Stress and nonsense

 So, Project Get Through Deadlines continues. This mainly being rigidly organised at work, and doing sod-all at home beyond ensuring we're clean, have clean clothes, and are fed. I've been finding it a little frustrating that a lot of my friends don't seem to take it seriously; they get narked that I don't want to meet up when I really need to go to ground at weekends right now. Arranging things means slotting one more deadline into a schedule, and it's just too much.

Anyway, I've been enjoying a bit of gentle, no-pressure pottering. Saturdays usually mean a trip to Devizes to go to the butcher. Devizes is awfully pretty, and the old, not-very-bear-like bear atop the front doors of the Bear Hotel was looking very festive. King George III and Queen Charlotte stayed there; I wonder if the bear is old enough to have been there to greet them?

We also took time to wander round Trowbridge. Since the butcher closed its Trowbridge branch we haven't done that as often - and we're probably not alone in that. That's how town centres die... Except that Trow is a vibrant multicultural town, and a new desi deli has opened where the butcher used to be, and there's now a Polish butcher too. The latter doesn't have anywhere near the range our old one stocked, but it does do excellent sausages and homemade Polish croquettes and dumplings, and between the two if we can't make it over to Devizes every weekend, we'll be able to stock up in town. I dare say there will be some idiots grumbling about the fact the shops aren't 'British' but I think it's ace. Nice to see new businesses starting up and bringing some life back to the High Street.

The number of charity shops often also makes people grumble, but I enjoy looking round them. I didn't find much over the weekend, but did get some more knitting patterns. No, I don't need more knitting patterns. As the saying goes, "I'm not needy, I'm wanty." And one was a Mary Quant. The pattern pile had older ones, but I have quite a few 40s/50s knitting patterns, and I really want to do some 60s stuff. That's my excuse. There are some fantastic little knitted suits in the booklets.

Thinking of the later decades of the 20th century, have you seen Mindhunter on Netflix? It's based on the early days of the FBI's profiling department, when they started interviewing serial killers and working out how to track them, and is set in the late 1970s. Visually, it's incredibly subtle: there's a slight Kodachrome warmth to the colours, but on the whole things are kept very restrained. Clearly the programme makers were keen for viewers to get caught up in the story without being distracted by the style. The clothes are 70s, but in a very restrained way, the decor is, but similarly muted. It's a far cry from disco, glam rock, or any of the exuberance you associate with the era (given the subject matter, exuberance would be pretty tasteless). It could be argued that it's a very 2010s take on the 1970s, or possibly just a very bland take on the 1970s, but I've found it interesting to see such a loud decade reinterpreted in such a downbeat fashion. Anyway, the programme is gripping, if disturbing.

Hope all's well with you!

Comments

  1. I do so get why you need to go to ground at weekends! I too have friends who do not seem to understand this, though. I've been to Devizes (20 years ago, I've just realized) and although I remember The Bear (the pub) it's funny that I don't remember the bear ... Browsing chazzas is my way of relaxing, even if pickings are great. And of course you needed to have the Mary Quant pattern! xxx

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    1. Devizes is really pretty. It's got some good pubs, though we have to get the bus if we want to go to those.

      The Quant pattern is actually pretty restrained. She was such a trendsetter for the era, it's easy to forget how un-flashy a lot of her garments really were.

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  2. Been meaning to ask if you've seen further back in time for dinner? It's 1900-1950 and the clothes are ace. Enjoyed reading your thoughts on the last one so would be interested to see what you think when you have time!

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    1. I have! I did two posts on them, 1900-1919 here: http://crinolinerobot.blogspot.co.uk/2017/02/further-back-in-time-for-dinner-1900.html and the rest here: http://crinolinerobot.blogspot.co.uk/2017/02/further-back-in-time-for-dinner-1920s.html Back In Time For Tea, looking at the northern diet, is due to air early next year.

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  3. Yay for a Mary Quant pattern - will you make it up? I've got one of her dressmaking patterns but it needs taking down a few sizes, a bit scary!
    I hear you with needing your own time. We can't meet our friends at weekends any more, it'll be nice to have a big night out when they've broken up from work - they're all "normal" with normal 9-5 jobs.
    I love that bear! xxx

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    1. I don't know if I'll make that one - one of the booklets has a fab little knitted suit I like, though at the speed I knit it'd take me about two years to make. I've spent all year working on a cardigan for a friend and I am SICK of it.

      I'm never sure if I'm an introvert or an extrovert - I do love spending time with people, but I absolutely need my quiet time too. This weekend will probably be all work, in the office on InDesign docs on Saturday, then I'll take printouts of finished pages home to sign off on Sunday when the office is closed. Still, next week's the big one; after the double deadline things should be much, much better.

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  4. Well if you don't put your needs first, nobody else will! I am so with you about needing to prioritise basic care in times of stress. I could do with following that advice myself at the moment, I'm on mission 'make it to Christmas'. I used to be obssessed with FBI stuff (blame the X-files) so that programme sounds right up my street! Hang in there xx

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    1. My double deadline is next week, and I just need to get through that then things should be easier. My pages-per-day spreadsheet is looking worrying; I'll be in work over the weekend. At least that will give me a chance to do some Christmas shopping for Pete afterwards, when he's not around. It must be worse for you doing a PhD; I can leave my work behind, but I found when doing a postgrad it was incredibly hard to switch off at any point.

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  5. I suppose everyone feels stretched for time and perhaps it is hard for them to understand anyone being more overscheduled. That said, you are quite right to take care of yourself.

    I'm envious of your Polish butcher's shop. Growing up in a city with a large Polish population (Chicago) I really miss having those specialty items available.

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    1. It's a fairly new thing here. We actually have a large Polish community in Trow from WWII, when Spitfires were built in the town, but it really expanded when Poland joined the EU and the UK got a lot of migration from there, and we've had more Polish shops since then. I like trying new food, so I think it's ace! Polish cake is the BEST.

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  6. My brother was talking about and recommending 'Mindhunter' on Saturday night...

    Keep pottering, Mim. It keeps you sane!

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  7. I know it may not seem it after the social whirl of last month but I definitely need me time and I completely disappear when I am stressed, not always the best thing to do, you need to get the balance right, of company but lots of quiet me time too. I have friends who cannot be home with nothing to do they go stir crazy but I never have that issue. I love that time and always find things to do.

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  8. HI Mim, I can so empathise with this and I am sorry to hear that your deadlines are leaving you a bit of a frazzle. Nice that you got out and about. A trip round the chassis is good for the soul. Knitted suits sound lovely. Would you need to line the skirts? I will check out "Mindhunter" as I am regretting binge watching "Stranger Things". I did watch "It Started in Naples" on Netflix and now I want to live in Capri. Great clothes in that too. :) Xx

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