Cliff Richard - Mistletoe and Wine

Four Days to Go!

My only son is getting married on Friday and the excitement is mounting.


Actually the bride and groom seem to be very laid back about the whole thing.  Not surprising really because they've been together for twelve years.  A month ago they made the announcement and everything has just fallen into place.

This is the church where the ceremony will take place. St Anthony's Roman Catholic Church in in the Archdiocese of Port of Spain, Trinidad, West Indies..

Laid back they might be now but I bet by Friday it could be a different story!

Shoes Galore!

Those of you who know me or have been following me for some time, will know that I'm very fussy about shoes and anything with clumpy heels or anything that doesn't make me at least four inches taller, is definitely a no-no. Silver with rhinestones are also definitely out as are plastic or whatever material it is that is used instead of leather together with yellow-gold, un-cushioned insoles, see through/plastic heels etc............... get the picture?

I spent almost eight hours today looking for a pair of shoes to go with the dress I'm wearing to my son's wedding next Friday.  The whole of today is worth an "Ours House Series' blog but at the moment I'm too frazzled!  All I know is that I walked that Mall with my daughter several times and went into at least twelve shoe shops some of which, the thresholds I will never cross again! Including the one where I took the photo seen above!  The shoes were expensive, tacky, the service dreadful and the staff  rude.

I have been coordinating for years so when a girl who is young enough to be my grand daughter has  the audacity to tell me that she wouldn't put a certain color with another and that she would definitely want to put silver shoes with diamante with my shade of dress, I walked out of the shop before I told her that all her taste was in her mouth!

Tomorrow is Sunday and whilst I know I'm supposed to rest on the seventh day, sorry God that's not an option.  I'm off to another Mall in a bid to close the deal!  Will keep you posted!!

It's Friday!

Maybe it is Friday although it's not going to make a great deal of difference in my life at the moment but I'll dance anyway - no  matter what day of the week it is.

What would life be without dance and music?

Hip cats, hey what???

 

Escape

MAGPIE 44

In another time
In a troubled land
A different sleigh
Bells in tandem
With the trot
Of horses hooves

Coats, hats and
Muffs of fur
Blankets covering knees
Keep out the bitter
Cold and wind
Of bleak winter

Only jingling bells
Break the eerie
Silence of day
As Zhivago and 
His beloved Lara
Escape to Varykino


Barbara M Lake
December 2010

When One Door Closes

MAGPIE 43

I've heard it said

That when one door closes

Another opens

As I stand here

In front of this door

Which opens outward

Will I once again

Be knocked off my feet

As it swings 

Sweeping me to the ground

Leaving deep dents

In the once pure snow?

Tea at Torosay Castle with Mr Toast

Mr Toast's Second Annual Tea has come round so quickly. Not that I'm complaining because last year was such a wonderful event.   This year he's holding it Torosay Castle on the Isle of Mull in Scotland. There are magnificent gardens but I doubt that we'll see much of them given the weather.

I'm just a little unsettled because the weather in the UK is so bad that flights from this part of the world are back logged so I'm hoping that all is well later on tonight.  If we do manage to get away, it looks as though we will be diverted from Gatwick to London Heathrow.

Pity there aren't any direct flights from here to an airport in Scotland.  However, Oscar the pilot of the jet is standing my at Gatwick waiting to hear if he has to get a move on to Heathrow.  Once we leave whichever airport for Scotland we should be okay although he will not be able to fly us into Mull. I think we may have to helicopter onto the Castle grounds so I'm waiting to hear from Mr Toast as to whether or not there's a landing pad.  If not it could be a bit ucomfortable on that ferry.

I took photos of the chopper last time I used it so of course this is what it looks like on a good day!! No snow!

My wardrobe is packed and bearing in mind how bitterly cold it is on Mull I have kept to very warm clothes for both inside and outdoors. Scotland is cold at the best of times so now it must we worse than the Antartic!

I'm wearing the following to travel which will also be ideal for when we arrive.

Just in case anyone is worried or wants to throw paint at me, it's faux - I locked my mink and red fox away years ago.

I'm travelling in these Yves Saint Laurent boots  

And will change into these on arrival:

This is the outfit or as near as dammit under the coat:

If I get really cold, I'll add this:

I know it's a bit much for a couple of days but I'm taking the following as well.  I never was one for travelling light no matter how much  I've tried. At least I've cut down on the shoes - there was a time when I'd take a pair of shoes to match every outfit!!!

I can't remember if I packed the shoes that go with this outfit so I may have to wear the following instead: decisions, decisions:

With these:

I'm taking some goodies as well. I hope they don't spoil but they are well packaged.

This cake is known as the  Carinthian Reindling Cake, Carinthia  being the Austrian province in which my mother was born - as I was. I used to watch my grandmother make this cake - hours and hours of patience and love went into it.  Growing up it was a favourite if not the favourite of all my cakes.

And a wicked Sachertorte as well.

And of course, I couldn't possibly come without a box of these for everyone.

The famous Mozart chocolates.

Looking forward to Gluwwein on arrival!

Happy and safe travelling everyone.  see you there.

Now where the hell is my date????