Birthday outfit post

So, this is what 42 looks like. Or, it did on Friday.

Not much different to 41, eh? I like having birthdays, simply because people spoil me rotten. Mr Robot has, on occasion, told me I'm a lot like Queenie from Blackadder, and I dispute this on several fronts, not the least of which is that I'm definitely more like Nursie. On the plus side, his assumption that I am like Queenie at least means he's expecting me to bellow WHERE'S MY PRESSIE? and so buys me heaps of gifts to placate me.

I won't cut his head off today...

Here I am in a lovely little tapas bar, chimping away at my phone while his nibs was wandering around outside having a vape. You can read about the tapas bar over on Greedybots.

The dress was one of my birthday presents, a 1940s Shirt Dress from House of Foxy. I loved the navy Hostess Dress he gave me for Christmas, so he went back and got me a different style dress in green. It fits a little tighter than the Hostess Dress, but the fabric has some stretch so that wasn't a problem. (Yes, I have resumed doing my morning walks!) It's got shoulder pads, which I'm really not used to but did give it a lovely line, and a tie belt.

I got lots of other lovely things - mainly vouchers, but some actual presents. My friend Marian sent me a Hotel Chocolat cookbook, which is intriguing. It even has a recipe for bacon and chocolate spread, though I'll probably be a wuss and start off by making brownies. Here are the other things I got from my husband. The CDs are ones that were recommended in the comments on my recent review of Caro Emerald's last CD. The hedgehog card is garden centre vouchers; I'm thinking of getting myself some more blueberry bushes or raspberry canes.

The things that look like bonbons are actually perfume samples from 4160 Tuesdays, a niche perfume house. I'd wanted to try one of theirs, Lady Rose Lion (Monkey Unicorn) for a while so Pete got me the 'Director's Cut' sample set, containing seven of their most unusual perfumes. I love trying perfumes, and for me as much artistry can go into creating one as goes into a painting or piece of music, but an awful lot of people never really think about them. They wouldn't spend their whole life listening to nothing but elevator music, but they'll happily subject their nose to the same sort of blandness. Not me. I'd rather smell something awful but interesting than face a life of blandly boring laundry detergent fragrances. So far Lady Rose Lion (Monkey Unicorn) is my favourite; Evil Max is quite dark and woody and not at all the cherry-fest I'd expected, while Who Knew? is far heavier on the tea notes than rose. The copy on 4160 Tuesdays' website is quite twee, so the darkness of the fragrances was a pleasant surprise.

The robot earrings are actually from the kittens; they don't get much pocket money so they only buy little presents. But they do have very good taste.

 I had a fun birthday. Roll on the next one!