Blog

Interview

Wed, 28 Sep 2011 17:42:00 GMT

I know I am not alone in my current Obsession; Finding, choosing and then ‘winning’ a school place for my child . When you have a child everyone tells you that your life will change forever what they don’t exactly tell you is how your life will change.

You are well aware that you will be tired (personally I spent the first year in a zombie like state), you understand that perhaps nights of painting the town red will be fewer and getting your stomach flat will take work. What no one tells you (maybe they did tell me but I wasn’t listening ‐ I’m self obsessed, remember) is that you will spend the rest of your life worrying about your child; not just his or her wellbeing and safety but the choices you make on your child’s behalf. I was seriously lucky with my choice of nursery school (anyone in North West London I wholeheartedly recommend Ready Steady Go).

Choosing the right ‘Big School’ has been a total nightmare for me. Maybe it’s because I’m really just a simple Northern girl out of my depth in the big smoke. I chose what I felt was the right school (that’s right I chose just ONE school) for my Son and applied for a place (arrogantly?) expecting to get it. I did not, I say I because I am now under no illusion (FYI nor should you be) of who is being interviewed for a school place it’s not your darling perfect little angel it’s YOU.

In hindsight (such a great thing) I did not choose my outfit wisely; Black skinny jeans, black t‐shirt, converse all stars, a Missoni coat and a TON of black, white and grey pearls. An outfit just fine for work in Primrose Hill, not for an interview at a very posh, conservative school in St John’s wood however. So my son has spent the last two years at a very fine local state school. The class size is just too big for him now and he is falling behind, easily distracted and in need of more structure and formality.

I find myself preparing to be interviewed once again. This time I shall chose my attire more intelligently! (I will also pray that my single mother status will not count against me, bloody hell it could, couldn’t it?! I just can’t obsess about that too).

READY STEADY GO 110 Gloucester Avenue London NW1 8HX+44 (0) 20 75865862

Cashmere Cardigan £249 Brora

Ballet pumps 235€ prettyballerinas.com
The Good Schools Guide www.goodschoolsguide.co.uk

Equality

Wed, 28 Sep 2011 17:42:00 GMT

Why is everyone so obsessed with equality and ‘having it all’ and the question of ‘Can you ever have it all’? I really don’t understand haven’t we gone past the whole equal rights for women bra burning thing? Isn’t 2010 all about choice?

Hasn’t life been about choice all along? So, some areas of industry will always be dominated by one sex; car mechanics are predominantly Men and manicurists are predominantly Women. That’s ok though and it’s still a choice. As far as ‘having it all’ isn’t that a choice too? My idea of having it all is just that; my choices, my goals, my ambitions. And the pressure to achieve is levied by me. The media says Models are too thin, turn the page to read; ‘Drop a dress Size in two weeks’ while another publication announces ‘Women Still earning 20% less than men’.

All these ‘headlines’ are there to give us something to talk about over dinner and at the photocopier. There are an increasing number of men out there staying at home raising the children while their wives are working late into the evening and earning the big bucks. We do not live in a dictatorship (or do we?).

Chocolate Box Bra (burn it if you want) £75 Miss Lala Presents

Manny www.mybigbrother.com,

Something Beautiful for God (Mother Theresa Biography) by Malcolm Muggeridge £10 Amazon,

Fidel Castro Biography by Robert E.Quirk £17 Amazon.

Poriot

Wed, 28 Sep 2011 17:48:00 GMT

What is it about a globe especially an old one with a bit of patina (vintage dirt) that transports me into a Poirot daydream? Really, the 30s of the silver screen must bear little resemblance to what it was actually like for ordinary people; America was suffering ‘The great Depression’ and you couldn’t get a drink there thanks to Prohibition, Yet in design terms it was a period of anything goes hi design.

Not even the humblest of household items escaped a fashionable astetic re‐design.

2010 feels like it could almost be twinned with 1930, we’re in a nondictatorial period of design and recovering from recession while longing for luxury. The 30s was recovering from the affects of WWI and the absolute heyday of decadence. I plan to trawl primelocation.com in search of a suitable 1930s apartment in which to live out a fantasy of bias cut dresses, cocktails and Nile cruises.

Vintage globe £65

Art deco toaster £175

Cowl neck bias cut dress £2705 Net‐a-Porter

1930s Suitcase £425

Homeward Bound

Wed, 28 Sep 2011 17:49:00 GMT

OMG! Red Alert! A second 40th Birthday party invitation forced it’s middle aged spread through my letterbox today. The first a couple of months ago I brushed off as a fluke, I couldn’t possibly be old enough to have close friends (who’s party I actually wanted to go to) turning 40!

FYI I am a few years off 40 thank god and had always been the youngest in my social group, now what do you think that says about me and vanity? I don’t think too much about my age. I never celebrate my Birthday with a party largely because it’s early January and everyone is always all partied out by then. This year was an exception; one of my very close (and slightly OCD) girlfriends exclaimed with horror at my definitive I am doing nothing for my birthday that I had ‘TO DO SOMETHING!’ so, I let her organise drinks at Shoreditch house, it was probably the best birthday in years (thank you LG).

So, the invite that has just reared it’s ugly head is not only in my home town of Newcastle‐upon‐Tyne but has the dreaded bonus of an 80’s theme! What to wear has led me to Obsessively watching Bananarama, T’pau and Transvision Vamp videos on youtube in search of inspiration. Weirdly I kinda feel younger than I did upon receipt of the 80s invite!

Cowboy boots £15.40 Ebay

T‐Shirt £12.99 Camden Market

Now That’s what I call music Vol 10 £5.99 Ebay

Wham Bar still only 10p but a lot smaller than I remember local news agent.

Sticks and Stones

Wed, 28 Sep 2011 17:47:00 GMT

The election has seriously dominated the news and life in general over the past few weeks and I’m not going to go on about politics because quite frankly I’m a bit bored with it all (I’m shallow, as if you need reminding). The rivalry between the parties and their supporters does bring to mind one of my pet hates; MEANESS, I know it sounds simple but I just can’t bear it in any shape or form. Meaness begins in the playground and then just seems to linger throughout life.

I’ve never understood why supporters (Of anything politics, football…) can’t just wax lyrical about their hero instead choosing to slag off the opposition. It’s in the pages of all the tabloids and particularly prevalent in the glossy weekly magazines. I’d much rather read about how totally fabulous any given celebrity looks than stare at a page entitled ‘Circle of shame’ where a damp underarm or an ingrown toenail are circled and ridiculed, I mean really who cares?

Does it make people feel better to ridicule others?

Wardrobe Malfunction

Wed, 28 Sep 2011 17:47:00 GMT

What is it with mothers? Why do I care about her opinion on an outfit so much that when criticized I run back to my wardrobe in a panic? (it’s not like she’s Daphne Guinness )I confess the outfit of which I speak was a tad on the gothic side; vintage black crepe day dress, 3 rosary style necklaces, a pair of red patent leather shoe boots (which my mother bought for me!) and a long black Westwood jacket.

Upon seeing me she burst out laughing and quipped ‘who died?’ followed by ‘you look like a 90 year old Italian widow from the turn of the century’.

Four outfit changes later I arrive at work (late) in the same jacket and jewellery having replaced the dress and shoes with dark grey (once black) jeans, black t‐shirt and YSL black and white stiletto brogues. The really annoying thing, the thing that really gets me is that she was right.

I’m wearing a knackered old pair of jeans, shoes from about 10 seasons ago and my look is now Rock Chic rather than Goth Granny and most importantly (?) a lot younger!

1940s Day dress £75 candysays.co.uk

YSL Clog £460 Browns,

Rosary £6 Newsagent Quex Rd (Kilburn NW6) .

Letting Go

Wed, 28 Sep 2011 17:50:00 GMT

I wouldn’t say I’m a hoarder (I do have way too much stuff though) and sometimes get a little over attached to things; a lightweight black t‐shirt from H&M that has so many holes it resembles nothing more than a rag, A 19th century red toile transfer printed cow jug with a broken handle at the back of a kitchen cupboard that is neither use nor ornament, you get the picture.

The big thing that I haven’t been able to relinquish is my Victorian deep buttoned velvet sofa; honestly it’s knackered and really, really uncomfortable. I’ve been going to have it re‐upholstered for at least 2years but just haven’t found the ‘right’ fabric; do I go for crazy hot pink velvet? A French shabby chic grey linen? I’d have no problem choosing the perfect fabric for you, so why can’t I do it for me?

I now fear it’s too late to save my dear little sofa, too far gone and so I will have to bite the bullet and call a man with a van to take it to it’s final resting place; the landfill depot in Kentish Town. I might bin that black t‐shirt too!

1930s Velvet sofa £3,050 COUCH

Black T shirt James Perse £50 Studio 8 (NW1),

Red Toile tea pot $39 thefind.com

Spring

Wed, 28 Sep 2011 21:22:00 GMT

Right now I am so longing for sun that I am obsessed with spring! I want to acquire a new spring wardrobe and I want to stop wearing wolford opaque’s, my head is full of images of light little dresses and pirate boots but I’m also desperate to get a few more wears of last season’s Alexander McQueen fox cape, I’m fickle as well as shallow; my mother must be so proud!

It’s all about light isn’t, spring? There is a change in the light that is mood enhancing together with a pretty fresh pastel palette. Ring in spring with Vintage lampshades in delicate shades, hyacinth bulbs balanced in vases (oh the smell!) and brighten up the black with colourful silk scarves!

Hand painted vintage shade £39

Silk scarf YSL £155

Vintage hyacinth vase £30