Crinoline Robot's vintage week


My mojo is returning, slowly. I'm still knitting, slowly, and I've been organised enough to write and post a letter to Marija. I've even remembered that my embroidery is in my trunk so a bit more of that might get done one day! I made it through my print deadlines with only one Deadline Desperation purchase, a dress with cats dressed as astronauts on. (Yes, there will be photos.) My next deadline for OPM clashes with E3, the big international games convention in LA. As a vast chunk of the mag will be devoted to things on show at E3, all that will be coming in at the last minute so I will be stressed, stressed, STRESSED. Expect no blog posts and more novelty shopping mid-June. On a more sensible shopping front, last weekend I got some legging things to wear for the gym, though I still haven't got round to joining said gym. I'm not that organised.

The garden looks bloody awful. I'd hoped to put in some time on it over the bank holiday, but it rained. Staying in and reading books/rewatching old episodes of The Avengers and The X-Files was great for recharging my batteries but definitely not good for my garden. The neighbours must be really cross with me, though it would be terribly bad form to say anything. (One of the good things about living in a working-class area – whatever you put or do in your garden is your own business. In fancier places, like Bath, neighbours might feel entitled to query the state of your garden, but round my way nosy parkers get told where to go.) I need to cut the grass and get round to chopping down the willow that's coming close to invading next door. At least my tomato plants and coriander are thriving. Grow your own curries, that's the thing to do.

We got free tapas on Tuesday! Tapas Revolution has opened a branch in Bath and emailed Mr Robot's firm to see if anyone wanted to help the chefs and waiting staff 'test' the menu and organisation at a pre-opening evening. Ohellyes. The food was free and the drinks were half price, so for about £14 we got completely stuffed and not a little squiffy. We left a big fat tip as a thank you, because what's not to love about free Spanish food? I still find the British way of eating tapas - getting lots of dishes all at once, and sharing - deeply wrong, but the poor waiting staff would never cope if they had to deliver individual dishes constantly, so I guess it makes sense this way.

Fuelled by cider, we've also narrowed down which places we want to visit on our trip to India next year: Kolkata (taking in Chandernagore and Serampore, for my family history), Sunderbans (big mangrove forest/wildlife park near Kolkata, for a bit of peace and quiet and so His Nibs can try to photograph a tiger), take the overnight train up to Darjeeling (HIMALAYAS!), then fly off for a couple of days in Mumbai to take in the art deco splendours before coming home. Sounds good, eh?

I had my annual deep de-mothing session last weekend: remove everything from the wardrobe, hoover wardrobe, spray wardrobe with clothes moth killer (lasts up to a year), check clothing for holes, put everything back. It ensures tidy wardrobes and drawers, and no moth-related anguish. There were no holes in anything, I'm happy to report. It's a good thing to do if you have time; you can see what you own, think about which items you no longer want, and ensure that the things you do want to keep are bring looked after.

So, what do you think of the space cat dress? Fun, or do you hope it'll get ravaged by moths? (It won't – it's polyester. Ha!)

Comments

  1. I'd wear the Space Cat dress. By the way, there's a famous children's book called, Space Cat:
    https://www.fantasticfiction.com/t/ruthven-todd/space-cat.htm
    I bought it for Danny at the Friends of the Library booksale and he enjoyed it when he was small. I think I paid .25 cents for it!

    I have a gym membership but it tends to languish in the warmer weather (who wants to run on a treadmill in summer?). My gym clothes are ratty beyond words, but I invest in good quality socks. Balega Hidden Comfort are the only socks I'll wear for running-they're worth the money.

    Glad to hear the moths are staying away!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mothy little gits. I hate them!

      Now I feel the need for a Space Cat book, but not at that price.

      Delete
  2. Space cats & free tapas yay!
    In June my garden goes to heck as it will soon be a mouldering, rotted mess when the Monsoon comes in August.
    Wow, your trip to India sounds fab! Sorry you're not coming to Nepal, maybe next time?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Perhaps! I keep mentioning it to Pete. We are planning to fit in Darjeeling, so we'll be at the right altitude. Since reading a book set in a 1930s ascent of Kanchenjunga, I've wanted to see that mountain.

      Delete
  3. Your dress is making me think of that film, Cat Women from Outerspace. Looking forward to seeing photos!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It doesn't fit perfectly but Ziggy ate the returns form so I'm stuck with it!

      Delete
  4. Free tapas and half price drinks, what's not to like! Can't wait to see photos of your cats dressed as astronauts dress! xxx

    ReplyDelete
  5. I love the sound of a Space Cat dress!

    Your trip to India sounds wonderful and how more poignant it is because of your family connections. I hope you have the most wonderful time and that Mr. Robot does get to photograph a tiger...

    Free tapas - yes please! We had a rather wonderful Asian fusion place in Bedford which closed down last year. When it opened; our neighbours who were friends of the owners invited us to the opening evening where we had wonderful free food all night. That venue was where we went for the first meet up of my 'unknown' brother and marks various other family events. I miss it.

    When we first moved to Bedford and eventually lived away from the hospital grounds, our neighbours complained about our garden; we couldn't afford garden tools so it ran wild...

    Re the deadlines - stay calm and knit/crochet/embroider...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm honestly surprised my neighbours haven't complained. I'm thinking of paying Dean The Gardener to come round and sort the willow tree out. I do get fed up of having to try to manage the whole thing on my own.

      It's so upsetting when favourite places close down, knowing you can't have the same sort of good time again.

      Delete
  6. Free tapas sounds amazing! Good luck getting all your deadlines in on time. xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I cannot begin to state how much I am dreading those deadlines. The sheer volume of work to fit in to such a tiny amount of time. I'm planning a long weekend off after that, just so I don't go dippy.

      Delete
  7. Asda did almost the same print in a duvet last year, I'm still kicking myself for not buying it, it would have made a bostin' frock!
    Free tapas! I get as narked by the way Brits eat Indian food, stuffing themselves silly on starters and a curry each. It's not the right way!!
    I love pissing off our posh neighbours with our wild garden. It suits us. Who wants to be out weeding and mowing stripes into the lawn on the rare days we get sunshine? Not us!
    Your trip plans sound ace. xxxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Space Cat duvet? Awesome.

      I probably don't eat curry right. Hopefully a fortnight in India will teach me how to do things properly.

      Delete
  8. What sort of moth killer do you use? I found a moth in my closet the other day, and brought out the permethrin in a fit of rage.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hi Mim, A bit late to the party but I hope that your deadlines are long gone and that you smashed them all. The Space Cat dress is absolutely gorgeous. Tapas are a thing of joy. Never really found anywhere in Glasgow that is as good as Spain. Your trip to India sounds fantastic and I love the thought of a train journey cross country. Very romantic. Have you seen this train company. Thy are on my Bucket List. http://www.the-maharajas.com/ Xx

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular Posts