazing crazy, quirky girl who won it last year. She's the one in the boiler suit below.

The next item was the Authentic Jazz performance (they were a set of people doing this exclusively all weekend) which was very impressive, then it was time for our routine!

You can see some pictures below of us in action. That's me in the navy polka dot dress (these are from the rehearsal)













It went well and people were very complimentary.  A teacher from Essex said if she started a performance group in Essex, she wanted us to be in it. I was a bit scared at that- I can do comedy but I am no performing dancer!

The band was my favourite one- the Pete Long Swing Band, who featured guitars, double bass, piano, clarinet and vibraphone. They were really virtuosic.

We had a few more dances and even headed off to the Blues room a bit later. Finally set off for home at about 1.45am ahrgh, which was rather late and it was extremely foggy. Somehow made it home alive, achy but very happy.  I'm so glad we decided to go to this camp, it was remarkable fun and I would love to do it again. I'd definitely stay there next time though- the driving wasn't too fun! As I said before, I love the way that Joseph runs Jive Swing, it does feel very inclusive, friendly and like the Jive Swing groups from all around Essex and Hertfordshire are one family. It takes a special group of people to do that.

Sorry this was a bit long but I really wanted to record how I felt about it!

xxx

Linking to TARDIS Tuesday with Maricel

Fascinating rhythm

As you read this, I am at Parents Evening.  Especially this one which is an afternoon and evening affair,this is always a bit of a tiresome affair for me since I don't have the individual appointments with parents but have to be there. So this time, like my idea last year, I will be running a 2.5 hour session for my Gifted, able and talented musicians. We're going to be composing a Habanera, Spanish dance with a potential Flamencoey/Spanishy coda/extra piece depending on time.
It makes sense to do something I want to do during normal school time that I can't usually do. I must admit that I am surprised that they want to come in when everyone else is off school but hey ho, if they like music-making, it's logical!  I always feel nervous before doing something like this putting children from 3 year groups together as you're never sure how they will react!  I shall then make everyone drinks and deliver them around the school and try and get on and get lots done.


I found these photos from a little while ago - it was an outfit I wore for a party and I really liked it but misplaced the photos. As outdoor opportunities (hacked off with inside ones) are few and far between, I thought I'd share them.

When I first bought this Peter Pan dress, I reeeeeeeeeally wanted a Peter Pan collar dress but couldn't find anything so bought this- it's material I wouldn't really choose first choice (synthetic not very breathable material) but it has ended up being a really versatile piece- I've worn it in many different permutations (here, here, here , here, here for example) it's the ubiquitous blogger's remix piece!

Wearing it for a birthday party with this thrifted/charity-shopped Monsoon cardie, it seemed perfect to add collar clips and shoe clips and go with the black and white accessories.   I found this cute lace/net fascinator in Poundland which I took a punt on and was glad I did!


So exciting, talk about last minute plans. CBC and I are going to a Swing dance weekend!  It's called Good Night Sweetheart and we are super excited though know we are going to be exhausted after dancing all day at the weekend and on all three evenings! We only booked on Monday!  3 evening dances so three excuses to get dressed up though I'm a bit sad there's a decade dress code: 20's, 40's on two evenings - I had 2 nice 50's dresses I wanted to wear! I'll let you know how it goes!

On Monday of the holiday, I am going on a Chazzer-crawl (to use blogging vernacular) or a charity shop crawl with a friend and her friend! So exciting, she knows where all these good ones are. I'm going to try my very hardest not to buy anything though I've been told it's obligatory. I'll try my best to be restrained but I was asked a while back and I wanted to hang out with her!

I hope all is well with you.  Are you up to anything exciting this week?

xx

Dancing in the moonlight

On Saturday, CBC and I decided to head into London to go to the London Swing Dance Society's Saturday Night Swing Club.  We haven't been to it for well on a year, I'm sure.  We wondered whether to go or not, sometimes it seems hard work, the thought of going up to London, the cost, the time involved, the thought that we should be doing work.  But we decided that we MUST go and not stay at home and regret it.  We had a super time, did some dancing together on the social dancing floors and went to three classes.  The first was a Charleston class- solo charleston with a Catrine Ljunggren which was great fun, followed by a cool dance called Peasbody, named after a large man in the 30's who developed a new style of dancing to accommodate his large tummy! Finally, we did some Blues with Catrine. I always feel self-conscious with the blues- it's a very close dance and it can come across a bit sleezy though it isn't supposed to be.  You tend to find that anyone who isn't English is totally ok with it and us English girls feel a bit self-conscious and embarrassed.

At this point, we had to head back in order to get the 00:10 train.  The Magpie and Stump, where the night is held, is near the Old Bailey.  You can walk into Paternoster Square and see this beautiful nighttime view of St Paul's Cathedral.  The city of London is very beautiful at night, especially all the buildings that are lit up. It's amazing how deserted it is when it is so busy during the working day and even the weekend.




I decided to wear this red halter-neck dress for the night. It was a charity-shop/thrifted bargain, originally from New Look. I was delighted to find this dress in the shhop, it is a great swing dancing dress. You can't resist a red dress! I added a vintage Aurora Borealis necklace, a heart-belt and these Shoe-zone shoes which are great for swing dancing- light fabric to avoid sweaty-feet, nice smooth heels and stay on your foot with the strap. My chief requirement for swing dance shoes.

How do you feel about going out to town on a Saturday evening? Or what do you do with your Saturday nights?

xx

Once insecure, always insecure?

On Saturday, CBC and I travelled to Watford for a day and night of Swing-dance courtesy of JiveSwing, our dance class, which is a big organisation of classes, ours being just one. It was a great day, we had some super classes- the day was held in honour of Frankie Manning's 100th birthday (if he was still alive)- the Father of bringing Swing dance back to the UK in the '80's.

We had two lindy-hop classes, learning a Frankie lindy-stroll and then a dips and tricks workshop. CBC decided he wanted to do some authentic jazz instead so I had to find another partner to dance with and managed to dance with a fun, young guy I met in the queue- it was hilarious as we learned to do these dips. I got the giggles as I had to spend a long time hugging him as we learnt a dip and then a move where I had to swing under his arm. I am suffering today though as my quads are really aching as the move involved rotating in a squat position!

In the evening, I wore the above outfit. I didn't take any photos-crazy for me! CBC just got this slightly blurry one of me- I wore the dress I picked up a while back, worn with my birthday petticoat and a wired headband- I really like these!

Anyway, in the evening, apart from many enjoyable dances together,  CBC was asked to dance lots by lots of ladies. I was asked to dance a few times by some guys although not as many and felt a wallflower at times. It's so silly but the pair of us are so insecure about asking people to dance just in case they think we are rubbish! Everyone else seems perfectly happy to ask other people to dance (it's the way your dancing improves). It's silly because I did spend a some time standing at the edge wishing someone would ask me to dance but like my teenage-self, in my stupid subconscious, didn't want anyone to think that I really wanted to dance, so I didn't get disappointed if they didn't dance.  I am an idiot- I am 33 and should just get on with it.  It's funny though, sometimes I feel much more confident.  Last night, I found myself thinking that the reason is because I always want to do something well and never want to be thought to be bad at something and I am not an expert at lindy and probably never will be, I just love it.

Yet, this morning, I played in my new church for the first time (9am rehearsal after getting to bed at 2am!!!!! I was KNACKERED!).  I KNOW that I am a a capable flautist and I know I play well and I know that when I am in the spirit at church, I will play and worship with my heart and soul. I know from 10 years of playing at my old church that my playing really helps people to worship.  And yet, I was worrying to myself that people would be judging me and didn't want people to say nice things to me just in case they were just being nice, not meaning it! Of all the ridiculous things to think!?!???!!?! Of course they're not, it's just my stupid mind.  Of course, once I started playing, I felt myself fill with the spirit and felt the insecurities fly away.

It's interesting that Stuart, a guy was being baptised today and he talked about how he had faced anxiety in his life and couldn't seem to snap out of it until he gave his life to God. And it struck me, when I feel most insecure and lacking confidence is when I stop praying, speaking to God and reading the Bible, when I've left tiredness and laziness get in the way, just let slip and then all my insecurities come back.  So today, I will reclaim my confidence and be strong in the knowledge that I do have talents that God has given me and I can do well and be strengthened by him in my prayers.  And there may be things that I am not talented at, but they are things I should enjoy because they are God-given and I've been given the freedom to enjoy these! Be the best that I can be but accept that I will not always be the best but I can have the most fun!

Linking to Visible Mondays with dear Patti

I've got the polka dot blues

It's always a happy Christmas or birthday for me if I receive a hat!  CBC bought me this absolute corker this Christmas and I rudely haven't worn it that much! I think I was scared of the rain ruining it  (remember UK based peeps, we had permanent rain!) and then just hadn't worn it! It's a darling cloche!   I teamed it with this cobalt cardie (Monsoon) and a polka dot dress plus Kate Middleton engagement ring inspired jewellery and boots!!

Gutted I missed hat attack this month- just a bit too disorganised and what with other things going on. So I am hoping I can link it next month!

I just really craved chocolate and bizarrely, we had none in the house it seems.  We had something that CBC disapproves of- what he calls, "The snack box" in which I put all unhealthy snacks like crisps, sweets, chocolate etc and he always tells me off for putting more in but bizarrely, there are no chocolates at the moment! There are dried mulberries and some sort of mango licorice and a few totally stuck-together drumstick lollies but no chocolate!  I can't even make a cocoa as we are out of milk! Just when I thought I was going to have to make a dash to the COOP through the scary alley in the dark, I found a random Milky-bar ice-cream stick in the freezer.  It was the size of a Mini-milk and was well and truly crushed and forgotten about and all slid up the stick but it did the trick!!! Must fill up the snack box (and buy milk!)  Speaking of milk, and why I had finished it up, I've managed to have a cup of tea in the morning, two days running. Admittedly it was a "Make it, add cold water and gulp in 10 seconds job" but it's still made a difference.  I even managed breakfast yesterday (bran flakes and again, gulp down in 2 minutes job!)

At swing-dance Monday night, we learnt a couple of new moves including the 'Fake Texas-Tommy' which I quite liked and CBC hated. It involves being pulled in close and being pivoted 180 degrees! Unfortunately, it also involved treading on toes. Yesterday seemed to be a night for OUCH as CBC kicked me in the shins and produced a big lump and bruise, got my fingers bent back accidently when social-dancing with one guy, arm slightly wrenched when doing a Texas-Tommy-with-lady-turn at the end!  I'm really excited because we are attending a special 1 day swing dance course and evening May Ball during half term to celebrate the what-would-have-been  100th birthday of Frankie Manning- the 'father' of Lindy in this country, I think.  Now just need to get more social dancing in!!!

Another thing is that I spent a large amount of time at the weekend, cleaning and tidying. Now anyone who knows me, knows I am no domestic model and indeed, am a bit of a slattern. But I really did try hard and now I'm anxious to keep the kitchen all shiny and lovely! Long may it last.

Hope all's well with you!  x

A day out in the smoke

For my birthday outing to London on Saturday, I decided I wanted to wear a really fun, bright outfit! Wearing a big hat was a must as I have had a hat-free week, thus needed to get double the hat fun at the weekend!  This hat, I believe, has only ever featured once on this blog, a LONG time ago as part of my 'Let them eat hats' series back in the early days of doing outfit posts.  Yes, did you know that it was my sharing of my hats that first started the slippery slope into outfit posts (WOMOTM, this is where it began!). I do love a good floppy 70's style hat, they are just fun and very flattering!
The outfit consists of: Hat and skirt (last worn here): Primark- 7 years ago; grey rose jumper- Midinette, Florence; Earrings: gift, tights- Topshop; Shoes: Irregular Choice Mini magic woof.

Linking to Hat attack with the gorgeous Judith and Fashion Item Friday with the lovely Renae!


My birthday day was absolutely great fun (except for grumpy companion!)- we set off up to London at around 11am, stopping quickly via our local town to fetch a birthday parcel from the post office (thanks J and WOMOTM).  We then flew into town on the tain, changing at Bank o Monument (the longest walk ever!  You have to go up about  4-5 sets of stairs and about 8 long stretches of corridor!! Rather like a vintage Doctor Who episode, without the daleks chasing behind! (At least I don't think they were?)
We alighted at Embankment and headed across to the pier where Bateux dinner cruises operate.  We went aboard the Harmony and were seated at a table for two by the window.  The boat was spacious and was filled with adults of varying ages.  Almost immediately, the boat departed.  We ordered drinks and during the 1.5 hour boat trip, we were served with 3 delicious courses- salmon roulade with picked vegetables and bread to start, chicken encroute, mash and green beans for main

and vanilla pannacotta with raspberry jus and chocolate macaroon underneath.

The service was efficient and unobtrusive. As we ate, a voice-over told us the history of the buildings we were passing on the river Thames.  Can I say, this is an excellent way to see the amazingly different architecture of London and learn a bit more about it.  I have another post planned to share some of this, but I was really impressed and amazed by how diverse the London architecture is even though I have lived near it most of my life.
I will share more photos soon but I had to share this one as I took a series of shots of St Paul's cathedral and it does seem like it is photobombing all the other buildings' shots saying, "Hello, look at me I'm white, gold and shiny!"


Once the cruise finished, we headed up towards Trafalgar square (where I last wore this grey top bizarrely) and went into the National Portrait Gallery which was as wonderful as it was the last time I visited about 15 years ago.  I could stare at those paintings for hours. There was a truly astounding one of Kelly Holmes and it really did look like a photo! No photos, I'm afraid.  I do love the fact that the main museums are free in London now, great to be able to see these national treasures for freee!  I discovered that Michael Farraday was extremely handsome, I think I'd have had a crush as a girl!

After this, we headed into the National Cafe which has a wonderful art-deco vibe and enjoyed an excellent cup of tea in these heavy cast-iron tea-pots and CBC had some carrot cake.

This would also be a good place to enjoy afternoon tea (pictured above) though we didn't.

Reluctantly, we headed home and after consuming my body-weight in prawn crackers, got changed to go out swing dancing!!! I was SO happy to discover that Essex Wildlife Trust were putting on a charity swing dance in Silverend (where you can hear the true Essex accent apparently!) on the day of my birthday treats!

We saw some swing dancers were know from another class we go to sometimes so it was nice to know people and chatted to some new ladies who didn't know anyone or how to swing dance.  There was a taster beginners class beforehand that we joined in with.  CBC and I had lots of fun dancing together (he finally snapped out of the grump) and I had a few dances with a couple of other people though not loads. It was a great venue- big dance floor, surface not too slidy, not to grippy/tacky, great crowd, fun decorations- rainbow bunting and fairylights, cool DJs- Texas Tommy and Vintage Rob (who I danced with at the start!) and even better, we sneaked out for chips!

It's not the best photo, but I resurrected my Christmas day dress (from Lindy Lou's) and wore it with pearls and polka-dot headband.  I have to say that these wired material headbands are the way forward for swing dancing hair- it didn't get in my way all night! (FYI, if you want to see me doing some swing dance (warning, I am not a great dancer, but this was ok just click on my wedding link


All in all, it was a fabulous day which I very much enjoyed!!!

How are you all doing?

xx

Cottontail

Fern Cotton today wears a cosy winter outfit. I think you'll be getting bored of my cream Bunny sweater as I'm sure I've worn it for Inspiration Monday more than once! And once again, I will not be persuaded into skinny jeans so we have a dress added to cover my modesty in leggings! However, it's appropriate that I can make a bad pun on the Fern Cotton and rabbit link. I like the fact this outfit has made me think of more ways to wear my bunny sweater which I usually wear with the same black trousers!

Wearing: ASOS BunnySweater, Appletree boutique horseprint dress, Primark leggings, Leather boots: eYe Boutique, Robin print scarf (it appears to be the day of animals?)

DO you know what? I am so envious of you bloggers who can get outside photos. I am tired of dim dingy photos in which I try to capture an outfit and wish I could actually experience some daylight during the week. Perhaps I should get out of bed earlier (laughs hysterically!)

I am so excited that my Mother in law is coming to stay with us for a couple of days. She's coming for CBC's concert and it is exciting that she's going to stay as we have not hosted her before and moreoever, she's going to be our first overnight guest. This is not something I have experienced much. I think I can count the number of overnight guests I've had on one hand in my adult life (excepting CBC of course) and this is the first time I've had a spare room! Frantically trying to hide away all my piles of stuff and realising that perhaps I should remove a crammed drawer full of clothes so she can put hers in a drawer. My spare room serves as spare clothes storage!

I am hoping to go Swingdancing myself tomorrow night. CBC seems very reluctant to go recently and he has one of his two school concerts, so I am going to lindy in London tomorrow whilst he's doing that! Seeing the Swing off on Strictly come dancing last night has me itching to go and swing! It's surprising how out of practice you can get by not constantly going! I also have to go and pick up a lovely Christmas jumper from ASOS up from my old house that has arrived for CBC. I have plans to steal this jumper once Christmas is over! If you like Wardrobe zoos, you might like this one!!!

Head over to the Twobirds for some fluffy jumper love!

xx

Hobbies

I'm pretty sure that people who've read my blog for a while know my hobbies but I'll share them again for today's BEDN prompt.

Card-making: I have been making my own cards since I was very young, starting from drawing cartoon cards for my family and then photocopying a Christmas design I'd make. In my 20's when I was really on a kick to recycle and reuse as much as possible, I started to make more collage cards, using old packaging- costa coffee cups and violin strings and it all sprang from there. From that time, I've made hundreds of cards, many of which can be found on the 'cards tag!

Swing Dancing: In recent times, swing-dancing has been my most loved hobby. I absolutely love the whole thing- the steps, the music, the atmosphere, the dressing up, the swishy skirts, the whole scene is brilliant. I have realllly missed my swing classes since I've moved and I need to get going again, it's just hard from where I live! Swing dance consists of loads of styles: the main one I learn is lindy-hop but there is East Coast Swing, Hollywood swing, Balboa, Shag, Charleston, Blues and more I've probably forgotten. I really want to aim to get better at swing dance to get to advanced level and be really at home with all the moves and to become a better follower. Through my lessons with Simon, I learnt to be better at the connection but I've got a lot to learn. I'd really like to learn some more Shag - it's so fun! If you are in London and want to Swing dance, go to the London Swing Dance Society website

Orchestra and music in general: I play in an orchestra in London and I have played in orchestras all my life. I adore playing flute in the centre of a wonderful group of musicians. There is no feeling like it. I feel my heart soaring as I play my flute and my orchestra is known as the friendliest amateur orchestra in London! Musicians are really sociable and it's by playing my flute that I met CBC, so I am glad of all the concerts I have said Yes to in the past. Nowadays, I don't do as much playing, just my regular orchestra, church and occasional one-offs but in my early 20's, I was out every night! I have also enjoyed being in musicals and I looooooong to do this again!!! SOOOO much fun!!!

Composing music: This is something I have done since I was about 11, composing music has always been a joy for me. I shared this in my first blog 'award' but I had a piece published when I was 12. Nowadays, the pieces I write are mostly songs for school and for church, but though I don't do so much, the ones I write for school are always popular with the children and I sometimes think I should try and send them off to see if I could get them published. I tend to write one every Christmas in the hope I will eventually have a complete Nativity musical. Not because I think they're overly good or anyone would accept them(because my piano-parts are pretty simplistic and badly written- I write for MY piano skills!) but since the children really enjoy them and I just guess, it would be nice to have something to aim for! This Christmas, my song is called The inn keepers' rant and I had better get on and finish it!!! I also owe my Grandad a piece for Orchestra that he commissioned me to write over 15 years ago. I have a lot of materials and parts written (including the main theme) but getting a piece for full orchestra completed is time-consuming!! I also started writing a Magnificat for solo voice which I would love to sing for our carol service but I need to finish it off! Oh dear, it appears I have the musical equivalent of a dozen unfinished knitting projects!

Reading: If you've read my book reviews (look under the tag 'books'), you'll know I love reading and I am a voracious reader. As a child/teen, my Dad and Step-Mum would always wonder where I was when I'd come to their house and they would inevitably find me curled up in a corner (more often than not by a radiator- I'm like a cat), reading a book. Hours would go by and I would be content. A child yesterday said to me that he hated reading and how sad I found that. In the 3 minutes I was waiting for his Mum to come and pick him up, I earnestly tried to share with him my joy of reading. Hope that changes.

Coin-collecting: This isn't a current hobby but something I did as a teenager but every now and again, I love to look at my album. I managed to collect together a large amount of foreign coins, courtesy of various friends on holiday and my own travels. I was also lucky to be given several First Day covers of new Royal Mint coins and have a few old Victorian coins etc. I always think I must take them into school to show the kids as I quite like old hobbies like this and it would be nice to show some of the more unoriginal boys (you wouldn't think it at primary level) that there are other hobbies to football and computers.

WHat I would like to take up: I have always wanted to learn to fence. And do you know, it all stems from a really silly memory from childhood. You've all watched Downton Abbey right? Well, when I was a child and teen, my dance school used to have a yearly Choreography competition in which we had to make up our own dances and enter. Michelle Dockery, who plays Lady Mary, used to go to my dance school and Senior School and one year, she and her friend Amanda made up a dance to the music from Hook and she was Hook and at the beginning, she did some fencing style movements which loooked really cool (I don't think she did fencing but she was just really good at dancing, drama and movement in general) and stylish and I thought- that looks so elegant and genteel, I want to learn how to fence! I signed up to the Fencing Society at University but it was on a Tuesday night when I had a part-time job, so I never got around to going. One day, one day...

Pas des bride and groom!

Hello there! I do hope you are well! This is just a quick post to say thank you for all your well wishes for our wedding. It was a lovely day and we had a great time! I thought I'd leave you for a couple of days, with our first dance! You can finally laugh at me doing Lindy-hop! (I had a stonking headache during this so it's a miracle I didn't fall over dizzily! And, no, I didn't drink!!! ;-) ) See you soon! With much love, Kezzie and CBC xxx

Swing when you're grinning!

Hello there!

Thank you to all you tempting people who tried to persuade me to buy the musical dress.  I shall, despite my yearning, resist, and hope that the dress will be there in some months when I don't have the anxiety of wedding budgets to deal with!

I have had the loveliest few days (despite being at school on two of them).

By the way, I should say a hello to my secret blog reader who I discovered on the train last week!!!! Hello!  It was really nice to see you and since we will be living in the same town, let's meet up sometime!

On Sunday, I organised a hen picnic!  I knew that I didn't want a stereotypical hen night/weekend for various reasons- a) don't really like club/bars unless they involve swing dancing and then that would be rude to just abandon my hens for the eevening so I can dance. b) too expensive!  c) not for everyone!

So, I thought a picnic would be a really nice cheap way that wouldn't hopefully put anyone out too much! Everyone was asked to just bring a dish to share.  No real organisation about it, so we could have ended up with 18 potato salads!

We met in the beautiful park in my local town, near the mansion and found a lovely shady tree.  Gradually, friends arrived and we formed a mosaic of blankets and put out our food on the various blankets




Over the afternoon, around 18 friends came.  Everyone seemed to bring more than just one dish and there was a whole host of leftovers!


I had to laugh at my friend M who bought along a cake stand with cucumber sandwiches done in the Ritz style and scones, jam and clotted cream! In fact, three lots of scones were brought along!

Fancy a scone?
As well as making chivey potato salad, a regular salad, pretzels and caramel bites, I attempted some baking and using the ancient Self-raising flour in the cupboard and other things I found, I made cheesy-hearts- a variation on the Cheesy Stars recipe I found in the Usbourne kids Christmas food cookery book!

Cheesy hearts

It was SUCH a lovely chilled afternoon, a great opportunity for me to catch up with friends and indeed, friends to catch up with friends.  It was great that some of my wedding guests could meet each other too and one lovely TA from school (who I am GUTTED can't come to the wedding because of her holiday) said it was the only opportunity she has had to really have a chat to one of my fellow teachers in about a year!   The weather was perfect-warm but not too much!


I also got presents which I totally wasn't expecting!  A pink sash, a veil and tiara, a lucky sixpence and a ring holder, flowers, scented candles and lotions! 

The only downside of the afternoon was when I tripped over my own trousers (HOW?!) and scraped my knee which is now scabby, even more so when I scratched it tonight at lindy and made it bleed! That's going to look nice in wedding photos!

Then on Monday night, CBC and I discovered a new lindy class in Southend-on-Sea.  It was an absolutely brilliant evening at the Kursaal centre on the seafront.  We ate fish and chips beforehand and danced from 8.30 till 10.45pm in a small class with a super teacher who taught us some fun Charleston variations which I felt I cracked!  The top picture is the setting of the Kursaal centre!

This afternoon was our school talent show and I accompanied a child singing 'Heal the world' who WON! Bless him, he did so well aged 7! 

Tonight, I headed off to London for my 9th week of lindy lessons on the trot.  Again, it was a positive, successful evening and I even got a 'good' from Simon, the dance teacher when he danced with me to demonstrate at one point!  I had a great evening and am feeling positive about only 2 days left at school!!!
And that's enough about me.  How about you?x

52 weeks of happy today!

1. Wooop, woop, my orchestra got a mention on a Guardian blog post!  It's about our soloist, but still, tis nice to have a mention!  Tres excited that I get to meet one of my blogging friends, Denise, tonight at the concert!

2. Last night, we went swing-dancing at a church in Primrose Hill, which a friend of CBC's had invited us to!  It was a surprisingly brilliant venue for it! The church space is really versatile and we had a huge amount of space to dance.  A small, friendly crowd who had lots of fun.  I danced with a couple of guys who have learnt Ceroc, a French form of jive, I believe, which was really interesting and did a couple of fun dips with CBC's friend.  CBC and I danced lots and practised some moves.  There was a bit of a slippery-slip in the middle of the church- a super-slidy tiled section, which made for some interesting skids!   I really enjoyed it and it was nice to dance in such a scenic setting.
The highlight was seeing the vicar (female), finally relent and dance rather brilliantly with our friend -she'd not swingdanced before!
3.  Invitations are out in the post and we've already had some replies!
4.  Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra with Year 4- FINALLY perfected the worksheet for the first lesson- they seemed to enjoy watching the piece!
5.  The gorgeous blossom around- it's SOOOOOOOO beautiful and I never fail to be overwhelmed by its splendour!

What's made you happy?

Supergirl!

That's what he called me.  All.  Day.

I get it, I do!
I had to do the pose otherwise he refused to take the shots.  He also wanted an ironing board shot! I flatly refused! I am willing, not stupid!


I found the dress in a charity-shop yesterday when looking for shoes in my local town.

Teamed with Miss Simmonds swap beret and belt from other dress with Primark cardigan and ruby-slipper Toms, Topshop necklace and Cath Kidston earrings.

Another awesome day.  We went to the vicarage to fill in wedding forms (hard to believe we will be getting wed in just over 4 months!) and then headed off for a private lindy lesson with Simon which went well, lots more basic improvement. We then went to an East Coast swing dance social lesson out in Essex which was brilliant as I picked up loads and loads of moves which I then remembered and was able to do with lots of people!  It was so much fun!

Thank you for all your kind comments and compliments! I do hope you are all well!xx

I have to send a huge thanks to Char who managed to track down a pair of size 8 wedding shoes for me in Taunton. Now just have to find someone that could pick them up for me!

Is it too late for Visible Monday Patty? I stood out a mile today in this ensemble!!!x

Linking also to Claire Justine's Share your style Saturdays Do join up with it,she's lovely and I know she'd like to welcome others!!!