Elizabeth Love.........

Oh saddest of days! the glorious creature that was Dame Elizabeth Taylor has left us to go to that great movie set in the sky.

I have always loved Elizabeth, from being a young girl I was inspired and totally in awe of her beauty,but as I got older and my fascination continued,I became aware that behind the often hedonistic lifestyle,the boats,the planes,the diamonds,Elizabeth was just a woman, a woman who like most of us craved love and affection and a happy ever after.

Elizabeth Taylor will be remembered for her beauty,her men,her work in the movies and for her tireless charity work,but you know what I loved best about her? She lived her life in glorious technicolour,she loved she lost,she got right back up and lived and laughed and loved with seemingly reckless abandon.

They just dont make them like that any more.....do they?

On Sundays,Sinatra and sleep(or lack of)

So here we are again Sunday morning,copious amounts of coffee and Sinatra singing 'Witchcraft' and me looking like hell in a housecoat due to lack of sleep.Soon I will shower and dress and paint on a smile and tie on a pinny and prepare myself for another ride on the strange rollercoaster that is my life at the moment.

It has been a topsy turvy week this past week,Like everyone in this world I have been absolutely horrified by the devastating events in Japan and the unrest in Libya has me troubled beyond belief,I am afraid I am like an emotional sponge and I seem to absorb all this negativity so that it becomes a lead weight to be carried around with me.

I know,lighten up Gena,count your blessings ( I do! I swear) but its real hard to watch such suffering.

Ok! enough of that,what else has been happening? after a disappointing start to the week (wont bore you with that one) the weather finally picked up and Lo! sunshine! hurrah! what a difference it makes,my garden is slowly coming to life and I am so looking forward to sunny days and lighter nights. I am signed up for a few vintage clothing fairs in the near future(sadly few and far between here in the North) and yesterday purchased another beautiful Vintage wedding dress.It was Lucys Birthday on Friday,my baby is twelve already! how did that happen? I feel as though life speeds up as you get older.

It is a full moon this weekend,in virgo actually,perhaps this is why I have felt slightly crazy all week? full moons signify powerful emotions and changes and I do believe that some things really do need to change,so bring it on Universe.I am ready.

My weird and totally unpredictable sleep patterns remain a mystery,I am reluctant to see a Doctor for fear of a) being diagnosed as mad/paranoid/depressed.I am not. or b) being offered sleeping medication which I fear is a slippery slope and I dont want it. I have tried almost everything,my Mother says as you get older you dont need as much sleep,cant believe that I am wrecked half the time!

Anyway! onwards and upwards! I am looking forward to next week, waking the dead on BBC1 tonight and tomorrow,I have the new Kate Atkinson book from the library(cant put it down already) and I have an interesting recipe for cheese and marmite scones to try out!

Its the little things isnt it?

Vintage Love .....

I am a fickle girl at times I am the first to admit.Part of me hates clutter and yet I make a living out of selling all manner of vintage paraphanalia! I love nothing more than coming across a terrific vintage find,I love laundering vintage clothing and linens and become almost dizzy with joy to see them flapping about on my washing line.Handbags are a particular delight to me,often I will find an old shopping list,a cinema ticket or even a letter or an invatation to a wedding,the flotsam and jetsom of another womans life,not that different from my own.

Vintage weddings are currently in vogue,it seems many of us are hankering after a more subtle and meaningful Wedding day,not just the clothing but everything from the table linens to mis-matched vintage china.How absolutely lovely.It was with this in mind that towards the end of last year I launched a vintage China and linen hire service.

Will I ever tire of this love affair with all things from a time gone by? I really dont think so,do you?

Somethings' coming..........

TONY
Could be!
Who knows?
There’s something’ due any day;
I will know right away
Soon as it shows.
It may come cannonballin’
Down through the sky,

Gleam in its eye,
Bright as a rose!
Who knows?

It’s only just out of reach,
Down the block, on a beach,
Under a tree.
I got a feelin’ there’s a miracle due,
Gonna come true,
Comin’ to me!

Could it be? Yes, it could.
Something’s coming, something’ good,
If I can wait!
Something’s comin’, I don’t know what it is
But it is
Gonna be great!

With a click, with a shock,
Phone’ll jingle, door’ll knock
Open the latch!
Something’s comin’, don’t know when,
But it’s soon--
Catch the moon,
One-handed catch!
Around the corner,
Or whistling’ down the river,
Come on -- deliver
To me!

Will it be? Yes, it will.
Maybe just by holdin’ still
It’ll be there!
Come on, something’, come on in,
Don’t be shy,
Meet a guy,
Pull up a chair!

The air is hummin’,
And something’ great is comin’!
Who knows?
It’s only just out of reach,
Down the block, on a beach.
Maybe tonight.

*******************

Oh how I love West side story! and on a day when my glass feels half full,how I love this song!

Somethings coming.Please God.

Just how much is too much?

As anyone in the Vintage trade will tell you I am sure,what started out as an interesting little sideline,more often than not has the ability to invade not only our lives but our living space also. Whilst initially,bringing the odd interesting piece home seems like a good idea,the day may come whereby it all becomes a little too much.

I fear my friends that day has come.

Although I very much doubt that I will miraculously transform into a minimalist,something has to give and frankly I do not know where to start.I hasten to add that I also have a storage unit for the business,also packed to the rafters.

The living room is not too bad,although the cocktail cabinet may need to go.Too many cushions of course.

The Kitchen.How I long for clear bench tops.

And Oh Holy Mary Mother of God.The Dining room.I cannot show you a picture of the entire room,for trust me you will have nightmares.Still housing the remnants of a shop that I left four years ago,it is my own personal Hell.

How do I tackle this people? Have you faced a similar dilemma?

I want to run away.Really.

Tales from a surburban housewife part two............

So the new year has begun,the weather has been slightly kinder here in the bleak North,but despite the feeling of optimism I am currently cultivating at the moment,so far life is slightly hum drum.Oh dear.

I feel that change is ahead.....but I feel both heady excitement and abject terror at the thought,hmmm.

In the meantime,I do what I do best,I plod on,I get on with the day job because it pays the bills,loving it some days hating it others,but remaining thankful for the income.I would like to know what lies ahead for me,but I simply cant,some days I wonder if I am on the right path and where it will lead.

I am aware that this year I need to be a bit more attentive to my own needs and look at the bigger picture.I need to make some choices this year,I love my Vintage business but sometimes its just darned hard work when juggling a day job and family also,but can I give it up? and Good Lord whatever would I do with all that stock?

On a brighter note...spring will soon be here,I can tend my garden,visit my allotment and eat salad.

This year I am going to actually celebrate my Birthday ( I dont normally,dont ask am way down on the agenda) I am going to learn something new(not sure what just yet)I am going to make a list of all the books I simply must read and reserve them at the library.

My 'to do list' is quite simply endless.

But top of my list is....I am going to be brave.

On Resolutions.........

Is it just me or has the New Year filled you with the kind of reckless enthusiasm usually reserved for the Top shop sale? are the Christmas shackles finally off? no more losing sleep over planning what seemed like a military operation,when actually it really was just a Sunday lunch with gifts thrown in.

Ah me! it feels good to be free.

Are you looking forward to 2011,To better weather(couldnt be worse frankly) hopefully a long hot summer,will you fall in love,find your dream job,finally learn to meditate?

Have you made New Year Resolutions ? Hmmm always tricky methinks,I do so hate mine to involve the words Diet,Detox,Gym etc. because,well life is just to darn short! wasnt it Shirley Conran who coined the phrase " Life is too short to stuff a mushroom" and I so know what she meant,so for 2011 I really feel that its time to get happy,to have that extra Martini (fear not I am not about to turn into Blanche Dubois!) to take a few more risks,follow my heart and not be afraid.Life really is a huge gift and how blessed I am,I look at my children every day and offer up a silent prayer of thanks,but sometimes,just sometimes I catch a glimpse of myself and I have to ask " Oh!...... who are you again?"

Its time to find out.

So! here we go,in 2011 I am going to........

1) Eat more takeaways!......It wont kill them to do without home cooking once a week.

2)Throw away some of that huge pile of ironing.Its the only way.

3)Stop buying trashy magazines BUT replace them with fabulous bargain books from Amazon,you know it makes sense.

4) De clutter my wardrobe and keep only items which make me feel fabulous.

5)Wear high heels every day.Why not?

6)Spend much more time with my girl friends,whether it be coffee or cocktails,these women keep me afloat.

7)Invest in a pair of Chanel sunglasses.I will do without food if I have to.

8)Watch my complete set of Sex and the city DVDs from the start.I need to release my inner Carrie Bradshaw.

9)Drink Martinis at least once a week,perhaps learn to like olives.

10)Live,love ,laugh.......often.

What do you think? is it going to be a good one?

You bet it is!!!!!!!