I'm back on the blog!!

Well life is a bit of a busy old merry go round.  Sometime I wanna get off ha ha.

My Art Deco (minus Glitter ball) area

Anyway I've been all work & no play (makes Claire a very dull girl).  Sooooo I decided that I must get organised.  This is nothing to all of you fabulous bloggers & readers who have gorgeous spick & span homes and still cook clever dinners from scratch, create pretty things & look like you dropped from a stylish magazine cover.  I however am naff and to achieve one of these things means the other juggling balls drop!!! 

Going too far?  Colour coordinated book library.

Vintage bag cleaning project 

Vintage brooches that I really should sell.

How do you display / store your ostrich feathers??

My Gran's old sewing box, I love it.

My new mirror.  I heart this too.  Sorry I must find out how to rotate on Blogger

Mr Fabulous bought me this hat.. what do you think?

So I decided that if I had a home for everything & everything was put away in it's place (instead of being dumped on the bedroom / kitchen / studio table / floor ......).  It's working too.  ok so the pile of kit on the floor from the business trip & the gym kit from Friday night & the pile of work to do is the exception. (There may be a couple of other messy bits if I'm honest but they will be whisked away in two shakes of a a lambs tail - honest!!!).  So I thought you might like to see some areas of improvement - Be warned - if there are mirrors in the photos you may see more evidence of unrest ha ha.

Pretty as a chocolate box - Forward planning Birthday presents for my girlfriends. 

Hope you're having a lovely weekend.  I have to try & tidy the pile on the kitchen floor, mow the lawn, do some washing, make myself look presentable and dash out for high tea with champagne followed by vintage cocktails for Tina's Birthday.  looks like life just got back to a balance of fun V darned hard work!!!

Hope you're having a splendid weekend.  Will post soon on high tea & if's it's worth a recommendation xxxx

Happy Easter Chickerrooos

Well it's Easter Sunday so I thought I would make some messy Easter cupcakes.  

I have loved these little things since I was a child ... oh dear, guess I will never grow up - or grow out of tat!!!

Someone tell her how to rotate the image in the blog, I feel all the blood rushing to my tiny chicky head!!

 Soooo these were the messy cupcakes.  A little bit lemony with lemon butter icing.  Not too pretty but hopefully taste better than they look!!

What did you get up to? Any nice roasts?  Yuuuuuuummm.

Happy Easter chickies xxx

My new favorite hangouts in Norwich

It's not often that I pop into Norwich - or anywhere else for that matter at the moment.  I should cut bills and just live in the office ha ha!!

Anyway I met up with the lovely Ruthie and we popped to Talc  on Timber Hill for a spot of lunch.  Odd name for a restaurant but a cute place all the same.  It's a mix of vintage decors and crockery, warmth & friendly service - ooh and nice food too.  

And my fav bars are still Franks Bar, Birdcage and the fabulous X Bells which serves the best cocktails in town.  

Mr Fabulous & I popped in for a few on their finest.  They mix incredible Bloody Mary's, vintage style double G&T's yuuuuuum, Old Fashioned, Vespers .......  and yes, I did have a bit of a headache the next day!! Serves me right.  

Anyway as well as the superb drinks it's a pretty cool place with a log fire & Chesterfields, an old red phone box with a cash machine in it and a wall of whiskys! 

 and nice decor and friendly bar team.
I've even taken my parents there after a day of antique shops, vintage fairs & a jaunt to the cinema to see The Artist.

This weekend we have a 1940's event with a Big Band and a vintage flea market ooooh lovely, if I can fit a lay in and a walk on the beach it will be perfect!

Flea Market also on Sunday 25th March 11 - 4pm with local musicians, pop up bar & lounge, tea & cakes. £1 entry.  Can't wait!! 

What are you up to this weekend?  I'd love to know xxxx

Vintage Valentine

Vintage Valentines greetings to you all xxx

 Well it's that sickly day of the year again.  

Much to Mr Fabulous' dismay, I am not one of the great romantics! 

 I did however buy a card & write a little ditty in it....

 And I will dress up in a pretty frock (no ribbons in my hair though) for dinner tonight.

 I shall try my best not too drink too much & become irritating (argumentative!)

 And I will maintain my best table manners & behave like a lady.

 Honest!!

I should count my blessings ....One friend is desperately hoping that she won't get another heart holding cuddly teddy bear - could be worse if it was in a helium balloon too ha ha.

xxx

Rest in Peace Whitney Houston

Sad news, I can only assume that the addictions won in the end. 

However it was only last weekend I was on a hen do dancing away to a few of her best 80's hits - "I wanna dance with somebody" got the whole group going & some of the girls weren't even born in the 80's.  The bar played the video too with her huuuuge blonde curls - oooh the memories!!  I also confess to watching Thw Bodyguard on TV a couple of weeks ago - Everyone in my family had been given the soundtrack album forever ago ha ha.  Many an hour was spent warbling away to that!!! Also had a cringy crush on Keving Costner in this film ooohhhh dear; should I be admitting that!! 

Anyway I hope Whitney & her incredible voice are in a happier place now.  

xxx

It's almost here but Merry Christmas Eve Eve anyway! x

Seasons Greetings and all that jazz! 

I finally feel Chrismassy - it won't last as i have an 8 hour train journey before I meet up with the relatives and pop lots of bubbles.  Might have to sneak some Babycham in my bag as I shall be a grouch after about 2 hours. 

The reason for my Christmas mood arriving just in the nick of time is reading some lovely blogs. Ahhhh like a breath of fresh festive air with bells and baubles on!

Anyway I've finished work for a few days hurrahhh so I'm celebrating... Bambi makes me smile.

I do have some decorations to sparkle whilst I blog.  I'm also listening to the Puppini Sisters Christmas album an yes I bought the Buble too!!!  We have some big band going onnnnnnnn h

This is Albert, my miniature tree with  vintage chandelier crystal and little lights.

Dried hog weed (I think) with vintage baubles in silvers & golds and Albert in daylight!

We had an early family Christmas party - Puttin' on the Ritz at Mater & Pater's house.  Not the best photo but this is my brother's (he's the ginge) mother in law who is a sweetie (she was really ill & just flown in bless her) my mama, papa, Charles's No.1 in a mischievous mood, me in vintage but looking a frump ha ha.  Anyway it was a lovely eve, nice to black tie every so often & being a historically military family since forever. It was nice to see the mess dress.  My brother spent much time in a peace core re-housing & helping to smooth the hatred of neighbours who had different beliefs or opinions.  He as some lovely stories of the wonderful people he met, quite humbling.  Whatever people think of the reasons behind conflicts & wars, there are some incredible people fighting for independence & safety of their families & countries.  It's just a shame we can't all just get along.  

Anway guess it's time I ate, the glass of rose I had before the babycham has made me tipsy & ramble on!!!

Wishing you all a very merry Christmas eve eve, Christmas actual eve and Christmas day.  Hope you get to spend it with your loved ones, if only in your dreams as the song goes.  My bf is off the coast of Africa but I'm sure I can dream up some mistletoe ha ha xxxxxxxxx

Top Hat & Tails

Apologies for being AWOL for so long, juggling is clearly not my strong point!! Anyway this week was Mr Fabulous' Birthday so instead of prettily wrapped gifts I went for a flurry of evening events. 

Last night was a trip to see Top Hat at Norwich Theatre Royal.  We got all dressed up & forgot to take photos .  Not quite the full top hat & tails but we felt rather pleased with our efforts.  Going to the theatre always reminds me of being a little girl & Mummy taking me to the ballet.  I would have my prettiest swishy skirt on & hold my posture as best I could in the hope that someone would notice that I too was a ballerina - if only once a week!! My niece is just the same & loves performing pirouettes for anyone who asks!!

Anyway a very kind gentleman with the most fabulous moustache did complement me on my outfit & said that I looked as though I should have been on the stage too (I don't like to think that he meant sweeping it!!).

So sadly it was the last night in Norwich but it really was worth going to see if you love classic music from the movies, 1930's fashions, wonderful sets & magical choreography.  Anyway the tap dancing was superb and I think Fred & Ginger would have been pleased with Tom & Summer's dancing.  Following in the footsteps of two utter legends must have been super scary.  

Anyway I'm off to purchase the Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers box set... I'm thinking evenings in with log fires, classic movies and possibly a cocktail or two.    

Hope you all had a fabulous weekend xxxx