Crinoline Robot's unfestive week

I'm an up-and-down person and of late I've been very much UP, which means bagloads of energy and enthusiasm for everything. Frankly, in December I need it. Last week I was very grateful for it as I'd got loads of stuff done and then got ill – I suspect norovirus. Oddly, I didn't feel that bad in myself – aside from the horrible stomach problems, it wasn't as physically sapping as a cold – but there was no way I was venturing outside the house. (Last Thursday night I spent some time lying on the bathroom floor as I figured it wasn't worth leaving the room to go back to bed!) Anyway, the fact that I was ahead of myself on the shopping-and-organising front meant being confined to home wasn't such a problem, and I was able to fire up the laptop and work from home a bit too, so I wasn't letting my team down.



I had recovered by Saturday, which was good as I went to Dulcie Demure's burlesque panto, The Queen of Neverminditsnamia. There were prizes for the best dressed, but I played it safe and wore a cobalt blue pencil dress (very Joan!) with the brooch and bracelet from my very nicest vintage jewellery set. I'm always scared of chipping the enamel, but it seems daft to have it and never wear it, plus I know how to repair vintage enamel jewellery. I also had a good squirt of Fracas because the perfume inspired by Rita Hayworth in Gilda seemed most appropriate for the occasion.

Dulcie had had a genuine family tragedy not long before the show, but performed despite that. She'd worked for weeks on the costumes and routines, and also didn't want to let her audience down. She's a real trooper, and the panto was fantastic, all her hard work really paid off. My favourite act was Velveteen Hussey, who disguised herself as a Prince (complete with smuggled sausages!) but was unmasked, to the tune of Adam and the Ants' 'Prince Charming', though three Renaissance portraits unrobing to 'All About that Bass' was jolly funny too.

I managed to get some presents bought and others posted, though I don't think I'll finish the thing I'm making for Mum in time to go in the last post for Christmas so I've had to buy something and will send her her hand-made present when it's done. I've also read some Christmassy vintage crime novels, which I hope to share with you later in the week.

Are you doing much festive stuff at the mo, or are you still building up to it, like me? Must confess, I'm now not even 100% convinced I'll go to the work party, though I have ironed my dress...