I never go out

without first slapping on a bit of moisturiser. I'm not remotely faithful to one brand. My summer choice has long been L'Occitane's very precious fluid because it has a SPF 40 but last year I also used a more economical Olay complete care with a 30 SPF. I've learned that packaging and price don't always have anything to do with the quality of the product, some VERY fancy packaging has contained disappointing contents that have not felt good on my skin. Quite often the description of the ingredients and the claims made about the product make me laugh (I'm a natural sceptic.) So when I was given this rather posh little box

with it's oh, so dainty drawstring interior

and product information telling me that it was Temple Spa 'Skin Truffle for total facial rejuvenation with pure gold, truffles and diamonds' I was still not prepared to be impressed.

What a load of tosh, I thought.

But IT"S FABULOUS. I'll be heartbroken when it's all used up!

I'm going nowhere today, the weather is dreadful, cold, sleeting rain. I'm slobbing about the house in cosy old clothes in various shades of blue; cotton, denim and cashmere.

The Clark's suede shoes have a bit of a bow to cheer me up.

These grey days leave me feeling starved of bright colours and I'm still on the look-out for a scarlet dress.  But I would happily have this suit instead. It was advertised in the Sunday paper.

Pity about the price!!!

Linking up with Patti 

for Visible Monday.

At the theatre

We've been to Stratford-upon-Avon for a few days to celebrate a friend's fiftieth birthday. We had tickets for a production at the Swan Theatre. It's a lovely space that echoes the atmosphere of the courtyard theatres of Shakespeare's time. There is a thrust stage surrounded by bench seats in the stalls and simple wooden balustraded galleries above. 

I took these photos on the way to our seats and didn't want to use the flash. I hope that you can get an idea of what a magical space it is.

The production that we had come to see had received glowing reviews in the press.

It was a lot of fun.

We arrived at the theatre in good time to have a look around and study whatever might be on display. I enjoy the opportunity to study costumes at close quarters when I visit the theatre or ballet and it's also fascinating to read about the thought processes of the various designers.

From the traditional

To the wildly inventive

and all stages in-between.

You would certainly feel in character trailing all this flotsam behind you!

I rather fancy having an outfit made of Toile de Jouy and denim!

Page 56, Winifred Holtby

Last week, for Freda's 56, I chose Vera Britain's 'Testament of Youth' after having seen the film of the same name. Vera was a close friend of the writer, Winifred Holtby. They met at Oxford after the First World War and after Winifred's tragic early death at the age of thirty-seven Vera wrote the following book as a tribute to her and as a memorial.

Virago published a selection of Winifred's books in the '80's. 'The Land of Green Ginger' was first published in 1927. I like her novels very much. Like me, she was Yorkshire born and bred and I understand her voice.

Page 56.

"Oh darling," said Joanna, who did not bring up her children at all properly, and who measured her iniquity in going to the party by the extent of her desire to go. "You shall have parties one day. Lots of them. And lovely silk dresses when, when..."

She did not say "when our ship comes in," because for her the merit of ships lay in their sailing out, away from Scatterthwaite and the North Riding and the grim menace of poverty, the hostility of the land, and the haunting fear of physical disease.

Of course, the book that I can't wait to get my hands on, and shall have to wait until the summer before I can do so, is this weeks literary sensation, the information that Harper Lee is going to have her first book published, the one she wrote before 'To Kill A Mockingbird'. HOW EXCITING!  (And if ever there was a perfect film made from a book, surely it's this one.) I wonder what sort of an adult Scout has become? Wee-One, our younger daughter was always a bit miffed that we hadn't called her 'Scout'. She's quite right, it would have suited her well!

Fashion on the 1st

Over on Share my Garden I've been drooling about unaffordable wallpaper and remembering a lovely trip to Charleston. A back copy of Harper's Bazaar featured some equally unaffordable and utterly delicious clothing, photographed by Tom Allen with the Charleston interiors as a backdrop. What fabulous images they are! I love the way that the clothing works with the setting.

And how I would love the dress that's peeking out beneath that awesome coat!
Silk georgette by Burberry Prorsum. (A snip at £1,295!)

Aren't they fabulous photos!

Flowers and patterns seem to be shaping up strongly in the fashion stakes for the coming year but there's dearth of such things in my wardrobe.
It's the first of the month so what am I wearing? It's cold out so I'm layered up. (There's a cosy vest on underneath this outfit!)The Boden linen skirt was found in a charity shop by a friend who thought that I would like it - she was right! You've heard of Second-hand Rose? That's me, because I'm wearing a Mulberry blouse that the same friend passed on to me because she had tired of wearing it! And it doesn't stop there because the M&S cashmere cardi is a hand-me down from a daughter, as is the leather belt.

The rose quartz necklace was bought by me, however. It has been re-strung three times now and I'm hoping that it will be a case of third time lucky and that I won't have to go grovelling on the floor to retrieve rolling beads ever again!