Hi,
With it being a Friday, I should be running the vacuum around and tidying the kitchen. However, should can do one 😉 Sometimes it’s nice to put chores off for a bit and do something else. Besides, there’s a reputation to maintain of posting each Friday.
A dose of gratitude
That heading could probably cover the rest of this post, if I think about a bit more. There’s been a handful of good things this week, and I think you need to count your blessings* (even nonsecular ones 🙂). The days may be darker and the weather gloomy, but fab stuff happens at this time of year.
Yikes, am I finding a bit of Christmas spirit? No, not the dusty bottle you keep for paintbrush cleaning ! 🙃
The Ever Lovely Mrs J had a day off this week for an appointment in town, so naturally we made the most of it together. A quick look in a handful of shops to top up the (now adult) kids’ gifts and get something for my folks too. After that, a very late breakfast – or an early lunch? – which was absolutely delicious. Simple, yes, but beautifully prepared.
I happened to catch the eye of the head chef as he passed, and I asked him who in the team had cooked our breakfasts. He said he had, so I smiled up at him and said how delicious they are. Mrs J, bless her, was tucking in, so she just nodded. After he’d gone, she added: “That was kind of you. I hope that makes his day.” That was my hope too. It’s not often you get to talk (even briefly) to the staff who make the meals. Yeah, it’s not a big thing, but at the same time, part of that trying to do kind things vibe I’m leaning into.
Not so fantastic plastic
With the Chams’ Xmas ‘Do this week – well, yesterday given today is Friday – I had, of course, needed to plan an outfit. Oh, Spirit of Indecision – you cruel muse of discombobulation! 😉
Having a look through the wardrobe, I found three Xmas dresses from previous years, a new (to me) plain black wrap dress, and a red & white spotty dress. I wondered if the latter might work given the festive red?
I tried all of them on and as I couldn’t decide, I went for what’s the least worst option? TBH, that’s not that any of them were bad, it says more about my wishes to have things right, and this route seems to help me.
I had hoped the lace top dress – seen previously last year – would be a go-er, but the invisible straps on my bra had perished. Given that said items were at least a decade old, I think; maybe it’s done well.
Cue a quick order to a certain on-line retailer beginning with A, that does next day delivery….. only to return said items on the same day, as they were crap. I wouldn’t have minded if they were cheap!
One set where way too small and the others might have been transparent, but were so shiny, you could see them through lace or mesh. Sigh… 😔 I think I will need to swear off any clothing purchases from that company, as I don’t think I’ve had anything this year that I’ve kept. I check the reviews, the photos, purchase, things arrived….. and they don’t match, so back they go.
Thankfully I managed some from M&S which fitted beautifully and were a near transparent non-shiny too.
Re-try & rewarded
With the new straps fitted, I opened the wardrobe to pack my bag for Thursday….. and promptly changed my mind on the outfit choices. Well, mostly. I took the Xmas dress from last year and the red & white spotty dress in case my new straps failed. That and I thought I’d give some separates a go. I’d worn them a few years ago and felt pretty in them, so why not?
Let’s lean into the Richmond-Jones theory of dressing! When in doubt, wear something that makes you feel good about yourself. ❤️
-Ahem- Two lots of shapeware were required 🙃 A waist clincher to help hide my tum…. and then a pull on seamless toner to help smooth out and hide the pattern on the clincher. Surprisingly I could A) still breathe, and B) bend at the waist. Go go Gadget shapewear! 😁
The shoe choice was easier: the nude killer heels in case I went with the spotty dress, and the black peep toe heels for the other items.
The Xmas ‘Do
With the Bag of Holding packed and a box of Christmas lights, pop, and other party items; I headed off to Chams’ HQ. Thankfully the traffic was pretty good, so no delays there. A stroke of luck, given the last two times have had jams at different parts of Nottingham, and one requiring a rural detour to dodge the queue.
I thought it might be nice to pop some twinkly lights up, so I’d brought alone our set from home. They are, by luck rather than planning, very long. So much so, that they went pretty much completely around the room. Anne turned up just as I plugged them in, and was kind enough to help untie and gather them. Meanwhile, I caused Health & Safety chaos by balancing on a chair – not in heels, I should add! – and tucked the wires into the ceiling tiles.
After that, it was a case of shuffling the tables around. Moving them from their usual ‘square circle’ into a row for the fuddle food and a larger block, so everyone could sit around and see each other.
If I say so myself, I thought things looked rather pretty, and helped made the community centre room look a bit more festive. BTW, that’s a pile of paper plates and pre-food: just in case you’re thinking: yikes, buffet’s looking sparse this year 😉
After that, it was time to apply the face cement and get changed. Of course, one does not simply, pull on fine hosiery: care is the watchword 😁
The night went well, I think. I did do a quick welcome & thank you speech, and to nudge folk to saying the buffet was ready. It was certainly a busy night, with I think just under twenty folk.
We had to put out extra chairs which I think is a good sign. As per, we were not short of food as folk had been generous with their time & pocket money. It was a fab night and great to see so many regulars making it back for the last one of the year.
After much chatter and nibbles, it was time for a tidy up, a quick thank you to everyone who’d helped out – catering, travelling, organising, etc. With the tidying up done, I asked if folk wanted a group shot, which everyone did. Understandably for privacy reasons, I won’t be sharing it on this site.
Oh, that reminds me, I’ve not posted my photo. Thanks to Val for taking it.
Surprisingly, the shapewear – and my feet – withstood the evening!
Righto. Better catch up on the chores and crack on with some lunch.
Stay fabulous,
L x
Sounds like a good do, and twenty glamorous partygoers sounds excellent.
Your outfit is stunning and those hidden shapey things are working wonders for you.
I have a love of sheer or lace sleeves and shoulders, and personally I have no qualms about bra or cami straps showing beneath. Obviously straps should be slim and a colour that matches or complements what’s on top.
Always compliment a chef if you can (well, if he/she deserves it, of course). Cooking is a passion and so praise is especially appreciated in that profession. Hey, I’ve even had second helpings on the strength of such compliments! Let’s call that karma. (I said karma not korma!)
Sue xx
Today’s seminar will be The Engineering Principles of Shapewear and the Synergy of Structural Benefits and Personal Acceptance 😁
It was a lovely ‘do, yes. Plenty of folk, chatter, shared nibbles, and I think the lights added to the ‘warmth’ of the occasion. Good times indeed ♥️
I’m partial to a semiopaque sleeve and/or shoulders, yet bras are tricky for me. My size is such that thin straps are rare, and if they are too spaghetti, they make my shoulders look bigger. ‘Tis a balancing act, I feel and thanks for the ideas.
For me, it’s rare to see the caterers doing the hard work. We do get to chat to the lady who owns & runs the café we go to. But other than that, most places we go seen to have folk stuck in the kitchen. I hope kind words go a long way, though. Can’t be an easy job, cooking to order all day/evening.
How lovely it is to read your latest.
I’m really keen to get out as Sandra next year.
Chams, is too far away for me to pop over.
I’m in South Wales and looking for similar groups.
Naturally it’s always tricky to find out what is happening.
Any advice?
Thanks Sandra. Good luck in getting out & about.
In terms of finding a group, Transunite run a website with a searchable list of groups. Good luck! 🤞
Lynn, what a wonderfully detailed and joyful read!
I loved how you balance everyday reality with little pockets of delight, like skipping chores in favour of a Friday post, or turning breakfast into an opportunity to spread kindness. Your gesture to the head chef was such a lovely, small act that surely made their day, and it reminds me how meaningful even the simplest acknowledgments can be.
Your “Spirit of Indecision” wardrobe saga! Your persistence, and sense of humour, through the shapewear, the straps, and the hunt for the right festive outfit really shines. It’s inspiring how you embrace the Richmond-Jones theory of dressing: choosing what makes you feel good, no matter what challenges pop up.
Your Christmas ‘Do’ and your festive touches with lights, table arrangements, and caring for the group’s experience really did make me feel the warmth of your night. You’ve captured that wonderful blend of preparation, chaos, and celebration that makes your community event so special. And yes, surviving shapewear and heels in the process is nothing short of heroic!
Thanks for sharing your week in such a lively, heartfelt way, it’s full of humour, generosity, and festive cheer.
Oh and finally, you look fabulous, lovely outfit and I really like your heels and painted toes x
I feel the need to apologise for the big post, even though you’ve clearly enjoyed reading it. Such is the typical reaction of an average Brit. 😬
But, I will do my best and say: thank you. Good to hear you enjoyed reading it 🙏
I felt… the need to write about the background and the faffing required. Sometimes I wonder if folk look at the end result – like a cookery photo or the Five Minute Makeover that really took four hours – and we miss the work put in. I don’t mean that in terms of “look what I did” but more that results take time and effort. To know that means that you’re not doing it wrong, if it takes a while. Does that make sense?
I love that philosophy: “wear something that makes you feel good”. Sometimes I get a little too caught up in ‘trying’. And yeah, shapewear totally deserves more love than it gets. If it smooths things out and you can still breathe and move, that’s a win.
Also… those heels. My goodness, I’m a little obsessed. They are absolutely gorgeous and you look amazing in them.
Oh, I’m with you on getting stuck on trying. For me, it’s that “I’ll just try this idea…” and unlike software, there’s no undo & restore.
FWIW , I now keep any ‘experiments’ away from Thursday nights or other You-Need-To-Be-Ready-Lynn occasions. 🙂
Shapewear is such a help: it flattens, curves, and pads; with using the right thing at the right time. My only grumble would be garment length, as with a taller body, some items come up short or end at the wrong point of your tum. Maybe I should be checking the tall section more often! 🙂
Thanks for the kind words on the shoes! I felt rather fab in them and the heel is high-ish, but not too much. I think they are ‘Dream Pairs’ who seem to sell on-line.
As to Richmond-Jones, I think that comes from – or was inspired by – a comment Sue (Richmond) said years back. It’s a wee bit of an in joke and tongue-in-cheek. But, like a lot of humour, has a good dose of truth in it too.