Sacrilege

Ooft! This past week has really thrown me. I've had the lurgy since last Monday and still not feeling 100%. I may well have overdone it the previous weekend...

I sat my DVLA Theory Test on Thursday 19th and Passed! Yay! I've just booked my practical driving test as well, but I'm keeping the date a secret - couldn't face having to tell everyone if I fail :-(

I'd managed to orchestrate a fantastic wee cultured day for myself and my colleague at work the next day. We spent the morning building model boats out of rubbish salvaged from the River Clyde. The boats, each one containing a message in a bottle, would be launched on the River as part of a Glasgow International Festival of Visual Art event, Nothing About Us Without Us Is For Us.

I cheated. I brought along one of crew to help - he has serious woodworking skills! Gerry constructed the hull using driftwood and 2 empty bottles of the native ned juice of choice, Buckfast, or Buckie as it's known locally. I laced an old security sign to a stick, like a corset, and voila! We had our sail and SV White Lightning was born!

The real test was the rather novel floatation tank:

And all at sea!

Next on the 'arts and culture' agenda was a wee jaunt down to Glasgow Green for the opening of Jeremy Deller's interactive installation, Sacrilege. To be honest, we had no idea what we were in for - it just sounded like a good way to skive work on a Friday afternoon.

Off in the distance we could see something emerging on the horizon...

 ... is that Stonehenge?? Wait, is that an inflatable, bouncy castle style Stonehenge??

Ya dancer! "Take my picture!!"

Thankfully I was wearing matching socks with no holes in  - a rarity indeed.

Finally, after a rather energetic afternoon of bouncing, Mr G and I decided to celebrate my theory test pass by heading into town for our pal's "So & So" Fanzine launch night.

...At which many a pint of Snakebite was joyously consumed...

...which most likely resulted in over exersion and the inevitable onset of the LURGY... 

*cough, cough, splutter, splutter*

The Bitch Is Back

Ooft! It's been a while, hasn't it? Well, I'm not gonna make excuses or witter on about why I've not been posting, just know that I'm back and kicking off with my spring wishlist...

Studded nappa leather biker jacket by To Kill A Star

This jacket has it all - and some! I neeeed it, like really neeeed it. It's jumped to the top of my list and it will be mine come next payday.

Wulfrun Underground creepers in black suede (surely it'll stop raining in Glasgow at some point?)

And to brighten my wardrobe, these floral crops from Julien MacDonald @ Debenhams. I'm pretty sure there was a tailored jacket to match, but I can't find it online. I'd have the jacket too.

A quick *hello* to all my new followers as well and a wee note to say that I'm experimenting with Instagram if anyone wants to follow: baroque_boudoir

A Scottish Summer?

It was another glorious weekend here in Glasgow so after a good rummage around at the bottom of the wardrobe for something summery to wear to my cousin's hen-do, I unearthed this wee floral dress from last spring.

Need to learn that facing straight into the sun for photos is a bad idea. Check those crow's feet! 

Amy Winehouse for Fred Perry dogtooth scarf (gift) // hoop earrings from Miss Selfridge // Topshop leather jacket // Primark dress (last spring) // Urban Outfitters belt (about 3 years old) // tights? // Vivienne Westwood Melissa wedges // TK Maxx bag // Kenneth Jay Lane bumblebee ring

We had a fantastic girly afternoon with cake and fizz followed by cocktails and a slap up Chinese feast. Good job I hit the gym on Friday night! Joined my first ever spin class. Surprised myself by actually enjoying it although my bum's still agony from those torturous seats!

Mildred basking in the sunshine yesterday while Mr G and I cleaned all round about her. Decorator arrived at 8am this morning. Gotta get rid of the blue walls and go neutral if we're ever gonna stand any chance selling the place.

Stuck in work today but will be out and about this evening  - driving!! Yup, if I'm ever going to make it as a florist I'm gonna need some wheels to make my deliveries. Just need to pass my test first...

Hope you're all enjoying this beautiful weather xx

More Flowers...

I've fallen way behind with my floristry updates but that's partly because I've been spending my spare time actually doing arrangements for other people - yay! The photo above is from my last official class - a modern arrangement with aspidistra leaves, pink anthuriums, hard ruscus, steel grass and some silver brunei - expertly chosen for me by the wondrous Di from Roots and Fruits ;-)

I definitely enjoy working with foliage as much as flowers. I like the structural nature of leaves. And I just love the colour green.

This was a 'country cottage' style handtie that put together for a friend (and colleague's) birthday. This was a bit rushed and I wasn't too pleased with the outcome, but I still totally loved doing it!

On the train to visit my mum and my mum-in-law. Two spring handties snuggled together on the seat next to me. Unfortunately this is the only photo I took of them - duh!

Floristry class week 5. A table centrepiece. I was pretty pleased with myself when I took this photo in the classroom. Then I got home, plopped it down on my dining table, clocked it from a distance and noticed that I'd left a huge gap between the flowers and the bottom row of foliage. Need to stand further back when I'm arranging in oasis - lesson learned.

Last, but not least, my most recent creation - a corsage for Miss Lou to wear to her cousin's wedding last weekend and a spare buttonhole - cause I had a left over rose bud and an extra 15 minutes. Was quite pleased with the actual arrangement until I tried to attach it to the corsage bracelet - what a pain in the arse!! It just flopped about everywhere and felt really uncomfortable to wear. I tried watching YouTube videos to check if I was doing the right thing, but it was too hard to make out. Anyone got any tips?? In the end I just whipped out the old glue gun (another awesome trick of the trade from Di!)

I have my own cousin's wedding coming up at the end of the month and have promised corsages/buttonholes to various family members. More practice! Yay!

Caped Crusader

Sunday afternoon in the park. Picked up this cute-as-a-button spring cape from ASOS for a bargainous £21. Was planning to wear it on Saturday with my floral trousers (featured here) but the cacophony of colour was a bit much for Mr G's slightly delicate, hungover eyes. So instead, I kept it simple for a leisurely stroll over to Shawlands on Sunday afternoon.

Cape from ASOS // ancient Primark cardi (stolen from a friend about 4 years ago) // Topshop Pippa jeans - my favourite style - why do they not exist anymore??? // TK Maxx bag // Pierrot et Coco bag containing a very special wedding gift for my cousin // London Fog from Beanscene // Blowfish boots

A Photo An Hour

Saturday, 8.00am. Up with the lark, so a much needed cuppa to start the day.

It's been a while, hasn't it? I guess this is what folk mean when they say that real life gets in the way. It certainly has, but in a good way. My dad is FINALLY home from Malta and well on his way to recovery - thanks to everyone for their support. I've been busying myself with floral arrangements for family and friends and Mr G and I have been busying ourselves getting the house ready to sell. So, I thought I'd get myself back into blogging again with a wee 'photo an hour' challenge. Saturday was jam-packed with loads of exciting things, so I figured it was a good day to start with. No one wants to see a photo an hour of me at my desk at work...

9.00am. Wiring roses and 'alien' veronica for Miss Lou's corsage.

10.00am. Ta-da! Took me almost an hour. Need to get quicker at this.

11.00am. A well earned break. Tea with toast and jam and peanut butter. A staple in our house. Note that the peanut butter MUST be crunchy!

12 noon. A quick jaunt to the post office to send my Ted Baker dress to it's new owner. 

1.00pm. Sticking to the floral theme and enjoying what felt like the first day of spring.

Jacket and floral trousers from Primark // top is Giles Gold for New Look // bag is about 3 years old from TK Maxx // boots are a good 12 years old from Shelleys

2.00pm. In the D-Box at Cineworld, Renfrew Street to 'experience' John Carter in 4D... 

Some of you may be familiar with my apathy towards the cinema experience. In general, I dislike it, immensely. But if anything's going to interest me it's the promise of a giant hotdog and a new gimmick. 3D fails to excite me. Mr G and I have had lengthy debates about this in the past - we have a 3D TV - and we've tried sitting closer, more centrally, to one side etc. Nothing does it for me. It's just a bit 'meh'. But 4D? Now THAT'S an experience! Special seats actually move and vibrate throughout the film:

" D-BOX simulators offer the next dimension of the cinematic experience, placing viewers in the centre of the action. With seat movements perfectly synchronized to the onscreen action and sounds, D-BOX seats create an unmatched realistic immersive experience."

I'll never see a 2D film again! Tickets are a bit on the expensive side, but totally worth it. So, if you're in Glasgow, I highly recommend the 4D experience, but as for everyone else, I'm afraid you're going to have to wait. Apparently the D-Box seats are only available in the Glasgow Cineworld for the time being.

4.00pm. After a roller coaster ride, leaping all over Mars with John Carter, it was time to wind down with a few cocktails at Blue Dog. I kicked off the proceedings with a Devil's Desire.

5.00pm. Next up was some kind of strawberry and lime concoction - delicious!

6.00pm. All topped off with a round of Jammie Dodgers (Creme de cassis and Baileys)

7.00pm: The hotdogs were wearing off by this point and the cocktails kicking in. What better way to soak up the alcohol than with a slap up curry feast? Charcoals is a stone's throw from Blue Dog so it seemed like the obvious choice.

8.00pm. Full and tipsy on the bus home. P.S. I don't normally put my feet on the seats - this was for a photo opp only!

9.00pm. Knackered and content with a mug of peppermint tea. Night night.

I Scream, U Scream

New style crush. Katia from Hey Dickface (thanks to Adeline for introducing me!) This luscious lady popped up in my last post and I've been creeping all over her blog for the past few days. This hair colour in particular really floats my boat.

All these yummy turkish delight/ice cream shades popping up all over the high street have caused me to lose my shopping mojo. I'm conflicted. I want bright orange hair but it just no-worky. Not sure I'll be able to make it through spring/summer without lilacy-peachy hair. Lilac hair would solve all my problems. But will I be able to strip out the orange??

Was well jel when Claire from Beewaits went lilac back in September, but now she's decided to go blonde again I reckon I could get away with it without looking like a total stalker?

Can't believe I'm even considering peach hair. When I was 20 peach hair was the bain of my life. My wonderful fuschia pink washed to peach on a regular basis. Ten years on and I WANT IT BACK!!!

If it all goes wrong, I can always dye it back to black. Happy days.