Hair fun

My hair was really long when, on a bit of a whim, I decided to get it cut and colored. I haven't been too red about things in at least three years. My stylist had a decisive personality and wasn't going to let me say much about how things were going to go so, when I asked for brown and she said, no, well, I just said okay. I ended up with this; which actually, I like. It is brownish, sort of. It's rich and reddish with some crazy pinkred baby stripes. I lost about 4 inches length wise but when I use a whole lot of product and I blow dry this cut upside down, I gain back my lost length in some rather attractive width. Can you see it?

If I decide to buy a car

This is the one I want.

It has a titanium frame to ensure a high standard of safety despite it's tiny size. It's the smart car - in pink.

The Mayor of Bromley

Tonight I went to a primary school choir concert. What joy, what bliss. All children in attendance were under age 11 and all of them had amazing diction. So much so that their accents rang out in true form. One little boy, probably around age 8 or 9, sang a solo during a Scottish folk song that was all about how much he loved his lass. It would have been sweet regardless of the setting, but the concert was in a rather rustic feeling Anglican church and the boy not only sang with a strong English accent but he literally had rosy cheeks of all things. You can imagine, I'm sure, that it was more than I could take. Emotions are right on the surface of my skin at the moment and to hear that little boy's soprano voice soar, "mah dahlin lass, Ah mees huh so" in the haunting spirit of lost love was heart wrenching. I literally put my hand to my heart, but then I realized what I was doing and quickly put my hand down. I looked around and saw no other tears in the audience. People may have been looking at me with a variety of expressions, but it's hard to know because eye contact in London is often as indirect as the use of the Queen's English language, here in England that is. I felt slightly pathetic, but not too bothered about it. I mean, sometimes I am pathetic ...and that's okay.

At the end of the concert, the Mayor of Bromley said a few words. When he entered the church an announcer asked us all to stand as the Mayor and his wife walked down the aisle up to the front of the church. He was a bit like a bride in that setting. I could tell that he felt beautiful like a bride. Appropriately he was the center of attention and he was certainly decked out in fancy threads with a fair amount of bling. As you can see by the photo, he was wearing a hard-core thick gold chain with the most amazing crested gold medallion. For a primary school choir concert, there was some seriously impressive pomp and circumstance.

I miss home so much, but England keeps seducing me with these incredible rituals and odd behaviors. It's addicting. I wouldn't say I'm an Anglophile just yet, but transformation could be mine. It is an enchanting place in so many ways but the children, with their high voices, their bad behavior and their endearing accents are really my favorite part of living in England, at least today.

What was once will be once more

What a hat. And that bag. The shoes! It's to perfect.






Ohhhh yes. Those are bracelets. Expensive wrist wraps in aqua and pearl pink. And the matching bag, heaven.






Look at that belt! I think it lived in my closet from 1983-1987.





Ties for her, Jean Jackets, flats...... it's all there.

To be tween

I have a 12-year-old niece who I adore. Since she was about 9 she and her peer group have referred to themselves as "tweens"; still a kid, but practically a teenager or, inbe"tween" being a child and a teen. Tween. I love the term and I love the kid and I have been trying to make her love all the things I love since her birth. As a child of the 80's you can imagine my disappointment when, during an informal karaoke fest in her living room hosted by her mother who was singing some 80's song at the top of her lungs, my niece announced that my sister's selection was terrible. She went on to say that she hates the 80's and what was so great about it anyway? I said what??? I have a small belief system of absolutes including: 1) Everything good comes from Canada. 2) There is no truth. 3) Almost everything about the 80's was great, including the music.

Living in Europe and being privy to the latest and greatest fashion trends just a little before my Minneapolitan 12-year-old niece, I was so excited to announce to her that the 80's had come full circle. The music of London is starting to sample and synth like crazy. Big belts are back and the shinier the better. Bling has turned to glam and silver is the new black. Stripes, glitter, polka dots, two tones, plastic, long shirts with low waists, straight legged ankle hugging pants and my fav of all favs, too much eye-liner of questionable colors. Yeah is all I can say. Interestingly enough, my niece is open to the possibilities. Maturity, clearly. It takes a while before a girl knows what's good in life and 12 seems spot-on to come into the epiphany of the glorious 1980's.

A castle stands before it crumbles

This is a sweet spot in Hastings. A worthy day trip from London, in two hours a girl can skip among the 12th century ruins to her hearts content.







This Castle/Jail/Security Fortress - depending on which part of history one is considering, is in Rye, England. It's a lovely town that, in my opinion, rivals Brighton with it's charm and small town English appeal. Gorgeous.





This gate to the high street in Rye, formerly Rye's city gate, is just so cool. Penge doesn't have a gate of course, but it does have a few palm trees. I didn't really expect to see palm trees in England, but then again, I didn't know that original parts of city walls and gates would be as bountiful as they are so...it's all an education.

Palm Trees in Penge?

Palm trees in Penge. Weird, but not without a certain degree of charm. Clearly, the Palm is a metaphor for the rest of the town.








This cemetery is connected to the famous St. Mary's in Rye England. Small, and so Gorgeous.

The ruins of a castle in Hastings. Gorgeous








Yep. It's true. Penge has palm trees. It also has excellent access to transport links that will get a girl to other parts of England in a flash. This weekend included a day trip to Hastings and the lovely town of Rye. Gorgeous. Really Gorgeous.