Hi,
Today, I had the good fortune of a day off. Hello blessings of reduced hours. Does this make me a part time part timer? 😉 Well, part time in as much as presenting. I’m always trans: just not able to appear that way.
With that in mind, what is an occasional table when it’s not being a table? 🤔
Good vibes
So, the good news is the nerves are starting to settle. Gah, talking about my nerves makes me think of a dramatic swoon in full Victorian garb. 😉
By the belt and braces of Richmond Jones, the poor lady’s nerves! Smythe! Get the smelling salts, my good fellow 🙂
Silliness aside, said worries are less intense, less… ground zero, I suppose. Present, yes, but their distance – and if you pardon milking the metaphor a little more – means I gain some perspective.
That’s giving the opportunity to look a little more objectively and push back against the catastrophising. Little moments of clarity, where I can think yeah, but that’s not certain or maybe, but also maybe not given previous.
On listening to the advice from the GP, I should try to take it easy and not push myself too hard. On that note, I read about something called the 85/15 rule. The idea that you don’t always give everything 100%. Mainly because you can’t sprint all of the time and some tasks need you to have something left in the proverbial tank to step up in emergencies.
My brain fog makes me think I’ve got it more 55/45, but this will pass in time.
In the middle of the week, the Ever Lovely Mrs J and I had an early morning dog walk. The quietness in my mind helped me take in the beauty of early autumn. A slight mist over the hills, birdsong from the trees, and the sun pushing gently to warm us. A really lovely moment 💜
Thursday
I was a bit late setting off due to being disorganised. Which is a fancier way of not saying, I had a nap after work and was nearly late 😉
I’d had some deliveries during the week and while I’m keeping one dress, the other two will need to go back. One was a very pretty floaty number in a coffee colour and with large pale polka dots. The length wasn’t quite right and when I tried it, I felt it would be fab for a formal family do. As we’re unlikely to have a wedding or a christening at Chams, the dress has gone back. Still, pennies back in the bank.
I did keep a more office number as I don’t have anything in this colour. That and I do love an on the knee wrap dress.
The evening itself went well – although there was no Val, due to travel commitments (see you soon, Mrs 👋). Jayne had kindly prepared a quiz and that added a change to the evening.
A friend of not seen in years – Maddy – turned up out of the blue. I think when we last saw each other, our eldest was a year or so old. In fact, I think Maddy and I managed our first trip to Chams. That would have been just after the start of this blog. Woo, that’s a looong time ago.
Friday
Midweek I’d been researching how to put the curl back into my wig. I think I’d done a fair job of adding some volume. Although I feel I have significantly more learn (and practice) to even approach Steph’s skills.
After the school run, I had a lazy morning, coffee, and walked the dogs. I’d toyed with the idea of getting changed and getting out, but I felt I’d be rushing. Dashing to get in a shower, get ready, get out, get back, and get changed.
So, I decided to go out in Richard mode and that would let me try some new foundation at the store. I mean, if you go out with your face on, it’s kind of hard to get a colour match. Plus, I’m not quite brave enough to go out in Lynn mode and be bare faced.
The MUA staffing the Clinique counter was incredibly helpful. She was also paler than me, so she taught me a few things about application. It seems I was doing some things right, but missing a few details.
So, in her experience, she recommended staying with the primer and foundation application method. However, I should not put any foundation under my eyes. She said, do your eyes next to let things settle. Then come back in with colour correction and then concealer as required. Finally, powder to set and then it’s on to lips, cheeks, etc.
Listening to her explain and with a few questions thrown in, I think that explains why I wasn’t getting the coverage I needed. Plus, why I was getting crinkling under my eyes: too much of the wrong product.
The above might have worked for me in my 30s, but that’s been a while. Hence, time to update my technique and try something new.
Talking of later, I’ve also bought some old school curlers – foam, rather than hard ones. So it’s be a wash and set for my wig. Hopefully that will go to plan and will reduce the chance of heat damage from the straighteners.
Quite looking forward to giving both of those a go later in the week.
Whatever you’re up to: I hope all goes well.
L x
I think as much time as you can with doggies, Mrs Jones and fresh air is the best remedy for stuff. Oh, and Chams meetings that are obviously a great mood booster.
So glad to hear that Maddy popped in – I’ve been missing here as she’s gone quiet these last few years. Pls say hello to her from me next time.
And another lovely item from the Lynn Jones Autumn Collection.
Sue x
Very much so, Sue, yes. All those elements and doing one’s best to be ‘in the moment’ and enjoying the experience. That and trying not to be stuck in my thoughts and overthinking things. I read the other day that the scent from trees helps out health and birdsong lifts our mood.
You’re right in that Chams helps too. The mix of friendship, a sense of community, purpose, and, the unguarded conversations. All those help me be ‘all of me’, even if that all switches in appearance.
The dress is new and is from Roman Originals. They seem to be having a sale nearly every week, so I’m hoping they’re not in trouble financially.
Just for clarity and apologies for any confusion: there’s two folk with similar names. Maddie who was part of Nottingham Invasion and Maddy from the early days of Chams.
Ah, thanks for clarifying. I’m sure the other Maddy is nice too! Frankly, I thought the world was going maddy there (cheap gag, but you know me!)
Wishing you a good rest of the week.
Sue x
I’m Maddy and so’s my wife! 😁
I think the Maddie you know ends in ‘ie’ and the other Maddy, umm, does not 😉
I don’t think I’m brave enough to go up and ask for advice at a makeup counter. Assuming there are any of those left in town. Boots perhaps, although the Debenhams store closed a while ago.
“I felt it would be fab for a formal family do.” Oh, don’t we all wish? Sadly I don’t think that is ever likely to happen.
Sorry about the comment issues, Susie. I think the new hosting partner has a caching system, so updates don’t always show up straight away. I removed your second comment – given it was pretty much a duplicate – and I needed to fully refresh the page to see that change. Bit odd, that.
The good news is that your comment wasn’t stuck in the spam bin, so it would have popped up sooner or later. I may need to adjust the caching if this becomes annoying. Apologies for the technical issues
So, back to your comment 🙂
I did go to Boots and while it’s very busy, my hope was I’d be lost in the crowd. Folk were moving through quite quickly, so I didn’t feel too much on show, thankfully.
I think I get what you mean about bravery. I guess I’d got to the point of A) no longer caring, B) hiding in plain site, and/or C) annoyed that I couldn’t solve myself.
Given the latter, getting advice from an expert helps. I think I know why my undereye area was crinkling and I wasn’t getting the coverage I needed. The MUA had paler skin than I, so she had a wealth of expertise and experience.
As to a family do in something we’d feel more comfortable in. Both yes and never say never 🙂 Not sure I’ve got the bottle for the latter, even if I’ve got the hope and I’d feel a lot more at ease with myself too.
Oh, the things we do to ourselves, eh?
Glad the nerves are settling down.
I am interested in your experiments at reducing under eye crinkles.
The only time I have had a colour match she took a bit off my neck to match against, I’m not 100% it’s right, but it looks OK to me.
Yes, me too! 🙂 I am hoping the side effect of tiredness and slight brain fog, pass with time. However, perhaps both are just to do with my age! 😁
I’ve not tried the new technique yet, but I should before the next meeting. I remember reading that trying a new make-up technique, should be done well before getting ready. Saving the experiment to the actual event is unwise – in terms of risk, time, and disappointment.
FWIW, the colour match I had was against my cheek and near my jaw. The MUA blended it down to check there was no risk of the dreaded tide mark.
Shall we compare notes next time?
Yes always looking to improve my game, I have a number of things I need to force myself to try – contouring for instance.
Every day’s a school day 🙂 But luckily not double tedium on a Friday 😉
I think that hearing the experiences of others is a big help. Particularly if their needs are similar to ours. But that’s probably just a shortcut to bypass the cul-de-sacs; you’ve still got to put the practice in, IMO.
Not really got on with contouring personally, but I’ve seen some amazing results online.