Concert

After the high of Wednesday, Thursday was a bit of reality check, a timely reminder that life is not all "beer and skittles".   While there was nothing wrong with the day, I got a fair amount of work done, caught up on some admin, and spent a pleasant evening with my daughter watching "The Hulk" on DVD, all in al a very good day, but after the high of Wednesday it did seem a little flat, and I found it hard to make myself get going.

I have often observed that I need to have something to look forward to, well on Sunday week I have the upcoming LGSO concert, this forms the a nice end to the London Pride weekend.   A good program an interesting venue and decent orchestra, what more do you want? Don't be shy you can buy tickets on line or on the door.   My only problem what will I wear, I have four black dresses to choose between, one is a maxi length and two are quite short, three rather slinky one lined, so maybe I will consider the weather before making a final decision.

Me and Beckham

I forgot to mention one little incident yesterday, as I was paying for my haircut there was a rather unattractive man lounging around outside the shop without a shirt, Nicky observed that is the sort of thing they have to put up with, why is it never David Beckham outside with his shirt off?

 After the hairdressers and the bank, and a quick trawl through the Charity Shops I decided to have a coffee and get on with some work I had brought with me.   One of the joys of a lap top is that I can do this take the work with me and sit in comfort somewhere enjoying a coffee and actually be working.   Rather than go to any of the local coffee shops I went to the very posh and rather illustrious Selsdon Park Hotel, sat in a corner of a lounge with my laptop enjoying a coffee and a view over the parkland.   This Hotel has quite a well-known golf course and often plays host to teams playing in big matches at Wembley, and Twickenham certainly the real David Beckham has stayed there quite a few times.   All the staff were very friendly and helpful, the coffee was good and cost no more than at a Costa or Starbucks.   In all honesty I think that the way I was dressed I must have fitted right in, if they had seen my van it may have been a different matter.

Not wanting to overstay my welcome I moved on, dropped a couple of things off at a friend’s house and found myself in Croydon, rather than go into the town centre and risk spending more money and wasting more time I popped into another hotel, the Hilton, and again enjoyed a cup of coffee while doing a little work.   It now seems to me that I am wasting my presence on the ordinary coffee shops I plan to make much more use of swanky hotels, they are more than happy to jus serve a cup of coffee or tea and offer a much more pleasant environment at no more cost.

While I was at the first Hotel I had a fiddle around with my laptop and got the webcam working for the first time, the photos of me on yesterday’s and today’s posts were taken on it.   All in all a very good day, but I always get the feeling of anti-climax and regret when I have to get changed and go home.

Perminent?

Well I've had quite a day one way and another, I managed to squeeze a couple of firsts in as well.   As I said earlier I had been looking forward to having my hair done, partly because it was getting a bit shaggy, partly because this has now become a Paula activity, partly because it means a little time off and partly because for the first time ever I was going to have a perm.   Not a tight curly perm just a nice relaxed one that will give a bit of bounce and body to my hair, at least that was the plan.

When I wanted to get ready to leave I found that both my wife and daughter were staying at home for the day, this rather disrupted my plans, but not too much, it just meant that I would have to slip on my dress and makeup on the way, not ideal but I am used to this.   As it looked like being a nice day I wore one of my cotton summer dresses, a very nice pastel green one that because of the lousy weather  I've not worn for over a year, it was nice to get it out and remember why I like it so much.

It took quite a while to do my hair, all those rollers and the smelly stuff “cooking away” under a shower cap, I was just relieved that I didn't have to sit underneath one of those hood dryers!   As is the way with hair dressers we chatted away about this and that, and of course the weather, as I was leaving she mentioned that the sun had now come out, and complimented me on my dress, I said something like yes it’s nice to have a chance to wear it and enjoy the sun, and she said “Yes sometimes it’s good to be a woman isn't it” I could only smile stupidly and agree.

After that I had a couple of chores to run, including a visit to my Building Society, this is where I have my current account, and I went in to ask if I could have an additional card in another name.   Obviously I want one in Paula’s name, I saw one of the staff I often see who always makes a point of checking my nails and how I’m dressed and will always find a compliment.   Although she always has a smile for me she has obviously not checked my card too carefully before, as when I asked about having another she said that wasn't possible, but went on to say that they should change the name on the card anyway as it was clearly wrong.   I had to explain that I still use both names, I think this was the first time she realised that I am not full time, or transitioning.   A bit stunned she said something along the lines of “But you always look so nice, your hair and nails, and always a lovey dress” Although disappointed about the card this did rather make up for it!

Shoes

I know, I know, one of my favourite topics I have written lots about shoes, I have put up lots of photos of shoes, but then they are important to me, and I know I am not alone.

I know actors will often say that the key to finding a character is in the shoes, I find that having the right shoes for the job helps put me in the right frame of mind, whether it is steel toe capped work boots, black oxfords with a suit, or high heel sling backs with a LBD for a night out!   The other day as I was driving between jobs I caught a bit of a show on BBC Radio 4 all about shoes.


Foot Notes is a program put together by shoe enthusiast and collector Rowan Pelling who takes us on a journey through her personal shoe collection to tell us the extraordinary story that lies behind footwear.

It will be no surprise to an of us that she discovers that, far from being simple functional objects that we put on our feet, shoes can communicate our sexual desire, aesthetic sense, social status and personality. They not only reflect social history and changing fashions, but are also a personal record of our lives - a touchstone that evokes a time, a place and an emotion.

In language and throughout literature, they can be magical as in The Red Shoes, transform lives as in Cinderella, and used as punishment in the Twelve Dancing Princesses (maybe that's where it started for me at the age of 11 I played the part of the King in a school musical production of this story, it was also the first occasion I wore tights!).

Shoes have been made from jewels, can cost thousands and are often bought in the wrong size - just because we love them.

Fancy shoes, comfy shoes, old shoes, new shoes - they can change an attitude and define a generation and mean something different to us all.   This is an interesting and fun program, follow the link and listen.

Just a quicky

As I have said all too often life is busy, but I just wanted to say that tomorrow I will have a little Paula time as I have my hair done.   This is an appointment I made a month ago, otherwise I would probably just be working again, but I could really do with a bit of a relax, and a little time with Paula, so I'm glad I made the appointment.

We need something to look forward to, and I am looking forward to having my hair done, I just wonder if I was wise to agree to having it permed?

Banger List

This is a bit like the Bucket list, but rather than activities to do the list is of cars I want to have.   This is not just cars I could quite fancy but those that I have a real yearning for, cars that I wanted when I first saw them advertised on the back cover of my Father's Sunday Telegraph magazine.   I remember seeing the first Mercedes Benz estate advertised there and thinking, Wow at last a decent car that will take a tuba in the back.   40 years later when I got my first 200T I was not disappointed.

The latest thing in 1980

I also remember the launch of the Renault 20 / 30 as far as I can remember this was the first "executive" class hatchback, it was modern, sleek and very clever.   From personal experience I can also say that it drove like a dream and was pretty quick as well as very comfortable.   The Ford Granada Coupe was as dramatic and as fast as it looked, but totally impractical, the Opel/Vauxhall Senator was comfortable, quick, good looking and prone to rust.   The Humber Sceptre stylish, smooth and very well furnished, but again not very practical for a tuba player.

I loved my Imps and Jade my mark IV Singer Vogue will always have a special place in my heart.
the Jenson Interceptor was awesome (when I could afford to put petrol in it) and the XJ12 smooth powerful and complicated.


So are there any special cars on my banger list? just a few, as an official Rootes nut I have yet to have a Sunbeam, I have had Singers, Hillmans and a couple of Humbers, at least one each of a dodge and a Commer but no Sunbeam.   I know that the fast back Rapier will take a small tuba in the boot so I could just about justify one of those, the other two cars currently on the list are the original Audi A8 and the Jenson Healey.   I was at the Motor show when the Jenson Healey was launched and fell in love with it on the spot, however as it is totally impractical I will need to make an awful lot ore money than I am at the moment before I can afford that sort of toy.

Americans

I'm not usually a great one for special days to commemorate events or to celebrate specific people.   A case in point is the recent Veterans day in the US.   I found some of the comments made by some of my American friends on a forum rather offensive, when I mentioned this I became subject to a diatribe of invective, most of it inaccurate and extremely insulting to anyone who is not a citizen of the USA.   I am very careful not to refer to them as American as that would be to slight Canadians and Mexicans a simple fact overlooked by the majority of people from the USA.   The USA is not America, America is a continent not a country.

 

Likewise I have upset a few people by wondering about the motivation of our Government here in the UK in arranging lots of events and spending lots of money on commemorating the centenary of the start of the First world War.   I wonder how much of this is about celebrating our armed forces to disguise the fact that we are reducing our expenditure on those self same armed forces.   We are failing to live up to our side of the forces covenant while promoting charities that will fulfil our commitments for us.   It feels cynical to spend millions celebrating the centenary of the start of this war when we are no longer able to engage in even a small war.   It feels wrong to celebrate beating the Germans (because that's what it is really about) when so many (within the government as well as without) are pressing to withdraw from the EU.

 

The EU, the EEC before it and the Common Market before that have been all about co-operation in Europe, if we are commercially interdependent then we will not go to war with each other, and it seems to have worked for the last 60 years so there must be something in it.   Still, whatever I think and what ever the effect it may have on our European partners we will be celebrating 100 years since the start of the first world war, and out of interest to my American readers we will be doing that in 2014 not 2017

 

Anyway some of this is just a preamble to explain a new page I have put up in response to some exchanges on a forum I have been part of.   Over the last week or so I have been checking to see if there had been any apologies made, but no the insults have been left to lie, so I will now be posting a copy of my new page on the forum, and keeping a copy of it here on Paula's Place.   It is a great shame but in the modern parlance "it is what it is"   I am sorry that this little spat has fallen over on to Paula's place, but on the simple basis that I have control here I will be posting it here to make sure that my feelings are clear to anyone who is interested, and cannot be removed or altered without my permission.

 

One day I am happy to celebrate is Fathers day, which is of course today, I am happy because I got a great card and a great present from my daughter.   A pot of Patnum Pepnum "Gentleman's Relish" anchovy paste may not be every one's idea of a great present, but I will enjoy it greatly, and I know my daughter thought about it carefully and realised that this is something I will enjoy, that's what a present should be

 

 

Please pray

I am just off to the builders merchant to buy materials for todays work, I will be doing something I have never done before, I will be putting a new roof on and extension, it is a flat roof and is just like a shed roof, in that it is timber covered with felt, but still it is a bit different to what I have done before.

My customer is a lady of mature years who is a bit nervous of tradesmen so wanted someone she knows to do the job, so that's me.   Apart from actually doing the job, I am a little worried about the weather, please, please don't rain!

Women!

On the lack of posts I refer you to some f my recent quick attempts at keeping up to date.   The frantic pace of life goes on, with a heavy work load a full "social" calendar of rehearsals, Church group meetings and on Saturday night a Party.

At the party I will be acting as sound man, I am rather happy about that as it gets me out of having to be cheerful when I really don't feel it, and I can avoid fancy dress.   This may sound silly but I don't like fancy dress much, it sacks of trying too hard.   Maybe I have just not had the right costume but as the theme is the 1960's I a short of ideas of what I could do (in the presence of my wife), so I will simply be the sound man dressed in black hiding at the back behind the desk.

It may be all the busyness but I am feeling a bit down at the moment, my daughter is fully occupied by exams and has little or no time for me, I suspect my wife is still giving me the cold shoulder, (she can be so taciturn at times it is hard to know if I am getting the sile treatment or if she is just not talking) and my Mother is still in Hospital and very confused, so just at the moment I struggle too be cheerful.

No time Toulouse

The rather frantic pace of my life continues with heavy work commitments as well as far too much on the social / leisure side.   This all means that I have little time for either considered posts or dressing, or indeed even thinking much about dressing.   So I thought to day would just share a few images I have collected recently but haven't used yet as the context hasn't been right.



I saw this a while back when I was searching for something else and immediately thought f my friend Karin, if anyone deserves a tea set like this it is her.

The other two I think speak pretty much for themselv